chicagotribune--2020-01-29--‘Summer ’89’: The portrait of Jordan Cooper — a Chicago story of a brightly colored life and an earl

‘Summer ’89’: The portrait of Jordan Cooper — a Chicago story of a brightly colored life and an early death

“ We don ’ t allow the world to write his last story , ” Cooper said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ story .
… The funny ones , when he was 3 .
The not-so-funny ones @ @ @ @ @ and 23 .
It ’ s up to us to make sure that the part @ @ @ @ @ s going to say he ( was ) another black boy killed on the streets @ @ @ @ @ , that he was a king ’ s kid .
”

Jamiah Calvin with his painting of his brother, Jordan Cooper, that is on display as part of the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on Jan. 25, 2020. Calvin's painting, titled "Summer '89", was created in April 2019 and Cooper was shot and killed on Sept. 16, 2019. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The crowd of people meandering around the rows of framed art was so heavy that it was difficult to see more than a few faces in front of you.
It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the opening of the Museum of Science and Industry’s Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition, featuring artwork from professional and amateur black artists in America. In the thick of the swarmed west pavilion, Zonia Cooper stood glued in front of the same painting, her endearment toward it apparent enough that visitors stopped by with questions and comments.
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“He got a Jordan! He’s holding some Jordans,” said a giddy boy, referring to the white Air Jordan 4 sneaker the man in the painting cradled with both hands.
“Yeah, and his name is Jordan,” said Cooper.
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“Yeah, how do you know?” the boy responded.
“Because that’s my baby boy,” Cooper, 56, responded. “But he’s not here anymore because he died.
“And he was 23, like the number 23 on (Michael) Jordan’s jersey,” she continued, referring to the Chicago basketball superstar her son was named after.
Cooper then began the story behind the portrait, one she would repeat to countless others that Monday.
A painting depicting Jordan Cooper, by his brother Jamiah Calvin, on display at the Museum of Science and Industry. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The oil painting of her son Jordan Cooper, created by his older brother, was one of the over 200 works at the exhibit, which runs until the end of Black History Month this February. Jamiah Calvin painted it last year before his brother’s slaying and said he hopes the portrait brings healing to others who are also hurting.
“Even though it represents a culture of me growing up, it also represents my brother and our relationship,” Calvin, 38, said. “He believed in me and my art and my journey before he died. He was one of my number one fans. So that’s an amazing thing.”
Jordan Cooper was killed in a shooting Sept. 16, 2019, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Chicago police said the 23-year-old was standing on a street about 1 a.m. in the 700 block of North St. Louis Avenue when someone shot him in the head.
Over four months later, no one was in custody, police said Saturday night.
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A portrait of Jordan Cooper — and Chicago culture
Calvin’s artwork teems with imagination and heart, often portraying black people with a fantastical quality: a luminescent blue skin, a pink heart painted over a man’s chest or a giant-size child peering down at two miniature SWAT police officers in the foreground. But there is a rawness to his subjects as well. Calvin draws profoundly from his experiences growing up in the Austin neighborhood in the 1980s and ’90s, experiences that range from the joys of playing outside to the anguish of burying loved ones too soon.
Jamiah Calvin talks about his painting titled “Summer ‘89,” which depicts his brother, Jordan Cooper. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The portrait of Cooper, titled “Summer ’89,” is Calvin’s most personal. It shows the 23-year-old ogling one Air Jordan shoe with a look of humbled wonder. His hat and pants pop out in bright red, Cooper’s favorite color, from the black background.
Calvin drummed up the idea while Cooper was still alive and could model for the portrait. He wanted to capture the sneaker craze surrounding Chicago in 1989, when the Air Jordan 4 came out and all the young men and boys he knew, including him, coveted a pair.
“ ‘Summer ’89,’ it represents our culture growing up in Chicago,” Calvin said. “It represents black culture. Before social media, when everything wasn’t just handed to you, when you literally had to go out and seek and find the flyest gear, that was fun.”
Cooper hadn’t been born back then, but he loved the painting’s concept and the Air Jordan 4 shoes. He kept bragging to friends, predicting, “Yeah I’ma be in a museum. Y’all ain’t got no oil painting of you.”
Calvin laughed at his brother’s eagerness, which only multiplied when the painting was done. At the time, the two were living together in DeKalb, and Calvin often stumbled upon his brother standing in front of the canvas in the garage, wearing the same expression of marvel in the portrait. “OK, you going to keep staring at this painting?” Calvin teased.
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“That painting also was a full-circle moment,” said Zonia Cooper, who is a pastor at the Dignity Integrity and Grace Outreach Ministry. “The joy that the painting brought to Jordan was the joy that Jordan brought to my family. He was the light that walked into the room.”
‘We get to write his last story’
Jordan Cooper worked at a food factory but started delivering food, too, to make some extra cash. His mother last saw him at her Austin house when he dropped by to pick up a delivery bag.
“Ma, you ain’t got five dollars?” he asked.
“I don’t have it, son,” she said. “Well, here is your bag. You finna make some money.”
Then he walked out the door and into the rain, calling out, “I love you, ma.” Days later, his body was found. A bag of food, never delivered, was still propped up in the backseat of his car.
The funeral, as Zonia Cooper described it, was “fire-hazard packed,” a reflection of all the connections her son made. He was a stickler for showing up to every family function, once even driving all the way to a birthday party with his arm in a cast. When he was a young boy, he was so devoted to being with his older siblings that when he saw them scurry to the kitchen to do homework, he begged his aunt, “Would you buy me some homework please?”
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Cooper is survived by two sons, ages 2 and 4, and a 2-month-old daughter. For them, Zonia Cooper said, the family must keep her son’s memory alive.
“We don’t allow the world to write his last story,” Cooper said. “We get to write his last story. … The funny ones, when he was 3. The not-so-funny ones, when he was 18 and 23. It’s up to us to make sure that the part of the world that’s going to say he (was) another black boy killed on the streets of Chicago knows the reality, that he was a king’s kid.”
For her, the painting reinforces the belief that Jordan’s life has not ended, only transitioned. She repeated a sentence she said at the funeral: “Even in the ground, he’ll continue to outshine y’all.”
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Driver, 22, killed when car crashes into Niles police station

Morton Grove Police Cmdr .
Paul Yaras said his department received a call shortly before the crash reporting that a @ @ @ @ @ had run a red light at Waukegan Road and Dempster Street .
The description of @ @ @ @ @ ” and police are not ready to conclude that it was the same vehicle that @ @ @ @ @ Station , he said .

ComEd crews work to repair infrastructure that was damaged when it was struck by a car outside the Niles Police Station on Jan. 29. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press)
Investigators do not yet know how fast a car was traveling when it crashed into a retaining wall at the Niles Police Station last week, killing its 22-year-old driver.
Niles Police Department Bureau Chief Robert Tornabene said it could be “a couple of weeks” before detectives are able to determine the car’s speed based on information contained within its data recorder. Investigators are also awaiting the results of toxicology tests on the driver to determine if drugs or alcohol may have played a role in the fatality, Tornabene said.
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Julian H. Hernandez, of the 800 block of Parkview Lane, Des Plaines, was driving a 2010 Hyundai Sonata south on Waukegan Road shortly after midnight on Jan. 29 when the car failed to make the slight left turn onto Milwaukee Avenue. It drove straight onto the Niles Police Department campus, police said.
The front of the police station is at 7000 W. Touhy Ave., but the car entered at the campus’ east side.
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The car struck a ComEd utility pole, traffic control device, fence and then the side of the high retaining wall which borders the driveway of the station’s underground garage, police said. The car, which was airborne at this time, scraped the side of the driveway’s wall before landing at the bottom of the driveway and crashing through the garage door, coming to rest inside the underground garage, Tornabene said.
“It was completely mangled,” Tornabene said of the Hyundai. “It didn’t even look like a car.”
Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
While it is still not known how fast his car was traveling, Tornabene described it as a “very high rate of speed."
There was no indication that Hernandez had been racing another vehicle, he said.
Hernandez’s family held a celebration of his life on Sunday, Feb. 2 at Oehler Funeral Home in Des Plaines.
The crash is being investigated by the Major Crash Assistance Team of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional agency, police said. Investigators are awaiting toxicology tests on the driver to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, Tornabene said.
Morton Grove Police Cmdr. Paul Yaras said his department received a call shortly before the crash reporting that a car that was speeding and had run a red light at Waukegan Road and Dempster Street. The description of the car was “vague” and police are not ready to conclude that it was the same vehicle that crashed into the Niles Police Station, he said.
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No police cars were pursuing the Hyundai prior to the crash, Tornabene said.
“We did have an officer in the area, coming down Milwaukee just prior to the crash, but he was not in sight of the vehicle,” Tornabene said.
The crash knocked out power to the police station and the immediate neighborhood and shut down a portion of Milwaukee Avenue for several hours.
The police station operated on a generator and backup power source while ComEd crews made repairs, Tornabene said. Telephone lines and radio communications were not affected, he said.
Damage to the police station was limited to the retention wall and the garage door, Tornabene said.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter: @Jen_Tribune
Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas contributed to this story.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Man, 37, killed after argument in West Pullman house

A day ago , Paxton had been planning a Super Bowl party for the same house he would be shot @ @ @ @ @ Wilson also used to live , she said .
The two of them planned to @ @ @ @ @ snacks later this week .

Nelly Wilson stood in front of a pale yellow house late Tuesday night, tearing up with survivor’s guilt.
It was the second instance in which the 48-year-old had to comfort her mother-in-law over losing a child. This time, Wilson’s 37-year-old brother-in-law had been shot inside a house in West Pullman, and the family eventually found out he died at the hospital.
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In the aftermath, Wilson couldn’t help but feel that she played a hand in the tragedy by being the messenger, that she somehow bore responsibility for her mother-in-law’s pain, though she knew deep down it wasn’t true. “It’s terrible. It’s terrible," she repeated.
About 7:10 p.m., the 37-year-old man got into an argument with another male inside a residence in the 11900 block of South Lafayette Avenue. The male left and came back armed with a gun and opened fire at him, striking the 37-year-old in the torso, Chicago police said.
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Quentin Paxton, of Dolton, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, according to information from police and the medical examiner’s office.
A day ago, Paxton had been planning a Super Bowl party for the same house he would be shot at — a residence where Wilson also used to live, she said. The two of them planned to go grocery shopping for party snacks later this week.
Now Wilson was standing in front of a Chicago police Forensic Services van, discussing with an officer when her family could gain access to Paxton’s car. Behind them, flashes of light from an evidence technician’s camera jumped around a black sedan sandwiched between crime tape and around the front porch of the yellow house, where red tape lined the porch.
“Deva-freaking-stating,” Wilson said about the shooting. “I feel like I’m numb or something. This is unbelievable.”
Ron Johnson, a childhood friend of Paxton’s, said the two of them grew up near each other in West Pullman. The 37-year-old also recently talked with Johnson about future plans, such as buying a truck.
Johnson said Paxton was a hard worker and a generous man.
“It’s still hard to believe, 'cause when you’ve just seen somebody the day before, and this happens ...” he said, trailing off.
No one is in custody, police said.
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ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Meet the Logan Square dog representing Chicago in Sunday’s Puppy Bowl

“ So ( my boyfriend ) went to go adopt him , and he ’ s like , ‘ Oh @ @ @ @ @ to be in the Puppy Bowl.
’ And I was like , ‘ Ohmigod , @ @ @ @ @ had no idea , but it was actually like one of the contingencies to adopt @ @ @ @ @ to fly him out ( for the taping ) or we had to let One @ @ @ @ @ him out for us , ” Klappa-Cales told the Tribune .
“ We were going @ @ @ @ @ but it was just a neat little perk that we realized afterwards .
”

When Ashten Klappa-Cales saw a photo of a puppy named Bevil on the Instagram page for the Chicago rescue One Tail at a Time, she knew immediately she had to have him. But Bevil came with a catch.
“So (my boyfriend) went to go adopt him, and he’s like, ‘Oh, he’s going to be in the Puppy Bowl.’ And I was like, ‘Ohmigod, my dream.’ So we had no idea, but it was actually like one of the contingencies to adopt him. We either had to fly him out (for the taping) or we had to let One Tail at a Time fly him out for us,” Klappa-Cales told the Tribune. “We were going to get him regardless, but it was just a neat little perk that we realized afterwards.”
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Bevil, now named Toast, is one of 96 dogs participating in Puppy Bowl XVI, which is scheduled to air at 2 p.m. Sunday on Animal Planet. The players — hailing from 61 shelters — compete on either Team Ruff or Team Fluff for the “Lombarky” trophy. Klappa-Cales’ 7-month-old pup is on Team Fluff.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 42 Huck / Team Ruff / Miniature Poodle / Shih Tzu / 20 weeks / Vanderpump Dogs, CA / Fun fact: Never misses a crumb (Animal Planet)
The Logan Square resident said she attended the New York taping of the Puppy Bowl, but declined to divulge any spoilers about Toast’s game play. She said she adopted the dog, described as a miniature pinscher/Yorkshire terrier/chihuahua, in September.
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Puppy Bowl participant Toast (left) shares a Logan Square home with Mac (right). (Ashten Klappa-Cales/Handout)
Klappa-Cales and her boyfriend renamed the pup Toast because they have two other dogs, named Mac and Cheese, and they wanted to continue the food theme. Toast is “really silly at home. He’s really brave. He’s got really long legs, and we joke that he just bounces around the house. He loves snuggling, sleeping under blankets with me, cuddling at any cost, and he definitely is competitive in the family for who gets the most attention,” Klappa-Cales said.
Puppy Bowl participant Toast (left) shares a Logan Square home with Cheese (right). (Ashten Klappa-Cales/Handout)
She said One Tail at a Time is hosting a Puppy Bowl viewing party at Park & Field in Logan Square, and Toast will be the “honored guest.” One Tail at a Time executive director Heather Owen said Toast came to her organization from a shelter in West Memphis, Ark. “His skin was pretty bad, and he was in need of some vet care,” she said in an email, so Toast “went to a foster home where he got healthy, neutered, vaccinated and socialized.”
Though Toast is not available for adoption, Owen said One Tail at a Time has more than 150 dogs in its care at any time that need loving homes.
tswartz@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Bears Q&A: Is Philip Rivers an attractive QB option? Can Mitch Trubisky match Ryan Tannehill’s leap?

Bears Q&A: Is Philip Rivers an attractive QB option? Can Mitch Trubisky match Ryan Tannehill’s leap? Will they trade up in the NFL draft?

If the Bears were to part ways with Floyd , their depth chart at outside linebacker would have Khalil Mack and a host of young , inexperienced options who likely are unsuited for significant roles .
Reserve Aaron Lynch is coming out of contract and will be an unrestricted free agent .
While paying Floyd $ 13.2 million in the fifth-year option of his contract isn ’ t an optimal situation for the Bears , the outlook without him is problematic .
Simply put , cutting Floyd would be an admission by general manager Ryan Pace that Floyd , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flop .
Remember , the Bears traded up to get Floyd in that draft .
He lacks the pass-rushing prowess the Bears hoped he would have , but Floyd still brings value to the defense .
He ’ s a versatile player with his range and length , and if you recall Pace ’ s end-of-season statements , the team appears happy with him .
Floyd , who does a lot of things that don ’ t necessarily show up in box scores , isn ’ t going to agree to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at two options – play for the fifth-year option or become a free agent and explore his options with all 32 teams .
So , you need to ask yourself where the Bears defense would be without Floyd in 2020 ?
As far as Amukamara goes , as I ’ ve said multiple times now , the Bears aren ’ t actually going to save $ 9 million in salary-cap space if they cut him because they ’ re going to have to take most of that ( or maybe more ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Toliver as a guy who can be plugged in as a starter right now .
That ’ s the problem with the suggestions that the Bears could clear a boatload of cap space by shedding Floyd and Amukamara ’ s salaries .
The only way that would be the case is if the team had adequate replacements at both positions already under contract .
I don ’ t believe they do .
So , are they really saving space when they create two huge voids on their defense that then must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or perhaps even more ?

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
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With the recent news about Philip Rivers on the way out in Los Angeles, where do you rank him among your preferred free-agent QBs? — @bettagjoseph
It’s going to be a fascinating next few months in the NFL with a large group of veteran quarterbacks coming out of contract, including some of the best to play the game such as Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Let’s tap the brakes for a second on Rivers being headed out of Los Angeles. That was attributed to Fox’s Jay Glazer earlier this week, but Glazer didn’t say that explicitly. It certainly would not be a surprise if the Chargers will be in the market for a starting quarterback after a 16-year run with the veteran. The 38-year-old Rivers will be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March. He has started 224 consecutive games since the start of the 2006 season and holds many franchise records for the Chargers, including 59,271 passing yards, 397 touchdown passes and 198 interceptions. The team was expected to be an AFC playoff contender this past season but slumped to a 5-11 record that gives the Chargers the No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft. Rivers had 23 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions.
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Rivers is just one of a handful of experienced starters around the league who are coming out of contract. Brady, Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Dak Prescott, Marcus Mariota, Case Keenum and Bears backup Chase Daniel are just some of the pending free agents. Brees figures to re-sign with the Saints or retire. Prescott seems likely to return to the Cowboys. The Titans could be motivated to keep Tannehill. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, outside of the funeral for former NBA Commissioner David Stern, told TMZ that the plan is to bring Brady back to New England. How it all shakes out, though, is anyone’s best guess the week before Super Bowl LIV. Do the Buccaneers re-sign Winston or chart a course with a new quarterback in Bruce Arians’ second season as coach? Do the Chargers sign a veteran with a lot of experience, consider drafting a quarterback with their first-round pick or perhaps do both? What direction do the Patriots go if Brady isn’t back?
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looks for a receiver during against the Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. (Ed Zurga/AP)
Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy indicated that Mitch Trubisky will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2020. Of course, actions speak much louder than words, and we’ll have a much better idea of how committed the Bears are to their former first-round draft pick after they construct a depth chart at the position. The thing about pursuing Rivers is I don’t know that he’s going to sign with a team if he’s not assured of being the Day 1 starter. Like I said, he’s made 224 consecutive starts. Would he be interested in a scenario where he’s told he will be the backup to a much-less-accomplished quarterback? That’s a little difficult for me to envision. Unless the Bears change their tune about the position and announce they are inviting someone to either take over for Trubisky or have a straight-up competition for the job, they might not have a great shot at signing one of the experienced players on the market. The flood of veteran options, though, will create a giant game if musical chairs and should provide the Bears with multiple options depending on how things shake out. Keep in mind there will likely be other options via potential trades. Acquiring a quarterback by trade would eliminate the need for the Bears to woo a player unless a new contract would need to be completed to facilitate a deal.
The Bears could clear a lot of cap space by letting go of Leonard Floyd and Prince Amukamara. In your opinion, would they let go of both? And if so, who do you see as replacements? — @zberg034
If the Bears were to part ways with Floyd, their depth chart at outside linebacker would have Khalil Mack and a host of young, inexperienced options who likely are unsuited for significant roles. Reserve Aaron Lynch is coming out of contract and will be an unrestricted free agent. While paying Floyd $13.2 million in the fifth-year option of his contract isn’t an optimal situation for the Bears, the outlook without him is problematic. Simply put, cutting Floyd would be an admission by general manager Ryan Pace that Floyd, the ninth overall pick in 2016, was a flop. Remember, the Bears traded up to get Floyd in that draft. He lacks the pass-rushing prowess the Bears hoped he would have, but Floyd still brings value to the defense. He’s a versatile player with his range and length, and if you recall Pace’s end-of-season statements, the team appears happy with him. Floyd, who does a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up in box scores, isn’t going to agree to take a pay cut. He’s looking at two options – play for the fifth-year option or become a free agent and explore his options with all 32 teams. So, you need to ask yourself where the Bears defense would be without Floyd in 2020? As far as Amukamara goes, as I’ve said multiple times now, the Bears aren’t actually going to save $9 million in salary-cap space if they cut him because they’re going to have to take most of that (or maybe more) to sign a replacement unless they view Kevin Toliver as a guy who can be plugged in as a starter right now. That’s the problem with the suggestions that the Bears could clear a boatload of cap space by shedding Floyd and Amukamara’s salaries. The only way that would be the case is if the team had adequate replacements at both positions already under contract. I don’t believe they do. So, are they really saving space when they create two huge voids on their defense that then must be filled with nearly as much cap space or perhaps even more?
Do you think inside the building there is enough winning mentality so the Bears can transcend to the next level and not settle to remember the ’85 Bears? We need championships in a hurry. — @gallo07
I can tell you that 12 months ago this wasn’t a question anyone had about Halas Hall. I can also tell you that general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy and everyone on their respective staffs don’t sit around romanticizing about the great times of 1985. Pace was 8 years old when the Bears won Super Bowl XX. Nagy was 7. I’d be willing to bet their memories of that game are minimal. There’s no shortage of desire to win in the building. Chairman of the board George McCaskey is driven by the idea of winning another title while his mother Virginia is still around to celebrate. So the idea that the Bears are fumbling along because they’re stuck in the past and too busy reminiscing about the glory one team experienced more than three decades ago isn’t accurate. We’ll see if they take a step in the right direction in 2020.
Will the relative desperation of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy cause them to trade up again in the draft? I REALLY hope they don’t. — @themaxconnor1
I doubt that Pace or Nagy would describe themselves as desperate. They should, however, feel a sense of immediacy to improve the roster beginning with free agency and then in the draft. Pace isn’t going to share his plan when it comes to the draft. I can promise you that. If you ask him if he’ll consider trading up, he will say yes. If you ask him if he will consider trading down, he will say yes. Everything has to be on the table for him. That being said, my hunch is the Bears will be much less likely to trade up, at least in Round 2 where the cost would be higher. I believe the Bears will be best served by having a volume of picks in this draft. Right now they project to have eight selections. We’ll see what shakes out.
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I do not want to see Prince Amukamara go even if it means paying him $9 million. But if the Bears absolutely need the cap space is there a scenario where Prince would sign a one- or two-year extension at a lower cap hit? — @terrence_j_naus
Prince Amukamara gestures on the field after breaking up a pass intended for Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay on Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
That would be one way for the Bears to lower Amukamara’s cap hit for the coming season, but I see that as unlikely. I would not rule out the possibility that the Bears approach Amukamara about a small pay reduction. Whether the team is considering that, I don’t know, but the club has gone down that path with a few veteran players in the past, including right guard Kyle Long last offseason. Whether Amukamara, 30, would be willing to consider a pay cut, I also don’t know. That probably depends on how he and his agent view his potential marketplace as a free agent in relation to how much money the club is looking to trim. It’s hard to imagine Amukamara being amenable to anything more than a very slight adjustment to his pay.
What’s your ideal way to use Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson next year? — @jillshubby
Cohen’s statistics really dipped in 2019, when he rushed for 213 yards (3.3 per carry) and caught 79 passes for 456 yards (5.8 per reception). That’s after Cohen averaged 4.4 yards per carry through his first two seasons and 10.2 yards per catch in 2018, his first season in Matt Nagy’s offense. The Bears struggled to get Cohen the ball in space, and it wasn’t just a funk he went through. It was a season-long issue. It’s hard to explain nine catches for 19 yards against the Saints and seven catches for 29 yards against the Giants. So, I think Nagy and his offensive coaches need to find answers to the question of how can they get Cohen the ball in space? The first thing that comes to mind is doing a better job of getting him the ball on screen passes. The Bears were not a very good screen team in 2019. Force-feeding Cohen the ball in the running game hasn’t worked. But he can have success running the ball out of the shotgun in 11 personnel: one back, one tight end and three wide receivers. The Bears need to try to create lighter fronts for him to run against, because trying to run Cohen inside with reduced formations isn’t going to work on a regular basis. He can have success on misdirection and can be very effective in the passing game on the backside of a 3x1 formation like the Chiefs use with a running back and Travis Kelce. The problem is the Bears didn’t have a tight end last season.
There are ways to get Cohen involved on easy passes for Mitch Trubisky, screens, underneath throws, shallow concepts and high/low reads. The Bears can also use Cohen for more vertical concepts in the passing game out of the backfield. I don’t think he’s a great route runner when he’s lined up in the slot, but he can really be a matchup problem for defenses running routes out of the backfield. The failure to get Cohen more explosive plays, because he remains a dynamic open-field threat, was one of the real failures of 2019.
As far as Patterson goes, he’s a gadget player on offense who can get a few touches per game in certain situations. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s realistic to think he will suddenly develop as a wide receiver. He’s not a skilled route runner, but he can be very explosive when he has the ball in his hands and effective running the ball at times. I’d be a little surprised if he can average more than four touches per game on offense based on his history.
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Do you see the Bears using either of their second-round picks on a quarterback to offer some competition for Mitch Trubisky or bringing in one of the veterans on the open market? — @jake_taylor54
If the Bears are feeling a push to win now, it’s a little hard to envision them drafting a quarterback in the second round. For starters, who is to say there is a quarterback that will be worthy of coming off the board in the middle of Round 2? They’re generally overdrafted, so any of the real prospects at the position will be long gone by then. I could see the Bears potentially drafting a quarterback on Day 3, but they’ve got immediate needs to fill. Is a rookie quarterback really the right route to go if the team wants to push Trubisky? I think it’s more likely they seek a No. 2 option with experience via free agency.
I was hoping Javon Wims would play well if given a chance, but he ended up playing significant time (around 500 snaps) and all he had to show for it was a mere 18 receptions, one garbage time TD and three penalties. Was this a learning year as a redshirt rookie or was that who he is? — @zevyr
Wims wound up third on the team at wide receiver with 487 snaps and, you’re right, his production was underwhelming. Part of that is a function of the passing offense really being broken. Part of it is I think Wims, a former seventh-round pick, is limited in what he can do. He’s a little stiff as a route runner, and while he’s physical, I’m not sure he’s more than a limited possession receiver. He certainly will be given a chance to show he’s improved in the spring and summer, but my hunch is the Bears are going to bring in some new talent at the position.
Javon Wims tries to make a catch in the end zone as the Cowboys' Jaylon Smith defends on Thursday Dec. 5, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Do you see signs that Alex Bars is in the Bears’ 2020 plans as somebody with a legitimate shot to win the right guard position, or is he seen more of a depth guy at this point in time? — @wgcbearsdendude
As the season unfolded and Rashaad Coward struggled somewhat at right guard, there was some public sentiment, at least via social media, for the Bears to turn to the rookie Bars. The thing is that those pushing for Bars to play really didn’t have anything from preseason to base that on. Bars’ play was rough in preseason, and I think he would probably admit that. Being able to learn on the job and getting a promotion in midseason when the Patriots tried to sign him to their 53-man roster was a good thing for him. It allowed Bars to get stronger, and I imagine he is attacking the weight room in the offseason. I think the next step for Bars is to get on the field in training camp with pads so new offensive line coach Juan Castillo can evaluate him. Before that, I would imagine the Bears will seek a veteran option at right guard or consider a draft pick to fill the role. I wouldn’t rule Bars out for 2020, but right now he’s got to be an underdog.
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In my opinion, if on draft day the Bears still have the same two second-round picks, they undoubtedly have to be spent on the offensive side. It seems to me the lack of Trey Burton’s availability and lackluster play when he did suit up are huge reasons for the decline on offense last season. Will there be a Day 1 starter at tight end available where the Bears are slated to draft in the second round? — Scott S., Parts Unknown
I’d disagree that both picks must be spent on offense. I’m not saying it won’t go down that way if they stay with two picks in Round 2, but take a look at the depth chart at cornerback and realize the last player at the position the Bears drafted who really worked out for them was Kyle Fuller back in the 2014 draft. They need some young talent at that position, and if they have solid grades on a few cornerbacks and they’re on the board in Round 2, don’t be surprised if they grab one. As far as tight ends go, there is a chance none are selected in the first round. The Bears could potentially add one in Round 2, three years after drafting Adam Shaheen in the second round. Tight end is a difficult position for rookies, so to say Day 1 starter, I think that would be difficult. Day 1 contributor? That’s more realistic.
The Bears seem to like everything about Leonard Floyd but his pass rushing. Could they move him inside and extend his contract in a more team-friendly way? It would require a replacement edge rusher. — Bill F., Roanoke, Va.
Floyd isn’t going to be changing positions. I also don’t really see a way they are reducing his salary for this season. Keep in mind it’s much, much easier to find inside linebackers than quality edge defenders.
Obviously, the Bears are in poor shape personnel-wise, all over. I didn’t see the question put forth in this particular Q&A so, how did they get in such a place? Please tell me what you believe, whether it’s a reason or reasons, just tell me the truth. — Benny A., Parts Unknown
I wouldn’t say they are in poor shape in terms of personnel. There’s been a tremendous amount of overreaction to the 2019 season. If you were judging by public sentiment and not the standings, you’d think the Bears were 5-11 or worse. They were not. They finished 8-8 and, yes, everyone involved has admitted it was a very disappointing season. They’re talented on defense and had one of the better units in the league on that side of the ball, especially when they were healthy. Offensively, things were broken from the start, and they never really got fixed. They had a major problem at quarterback, the offensive line underperformed and the run-game scheme was flawed. Add in a couple of ill-timed special teams letdowns, and you have a .500 season. The Bears need to rebound with a draft class that can have multiple contributors this coming season, and they need more hits than misses in free agency, which can be just as volatile and more costly than the draft. But they’re not in poor shape in terms of personnel. Could it get better? Sure. They need better quarterback play and better line play, and if they get that, it’s easy to see them playing in January next year.
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What clicked with Ryan Tannehill this year that allowed him to go from bust to a top-10 quarterback in the league (at least in 2019)? Is there a reason unique to Mitch Trubisky that makes a similar leap forward less likely for him? I’ll hang up and listen for my answer. — @mmurphy_il
Well, Tannehill had a couple of pretty successful seasons for the Dolphins, even if his team wasn’t consistently good. He certainly went to Tennessee with more experience and a greater body of work than Trubisky will enter next season with. Tannehill had 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2014, when he completed 66.4 percent of his passes and threw for 4,045 yards. He followed it up with a 4,000-yard season in 2015 with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. I think there are a few factors that led to his success in Tennessee, where he started 10 games this season. For starters, Tannehill walked into a situation where there wasn’t pressure on him right away. He was able to spend the offseason, summer and preseason learning the offense with Marcus Mariota entrenched as the starter. That learning process continued into the regular season that gave Tannehill some time to adjust, because learning a new offense takes time. He was aided greatly by the success of the Titans’ power running game. They ran a lot of two-back play action where they would run weak side with two backs and he would throw to an in-breaking route behind that. Some of these throws were wide open. That created tons of room for yards after the catch. The coaching staff did a nice job of scheming for him and finding open window throws for him in the middle of the field. Tannehill led the NFL in yards per attempt on play action, and he was playing with a lot of confidence, really throwing the ball with velocity and accuracy into tight windows on occasion. He was playing with anticipation and an understanding of where those windows would be. That’s where things really differ with Trubisky. He threw the ball erratically and did not play with confidence last season. Trubisky tends to play cautiously, and there were times this season when Tannehill was just letting it rip.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill makes a pass against the Chiefs during the AFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Do you think Leonard Floyd has any trade value? If so, do you think the Bears should part ways with him given the lack of cap space for the team this offseason? I know you might say that he has little to no trade value, but you don’t think a team swimming in cap space might be interested in taking a flier on an athlete like Leonard? I think the Bears can find guys who are just as productive as Leonard with lower ceilings for much less money. — Danny P., New Jersey
Here's the problem with trading for Floyd: A team acquiring him would only have him under contract for one season. Then he will be an unrestricted free agent. So, what team is going to trade much (if anything) for a player set to earn $13.2 million before free agency? Don’t you imagine those teams see the same things you do in terms of limited pass-rushing production?
During all of these quarterback wish lists and discussions, the thing that I either see used as an excuse to dismiss a quarterback or to talk one up is fit with Matt Nagy’s scheme. The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on exactly what traits, tools, and physical characteristics actually make a quarterback a good “fit” for the scheme. There are a ton of things that you want in any quarterback like accuracy and athleticism, but what kinds of things are specific to Nagy’s system that separate one quarterback from another? Can you please break down exactly what type of quarterback is built physically and mentally to thrive, not just be OK, but actually ascend in Nagy’s scheme? — Case B., Wichita, Kan.
Well, you start with the physical traits and that includes accuracy and ability to drive the ball downfield. Then, you have to find a quarterback that can process action mentally and do so with a high degree of accuracy and speed. I think that’s perhaps where the biggest disconnect is for Mitch Trubisky right now. It’s the 15 seconds before the snap and then the action right after the snap that can lead to some really poor plays for the Bears. Finding an athletic quarterback is great, but finding one who mentally is at the top of the charts is even more important, in my opinion.
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The Pro Bowl game is a joke. Also, there is a chance for injury. Sure, make up the teams, which honor outstanding players, but skip the hokey game. What say you? — Carl B., Santa Fe, N.M.
I’d say don’t watch it if you think it is a joke. I don’t find it particularly entertaining, but the players enjoy it, especially the ones who are first-time selections. Sure, there is a chance for injury, but not much more so than a player would face in an OTA practice. Players could get injured playing pickup basketball in the offseason too. There isn’t a high risk of injury, and the game, believe it or not, does solid television ratings, especially when compared to significant events in other sports.


chicagotribune--2020-01-30--52-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in 2017 slaying of Diamond Turner

Her mother , Latisha Turner , said the last time the family saw her , she was leaving her home @ @ @ @ @ with an older man , possibly in his late 50s .
He picked her up @ @ @ @ @ s The New Generation , a lounge at 69th Street and Stony Island Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 .

Latisha Turner, left, mother of Diamond Turner, and her sister, Latonya Turner, take questions from reporters outside the Leighton Criminal Court Building after the bond hearing for Arthur Hilliard. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Suspicion surrounded Arthur Hilliard from almost the moment Diamond Turner was killed nearly three years ago.
In the middle of the night, Hilliard was seen mopping up a trail of blood from his bedroom to the back door of the apartment he shared with three other people. Turner, 21, whom Hilliard had been dating, was nowhere to be seen. In the morning, Hilliard was seen sitting on his bed, cleaning a hammer. Later in the day, he tossed the mattress.
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Two days later, on March 3, 2017, Turner’s beaten, partially naked body was found in a trash bin behind the building, according to a narrative sketched in court by Cook County prosecutors Thursday after first-degree murder charges were filed against Hilliard, 52.
Diamond Turner (Family photo)
Judge Mary Marubio ordered Hilliard held without bond, prompting praise — and relief — from Turner’s family at the courthouse.
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“He’s in jail, he ain’t out harming nobody else,” said Turner’s aunt, Latonya Turner. “It’s been three long years for me, my sister, my whole family. I’m glad he’s in jail.”
Prosecutors did not disclose why it took so long to charge Hilliard. But interim Chicago police Superintendent Charlie Beck said investigators finally got back DNA results that linked him to the murder.
“He was the primary suspect," Beck said at an unrelated news conference. "The return (of) DNA was what took so long. You know, we don’t have full ability, as with some police departments, to analyze our own DNA. So we have to rely on the state. And as soon as the DNA came back, the warrant was served.”
Prosecutors disclosed that Hilliard is also a suspect in a fatal stabbing in an apartment complex, allegedly after an argument. And a source indicated that authorities are taking a second look at another stabbing death last year near a building on the West Side that Hilliard managed.
Arthur Hilliard (Chicago Police Department)
In that last case, Hilliard was charged with concealment of a homicide in September after video caught him dumping the body of Andre Williams, 52, near the 2400 block of West Flournoy Street, according to police and court records. Williams had been repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen.
Shawndra Williams said she is convinced that Hilliard is guilty of her brother’s murder. She told reporters Thursday that she was grateful Hilliard was in custody, but mindful that if he had been arrested years ago, her brother might still be alive.
“If they would have locked him up when ... Diamond got killed, he wouldn’t have had a chance to hurt my brother,” she said.
Turner had been dating Hilliard when she was killed, prosecutors said Thursday. The two were drinking together with Hilliard’s roommates in his apartment the night of Feb. 28. At one point, Turner and Hilliard were in separate rooms and Turner told one witness she was “annoyed” with Hilliard, prosecutors said.
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The roommates awoke later that night to find a trail of blood winding from Hilliard’s bedroom through the hallway all the way to the back door, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said. Hilliard said it was from a cut on his leg, and told one roommate that Turner had gotten a call and left in a white car. But the roommate noticed Turner’s shoes and jacket were still in the apartment.
The roommates noticed other odd behavior in the following hours: Hilliard retrieved a garbage can from across an alley and told them not to touch it. He sat on his bed a few moments later, cleaning a hammer. He carried his mattress out of the apartment across the street, soaking wet.
All the while, Turner — who was usually at the apartment every day — was nowhere to be found, prosecutors said. When one roommate asked Hilliard where she was, “all he would say is that ‘(she) did it again,’ ” Murphy said in court.
On March 3, Turner’s body was found in a garbage can in the alley behind Hilliard’s apartment. When her family confronted him the next day, he blamed her death on one of his roommates. But testing eventually showed that Turner’s blood was on the floorboard of Hilliard’s room, Murphy said.
“They need to hurry up and get a better system with the DNA,” Turner’s aunt told reporters Thursday. “It shouldn’t take three years to get charged.”
In January 2018, the Tribune reported that Turner was one of at least 51 strangulations in Chicago since 2001 that had not been solved by police. Despite clusters of deaths on the South and West sides, police said at the time they had uncovered no evidence of a serial killer.
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After the story appeared, Chicago police formed a task force to review the cases.
Hilliard’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Kate Moriarty, said in court that Hilliard is a high school graduate with six adult children. He works as a property manager, she said, though prosecutors said that back in 2017 he was only pretending to be the landlord of the building where he lived.
Chicago Tribune’s Deanese Williams-Harris contributed.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-30--Muslims in Bridgeview knew they were being watched after 9/11. A local filmmaker is suing to find ou

Muslims in Bridgeview knew they were being watched after 9/11. A local filmmaker is suing to find out why and for how long

Muhammed Salah , who was put on the U.S. “ specially designated terrorist ” list in the 1990s after being @ @ @ @ @ sums of money , was the only Bridgeview resident to be charged with a crime @ @ @ @ @ community ’ s surveillance .
He was acquitted by a jury in 2007 of racketeering @ @ @ @ @ of justice and sentenced to 21 months in prison .
He died in 2016 in @ @

Assia Boundaoui is flanked by her attorney, Christina Abraham, left, and producer Jessica Devaney as they arrive Jan. 22, 2020, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for a public hearing about FBI surveillance in her community. Boundaoui released a documentary about Bridgeview in 2018 called "The Feeling of Being Watched." (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Since 2016, documentary filmmaker Assia Boundaoui has been waiting for answers from the FBI to one question: Which parts of her Arab American community in Bridgeview were surveilled after 9/11? After a court hearing last week, she learned she will have to keep waiting.
Growing up, Boundaoui heard stories from her mother and other community members about FBI agents visiting her neighborhood and knocking on doors. After two family friends were jailed for white-collar crimes, Boundaoui said in her 2018 documentary about Bridgeview, she feared her family would be next.
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A journalist by profession, Boundaoui said she needed to know why her community was being tracked so in 2016, she submitted questions through a Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI. Eventually, she received more than 33,000 heavily redacted documents that contained more than 500 names of people and organizations from Muslim communities around the country.
“It’s weird to read how they wrote about us, to see how they saw us,” Boundaoui said. “When we look through the files, we see names we recognize.”
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As part of her lawsuit to obtain the requested documents more quickly than the three-year timeline the FBI originally offered, a judge ordered two FBI employees to appear at a Jan. 22 public deposition to answer questions from attorneys. A couple of dozen community supporters also attended, but much of the proceeding focused on the FOIA process.
Boundaoui is taking up an issue that has been hanging over Muslim American communities for years and one that few people even know about: After 9/11, the federal government decided to expand its surveillance of certain neighborhoods. Even today, the reasons for these actions haven’t been fully explained.
University of Chicago professor Aziz Huq, who teaches constitutional law, said it is not surprising that the government uses more controversial tactics in its terrorism investigations.
“It’s not a new idea at all that terrorism is different from ordinary crime because its consequence and human cost is so great that the state has an interest in intervening earlier and in a range of more intrusive ways than it would in ordinary crime,” Huq said.
How such tactics are perceived depends, in part, on who is being asked.
Boundaoui’s 2018 documentary, “The Feeling of Being Watched,” describes a community where strange cars were constantly parked outside houses, cameras were installed near mosques and FBI agents questioned residents inside their homes.
Assia Boundaoui poses after arriving Jan. 22, 2020, at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for a public hearing regarding FBI surveillance in her community. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“At the end of the day we think what they’re really trying to hide is that there was a profiling investigation in the ’90s of all Muslims, all of their organizations, under the auspice of this counterterrorism investigation, and it was basically profiling,” said Boundaoui’s attorney, Christina Abraham.
Surveillance of Muslim American communities in the Chicago area started in the 1990s, when the FBI began focusing on charities in the U.S. as possible sources of funding for terrorists overseas. One such investigation was Operation Vulgar Betrayal, “one of the largest anti-terrorism investigations ever conducted in the United States before 9/11,” according to Boundaoui’s lawsuit.
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FBI agent Daniel William said Vulgar Betrayal ended in 2000. But after 9/11, FBI field offices were encouraged to go through closed cases to determine whether there were subjects worth investigating again, he said. Three Palestinian men, including Muhammad Salah of Bridgeview, were indicted on material support and racketeering charges.
The documents Boundaoui received describe some of the surveillance and information-gathering: lists of Islamic centers, Muslim student associations and businesses around the country, news clippings about Salah, descriptions of an Islamic Society of North America convention in Chicago in 1997, and records of sharing documents between FBI field offices, among other files.
Siobhan Johnson, spokeswoman for the Chicago FBI office, declined to comment on the case.
‘Hypervigilant’ kids
Itedal Shalabi, co-founder and executive director of Arab American Family Services, said the community has always felt like it’s being watched.
After Sept. 11, Shalabi said neighbors moved because they felt like targets, while others looked to the community for security. Shalabi said she remembered starting patrols with other women to ask people in unfamiliar parked cars what they were up to — suspecting they were FBI and police.
“The FBI came and knocked on my door after 9/11,” Shalabi said. “My son was 8 years old at that time.
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“So I personally made a point to go downtown, to get a FOIA, to see who would report an 8-year-old as a terrorist for Hamas, and to ensure that my children saw their mom using the law of the land as well to bring about some sort of justice,” Shalabi said.
Experiences like that took a toll on young people, Shalabi said, and kids became “hypervigilant” about certain trucks, saying things like, “Look, the FBI is here.”
But they also affected the larger community, sowing doubt.
“That feeling of, man, so-and-so’s being watched,” Shalabi said. “Is he innocent? Is she innocent?”
Standing behind Boundaoui’s request for an accounting feels personal, Shalabi said. "Kudos to her, because a lot of people in the community were not believing that someone could do that, an average person could do that.”
She said she loves this country because “the average person has a right to make a noise and to say this is unfair.”
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But reactions were mixed among members of the Mosque Foundation, a neighborhood hub in Bridgeview established by Palestinian immigrants in 1954.
One man said he had watched parts of the documentary but was hesitant to endorse it. He wasn’t eager to make waves. Another woman said she wished she could have attended the Wednesday deposition.
A 15-year-old girl said she and her friends had recently learned about Boundaoui’s project and thought possible surveillance was “shocking.”
Benefits vs. costs
Muhammed Salah, who was put on the U.S. “specially designated terrorist” list in the 1990s after being arrested in Israel with large sums of money, was the only Bridgeview resident to be charged with a crime as a result of the community’s surveillance. He was acquitted by a jury in 2007 of racketeering charges but convicted of obstruction of justice and sentenced to 21 months in prison. He died in 2016 in Bridgeview.
In the Chicago suburbs, a backlash against Muslims grew after 9/11. Suburban residents and zoning boards have protested mosque building permits in places like Palos Heights, Orland Park, Glenview and Naperville, the last one inspiring a play on the topic. Often, they would say that the concern was over traffic, but sometimes residents would say they were afraid of terrorism.
Law enforcement officials may feel a responsibility to take preventive measures, like enforcing surveillance tactics, rather than waiting to pursue charges after a crime is committed, said U. of C. law professor Geoffrey Stone. Anti-terrorism methods rely heavily on finding out who is plotting what, said Stone, but also include the difficult question of appropriate limits.
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“Those in the position of trying to protect people are understandably much more focused on doing more aggressive things than when you talk to them in a basic criminal context," Stone said.
Many people can justify targeting certain communities because of the perceived benefit, said Huq, the U. of C. constitutional law professor.
“When you have a democracy where the majority decide, and when you’re picking a policy that may or may not affect the majority but will certainly incur costs on a discreet minority, democracies will always choose to inflict those costs, given the policy is costless for most,” Huq said.
The 33,000 documents Boundaoui obtained, more than 20,000 of which are redacted in full, she said, confirm that the investigation into Salah was a spinoff investigation from Vulgar Betrayal. She wants to know if there were other spinoff investigations, perhaps some that are ongoing today.
But at the deposition, FBI FOIA officer David Hardy said a search of words like “spinoff” in the full text of the documents didn’t fall within the requirements of the FOIA request, which asked for information on investigations that “continued the work of Operation Vulgar Betrayal."
“We completed the task at hand, which was to gather what we could,” he said.
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Hardy also said the agency was hampered by the volume of documents in Boundaoui’s request on top of other requests from around the country.
“When you have 32,000 requests coming in, it’s like processing documents under Niagara Falls,” said Hardy, referring to the FBI’s annual number of FOIA requests.
However, Boundaoui has had some success. In late December, the FBI acknowledged having about 40,000 more documents related to the operation that it hadn’t initially released. At the agency’s normal processing rate of 500 pages per month, according to an affidavit by Hardy, the first release of these pages to Boundaoui would be in March of this year.
“All of the hiding things and the wordplay they’ve used, it seems like they really don’t want us to have these records,” she said. “They really don’t want to show the extent to what happened after 9/11.”
According to a 2004 Tribune report, a month after 9/11, Chicago’s top federal law enforcement officials drove out to the Mosque Foundation for an unusual town hall meeting. Five hundred people crowded into the basement as authorities explained that they were there simply to promote better relations with the community. But when questioned, the officials made a statement that some in the audience found unsettling: They would neither confirm nor deny that they were investigating the mosque. To comment, the officials said, would violate government policy.
Today, residents are struggling to understand the implications of the surveillance.
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As the sun set, the domes at the Mosque Foundation glowed and a green light lit up the minaret, visible from nearby blocks containing a mix of multigarage corner lots with small homes. Nearby were suburban hallmarks — Menards, Culvers — and strip malls filled with bakeries and jewelers. But Bridgeview, Shalabi said, is a “Little Palestine,” a “sacred land.”
“You walk around and you can hear the Egyptian accent, you can hear the Palestinian accent, you can hear the Moroccan accent,” Shalabi said.
“It is a place of hope. A place where you nurture. Where you can speak your language and not be afraid that your neighbor will call the police on you. A place where you smell some food and you knock on the door and say, ‘Hey, what are you cooking?’”
Boundaoui also appreciates that sense of community. Although little new information came out of the hearing, seeing neighbors come out in support — a majority of whom were women — was a major victory.
Jumana Al-Qawasmi, a Hickory Hills resident, said she attended Universal School, one of the institutions that appears in the FBI documents, and took Arabic classes in Bridgeview for some of her childhood. She said she grew up hearing about the surveillance from her parents and being told to be careful.
“On one hand, I never expected this to be an aha moment. They’re going to continually put obstacles in her path," said Al-Qawasmi who runs a Palestinian art studio in Orland Park. "But at the same time it was empowering and a victory in how many people filled that courtroom.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-30--Carrie Coon on ‘Bug,’ conspiracy theories in the White House and her husband, Tracy Letts

A : I remember I used to think he was a girl .
What a talented woman , I used to think .
But yes , “ Mary Page Marlowe ” was his play .
And the “ Three Sisters ” was his adaptation .
But this is my first crack at leading lady in one of those plays that launched his career .
Slowly .
I ’ ve always thought that “ Bug ” was a transitional play , sitting between the gothic “ Killer Joe ” and “ The Man From Nebraska , ” more of a realistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than me .
I see Tracy in all of them , of course .
He has a very distinctive voice and humor is always a part of his writing .
And he ’ s not afraid of theatricality .
But there is always a meta consideration , a central metaphor about America .
What I love about Tracy ’ s work is that it never feels like he is writing the same play over and over again .
And I can ’ t say that about every playwright .
Whether or not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he is always innovating .
And you have to remember in his early career , he was working under the constraints of a small Chicago theater company .
He was basically writing to employ his friends .
There had to be a unit set .
Characters of certain ages .
When he wrote “ Bug , ” he was thinking about the same company that had created “ Killer Joe .
”

Carrie Coon at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, where she is starring as Agnes in "Bug," written by husband Tracy Letts in the 1990s. (Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune)
On Monday, Steppenwolf Theatre Company opens “Bug,” a play by Tracy Letts that was first seen in London in 1996 and, subsequently, at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, where it starred Michael Shannon and Shannon Cochran, and then at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York.
Set in a cheap motel room outside Oklahoma City — a region much dissected by Letts in the years that followed — “Bug” follows the trajectory of a persuasive young drifter and the malleable waitress who falls in love with him. The title refers to the insects that wend their way into the narrative, or, at least, into the characters’ increasingly intense perceptions of their own story. “Bug” feels much like a study in paranoia, unless you think governmental actions make the word redundant.
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Steppenwolf’s all new production is directed by David Cromer, a Chicago director who has carved out a career on Broadway in recent years. Its star this time is Carrie Coon, 39, known for her work on “The Leftovers” and married to Letts. The couple live in Bucktown with their new baby. Coon, who has performed four times at Steppenwolf, met up to talk in a nearby cafe, just before leaving for the Sundance Film Festival to promote her new movie, “The Nest.” The following has been edited from our conversation.
Q: This is your first play as an ensemble member.
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A: Yes. I really didn’t expect to be made an ensemble member because it was always very dubious when I would be able to commit to the theater, because of the things that are happening in my career in TV and film. I was very shocked.
Q: I wasn’t. But did it mean something to you?
A: Oh, absolutely. I came to this city like every young actor, trying to audition. It is quickly apparent where you want to work. I am lucky that Steppenwolf pulled me in.
Q: This is not exactly your first appearance in a Tracy Letts play. You must know the man pretty well by now.
A: I remember I used to think he was a girl. What a talented woman, I used to think. But yes, “Mary Page Marlowe” was his play. And the “Three Sisters” was his adaptation. But this is my first crack at leading lady in one of those plays that launched his career. Slowly. I’ve always thought that “Bug” was a transitional play, sitting between the gothic “Killer Joe” and “The Man From Nebraska,” more of a realistic piece. But you would know better than me. I see Tracy in all of them, of course. He has a very distinctive voice and humor is always a part of his writing. And he’s not afraid of theatricality. But there is always a meta consideration, a central metaphor about America. What I love about Tracy’s work is that it never feels like he is writing the same play over and over again. And I can’t say that about every playwright. Whether or not an individual effort is or is not successful, he is always innovating. And you have to remember in his early career, he was working under the constraints of a small Chicago theater company. He was basically writing to employ his friends. There had to be a unit set. Characters of certain ages. When he wrote “Bug,” he was thinking about the same company that had created “Killer Joe.”
Q: David Cromer is a new wrinkle.
A: I love Cromer and have always wanted to work with him. I loved “The Band’s Visit.” I don’t like most musicals. I think I don’t entirely understand them. But that one was staged so I understood why people were singing. He knows how to make simple, classy transitions. This will be the classiest production that “Bug” had ever been gifted. The production values are so much higher than has ever been the case before. “Bug" doesn’t usually get this kind of treatment.
Q: Originally, this was a very famous Michael Shannon performance.
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A: He and Tracy did a Q&A at the Music Box (theater). They were like rock stars. “Bug” does represent the best of Chicago fringe theater. In some ways, we are up against the memory of that production. But it is also exciting to introduce this play to a new generation. It’s a love story. It’s ultimately a metaphor about love and co-dependency and what happens to us when we are in love. Isn’t that what love is? A shared delusion?
Q: If you say so.
A: Whether or not you’ve ever had a bug infestation, we’ve all been involved in our own love stories for better or worse. The play is not exactly hopeful — I mean it is what it is — but the characters do find some purpose for their life in the end. And then they save the world. See, I am in a play about two people who are in love and save the world.
Q: What about the whole government-conspiracy thing?
A: We have a conspiracy theorist in the White House, for god’s sake! “Bug” has never been more relevant. The psychology of the play, by the way, is absolutely sound. You can justify paranoia and conspiracy; the play accounts for both. And these days, there is no truth. There is no objectivity. We can’t even have a rational argument any more. That is a real disservice toward policy making. Conspiracy theories used to be passed around on ham radio. Now there are men, primarily, in the White House who make decisions about going to war and their foundational beliefs are conspiracy theories.
Q: You are outspoken on the Twitter.
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A: I know. I didn’t want to be. But it’s therapeutic. Having a toddler has been a blessing because it forces me to take time out from the news.
Q: But you are not a branded actress in that social-media kind of way. You’re boutique.
A: I don’t like that branding thing. I am always saying to my team — and, yes, I have a team now Chris— that I never want to be that. I hate the idea that a person is a brand. It feels exactly like Citizens United and the idea that corporations are actually people. It’s all part of the same problem.
Q: What is your trajectory now? Your dual careers are crazy.
A: Yes, isn’t it weird that Tracy in having this great movie career in his 50s? That was unexpected. This is the first time I’ve done a play with a toddler and it’s much tougher to work in the theater than on TV and film, where there are a lot more breaks. You sit on your butt. It’s so much harder to work in the theater. You work hours that aren’t all that amenable. You can’t do everything — it’s hard to be a good actor, a good mom and take care of yourself. My joke is I now will only do something very easy or very hard. The payoff for doing a job has to merit the time. I don’t mean career pay-off, but I mean what it gives you. I have a mommy group of Chicago actors who have kids. We never see each other.
Q: You’re both staying in town, though. Right?
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A: We’re here. We are committed to our theater company. Our house is down the street. As I sit here, I am still figuring out what it is to have a toddler in Chicago. We’re in a place in our careers now where we can take turns, but we’re also very much aware that this might be the peak. So there you go.
“Bug” is now in previews and runs through March 8 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.; 312-335-1650 and www.steppenwolf.org
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Ask Amy: Mom worries about 'fat shaming' her son

Start with asking him to chop vegetables for the family salads .
Move on to making omelets , fajitas , @ @ @ @ @ surprisingly fun to make ) .
Distinguishing between `` whole '' foods and processed foods @ @ @ @ @ basic informed choices about his own eating .
But should you force him to log @ @ @ @ @ watching over his shoulder ?
I do n't think you should .

Dear Amy: I'm a comfortably retired mom with a 17-year-old son.
I totally resented my parents' fat-shaming when I was growing up. (Oddly, I was tall and underweight at the time.) I went to the gym every day as a young adult and could never please my parents.
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I resented every comment from my parents about weight gain. Now I am a boomer on the high end of BMI and "overweight." My doctor told me my bloodwork is great, to relax, and not to diet.
Now I see the point my parents tried to make. I am making my son log calories on a website to be aware that beef brisket has a ton more calories than fish.
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I make him run the stairs in our house (one flight) and do two minutes of cardio. I am teaching him not to be sedentary.
I have this bad, looming, horrible, guilty feeling about this health education, because of how my parents treated me. Is it OK to get my son to log meals and learn about calories, good and bad fats, etc.?
He gladly jumps up to exercise, but he isn't too interested in learning about calories and nutrition. I compliment him on his looks. I just hope he doesn't feel like I'm fat shaming.
What do you think?
— Concerned Mom
Dear Mom: Your son is old enough that, rather than "make" him log meals and run up the stairs, you could engage him more fully in a healthy eating program at home. Learning to cook will equip him for when he leaves.
Start with asking him to chop vegetables for the family salads. Move on to making omelets, fajitas, and breads (which are surprisingly fun to make). Distinguishing between "whole" foods and processed foods will help him to make basic informed choices about his own eating. But should you force him to log his eating, with you watching over his shoulder? I don't think you should.
Be honest with your son about how your parents treated you, and how you felt about it. Tell him you want to pass along a healthier message.
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He will be out of the house soon and on his own. If he feels knowledgeable, competent, and in control of his own choices, he'll be prepared for the ramen years. (And, by the way, there are times when a good brisket is totally worth its weight in calories.)
Your son might like trying recipes from "The I Don't Know How to Cook Book: 300 Great Recipes You Can't Mess Up!" by Mary-Lane Kamberg (2015, Adams Media).
Dear Amy: My nearly 30-year-old daughter has developed some poor social habits and I am not sure if it is appropriate to offer advice or let her continue down this path.
She wears old, worn-out clothes and has poor eating habits, including eating very fast, taking huge bites of food, using her fingers to eat, and slurping her drinks. She is bright, beautiful, kind, and has launched her career. She is independent.
I obviously dropped the ball when raising her to correct these habits early on, and now find myself being embarrassed to eat with her.
Is it appropriate as a parent to insert myself at this point?
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We talk very carefully about these topics and she says she is expressing her own "style" in dressing and has acknowledged wanting to slow down the speed of her eating, but there have not been any improvements.
Do I stay out of this or do I gently insert myself?
— Judgmental and Concerned Parent
Dear Judgmental: No, you should not comment on your daughter's style of dress. She likely sees a mirror each day and is making choices.
However, I do think you should continue to prompt her about her eating style. None of us eats in front of a mirror. She says she is working on some of her habits. If a parent can't occasionally act as a "reflection," in a nonjudgmental but concerned way, then no one can.
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 did not like your answer to "Worried," who was saddled with horrible stepchildren. You asked her, "Where's your empathy?"
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Why did you support these awful, rude young adults over the person they were mean to?
— Horrified
Dear Horrified: "Worried" had been in the lives of these young adults for almost 10 years. I suggested that she reflect on the role she might have had in how they turned out, and that more compassion (and less harsh judgment) might yield a better result.
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--2020-01-29--DePaul drops to 1-7 in the Big East with a 64-57 loss to No. 10 Seton Hall

“ This was probably one of the roughest games I have had in a while , ” Powell said after @ @ @ @ @ 8-0 Big East ) rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit .
“ If it wasn @ @ @ @ @ and coaching staff picking me up and not letting me hang my head , I @ @ @ @ @ would have finished the way I did .
I owe it all to them .
@

NEWARK, N.J. — Preseason All America Myles Powell was having one of those nights where nothing was going right, so Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard got in his face and raised his voice.
It was nothing personal. Just a little encouragement in a loud enough voice so Powell could hear him in a noisy Prudential Center.
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The senior guard got the message and scored 24 points despite a woeful shooting effort and No. 10 Seton Hall won its 10th straight with a 64-57 victory over DePaul on Wednesday night.
“This was probably one of the roughest games I have had in a while,” Powell said after the Pirates (16-4, 8-0 Big East) rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit. “If it wasn’t for my teammates and coaching staff picking me up and not letting me hang my head, I don’t think I would have finished the way I did. I owe it all to them.”
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Powell, who was 7 of 21 from the field and 8 of 13 from the free-throw line, was terrific with the game on the line. He scored 18 second-half points, including 11 straight for the Hall, in building a late 60-53 lead.
“He was struggling,” Willard said of Powell. “Every once in a while you don’t have your 'A' game and I just wanted him to keep attacking. Sometimes the building is loud, so you just have to yell.”
Powell wasn’t the only one who got the message. Jared Rhoden added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Quincy McKnight had nine and a big defensive play, forcing a late turnover as Seton Hall beat the Blue Demons (13-8, 1-7) for the second time this season.
Powell and Rhoden were the difference in the final 20 minutes, combining for 27 points in a game that featured four technical fouls and 40 turnovers.
“What we are really about is defense,” Rhoden said. “We missed probably most of our free throws (14 of 29) and missed most of our 3-point shots (6 of 27), but it’s about our defense. That’s how we got to be a top-10 team and that’s how we will continue to be a top-10 team.”
Charlie Moore had 14 points and Jalen Coleman-Lands added 10 for DePaul, which turned a 17-6 first-half deficit into a 41-32 lead in the opening minutes of the second half.
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The Blue Demons' last lead was 51-50 with 6:45 to play, but Powell finally got hot in helping build a seven-point edge.
DePaul never got closer than five the rest of the game. The Blue Demons shot 33% from the field for the game.
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DePaul coach Dave Leitao said Seton Hall is tough to beat because the Pirates play with poise and have a lot of experience.
"They don't ever panic," he said. "You can be up 10 or down 10 and they play the same way, whether they are making shots or not making them."
The winning streak is the longest for Seton Hall since taking 12 straight late in 1992-93. The 8-0 start in the league is the best for the Pirates.
DePaul rallied from an 11-point deficit to take a 29-28 lead at the half. The Pirates were outscored 14-5 in the final eight minutes, including a last-second basket by Anthony Nelson.
The Blue Demons have lost seven of eight since the start of league play. The one win was over then-No. 5 Butler. DePaul next plays at Marquette on Saturday.


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Chicago parents charged after telling false story of how 1-year-old boy was shot, police say

The two were taken into custody this week following a Monday incident in which their 1-year-old son was shot in @ @ @ @ @ brought him to Weiss Memorial Hospital with a story of shielding the infant from bullets @ @ @ @ @ But upon investigation , police found the story to be false , they said .

The mother's apartment building in the 800 block of West Eastwood Avenue is shown on Jan 28, 2020. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Travis McCoy and Adriana Smith were arguing over finding another place to live.
A gun fell from McCoy’s jacket as they quarreled, and both of them scrambled for it. The gun went off, the bullet ricocheting and hitting their 23-month-old son in the side of the head, prosecutors said Thursday as the married couple appeared side by side in court.
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In the frantic moments that followed, McCoy scooped up the boy and ran to Weiss Memorial Hospital down the street from the Uptown apartment, prosecutors said. Smith stayed behind, cleaning up some of the blood before leaving the apartment and tossing the weapon into a neighborhood park, authorities said.
McCoy ran into police officers outside the hospital and told them a story about being fired at while walking in the alley with his son, hearing gunfire and trying in vain to shield the boy.
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[ Police: Toddler was not hit by stray bullet on the street, as father claimed, but was wounded as parents struggled over gun ]
But police and prosecutors said the story quickly fell apart when a cadre of patrolmen, evidence technicians and detectives were unable to find any signs of a shooting anywhere on the street, as McCoy watched for about 30 minutes from a police vehicle, authorities said. Police went to the home, saw blood throughout, and found a spent shell casing, a bullet hole and a shattered window.
Doctors told police that the bullet struck the boy’s right temple, but said bullet fragments hadn’t penetrated the toddler’s skull, and he was expected to be released from a hospital later Thursday.
Travis McCoy, 26, left, and Adriana Smith, 28. (Chicago Police Department)
McCoy, 26, was charged with making a false complaint to 911, and Smith with obstruction of justice and destroying evidence. The two were also charged with a misdemeanor count of causing a child to be endangered.
Surveillance cameras at Smith’s apartment building in the 800 block of West Eastwood Avenue captured her cleaning up blood, as well as her leaving the apartment with her 7-year-old daughter to dispose of the gun, Assistant State’s Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bail hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue.
The quarrel between the couple married for nine years, according to prosecutors, quickly escalated after Smith threatened to call the police on McCoy, who responded by tossing her phone through a window in the apartment, Scaduto said. Smith responded by throwing a jean jacket at McCoy, which is when the handgun fell from coat, she added. The weapon discharged as both grabbed different ends of the gun.
"This is a horrible, horrible tragedy,” Circuit Judge Arthur Wesley Willis said Thursday as tears streamed down McCoy’s face. But a tragedy that could have been “reasonably prevented” if McCoy, who has a prior felony conviction in North Carolina, hadn’t had a weapon, the judge said, in ordering each parent held on $10,000 bail.
He said he was troubled by the parents’ actions after the shooting, but noted that the felonies lodged against them were fairly minor with probation as a possible sentence. More serious felony charges weren’t filed as authorities hadn’t located the gun, authorities said.
They will receive electronic monitoring if released but cannot communicate with each other or their children, who have been placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Chicago and Family Services.
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The couple’s court-appointed attorney, Emily Bock, called the shooting an “unimaginable accident” and said that while both parents panicked immediately afterward, neither of their actions delayed medical treatment to their son.
Smith was recently accepted at two college nursing programs with the hopes of becoming a registered nurse, Bock added.
Both will have seven days to challenge their bail and the order barring communication with their son and 7-year-old daughter.
Relatives and supporters for McCoy and Smith declined comment as they left the courthouse.
Both parents are expected to return to court next Thursday.


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Vanessa Bryant makes a statement for the first time after the deaths of her husband, Kobe, and daugh

Vanessa Bryant makes a statement for the first time after the deaths of her husband, Kobe, and daughter Gianna: ‘We are completely devastated’

My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who ’ ve shown support and love during this horrific time .
Thank you for all the prayers .
We definitely need them .
We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband , Kobe — the amazing father of our children ; and my beautiful , sweet Gianna — a loving , thoughtful , and wonderful daughter , and amazing sister to Natalia , Bianka , and Capri .
We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There aren ’ t enough words to describe our pain right now .
I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved .
We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives .
I wish they were here with us forever .
They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon .
I ’ m not sure what our lives hold beyond today , and it ’ s impossible to imagine life without them .
But we wake up each day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our baby girl , Gigi , are shining on us to light the way .
Our love for them is endless — and that ’ s to say , immeasurable .
I just wish I could hug them , kiss them and bless them .
Have them here with us , forever .
Thank you for sharing your joy , your grief and your support with us .
We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality .
To honor our Team Mamba @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy .
To donate , please go to MambaOnThree.org .
To further Kobe and Gianna ’ s legacy in youth sports , please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org .
Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers , and for loving Kobe , Gigi , Natalia , Bianka , Capri and me .
# Mamba # Mambacita # GirlsDad # DaddysGirls # Family ❤

Vanessa Bryant made her first public comment Wednesday since the helicopter crash that killed husband Kobe Bryant, one of their daughters and seven other people, taking to Instagram to thank people for the global outpouring of support since the tragedy.
She also announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash.
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“Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”
The Bryants would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this April. They had four daughters including Gianna, the 13-year-old who died in the crash.
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"There aren't enough words to describe our pain right now," Vanessa Bryant wrote. "I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon."
It was the first statement from the Bryant family since the crash. The Los Angeles Lakers — the team that Bryant spent 20 years with, winning five championships — held a media availability Wednesday as well, their first since learning of Bryant's death.
Bryant's Granity Studios also released a statement late Wednesday remembering both Bryant and his daughter as well as the other victims — Alyssa, John and Keri Altobelli; Payton and Sarah Chester; Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.
"Granity is a word Kobe created that is a combination of greater than infinity. How very Kobe," the studio's statement read. "In everything he built, Kobe was driven to teach the next generation how to reach their full potential. He believed in the beauty of the process, in the strength that comes from inner magic, and in achieving the impossible. We honor and will continue Kobe's mission and commitment to using creative education to inspire people to be the best version of themselves."
The Lakers had been scheduled to play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, a game the NBA postponed out of respect to Bryant, the other victims and the grieving process. The Lakers will next play on Friday, at home against Portland.
"I'm not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it's impossible to imagine life without them," Vanessa Bryant wrote. "But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that's to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever."
There has been no announcement on funeral or memorial plans yet for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Vanessa Bryant asked for continued respect of her family’s privacy as it begins to “navigate this new reality.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--NIU eliminating test scores in undergrad admissions: ‘Once we know a high school student’s GPA, one

NIU eliminating test scores in undergrad admissions: ‘Once we know a high school student’s GPA, one standardized test score is irrelevant’

In de-emphasizing test scores , schools have acknowledged how the test score industry has — however unwittingly —created inequities that @ @ @ @ @ invest in test preparation .
Such issues were brought to the forefront in the so-called @ @ @ @ @ revealing how wealthy parents spent heavily to help their children cheat on standardized tests and @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s most selective institutions .

Northern Illinois University is getting rid of standardized tests next year, joining a growing contingent of colleges that are minimizing the role of SAT and ACT scores in undergraduate admissions.
High school seniors applying to the DeKalb-based university no longer will have to submit test scores, university officials announced Wednesday. Instead, seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA will automatically be accepted to the school.
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The “test-blind” policy goes into effect for those students applying for the fall 2021 term. Those applying to NIU’s honors program also no longer will need to submit scores.
“This new policy comes from our deep commitment to making a college education both accessible and equitable for a broad and diverse student population,” NIU President Lisa Freeman said in a statement. “It reflects our efforts campus-wide to eliminate unnecessary and biased barriers throughout a student’s educational path.”
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NIU is the only university locally to eliminate test scores, but several others have adopted “test-optional” admissions. The University of Chicago became the first top-tier school to do so, implementing the policy in 2018. DePaul University also has made test scores optional for its applicants since 2012.
More recently, Southern Illinois University Carbondale announced in December it will implement test-optional admissions. Western Illinois University in Macomb also is test-optional and changed its policies in the fall to guarantee admission to students with more than a 3.3. GPA.
Western requests that students with less than a 3.3 GPA, however, submit test scores.
In de-emphasizing test scores, schools have acknowledged how the test score industry has — however unwittingly —created inequities that favor high-income students who can invest in test preparation. Such issues were brought to the forefront in the so-called Varsity Blues admissions scandal, revealing how wealthy parents spent heavily to help their children cheat on standardized tests and gain admission to some of the country’s most selective institutions.
College officials long would try to reassure students that the admissions process involves far more than test scores, saying grades, essays and other materials gave a better picture of a student’s capabilities. Still, some admissions officials said it was difficult to convey that message until their schools dropped the test score requirement.
“Once we know a high school student’s GPA, one standardized test score is irrelevant,” NIU Provost Beth Ingram said in a statement. “We believe that this will encourage good students to focus on getting the most out of their high school classes.”
The changes in the admissions policy come as NIU has struggled to stem steep enrollment losses. The number of first-time freshman students at NIU has been stable for years. But overall enrollment has dropped 32% since 2009, according to state data.
The same is true in Carbondale and at Macomb. Total enrollment at SIU declined 42.5% since 2009, from 20,350 to 11,695 students. Western’s enrollment has dropped by 40% in the past decade, from 12,679 to 7,624.
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“Standardized tests are not necessarily a reflection of how successful a student is, or can be,” Western’s Interim President Martin Abraham said in October. “We feel that the grade point average is a good indicator of a student’s academic ability as the GPA encompasses not just grades achieved on exams, but for projects, homework and more. It’s a reflection of the work a student puts into his/her overall schoolwork in order to be successful.”
drhodes@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Facebook may pay Illinois users a couple of hundred dollars each in $550 million privacy settlement

Illinois has one of the strictest biometric privacy laws in the nation .
The 2008 law mandates that companies collecting @ @ @ @ @ from consumers , detailing how they ’ ll use it and how long it will @ @ @ @ @ also allows private citizens to sue .

Facebook will pay $550 million to Illinois users to settle allegations that its facial tagging feature violated their privacy rights. (Tony Avelar / AP)
Facebook will pay $550 million to Illinois users to settle allegations that its facial tagging feature violated their privacy rights.
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The settlement — which could amount to a couple of hundred dollars for each user who is part of the class-action settlement — stems from a federal lawsuit filed in Illinois nearly five years ago that alleges the social media giant violated a state law protecting residents’ biometric information. Biometric information can include data from facial, fingerprint and iris scans.
Illinois has one of the strictest biometric privacy laws in the nation. The 2008 law mandates that companies collecting such information obtain prior consent from consumers, detail how they’ll use it and specify how long the information will be kept. The law also allows private citizens, rather than just governmental entities, to file lawsuits over the issue.
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[ Are you eligible for part of the Facebook settlement? Here’s what you need to know. ]
No details have been released regarding who is eligible to claim a portion of the settlement, how much they will receive, or how they will be notified. A federal court judge in San Francisco, where the lawsuit was moved, must approve the settlement.
“We are expecting a record number of claims to be filed,” said attorney Jay Edelson, whose firm represents some of the consumers. “But even with that, we think that the class members are going to get a good amount of money.”
[ Illinois Supreme Court rules against Six Flags in lawsuit over fingerprint scans. Here's why Facebook and Google care. ]
The final payout will depend on how many people file claims. An estimated 5 million to 6 million Illinois Facebook users could be included in the class, said Paul Geller, another of the attorneys representing consumers.
In 2018, a judge defined the class as Facebook users in Illinois from whom the Menlo Park, California-based company created a stored face template after June 7, 2011, the date Facebook said its tag suggestion feature was available in most countries.
The feature uses facial recognition software to match users’ new photos with other photos they’re tagged in. It groups similar photos together and suggests the names of friends in the photos.
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Geller said Facebook has altered its platform for Illinois users. The company did not immediately respond to a request for details about what changes it made.
Facebook had argued that its collection of biometric information did not harm individuals, and that they do not have grounds to sue under Illinois’ biometrics law.
“We decided to pursue a settlement as it was in the best interest of our community and our shareholders to move past this matter,” Facebook spokeswoman Dina El-Kassaby said in a statement.
[ Shutterfly lawsuit tags Illinois as battleground in facial recognition fight ]
Facebook executives disclosed the settlement Wednesday during a call with analysts to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings, which rose 7%, to $7.3 billion.
The settlement is a win for privacy advocates who say that protecting biometric information is critical because, unlike a credit card number, it can’t be changed if it’s stolen.
“This pretty firmly establishes the fact that those harms are real and consumers deserve restitution when their rights have been violated,” said Abe Scarr, director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization.
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With Illinois’ strict biometric privacy law, the state has become a hotbed for lawsuits surrounding the use of increasingly popular technologies, like facial recognition and fingerprint scans. Facebook hasn’t been the only tech giant involved in such suits.
Google, Snapchat and photo-sharing site Shutterfly also have faced allegations involving biometrics, as have companies outside the tech industry, including hotel chains and grocery stores.
Many have chosen to settle biometric privacy lawsuits filed against them, according to information from law firm Holland and Knight. Settlement amounts have ranged from $80 per class member in a roughly 4,000-person class to $1,300 in a 300-person class.
The Facebook settlement is historic, said Matthew Kugler, an associate professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law.
Not only is the promised $550 million payout notable, but Facebook is a company everyone pays attention to, he said. That includes smaller companies dealing with biometric information that have less resources for a lengthy court battle.
“Every company is watching this. Facebook is always the canary in the coal mine when it comes to privacy, because their business so runs on consumer information," he said. “(And) because they are one of the biggest, they will always be one of the first hit.”
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Edelson said that biometrics, which are increasingly used, need to be utilized responsibly.
“In our view Silicon Valley is really sprinting to create a world where we are tracked everywhere we go, and that’s a different world," Edelson said. “That’s scary to us.”
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
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chicagotribune--2020-01-29--Chicago man gets 20 years in prison for being part of group that carjacked Wheaton couple at gunpoin

Chicago man gets 20 years in prison for being part of group that carjacked Wheaton couple at gunpoint

Smith , previously of the 3900 block of West Flournoy Street , and two other men are accused of following @ @ @ @ @ residence on the night of Feb. 22 , 2017 .
Smith and Carlos Moore , @ @ @ @ @ accosted the couple at gunpoint in their garage and demanded the keys to the car @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle and were later able to elude police in a chase after the car @ @ @ @ @ later recovered in a Chicago parking lot , authorities said .

A Chicago man who was one of three people involved in the armed carjacking of a Wheaton couple was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison, according to DuPage County court records.
In a negotiated plea, Phillip Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular hijacking and agreed to the 20-year term in exchange for prosecutors dropping other counts he faced, court records say.
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Phillip J. Smith, left, and Carlos Moore. (DuPage County State's Attorney's office; Cook County Jail)
Smith, previously of the 3900 block of West Flournoy Street, and two other men are accused of following a Wheaton couple to their residence on the night of Feb. 22, 2017. Smith and Carlos Moore, both wearing masks, allegedly accosted the couple at gunpoint in their garage and demanded the keys to the car. The trio left with the vehicle and were later able to elude police in a chase after the car was spotted. It was later recovered in a Chicago parking lot, authorities said.
The victims were not injured during the incident.
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Police later arrested Moore and Smith, but the third person was never charged. Moore is serving a 21-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to armed robbery.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.