chicagotribune--2020-04-19--Evans Scholars grateful for college opportunity: ‘I couldn’t stop smiling.’

“ I see at the golf course how the Evans Scholars , they all know each other , ” De @ @ @ @ @ They all have connections with business people from the Evans Scholarship committee and different companies @ @ @ @ @ like the connections of being an Evans Scholar is gon na help me a lot @ @ @ @

West Leyden senior Gio De La Torre said he is motivated to make a difference for others. (Charles Cherney/WGA)
Jensen Genyk would wake up at 6 a.m. for his summer job as a caddie at Park Ridge Country Club, but sometimes he would not have any work to do until 3 p.m. One way he passed the time was by listening to podcasts in the caddie shack.
He likes to listen to the Freakonomics podcast and The Tim Ferriss Show, a business podcast.
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Along with classmate Jack Gorman, Genyk started the school’s podcast club and launched the Lunch Table Talk podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Given Genyk’s taste in podcasts and his enterprising spirit, it probably isn’t a big surprise that he plans to major in finance at Indiana. Thanks, in part, to his hard work as a caddie, he won’t have to worry about paying for his education.
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Genyk received the Evans Scholarship, a college scholarship for caddies that covers the full cost of tuition and housing. To earn the scholarship, an applicant must be a good caddie who excels in school, possesses great character and has financial need, according to the Evans Scholars Foundation website.
“It was like the best accomplishment of my life and something I had been thinking about for a really long time that came to fruition,” Genyk said. “I just was happy. I couldn’t stop smiling for like the next week.”
Genyk, a Park Ridge resident, wrestled his first three years of high school, but during his junior season he said he struggled to cut weight. Plus, he wanted to focus more on the podcast.
The podcast club has about 35 members, and the group helps Genyk and Gorman pick topics for their podcast. Topics have included discussions of legendary bands and favorite movies.
Maine South senior Jensen Genyk plans to study finance at Indiana. He recently received an Evans Scholarship. (Western Golf Association photo)
Genyk said the podcast averages about 150 downloads per episode, and their record is about 600. However, Genyk measures success in a different way.
“I think it kind of paid off,” Genyk said of his decision to focus on the podcast as a senior. “The podcast club, we’ve lined up somebody for next year to take it over and host the podcast. And that was really our goal this year.”
Making a difference: When he was 11 or 12 years old, West Leyden senior Gio De La Torre traveled to Mexico to visit family. He was struck by the living conditions. The houses, roads and bridges were different from what he was accustomed to seeing in the U.S.
“It really hit me in the heart,” De La Torre said.
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In response to the trip, De La Torre decided he would major in civil engineering so he could help people. He will pursue his career goals at Illinois on an Evans Scholarship.
De La Torre, a Melrose Park resident, began caddying at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst the summer before his freshman year.
He said the scholarship is a huge financial relief for his parents, and he’s looking forward to making connections with his fellow Evans Scholars.
“I see at the golf course how the Evans Scholars, they all know each other,” De La Torre said. “They all have connections with business people from the Evans Scholarship committee and different companies and stuff. I feel like the connections of being an Evans Scholar is gonna help me a lot in life.”
De La Torre said he knew little about golf when he started as a caddie. He studied online videos about how to play the game and rose through the ranks to become an honor caddie, which is the highest level. He now assists less experienced caddies.
Those leadership skills have helped on the volleyball court with the Eagles. He’s an outside hitter and team captain.
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When Leyden fell behind in the Eagle Invite final last season, De La Torre recognized that his teammates were giving up and addressed their attitude.
“I talked to them individually and told them to cheer up and stuff, and ‘It wasn’t over until the last point,’” De La Torre said. “I was able to get their heads up, for them to keep playing, and then we ended up winning the championship.”
Krewer headed to Purdue: When St. Patrick’s Ronald Krewer qualified for the individual state wrestling tournament for the first time as a senior, it was a huge deal for him. He said he felt a sense of achievement and pride.
He also knew that while it was an honor to reach the Class 2A tournament in February at 220 pounds, it wasn’t his most significant feat of the academic year.
St. Patrick student Ronald Krewer, a River Grove resident, earned an Evans Scholarship. (Charles Cherney/WGA)
Krewer, a River Grove resident, said receiving the Evans Scholarship was a bigger deal. The college scholarship for caddies will cover the full cost of tuition and housing at Purdue, where Krewer plans to major in mechanical engineering and minor in both Mandarin and game design.
“I like wrestling a lot and I’ve done it for a while, and it’s just always something I’ve wanted to do,” Krewer said. “So qualifying for the state tournament, it felt like it was on the same level as achieving the Evans, but deep down, the Evans is still more important of an achievement.”
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Krewer learned he received the scholarship after he finished fifth at a wrestling tournament at Buffalo Grove.
“I was already really happy,” Krewer said. “When my dad told me about me receiving the Evans, I was just in complete shock. Extremely happy at the end of the day.”
Krewer has been a caddie at Oak Park Country Club in River Grove since the summer before his freshman year of high school. He said his summer job has helped him improve his communication skills.
“It’s a lot easier talking to adults now than it used to be, especially strangers, people I haven’t met before,” Krewer said. “It’s easier to introduce myself to them.”
Ryan Nilsson is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Oak Park police seek assistance from neighbors to solve double murder

“ Part of the investigative process is not only to examine the scene , but also to look beyond the @ @ @ @ @ area that might offer clues that can help solve this heinous crime , ” Reynolds @ @ @ @ @ s why I am asking residents in the surrounding blocks to help by sharing any @ @ @ @ @ recorded up to a week prior to the incident .
”

Friends and neighbors sing during a vigil for Thomas E. Johnson and Leslie Ann Jones in Oak Park on April 15, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The police chief in Oak Park is asking for residents with surveillance cameras living near Fair Oaks Avenue to share their video footage in an effort to help solve the murders of two prominent attorneys that occurred earlier this month.
Police chief LaDon Reynolds made the plea Monday evening, saying the department is looking for any security video that dates back to a week before the murders. Since the crimes were reported April 13, the department is looking for security video in the April 6 through 13 period.
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“Part of the investigative process is not only to examine the scene, but also to look beyond the incident for movements in the area that might offer clues that can help solve this heinous crime,” Reynolds said. “That’s why I am asking residents in the surrounding blocks to help by sharing any security video they may have recorded up to a week prior to the incident.”
Police were called to the home in the 500 block of Fair Oaks Avenue the evening of April 13 for a welfare check on Thomas E. Johnson, 69, and his wife, Leslie Ann Jones, 67. Officers found their bodies inside the home, and both were pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m.
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Two days later, the Cook County medical examiner ruled both were killed as the result of “multiple sharp force injuries.” Both deaths were ruled homicides.
Attorney Leslie Ann Jones, left, and her husband, fellow attorney Thomas Johnson, were found dead inside their Oak Park home on April 13, 2020. Authorities said the deaths are considered to be under 'suspicious circumstances.' (Don Sorsa) Sorsa took the photos and gave us permission to use. User Upload Caption: Attorney Leslie Ann Jones, left, and her husband, fellow attorney Thomas Johnson, were found dead inside their Oak Park home on April 13, 2020. Authorities said the deaths are considered to be under 'suspicious circumstances.' (Don Sorsa) Sorsa took the photos and gave us permission to use. - Original Credit: Handout (Don Sorsa)
Reynolds said solving the crime is a “top priority” for the department. The West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, Illinois State Police and FBI are involved and the Chicago Police Department has offered assistance.
“The level of resources focused on solving this crime is unprecedented in Oak Park,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said nothing in the investigation to date suggests residents are at any increased risk, however, increased police patrols in the area will continue.
Jones and Johnson, both graduates of Harvard Law School, were partners in the downtown law firm of Johnson, Jones, Snelling, Gilbert & Davis. Jones specialized in health care, civil rights and real estate law, while Johnson worked on issues of social justice and corporate accountability, litigating cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Johnson was particularly well-known for his work as a hearing officer for the Chicago Police Board, and also represented late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington for a time. Jones, also an accomplished attorney, was known for her charitable efforts, was involved with the arts council in Oak Park and was a longtime board member of Hephzibah Children’s Association.
Private surveillance video can be uploaded through the village of Oak Park’s website at www.oak-park.us/policevideo. Any shared videos are treated as confidential aspects of an ongoing investigation, police said. Files may also be shared anonymously.
Anyone with information about the murders is asked to contact the Oak Park Police Department at 708-386-3800. Crime tips may also be provided anonymously at 708-434-1636 or online at www.oak-park.us/crimetip.
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sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Archdiocese of Chicago reaches $2.1 million settlement in lawsuit claiming 7-year-old girl abused at

Archdiocese of Chicago reaches $2.1 million settlement in lawsuit claiming 7-year-old girl abused at church camp

`` These types of cases reflect the continued negligence by church leaders , ” said Romanucci .
“ In this @ @ @ @ @ we are appreciative that the Archdiocese of Chicago recognized how horrific this incident was and @ @ @ @ @ have on our client , which finally led to the resolution of the case .
@

The Archdiocese of Chicago has agreed to pay a $2.1 million settlement in a lawsuit that alleged a 7-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a Catholic church camp in 2015, according to a news release from the law firm representing the girl.
The law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, did not name the camp where the abuse occurred, but a spokesman said it happened at a church in suburban Cook County.
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The girl, who is now 12, was repeatedly abused by a camp counselor at the church, playground and in a classroom, according to Antonio Romanucci, one of the girl’s attorneys.
The girl told a teacher about what happened, and the teacher notified the girl’s father, according to the release.
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“When the father confronted the priest and church leaders, they discouraged the father from calling police, saying the allegations would ruin the girl’s reputation and negatively impact attendance at the church,” Romanucci said in the release.
The archdiocese declined to comment.
The counselor who the girl said abused her had a “suspected history” of mental health concerns, according to the release.
“The church leaders involved had knowledge that this man should not be responsible for young girls, and chose to look the other way,” said Martin Gould, another of the girl’s attorneys.
The settlement comes as the archdiocese is facing financial pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the archdiocese having to close church doors amid the coronavirus outbreak, the church has lost one of its largest revenue streams without parishioners making donations during Sunday Mass.
"These types of cases reflect the continued negligence by church leaders,” said Romanucci. “In this specific case, however, we are appreciative that the Archdiocese of Chicago recognized how horrific this incident was and the everlasting impact it would have on our client, which finally led to the resolution of the case.”
jaanderson@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Watch live: President Trump and members of the coronavirus task force hold a press briefing

Watch live as members of the coronavirus task force provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak in a news briefing @ @ @ @ @ .
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chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Nationally, the first 2 episodes of ‘The Last Dance’ were ESPN’s most-viewed documentary content eve

Nationally, the first 2 episodes of ‘The Last Dance’ were ESPN’s most-viewed documentary content ever, averaging 6.1 million viewers

The debut of “ The Last Dance ” was ESPN ’ s most-viewed programming nationally since the College Football Playoff @ @ @ @ @ 13 .
ESPN said the first two episodes attracted more viewers in the 18-34 and @ @ @ @ @ program since live sports halted across broadcast and cable networks last month .

The Chicago Bulls celebrate their 6th NBA title during a rally in Grant Park on June 16, 1998. From left; Tony Kukoc, Ron Harper, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Mayor Richard M. Daley, coach Phil Jackson and Gov. Jim Edgar. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls returned to TV on Sunday night via ESPN’s “The Last Dance,” still dominant in the Chicago Nielsen ratings but nowhere near as potent as back when they were actually winning championships.
ESPN and ESPN2, which simultaneously ran a version with profanities edited out, combined for a 12.6 household rating in the Chicago market for Episode 1, which represents 12.6% of the market or roughly 410,300 homes. Episode 2 of the 10-part series slipped to an 11.7.
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The vast majority of Chicago homes watching “The Last Dance” did so on ESPN (household ratings of 11.2 and 10.4) rather than the sanitized ESPN2 presentation (1.4 and 1.3).
Six more days until the next two episodes of #TheLastDance ... pic.twitter.com/m6WsEKIKAm — ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2020
Nationally, ESPN said the premiere episodes of “The Last Dance” were its most-viewed documentary content ever, averaging 6.1 million viewers. Episode 1 averaged 6.3 million and Episode 2 5.8 million across ESPN and ESPN2.
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Regardless of whether those numbers match the expectations of local sports fans who craved a shared experience in the absence of sports, “The Last Dance” blew away rival Sunday night programming in the Chicago area.
Two runners-up — CBS mainstay “60 Minutes” (7.9) and ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (4.7) — did not run against the Jordan documentary. CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans” averaged a 4.7 and 3.9, respectively, while ABC’s “American Idol” averaged a 3.5.
It’s not known yet how many people recorded “The Last Dance” or any of the other programs for viewing in the days to come.
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“The Last Dance” numbers should be seen as solid, but they don’t stack up against, say, interest in the Bears. During last year’s 8-8 season, Matt Nagy’s team averaged a 26.2 household rating, which was down 9% from the season before.
8-8 Bears averaged a 26.2 rating locally in Chicago last season per @phil_rosenthal. That's ~853,000 homes for a live NFL game people gamble on. https://t.co/I8yOP5Qae6 — SportsTVRatings (@SportsTVRatings) April 20, 2020
Even accounting for the more splintered 2020 audience versus the late 1990s and the fact “The Last Dance” is running on cable rather than free over-the-air broadcast TV, peak Jordan in action blows away a look back at peak Jordan.
Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals — in which the Bulls beat the Jazz with 5.2 seconds remaining for their sixth title and second three-peat — averaged a 52.1 household rating in the Chicago market. That was a whopping 52.1% of all area homes tuned in to NBC-5.
The Bulls’ Game 6 clincher against the Jazz a year earlier for the 1997 NBA championship averaged a 53.1 household rating in the market, more than four times as large as the ratings for the first two hours of “The Last Dance.”
The debut of “The Last Dance” was ESPN’s most-viewed programming nationally since the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 13. ESPN said the first two episodes attracted more viewers in the 18-34 and 18-49 demographics than any other program since live sports halted across broadcast and cable networks last month.
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The opening two hours of “The Last Dance” surpassed 2012′s “You Don’t Know Bo” about onetime White Sox star Bo Jackson to become ESPN Networks’ most-viewed original content since 2004. ESPN also noted the documentary’s popularity among users of Google, Twitter and other platforms.
“The Last Dance” is scheduled to resume Sunday with Episodes 3 and 4, running weekly through May 17.


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Oak Brook police, fire unions reject furlough request

“ There are no more shoplifters at our mall , ” he said .
“ Another big piece is of @ @ @ @ @ traffic .
There is no more traffic .
Our police are doing half the work @ @ @ @ @ receiving all the pay .
It ’ s not like fire .
The police are @ @ @ @ @

Unions representing Oak Brook police officers and firefighters have rejected a request to take two unpaid furlough days as part of budget reductions that have been implemented by the village board.
The budget reductions — totaling about $870,000 from the General Fund — took effect April 3 in response to an anticipated huge loss of sales tax revenue from businesses that are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Oak Brook faces a challenge that most municipalities in Illinois don’t because it doesn’t levy a property tax and instead relies on a normally strong sales tax base that covers slightly more than half of the general fund expenditures.
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Furloughs sought from the police, fire and public works unions could have saved about $50,000, said Village Manager Rick Ginex. He said the public works union was asked to take two furlough days, and said it would take three.
Ginex asked the unions representing police officers and firefighters to take one day each for two months, but they replied with a joint response, stating they would not accept furloughs at this time.
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The village has 132 full-time employees. Of those, 71, or about 54%, are in one of the three unions, Ginex said. The police union has 30 members, fire has 27 and public works has 14, he said.
The response from the police and fire unions also stated that they would be willing to discuss potential cost saving alternatives if the time comes when village financial reserves are deemed insufficient to maintain all emergency services.
The police and fire unions, in their response, applauded the village’s financial planning, as Oak Brook has 10.9 months, or about $21.1 million, of its annual general fund budget in reserves, which is more than the six months called for by village ordinance.
“In retaining an 11 month reserve, and recently applying for FEMA reimbursements, the village has ensured that during times of financial uncertainty, they can continue to provide essential services that are vital to the residents and visitors of Oak Brook alike,” the statement read.
Village Board member Ed Tiensenga said the response from the police union was a slap in the face.
“With this pandemic, our shopping mall is depopulated, there’s nothing going on there,” he said. He also said the annual police report states a need for a police force larger than normally would be the case for a town with about 8,000 people because of Oak Brook’s large commercial presence. Also, 50% percent of what police do is processing shoplifters at Oakbrook Center, Tiesenga said.
“There are no more shoplifters at our mall,” he said. “Another big piece is of what our police do is traffic. There is no more traffic. Our police are doing half the work they were doing and still receiving all the pay. It’s not like fire. The police are not fully occupied.”
Board member Philip Cuevas had a different take.
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“I’ve watched the police officers and firemen going into a house on my block where there’s a patient that had the virus," he said. “They’re still doing stuff. There is crime. Crime is not stopping, and they still have to respond to these calls when people are calling for medical attention in our neighborhood.”
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chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Former Garrett Popcorn employee sues the chain, alleging retaliation for safety complaints

The former employee , Aisha Putnam , was employed at Garrett for about five years , according to the complaint @ @ @ @ @ U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois .
For four of those years @ @ @ @ @ of research and development .

A former Garrett Popcorn Shops employee has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago chain, alleging it retaliated against her after she raised concerns about health and food safety issues. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune 2015)
A former Garrett Popcorn Shops employee has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago chain, alleging it retaliated against her after she raised concerns about health and food safety issues.
The former employee, Aisha Putnam, was employed at Garrett for about five years, according to the complaint, filed March 31 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. For four of those years, she served as director of research and development.
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The complaint alleges Putnam raised various concerns with her supervisors about potential food safety violations, but “her supervisors would fail to address the violations and would even seem irritated by her complaints.”
Putnam was concerned Garrett allegedly sold popcorn coated with a new cheese mixture to customers without updating nutritional information, had mold and leaky ceilings in the manufacturing facility, and sold expired chocolate, among other issues, the complaint alleges.
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Putnam was terminated in March 2019 in retaliation for her complaints, the suit alleges.
One month later, Garrett, whose formal name is CaramelCrisp, sued Putnam. In that suit, Garrett alleged Putnam wrongfully downloaded more than 5,000 files in the days before she was terminated, putting the company’s secret recipes at risk.
That case is ongoing.
Uche Asonye, an attorney representing Putnam, declined to comment.
Garrett stands by its “strong record of compliance” with food safety requirements, spokeswoman Michelle Molise said in a statement.
“The continued attempts to disrupt our beloved brand and our sacred recipes is disappointing," Molise said. "We also stand by our decisions to protect our brand and our family recipes, and will continue to do so.”
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Glenview Terrace rehab facility sees 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 related deaths, facility a

Glenview Terrace rehab facility sees 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 related deaths, facility and public health officials say

IDPH told the Chicago Tribune it will prioritize testing residents and staff at long-term care facilities that have no known @ @ @ @ @ are infected can be isolated .
For facilities like Glenview Terrace that have known cases @ @ @ @ @ test staff to determine who can continue providing care .
Residents showing symptoms will be @ @ @ @ @ the virus , even if not tested yet , IDPH officials said .

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike, MD, speak April 19, 2020 during a news conference at the Thompson Center in Chicago. The Pritzker administration released data Sunday showing the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths associated with each long-term care facility in Illinois, which includes Glenview Terrace in Glenview. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Several staff members and residents at Glenview Terrace, a long-term care and rehabilitation facility in Glenview, have tested positive for COVID-19, and seven residents have died, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health and facility administrators.
As of Sunday, IDPH data shows there were 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the facility besides the deaths.
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“Glenview Terrace continues to follow guidance provided by IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to vigilantly protect our residents during this global pandemic,” Glenview Terrace Administrator Allen Hollander said in an email to Pioneer Press.
Hollander confirmed in the email a higher number of infected residents and staff, saying since “inception of the pandemic” in early March, 30 employees have tested positive, and about half have “fully resolved so far."
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He said the rehab center employs over 400 full and part-time workers. According to IDPH, the facility has 314 patient beds.
One resident who tested positive was staying in the facility as of Friday, officials said, as was one person who recovered from the disease, which is caused by the novel coronavirus.
IDPH told the Chicago Tribune it will prioritize testing residents and staff at long-term care facilities that have no known cases so that those who are infected can be isolated. For facilities like Glenview Terrace that have known cases, the agency plans to test staff to determine who can continue providing care. Residents showing symptoms will be treated as if they have the virus, even if not tested yet, IDPH officials said.
In an April 3 post on the Glenview Terrace Facebook page, Hollander wrote that staff, patients and residents are screened for symptoms of “respiratory illness” and that those showing symptoms are placed in a “private isolation room" in a unit designated for suspected COVID-19 patients.
No visitors are allowed, including private-duty caregivers, and communal dining and group activities are canceled, according to the social media post.
“Our nurses, nursing assistants, dietary staff and frontline facility personnel continue to arrive at work each day ready to battle this invisible enemy for which there is no known cure,” Hollander said in the email.
Other nursing and rehab lfacilities in Glenview and Northbrook have been affected by the pandemic, the IDPH data shows.
Brookdale Northbrook, an independent and assisted living community in Northbrook, has one confirmed case and two deaths associated with COVID-19. Northbrook Inn Memory Care Community has two reported cases but no deaths as of Sunday, according to the IDPH data.
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Presence Maryhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenview has nine confirmed COVID-19 cases and four related deaths, and the Vi at the Glen reported five confirmed cases but no deaths.
Emerald Place, a long-term care facility in Glenview that specializes care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, reported six confirmed cases and the deaths of two residents that were associated with COVID-19, the IDPH data indicates.
Executive Director Michael Zywicki confirmed the IDPH numbers Monday, saying the cases occurred “early on” before staff members were required to wear masks and before the CDC guidelines advised wearing them.
“Since the mask usage has been implemented, we haven’t had any new cases,” Zywicki said.
Emerald Place is part of Anthem Memory Care, and the national company provided surgical and N95 masks for staff members to use, according to Zywicki.
The residents who were quarantined after testing positive were taken out of isolation after remaining symptom-free for two weeks, and all residents are screened daily for symptoms of COVID-19, Zywicki said. A team at the facility has been connecting residents with their families through video calls.
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“Our families have been overwhelmingly supportive because I’ve been keeping daily communication with them so that nobody’s in the dark, nobody is even questioning what’s going on within the community,” Zywicki said.
akim@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Willie Nelson is firing up a 4/20 livestream concert with famous friends

In an interactive twist , viewers are also invited to partake in the day 's festivities by filming a horizontal @ @ @ @ @ your toking or toasting material of choice ( keep it legal , y'all ) from @ @ @ @ @ left off screen on your timeline ... for your chance to be brought on air @ @ @ @ @ stream . ''

Country music legend and famous stoner Willie Nelson has tapped some friends in high places for today's 4/20-themed variety show, "Come and Toke It."
Kacey Musgraves, Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Bridges, Billy Ray Cyrus, Toby Keith, Tommy Chong, Ziggy Marley, Bill Maher, Beto O'Rourke and many more have signed on for the livestream event "celebrating our favorite gal, Ms. Mary Jane" on what has become the unofficial marijuana holiday.
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This afternoon's four-hour-and-20-minute extravaganza, streaming at 4:20 p.m. Central time (2:20 p.m. Pacific time) on Twitch and Facebook, promises "cannabis-centric music, food, education and comedy" in support of the Last Prisoner Project, which advocates for the decriminalization of weed.
"Well, happy 4/20 out there, y'all," Nelson said last week in a brief promo video. "Y'all have a hit for me and pass it on."
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Willie Nelson, left, joins Toby Keith as they sing "Beer for My Horses" during the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Wednesday, May 21, 2003. (JOE CAVARETTA / AP)
In an interactive twist, viewers are also invited to partake in the day's festivities by filming a horizontal video of themselves "receiving your toking or toasting material of choice (keep it legal, y'all) from the right and passing it left off screen on your timeline ... for your chance to be brought on air with Willie live during the stream."
"All videos must be hashtagged #ComeandTokeIt #PassLeft, tagged @williesreserveofficial @luckreunion, filmed in landscape orientation, and posted to your public timeline to be eligible," according to an Instagram post from Nelson's premium cannabis brand, Willie's Reserve.
The star-studded show is also affiliated with Luck Reunion — Nelson's annual music "anti-festival" hosted each spring at the 86-year-old singer's ranch in Luck, Texas. Originally set for March 19, this year's Luck Reunion was canceled along with most live events due to the coronavirus crisis.
Fans can queue up for and find more info about the party on the Luck Reunion website.


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Column: Every border state is allowing golf, so why not Illinois?

Golf in the COVID-19 era means customers prepay online .
They do not touch anything other than their own clubs @ @ @ @ @ .
There are no bunker rakes or ball washers .
With flag sticks not to @ @ @ @ @ been inserted into cups for easy ball retrieval .
Tee times are spread out by @ @ @ @ @ the conventional nine or 10 .

Illinois golfers can get their fix by going east to Indiana, west to Iowa or Missouri or, starting Friday, north to Wisconsin.
They’re crossing borders to take part in what they see as a healthy and reasonably athletic activity, like Ren McCormack once did. Don’t remember Ren? He’s the fictional Chicago teenager who couldn’t dance in Utah, so he protested. They made a movie about it. “Footloose.”
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Illinois residents want the freedom to use their foot wedge.
But with the state having shut down golf as a nonessential activity, residents are flocking to courses such as Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John, Ind. It’s 40 miles from the Loop, two miles from the Illinois border and costs just $28 to $30 to walk 18 holes.
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Dean Lytton has been stopping by golf courses near his Schererville, Ind., home to take mental notes. At Palmira, he noticed an overflow parking lot with an abundance of Illinois plates.
“Where it’s open, it’s hoppin’,” he said.
Lytton is the regional operations executive for KemperSports, which manages Illinois public courses such as Harborside, Cantigny, Bolingbrook and Deerpath.
Golf course operators in Illinois, he said, are optimistic after the governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin last week discontinued their bans on golf — with restrictions. Will Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker do the same?
“There is a commitment to put in measures for social distancing,” Lytton said, “and ensure that customers and staff are safe.”
Golf in the COVID-19 era means customers prepay online. They do not touch anything other than their own clubs, tees and golf balls. There are no bunker rakes or ball washers. With flag sticks not to be touched, foam has been inserted into cups for easy ball retrieval. Tee times are spread out by 15 minutes, rather than the conventional nine or 10.
And do you want to talk social distancing?
“You’ve got 70 people spread over 200 acres,” KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner said. “Our position is that golf should be one of the first activities to open. It’s safer than going for a walk or a run.”
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Joggers in Chicago, already restricted from using the lakefront and 606 trail, can attest to that.
Putter manufacturer Bob Bettinardi has been crossing the Indiana border to play at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton.
“Being inside is bad for the soul and personal health,” he said. “Golf is exercise. It’s walking. It’s getting out of isolation and getting Vitamin D, which helps the immune system. You can socially distance and be with people at the same time.”
And opening Illinois courses would be good for the economy, considering the state’s 683 golf courses provide 50,466 jobs and $1.5 billion in annual wages, according to WeAreGolf.org.
Realistically, only a fraction of golf course employees would go back to work with clubhouses, pro shops and restaurants remaining closed. But it’s still an obvious revenue generator and a way to restore the sanity of sun-starved golfers.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported a course called Loggers Trail booked 213 golfers in 43 minutes Friday after the ban was lifted.
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Roughly half of America’s courses are open for play, according to the National Golf Foundation.
Some are walking-only, some permit carts for single use and some allow those who live together to ride together.
Even stringent Michigan, which has banned its citizens from driving to their in-state vacation homes, does not have an outright ban. Some private clubs in metropolitan Detroit opened for play after the state’s attorney general OK’d walking at private courses where membership dues have been paid.
Wisconsin residents started a golf petition March 16; it reached about 60,000 signatures by the time Gov. Tony Evers lifted the ban. A similar petition in Illinois is gaining steam.
Golfers flocked to courses such as the Village Links of Glen Ellyn on March 25 during a two-day reprieve. A reversal by the governor’s office sent Illinois golfers back inside after it was determined that recreational sports businesses — including golf courses — are “not considered essential businesses” amid the shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Several groups, including the Illinois Section PGA and Chicago District Golf Association, are believed to be lobbying Springfield for another reversal.
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Some golfers are putting it in their own hands.
“I know of a club going ‘Shawshank Redemption,’ ” Lytton said, “writing a letter to the governor every day.”


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--A comedian is giving her ‘Millionaire’ TV winnings to a Northbrook parrot rescue, even though she do

A comedian is giving her ‘Millionaire’ TV winnings to a Northbrook parrot rescue, even though she doesn’t know much about the facility

“ Yes , Jimmy , yes .
I wanted to help the animals .
I ’ m obsessed with animals @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t get good enough representation out there , in terms of like , @ @ @ @ @ too , ” said Glaser , who grew up in the St. Louis area .
@ @ @ @ @ say , the thing about parrots is people get them and they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ like 70 years , some of them .
And so there are a lot of @ @ @ @ @ got them , and then they die , so there ’ s lots of misplaced @ @ @

Richard Weiner said he was unfamiliar with the comedian Nikki Glaser when the ABC network contacted him in March about Glaser donating her winnings from ABC’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” to his Northbrook parrot rescue.
“I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe that we were picked. They really didn’t tell me anything about why we were picked,” Weiner told the Tribune. “And then I started Googling Nikki and saw what she does, thought she’s great. I thought it would be excellent to have her represent us. Of course I wanted to know why she picked us, and I never got that answer.”
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Glaser — whose Netflix stand-up special, “Nikki Glaser: Bangin,'” dropped in the fall — admitted on last week’s episode of “Millionaire” that she didn’t know much about Weiner’s organization. Its official name is A Refuge for Saving the Wildlife, but it’s called Rescue the Birds on the show (the website is rescuethebirds.org).
“I Googled ‘parrot rescue,’ and it was the only website that looked like it was reputable,” the 35-year-old Glaser told “Millionaire” host Jimmy Kimmel.
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“So you have a deep connection to this?” Kimmel asked.
“Yes, Jimmy, yes. I wanted to help the animals. I’m obsessed with animals, and I think birds don’t get good enough representation out there, in terms of like, we need to rescue them too,” said Glaser, who grew up in the St. Louis area. “And let me just say, the thing about parrots is people get them and they don’t realize that these birds live like 70 years, some of them. And so there are a lot of abandoned birds because their owners got them, and then they die, so there’s lots of misplaced birds.”
“Or maybe the parrots are killing their owners. Have you ever considered that?” Kimmel asked.
“Not until this very moment, and I would like a new charity,” Glaser said.
“I’m sorry, it’s too late. You’ve got to stick with this one,” Kimmel said with a laugh.
Glaser will finish her pursuit of the $1 million prize on the episode scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Wednesday on WLS-Ch. 7. She answered 11 multiple-choice trivia questions right to earn $64,000 on last week’s episode — but she could walk away with only $32,000 for the birds if she incorrectly answers the next question, which is for $125,000. The $1 million prize is awarded when 15 questions are correctly answered.
Celebrities are set up for success on this pre-taped special edition of the long-running game show, which premiered April 8. Contestants are allowed to seek help from a guest joining them in the studio as well as take advantage of other “lifelines,” including asking Kimmel for assistance and phoning a friend. Celebrities were guaranteed $32,000 for their given charity, according to the rules.
Glaser’s run has been dramatic. On last week’s episode, her $16,000 question was: “Which of these critically acclaimed films was made to look as if it takes place almost entirely in one continuous shot?”
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Glaser consulted with her designated helper, Dr. Drew Pinsky, and said “The Lighthouse” as her final answer when she said she meant to say “1917.” She screamed as she realized her mistake. The judges let her select “1917,” which was the right answer. A tearful Glaser expressed her gratitude as Kimmel laughed.
“I can hear the parrots celebrating right now with all the crackers they will be brought as a result of this,” Kimmel said. “Alright, so shall we collect ourselves and move on?”
Wednesday’s episode is just as intense. After Glaser’s run, actors Jane Fonda and Anthony Anderson take the hot seat. Chicago-area natives Lauren Lapkus, Ike Barinholtz and Hannibal Buress compete later in the season. Buress, who grew up on the West Side, plays for Melvina Masterminds, the youth arts, science and technology center he founded in the Austin community.
Weiner, who is also the deputy public safety chief for the village of Glencoe, said he does not know how much his rescue will get — he hasn’t seen Wednesday’s episode or received a check — but he said Glaser’s donation will go to bird food, toys, cages and veterinary care. The volunteer-run facility rescues and rehabilitates birds; offers adoption and boarding services; and provides permanent placement for birds with special needs and education about proper care of exotic birds. The money is much needed, Weiner said, especially as the group cares for 70 birds during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We don’t have any of the volunteers coming, and all of our boarding clients have had to cancel their trips because of the fact that they can’t go anywhere. We’re not boarding their birds, and this is spring break, so it was a huge hit for us,” said Weiner, who started the organization out of his home nearly 30 years ago. “And then on top of it, we’ve got a couple of boarding birds here that were boarding before the pandemic, and (clients) are stuck where they’re at and can’t get back, so I can’t charge them for the fact that it was a nationwide pandemic. So we’re losing on that end too.”
tswartz@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--Audio of 911 calls reveals confusion as panicked partygoers hid inside and outside Barrington Hills

Audio of 911 calls reveals confusion as panicked partygoers hid inside and outside Barrington Hills home where fatal shooting happened

One woman who called 911 said she was hiding in a bathroom and told the dispatcher she was trying to @ @ @ @ @ but the dispatcher told her not to go anywhere .
Once the dispatcher told the @ @ @ @ @ , the woman fled .

As people called 911 March 7, 2020 to report a shooting at a residence in the 300 block of Old Sutton Road, in Barrington Hills, pictured, where they were attending a party, many could not tell police dispatchers the address to where they were. Callers reported being scared and hiding in different place inside and outside the home. (Kaitlin Edquist / Pioneer Press)
A review of 911 calls made on the night of a fatal Barrington Hills rental home shooting in early March offers a glimpse into the chaos of the night as partygoers called for help as they reported hiding in closets, bathrooms and other areas in and outside the sprawling house.
The 20 minutes of audio, which Pioneer Press received through a Freedom of Information Act request from Barrington Hills police, features 911 dispatchers fielding about two dozen calls. They were mostly from panicked partygoers, following early-morning gunfire March 7 in the 300 block of Old Sutton Road.
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Sean Patton Jr., 28, of Chicago, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities previously said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said his death was a homicide as a result multiple gun shot wounds.
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The emergency calls began with dispatchers asking for the address of the incident. Most who had dialed 911 didn’t immediately know where they were and said they had to check. A number of callers were hoping dispatchers could get the location using information from the callers’ cell phone.
“I’m not sure what the address is … ,” one person said. “I’m scared. … Can you see my location? Please come. Please, please, please.”
After asking for the address, dispatchers narrowed in on trying to find other answers. They asked who was shooting, if anyone had been shot and where everyone was. Most of the party guests who dialed 911 couldn’t seem to provide details besides “they’re shooting.”
“I don’t know,” one caller said, sounding out of breath. “Just come.”
Some callers told police dispatchers they were hiding in bathrooms, closets and cars at the party. The 911 operators encouraged them to move to a safe area if they hadn’t already.
One of the operators asked a caller if an ambulance needed to be sent to the scene.
“You might want to bring one just in case,” the caller told the dispatcher.
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A dispatcher answered a call from another partygoer who sounded frantic, repeatedly asking for an ambulance.
“Somebody has been shot,” the person said, with other muffled noises heard behind them.
One nearby resident also dialed in to make a report and was told police were on their way.
“There’s a party across the road, and there’s some fireworks being shot,” the neighbor said.
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Police guard a residence in the 300 block of Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills on March 9, 2020, where 28-year-old Chicago man Sean Patton was shot and killed days before. (Kaitlin Edquist / Pioneer Press)
Police responded to the home around 3:20 a.m. on March 7 following the calls of shots fired, according to reports.
One woman who called 911 said she was hiding in a bathroom and told the dispatcher she was trying to get to her car, but the dispatcher told her not to go anywhere. Once the dispatcher told the woman that police had arrived, the woman fled.
While Patton was the only shooting victim to die, three other people were also shot but sustained only flesh wounds, said Barrington Police Department spokesman William Walsh. He said the others who were shot were treated at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington and Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, and he could not reveal their identities.
More than a month after the shooting, police still have no updated leads or suspects, according to Walsh. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
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“There are so many different stories,” he said.
Patton’s mother, Litita Herrod, said days before she buried her son last month that she is still grappling with his death. As the investigation continues, she said she wants to hear from the people who were at the party with her son.
“I would like to have some type of answers,” Herrod said. “There’s so much stuff on social media. ... I don’t know what happened.”
kedquist@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist


chicagotribune--2020-04-20--We graded all 32 of Ryan Pace’s draft picks as Bears GM. A pair of Eddies turned out great. A certai

We graded all 32 of Ryan Pace’s draft picks as Bears GM. A pair of Eddies turned out great. A certain quarterback ... less so.

The report card : In case you hadn ’ t heard , the Bears were first in line at the quarterback buffet in 2017 , and Pace went all in on Trubisky , trading three additional picks to the 49ers to move from No .
3 to No .
2 .
Pace ’ s aggressiveness in making certain he got the quarterback he so badly wanted wasn ’ t the problem .
It was the Bears ’ misevaluation of that quarterback class that still proves unsettling and might have set the franchise back a half-decade or longer .
Pace ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indication he wouldn ’ t have been able to settle for another quarterback in the class .
And when the other two quarterbacks taken in Round 1 that year were Patrick Mahomes ( already a league MVP and Super Bowl champion ) and Deshaun Watson ( a two-time Pro Bowl selection ) , Pace ’ s mistake has been magnified tenfold .
While Mahomes and Watson prepare themselves for eye-popping contract extensions this year , Trubisky is in an open competition with Nick Foles for the starting job with no promises he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trubisky still has some control over how his Bears career will ultimately be defined , and a major resurgence , while a long shot , isn ’ t out of the question .
But if Trubsky isn ’ t in the Bears ’ plans beyond this season , it ’ s more than reasonable to move him into the “ Bust ” category .

Ryan Pace will be overseeing his sixth draft as Bears general manager later this week, looking to make the most of the seven selections the team owns heading into the three-day event. Pace’s track record in the draft has been somewhat spotty, particularly with first-round picks. But he also has succeeded at times in finding long-term building blocks. In the lead-up to the draft, here’s a pick-by-pick review of the 32 players Pace and his staff have drafted since 2015.
Each pick was given one of the following grades, with where they were selected taken into account; totals in each category are at the bottom:
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GREATEST HIT: An undeniable success; players who have exceeded expectations.
SOLID SELECTION: Players who have met expectations and contributed at an acceptable level.
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MISS: Players who fell well short of what was promised and struggled to produce.
BUST: Worse than a “MISS.” An undeniable failure. Players who came nowhere close to meeting expectations.
JURY STILL OUT: Players who need more time or more development before they can be graded fairly.
Round 1
Kevin White, receiver — selected No. 7 overall in 2015
West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White poses after the Bears selected him with the seventh pick in the 2015 NFL draft. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
BUST
What Pace said on draft weekend: “I know I spoke about getting impact players in the draft, especially when you’re picking in the top 10, and that’s exactly what Kevin White is. We couldn’t be more thrilled. This guy’s dynamic. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s ultracompetitive. If I could stress one word for him, he’s competitive. You see it after the catch. You see it in the way he attacks the ball in the air. This is a dynamic playmaker for our offense.”
The report card: White turned out to be a medical casualty from the start. He reported to training camp his rookie year with a stress fracture in the lower part of his left shin and wound up missing the entire season. A spiral fracture in his left fibula cut his 2016 season short after just four games. Then he fractured his left shoulder blade in the 2017 season opener and was placed on injured reserve. White’s fourth and final season with the Bears was ho-hum. He was healthier than in his first three years. But he played in only nine games. The end result of his Bears career: 25 catches, 34 games missed (27 to injury), zero touchdowns. The Bears let White’s contract expire in March 2019 and he is now out of the league.
Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker — selected No. 9 overall in 2016
The Bears selected outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the ninth pick in the 2016 draft. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “We’ve said all along we wanted to improve the athleticism and speed on our defense and we’ve definitely done that with Leonard Floyd. This guy lines up all over the field for Georgia. He brings great athleticism for a guy that tall with that kind of length. He’ll bring some juice to our defense that we need and will definitely help our pass rush. … You see him come off the edge. You see him beat people with outside speed and bend the corner. He’s got a great inside spin move that’s really difficult to defend.”
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The report card: In four seasons, Floyd recorded only 18½ sacks with a career-high seven as a rookie. That was not the kind of difference-making production the Bears were counting on. And while Pace consistently lauded Floyd for his versatility and ability to drop into pass coverage, pass rushers taken in the top 10 are expected to consistently put quarterbacks on the ground. After the Bears picked up the fifth-year option on Floyd’s rookie deal a year ago, they wiggled out of that expensive 2020 commitment by releasing Floyd last month. He now has a one-year deal with the Rams for the next step in his career.
Mitch Trubisky, quarterback — selected No. 2 overall in 2017
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 19 The Bears introduce Mitch Trubisky after drafting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL draft during a news conference at Halas Hall on April 28, 2017. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “If we want to be great, you just can’t sit on your hands. There are times when you’ve got to be aggressive. And when you have conviction on a guy, you can’t sit on your hands. … The only chance you get to add quarterbacks like this is when you’re picking this high in the draft and taking advantage of it. … His potential to be a championship quarterback is all we focused on in this move. We feel we have the perfect environment for his development. … As I studied all these quarterbacks, his accuracy jumps out right away. His ability to process and see the whole field jumps out. He’s very athletic. He can extend the play. And one trait you’ll notice, as quarterbacks are extending the play, the ability to move around and keep his eyes downfield still looking for open targets instead of just tucking the ball and wanting to run."
[ Why did the Bears draft Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson? ]
The report card: In case you hadn’t heard, the Bears were first in line at the quarterback buffet in 2017, and Pace went all in on Trubisky, trading three additional picks to the 49ers to move from No. 3 to No. 2. Pace’s aggressiveness in making certain he got the quarterback he so badly wanted wasn’t the problem. It was the Bears’ misevaluation of that quarterback class that still proves unsettling and might have set the franchise back a half-decade or longer. Pace’s bold trade up was a clear indication he wouldn’t have been able to settle for another quarterback in the class. And when the other two quarterbacks taken in Round 1 that year were Patrick Mahomes (already a league MVP and Super Bowl champion) and Deshaun Watson (a two-time Pro Bowl selection), Pace’s mistake has been magnified tenfold. While Mahomes and Watson prepare themselves for eye-popping contract extensions this year, Trubisky is in an open competition with Nick Foles for the starting job with no promises he will still be a Bear beyond 2020. Trubisky still has some control over how his Bears career will ultimately be defined, and a major resurgence, while a long shot, isn’t out of the question. But if Trubsky isn’t in the Bears’ plans beyond this season, it’s more than reasonable to move him into the “Bust” category.
Roquan Smith, linebacker — selected No. 8 overall in 2017
Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith on Oct. 20, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “Roquan is not only a great player, but he has outstanding intangibles. That’s a huge strength of his and it was a very attractive quality for us. … The first thing that comes to mind is his instincts, his play speed and his physicality. I mean, he hits with impact.”
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The report card: Smith easily has been the best of Pace’s four first-round picks, a still-ascending playmaker whose speed and instincts position him to be a foundation piece on the defense for the next decade. The young linebacker’s athleticism and feel for the game show up in impressive fashion in flashes, a glimpse into his All-Pro potential. Still, Smith’s true breakthrough hasn’t come as fast as the Bears had hoped. A holdout in 2018 delayed his rookie-year development. His 2019 season hit a speed bump early when he missed a Week 4 win over the Vikings because of personal reasons. Then he was slow in regaining form. The promise he showed in November was interrupted quickly when he suffered a season-ending pectoral tear in Week 14 against the Cowboys.
Round 2
Eddie Goldman, defensive lineman — selected No. 39 overall in 2015
Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman tackles Giants running back Saquon Barkley on Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
GREATEST HIT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “When I think about the standout traits with Eddie Goldman, it’s strength. Stout at the point of attack. He’s very instinctive. He gets off blocks. I really like the pad level he plays with. He steps up in big moments. In the Clemson game this year, there are three game-changing plays he makes to basically win that game for Florida State. … He’s an ascending player.”
The report card: Goldman has been one of the most reliable yet underappreciated cogs in the Bears defense, a soft-spoken but powerful and consistently productive defensive tackle. His true value and impact never will be properly reflected in his statistics — 153 career tackles, 12½ sacks. But his worth to one of the NFL’s best defenses is well-known across the league. Goldman earned a four-year contract extension right before the 2018 season. He was a Pro Bowl alternate last season.
Cody Whitehair, offensive lineman — selected No. 56 overall in 2016
Bears center Cody Whitehair (65) directs the offensive line during a game against the Vikings on Dec. 29 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s an aggressive player. He is really good in space. He plays with great inside hand placement and he has strong hands. I love offensive lineman with strong inside hands. When (defenders) latched on, you can’t get rid of him. He’s a very difficult player to shed. … He’s a four-year starter. He has played multiple positions. We see him as a guard. He played some tackle (in college) and I think he can play center too. This is what you’re looking for in an offensive lineman. He’s smart. He’s tough. He’s instinctive. He loves the weight room.”
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The report card: Whitehair’s dependability is a major plus. He has started all 64 games in his career and has been willing to change positions whenever needed — from guard to center to guard and now back to center again. Whitehair went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after the 2018 season and was given a five-year extension in September. The Bears value his versatility, toughness and leadership.
Adam Shaheen, tight end — selected No. 45 overall in 2017
Adam Shaheen, guarded by Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander during a Sept. 5, 2019 game, has totaled only 26 catches, 249 yards and four touchdowns in three season with the Bears. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
BUST
What Pace said on draft weekend: “With any small-school player we watch, we really want to see him dominate the level of competition, and he definitely did that. Great character, high football intelligence, strong work ethic. And for a guy with his size, his athleticism jumps out. He’s one of those guys, when you’re watching tape, you have to keep looking down and go, ‘Man, this guy is 6-6½ and 278 pounds and he moves like that.’ He has good route quickness, an ability to separate, natural hands, good body control, big catching radius. You can feel his basketball background and his ability to go up and high-point balls in a crowd.”
The report card: Shaheen was the fifth of 14 tight ends selected in 2017, with the Bears making a dice roll that his dominance at Division II Ashland University could translate to the NFL. It hasn’t. Shaheen has been inconsistent and hurt too often and has totaled only 26 catches, 249 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons. Making matters worse, George Kittle — selected three rounds and 101 picks later — has become an All-Pro for the 49ers.
James Daniels, offensive lineman — selected No. 39 overall in 2018
Bears lineman James Daniels, left, works against the Lions on Nov. 11, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He was one of the better interior linemen on our board. We value his position versatility. That’s his strength. Our plan is to start him off as guard as his first position and cross-train him at center. Things that stand out are quickness, leverage, balance. He has excellent technique in pass protection and is a guy our scouts and coaches all valued highly"
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The report card: Daniels was only 20 years old when the Bears drafted him and envisioned a productive union with position coach Harry Hiestand, who shared the front office’s belief in the lineman’s upside. Still, to this point, the Bears haven’t gotten everything they need out of Daniels. His significant struggles at center last season were part of the team’s well-documented offensive headaches. That forced a midseason change in which Daniels moved back to guard. Matt Nagy plans to keep him there in 2020, noting that the Bears went 5-3 after Daniels and Cody Whitehair swapped positions in November.
Anthony Miller, receiver — selected No. 51 overall in 2018
Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller, the 51st selection in the 2018 NFL draft. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s competitive. He’s tough. His route quickness, his hands, his work ethic, his mentality, all those things are infectious qualities he possesses. He’s a fun guy to watch on tape because of how he plays. … Matt (Nagy) and I were just talking about that swag and that energy he plays with. Those are infectious things. He’s a guy who’s 100 miles an hour every single snap. That effort, it’s just fun to watch, especially at that position.”
The report card: It’s setting up to be a defining 2020 for Miller, who’s still recovering from offseason surgery on his left shoulder. At times he looks every bit like the game-changing force the Bears believed him to be when they traded up 54 slots to pick him. Miller led the Bears with seven receiving touchdowns as a rookie and had a five-game surge in November and December last season during which he recorded 33 catches and 431 yards. But he has struggled at times with being detail-oriented as a route runner and needs to continue polishing his skills and preparation habits to become what the Bears need him to be.
Round 3
Hroniss Grasu, center — selected No. 71 overall in 2015
Bears center Hroniss Grasu (55) gives instructions against the Packers on Nov. 26, 2015, in Green Bay. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
BUST
What Pace said on draft weekend: “The standout traits are his balance and his quickness. He’s excellent at the second level and quick on reach-blocks. His makeup is outstanding. When you talk about work ethic — team captain, leadership, all those traits we stress around here — he brings those to the table.”
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The report card: Grasu became the Bears starting center a month into his rookie season after veteran Will Montgomery broke his left leg. But the rookie struggled to control the line of scrimmage and was too frequently pushed backward. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee — suffered at an August 2016 “Family Fest” practice at Soldier Field — cost him his entire second season, and he made only four starts scattered throughout 2017. Grasu was cut at the end of the 2018 preseason and has since bounced to the Ravens, Dolphins, Titans and back to the Ravens as a reserve lineman.
Jonathan Bullard, defensive lineman — selected No. 72 overall in 2016
Jonathan Bullard (90) pressures Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins on Nov. 18, 2018, at Soldier Field. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “We always talk about versatility. He can play the run, he’s instinctive, he’s got range. And he’s really quick and sudden off the ball. He needs to work on his pad level a little bit when he’s rushing the passer, and that can be coached. But some things that can’t be coached are just the twitch and the quickness he plays with, which will help him as a pass rusher.”
The report card: Bullard never became the pass-rushing threat the Bears thought he could be, recording just two sacks in three seasons in Chicago. His developmental breakthrough never quite came, and he was released in the Bears’ final wave of roster cuts in August 2019. Bullard is with the Cardinals but is another Day 2 draft pick who wound up being disappointing for Pace.
David Montgomery, running back — selected No. 73 overall in 2019
Bears running back David Montgomery (32) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Giants on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s just a well-rounded back. It’s everything you look for in a running back, starting with his instincts, his vision, his ability to make people miss. Good hands. He fits our offense very well. It’s the ability to find a small crease, the ability to find a running lane. A lot of times it’s not going to be clean. Just like with a quarterback, it’s going to be a little dirty, a little gray. His ability to make something happen when everything is not blocked perfectly stands out. … (It’s also) how driven he is, how focused he is, how motivated he is to be great.”
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The report card: Montgomery is by no means on solid ground in this “Solid Selections” category after averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and rushing for only 889 yards in the Bears’ feeble ground attack. But this is a vote of confidence that Montgomery’s undeniable talent, hunger and work ethic will propel him forward in Year 2. Matt Nagy has expressed optimism that Montgomery’s leadership and competitive edge will become much more obvious in his second season. The Bears have ample motivation to jump-start their running game, and if they are successful, it should translate into major production for Montgomery.
Round 4
Jeremy Langford, running back — selected No. 106 overall in 2015
Bears running back Jeremy Langford breaks a tackle by Vikings safety Anthony Harris on Jan. 1, 2017, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s very productive and athletic. The standout trait with him is really his speed. This guy has home-run ability. He has upside and has played multiple positions. So he’s still getting better as a running back.”
The report card: Langford showed flashes of true promise as a rookie, particularly in November of that season when he totaled 324 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in back-to-back wins against the Chargers and Rams. But instead of that being a foreshadowing, it was his peak. After the Bears let Matt Forte leave in free agency in 2016, Langford failed to seize the starting job, later beaten out by Jordan Howard. In two seasons, Langford made only five starts, totaled only 737 rushing yards and averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. The Bears cut Langford just before the 2017 season, and he since has spent time on the practice squads of the Ravens, Jets, Dolphins and Falcons. Since leaving Chicago, he has played in only one game.
Nick Kwiatkoski, linebacker — selected No. 113 overall in 2016
Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski chases Lions quarterback Jeff Driskel on Nov. 10, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “John (Fox) would come into my office throughout the season and say ‘I want throwback players.’ And he definitely fits that mold. Here’s what I like about him. The No. 1 trait when you’re looking for a linebacker is instincts. You can’t coach that. He just reacts so quickly and he attacks downhill. He’s making tackles near the line of scrimmage. Instincts transfer to whatever level you’re playing at.”
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The report card: Kwiatkoski’s four years as a Bear were the definition of solid. He worked to become a reliable special teams contributor and kept himself ready for when he was needed on defense. While often in a reserve role behind players such as Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Jerrell Freeman and Christian Jones, Kwiatkoski responded when called upon. He made 22 starts as a Bear, perhaps none more impressive than Week 4 of last season when he filled in for Smith and recorded 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a 16-6 win over the Vikings. The Bears let Kwiatkoski’s rookie contract expire in March, and he quickly signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Raiders.
Deon Bush, safety — selected No. 124 overall in 2016
Bears safety Deon Bush tackles Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a Dec. 15, 2019 game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “Deon Bush, the safety from Miami, is a good athlete and a very physical player. It’s the fact he throws his body around and plays with toughness, plays with instincts and plays fast on the field. He’s another guy we were fired up to get.”
The report card: Bush re-signed with the Bears last month, agreeing to a one-year deal and becoming just the fourth Pace draft pick to get past his rookie contract with the organization. Bush has played sparingly on defense the last four seasons. He has eight career starts and only two in the last three seasons. He still is seeking his first interception. Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano sees potential in Bush, who should have an opportunity to win a starting role for 2020.
Deiondre’ Hall, defensive back — selected No. 127 overall in 2016
Bears defensive back Deiondre' Hall during an August 2018 preseason game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “(He’s an) extremely versatile player. He can play corner and nickel (back). And he can play safety. He has rare length for the position when you look at it. He’s also very tough and competitive when you watch him on tape. He has really good ball skills and had six interceptions (in 2015 at Northern Iowa).”
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The report card: Hall arrived in Chicago saying he modeled his game after former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman. But the visions of Hall emerging as the second coming of Tillman never materialized. His Bears career summary: Ten games played, one interception (in 2016); an arrest on chargers of public intoxication, interference and disorderly conduct by fighting (in 2017); an 11-game stint on injured reserve because of a hamstring problem (in 2017); and a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy (in 2018). In September 2018, the Bears shipped Hall to the Eagles for a seventh-round pick.
Eddie Jackson, safety — selected No. 112 overall in 2017
Bears safety Eddie Jackson (39) scores a touchdown on an interception return against the Vikings on Nov. 18, 2018, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
GREATEST HIT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “It was just his ball skills and the instincts. We really liked him as a safety. And then you combine that with his skills as a punt returner … it was like, man, we’re going to kill two birds with one stone and get a good safety and a good punt returner. Plus it’s always good for me when I feel the excitement of our defensive coaches, the excitement of our special teams coaches and the excitement of our head coach.”
The report card: Jackson has been everything the Bears envisioned and more. His All-Pro season in 2018 showed the league just how much of a game-changer he can be. The intelligent, ballhawking safety had six interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and scored three defensive touchdowns that season as the Bears defense led the NFL in interceptions (27), takeaways (36) and fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). Jackson has five career defensive touchdowns, third on the Bears’ all-time list behind Charles Tillman (nine) and Mike Brown (seven). Jackson signed an extension in January to become the highest-paid safety in league history.
Tarik Cohen, running back — selected No. 119 overall in 2017
Bears running back Tarik Cohen eludes Vikings defenders on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s one of those guys who’s really fun to watch. You start watching one game, two games, three games, and pretty soon you’re watching his whole season because he’s just a really entertaining, electric, exciting player. … Man, he’s quick as a running back. He’s instinctive as a running back. He was productive in every season he had (at North Carolina A&T). But then you split him out of the backfield and he can shake and separate from a linebacker and a safety. He can create problems with his quickness and his suddenness and his athleticism.”
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The report card: Cohen was terrific during the Bears’ 2018 run to the NFC North championship, emerging as an All-Pro punt returner and leading the team in yards from scrimmage (1,169). His value as a chess piece proved exciting for Matt Nagy, whose offensive system consistently put Cohen in positions to take advantage of favorable matchups. Cohen led the 2018 Bears with 71 catches. He scored eight touchdowns. His statistical regression in 2019, though, proved confounding. His yards per carry dipped from 4.5 to 3.3. His yards from scrimmage dropped to 669. He enters the final season of his rookie contract with the Bears needing to find ways to again unlock his full potential.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe, linebacker — selected No. 115 overall in 2018
Bears linebacker Joel Iyigbuniwe tackles 49ers wide receiver Richie James on Dec. 23, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “When you turn on the tape, it just jumps out, the way he plays with a real physical, downhill style. He’s just so athletic. He’s so fast. ... I mean, there are numerous plays where it’s, ‘Hey, you’ve got to come in here and see this play.’ It’s just how physical he is. He throws his body around.”
The report card: Iyiegbuniwe has played in 31 of a possible 32 games his first two seasons, used primarily on special teams. He has recorded a dozen tackles and remains a depth piece in the Bears linebacking corps.
Riley Ridley, receiver — selected No. 126 overall in 2019
Bears wide receiver Rily Ridley heads downfield after making a reception against the Vikings on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “It’s a great example of us taking the best player (available) on our board. There are a lot of traits we like about this player. Obviously his size, his hands, his catching radius. His ability to win contested battles, his route running. … And he has a savviness to him to know how to set guys up. For as big as he is, he knows how to drop his weight and quickly get out of break points. … When he was in here (on a pre-draft visit), one of his quotes was, ‘I’m not a 50-50 guy. I win all of them.’ So that’s his mindset. When the ball is in the air, he’s going to win it.”
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The report card: Ridley’s biggest contribution of his rookie year came in the season finale, a clutch 32-yard reception to convert fourth-and-9 on the game-winning field-goal drive against the Vikings. Overall, though, he played sparingly in only five games, recording six catches for 69 yards. Internally at Halas Hall, there’s belief that Ridley has the talent, work ethic and professionalism to ignite a significant breakthrough in Year 2. Ridley will have to earn playing time and make the most of the opportunities when they come.
Round 5
Adrian Amos, safety — selected No. 142 overall in 2015
Bears safety Adrian Amos makes an interception against the Eagles in a playoff game on Jan. 6, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
GREATEST HIT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He has played corner. He has played nickel (back). He’s played safety. So we like the coverage versatility he brings. He’s just a high-character guy who is extremely intelligent.”
The report card: Amos’ feel for the game was evident from the start, and he quickly leapfrogged over Brock Vereen in the 2015 preseason to become a Week 1 starter as a rookie. Over four seasons with the Bears, Amos made 56 starts. And while his ball production was never impressive — he had only three interceptions and 18 passes defensed in four years — he was consistently assignment-sound, and his physicality as a tackler stood out. The Bears let Amos’ rookie contract expire in March 2019, and he cashed in with a four-year deal in free agency with the Packers that included $12 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $37 million.
Jordan Howard, running back — selected No. 150 overall in 2016
Bears running back Jordan Howard runs for big yardage against the Giants' Michael Thomas on Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
GREATEST HIT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “Jordan Howard is that physical pounder. We just love that style of play from him. … This guy is a downhill, physical, north-south runner. I just like the style and physicality he plays with. … He has really good vision and he runs really hard. That’s a pretty good combination.”
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The report card: Howard was the 10th running back selected in 2016 but emerged rather quickly as the kind of high-volume bruiser John Fox valued for his ball-control offense. Howard was one of the only true offensive weapons the Bears had in 2016 and 2017. In his first two seasons, he rushed for 2,435 yards, the highest total ever for a Bears back through the first two years of his career. Howard’s effectiveness dipped in 2018 when coach Matt Nagy arrived with a new offensive system. The Bears, looking for a lead running back with more ability in the passing game, traded Howard to the Eagles in March 2019 in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Jordan Morgan, offensive lineman — selected No. 147 overall in 2017
Bears offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, center, stretches with teammates at rookie minicamp on May 12, 2017, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “An advantage of (us) coaching the Senior Bowl was gaining intimate knowledge of this player. He’s another small-school player. But that Senior Bowl experience really cemented for us the kind of player he is. I hate to make comparisons to players, but we took a guy in New Orleans in Jahri Evans who ended up being a great player from Bloomsburg. I think you believe what you see on tape. You have conviction on players.”
The report card: The Bears took another flier on a Division II prospect with traits they thought they could work with. Morgan, however, had played only a half-season of high school football before walking on at Kutztown University and playing his college career in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. He couldn’t make the leap to the NFL. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve with a shoulder issue and was cut at the end of the 2018 preseason.
Bilal Nichols, defensive lineman — selected No. 145 overall in 2018
Bears defensive lineman Bilal Nichols, left, recovers a Vikings fumble on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “For his size, he’s athletic. It’s the toughness and rugged style he plays with that stands out. We sent (defensive line coach) Jay Rodgers up there to have a private workout with him. So we spent a lot of time with him up in Delaware. And we just feel like he has a lot of upside, specifically as an inside rusher.”
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The report card: Nichols had three sacks and two forced fumbles as a rookie, an eager learner who developed quickly under the tutelage of Rodgers and teammate Akiem Hicks. Nichols made fewer splash plays last season and was slowed by a lingering knee injury. It will be interesting to see how much the Bears can squeeze out of him and whether he can climb from a reliable role player into a difference-making starter.
Round 6
Tayo Fabuluje, offensive lineman — selected No. 183 overall in 2015
Bears offensive lineman Tayo Fabuluje (73) during training camp on July 30, 2015, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “This is a massive player. Very strong. And athletic for a big man. He can play tackle, he can play guard. His weight has been well documented, and we’re going to stay on that. ... That’ll be an emphasis, and he understands that. When this guy is at the right weight, we feel really good about him, and there’s a lot of upside potential.”
The report card: Oftentimes, the sixth and seventh rounds of the draft are about taking calculated gambles. In this case, the Bears lost their low-risk bet, taking on a project they couldn’t complete. Fabuluje made the Week 1 roster as a rookie and was active for four games that season in October and early November, seeing limited playing time as part of the field-goal unit and in short-yardage and goal-line situations. But midway through the season he drew a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing substances. (He acknowledged testing positive for a banned amphetamine.) Fabuluje never played another NFL game, and the Bears cut him a month and a half before training camp in 2016.
DeAndre Houston-Carson, safety — selected No. 185 overall in 2016
Bears safety DeAndre Houston-Carson fires up the crowd during a game against the Buccaneers on Sept. 30, 2018, at Soldier Field. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)
SOLID SELECTION
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He can play corner and he can play safety. We see him as a safety right now. He’s a very physical player and hits with explosiveness. He’s a very good special teams player as well. This is a guy (special teams coordinator) Jeff Rodgers is fired up about. He blocked nine kicks in his career (at William & Mary). So he’s a guy we’re excited to have who can help in a lot in that area.”
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The report card: For where Pace picked Houston-Carson, the return on investment has been favorable. The Bears targeted Houston-Carson in big part because they thought he could become a valuable special teams piece for the long haul after showing those skills in college. Houston-Carson has only seen limited time on defense in four seasons with the Bears but remains one of their top core special-teamers.
Kylie Fitts, edge rusher — selected No. 181 overall in 2018
Bears edge rusher Kylie Fitts looks at the crowd as he walks off the field after a victory against the Vikings on Dec. 30, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He really has a great size-speed combination that we value. He’s also tough and instinctive. We love his get-off. (He has) extremely high character as well. … You notice when a guy has a little bit more twitch, a little bit more burst, a little bit better get-off. And he has a lot of those athletic traits we value that show up in his testing.”
The report card: Fitts’ athletic traits never translated. He saw action in six games as a rookie, primarily on special teams, but never recorded a defensive statistic and never showed enough developmental progress. The Bears let him go in the final round of cuts before the 2019 regular season. Fitts spent most of last season on the Cardinals practice squad.
Duke Shelley, cornerback — selected No. 205 overall in 2019
Bears cornerback Duke Shelley exits the field after a victory against the Vikings on Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “A little bit undersized but extremely athletic. Really twitchy. Good ball skills. … He was a four-year starter at Kansas State. His competitiveness just jumps off the tape. … He’s so scrappy. If it’s completed, it’s earned. He’s very sticky in coverage. He’s just very athletic. When you look at his PBUs and his interceptions, they’re coming in a very athletic manner. They’re not gimmies. Everything is earned.”
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The report card: Shelley’s confidence and competitive demeanor were evident on the practice field during the spring and summer of 2019. But his path to playing time as a rookie was blocked by veteran slot cornerback Buster Skrine. Shelley was active for nine games but played only eight defensive snaps while seeing limited duty on special teams. It remains to be seen how he will factor into the defensive backfield.
Round 7
Daniel Braverman, receiver — selected No. 230 overall in 2016
Receiver Daniel Braverman warms up during Bears rookie minicamp on May 13, 2016, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “This is a guy our scouts liked a lot — a real nifty, sudden slot receiver. He’s real instinctive in that area. Knows how to get open, finds holes in zones, a real productive player and we’re excited to get him.”
The report card: Braverman turned heads during training camp in Bourbonnais as a rookie, seemingly making at least one flash play every practice and earning some August praise from Jay Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and receivers coach Curtis Johnson. Said Jeffery: “He’s quick. He’s smart. He’s got what it takes to belong in this league.” But Braverman’s climb up the depth chart never accelerated beyond camp. In his lone season with the Bears, he was primarily a practice squad pawn. Active for just three games at the tail end of a 3-13 season, his only reception — a 23-yarder from Matt Barkley on a potential game-winning drive against the Lions — was negated by a Ted Larsen holding penalty. The Bears cut him at the end of the 2017 preseason. Braverman later spent time on the practice squads of the Chiefs and Cardinals before cameos in the AAF, CFL and XFL.
Javon Wims, receiver — selected No. 224 overall in 2018
Bears receiver Javon Wims (83) catches a pass during against the Vikings on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s big and physical. He has outstanding hands, an outstanding catch radius, body control. He’s a guy Matt (Nagy) and I have talked about for a long time. … He has played in a lot of big games and he’s made big plays at big moments. We were happy when he was still there.”
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The report card: The Bears are trying to squeeze the most out of the pick. After spending a chunk of 2018 pushing to increase Wims’ belief that he truly belongs, the talented receiver continued developing and chipped in last season with 18 catches for 186 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown grab in garbage time of a Week 7 loss to the Saints. The Bears should remain realistic with visions for how high Wims’ ceiling is. But there’s no question he can be a contributor in 2020 and beyond.
Kerrith Whyte, running back — selected No. 222 overall in 2019
Bears running back Kerrith Whyte breaks away during a preseason game against the Panthers on Aug. 8, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
MISS
What Pace said on draft weekend: “The first trait when you’re talking about this player is speed. Just standout speed for this guy. He runs a 4.38 (-second 40-yard dash). He also brings a lot of value to special teams, so we’re excited to get him at that point.”
The report card: Whyte showed strong growth during his college career at Florida Atlantic and chose to leave school a year early. The Bears hoped, at minimum, his devotion to special teams could be valuable as he worked to compete for a role in their backfield. Whyte was on the 53-man roster for the first three weeks of last season but never active on game day. He was then moved to the practice squad, and the Steelers signed him away in November. Whyte had 74 all-purpose yards in a Steelers win over the Cardinals in December and ended up playing in six games.
Stephen Denmark, cornerback — selected No. 238 overall in 2019
Bears rookie cornerback Stephen Denmark speaks with the media during minicamp on May 3, 2019, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
JURY STILL OUT
What Pace said on draft weekend: “He’s a guy we feel has tremendous upside. It’s just working with that upside and the talent that he has. … We see a guy with these kind of measurables and this kind of talent, and ... it catches your eye. ... He has ball production, interception production. His ability to stay calm on a deep ball and get his head around with poise and track the ball is very intriguing.”
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The report card: Pace repeatedly emphasized his intrigue in Denmark’s size, length and athleticism and couldn’t wait to evaluate him on an NFL practice field. After converting from receiver to cornerback at Valdosta State, Denmark expressed confidence in being able to carve out a role for himself in the pros. But an ankle injury put him on the shelf before training camp, and he spent all of last season on injured reserve with few promises as to whether he’ll be able to compete for a role in 2020.
The totals
Ryan Pace’s 32 draft picks as Bears general manager, based on Dan Wiederer’s analysis:


chicagotribune--2020-04-16--Actress Melissa McCarthy gives Chicago family members a home makeover on HGTV’s ‘Celebrity IOU’

“ They ’ ve spent their whole life taking care of other people , and they ’ re real superheroes @ @ @ @ @ says on Monday ’ s episode of HGTV ’ s “ Celebrity IOU , ” @ @ @ @ @ at 8 p.m. “ Getting the chance to do this for my Aunt Connie and @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ re two of just the kindest people , and they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s just not who they are .
”

Emmy winner Melissa McCarthy tears up as she recalls the sacrifices made by her aunt and uncle, Connie and Jim Perusich, who each logged more than 30 years with the Chicago Police Department.
“They’ve spent their whole life taking care of other people, and they’re real superheroes to me,” McCarthy says on Monday’s episode of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” which is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. “Getting the chance to do this for my Aunt Connie and Uncle Jim is so amazing. They’re two of just the kindest people, and they don’t put themselves first. It’s just not who they are.”
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McCarthy, who grew up in suburban Plainfield, meets with “Property Brothers” hosts Jonathan and Drew Scott, who make over the dated Perusich home in Mount Greenwood on the Southwest Side as a surprise for the couple.
The Scotts spend three weeks rehabbing the “hideously ugly” kitchen and tackling the “green grass” carpet in the living room that is a trip hazard for Jim Perusich, who McCarthy said had to relearn how to walk after suffering an injury on the job. Jim gets a new leather chair in his redone man cave so he can comfortably watch Bears games. A building permit for this work was approved by the city in September 2019, public records show.
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The so-called “McCarthy ugly cry” tears flow when the Perusiches return to their renovated home. This is not Connie Perusich’s first TV makeover. A glam squad for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” dressed Perusich, then a detective, and three female Chicago police officers in Michael Kors clothes and did their hair and makeup for a 2011 episode.
“Celebrity IOU” premiered April 13 with Brad Pitt surprising his longtime makeup artist with a garage makeover. Other celebrities this season include singer-songwriter Michael Buble and actresses Viola Davis and Rebel Wilson.
tswartz@tribpub.com