chicagotribune--2020-03-11--10 NBA prospects to watch in the Big Ten Tournament, including Ayo Dosunmu and Luka Garza

“ I love him ; he ’ s a winner through and through who plays hard … has long arms @ @ @ @ @ 17-foot game with floaters and pull-ups … Illinois has moved him off the ball and @ @ @ @ @ but he doesn ’ t shoot it well enough to be an NBA two-guard … @ @ @ @ @ one ( to judge ) because he can create off the bounce and has pretty @ @ @ @ @ , but the shooting is a concern … he ’ ll be all over the @ @ @ @ @ t shock me if he goes in the 20s or the 40s … his shot @ @ @ @ @ year ; who ’ s to say he won ’ t keep improving ?
”

The Big Ten is a conference of fantastic teams. Dare say otherwise, and Illinois coach Brad Underwood might come after you with his 5-iron.
It is not, however, a conference of great individual talent. At least not next-level talent.
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The first Big Ten player might not get taken in the top 20 in the NBA draft. CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone has Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman coming off the board at No. 21 and teammate Cassius Winston at No. 29.
An NBA evaluator told the Tribune, however, that he deems Maryland forward Jalen Smith and Minnesota big man Daniel Oturu as the most attractive prospects. NBAdraft.net projects Oturu going seventh and Smith 25th with Tillman not among the 60 draft picks.
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So to summarize: It’s a crapshoot.
Here are 10 NBA hopefuls to watch in this week’s Big Ten Tournament — roughly in order of how the league might value them — with a mix of comments from a Big Ten coach, a Big Ten Network broadcaster and the aforementioned NBA evaluator.
1. Daniel Oturu, Minnesota center
Minnesota center Daniel Oturu against Michigan on Jan. 12, 2020, in Minneapolis. (Hannah Foslien /AP)
“He is a live body and relentless on the glass … at 6-10, he handles the ball reasonably well and can take you outside and shoot it … he is where the NBA game is going … a really intriguing combination of length and athleticism with the ability to shoot … people think he is the best pro prospect in the league … there have been some questions about his motor.”
2. Jalen Smith, Maryland power forward
Maryland's Jalen Smith dunks against Rutgers on March 3, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (John Minchillo/AP)
“A no-doubt pro … he gets up and down the floor really well … a double-double machine who has developed a really good outside shot … his nickname is ‘Stix’ but he has put muscle on to his lower body … he has good mobility but still needs to get stronger … at 6-10, he projects to be a stretch-four …. Oturu is bigger and stronger, a better shot blocker, while Smith can take people outside.”
3. Xavier Tillman, Michigan State power forward
Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman drives on Maryland forward Jalen Smith on Feb. 15, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (Paul Sancya/AP)
“An elite defender, very smart and capable of making an open shot … undersized (6-8) as an NBA post player but really physical with a great motor … always in the right place at the right time … can be a solid rotation guy because of his defense … look at what he did against (Iowa’s) Luka Garza and (Penn State’s) Lamar Stevens … he’s a great young man, married with two kids.”
4. Cassius Winston, Michigan State point guard
Michigan State's Cassius Winston holds a Big Ten championship trophy after a victory against Ohio State on March 8, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (Al Goldis/AP)
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“Will he be an NBA superstar? I doubt it, but he could find a niche in the right situation … he’s a great shooter and really good on pick-and-rolls … a great leader who understands the game and passes well … not a great athlete or defender … does not have great tools … I love him as a college player but see him as a second-round pick.”
5. Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois combo guard
Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu drives against Northwestern on Feb. 27, 2020, in Evanston. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
“I love him; he’s a winner through and through who plays hard … has long arms and a strong 12- to 17-foot game with floaters and pull-ups … Illinois has moved him off the ball and he has been effective, but he doesn’t shoot it well enough to be an NBA two-guard … he’s a hard one (to judge) because he can create off the bounce and has pretty good size (6-5), but the shooting is a concern … he’ll be all over the board … it wouldn’t shock me if he goes in the 20s or the 40s … his shot is way better than last year; who’s to say he won’t keep improving?”
6. Lamar Stevens, Penn State forward
Penn State forward Lamar Stevens against Michigan on Jan. 22, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Paul Sancya/AP)
“Not a great outside shooter but has an NBA body, a chiseled 6-8 … a really good athlete who will have no trouble guarding in the NBA … can get to where he wants to … a physical presence and a testament to staying in college (for four years) to get better … has a chance to be an NBA utility guy … the NBA is going with smaller big guys; he could be a small-ball power forward.”
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7. Luka Garza, Iowa center/forward
Iowa center Luka Garza celebrates a basket against Ohio State on Feb. 20, 2020, in Iowa City. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)
“Offensively, he has every post move in the book … he’s an incredible shooter and he’s been dominant (in college) … how does he fit in with how the NBA is played? He’s not really a five (center), probably an NBA four (power forward) at 6-11 … it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he comes back because Iowa could be a Final Four team next year.”
8. Aaron Henry, Michigan State guard/forward
Michigan State's Aaron Henry tries to avoid a foul attempt against Iowa on Feb. 25, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (Al Goldis/AP)
“He has had an OK season, better lately … he shows flashes of being great but not often enough … he is really skilled and has everything you’d want — good length (at 6-6), he can defend and shoot it — but he hasn’t dominated the Big Ten by any stretch … he is the third most impactful player on his own team … because of his tools, athleticism and strength, he has the most potential.”
9. Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland point guard
Maryland guard Anthony Cowan Jr. drives against Michigan on March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. (Nick Wass/AP)
“Undersized (at 6 feet) but has a huge heart and hits big shots … has virtually unlimited range, can go 3, 4 feet behind the 3-point line … an assists guy who sees the court well, a Cassius Winston Light … doesn’t shoot it quite as well (as the NBA wants, 30.3% from 3-point range), but, man, he is a winner.”
10. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana power forward
Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis stretches before playing Illinois on March 1, 2020, in Champaign. (Holly Hart/AP)
“Some people really like him, but I think he should go back to school … his dad is Dale Davis and because of his size, athleticism and pedigree, he will get a look … 6-9 and bouncy … he plays hard but needs to improve his skill.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Ask Amy: Widower worries about son's need to cuddle

I allowed my wife 's sister and her family to move in with us when she and her husband lost @ @ @ @ @ was foreclosed .
They have three older children .
I am truly blessed that both @ @ @ @ @ , and that my children have a mother figure in my sister-in-law .
I am @ @ @ @ @ my youngest son `` Stevie . ''
At a little over two years old , @ @ @ @ @ ( for some context , I did n't start talking until I was four ) @

Dear Readers: Every year I step away from my daily column to work on other creative projects. I've gathered some topical "Best Of" columns from 10 years ago. Today's compilation considers some of the abundant challenges of fatherhood (Some content has been lightly edited.) I'll be back in two weeks with fresh columns.
Dear Amy: I am a widower with five children. We live in a large home in a private, gated community.
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I allowed my wife's sister and her family to move in with us when she and her husband lost their jobs and their home was foreclosed. They have three older children. I am truly blessed that both our families get along well, and that my children have a mother figure in my sister-in-law. I am concerned, though, for my youngest son "Stevie." At a little over two years old, he has yet to speak (for some context, I didn't start talking until I was four).
Stevie also likes to cuddle with everyone! Despite having his own bed and stuffed bear, Stevie and bear can be found in the beds of either his brothers, sisters, cousins, aunt and uncle, or my own! He does not discriminate! I found him recently sleeping with our chocolate lab!
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Is this behavior something to be concerned about? Friends and family say it's just a phase, but I'd like to be sure. What is your take on this?
— Concerned in Michigan
Dear Concerned: I'm happy your unusual living situation is working out for your families, but as the youngest, "Stevie" may be expressing some of the natural stresses of being at the end of the cuddle chain in your very large household.
At only two-years-old, he has been through a great deal. He now has a wealth of cuddling and sleeping options, and he is trying them all.
Take your son to see his pediatrician for an evaluation. His lack of language could be a sign of a processing or hearing problem, or evidence that he has suffered a loss, is stressed and confused, and is going through a transition.
I'd let him cuddle with anyone and everyone (as long as you are assured he is safe), but you, especially, should give him as much one-on-one "Daddy time" as you can.
August 2010
Dear Amy: My daughter is 19 and has been dating her boyfriend for 2-1/2 years. She has four siblings. All of her siblings dislike this guy.
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He lives with my daughter in my ex-wife's house most of the time. He rarely contributes to the household resources, yet he often takes advantage of all the household has to offer.
He is polite and kind to her and to her mother -- and to me -- but I don't think he is a warm, giving person overall.
He is employed and he treats my daughter well, and she loves him, but almost everyone he encounters does not like him.
I don't think he does anything to elevate her or make her better, and I am convinced that she would be better off without him.
I am afraid to intervene because I don't want her to have to choose between him and me, and yet I feel like I should say something.
I made a mistake marrying her mother, and I wish my parents had intervened when I was her age. Do you have any advice for me?
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— Concerned Dad
Dear Dad: If you lay an ultimatum at your daughter's feet and force her to choose between you and her boyfriend, she will "choose" him, I assure you. Despite your current and retrospective take on the matter, you would have done the same at her age.
I agree with you that this relationship doesn't sound ideal, although according to you he treats your daughter and the rest of the family well.
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This person's function in your daughter's life is not to elevate and make her "better." She should elevate herself and strive to be her best self.
You should mentor your daughter to further her education, do good work and aspire to great things. Without trashing her boyfriend, you could tell her, "You're young and wonderful. I want you to live your very best life. I feel you're too young to settle down, and hope you will consider all of your options."
You could tell her you've learned from your own mistakes, but please don't say you regret marrying her mom. That is a disrespectful message to convey regarding the mother of your children.
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July 2010
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Linebacker Danny Trevathan returning to the Bears on a 3-year deal, report says

Trevathan did so well for the Bears , both as a player and a leader on and off the field @ @ @ @ @ keeping him around .
NFL Media reported Thursday night that the Bears have re-signed Trevathan @ @ @ @ @ be an unrestricted free agent Wednesday , to a three-year contract .
One source said @ @ @ @ @ 24 million .

Danny Trevathan represents one of the best of many moves general manager Ryan Pace has made in free agency, the rare big-dollar signing to play out his entire contract.
Trevathan did so well for the Bears, both as a player and a leader on and off the field, that the team is keeping him around. NFL Media reported Thursday night that the Bears have re-signed Trevathan, who was set to be an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, to a three-year contract. One source said the deal can total $24 million.
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The inside linebacker, who turns 30 on March 24, made 70 tackles in nine games last season, adding one sack and a forced fumble. He was standout for the 2018 defense with 102 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
His return ensures he will be starting next to Roquan Smith in the middle of the defense, giving the Bears two players with good range. It also gives coordinator Chuck Pagano a lot of options in sub packages, which dominate action in the current NFL.
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The Bears originally signed Trevathan in 2016 when he was coming off a Super Bowl championship with the Broncos. He signed a four-year, $28 million contract and immediately stabilized the middle of the defense.
Trevathan has missed 16 games over four seasons. He went on injured reserve last season with a left elbow injury that cost him the final seven games. Trevathan missed four games in 2017 and and seven in 2016.
Trevathan’s return virtually guarantees Nick Kwiatkowski, a 2016 fourth-round draft pick, will depart in free agency. Kwiatkoski, 26, could command $5 million or more per season on the open market.
Re-signing Trevathan also brings into focus the situation with outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, whose fifth-year option for 2020 is for $13.2 million. Other teams believe Floyd could become a salary-cap casualty, and putting good money into Trevathan could increase that likelihood.
The Bears have until the start of the new league year Wednesday to part ways with Floyd before that salary is fully guaranteed.


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Stevenson High School closes school building effective immediately, moves students and teachers to o

Stevenson High School closes school building effective immediately, moves students and teachers to online classrooms through end of spring break

Attendance will be taken in the virtual classes each day , and students and teachers are expected to be online @ @ @ @ @ normally be in classes , according to Twadell .
Teachers will invite their students to @ @ @ @ @ Zoom or Google Chat and give daily instructions and activities to their students .

Classes moved online starting March 16, 2020 for the more than 4,300 students and over 600 faculty of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. Administrators said the shift is out of an abundance of caution in the wake of the spread of the new coronavirus. (Ronnie Wachter / Pioneer Press)
Adlai E. Stevenson High School will close and move to virtual classrooms beginning Friday — and continue until spring break ends in April — due to concerns related to the spread of the new coronavirus, officials said Thursday.
“We have decided to close Stevenson High School to students beginning ... March 13 in an abundance of caution and as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) illness in our community,” reads a statement on the school’s website.
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The one-school Stevenson High School District 125 enrolls over 4,200 students who live in such nearby towns as Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Prairie View, Deerfield, Mundelein, Hawthorn Woods, Vernon Hills, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Riverwoods, Kildeer and Mettawa
Superintendent Eric Twadell sent a message to district students, parents, faculty and staff Thursday announcing the decision.
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“While we know this is an unprecedented decision, these are unprecedented times,” he wrote in the message. “We are committed to following CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommendations and to do our part in taking preventative measures to mitigate the impact of this pandemic.”
Classes are canceled Friday for students but teachers will spend that day preparing for the week of e-learning. Students will participate in online, or e-learning, March 16-20, according to district officials.
Students walk in the new wing of Stevenson High School in this Aug. 2019 file photo. As concern over the spread of the new coronavirus increases, Stevenson High School District 135, which includes Stevenson, moved classes online starting March 12, 2020 and the building is not expected to open to students and staff again until April 6. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Pioneer Press)
Students will be allowed to go to the school building between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday to grab forgotten items from their lockers, Twadell said. But the building will be closed beginning Saturday.
Officials announced that all extra-curricular activities and athletics will also be postponed or canceled until further notice beginning Saturday. Twadell said to contact respective coaches and club sponsors for more information moving forward.
Spring break will still take place March 23-27, and the district is tentatively planning to return to the school building on April 6.
According to Twadell, the district doesn’t know of any staff or students diagnosed with COVID-19, but , he said, it is becoming “increasingly clear that it is better for schools to close sooner rather than later to slow the spread of the disease.”
He echoed county, state and federal public health officials in stating that, while most students are less likely to be affected by the new coronavirus than those older than 60 or those with compromised health, they can still be carriers.
“Closing the school reduces the incubation effect that occurs when 4,300 students, and more than 600 adults gather in the school on a daily basis,” he said.
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Students should look for an email from teachers on Monday with directions for the first day, Twadell said.
Attendance will be taken in the virtual classes each day, and students and teachers are expected to be online during the times they would normally be in classes, according to Twadell. Teachers will invite their students to online classes using Canvas, Zoom or Google Chat and give daily instructions and activities to their students.
More information about e-learning procedures can be found on the district website.
The superintendent said he recognizes that there are downsides of closing the school but that the district has a responsibility to “ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff and the larger Stevenson community.” He said the district will continue to update families throughout the weeks ahead as everyone navigates what public health officials have called a pandemic.
“The decision to close school is not one we are making lightly,” Twadell said. “We are fully aware of the complications that this will cause in the lives of our students and their families — and for our faculty and staff as well.”
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kedquist@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Coronavirus concerns force Highland Park library to temporarily close, North Shore schools to cancel

Coronavirus concerns force Highland Park library to temporarily close, North Shore schools to cancel activities

The Highland Park Public Library announced Thursday it will be closed until further notice as a precautionary measure to the @ @ @ @ @ be able to check out books , movies and other materials at a self-service pick @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lower level , Executive Director Jane Conway stated in a press release .

The main entrance to the Highland Park Public Library is pictured. Library officials recently announced the library will be closed until further notice because of coronavirus concerns. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Pioneer Press)
Some schools districts and libraries along the North Shore are joining the growing list of groups in the Chicago area that have canceled activities amid coronavirus concerns.
The Highland Park Public Library announced Thursday it will be closed until further notice as a precautionary measure to the outbreak. Patrons still will be able to check out books, movies and other materials at a self-service pick up location at the library’s lower level, Executive Director Jane Conway stated in a press release.
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“The library’s high foot-traffic of approximately 1,000 visitors per day with extensive programming and high-use public spaces, like computer stations, pose unique risks in a pandemic situation,” Conway stated.
She said the decision to temporarily close the library was prompted by new guidance released Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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Officials at the Park District of Highland Park also announced they’re closing all facilities and canceling all programs and activities, effective at noon Friday, until further notice as part of an effort to try and prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the community,
“The closure is not due to any known exposure,” the park district’s statement reads. “Our park board supports this decision for the health and well-being of our program participants, the general community and our staff.”
Some programs and activities will be rescheduled, and memberships will be put on a temporary hold, officials said. Updates will be provided on the park district’s website, Facebook page and via email updates.
Meanwhile, Township High School District 113, which oversees Deerfield and Highland Park high schools, announced Thursday that all extracurricular activities, athletics and contests have been canceled at least through the end of spring break on March 29.
Superintendent Bruce Law said in a statement to district families that officials will continue to assess the coronavirus situation as it continues to evolve at an “ever-faster pace."
One of District 113′s feeder districts, Deerfield Public Schools District 109, also announced it is “postponing or canceling” all non-essential events involving large groups at least through March 27.
Those events include in-district athletic competitions, musicals, music shows and art shows, District 109 officials stated in a post on the district’s Facebook page. Officials also are limiting volunteers and excluding visitors during school hours, and canceling all rental activity at their buildings through March 27.
The responses have come as public health officials in the county confirmed Wednesday the first case of coronavirus in Lake County.
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The global coronavirus crisis was officially declared a pandemic Wednesday. The latest cases announced by Illinois officials have brought the total number in the state to 25.
Officials at Lake Forest School Districts 115 and 67, which share administrative services, also announced Thursday that they have canceled all extracurricular activities and athletic events.
But the statement released by the school districts didn’t address whether the coronavirus outbreak influenced the decision. A spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
District 115 and 67 also are planning to keep students out of school Friday for a “professional development day," according to the statement posted on the districts’ website.
At nearby Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, officials announced that they’re moving an institute day that was scheduled for May 1 to Monday, meaning students will not be in attendance on that day.
Classes still are scheduled for Friday, officials said. A decision on whether to close school beyond Monday hasn’t been determined, officials said.
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District 65 officials also stated they’re canceling all field trips and large group assemblies. But after-school activities will remain as scheduled for the time being.
jnorman@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Boeing imposes hiring freeze, says 2020 will be ‘challenging’

“ The year ahead is shaping up to be as challenging for our business as any in the recent past @ @ @ @ @ and Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said in a note to employees .
“ On @ @ @ @ @ safely returning the 737 MAX to service and the financial impact of the pause in @ @ @ @ @ now facing a global economic disruption generated by the COVID-19 coronavirus .
”

The Boeing logo is seen March 7, 2017, emblazoned on a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington. The Chicago-based company said 2020 "is shaping up to be as challenging for our business as any in the recent past." (JASON REDMOND / AFP/Getty Images)
Boeing company leaders have painted a sobering picture for the aircraft-maker’s business in 2020. And the company’s stock price has reflected that view, with back-to-back drops of 18% on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Chicago-based company said Wednesday it has imposed a hiring freeze in response to the coronavirus pandemic that is undercutting air travel.
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It said received 18 orders last month for new large planes but 46 orders were canceled, most of them for the grounded 737 Max, leaving the company with a net loss of 28 orders in February.
The company is also restricting employees' travel and discretionary spending and limiting overtime to work on getting the Max back in flight.
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Shares of Boeing Co. have fallen below $200 for the first time since mid-2017, closing Thursday at $154.84 amid a broad market sell-off.
Bloomberg News has reported that Boeing will soon draw down the last of a $13.8 billion bank loan it arranged a little over a month ago. The company has been burning through cash since halting deliveries of the 737 Max last spring, and it is unclear when regulators will let the grounded plane fly again.
“The year ahead is shaping up to be as challenging for our business as any in the recent past,” CEO David Calhoun and Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said in a note to employees. “On top of the work of safely returning the 737 MAX to service and the financial impact of the pause in MAX production, we're now facing a global economic disruption generated by the COVID-19 coronavirus.”
The warning about 2020 is a strong statement considering that Boeing is facing its biggest crisis in decades after two deadly crashes involving Max jets, and that it just posted its first full-year loss since 1997.
Indeed, 2020 is off to an ominous start for Boeing. It reported no orders for new commercial planes in January while rival Airbus was recording 274 orders. Boeing’s 18 orders in February were all for so-called wide-body or twin-aisle jets — larger planes that are typically used for long flights.
Through Feb. 29 Boeing has reported a loss of 43 orders for the Max, as customers switched those orders to other models. For example, Air Lease Corp., which leases planes to airlines, swapped 9 Max orders MAXs for three larger 787 jets, and Oman Air converted 10 Maxes into four 787s.
The company delivered 30 planes in the first two months of the year compared with 95 a year earlier, before it halted shipments of Max jets. Boeing depends on deliveries to generate cash flow.
Airlines, however, are retrenching to survive a sharp downturn in travel — they are unsure how long it will last.
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The three largest U.S. airlines — Delta, American and United — and several international carriers have announced deep cuts to their schedules. The International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group, estimates that the virus could cost airlines up to $113 billion in lost revenue, with the biggest losses in Asia, whose fast-growing airlines were on a buying spree for new jets.
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chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Oak Park trustees to declare local public health emergency in response to coronavirus

Administrative rules could also be authorized by the village manager without board approval to ensure public employees retain their wages @ @ @ @ @ 14 days should they or a family member be asked to self-quarantine in the event @ @ @ @ @ Fourteen days is the quarantine time established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @

In response to the coronavirus, the Oak Park village board is expected to declare a local public health emergency at a special meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. March 13. (Steve Schering / Pioneer Press)
Though Oak Park has yet to have a confirmed case of coronavirus in its community, the village board has called a special meeting Friday morning to declare a local public health emergency.
In a release, village officials said declaring the local public health emergency allows Oak Park to respond more quickly to the rapidly changing challenges of the coronavirus , also known as COVID-19.
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A special meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Friday morning at village hall, 123 Madison St.
“This declaration does not mean residents of Oak Park are at an immediate increased risk for contracting COVID-19,” Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said in a statement. “The village manager and public health director are just asking the village board to give them the authority to move more quickly should circumstances change.”
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If approved by the village board, the declaration would coincide with similar actions taken earlier this week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Cook County Board, which allows for a more effective response to the evolving COVID-19 public health crisis, officials said.
The local emergency declaration would temporarily suspend Oak Park purchasing rules, such as bidding requirements and board contract approvals, when quick action is deemed necessary to protect public health and it is impractical to convene a board meeting.
Administrative rules could also be authorized by the village manager without board approval to ensure public employees retain their wages and benefits for up to 14 days should they or a family member be asked to self-quarantine in the event of exposure to COVID-19. Fourteen days is the quarantine time established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the meantime, the Oak Park Department of Public Health continues to stress the importance of avoiding possible contact with the virus, including washing hands often, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home from work if you are sick. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily is also recommended, including phones and keyboards.
“The best strategy for individuals at this point continues to be using every day preventative actions like those recommended by the CDC,” public health director Mike Charley said. “Since no anti-viral prevention treatment currently is available for the virus, taking common sense precautions like frequent handwashing remains the best approach to adopt.”
Residents can sign up for e-news updates from the village through its website at www.oak-park.us. Updates will also be posted to Oak Park’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Links to the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health are available through the village website at www.oak-park.us/covid19.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
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Twitter: @steveschering


chicagotribune--2020-03-12--Park Ridge city government, schools, park district keeping eye on coronavirus spread

“ I ’ m very much concerned about what the next few months will look like for Park Ridge , @ @ @ @ @ I know there are a number of people who think this is much to do @ @ @ @ @ it turns out to be that , I ’ ll be very happy .
But @ @ @ @ @ follow the events and make sure we are in a position to respond , however @ @ @ @ @ ”

Park Ridge schools, the city, library and park district are responding to coronavirus concerns, with some special measures being taken.
Schools
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Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 and Maine Township High School District 207 announced Friday that schools will be closed March 16 - 20 in response to the coronavirus.
No cases of coronavirus have been reported in either district, the schools said.
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In District 64, students will be off March 16 and participate in online “e-learning” March 17-19, Superintendent Eric Olson said in a notice to parents.
There will be no classes on March 20 or the following week due to the already scheduled spring break, the district said.
Beyond the Bell, the before and after school program, will also be canceled, beginning March 16, according to the district.
“The decision to close our buildings to students was a public health precaution in keeping with the recommendations from the CDC, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Governor Pritzker,” Olson said in a notice to parents. “While the governor did not close schools, he advised avoiding large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
The decision to close the schools was made a day after the districts announced that all sporting events and activities held outside of school would be cancelled.
In District 207, there will be no classes held next week or the following week, the district said.
During the week of March 16, “teachers will connect with students on a practice lesson for the purpose of ensuring that we have good e-Learning connections in place and can establish a routine for communication and assignments that would be used if District 207 schools are closed for an extended period of time and e-Learning days are established,” according to a district statement.
Maine East, Maine South, Maine West and Frost Academy will undergo a deep cleaning between March 17 and March 29, District 207 said. The district office at 1177 S. Dee Road in Park Ridge will remain open during this time.
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District 207 is also making arrangements to make sure that students have access to food, Internet, social-emotional support and other resources while the school buildings are closed, the district said. Information can be found on the district’s website.
Preschool classes held at Maine East, Maine South and Maine West will also be cancelled “until further notice,” according to the district.
Oakton Community College
Spring break for Oakton Community College students, which is scheduled to begin March 16, will be extended an extra week, until March 29, the college announced.
Beginning March 30, all credit course lectures will move to an online format, which will last until at least April 24, the college said.
The college will remain open after spring break and “student services including tutoring, advising, library services, computer lab access, etc. will continue to be offered,” a statement from Oakton said.
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All college-sponsored events with more than 50 attendees will be cancelled through April 24.
For more information, visit Oakton’s website.
Park Ridge and Niles-Maine Libraries
The Park Ridge Public Library and Niles-Maine District Library both announced Friday that they will be closing out of caution amid coronavirus concerns.
The Park Ridge Public Library will be closed March 14 - 29, reopening at 9 a.m. on March 30, the library said in a statement.
During the closure, no materials will be accepted for return and all exterior drop boxes will be closed, the library said. Overdue fines will be waived through April 1.
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Updates will be provided on the library’s website, www.parkridgelibrary.org, the library said.
The Niles-Maine District Library will be closed March 15 - 31. The library had planned to offer curbside service to fulfill material holds, but that was scrapped Monday.
The closures came a day after both libraries announced they were cancelling all public programs.
City of Park Ridge
The city of Park Ridge said there will be “no reduction or changes to critical emergency services, water distribution or refuse collection," but residents are being asked to avoid visiting City Hall and conduct all business online at www.parkridge.us or by phone at 847-318-5200.
The city’s website can also be used to apply for building permits and business licenses, and pay water bills, parking tickets, and vehicle stickers, the city said.
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Residents are also encouraged to cancel any home inspections if someone in the home is ill, according to the city, and all non-essential in-person services will be suspended until further notice, including notary services, car seat checks, and building tours.
Some city meetings are still scheduled to be held and the regular Monday meeting of the City Council had been moved to Wednesday, March 18.
Park Ridge Mayor Marty Maloney said last week that he was closely following all information that is coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as county and state departments of health, and has been in touch with Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Any response by the city will be directed by these sources, he indicated.
“I’m very much concerned about what the next few months will look like for Park Ridge,” Maloney said. “I know there are a number of people who think this is much to do about nothing, and if it turns out to be that, I’ll be very happy. But the city is going to follow the events and make sure we are in a position to respond, however we have to respond.”
Information from the CDC related to coronavirus prevention and how the virus is known to spread has been shared with residents on the city’s website.
Additionally, seniors and residents with special needs who have questions are advised to call the Park Ridge Police Department non-emergency line at 847-318-5252, according to the city.
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Park District
The Park Ridge Park District announced Friday that it is extending the closure of all facilities until March 29, including Beyond the Bell.
“We understand that our facilities are popular over spring break, and we apologize for this inconvenience to our loyal patrons,” the park district said in a statement. “During this closure, our buildings and grounds department, in coordination with our contracted cleaning companies, will be conducting deep cleaning and sanitizing of all public facilities.”
Early voting at Centennial Activity Center, the park district’s center for senior activities, continued as scheduled, the park district said.
The park board of commissioners’ March 19 meeting has been cancelled.
District 207 asks parents to report travel
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This week, parents of students in Maine Township High School District 207 were asked to self-report any travel outside the United States that they or their children have taken or will take in the near future, according to a notice sent to parents.
“This is being done out of an abundance of caution,” the notice says. “However, in the event someone connected to the schools has a confirmed case of coronavirus, it will be important to have this information on hand to share with health officials to help District 207 make the most informed decisions about the status of operating our schools.”
A form to report overseas travel can be found at bit.ly/207selfreport.
Any students or family members who have returned from mainland China or traveled to any countries considered “level 3” for the virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are told to self-quarantine for 14 days under federal and state guidelines and contact the Cook County Department of Public Health, District 207 said.
There had been no reports of coronavirus connected to any of the district’s three high schools, the district said.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-03-11--FAA rule waiver will make it easier for airlines to cancel flights at O’Hare, other big airports

It could take weeks or even months for the European Commission to adopt the proposal , but it is likely @ @ @ @ @ It is a signal to airlines that they can stop flying mostly empty planes and @ @ @ @ @ emergency rules change will be approved before airport slots are allotted again .

Spirit Airline planes are parked Jan. 28, 2019, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. On March 11, 2020, federal regulators said they are temporarily waiving a rule that has been causing airlines to fly nearly empty planes to avoid losing precious takeoff and landing rights at major airports. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Federal regulators waived a rule Wednesday that was causing airlines to fly nearly empty planes just to avoid losing takeoff and landing rights at major airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would suspend the rule through May 31 to help airlines that are canceling flights because of the new virus outbreak.
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The FAA assigns takeoff and landing rights, or "slots," at a few big, congested airports. Airlines must use 80% of their highly coveted slots or risk forfeiting them.
That FAA requirement — and especially a similar rule in Europe — led airlines to operate flights using those slots even if there were very few passengers.
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The FAA's decision affects flights at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports in New York and Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C.
The FAA said it also would not punish airlines that cancel flights through May 31 at four other airports where the agency approves schedules: Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey; Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.
The #FAA is temporarily waiving the 80% slot-use requirement for airlines that cancel flights at congested airports due to the Coronavirus. https://t.co/ujpqjNXjn0 pic.twitter.com/mnK0yuORHT — The FAA (@FAANews) March 11, 2020
The FAA waiver covers U.S. and foreign airlines. The agency's announcement came a day after the European Commission promised to move quickly to waive its similar rule.
It could take weeks or even months for the European Commission to adopt the proposal, but it is likely to have immediate effect. It is a signal to airlines that they can stop flying mostly empty planes and still be confident that the emergency rules change will be approved before airport slots are allotted again.
The FAA said it expects American carriers to get the same relief from slot-use requirements in other countries, and it could refuse to waive the requirement for airlines whose countries don't give U.S. carriers the same flexibility to cancel flights overseas.
The slot-use rule has led to the phenomenon of “ghost flights” — big planes flying around with eerily empty cabins. Environmental activists called on regulators to waive the rule to limit carbon emissions from planes carrying few passengers.
The president of United Airlines said it was crazy to enforce the slot-use rule in the middle of a virus outbreak that has devastated demand for air travel.
"Flying empty airplanes to protect slots? How ridiculous is that?" the official, Scott Kirby, said during an investor conference on Tuesday.
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The CEO of JetBlue had also called on the FAA to waive the rule. Passengers have gone on social media to post photos of empty planes flying around Europe, "which is madness," Robin Hayes said on CNBC.
Carlo Piovano in London contributed.
Follow @ChiTribBusiness on Facebook and @ChiTribBiz on Twitter.


chicagotribune--2020-03-11--Child and at least 2 adults injured when car hit by Metra Electric train in South Shore

Another man who was walking near the crash site was also taken to a hospital in fair condition .
He @ @ @ @ @ in the car , but officials were still trying to confirm if he was involved @ @ @ @

At least two adults and one child were injured after a car was hit by an Metra train on the Far South Side Tuesday night. (Paige Fry / Chicago Tribune)
At least two adults and one child were injured when a red sedan was hit by an outbound Metra Electric train on the Far South Side, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The collision happened about 9:15 p.m. at 71st Street and Merrill Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood, said Metra spokeswoman Katie Dahlstrom.
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People helped pull passengers from the car, which was dragged about 200 feet, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Two adults and a child, whose ages were not immediately known, were transported in critical or serious condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center and Comer Children’s Hospital, Langford said.
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Another man who was walking near the crash site was also taken to a hospital in fair condition. He told fire officials he was in the car, but officials were still trying to confirm if he was involved, Langford said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, Dahlstrom said. There were 10 passengers on the train at the time of the crash. They were able to exit the train at 10 p.m.
At least two adults and one child were injured after a car was hit by an Metra train on the Far South Side Tuesday night. (Paige Fry / Chicago Tribune)
At the scene, the damaged red sedan could be seen on the tracks near South Paxton Avenue. A tow truck arrived about 10:45 p.m. to remove the vehicle as onlookers recorded video on their cellphones.
Check back for updates.
pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-03-11--Bears Q&A: Is an offensive tackle in Round 2 a good idea? Would they ever admit they made a mistake

Bears Q&A: Is an offensive tackle in Round 2 a good idea? Would they ever admit they made a mistake in Mitch Trubisky? Could Tyler Bray be a good QB option?

I have a burning desire to know more about Joel Iyiegbuniwe .
Ryan Pace drafted Iggy in the fourth round in 2018 in what appeared to be a luxury , best-player-available pick rather than anything practical .
At the time , they had already used a top-10 pick on Roquan Smith and had Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski under contract .
Inside linebacker is not a position that teams usually sink an exorbitant amount of resources into ( cap space or draft capital ) .
It seemed that Pace took Iggy simply because he was so enamored with him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think a lot of Bears fans , including myself , pictured Roquan and Iggy starting next to each other by 2020 .
It is clear he is an excellent special teams player , and it was noted that he was raw coming out of college .
Then last year Kevin Pierre-Louis was signed to leapfrog Iggy and send him to fifth at ILB .
Is he ready to step into the No .
3 role like Kwiatkoski handled the last four years ?
Is he ready to compete for a starting job ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Why is it so hard to accept your mistakes? The Bears made a mistake. It’s OK to say, “I messed up,” and move on. But to sit here as a team and still give the fans no accountability makes you wonder. — @montemann4
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Free agency hasn’t started, and as I’ve said for some time now, the team’s actions will speak much louder than words. Let’s see what shakes out. If the Bears acquire a quarterback with a lot of experience, let’s listen to what they have to say then. The Bears haven’t moved on from Mitch Trubisky because they don’t have a replacement and don’t know how things will fall with a crowded quarterback crop hitting the marketplace and perhaps becoming available via trade. So I’d say hang tight another two weeks or so and then see how you feel.
Given the strength at offensive tackle in the draft, should Ryan Pace take one in Round 2 despite being stuck with Charles Leno and Bobby Massie for at least one more year, cap-wise? — @matt_9730
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I hear what you’re saying and it’s never a bad idea to invest in the line on both sides of the ball. You’re also correct that it is a pretty good year for offensive tackles. That being said, I don’t know that you’re going to find a Day 1 starter still on the board when the 43rd pick rolls around. There might be a right tackle available, and that wouldn’t be a bad idea. But the Bears have a host of needs to fill and are in win-now mode, so choosing a player in the second round to sit and learn might not work for those in charge at Halas Hall. I wouldn’t rule out the idea, but they have starting spots that need to be filled right now and not in 2021.
Do you think it’s more likely the Bears draft a quarterback in Round 2 or trade down and recoup picks? — joshua726_gs
Choosing solely between those two options, my hunch is the Bears would be more likely to trade down with one of their second-round picks than draft a quarterback in Round 2. As I said above, they’re in win-now mode with the defense they have, and I expect them to address the 2020 quarterback situation via free agency or a trade. Maybe they would explore a quarterback later in the draft, but unless there is a guy on the board whom coach Matt Nagy is completely in love with, I don’t see how they choose a quarterback in the second round.
Is Trey Burton expendable? — @theceej7
Sure. The problem is Burton’s contract more or less binds him to the Bears for at least one more season. That’s because $4 million of the $6.7 million he is set to earn this year is already fully guaranteed. So unless the Bears want to pay him $4 million to go away, he will be on the roster. I expect the Bears to keep Burton with the hope he’s finally over the injury issues that made the 2019 season pretty much a total loss.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 50 Bears tight end Trey Burton (80) celebrates in the first quarter against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
I have a burning desire to know more about Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Ryan Pace drafted Iggy in the fourth round in 2018 in what appeared to be a luxury, best-player-available pick rather than anything practical. At the time, they had already used a top-10 pick on Roquan Smith and had Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski under contract. Inside linebacker is not a position that teams usually sink an exorbitant amount of resources into (cap space or draft capital). It seemed that Pace took Iggy simply because he was so enamored with him and his potential. At the time I think a lot of Bears fans, including myself, pictured Roquan and Iggy starting next to each other by 2020. It is clear he is an excellent special teams player, and it was noted that he was raw coming out of college. Then last year Kevin Pierre-Louis was signed to leapfrog Iggy and send him to fifth at ILB. Is he ready to step into the No. 3 role like Kwiatkoski handled the last four years? Is he ready to compete for a starting job? — Matt K., Rochester, N.Y.
You’re right that Iyiegbuniwe has been one of the team’s best special teams players for two years, and he emerged as that kind of talent almost immediately as a rookie. We’ll see what shakes out in free agency; there’s a chance the Bears re-sign Trevathan or Kwiatkoski, and I wouldn’t rule out Pierre-Louis either. Iyiegbuniwe will have a chance to compete, and I imagine he will have a chance to climb the depth chart a little bit. There’s nothing wrong with finding a rank-and-file player in the fourth round, and it was probably a good idea to draft a linebacker knowing the contracts of the veterans that expired after last season. Will he ever emerge as a starter? Maybe entering his second year in Chuck Pagano’s scheme, he will be poised to take a step forward.
Why in the world is every bad, ne’er-do-well and never-has-been quarterback tied to the Bears? Does anyone really think guys who have never made it in the NFL will do better on the Bears? This is fool’s gold. To me, what is holding this team back is the offensive line and a great tight end. Case in point: First, Tennessee has a very good offensive line, and a journeyman like Ryan Tannehill does great and all of a sudden he’s great when he has been pedestrian his whole career. Second: Look who was in the Super Bowl last year. Kansas City and San Francisco. Now, KC’s offense is similar in construction to the Bears. The difference? An All-Pro tight end. San Francisco? Also, an All-Pro tight end. Both have good, not great, offensive lines. It’s better that Ryan Pace sign/draft a good backup QB, get a great tight end and draft the best tight end available and get a good offensive lineman or two. Then we’ll see what happens. — Fred P., Frankfort
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You lost me when you said the difference between the Chiefs and Bears is Travis Kelce. He’s a terrific tight end, unquestionably one of the best in the league. But you should probably familiarize yourself a little more with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl because of their quarterback. Period. And 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was leaps and bounds better than Mitch Trubisky last season and likely will be again this coming season. Yes, the 49ers have a super tight end in George Kittle, but history has proved time and time again that consistent playoff teams almost always have a top-tier quarterback. So I’d recommend keeping your eye on that position and seeing if the Bears can improve on the quarterback they currently have.
How will the Bears replace Prince Amukamara? — @terrence_j_naus
In a perfect world, the Bears would draft a cornerback who could be ready to start in the near future. It would be good for them get some youth at the position. That’s why cornerback is worth keeping an eye on in Round 2 of the draft. That depends on how free agency unfolds. If they make a solid investment in a veteran — and there is a handful of good options — maybe Ryan Pace waits until the later rounds to try to find a player with traits they like who can be developed. But at some point the Bears need to draft a cornerback; they haven’t drafted one earlier than the sixth round since former GM Phil Emery made a good selection of Kyle Fuller with the 14th pick in 2014. (That’s if you consider ex-Bear Deiondre Hall, taken in the fourth round in 2016, a safety. Some pegged him as a cornerback.) The point remains the same, though. The Bears have avoided cornerbacks high in the draft the last several years.
Could the Bears cut Mitch Trubisky and Leonard Floyd to use that money for a front-line free-agent quarterback starter and a serviceable outside linebacker? Biggest thing I’ve learned in business is cut your losses when you know you made a mistake. — @rob_gonigam
As I wrote Tuesday morning, there is a belief around the league that Floyd could become a cap casualty before free agency starts March 18. That would clear $13.2 million in salary and cap space. As far as Trubisky, his contract is fully guaranteed at a tick above $4.4 million for this season. There would be no savings in cutting him.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd heads to the sideline after a Lions touchdown in the first quarter on Nov. 28, 2019, in Detroit. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
If Jalen Hurts is there for the Bears at No. 43 or 50, why would they not pull the trigger? What’s the knock on this guy? He’s everything Matt Nagy needs for this type of offense, from being able to extend plays to making correct reads using RPOs. — @king8off
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Hurts had a solid performance at the scouting combine and has a ton of college experience at the highest level playing in a lot of big games. He has terrific character and in some ways compares to Deshaun Watson as a gym-rat kind of guy with a true passion for the game. But scouts I’ve talked to have questions about Hurts’ ability to excel as a pocket passer. I don’t know how the Bears feel about him. I doubt he’s off the board before the Bears pick, but you never know because it takes only one team to fall in love with a player. Hurts could have a lengthy pro career, but I haven’t talked to anyone who views him as a front-line starter. Keep in mind he played with some of the top skill-position talent in college football at Alabama and Oklahoma, so he always has been surrounded with great players.
Are Cam Newton and Derek Carr on Ryan Pace’s radar? — @thegeorgeyou
If the Raiders made Carr available, I see a possibility the Bears would be interested. The Raiders aren’t going to ship out Carr unless they first replace him with a player they view as an upgrade. A high-stakes game of musical chairs will take place for quarterbacks once the new league year begins. Newton has serious questions regarding his health. Is his shoulder healed? He didn’t throw the ball well last year after he suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot. That’s also a serious injury.
Which other teams do you speculate are interested in trading for Andy Dalton? Or is Mike Brown just so cheap that he won’t cut Dalton until the last possible moment? — @beerbliss
A number of teams could be interested in Dalton, especially if they view his struggles the last couple of years as more a function of the Bengals roster. Why would the Bengals cut Dalton before learning whether they could recoup a draft pick via a trade? That has nothing to do with being cheap. Heck, the Bengals might want to keep Dalton until after the draft. They don’t want to lose him and then have something unthinkable occur with Joe Burrow. If they get an offer they deem really strong, maybe they make a move earlier with Dalton, but if not, why not hang on to him and see what happens?
Why do the Bears continue to ignore the fact that they have an excellent quarterback in Tyler Bray? The last preseason game showed that he is worthy of an opportunity to play. The fact that they didn’t use him when they were in London after no points were scored in the first half still boils my blood. — Michael F.
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You’re right that Bray played well in the preseason finale, a 19-15 loss to the Titans in which he completed 28 of 40 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown. But you’re on a sparsely populated island in thinking Bray could be the solution. Not one person I’ve spoken to about the quarterback situation — and that’s a mighty long list — has suggested Bray has a chance to be that guy. I’m not trying to knock him but rather being realistic. The Titans were not exactly fielding NFL-starting-caliber defenders in that game. Bray originally came to the Bears in 2018 because he had experience in the offense, and with Chase Daniel and Bray knowing the scheme, the coaching staff could put their efforts into teaching Mitch Trubisky. The Bears appear poised to move on from Daniel and perhaps Bray as well.


chicagotribune--2020-03-10--Tracking Chicago homicide victims

Tracking Chicago homicide victims

Though there are homicides recorded throughout the city they are most concentrated in the South and West sides .

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chicagotribune--2020-03-08--OPRF’s Rashaad Trice earns recognition with Steph Curry’s Underrated Tour

“ He just amazed me , especially because I ’ m a huge LeBron ( James ) fan , and @ @ @ @ @ Cavs year in and year out , I was like ‘ I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ was so amazing , ” Trice said after OPRF ’ s 48-40 Class 4A regional @ @ @ @ @ “ To have somebody that high-caliber of a player take the time to post on @ @ @ @ @ Congratulations on making it , ’ that was humbling .
”

Rashaad Trice was asleep on the bus when he was frantically woken up.
The OPRF junior guard woke from his nap to see something he never expected: Trice was included in an Instagram post from Golden State Warriors guard and two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry.
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“I kind of freaked out. I don’t even have words to explain the emotions in my head,” Trice said of his reaction. “It was crazy, it was crazy.”
Less than a week earlier, Trice had participated in the Chicago leg of Curry’s Underrated Tour, which aims to give “high school basketball players whose talents and abilities are overlooked … a chance to showcase themselves. To show coaches and scouts from around the country they’ve missed something.”
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The @underrated talent in Chicago was on another level this past weekend. Unfortunately, only 8 boys and 8 girls can rep the North at the Championship stop of the #UnderratedTour Powered by @RakutenSports. Check em out...#stayunderrated pic.twitter.com/l6dMS6YWPe — Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) February 27, 2020
Curry’s posts, which went out to his more than 29 million Instagram and 14 million Twitter followers, announced the eight boys and eight girls selected as finalists from the February showcase. After the same process happens in Dallas, Washington and Los Angeles, Trice and 63 other competitors will travel to the Bay Area to compete for one boys spot and one girls spot in Steph Curry’s Under Armour Select Camp.
Curry, who was lightly recruited in high school and whose NBA potential was questioned coming out of Davidson, is someone Trice admires.
“He just amazed me, especially because I’m a huge LeBron (James) fan, and what he did to the Cavs year in and year out, I was like ‘I can’t be mad,' it was so amazing,” Trice said after OPRF’s 48-40 Class 4A regional semifinal loss to Lane. “To have somebody that high-caliber of a player take the time to post on Instagram and say, ‘Congratulations on making it,’ that was humbling.”
OPRF's Rashaad Trice (34) is guarded by Hinsdale Central's Mac Quast (5) on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. (Kevin Tanaka / Pioneer Press)
Trice said the camp evaluators emphasized the importance of intangibles, both for moving on to the next round of the camp and for playing at the next level.
“There’s a lot of good competition there: You saw kids who could jump out the gym, shoot the lights out and play defense,” Trice said. “So you’ve got to find the little things that can make you stand out, so I thank God I was able to do so.
"We did a lot of drills to make sure our chemistry was right: the ability to talk, listen and attention to detail. Because in college, those little things are so important.”
OPRF coach Matt Maloney said opportunities like the Underrated Tour camp can help Trice take the next steps in his high school career and beyond.
“Hopefully Rashaad uses this as a springboard to have a very good senior season,” Maloney said. “Because he definitely showed flashes. He had 16 (points) against Morton for us. Hopefully that will get him to have the opportunity to play beyond high school as well.”
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OPRF was shorthanded against Lane. The Huskies played without one of the state’s top junior prospects in shooting guard Isaiah Barnes.
Though the team’s season ended early, the Huskies will return plenty of talent. Barnes will be back, as will junior guard Josh Smith, Trice, and sophomores Demetrius Dortch and Eric Locke.
“It just shows how much they wanted to play, how much we all wanted to play,” Smith said of the team’s fight against Lane. “How much this game really meant to us, how much we wanted to advance. The offense couldn’t make adjustments fast enough, but they played hard. I’m proud of everyone I played with.”
Jakub Rudnik is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press


chicagotribune--2020-03-05--Q&A with the Chicago creator of Pandemic, the board game that has become all too real

A : I don ’ t know .
I ’ m certainly more attuned now to the spread of disease @ @ @ @ @ to read a lot of books about it just to work on the products based @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not surprised now when something like coronavirus happens ?
I certainly see @ @ @ @ @ and think of how those actions might work their way into future versions of the @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have quarantines .
It was one thing too many .
We later @ @ @ @ @ kind of see the advantages and disadvantages of real-world quarantines , but we can ’ @ @ @ @ @ a game .
We have three different expansions and it ’ s hard to add @ @ @ @ @ without making it too complicated .
Early on I was just comforted to realize my @ @ @ @ @ ’ t far from the real world — I didn ’ t want to teach @ @ @ @

Pandemic is not Chutes and Ladders.
Pandemic is not Candy Land. Or even Risk. The goal, the finish line, is easy to grasp — stop an infectious disease from spreading across continents and killing millions — but hard to reach. And the stakes couldn’t be starker: Everybody wins or everybody loses.
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Still, it is just a game.
Albeit, a very popular one. Pandemic, the best-selling board game — currently just behind Monopoly and Clue on Amazon’s board-game sales chart — has sold more than two million copies since first published in 2008, becoming a major franchise with a half-dozen Pandemic spin-offs. Players begin in Atlanta at the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, then travel across the globe, taking actions to slow disease transmission and save lives. You don’t move plastic pawns or metal thimbles across a board; you deploy field tents and maps on a board, performing various roles — medic, researcher, quarantine specialist.
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Any win, though, is strictly zero-sum.
Instead of traditional competition and a single champion, players work together, looking for a cure to halt the spread of a virus. Which has made Pandemic something of a staple in classrooms (and medical schools) eager to foster cooperation among students.
“The way that earlier generations grew up with board games like Monopoly in their closets, Pandemic is becoming that for younger generations,” said J.P. Nery, owner of Chicagoland Games Dice Dojo in Edgewater. “It’s a modern classic. Really, it’s the grandfather of cooperative gaming. Pandemic was not the first game to introduce the idea — you don’t roll the dice then come to a winner — but it did bring the concept of cooperative board games into the mainstream. Now you see these games in Walmart.”
Indeed, the history of board games is not necessarily based in competition.
Battleship is likely a variation of a pencil and pad exercise from World War I; Monopoly started as a way for an Illinois activist named Elizabeth Magie to explain the value of a single-tax system that would be focused on land ownership; Life has its roots in 19th century New England morality lessons; and the buzzy Operation, created in the 1960s, began as a student project in the industrial design department at University of Illinois.
Pandemic is no exception.
It was created by Matt Leacock, a former Chicago graphic designer who grew up partly in Wheaton and studied visual communication at Northern Illinois University. He’s unsure of the exact inspiration for Pandemic but notes he developed it between the SARS epidemic of 2003 and the H1N1 swine flu outbreak of 2009, with warnings about the spread of infectious diseases in the 21st century on his mind. Now 48, he lives with his family in Silicon Valley, and like everyone else, he’s intently following coronavirus news and contemplating the endgame. We spoke the other day about the legacy of his scarily prescient creation. The following has been edited and condensed for space and clarity.
Q: Have you ever heard from the CDC about Pandemic?
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A: I was told the game was sold in their gift shop.
Q: The CDC has a gift shop?
A: News to me, too. (The shop closed in 2012.) They are also using it in an exhibition on cultural reactions to the spread of infectious diseases (opening in late May). And there’s been some contact from epidemiologists who worked in West Africa and loved the game. But mostly I hear this stuff just anecdotally. The University of Leicester’s medical school in the UK used it for a couple of years to teach communication cooperation and found some good results with it. I was contacted just today by a high school in San Francisco looking to buy copies of Pandemic in bulk, to teach concepts about the spread of infectious disease. It’s not a simulation but it’s great for introducing concepts, which is really what games have always been good at.
Q: Was that your goal?
A: No, I didn’t set out to teach anything. I wanted something that made your heart beat and got people working together. It was a design problem to me — could you create an artificial opponent out of cardboard and paper that engaged kids and adults sitting for an hour around a table? It’s a daunting challenge but I found how to do it by experimenting.
Q: Did developing it give you a window into how we handle actual pandemics?
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A: I don’t know. I’m certainly more attuned now to the spread of disease. I’ve had to read a lot of books about it just to work on the products based around Pandemic. I guess I’m not surprised now when something like coronavirus happens? I certainly see how the real world works and think of how those actions might work their way into future versions of the game. The earliest versions didn’t have quarantines. It was one thing too many. We later introduced it. You can kind of see the advantages and disadvantages of real-world quarantines, but we can’t necessarily capture everything in a game. We have three different expansions and it’s hard to add more to the base game without making it too complicated. Early on I was just comforted to realize my modeling of the issue wasn’t far from the real world — I didn’t want to teach something dramatically inaccurate.
Q: Did you interview medical professionals?
A: No, just casual research. I was sort of an indie game designer, doing this game as a hobby on the side. There was no pressure to have a well-researched product. The pressure was, will I ever get a game published? I didn’t even name the diseases in the game because I didn’t want it too clinical — which, actually now, makes it kind of topical.
Matt Leacock is the creator of Pandemic, a board game about infectious diseases, as well as other games such as Forbidden Island. (Florence Catania photo)
Q: Did you create games as a child? It seems like one quality that a lot of game designers have is they were designing their own games in elementary school.
A: Yes, and I’ve heard that quite a bit. It was this physical need for me as a kid. Most of the games I designed were terrible, but as a teenager, my uncle and I would design games when we were not satisfied. When we hated a game, we would flip over the board and try to draw something better on the back. I think of games as problem-solving opportunities you opt into, but you should need to make interesting decisions while playing. If you’re not making decisions, I think of that game as more of an activity. I’m not going to get into a fight with someone who says Candy Land is a game, but you could argue it doesn’t allow decisions. You draw a card, you move and you win or lose.
Q: Cooperative games — and I guess Dungeons & Dragons is an example — have been around a long time in different forms, but the reputation was that, compared to something like Clue, they were hard to learn, byzantine. And yet Pandemic has the reputation for making exactly that kind of game mainstream. Why this game?
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A: I chalk it up to timing. But also, the rules aren’t as complicated (as similar cooperative games), and a player’s emotions are manipulated. You’re also playing a reasonable time. You do need a clock. People don’t have patience beyond 60 minutes.
Q: Your name is above the title on the box for Pandemic. How common is that?
A: I stand on the shoulders of many German game designers who made a pact that they would only work with publishers who put their names on the covers as the creator. So I wanted to follow that tradition and actually I have gotten two other U.S. game publishers to follow the practice. We believe that games have authors, just like books.
Q: What’s Pandemic’s origin?
A: Well, I had learned I enjoyed playing cooperative games with my family more than playing games based around negotiation. I had played a negotiation game with my wife one night and I won but it became a horrible experience where it crossed over into the real world. It was this game called Chinatown. You’re basically manipulating people, all within the circle of the game. But that can kind of bleed out and you feel like you’ve lost.
Q: Games reveal qualities you don’t necessarily like to acknowledge.
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A: I think the best thing about cooperative play is it promises a safe space where you can experiment without (those qualities) affecting actual life. But it’s not always true — it’s just the promise. Cooperative games are a way to go up against artificial enemies together, which is a good skill to practice. I kind of find it weird that so many games are competitive when in fact, in life, we cooperate much more than compete head-to-head.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake people make when they play Pandemic?
A: They focus on short-term objectives. They run around the world and try to put out local fires without thinking about a long-term goal, which is the only way they can win.
Q: Do players generally win?
A: Depends who comes to the table. If they have experience making critical decisions and communicating, they have a higher chance. There are difficulty levels but someone new might get beat up. If it’s a close loss, I tend to be happy. Especially if players blame themselves and know what they’d do differently. But real life is infinitely more complex.
Q: Does Pandemic sell better when there is actual pandemic?
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A: My suspicion is that it does better because people are trying to understand. There is some aversion — nobody wants to feel that they trivializing human suffering. And I get quarterly statements so I have no idea how it’s doing right now. But I would guess, just from the references I have seen to it on social media lately, it is being played right now.
Q: We play board games when we don’t want to leave the house.
A: You know, I follow some retailers in Hong Kong, and they have been encouraging folks to grab a game and play at home — I suppose if you’re going to be staying home anyway ...
cborrelli@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-26--Lent in the age of the Impossible Burger: Do rules against eating meat on Fridays apply to fake meat

Lent in the age of the Impossible Burger: Do rules against eating meat on Fridays apply to fake meat?

“ What ’ s behind the whole tradition in practice is to go without in order to be in solidarity @ @ @ @ @ , with those who can ’ t afford meat , ” Williamson said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ are reminded of others .
We experience hunger ourselves .
So it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just a meat product .
”

Nathan Romero, manager at Epic Burger, prepares the plant-based Beyond Burger at a restaurant in Chicago on Feb. 25, 2020. Epic Burger sees a 10% to 12% lift in sales of its plant-based burger during Lent, as Catholics and some other Christians observe meatless Fridays during the season. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
Meat is forbidden on Fridays during Lent, driving many Catholics and other observant Christians to partake in fish frys, seafood specials and McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish during the season.
The explosion of plant-based proteins now offers more options, and a potential conundrum for the faithful: is it OK to indulge in juicy, beef-like burgers that ooze like the real thing but without the verboten animal flesh?
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Technically, yes. Faux meat products from the likes of Impossible Foods, made with soy, and Beyond Meat, whose ingredients include pea, rice and mung bean protein, do not run afoul of Lent’s meat abstinence laws, which bar Catholics aged 14 and older from eating animal flesh on Ash Wednesday or any Friday during Lent, save for the aquatic kind. Lent runs Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, April 12.
But “you risk losing the whole spirit of it,” said Todd Williamson, director of the Office of Divine Worship at the Archdiocese of Chicago, if you substitute meat with a close copy.
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“What’s behind the whole tradition in practice is to go without in order to be in solidarity with those who are hungry, with those who can’t afford meat,” Williamson said. “By going without that we are reminded of others. We experience hunger ourselves. So it’s a bit deeper than whether it’s just a meat product.”
M Burger features their prepares plant-based Impossible Burger in Chicago on Feb. 25, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
Even so, restaurants and grocers see an opportunity in the Lenten season to promote plant-based meat, whose U.S. sales surged 14% over the year ended Jan. 25 to surpass $1 billion, on top of 18% growth the prior year, according to Nielsen. Traditional meat, a $96 billion industry, rose less than 1% over the past year.
Jewel-Osco is offering an Ash Wednesday buy-one-get-two-free promotion for Pure Farmland plant-based proteins, which include burger patties and meatballs.
M Burger, whose plant-based Impossible Burger has risen to be the chain’s No. 2 seller since making its debut in September 2017, during Lent will offer a limited-time Hatch Green Chili Impossible Burger, topped with white cheddar and sriracha mayo. The menu item, available starting Wednesday through Easter Sunday, was among numerous Lenten specials promoted by restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You, which traditionally has focused on specials at its seafood-focused restaurants.
[ Why veggie burgers are the hot new menu item — for meat lovers too ]
At Epic Burger, which has six Chicago restaurants and two in the North Shore, sales of its plant-based Beyond Burger rise 10 to 12% on Fridays during Lent compared with prior Fridays, and the company “absolutely” sees Lent as an opportunity to market the product, said marketing manager Spencer Most.
Nathan Romero, left, manager at Epic Burger, prepares the plant-based Beyond Burger at a restaurant in Chicago on Feb. 25, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
Its email and social media campaigns more heavily push meat-free alternatives during the season, though the company doesn’t explicitly mention Lent to keep the messaging “religion neutral,” Most said. The Beyond Burger, which the company introduced in May 2017, accounts for 13% of the chain’s sales.
“It’s perfect for people who aren’t eating meat who want to indulge without feeling guilty,” Most said.
And therein lies the conundrum. Abstaining from meat during Lent has historically been part of penitential practice to remember the sacrifice that the faithful believe Jesus Christ made on Good Friday, when he was handed over to be crucified. Indulging in pretend meat may not be much of a penance.
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“I think it all comes down to the intention and interior disposition of the individual,” said Rebecca Siar, director of campus ministry at St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
While fake meat products technically comply with abstention requirements, “if someone is just eating them in order to ‘cheat the system’ in a way, then that might defeat the purpose of abstaining from meat in the first place,” she said. “The overall purpose of this Lenten practice is to give something up that is considered a disruption in our normal routine, an intentional sacrifice.”
To that end, the church encourages those who already avoid meat to take up a different form of penance, so a vegetarian might go vegan on Fridays and a vegan might remove alcohol or olive oil, Siar said.
Other religious leaders say believers would be better served by Lent if they focused less on rules and penance and more on finding ways to live a better life. The Rev. Charles Bolser, a retired priest from St. Viator Parish in Old Irving Park, calls meat abstention a “superficial law” and doesn’t think people should fret about eating a plant-based burger.
“For those who want to give up meat I think that’s fine,” Bolser said. “But I don’t think it’s something that you’re forced to do. How does that by itself change the way I live my life? Does it really help me concentrate on becoming a better person? Or is it simply, I’m obeying the rules?”
aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com
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chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Don Church, longtime Wheaton College track coach, dies

“ He was probably the greatest encourager I ’ ve ever met in my life .
He brought out the @ @ @ @ @ said the Rev .
Paul Atwater , who ran track and played football at Wheaton @ @ @ @ @ and early 1980s .
“ I ’ m a pastor today and I was probably @ @ @ @ @ Church and some of the coaches in the track and football programs , and I @ @ @ @ @ degree by him more than I was by my professors in the biblical studies department @ @

Don Church taught physical education at Wheaton College, where he was head track coach for close to 40 years and an assistant football coach for two decades.
Known as “Bubba,” Church also led numerous mission trips overseas, often with athletes.
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Don Church (Family photo)
“He was probably the greatest encourager I’ve ever met in my life. He brought out the best in people,” said the Rev. Paul Atwater, who ran track and played football at Wheaton College in the late 1970s and early 1980s. “I’m a pastor today and I was probably encouraged more spiritually by Bubba Church and some of the coaches in the track and football programs, and I was discipled to a certain degree by him more than I was by my professors in the biblical studies department."
Church, 85, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease Jan. 16 at the Auberge memory care community in Naperville, said his son, David. He had been a longtime Wheaton resident.
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Donald Lee Church was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Kansas as a child. He received a bachelor’s degree in botany in 1957 from Wheaton College, where he played on the football team.
After graduating, Church was hired by Wheaton as a coach and began teaching physical education. He soon was promoted to assistant professor.
In 1959, Church became Wheaton’s head track coach. He also started coaching running backs on the football team.
Church left Wheaton for one year to get a master’s degree in education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1970. He returned to the college in 1970 as an associate professor of physical education, and he continued coaching track and football.
“He tried to do a really good job wherever he was, but he wasn’t a person who looked to receive credit for anything he’d done,” former Wheaton basketball coach Dick Helm said.
Amy Sandberg, a member of the women’s track team at Wheaton in the mid-1990s, said that “as much as he loved track, I think he loved the athletes more than the coaching itself.”
“He genuinely cared about you as a person, about your hopes, your dreams, your struggles, your joys,” she said. “He wanted you to reach your potential as an athlete, but he cared more about who you were as a person. Track was just the vehicle through which he got to connect.”
Sandberg said Church related to students by noting his own academic struggles at Wheaton in the 1950s.
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“Wheaton was a hard school and he was so humble and encouraging for kids who might be great athletes but for whom the academic part was hard," Sandberg said. "Also, he was a safe person — whatever your issue, whether it was a family issue or a school issue, you knew you could drop by his office and he would drop everything to talk to you.”
In 1968, Church began bringing track team members overseas to compete against runners from other countries and also to share their Christian faith. Starting with a trip to Mexico, Church brought athletes both from Wheaton and from other colleges to Africa in 1972 and to Eastern European countries in 1978, 1983 and 1986.
“Dad knew all these Division I coaches, because he was always trying to get kids into meets and invitationals,” David Church said. “He’d call Missouri’s coach and say, ‘Do you have any athletes for me? I’m going to Africa this summer.’ And coaches would say something like, “Yes, I have this athlete who’s a really strong Christian and who’s an 18-foot pole vaulter. It was that kind of thing.”
Church later organized mission trips without an athletic component.
“The mission trips really stemmed from a desire to share the gospel but also his role as a connector — he loved to connect people’s gifts with a problem that needed to be solved,” David Church said.
Church formed Wheaton College’s Faculty Missionary Project in 1983.
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Wheaton College Chaplain Emeritus Stephen Kellough recalled seeing Church with a student, faculty member or staff person, “and you could be sure that in such meetings Don would be offering a word of encouragement."
Church was named Wheaton College’s Alumnus of the Year in 1986.
After retiring from teaching and coaching in 1997, Church continued going on mission trips, mostly to Eastern Europe. He also had a talent for construction — and in fact, built his own house on Wheaton’s north side — and spent time during retirement continuing more than 40 years of volunteering on charitable construction projects undertaken by Chicago’s Lawndale Community Church, including a health center and a recreation center.
“He was there for spiritual guidance, and he didn’t shy away from getting his hands dirty,” said Wayne Gordon, Lawndale Community Church’s pastor. “He built a lot of things. He worked a lot with our Hope House, which is men just getting out of prison and men just getting out of drugs. Don built their kitchen tables, he helped build some of their beds, he helped build their bathrooms.”
Church’s wife of 57 years, Ann, died in 2015. Survivors also include two other sons, Andy and Tom; a sister, Leota Mayer; a brother, Allen; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service is being planned.
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Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Watch live: Mayor Lori Lightfoot to address school closings and the uptick in Illinois coronavirus c

Watch live: Mayor Lori Lightfoot to address school closings and the uptick in Illinois coronavirus cases

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ordered all Illinois schools closed by Tuesday , sending parents scrambling to make alternative arrangements for @ @ @ @ @ affected by the state ’ s latest attempt to slow the coronavirus .
Read the @ @


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Jury convicts Shomari Legghette of first-degree murder in killing of Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer

“ We are so happy and relieved with the verdict , but are overwhelmed with sadness that he is no @ @ @ @ @ the statement read.
“ Paul was a hero , but there were other heroes who @ @ @ @ @ and put the offender under arrest without incident .
We are forever grateful to you @ @

Shomari Legghette, 47, gestures as he walks out of the courtroom on Oct. 28, 2020, after being sentenced in the first-degree murder of Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
From their initial sprint across Clark Street to the gunshots echoing over the Thompson Center plaza, Cmdr. Paul Bauer and Shomari Legghette’s fatal chance encounter lasted only a few moments.
On Friday, it took about 2½ hours for jurors to find Legghette guilty on all counts of first-degree murder and armed violence in Bauer’s stunning broad-daylight slaying.
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The conviction brought to a close one of the most high-profile police murder trials in recent Chicago history. And the verdict made Legghette, 46, eligible for life behind bars.
Bauer’s family members remained quiet as the verdict was read. But shortly afterward, they were ushered into an empty courtroom nearby, where they erupted into applause that could be heard from the hallway.
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Jurors were sent back to deliberate late Friday morning after being instructed by Cook County Judge Erica Reddick. Legghette faced charges including first-degree murder, armed violence and murder of a peace officer.
After two weeks of trial, the story was familiar to jurors and the public: Bauer’s pursuit of Legghette to the top of a stairwell. Their tumble downward. The gunshots that left Bauer bleeding on the landing below.
But in closing arguments Friday, Cook County prosecutors asked jurors to focus on 25 crucial seconds — the time between the pair’s fall down the stairs outside the Thompson Center in the Loop and the first sound of gunfire.
“After 25 seconds of we’ll never know what, bartering, fighting, we’ll never know, (Legghette) decides it’s time to pull the trigger,” Assistant State’s Attorney John Maher said.
Those mysterious seconds at the bottom of the stairwell gave Legghette plenty of time to notice Bauer carrying handcuffs and hear his police radio on full volume, prosecutors said — aiming to disprove the defense’s main contention, that Legghette could not have known Bauer was a police officer.
Erin Bauer, left, widow of slain Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer, listens to the guilty verdict for Shomari Legghette at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 13, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Defense attorney Scott Kamin told reporters he believed the verdict might have been different if his client decided to testify. Still, he said, the “jury spoke,” and said he hoped the judge would not hand down the maximum sentence.
Only Legghette could have testified about exactly what he did in that stairwell and why. Without his testimony, Kamin was left to argue during closing remarks that a “reasonable person” would not have recognized Bauer as an officer and would have acted in self-defense.
Bauer was on duty and in uniform but had a plain jacket on over his uniform shirt.
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So there was no reason for Legghette to know Bauer was a cop, Kamin told the jury. “This guy, who’s a total stranger, doesn’t say ‘stop, police, freeze,' " Kamin said.
Bauer, a 31-year veteran, joined in a pursuit of Legghette after hearing a call of a fleeing suspect, authorities have said.
Legghette was outfitted with what prosecutors on Friday called a “weapons system:” a bulletproof vest, a Glock with an extended magazine, and what appeared to be a long, heavy ice pick.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, center, in the lobby of the Leighton Criminal Court Building after the guilty verdict for Shomari Legghette. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
“He was a trap waiting for anyone who crossed his path to snap,” Maher told the jury. “He had a problem with a dope dealer or police who wanted to take him to jail, there’s going to be consequences when you go up against Shomari Legghette, and Paul Bauer and his family learned that all too well.”
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Bauer’s family issued a statement calling it “a bittersweet day for everyone who loved Paul.”
“We are so happy and relieved with the verdict, but are overwhelmed with sadness that he is no longer with us,” the statement read.“Paul was a hero, but there were other heroes who came upon the scene quickly and put the offender under arrest without incident. We are forever grateful to you.”
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Assistant State’s Attorney Risa Lanier told reporters after the verdict that they “stand proudly” with the Bauer family.
“Healing begins now,” she said.
The fateful chain of events leading to Bauer’s death began when officers conducting a routine patrol on Lower Wacker Drive one afternoon in February 2018 approached Legghette, who appeared to be urinating against a wall. Legghette said he did not want to speak to them, and took off running up the stairs, witnesses said.
Bauer, on duty and downtown for a meeting with aldermen after attending training earlier in the day, heard a radio call of a fleeing suspect and spotted Legghette running nearby moments later.
Six civilian eyewitnesses testified at the trial that they saw all or part of the pursuit. One of them was a nearby cabdriver whose in-car security camera captured Bauer chasing Legghette in a ragged dash across Clark Street.
No cameras or eyewitnesses saw the shooting itself. But the taxi’s security video caught the sound echoing through the Thompson Center plaza: seven distinct gunshots in quick succession.
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The medical examiner testified that Bauer suffered six gunshot wounds, including at least two that would each have been fatal.
Throughout the trial, the defense hinted at Legghette’s expected testimony, indicating that he would say he did not know Bauer was a police officer, and that someone besides him fired shots on the Thompson Center plaza that day.
No eyewitnesses or other evidence directly supported the theory of a second shooter. Each of the three police officers who responded to the stairwell that day denied under oath that they fired any shots, and none of the civilian witnesses said they saw anyone open fire on the plaza.
Closing arguments ended on an emotional note Friday. Family members passed around tissues as prosecutors displayed a photo of Bauer’s radio lying in the blood-spattered stairwell while they played audio of the transmissions from the moment of the shooting — including several gunshots.
The photo of the radio faded out into a portrait of Bauer, smiling, in full uniform.
“Cmdr. Bauer dedicated his life to service and sacrifice for the community,” Maher told the jury. “Everything he worked for and loved was taken away from him by Shomari Legghette, who only cared about himself.”
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mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
mabuckley@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--U.S. Senators Durbin and Duckworth want answers from Alden over plans for Tribune Publishing

Alden took a 32 % stake in Tribune Publishing in November , mostly through buying the shares owned by former @ @ @ @ @ Alden representatives were added to the newspaper company ’ s board , expanding it to @ @ @ @ @ was restricted from increasing its stake in the company to more than 33 % until @ @ @

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter Thursday to Alden Global Capital requesting the New York-based hedge fund disclose its plans for Tribune Publishing after an ownership standstill agreement expires in June.
The letter, addressed to Alden President Heath Freeman, expressed concerns over the hedge fund’s “practices of mass layoffs” at other newspaper properties and a “lack of transparency” surrounding its investors, among other issues.
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“We are deeply concerned that Alden Global Capital, with a history of dismantling local newspapers for personal gain, is now pursuing an alarming strategy of staff cuts at Tribune Publishing,” Durbin and Duckworth said in the letter.
Alden took a 32% stake in Tribune Publishing in November, mostly through buying the shares owned by former Chairman Michael Ferro. Two Alden representatives were added to the newspaper company’s board, expanding it to eight members, but Alden was restricted from increasing its stake in the company to more than 33% until June 30.
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A voluntary buyout program offered throughout the company earlier this year was followed by changes in senior leadership at Tribune Publishing and a management restructuring at the Chicago Tribune.
“These are disturbing developments in Alden’s already troubling history of laying off experienced newspaper staff and stripping newspaper assets for profit,” Durbin and Duckworth said in the letter.
Launched in 2007, Alden owns about 200 publications through an operating company now known as MediaNews Group, formerly Digital First Media. The chain has come under fire for sweeping layoffs at its newspapers, including major dailies such as the Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, as well as smaller weeklies.
Freeman did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
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Durbin and Duckworth asked Alden to answer questions raised in the letter by March 27, including whether it plans to increase its stake and sell newspaper assets when the ownership standstill agreement expires June 30.
The Illinois senators also asked Alden to commit to supporting current staffing levels at Tribune Publishing, as well as outline steps it will take to protect freedom of the press and ensure local fact-based reporting.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has been a vocal critic of Alden’s strategy of acquiring newspapers and cutting staff, and has written several letters to the hedge fund expressing concern about its control of the Tribune Publishing-owned New York Daily News.
Like Schumer, Durbin and Duckworth expressed concerns about a lack of transparency surrounding Alden’s investors. The senators cited filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission showing that 80% of Alden’s clients and more than $830 million of its assets under management are connected to non-U.S. citizens.
In addition to the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, Tribune Publishing owns the Baltimore Sun; Hartford Courant; Orlando Sentinel; South Florida Sun Sentinel; the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland; The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania; the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia; and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com