chicagotribune--2020-01-22--'The Special Counsel’: Chicago author rewrites the Mueller report, aiming to make it a page-turner t

'The Special Counsel’: Chicago author rewrites the Mueller report, aiming to make it a page-turner this time

A : That was the constant process : to give the report more context .
I printed out the report @ @ @ @ @ it on my screen .
I would check out a footnote , such as an @ @ @ @ @ New York Times , print out the transcript from the newspaper and include a whole @ @ @ @ @ interview ) exchange .
Another example is a mention in the report of ( then-press @ @ @ @ @ to reporters late at night the day former FBI Director James Comey was fired .
@ @ @ @ @ was out on the White House lawn taking to Fox ( Business ) and when @ @ @ @ @ approaching ) he went into the bushes .
I think it ’ s more interesting @ @ @ @ @ to come out of the bushes .

Robert S. Mueller III's Report on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election was famously dry. Now, a new adaptation, "The Special Counsel," aims to make it as readable as a novel while preserving the facts. (SAUL LOEB / AFP/Getty Images)
Mark Caro’s new book, “The Special Counsel,” has a cover design straight out of a John Grisham thriller. It sports a bold, red title; the Capitol dome set against an ominously dark sky; and a U.S. Department of Justice seal. The tag line reads, “If you’re listening, Russia ...,” a callback to a 2016 press conference, when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump seemingly called for Russia to hack his opponent Hillary Clinton’s server.
“The Special Counsel” adapts Robert S. Mueller III’s Report on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, framing it as a narrative while maintaining the source material’s factuality.
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At a recent event at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square, Caro addressed the elusive categorization of “The Special Counsel.” Distributors have labeled it “fiction-crime” and “fiction-historical.” Mulholland Books, Caro’s publisher, calls it “current events/politics.”
Before the Book Cellar event, Caro — a former Chicago Tribune entertainment reporter and author of the “The Foie Gras Wars” — spoke by phone about his new book. Here is an edited transcript of our conversation.
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Q: Your book reminded me of an old Woody Allen joke about working on a nonfiction version of The Warren Report. “The Special Counsel” flips that, but it’s not quite a novelization. How do you describe it?
A: It is a readable version of the Mueller report. It restructures the report as a narrative: This is what happened, and this is what people did. This is definitely a journalistic endeavor; everything is sourced. The fictional aspect is the conceit that Robert Mueller is narrating it. This whole idea of novelizing it would have required sentences like, "It was rainy and 45 degrees when Jeff Sessions made his way to his office." I didn’t have time to research the weather.
Mark Caro, former Tribune entertainment reporter and author of "The Foie-Gras Wars," recently wrote "The Special Counsel," a novel-like adaptation of the Mueller report. (Todd Rosenberg / HANDOUT/Todd Rosenberg photo)
Q: You also flesh out the report with related indictments, public accounts and social media posts. For example, the Mueller report contains a one-sentence reference to Matt Skiber, a concoction of Russia’s Internet Research Agency. Your book contains the complete Facebook post in which this fake person reached out to actual Trump supporters to organize a "YUGE pro-Trump flash mob."
A: That was the constant process: to give the report more context. I printed out the report as a PDF and had it on my screen. I would check out a footnote, such as an Oval Office meeting with The New York Times, print out the transcript from the newspaper and include a whole quote or the actual (interview) exchange. Another example is a mention in the report of (then-press secretary) Sean Spicer speaking to reporters late at night the day former FBI Director James Comey was fired. That was the night he was out on the White House lawn taking to Fox (Business) and when he saw other reporters (approaching) he went into the bushes. I think it’s more interesting to read about him negotiating to come out of the bushes.
Q: You are best known as an arts writer. What was the trigger for you to write this?
A: I was contacted by an editor at Little, Brown who had this idea. I’ve tried to be up on the report and read the news. I want to be informed. My wife, Mary Dixon (recently hired as morning news anchor on WBEZ’s “Morning Edition”), was a nut on the whole Mueller report and had actually printed it out and read through the whole thing with a highlighter. This was before I was even asked to do this book. When I told her that they had this idea, her eyes lit up and she said she could help. I was pretty much on my own on “The Foie Gras Wars.” She was my secret weapon on this.
Q: This could have lent itself to satire. How did you find the book’s voice?
A: My editor and I had a long discussion about how to present this. Do you write it from the point of view of Mueller? Do you write it from the point of view from someone who functions as an audience surrogate, like Nick Carraway from “The Great Gatsby” — a member of Mueller’s staff? It seemed the most straightforward way was to put it in Mueller’s voice. His motivation would be that people are misinterpreting his work, which must have burned him up.
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Q: What was your impression of your protagonist?
A: I remember watching his testimony and his press conference and I thought, This guy is not so expansive. It’s wishful thinking he would sit down and lay this all out. But I do think he wants people to pay attention to his work, and the book is in that spirit.
Q: The Mueller report did not get the greatest reviews for style. CNN said the writers were “able ..., but Stephen King they are not.” Is this book a conscious attempt to make the report more accessible?
A: Yes, absolutely. And the editor was very serious about it. Maybe you think it’s OK what they did and maybe you don’t, but this is what your elected officials were doing and this is what a foreign government — our chief adversary for the last five decades — was doing to our electoral system. You read it, and it’s like, Holy crap, I didn’t realize the Russians were creating fake Black Lives Matter Twitter accounts urging not to vote for Hillary. We should know about this, and here’s a way to get this material without slogging through this very dry report.
Q: Did writing this book give you a better grasp on the implications of the report?
A: It was eye-opening. A lot of the headlines when the Mueller report was released were about Trump and obstruction, but it’s scary when you read about the extent of interference by the Russians in the 2016 presidential election — all of the fake Facebook and Twitter accounts and the lies and propaganda that they perpetrated on the American public. That’s the reason that Mueller said this is ongoing, this is what people need to be vigilant about. Now, I can’t look at tweets and responses on Twitter without thinking, How many are Russian trolls or bots?
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Q: When you wrote this book, President Trump had not been impeached. The Senate trial has begun. Events have far outpaced the original report.
A: But it’s necessary if you want to have the background on what is going on. It’s like all those crazy things that happened in season two of “Breaking Bad.” The Mueller report is season one. You have to go back and watch from the beginning.
Q: Who do you envision is your audience is for this?
A: The whole reason you go into journalism is because you think uncovering the truth will make the world a better place; the more knowledge out there, the better. If someone is (of the mindset that) Trump can do no wrong, they are not interested in hearing the facts, but there are a lot of people who are not closed-minded. They want to know what’s going on. And I’ve received a great response to this. When I tell people I’m writing a readable version of the Mueller report, their eyes light up as if to say, Great, we need that.
Donald Liebenson is a freelancer.
"The Special Counsel" by Mark Caro, Mulholland - Original Credit: Mulholland (Mulholland / HANDOUT)
‘The Special Counsel’
By Mark Caro, Mulholland, 336 pages, $16.99


chicagotribune--2020-01-22--BTS announces 2020 summer tour including Chicago’s Soldier Field

“ Music has always been their priority since the beginning & along their journey in spreading good vibes .
It @ @ @ @ @ manage to relay their inner voice/fear through the medium they value the most , the @ @ @ @ @ fan account tweeted Friday .
“ What do I do with you guys ...
Seriously @ @ @ @ @ have to go so hard ... What kind of next level thing is this , @ @ @ @ @ up on your greatness , but I love that you ’ re forcing me to @ @ @ @ @ ” wrote another breathless fan .

K-pop superstars BTS, who played two shows at Soldier Field in May of 2019, will return for another two performances at the lakefront stadium, the group announced on Tuesday.
The concerts will take place June 5-6 as part of the boy band’s 2020 “Map of the Soul” tour. BTS’s fourth album, titled “Map Of the Soul: 7,” arrives on Feb. 21.
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Over the course of just a few years, BTS has become the biggest K-pop band in the world.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @bts_bighit is heading out on their #MapofTheSoulTour! #ARMY MEMBER PRESALE and General Verified Fan registration is now open until Sunday, Feb 2 at 10pm ET. Get more info at https://t.co/3gVsv1NdM7 for registration. #BTS #방탄소년단 pic.twitter.com/cQ2LQoaeeq — Live Nation (@LiveNation) January 22, 2020
The new tour kicks off in Seoul’s Olympic Stadium for four nights starting April 11. The group then crosses the Pacific for a pair of shows at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on April 25-26, before finishing in Chicago.
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Fan club members get first shot at tickets in a presale that starts at 3 p.m. (local time in each market) Wednesday, Feb. 5 and ends at 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. You can still apply to join the BTS fan club through 11 p.m. local time on Thursday, Feb. 6 and enter the pre-sale through 11 p.m. that same day.
According to Live Nation, registered fans who receive an invitation code will have the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public. But Ticketmaster verified fan does not guarantee that everyone who is verified and receives an invitation code will get a ticket. Fans can register for the verified fan presale now through Sunday, Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. central by signing up.
General ticket sales open at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at ticketmaster.com.
Last week, BTS unveiled a new single “Black Swan,” delivering an artsy video that features exactly zero members of the red-hot boy band. But its rabid fans, who are used to the group’s genre-hopping style, didn’t seem to be bothered by the break from tradition.
The video had more than 6.5 million views on YouTube alone as of Friday morning. Seven members of Slovenia’s MN Dance Company are the video’s stars, while the seven BTS members’ Auto-Tuned voices carry the song. A well-known Martha Graham quote opens the piece, which is apparently a personal reflection on art by the band itself: “A dancer dies twice — once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.”
“Music has always been their priority since the beginning & along their journey in spreading good vibes. It’s admirable how they manage to relay their inner voice/fear through the medium they value the most, the music itself,” one fan account tweeted Friday. “What do I do with you guys... Seriously... Why’d you have to go so hard... What kind of next level thing is this, I can’t catch up on your greatness, but I love that you’re forcing me to. Do your thang,” wrote another breathless fan.
“As you know the video is out and we are thankful to @bts.bighitofficial for this opportunity,” MN Dance Company said on Instagram. “We still can’t believe it. Thank you for promoting art of dance and bringing it closer to people. Thank you to all the people for your beautiful reactions. You warm our hearts.” Those online reactions, by the way, have been coming in myriad languages, a tribute to BTS’ global fan base. BTS will perform “Black Swan” on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” on Jan. 28.
Tribune staff contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, 13, die in a helicopter crash that killed 9 outside of Los Ange

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, 13, die in a helicopter crash that killed 9 outside of Los Angeles

“ He had zero flaws offensively , ” James said .
“ Zero .
You backed off of him , @ @ @ @ @ .
You body him up a little bit , he could go around you .
@ @ @ @ @ .
He could post .
He could make free throws .
...
He was just @ @ @ @ @ skill set and his work ethic .
”

LOS ANGELES — NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.
The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
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Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said.
Also killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California's Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant's daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school.
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 18 Kobe Bryant, nominated for Animated Short Film "Dear Basketball" during the Nominees Luncheon for the 90th Oscars in the Beverly Hilton Grand Ballroom on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.
"God bless their souls," Villanueva said at a news conference.
News of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish.
"Words can't describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me," retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. "We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force."
NBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname.
The medical examiner's office said specialists were working at the scene to recover the bodies, and investigators were trying to confirm identities. Federal transportation safety investigators were en route.
Bryant’s helicopter left Santa Ana shortly after 9 a.m. and circled for a time just east of Interstate 5, near Glendale. Air traffic controllers noted poor visibility around Burbank, just to the north, and Van Nuys, to the northwest.
After holding up the helicopter for other aircraft, they cleared the Sikorsky S-76 to proceed north along Interstate 5 through Burbank before turning west to follow U.S. Route 101, the Ventura Highway.
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Shortly after 9:40 a.m., the helicopter turned again, toward the southeast, and climbed to more than 2,000 feet above sea level. It then descended and crashed into the hillside at about 1,400 feet, according to data from Flightradar24.
At the time of impact, the helicopter was flying at about 184 mph and descending at a rate of more than 4,000 feet per minute, the Flightradar24 data showed.
Among other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, the National Transportation and Safety Board’s Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.
Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps, said weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in low visibility, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside.
Around the world, people were glued to their phones and TV screens as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California.
LeBron is met with emotional hugs after landing in Los Angeles following the death of Kobe Bryant.
(via NBC4 Los Angeles) pic.twitter.com/Fx9jt2qZVi — ESPN (@espn) January 26, 2020
Thousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards.
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People carried flowers and chanted "Kobe!" and "MVP!" under giant video screens showing Bryant's smiling face.
“This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31.
Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers' James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant's hometown.
"Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames," Bryant wrote in his last tweet. "Much respect my brother."
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644 — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game's most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA's All-Defensive teams.
He teamed with Shaquille O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.
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“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. ... IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”
Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.
Bryant's death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city's most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant's image.
"Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
President Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant's family, saying that "despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life."
The cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine.
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The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more.
[ NBA players and others react to Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘Words can’t even come close to describing it’ ]
Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.
“It was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.”
The fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home.
Juan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff's helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn't seem to be low at the time of the crash.
Firefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said.
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Firefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre of dry brush, Osby said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76.
Among other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.
"The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. ... It's certainly a quality helicopter," said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps.
Green believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside.
Along with his work boosting women's sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to "Dear Basketball," an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.
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In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He said the two had consensual sex, and prosecutors later dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant at the request of the accuser. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.
A look at some of Kobe Bryant’s career highlights
Here are some of the many highlights of Kobe Bryant’s career:
5-time NBA champion (2000-2002, 2009, 2010)
2-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2009–2010)
NBA MVP (2008)
Academy Award winner for animated short film (2018)
18-time NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016)
4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
11-time All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
2-time All-NBA Second Team (2000–2001)
2-time All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
9-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003–2004, 2006–2011)
3-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2002, 2012)
2-time NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
2-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012)
NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1997)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
Los Angeles Lakers all-time leading scorer (33,643 points)
Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1996)
Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, Tim Reynolds in Miami and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Remembering basketball legend Kobe Bryant

The United States is known as `` the land of the free , '' and many Americans are proud of @ @ @ @ @ .
But even though Americans are given the right to `` life , liberty and @ @ @ @ @ '' there are some small , surprising things that citizens ca n't do in the @ @ @ @ @ and state levels , there are certain laws that are petty or peculiar , especially @ @ @ @ @ the world .
Whether it 's a food the government has deemed `` dangerous '' @ @ @ @ @ the books because of one wild person , here are 20 wacky things that are @ @ @ @ @ States .
( This story originally appeared on The Active Times . )

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chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Michael Jordan, NBA players and others react to Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘Words can’t describe the pain

Michael Jordan, NBA players and others react to Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling’

Not only did I have the pleasure of knowing Kobe but I was also able to meet his beautiful daughter @ @ @ @ @ .
Thoughts and prayers for his family and the families of the other passengers on @ @

Kobe Bryant was not only one of the greatest basketball players ever, he was also the hardest working player I’ve ever been around. I was so fortunate to have known him and coached him with Team USA. Our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife, Vanessa, and the Bryant family.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--AFC wins 4th straight Pro Bowl over the NFC, 38-33

The AFC ended up beating the NFC 38-33 for a fourth consecutive victory in Orlando .
The latest one might @ @ @ @ @ Walt Disney World .
The NFL is considering moving the game around , with new @ @ @ @ @ Vegas and Los Angeles being viable options .

ORLANDO, Fla. — Green Bay linebacker Za’Darius Smith hastily organized an homage to Kobe Bryant minutes before the Pro Bowl.
Smith and his NFC teammates learned about Bryant's death while they were in the locker room getting ready for the NFL's all-star game Sunday. Smith suggested the best way to pay tribute the late NBA great was to mimic his fadeaway jumper after big plays.
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So they did — repeatedly.
It was one of several ways NFL players remembered Bryant during the celebratory event, which the AFC won 38-33 for its fourth consecutive victory in Orlando.
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"I don't even want to talk about it anymore," Smith said in the locker room hours later. "I don't want to get emotional."
Detroit cornerback Darius Slay didn't duck his feelings. Slay grew up idolizing Bryant so much that he had a custom Lakers hoodie made to warm up in before NFL games. Slay also got to meet Bryant a few years back.
“It’s heart-wrecking,” Slay said with tears in his eyes. “There’s not any words you can say. I’m in shock. I just imagine him growing old, being part owner of the Lakers and having a future son I could cheer for next. It’s just shocking. Me saying the words ‘Kobe’s gone,’ that’s just crazy.”
Bryant died in a helicopter crash early Sunday near Calabasas, Calif., and the news spread shortly before the game. It put a damper on the NFL game held on the other side of the country.
Players checked cellphones on the sidelines for updates, all of them looking for information and answers.
"It shocked the whole locker room," Philadelphia defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. "Nobody thought it was true, but it was. It's a sad day for sports."
Smith, Slay and Tampa Bay's Shaq Barrett got together following a second-quarter sack and delivered their first "Kobe J." Even more NFC teammates performed the routine following a fumble in the third.
Green Bay receiver Davonte Adams pointed to the sky and flashed the No. 24 on his fingers as an ode to Bryant's jersey after a touchdown catch in the third.
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Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson led a prayer for Bryant and his family before the game.
The NFL also held a moment of silence for Bryant at the 2-minute warning in the first half, showing the retired NBA star's picture on the scoreboards while announcing his death at age 41.
Several guys removed their helmets during the break. Others took a knee and prayed. Fans broke the silence by chanting "Ko-be! Ko-be!"
“I felt hurt,” Bears safety Eddie Jackson said. “It’s sad. I don’t know how it feels to lose a husband and a child, so I don’t understand what the family’s going through. It’s got to be tough.”
Aside from the Bryant tributes, the NFL's annual all-star game went as expected. There were big plays everywhere and few tackles anywhere. The teams combined for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The play of the day was Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt's 82-yard fumble return in the fourth. Jacksonville's Calais Campbell beat Dallas' Travis Frederick and sacked Kirk Cousins on a fourth-and-goal play from the 9. Campbell stripped the ball, which Watt scooped up and went untouched the other way to put the AFC ahead 38-27.
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The NFC had a chance to rally late and tried to take advantage of a new rule that allows the scoring team to retain possession by facing a fourth-and-15 play from its own 25-yard line. Cousins threw a deep ball that Baltimore safety Earl Thomas intercepted.
Campbell was named the AFC's defensive player of the game. Baltimore's Lamar Jackson was the offensive MVP.
The winners earned $70,000 each. The losers got $35,000 apiece.
Jackson threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception. Houston's Deshaun Watson threw for 148 yards, with a touchdown and a pick.
Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill hooked up with Jacksonville's DJ Chark for a 60-yard score in which officials opted not to rule him down after two defenders touched him.
Wilson gave his NFC starting spot to New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who is contemplating retirement. Brees said this week he will take some time before deciding on his future.
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Cousins, Brees and Wilson threw TD passes for the NFC, which also allowed Ezekiel Elliott and Adams to attempt throws. Elliott's was picked off. Adams added two TD receptions.
The NFC's top highlight was Cox rumbling 61 yards for a score. Minnesota's Harrison Smith intercepted a pass from Watson at the 3-yard line and returned it to the 39 before lateraling to Cox, who took it the rest of the while.
No one tried to tackle the 310-pound Cox. Denver receiver Courtland Sutton slapped at the ball for the final 20 yards.
"I'm glad nobody did try to stop me," Cox said. "It was fun. I was looking for somebody to pitch the ball to, though. Guarantee I was. Get this thing out of my hands."


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Nipsey Hussle posthumously wins early Grammy; Lady Gaga wins 2

Others who won ahead of the telecast included Billie Eilish ’ s older brother Finneas , who picked up best @ @ @ @ @ for his work on his sister ’ s debut album .
Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir won @ @ @ @ @ media for “ Chernobyl.
” Guðnadóttir won an Emmy last year for composing the TV @ @ @ @ @ nominated for an Oscar for her work on “ Joker .
”

Nipsey Hussle, who will be honored during the live telecast at the Grammy Awards, has posthumously won his first-ever Grammy on Sunday.
The late rapper’s song “Racks in the Middle,” which features Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy, won best rap performance.
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Hussle’s family, including his brother, grandmother and actress-fiancee Lauren London, accepted the honor during the pre-telecast.
“Nip did it, not just for the awards, but for the people,” London said onstage.
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Hussle was nominated for two other awards: He lost best rap song to J. Cole and 21 Savage. The third award will be presented during the live show, where Hussle will be honored with a tribute performance from DJ Khaled, John Legend, Meek Mill and others.
The pre-telecast ceremony, where most of the awards are handed out, opened with a brief remembrance of NBA star Kobe Bryant, who was killed earlier in the day in a helicopter crash in California.
Referring to the arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Interim Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said, “Since we are in his house, I would ask you to join me in a moment of silence."
Michelle Obama picked up best spoken world album for “Becoming" during the pre-show. Former President Barack Obama has won that same honor twice. And Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus won best music video for “Old Town Road,” marking the first Grammy win for both performers.
“Let me just hold it,” Lil Nas X said, looking at the gramophone. “Um. Thank you.”
Beyoncé also won an early Grammy: She picked up best music film for her Netflix special “Homecoming.” It was her 24th Grammy.
“A Star Is Born” had a rebirth during the pre-show: After winning two honors at last year’s show, the top-selling soundtrack won Lady Gaga two more awards Sunday.
The album won best compilation soundtrack for visual media, giving Bradley Cooper his second Grammy. The song “I’ll Never Love Again” picked up best song written for visual media, awarded to songwriters including Gaga, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey and Aaron Raitiere.
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At the 2019 Grammys, Gaga and Cooper won best pop duo/group performance for “Shallow,” and the Oscar-winning song also won the Grammy for best song written for visual media.
Gaga will compete for one more Grammy — song of the year for “I’ll Never Love Again” — which will be presented during the live show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Others who won ahead of the telecast included Billie Eilish’s older brother Finneas, who picked up best engineered album (non-classical) for his work on his sister’s debut album. Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir won best score soundtrack for visual media for “Chernobyl.” Guðnadóttir won an Emmy last year for composing the TV series and she’s nominated for an Oscar for her work on “Joker.”
New stars like Lizzo and Eilish have a chance at winning the first Grammys of their career, but a cloud loomed over this year's awards.
Ten days before arguably the biggest night in music, the industry erupted when the Recording Academy announced it had put its recently hired CEO, Deborah Dugan, on administrative leave for misconduct. Dugan and her lawyers fired back at the academy, claiming that the awards show is rigged.
Tarriona “Tank” Ball of the New Orleans soul-funk band Tank and the Bangas, nominated for best new artist, said she’s not letting the drama ruin the achievement for her band.
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“I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at, and I don't want anything taking away from all the nominees,” Ball said. “This is our moment. This is our time.”
Alicia Keys is hosting the Grammys, which air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. The show will be jam-packed with performances, including Ariana Grande, BTS, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, DJ Khaled, Rosalia, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Tyler, the Creator, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, John Legend and Cyndi Lauper.
The show will also include special tributes to Prince and longtime Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, who is wrapping up his career with the show Sunday.
Lizzo, the top nominee competing for eight awards, will also perform.
Her major-label debut, “Cuz I Love You,” is nominated for album of the year along with projects from Grande, Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend, H.E.R., Bon Iver, Eilish and Lil Nas X.
Lizzo’s No. 1 hit, “Truth Hurts,” is also up for song and record of the year. Eilish, who will perform, also scored song and record of the year nods for her No. 1 hit, “Bad Guy.”
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Other record of the year nominees include Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” Grande’s “7 Rings,” Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” H.E.R.’s “Hard Place,” Bon Iver’s “Hey, Ma” and Khalid’s “Talk.”
Taylor Swift was shut out of album and record of the year, but she did score a nod for song of the year — a songwriter’s award. Her tune “Lover” is nominated against “Truth Hurts,” “Bad Guy,” “Hard Place,” Lady Gaga’s “Always Remember Us This Way” from “A Star Is Born,” Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved,” Lana Del Rey’s “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell” and Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now,” which was co-written by Brandi Carlile.
The Grammys will hand out roughly 10 awards during the live show. Most of the 84 awards are given out before the live show. Presenters this year include Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Billy Porter, Trevor Noah, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Cynthia Erivo, Ava DuVernay, Shania Twain and Common.
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AP Entertainment Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Kobe Bryant leaves behind one of sports’ most complicated legacies

The assault charge was eventually dismissed .
The civil suit was settled out of court .
Bryant continued with his @ @ @ @ @ marriage to his wife , Vanessa .
He became a father .
He won more @ @ @ @ @ and Shaquille O ’ Neal , one of the most remarkable partnerships in NBA history @ @ @ @ @ with the Lakers .
Bryant was just 24 years old when he was accused of @ @ @ @ @ He had just concluded his seventh NBA season .
He would play 13 more after @ @ @ @ @ history .
But that hotel room in Colorado would always be a part of his @ @ @ @ @ and all of his luminous accomplishments , even after basketball — he won an Academy @ @ @ @ @ Film in 2018 — could not change that .
He was as fiercely determined to @ @ @ @ @ to his public life .
And did .

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chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Grammy Awards 2020: Best and worst red carpet looks

See the biggest stars in music walk the red carpet at the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday , Jan. @ @ @ @ @ Staples Center in Los Angeles , Calif .


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Glenbrook South’s Dom Martinelli aiming for the record books; has potential to go after state mark f

Glenbrook South’s Dom Martinelli aiming for the record books; has potential to go after state mark for free throws

“ He ’ s got really good moves to the basket , ” coach Phil Ralston said .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ quick rocker step that gets him past the defender .
And because he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , you don ’ t know if he ’ s going to his right , @ @ @ @ @ he goes to his right he can spin right , he can spin left .
@ @ @ @ @ on a dime and drop it from 10 feet , hit a 10-foot floater and @ @ @ @ @ he can get to the rim .

Early in the fourth quarter against Niles West, Dom Martinelli catches the ball along the baseline and attacks the basket. It doesn’t matter that two Wolves defenders, including 6-7 center Adnan Seferovic, stand between him and the rim. Martinelli takes a dribble, shifts his body and absorbs the contact.
Moments later he’s headed to the line for two shots.
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The sequence is a familiar one for any team that has played Glenbrook South this season. In the Titans’ 57-33 win over Niles West on Jan. 24, Martinelli finished with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, going 4-for-6 from the line.
That’s a slow night for the senior forward. Through 21 games, he’s averaging 25.6 points per game, hitting 87.7 percent of his 9.3 free throw attempts per contest.
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Listed at 6-4, 195 pounds, Martinelli often isn’t the biggest or strongest player on the court. He doesn’t have blazing speed or quickness. So why can’t opponents stop fouling him?
“He’s got really good moves to the basket,” coach Phil Ralston said. “He’s got a really quick rocker step that gets him past the defender. And because he’s so herky-jerky to the basket, you don’t know if he’s going to his right, to his left. If he goes to his right he can spin right, he can spin left. And then he can pull on a dime and drop it from 10 feet, hit a 10-foot floater and it goes in. Or he can get to the rim.
“You just don’t know how to guard that,” Ralston continued. “He’s not uber-athletic, but he’s got a really high basketball IQ, and knows where to attack and when to attack.”
His opponents also credited Martinelli’s work rate when the ball’s not in his hands.
“He’s really tough to guard, and you really have to keep a lot of your attention on him while you’re on the floor,” Niles West’s Seferovic said after the game. “Whether you’re on the ball or off the ball, he’s always moving. You just have to stay really focused out there when you’re guarding him.”
Despite his big numbers, Martinelli hasn’t received any Division 1 offers. Still, multiple scouts from other levels attended the Niles West game. Before tip-off, one said that they hope Martinelli doesn’t get picked up by a D1 program.
“He can get a bucket against anyone,” the scout said.
Drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line isn’t the flashiest way to score, but when you make freebies at the rate Martinelli does, it’s one of the most efficient plays possible.
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“I do try to work on it in practice a little bit,” Martinelli said. “My little brother [sophomore forward Nick Martinelli] hacks me every time we play one-on-one. He’s really good at helping me draw the contact and try to finish. I just know, especially when I have a good guy guarding me, if we can get him in foul trouble, that could be a huge advantage for us if he has to sit on the bench. So it’s something I’ve practiced a lot.”
In the team’s 18-3 start (6-0 in the CSL South), Martinelli has made 171 free throws, or 8.1 per game. With 31 regular-season games scheduled, plus the minimum of one playoff game, that pace would put Martinelli at 261 makes for the year, a mark that would be 7th all-time in state history for a season. It would also put him in striking distance of the all-time record: 287 by Casey’s Dave Collins in 1977-78.
One name that Glenbrook fans will recognize that Martinelli will almost certainly pass on the IHSA list is Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer, who holds the Nos. 16 and 17 marks on the list. Scheyer with 232 and 231 free throws made in his senior and junior seasons, respectively.
Jakub Rudnik is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press
Twitter @Pioneer_Press


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--No, Khalil Mack was not traded for $1 — the Bears’ Twitter account was hacked

The hack was first revealed when a tweet from @ ChicagoBears , which has 1.8 million followers , went out @ @ @ @ @ tagging @ Turki_alalshikh , a Saudi official , as that man .

The Bears’ Twitter account was hacked Sunday morning by a group announcing it wanted to “show people that everything is hackable.”
The hack was first revealed when a tweet from @ChicagoBears, which has 1.8 million followers, went out announcing a new owner and tagging @Turki_alalshikh, a Saudi official, as that man.
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Tweets sent from the Bears Twitter account on Jan. 26, 2020. (Screenshot from Twitter)
Minutes later, a group called “OurMine” posted several tweets with the words “Just Kidding!” and with an email address and a web link to what it said was “security services.”
Tweets sent from the Bears Twitter account on Jan. 26, 2020. (Screenshot from Twitter)
The Bears and Twitter deleted the tweets within an hour. A Bears official said the organization worked with Twitter, and the issue was resolved.
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Apologies that our account was compromised this morning. We're back in the game & ready for the Pro Bowl. 🐻⬇ — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 26, 2020
At least one fan group attempted to take advantage of the takeover. @PrideOfDetroit, a Lions fan blog, tweeted, “Hey, while you’re still hacked @ChicagoBears trade us Khalil Mack for a 6th rounder. Twitter is a binding contract.”
Tweets sent from the Bears Twitter account on Jan. 26, 2020. (Twitter/Screenshot from Twitter)
The Bears’ Twitter account, apparently still under the hackers’ control, responded, “Done for 1$ (sic).”
Later Sunday morning, Bears messages from the Pro Bowl events Saturday were the last tweets available. Three Bears players — Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson and Cordarrelle Patterson — will play in the Pro Bowl on Sunday.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Man accused of hiding cell phone camera in school bathroom had criminal record, officials say

According to police and court records , Garcia-Espinal was charged in 2012 with felony possession of fraudulent ID cards and @ @ @ @ @ connection with alleged lewd conduct in a women ’ s restroom at a Glenview movie @ @ @ @ @ immediately clear the disposition of the disorderly conduct charge but Garcia-Espinal pleaded guilty to the @ @ @ @ @ , 2012 , according to court records .

A man accused of planting a hidden cellphone that recorded video in a bathroom at Sunset Ridge School in Northfield has a criminal record, something unknown to school officials during his time working in the building, school and police officials said.
A felony warrant was issued earlier this week for the arrest of David Garcia-Espinal, 40, of Highwood, who worked, as an employee of two separate private vendors, at Sunset Ridge School District 29, according to officials there.
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In an email to parents, Superintendent Ed Stange said District 29 officials learned this week of Garcia-Espinal’s criminal history after reviewing police documents they received through a recent public records request.
Now, district officials and parents are asking how Garcia-Espinal was cleared to work in a school setting.
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District officials said he worked for private vendors OrganicLife, a school lunch provider, and Smith Maintenance Company. Stange said both vendors provided the district with separate independent criminal background checks for Garcia-Espinal prior to him working as a cook and a custodian at Sunset Ridge. He began work as a cook in August 2015 and a custodian in July 2016, according to school officials.
Officials at Smith Maintenance Company did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Organic Life declined to answer questions about the background check that was conducted, but said the company is working to help police in any way possible.
Northfield police have issued an arrest warrant for David Garcia-Espinal of Highwood as a suspect in connection with an incident at Sunset Ridge School. (Northfield police / Pioneer Press)
The school relied on the vendors’ background checks, Stange said. School officials declined to discuss why the district did not conduct its own background checks and referred to statements released to parents.
“We were shocked and disturbed to learn today" of Garcia-Espinal’s prior criminal history, Stange wrote to parents. Stange added that the district is trying to determine why that information did not show up in the vendors’ background checks.
Authorities continue to look for Garcia-Espinal, and police say his current location is unknown. He could not be reached for comment.
Last week, a Sunset Ridge employee reported finding a hidden cellphone, which appeared to be recording video, in a trashcan in a staff bathroom at the school, Stange said. The district then contacted the Northfield Police Department, he said.
After collecting the cellphone and other evidence, police inspected all of the restrooms and locker rooms at both Sunset Ridge, which enrolls students in fourth through eighth grade, and Middlefork School, the district’s kindergarten through third-grade campus, and found nothing else suspicious, Stange said.
Police then looked at footage from Sunset Ridge’s internal video camera system and identified Garcia-Espinal as a potential suspect. Police tried to find and question him at Sunset Ridge, but Garcia-Espinal already had left the property.
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The district has also filed a report with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, officials said.
According to police and court records, Garcia-Espinal was charged in 2012 with felony possession of fraudulent ID cards and a disorderly conduct charge in connection with alleged lewd conduct in a women’s restroom at a Glenview movie theater. It was not immediately clear the disposition of the disorderly conduct charge but Garcia-Espinal pleaded guilty to the ID charge on Sept. 11, 2012, according to court records.
Stange told parents in an email Friday that police have scheduled interviews with all students and staff members who were seen in the cellphone footage.
“That means if you haven’t received a call from the Northfield Police, neither you nor your child were identified in this cellphone footage,” Stange wrote.
Northfield Police Department officials declined to comment further on the case Friday, citing the open investigation.
The district is conducting additional fingerprint-based criminal background checks for all current vendor employees, Stange said, and “have again reviewed the Illinois sex offender database, the national sex offender database, and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth database. None of the employees of our vendors were listed on any database.”
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Stange said the District 29 Board of Education has called a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Ridge School, although “most of the meeting will be held in closed session to discuss a variety of closed session topics related to this incident.”
“The board will not be taking any action at the meeting and I do not expect to have any new information to share at this meeting,” Stange said.
A spokesman for OrganicLife said Friday that the cell phone camera was found in the faculty restroom on an upper floor of the school.
It is believed Garcia-Espinal "used janitorial closets and equipment in connection with his actions,” OrganicLife spokesman Greg Goldner said.
Goldner said OrganicLife is not affiliated with Smith Maintenance.
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Glenview Police Sgt. James Foley said Friday that Garcia-Espinal was arrested in 2012, under the name David Garcia, after police say he was found committing a lewd act in the women’s restroom at a Glenview movie theater.
After being brought in for questioning by investigators, he was found to have several fraudulent IDs, Foley said.
He was initially charged with disorderly conduct and possession of a fraudulent ID, according to court records, and he pleaded guilty to the ID charge.
“This new information is understandably concerning and will lead to other questions, which we intend on addressing in the coming days and weeks,” Stange wrote to parents. “We are committed to reviewing our internal policies and vendor contracts, and working with law enforcement and other experts to ensure we have the safest possible campus.”
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kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--‘Saturday Night Live’: In the Senate, then Hell with Jon Lovitz as Alan Dershowitz, Adam Driver as J

‘Saturday Night Live’: In the Senate, then Hell with Jon Lovitz as Alan Dershowitz, Adam Driver as Jeffrey Epstein

McKinnon 's devil sat down with Lovitz 's Dershowitz for an episode of her podcast .
( `` I invented @ @ @ @ @ , which is ironic considering McKinnon previously told Variety how much she actually loves podcasts @ @ @ @ @ was how he came up with the Trump defense , considering years ago he said @ @ @ @ @ crime to impeach the president , but now that he is working for him , @ @ @ @ @ `` crime-like . ''

The 45th season of “Saturday Night Live” has been on hiatus for a month, and what a month it has been. The last episode aired just days after Donald Trump was impeached, and this week alone saw House impeachment managers presenting their case on why it would threaten the country’s security for him to stay in office. Naturally, the late-night sketch show addressed that from the moment it returned.
Former cast member Jon Lovitz stepped back into Studio 8H to play Alan Dershowitz in the Jan. 25 cold open. He started out by prepping to address the Senate but then ended up in hell — and when he did, he was visited by his former client, Jeffrey Epstein (as played by episode host Adam Driver).
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“It’s wonderful to be here — because I’m not welcome anywhere else,” Lovitz’s Dershowitz said. “There’s a lot of haters out there for no good reason, but I like I said to my client and my dear friend Jeffrey Epstein, haters gonna hate.”
He then went on to rehearse a speech he planned to give the Senate, comparing Donald Trump to "another client of mine, Sir O.J. Simpson."
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Cecily Strong, as Senator Susan Collins, asked him not to mention his previous clients in connection with the president because "it's not a great look."
"If I learned one thing from my time with accused wife-murderer Claus von Bulow," he said, "it's that appearances can be deceiving. Trump couldn't possibly be guilty."
But before he could say why, his heart gave out and the sketch followed him down to hell, where Kate McKinnon as the devil said she would be sending him back up to Earth in a minute, but first she wanted to meet him because she’s "a huge fan.
"No seriously, you're the G.O.A.T. And I should know, that's what my legs are made of," she said, adding that she was going to fangirl out on him.
McKinnon's devil sat down with Lovitz's Dershowitz for an episode of her podcast. ("I invented them," she said, which is ironic considering McKinnon previously told Variety how much she actually loves podcasts.) Her first question was how he came up with the Trump defense, considering years ago he said one doesn't need a crime to impeach the president, but now that he is working for him, he says one needs something "crime-like."
Lovitz's Dershowitz didn't answer that question, in part because McKinnon's devil followed it up so quickly by asking if there was anyone he wouldn't represent.
"If someone is famous enough to get me on TV, it's all good," he replied.
"I used to let nobodies into hello, but now it's all influencers," she followed.
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When Driver's Epstein stopped by, he told Lovitz's Dershowitz that he loves what he's been doing for Trump. "All we get down here is Fox News, and it's been a joy to see you work," he said.
After McKinnon's devil noted she appears differently to different people, Driver's Epstein said to him she looks like "a woman my own age."
Joining that trio was Bowen Yang as the guy who "wrote 'Baby Shark'" (Kim Min-seok), Heidi Gardner's "Flo from Progressive," Alex Moffat as Mark Zuckerberg and Mr. Peanut. Beck Bennett portrayed Mitch McConnell.
Later in the episode, Colin Jost summarized the week-in-impeachment news during “Weekend Update.” Meanwhile, Michael Che said he didn’t watch any of the impeachment proceedings -- but he did still make jokes about the events. Watch “Weekend Update” below.
Driver also revisited his 2016 “SNL" “Star Wars”/”Undercover Boss" mashup sketch that then saw his Kylo Ren put on a disguise in order to observe his employees ala the CBS reality show. Four years later, he has done it again.
Saturday, Driver took part in a special “Where are they now?” edition of the show, being made up into “Randy,” “an entry-level intern.”
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"I'll say it: I haven't been the best boss lately," Driver, in his Kylo Ren costume, said. "I've been a little distracted by some personal drama."
That drama? "Days after appearing on our show, Kylo killed his dad, cut his mentor in half, fired upon his mother's spacecraft and is now obsessed with finding a young Jedi named Rey," the voiceover reminded.
When he first stepped foot on the Star Destroyer H17, he began by saying -- apropos of nothing -- "OK boomer" as a way to fit in. But he then immediately showed his hand by asking if they thought Rey would take Kylo Ren's hand if he offered it for a second time.
He had trouble getting drink orders correct, wrangling droids and getting straight answers out of Stormtroopers. But he learned the valuable lesson that interns do the work no one else wants to. And the employees quickly learned "Randy" was Kylo Ren -- when he exploded an admiral's head with just a look. (That admiral was played by Beck Bennett.)
Sensing who he really was, he was invited to a party with the rest of the interns, where one, played by Chloe Fineman, used the opportunity to try to get promoted. "I applied to be a fighter pilot, but the director was like, 'The only way for a woman to be fly cockpit is a direct order from Kylo Ren."
It worked -- Driver's Kylo Ren gave an interview saying, "The culture here needs to change. Everybody deserves a shot. If I can be a small part of that change, I will."
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But when he gives the woman her shot, she says she wants to fly like Luke Skywalker, not Kylo Ren -- so he kills her. "And now you'll die like him, too. OK boomer?"
“I made four new friends and only killed one of them. I’d say that’s a pretty good start,” he closed out the sketch.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs calls out Grammy Awards for dissing rap, R&B stars: ‘Black music has never been r

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs calls out Grammy Awards for dissing rap, R&B stars: ‘Black music has never been respected’

“ So I say this with love to the Grammys , because you really need to know this , every @ @ @ @ @ killing us man .
Man , I ’ m talking about the pain .
I @ @ @ @ @ these artists here , the producers , the executives , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ takes to make these records , to pour your heart into it , and you @ @ @ @ @ field .
”

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Sean “Diddy” Combs called out the Grammy Awards for dissing rap and R&B stars in its major categories in a blazing speech that earned him a standing ovation from Beyoncé, Jay-Z and several other music industry players.
At the end of his 50-minute speech Saturday night at Clive Davis’ white-hot pre-Grammys gala, where Combs was honored, the music mogul demanded change and said he was happy to be involved in making a difference.
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“So I say this with love to the Grammys, because you really need to know this, every year y’all be killing us man. Man, I’m talking about the pain. I’m speaking for all these artists here, the producers, the executives," he said. "The amount of time it takes to make these records, to pour your heart into it, and you just want an even playing field.”
Over the years, the awards show has been criticized when top performing acts like Beyoncé, Kanye West, Eminem, Mariah Carey and others lose in major categories, including album of the year and best new artist. The rap and R&B stars often fall short of their pop, rock and country counterparts.
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“In the great words of Erykah Badu, ‘We are artists and we are sensitive about our (expletive).’ We are passionate. For most of us, this is all we got. This is our only hope,” Combs continued. "Truth be told, hip-hop has never been respected by the Grammys. Black music has never been respected by the Grammys to the point that it should be.”
[ Grammy nominations: Newcomers Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X rule ]
Rap, particularly, has had a longstanding losing streak at the Grammys, which celebrates its 62nd show Sunday. Only two rap-based albums — Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” and Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” — have won album of the year. Last year’s Grammys marked the first time a hip-hop song was awarded song and record of the year when Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” achieved the feat. And only four rap acts have been named best new artist, including Hill, Arrested Development, Chance the Rapper and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
Questions loomed heavily over the Grammys’ voting process this week after the academy’s just-ousted CEO, Deborah Dugan, claimed that the awards are rigged and filled with conflicts of interest.
“So right now with this current situation, it’s not a revelation. This thing been going on, and it’s not just going on in music, it’s going on in film, it’s going on in sports, it’s going around the word," Combs said. “And for years we’ve allowed institutions that have never had our best interest at heart to judge us. And that stops right now.”
[ Grammy preview: Will the sound of the new — Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Rosalia — have staying power? ]
The 50-year-old ended with a stern message: “I’m officially starting the clock — y’all got 365 days to get this (expletive) together.”
Combs, a three-time Grammy winner, earned the 2020 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award on Saturday night. He dedicated the prize to classic albums that didn't win the top Grammy Award: Michael Jackson's “Off the Wall," Prince's “1999,” Beyoncé's “Lemonade,” Missy Elliott's “Da Real World,” Snoop Dogg's “Doggystyle,” Kanye West's “Graduation” and Nas' “Illmatic.”
Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, received an all-star tribute from artists he's worked with, including Lil Kim, Mase, Faith Evans and Carl Thomas. The performance transformed the Beverly Hilton Hotel into a hip-hop jam session, with some people even dancing on top of chairs, including Usher, Wiz Khalifa and Combs himself.
[ Doubts loom over nominating process for Grammy Awards ]
Davis’ annual gala, a not-so-easy event to get invited to, was jam-packed with well-known guests from a range of fields, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Michael Douglas, Naomi Campbell, Cardi B, Berry Gordy, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Joni Mitchell, DJ Khaled, Smokey Robinson, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Trevor Noah, Billy Porter and Wolfgang Puck.
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Beck kicked off the multi-hour event with an energetic performance; others who hit the stage included Carlos Santana, Chance the Rapper, John Legend, Khalid and Cynthia Erivo, who sang Janet Jackson songs in tribute to the performer.
Jackson, who didn't receive an award but was honored for her musical achievements, said she's happy to still have a career in music.
“When I was getting dress this evening I thought about it and I said to myself, ‘I’ve been in this industry for 47 years,’” the 53-year-old said. “That’s a long time but I still enjoy going to work and I feel very blessed my journey ahead of me.”
Though Cyndi Lauper wasn’t honored Saturday, she also owned the show with an explosive performance of her classic hit song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” alongside singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. She took off her shoes, leaving the stage to sit on top of a table where Jamie Foxx, Usher and others were sitting.
“Wait, stop, you’re (expletive) dead,” Lauper told the crowd in the middle of her performance. “You’re in the music industry. Where the (expletive) is your lungs?”
She won over the crowd, which fully participated by dancing out of their seats, singing along and — yep — having fun.


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Jason Benetti is taking a quickie trip to Rome, while Steve Stone blocks boors for fun. Checking in

Jason Benetti is taking a quickie trip to Rome, while Steve Stone blocks boors for fun. Checking in with the White Sox TV announcers and their fierce Twitter battle.

“ But these guys ?
These guys have a young Eloy Jimenez , a very young Luis Robert , a @ @ @ @ @ relatively young ( Tim ) Anderson .
( Nick ) Madrigal , when he gets @ @ @ @ @ young .
( Nomar ) Mazara ’ s only 24 years old .
So most @ @ @ @ @ team are young .
They haven ’ t seen even close to what the ceiling @ @ @ @ @ and that ’ s why ... as they meld together , this is going to @ @ @ @

Jason Benetti, who’s spending his White Sox offseason calling basketball games on TV every few days, knows he needs a break to recharge before baseball returns in just a few weeks.
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So right after SoxFest, he’s getting on a plane bound for Rome, where he’ll spend four whole days before jetting home and getting back to work.
“It’s only eight hours” away by plane, Benetti said at the White Sox fan convention, as if that explains why he’s taking less than a week off to see sites and spool pasta.
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Four days is an April road trip to Anaheim. Not even the Griswold family would consider that enough time for a European vacation. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but maybe Monday through Thursday is enough to hit the highlights.
Benetti, however, has only a few open dates in his slate of college telecasts for ESPN and fill-in slots for Bulls TV play-by-play man Neil Funk, so he wants to make the most of it.
What he won’t have time for is to tweet a picture of the Colosseum, asking his Twitter followers the first person to come to mind. (Flavius Anicius Maximus?) He plans to take a vacation from that too.
“I’ve just got to go, relax, throw my phone in the ocean for a couple of days and completely disconnect,” Benetti said.
That means a ceasefire of sorts from his mocking of — or perhaps mock fight with — newly re-signed Sox TV partner Steve Stone over who can amass the most followers.
“I am waiting with bated breath to open Twitter after four days and see all the shots (Steve’s) taken at my silent Twitter app,” said Benetti, who is 36 years old to Stone’s 72. “It’s going to be very exciting, after four days, to see, oh, where has he gone with this?”
At last check, they were separated by 3,248, people, alter egos or bots with Benetti followed by 41,679 and Stone 38,431.
“The problem for (Stone) is every salvo reminds people to go follow me. I think he’s actually hurting himself,” Benetti said.
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Maybe, but not really.
I love Steve Stone because he’s a tremendous baseball analyst, a hilarious human, as witty as they come and a great, caring friend.
I also love @stevestone because he doesn’t know how to tag me on Twitter. https://t.co/RT8H0pZtlA — Jason Benetti (@jasonbenetti) December 28, 2019
Both White Sox announcers could use some help. Combined, the Twitter audiences @jasonbenetti and @stevestone are dwarfed by that of Cubs TV announcer Len Kasper, who has 138,916 followers, for whatever that’s worth.
“The only thing that really matters is that the most possible fans get the most possible information from both me and Jason,” Stone said.
“Jason and I want everybody to be linked to the White Sox because we both feel this is going to be one of the most exciting periods of time, an era if you will, of White Sox baseball.”
Stone, the 1980 American League Cy Young Award winner, was 15-12 with the 1977 White Sox dubbed the South Side Hitmen by sports writer Philip Hersh. That Sox team led its division much of the summer until mid-August but stumbled through September to finish third.
“People want to compare this (2020 Sox team) to the South Side Hitmen,” Stone said. “I think this team will be better than the South Side Hitmen and the reason I say that is the South Side Hitmen, except for Chet Lemon, who was a kid, were all guys either at or just over the zenith of their careers.
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“But these guys? These guys have a young Eloy Jimenez, a very young Luis Robert, a young Yoan Moncada, a relatively young (Tim) Anderson. (Nick) Madrigal, when he gets here, will be very young. (Nomar) Mazara’s only 24 years old. So most of the guys on this team are young. They haven’t seen even close to what the ceiling is going to be, and that’s why ... as they meld together, this is going to be exciting.”
While Stone will tease Benetti about his shellfish allergy, he reserves his true firepower for those who challenge him on his baseball insights.
Let’s talk of the Pete Rose situation. If you bet on your team to win 4 games in a row and don’t bet on the 5th what does that tell your bookie. Pete broke the only rule at the time that carried a lifetime ban. Giamatti gave him an out. 1 year ban and a Mia culpa. No deal. ByeBye — Steve Stone (@stevestone) November 21, 2019
The latest battleground: Stone’s unshakable conviction that Pete Rose’s gambling should keep him out of the Hall of Fame forever.
“There was only one rule in Pete’s time that got you banned from the game, and that was if you bet on baseball, you were banned from the game,” Stone said.
Stone will engage with followers up to a point, articulating his view as someone who doesn’t just know the game but knows Rose and played against him. But he doesn’t suffer fools and demands a level of civility some fail to meet. Profanity and politics are deal-breakers.
There are some of you that want Pete Rose put in the HOF. Let me explain. 1 rule got you banned for life. You can rob your neighbor. You can drive drunk. You can bilk a senior out of their home. You can do a lot. No ban. Gamble on baseball. Banned for LIFE. Rose did. GET OVER IT — Steve Stone (@stevestone) January 16, 2020
“I was reading Len Kasper saying he never blocks anybody,” Stone said. “I take a completely different avenue,” Stone said. “When somebody aggravates me, I block them. The reason is, No. 1, I’m not getting paid for (Twitter). No. 2, I do it to have fun.”
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How he expects to build his Twitter following with such exacting standards is a mystery, but it’s easier to relax by blocking a few boors than flying all the way to Italy for four days, then making a beeline for home.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Column: Michael Kopech ditched social media, got hitched and cut his hair. He’s a new man — and that

Column: Michael Kopech ditched social media, got hitched and cut his hair. He’s a new man — and that bodes well for the White Sox.

“ I ’ ve dealt with anxiety before , kind of my whole life , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ of just seeking for more .
The revelation I can ’ t seek for more @ @ @ @ @ life was the blessing of being called up to the big leagues .
I got @ @ @ @ @ live it , but what ’ s more at that point ?
I stopped looking @ @ @ @ @ allowed me to not look too far ahead , not dwell on what I ’ @ @ @ @ @ be myself and live through the moment .

Sometimes you feel like it’s time for a reboot, and sometimes the reboot is forced upon you.
Whatever the reason, the goal is getting a fresh start, a chance to rewrite the script with a happier ending. No matter what your lot in life, change can be the fuel to a new beginning.
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After missing the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, White Sox pitched Michael Kopech did what he needed to do.
He got married to his girlfriend, actress Vanessa Morgan. He dropped off social media, bidding adieu to his Instagram followers with a philosophical farewell post. And he cut off his shoulder-length hair, adopting a buzz cut for his 2020 rebirth.
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Kopech 2.0 made his debut this weekend at SoxFest, and in a couple of weeks he’ll make his long-awaited return to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., to begin his comeback. The success or failure of that comeback could determine whether the rebuilding Sox can pull off an October surprise.
Living in the moment is the biggest change Kopech has been seeking after spending a good part of his adult life looking for something off in the distance. It led to the feelings of anxiety and depression that weren’t obvious to outsiders and affected the way he thought about himself and others.
It’s hard for some to understand what a highly touted baseball player with Kopech’s talent, good looks and personality could possibly be anxious or depressed about. His dream of making it to the majors had come true, he’d found the love of his life and his future looks exceedingly bright. Kopech said it’s not a problem that just suddenly appeared.
“I’ve dealt with anxiety before, kind of my whole life,” he said. “It was just the idea of just seeking for more. The revelation I can’t seek for more for the rest of my life was the blessing of being called up to the big leagues. I got there and I got to live it, but what’s more at that point? I stopped looking for more, and it allowed me to not look too far ahead, not dwell on what I’d done wrong, just be myself and live through the moment.
“I look forward to embracing that opportunity when the season comes and just being myself on the mound.”
White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech at SoxFest on Jan. 24, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Kopech’s new year started with his Jan. 4 marriage to Morgan, an actress on the TV show “Riverdale,” whom he met on social media. According to E! News, she saw Kopech on her Instagram page, then began to follow him on Twitter. Kopech followed Morgan back and eventually sent a DM. They soon met in person and began dating, ultimately leading to marriage.
“If it wasn’t for social media, we would have never known each other,” Morgan told E! News. “Thank you IG and Twitter for my husband.”
Ironically, Kopech already had decided to get off Instagram and Twitter last October, writing a farewell post that mentioned his bouts of anxiety and depression. He wrote that quitting social media was “laying down my weapons and embracing all my fears,” then thanked his fans for following him and told them to look inward.
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“If you are also looking for peace in the world, seek inward and be that peace,” he wrote. “It’s beautiful in there. ‘Into the wilderness I go, to lose my mind & find my soul.’ Now... fire away.”
Kopech told me Friday the decision had everything to do with his own feelings about social media’s image-making issues and nothing to do with the online trolls who target celebrities on Twitter.
“I wasn’t necessarily bothered by anybody or anything they had to say,” he said. “I’ve never really been affected too much by that. It’s just the lives that are portrayed on social media aren’t necessarily genuine and authentic.
"It’s all an idea of what we want people to view us as. I think I put too much value on that, and I don’t necessarily care, at the risk of sounding ungrateful, how people view me.
“How I view myself is ultimately what’s going to make me the person I want to be. I think social media kind of took away from that, so the thing about deleting it, I was able to then focus on myself without the idea of how others view me.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 54 Yoan Moncada cuts a ribbon to open SoxFest. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Whether the change has helped Kopech find inner peace might be difficult to determine considering he also has taken the life-altering step of getting married.
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“I’ve had a few changes, I guess,” he said, laughing. “But, yeah, absolutely, I have noticed. I’ve been much more aware of my surroundings. I’ve been able to interact with people genuinely and not based on what I know about them or how I view them or how they view me. I think that’s how interactions are meant to be.
“And on top of that, I think it’s going to make me a better baseball player because it’s going to take those pressures off me that I put on myself.”The final part of the reboot occurred last week when Kopech had his first haircut in more than two years, getting almost 12-inches lopped off, raising $20,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities and White Sox Charities.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Here's the before picture of White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech as he waits to get his hair cut at Ronald McDonald House in Chicago on Jan. 22, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
He looked like a whole new person, going from Woodstock wanderer to Wall Street banker in no time. Kopech insisted he wouldn’t miss his signature look.
“I got rid of it for a better reason,” he said.
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The new season is almost here, but Kopech doesn’t know if he’ll be with the Sox on opening day. He made only four major-league starts after his much-hyped debut in 2018 before the shocking announcement of the season-ending elbow injury.
Chances are the Sox will go the conservative route with their top pitching prospect, limiting his spring innings and starting him at Triple-A Charlotte. Maybe not, but Kopech said he’s ready for that possibility and knows it’s out of his control.
“I’m going there this spring, I’m going to compete and I’m going to give myself a chance,” he said. “And if it’s not in the stars, I’ll figure it out along the way.”
Figuring it out along the way is usually the best path.


chicagotribune--2020-01-27--Daywatch: Lakers legend Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash, face masks selling out in Chicago’s

Daywatch: Lakers legend Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash, face masks selling out in Chicago’s Chinatown and what’s on Pritzker’s agenda in Springfield

From restaurant reservation cancellations to travelers eschewing trips to the homeland , many Chinese Chicagoans have taken a cautious approach @ @ @ @ @ Lunar New Year ’ s festivities due to a coronavirus outbreak in China , opting @ @ @ @ @ crowds to limit opportunities for exposure .
The virus reached Chicago last week when one @ @ @ @ @ caring for her ailing father in China was diagnosed with the respiratory disease .

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Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant during a game in 2015. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Kobe Bryant, the 41-year-old NBA legend, and his 13-year-old daughter were among those killed in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles that left nine dead. Bryant was an 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
News of his death inspired an outpouring of support in the sports world and beyond, including a spontaneous gathering of fans and mourners at the Staples Center in LA.
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Michael Jordan, NBA players and others react to Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling’
From high school phenom to NBA legend: The basketball legacy of Kobe Bryant
Column: Kobe Bryant’s death shook us because it shows how swiftly a life can end
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during an interview with the Chicago Tribune at the Thompson Center on Jan. 10, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
The spring session that begins on Tuesday in Illinois’ General Assembly will be a test of whether Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his Democratic allies can address issue at the root of the state’s long-running problems with financial instability and political corruption.
The state’s notoriously high property taxes, soaring public pension debt and weak government ethics laws top the agenda – and all figure to be tough tasks in an election year in the shadow of an ongoing federal corruption investigation.
Hai Xia, right, leaves the Walgreens in Chinatown empty-handed on Jan. 24 after hoping to purchase a box of a specific brand of surgical face masks to protect himself and others from the coronavirus. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
From restaurant reservation cancellations to travelers eschewing trips to the homeland, many Chinese Chicagoans have taken a cautious approach to this year’s Lunar New Year’s festivities due to a coronavirus outbreak in China, opting to stay home and avoid crowds to limit opportunities for exposure. The virus reached Chicago last week when one woman who returned here after caring for her ailing father in China was diagnosed with the respiratory disease.
At the neighborhood’s sole Walgreens, 3M N95 masks, which customers favor for protection against viruses, had been sold out within two hours on Friday morning. All 400 of them. Hours later the store was sold out of all types of masks
For second time in two decades, Chinese markets trading in live wildlife have been tied to an outbreak.
A patient traveling from China to Arizona became the fifth person to be diagnosed with the new coronavirus in the U.S.
Pedestrians and a bicyclist on a Divvy bike weave between cars blocking the crosswalks Jan. 21, 2020, at the intersection of LaSalle and Randolph streets in downtown Chicago. The taxi, at right, blocked the street and crosswalks for a whole traffic light cycle, from green to red and back to green, before the driver was able to finally move forward. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
We’ve all been there, stuck in traffic as other vehicles and buses enter an intersection with the green light, but are unable to move past it before the light changes because of backed-up traffic on the other side.
Other cities, including Baltimore, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City and Austin, Texas, have increased enforcement and public education efforts to keep cars from blocking intersections. But in Chicago, enforcement of the municipal code that prohibits blocking an intersection is light, and the city has not yet offered new solutions.
Grand staircase at McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago's Fulton Market district. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The energy shift has been palpable since McDonald’s moved its global headquarters to Chicago’s booming Fulton Market neighborhood in June 2018, putting it in the heart of the city’s restaurant scene and a stone’s throw from Google and other envelope-pushing companies.
With all 2,000 employees under one roof, decisions happen faster, collaborating is easier, and, McDonald’s reports, a lot more people seem to want to work at the world’s largest burger chain. Take a look inside.
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Husband and wife Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya sit together in their home on Jan. 6, 2020, in Kenilworth. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
A doctor told former Obama staffer Brian Wallach he had six months to live. That was more than two years ago. Today, through their I AM ALS foundation, Wallach and his wife, Sandra, are working to change the final chapter for ALS patients.
Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The Bears’ Twitter account was hacked Sunday morning by a group announcing they wanted to “show people that everything is hackable.” The hack was first reveals when the account tweeted an annoucement of a new owner and tagging @Turki_alalshikh, a Saudi official.
Minutes later, a group called “OurMine” posted several tweets with the words “Just Kidding!” and with an email address and web link to what it said was “security services.” A Lions fan group tried to take advantage of the takeover, offering a 6th-round pick to the Bears for Khalil Mack. The hackers’ response: Done for a dollar.
Billie Eilish accepts the award for best new artist at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Matt Sayles/Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
As usual, the Grammy Awards got it partly right Sunday. Newcomer Billie Eilish swept the big awards, including album of the year, song and record of the year and best new artist. Yet somehow, Lizzo – who went into the Grammys with eight nominations – was shut out in the major categories.
But by now we should be used to lousy judgment calls – they’re the Grammys’ specialty, after all, writes Tribune music critic Greg Kot.


chicagotribune--2020-01-27--Other cities try to prevent stopped cars from blocking intersections, but in Chicago enforcement is

Other cities try to prevent stopped cars from blocking intersections, but in Chicago enforcement is light

This song may be about efficiently parking your limo .
Or not .
It ’ s considered one of the @ @ @ @ @ all time .
What ’ s the song , and who did it ?
The @ @ @ @ @ answer gets a Tribune pen , and glory .

Pedestrians and a bicyclist on a Divvy bike weave between cars blocking the crosswalks Jan. 21, 2020, at the intersection of LaSalle and Randolph streets in downtown Chicago. The taxi, at right, blocked the street and crosswalks for a whole traffic light cycle, from green to red and back to green, before the driver was able to finally move forward. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
It’s one of the most annoying rush-hour problems — the blocked box.
Cars and buses enter an intersection with the green light, but are unable to move past it before the light changes because of backed-up traffic on the other side.
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So vehicles get stuck in the intersection, in the way of cars moving in the other direction and pedestrians in the crosswalk. The scenario is most often seen on busy downtown streets, but it can also ruin your day at three-way lights near big city and suburban shopping centers.
“At least once a day, I see where traffic is tied up because of vehicles blocking the intersection,” said Judith Aiello, a pedestrian and longtime Streeterville resident.
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[ What's the best way to get to O'Hare? We sent reporters by car, ride-share, CTA and Metra to find out. ]
Other cities, including Baltimore, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City and Austin, Texas, have increased enforcement and public education efforts to keep cars from blocking intersections. But in Chicago, enforcement of the municipal code that prohibits blocking an intersection is light. The city has not yet offered new solutions, though the Department of Transportation said it is working on it.
“This is a subject that’s very frustrating for me,” said Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, whose ward includes downtown.
He said the problem has gotten worse in recent years, due to the sharp rise in the number of ride-hailing vehicles. “Every budget session in the last 12 years, I’ve been asking the city to enforce ‘Don’t Block the Box.'"
Pedestrians weave between cars blocking the crosswalks Jan. 21, 2020, at the intersection of Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
The city is working on the intersection-blocking problem as part of its larger focus on mitigating traffic congestion in busy parts of the city, according to Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman Michael Claffey.
The city plans to launch a study to examine traffic conditions and look at new ways to reduce congestion, Claffey said.
“CDOT is leading the administration’s efforts to develop a comprehensive congestion mitigation plan," Claffey said. He said the plan will build on ongoing strategies, such as the new increased fees on solo ride-share trips, and the creation of “priority zones" for CTA buses.
[ Where do I walk? Study finds several Metra, and some CTA stations, have a shortage of nearby sidewalks ]
Reilly has suggested using photo enforcement to ticket vehicles that block intersections, though he admits that isn’t “terribly popular” with everyone. He plans to discuss the intersection issue with Mayor Lori Lightfoot at a meeting this week.
Photo enforcement, which also could be used to ticket vehicles that drive or park in bus lanes, would require a change in state law, said Kyle Whitehead, spokesman for the Active Transportation Alliance, an advocacy group for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users.
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Whitehead said the alliance has some concerns about any proposal to issue more tickets, since it has a disproportionate impact on low-income people. Another option might be more traffic aides who could guide vehicles through intersections, preventing blockages before they happen, Whitehead said.
Currently, traffic aides, who can’t issue tickets, are deployed primarily for special events. Costs are often reimbursed by the event sponsor, said Melissa Stratton, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
[ Metra tells customers to make sure they pay their fare — or risk being booted off the train ]
The office has asked to fill an additional 125 hourly positions this year, on top of its 58 full-time and 381 part-time employees. The annual budget for traffic aides is $4.7 million.
Other cities have been more aggressive about unclogging intersections.
New York City, for example, announced a series of anti-congestion initiatives in the fall of 2017 to fight the problem. Focusing on 50 intersections citywide, the New York City Department of Transportation installed “Don’t Block the Box” markings and signs, while New York Police hired an additional 50 officers to enforce the rules.
Some residents have complained, however, that enforcement makes traffic worse, because police pull cars over on clogged streets.
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[ Would faster service make you more likely to take the bus? The CTA and Pace are rolling out projects to speed your commute. ]
The Baltimore City Council passed legislation in 2017 to allow Department of Transportation personnel, as well as police, to issue tickets to motorists blocking intersections, said German Vigil, a department spokesman. The program started with 600 warnings to drivers in the first month, and 200 citations in the second month, he said.
Baltimore is hiring more enforcement officers, Vigil said.
Austin started enforcing “Don’t Block the Box” in 2015, both with an educational video and stepped-up police presence at problem intersections, said Jen Duthie, manager for the traffic signals division of the Austin Department of Transportation. Officers talk to drivers, write warnings and issue tickets “at their discretion," Duthie said.
Duthie agreed that pulling drivers over can temporarily make traffic worse, but can also lead to better behavior. She noted that even having a police car in the area can be a deterrent.
“Nobody wants to get a ticket,” she said. “We definitely see a change for the better.”
Two vehicles block the roadway as they wait for pedestrians and other vehicles to move Jan. 21, 2020, at the intersection of Randolph Street and Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Police were not able to provide numbers on how often they issue tickets for blocked intersections or crosswalks. A 2019 CBS report found that 274 drivers were cited over four years.
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Dedicated traffic units in the 1st and 18th police districts, which cover the Loop and Near North Side, mostly handle crashes, said spokesman Howard Ludwig. Police do pull drivers over for traffic violations, like running red lights, but use their discretion because it could cause a bigger backup, he said
"You have to weigh it to see if it’s worth the enforcement effort. In case it makes the problem worse,” Ludwig said.
Reilly said he “respectfully disagrees."
“We have laws on the books for a reason. We need them to be enforced,” Reilly said. “I’m not suggesting this be prioritized over more serious calls for service, but I do think a targeted mission over the next several months could accomplish our goal of driving compliance.”
Reilly said he’d like to see sworn officers managing 30 of the most problematic intersections, and then move to other intersections as needed.
“If you issue enough citations in the course of the next few months, I think most people would change their behavior," Reilly said. The fine is $200, and also may require community service.
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CTA buses also can be seen blocking intersections during rush hour. CTA spokesman Brian Steele said drivers are instructed not to enter the intersection unless there is enough space on the other side to clear it.
However, he noted that sometimes buses are impeded by ride-share vehicles pulling up to the curb to make a pickup or drop-off, which can prevent buses from moving through an intersection.
A Tribune analysis of city data found that almost half of Chicago’s millions of monthly ride-share trips are taking place in just a few crowded areas, including the Loop and the Near North Side. Concerns about congestion inspired new taxes of as much as $3 for a solo ride-share trip downtown during peak hours.
“Ride-hailing drop-offs and pickups at the curb are a real challenge, especially for buses,” said Audrey Wennink, transportation director for the Metropolitan Planning Council, which tracks regional transit and infrastructure matters.
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My two cents: Until any improvements in enforcement are made, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians should do what they can to be good traffic citizens. If it’s not your light, let others through.
And if you’re driving and have the green but know you can’t clear the intersection, stay out of it. Don’t worry about the knuckleheads behind you, blowing their horns. They’re wrong and you’re right.
Transportation song quiz
Our last song was about a transit mishap that can cause you to scuff your sneakers, bust your bag and almost break your neck running. The song was “I Missed the Bus" by Kris Kross. Tom Kotarac, of Lincoln Park, got it first.
This song may be about efficiently parking your limo. Or not. It’s considered one of the top disco/dance club songs of all time. What’s the song, and who did it? The first person with the right answer gets a Tribune pen, and glory.
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-26--Tanya Tucker wins first Grammys, 47 years after first nomination

Tucker felt their spirits on Sunday as she called up Shooter Jennings , who co-produced her album with Carlile , @ @ @ @ @ second award , saying “ Your daddy is up there with mine , and they @ @ @ @ @ right now.
” ( Jennings is the son of another country legend , the late @ @ @ @

Country music legend Tanya Tucker picked up her first two wins at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The 61-year-old singer won for best country song for "Bring My Flowers Now" and best country album for "While I'm Livin'."
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"After 50 years in this business, I have a few firsts left," said Tucker in a speech. "I can't believe it."
Tucker took the first win alongside co-writer Brandi Carlile, who said sharing the Grammy with Tucker is a “great honor of my life.”
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"No matter how old you are, never stop following your dreams," said Tucker.
Tucker was first nominated for a Grammy in 1973 for her breakout hit "Delta Dawn." Prior to this year, she'd been nominated 10 times, but hadn't won an award. Her last nominations came in 1994. "While I'm Livin'," which generated three nominations in all this year, was her first album of new studio material in 19 years.
Carlile said she had asked Tucker why she stopped, and Tucker said that it was because she was grieving the death of her parents, and "couldn't do it anymore."
Tucker felt their spirits on Sunday as she called up Shooter Jennings, who co-produced her album with Carlile, to the stage for her second award, saying “Your daddy is up there with mine, and they are really proud of us right now.” (Jennings is the son of another country legend, the late Waylon Jennings.)
Tucker then told a charming story about how she had called Jennings from a tree stump in her yard with poor cell service, saying that she didn't feel she could do the album.
"I did it for Shooter," she said.
For Carlisle, these two wins she shared with Tucker put her Grammy total up to four, after the two she won as a solo artist last year. The country song win is shared by Tucker and Carlile with Phil and Tim Hanseroth, Carlile's longtime bandmates and co-writers.
Tucker did get beaten out in one of the four categories she was up in, best country solo performance, by an even far more veteran performer, Willie Nelson, whose "Ride Me Back Home" song prevailed.
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Their evening isn’t over yet. Tucker and Carlile are also nominated in one of the top all-genre categories, song of the year, which will be presented during the telecast.