chicagotribune--2020-01-13--Anixter accepts Wesco’s $4.5B buyout offer, ending bidding war for Glenview company

Wesco said it expects to realize $ 200 million in cost savings by the third year , as it consolidates @ @ @ @ @ footprint .
It is unknown what the consolidation will mean for Anixter ’ s executive @ @ @ @ @ its presence in Glenview .

Anixter International headquarters in Glenview. It is unknown what the consolidation will mean for Anixter’s executive team and other employees and its presence in Glenview. (Anixter International)
Anixter International announced plans early Monday to be acquired by Wesco International for $4.5 billion, creating an electrical and data communications distribution company with $17 billion in annual revenues.
The merger agreement, approved by the boards of both companies, ends a bidding war with an affiliate of private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, which first proposed buying Glenview-based Anixter for $3.8 billion in October.
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“It was a very exciting ride with a lot of twists and turns,” John Engel, Wesco chairman, president and CEO, told analysts on a conference call Monday.
Anixter has about 9,000 employees, including 950 in two buildings in Glenview. Combining with Wesco will create the largest North American company in the industry, with a market share of 13%, but the field remains highly fragmented.
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The cash-and-stock agreement with Pittsburgh-based Wesco needs the approval of shareholders and regulators, and is anticipated to close in the second or third quarter, the companies said.
Under terms of the deal, Anixter shareholders will receive a cash and stock payment valued at $100 a share, including $70 in cash, the companies said. Anixter stock closed Monday at $98.33, down about 0.5%. Wesco closed at $56.43, down almost 3%.
After the deal closes, Wesco shareholders will own 84% of the combined company and Anixter shareholders 16%.
In October, Anixter announced plans to be acquired by a Clayton affiliate for $3.8 billion, or $81 a share. However, the merger agreement allowed Anixter’s board to solicit a better merger proposal from someone else through Dec. 9, and the board said it planned to do so. A bidding war with Wesco ensued.
Clayton waived its right to match Wesco’s offer, Anixter and Wesco said Monday.
Wesco said it expects to realize $200 million in cost savings by the third year, as it consolidates operations and streamlines its branch footprint. It is unknown what the consolidation will mean for Anixter’s executive team and other employees and its presence in Glenview.
“There have been no discussions with Wesco yet,” Ted Dosch, Anixter executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in an interview. “We have not yet even begun what’s considered integration planning. Wesco will obviously have the lead in that.”
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He added that functions based in Glenview are “critical” to the company’s operation. “A minority of the people in Glenview are part of our corporate function,” Dosch said.
In an email sent to employees Monday, Anixter President and CEO Bill Galvin said he knew the acquisition process had been “intense” and thanked employees for focusing on the business.
“In the near term, it’s extremely important to know that Anixter and WESCO remain two independent companies. This means that we will continue to operate in every way separately as we always have until the transaction closes,” Galvin wrote.
In October, when Anixter announced plans to be acquired by Clayton and before Wesco emerged as a suitor, Galvin was expected to remain at the company’s helm.
Wesco executives said integrating the two companies will cost $140 million, a sum that will include retention bonuses and severance, among other things.
William Anixter and his brother, Alan, started Anixter Bros. in 1957. Each pitched in $5,000 that they borrowed in part from their mother, Zelda. The firm went public in 1967 and by 1982, sales exceeded $500 million. The company had a broad reach as the leading nationwide independent distributor of wire and cable.
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In 1986, with Anixter Bros. generating more than $700 million in sales, the brothers decided to sell the company to Sam Zell’s Chicago-based Itel Corp., which later changed its name to Anixter and then to Anixter International.


chicagotribune--2020-01-13--‘Real Housewives’ at your high school reunion? Reality TV alumni finding love with Chicago-area nati

‘Real Housewives’ at your high school reunion? Reality TV alumni finding love with Chicago-area natives

“ I told every guy that I dated I ’ m never getting married again , and I told him @ @ @ @ @ m like , ‘ You can date me , but I ’ m never getting @ @ @ @ @ Bellino says about Bohn on “ Below Deck , ” which airs on the Bravo @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve done that , and then I met him and I @ @ @ @ @ When are we getting married ?
’ ”

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Alexis Bellino (left) introduces her boyfriend, 1998 Palatine High School graduate Andrew Bohn (center), on Monday's episode of "Below Deck." (Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” alum Alexis Bellino sure does a lot of kissing at her so-called “divorce celebration” on Monday’s episode of “Below Deck.” Bellino charters the Valor yacht to visit a Thailand paradise with her friends and her new boyfriend, Andrew Bohn, a 1998 graduate of Palatine High School.
“I told every guy that I dated I’m never getting married again, and I told him that too. I’m like, ‘You can date me, but I’m never getting married again,’” Bellino says about Bohn on “Below Deck,” which airs on the Bravo network at 8 p.m. Mondays. “I’ve done that, and then I met him and I’m like, ‘When are we getting married?’”
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Bellino, who recently appeared on “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition,” revealed her relationship with Bohn on Instagram in February 2019. She was married to Jim Bellino, and their relationship was featured on “The Real Housewives” for several seasons. Bohn works at a technology company that serves water utilities, according to his LinkedIn profile. He played basketball for Palatine High and North Central College in Naperville.
Bellino is not the only reality TV alum to be recently linked romantically to a non-celeb from the Chicago area. Paris Hilton — of “The Simple Life,” “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF” and “The World According to Paris” — was spotted walking hand-in-hand with 1999 Glenbard South High School graduate Carter Reum last week outside of a Golden Globe Awards after-party in Beverly Hills, California.
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Paris Hilton Is Dating Carter Reum More Than 1 Year After Ending Chris Zylka Engagement https://t.co/TNvAYsXdW8 — Gina Samale-Lawriw (@GLawriw) January 7, 2020
Reum — an entrepreneur who co-founded a liquor company with his brother, Courtney — has deep roots in Illinois. His father, W. Robert Reum, was the chairman, president and CEO of Chicago-based Amsted Industries, a manufacturer of industrial components. His grandfather, Walter Reum, was an Illinois House representative; and his grandmother, Lucy Reum, served as chairman of the Illinois Racing Board and a delegate to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention.
Reum attended Elgin Academy, played soccer for Glenbard South and graduated from Columbia University. Hilton was previously engaged to “The Leftovers” star Chris Zylka.
Caila Quinn, who competed on Ben Higgins’ season of “The Bachelor” and searched for love on “Bachelor in Paradise,” revealed this month she is engaged to 2011 Glenbard West High School graduate Nick Burrello. The two started dating in 2017.
Merry Christmas! from Nicky B & me 🎄💛✨ pic.twitter.com/5mjPOkO6TY — Caila Quinn (@CailaQuinn) December 24, 2018
Burrello, who hails from Glen Ellyn, played football for Glenbard West and Harvard University. He’s now a vice president of a private equity and real estate firm in New York City, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“The Real Housewives of New York City” star Tinsley Mortimer, meanwhile, got engaged to 1995 Hoffman Estates High School graduate Scott Kluth in Chicago in November after an on-again, off-again relationship that began in 2017. Kluth, who lives in Streeterville, attended Northern Illinois University and founded the online coupon company CouponCabin.
Back to “The Bachelor”: Show host Chris Harrison is dating 2005 Elgin High School graduate Lauren Zima, who attended the University of Missouri at Columbia and covers “The Bachelor” for “Entertainment Tonight.”
But sometimes love doesn’t always work out. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum Phaedra Parks and 1991 Rich Central High School graduate Tone Kapone, a WGCI-FM 107.5 host, split last year. She has since moved on to an actor — but he’s from New Jersey.
tswartz@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Female lion at Brookfield Zoo dies from mysterious fall into moat not long after death of longtime m

Female lion at Brookfield Zoo dies from mysterious fall into moat not long after death of longtime mate

“ Right now it ’ s just a tragic accident and we ’ re trying to make heads or tails @ @ @ @ @ Zeigler .
“ It ’ s been very traumatic having to deal with Zenda and @ @ @ @ @ this loss , which was totally unexpected .
The animal-care staff is so bonded with @ @ @ @ @ s like you with a housecat .
It ’ s been hard for them .
@

In the span of two weeks, Brookfield Zoo has lost both of its African lions, the longtime male-female pair Zenda and Isis.
The second death, of the comparatively healthy female after she failed to recover from a fall into her moat Monday morning, was unexpected, mysterious and especially difficult, zoo staff said.
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All that workers really know is that Isis seemed fine in her enclosure when staff checked at 9 a.m. Monday, an hour ahead of opening, and then was next seen half an hour later unresponsive at the bottom of her more-than-15-foot-deep moat, said William Zeigler, senior vice president of animal programs.
The design allows a lion to climb back out on the habitat side after a fall, but Isis essentially did not move again during roughly 24 hours of treatment and observation, he said, and the zoo’s veterinary staff concluded the humane option was to put her to sleep Tuesday morning.
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[ Brookfield Zoo male lion Zenda dies at 14 of age-related issues ]
“Right now it’s just a tragic accident and we’re trying to make heads or tails of it,” said Zeigler. “It’s been very traumatic having to deal with Zenda and now having to deal with this loss, which was totally unexpected. The animal-care staff is so bonded with their cats, it’s like you with a housecat. It’s been hard for them.”
Zenda, 15, and Isis, 14, had been at the west suburban zoo more than a decade and were often seen grooming each other.
Isis and Zenda, African lions at Brookfield Zoo, in better times. (Jim Schulz)
Staffers who care for the big cats watched Isis closely after her partner was put down Jan. 2, the result of profound age-related deterioration that an autopsy revealed to include inoperable, ruptured discs in his spine, the zoo said.
Unlike her mate, who had lost his mane and much mobility in recent months, Isis was in very good physical condition for an elderly lion, Zeigler said. She did call out more frequently immediately following her mate’s death, but she got past that after a few days, according to the zoo executive.
“At a tabloid (newspaper), it would be an anthropomorphic question" about whether the female had somehow given up the will to live or worse, Zeigler allowed. But nothing in the animal’s behavior gave any indication of despondency or other emotions humans might wish to project onto it; “the only behavior change we saw is she would spend more time with animal care staff,” he said, a behavior considered normal in such a case.
[ Thousands of coyotes live in the Chicago area. But attacks on people, like the one that left a young boy injured, are extremely rare. ]
No witness saw or cameras recorded Isis’ fall into the barrier moat, the kind of thing that has happened previously with big cats at the zoo without lasting injury, according to Zeigler. Staffers examined the habitat for signs of the lion possibly chasing a squirrel or raccoon and tumbling in, but all they could find were some claw marks along a side wall.
“We did see some scrapings along the edge. Whether that’s a cause or a reaction to starting to fall in you don’t know,” he said.
A CT scan showed no broken bones in Isis but she did have seizures indicating possible swelling of the brain. Treatment while under sedation Monday and overnight into Tuesday included attempts to reduce swelling, but when she showed no signs of recovery by about 9:15 Tuesday morning doctors made the decision to, as with her mate almost two weeks prior, euthanize the lion, said Zeigler.
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Preliminary autopsy results Wednesday did find brain swelling, suggesting the animal may have failed to right itself as it fell -- as would be expected -- and taken a blow to the head or upper back “like a concussion,” he said. But the reason for this fall will likely remain a mystery.
“That’s just it,” Zeigler said. “We don’t really know what happened.”
Zoogoers can expect to see new lions at Brookfield this spring. Because of Zenda’s failing health, Brookfield was already working to land new lions through the North American zoos’ cooperative management of the species and is expecting two males to arrive in the coming months, Zeigler said.
sajohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter StevenKJohnson


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Chicago police officers honored for stopping robbery, freeing hostages

“ I worked to make sure that we kept our officers safe , but also made sure that we rescued @ @ @ @ @ Lule , who added that officers surrounded the store to prevent all possible escape routes @ @ @ @ @ the standoff lasted about an hour .
Initially , police did not know how many @ @ @ @ @ and how many victims were in danger .

Chicago police Officer Jacob German, second from right, chats with Officer Corwin Lasenby after a group of officers were honored Jan. 14, 2020, at the Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union in Chicago. They helped stop a robbery and free hostages held at gunpoint at a store in the West Side. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A group of Chicago police officers and a sergeant from the Near West District were honored Tuesday by the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation for helping stop a robbery and free three hostages being held at gunpoint at a dollar store on Chicago’s West Side last month.
The robbery and standoff began about 8 p.m. Dec. 29 at a Dollar Tree, 3146 W. Madison St., near Kedzie Avenue.
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“This is a small representation of the officers who played a role on that specific day,” said Sgt. Jose Lule after a small ceremony honoring the group as officers of the month and held in the lobby of the Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union, 1407 W. Washington Blvd.
At the ceremony, the director of operations, Frank Gross, and William Condon, president of the board of the foundation, presented Lule and seven other officers with a certificate of recognition saying they acted “without the regard of their own safety.”
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“Being at the ceremony makes me feel proud because it means my husband and the rest of the officers were able to create a little peace in a city like Chicago,” said Delisia Lule, the sergeant’s wife.
The foundation saluted officers Jonathan Carroll, Modesto Castellon, Jacob German, Hector Rodriguez, Jesse Santillan, Corwin Lasenby and Zachary Kuta for helping to arrest the three suspects and rescue the victims “without an incident.”
A man alerted officers Castellon and Rodriguez of the robbery after overhearing it while he was on the phone with his girlfriend, who was an employee at the store. The man directed the officers to the store, and they promptly contacted Lule, who began an immediate collaboration with the Chicago Fire Department and the store general manager.
“I worked to make sure that we kept our officers safe, but also made sure that we rescued the victims,” said Lule, who added that officers surrounded the store to prevent all possible escape routes for the robbers. Initially, police did not know how many people were inside the store and how many victims were in danger.
Lule said the standoff lasted about an hour.
“It is definitely not a day-to-day incident, and it could have gone wrong pretty quickly,” Lule added.
Police were able to enter the store using the manager’s keys and discovered three people in the security office with their hands zip tied. They then found two masked men hiding on top of a refrigeration unit and another under cardboard boxes. The cash taken during the robbery and the loaded handgun police believe was used to threaten the victims were also discovered at the scene.
Mabiti Collins, 46, Herman George, 50, and Jammie King, 44, were placed under arrest. Each man was charged with armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint, according to police.
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Video surveillance shows the three robbers entering the store and hiding in the backroom for more than an hour before closing time, according to police. After the employees closed the doors, the three, armed with a handgun and a knife, announced a robbery, police said.
“As soon as you get to the scene, there is so much stuff going on that you don’t have time to worry about anything. You just revert back to what you know and things you’ve practiced and hope that it’s enough,” said Lasenby, who led the entry to the store with a ballistic protective shield.
The three people rescued, two women and a man, were employees at the Dollar Tree store, confirmed Lule. Aside from “mild shock,” the three were unharmed, he said.
The general manager of the store said she was not allowed to give a statement or allow any of the victims to speak regarding the incident until someone higher up in the company gave permission.
“I’m very proud of my son because he faces the risk of getting hurt every day when he goes out to work,” said Silvia Villagomez, Lule’s mother. “But he chose this profession and this mission to protect others and save lives.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--University of Illinois President Tim Killeen primed for 40% raise, 4-year contract extension

A pending contract proposal for Tim Killeen , who leads the three-campus University of Illinois system , would continue his @ @ @ @ @ more years , until July 2024 — the longest extension allowed under state law .
@ @ @ @ @ in 2015 , overseeing universities in Urbana-Champaign , Chicago and Springfield .

Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois, speaks regarding an announcement for plans for the Discovery Partners Institute, a public-private innovation to be run by the University of Illinois system and located near downtown Chicago, on Oct. 19, 2017. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
The president of the state’s largest public university could receive a big pay raise as trustees try to keep him in the post for four more years.
A pending contract proposal for Tim Killeen, who leads the three-campus University of Illinois system, would continue his contract as president for four more years, until July 2024 — the longest extension allowed under state law. Killeen first assumed the job in 2015, overseeing universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.
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His base pay would jump from $600,000 to $835,000, according to a summary of the contract, giving him about a 40% raise.
From 2015 until now, Killeen has received a $100,000 performance bonus each year, bringing his regular pay to $700,000. University officials said that extra compensation would be folded into his base salary instead of being paid separately.
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University trustees are scheduled to meet Thursday to review Killeen’s new proposed contract.
Officials noted in a news release that enrollment among the campuses has spiked since Killeen took over as president, driven in part by a goal to top 93,600 by fall 2021.
Since 2016, following Killeen’s first full year at the helm, system enrollment has grown 9.5%, from 81,499 to 89,270 last fall.
Much of that increase has come at UIC, where burgeoning freshman classes have helped boost enrollment by nearly 15% in four years.
Urbana-Champaign’s enrollment increased by 10% since 2016, bringing more than 50,000 students to the flagship campus for the first time in history.
Springfield, by contrast, has suffered big drops, from about 5,400 students enrolled in 2016 to less than 4,300 in the fall.
Killeen also has implemented tuition freezes for in-state students for the past several years, though university trustees have raised mandatory student fees primarily at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago.
Killeen also was to receive a $225,000 bonus for serving the entirety of his original five-year contract. But in the wake of several state scandals involving pay for college presidents, the board rescinded that perk at Killeen’s request in 2015.
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Should he continue in the job until 2024, however, he would get a $400,000 bonus. That bonus money will not be paid if Killeen resigns or is fired before 2024.
Killeen’s new contract would make him about the fifth-highest paid university president in the Big Ten, according to a salary database maintained by the Chronicle of Higher Education, putting him behind the leaders of Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana and Michigan.
“This action reflects the trust of the board in President Killeen’s leadership, and signifies endorsement in him to continue to lift the world-class university system closer to the ambitious goals set by the board to expand impact on students, society, and the State of Illinois,” board members wrote in the proposal.
drhodes@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @rhodes_dawn


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Former Penn State football player sues the school and coach James Franklin, alleging hazing of a sex

Former Penn State football player sues the school and coach James Franklin, alleging hazing of a sexual nature by teammates

The lawsuit claims some of the older players would physically restrain younger players , taunt them and engage in mock @ @ @ @ @ claims that starting in January 2018 , several players “ collectively orchestrated , participated in @ @ @ @ @ a campaign to harass and haze lower classmen members of the Penn State football team @ @ @ @ @ player who sued .

A football player who transferred from Penn State claims in a lawsuit filed against the university and coach James Franklin that other Nittany Lions players hazed him and other younger teammates, including allegations they imitated sexual acts in the shower and invoked Jerry Sandusky's name. (Barry Reeger / AP)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A former Penn State football player claims in a lawsuit that Nittany Lions players hazed him and other younger teammates by imitating sexual acts in the shower and invoking Jerry Sandusky's name.
The player, whom the Associated Press is not identifying because he hasn’t spoken publicly on the matter, filed the lawsuit Monday in Pennsylvania federal court against the university, coach James Franklin and one former teammate.
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The school’s own investigation found the ex-teammate had committed “prohibited behavior,” the complaint said.
University police turned over results of its investigation to the local district attorney, who declined to prosecute, Penn State said in a statement. The university said it conducted extensive interviews but found nothing to substantiate claims against Franklin or to indicate that anyone had been hazed.
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The allegations include that older players said to younger ones, “I am going to Sandusky you."
Sandusky was the team’s retired longtime defensive coordinator when he was convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 10 boys, including physical attacks on university property. He is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence.
Sandusky’s arrest prompted the firing of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno, and the university subsequently paid more than $100 million to people who said Sandusky had abused them.
The lawsuit claims some of the older players would physically restrain younger players, taunt them and engage in mock sex acts. It further claims that starting in January 2018, several players “collectively orchestrated, participated in, directed and or facilitated a campaign to harass and haze lower classmen members of the Penn State football team,” including the former player who sued.
A message seeking comment was left for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Steven F. Marino and Joseph Auddino of Philadelphia. The AP does not generally name people who say they are victims of sexual abuse or similar crimes unless they consent to being identified.
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Penn State’s statement Tuesday said that its Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response and the Office of Student Conduct investigated and that Penn State police turned over results of its investigation to Centre County District Attorney Bernie F. Cantorna.
“The DA reviewed the case and decided that no charges would be pursued,” the school said. A message was left seeking comment from Cantorna.
The teammate who was sued did not return a message sent to his university email account.
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The lawsuit claims the plaintiff and his father reported harassment and hazing in the football team locker room, but “no substantive action was taken” in response by Franklin or the team.
The former Penn State player alleges he was retaliated against for making the reports, including scorn from coaches, “irrational and inappropriate censure” by the team’s academic adviser and denial of medical accommodations to treat anxiety and narcolepsy. He believes he was also shunned by other players and said he received threats.
The plaintiff is seeking damages on claims of negligence against Penn State, Franklin and his former teammate, as well as assault and battery, conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the former teammate.
The plaintiff has since transferred out of Penn State and attends a different school.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Phase Three, one of Chicago’s trendiest breweries, finds a home of its own in the northwest suburbs

Phase Three has produced about 1,800 barrels of beer since launching , Berns said .
Taking over the Lake Zurich @ @ @ @ @ about 3,000 barrels annually , he said .
The taproom will be shuttered and renovated @ @ @ @ @ in the spring , Berns said .

Phase Three Brewing, which has produced about 1,800 barrels of beer since launching, will boost production to about 3,000 barrels a year. (Josh Noel / Chicago Tribune)
One of Chicago’s trendiest breweries finally has a home of its own.
Phase Three Brewing, a tiny operation specializing in the fashionable hazy style of India pale ale, plans to take over Lake Zurich Brewing in the northwest suburbs.
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By assuming Lake Zurich Brewing’s lease and buying its equipment — a deal they hope to have finalized by spring — Phase Three will be able to make more beer and operate its own taproom, brewery co-founder Shaun Berns said Tuesday.
Since launching last year, Phase Three has made its beer at Lake Zurich Brewing under contract. But as Phase Three’s needs for production grew, Lake Zurich’s needs were shrinking, Berns said. The deal came together in recent months.
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“It was just timing and ended up working out in our favor,” he said. “Unfortunately they’ve backed off production with their brands and it opened a spot for us.”
Phase Three will be the third brewery to operate the 6,700-square-foot space in just under five years. Black Belt Brewing launched there in 2016 but closed a year later. In 2018, the space reopened as Lake Zurich Brewing.
Phase Three has produced about 1,800 barrels of beer since launching, Berns said. Taking over the Lake Zurich space will boost production to about 3,000 barrels annually, he said. The taproom will be shuttered and renovated, reopening as Phase Three in the spring, Berns said.
Phase Three’s hazy IPAs have developed one of the most fervent fan bases in the Chicago area. Nearly three-quarters of Phase Three’s beers have been IPAs, according to its website.
Berns is also well regarded for his approach to barrel-aged imperial stouts — enough that Phase Three launched a membership program in which customers prepay $300 for nine bottles of imperial stout, eight of which are aged in bourbon barrels.
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However Berns said he looks forward to diversifying.
Hazy IPAs “are still the hot thing and I have a knack for them so we take advantage,” he said. “But I am definitely looking forward to having extra space to brew some West Coast and Midwest IPAs and even lagers.”
Berns first came to prominence as head brewer at RAM Restaurant & Brewery’s Schaumburg location, where he made some of the Chicago area’s first hazy IPAs.
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He became head brewer at More Brewing when that brewpub opened in Villa Park in 2017, and rose to even greater prominence. Among his achievements was winning best in show at the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer in 2017 for Karma, a thick, sweet stout made with coconut, cinnamon and cacao nibs aged in bourbon barrels.
Last March, amid a reported disagreement about expansion plans, Berns left More Brewing to start Phase Three. It was a big enough deal among beer drinkers to merit a Reddit thread: “Shaun Berns has left More to start Phase 3 brewing!”
Phase Three is already envisioning a second brewery and taproom closer to Chicago within the next couple of years, Berns said.
jbnoel@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Bears are moving their training camp from Bourbonnais to Halas Hall, ending an 18-year run

The Bears did not provide details about how limited attendance will be , but they will maintain `` a public @ @ @ @ @ sessions to incorporate our loyal and passionate fans , ” Bears President and CEO Ted @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2019 the Bears had eight practices open to the public in Bourbonnais and @ @ @ @ @

The Bears will move their entire training camp to Halas Hall in Lake Forest starting this summer, the team announced Tuesday.
The training camp schedule and more information about free public tickets for camp will be released later this spring.
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The move after 18 years at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais comes on the heels of a major Halas Hall expansion project, which included a 162,500-square-foot football operations addition to the existing 143,000-square-foot facility. The project created a new weight room, locker room and cafeteria for the players and new offices and meetings rooms for coaches and staff.
Another project included the addition of two new practice fields and more parking spaces. Halas Hall sits at the end of the Conway Park business complex, off Interstate 94 and Route 60.
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The Bears did not provide details about how limited attendance will be, but they will maintain "a public component to many of the sessions to incorporate our loyal and passionate fans,” Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips said in a statement. In 2019 the Bears had eight practices open to the public in Bourbonnais and one at Soldier Field.
“Olivet Nazarene University continues to be a valued and committed partner, but with the recent investment in our campus expansion and state-of-the-art facilities in Lake Forest, we feel it is important to stay home for training camp," Phillips said. "We would like to thank Olivet Nazarene University, including President John Bowling, and the Bourbonnais community for their 18 years of partnership and hospitality.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 62 Quarterback Rex Grossman arrives with his TV wrapped in his linens in 2004. (John Smierciak, Chicago Tribune)
Olivet Nazarene is about 60 miles south of Chicago, and players and coaches bunked for parts of three weeks in late July and early August on the campus, which included four practice fields. On the final day of camp in 2019, more than 9,000 fans showed up to the campus as Super Bowl expectations swelled.
The Bears signed an agreement in 2013 to extend training camp at Olivet Nazarene through 2022, but it was noted at the time of the announcement that the agreement was a series of one-year, rollover contracts that would give the Bears an out if so desired.
At least one former Bears player agreed with the move. Offensive lineman Kyle Long tweeted “it’s time to put to use that amazing facility.”
Bourbonais has been great to the team but it’s time to put to use that amazing facility #SmartMove #2020 — Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) January 14, 2020
Before Bourbonnais, the Bears spent 17 years at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, a more than three-hour drive from Chicago. They previously held camp in Lake Forest, at Lake Forest College, from 1975-83.
According to NFL Communications, 22 of 32 teams stayed home for training camp in 2019, meaning they practiced at their own facility or stadium or a site within 10 miles of team headquarters. That number was up from 10 in 2000.
Olivet Nazarene tweeted their thanks to the Bears upon the announcement.
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Bears training camp history
1930: Mills Stadium, Chicago
1931: Loyola University, Chicago
1932: Logan Square Ballpark, Chicago
1933: University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
1934: Lane Tech High School, Chicago
1935-43: St. John’s Military Academy, Delafield, Wis.
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1944-74: St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Ind.
1975-83: Lake Forest College, Lake Forest
1984-2001: University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville, Wis.
2002-2019: Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais
2020: Halas Hall, Lake Forest


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Notre Dame College Prep names new president of Niles school

Boyle said Catholic schools have been a part of his life since kindergarten .
He attended Our Lady of Victory @ @ @ @ @ High School and graduated from the University of Notre Dame .
In 2002 , he @ @ @ @ @ at Notre Dame College Prep where his younger brothers attended .
That year , the @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Conference Championship , the school said .

A familiar face will be leading Notre Dame College Prep as the school’s new president next year.
Shay Boyle, the current vice president of institutional advancement and enrollment at the all-boys Catholic high school in Niles, will begin his new role as president on July 1 following the retirement of Ralph J. Elwart, who has served as president for the past six years, the school announced.
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Boyle was chosen for the top position from among 18 applicants, five of whom were interviewed by a nine-member committee consisting of members of the school’s board of directors, faculty, parents and alumni, said Kevin Burke, chairman of the board.
Boyle’s salary is not being disclosed, Burke said.
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Boyle joined Notre Dame in 2012 as director of enrollment and was named vice president two years later, according to the school.
“Shay brings an unbelievable amount of energy, commitment and passion for Notre Dame,” Burke said. “We wanted someone who not only endorsed the mission of the school, but had lived it the last few years.”
Burke credited Boyle with working to keep the school’s enrollment high in an era where many Catholic schools are struggling to remain open. There are currently 740 students enrolled at Notre Dame and, this year, 234 boys took the admission test for just 200 open spots, Burke said.
“It’s a tribute to him,” Burke said of Boyle.
Boyle called Notre Dame a place that is “very near and dear to my heart.”
“I love every aspect of the school and I think there is a lot of room for continued growth,” he said. “I’m up to the challenge to lead us to the next level.”
Shay Boyle, vice president for institutional advancement and enrollment at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, has been named the school's president, beginning July 1, 2020. - Original Credit: Notre Dame College Prep (Notre Dame College Prep / HANDOUT)
Boyle said Catholic schools have been a part of his life since kindergarten. He attended Our Lady of Victory School in Chicago and Weber High School and graduated from the University of Notre Dame. In 2002, he was an assistant basketball coach at Notre Dame College Prep where his younger brothers attended. That year, the Dons won the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship, the school said.
After working for a time as a computer consultant, Boyle said he decided to change careers and study education. He received a master’s degree from Lewis University and took on roles as a basketball coach at Lewis University, Loyola University and Gordon Tech High School, also working as director of enrollment for the latter. In 2012, Boyle made the move to Notre Dame, bringing his basketball coaching talents back with him.
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“It’s given me a great way to stay in touch with the students and keep on the pulse of what’s going on,” he said of his coaching. “I’ve been able to mentor a lot of young men and help them get to college and beyond.”
Boyle acknowledged that his new role as president will prevent him from being an active coach going forward, but he said he plans to remain involved in the basketball program and be available to all sports and clubs at the schools.
“I’ll still be at every game and as many school events as I can attend,” he said.
As president, Boyle said he hopes to see the school “continue to grow as a community” and would like to share its successes.
“We want to get more alumni back on campus, telling that alumni story because it’s a great story to tell,” he said. “I want to share the careers people have now and I want to see Notre Dame’s legacy continue to grow, the enrollment and financial contributions continue to grow. I think when more people hear the Notre Dame story, more will be drawn back to support us.”
A member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Park Ridge, Boyle lives in Edison Park with his wife Anne-Michele and three children, the school said.
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jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Should genetic testing be part of routine primary care? At least one Chicago-area health system thin

Should genetic testing be part of routine primary care? At least one Chicago-area health system thinks so, and is ramping up its efforts

Though a number of hospital systems perform genetic testing on certain patients , such as those with cancer , the @ @ @ @ @ as a part of routine primary care is still relatively new .
NorthShore is one @ @ @ @ @ of hospital systems across the country that have seized on the idea .
Unlike many @ @ @ @ @ as 23andMe , the Color tests offered by NorthShore can be used in medical decision-making @

Swedish Covenant Hospital on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. The hospital is one of the locations Northshore University HealthSystem will begin offering genetic testing to primary care patients. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
More patients of NorthShore University HealthSystem will soon be able to get genetic testing through their primary care doctors, the health system said this week, after wrapping up a year-long pilot project that was considered one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Over the past year, NorthShore partnered with health care technology company Color to test nearly 10,000 primary care patients at about half of the system’s 30 primary care sites, located mostly in the north suburbs. NorthShore now plans to expand the availability of that testing to all its primary care practices starting Jan. 22, including at its newly acquired Swedish Hospital in Ravenswood.
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The testing is meant to help patients determine whether they’re at higher risk of developing certain conditions such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer and heart disease. The test results can also be used to help patients find the most effective pain and depression medications based on their genetics. The test sequences a person’s whole genome, or complete set of DNA.
During the pilot program, the tests were free to patients. Now that the pilot is over, patients will pay $175 for the optional testing, unless their health insurance plans cover it, many of which do not. The testing is available to patients ages 18 and older.
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Though a number of hospital systems perform genetic testing on certain patients, such as those with cancer, the idea of offering broad testing as a part of routine primary care is still relatively new. NorthShore is one of at least a handful of hospital systems across the country that have seized on the idea. Unlike many popular, direct-to-consumer tests such as 23andMe, the Color tests offered by NorthShore can be used in medical decision-making.
Color, based in California, is working on a similar program with South Dakota-based Sanford Health, and, separately, Pennsylvania-based Geisinger health system also offers genetic testing to primary care patients.
Some have criticized broad genetic testing, questioning the usefulness of information gleaned from such tests and saying they could lead to unnecessary care and costs. It’s still unknown how much certain genetic mutations might boost a person’s risk of getting a disease.
But others say it’s the future of primary care.
“Our goal with all of this is to be able to identify and proactively intervene and prevent illness in a way that delivers better care to our patients, allows them to more actively participate in their care and have better peace of mind,” said Kristen Murtos, chief administrative and strategy officer at NorthShore.
During the pilot phase, about 30% of patients who were offered testing tried it, she said.
Patients had blood samples sent to Color and received the results a few weeks later. Patients were offered the chance to speak with genetic counselors and were connected with specialists, if they had certain genetic mutations. The test results were integrated into patients’ electronic medical records, so all their NorthShore doctors could take them into consideration when providing care.
About 10% of patients who took the tests had results showing genetic mutations that could put them at higher risk of developing cancer, according to NorthShore. About 99% of patients had results indicating that one type of medication might be better than another for certain conditions.
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Elyse Azriel, 27, of Bucktown, learned through NorthShore’s testing that she had Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases a person’s risk of developing several types of cancers. At first she was hesitant to take the test because she had already done a direct-to-consumer genetic test. But her primary care doctor brought up the Color test during her annual physical exam last year and recommended she get it because of a family history of cancer.
When her results came back positive for Lynch syndrome, she received genetic counseling and her doctor helped connect her to specialists throughout NorthShore. She’s already undergone several cancer screenings and will continue to be screened regularly.
“I feel fortunate I found this out so early in life, because if I had awaited too late to do some of these screenings, I might have already had cancer,” Azriel said. She works as a rehabilitation counselor for people with disabilities, but is interested in a career in genetic counseling after her experience.
The NorthShore program is helping to answer some of the questions that remain about broad genetic testing, said Caroline Savello, vice president of commercial for Color. Some, for example, have wondered about the emotional impact of telling patients they’re at higher risk of certain diseases and whether it’s fair to place another task upon already-busy primary care doctors.
But about 82% of about 1,500 patients who underwent testing through NorthShore said they’d recommend it to others, according to Color.
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“I think programs like NorthShore’s prove those are all manageable questions,” Savello said.
Some experts say they expect to see more primary care doctors offering genetic counseling in the future. It might take some time because there aren’t enough trained medical experts to analyze and communicate genetic results to patients, said Dr. Maximilian Muenke, CEO of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. But he believes that once it does become more widely available, it will improve patient care.
“Eventually, all of us will have, somewhere in a database, our own genomes,” Muenke said.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--‘It’s just devastating,’ says sister of missing Schaumburg woman found dead in trunk of her car on C

‘It’s just devastating,’ says sister of missing Schaumburg woman found dead in trunk of her car on Chicago’s West Side

“ This is someone who had her MBA from Loyola ( University Chicago ) .
I feel like it ’ @ @ @ @ @ know that something like this could happen to anybody , not just people living in @ @ @ @ @ like that , ” said her sister , who asked not to be named for @ @ @ @ @ could happen to anyone ’ s sister , mom , kid .
She was a @ @ @ @ @ very lively person .
It ’ s just devastating .
”

Before her body was found in the trunk of her Lexus sedan on Chicago’s West Side late Monday, Sureel Dabawala, 34, had gone to work out at a gym not far from the Schaumburg home she shared with her parents.
She never came home and wasn’t seen alive again by loved ones, her sister said Tuesday morning.
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Sureel Dabawala, 34, was found dead in the trunk of her car on Chicago's West Side on Jan. 13, 2020, authorities said. (Schaumburg Police Department)
Dabawala’s sister said Dabawala wasn’t just outgoing and bubbly but also a highly educated woman who worked for her parents’ medical practice.
“This is someone who had her MBA from Loyola (University Chicago). I feel like it’s important for people to know that something like this could happen to anybody, not just people living in a dangerous neighborhood or anything like that,” said her sister, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. “It could happen to anyone’s sister, mom, kid. She was a very smart girl, a very lively person. It’s just devastating.”
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Dabawala had been listed as an endangered missing person after failing to return to her family home Dec. 30, according to an alert issued by the Schaumburg Police Department. She was considered endangered because of “a medical condition,” according to the alert.
Around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Chicago police officers were called to the 200 block of North Kilpatrick Avenue in West Garfield Park after private investigators hired by the missing woman’s family located her white 2011 Lexus sedan parked there, according to Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli.
The private investigators phoned Dabawala’s father, who had hired them, as well as Chicago police, police sources said. Dabawala’s father arrived with the keys to the car and opened the trunk, where his daughter was found wrapped in a blanket and later pronounced dead.
The medical examiner’s office released Dabawala’s identification Tuesday morning. Although results from an autopsy had been expected later in the day, it could not be completed Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the office said.
[ ‘We finally put a name and a face to this monster.’ DuPage officials ID killer of 16-year-old girl in 1976. Man, now dead, believed to be linked to other cases. ]
Dabawala’s sister said her family was going to the medical examiner’s office to make their own identification Tuesday and that they would spend the day making arrangements for her sister’s services.
“She was a very bubbly person and a very good-spirited person. Just ... she didn’t have a single enemy in her life type of person,” Dabawala’s sister said.
Dabawala’s sister said her family was not yet sure what happened to her sister, and they were awaiting updates from police and information from the autopsy before speculating about Dabawala’s final moments.
“One of the worst parts of this is knowing that the car sat there as long as it did and knowing we could’ve possibly found her sooner. There’s a lot of what-ifs,” her sister said.
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In an email, Bartoli said it wasn’t clear how long the Lexus had been parked at the location, and she could not say whether it had collected parking violation citations. A public city database doesn’t indicate any parking tickets for the car since Dec. 30.
“There’s no information about the car or how long it may have been there. It was towed for further processing,” Bartoli said.
Her sister described Dabawala as someone who enjoyed shopping and socializing. She loved to dine out with her friends and especially enjoyed Asian cuisine. She was also an animal lover, and she had a dog who was “near and dear to her heart,” her sister said.
Dabawala often spent time with friends and family in the city and in nearby suburbs, which is why the Schaumburg alert noted it was possible Dabawala might be in Chicago or nearby, her sister said.
“I don’t know who those friends are, but everyone’s going to be questioned,” Dabawala’s sister said. “We just know very little right now.”
Her family filed a missing person report with Schaumburg on Jan. 1.
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Bartoli could not release details about whether Dabawala had visible injuries but said until the autopsy is completed, the case was being treated as a death investigation rather than a homicide.
Chicago police were expected to review surveillance cameras in the immediate area.
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Authorities from Schaumburg did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Her sister said she was talking about Dabawala’s death because she wants people to know something this tragic could happen to anyone, at any time. Her family has been shocked by the news that the “extremely outgoing” woman they love so much is gone so suddenly.
“You couldn’t not like her after meeting her, that’s how friendly and outgoing she was. She’s just a very likable person,” her sister said. “I do think it’s very important for the public to know, because we’re totally shocked.”
Chicago Tribune’s Rosemary Sobol contributed.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Blackhawks let Anthony Duclair go, and he’s now an All-Star. But he puts the blame on himself: ‘I wo

Blackhawks let Anthony Duclair go, and he’s now an All-Star. But he puts the blame on himself: ‘I would have probably let myself go as well.’

But Duclair had a rough go with the Hawks , posting just eight points ( two goals , six assists @ @ @ @ @ and missing the last 12 games of the season with a leg injury .
After @ @ @ @ @ before last season and not producing much , he was traded to the Senators last @ @

OTTAWA, Ontario — Don't blame Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman for letting Senators All-Star forward Anthony Duclair get away.
At least that’s what Duclair says.
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The Hawks decided not to make Duclair a qualifying offer when he became a restricted free agent after he played 23 games with them during the 2017-18 season. They acquired Duclair from the Coyotes on Jan. 10, 2018, along with Adam Clendening for Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin.
But Duclair had a rough go with the Hawks, posting just eight points (two goals, six assists) in his 23-game stint and missing the last 12 games of the season with a leg injury. After signing with the Blue Jackets before last season and not producing much, he was traded to the Senators last February.
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That's when Duclair again started to showcase the scoring touch that led him to score 20 goals with the Coyotes during the 2015-16 season as a 20-year-old.
He had eight goals in 21 games with the Senators to end last season, and so far this season has 21 goals and 11 assists in 44 games to earn his first All-Star appearance.
“The way I’m playing this year and the way (I played) in Chicago is two different Anthony Duclairs,” he said. “Can’t really blame the Blackhawks for letting me go. I would have probably let myself go as well.”
It’s no secret why Duclair has found success. For the first time in his career, he’s getting playing time befitting a top-six forward. He’s playing a career-high 16 minutes, 34 seconds, which exceeds his previous high by more than two minutes per game. He has put 126 shots on net, which is just six shy of his career high in 30 fewer games.
“Getting the opportunity, getting more ice time, getting shots on net,” Duclair said. “Beginning of the year when I was rolling I was getting maybe five, six shots per game and that definitely builds confidence. Just using my speed and playing with good players definitely helps.”
Duclair, who is earning $1.65 million on a one-year deal and is set to be a restricted free agent after the season, said he long ago put his Blackhawks experience to bed.
“Just another game for me,” he said about Tuesday’s game against the Hawks. “I wasn’t there too long and I think I only played there for 20 games. I still keep in touch with a couple guys, but it’s just another game.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they are spending less time with family. Here’s how you can rese

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they are spending less time with family. Here’s how you can reset boundaries too.

Estrangement can be hurtful for all involved , said Linda F. Williams , a psychotherapist and founder of Whose Apple @ @ @ @ @ , based in Grand Rapids , Mich. For families , it can be tempting to @ @ @ @ @ apart as the cause of the problem , but what is more helpful is to @ @ @ @ @ experience estrangement differently .

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in London, shortly before announcing their partial retreat from royal life. (Frank Augstein/AP)
If they did it, you can too.
Many are talking about the way Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have begun paving their way out of the royal family’s traditional dynamics and into a life that works for them.
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The two announced in a statement Jan. 8 that they would be stepping back as full-time royals, hoping to instead craft a financially independent life and only live part time in Britain.
On Jan. 13, family members met at Queen Elizabeth II’s Sandringham estate to talk through the situation, ultimately resulting in a statement from the queen that said while she would have preferred the two remain full-time royals, the family is “entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.”
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The decision from the couple came after a year when they have battled incessant media coverage, reports of rifts within the family and the stress of being a newly married couple, with a new baby, all while under scrutiny in the public eye.
Although reactions to their decision have been mixed, many lauded the couple’s decision to prioritize what is best for them.
“I think it’s really cool that they’re setting some new precedents,” said Lauren Cook, a therapist based in San Diego. “If they’re no longer serving the family and the mental health of all parties involved, it’s OK to reevaluate traditions.”
Although few in the world find themselves in such a complex situation, the royals are not the only ones to face complicated family dynamics.
Whether it’s an estranged family member, siblings who have different relationships with each parent or simply a logistical challenge as many don’t live in the same location, establishing new boundaries with family when not everyone wants the same thing can be difficult.
“This unfortunately happens quite frequently,” Cook said.
The royal meeting, Cook said, was a good example of how families should meet in person and openly communicate when possible, "even though it’s uncomfortable, it’s kind of cringeworthy, and people want to avoid it,” she said.
“We joke about ghosting,” she said, “but families ideally don’t ghost on each other. I think when you can take the time to actually communicate and give each other closure, it’s much more healing.”
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Many couples or individuals find they want a different set of expectations, she said. Perhaps someone lives far away and is no longer able or willing to visit as often; other people might be feeling hurt or entering a new stage where they want to spend less time with family.
Estrangement can be hurtful for all involved, said Linda F. Williams, a psychotherapist and founder of Whose Apple Dynamic Coaching and Consulting Services, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For families, it can be tempting to consider whoever is taking time apart as the cause of the problem, but what is more helpful is to know each family member will experience estrangement differently.
“Give yourself a break, understanding that these are normal feelings and part of a healing process,” Williams said.
When possible, communicate that directly and in person, Cook said. Set up a relaxed environment, at someone’s home with coffee or snacks, “taking the wind out of the sails of the conversations,” she said.
“If we can take the time to give each other the respect to have those conversations, even though they are uncomfortable, it gives people closure so they can start to move, on,” she said. “So they’re not sitting up at 2 a.m., ‘Why is this family member no longer talking to me?’”
And parents might be the ones who ultimately wish for less time together or setting new boundaries, for example, in a situation with a grown child living at home. “That can lead to some really challenging conversations,” she said.
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Not every situation is best handled in person or possible without contention. Some situations might not require more elaboration, instead saying directly, “Right now, this isn’t working for me. I need to take a break from this.”
Remember that everyone will have an opinion, and it is not necessary to share your thoughts or situations with each family member or friend.
“You need to look internally at what’s best for you and your family dynamic, because at the end of the day, those are the only people who are truly impacted,” Cook said.
Decide how much you want to hear about, or discuss, the situation with others, Williams advised. Clearly communicate that, and plan how you will handle any conversation arising.
If you’re the person who a family member is disengaging with, allow some time for self-reflection. If you have a trusted friend or family member who you know will tell you the truth, ask for input and be ready to hear feedback, Williams said.
Know that you can’t control the situation, and let the person know you are open to discussion when he is ready.
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Remember that in many cases, disengaging or resetting boundaries is a tough situation for all parties. Empathy goes a long way, Cook said.
“Hold a little ounce of empathy for them, to help us figure out how we can find resolution, even if that means amicably walking away for a time,” Cook said.
abowen@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Shaky crane closes traffic on Wacker Drive in Loop

Police received the call about the crane “ slipping ” possibly because of accumulated ice in the 100 block of @ @ @ @ @ p.m. , a police spokeswoman said .
As a precaution , authorities shut down all @ @ @ @ @ the crane could be secured , an official said .

Heavy ice on a construction crane atop a high-rise building a short distance from the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the Loop closed the street to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, Chicago police said.
Police received the call about the crane “slipping” possibly because of accumulated ice in the 100 block of North Wacker Drive around 2 p.m., a police spokeswoman said. As a precaution, authorities shut down all traffic on the street until the crane could be secured, an official said.
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No injuries were reported.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--The Field Museum is free all February for Illinoisans — and two other museums are free for more than

The Field Museum is free all February for Illinoisans — and two other museums are free for more than half the month

Chicago museums are going all out with free days for Illinois residents for the month of February : The Field @ @ @ @ @ entire month , the Shedd Aquarium is free every weekday and the Museum of Science @ @ @ @ @ more than half the month .

The Field Museum's main Stanley Hall features Maximo, the skeleton of a titanosaur, as well as hanging gardens and models of prehistoric flying reptiles. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago museums are going all out with free days for Illinois residents for the month of February: The Field Museum is free for the entire month, the Shedd Aquarium is free every weekday and the Museum of Science and Industry is free for more than half the month.
Chicago museums offer free days throughout the year, but they often have the most in February — a convenient option during a month when tourism numbers are among the lowest, winter can sometimes seem the cruelest and locals get cabin fever.
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The Field Museum has offered Illinois residents free admission for the entire month of February since 2015, and it’s doing the same for 2020. Tickets can’t be purchased in advance; residents must bring an ID or other proof of residency to the museum to get admission.
The Shedd Aquarium is offering a deal almost as good: Every weekday in February is free for Illinois residents. You can get in the door by waiting in line and showing your ID, or you can pay a $3 fee to reserve your ticket online.
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The Museum of Science and Industry is offering more than 15 days in February for free for Illinois residents — more than half the month. The Adler Planetarium is also offering 10 free days in February.
Many museums are also offering more free days than usual for Illinois residents in January. Here’s a list of free days for January and February this year.
Field Museum
Jan. 20, 22 and 29
Feb. 1-29
Click here for more information on Field Museum free days.
Shedd Aquarium
Jan. 16-20
Feb. 3-7, 10-14, 17-21 and 24-28
Click here for more information on Shedd Aquarium free days.
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Museum of Science and Industry
Jan. 6-9, 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30
Feb. 3-6, 10-13, 18-20 and 24-27
Click here for more information on Museum of Science and Industry free days.
Adler Planetarium
Jan. 7-9 and 20-22
Feb. 4-6, 11-13 and 17-20
Click here for more information on Adler Planetarium free days.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Walmart employees mishandled Bears star Khalil Mack’s Christmas layaway donation

“ We here at Walmart would like to thank the Khalil Mack Foundation for your generosity , and for making @ @ @ @ @ the holidays , ” the Fort Pierce store posted .
“ Everyone is truly grateful @ @ @ @ @ for them !
”

During the holiday season Bears star Khalil Mack decided to ease the Christmas burden on 300 shoppers by paying off the layaway tab at a Fort Pierce, Fla., Walmart.
Walmart has admitted that employees did not properly handle a portion of the Khalil Mack Foundation’s donation.
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Mack, who is a Fort Pierce native, made $80,000 available for families during the giving season. A representative of the foundation allotted $60,000 for the layaway tab and $20,000 for store employees, according to company spokesperson Delia Garcia.
While Garcia could not discuss specifics, she said the company discovered through an internal investigation that the donation was not handled according to company guidelines.
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“We have determined the store did not handle the transaction in keeping with Walmart’s guidelines and have taken corrective action,” Garcia said in a statement shared with the Tribune.
The company did not immediately reveal the number of employees who benefited or how it planned to discipline them.
We have some wonderful News! If you have an active Holiday Layaway account at your local Ft. Pierce Wal-Mart, you... Posted by Walmart Fort Pierce on Friday, December 6, 2019
When Mack made the donation on Dec. 9 the Fort Pierce Walmart made a Facebook post thanking his foundation.
“We here at Walmart would like to thank the Khalil Mack Foundation for your generosity, and for making so many families happy for the holidays,” the Fort Pierce store posted. “Everyone is truly grateful for everything you have done for them!”
Mack’s foundation approached the Fort Pierce Walmart and asked to “be a secret Santa,” store manager Mathias Libardi told TCPalm.com at the time.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Brad Childress won’t be back with Matt Nagy and the Bears coaching staff in 2020

“ I ’ m never short of an opinion and he wouldn ’ t ask if he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ said last spring .
“ I don ’ t have any trouble saying anything to @ @ @ @ @ t have any trouble saying anything to me .
So I think there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ communication .
It ’ s refreshing sometimes .
When somebody may be telling you what @ @ @ @ @ somebody else might say , ‘ Eh , I don ’ t know about that @ @

As the Bears continue to make changes to their offensive coaching staff, Brad Childress has made it known he will not be returning to Halas Hall as part of Matt Nagy’s staff in 2020. Childress told the Cleveland Plain Dealer this week he will not be back.
Childress was a senior offensive assistant last season after serving in a consultant’s role for the Bears in 2018. He and Nagy grew close during their time together on Andy Reid’s staff with the Chiefs from 2013-17. Nagy has considered Childress a mentor and praised him as a valuable sounding board in the early stages of his time as an NFL head coach.
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“I’m never short of an opinion and he wouldn’t ask if he didn’t want one,” Childress said last spring. “I don’t have any trouble saying anything to him and he doesn’t have any trouble saying anything to me. So I think there’s a very clear line of communication. It’s refreshing sometimes. When somebody may be telling you what you want to hear, somebody else might say, ‘Eh, I don’t know about that.’
“But Matt’s always going to do what he wants to do. And it’s his program to do it with.”
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Now, though, the 63-year-old Childress will be moving on from Nagy and the Bears. Efforts to reach the longtime NFL coach Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Whether Childress resurfaces elsewhere in the league remains to be seen. But last spring, Childress noted he came out of retirement after two years in part because he wanted to be a resource for Nagy, but also because a role with the Bears allowed him to be closer to his elderly parents and in-laws in the Aurora area.
Childress’ departure is the latest development in the ongoing reshuffling at Halas Hall. Two days after finishing an 8-8 third-place season that was derailed by offensive ineptitude and inconsistency, the Bears fired three offensive coaches, parting ways with coordinator Mark Helfrich, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride.
Nagy has since hired replacements, uniting with new coordinator Bill Lazor, offensive line coach Juan Castillo and tight ends coach Clancy Barone.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Robin Ventura, former White Sox player and manager, returns to Oklahoma State as student assistant f

Robin Ventura, former White Sox player and manager, returns to Oklahoma State as student assistant for the baseball team

“ Robin Ventura will enhance the lives of our players — his experiences inside the game of baseball as a @ @ @ @ @ player and major league manager provide rare and unique perspective to all of us inside @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
`` When Robin expressed interest in coming back and finishing @ @ @ @ @ coaching staff , it was exciting .
In addition to being an amazing player , @ @ @ @ @ , teammate and leader who understands people and what a successful organization is all about @ @ @ @ @ and has a love for OSU that led him back to campus .

Former White Sox player and manager Robin Ventura is headed back to Oklahoma State.
Ventura will serve as a student assistant for the baseball team, the school announced Tuesday. Ventura starred at Oklahoma State from 1986-88.
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“I’m really excited to do this,” Ventura said in a statement. “For me, I could do quite a few things, but Oklahoma State and Cowboy baseball is special. I wanted to do and be somewhere that meant a lot to me, not just the baseball part — I love baseball and coaching and being a part of that — but being at Oklahoma State adds an extra layer of specialness to me.
“The people here are family to me, this place means a lot to me and the program means a lot to me. All of it came together with Josh’s (Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday) help and Josh’s wishes and being with this staff and guys who I’ve known a long time makes it very exciting to be back here.”
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The greatest hitter in college baseball history returns to the Cowboy ⚾ dugout ➡ https://t.co/GYbtuGzbF6 #GoPokes #okstate pic.twitter.com/X4pZH1QkCS — Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) January 14, 2020
“I kind of pinch myself because it’s a lucky spot that I’m in right now. This place is very special to a lot of people.” — Robin Ventura, on returning to #okstate as a student assistant pic.twitter.com/Atx1dvLgpD — Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) January 14, 2020
Ventura was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State. He holds school career records in batting average (.428), hits (329) and runs (300) and is second in doubles (71), home runs (68), total bases (608), RBIs (302) and slugging percentage (.792). He had a Division I-record 58-game hitting streak in 1987. In 1988, he won the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.
The Sox selected Ventura with the 10th overall pick in the 1988 draft.
He played parts of 16 years in the majors, including 10 with the Sox (1989-98). He won five of his six Gold Glove Awards as the third baseman for the Sox.
Ventura later had a 375-435 record in five seasons as the Sox manager (2012-16).
“Robin Ventura will enhance the lives of our players — his experiences inside the game of baseball as a college player, major league player and major league manager provide rare and unique perspective to all of us inside the program,” Holliday said in a statement. "When Robin expressed interest in coming back and finishing his degree and joining our coaching staff, it was exciting. In addition to being an amazing player, Robin is an amazing person, teammate and leader who understands people and what a successful organization is all about. He brings people together and has a love for OSU that led him back to campus.
"What a statement about the value of finishing your degree and giving back to the school that helped launch your career.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Bears greats Gary Fencik and Doug Plank reflect on their hard-hitting careers and talk concussions,

Bears greats Gary Fencik and Doug Plank reflect on their hard-hitting careers and talk concussions, CTE and more

“ I remember one time in Green Bay , I got hit by a pulling guard , ” Plank said @ @ @ @ @ was electrocuted .
...
I couldn ’ t turn my body .
That is when @ @ @ @ @ is the beginning of the end.
’ ...
Your body is screaming and saying : @ @ @ @ @ field .
I can ’ t take this anymore .
’ ”

Gary Fencik and Doug Plank played with abandon as hard-hitting Bears safeties in the 1970s and ’80s.
They didn’t think much about their long-term health in those days, but they reflected on their violent careers and discussed concussions, CTE and post-football life in a video posted Tuesday by The Players’ Tribune.
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The @ChicagoBears’ “Hit Men,” Gary Fencik and Doug Plank, talk concussions, CTE, and the long-term effects of an NFL career.
🎥: https://t.co/T0rhIOUWKJ pic.twitter.com/Av3pRYeREv — The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 14, 2020
“I remember one time in Green Bay, I got hit by a pulling guard,” Plank said. “I thought I was electrocuted. ... I couldn’t turn my body. That is when I thought, ‘This is the beginning of the end.’ ... Your body is screaming and saying: ‘Get me off the field. I can’t take this anymore.’ ”
Fencik could relate: “When you find out ... it’s like an on-off switch. I think I’m switched off and I can’t go back on.”
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Fencik, 65, played 12 seasons for the Bears from 1976 to ’87. The two-time Pro Bowler was No. 39 in the Tribune’s ranking of the 100 best Bears players ever.
Plank, 66, played from 1975 to ’82, his career cut short by injury. Buddy Ryan named the famed 46 defense after Plank’s jersey number, and Plank was No. 82 on the best Bears list.
Plank acknowledged he suffered multiple concussions playing football, starting in junior high. He said to deal with concussions while with the Bears, he would take “a ton of aspirins” before games and put smelling salts in his socks and pants.
Referring to their style of play and history of concussions, Fencik said: “Let’s put it this way, Doug, if either one of us gets CTE, nobody’s going to go: ‘Really? Really? What a shock.’ ”
In 2015, Fencik agreed to donate his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation. He made that decision after learning of the health problems of former teammates, including Dave Duerson, who committed suicide at 50 and was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease.
“I’m happy to hopefully be a positive for someone who did play for 12 years," Fencik said, "and really hope that will lead to better research and hopefully some solutions.”
Plank said knowing what he knows now, he wouldn’t let children under 11 play tackle football.
“The NFL could be such a great leader on this issue,” Fencik said, “and instead it’s the head in the sand.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Review: Michelin-winning chef nails okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) at Gaijin in the West Loop

Yet , at Gaijin in the West Loop he has created a restaurant devoted to okonomiyaki , the infinitely customizable @ @ @ @ @ those unfamiliar , the dish starts with a base made mostly of eggs , cabbage @ @ @ @ @ called a mountain yam ) .
Thanks to that last ingredient , the interior has @ @ @ @ @ texture , close to an underdone custard .
To this base can be added essentially @ @ @ @ @ seafood or other vegetable imaginable .
Regardless of your choice , each one is brushed @ @ @ @ @ dark mixture that balances sweet and savory , and squirted with an intricate web of @ @ @ @ @ the umami profile .
The final flourish is a handful of bonito flakes that , @ @ @ @ @ the dish , wave and curl in front of you like sentient ribbons .
Each @ @ @ @ @ , savory and slightly sweet .
“ It ’ s a super popular comfort food @ @ @ @ @ says Virant over the phone .

Paul Virant opening a Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant is a bit like if Rick Bayless decided to try his hand at Polish pierogi — both surprising and off brand.
Virant made his name as a proud supporter of Midwest cuisine and its ingredients. At Vistro in Hinsdale and Vie in Western Springs (where he won a Michelin star in 2011 and 2012) he proudly serves American cuisine with a strong farm-to-table ethos. His cookbook, “The Preservation Kitchen,” explains how to pickle peak Midwest produce.
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Yet, at Gaijin in the West Loop he has created a restaurant devoted to okonomiyaki, the infinitely customizable griddled Japanese pancake. For those unfamiliar, the dish starts with a base made mostly of eggs, cabbage and grated nagaimo (sometimes called a mountain yam). Thanks to that last ingredient, the interior has a viscous, almost gooey texture, close to an underdone custard. To this base can be added essentially any kind of meat, seafood or other vegetable imaginable. Regardless of your choice, each one is brushed with okonomiyaki sauce, a dark mixture that balances sweet and savory, and squirted with an intricate web of mayo, further amping up the umami profile. The final flourish is a handful of bonito flakes that, thanks to the heat of the dish, wave and curl in front of you like sentient ribbons. Each bite is warm and creamy, savory and slightly sweet. “It’s a super popular comfort food dish in Japan,” says Virant over the phone.
But it’s quite rare to find it in Chicago, as I found after a week of mostly fruitless searching. This led to a genuine issue: How do you review a restaurant serving a dish you haven’t eaten often? I made okonomiyaki at home a few times, even successfully tracking down some nagaimo (thanks, H Mart!), but felt only slightly closer to understanding the dish. I needed help.
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The okonomiyaki focus represents a departure for chef/owner Paul Virant, whose Vistro and Vie restaurants serve American cuisine with a strong farm-to-table ethos. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
One of the few places serving okonomiyaki in the city is Izakaya Mita (1960 N. Damen Ave.), which dishes out an excellent version stuffed with plump shrimp and crab. This led me to invite co-owner Brian Mita to Gaijin to subtly bombard him with as many questions as possible. (This means I threw off all hopes of anonymity. Even if I’d worn a wig, Virant knew Mita, and gave him an industry discount for our check, which I paid.) Also, since Mita’s father emigrated from Japan, I thought we could have a conversation about cultural appropriation in the restaurant industry.
Virant is certainly not the first white guy to open a Japanese restaurant. But as issues of cultural appropriation have popped up in recent years, and a few people online have questioned Gaijin in particular, I thought it would be better to discuss the topic openly rather than pretend it doesn’t exist.
Mita notes how it’s especially tricky for an immigrant’s kid to deal with cultural appropriation, a fact that he and other Asian American chefs in Chicago discuss often. “As an immigrant American, you’re in a gray area,” says Mita. “I’m a Japanese/Chinese person who grew up in the suburbs. I’ve always been kind of an outsider.” But when he sees a chef serve a dish from another cuisine without trying to understand it, and then profit off it, that can be immensely frustrating. “I believe it comes down to love,” says Mita. “If the chef is genuinely honoring an experience, than I’m all for it. But to honor a tradition, that’s a lifelong passion.”
The octopus okonomiyaki arrives drizzled with hot sauce and honey gastrique. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
When planning the restaurant, Virant knew that he had to be sensitive. In what seemed like a preemptive strike, he picked the name Gaijin because it means foreigner in Japanese. “I’m white and my business partner (Lance Richards) is black,” says Virant. “We are definitely outsiders. But we are trying to do this with the utmost respect, both for the food and culture of Japan.”
Although Virant wasn’t born in Japan, he does have a history with okonomiyaki. His wife, Jennifer Virant, spent a college semester in Japan, where she fell in love with the dish. When the couple first started dating in 1996, she convinced him to try making it. After a lot of practice, okonomiyaki became something of a family staple. “My kids have had it ever since they were little,” says Virant. “They’ll ask for me to make it for their friends.”
One thing I didn’t know about the dish? Watching someone make okonomiyaki is mesmerizing. The best seats at Gaijin are at the counter facing the enormous griddle that runs along the side of the long space. There you get a front row view of chefs in constant motion, mixing ingredients, pouring batter onto the griddle and flipping food. “The show of okonomiyaki at Gaijin was everything I wanted,” Mita says later.
Gaijin serves a few kinds of okonomiyaki. The most popular is Osaka-style, in which all the ingredients are mixed together. The crunchy tempura-fried shrimp ($16) provides a nice textural contrast to the soft base, while the slow-cooked beef ($13) adds an even deeper savory note to each bite. I loved the tender octopus ($16), which also arrives drizzled with hot sauce and honey gastrique. Each okonomiyaki is about as wide as a Neapolitan pizza and three times as thick, making it a hearty and surprisingly affordable option for this pricey stretch of the West Loop. If you’re looking to sample more than one, you can go with the flight ($22) that includes three smaller versions on a platter.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki differs in that the elements are cooked separately and then stacked. You'll also get an additional layer of stir-fried yakisoba noodles tossed in the middle. The traditional ($16) also includes thick slabs of juicy pork belly.
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While okonomiyaki is the focus, Gaijin does serve a few other dishes. I can vouch for the warming bowl of spicy miso soup ($6) and the crudite plate ($6), which features artfully cut vegetables with a savory shiro-miso dip. Also worth trying is the crunchy beef korokke ($7), similar to a French croquette, filled with a hearty and aromatic Japanese-style curry. Shared plates include three kinds of yakisoba, stir-fried noodles. But you’re here mostly for the okonomiyaki, so don’t feel bad if you don’t stray too far.
That is, until dessert. Gaijin’s other specialty is kakigori, a Japanese style of shaved ice so light and delicate the kitchen rightly refers to it in terms of freshly fallen snow. This snow cap rests atop house-made ice cream by Angelyne Canicosa, Gaijin’s pastry chef. I liked the sesame yuzu ($13), which features a base of black sesame ice cream topped with yuzu syrup, strawberry compote and a crunchy honey sesame brittle. But my favorite is the gaijin ($11), which features a gooey butter cake ice cream — a nod to Virant’s St. Louis roots — with sweet caramelized apples and cider syrup. Just know that you might need a partner to tackle one of these towering desserts.
As you’d expect, the drinks put together by beverage director Julius White Jr. focus mostly on Japanese favorites. That includes an impressive sake menu, and a collection of highball cocktails. You can also find a Gaijin lager produced by Chicago brewery Moody Tongue.
Talking to Mita later on the phone, he notes that he and his mom, who co-owns Izakaya Mita with him, are happy that someone is bringing okonomiyaki to a broader audience in Chicago. “It’s very nice that a Michelin-starred chef is tackling the dish,” says Mita. “That’s very flattering to me and my mom. Virant has a sensitivity to the cuisine. I think he nailed it.”
Virant’s last trip to Japan was in 2018, but he’s plotting to return as soon as possible. “I’m dying to go back,” says Virant. “With this restaurant, now I have to go back at least once a year.”
nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com
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Gaijin
950 W. Lake St.
312-265-1348
Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
gaijinchicago.com
Tribune rating: ★ ★ ★
Open: Lunch and dinner daily
Prices: $5 to $11 appetizers, $12 to $16 entrees
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Noise: Conversation friendly at lunch, louder at dinner
Ratings key: ★ ★ ★ ★ outstanding; ★ ★ ★ excellent; ★ ★ very good; ★ good; no stars: unsatisfactory. The reviewer makes every effort to remain anonymous. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Cubs make 2 minor-league pitching coach changes

Charlie Haeger , who pitched for the White Sox during parts of the 2006-07 seasons , takes over as the @ @ @ @ @ .
Haeger , 36 , a knuckleball specialist who pitched for five seasons with the @ @ @ @ @ , last served as the assistant pitching coordinator for the Rays .

The Cubs made two pitching coach changes in their minor-league department on Tuesday.
Ron Villone, a former major league left-hander who served the last four seasons as the minor-league pitching rehab coordinator, takes over as the pitching coach at Triple-A Iowa.
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This marks Villone’s ninth season in the Cubs organization after pitching for at least parts of 15 seasons with 12 teams.
Charlie Haeger, who pitched for the White Sox during parts of the 2006-07 seasons, takes over as the pitching coach at Double-A Tennessee. Haeger, 36, a knuckleball specialist who pitched for five seasons with the Sox, Padres and Dodgers, last served as the assistant pitching coordinator for the Rays.
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Haeger will work under new manager Michael Ryan, who spent the last three seasons as manager for the Pirates’ Double-A Altoona affiliate.
Will Remillard moves from Tennessee to Iowa as the assistant hitting coach.
Seven managers return to their same teams as last season, led by Iowa manager Marty Pevey.
Former Lipscomb pitching coach James Ogden was hired as coordinator of pitching performance.
In medical news, Shane Wallen takes over as the head strength/conditioning coach. Wallen replaces Tim Buss, who left to join Joe Maddon and the Angels as a quality assurance coach.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--‘Windy City Rehab’ host wants homeowner lawsuit dismissed in favor of mediation

Lynch also said that he told the Morrisseys ’ attorney Tuesday that Gramenos has expressed interest in buying back the @ @ @ @ @ loves the house and the neighborhood and would be happy to live in the house @ @ @ @ @ , the Morrisseys said they wanted to return the home for $ 1.44 million to @ @ @ @ @ home plus fixes they said they paid for .

Home at 2308 W. Giddings St. in the Lincoln Square neighborhood involved in a lawsuit related to the team behind the popular HGTV series “Windy City Rehab.” (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Attorneys for “Windy City Rehab” host Alison Victoria Gramenos are asking a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a North Side couple unhappy with their home purchase so the issues can be worked out with a mediator. Gramenos has also expressed interest in buying back the home herself.
Gramenos attorney Daniel Lynch and an attorney for homebuyers James and Anna Morrissey appeared briefly in court Tuesday to set a schedule for the case. The Morrisseys’ attorney declined to comment.
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Gramenos’ attorneys argue that the purchase and sale agreement for the home at 2308 W. Giddings St. in the Lincoln Square neighborhood require the Morrisseys to bring any disputes “to mediation as a condition precedent to bringing litigation,” according to paperwork filed last week. The Morrisseys did not engage a mediator before suing Gramenos and her contractors Donovan Eckhardt and Ermin Pajazetovic last month over alleged problems with their roof, windows, exterior wall masonry and an upstairs hallway bathroom, according to Gramenos’ attorneys.
“As you learned from reviewing the Motion to Dismiss, the parties’ contract required the Morrisseys to seek the formal assistance of a mediator before going to court. The Morrisseys disregarded their contractual promise and filed a lawsuit anyway. We have asked the Court to enforce the contract,” Lynch said in an email Tuesday.
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Lynch also said that he told the Morrisseys’ attorney Tuesday that Gramenos has expressed interest in buying back the Giddings home “because she loves the house and the neighborhood and would be happy to live in the house herself.” In their lawsuit, the Morrisseys said they wanted to return the home for $1.44 million to cover the cost of the home plus fixes they said they paid for.
The home, which sold for $1.36 million, was featured on the first season of “Windy City Rehab,” an HGTV show that follows Gramenos and her team as they flip homes around Chicago. The show has been popular since Season 1 premiered in January 2019, and a second season is expected to premiere this summer even as Gramenos and her team ran into trouble with the city over a slew of alleged permit violations.
Work was temporarily stopped at some properties, and the city is bringing civil action over four properties it deemed had “dangerous and unsafe conditions.” A hearing on those four cases is scheduled for next month in Cook County court.
tswartz@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Budget airline Allegiant starts flights from Chicago in May

“ There is a lot of leisure demand for cities that are regional destinations , and this route expansion will @ @ @ @ @ , ” Drew Wells , Allegiant ’ s vice president of planning and revenue , @ @ @ @ @ .

Alllegiant Air will start seasonal service to Chicago in May (Conor Ralph / Associated Press)
Budget airline Allegiant Air is landing in Chicago, with flights to six cities.
Flights between Midway International Airport and Allentown, Pennsylvania; Des Moines, Iowa; Savannah, Georgia; Asheville, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee, will start in May. Allegiant will add flights between Chicago and Destin, Florida, in June.
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Seasonal flights between Chicago and all six cities will run twice a week.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant, which focuses on price-conscious leisure travelers, said the Chicago flights are among 44 new routes, the largest expansion in the airline’s history.
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One-way flights start as low as $33 on the new Chicago routes, though that doesn’t include added fees for perks like snacks and drinks or carry-on or checked luggage beyond a small personal item.
“There is a lot of leisure demand for cities that are regional destinations, and this route expansion will address some of that need,” Drew Wells, Allegiant’s vice president of planning and revenue, said in a news release.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Sign up for the Tribune’s free midday business newsletter at chicagotribune.com/workinglunch.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Yu Darvish jokingly awaits Dodgers’ 2017 World Series parade in the wake of Astros sign-stealing pen

Yu Darvish jokingly awaits Dodgers’ 2017 World Series parade in the wake of Astros sign-stealing penalties

After the Astros were assessed with record penalties Monday for sign-stealing in the 2017 and 2018 seasons — which included @ @ @ @ @ against Darvish and the Dodgers — Darvish tweeted : “ If the Dodgers are planning @ @ @ @ @ , I would love to join !
So if that is the in the works @ @ @ @ @ Yu Garbage Jersey for me ?
”

Yu Darvish suffered two of his toughest losses with the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, but the Cubs pitcher didn’t lose his sense of humor.
After the Astros were assessed with record penalties Monday for sign-stealing in the 2017 and 2018 seasons — which included their 2017 World Series title against Darvish and the Dodgers — Darvish tweeted: “If the Dodgers are planning a 2017 World Series parade, I would love to join! So if that is the in the works, can someone make a Yu Garbage Jersey for me?”
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If the Dodgers are planning a 2017 World Series parade, I would love to join! So if that is in the works, can someone make a Yu Garbage Jersey for me? — ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) January 14, 2020
The Astros fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow on Monday after Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended both men for the entire 2020 season over the sign-stealing scandal. The Astros also were fined $5 million and will forfeit their next two first- and second-round draft picks.
After allowing only two earned runs and striking out 14 in 11⅓ innings in victories over the Diamondbacks and Cubs in the 2017 National League playoffs, Darvish was tagged for eight earned runs in 3⅓ innings in two World Series losses to the Astros.
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That included a Game 3 loss in which he was charged with four earned runs on six hits in 1⅔ innings at Minute Maid Park — where the Astros were found to have stolen signs with the help of a center-field camera.
About a month after the World Series, an unidentified Astros player told Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated that Darvish was tipping his pitches.
It’s uncertain how much the World Series debacle affected Darvish’s free-agent value. The Cubs signed him to a six-year, $126 million contract shortly before spring training in 2018.
Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow also experienced a rough outing for the Dodgers in that series in Game 5 at Minute Maid Park, allowing four runs on four hits (including two home runs) without retiring a batter in a 13-12 loss.


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--In a first for Illinois, transgender man who gave birth will be listed as the father on his baby’s b

In a first for Illinois, transgender man who gave birth will be listed as the father on his baby’s birth certificate

Myles and Precious , a communications manager for the Sierra Club , met in 2014 , started dating a year @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
To have biological children , they had to go off their gender-reinforcing hormones @ @ @ @ @ both of them .
An egg from Myles ’ body was fertilized with sperm from @ @ @ @ @ ’ uterus via IVF .
Myles is one of maybe a few thousand transgender men @ @ @ @ @ .

Myles Brady Davis was about 20 weeks pregnant when he learned that he would be listed as the mother on his baby’s birth certificate.
Although Myles, who is transgender, identifies as masculine, he was the one carrying the baby — and according to the state of Illinois, that made him the mom. To make matters worse, Myles’ wife, Precious, who is also transgender, would be listed as the father.
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“It was so crazy,” said Myles, 38, of Chicago. “I never even thought the birth certificate would have to misgender us in that way.”
Precious and Myles, the communications director for Equality Illinois, reported the problem to his employer and reached out to the LGBTQ rights group Lambda Legal, which sent the state an advocacy letter, explaining the need for an accurate birth certificate. It was the first time the state had been informed of a transgender live birth, and officials agreed that the Brady Davises should not be misgendered on the birth certificate, according to Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Melaney Arnold.
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Two weeks after their healthy baby girl, Zayn, was born in early December, the Brady Davises learned that they would get the birth certificate they wanted — with Myles listed as the father and Precious as the mother. Arnold said via email that the birth certificate will be a first for Illinois, and the state is working to make accurate gender identification a permanent option easily available to all transgender parents.
“I feel so relieved,” said Myles. “I’d gone through two years of (in vitro fertilization) and nine months of a very difficult pregnancy just to be misgendered at the end. It was really breaking my heart.”
A misgendered birth certificate can threaten a transgender person’s safety, according to Lambda Legal staff attorney Kara Ingelhart. Birth certificates are routinely used as identity documents during childhood, and bringing a misgendered one to preschool enrollment or baseball registration can out the parents as transgender, potentially exposing them to hostility, discrimination or even violence.
“It also just removes the choice to decide when or how to disclose their transgender status,” Ingelhart said. “That’s private medical and personal information that they should have control over.”
Myles and Precious, a communications manager for the Sierra Club, met in 2014, started dating a year later and got married in 2016. To have biological children, they had to go off their gender-reinforcing hormones, which was difficult for both of them. An egg from Myles’ body was fertilized with sperm from Precious and implanted in Myles’ uterus via IVF. Myles is one of maybe a few thousand transgender men worldwide who have gotten pregnant.
Myles gave birth to Zayn in early December at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago.
“It was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in my life,” Precious, 34, said of the birth of her daughter.
Myles and Precious said that they’re thrilled to be parents and that Zayn is, for the most part, an easy baby. She’s vocal when she needs something, but otherwise she’s very contented and mellow.
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“I’ve literally been floating on cloud nine,” said Myles. “I can’t stop holding my baby. I can’t stop staring at her. It’s such a great feeling.”
The Brady Davises are already talking about having more children, and Myles is looking forward to another milestone as well:
“I can’t wait to tell my daughter the story of how we went about getting her birth certificate,” he said. “That Precious and I were the first ones to bring this to (the state’s) attention, and how the state stood behind us, and how they’re changing their policy, and that the state of Illinois stands behind all of their citizens and respects their humanity.”
nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-14--Struggling Sears settles lawsuit with retailer’s bankrupt estate for $18M, but still faces layoffs,

Struggling Sears settles lawsuit with retailer’s bankrupt estate for $18M, but still faces layoffs, store closures

The iconic Hoffman Estates-based retailer sought bankruptcy protection in October 2018 and has continued to struggle since its sale to @ @ @ @ @ plans to close about a third of its remaining Sears and Kmart stores in November @ @ @ @ @ planned to lay off 195 employees in its headquarters and other field offices by Jan. @ @ @ @ @ filing with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity .

A 2011 file photo shows the entrance to Sears Holdings Corp. in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The Sears bankruptcy estate has agreed to settle a lawsuit over the $5.2 billion sale of its Sears and Kmart chains to former chairman and CEO Edward Lampert. (The Associated Press)
The estate of bankrupt Sears Holdings has agreed to settle a lawsuit over the $5.2 billion sale of its Sears and Kmart chains to former chairman and CEO Edward Lampert for about $18.3 million.
Lampert and his hedge fund formed a new company, Transform Holdco, to buy most of Sears’ remaining assets, including 425 stores, last year. Disputes between Sears and Transform over certain terms of the sale “arose before the ink even dried on the contract,” according to a motion filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York on Friday.
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Sears claimed Transform failed to turn over about $57.5 million while Transform alleged Sears didn’t deliver inventory it was promised as part of the sale, among other disputes, according to a court filing describing the settlement.
Transform, the current owner of the Sears and Kmart chains, agreed to pay the department store’s estate about $18.3 million, including about $13 million in cash. Those funds could go to creditors who weren’t fully repaid after the company’s bankruptcy.
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The iconic Hoffman Estates-based retailer sought bankruptcy protection in October 2018 and has continued to struggle since its sale to Transform. The company announced plans to close about a third of its remaining Sears and Kmart stores in November and told the state it planned to lay off 195 employees in its headquarters and other field offices by Jan. 25, according to the filing with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
There were 278 Sears and Kmart stores at the start of the holiday season, but 96 are expected to close by February, including Sears stores in West Dundee and Peoria.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com