By Monday morning, nine people already had been shot and killed in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, making it the deadliest one since 2015. The dead are among at least 39 people shot from Friday afternoon to early Monday evening, according to Chicago police and data kept by the Tribune. Advertisement With another night to go in the long weekend, the number of shootings was already close to 2019′s total despite the coronavirus stay-at-home order, Saturday’s severe storms and added police patrols. Three teenagers were among those shot, among them 16-year-old Darnell Fisher, who was fatally...…By Monday morning, nine people already had been shot and killed in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, making it the deadliest one since 2015. The dead are among at least 39 people shot from Friday afternoon to early Monday evening, according to Chicago police and data kept by the Tribune. Advertisement With another night to go in the long weekend, the number of shootings was already close to 2019′s total despite the coronavirus stay-at-home order, Saturday’s severe storms and added police patrols. Three teenagers were among those shot, among them 16-year-old Darnell Fisher, who was fatally...WW…

President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state’s Democratic governor doesn’t immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. about the upcoming RNC in Charlotte come two days after North Carolina’s largest daily increase in virus cases yet. Advertisement On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper moved the state into a second reopening phase by loosening restrictions on hair salons, barbers and restaurants. But he said the state must move cautiously, and he kept indoor...…President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state’s Democratic governor doesn’t immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. about the upcoming RNC in Charlotte come two days after North Carolina’s largest daily increase in virus cases yet. Advertisement On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper moved the state into a second reopening phase by loosening restrictions on hair salons, barbers and restaurants. But he said the state must move cautiously, and he kept indoor...WW…

Illinois legislators late Saturday night overwhelmingly approved a measure aimed at helping bars and restaurants who’ve been forced to close for dine-in service during the pandemic. The bill would allow establishments to sell cocktails for pickup and delivery in sealed containers. Third-party services like Grubhub and DoorDash would be prohibited from making cocktail deliveries. Advertisement The measure, which was approved unanimously in the Senate and by a 104-6 margin in the House, also extends liquor licenses for 120 days and delays license fees for six months after restaurants and bars...…Illinois legislators late Saturday night overwhelmingly approved a measure aimed at helping bars and restaurants who’ve been forced to close for dine-in service during the pandemic. The bill would allow establishments to sell cocktails for pickup and delivery in sealed containers. Third-party services like Grubhub and DoorDash would be prohibited from making cocktail deliveries. Advertisement The measure, which was approved unanimously in the Senate and by a 104-6 margin in the House, also extends liquor licenses for 120 days and delays license fees for six months after restaurants and bars...WW…

Two Chicago police officers suffered minor injuries while dispersing a large gathering Sunday night on the South Side, according to Chicago police. Officers responded to the call to disperse the crowd about 9:45 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. One officer saw a man holding a gun and began to chase the man. The man was taken into custody shortly after and a handgun was recovered. Advertisement Afterward, shots were fired nearby and a second man was taken into custody, police said. A handgun was recovered. During the incident, two...…Two Chicago police officers suffered minor injuries while dispersing a large gathering Sunday night on the South Side, according to Chicago police. Officers responded to the call to disperse the crowd about 9:45 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, police said. One officer saw a man holding a gun and began to chase the man. The man was taken into custody shortly after and a handgun was recovered. Advertisement Afterward, shots were fired nearby and a second man was taken into custody, police said. A handgun was recovered. During the incident, two...WW…

May 24The next time you come across a real supermarket find — stacked crates of fabric softener with a hand-lettered "Clearance Sale" sign taped to the front — don't feel so smug. You're being played. Despite its appearance — the slightly amateurish-looking sign, its location sort of blocking an aisle — that display wasn't hurriedly set up by some overworked stock boy. It is part of a plan. "Nothing in the store is by accident. Everything is by design," said Paco Underhill, founder and CEO of Envirosell, a retail-focused research and consulting firm in New York. Underhill is a pioneer in...…May 24The next time you come across a real supermarket find — stacked crates of fabric softener with a hand-lettered "Clearance Sale" sign taped to the front — don't feel so smug. You're being played. Despite its appearance — the slightly amateurish-looking sign, its location sort of blocking an aisle — that display wasn't hurriedly set up by some overworked stock boy. It is part of a plan. "Nothing in the store is by accident. Everything is by design," said Paco Underhill, founder and CEO of Envirosell, a retail-focused research and consulting firm in New York. Underhill is a pioneer in...WW…

A century of racist attacks detailed in the new PBS documentary series might have felt like ancient history just a few months ago. But through the lens of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in China and is now hitting the U.S., being painted as a foreign enemy has become all too familiar. Hundreds of Asian Americans have reported verbal and physical assaults since the nation's first infections surfaced in January. Even in cities with large Asian communities, people have hurled century-old slurs like “Chinaman." Advertisement Daniel Dae Kim, a Korean American actor known for TV's...…A century of racist attacks detailed in the new PBS documentary series might have felt like ancient history just a few months ago. But through the lens of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in China and is now hitting the U.S., being painted as a foreign enemy has become all too familiar. Hundreds of Asian Americans have reported verbal and physical assaults since the nation's first infections surfaced in January. Even in cities with large Asian communities, people have hurled century-old slurs like “Chinaman." Advertisement Daniel Dae Kim, a Korean American actor known for TV's...WW…

The Illinois General Assembly passed a maintenance-level $40 billion state budget Saturday night and early Sunday that would rely heavily on federal funding to close a gaping pandemic-driven deficit. The spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1 is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk after a party-line vote in the Senate just before 1 a.m. Sunday. Advertisement The Senate voted 37-19 just before to adopt the spending plan for the coming year, with all Republican opposing the budget. “We made a choice not to present a budget to this chamber that slashes the state budget at a time...…The Illinois General Assembly passed a maintenance-level $40 billion state budget Saturday night and early Sunday that would rely heavily on federal funding to close a gaping pandemic-driven deficit. The spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1 is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk after a party-line vote in the Senate just before 1 a.m. Sunday. Advertisement The Senate voted 37-19 just before to adopt the spending plan for the coming year, with all Republican opposing the budget. “We made a choice not to present a budget to this chamber that slashes the state budget at a time...WW…

One of the worst ideas in modern Chicago policing may make a comeback under new Superintendent David Brown. Credit Brown for at least knowing the history, and giving the notorious strategy an enlightened twist. The bad idea — a specialized, citywide anti-crime task force — sounds effective in theory because it appeals to the desperate desire of residents for safer streets. It goes like this: Gun violence is out of control. Gangs run amok. Beat cops have their hands full. So why not create a permanent task force to go after the most dangerous criminals? Give it a cryptic, military-style name...…One of the worst ideas in modern Chicago policing may make a comeback under new Superintendent David Brown. Credit Brown for at least knowing the history, and giving the notorious strategy an enlightened twist. The bad idea — a specialized, citywide anti-crime task force — sounds effective in theory because it appeals to the desperate desire of residents for safer streets. It goes like this: Gun violence is out of control. Gangs run amok. Beat cops have their hands full. So why not create a permanent task force to go after the most dangerous criminals? Give it a cryptic, military-style name...WW…

The city of Chicago is on pace to cautiously reopen and ease restrictions on certain activities in “early June,” with outdoor dining at restaurants, barbershops, non-lakefront park buildings and libraries slated to resume limited business, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday. But the mayor declined to announce specific rules for industries that might be allowed to reopen, saying she would do so next week. Lightfoot also warned the city’s planning is tentative and depends on residents continuing to follow social distancing orders to prevent a spike in cases. Advertisement “If that surge...…The city of Chicago is on pace to cautiously reopen and ease restrictions on certain activities in “early June,” with outdoor dining at restaurants, barbershops, non-lakefront park buildings and libraries slated to resume limited business, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday. But the mayor declined to announce specific rules for industries that might be allowed to reopen, saying she would do so next week. Lightfoot also warned the city’s planning is tentative and depends on residents continuing to follow social distancing orders to prevent a spike in cases. Advertisement “If that surge...WW…

At least three people have died from COVID-19 in the senior citizens’ high-rise where Laura Brownlee lives, including a close friend she visited often. But the landlord has said nothing about them to residents, who are more vulnerable to the disease and might want to take extra precautions, like following the advice of city health experts and moving out of such housing when there’s a heightened risk. Advertisement “These are senior suites up in here, seems like someone should be coming in and testing everybody," Brownlee said by phone. “I’m already afraid it’s all over. And I don’t wanna go...…At least three people have died from COVID-19 in the senior citizens’ high-rise where Laura Brownlee lives, including a close friend she visited often. But the landlord has said nothing about them to residents, who are more vulnerable to the disease and might want to take extra precautions, like following the advice of city health experts and moving out of such housing when there’s a heightened risk. Advertisement “These are senior suites up in here, seems like someone should be coming in and testing everybody," Brownlee said by phone. “I’m already afraid it’s all over. And I don’t wanna go...WW…

“If you’d told me six months ago that the governor of Illinois would declare churches ‘nonessential’ and shut them down, while liquor stores are ‘essential’ and open, I’d have asked what blend of weed you were smoking,” Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society told me. What we’ve been smoking? Fear. It’s all been tightly rolled in the scraps of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. We’ve been inhaling deeply for months. Advertisement And the leaders of the lockdown party — Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot — are on the verge of losing control. Rookie...…“If you’d told me six months ago that the governor of Illinois would declare churches ‘nonessential’ and shut them down, while liquor stores are ‘essential’ and open, I’d have asked what blend of weed you were smoking,” Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society told me. What we’ve been smoking? Fear. It’s all been tightly rolled in the scraps of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. We’ve been inhaling deeply for months. Advertisement And the leaders of the lockdown party — Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot — are on the verge of losing control. Rookie...WW…

Cook County Board members narrowly approved a resolution Thursday to share addresses of COVID-19 patients with first responders, following an emotional debate about the measure’s intention to safeguard front-line workers versus fears it would violate individuals’ privacy and civil rights. Commissioners voted 9-7 with one member abstaining from the resolution, which would direct the Cook County Department of Public Health to disclose locations of those testing positive for the coronavirus with 911 dispatchers in suburban Cook County every day for two months. Advertisement While the measure...…Cook County Board members narrowly approved a resolution Thursday to share addresses of COVID-19 patients with first responders, following an emotional debate about the measure’s intention to safeguard front-line workers versus fears it would violate individuals’ privacy and civil rights. Commissioners voted 9-7 with one member abstaining from the resolution, which would direct the Cook County Department of Public Health to disclose locations of those testing positive for the coronavirus with 911 dispatchers in suburban Cook County every day for two months. Advertisement While the measure...WW…

Here’s what happened: Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub reprised his role as germophobe Adrian Monk for Peacock’s new quarantine web series -- before breaking the fourth wall to reveal he had COVID-19. On Monday's premiere episode of Peacock's "The At-Home Variety Show," Shalhoub got back into his "Monk" character to offer a glimpse of what the San Francisco detective has been up to amid the coronavirus crisis. Advertisement Monk’s quarantine activities include vigorously washing his hands, cleaning surfaces, wearing surgical gloves on his hands -- and feet -- and putting his produce in the...…Here’s what happened: Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub reprised his role as germophobe Adrian Monk for Peacock’s new quarantine web series -- before breaking the fourth wall to reveal he had COVID-19. On Monday's premiere episode of Peacock's "The At-Home Variety Show," Shalhoub got back into his "Monk" character to offer a glimpse of what the San Francisco detective has been up to amid the coronavirus crisis. Advertisement Monk’s quarantine activities include vigorously washing his hands, cleaning surfaces, wearing surgical gloves on his hands -- and feet -- and putting his produce in the...WW…

The Obama Presidential Center was originally slated to be completed in 2021, but after nearly four years of legal challenges, design changes and federal review, there’s still no date to even put a shovel in the ground. One of those issues will come to a head on Thursday when a federal appeals court hears arguments in a lawsuit over the planned South Side site of the $500 million, four-building campus in Jackson Park. Advertisement It is that location on park land that is at the heart of the legal fight. The community group Protect Our Parks contend in the suit that the city illegally handed...…The Obama Presidential Center was originally slated to be completed in 2021, but after nearly four years of legal challenges, design changes and federal review, there’s still no date to even put a shovel in the ground. One of those issues will come to a head on Thursday when a federal appeals court hears arguments in a lawsuit over the planned South Side site of the $500 million, four-building campus in Jackson Park. Advertisement It is that location on park land that is at the heart of the legal fight. The community group Protect Our Parks contend in the suit that the city illegally handed...WW…

The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka’s restaurant on Chicago’s Gold Coast. Ditka’s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease. Advertisement "We have made the extremely difficult decision to close our Chicago restaurant due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and the short term left on our lease," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to pursue future opportunities to open restaurants in Chicago and other locations."...…The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka’s restaurant on Chicago’s Gold Coast. Ditka’s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease. Advertisement "We have made the extremely difficult decision to close our Chicago restaurant due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and the short term left on our lease," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to pursue future opportunities to open restaurants in Chicago and other locations."...WW…

The Chicago Teachers Union is suing President Donald Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, as well Chicago Public Schools, over their handling of special education during the coronavirus pandemic. The suit prompted a sharply worded rebuke from DeVos’ office that the union is “making excuses” for its own failures. Advertisement CTU contends that the federal government and CPS have provided inadequate resources and guidance for the shift to remote learning, creating an “impossible burden” for special education students, parents and teachers. In particular, the union takes issue with...…The Chicago Teachers Union is suing President Donald Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, as well Chicago Public Schools, over their handling of special education during the coronavirus pandemic. The suit prompted a sharply worded rebuke from DeVos’ office that the union is “making excuses” for its own failures. Advertisement CTU contends that the federal government and CPS have provided inadequate resources and guidance for the shift to remote learning, creating an “impossible burden” for special education students, parents and teachers. In particular, the union takes issue with...WW…

What did Craig Fite know and when did he know it? Chicago got some answers on the “poisoned pizza” front, and they were about as satisfying as the extra-pepperoni thin crust Michael Jordan ordered the night before his in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Advertisement Fite outed himself on Facebook and then did a Tuesday night on KZNS-AM 1280 in Salt Lake City. Fite said he was the assistant manager of the Park City Pizza Hut that fed Jordan’s desires around 10 p.m. He said he washed his hands, personally constructed the pizza and hand-delivered it. Advertisement “I will make the pizza because...…What did Craig Fite know and when did he know it? Chicago got some answers on the “poisoned pizza” front, and they were about as satisfying as the extra-pepperoni thin crust Michael Jordan ordered the night before his in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Advertisement Fite outed himself on Facebook and then did a Tuesday night on KZNS-AM 1280 in Salt Lake City. Fite said he was the assistant manager of the Park City Pizza Hut that fed Jordan’s desires around 10 p.m. He said he washed his hands, personally constructed the pizza and hand-delivered it. Advertisement “I will make the pizza because...WW…

March 25: Visibly steamed, Mayor Lori Lightfoot for congregating along the lakefront. “What I’ve seen on the lakefront, way too many people gathering like it’s just another day. This is not just another day, and no day will be just another day until we are on the other side of this virus — which is weeks away,” she says, warning that she’ll shut down the lakefront if citizens don’t take the pandemic seriously. March 26: Lightfoot makes it clear that what she gives, she can take away. She the lakefront, along with the popular 606 trail on the Northwest Side, and the downtown Riverwalk. “We...…March 25: Visibly steamed, Mayor Lori Lightfoot for congregating along the lakefront. “What I’ve seen on the lakefront, way too many people gathering like it’s just another day. This is not just another day, and no day will be just another day until we are on the other side of this virus — which is weeks away,” she says, warning that she’ll shut down the lakefront if citizens don’t take the pandemic seriously. March 26: Lightfoot makes it clear that what she gives, she can take away. She the lakefront, along with the popular 606 trail on the Northwest Side, and the downtown Riverwalk. “We...WW…

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was officially disbarred on Monday, more than two months after a state panel recommended he lose his law licence due to his conviction in an array of brazen corruption schemes when he was in office. The one-paragraph order from the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the decision in March by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Advertisement “Respondent Rod R. Blagojevich is disbarred," it read. The move puts a period at the end of a not-so storied legal career that began when Blagojevich was a young Cook County assistant state’s attorney...…Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was officially disbarred on Monday, more than two months after a state panel recommended he lose his law licence due to his conviction in an array of brazen corruption schemes when he was in office. The one-paragraph order from the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the decision in March by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Advertisement “Respondent Rod R. Blagojevich is disbarred," it read. The move puts a period at the end of a not-so storied legal career that began when Blagojevich was a young Cook County assistant state’s attorney...WW…

The city will be fining churches that had more people than allowed under the statewide stay-at-home order, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday. Which ones specifically will be determined later today, Lightfoot said. Advertisement Over the past week, Lightfoot had been asking churches to abide by social distancing rules and warning that she would take action against churches that refused. But on Sunday, to attend church anyway and the mayor’s office warned that violators may be cited after review. Advertisement At an unrelated news conference to highlight coronavirus testing sites aimed...…The city will be fining churches that had more people than allowed under the statewide stay-at-home order, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday. Which ones specifically will be determined later today, Lightfoot said. Advertisement Over the past week, Lightfoot had been asking churches to abide by social distancing rules and warning that she would take action against churches that refused. But on Sunday, to attend church anyway and the mayor’s office warned that violators may be cited after review. Advertisement At an unrelated news conference to highlight coronavirus testing sites aimed...WW…

Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” was his creation despite copyright claims by a one-time collaborator who helped direct the first episode, an appeals court said Thursday. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled against writer Christian Charles in a five-paragraph written order upholding a decision by Judge Alison J. Nathan. Advertisement It concluded a case over a popular show that debuted in 2012, originating as an online streaming program that was distributed by Sony Pictures Television through Crackle before being sold to Netflix in 2017. Days ago,...…Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” was his creation despite copyright claims by a one-time collaborator who helped direct the first episode, an appeals court said Thursday. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled against writer Christian Charles in a five-paragraph written order upholding a decision by Judge Alison J. Nathan. Advertisement It concluded a case over a popular show that debuted in 2012, originating as an online streaming program that was distributed by Sony Pictures Television through Crackle before being sold to Netflix in 2017. Days ago,...WW…

Michael Jordan kept this inner circle small during his second stint with the Chicago Bulls, a necessity considering he was one of the most famous people in the world. Jordan allowed only select security guards to escort him in the arena, which included John Michael Wozniak, who stole the show in Episode 6 of the “The Last Dance” by beating Jordan in a game of quarters and following up with a Jordan shrug. Advertisement Jordan’s rapport with the workers has provided some of his most humanizing moments of the documentary so far. On Sunday another member of that detail will step into the...…Michael Jordan kept this inner circle small during his second stint with the Chicago Bulls, a necessity considering he was one of the most famous people in the world. Jordan allowed only select security guards to escort him in the arena, which included John Michael Wozniak, who stole the show in Episode 6 of the “The Last Dance” by beating Jordan in a game of quarters and following up with a Jordan shrug. Advertisement Jordan’s rapport with the workers has provided some of his most humanizing moments of the documentary so far. On Sunday another member of that detail will step into the...WW…

A glitch in a newly launched state system for processing unemployment claims for gig workers publicly exposed personal information, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday. The Illinois Department of Employment Security “is aware there was a glitch” in a new system for processing unemployment claims for independent contractors and the self-employed that “made some private information publicly available for a short time, and worked to immediately remedy the situation,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement. “A full investigation is underway to assess...…A glitch in a newly launched state system for processing unemployment claims for gig workers publicly exposed personal information, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday. The Illinois Department of Employment Security “is aware there was a glitch” in a new system for processing unemployment claims for independent contractors and the self-employed that “made some private information publicly available for a short time, and worked to immediately remedy the situation,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement. “A full investigation is underway to assess...WW…

Democrats demanded on Saturday that the White House hand over all records related to President Donald Trump's latest firing of a federal watchdog, this time at the State Department, and they suggested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was responsible, in what “may be an illegal act of retaliation.” "We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the President's gutting of these critical positions,'' the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote in a letter to the administration...…Democrats demanded on Saturday that the White House hand over all records related to President Donald Trump's latest firing of a federal watchdog, this time at the State Department, and they suggested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was responsible, in what “may be an illegal act of retaliation.” "We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the President's gutting of these critical positions,'' the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote in a letter to the administration...WW…

After weeks of , dentists in Illinois can now resume offering routine dental care, though there will be changes to office visits to limit the spread of COVID-19. Yet many dentists say they’re struggling to find adequate amid a national shortage — a potential roadblock to fully reopening. Advertisement “N95 masks and gowns are extremely hard to get, as are suitable face shields,” said , president of the Chicago Dental Society, who practices in north suburban Skokie. “We are all trying very hard to return to our patients, but we must do so safely, and we cannot do that without access to...…After weeks of , dentists in Illinois can now resume offering routine dental care, though there will be changes to office visits to limit the spread of COVID-19. Yet many dentists say they’re struggling to find adequate amid a national shortage — a potential roadblock to fully reopening. Advertisement “N95 masks and gowns are extremely hard to get, as are suitable face shields,” said , president of the Chicago Dental Society, who practices in north suburban Skokie. “We are all trying very hard to return to our patients, but we must do so safely, and we cannot do that without access to...WW…