Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.
Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.
This afternoon will be cloudy with a 50% chance of rain and a high near 75 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 63. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 78.
Top story
Mother prepares ‘final goodbye’ for 13-year-old son, one of the youngest victims of a violent weekend in Chicago
Patricia Deates went to the hospital today preparing to say a “final goodbye” to her 13-year-old son, one of the youngest victims of a violent weekend in Chicago.
Eric Crawford, about to enter eighth grade, has been on life support at Stroger Hospital since he was wounded while riding a bike four blocks from his home in McKinley Park Sunday morning.
“Eric is a wonderful, bright child,” Deates said in a brief phone interview from her son’s hospital bed. He loved to ride his bike and play video games, she said. He has two siblings.
Eric was shot shortly before 8 a.m. by someone in the back seat of a white SUV in the 3700 block of South Wood Street, a police spokesperson said. He was hit in his head and neck and taken to Stroger, where his condition was described as “grave.”
He is one of several children caught in gun violence in Chicago in the last week.
Read David Struett’s full story here.
More news you need
- Chicago is falling in line with the CDC’s new, relaxed mask guidelines, though there’s no surefire way to verify if someone is vaccinated. The move comes as state data shows fewer people are signing up for shots each day.
- General Iron’s owner is suing the city in federal court for more than $100 million, claiming Mayor Lightfoot’s administration broke a contract as it holds up a permit due to pollution concerns. Southside Recycling wants a judge to order the city to issue a final permit that will allow the opening of a new facility on the Southeast Side.
- Mayor Lightfoot has appointed Andrea Kersten as interim leader to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Kersten previously held a top post there under Sydney Roberts, who resigned two weeks ago.
- A group seeking to have Cook County replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day held a virtual rally yesterday to support the effort. A hearing on the proposed change is scheduled for next week with a vote likely to come in June.
- Lollapalooza will return to Grant Park at “full capacity” this summer, the mayor’s office confirmed today. The lineup drops 10 a.m. tomorrow and tickets will go on sale two hours later.
A bright one
The story behind Kapitan’s Ramly Burger
A customer once made a passing remark to Serai owner Victor Low about how Malaysian food would never be considered “high end” because it’s just street food. The comment didn’t sit well with Low, a native of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
So, in hopes of showcasing a unique and more sophisticated style of Malaysian cuisine, Low transformed an abandoned nightclub in Lincoln Park into Kapitan, Chicago’s only Peranakan restaurant, which opened in mid-December.
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Brian Rich/Sun-Times
Peranakan, or Nyonya, cuisine is influenced by Malay, Chinese and Indonesian cultures. It has a rich history dating back to the 1400s. Kapitan features many takes on traditional Peranakan dishes, such as Nyonya curry laksa lemak, a spicy noodle soup, and Ayam Kapitan, which is chicken curry.
“There is no other restaurants in Chicago that does this and we believe there’s barely any restaurants in the U.S. that actually focus on this one cuisine similar to what we do,” Low said. “And that was the whole purpose — [we’re] trying to show a different side of Malaysian cuisine that is also heritage food, that has a very complete different taste profile all together.”
Read Madeline Kenney’s latest installment of the Dishin’ on the Dish series here.
From the press box
While Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas expressed disappointment yesterday over how the season turned out, he still sees promise in the deal to acquire Nikola Vucevic from Orlando.
Meanwhile, at the end-of-season press conference for the Bulls’ other All-Star, Zach LaVine, the talented guard didn’t sound as if he was willing to sacrifice much in contract talks with the team.
The Bears signed linebacker Austin Calitro to bolster their depth as they go through their voluntary offseason program.
Your daily question ☕
What’s your favorite ‘Chicago-style’ food you can’t find anywhere else?
Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.
Yesterday, we asked you: If you’ve been fully vaccinated, do you still plan to wear a mask at times? Here’s what some of you said…
“Yes! I will wear my mask when I’m around others who might not be vaccinated, like the grocery store. I have young children at home, and since we have been vigilant throughout the pandemic in following the precautions, I won’t be stopping now in the off chance I could pass it along to them, however slight of a chance it might be. If I’m around friends and family who have all been vaccinated, I feel very comfortable ditching our masks then!” — Karen Burcham
“At times? I plan to wear it all the time for a few more months. Even the ‘low chance’ of an infected person breathing on me and me getting a so-called ‘mild case’ is too much risk for me. Besides, there is still plenty we don’t know about this invisible killer, and it still keeps mutating.” — Manisha Makwana
“Nope, not unless a business, doctor, etc. requires it. However, I might keep the mask forever on airplanes. I didn’t miss those nasty colds and sinus infections. I’ll also wear it if I’M SICK to avoid passing on my sad germs. Lots of good lessons here.” — Alyce Morgan
“I’ll continue wearing it as needed. Grocery stores, the CTA, and any place where I could encounter immune-compromised folks. It’s an easy thing to do to help protect others.” — Dustin Diggory
“Yes because not everyone is able to get the vaccine. Plus there are still people who are immune-compromised that could still be affected. I’m doing it to help others, it’s not that difficult to think of someone other than you.” — Maggie Anderson
“Yes my little guy isn’t vaccinated and I don’t know what can happen. Vaccinated or not I can still bring COVID home.” — Gema Capilla Gutierrez
“As I am fully vaccinated, I plan to not wear a mask wherever it is now permitted to do so. Any businesses or friends that still require them, however, I will respect their ask.” — Shane Feely
“Yes, just because I’m vaccinated doesn’t mean I can’t still get the virus. The virus has to be treated like STDs, you can’t look at someone and know they have been vaccinated. Too many people have been against masking and now vaccinations, because they are mostly selfish, but chose to follow conspiracy theories will take advantage of this time.” — Vera Edmerson
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