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Moon Alert

After 10 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Aries.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Look around you with a critical eye to see what needs to be changed or improved. What do you see? What springs to mind? What small things can you do to begin to go in the direction of improving your everyday environment?

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

This is a good day to do some private thinking about how you can introduce new habits into your life that make a practical difference in a positive way. Start small. It might be just one thing that you change — but that’s a beginning. Small beginnings can grow.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Today you might want to listen to the advice of someone older or more experienced, especially if you’re thinking about your long-term goals. It’s always helpful to get input from others because they have a different point of view.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You will prefer the company of serious people, bosses, parents and people in authority because you’re in the mood to discuss serious matters. Meanwhile, people admire you because they see you as sensible and reliable. (It’s nice to have the respect of your peers.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

A serious discussion with someone, especially someone from another culture or a different country, might open up new dimensions for you. You might put a new spin on how you see a political situation or something to do with religion or racial issues.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This is a good day to do some serious research so that you have a better idea of what you owe and what you own. When it comes to your money and assets, always remember — information is power. (Don’t be fuzzy or casual when it comes to your own personal wealth.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Welcome any chance for a serious discussion with a partner or close friend because it will yield some practical, useful information. In fact, you might attract someone to you who wants to have this kind of discussion. If so, by all means, listen!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you are aware of what needs to be done because you have a strong sense of duty and obligation to both yourself and others. You will work hard to complete your To Do list. Because you have this attitude, you will like to hang around like-minded individuals.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Because you’re in a serious frame of mind, you can make great headway if you want to practice a particular skill in the arts, for example a music technique. Or you might use this same dedicated approach to practicing a skill related to sports or working with children?

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Family discussions will be serious today; however, they will yield some practical results. This might be a good time to put your cards on the table and let others know what you expect, and also what you’re prepared to offer. (This might encourage everyone to get on the same page.)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You’ll be careful and thorough in your approach to whatever you do. Ah yes, you’ll be like the wise carpenter: “Measure twice, cut once.” Choose work that requires attention to detail because, today, you will not overlook things.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You might have to take care of someone else today. In whatever you do, you will take a thrifty and careful approach to things because you’re in a serious, practical frame of mind. This can be a productive day!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Charles, Prince of Wales (1948) shares your birthday. You are charming and enthusiastic about life. You also are strong willed, determined and confident. (Your love life is often dramatic.) This year will be a quieter year. You will find that your focus is on partnerships and your closest friendships. It’s totally appropriate for you to concentrate on your own needs to discover what will enhance your personal happiness.

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Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams breaks a tackle by Virginia’s Joey Blount in the first half Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia. | Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

The Irish kept alive their hopes of playing their way into the four-team College Football Playoff.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jack Coan threw three touchdown passes and No. 7 Notre Dame extended its regular-season winning streak against Atlantic Coast Conference schools to 23 games with a 28-3 victory over Virginia on Saturday night.

Coan connected with Michael Mayer from 6 yards, Braden Lenzy from 4 yards and Kevin Austin from 15 yards for the Fighting Irish (9-1, No. 9 CFP), who also stretched their road winning streak against teams from the ACC to 11 games.

And they did it in a week when a flu bug hit about a dozen players, causing defensive end Myron Tagovalia-Amosa to miss the game because he had a 101-degree fever. Rylie Mills moved from defensive tackle to end and had three sacks.

“They had a mindset with all that that this was the challenge they wanted,” coach Brian Kelly said of his team.

Virginia (6-4) played without quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who leads the nation in total offense with an average of 425.3 yards but did not dress after sustaining a rib injury in a loss to No. 14 BYU two weeks ago.

Jay Woolfolk, the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Virginia since Bryan Shumock in 1977, was ineffective. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 196 yards, two interceptions and was sacked seven times.

“I thought Jay did a nice job,” coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “Jay’s processing takes longer whereas Brennan would have had the ball out much faster.”

The Irish, playing for the sixth time against a team coming off an open date, won for the fifth time in those games, keeping alive their hopes of playing their way into the four-team College Football Playoff. They have two three-win teams remaining on their schedule.

“We’re ascending as a football team,” Kelly said. “Any time you try to put a resume together, it’s about how you play later in the year.”

The Irish led 21-0 at halftime and had outgained Virginia 264-92. The victory was their 40th in a row against unranked opponents.

THE TAKEAWAY

Notre Dame: Coan, who was benched for ineffectiveness against Virginia Tech before returning in the fourth quarter to lead a comeback, had no such issues against the Cavaliers. He was 15 of 20 for 132 yards when freshman Tyler Buchner replaced him after his third TD pass.

Virginia: The Cavaliers had tackling problems in their 66-49 loss at BYU two weeks ago, and despite a week off to get that fixed, the problem persisted against the Irish as running back Kyren Williams, Mayer and others routinely escaped the first hit. Williams broke three tackles on a 22-yard TD run.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Irish wrap up their home schedule against Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Virginia travels to Pittsburgh next Saturday and can pull even with the Panthers in the Coastal Division — and have the tiebreaker — with a victory.

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A suspect in a shooting at Safari Land indoor amusement park in Villa Park was being sought by police Saturday night. | Adobe Stock Photo

A suspect wearing a black jacket with white writing, blue jeans and black baseball cap was still be sought as of 8:30 p.m., according to police.

A suspect is being sought in a shooting Saturday at an amusement park in suburban Villa Park.

Shots were fired at Safari Land indoor amusement park at 701 North Avenue, Villa Park police said in a statement.

Police have not said if anyone was hurt.

A suspect wearing a black jacket with white writing, blue jeans and black baseball cap was still be sought as of 8:30 p.m., according to police.

A person matching that description was last seen running east on Plymouth Street from Yale Street, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

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Loyola’s John McGuire (33) wraps up Lincoln-Way East’s Trey Johnson (4). | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Mikey Baker’s 32-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first half proved to be enough for a 3-0 win over Lincoln-Way East in a Class 8A quarterfinal in Wilmette.

Sam Rushin is playing a new position for Loyola this fall, and it looks like he’s got it down.

The senior moved from defensive lineman to linebacker and has helped keep the Ramblers strong on that side of the ball. They needed to be on Saturday afternoon, when the Loyola offense was held to its lowest point total in three years.

But Mikey Baker’s 32-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first half proved to be enough for a 3-0 win over Lincoln-Way East in a Class 8A quarterfinal in Wilmette.

Rushin had 2.5 of Loyola’s nine sacks and helped spearhead a defensive effort that limited the Griffins (9-3) to 39 total yards.

“He has steadily gotten better,” Loyola coach John Holecek said. “He’s been really good the second half of the season — really good.”

“It was crazy,” Rushin said of the narrow margin. “It puts a lot on us, but the offense is going to bounce back next week, we know they will.”

The Ramblers (12-0) mostly were able to contain Lincoln-Way East senior Trey Johnson, who’s had multiple 100-yard games since taking over as lead back after a teammate’s injury. Johnson finished with 17 carries for 63 yards and the Griffins were held to 38 passing yards.

“Our coaches drew up a good game plan,” Rushin said. “All the guys in coverage kept them locked down and we were good up front so we were able to stop the run.”

East’s best scoring chance came in the third quarter when a bad snap on a punt gave them possession at the Loyola 15. But Loyola’s defense held a pair of runs to a net of one yard and after a delay of game call, Rushin and Graham McCabe had sacks to end the threat.

Loyola didn’t have many scoring chances of its own. What wound up being the game-winning drive was highlighted by James Kreutz’s 22-yard run to the Griffins’ 12 on third-and-three. Four plays later, Baker scored the game’s only points.

Loyola quarterback Jake Stearney completed 17 of 27 passes for 161 yards. One of those completions was to himself on a tipped pass on the game-winning drive. Another was a 35-yarder to Jack Parker on a fake punt as time was winding down to put the game away.

“Offensively, we didn’t play the best,” Stearney said, “We’ve got a lot to learn for next week. But our defense, they had the game of their lives. They played lights out. They’re the reason why we won today.”

Lincoln-Way East, meanwhile, will be one of the teams to beat in 2022 after starting only six seniors against Loyola.

“Best team in the state, best team in the Midwest,” Griffins coach Rob Zvonar said of the Ramblers. “We went toe-to-toe with them all afternoon. … I know we came up short and that’s not the standard at our place. But I have nothing but positive things to say about our group.”

That includes the seniors.

“They bridged the gap between the adversity of COVID and some other things that happened,” Zvonar said. “They got this program through. There’s a bright future here and these kids here today are going to remember what it takes because the seniors taught them and remember this not-so-great feeling and make it right next year.”

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A man was charged with attempted murder in a shooting November 11, 2021 in Chatham. | Adobe Stock Photo

Maalik Lumpkins was arrested Thursday hours after the shooting wounded a 1-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man near a Shell gas station in the 7400 block of South State Street, Chicago police said.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in a shooting Thursday in Chatham that left two people wounded, including a 1-year-old boy.

Maalik Lumpkins was arrested Thursday after he was identified as the gunman who opened fire shortly before 1:30 p.m. near a Shell gas station in the 7400 block of South State Street, Chicago police said.

The infant was inside a car parked in a Walgreen parking lot about a block south when a bullet grazed his head, police said. Paramedics took him to Comer Children’s Hospital in fair condition.

A 28-year-old man seated inside another car was shot in the chest, according to police. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

Lumpkins, who was also shot and critically wounded, was taken into custody Thursday night at the same hospital, police said.

Lumpkins is expected to appear in bond court Sunday.

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Brother Rice’s Jack Lausch (8) hugs Sean Kinard (12) during the game against Mount Carmel. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Brother Rice quarterback Jack Lausch finished his postgame TV interview and turned around to find a dozen or so younger kids waiting for his autograph.

Brother Rice quarterback Jack Lausch finished his postgame TV interview and turned around to find a dozen or so younger kids waiting for his autograph, among other things.

One kid asked Lausch for a jersey. Another shook his hand, then said he was never washing it again. That’s the kind of stuff that happens after a packed house on the South Side watches you run for 253 yards, score four touchdowns and beat Mount Carmel 41-28 in a Class 7A state quarterfinal.

Lausch’s offensive fireworks, however, wouldn’t have been enough without some key plays by the defense.

Khary Shaw, whose last-minute heroics saved the Crusaders (10-2) in the first round against Wheaton Warrenville South, came up huge again. The senior snagged an interception with 3:29 left to set up the touchdown that put Brother Rice ahead by two scores.

”I had to jump up and get it and call game,” Shaw said. ”I was getting tired. It was that time. I’m not the most vocal guy, so I lead by what I can do on the field. Once I got that pick, I knew we had the win. Our team runs on energy, and we had a lot of it today.”

The Caravan led 7-6 at halftime, but the defensive battle totally fell apart in the second half. Shaw wasn’t the only tired defender on the field.

Crusaders running back Aaron Vaughn ran for a 79-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter.

”In the locker room [at halftime], we said we didn’t want this to be it, to buckle down and do what we do and put up another 40,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn finished with 17 carries for 174 yards, and Brother Rice rushed for 431 yards. Lausch was 5-for-15 for 77 yards passing and threw two interceptions, both in the first half.

”Mount Carmel’s a great program, and especially when you see them twice, they can make adjustments,” Lausch said. ”You just find any way to win. I’m proud of the way we fought and [how] we played offensively and defensively.”

The Caravan (8-4) never led after Vaughn’s touchdown run to open the second half, but they did tie the score on a stunning 49-yard run by Joey Thompson. It came only two minutes after a 49-yard touchdown run by Lausch.

Thompson also had six receptions for 50 yards.

”There’s no doubt the defenses were tired,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said. ”Two offenses that no-huddle and all that can especially hurt if you don’t have any depth. We’ve established some after the injuries and whatnot. And we made some big plays on defense and capitalized on them.”

Mount Carmel quarterback Blainey Dowling was 16-for-34 with two interceptions. He also had 24 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

”We knew it was going to be a battle,” Badke said. ”Our offensive line really dominated the line of scrimmage, and the defensive guys made some big plays.”

The Crusaders will travel to Wheaton North for the semifinals next weekend.

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The George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave., Sept. 12, 2018. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

A lawyer for Amari Watkins, 16, said the teen felt threatened when 44-year-old James Carson Jr. started “brandishing” a wine bottle at his client at the sale’s counter after the two argued. Watkins was denied bail Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy was in fear for his life when he fatally shot a man earlier this week at a Humboldt Park liquor store, the teen’s defense attorney said Saturday.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, Amari Watkins followed 44-year-old James Carson Jr. to the coolers in the back of Midtown Market, 3855 W. Division St., after a clerk refused to sell cigarettes to the boy and a 19-year-old man he was with, Cook County prosecutors said.

Watkins and Carson started to talk as the older man grabbed a beer and then walked to the checkout counter, culminating in an argument between the two, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney Bill Wolf said that’s when the older man threatened Watkins with a wine bottle.

“[Carson] grabbed the wine bottle and appeared to be brandishing it as a weapon against both my client and his 19-year-old companion… and it was in that point of time that the single gunshot was fired in what was very arguably self-defense,” Wolf said.

Prosecutors said the wine bottle was in Carson’s hand moments before the shooting, but didn’t say why he had the bottle.

Watkins and the 19-year-old, who wasn’t identified in court, ran off after the shooting, prosecutors said. Carson, who was shot in the chest, was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.

The shooting was captured on the store’s surveillance cameras, which recorded Watkins’ face when he lowered his mask at one point, prosecutors said.

Chicago Police released video of the shooting Tuesday and called on the public to help identify the two suspects.

Wolf said Watkins, a junior at Orr Academy High School, turned himself in to detectives Thursday.

Watkins was subsequently charged with first-degree murder.

Wolf argued Carson’s actions leading up to the shooting were “threatening.”

Judge Barbara Dawkins disagreed and ordered Watkins held without bail as the case continues.

He was expected back in court Monday.

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A memorial for University of Chicago graduate Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng is set up at the 5400 block of S. Ellis Ave. in Hyde Park. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Judge Barbara Dawkins ordered Alton Spann, 19, held without bail on charges of murder and robbery Saturday.

Bail was denied Saturday for a man accused killing a University of Chicago graduate who Cook County prosecutors said was simply “minding his own business” before he was shot during the alleged robbery last week.

Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng was standing on a sidewalk Tuesday afternoon near the university’s Hyde Park campus when Alton Spann, 19, approached him with a gun and ordered Zheng to hand over his belongings, prosecutors said in court.

A struggle ensued and Zheng tried to run. That’s when Spann fired a single shot at the 24-year-old recent graduate, striking him in the chest, Assistant State’s Attorney Ashley Romito said.

Two passengers in a stolen black Ford Mustang Spann was driving before the robbery witnessed the shooting and a third person saw Spann with a gun when they looked out a window after hearing the gunfire, Romito said.

Spann returned to the Mustang after the shooting and sped off, Romito said.

Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
A memorial for University of Chicago graduate Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng on Friday in the 5400 block of South Ellis Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Zheng was given aid by a bystander before paramedics arrived and took him to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, Romito said.

Spann pawned a laptop and iPhone he took from Zheng for $100, according to Romito and Chicago police.

Surveillance cameras, license plate reading technology and GPS tracking of Spann’s cell phone all confirmed his travel around the time of the murder, Romito said.

Two loaded guns were found in Spann’s jacket when he was arrested Wednesday in the 1400 block of North Sedgwick, officials said.

Spann, who doesn’t have a permit to carry a gun, admitted the guns were his but denied involvement in the robbery and killing, Romito said.

Spann was on “parole” for a 2019 armed robbery and vehicular hijacking conviction when he was a juvenile and had an “extensive juvenile court history,” prosecutors said.

Spann was working full-time job at Elite Staffing, but recently quit to pursue his high school diploma, an assistant public defender said.

Judge Barbara Dawkins ordered Spann held without bail on charges of first-degree murder and robbery.

University of Chicago
Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng

Zheng graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 2019 and got his master’s degree in statistics at the University of Chicago this past summer.

“He was motivated, independent, and intellectually curious,” said Mei Wang, director of the program Zheng studied in. “He aspired to be a data scientist who could solve important problems facing our society, and who could help people to help more people.”

The Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago started an online fundraiser for Zheng’s family, which had raised more than $66,000 as of Saturday evening.

Spann is due back in court Friday.

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