Notre Dame has won 22 consecutive regular-season games against schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference, including 10 straight on the road. | Paul Sancya/AP

The Fighting Irish face a Virginia team coming off a disappointing loss and looking to stay on track for the ACC’s Coastal Division title.

Notre Dame is hoping to rise from ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings to a spot in the top four with time running short.

On Saturday night in Charlottesville, Virginia, the No. 7 Fighting Irish face a Virginia team coming off a disappointing loss and looking to stay on track for the ACC’s Coastal Division title (6:30 p.m. ABC-7).

The Cavaliers have their work cut out for them.

Notre Dame (8-1) has won 22 consecutive regular-season games against schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference, including 10 straight on the road. The Cavaliers (6-3) are coming off a 66-49 loss at No. 14 BYU and then a bye week that was used to allow nicked-up players to rehab.

Virginia will play Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech to close out the regular season, and would win the division by winning both.

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who leads the nation in total offense with 425.3 yards per game, suffered a rib injury that knocked him out of the game at BYU. Coach Bronco Mendenhall has shared no update on his status.

“I probably won’t have an update until the ball is kicked off and we all look out there and see who our quarterback is,” Mendenhall said earlier this week.

The Fighting Irish are preparing for Armstrong, and the alternatives. Jay Woolfolk relieved Armstrong in Utah, but Keytaon Thompson, who was a quarterback at Mississippi State, also could be an option behind center. He plays several roles now: wide receiver, running back and some quarterback.

“We’ve got to prepare for quote-unquote, a Wildcat offense structure as well as Armstrong playing,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.

All four of Virginia’s quarterback options are also effective runners.

Some other things to watch for when Notre Dame plays at Virginia:

HOLDOUTS?

Whether Armstrong plays or not, Mendenhall acknowledged this week that “one or two” players not at 100% who could be vital to their success at Pittsburgh and at home against the Hokies could watch from the sideline.

“The only ones … are just players that they might be back and might be at whatever percentage versus a couple more days and they could be at full percentage versus risk of not having them at all for the next couple weeks,” he said.

IRISH INJURIES

Notre Dame also has been hit hard by injuries during its four-game winning streak. Junior All-America free safety Kyle Hamilton injured his right knee against Southern California Oct. 23 and is listed as doubtful. Graduate wide receiver Avery Davis tore an anterior cruciate ligament against Navy and will miss the rest of the season after surgery. Notre Dame was already thin with the losses of Joe Wilkins Jr. (torn ACL) and Lawrence Keys (transfer portal).

Linebacker Drew White has continued to play despite tearing a posterior cruciate ligament during practice last week.

“It’s the Notre Dame culture – being a gritty, tough dude,” said White. “It’s my teammates who I want to be there for.”

DEFENSIVE FIXES

Virginia allowed 699 yards in a 59-39 loss to North Carolina and 734 yards in the loss to BYU, but the defense-minded Mendenhall said it’s not that bad. “So many things are correctable. The team sees that. I see that,” he said.

QUARTERBACKS 1 AND 1A

Since a 24-13 loss to Cincinnati, Notre Dame has gone with two quarterbacks — grad-transfer Jack Coan (Wisconsin) and true freshman Tyler Buchner. Buchner. Buchner sparked the Irish at Virginia Tech when he replaced an ineffective Coan early, but Coan returned and led two scoring drives in a 32-29 victory.

Coan has completed 66 of 90 passes (73%) for 764 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in the four victories. He also had a 21-yard TD run versus North Carolina. Buchner, meanwhile, has rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown and is 5-for-5 passing for 52 yards and one touchdown against USC, North Carolina and Navy.

KICKOFF OR TIPOFF?

The length and height of a couple Virginia players is hard to miss and their size certainly hasn’t escaped Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.

“They’ve got a couple of basketball players playing tackle,” Kelly quipped, referring to Virginia’s Ryan Swoboda (6-foot-10, 325 pounds) and Bobby Haskins (6-7, 295). Irish junior defensive tackle Jacob Lacey knows he and the defense will have their hands full trying to get into the backfield.

“We’ve faced some pretty good offensive lines before,” Lacey said. “It’s not going to change what we do.”

Read More

The Happy Fits | Rahil Ahsruff

There’s plenty to see and do online and in-person in the week ahead.

Family Fun

Macy’s Holiday Traditions shine bright this year beginning with the store’s windows along State Street between Randolph and Washington. This year the colorful display tells the story of a small reindeer named Tiptoe who is “too shy to fly” with Santa’s team on Christmas Eve. Inside the store, the 45-foot-tall Great Tree is the centerpiece to holiday dining in the Walnut Room (to Jan. 9). And children can visit a certain jolly old man in Santaland, an enchanted world showcasing Santa’s workshop (to Dec. 24). Reservations are required for the Walnut Room (macyswalnutroom.com) and Santaland (macys.com/Santaland).

Theater

Michael Brosilow
Namir Smallwood and Carrie Coon star in Steppenwolf’s production of “Bug.” Steppenwolf Theatre picks up where it left off with “Bug,” Tracy Letts’ searing, paranoid drama which was on stage in March 2020 when the theater shut down at the start of the pandemic. Returning are ensemble members Randall Arney, Carrie Coon, Namir Smallwood plus Jennifer Engstrom and Steve Key; David Cromer directs. From Nov. 11-Dec. 12 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets: $20-$110. Visit steppenwolftheatre.org.
Lynn Lane/Houston Grand Opera
Lyric Opera of Chicago is presenting the Spanish opera “Florencia en el Amazonas”
Journey down the Amazon with the Lyric Opera’s premiere of “Florencia en al Amazon.” Mexican composer Daniel Catan’s Spanish-language opera, about a glamorous diva (Ana Maria Martinez) on a life-changing adventure on the Amazon, is suffused with lush music and magical realism. Francesca Zambello directs, Jordan de Souza conducts. From Nov. 13-28 at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker. Tickets: $39+. Visit lyricopera.org.
With hopes of creating a new holiday tradition, The House Theatre of Chicago presents the world premiere of Lanise Antoine Shelley’s adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s beloved fable “The Snow Queen.” Directed by Amber D. Montgomery, the story is infused with The House’s trademark use of magic, puppetry and music. From Nov. 12-Jan. 2 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets: $20-$50. Visit thehousetheatre.com.
Another new holiday show, “Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody,” is Bob and Tobly McSmith’s parody of the iconic romantic comedy film. The Off Broadway hit follows nine quirky couples looking for love. “In under 90 minutes, six actors play 50 plus roles as they conquer 144 costume and 42 wig changes,” director Tim Drucker says. From Nov. 17-Jan. 2 at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $29-$69. Visit ticketmaster.com.

“Kiss Me Kate,” the first Tony Award winner for best musical, is the next production at the Marriott Theatre. The musical, with a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, follows the hijinks as a married couple, Lilli Vanessi (Susan Moniz) and Fred Graham (Larry Adams), battle on stage and off during a production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” From Nov. 17-Jan. 16 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. Tickets: $50-$60. Visit marriotttheatre.com.
Yasmina Reza’s dark comedy “God of Carnage” uncovers what happens when two high-strung couples meet for a civilized discussion about a playground altercation between their two young sons. Co-directed by Derek Bertelsen and Robert Tobin. From Nov. 12-Dec. 12 at AstonRep Theatre at The Edge Theatre, 1133 W. Catalpa. Tickets: $20. Visit astonrep.com.
The Porchlight Revisits series, which celebrates rarely seen musicals, presents three performances of Dan Goggin’s “Nunsense,” about the Little Sisters of Hoboken and their plan to raise some emergency money. Directed by Michelle Lauto. At 7 p.m. Nov. 17, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $49. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.

Spenser Davis Photo
Broken Nose Theatre is presenting “Primer” featuring JD Caudill and Aria Szalai-Raymond.
Broken Nose Theatre presents the world premiere of Spenser Davis’ audio drama “Primer,” which looks at how a singular act of destruction at a Michigan Avenue store affects a host of individuals, from the store’s security team and managers to its employees. Directed by Brittney Brown. Streams from Nov. 15-Dec. 5. Tickets: pay-what-you-can. Visit brokennosetheatre.com.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”: Clark Gesner, Michael Mayer and Andrew Lippa’s musical in which the entire Peanuts gang explore life’s great questions. From Nov. 11-Dec. 23 at Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan, Lake Forest. Tickets: $20-$45. Visit citadeltheatre.org.
Babes with Blades’ Fighting Words Festival features readings of three new plays: “Phantom Queens” by Jessica Johnson, “Child’s Play” by Frank Garland” and “The Mark” by Jillian Leff. From Nov 13-14 at The Factory Theatre, 1623 W. Howard. Admission is free, a stream also is available. Visit babeswithblades.org.

Dance

Dance Chicago presents “Dance Transformations,” a program showcasing young dancers and choreographers new to the Chicago dance scene. Dance styles include ballet, tap, jazz, ethnic and more. At 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets: $18-$31. Visit athenaeumtheatre.org.
Asian Improv Arts Midwest and Links Hall present the Bridge Dance Festival, featuring performers who connect to their Asian heritage. The online event includes work by Yuko Takahashi Dance Company, Marina Fukushima, Ray Nakazawa and Pranita Nayar and Ashwaty Chennat. Streams at 7 p.m. Nov. 12-13. Tickets: $15, $20 or pay-what-you-can. Visit linkshall.org.

Music

English rock band Genesis kicks off its first U.S. tour in 14 years at the United Center. Billed as a farewell tour, Phil Collins (front-and-center as lead singer), Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford are joined by their longtime guitar and bass player Daryl Stuermer and, on drums, 20-year-old Nic Collins replacing his father who can no longer play because of health issues. At 8 p.m. Nov. 15-16 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $145+. Visit ticketmaster.com

Shervin Lainez Photo
Carsie Blanton
Singer-songwriter Carsie Blanton’s catchy songs are filled with hints of country, folk, soul, swing and pop. Her recent album “Love & Rage” is filled with what she calls protest songs written during the pandemic. Blanton also is a longtime John Prine fan and wrote the lovely tribute “Fishin’ with You,” when the beloved performer passed away in 2020. The soulful music of Milton opens the show at 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt, Berwyn. Tickets: $15. Visit fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
New Jersey trio The Happy Fits create orchestral tinged indie-pop that has been called “some of the freshest, catchiest pop music around right now” by NPR. The band tours behind the new album “What Could Be Better” featuring more of the band’s unique guitar-and-cello rock. Also on the bill: M.A.G.S. and Snarls. The all-ages show begins at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. Tickets: $16. Visit beatkitchen.com.
Grammy Award-winning Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov wows audiences with his virtuosic playing which has been called “colorful, dazzling and imaginative.” He’ll perform works by Debussy, Szymanowski, Prokofiev and Brahms at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: $27-$150. Visit cso.org.

Vin Reed
The New Philharmonic, with conductor Kirk Muspratt and violinist David Taylor.

The New Philharmonic performs Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9 in E-Minor “plus Pablo de Sarasate’s Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen” featuring guest violinist David Taylor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s assistant concertmaster. The piece is considered one of the most challenging for violin. Soprano Alisa Jordheim joins Taylor for Strauss’s “Morgen!” At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $10-$53. Visit atthemac.org.
At the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s fall concert CYSO alum Mary Elizabeth Bowden performs the Chicago premiere of Vivian Fung’s “Concerto for Trumpet,” CYSO’s Bianca Ciubancan performs Paganini’s “Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major” and CYSO’s Louis Auxenfans performs Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto in A Major.” The program also includes works by Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and Tchaikovsky. Allen Tinkham conducts. At 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: $20-$60. Visit cyso.org.
Works by Mozart and Beethoven are on the program for Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert, conducted by Stilian Kirov, opens with Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante for Winds” featuring four of IPO’s own principal wind players as soloists: Naomi Bensdorf Frisch (oboe), Erin Kozakis (bassoon), Trevor O’Riordan (clarinet) and Lee Shirer (French horn). Rounding out the concert is Beethoven’s light-hearted “Symphony No. 8.” At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College, Palos Heights. Tickets: $10-$67. Visit ipomusic.org.

Museums

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Ravi Shankar’s beloved sitar is on display in the exhibit “Ravi Shankar: Ragamala To Rockstar.”The South Asia Institute presents Ravi Shankar: Ragamala to Rockstar, a Retrospective of the Maestro’s Life in Music,” an exhibit showcasing the legacy of the musician who was instrumental in bringing Indian classical music to mainstream audiences. George Harrison called him the “godfather of world music.” Included are rare concert posters and art prints, photographs, videos, record covers and personal artifacts. To March 5 at South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan. Admission: $10. Visit saichicago.org.

Read More

The Bears are 31-26 in Matt Nagy’s four seasons, but 19-22 in the last three seasons. | Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The Bears are 3-6 and long shots to make the playoffs — but with rookie Justin Fields taking bigger steps toward franchise quarterback status, there’s no telling just how hot the hot seat is for GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy.

The last time the Bears were 3-6 was in 2017, when the situation wasn’t all that much different than it is today: A coaching staff on the hot seat and a rookie quarterback coming off a career-best game in another loss after Mitch Trubisky threw for 297 yards and a touchdown against the Packers at Soldier Field.

A promising quarterback wasn’t able to save John Fox, in part because — following a season in which Sean McVay worked wonders with Jared Goff — Trubisky needed a quarterback whisperer as his head coach.

The situation is a little more complicated this time, with Matt Nagy coaching Justin Fields. At 3-6 with Fields taking his biggest steps yet in back-to-back games against the 49ers and Steelers, the Bears are accelerating into what Nagy would call “the gray.” Or as Bears fans would call it, “The Twilight Zone”: A non-playoff team with a quarterback ready for liftoff.

Unless Fields’ small steps turn into giant leaps that transform the Bears into NFC contenders — stranger things have happened — the focus will soon turn to Bears chairman George McCaskey and president Ted Phillips for an update on what they consider “progress.”

That was the bar McCaskey set for general manager Ryan Pace and Nagy in 2021 after both were retained following a second consecutive 8-8 season in 2020. McCaskey has not made himself available since that January press conference to define progress — a silence that has become increasingly deafening as the Bears’ season has veered off course under Nagy.

It would seem likely that a non-playoff season would elicit a coaching change if not a house-cleaning that would include Pace as well. But they have a strange definition of progress at Halas Hall. This is the place where former GM Phil Emery once defined Jay Cutler as “elite” because he had a winning record, so please hold all tickets during the inquiry.

The Bears’ 29-27 loss to the Steelers showed just how tricky this could become. Fields’ game seemed like a breakthrough. He passed for a career-high 291 yards, with pass plays of 50, 39, 28 and 25 yards (“Sunday” to Aaron Rodgers, but a celebration in Chicago). And he was at his best when the Bears needed him most — engineering a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in 66 seconds to give the Bears a 27-26 lead with 1:46 to go. Yet, the Bears still lost — again.

What if the rest of the season plays out like the Steelers game, with Fields showing actual progress, making big plays, looking like he’s on the cusp of greatness — but with the Bears still losing to the Ravens, Cardinals, Packers and Seahawks? That could be more impressive to George and Ted than beating the Texans, Vikings and Jaguars to pull out of a six-game losing streak. Then what?

That might be an easy call for you, but it’s a much tougher one for McCaskey and Phillips. Justin Fields looks like the real deal. At Halas Hall, that’s progress.

2. Regardless of the NFL defending the bad call, the Bears got a raw deal when Cassius Marsh was called for taunting after a third-down sack in the fourth quarter. Is it really that difficult to call only the obvious taunting infractions? It’s a fine line, but referees such as Tony Corrente have no idea where that line is.

That said, the Bears have themselves to at least partially blame for the crackdown that is leading to these bogus calls. The violent reactions by Javon Wims and Anthony Miller against Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson last season heightened the NFL’s sensitivity to taunting and on-field altercations and what they can lead to.

3. It was a close call, but Nagy probably should have tried a Hail Mary pass on the final play against the Steelers on Monday night instead of having Cairo Santos attempt a 65-yard field goal.

Both plays are long shots, but Nagy had none of the factors that usually come into play on kicks like that –the wind at the kicker’s back, indoors, altitude or a kicker with a notably big leg.

Santos’ career-long field goal is 53 yards. His only other attempt longer than 55 yards was a 66-yard attempt against the Bears on the final play of the game in 2015. It never had a chance as the Bears won, 18-17 at Arrowhead Stadium.

It’s worth noting that Nagy was on Andy Reid’s Chiefs staff at that time. Reid explained at the time that Santos had made kicks from that distance in practice — 65 yards in training camp 65 and 67 yards at Arrowhead with the wind at his back. “It was a long shot either way,” Reid said.

4. For What It’s Worth Dept.: The Bears have completed three Hail Mary passes in recent memory: Mitch Trubisky’s 54-yard pass to Kevin White — at the 1-yard line — against the Patriots in 2018; Jay Cutler’s 50-yard touchdown to Cam Meredith against the Buccaneers in 2015; and Shane Matthews’ 34-yard touchdown to running back James Allen against the Browns in 2001.

The Bears’ longest field goal in franchise history is Robbie Gould’s 58-yarder against the Bengals in 2013. No kicker had made a field goal longer than 64 yards until the Ravens’ Justin Tucker kicked a 66-yarder at Ford Field (a big leg kicking indoors) in Week 3.

5. Signs of Progress: The Bears gained 414 yards against a Steelers defense that is allowing 345.7 yards per game this season. It’s the only game in which the Bears’ offense has exceeded an opponent’s current average yards allowed.

The Bears’ 7.1 yards per play against the Steelers is the fourth-highest in Nagy’s four seasons. The top three all came in 2018, and against losing teams: the Buccaneers (8.3), Lions (7.6) and Dolphins (7.3).

6. Rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins was working out on the field prior to the Bears-Steelers game, an indication he likely will be able to return before the end of the season after having back surgery in August.

If Jenkins returns, the big question is where the Bears will play him. Jenkins is projected as the Bears’ starting left tackle for years to come. But veteran Jason Peters is starting there now, and arguably has been the Bears’ best offensive linemen this season. Would the Bears’ sit Peters so Jenkins could get a head start on next season?

Offensive line coach Juan Castillo didn’t want to speculate.

“I know this: When he comes back, he’s going to be ready,” Castillo said. “I hope we have to make that decision.”

7. Rookie Larry Borom has a long way to go, but the fifth-round draft pick hasn’t looked out of place in two starts at left tackle against stiff competition.

In fact, fifth/sixth round draft picks by Ryan Pace combined for three touchdowns and a sack against the Steelers: Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (5-173 in 2020) scored on a 15-yard run and 16-yard reception; safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (6-185 in 2016) scored on a 25-yard fumble return; Bilal Nichols (5-145 in 2018) had a sack. And another Pace fifth-rounder, Jordan Howard (5-150. in 2016), gained 71 yards on 17 carries and scored his third touchdown in two weeks for the Eagles against the Chargers on Sunday.

8. Bits & Pieces: The Bears’ four pass plays of 25 or more yards (50, 39, 28 and 25) were as many as they had in their first eight games. … Fields’ 291 yards was the sixth most in the NFL last week. That’s the first time a Bear quarterback has been higher than 21st this season. … The Bears are 0-3 in the game after the bye in Nagy’s three seasons. … the Bears’ final four 2021 opponents are currently 3-5 — the Vikings, Seahawks, Giants and Vikings, so …

9. Josh McCown Ex-Bears Player of the Week: Falcons running back/wide receiver/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson had six receptions for 126 yards against the Saints — including a clutch 64-yard catch in the final minute that led to the winning field goal in a 27-25 victory at the Superdome. Patterson is a three-time winner of this award already this season.

Patterson leads the Falcons in rushing (73-278, 3.8, two touchdowns) and receptions (38-459, 12.1, five touchdowns). He has more total yards in eight games with the Falcons (737 on 111 touches, seven touchdowns) than he did in 32 games with the Bears (550 yards on 113 touches, one touchdown).

10. Bear-ometer: 6-11 — vs. Ravens (L); at Lions (W); vs. Cardinals (L); at Packers (L); vs. Vikings (W); at Seahawks (L); vs. Giants (W); at Vikings (L).

Read More

Curtis Pugh was charged with fatally hitting a woman with a vehicle in the 7900 block of South Lafayette in May 2018. | Google Earth

The settlement is the largest of several tied to allegations of police wrongdoing on Monday’s Finance Committee agenda. It goes to David Brown, whose wife was fatally struck by a car whose driver was fleeing police.

Chicago taxpayers will spend $2 million to compensate the family of a 55-year-old woman struck and killed while walking on a Chatham sidewalk in 2018 by a vehicle leading police on a high-speed chase after fleeing a traffic stop.

The settlement is the largest of several tied to allegations of police wrongdoing on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee.

It goes to David Brown, whose wife, Julia Lynn Callaway, was mowed down in May 2018 during a crash so violent her body was tossed 50 feet into the air.

Brown, minister of Shiloh Baptist Church, was to take his wife shopping for Mother’s Day. Instead, he was forced to bury her.

It started shortly before 6 p.m., when officers claimed to have smelled a “strong odor of cannabis” coming from Pugh’s Nissan as he drove in the 8000 block of South Evans.

When officers pulled up to the vehicle, Pugh sped off with two passengers inside, swerving through traffic and running stop signs and red lights before driving onto a sidewalk in the 7900 block of South Lafayette, striking Callaway.

According to Cook County prosecutors, police ended their initial pursuit of Pugh after two blocks. But a short time later, the Nissan was spotted speeding west on 76th Street.

Police followed the Nissan onto the Dan Ryan Expressway, where surveillance cameras captured Pugh speeding southbound, cutting in and out of traffic, then exiting at 79th Street.

Pugh’s vehicle then sped through a red light and swerved to avoid other vehicles before jumping the curb and onto the sidewalk, striking Callaway and as well as a 31-year-old man who refused medical treatment at the scene.

The Nissan didn’t stop; Pugh continued several blocks until crashing, according to prosecutors. Pugh and his passengers fled on foot; a police helicopter tracked Pugh, and officers on the ground arrested him.

Pugh acknowledged leading police on the chase, but said he thought he had enough space to avoid hitting the two pedestrians. He claimed he didn’t even know he had struck anyone until one of his passengers told him.

Pugh also told authorities he had been in similar chases with police, but always got away.

Chicago Police
Curtis Pugh, then 22, of Matteson, was charged with first-degree murder as well as drug and traffic offenses in connection with the death of Julia Callaway.

Police found 19.3 grams of suspected crack cocaine with an estimated street value of $2,345, police records show.

That led to a charge of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in addition to the murder charge, an aggravated fleeing and eluding police charge and a charge of leaving the scene of a deadly accident. He was also cited for various traffic violations. He remains incarcerated for convictions related to the incident.

Brown could not be reached for comment. His attorney Michael Ditore did not return repeated phone calls.

Over the years, Chicago taxpayers have shelled out millions to innocent pedestrians, motorists and passengers killed or injured during police pursuits gone bad — even though vehicular chase policy has been overhauled repeatedly.

The two most costly of those incidents happened on the same weekend in June 1999.

Unarmed African-American civilians LaTanya Haggerty, 26, and Robert Russ, 22, were shot to death by officers after separate police pursuits, touching off a summer filled with protests about alleged police brutality.

Haggerty was a passengers in a car driven by a friend that police stopped at 89th and Cottage Grove, then chased through the South Side, even after a supervisor ordered them to stop. The driver fled the first police stop fearing an arrest for drugs in his car.

Then-Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration subsequently agreed to pay $18 million–triple the amount it had ever paid to settle a wrongful death case–the family of Haggerty, a computer analyst shot after the second stop by an officer who said she thought she saw a shiny, silvery object she mistook for a gun in Haggerty’s hand.

Early the next morning, police officers chased Russ, a former Northwestern University football player ten days short of graduation, for three miles down Lake Shore Drive and the Dan Ryan Expy. after Russ refused their order to pull over for driving erratically.

Officer Von Watts IV smashed the tinted rear driver’s side window of Russ’ car before his gun accidentally discharged after Russ grabbed it, according to an internal investigation.

A jury subsequently ordered the city to pay $9.6 million to Russ’ son.

In 2004, another $3 million settlement was paid to a young woman who suffered permanent brain damage when she was the passenger in a car broadsided at Addison and Kedzie by a stolen GMC van that ran a red light while being chased by Chicago Police.

Eight years later, Chicago taxpayers were on the hook again–this time for $1.36 million–to compensate a man who suffered severe leg injuries in 2009 after his car was hit head-on by a vehicle being chased by officers who had been ordered to stop the pursuit.

In 2019 came another settlement stemming from a police chase — for $4.9 million. It went to the family of 27-year-old Chequita Adams, who was killed in June, 2017 in a high-speed chase that also killed off-duty Chicago Police Officer Taylor Clark.

The settlements on Monday’s agenda also include $250,000 for Michael Williamson, who was framed, incarcerated, then acquitted of charges fabricated by a Chicago police officer who shot and severely injured Williamson.

On. Jan. 1, 2014, Williamson was serving in U.S. Navy and attending a New Year’s Eve party at 144 W. 105th St. while home on leave.

When another partier went to the back porch and fired a gun into the air to celebrate the new year, CPD Officer Wilfredo Ortiz ran to the back of the residence and fired 11 shots from his handgun at the rear porch and through the open back door, severely injuring Williams and two his siblings.

Williamson’s lawsuit claims that, in an attempt to cover his tracks, Ortiz “fabricated evidence” and falsely claimed Williamson had a handgun pointed at the officer and refused a verbal command from Ortiz to drop the gun.

The lawsuit accused Ortiz of having “fabricated police reports, signed false criminal complaints and provided perjured and false testimony to prosecutors” to support felony charges against Williamson.

In 2016, Williamson was found not guilty of all criminal charges initiated by Ortiz.

Another settlement — for $175,000– tied to allegations of police wrongdoing goes to Lavelle Taylor, who claims he was framed for a fatal 1996 shooting by his brother.

Taylor’s lawsuit accuses a CPD detective — one with a long, documented history of fabricating evidence and coercing confessions — of coaxing a person at the shooting scene to falsely accuse Taylor of passing the firearm to his brother before the shooting.

The lawsuit accused the city of “turning a blind eye” to Detective James O’Brien’s repeated misconduct and encouraging a “code of silence” among CPD officers. Mayor Rahm Emanuel famously acknowledged that code the furor following the court-ordered release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video.

Read More

“The way that the Badgers are playing right now, it’s going to be a huge challenge,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. | Nam Y. Huh/AP

“I don’t think I can brush it under the rug, you know what I mean?” Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig said. “I still have a bitter taste in my mouth about it.”

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin vows it won’t overlook Northwestern as the 20th-ranked Badgers attempt to earn their sixth straight win and move a step closer to a Big Ten championship game berth.

The wounds from their 17-7 loss at Northwestern last season are still too fresh.

“I don’t think I can brush it under the rug, you know what I mean?” Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig said. “I still have a bitter taste in my mouth about it.”

Wisconsin was ranked 10th last year before losing to then-No. 19 Northwestern. That result sparked Northwestern to a Big Ten West Division title while starting a three-game skid for Wisconsin.

The situation facing both teams is a bit different heading into Saturday’s rematch (11 a.m. ESPN2, 720-AM).

Northwestern (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) hasn’t recaptured its 2020 magic as the Wildcats can’t stop the run and can’t settle on a starting quarterback. Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2) has bounced back from a slow start and is in a four-way tie for the West Division lead, though the Badgers must play the rest of the season without leading rusher Chez Mellusi after he injured his left knee last week.

“The way that the Badgers are playing right now, it’s going to be a huge challenge,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said.

Wisconsin enters Saturday’s game as a 24 1/2 -point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Even so, the Badgers aren’t taking anything for granted because they understand the history of this series.

Northwestern has won eight of its last 15 meetings with Wisconsin, though the Badgers have won six of the last seven matchups at Camp Randall Stadium.

“Both programs are really well coached,” Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn said. “Both want to play physical football. It’s kind of like a little bit of a rivalry. It might not be a trophy game, but it’s a rivalry game with it being a Big Ten West game, a lot of implications usually on the line.”

MISSING MELLUSI

Wisconsin will be playing its first game since losing Mellusi, who ranked fifth in the Big Ten in yards rushing (815) and second in carries (173).

The Badgers still have one of the nation’s more physical running backs in 6-foot-2, 238-pound freshman Braelon Allen, who has rushed for over 100 yards in each of Wisconsin’s last five games. But the loss of Mellusi hampers the Badgers’ depth at a position where they already had lost multiple players to transfers and dismissals.

MARTY TIME

Whether it’s because of the quarterback play or issues elsewhere, Northwestern continues to struggle on offense. The Wildcats rank 106th in the nation in yards per game and have used three starters behind center, with Andrew Marty getting the call in a 17-12 loss to Iowa last week after Hunter Johnson and Ryan Hilinski struggled.

“We’ve got three more weeks to go in the season,” Fitzgerald said. “Before I make any statements on what we need to do and where we need to go, I’m gonna let the final three chapters — and hopefully one more — be written. I’ll hold off until then.”

Marty, who replaced Hilinski during a blowout loss to Minnesota the previous week, completed 25 of 44 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. The senior was also intercepted three times in his second career start.

RUN DEFENSE DIFFERENCE

Wisconsin is allowing just 54.7 yards rushing per game and 1.9 yards per carry to lead the nation in both categories. Wisconsin also ranks first in total defense.

No Football Bowl Subdivision team has finished a season having allowed fewer than 55 yards rushing per game or 2 yards per carry since TCU’s 2008 squad accomplished both feats.

By contrast, Northwestern is giving up 224.9 yards rushing per game to rank 124th out of 130 FBS teams. The Wildcats give up 5.4 yards for carry, which is 121st nationally.

TAKING THEM DOWN

Linebacker Chris Bergin has been a bright spot for Northwestern. A team captain and a former walk-on, the senior leads the nation in both total tackles (110) and solo stops (69). Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal is averaging 1.71 tackles for loss per game to rank third among all FBS players.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND

During its first six games of the season, Wisconsin committed 15 turnovers and produced just four takeaways. Twelver of those turnovers came during the Badgers’ 1-3 start. Over their last three games, the Badgers have 12 takeaways and just three turnovers.

Read More

The first restaurant from wife and husband Chinh Pham and Son Do is a vibrant heritage bistro.Read More

AP

Kyle Rittenhouse’s lawyers contend the then-17-year-old had reason to fear for his life and acted in self-defense when he shot three men, killing two.

KENOSHA, Wis. — Less than three seconds elapsed between the time a protester in the streets fired a shot in the air and Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire with his rifle, a use-of-force expert testified for the defense Thursday at Rittenhouse’s murder trial.

John Black took the stand as part of an effort by Rittenhouse’s lawyers to show that the then-17-year-old had reason to fear for his life and acted in self-defense when he shot three men, killing two, during a turbulent night of protests against racial injustice in Kenosha last year.

The defense has suggested to the jury that the relevant timeframe for determining whether Rittenhouse’s use of force was reasonable consists of just a few minutes around the shootings.

Black said it took 2 minutes, 55 seconds, from the time the first man who was shot that night, Joseph Rosenbaum, chased Rittenhouse across a car lot to the time Rittenhouse approached police, after the shootings.

Prosecutors, for their part, have stressed a much longer window, saying the tragic chain of events occurred over hours, starting with Rittenhouse’s fateful decision to go to a volatile protest with a rifle.

Rittenhouse, now 18, committed the shootings during unrest that erupted in Kenosha in the summer of 2020 over the wounding of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer. He could get life in prison if convicted. Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot.

Rittenhouse had gone to Kenosha with an AR-style semi-automatic weapon and a medic bag in what the former police and fire youth cadet said was an effort to protect property after rioters had set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

The case has divided Americans over whether Rittenhouse was a patriot taking a stand against lawlessness or a vigilante.

On Wednesday, Rittenhouse spent most of the day on the stand giving his account of what happened in those frenzied minutes on Aug. 25, 2020, sobbing so hard at one point that the judge called a recess.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself,” he said.

In an account largely corroborated by video and the prosecution’s own witnesses, Rittenhouse said that Rosenbaum cornered him and put his hand on the barrel of his rifle, the second man hit him with a skateboard, and the third man came at him with a gun of his own.

His testimony was interrupted by an angry exchange in which his lawyers demanded a mistrial with no right to a retrial, accusing the chief prosecutor of asking Rittenhouse out-of-bounds questions.

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, though plainly mad at the prosecutor, did not immediately rule on the request. On Thursday, he pressed ahead with the case and said it would be ideal if the trial were to conclude on Friday.

Much of the testimony has centered on Rosenbaum’s killing, since that set in motion the bloodshed that followed.

Rittenhouse said Rosenbaum was carrying a chain earlier that night and had twice threatened to kill him.

“If I would have let Mr. Rosenbaum take my firearm from me, he would have used it and killed me with it,” he said, “and probably killed more people.”

During cross-examination Wednesday, prosecutor Thomas Binger sought to drive home the state’s contention that Rittenhouse created the dangerous situation in the first place.

“You understand that when you point your AR-15 at someone, it may make them feel like you’re going to kill them, correct?” Binger asked.

Read More

Ben Crawford portrays The Phantom, and Emilie Kouatchou portrays Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” in New York. | AP

The soprano late last month made her Broadway debut as Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” becoming the first Black woman in the role in the show’s 33-year history in New York.

NEW YORK — Rising stage star Emilie Kouatchou came close to quitting musical theater during the pandemic shutdown, worried about the future. She stuck with it and has now made Broadway history.

The soprano late last month made her Broadway debut as Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” becoming the first Black woman in the role in the show’s 33-year history in New York.

“I put so much pressure on myself up until then that that day I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to forget about it and live my best life up there,'” she says. “That night was like the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

A beaming Kouatchou at the curtain call on Oct. 27 virtually sprinted back onto the stage as the audience and her castmates cheered and hooted, holding her arms in the sky like a marathon runner snapping the finish-line tape.

“I think in New York, on Broadway, at this time in the world, Emilie’s performance just resonates that much more,” says Seth Sklar-Heyn, the show’s production supervisor and an executive producer who helped select her for the role.

Kouatchou was raised outside Chicago in Palatine, Illinois. She started performing at age 9 in community theater, once landing a role as a farm girl in “Oklahoma!”

“I initially started doing theater because I was really shy, and we had just moved to this town, Palatine. My mom wanted to get me out of my shell. And I did it and I loved it,” she says.

AP
Emilie Kouatchou portrays Christine in a performance of “The Phantom of the Opera” in New York.

She graduated from the University of Michigan’s musical theater program in 2019 and landed a gig in “Oklahoma!” at Broadway At Music Circus in Sacramento, California, and a Christmas show in Indiana. She made her off-Broadway debut just before the pandemic hit in 2020 as part of the ensemble of the musical “Unknown Soldier.”

The coronavirus pandemic brought to a halt all live theater for 18 months. The closure was especially difficult for young musical stars like Kouatchou, who didn’t have the connections or savings of stage veterans. “It was really hard, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” she says.

Kouatchou considered going to business school or getting certified as a yoga instructor. “I just didn’t know when I would be able to perform again and make money off of that. So I was definitely looking at other options.”

She had auditioned for “Phantom of the Opera” before — for a world tour in 2019 and right before the pandemic — but this time was her time. She auditioned in May, did callbacks through the summer and found out in August that she had landed the alternate Christine role.

Sklar-Heyn says the pandemic and the calls for racial justice gave the producers and creators — including composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh — a chance to turn calls for diversity and inclusion into action. One way was to expand the definition of Christine.

Leaning on Tara Rubin Casting, “Phantom” put out a casting notice on Instagram and other social media to create a virtual open call for Christines. From 4,000 videos submitted, they whittled it down to Kouatchou.

She shares the role with Meghan Picerno and takes the stage three times weekly in Broadway’s longest-running musical. She follows the West End production’s leading lady, Lucy St. Louis, who became the first Black actor to play the role when the show reopened in London this summer.

“One of the things that we set out to do in both productions was consciously, intentionally expand how we’ve approached the casting process,” Sklar-Heyn says. “It goes without saying that the past year — from a civic standpoint, from a political standpoint, from an emotional standpoint — has had a huge influence over Broadway as an industry coming back online.”

When she stepped on the stage, Kouatchou completed a full-circle. “The Phantom of the Opera” was the first Broadway show she ever saw, the prize during a high school drama club trip to New York. Now the role is hers.

“Singing the way that Christine sings was something that came naturally to me. I think it does sit well with my voice, it feels really good to sing. It feels natural, it feels easy,” she says.

Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, “Phantom” tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine. Lloyd Webber’s lavish songs include “Masquerade,” “Angel of Music,” “All I Ask of You” and “The Music of the Night.”

Kouatchou follows in the footsteps of such esteemed Christines as Sarah Brightman, Emmy Rossum and Sierra Boggess. But it’s important for Kouatchou that she not mimic anyone: “I really wanted to be Emilie as Christine.”

“It’s really liberating to be in a period piece where I don’t have to put on an air or raise my voice and sound like a young, distressed girl. I can just sound like me.”

Kouatchou’s Christine is the last of the three principal parts in Broadway’s “Phantom” to break the color barrier. In 2014, Norm Lewis became the first African American to slip behind the famous mask and two years later Jordan Donica did it for the role of Raoul.

“I feel bad it’s taken us this long,” says Sklar-Heyn. “At this point, I’m just embracing the fact that we are able to do it and looking forward to continuing to intentionally expand how and who people see on stage within our building.”

Since her historic step, Kouatchou’s Instagram account has been buzzing with messages from young people saying that she has inspired them.

“I love seeing those messages because it just makes it feel like even when I’m really nervous about the show, I’m doing something for a higher purpose.”

Read More

Quarterback Cam Newton will rejoin the Carolina Panthers. | Noah K. Murray/AP

Newton has struggled in recent years to get back to the playing level that earned him league MVP honors in 2015, in part due to shoulder and foot injuries.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract to bring back quarterback Cam Newton to the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2011.

The team announced the deal Thursday.

Carolina was light on quarterbacks after starter Sam Darnold suffered an incomplete fracture of his shoulder blade in last week’s 24-6 loss to the New England Patriots.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday that P.J. Walker is expected to start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Matt Barkley, signed off the Tennessee Titans practice squad, is slated to be his backup.

It’s unclear if Newton’s return will change that.

Rhule said Wednesday the team would “continue to explore all options” at quarterback. When asked specifically at the time about Newton, Rhule said he “didn’t want to discuss hypotheticals” and said his focus is entirely on the players are on the roster.

Newton has struggled in recent years to get back to the playing level that earned him league MVP honors in 2015, in part due to shoulder and foot injuries. Newton is 7-16 in his last 23 career starts with 20 interceptions and 17 touchdown passes. He has run for 12 TDs during that span.

He spent nine seasons with the Panthers, throwing for 29,041 yards with 182 touchdown passes and 111 interceptions. He also set an NFL record for most career touchdowns rushing by a quarterback during his tenure in Carolina.

Newton’s best season came in 2015 when he combined for 45 touchdowns — 35 passing and 10 rushing — and helped the Panthers reach the Super Bowl after going 15-1 during the regular season. However, Newton struggled in Super Bowl 50 and the Panthers lost 24-10 Von Miller. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Newton was 18 of 41 for 265 yards with no touchdowns and two turnovers in that game while being sacked six times.

He also was criticized widely for his decision not to jump on a loose ball after he’d been stripped of the football.

Newton was released prior to the 2020 season in a salary cap move after losing his final eight starts for the Panthers. Newton signed with the New England Patriots last season and started in 15 games. He continued to struggle throwing the football, with 10 interceptions with only eight TDs passing. He ran for 12 scores and was 7-8 as a starter.

Read More

Read More