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A man was fatally shot and a woman was wounded Thursday on the Far South Side. | Sun-Times file photo

A man and woman, 24 and 21, were in a traveling vehicle Thursday about 9:20 p.m. in the 13700 block of South Leyden Avenue when someone opened fire, Chicago police said.

A man was fatally shot and a woman wounded Thursday night in Riverdale on the Far South Side.

A man and woman, 24 and 21, were in a traveling vehicle Thursday about 9:20 p.m. in the 13700 block of South Leyden Avenue when someone opened fire, Chicago police said.

The man was shot in the neck, and the woman in the leg, police said.

Both were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where the man died, police said. The woman was in good condition, police said.

Initially, the shooting was believed to have happened in Dolton. After further investigation, it was determined the attack took place in Chicago, police said.

No one was in custody.

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Moon Alert

After 4 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Virgo.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You will enjoy schmoozing with others, especially partners and close friends because everyone is upbeat and enthusiastic. You might be introduced to someone who expands your world, because this person is well-traveled or more experienced. Good day to sign contracts.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Work-related travel is likely for some of you. No matter what you do, you will function well with groups and be happy to enjoy the company of others. This is an excellent day for business and commerce. You might also improve your health.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Accept invitations to party and enjoy social outings! Enjoy sports events and fun activities with kids. This might also be a good day to explore opportunities regarding financial speculation. It’s the perfect day to travel on a vacation.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Because family discussions will be positive, this is a good day to make plans about the family or anything to do with your home, especially if it includes renovations or expanding your home. This is also a good day for real estate discussions.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is the perfect day for a short trip. It’s also a wonderful day to schmooze because you will enjoy meeting different people and seeing new places. You’re eager to learn new information because you see that unusual ideas broaden your world. Plato said, “Knowledge is a function of being.”

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Business and commerce are favored today, which is why this is an excellent money day for you. You might see better ways to make money or to how to make money on the side. Likewise, you might be spending money “big” today. In fact, all your ideas are big and optimistic!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This is a great day for making plans for the future. You have big ambitions and are willing to entertain big ideas because you think all things are possible — and they are. As Richard Bach said, “Argue for your limitations and they’re yours.” (Truer words were never spoken.)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Quiet, behind-the-scenes ideas are percolating in a big way! If you have to sell these ideas to someone, people will listen because Venus is in your sign and that makes you friendly and attractive to everyone. (Incidentally, this is a great day to buy wardrobe goodies for yourself.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You will enjoy gatherings with others — meetings, classes or conventions. You want to learn new things and you want to spread your own ideas as well. Some of what you hear fascinates you today! That’s why everyone sounds interesting.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You will impress bosses, parents and important people today because your positive frame of mind and your confidence are admirable. You look like a winner and they are impressed. (It works every time.) They are also interested in your big ideas and ambitious plans.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is a fabulous day to travel, or study, or both, because you want to do anything that will expand your horizons and enrich your world. You will love to meet people from other cultures who can teach you new things. It’s an excellent day for business as well.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Financial transactions will go very well today, which means that now is the time to sign contracts and discuss shared property, taxes, estates, wills and inheritances. Whatever happens, you will come out looking good! (Laughing all the way to the bank.)

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Tessa Thompson (1983) shares your birthday. You are intelligent, lighthearted and friendly. (You know how to make your point.) You crave the stability of a loving home and a supportive relationship; nevertheless, you can be impulsive in love. This year is your final year of a nine-year cycle, which means you are taking an inventory and give yourself a report card. It’s time to wrap some things up.

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A few Oktoberfest beer events in Chicago, and details on the 2021 Dark Lord Day.Read More

A suburban school cancelled their homecoming dance Oct. 2, 2021 after two guns were found in a car parked on campus. | Adobe Stock Photo

Police searched an unoccupied vehicle parked in the school’s South Campus parking lot and found two handguns inside.

Lyons Township High School canceled a homecoming dance scheduled for Saturday night after police found two guns inside a vehicle in the school’s South Campus parking lot in Western Springs.

A fight following a football game at home against Proviso West High School led Western Springs police officers to find the handguns in an unoccupied vehicle in a parking lot near the athletic field, school officials said in a statement.

One gun was found under the vehicle’s driver’s seat and the other under a passenger seat, officials said.

Two people were taken into custody, the statement said. No charges have been announced and police did not immediately respond to a request for more information Saturday night.

Although police did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community, the homecoming dance at South Campus, 4900 S. Willow Spring Road, was subsequently canceled, officials said.

School officials added that “every attempt” would be made to reschedule the dance.

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Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

The players who are returning for the Cubs next season want to make sure winning remains at the forefront.

ST. LOUIS — The Cubs have had a down season and as they head into their last game of the season on Sunday and a fourth-place finish, winning is still on their minds. Even after the trade deadline that saw the team’s three biggest stars and several key contributors be traded, manager David Ross has spoken about his desire to keep a winning culture in his clubhouse as the team tries to grow.

While the Cubs have brought in several new players over the last two months, many of whom won’t be returning next season, players like Willson Contreras, Nico Hoerner, Kyle Hendricks and others will be returning next season.

The Cubs have done a lot of winning over the last seven years and as the team enters a rebuild, keeping the winning at the forefront is their focus.

“I think everybody’s bringing it on a nightly basis,” Ross said recently. “That’s all you can ask for is the energy. The intensity. How they prepare. The mindset. It really has been very consistent. I think that’s what you want out of a Big League club and these guys are doing a really nice job with that, for sure.”

“I try to create a winning culture and to make that the priority around here no matter what. If we ever lose sight of that, then we’re not doing ourselves, the team or the organization justice. We’re trying to win baseball games. I think when you change some of the personnel, you understand, maybe you’re going to take back. But maybe we took a step forward in some areas too.”

But it’s not just Ross who wants to make sure the down season that the Cubs has experienced this season doesn’t happen again. The players who are returning like Hoerner and Contreras want to make the losing doesn’t become part of the Cubs’ DNA.

“I’m not sure how long [the rebuild] is gonna take,” Contreras said. “I wish I did. Like I said, I’m here to help this team to win in as many ways as I can.”

“We’re part of this organization, but we still have the winning culture that we’ve set in stone here,” Hendricks said this week. “That’s all we’re trying to continue to have. And again, I think you just got to focus on the positives and the bright spots. Those guys that really took advantage of their opportunities [this season] was super cool to watch and hopefully there’ll be a part of it going into next year.”

Even young players like left-hander Justin Steele who have been around players like Hendricks and want to be part of the Cubs’ next playoff team. While his path could be as a starter or reliever, he says winning is the only thing on his mind.

“I’m going to leave that up to them,” Steele said. “I want to help this team win ballgames. That’s where I’m at. That’s my mentality. My eyes are on a World Series. I want to win a championship.

“If that’s in the bullpen, if that’s in the starting rotation, I’m gonna leave that up to the Cubs. They’re going to use me in the best way that they see fit. But, yeah, I’m gonna go out there and try to get outs. I’m here to compete.”

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Chicago White Sox’s Yoan Moncada, left, celebrates with third base coach Joe McEwing after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) | Nam Y. Huh/AP

The Astros clinched home-field with a 10-4 victory against the A’s

The White Sox will open the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Thursday, October 7.

Entering Saturday’s games, the Astros’ magic number to clinch home-field advantage was one, so either a win for them or a White Sox loss would decide where the first round of the playoffs would begin.

Though the Sox beat the Tigers 5-4 Saturday, the Astros won over the Athletics, so the Sox will start the best-of-five division series with two games in Texas.

When they last played in Houston June 17-20, the Sox were swept in four games. It’s worth remembering that they were without Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert at that time, and when the Sox played the Astros in Chicago in July, they won the series.

“You cannot predict any series in the postseason,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Obviously, we’d have liked to start at home. […] But if we were starting here, we’d do the same thing [and] play as hard as we can.”

Marshall doubtful for first round

Evan Marshall (flexor strain) threw a simulated game Saturday, but his status for the American League Division Series against the Astros is still uncertain.

Marshall has been on the I.L. since June 29, and how he feels on Sunday will determine if he is available once the division series starts on Thursday. The main test will be whether he feels prepared to throw on back-to-back days.

“The playoffs, you gotta be ready to throw five times in five games,” Marshall said. “Maybe that’s not on the table for round one. I hope it is, but if I continue to progress the way that I am and push through what I’m dealing with, maybe I’m able to help the team out for round two.”

Marshall’s velocity was consistently around 90-91 miles per hour, he said, and he expected that in a game he would be up a few ticks from there. Being 100 percent healthy isn’t going to be necessary for Marshall to be up for doing his part in the postseason.

“There’s certainly still something going on in there,” he said of his throwing arm. “But we’re at the time of the year now where biting my lip to get a couple of huge outs might be the way to go.”

La Russa happy with options

La Russa had outfielder Adam Engel in his starting lineup Saturday and intends to write him in again on Sunday. With the final two games of the regular season, La Russa is weighing his choices for his postseason rosters.

On that front, he has the good problem of a lot of options.

“Harder is when you don’t have options. That’s harder,” La Russa said. “When you have more options and you almost have too many good players, that’s a dream come true for a coaching staff and a manager.”

The Sox will have a team workout Tuesday, and La Russa said he plans to have a simulated game to give players like Engel and Andrew Vaughn the chance for some at-bats against taxi squad pitchers.

La Russa also wants to keep them ready because of what they can do with their gloves.

“They have offensive plusses, but defensively they’re exceptional,” La Russa said. “And this is baseball, where offense and defense, if you can do both, you’re extra valuable.”

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The White Sox take on Altuve and the Astros beginning on Thursday. | Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

A tantalizing coin flip of a best-of-five series between the Sox and Astros starts Thursday.

Lance Lynn has been there before. Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel and Yasmani Grandal, too. We’re talking veteran White Sox who know all about what it’s like to play for all the marbles.

Most of the key Sox have had merely a small taste of postseason baseball — last year’s best-of-three series loss to the Athletics.

But that’s why Tony La Russa — who turns 77 Monday — is large and in charge, right? Against the Astros in a tantalizing coin flip of a best-of-five divisional series that starts Thursday, La Russa’s vast well of playoff experience might be the best thing the Sox have going for them. Of course, Astros manager Dusty Baker, 72, has been around the block, too, as have 2017 champions-with-an-asterisk Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman, among others.

As the regular season winds to Sunday’s close, La Russa is liking the mix of his team.

“You’ve got some really special young guys and you’ve got some real high-quality veterans,” he said, “and the key is the young guys have the attitude that they don’t know it all and they’re willing to listen.”

Monstrous talent aside, it’s reason No. 1 La Russa believes Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez, to name two, are ready to meet the moment.

“You’d be surprised how often some young players have been patted on the back, told they’re special, not held accountable, [had] people making excuses for them. It creates an, ‘It’s not me, it’s him’ attitude. But not these guys. No way.”

Anybody else ready for this series to get cracking?

Here’s what’s happening:

SUN 3

Lions at Bears (noon, Fox-32)

After getting smacked around in Cleveland by the team with the fewest wins this century, can the Bears (ahem) step up in class and avoid getting smacked around by the team with the second-fewest wins this century?

Sun at Sky, Game 3 (noon, ESPN)

Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones, the WNBA’s MVP, walks into Wintrust Arena expecting nothing less than a pivotal “W” in a 1-1 semifinal series.

Cubs at Cardinals (2:15 p.m., Marquee)

It’s Game 162, Cubs fans. You might not have heard, but only one of these teams is headed to the playoffs.

Steelers at Packers (3:25 p.m., Ch. 2)

Believe it or not, the Steelers haven’t had to face Aaron Rodgers even once since he beat them in Super Bowl 45 way back on Feb. 6, 2011. That’s just not fair.

Buccaneers at Patriots (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)

Here it is: Tom Brady’s much-anticipated return to Gillette Stadium. Alas, injured wingman Rob Gronkowski won’t be with him.

MON 4

Raiders at Chargers (7:15 p.m., ESPN)

With the Chiefs starting slowly and the rest of the AFC West playing lights-out, here’s your most entertaining division in the NFL, folks.

TUE 5

Cavaliers at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)

Man, we can’t wait to see Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan and all the other Bulls newcomers out there strutting their stuff. Is the preseason opener too soon to start talking playoff ramifications?

WED 6

Sun at Sky, Game 4 (7 p.m., ESPN)

There’s a spot in the Finals on the horizon for one of these teams. Sure would be nice to see a Sun-set in a brilliant Sky.

THU 7

USMNT vs. Jamaica (6:30 p.m., ESPN2, Univision)

This World Cup qualifying match in Austin, Texas, is a gotta-have for the U.S. men, who enter tied for second in points with Canada and Panama — behind Mexico — in an eight-team group. Only the top three are assured of making it to Qatar.

White Sox at Astros, Game 1 (TBD)

Not to tell La Russa how to do his job, but we’d draw up a game plan that involves hitting the daylights out of ‘Stros starter Lance McCullers Jr.

FRI 8

White Sox at Astros, Game 2 (TBD)

Here we are, back on the playoff grind. We’d like to say the nerves have stopped jangling, but we’re only human. Fortunately, Abreu isn’t.

Pelicans at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)

So nice to see you again, Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple. Have we remembered to thank you for your immeasurable contributions to Chicago basketball?

SAT 9

Oklahoma vs. Texas (11 a.m., Ch. 7)

Nothing beats the scene inside or outside Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, where everything you could think of — pancakes, shrimp grits, Coke, the playoff hopes of the loser — is being fried on the Texas State Fair grounds.

Wisconsin at Illinois (2:30 p.m., BTN)

The Badgers are such an abject disaster offensively, first-year Illini coach Bret Bielema actually has a chance — and a dang good one — to knock off his old school.

Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (6:30 p.m., ACC)

We get goosebumps remembering how crazy cool it is when the Hokies take the field to “Enter Sandman.” Speaking of which, somebody please wake up the Irish offense.

Wild at Blackhawks (7:30 p.m., NBCSCH)

Here’s your preseason finale, Hawks fans, and you know what comes next — trying to be kind of good again.

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 3 (approx. 10 p.m., ESPN/Fox PPV)

Fury has a draw and a TKO in this heavyweight trilogy that was supposed to come to a screaming boil in July, but he tested positive for COVID-19. Not that Wilder’s camp believes it.

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NBAE via Getty Images

The idea that the Sun haven’t played their best game yet should terrify the Sky. They can’t afford to let the Sun get into a rhythm or take it to a Game 5, making Game 3 a must-win.

The Sky need to make a statement in Game 3 of their best-of-five WNBA semifinals series against the Connecticut Sun and that statement needs to be: we’re in control.

The team did its job stealing Game 1 in a double-overtime thriller that will go down in the WNBA history books thanks to Courtney Vandersloot. In Game 2, they looked like a team that could potentially steal another.

In the fourth quarter, exhaustion set in and attention to detail lapsed for the Sky leading to their 11-point loss and an even series.

If the series is even, the Sun are in control.

“When they get offensive rebounds it kind of demoralizes you a little bit,” Allie Quigley said. “We need to be tougher on the boards and executing on offense.”

The Sky went into the fourth quarter of Game 2 with a one-point lead over the Sun when Alyssa Thomas went into overdrive.

She scored 10 points in the fourth to finish with 15 points and 11 rebounds in her fourth game back on the court since tearing her Achilles in January. The Sky were ultimately outscored 21-9 in the last 10 minutes of the game.

The Sun had four other players finish scoring in double figures and none of them were WNBA MVP, Jonquel Jones.

“We still haven’t played our best game yet,” Brionna Jones said.

The idea that the Sun haven’t played their best game yet should terrify the Sky. They can’t afford to let the Sun get into a rhythm or take it to a Game 5, making Game 3 a must-win.

To secure the first one at home, Kahleah Copper and Azura Stevens will need to show up in a big way.

Copper is averaging 16.25 points in the playoffs for the Sky. In their single-elimination games against the Wings and the Lynx Copper had 23 and 16. Against the Sun, Copper was held to 13 points in both games but was impactful in other ways beginning with her defense.

Stevens meanwhile had 15 points and 8 rebounds against the Lynx and Sylvia Fowles. In both games against the Sun, she was less productive on offense her presence has been critical in freeing up Candace Parker in the post.

“I’m doing all that I can to compliment her as a player,” Stevens said ahead of the semifinals series. “Teams really key in on her. As someone that plays alongside her a lot, I’m always trying to think of ways I can help alleviate that pressure.”

Ahead of the series, the Sky were pegged as the underdog because of their seeding. The No. 6 in front of the team’s name doesn’t depict how well they match up against the Sun.

In their three regular-season games, the Sky gave the Sun three of their toughest matchups of the year. Part of that was because they were playing without Jones, another part is because of their depth.

Which presents the final aspect to the Sky’s success in Game 3, their bench.

The changes Wade made to his starting five following the Olympic break have paid dividends when their firepower is working. Sun coach Curt Miller called them an offensive juggernaut.

Against the Lynx, the bench combined for 20 points with Diamond DeShields scoring 14. In Game 1 of the semifinals DeShields, Stefanie Dolson and Astou Ndour-Fall had nine apiece. On Thursday those three combined for 13.

At their best, this team is getting everybody involved. That’s what they need Sunday afternoon if they are going to take control of this series back.

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