The San Diego Padres, desperate for starting pitching while battling for the playoffs, signed former Cubs Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta to a contract Monday for the rest of the season, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the deal.

The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

Arrieta, released last week from the Cubs, is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The Padres, who failed to acquire a starter at the trade deadline, are two men down with Yu Darvish (back) and Chris Paddack (oblique) going on the injured list.

Arrieta, who won the 2015 National League Cy Young award, badly struggled in his return with the Cubs this season. He yielded a 6.88 ERA in 86 1/3 innings, including eight runs in four innings in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has yet to last past six innings in his last 13 starts, and went four or fewer innings in his past five starts.

The Padres hold the second wild card spot, but are now only 2 1/2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds.

Read more at usatoday.com

Read More

An off-duty Chicago police officer exchanged gunfire with gunmen who shot at him after following him into a parking lot Monday in Portage Park. No one was hurt.

The 24-year-old was driving about 5:15 a.m. when he noticed he was being followed by a gray sedan, Chicago police said. The off-duty officer turned into a parking lot in the 3900 block of North Lamon Avenue and the sedan followed.

Two people got out of the sedan and fired shots, striking the 24-year-old’s vehicle, police said. The off-duty officer returned fire, and the attackers fled in the sedan.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made, police said.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability was investigating the off-duty officer’s use of force.

Read More

Read More

Read More

Joe Walton, the former New York Jets coach who built Robert Morris University’s football program from the ground up, has died. He was 85.

Robert Morris announced in an obituary posted on its website that Walton died Sunday. No cause of death was provided.

Walton, a native of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania — the hometown of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath — coached the Jets for seven years and went 53-57-1 while leading New York to the playoffs twice.

A former NFL tight end for Washington and the Giants, Walton caught 178 passes for 2,628 yards and 28 touchdowns in seven seasons. He retired from playing after the 1963 season and joined the Giants as a scout two years later. Walton was promoted to wide receivers coach in 1969, a role he would serve for five years before going to Washington as the running backs coach.

Walton became Washington’s offensive coordinator in 1978 and moved to the Jets in the same role in 1981. He replaced Walt Michaels as the Jets’ head coach in 1983 and had one of the more successful coaching runs for the franchise with the two playoff runs, but he was fired after a 4-12 season in 1989.

“Joe Walton poured his heart into this franchise for nine seasons,” the Jets said in a statement. “Joining us as an offensive coordinator before taking over as the head coach, Joe fielded some of the franchise’s most productive offenses and helped the teams to four playoff appearances during his tenure.

“He was a good man who cared for his players and loved the game of football.”

Walton closed out his NFL coaching career in Pittsburgh, where he served as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator for two years.

Among the quarterbacks Walton worked with during his NFL career were Joe Theismann, Fran Tarkenton, Norm Snead, Ken O’Brien and Richard Todd.

In 1993, Walton was hired as the first coach in Robert Morris history and built the program by recruiting players, hiring assistants and even buying equipment for the team to play in its first season in 1994.

It was the beginning of a 20-year run during which the Colonials won outright Northeast Conference championships three times — in 1997, ’99 and 2000 — and shared three others — 1996, ’98 and 2010. Walton also led Robert Morris to consecutive ECAC Bowl victories in 1996 and ’97.

Walton finished 114-92-1 at the school, was a four-time conference coach of the year and is one of just a few men to win 50 games as a head coach in both the NFL and college. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013. The football stadium is also named after him.

“Coach Walton took our football program from nothing to something special,” Robert Morris senior associate athletic director Marty Galosi said in a statement. “The fact that he built it from scratch and won early on was a bonus. He was a great coach, but he was a better man as well as a role model for all of the student-athletes and coaches that were under his tutelage. His legacy at RMU will last a long time.”

The son of former Washington guard Frank “Tiger” Walton, Joe Walton was an All-America selection at tight end twice at the University of Pittsburgh before being drafted by Washington in the second round in 1957.

Walton, who moved back to Beaver Falls in 1990, was married for 47 years before wife Ginger died in 2007. They had three children — daughters Jodi and Stacy, and son Joe — and six grandchildren. Walton also is survived by his second wife, Patty Sheehan Walton.

Read More

MADISON, Wis. — Perhaps no program savors a return to normalcy this season as much as Wisconsin.

The Badgers canceled two games last year due to a COVID-19 outbreak and dealt with numerous injuries during a three-game skid. The Badgers finished 4-3 with a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over Wake Forest.

“We have a lot to prove after the year we had last year,” safety Collin Wilder said. “It was disappointing as fans, disappointing as players.”

Now they’re back with an experienced roster that includes a half-dozen sixth-year seniors.

Wide receiver Kendric Pryor said he’s back for a sixth year in part because last season didn’t go the way the Badgers wanted. His decision also came from “knowing what we will be capable of this year.”

Wisconsin certainly is capable of bouncing back.

Linebacker Jack Sanborn leads a defense that ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed per game and tied for ninth in points allowed per game last season. Quarterback Graham Mertz should benefit from having Pryor and Danny Davis back after injuries caused both receivers to miss most of last season.

“It’s great dropping back knowing you’ve got depth at that position,” Mertz said. “I’m excited, man. I can go on for days about those guys. We’re ready.”

Wisconsin has enough firepower to regain its status as one of the top teams in the Big Ten. But the Badgers have higher goals.

They’re seeking their first Big Ten title since 2012 as well as their first College Playoff berth.

“We’ve been riding that wave and there’s been a dip,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “You look at what we did in the Orange Bowl (in the 2017 season) and then there was a dip. And then we get back to the Rose Bowl (in the 2019 season) and last year we had another dip. We have to eliminate those if we want to be talked about as that type of program.

“And eventually when you get to that game, you must win that game. You have to move past that. That’s the focus. You have to show up in those moments consistently. And it can’t be get close and come up short and everyone loves the effort you gave. You have to finish. That’s what great programs do.”

STAFF CHANGES

Wisconsin has some newcomers on the staff with Gary Brown as running backs coach, Hank Poteat as cornerbacks coach and former strength coach Ross Kolodziej taking over the defensive line.

Former offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph is now the offensive line coach. Coach Paul Chryst is calling plays again after ceding those responsibilities to Rudolph last season.

“I have all the trust and confidence in the world in Joe,” Chryst said. “But Joe and I sat down and said, ‘OK, what do we need to do to help this group be the best it can be?’ It was to fully commit Joe to the offensive line.”

MERTZ VS. COAN

Former Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan will get a chance to face his former teammates when the Badgers face Notre Dame on Sept. 25 at Solider Field.

Coan made 18 starts for Wisconsin from 2018-19 but injured his right foot in preseason practice last year as Mertz took over. Coan is now the starter for the Fighting Irish.

“I wish nothing but the best for him,” Mertz said. “Still do. I hope they have a great season. But when we play them, we’re going to be ready to go.”

OPTIONS AT RUNNNG BACK

Jalen Berger led the Badgers in rushing last season while running for 301 yards in only four games. The Badgers have more depth in the backfield this year, thanks to the additions of Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi and heralded freshman Braelon Allen.

THE SCHEDULE

Wisconsin jumps right into Big Ten competition by hosting Penn State on Sept. 4. The Badgers face Notre Dame on Sept. 25 and host Michigan a week later. The schedule includes home dates with Iowa (Oct. 30), Northwestern (Nov. 13) and Nebraska (Nov. 20) plus trips to Illinois (Oct. 9), Purdue (Oct. 23) and Minnesota (Nov. 27).

Read More

Pat Fitzgerald insisted things will be different for Northwestern this time.

The All-America linebacker who led the Wildcats on a fairytale run to the Rose Bowl in the 1990s and is the program’s winningest coach by a wide margin enters his 16th season confident there won’t be another first-to-worst crash.

From winning the Big Ten West in 2018 to finishing last in 2019, it was quite a decline. Just as dramatic was the turnaround that followed last year in the pandemic-shortened season. Northwestern jumped back to the top of the division, gave Ohio State a scare in the conference championship game, beat Auburn in the Citrus Bowl and finished 7-2 overall after going 3-9.

“I think the seniors, especially, are guys that learned through ’19,” said Fitzgerald, 106-81 since taking over in 2006. “In a year like ’20, everything was abnormal. I thought we handled it really well, and we executed what you have to do to be a championship level team. To continue that momentum on is more of our focus than what went wrong in ’19.”

When it came to keeping opponents out of the end zone, few teams were as effective as Northwestern. The Wildcats ranked fifth in the nation and led the Big Ten in scoring defense.

On offense, Northwestern ranked ninth in the league in yards per game and 10th in scoring.

The season opens with a Friday night home game against Michigan State on Sept. 3.

PRODUCTION LOST

Peyton Ramsey, who helped steady the quarterback spot last season as a graduate transfer from Indiana, is gone. So are the top two tacklers — linebackers Blake Gallagher and Paddy Fisher. Junior cornerback Greg Newsome II was drafted in the first round by Cleveland.

“We did a lose a lot of production last year,” All-American safety Brandon Joseph said. “I was blessed to have the opportunity to play with those guys last year, a lot of whom are on an NFL team or working to be on an NFL team right now. But we also have a lot of young talent that people haven’t seen.”

Joseph is back after a dominant freshman season.

BEHIND CENTER

If South Carolina transfer quarterback Ryan Hilinski starts the opener, it will be an emotional moment for him on more than one level.

His late brother Tyler’s final game for Washington State was against Michigan State in the 2017 Holiday Bowl. Tyler Hilinski took his life in 2018, and the family aims to destigmatize mental illness among college athletes through the Hilinski’s Hope Foundation.

Ryan Hilinski is competing with Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty for the starting job.

ON THE RUN

Northwestern figures to rely heavily in the run game on Cam Porter, after he led the team in rushing as a freshman. Porter ran for 333 yards — 4.1 per carry — and five touchdowns.

CALLING ON DEFENSE

Northwestern has a new defensive coordinator after hiring Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O’Neil to replace the retired Mike Hankwitz. O’Neil spent three seasons on Jon Gruden’s staff in Oakland and Las Vegas and was previously defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and the San Francisco 49ers (2016).

TAKE ME OUT TO …

The Wildcats are scheduled again to play at Wrigley Field, this time against Purdue on Nov. 20 after last year’s game against Wisconsin got moved to Ryan Field because of the pandemic. It will be Northwestern’s first game at the Friendly Confines since losing to Illinois there in 2010.

The matchup with Illinois had an unusual twist. Because of safety concerns, offensive plays ran only toward the west end zone near the third-base dugout. The east end zone in right field came within a foot or so of a heavily padded brick wall.

That shouldn’t be an issue this time following a massive renovation to the ballpark in recent years.

The rest of the schedule includes visits to Michigan and Wisconsin and the Illini.

Read More

Even if you didn’t inherit your grandma’s sewing expertise, there’s still hope for you, thanks to these Chicago fabric stores. Some of these shops offer classes from sewing basics to furniture upholstery. Others rival even NYC’s garment district when it comes to prices and selection. Shopping for a DIY project has never been sew simple. No matter what your next sewing project demands, stock up on the best fabrics, patterns and more at one of these 8 fabric stores in Chicago.

208 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604

Chicago Fabrics is a second generation family fabric business started in 1929. Specializing in African fabric, Chinese brocades, Italian leathers, upholstery fabric, and zippers . They have low prices, high quality, and a wide selection of leathers, fabrics, buckles, wool, vinyl, velvet, satin & other upholsteries. And they offer wholesale pricing at their online store!

555 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60607

Looking for the best selection of crafts and fabrics? Get inspired by their trend-forward craft assortment, including the latest in yarn, needle arts, paper crafting, jewelry making and cake decorating. Like to decorate your home? You’ll love their huge selection of floral, candles, ready-made frames and seasonal decor. And discover thousands of high-quality fabrics for apparel, quilting, home decor and more, plus sewing machines, tech and notions to sew like a pro.

Visit the online store here. 

612 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60607

New Rainbow Fabrics was established in 2007 with one mission: to bring a real, high quality Fabric Store to the Chicago area. They pride themselves in the superior experience of shopping in their Fabric Store and in the long-term relationships they’ve built with their customers. People come back to New Rainbow Fabrics because they know they’ll find what they’re looking for.

Visit the online store here.

1101 S Desplaines St, Chicago, IL 60607

Since 1903 Fishman’s Fabrics has done one thing. Buying and selling fabrics from the world’s finest textile mills. Four generations later they are still doing the same one thing. The family company boasts a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and showroom for both apparel and interior fabrics. Expect prices to be on the higher side for these fine textiles (but remember, you get what you pay for.) If you can’t make it to the store, Fishman’s will send you up to six samples for free, or place a custom order for you.

Visit the online store here. 

5612 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

The Leonard Adler & Co sells the highest quality garment construction supplies.  They carry the best products in the industry with a wide selection. They are the preferred supplier of garment construction supplies to all of the local design programs, schools and universities; buttons, garment closures, cutting room supplies, pattern papers, dress forms, labels, elastic, narrow fabric, fashion fabric, lining, interlining, notions, packaging, thread, zippers and more. It also has a small fabric selection, consisting of primarily menswear.

Visit the online store here. 

2121 W 21st St, Chicago IL 60608

Textile Discount Outlet has been in business for over 30 years with over 13 rooms and 75,000 sq feet of fabric at our Chicago (Pilsen) location. This fabric store houses apparel, drapery and upholstery fabrics, trimmings, tassels, rhinestones, notions, feathers, vinyl fabrics and more. Their services aim to please not only the retail public but also apparel & and interior designers, upholsters, school instructors, hotels, restaurateurs, and theaters.

Visit the online store here.

222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #626, Chicago, IL 60654

In 2017 Scalamandré and Stark Fabric & Wallcovering partnered to create The House of Scalamandré. Developing custom textiles has been a cornerstone since Franco & Flora Scalamandré started the company in 1929. Today they continue to honor their passion of creating unique fabrics for some of the most extraordinary properties around the world.They’ve got a lot to choose from; from essential plains and more intricate brocade designs.

Visit the online store here.

222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza #6-121, Chicago, IL 60654

The family’s commitment to innovation has helped the company transform from a small fabric house to a global leader, representing brands and designers from all over the world. Kravet Inc. owns Kravet, Lee Jofa, GP & J Baker, Brunschwig & Fils and Donghia — all high end fabric houses that specialize in style, luxury and exceptional design. With locations in North America and worldwide, Kravet Inc. offers the highest level of customer service, quality products and web technology for today’s design professionals.

Visit the online store here.

Featured Image credit: Pexels.com

Read More

Ready to escape the city for a fun day in the burbs? Check out Bolingbrook for your next adventure! With endless activities for the whole family, there’s something for everyone in this Southwest Suburb. Here’s a few ideas to kick off a fun weekend in Bolingbrook. 

Time for a fun night! This sports bar has it all: great food, good service, and live music! Don’t miss these upcoming bands: Dr Feelgood & Tooth n Nail on August 20th, Divas of Chicago on August 28th, and EclipseS on  September 25. 

This lively open-air, retail and entertainment destination offers 60+ shops and 12 restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating. Head to Macy’s, DSW, and H&M for some stylish finds. 

Need a break from the 80 degree weather? Lace up your skates and head to the Rocket Ice Arena. And don’t worry if you’re not a pro. The public skate offers a fun setting for beginners to give skating a try in a relaxed environment. The mood is friendly and the music rocks!

Don’t forget the SPF! Pelican Harbor is THE place for family fun with winding waterslides, an interactive sprayground, a lazy river, lap swimming, and more. Outdoor admission starts at $17 per person or $10 if you’re a Bolingbrook resident.

Putt putt on top of a 40 foot waterfall, navigate the racing rapids, tiptoe through Big Foot’s cave, and more at Wilderness Falls! After you’re done hitting golf balls, pop over to the batting cages to hit some baseballs. A fun day for the whole family. 

Looking to fish, kayak, or canoe? Then you must check out this 101-acre pristine preserve. Or if you’re more in the mood to hike, you can book it along a 0.32-mile trail connection to the paved, 3.26-mile Centennial Trail/Veterans Memorial Trail and a 0.57-mile connection to the 7.57-mile I&M Canal Trail. 

This isn’t your average theater. IPIC offers the perfect mix of entertainment and fine dining. Watch the latest flick in a reclined chair with gourmet bites and premium cocktail offerings. Now THAT’S how you do the movies. 

Bolingbrook Park District’s gorgeous trout farm makes for a perfect day of top-notch fishing!  The ponds at Hidden Lakes are well stocked before fishing derbies. Head out between sunrise and sunset to snag a keeper. 

This sprawling library just celebrated their 50th anniversary! They’re hosting a variety of events and opportunities throughout the year. From arts and crafts to sewing and knitting, there are lots of fun activities happening everyday. Check out their calendar here. 

Grab your friends and order a couple rounds of short stacks. This restaurant is the perfect location to catch up and chow down. Good luck choosing between fluffy frittatas, decadent crepes, french toast, and more!

Located in Hangar One at Clow International Airport, this 6,000 square foot museum has aircrafts and machines from World War I and the Cold War. Prepare to be WOWed by well-preserved pieces of history and hands-on fun!

This nine-hole, executive length course features stunning fairways and water on seven holes. Twenty-one sand traps lay in wait and will challenge even expert players. Watered tees, fairways and greens offer gorgeous turf and reward well-played shots.

Featured Image Credit: Bolingbrook Promenade on Facebook

Read More

The head of the Chicago Park District Monday announced the “emergency suspension” of two “high-level” district employees, as well as seven others, in the wake of an investigation into a long-standing culture of sexual harassment and assault targeting female lifeguards.

Without naming them, Chicago Park District Supt. Mike Kelly said the high-level district employees are the assistant director of beaches and pools, and the beaches and pools manager. Both were placed on suspension Aug. 13, based on information Kelly said he received from Park District Inspector General Elaine Little.

In total, the district has taken disciplinary action against 42 employees since an investigation began in March 2020.

“I understand the frustration with the time it has taken to look into these complaints,” Kelly said, talking to reporters at the South Shore Cultural Center. “Investigations never happen fast enough, but I assure every person who has been impacted by this case that this is top of mind to me.”

About six female lifeguards at park district pools and beaches were sexually harassed and assaulted by male co-workers, with some of the harassment taking place in front of children, according to an internal investigation made public earlier this summer.

The explosive allegations, including an attempted rape, were in a report that hints at a cover-up.

All three male lifeguards who were accused no longer work for the park district. Two resigned during the investigation to avoid being fired. The third resigned earlier this year.

Of the six victims, two have filed police reports. The others, including the victim of the attempted rape, did not file criminal charges, fearing retaliation.

Kelly also announced the creation of a new “office of protection” to allow for better reporting and assessment of any future complaints.

Chicago Park District Supt. Mike Kelly made the announcement during a news conference Monday at the South Shore Beach House.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Read More