An electronic device that warns of divers of diminishing air supplies would have benefitted ChicagoFire Department diver Juan Bucio the night tried to rescue a boater who’d fallen in the Chicago River, according to a new report.
Bucio ran out of air and failed to switch to a backup supply in May of 2018.
He’d just surfaced and signaled he was OK before pulling the mask off a fellow diver and disappearing below the water.
Among the key recommendations in the report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was that divers use dive computer technology that provides audio and visual air level alerts.
“An audible alarm may have helped the diver know his air pressure without having to read a gauge in near-zero visibility water using a flashlight,” the report states. “It is unclear if the diver was able to read the gauge correctly in the zero-visibility water.”
The Chicago Fire Department does not use dive computers, the report states.
A fire department spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
In addition to a lack of air from his depleted tank, an autopsy found a rare heart condition that can commonly go unnoticed until a major health event was a key factor in his death.
Bucio was “distressed due to the heart condition,” a Cook County medical examiner’s spokeswoman said after his autopsy.
The NIOSH report, which is dated June 28 but was released Wednesday, also states that communication between fire and police marine units at the scene was lacking and could have benefited from costly but effective military-grade equipment.
“At the incident scene, the communication between the fire and police marine units took place by either face-to-face communications or a patch-through dispatch. No interoperability occurred with the radios at the incident scene. This impacts real-time communications and the command structure,” the report stated.
Communications between divers and boats was also unreliable, it said.
“Better communications are needed between the fire and police marine units. They need to ensure they have the proper equipment (radios, etc.) and a better real-time understanding of the plan and operational situation,” according to the report.
The moment Bucio went under the water was caught on video by WBBM-TV (Channel 2), showing confusion in the moments before fellow divers located him.
“During the interview process, several interviewees had mentioned that the wireless communications equipment used by Fire and Police Marine Units was subpar. The communications between divers and the boats were unreliable,” the report states.
Bucio, a 46-year-old firefighter who specialized in diving, lost contact with his partner as they attempted to rescue 28-year-old Alberto Lopez, who fell overboard while boating with friends in the river’s South Branch.
Lopez’s body was found in the river four days later by his friends.
Bucio was recovered from a depth of 17 to 19 feet, about 10 to 15 minutes after sinking. His diving equipment was intact, his mask sealed on his face.
Paramedics performed CPR but Bucio was “pulseless” on the way to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The review of Bucio’s diving equipment showed it appeared “used but well maintained” and “functioned as designed.”
LOS ANGELES — AEG Presents, a major tour and festival promoter, announced that COVID-19 vaccines would be required for concertgoers at its clubs, theaters and festivals.
The vaccine requirement is set to go into full effect no later than Oct. 1, the company said in a news release on Thursday. The decision comes as coronavirus cases are surging throughout the United States.
AEG is either an owner or a partner in Webster Hall and Brooklyn Steel in New York, The Roxy in Los Angeles, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Coachella Music & Arts Festival.
The company said the policy would also apply to event staff and anyone who enters their venues or festivals. Leading up to Oct. 1, AEG said it would implement a policy of showing proof of vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours of a show date.
Jay Marciano, chief operating officer and chairman, cited the delta variant and vaccine hesitancy as reasons for the policy.
“We also are aware that there might be some initial pushback, but I’m confident and hopeful that, at the end of the day, we will be on the right side of history and doing what’s best for artists, fans, and live event workers,” Marciano said.
If Todd Ricketts is curious — and I doubt he is, but let’s pretend — about how history might someday view him, he can get a hint by looking at the reputation of a previous Cubs co-owner, Charles Weeghman.
“The Quick Lunch King” made a fortune selling fast eats to harried downtown workers and bought the Cubs in 1916 when they played on the West Side. He moved the team to its current location at the corner of Clark and Addison. He didn’t own it long: the economy went bad and he brought in partners, including William Wrigley.
I wish I could say Weeghman is remembered for that or for starting the practice of allowing fans to keep baseballs batted into the stands rather than having ushers retrieve them.
But what really radiates across the years about Weeghman is that he was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan. On Aug. 16, 1921, — 100 years ago Monday — the largest rally of the Klan ever on Illinois soil took place on Weeghman’s Lake Zurich farm.
How does that balance with Todd Ricketts — not to be confused with his brother, Cubs Chairman Tom, more circumspect about his politics — being the finance chairman of the Trump Victory Committee? Plus various fundraisers held for the toxic fraud, white supremacist and fomenter of rebellion against the United States. suppose that depends whether we are at the end of our nation’s shredding of its democratic values and traditions or only the beginning. The Klan also tried to keep minorities from voting, but Trumpers are more methodical about it.
In Ricketts’ defense — I try to be fair — the family isn’t all evil. His mom, Marlene, gave $3 million to an anti-Trump campaign. Plus there is an element of prejudice in every human heart.
There is a moment in the Klan rally on Weeghman’s farm a century ago that deserves to be shared, even savored.
Rain fell steadily as the autos pulled onto the meadow on a 250-acre farm near the intersection of what is now U.S. 12 and Old Rand Road, between Lake Zurich and Barrington. Men muddied their white costumes rescuing vehicles from ruts, but most of the cars finally came together just before midnight to form a circle nearly a quarter of a mile in diameter. Headlights were turned toward the center. Flames from two bonfires, their wood soaked with fuel, leaped into the air. Some 10,000 men draped in white, peering through eyeholes in hoods, sang “Onward Christian Soldiers” as they picked up torches and marched into the circle to form the shape of a cross. About 2,300 blindfolded men were led by torch-carrying comrades to a makeshift altar, where they were to undergo initiation rites.
“My terrors and Klansmen,” Imperial Wizard William Joseph Simmons bellowed. “Make ready. Prepare the sacred altar.”
Then the kneeling supplicants were questioned. Oakley writes:
“Do you believe in and will you faithfully strive for the eternal maintenance of white supremacy?”
“Yes” came back the 2,300-voice response.
“Are you a native-born or naturalized white, Christian American citizen?”
Simmons was taken aback by the smattering of “noes.” A handful of blindfolded men stood up to ask if it was OK to be Jewish. The Illinois Klan officials standing at Simmons’ side whispered back and forth until one stepped into the crowd, gathered up the non-Christians, and led them to a corner of the pasture to inform them that their membership applications had been rejected.
Don’t you just love that? The image of a knot of Jewish Chicagoans deciding to spend a rainy Tuesday night up in Lake Zurich, pledging allegiance to a group that views them as subhuman?
In all times, there are people who know what is right and do it. And people — of all races, religions and ethnicities — who become lost and embrace what is morally wrong. Maybe history will forgive Todd Ricketts for taking money from Cubs fans and using it to underwrite sedition. Odds are, like Charlie Weeghman, he will become a mostly forgotten figure whose moment of glory, the 2016 World Series, is mitigated in the next sentence by his bankrolling the humiliation of our country. Time will tell.
Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.
Michael Wordly makes his Paramount Theatre debut as Lola in “Kinky Boots.”Thomas J. King
What: Live performances return for a new season at the Paramount Theatre with Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s high-kicking “Kinky Boots.” This first regional production of the Broadway musical, directed by Trent Stork, stars Devin DeSantis as Charlie, the shoemaker attempting to save his failing shoe factory, and Michael Wordly as Lola, the fierce drag queen who shows him the way.
When: Aug. 18-Oct. 17
Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora
Tickets: $36-$74
For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit paramountaurora.com.
What: Those crazy characters in blue return for more goofy fun when Blue Man Group reopens on Aug. 18. The show, which encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner child, is a combination of art, music, comedy and technology.
When: Aug. 18 – ongoing
Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted.
Tickets: $49-$89
For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blueman.com.
‘Higher and Higher: A Rock ‘n’ Soul Party
Chester Gregory Amy Boyle Photography
What: The Marriott Theatre concert series presents “Higher and Higher: A Rock ‘n’ Soul Party” featuring musical theater artist Chester Gregory performing the hits of greats like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown and more. The star of “Motown: The Musical,” “Hairspray” and “Dreamgirls,” Gregory first won acclaim locally for his outstanding portrayal of Jackie Wilson in The Jackie Wilson Story at Black Ensemble Theater.
When: Performances are at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 and 3 p.m. Aug. 15
“Why Dogs Don’t Talk” will stream beginning July 27 at First Folio Theatre. D. Rice Photo
When: July 27-Aug. 8
Where: Online
What: First Folio Theatre presents an online production of David Rice’s adaptation of a short story by Dean Monti. Filmed in an Evanston apartment, the comedy ponders the question: Is man a dog’s best friend? The cast includes Landree Fleming as Hubert the dog and August Forman as the bewildered dog owner Mel. Tickets: a sliding scale of pay-what-you-can.
What: For its latest performance, Trap Door Theatre, the company dedicated to staging challenging yet obscure works, has devised a piece using text from the works of Chuck Mee, Gertrude Stein and Matei Visniec. In the absence of humans, the stage has gained the ability to put on mechanized performances to please only itself. In a series of theatrical dares, the actors of Trap Door attempt to retake the stage, confronting notions of live performance, automation and the cycles we perpetuate. Devised and directed by Skye Fort and Mike Steele. Tickets: $10, $15.
What: Live comedy shows have returned to The Annoyance, including a one-night performance of “Messing With a Friend” (9:30 p.m. July 22, $10) featuring improv great Susan Messing performing with another favorite, Rachael Mason. Also on the lineup is Annoyance artistic director Mick Napier’s new solo sketch revue, “System of a Clown” (8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through September, $10, $20), plus returning favorites including “Green Show Live,” “Trigger Happy,” “Hitch*Cocktails,” “Cigarette Sandwich” and more.
What: The comprehensive festival of tap returns under the direction of Jumaane Taylor. This year’s 30th anniversary event offers three weeks of classes and performances. An array of performers will take to the stage at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth (July 27, Aug. 3, 10; $30, $60), Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand (July 28, free), DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place (Aug. 7, $30) and the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago (Aug. 14, $30).
“Whale Song” in the “Sea Change” seriesChristopher Andrew
When: July 15-25
Where: BRNDHAUS PL-ZEN, 1727 W. 21st.
What: Cabinet of Curiosity presentsan outdoor series of puppet shows that explore the power of the sea and the feminine divine. The wild and strange pieces are mostly written by emerging female playwrights and lyricists: “Whale Song” by Lindsey Noel Whiting, “A Mermaid’s Tail (If There’s a God)” by Bethany Thomas and Liz Chidester, “More” by Kasey Foster and “The Lookout” by Seth Bockley.
Bernell Lassai (left) as Ariel and Kevin Theis as Prospero in “The Tempest.”Maia Rosenfeld
When: July 15-Aug. 21
Where: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest, Oak Park
What: Oak Park Festival Theatre returns to outdoor performances at Austin Gardens with what is thought to be one of Shakespeare’s final masterpieces, a story of shipwreck, romance and magic. Artistic director Barbara Zahora directs, and the cast includes Kevin Theis as Prospero, Bernell Lassai as Ariel, Matt Gall as Caliban and Deanalis Resto as Miranda.
Jan Slavin (left) and Carla GordonMadKap Productions
When: To Aug. 22
Where: Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln, Skokie
What: MadKap Productions and Orchard Street Productions present Jay Kholos’ new musical set at a fictional TV cooking show where everyone’s favorite Jewish grandmother entertains with an old-fashioned variety revue with dancers, music and comedy. Chicago comedian Jan Slavin and Gold Coast Cabaret Award-winner Carla Gordon alternate in the role of the Bubbie.
The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.Michael Doucet
What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.
When: Ongoing
Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph
What: The Artistic Home presents “Summer on the Patio,” a seasonlong event which invites theatergoers to share in the creative workshop process via free staged readings and open rehearsals of three contemporary plays: Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud” (To Aug. 27), Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound” (To Aug. 28) and Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” (To Aug. 22).
Where: It all takes place at the company’s new space at 3054 N. Milwaukee with rehearsals in July and staged readings in August.
What: Brightside Theatre and the Naperville Park District present “Summer in the Parks: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein.” The free hourlong revue features tunes from the iconic composers’ musicals including “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma,” “The Sound of Music” and more.
When: Performances are at 7 p.m. June 30, July 21 and Aug. 11
Where: Wagner Family Pavilion in the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville.
Donnetta Lavinia Grays in “Where We Stand”Joan Marcus/WP Theater
What: The final entry in the Steppenwolf NOW virtual season is “Where We Stand,” a storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability written and performed by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Through poetic verse and music, the drama challenges our ability to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it. The filmed play captures a performance originally presented at Baltimore Center Stage co-produced with WP Theater.
When/tickets: A $75 ticket includes all six of the productions in the NOW series available online through Aug. 31
Kamal Angelo Bodden in “Ride Share”Michael Halberstam
What: In Reginald Edmund’s“Ride Share,”a co-production of Black Lives, Black Words and Writers Theatre, everything in Marcus’ (Kamal Angelo Bolden) life is going smoothly until he’s laid off from his job. To make ends meet, he becomes a ride share driver. Edmund says the drama, directed by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, “takes us on a journey into the depths of the Black male experience in America.”
What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).
When: Performances times are 6 p.m.
Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.
Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective
What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective presents “Emerge,” a cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.
Welcome to our highlights for concerts, festivals and live music in Chicago. From free shows at Millennium Park to large festivals like Ravinia and Lollapalooza, and intimate shows at small local venues, our guide has all the latest music entertainment. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on concerts and events.
Andrew Sa and Local Universe
Andrew Sa Alexa Viscius Photo
What: The Millennium Park Music Series continues with Andrew Sa and Local Universe. A rotating cast of musicians of different backgrounds and talents share a microphone with country crooner Sa backed by an all-star band. Guest vocalists are Kelly Hogan, Liam Kazar, Sima Cunningham and Ohmme, Alex Crelle, Connie, and Hawk Colman. The musical event concludes with the debut of a sprawling film, “Andrew in Anotherland,” that utilizes Chicago artists and filmmakers to create an unearthly adventure. When: From 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 16
Puerto Rico Symphony conductor emeritus Roselin Pabon.Provided
What: “San Juan to Chicago: Un Puente Musical” is a collaboration between the Chicago Philharmonic and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. The concert, recorded live in June at the Harris Theater features Puerto Rico Symphony conductor emeritus Roselin Pabon leading the Chicago Philharmonic orchestra and Puerto Rican soloists. Pieces performed feature the music of great Puerto Rican composers such as Rafael Hernandez, Tito Henriquez, Jose Ignacio Quinton, Antonio Caban Vales plus traditional Puerto Rican music.
When: The concert streams free for 60 days beginning August 17
There will be plenty of classical music at the Thirsty Ears Festival.Courtesy Access Contemporary Music
What: Access Contemporary Music presents the 6th annual Thirsty Ears Festival, Chicago’s only classical music street festival. Highlights include a special screening of ACM’s Sound of Silent Film Festival, a performance by five-bass ensemble the Growlers, new premieres by five Chicago composers and a classical remix from art-rock band Origin of Animal. There’s also vendors, food and children’s activities.
What: Blending fierce, massive vocals and raw bluesy guitar with introspective lyrics and electronic textures, Elizabeth Moen “showcases both strength and vulnerability, reminding us that these traits often go hand in hand,” says NPR Music. A native of Vinton, Iowa, now residing in Chicago, Moen plays a hometown show before heading out on tour opening for Ani Di Franco. Reno Cruz and Nathan Graham open.
When: beginning at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 14
Where: The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western.
Tickets: $12. For updated information regarding the venue’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit emptybottle.com.
Brandi Carlile
Brandi CarlileNeil Krug Photo
What: While much music is returning to live stage shows, there are a few events still on the streaming schedule and Brandi Carlile’s “Echoes Through the Canyon” a livestream from Washington’s legendary Gorge Amphitheatre is one not to be missed. The Grammy-winning artist is joined by friend and collaborator Sheryl Crow and emerging songwriter-musician Amythyst Kiah. The performance is in advance of Carlile’s highly anticipated new album “In These Silent Days” due out Oct. 1. She says the new songs were written during “a time of such uncertainty and quiet solitude…This album is what drama mixed with joy sounds like. It’s resistance and gratitude, righteous anger and radical forgiveness.”
What: Platinum-selling artist Lindsey Stirling, known for her futuristic violin-driven electronic music and unique live show; her music incorporates elements of classical music, hip-hop, pop and dubstep. Also on the bill: electro-pop artist Kiesza.
What: Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaretreopens with Joan Curto’s “Back in Business” (8 p.m. Aug. 5-8, $30), featuring vocalist Curto with Beckie Menzie (piano), Jim Cox (bass) and Tim Davis (percussion). Other performers in the Cabaret include Cathy Glickman and Anna Palermo with “Judy and Liza, Don’t Tell Mama” (8 p.m. Aug. 14, 7 p.m. Aug. 15, $25) a tribute to Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli; singer-songwriter Kelly Tansor (8 p.m. Aug. 19, $10) performing songs by Billy Joel, Regina Spektor, Olivia Rodrigo and more; and David Edelfelt with “Broadway Baritones: The Men, the Music, the Magic” (8 p.m. Aug. 20-22, $25). Cabaret shows require advance tickets and a two drink minimum for each show. The Piano Bar has a variety of performances each week that do not require advance tickets. Masks optional for the vaccinated; the non-vaccinated must wear a mask.
What: The Departments of Cultural Affairs and Special Event’s tribute to house music continues with House City, a new series of free events popping up throughout the summer in the neighborhoods that helped create the house music genre over 35 years ago.
When/Where: vent dates and communities are July 23 in South Shore, July 31 on the Southeast Side, Aug. 14 in Humboldt Park, Aug. 28 in Englewood, Aug. 29 in Lakeview, Sept. 12 in South Shore and Sept.19 in Bronzeville. DJs playing include Traxman, Lori Branch, Deeon, Elbert Philips, Duane Powell and more.
What: The Green Mill has reopened and that means the return of Chris Foreman, a Friday night fixture at the popular jazz club. Foreman, a jazz organist blind since birth, is a master on the Hammond B3 and regarded as Chicago’s best. His playing is a blend of blues-gospel and jazz honed in his professional experience, which has included work with Hank Crawford, Albert Collins, Bernard Purdie, The Deep Blue Organ Trio and The Mighty Blue Kings.
What: The Ravinia Festival, the oldest outdoor music festival in the country, returns with reduced capacity. As usual, the lineup is a varied slate of music from classical to pop, jazz and rock. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns for a six-week run with conductor Marin Alsop leading seven concerts in her first season as Ravinia’s chief conductor. Also on the roster are: Garrick Ohlsson,Cynthia Erivo, Counting Crows, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, John Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band, The Roots, John Legend, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.
Adrian Dunn will conduct the Chicago Philharmonic in “Redemption,” June 29-Aug. 27.Courtesy of AdrianDunn.com
What: Chicago Philharmonic returns with a three-concert outdoor chamber series at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts parking lot, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. The opening performance at 7 p.m. June 27 is “Chicago Phil Brass: Brass with Sass” and features Edward Elgar’s “Chanson du Matin,” Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” Fats Waller’s “That’s a Plenty,” Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” and more. There’s also a free streaming concert “Redemption” (June 29-Aug. 27), which features spirituals and gospel songs conducted by Adrian Dunn.
What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).
When: Performances times are 6 p.m.
Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.
Tuesdays on the Terrace
“Tuesdays on the Terrace” at the MCA in Chicago.Copyright MCA
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays June 1-Aug. 31
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden, 220 E. Chicago
What: Tuesdays on the Terrace returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden. The popular jazz concert series features an array of Chicago jazz musiciansFirst up on June 1 is Alexis Lombre’s Ancestral Awakenings. Free with advance reservations. Visit mcachicago.org.
Federal prosecutors Monday charged Jamel Danzy for allegedly acting as the so-called straw purchaser of the Glock semi-automatic pistol used to kill French.
A Chicago Police officer who was seriously wounded in a shooting during a traffic stop in West Englewood that killed his partner over the weekend underwent surgery Tuesday at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
This time it was officers in the same unit as slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French who were meeting at McCormick Place. They objected to a mayoral visit and complained to Supt. David Brown about an overall lack of support.
“A call was made under those circumstances to focus on the family. [First Deputy Supt.] Eric Carter made the right call. I support what he did,” the mayor said.
First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter infuriated officers gathered at the Cook County medical examiner’s office on Saturday night. They were giving their slain colleague, Ella French, a final send-off. Ignoring a sacred ritual, Carter impatiently declared, “We don’t have 20 minutes for this s—.”
Emonte Morgan, 21, and his brother, Eric Morgan, 22, face a litany of felony charges in the Saturday shooting in West Englewood that killed French and left her partner fighting for his life at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Durbin wrote, “The straw purchase that led to Officer French’s death is a call to action for the Justice Department’s Strike Force.”
“The killing of anybody is wrong. … The problem is, when the police do it, it’s overlooked. But when they get killed, it takes two-point-five-seconds to find and catch somebody,” said Ald. Jeanette Taylor.
About 200 people — fellow officers along with community members and supporters — prayed and released balloons near the West Englewood area, where Chicago Police Officer Ella French, 29, was killed Saturday night.
Emonte Morgan, 21, and Eric Morgan, 22, face a litany of felony charges in the Saturday shooting that killed Officer Ella French and left her partner fighting for his life at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Jamel Danzy was arrested Sunday and is being held in federal custody pending a detention hearing set for Wednesday afternoon. His lawyer noted during a court hearing Monday that he has no criminal history.
“Our police officers have been under siege, under-appreciated and thrown under the bus for the last year and a half,” said Ald. Matt O’Shea, whose 19th Ward on the Far Southwest Side is home to scores of police officers.
“He’s still fighting for his life and we’re hoping — not only that he survives but that he recovers,” said the father, a retired police officer himself. “It is our darkest moment. We’re trying to get through it.”
The officers were waiting inside at the University of Chicago Medical Center when the mayor approached them and they turned their backs on her, sources said.
The slain officer was identified by the department as Ella French, on the force since April 2018. Officers involved in the incident were wearing body cameras, and much of what happened was caught on video, CPD Supt. David Brown said Sunday.
Some two weeks after the opening day of Lollapalooza, the music festival shows no signs of having been a “super spreader event,” the city’s top public health official said Thursday.
Of the approximately 385,000 people who attended, 203 attendees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady said Thursday during a news conference at City Hall. As of Wednesday, none of those who tested positive have had to be hospitalized or have died, Arwady said.
“The bottom line is we’ve not seen anything that has surprised us related to the Lollapalooza outbreak,” Arwady said.
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public HealthAshlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
Of the 203 cases, 127 were among vaccinated attendees and 76 were among unvaccinated attendees, Arwady said.
Fifty-eight of the cases are Chicago residents, she said; of those, 13 people reported attending Lollapalooza on or after their symptoms began, Arwady said.
“This is a really important reminder that we need everybody in Chicago not to ignore symptoms, assume it’s a summer cold, regardless of your vaccination status because we know the vaccines aren’t 100% protective,” she said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
There are some organizations that are so phenomenally amazing that I would give them a million dollars if I ever won the Powerball jackpot. One of these is Wildlife SOS.
I first learned about this India-based organization and its wonderful work when its founders, Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, came to speak to my law school class in Portland in 2012. Kartick exuded such warmth and positivity that I knew this was a very special soul.
Wildlife SOS rescues elephants, bears, and other captive wild animals from lives of misery in circuses and roadside attractions throughout India. The group earned their fame mostly from high-profile rescues of long-suffering elephants. There are few protections for entertainment animals in the U.S; fewer still in India. Captive “begging” elephants, most owned illegally, are made to give rides to tourists and perform unnatural tricks, pounding hot tarmac day in and day out. These animals were only a commodity to the callous humans who owned and kept them.
Many of the elephants the group rescues are advanced in age and have been tortured by their handlers for many decades. Nina, the latest rescue, is 60 years old! They come to Wildlife SOS often emaciated from being underfed and undernourished most of their lives.
Wildlife SOS is a beacon of hope for these gentle and intelligent creatures. The heroes who work there not only physically rescue and remove them from their bondage and transport them to their rehabilitation facility (a feat involving the logistical precision of a military operation and often physical risk to the rescuers and elephant), but a team of skilled and caring veterinarians treat their myriad injuries and ailments, many involving the feet, using laser and other state-of-the-art technology.
Like Nina and Suzy, some of the aged elephants come to them completely blind, or with no teeth.
This is literally the first time in these animals’ lives they have known the kind touch of a human hand and not the bullhook. The first time they have walked on grass, rubbed against a tree trunk, splashed in the water, or played in the mud, natural activities essential to elephants’ wellbeing. At the Wildlife SOS sanctuaries they receive a steady diet of melon, bananas, and sugarcane and even “rescue-versary” cakes made of their favorite fruits and dates. They are protected and pampered until the end of their days.
Most importantly, for the first time they have others of their species to socialize and bond with, and some even become inseparable pals.
Yes, there are scores of charities that work to save elephants in Africa and Asia from poaching. But relatively few in America have heard of this wonderful organization. They got worldwide press seven years ago when they rescued Raju, a half-century old abused elephant, with an ensuing legal battle with his abusive captors who tried to use the court system to get him back. Blessedly, Wildlife SOS prevailed.
Watch Raju’s journey from cruelty to hopehere. He is now thriving at their Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Uttar Pradesh.
In 2018. Wildlife SOS established India’s first elephant hospital. They currently care for 30 formerly abused and exploited elephants at their several sanctuaries.
I truly believe that angels work at Wildlife SOS. If I ever found myself in India, I would visit their wonderful facilities.
There are fewer than 22,000 Asian elephants left in the wild. Habitat loss from human encroachment and poaching are their chief threats.
If you choose to support Wildlife SOS and its lifesaving work, you can sponsor one of the many elephants they care for, each with their unique personalities and challenges.
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Please indulge me these many photos and embedded videos, all taken from the Wildlife SOS website. I just can’t get enough of happy elephants.
I’m Kate Yvonne, a mature adult with several different previous lives and careers, living with a mid-life diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. This blog is a work in progress. I’m both scared and excited to embark on this journey. Hopefully there will be much more to come in these pages. Stay tuned!
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban captured a strategic provincial capital near Kabul and broke through defensive lines in Afghanistan’s third-largest city Thursday, further squeezing the country’s embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission there.
Seizing Ghazni cuts off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital with the country’s southern provinces, which similarly find themselves under assault as part of an insurgent push some 20 years after U.S. and NATO troops invaded and ousted the Taliban government. Meanwhile, the assault on the city of Herat, still raging Thursday night, could put nearly all of western Afghanistan under Taliban control just a day after the militants completed their capture of the country’s northeast.
While Kabul itself isn’t directly under threat yet, the loss of Ghazni and the battles elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban estimated to now hold some two-thirds of the nation. Thousands of people have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women’s rights and conducting public amputations, stonings and executions. Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats met throughout the day.
The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months. The Afghan government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban keeps up its momentum.
The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces and renews questions about where the over $830 billion spent by the U.S. Defense Department on fighting, training those troops, and reconstruction efforts went — especially as Taliban fighters ride on American-made Humvees and pickup trucks with M-16s slung across their shoulders.
Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists over the days of fighting, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance.
On Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, just 80 miles southwest of Kabul.
Militants crowded onto one seized Humvee and drove down a main road, with the golden dome of a mosque near the governor’s office visible behind them, yelling: “God is great!” The insurgents, cradling their rifles, later gathered at one roundabout for an impromptu speech by a commander. One militant carried a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
Ghazni provincial council member Amanullah Kamrani alleged that the provincial governor and police chief made a deal with the Taliban to flee after surrendering. Taliban video and photos purported to show the governor’s convoy freely passing by Taliban fighters as part of the deal.
Later Thursday, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanekzai said the governor and his deputies had been arrested over that alleged deal. The officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Stanekzai also acknowledged in a video message that parts of Ghanzi had fallen, though he insisted government security forces “do exist” in the city.
The loss of Ghazni — which sits along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway — could complicate resupply and movement for government forces, as well as squeeze the capital from the south.
Already, the Taliban’s weeklong blitz has seen the militants seize nine other provincial capitals around the country. Many are in the country’s northeast corner, pressuring Kabul from that direction as well.
Several more are under pressure. Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city and the capital of a province with the same name, has been targeted in militant attacks for days. On Thursday afternoon, the insurgents broke through the city’s defensive lines.
Witnesses described the Taliban as moving through the streets, battling government forces. The fighting closed highways, and Herat’s airport suspended flights amid the chaos.
Video posted by the Taliban shows insurgents capturing the provincial police headquarters. A person close to Ismail Khan, one of the warlords fighting the Taliban, said his forces were under siege in the governor’s office and the intelligence department. The sound of heavy gunfire rang out near the governor’s office.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media.
In southern Afghanistan, the Taliban’s heartland, heavy fighting continued in Lashkar Gah, where surrounded government forces hoped to hold onto the capital of Helmand province.
On Wednesday, a suicide car bombing marked the latest wave of violence to target the capital’s regional police headquarters. By Thursday, the Taliban had taken the building, with some police officers surrendering to the militants and others retreating to the nearby governor’s office that’s still held by government forces, said Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand.
In neighboring Kandahar, the Taliban attacked a prison in the capital city and freed inmates inside Wednesday night, officials said. On Thursday, Kandahar provincial governor spokesman Bahir Ahmadi acknowledged that the Taliban had entered the capital, also called Kandahar, but said Afghan forces were fighting to push them back.
Niazi criticized ongoing airstrikes targeting the area, saying civilians likely had been wounded and killed.
“The Taliban used civilian houses to protect themselves, and the government, without paying any attention to civilians, carried out airstrikes,” she said.
With the Afghan air power limited and in disarray, the U.S. Air Force is believed to be carrying out strikes. Aviation tracking data suggested U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, drones and other aircraft were involved in the fighting across the country, according to Australia-based security firm The Cavell Group.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicole Ferrara, a Central Command spokeswoman, acknowledged that American forces “have conducted several airstrikes in defense of our Afghan partners in recent days.” However, she declined to offer any details on the attacks or to discuss the Afghan complaints of civilian casualties.
Even as diplomats met in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the success of the Taliban offensive called into question whether they would ever rejoin long-stalled peace talks aimed at moving Afghanistan toward an administration that includes members of the current Afghan government and the Taliban. Instead, the Taliban could come to power by force — or the country could splinter into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.
The government’s High Council for National Reconciliation called for peace talks to resume, saying it had submitted a plan to Qatar, without elaborating.
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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Faiez from Istanbul. Associated Press writers Hamed Sarfarazi in Herat, Afghanistan, and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
Bears coach Matt Nagy plans to send rookie quarterback Justin Fields into the game early Saturday against the Dolphins and play extensively — possibly even into the fourth quarter.
The anticipation for Fields’ debut, even in a preseason game, has been pulsing since the Bears traded up to draft him No. 11 overall and positioned him as the future of the franchise. Everyone will get the long look they’ve been wanting.
That includes Nagy, who is prioritizing the opportunity to get Fields experience and evaluate his progress instead of being overly cautious about him getting hurt in a preseason game.
Andy Dalton will start, but could exit after as few as three plays. He and Nagy have both said he is ready to launch into the season, which starts in one month against the Rams. Fields is scheduled to take over then and stay in past halftime, at a minimum, before the Bears let third-stringer Nick Foles finish.
Nagy would prefer to keep some first-team skill players in for Fields’ snaps, and that group would likely include wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet. No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson has been working through a hamstring issue this week, and it’s hard to envision him playing much or at all.
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