Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser and Mark Potash talk about the Bears’ injury bug, Justin Fields’ big week ahead and Mark’s punishment, back in the day, over a case of loose grapes.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Somewhere between testing beet and carrot juice, blueberries and mint in search of the precise hues for a four-tiered rainbow cake celebrating her daughter’s first birthday in spring 2020, Food Network star Molly Yeh was forced by COVID’s gathering storm clouds to abruptly cancel the party she’d spent six months planning.
The food blogger and author of “Molly on the Range” had already sketched the tablescape, sent hand-drawn invites incorporating the vegetable theme, and crafted cute marzipan carrots as cake toppers.
Since then, the 32-year-old Yeh has balanced the daily frustrations and isolation of quarantine life with the many joyful firsts of her toddler, Bernie. The constant that has held it together is food, or in Yeh’s case, tahini. She’s fond of incorporating her favorite ingredient in original recipes that fuse her Chinese and Jewish heritage.
“Food has truly taken on a different meaning, both in starting a family and also in the pandemic,” says Yeh, who lives on a sugar beet farm with her husband and baby near the Minnesota-North Dakota border.
Food blogger and cookbook author Molly Yeh attends the Chef’s Afterparty in Miami Beach, Florida, during the 2021 South Beach Wine and Food Festival.Scott Roth/Invision/AP
The young family never went to a restaurant and rarely ordered takeout, cooking from scratch and finding delight in Bernie’s milestones, despite monotonous routines and seemingly endless household chores.
“There were so many special moments that were happening in this terrible thing around us,” says Yeh, who recently caught up with The Associated Press while in town for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. “Imagine your first time smelling and tasting fresh bread, your first time baking cookies.”
The kitchen became the source of field trips and experiments. There was a fake vacation to Florence, Italy, where the family pulled out the pasta maker and made homemade pizzas. There was a day trip to the Italian Alps, aka a nearby hill where they sledded on an inflatable unicorn. And blissful spa days were coconut baths with a face mask and book during Bernie’s nap time.
Yeh, the star of Food Network’s “Girl Meets Farm” show, has been a bright spot in a gloomy year for many viewers, with her infectious smile, recipe mashups (think harissa honey labne, hummus dumplings, kale matzo pizza, and bacon and egg drop soup), and endearing habit of liberally dousing desserts with homemade sprinkles or marzipan.
Host Molly Yeh (from left) and judges Chris Rivard, Ali Tila and Jet Tila sample a competitor’s dish on “Ben and Jerry’s: Clash of the Cones.”Courtesy Food Network
Her latest venture is hosting “Ben & Jerry’s: Clash of the Cones,” a four-episode competition series debuting Aug 16 on Food Network and discovery+, wherein veteran ice cream makers must capture the essence of a celebrity or pop culture icon in a new and innovative ice cream flavor. Chicago’s Jessica Oloroso, owner and chef of Black Dog Gelato, is one of the six contestants featured in the series.
Pretzel challah was among the first recipes that gained traction on Yeh’s blog “My Name is Yeh.” And she’s delighted to report that her daughter’s art canvas of choice is painting egg wash on a braided loaf.
Yeh has experienced a rough pandemic year full of pitfalls and pivots like the rest of us. She shacked up with her in-laws while overseeing a massive home renovation, and started work on a new cookbook, “Where The Eggs Are,” featuring easier, go-to weekday meals.
While these recipes are less fussy, Yeh has never shied away from celebratory and sometimes labor-intensive dishes. She grew up in the kitchen with her mother, making everything from scratch, finding comfort in the rituals and routines — perfect preparation for pandemic life.
Early in 2020, as Americans baked their way through the uncertainty, Yeh’s older cake recipes became popular again, including carrot cake with hawaij (a Middle Eastern spice) and tahini caramel frosting; chocolate cake with halva filling and tahini frosting; and mini pumpkin loaf cakes with cream cheese glaze and candied bacon.
The new mom admits she struggled when she realized she’s not the fun parent. “It’s become clear that Nick is the fun one, dancing and singing and spinning her up in the air,” she says.
But food has fixed that too.
“I get to see Bernie’s face when she eats my chicken noodle soup, and I get to fill the house with the smell of mac and cheese when she wakes up from her nap,” she says.
Yeh met her husband when they were students at Juilliard, and made her debut at Carnegie Hall as a percussionist at age 17. Her father, John Bruce Yeh, plays clarinet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was their first Asian-American member when he joined in 1977.
One of her favorite moments on her show was cooking chicken pot stickers, scallion pancakes with maple syrup slaw and, of course, a sprinkle cake, before performing a Bach invention with the man she calls her biggest musical inspiration.
“It’s that same creative, special, joyous feeling that I get making cake and making food for other people that I get from playing music for people that I love,” said Yeh. “If life can be a lot of those moments strung together, that’s a life I want to live.”
The Chicago real estate market had the 3rd highest home sales in 25 years in July
The Chicago real estate market had another super strong month of home sales in July. Since last year was a bit funky with the pandemic we should compare it to 2019 and on that basis closings were up 23.3% despite the fact that we now have 1 1/2 years of pandemic under our belt. And just so you know, almost all that growth was in condos/ townhomes which were up like 35% in that time period.
July was higher than all but two other years in the 25 years graphed below (red points are all the Julys) – and those two years were at the peak of the housing bubble. So that’s pretty good. Also, the green moving average line tells us that the last 12 months have hit a record going back to around 2007. That is dramatically different than the downward trend we were on just before the pandemic hit.
Chicago home sales have been declining now for several years but the Coronavirus really tanked the market in May and June of 2020. The market returned to more normal levels starting in July and is now setting new records.
Chicago Home Contract Activity
But the fly in the ointment is that contract activity was down 11.9% from last year, which of course set a record as soon as people got a grip on their housing plans after the pandemic hit. So things appear to be slowing down a little but the fact of the matter is that July contracts were still higher than all other years and 14.8% higher than 2019.
Chicago home sale contract activity has pulled back a bit from the pandemic highs but it’s still higher than all the other years
Pending Home Sales
One of the factors contributing to high sales was the fact that we went into July with a fairly high level of pending home sales to draw from but we drew down that backlog. That leaves us with 580 units below last year, although we are still higher than the previous 3 years. So the rest of the year is likely not going to be as strong as July.
After hitting historic lows the backlog of homes likely to close in the next 1 – 2 months rebounded during the pandemic but is now starting to retreat again
Distressed Home Sales
With the foreclosure and eviction moratorium there are very few distressed homes that can be sold. Only 1.3% of July’s sales were distressed and that is another record low, down from 3.3% last year.
One would think that once the moratoria are lifted distressed sales are going to take off but that might not be the case – at least for a while. One reason is that the foreclosure process is extremely long – like 3 years – so you won’t see an immediate effect. But the other reason is that home prices have risen enough that homeowners in dire straits might be able to just sell their home and pay off their mortgage without any problems.
Since the housing crisis the percentage of home sales that are distressed has steadily declined to almost negligible levels.
Chicago Home Inventory
The inventory of homes for sale remains ridiculously low and I continue to do my own calculations to produce the graph below. The most dramatic example of course is detached homes which had only a 2.2 month supply in July, which is the same as last year – nevertheless, a record low for July.
But attached homes were also pretty low with only a 3.5 month supply, which is at the lower end of historic July inventory levels.
After a big Coronavirus induced spike in April 2020 the inventory of homes for sale dropped back down. Detached inventory keeps setting new record lows while attached inventory has dropped to the lower end of the historic range.
Chicago Home Sale Market Times
With inventory levels so low and sales so high it should be no surprise that market times have gotten ridculously fast – at least for detached homes. They sold on average in only 42 days. That’s down from 70 days last year and keep in mind that half the homes sold in 12 days or less!
Meanwhile attached homes, despite their growth spurt, are selling on average in 66 days, which is only down slightly from last year’s 68 days.
When the pandemic first hit Chicago market times rose but now they are actually quite a bit lower than last year. Detached homes are at a record low.
#RealEstate #ChicagoRealEstate #Coronavirus
Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.
After 20 years in the corporate world and running an Internet company, Gary started Lucid Realty with his partner, Sari. The company provides full service, while discounting commissions for sellers and giving buyers rebates.
Brandon Simon (55) remains a key contributor on defense. (photo courtesy The Vidette)
NORMAL—Illinois State has built much of its recent success off the defensive side of the ball. Despite losing several key contributors, head coach Brock Spack and his Redbirds enter fall camp with a not-so-quiet confidence.
Familiar names are gone from an ISU defense that helped carry the Redbirds into the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoff in 2019. In fact, the top six statistical leaders in tackles (and 9 of the top 10) are gone from that post-season run.
This past spring, a series of injuries, specifically along the defensive line, led ISU to opt out midseason on March 20, after only four games and a 1-3 record. Perhaps because of that, the Redbirds were picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll.
Yet, you won’t hear Spack soft-playing his expectations for his defense.
“We just do what we do. We have depth and we train them our way. It’s just the Redbird way,” Spack told Prairie State Pigskin Friday when fall camp opened. “We get them ready. We always have somebody ready in the wings.”
The Redbirds return a strong group of linebackers. Senior Brandon Simon, juniors Shanon Reid and Zeke Vandenburgh along with sophomore Kenton Wilhoit all will see plenty of playing time.
Kenton Wilhoit
“We have good coaches. We’ve been doing this stuff for a long time,” said Spack, a former Big Ten linebacker and defensive coordinator.
Although ISU played an abbreviated spring schedule, valuable experience was still gained.
“For me, the spring was a huge learning time because it was my first time starting,” said Wilhoit, who tied for the team lead in tackles. “We hadn’t played for awhile and just getting that experience in games was really helpful. And that was this year, it was still only like four months ago and so those reps are starting to carry over now.”
It starts up front
In order for any team’s linebackers to perform well, the linemen are far more than just the first line of defense.
The Redbirds lost one of the Missouri Valley’s top interior defensive lineman when John Ridgeway left ISU via transfer and wound up with SEC member Arkansas. Ridgeway, a Bloomington native, tied Wilhoit and defensive back Jarrell Jackson in tackles.
Meanwhile, in the ISU scheme Simon — who lines up in “Jack” position often along the line as rush end — joins defensive tackle Jude Okolo, nose guard Jacob Powell and defensive end Josh Dinga up front.
“It’s never a rebuild, it’s a reload,” Powell said. “Everybody has been competing against each other, especially in the position groups, that you learn a lot from those really good players (who leave or graduate).”
Senior Michael Gomez and juniors Braydon Deming and Noah Hickcox will also get plenty of field time.
“We have the same principles: be tough, hustle to the ball, never take a snap off,” Powell said. “That always rolls over. It’s just new guys getting acclimated to that in fall camp.”
Simon said, “Nothing really changed, (it’s the) same script. I can’t really speak about the talent that we lost, but the talent that we have here on defense I trust. I’m ready to rock.”
Secondary education
Depth charts always fluctuate as fall camps play out, but the Redbirds feel strong about their defensive backfield.
Jackson, a senior, and redshirt freshman Braden Price are slated as the first-team corners while sophomores Clayton Isbell and Iverson Brown are listed as the top safeties.
“I see my role as that I’ve got to step up and be a mentor,” said Jackson, who was credited with two pass breakups and a blocked kick in the spring. “We’re young, but the spring was a lot of experience for us. None of us as DBs had ever started a game before spring, so it meant a lot for us.”
Spack said, “We’ve got depth and all these guys are getting practice reps so no one can complain (about not getting an opportunity).”
Blog co-authors Barry Bottino and Dan Verdun bring years of experience covering collegiate athletics. Barry has covered college athletes for more than two decades in his “On Campus” column, which is published weekly by Shaw Media. Dan has written four books about the state’s football programs–“NIU Huskies Football” (released in 2013), “EIU Panthers Football (2014), “ISU Redbirds” (2016) and “SIU Salukis Football” (2017).
Chicago’s music scene — known for gospel, rock, funk, punk, hip-hop and the birth of house music — also has a long-standing history in the R&B scene.
Over time, music fans have seen Sam Cooke; Curtis Mayfield; Chaka Khan; Minnie Riperton; Lou Rawls; Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White; Mavis Staples; Donny Hathaway; Syleena Johnson; Jennifer Hudson; Jeremih; Chantay Savage, and, among so many others, make names for themselves in the Chicago R&B scene.
Chicago area singers Carl Thomas, Donell Jones, and Dave Hollister recently formed an R&B supergroup, “The Chi.”
What about the current group of local singers? How do they view the state of Chicago’s R&B scene? Whom do they look toward for inspiration? How can the local scene do better by the artists? Is the music — and the artists — all the same? Does anyone stand out?
Lauren Dukes, a singer who specializes in blues, soul, jazz and R&B, has mixed feelings about the Chicago R&B sound. While there is an abundance of access for creatives to share their music with the masses, she prefers traditional forms of R&B.
“Well, locally, something I definitely like is it’s easier and more accessible for the average independent artist who doesn’t have major label backing,” said Dukes, who recently released “Hectic Love Week,” a song from her self-titled five-song EP. “I gravitate toward artists that keep a more authentic sound; not that genres can’t evolve, but just that it’s more reminiscent of the R&B that has a message and substance — and feeling behind it.
“What I don’t like about the [Chicago R&B scene] is — this may not be subject to just locally — I can’t tell the voices apart. I think we’ve moved toward less singing — melodic rap. Not that there isn’t space for everybody, but rap has its own sub-genres. R&B doesn’t need to go into that direction. I’d like to hear more singers. The R&B artists I tend to gravitate toward are ‘sangers,’ as we say in the church.”
South Side-bred artist Matt B took the route less traveled by many R&B artists by releasing his early work in Europe and Japan, charting on the iTunes R&B charts. He says depending where one resides in Chicago, the sound varies.
“I think what’s great about local R&B is how diverse the sound is,” said Matt B, who says he works with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) to bring local artists on the city’s radar. “You could go on one side of the city and you could hear more of an R&B and hip-hop blend. You can go on another side of the city and you can hear more of a blues and R&B sound.”
Chicago’s Josh K (right, with New York rapper Fabulous) is preparing to release his follow up to “Lovers Lane: Act 2.”DDP, LLC
A common complaint from R&B fans — young and experienced — is that the musical content consists of sex primarily, instead of love.
So where does Chicago R&B fit in?
Josh K, who is preparing to release his album “Lovers Lane: Act 3” with features from Fabolous, Jeremih and Tory Lanez, says even though he prefers Chicago’s R&B sound from the ’90s — artists sounded “vulnerable” back then, he says — the genre is on the upswing.
“Compared to the last five years, I’d say the state of Chicago R&B is looking up,” said Josh, who cites local singer Tink as one of the city’s best R&B artists. “I feel like it’s starting to come back around full circle. We’re starting to get the spotlight on us a bit more which is great. … Chicago’s music scene is looked at only for drill and gangsta rap. I feel like Chicago forgets that there’s still R&B artists of our nature.”
BJ The Chicago Kid’s music is featured on season four of the Showtime series “The Chi.”Luis Vela
And some artists, such as South Side native, six-time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter BJ The Chicago Kid, who recently released “4 AM,” a four-song EP, says he prefers to stay in his own lane.
“I haven’t really been tuned into much; I’ve been recording so much music on my own and trying not to be a sponge — just being creative,” said BJ, whose music appears on season four of the Showtime series “The Chi.”“There’s a lot of ‘playground legends’ — I like to call them — who weren’t able to get [record] deals, and church singers.
“Chicago is one of those cities that breeds musicians, singers, producers and rappers, of course, as the new generation has shown us.”
Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7 to 10 a.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Leo into Virgo.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a playful, fun-loving and romantic day for you! The sun, the moon, and Mercury are all in your fellow Fire Sign, which promotes the enjoyment of sports, entertaining diversions, romantic tete-a-tetes, vacations and playful times with kids.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Although you feel playful and into social diversions and fun activities; nevertheless, the sun, the moon, and Mercury will draw your attention to home and family issues. Family discussions and home repairs might be important.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This is a fast-paced, busy day, and you’re full of ideas! You want to express your ideas so that others will hear what you have to say. This is an excellent day for those of you who sell, market, teach, act or write for a living. Yada, yada, yada.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You’re never casual about money because you are a thrifty, frugal sign. (Sometimes, you open up your wallet to let a moth out and blow it big time — but not often.) Today your focus is on cash flow and moneymaking ideas. Ka-ching!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
The sun, the moon and Mercury are all in your sign empowering you in all your dealings with others. People will listen to you. Things will tend to go your way. This means it’s a good day to do what you can to advance your agenda. Check moon alert before shopping for beautiful things.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
The stars are sending you a conflicting message today. In one way, you want to hide behind the scenes and keep a low profile. Nevertheless, fiery Mars and fair Venus are in your sign, urging you to go forth and dazzle others! It’s your call.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This is a social day for you, which is why you will enjoy schmoozing with friends and members of groups. In particular, you might have a warm conversation with a female acquaintance. It’s a good day to share your hopes about something with someone else. (A secret love affair might take place.)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You are definitely high visibility today. Not only do people notice you more than usual, especially bosses, parents, teachers and the police, they also admire you! Obviously, because you have this slight advantage, go after what you want! Make your pitch!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today you’re hungry for adventure! You want to travel and learn new things and be stimulated by life. (“Yes, I want it all!) This is an excellent day to study something. Meanwhile, your ambition is aroused. Bosses and authority types look kindly on you. Time to take a bow.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a passionate, emotional day for you, especially regarding romance. (Yes, it’s the stuff of movies.) Someone unusual or different will appeal to you. Likewise, travel plans will also appeal. Nevertheless, this is an excellent day for discussions about shared property and banking.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. No biggie. This simply requires courtesy, cooperation, accommodation and a little compromise. Nevertheless, disputes about shared property might arise. Fortunately, you can sweet talk your way out of anything.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today you want to get better organized. Roll up your sleeves and dig in because you want to take a hands-on approach to things. You also want to improve your health because you’re on self-improvement kick. (This is always a good thing.)
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Dan Levy (1983) shares your birthday. You are likable, friendly and entertaining. You are also goal oriented and hard-working to the point of being a perfectionist. You are a caring, loving person and have a strong sense of the responsibility to others. This is a year to create solid foundations in your life. Let simplicity be your mantra. This is also a good year to take charge of your health.
Chicago Police Officer Ella French joined the department because she “wanted to do good for the world,” her brother said Sunday.
“You know I never questioned it. Same as she never questioned me joining the Army,” Andrew French wrote in a message to the Chicago Sun-Times on Facebook on Sunday night.
“… My sister is a bada–. She always wanted to make a difference … however it was possible. I was never surprised when she said she was going to be a sheriff and then a cop. It just made sense.”
Ella French, 29, was identified Sunday by the Chicago Police Department as the officer who was fatally shot in West Englewood while in the line of duty Saturday night. Her partner, who was also wounded during a traffic stop shortly after 9 p.m. at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue, remained in critical condition Sunday at the University of Chicago Medical Center, CPD Supt. David Brown said.
“Our officers need this city to pray for their strength, to pray for peace that they are comforted, that their families are comforted,” Brown said Sunday during a news conference at CPD headquarters, where he announced the arrest of a third suspect in the fatal shooting on the South Side.
Chicago Police officer Ella French was fatally shot in West Englewood Saturday night. Chicago Police Department
Andrew French said their mother, who adopted the two of them, gave them everything she could growing up while instilling in them the important values of being kind and helping others in need.
“She raised us to be of service. To care. To have integrity,” Andrew French wrote.
Andrew French said his sister was not married and had no children, despite stories being circulated on social media Sunday.
Officers involved in the incident were equipped with body-worn cameras and much of what happened was caught on video, Brown noted.
He commended officers for continuing to show up and do their dangerous work after a night of tragedy. “I’m asking Chicago to wrap their arms around our police officers today and encourage them to continue their great work in protecting us all,” he added.
Chicago Police Department Supt. David Brown talked to reporters Sunday about the fatal shooting of a CPD officer Saturday night. Another officer also was shot and was in critical condition Sunday afternoon. Brown urged city residents to keep the families of both officers in their prayers. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Chicago police union President John Catanzara said Sunday in a Facebook live video, “Our city is less safe today because Officer French is no longer with us.”
Day of mourning
All city buildings will have flags lowered to half-staff, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, speaking after Brown and declaring Sunday an official day of mourning.
Lightfoot urged an end to constant bickering over police reform, the argument over whether police are over-regulated, or whether they’ve been given free rein.
“Stop. Just, stop,” Lightfoot said. “This constant strife is not what we need in this moment.”
While the mayor said “we need to continue the journey to achieve constitutional, accountable policing,” she insisted “the police are not our enemies.”
She continued: “They are human, just as we are. Flawed, just as we are. … But also risking their lives every day for our safety and security.”
Chicago residents, she said, should remember the danger police officers put themselves in every day.
“When you see a police officer, say ‘thank you,'” Lightfoot said. “Just say, ‘thank you.'”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke to reporters Sunday morning about the fatal shooting of a police officer and the wounding of another Saturday night. She urged all residents to remember that “the police are not our enemies.” She continued: “They are human, just as we are. Flawed, just as we are. … But also risking their lives every day for our safety and security.” Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Brown said so far this year, 38 officers have been shot at, and 11 have been hit by gunfire.
Brown declined to release details about the slain officer at her mother’s request, noting the department will delay issuing any information “until she is ready.”
2nd officer ‘fighting for his very life’
The wounded officer has been with the department six years, Brown said. He remained at University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was “fighting for his very life” in critical condition, according to First Deputy Eric Carter, who spoke to reporters outside the hospital early Sunday.
With him was Lightfoot, who said the officer who died was “very young on the job, but incredibly enthusiastic to do the work.” Brown had been out of town Saturday to finalize details of his mother’s funeral. On Sunday, he explained that she died suddenly last week.
Chicago police officers gathered outside the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office early Sunday to await the arrival of the body of a fellow officer killed in the line of duty Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Ald. Raymond Lopez, whose ward covers the shooting scene in West Englewood, took to Twitter on Sunday after the news conference to slam the city’s response to the shooting.
“Lightfoot, Brown & Carter need to shut up & stop,” tweeted Lopez, a staunch advocate for officers. “Let the families & police process last night’s tragedy in peace [without] confrontation or argument. It’s not about you or your petty feelings. It’s about the brave men & women dealing with a collective pain, only needing our support.”
Investigators believe a male passenger in the suspect vehicle first opened fire, prompting the cops to shoot back, Brown said. The alleged shooter was then struck in the exchange of gunfire, the superintendent added.
He and another suspect were taken into custody shortly after the shooting, according to police communications from the scene.
While the alleged gunman was initially taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Brown said all the three suspects were now being questioned at Area One Headquarters. He declined to comment on what potentially prompted the deadly interaction.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Brown said. An agency spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although Brown said none of the suspects appears to have “extensive” criminal backgrounds, he told reporters the alleged shooter had been arrested for robbery in 2019. He said that case has been adjudicated and resulted in some form of probation.
Both Community Safety Team officers
Both officers were part of CPD’s Community Safety Team, created last year. The unit is intended to help forge stronger community ties on the South and West sides. It was started with about 450 officers, and 200 more were added last September.
The incident was part of a violent night in Chicago, which also saw two mass shootings in Gresham and several triple shootings. In all, at least 45 people were shot between 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Chicago police work the scene where two police officers where shot, one fatally, during a traffic stop in the 6300 block of South Bell Avenue in West Englewood Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
‘You don’t see these things’
Diana Luna, 37, was at her home Saturday night near the West Englewood shooting watching television with two of her children when she heard what sounded like four gunshots ring out.
Startled, Luna then tapped into her home security camera’s feed and saw what appeared to be a person collapsing near the front of her home. The single mother of four had just installed the camera about two months ago, hoping to protect her kids and keep tabs on a yard that had apparently been the scene of some recent petty thefts.
Despite those incidents, and being locked between areas with active gang conflicts, Luna said Sunday her area has remained safe since she moved there from Chicago Lawn about three years ago.
“You don’t see these things,” she said of the shooting.
Another neighbor, who wouldn’t provide his name Sunday, described the shooting as an isolated incident, saying the block is a haven for families that’s “basically quiet.”
In the Galewood neighborhood Sunday, where French apparently lived until recently, a person who used to live nearby described her as a courteous and “very respectful” neighbor who usually kept to herself.
They said they often would see her playing with her dog in the patch of grass in front of their apartment building before she moved out.
“That’s shocking” said the person, who declined to share his name. “She was a really good person… she was respectful. She let us know if she was going to have a party or something they would leave a sign downstairs, ‘We might have people going in and out.’ … that was nice.”
French had recently purchased a new home in the Parkview neighborhood on the Southwest Side in June, records show.
Her neighbor, who identified himself Sunday only as Johnny R., was shocked to learn the fallen officer from recent news reports was the same “decent person” who lived next door to him.
“That … breaks my heart right there,” Johnny, 62, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “She literally just moved in.
Some of the first police calls from the scene described one officer being shot.
“Officer down,” an officer radioed around 9:10 p.m.
“I got an officer down,” a police dispatcher repeats. “6-3 and Bell, officer down, officer down, shot twice, shot at police, officer down.
“Stay off my air, stay off my air,” the dispatcher continues, asking for no unnecessary calls on the channel. “Everybody stay off the air, I got an officer down, 6-3 and Bell, start rolling.
An officer is heard yelling, in apparent distress, and the dispatcher says, “Give me two ambulances, two ambulances needed for two officers down, two officers down … Get those officers wrapped up going to 6-3 and Bell. I want a perimeter set up three blocks, north south, east, west.”
A Chicago police procession early Sunday near the Cook County medical examiner’s office for a police officer who was shot and killed earlier during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
“
The last Chicago Police officers who died in the line of duty were Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo, who were chasing a man with a gun on the Far South Side when they were struck by a train and killed in December 2018.
The last officer shot to death in the line of duty was Samuel Jimenez, who was killed just a month earlier while responding to a shooting at Mercy Hospital. Three other people died, including the gunman.
Contributing: Mohammad Samra
Chicago police officers gathered near the Cook County medical examiner’s office early Sunday to honor the officer who was killed in the line of duty Saturday night during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Chicago Police Officer Ella French joined the department because she “wanted to do good for the world,” her brother said Sunday.
“You know I never questioned it. Same as she never questioned me joining the Army,” Andrew French wrote in a message to the Chicago Sun-Times on Facebook on Sunday night.
“… My sister is a bada–. She always wanted to make a difference … however it was possible. I was never surprised when she said she was going to be a sheriff and then a cop. It just made sense.”
Ella French, 29, was identified Sunday by the Chicago Police Department as the officer who was fatally shot in West Englewood while in the line of duty Saturday night. Her partner, who was also wounded during a traffic stop shortly after 9 p.m. at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue, remained in critical condition Sunday at the University of Chicago Medical Center, CPD Supt. David Brown said.
“Our officers need this city to pray for their strength, to pray for peace that they are comforted, that their families are comforted,” Brown said Sunday during a news conference at CPD headquarters, where he announced the arrest of a third suspect in the fatal shooting on the South Side.
Chicago Police officer Ella French was fatally shot in West Englewood Saturday night. Chicago Police Department
Andrew French said their mother, who adopted the two of them, gave them everything she could growing up while instilling in them the important values of being kind and helping others in need.
“She raised us to be of service. To care. To have integrity,” Andrew French wrote.
Andrew French said his sister was not married and had no children, despite stories being circulated on social media Sunday.
Officers involved in the incident were equipped with body-worn cameras and much of what happened was caught on video, Brown noted.
He commended officers for continuing to show up and do their dangerous work after a night of tragedy. “I’m asking Chicago to wrap their arms around our police officers today and encourage them to continue their great work in protecting us all,” he added.
Chicago Police Department Supt. David Brown talked to reporters Sunday about the fatal shooting of a CPD officer Saturday night. Another officer also was shot and was in critical condition Sunday afternoon. Brown urged city residents to keep the families of both officers in their prayers. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Day of mourning
All city buildings will have flags lowered to half-staff, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, speaking after Brown and declaring Sunday an official day of mourning.
Lightfoot urged an end to constant bickering over police reform, the argument over whether police are over-regulated, or whether they’ve been given free rein.
“Stop. Just, stop,” Lightfoot said. “This constant strife is not what we need in this moment.”
While the mayor said “we need to continue the journey to achieve constitutional, accountable policing,” she insisted “the police are not our enemies.”
She continued: “They are human, just as we are. Flawed, just as we are. … But also risking their lives every day for our safety and security.”
Chicago residents, she said, should remember the danger police officers put themselves in every day.
“When you see a police officer, say ‘thank you,'” Lightfoot said. “Just say, ‘thank you.'”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke to reporters Sunday morning about the fatal shooting of a police officer and the wounding of another Saturday night. She urged all residents to remember that “the police are not our enemies.” She continued: “They are human, just as we are. Flawed, just as we are. … But also risking their lives every day for our safety and security.” Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Brown said so far this year, 38 officers have been shot at, and 11 have been hit by gunfire.
Brown declined to release details about the slain officer at her mother’s request, noting the department will delay issuing any information “until she is ready.”
2nd officer ‘fighting for his very life’
The wounded officer has been with the department six years, Brown said. He remained at University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was “fighting for his very life” in critical condition, according to First Deputy Eric Carter, who spoke to reporters outside the hospital early Sunday.
With him was Lightfoot, who said the officer who died was “very young on the job, but incredibly enthusiastic to do the work.” Brown had been out of town Saturday to finalize details of his mother’s funeral. On Sunday, he explained that she died suddenly last week.
Chicago police officers gathered outside the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office early Sunday to await the arrival of the body of a fellow officer killed in the line of duty Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Ald. Raymond Lopez, whose ward covers the shooting scene in West Englewood, took to Twitter on Sunday after the news conference to slam the city’s response to the shooting.
“Lightfoot, Brown & Carter need to shut up & stop,” tweeted Lopez, a staunch advocate for officers. “Let the families & police process last night’s tragedy in peace [without] confrontation or argument. It’s not about you or your petty feelings. It’s about the brave men & women dealing with a collective pain, only needing our support.”
Investigators believe a male passenger in the suspect vehicle first opened fire, prompting the cops to shoot back, Brown said. The alleged shooter was then struck in the exchange of gunfire, the superintendent added.
He and another suspect were taken into custody shortly after the shooting, according to police communications from the scene.
While the alleged gunman was initially taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Brown said all the three suspects were now being questioned at Area One Headquarters. He declined to comment on what potentially prompted the deadly interaction.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Brown said. An agency spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although Brown said none of the suspects appears to have “extensive” criminal backgrounds, he told reporters the alleged shooter had been arrested for robbery in 2019. He said that case has been adjudicated and resulted in some form of probation.
Both Community Safety Team officers
Both officers were part of CPD’s Community Safety Team, created last year. The unit is intended to help forge stronger community ties on the South and West sides. It was started with about 450 officers, and 200 more were added last September.
The incident was part of a violent night in Chicago, which also saw two mass shootings in Gresham and several triple shootings. In all, at least 45 people were shot between 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Chicago police work the scene where two police officers where shot, one fatally, during a traffic stop in the 6300 block of South Bell Avenue in West Englewood Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
‘You don’t see these things’
Diana Luna, 37, was at her home Saturday night near the West Englewood shooting watching television with two of her children when she heard what sounded like four gunshots ring out.
Startled, Luna then tapped into her home security camera’s feed and saw what appeared to be a person collapsing near the front of her home. The single mother of four had just installed the camera about two months ago, hoping to protect her kids and keep tabs on a yard that had apparently been the scene of some recent petty thefts.
Despite those incidents, and being locked between areas with active gang conflicts, Luna said Sunday her area has remained safe since she moved there from Chicago Lawn about three years ago.
“You don’t see these things,” she said of the shooting.
Another neighbor, who wouldn’t provide his name Sunday, described the shooting as an isolated incident, saying the block is a haven for families that’s “basically quiet.”
In the Galewood neighborhood Sunday, where French apparently lived until recently, a person who used to live nearby described her as a courteous and “very respectful” neighbor who usually kept to herself.
They said they often would see her playing with her dog in the patch of grass in front of their apartment building before she moved out.
“That’s shocking” said the person, who declined to share his name. “She was a really good person… she was respectful. She let us know if she was going to have a party or something they would leave a sign downstairs, ‘We might have people going in and out.’ … that was nice.”
French had recently purchased a new home in the Parkview neighborhood on the Southwest Side in June, records show.
Her neighbor, who identified himself Sunday only as Johnny R., was shocked to learn the fallen officer from recent news reports was the same “decent person” who lived next door to him.
“That … breaks my heart right there,” Johnny, 62, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “She literally just moved in.
Some of the first police calls from the scene described one officer being shot.
“Officer down,” an officer radioed around 9:10 p.m.
“I got an officer down,” a police dispatcher repeats. “6-3 and Bell, officer down, officer down, shot twice, shot at police, officer down.
“Stay off my air, stay off my air,” the dispatcher continues, asking for no unnecessary calls on the channel. “Everybody stay off the air, I got an officer down, 6-3 and Bell, start rolling.
An officer is heard yelling, in apparent distress, and the dispatcher says, “Give me two ambulances, two ambulances needed for two officers down, two officers down … Get those officers wrapped up going to 6-3 and Bell. I want a perimeter set up three blocks, north south, east, west.”
A Chicago police procession early Sunday near the Cook County medical examiner’s office for a police officer who was shot and killed earlier during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
“
The last Chicago Police officers who died in the line of duty were Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo, who were chasing a man with a gun on the Far South Side when they were struck by a train and killed in December 2018.
The last officer shot to death in the line of duty was Samuel Jimenez, who was killed just a month earlier while responding to a shooting at Mercy Hospital. Three other people died, including the gunman.
Contributing: Mohammad Samra
Chicago police officers gathered near the Cook County medical examiner’s office early Sunday to honor the officer who was killed in the line of duty Saturday night during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
WASHINGTON — From Hawaii high school buddies, to old friends from Chicago, to former Cabinet members, to Beyonce and Jay Z, former President Barack Obama threw himself a 60th birthday bash Saturday, with about 200 people attending the event that was scaled down over concerns about the spreading COVID Delta variant.
Obama turned 60 on Aug. 4 and spent last week celebrating in the run-up to the Saturday night outdoor party at his oceanside mansion on Martha’s Vineyard with spectacular views. Obama golfed and bowled with pals Wednesday and Thursday and then did a pre-party reception Friday night.
I’ve put together this report from sources with details about the party and were there.
Last week, Obama announced that party would be “significantly” scaled back after the Biden White House was put on the defensive over Obama hosting “hundreds” at his birthday party. The Obama team decided to reduce the size of the party in order to avoid it becoming a distraction from the larger message that everyone should get vaccinated and other COVID prevention work being done by the Biden administration and the Centers for Disease Control.
Still, this scaled back party had about 200 guests, an eyewitness told me.
Obama erected a giant tent — open on all sides — on his grounds and had a COVID compliance officer on duty at the party to monitor the situation and health safety. Guests were asked to take COVID tests before the party. There were lots of masks available — some with a party logo — if someone wanted one.
Here’s what I learned:
. President Joe Biden, who was Obama’s vice president, did not attend but sent a video tribute, talking about their accomplishments and the closeness of their families.
. Chicagoan Marty Nesbitt, who is one of Obama’s best friends — he chairs the Obama Presidential Foundation Board — gave an emotional toast. Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha also spoke. So did Obama’s Hawaii high school buddies, who he remains close to. I’m told they were hilarious.
. John Legend sang “Happy Birthday” to Obama. Other performers included Common and The Roots.
. Former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, whose fundraising was crucial to Obama becoming a viable presidential candidate, was there with her husband, Bryan Traubert. She is also on the Obama Foundation board.
. Valerie Jarrett, close friend and confidant to Obama and former first lady Michelle — who introduced them to Martha’s Vineyard years ago — was there. After serving as a senior Obama White House official, she is now the Obama Foundation president.
. Chicago lawyer Tina Tchen, who was Michelle Obama’s chief of staff was also at the party.
. Others from Chicago include former Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan; friend and early supporter John Rogers; Jim and Paula Crown, who were also in on the ground floor when Obama was starting his political climb.
. Once the guest list had to shrink last week, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel — who was Obama’s first chief of staff — was like others, including David Axelrod, Obama’s strategist, asked not to come. Making the cut and attending: former Obama White House photographer Pete Souza and Reggie Love, who at one-time was Obama’s “bodyman” and basketball playing buddy.
. Others at the party from the Obama Cabinet include his first Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
. Actor Tom Hanks, a long-time figure in the Obama orbit — was also there as was former NBA great Dwyane Wade, who was born in Chicago and raised in the southern suburbs.
. This was a sit-down dinner. Obama danced a lot. The party was still going on at 1 a.m.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22650947/AP21158392988930.jpeg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22741495/DSC09125.jpeg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22741470/000053090035.jpeg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769943/French_Ella.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769860/COPSSHOT_080921_08.JPG)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769868/COPSSHOT_080921_19.JPG)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769495/COPSSHOT_080921_13.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769497/COPSSHOT_080921_3.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769503/COPSSHOT_080921_14.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22769486/COPSSHOT_080921_17.jpg)
Leave a comment