What’s New

The invitation came without ceremony, just like the note that uninvited us.

Sometime this past spring I received a request from a local morning television news show for me and one of my students to talk about the “Unforgotten 51” — the case of 51 mostly African-American women murdered in Chicago since 2001.

The cases, which remain largely unsolved, were the focus of a project by my journalism class last year at Roosevelt University.

Our aim was to humanize the women whose unsolved murders have become police cold case files and who have been publicly categorized as street sex workers and/or drug addicts. They are the kind of labels that dehumanize.

That allow us to separate “them” from “us.” To somehow digest, if not justify, their demise, even the absence of their story from mainstream news media.

They are the kinds of insidious mischaracterizations that reduce humans to being villains, or inanimate objects. That makes some among us disposable, subhuman, or deserving of having crossed paths with a killer who extinguished their life.

The tantalizing meat of the story was that these women — as theorized by the Murder Accountability Project in Alexandria, Virginia — were the victims of at least one serial killer and also the sordid details. Strangled or asphyxiated, their bodies were discarded in vacant lots, alleys or trashcans mainly on the West and South Sides, sometimes set on fire or dismembered.

The serial killer theory, according to Thomas Hargrove, the Murder Accountability Project’s founder, is based on a computer algorithm. It’s not mere conjecture, he has asserted, simply science.

Lost in the numbers and the heinous details and the media’s interest in a sensational case, however, was the women’s humanity. That is why I suggested my students take on the project. To bring flesh and blood and heart and soul to the story.

To tell the story of these women — someone’s mother, someone’s sister, someone’s aunt, someone’s daughter…

To discover truth and facts about their lives. Among them Nancie Walker, Gwendolyn Williams, Reo Renee Holyfield, Diamond Turner and others… To show that their lives mattered. And that their lives and deaths still ripple upon the psyches and souls of families and communities that still long for justice.

In our reportorial search for truth, we found that the characterization of all the victims as street sex workers or drug addicts was false. In our humanity, we declared, “So what, if they were. None of them deserved to die like this.”

And from beginning to end, we maintained our focus: To tell their story, to make them human so that perhaps all of Chicago would take note and choose to remember and never forget.

The morning news show invitation was another opportunity to tell their stories.

“I am reaching out to see if you and Samantha Latson would be interested in a Zoom interview next week on our morning show to discuss the Unforgotten 51,” read the email from a local producer. “Please let me know if we can set something up…”

We were set. Then a week later, a day before we were to be interviewed, I received a follow-up email:

“I’m really sorry — but the news director has decided the segment is too grim for morning TV.”

Too grim? Grimmer than the daily homicidal body count, mass shootings nationwide and COVID-19 death tally, and the various and sundry catastrophes to which we awaken daily on the morning news? Too grim for women slain in Chicago and for whom there is still no justice?

Too grim, really? For who? Maybe for you, Dear News Director.

But even without ceremony or your help, I vow to keep telling their story.

To read the Unforgotten 51 project, visit: https://www.unforgotten51.com/

[email protected]

Read More

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

With coronavirus case numbers and positivity rates on the decline, the summer festival season in Chicago is in much better shape than last year.

The city has given the green light for festivals and “general admission outdoor spectator events” to welcome 15 people for every 1,000 square feet.

Lea este articulo en espanol en La Voz Chicago, un servicio presentado por AARP Chicago.

The city has debated various ways to bolster vaccination rates among young people most likely to attend outdoor music events like Lollapalooza and Riot Fest. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said a proposal to create a coronavirus vaccine passport for Chicago events is “very much a work in progress” but that preferred seating at those events could be one way to urge vaccination.

Some festivals have already announced their return and concerts are starting to be rescheduled.

We’re tracking the status of the city’s festival and major events throughout the area as new cancellations and postponements are announced. Check back for updates.

ONGOING

AP

• “Rocking in the Park,” Rosemont: 20 weekly concerts that start May 30.
• “Tuesdays on the Terrace,” Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 31.
• Hello Helios: The warming suns of Chicago’s Greektown, 24 artworks in a public art installation along Halsted Street from Madison St. to Van Buren. Beginning June 5.

• “The Obama Portraits,” Art Institute of Chicago, June 18 – Aug. 15

• The Ravinia Festival announced it will reopen in July 1 for 64 concerts through Sept. 26 with a slate of outdoor concerts including a six-week residency by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also slated to appear are: Cynthia Erivo, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, Ides of March, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.

• Grant Park Music Festival, Millennium Park. All concerts are free with reserved seats for all concertgoers and will take place Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. Run time will be 90 minutes, without intermission. July 2-Aug. 21.

JULY

• Rhythm World: July 26 – Aug. 14
• Lake County Fair: July 28- Aug. 1.
• Jeff Fest: Milwaukee and Lawrence Avenues, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Lollapalooza: Grant Park, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival, July 31.
• Chinatown Summer Fair, July 31-Aug. 1

AUGUST

• Chicago Ducky Derby: Aug. 5
• Dave Matthews Band tour heading to Northerly Island this summer, Aug. 6 and 7.
• Michelada Festival: Aug. 6-8
• Northalsted Market Days: Aug. 6-8.
• LatiNxt Musit Festival, Navy Pier: Aug. 6-7.
• Lake County (Ind.) Fair: Crown Point, Indiana, Aug. 6-15
• Printers Row Art Fair: Dearborn St., from Harrison to Polk, Aug. 7-8.
• Sundays on State, a weekly summer street festival, which will close portions of State Street on Sundays for pedestrians. Aug. 8, 22 and 29, and Sept. 5 and 12.

• Retro on Roscoe: Roscoe St. & Damen Ave., Aug 13-15.
• Edison Park Fest: Aug. 13-15.
• Bud Billiken Parade: Aug. 14. the parade will return to the South Side for the 92nd time on Saturday, Aug. 14. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators and marchers to Washington Park.
• Wells Street Art Festival: Aug. 14-15
• Pilsen Fest: Aug. 14 and 21.
• World Naked Bike Ride: 6 p.m. Aug. 16. Route to be announced.
• Ruido Fest: Addams/Medill Park, Pilsen. Aug. 20-22.
• Summer Smash: Douglass Park. Aug. 20-22.
• Taste Of Greektown: Aug. 27-29.
• Gold Coast Art Fair: Grant Park. Aug. 21-22.
• Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, Rogers Park: Aug. 20-22.
• Sangria Festival: Humboldt Park, Aug. 21-22.
• Dragon Boat Races: Chinatown. Aug. 28.
• Chicago Triathlon: Aug. 28-29.

SEPTEMBER

• Summerfest: Milwaukee. The festival will take place over three weekends, Sept. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. More than 100 artists are slated to perform including Chance the Rapper, Miley Cyrus, Luke Bryan, Pixies, Rise Against, Wilco, Diplo, and Fitz and the Tantrums.
• Arc Music Festival: Union Park, house and techno festival, Sept. 4-5.
• Roscoe Village Burger Fest, Sept. 4-5
• Bike the Drive, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive, Sept. 5.
• Pitchfork Music Festival: Union Park, Sept. 10-12.
• Printers Row Lit Fest, Sept. 11-12. Headlining the festival will be National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates.
• Chicago Vegandale: Vegan Food Festival, Grant Park. Sept. 11.
• Hyde Park Summer Fest (formerly Hyde Park Beer Fest); Midway Plaisance. Sept 11-12.
• Jerk, Seafood and Vegan Festival: Lake Meadow Park, Sept. 11-12
• RiotFest: Douglass Park, Sept. 17-19.
• Dead & Company: Wrigley Field, Sept. 17-18
• Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk: Oak Park. Sept. 18.
• Artfest Michigan Ave.: Sept. 18-19.
• Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Sept. 25-26.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago 2021-22 season, opening night featuring a new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, Sept. 25.

OCTOBER

• Lincoln Square Greek Fest: Oct. 1-3.
• Chicago Wine Fest, at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Oct. 2.
• Spring Awakening/Autumn Equinox, Addams/Medill Park, Oct. 2-3.
• “Six,” Broadway In Chicago, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, Oct. 5, 2021 – Jan. 30, 2022.
• Lincoln Park Wine Fest, Jonquil Park, Oct. 9-10.
• Chicago Marathon: Oct. 10
• Court Theatre – “Othello,” Court Theatre, opening Oct. 21.
• Chicago Chicken Wing Festival: Oct. 24

Read More

Teven Jenkins wants to be on the field.

The Bears, though, want to make sure their second round pick is ready when it counts — in padded practices that start Monday. The left tackle remained out of training camp practice Friday with a sore back.

“Trust me — he wants to be out there but we have to control him from himself and that is what we are going to do here as we go through training camp,” coach Matt Nagy said. “But, obviously, the sooner the better.”

As for the back injury, Nagy said the Bears “want to make sure we are taking care of it the right way by listening to him, listening to our doctors and our trainers and just taking it day-by-day.”

When Jenkins returns, he’ll have a handful waiting for him: edge rushers Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. Nagy praised Quinn’s play in training camp thus far after the veteran posted an underwhelming first season with the Bears.

“Robert Quinn is doing well,” he said. “You put on the tape and watch him, he’s rolling right now. And I’ve gotta actually tell him to pull the heck back a little bit because he’s getting in that throwing lane with the quarterback and we had a couple close ones [Thursday]. …

“Teven needs that. He’s gotta be able to have that. But we’ve got a lot of days here ahead of us, and we’ve gotta make sure we’re doing it the right way. And again, I just want to make it loud and clear: He wants to be out here bad, but we’re holding him back. We’ve gotta do it this way.”

Need in Indy?

The Bears will undoubtedly keep an eye on quarterback Carson Wentz’s health in Indianapolis. The Colts quarterback will see a foot specialist after hurting it Thursday, NFL Network reported. His absence leaves the Colts with three healthy quarterbacks who have no professional pass attempts.

It’s unclear if the Colts have interest in Nick Foles, who’s overqualified and overpaid as the Bears’ third-stringer, but there’s a strong connection: Colts head coach Frank Reich was his coordinator on the Eagles’ Super Bowl champion four years ago. Last year, Foles called Reich “the one who really figured me out as a player.”

This and that

o Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who is vaccinated, continued to watch practice remotely Friday while in coronavirus protocol.

“‘Flip’ lives for one thing — that’s individual drills for 15 minutes with those quarterbacks,” Nagy said. “That’s all he cares about. And he can’t do that right now because he’s on a computer [and] Zoom.”

• Safety Eddie Jackson (hamstring), running back Tarik Cohen (knee) and tackle Germain Ifedi (hip) remained out.
• Former Loyola basketball All-American Cameron Krutwig watched practice.

Read More

COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 35% across Illinois during a week that saw cases jump 46%, public health officials reported Friday.

The state averaged 1,669 new cases per day over the past week, a rate that has ballooned to a level six times higher than seen just a month ago, according to the latest figures released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The agency reported 2,348 new cases were diagnosed Thursday, the most in a day since May 7.

Hospitals are now feeling the brunt of that exponential rise in cases, which experts attribute to the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus and its devastating spread through unvaccinated populations.

More than 900 hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients across the state Thursday night, the most since early June. That number had dipped below 400 over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the lowest mark of the pandemic.

And more of those cases are developing into severe ones. Intensive care admissions for coronavirus patients are up 24% over last week and ventilator usage is up 41%, officials said.

After more than a month of increases, the average statewide case positivity rate has held steady for three straight days, but it has soared over 9% across southern regions of the state. Chicago is up to 3% for the first time since late May.

Graph not displaying properly? Click here.

The state is still averaging about six COVID-19 deaths per day, which — like the other statewide metrics — is low compared to the peak of the crisis last year.

But any sustained move in the wrong direction is “extremely worrisome,” according to Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health.

“We’re not seeing a significant number of deaths, especially compared to the same time a year ago, for sure. And this is because, generally speaking, healthier individuals are getting infected with COVID. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t spread it to somebody else that is potentially at risk for getting severe complications,” Rubin said.

The county has adopted masking recommendations advised a day earlier by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which considers Cook to be at a “substantial” risk level for COVID-19 transmission — like the vast majority of Illinois’ 101 other counties.

The Chicago Department of Public Health said Friday it would follow the new CDC guidelines, too.

“We are taking this step to prevent further spread of the very contagious Delta variant and to protect public health,” city public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a statement. “This isn’t forever, but it is necessary to help decrease the risk for all Chicagoans right now.”

Under the guidelines, people are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places regardless of vaccination status, but “eventually we may end up having to make it a mandate,” Rubin said.

“That is the next step. That takes a little bit more time. It takes writing an official order, getting the appropriate legal backing in order to be able to do that,” she said. “It’s really a daunting task to be able to monitor all of these facilities, so we’re really hoping for appropriate community support from employers and management and workers and clients and guests in all of the open venues … to cooperate and to follow this guidance.”

More importantly, the CDC’s designation underscores the need to get more people vaccinated, Rubin said.

Just over 72% of eligible Illinoisans have gotten at least one dose, and 56% are fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates are barely half that in some downstate counties.

Any Chicagoan can request an in-home vaccination by calling (312) 746-4835.

For help finding a shot in suburban Cook County, visit cookcountypublichealth.org or call (833) 308-1988. To find other Illinois providers, visit coronavirus.illinois.gov or call (833) 621-1284.

Read More

An alleged gunman’s attorney said his client acted in self-defense when he shot a 24-year-old man in the head during a traffic dispute following the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Humboldt Park.

But Cook County prosecutors said Anthony Lorenzi “had no business getting involved in” the June 19 altercation the led to the death of Gyovanni Arzuaga and Arzuaga’s girlfriend, disputing Lorenzi’s lawyer’s claims that he only fired to protect himself and others.

Lorenzi, who was charged in Arzuaga’s murder this earlier this month after fleeing the state, has not been charged with killing 25-year-old Yasmin Perez, who authorities say was “more than likely” accidentally shot in the neck by Arzuaga during the melee in the 3200 block of West Division Street.

The “tragedy of epic proportions” can be blamed on Arzuaga, Lorenzi’s lawyer Michael Oppenheimer argued Friday.

Arzuaga would have been charged with murder had he survived and Lorenzi “would have been hailed as a hero,” the defense attorney said.

“If my client was a police officer, which he is not, but if my client was a police officer, he would have been justified” in the shooting, Oppenheimer said.

But Lorenzi, a convicted felon and Latin King who was illegally carrying a weapon, made the decision to insert himself in the fight, even though he wasn’t initially involved, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy argued.

The prosecutor also pointed that less than an hour after the shooting, Lorenzi bought a ticket to San Diego and boarded a plane without any bags the following morning.

“Those aren’t the actions of not somebody who was acting in self-defense,” Murphy said.

Chicago police

A .40-caliber Glock was recovered from under Arzuaga’s body and preliminary tests showed it matched two shell casings found inside Perez’s SUV and the bullet that struck Perez, Murphy said.

Murphy said the shooting is still under investigation, pointing out that three different caliber shell casings had been recovered at the scene and another shooter is believed to be at large.

Arzuaga had been driving the SUV with Perez seated outside on the sunroof and the couple’s friends in the back seat when he struck a parked car at 9:15 p.m. that night, Murphy said.

The owner of the car became angry, allegedly confronting Arzuaga at a passenger side window.

Soon others got involved, including Lorenzi who was across the street, Murphy said. The crowd then tried to drag Arzuaga out of the SUV when he began to reverse.

Perez got down from the SUV, trying to separate Arzuaga from his attackers when she was shot, Murphy said.

Arzuaga went on to hunch over Perez, shielding her when Lorenzi, 34, came up “behind and to the side” of Arzuaga and “unloaded” his gun, Murphy said.

“At the time [Lorenzi] fired those shots … there is objectively no self-defense issue of any kind,” Murphy said.

In graphic video of the shooting that circulated on social media, the attackers can be seen suddenly ducking as Arzuaga apparently fires the shot while being dragged from the SUV.

Lorenzi was captured on several videos firing at Arzuaga, Murphy said.

Oppenheimer argued Arzuaga “shot his own girlfriend, fired the first shot, pointed that gun not only in the direction of his girlfriend, obviously, but at everybody else that was around him.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Lorenzi was taken into custody in California on July 9 and returned to Cook County this week.

Lorenzi, who lives with his parents and his children, only fled Illinois because he “was terrified” due to his criminal record, which doesn’t include violent offenses, Oppenheimer said.

Judge David Navarro signed heavily before ordering Lorenzi held without bail.

Arzuaga and Perez had two children.

Lorenzi is expected back in court Aug. 17.

Read More

If you had asked me right after the 2016 World Series to describe how the next five years would play out for the Cubs, “long and tedious” wouldn’t have crossed my mind. With all that talent on the roster and all that brainpower in the baseball operations department, I expected fun, interesting things.

The metaphor for what happened to the Cubs’ purported “championship window” was the second half of the 2018 season, when the team forgot how to hit. In 22 games during that span, they scored one run or fewer, including a 3-1 loss to the Brewers to determine the National League Central champion and a 2-1, 13-inning loss to the Rockies in a wild-card playoff game. It was as if Phil Mickelson had looked at his golf clubs and said, “What are these things used for?”

It’s not even that the franchise didn’t win another World Series after 2016, though that was certainly disappointing. It’s that the whole idea of the Cubs As Special was being dismantled, first emotionally and eventually physically — but all of it so slowly that it took a long time to grasp that there wasn’t going to be anything close to the 2016 season again. They should have been better in the ensuing years. They just weren’t, and it played out like a time-lapse film of a building being neither built nor razed. Just standing there looking nice.

On Thursday, the Cubs traded first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees for two prospects. It was met with predictable fond farewells from Cubs fans. He had played a huge part in helping the franchise win a World Series for the first time in 108 years. He would be missed, the fans said, and they were right. He would be. But the past two years have been an exercise in waiting for some combination of Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javy Baez to be traded. So it wasn’t a bombshell when Rizzo left for New York. It was a cigarette finally being snuffed out by a heel.

Then came Baez being traded to the Mets on Friday. Then Bryant to the Giants.

It was the longest, most-drawn-out sudden departure in recorded history.

Manager Joe Maddon, who saw things that only he could see, for better or worse, had been the first to go, shown the door following the 2019 season. In the three years after the World Series, the Cubs had lost in the N.L. Championship Series, lost a wild-card game and didn’t make the playoffs, respectively. President Theo Epstein thought complacency had set in after the 2018 season, and, as I think about it now, perhaps that feeling of self-satisfaction had been one of the culprits all along. That and ownership’s refusal to pursue additional talent. Whatever it was, it made for a slow, steady, unfulfilling descent.

Critics have gotten on Cubs fans for being ungrateful following the 2016 World Series, but I’m not sure what should have been expected of them. The Ricketts family had cut back on payroll spending while continuing to use Wrigleyville as a private cash machine. The franchise didn’t keep up with other contenders in terms of on-field talent. It settled for being very good instead of great. The idea, always, is to win. Cubs fans got that, which is why they were duly irritated when the club didn’t get a whiff of the World Series again.

Ah, but there were still Rizzo, Bryant and Baez. They were comfort food for the masses. They could distract you from the team’s decline, the way Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Billy Williams could make you forget what 1969 was really about.

And there was still Epstein, a man with the ability to change everything with a few shrewd personnel decisions. Until there wasn’t Epstein anymore. He resigned in November 2020, and if there was any doubt an era was over, it was finally laid to rest.

The Cubs were already declining in those first few years after the 2016 World Series, even if few of us fully realized it at the time. Something like that had happened when the Cubs were rebuilding, too. There were those three or four dark years, and even though people hoped for good things ahead, all the losing made it hard to see sometimes. Then came 2015, when a young team won 24 more games than the season before and made it to the NLCS. Then we knew.

When Epstein left after the 2020 season, we knew it officially was The End. Seeing Rizzo get traded the other day, although sad, was inevitable. Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel getting traded to the White Sox was huge news for the Sox on Friday. It was a shrug for anyone associated with the team from the North Side. The operative word: Next.

I don’t know what happens with the Cubs from here, but I’m tired of it all. You know the sleepiness you paradoxically feel when you’ve slept too long? It’s kind of like that.

Read More

The Cubs have traded third baseman Kris Bryant to the Giants. They’ll receive minor leaguer outfielder Alexander Canario and right-hander Caleb Killian, according to reports.

Bryant’s trade has been expected for some time and after the Cubs made the decision to be sellers at the deadline, it was only a matter of time.

The trade closes a chapter on what was the golden era of Cubs baseball and breaks up the team World Series core after first baseman Anthony Rizzo was traded to the Yankees on Thursday and Javy Baez sent to the Mets on Friday.

Bryant, 29, was the cornerstone of the Cubs’ rebuild and was the team’s No. 3 overall pick in 2013 before being on a fast track to the big leagues where he would take the baseball world by storm, winning Minor League Player of the Year in 2014, Rookie of the Year in 2015 and was named NL MVP in 2016.

The former MVP has been a staple in the Cubs’ lineup this season and has bounced back, leading the Cubs in nearly every offensive category. He’s slashing .267/.358/.503 with 18 homers, 51 RBI with a 132 wRC+ this season.

Bryant said that he’d always keep the door open to returning to the Cubs in free agency and that the city of Chicago always has a special place with him.

“Deep down in my heart, I know I’ve had some of the best memories here and some of the best times of my life,” Bryant said on Tuesday.

Read More

Kris Bryant is apparently heading west. The Cubs will deal Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants.

The Cubs were busy on trade deadline day, dealing Craig Kimbrel and Javy Baez. They traded Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees on Thursday.

And the Cubs and White Sox have made another deal. The Cubs will send closer Craig Kimbrel to the South Side in exchange for second baseman Nick Madrigal. That deal came a day after the Cubs traded Ryan Tepera to the Sox.

“All good things come to an end,” Rizzo told reporters after he was dealt Thursday to the Yankees. “I’m just focused on going to be a Yankee now. It’s just another really cool opportunity to play for another historic franchise. This will always be home for me, but like I’ve said, my best friend leaving, Jon Lester, he did the same thing. He has two special places in his heart.

“But for these next three months, it’s going to be fun. You go right into a race. Seeing the Yankees pull the triggers like this — get (Joey) Gallo, me now, obviously — that’s what they do. And they’re excited.”

Read More

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be partly sunny with a high near 74 degrees. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 62. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high near 81 while Sunday will be mostly sunny with a slim chance of showers and a high around 77.

Top story

Dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ found in drinking water of thousands of Illinois residents

More than 100 drinking water systems across Illinois, including some in the Chicago area, have tested positive for measurable levels of harmful contaminants known as “forever chemicals” that are linked to cancer, liver damage, high blood pressure and other health threats.

In the Chicago area, Lake Forest, Waukegan, North Chicago, South Elgin and Crest Hill near Joliet are among the water systems that are showing readings of a class of chemicals known as PFAS, short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In most cases, the levels are very low though the widespread presence is a concern, environmental and health advocates say.

“These findings confirm our fears that drinking water is a source of PFAS exposure for thousands of Illinois residents,” said Sonya Lunder, a Sierra Club toxics expert who has worked on the issue nationally. “The state needs to urgently address these harmful exposures.”

Although local officials can’t pinpoint exactly where the contamination is entering their water systems, PFAS chemicals have been around for decades and are ubiquitous, used in stain-resistant clothing, waterproof products, non-stick pans, polishes, waxes and fire-fighting foam.

It’s a complex problem that potentially can cost some local water departments millions of dollars to correct to protect public health. The chemicals are so prevalent that federal officials say most people have some level of them in their bodies. Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” they don’t break down and remain an environmental and human health threat indefinitely.

Brett Chase has the full story on the problem and what it’ll take to fix it.

More news you need

1. A former Cook County prosecutor will be allowed to represent former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, a judge ruled today after Special Prosecutor Dan Webb had objected earlier this year over a conflict of interest. Matthew Hendrickson has more on the latest turn in the Smollett case.
2. A Chicago man was sentenced today to a year and a half in federal prison for carrying a gun during downtown looting last summer. Prosecutors, who asked for a two-year sentence, said Williams had boasted about the looting on social media.
3. Chicago’s Teatro ZinZanni will now require proof of vaccination for guests. The move comes the same day Broadway announced all audiences members would need vaccines.
4. A group of southwest suburban school districts plans to invest millions in a state-of-the-art facility dedicated solely to serving students with special ed needs. Columnist Mark Brown has more on what he calls a “laudable” project.
5. There’s a difference between diversity and equity, and it’ll be Sekile Nzinga’s job to help Illinois move from the former to the latter under a new role created today. Rachel Hinton spoke to Nzinga about the “long game” of her goals for the new state office.
6. The towering “Somos Pilsen” mural emphasizes the neighborhood’s Mexican culture while pushing back against forces of gentrification. Check out pictures of the art and learn more about what it represents from Lu Calzada.

A bright one

Cook Forest Preserve youth program aims to diversify conservation workforce

Just after 10 a.m. on a Monday in late July, a group of eight teenagers is clearing brush in Possum Hollow Woods in LaGrange Park as temperatures approach 90 degrees.

Jamiyah Morgan, 18, a recent grad from Proviso West High School, holds out her gloved hand to show a leaf from a common buckthorn. She then turns back to retrieve another leaf — this one a Japanese honeysuckle — noting the pointed tip. Both plants are invasive species and, as Morgan explains, they are crowding out a group of ash tree saplings that she and the other teens are trying to help survive.

The crew is part of a program run by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County in partnership with the Housing Authority of Cook County, which employs teens for five weeks, at $10.50 an hour for 25 hours a week, introducing them to conservation work.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

The group working in Possum Hollow Woods is one of seven groups made up of teens who receive services from the housing authority. In all, 116 graduated from the program this week.

In addition to providing jobs to area teens and taking care of much-needed maintenance, the program has a broader mission to persuade young people of color to consider working in the field of forestry and related professions. Across the country, such jobs have largely been held by white men, and there’s been an effort in recent years nationally and locally to recruit more people of color.

“It’s the opinion of some people of color that this is not a field for them — these are white jobs,” said Alice Brandon, resource management programming manager for the Forest Preserves. “When you have this message that this is an exclusionary jobs field, they’re not going to be very excited about it.”

Brett Chase has more here.

From the press box

Your daily question ?

What’s your favorite memory from the “Bryzzo” era of Cubs baseball?

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: If you could create your own Lollapalooza lineup, who would be the headliners? Here’s what some of you said…

“Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Tool, Fleetwood Mac, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, and Rage Against the Machine.” — TJ Bollinger

“Beyonce, Pink, Adele, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, Ari Lennox, Lauryn Hill, Gwen Stefani, Lorde, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Florence and the Machine.” — Christa Janella

“Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Greta Van Fleet, Arctic Monkeys, The Lumineers, Shannon + The Clams, Cheap Trick, Dave Matthews, Blondie, No Doubt. Never been so not sure how many headliners there can be, but my lineup already looks pretty expensive.” — Mickey Vincent

“Peter, Paul and Mary, Grateful Dead, Indigo Girls, Alice Cooper, Tom Petty, Meatloaf, The Boss.” — Sharon Maslona

“Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, The O’Jays.” — Gloria A. Veal

“Linkin Park, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Depeche Mode, Beastie Boys, Aerosmith and Radiohead.” — Iris Velardo

“Prince … that’s all we need.” — KJ de Matteis

“Anyone that’s not an EDM DJ.” — Paul Albazi

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

Sign up here to get the Afternoon Edition in your inbox every day.

Read More

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez is also on his way to New York by Vincent Parise

It is over. We learned on Thursday night that the Chicago Cubs traded Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees. Then they traded Javier Baez to the New York Mets. They capped it off by now trading Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants with a few minutes left before the 3 PM trade deadline. It is the trade that finishes off the work that we all thought would be done in the weeks leading up to deadline day. The Chicago Cubs look completely different.

Bryant is going to go to the San Francisco Giants and join a serious division race. They are in a tight battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres which could come down to the final week of the season. Adding Bryant should help the Giants and their chances.

There was a lot of pressure on the Giants after the moves that the Dodgers and Padres have made so far this year. Well, they got a guy who can hit well in any part of the lineup. He can also play every position on the diamond at an above-average level. This is a big trade for both teams as they head in completely opposite directions.

At this time, the return is unknown but you would have to think that some good prospects are going back for Bryant. They did well in the Rizzo and Baez trade so chances are that trend continues here as well.

The Chicago Cubs have made some franchise-altering trades at this deadline.

Let’s try this in English without a grammatical error: The San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a deal to acquire Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2021

Bryant is one of the most successful Cubs in the team’s history. They won the World Series in 2016 with him there as a leading contributor. He is also a player that has been an All-Star, Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player. He made the final play in that memorable 2016 World Series that Cubs fans will never forget. His contributions to the organization will nwever be forgotten.

As the years go on, Cubs fans will always have a special place in their hearts for those players. Along with Rizzo, few had the impact that Bryant had. When you have the talent that he does, it was great to see him be such a nice man as well. He is going to do very well in San Francisco as that organization tries to make a big run this season.

When this season is over, if he doesn’t sign an extension with them, Bryant will become a free agent that is free to sign wherever he wants. It will be interesting to see what he decides from that point on. Either way, it will be fun to watch him finish this season on a winning team.

Related Story: Anthony Rizzo trade might work out well for the Cubs

Read More