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Dear Abby: Should I tell half-sister the truth about who her birth father is?Abigail Van Burenon July 18, 2021 at 11:00 am

DEAR ABBY: I have a half-sister who is 14 years younger, and there is a sensitive genealogical matter I have never shared with her. Her “father” married our mother while she was pregnant with another man’s child. That man lied to her about being single and wanting to marry her. My stepfather came on the scene, fell in love with Mom (knowing she was pregnant) and married her before she gave birth to my half-sister, which is why her birth records show him as the father.

I had urged both of them to tell her, but they kept saying it “wasn’t time,” and now they have both passed away. I’m in my 70s now and not sure about how (or if) I should approach her. I’d appreciate your advice in this delicate matter. — SIBLING SITUATION

DEAR SIBLING: I advise readers to disclose this kind of information so relevant medical data can be accessed, if necessary. If you know the identity of your half-sister’s birth father and where his family is located, you should reveal this family secret so that, should the need arise, she can find out whether there is a genetic predisposition toward cancer, heart problems, etc. Her life or the lives of her children could benefit from having that information.

DEAR ABBY: I have two sons and a daughter. My younger son will be getting married in a few months. While he and his sister used to have a close relationship, they have been estranged since their father’s death a year ago. I have reason to suspect that he won’t invite his sister to attend the wedding.

I intend to have a heart-to-heart talk about this with my son and find out what his intentions are. I regard an invitation as not only proper etiquette, but also an opportunity to extend a peace offering.

Would you please advise me on the best way to approach him about it and, specifically, what words to use? I’m worried that if an invitation isn’t extended, their relationship may become impossible to repair. I should mention that while they are both goodhearted people, they are also stubborn. — HEARTBROKEN MOM

DEAR MOM: Whatever happened between your son and daughter must have been a doozie to have caused a yearlong estrangement. If you wish to approach your son, do so in the context of your concern that if she isn’t invited to his wedding, you fear the estrangement could become permanent. But after that, please recognize that this is his wedding, and it is his and his fiancee’s prerogative to decide who should celebrate with them.

DEAR ABBY: A colleague of mine died recently. I sent a sympathy card to his wife and family. The gentleman who passed away has a best friend who works with me, and they were very close — almost like brothers. They would take fishing trips together, go to football games, etc. I know the friend is grieving too. Would it be OK to send this friend a sympathy card as well? — CARING FRIEND

DEAR CARING FRIEND: I see nothing wrong with doing that. Your co-worker has obviously experienced a significant loss, and an expression of sympathy would be both thoughtful and appropriate.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

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Dear Abby: Should I tell half-sister the truth about who her birth father is?Abigail Van Burenon July 18, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

8-year-old boy hurt in Gresham double shootingSun-Times Wireon July 18, 2021 at 9:29 am

An 8-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man were wounded in a shooting early Sunday in Gresham on the South Side.

Just after 1 a.m., the pair were traveling in a vehicle in the 2000 block of West 83rd Street when someone in a black SUV fired shots, Chicago police said.

The boy suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg and was transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was listed in good condition, police said.

The man was struck in the back and treated and released on scene, according to police.

There is no one in custody.

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8-year-old boy hurt in Gresham double shootingSun-Times Wireon July 18, 2021 at 9:29 am Read More »

1 killed, 1 wounded in Chatham shootingSun-Times Wireon July 18, 2021 at 6:58 am

One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Chatham on the South Side.

The pair was standing outside about 11:25 p.m. in the 7600 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue when someone in a black SUV fired shots, Chicago police said.

A male suffered gunshot wounds to the body and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

A 27-year-old woman was struck in the right knee and taken to the same hospital in fair condition, police said.

There is no one in custody, according to police.

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1 killed, 1 wounded in Chatham shootingSun-Times Wireon July 18, 2021 at 6:58 am Read More »

12-year-old girl, 4 teenagers shot outside party in AustinSophie Sherryon July 18, 2021 at 5:40 am

A 12-year-old girl and four teenagers were shot outside a party late Saturday in Austin on the West Side.

The victims, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years old, were all hospitalized in fair condition, according to police

About 11:40 p.m., they were standing with a group on the sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Ohio Street when someone in a dark-colored SUV fired shots, Chicago police said.

The 12-year-old girl was struck in the hand and driven by family members to West Suburban Medical Center, police said.

A 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl both suffered gunshot wounds to the buttocks and were taken to Stroger Hospital, police said.

A 15-year-old girl suffered a graze wound to the head and a gunshot wound to the buttocks, according to police. She was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The fifth victim, a 19-year-old woman, was struck in the back and transported to Stroger Hospital.

There is no one in custody, according to police.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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12-year-old girl, 4 teenagers shot outside party in AustinSophie Sherryon July 18, 2021 at 5:40 am Read More »

4 children, 2 adults seriously hurt in Austin shootingSophie Sherryon July 18, 2021 at 5:40 am

Four children and two adults were all seriously wounded in a shooting late Saturday in Austin on the West Side.

Emergency crews responded to the shooting about 11:50 p.m. in the 5000 block of West Ohio Street, Chicago fire officials said.

Four children and two adults were transported to area hospitals all in serious condition, according to fire officials.

Chicago police have not yet released information on the shooting.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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4 children, 2 adults seriously hurt in Austin shootingSophie Sherryon July 18, 2021 at 5:40 am Read More »

Bucks move victory away from championship with win in Game 5 of NBA FinalsBrian Mahoney | Associated Presson July 18, 2021 at 4:30 am

PHOENIX — Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals.

Took it right out of Devin Booker’s hands, actually.

Holiday’s steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild Game 5 and gave the Bucks a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Antetokounmpo had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 29 points, and Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists.

The Bucks fought their way out of an early 16-point hole by flirting with the best-shooting night in NBA Finals history, but then won it by making a huge defensive play for the second straight game.

They can win their first title since 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

“One more to go. One more to go,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to keep playing good basketball.”

Booker had 40 points, his second straight 40-point game. But with the Suns rallying and down one with 16 seconds left, he drove into the middle and Holiday wrestled the ball out of his hands.

Antetokounmpo sprinted down the court to his right and Holiday fired a perfect lob pass that the Greek Freak slammed down while Chris Paul fouled him to make it 122-119. Antetokounmpo missed the free throw, but the Bucks grabbed the rebound and Middleton made one free throw for the final point of the night.

Before the defensive stand, Milwaukee’s offense was the story. The Bucks made 32 of 45 shots in the middle two quarters, outscoring the Suns 79-53 during that stretch.

Milwaukee became the first road team to win in the series and with one more victory will complete its second 2-0 comeback in this postseason — along with the fifth in NBA Finals history.

Paul had 21 points and 11 assists, and Deandre Ayton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. But the Suns missed a chance to move within a victory of their first championship and will need a victory at Fiserv Forum to bring the series back to the desert for Game 7 on Thursday night.

Milwaukee was at 62.1% shooting after three quarters, threatening to challenge Orlando’s 62.5% mark against the Lakers in Game 3 of the 2009 finals. Holiday’s basket had the Bucks in good shape at 108-94 with about 9 minutes remaining, but the Suns put together a push in the final minutes.

Down 10 with just under 3 1/2 minutes remaining, the Suns got a 3 from Booker and a basket by Paul to cut it to 120-119 with 56 seconds to play. Holiday missed a jumper, but that didn’t matter once the defensive ace of the Bucks backcourt took it back from Booker.

It wasn’t as spectacular a defensive play as Antetokounmpo’s block of Ayton’s dunk attempt that preserved a two-point lead in Game 4, but it was every bit as important to a Bucks team making its first finals appearance since 1974.

It good off to a bad start when the Suns won the first two games, but things changed when the series moved — even the name of the arena. The Suns announced a naming rights deal Friday that changed Phoenix Suns Arena into the Footprint Center.

Whatever the name, the arena was so loud during the Suns’ sensational start to the first quarter that nobody could hear a foul on P.J. Tucker after a turnover to prevent a breakaway. The Suns threw it ahead to Booker, who threw down a dunk as Antetokounmpo sprinted back and grabbed his arm in what otherwise may have drawn a flagrant foul.

Not getting that basket didn’t slow the Suns, who scored the next seven points to open a 32-16 lead on Mikal Bridges’ 3-pointer. The Suns made 14 of 19 shots (73.7%) in the first quarter and led 37-21.

But Booker started the second on the bench and the Bucks opened with a 21-5 spurt to quickly tie it at 42 on Pat Connaughton’s 3-pointer with 7:48 remaining in the half.

Milwaukee took a 64-61 advantage to the break, becoming the second team in finals history to lead at halftime after trailing by at least 15 after one, according to Elias.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Milwaukee played without Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Giannis’ older brother was placed in health and safety protocols. Coach Mike Budenholzer said the Bucks wouldn’t have their whole staff for the same reason. … The Boston Celtics were the first team to be 15 or more down after one and ahead at the half, doing so in the 1957 finals against the St. Louis Hawks.

Suns: Paul has 1,068 assists in the playoffs. He moved ahead of Steve Nash and Larry Bird into seventh place on the career list during the game. … Bridges scored 13 points.

OFFICIAL OUT

James Williams was the umpire for the game. He replaced Sean Wright, who was placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

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Bucks move victory away from championship with win in Game 5 of NBA FinalsBrian Mahoney | Associated Presson July 18, 2021 at 4:30 am Read More »

Chicago Week in Beer, July 19-22on July 18, 2021 at 4:45 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago Week in Beer, July 19-22

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Chicago Week in Beer, July 19-22on July 18, 2021 at 4:45 am Read More »

The waiting Games: Olympians navigate strict rules in TokyoPat Grahamon July 18, 2021 at 3:45 am

Sydney McLaughlin turns 22 three days after the final of the 400-meter hurdles, in which she might win Olympic gold and may even lower her current world record.

Her big birthday plans?

“Try and find a cupcake and then blow out the candles by myself,” McLaughlin said.

Welcome to the no-fun Olympics, where celebrations and camaraderie will be muted by stringent rules and regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Navigating the Tokyo Games may prove to be anything but a piece of cake: Masks and social distancing — 2 meters (more than 6 feet) — strictly required. Hugging is a no-no when celebrating. Meals in big groups are to be avoided. Alcohol must be consumed in one’s room — and alone. Family interactions are basically reduced to video chatting.

Not exactly the once-in-a-lifetime experience many athletes were envisioning.

“In my head, it’s going to be like a really cool jail. Like you’re going to be super excited, but you’re still in jail,” American archer and three-time Olympic medalist Brady Ellison said. “But when we get there, it may not be nearly as bad as what we think it is, right?”

The lengthy playbook — a guideline for a “safe and successful Games” — is filled with “cannots” and “do nots.” Slip-ups and their consequences range from warnings to fines to maybe even worse — expulsion? — for the approximately 15,400 athletes expected to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics.

Athletes are taking the heavy restrictions — no shaking hands, don’t walk around the city, eat alone when possible — in stride. Because there’s a big silver lining: They’re finally green-lighted to compete after the Tokyo Games were postponed a year due to COVID-19.

“They’re sacrificing a lot,” USA men’s basketball and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They can’t take their friends or family to Tokyo. It’s a huge sacrifice and I think they deserve a lot of credit for that.”

Then again, athletes have become adept at being flexible.

“I guess the one thing the pandemic has taught me is not to have any expectations and always expect this constant unknown,” said U.S. women’s volleyball player Jordan Larson, who is heading to her third Olympics. “It’s going to be different than our past experiences for sure. But I also think we’re going to look back and be like, ‘Whoa, remember that time we played in an Olympic Games in the middle of the pandemic?'”

Another added wrinkle to overcome: homesickness. Most family members will only be allowed to offer support through phone calls and video chats.

“It’s going to be sad for a lot of families and friends,” Larson said, “just because it is such a special moment in life.”

The stage is set, though, for some gold medal-worthy performances on social media. Let the singing and dancing commence with posts on TikTok, which wasn’t around for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

“I feel like it’s going to a very social media-heavy Olympics, given the fact that everyone is going to be stuck in their rooms,” American 400-meter hurdler Rai Benjamin said.

To fill the down time between practice and competitions, participants are turning to a variety of activities:

— American high jumper Vashti Cunningham plans to catch up on episodes of “Naruto,” a Japanese anime series on Netflix.

— Paralympian cyclist/barista Oksana Masters intends to open a coffee bar in her room, bringing plenty of coffee beans — and her grinder — to serve fellow athletes and keep them “well-caffeinated,” the eight-time Paralympic medalist said.

— Sylvia Fowles will spend some time in Tokyo studying mortuary sciences. The WNBA MVP in 2017 and three-time gold medalist for the U.S. women’s basketball team has to be ready after the Olympics. “Just waiting to take national boards,” Fowles said.

— Norwegian 400-meter hurdle world record-holder Karsten Warholm will go old-school and bring DVDs.

— U.S. women’s volleyball coach Karch Kiraly has games lined up such as cornhole.

— Ellison will hit the virtual links inside his room, with “tee times” at famed courses such as St. Andrews in Scotland and Augusta. His rounds will provide a little physical activity because he will be swinging a golf club that serves as a game simulator.

“It will be nice to have a little bit of movement,” Ellison said. “You kind of turn to jelly when you have to sit in a hotel room.”

To stay locked in, Jourdan Delacruz and the U.S. weightlifting team are training in Waikiki, working out on Tokyo time (waking up late) and in a converted hotel ballroom.

The plan: travel to Japan a few days before her event, compete and then head back to Hawaii, where her parents, brother and cousin will be waiting. Then, watch the rest of the Tokyo Games with family and teammates.

“I was really looking forward to watching other athletes from different sports,” Delacruz said. “At this point, I’m just very grateful that it’s even happening.

About the celebrations (for a medal or just in general): Keep a safe distance — and no alcohol allowed in public areas of the village. If athletes want a drink, they’re being told to “drink alone” in their room.

One of the symbols of the celebratory atmosphere of the Olympics is its longstanding distribution of condoms. In Rio, for instance, officials doled out 450,000 through vending machines and with signs that read, “Celebrate with a Condom.” This time, there will be 150,000 condoms given to athletes only as they leave for home.

Speaking of leaving for home, athletes are asked to pack up and depart no more than 48 hours after they’re done competing.

“It’s very restrictive. You can’t be a tourist,” U.S. rower Grace Luczak said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to stay around to see all the rowing events finish.”

A totally different Olympics, for sure. Everyone’s just trying to make the most of the unprecedented situation.

“We’ll cheer … from afar,” said Nancy Smith, the mother of U.S. volleyball player David Smith. “It’s not the same. But we’re thankful he gets to go.”

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The waiting Games: Olympians navigate strict rules in TokyoPat Grahamon July 18, 2021 at 3:45 am Read More »