Imagine your child has a terminal illness and has a wish to visit Disney Land or meet a famous actor or ride in a race car or sing on stage and you contact Richard Davis, CEO, Make A Wish Foundation and he happily tells you that your child’s wish can be granted — if your child and you and other family members are two weeks past the last vaccine shot.
If not, take your wishes elsewhere.
In the name of safety, Davis and Make A Wish are going to only grant that last wish if your child based on his and his organizations rendering of CDC guidelines.
“We’ve approached this responsibility with a focus and diligence for your families health and safety,” CEO Richard Davis says in a newly released video.
Sure.
In what world?
Imagine this conversations between Richard Davis, CEO, Make A Wish Foundation and Johnny’s parents:
Davis: We were happy we could grant Johnny’s wish
Parents: We got Johnny vaxxed. And we are too.
Davis: Has it been two weeks?
Parents: Yes.
Davis: Fantastic. Johnny can have his wish fulfilled.
Parents: Johnny died a week ago.
Davis: At least he was protected from Covid.
What kind of world is it that a dying child must fall victim to the insane safetyism of terrified adults?
This is psychosis.
I’m embarrassed that this POS has my same name, Richard Davis
Yes, I LOVED TV Dinners. I’m sure they have every chemical known to man — and some that weren’t, but they were square and cool at the same time. And you really did eat them in front of the TV.
Black cartoonists from Chicago are featured in a new book and included in a new exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Imagine a world to come when mysterious green people subject whites to Jim Crow segregation and a multiracial duo of time travelers launches an uprising.…Read More
In this image taken from video, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin’s sentencing, Friday, June 25, 2021, at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin faces decades in prison for the May 2020 death of George Floyd. | AP Photos
Chauvin broke his silence at his sentencing for the murder of George Floyd, offering condolences to Floyd’s family and saying he hopes more will come out in the future to give them “some peace of mind.”
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin’s knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the U.S. in generations.
The punishment — which fell short of the 30 years that prosecutors had requested — came after Chauvin broke his more than yearlong silence in court to offer condolences to the Floyd family and say he hopes more information coming out will eventually give them “some peace of mind.”
With good behavior, Chauvin, 45, could be paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence, or about 15 years.
In imposing the punishment, Judge Peter Cahill went beyond the 12 1/2-year sentence prescribed under state guidelines, citing “your abuse of a position of trust and authority and also the particular cruelty” shown to Floyd.
Chauvin was immediately led back to prison. As with the verdicts in April, he showed little emotion when the judge pronounced the sentence. His eyes moved rapidly around the courtroom, his COVID-19 mask obscuring much of his face.
The fired white officer was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for up to 9 1/2 minutes as the 46-year-old Black man gasped that he couldn’t breathe and went limp on May 25, 2020.
Bystander video of Floyd’s arrest on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store prompted protests around the world and led to scattered violence in Minneapolis and beyond.
On Friday, Chauvin, who did not testify at his trial, removed his mask and turned toward the Floyd family, speaking only briefly because of what he called “some additional legal matters at hand” — an apparent reference to the federal civil rights trial he still faces.
“But very briefly, though, I do want to give my condolences to the Floyd family. There’s going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest. And I hope things will give you some some peace of mind,” he said, without elaborating.
In asking that Chauvin be left off on probation, defense attorney Eric Nelson called Floyd’s death “tragic” and said that Chauvin’s “brain is littered with what-ifs” from that day: “What if I just did not agree to go in that day? What if things had gone differently? What if I never responded to that call? What if what if what if?”
Floyd’s family members took the stand and expressed sorrow about his death. They asked for the maximum penalty.
“We don’t want to see no more slaps on the wrist. We’ve been through that already,” said a tearful Terrence Floyd, one of Floyd’s brothers.
Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams said: “Our family is forever broken.” And Floyd’s 7-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a video played in court, said that if she could say something to her father now, it would be: “I miss you and and I love you.”
Prosecutor Matthew Frank asked the judge to exceed sentencing guidelines and give Chauvin 30 years in prison, saying “tortured is the right word” for what the officer did to Floyd.
“This is not a momentary gunshot, punch to the face. This is 9½ minutes of cruelty to a man who was helpless and just begging for his life,” Frank said.
Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, appeared in court to plead for mercy for son, saying his reputation has been unfairly reduced to that of “an aggressive, heartless and uncaring person” and a racist.
“I can tell you that is far from the truth,” she told the judge. “I want this court to know that none of these things are true and that my son is a good man.” She added: “Derek, I want you to know I have always believed in your innocence, and I will never waver from that.”
“I will be here for you when you come home,” she said.
The concrete barricades, razor wire and National Guard patrols at the courthouse during Chauvin’s three-week trial in the spring were gone Friday, reflecting an easing of tensions since the verdict in April.
Ahead of the sentencing, the judge agreed with prosecutors that there were aggravating circumstances that could justify a heavier punishment than the recommended 12 1/2 years — among them, that Chauvin treated Floyd with particular cruelty, abused his position of authority as a police officer and did it in front of children.
Before the sentencing, the judge denied Chauvin’s request for a new trial. The defense had argued that the intense publicity tainted the jury pool and that the trial should have been moved away from Minneapolis.
The judge also rejected a defense request for a hearing into possible juror misconduct. Nelson had accused a juror of not being candid during jury selection because he didn’t mention his participation in a march last summer to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Prosecutors countered the juror had been open about his views.
Philip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University, said 11 non-federal law officers, including Chauvin, have been convicted of murder for on-duty deaths since 2005. The penalties for the nine who were sentenced before Chauvin ranged from from six years, nine months, to life behind bars, with the median being 15 years.
With Chauvin’s sentencing, the Floyd family and Black America witnessed something of a rarity: In the small number of instances in which officers accused of brutality or other misconduct against Black people have gone to trial, the list of acquittals and mistrials is longer than the list of sentencings after conviction.
In recent years, the acquittals have included officers tried in the deaths of Philando Castile in suburban Minneapolis and Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Two mistrials were declared over the death of Samuel Dubose in Cincinnati.
“That’s why the world has watched this trial, because it is a rare occurrence,” said Arizona-based civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor, who has represented victims of police brutality. “Everybody knows that this doesn’t happen every day.”
Chauvin has been held since his conviction at the state’s maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights, where he has been kept in a cell by himself for his own protection, his meals brought to him.
The three other officers involved in Floyd’s arrest are scheduled for trial in March on state charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. They will also stand trial with Floyd on the federal civil rights charges. No date has been set for that trial.
Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.
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 cloudy with a chance of rain and a high near 80. A flash flood watch is in effect until 7 a.m. tomorrow as more rain and thunderstorms are expected tonight. This weekend will bring even more rain with a high around 83 each day.
Former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan is the latest Illinois politician to cash out his campaign fund by pocketing the balance.
Sheahan, who also once was 19th Ward alderman, paid himself $392,606 in January out of his Citizens for Michael F. Sheahan campaign committee before closing its books nearly 15 years after he last held public office.
It’s a dubious practice that’s completely legal under Illinois law.
Former President Barack Obama once called the practice “legalized bribery.”
The Illinois Legislature voted in 1998 to ban the practice — but only for all future politicians in the state, exempting themselves along with anyone else who already had a campaign fund.
Since then, government officials and former officials have been allowed to cash out an amount equal to whatever money they held in their political accounts on June 30, 1998. The only requirement is that they must pay income taxes on the money.
Chicago muralist Uprizn Ikpemi grew up around dogs and always enjoyed painting them.
So when the artist moved to Chicago four years ago from Lagos, Nigeria, and saw how artists signed their work, he had an idea.
He would put his name to his work, like other artists do. And, when he could, he’d also include his dogs in them, finding a way to get his 3-year-old bullmastiff Peppo or his 2-year-old American bulldog Risky somewhere in the mural.
“Most artists out here have a unique style or have a unique symbol or have something that they’re known for,” Ikpemi says. “I could just be the dog guy who paints the dogs.”
ProvidedArtist Uprizn Ikpemi has made his dogs a signature element in the murals he’s painted around Chicago.
Over the years, featuring a dog became his signature element as he got better at drawing them.
He started doing that after noticing that other artists often develop a signature element they often feature. So he decided that his dogs would be his personal symbol.
Ikpemi has worked on murals across Chicago, most of them on the South Side.
Ikpemi says his style is influenced by his African background, with bold color and abstract elements as seen in the mural at 63rd and Racine.
He’s also partial to using a graffiti-like technique known as wildstyle that interweaves shapes.
Who’s the biggest celebrity you’ve spotted in Chicago? Tell us where and when you saw them.
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: Say you have a friend visiting Chicago for the first time — where will you take them to get the full experience Here’s what some of you said…
“A day at the Shedd Aquarium and water taxi to Navy Pier. Water taxi from downtown to Chinatown. Go to The Signature Lounge for a drink and a stop at the women’s restroom with an amazing view of the City. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum and then the J. Parker.” — Kate Gronstal
“For the full experience, it would have to be the top of one of the buildings, so they can see it all at once. Only then would I start taking them around to the obvious: Navy Pier, the Bean, the Magnificent Mile, Wrigley Field, etc.” — Sandy Gulliver
“1. An old school neighborhood tavern (I like Stanley’s at 43rd and Ashland). 2. Take the brown line to the end of the line so they get a birds-eye view of like 10 different neighborhoods. 3. Take the pink line to Ashland and walk around Pilsen to see the murals — pop in one of the many great Mexican restaurants around there.” — Paul Mulchrone
“For the perfect day, head over to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago where you can walk the campus and appreciate the amazing architecture and vibe. Then just a stone’s throw away is the wonderful Medici on 57th restaurant for a fabulous breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Finally, end your afternoon with an awesome browsing experience at 57th. Street Books. You will not be disappointed!” — Patti Joyce
“Get an all-day water taxi pass — it’s a relaxed way to see different parts of the city, with unlimited on-off privileges, so you can hop off if an area looks interesting. Up to Goose Island; out to Navy Pier; Michigan Avenue; and always end the day in Chinatown, so that you’re getting back to where you started while the city is all lit up.” — Carolyn Leeb
“Mostly South Side stuff: Rainbow Cone, DiCola’s Seafood Beverly, Vienna Beef at 38th and Morgan. Weber’s Bakery on Archer. Nick & Vitos on Pulaski. A breaded steak from Ricobenes on 26th. That should hold em for a while.” — John Czerwiec
Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.
Clifton Williamson, 40, was shot multiple times June 13 in the 1300 block of North Cicero Avenue.
A man has died days after being shot on a motorcycle on the border of Austin and West Humboldt Park on the West Side.
Clifton Williamson, 40, was shot multiple times around 3:20 p.m. June 13 in the 1300 block of North Cicero Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
He was riding a motorcycle when someone in another vehicle fired shots, striking him in the back and legs, Chicago police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Williamson, of Austin, died 11 days later on June 24 from complications of the gunshot wounds, the medical examiner’s office said.
Warm weekends in Chicago call for rooftops, patios, and frozen cocktails. Whether it be a day drinking extravaganza with the girls or guys or a swanky date on a gorgeous rooftop, the perfect frozen boozy drink can take things to the next level. Here are 5 of our favorite spots for the best frozen cocktails in Chicago this summer.
Starting next week, the West Loop hotspot is offering diners a variety of frozen cocktails to cool off this summer. Sip on a frozen “Sour Watermelon” featuring Pink Lemonade Smirnoff, Lemon, Red Bull Watermelon Edition. In addition, the menu at this restaurant in Chicago features a frozen drink called the Chi Colada. The drink is mixed with Captain Morgan, Pineapple, and Coconut. Lastly, diners can sit on the expansive patio and soak in the sun while enjoying the best of both worlds with the new “West Loop Vice”, featuring a mixture of both the Sour Watermelon and Chi Colada.
Located in River North, The Smith is elevating diners’ frozen cocktail experience by offering a frozen twist on the classic French 75 and turning it into a “French 75 Slushie”. Diners can sip and enjoy this frozen beverage on the expansive Clark Street patio while enjoying light bites or The Smith’s signature Mac & Cheese.
Nestled in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Old Pueblo Cantina is “the” spot for frozen margaritas. Featuring fresh fruit, lime, and agave, diners can sip and sit on the patio while indulging in homemade Chips & Guac, sonoran cheese crisps, taco platters, chopped salads, and more.
Chicago’s largest patio, Recess, debuted the “Aperol Freeze” this summer, a frozen Aperol spritz with similarities to the classic cocktail. The frozen cocktail includes Aperol, watermelon vodka and sparkling wine — giving it an interesting tingle that has similarities to the effervescence of sparkling wine even when frozen. This summer, the Recess patio is becoming even bigger and better: with more second-floor seating offering amazing views and more street art along the shipping containers.
Chef Bill Kim’s beloved fast-casual in Wicker Park offers something you don’t see everyday: frozen Kirin beer. The frozen Kirin beer trend in Japan has worked its way into the US, but locating it is still like finding a unicorn. This frozen drink can only be found in Disney’s Epcot, New York, California, and now… urbanbelly. Beer lovers rejoice as the frosty top keeps the draft beer below it at the same temperature as it was poured, perfect for sipping on the patio.
The long-awaited 4th of July weekend is right around the corner and to celebrate Chicago’s hospitality industry is rolling out the red, white, and blue carpet. Check out our roundup of the best 4th of July restaurant specials and local hotel accommodations in Chicago for the big holiday weekend.
The popular West Loop steakhouse is offering a chef-driven Grilling Kit to make your 4th of July spectacular. The Grilling Kit includes: your choice of two Prime Steaks, either Bone-In Ribeye, Filet Mignon or NY Strip; 50/50 Mashed Potatoes; Asparagus, Bone Marrow Butter and BLVD Steak Salt. The kits offered by this restaurant in Chicago will include grilling instructions from Executive Chef Johnny Besch! Order via TOCK for pick-up July 1-3 here: https://www.exploretock.com/blvd/
El Che Steakhouse & Bar’s retail marketplace is offering everything needed to host a successful barbecue on the 4th of July in Chicago with take-home grilling kits. The Weekender Kit ($57) includes a 4 pack short ribs, 2 morcilla links, 2 chorizo links, 4-pack BabyGold Beer—part of his partnership at iconic Berwyn establishment Fitzgeralds—plus 4 oz each of housemade Chimichurri, Chimichurri Rojo, Salsa Criolla.
In addition, recreate Chef/Owner John Manion’s iconic meat platter at your home grill with the Parrillada Platter for four ($109): a 12 oz Picanha, 4 short ribs, 2 morcilla links, 2 chorizo links, sweetbreads, 2 marrow bones, bread and Chimichurri, Rojo Chimichurri and Salsa Criolla. Finally, the Beat the Heat Wine Box ($45) offers three South American bottles that are best served chilled.
Chef/Owner John Manion’s Argentine steakhouse recently evolved its wine program to feature an exclusively South American list—one of the only places in the US to commit to serving only South American wines. Pais is a crushable summer red wine that was the first grape brought from the old world in the mid 16th Century. Pairing perfectly for the 4th of July weekend, and beverage director Alex Cuper is offering a variety available by-the-glass June 29 through July 3. Examples of the Pais wines on special include: J. Bouchon ‘Viejo’, 2019 Maule Valley ($12/glass); Cacique Maravilla Pipeno, 2019 Bio Bio ($13/glass); Vinateros Bravos ‘Volcanico’, 2020 Itata Valley ($14/glass); and Roberto Henriquez ‘Rivera del Norto’, 2018 Itata Valley ($14/glass).
There’s no better inland destination to celebrate this 4th of July weekend in Chicago than at Recess—enjoy live music from DJs on Friday 7/2 and Saturday 7/3 night indoors, or start your day early on one of the 500+ seats on the expanded patio. To commemorate the holiday weekend, Recess is also hosting a special Photo Contest on their Instagrammable patio. To enter, strike a pose in your best red, white & blue outfit in front of the new street art and murals gracing the patio, such as this patriotic eagle. Tag @chicagoinrecess, for your chance to win Recess swag, Bluetooth speakers and gift cards.
In the heart of River North, diners can sip on frozen cocktails such as the French 75 Slushie on the 4th of July in Chicago at The Smith on their expansive patio before walking over to watch. After cocktails, indulge in The Smith’s signature skillet roasted Mac & Cheese, Spicy Salmon Tartare, Veggie Royale Burger, and more. Diners can also enjoy The Smith’s “Weekend Sunset” menu featuring $3 oysters, Little Gem Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and more.
What better way to spend the 4th of July in Chicago than watching the fireworks from a riverfront hotel? Offering one-of-a-kind views of the show over the holiday weekend, the recently reopened Sheraton Grand is the perfect place to stay when visiting the city or planning a holiday staycation. A blend of refined comfort and stylishly appointed accommodations, the hotel offers striking views of the lake, river and Chicago skyline. With a location steps away from Millennium Park and Navy Pier, you can enjoy the show in person or watch the fireworks with family and friends from one of the lake view suites.
Long dubbed “The Hotel of Presidents,” experience a place where past meets present this 4th of July in Chicago. Dating back to 1910, The Blackstone hotel’s iconic past contains stories of things that happened in smoke-filled rooms and windowless barbershops.
Live the legacy first hand by staying in the Suite of Presidents, where Harry Truman delighted staff with a private piano performance of the “Missouri Waltz;” President Eisenhower watched his 1952 nomination; and President Kennedy enjoyed Boston clam chowder when he received word he had to return to the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Escape the city over the holiday weekend and celebrate the 4th of July in Oak Brook. A serene suburb setting just beyond city limits, the Hotels of Oak Brook offer a great alternative to downtown Chicago. Just 15 miles west of the city, Oak Brook is home to six outdoor parks, one of the Midwest’s hottest shopping destinations Oak Brook Center and seven hotel options for all budgets. While visiting, experience the largest exhibition of original Frida Kahlo works in the Chicagoland area in over 40 years or Human+Nature Exhibit at Morton Arboretum.
Man, that Scottie Pippen, what a basketball player! The lockdown defense! The silky smoothness! The balletic dunks that counterbalanced Michael Jordan’s fierce slams!
Whenever someone starts a column listing all the things they like about a person, you can be pretty sure there will be a “but” soon after. And you can be pretty sure it won’t end well for that person.
But …
But I wish the part of Pippen’s brain that produces opinions would shut down. When it comes to hot takes, the man is a wildfire. He makes big, bold, noisy statements, then stands back to watch the flames. He’s the guy at the restaurant whose voice reaches every diner. You asked for a table with a view, not a viewpoint.
I know Pippen won’t stop talking, because he can’t help himself. I have a simple solution, however: My first vacation since the pandemic hit will be a long vacation from Scottie Pippen.
His latest unloading, the one that led to my Scottie sabbatical, came in an interview with GQ. In it, he more than implied that Bulls coach Phil Jackson was racially biased when he called a play for Toni Kukoc late in a 1994 playoff game against the Knicks. Jackson and Kukoc are both white. Pippen, who is black, infamously sat out the final 1.8 seconds of that game in protest of the play selection. Kukoc went on to hit the game-winning shot.
“I felt like it was an opportunity to give (Kukoc) a rise,” Pippen told the magazine. “It was a racial move to give him a rise. After all I’ve been through with this organization, now you’re gonna tell me to take the ball out and throw it to Toni Kukoc? You’re insulting me. That’s how I felt.”
I ask you, dear reader: Why would Jackson pick the closing moments of Game 3 of a second-round series to promote any bigoted views he might hold? A series, by the way, that the Bulls trailed 2-0? Wouldn’t he have shown this tendency throughout his career as the Bulls head coach? If there was evidence of it, why haven’t we heard about it until now?
The logical answer to all of this is that Pippen has been lugging around the hurt of those 1.8 seconds for a long time, and, after years of festering, it has taken on this jagged shape. The problem is that it doesn’t fit with anything we know or have heard about Jackson.
Pippen spent most of his career as Jordan’s very talented sidekick, and that designation has been incredibly good to him. It brought him six NBA titles and a spot on the NBA’s top-50 list in 1996. But he also seems to look upon his status as No. 2 to Jordan’s No. 1 as an affliction that has robbed him of his due.
The part of the GQ interview that has gotten the most national attention is Pippen’s takedown of Kevin Durant’s recent postseason performance.
“KD, as great as his offense was, it turned out to be his worst enemy because he didn’t know how to play team basketball,” Pippen said. “He kept trying to go punch for punch.”
That led Durant to tweet about Pippen’s refusal to go on the floor for the final 1.8 seconds of the 1994 game.
And, sigh, here we are. Another Scottie-started fire that had talk shows across the country buzzing.
Pippen just released his own bourbon and has a memoir coming out, but anyone who has paid attention to him knows that he doesn’t need a book or booze launch to say crazy things. I can’t keep track of where he stands on whether Jordan is the best player of all time. Four years ago, he said that LeBron James had “probably” passed Jordan as the GOAT. Two years ago, he said James wasn’t as good as Jordan or Kobe Bryant. If you asked him today, he’d probably say: “Michael Jordan? I don’t know a Michael Jordan.”
Pippen opens his mouth, and a whole crew of people is there for the parsing. It reminds me of the salt trucks and snowplows that wait by the side of the highway in anticipation of a storm. It’s great for talk shows and newspaper columnists, unless you’re tired of the crazy uncle routine.
I’m well aware that there are people out there who wish I would give my opinions a rest. You’re free to take a vacation from me. I’m also aware that squeaky wheels like Pippen keep columnists like me very busy. But sometimes beggars can indeed be choosers.
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