A man helping a friend change a tire was shot and critically wounded during a struggle with a carjacker Monday evening in West Lawn, police said.
The man, 28, had just finished changing the flat tire in the 4700 block of West 64th Street about 6:25 p.m. when someone in a ski mask approached and tried to take the man’s car keys, Chicago police said.
The two struggled and the carjacker pulled out a gun, but the man knocked the weapon from the carjacker’s hand, police said.
Chicago police work a crime scene where a man was shot in the head and his vehicle stolen in the 6400 block of South Cicero Avenue, Monday May 24, 2021. The man was helping change a friend’s flat tire when he was shot.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Chicago police work a crime scene where a man was shot in the head and his vehicle stolen in the 6400 block of South Cicero Avenue, Monday May 24, 2021. The man was helping change a friend’s flat tire when he was shot.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
A weapon magazine and a sandal are marked out as evidence at a crime scene where a man was shot in the head and his vehicle stolen in the 6400 block of South Cicero Ave, Monday May 24, 2021.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The carjacker retrieved the gun and fired a shot, striking the man in the head, police said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.
The gunman fled in the man’s dark blue Nissan Altima, police said. He was described as 18 to 25 years old and about 6-foot-1, wearing dark clothing and a ski mask.
The FBI’s Chicago office issued an alert for the Altima, warning people not to approach it but to call 911.
At the scene, officers placed several evidence markers around a wrench and what appeared to be an ammunition magazine.
DEAR ABBY: I have a friend who feels a need to correct the behavior of others by writing letters. There are not too many businesses around town that haven’t received one of her letters and, no doubt, others in her circle of friends have, too.
After a misunderstanding for which I apologized, I received one of them. Because she lacks understanding or the ability to forgive, a vitriolic diatribe came my way. In her letter, she related past “unfortunate (in her opinion) ill behaviors” on my part for which I should be ashamed. Then she ended a friendship we had for many years without trying to mend the relationship. This is very hurtful for me, and I’m sure for others. How does one respond, if at all, to something like this? — SUFFERING IN MICHIGAN
DEAR SUFFERING: One does not respond. One copes by recognizing that the only person this unhappy woman is punishing is herself, as her circle of friends diminishes and businesses around town no longer welcome her.
DEAR ABBY: I am in a rock band with some friends. All of us are in our 50s and 60s. We have been playing together for the last three years. Last year, our bass player joined another band (while staying in ours) because another friend was in it, but they broke up because of COVID. Now that music venues are opening up again, he has joined yet another group.
I’m a loyal guy, and it bothers me that he doesn’t seem as loyal to our band. He says he can easily do both, but for me, it causes booking issues because the other band will be blocking out dates that we might be able to book. I see no other conflicts. He even asked if I was interested in joining the other band, too, because he figured that if he can’t be in two places at once, it might as well be both of us. Should we cut our losses and replace him? Loyalty is really important to us. — ROCKING ON IN TEXAS
DEAR ROCKING ON: Because you feel that loyalty is paramount and your friend may have scheduling conflicts because of his participation with the other band(s), yes, he should be replaced with a musician you can rely on.
DEAR ABBY: My wife recently asked me if she could take off her wedding ring in favor of wearing her mother’s, which is much larger than the one I gave her. I regard it as a lack of respect for our marriage, which has been under a lot of stress for a long time. (No affairs.) I also view it as symbolic of how much she has financially sacrificed being married to me. What do you think? — WONDERING IN THE EAST
DEAR WONDERING: You should tell your wife it would hurt you deeply if she follows through, and why. I also think the time has come for the two of you to talk about what is “stressing” your marriage with a licensed marriage and family therapist.
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.
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)
ChicagoBears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
We are now nearly into June, with almost a month having gone by since the 2021 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears roster looks pretty close to set for training camp.
General manager Ryan Pace won fans back over during draft weekend, first and foremost by making the move to go get Justin Fields of course. But, the rest of that draft class appeared to be carefully crafted by Pace.
Already over the Bears’ rookie minicamp, we saw the pieces coming together with Fields at the helm and the rest of the guys truly buying in. It’s only rookie camp, but fans should be excited about how those young players looked and spoke during those practices.
Between the rookie class and a few free agents signed by Pace, the Bears actually look as though they could compete this season if a couple of things go their way — the first, obviously, is if Fields gets in on the action early and plays well.
With training camp a couple of months away, could the Chicago Bears still afford to add some talent to the roster?
There are still some spots on this roster which need a little help. A few days ago, we went over some defensive free agents still available that the Bears could bring in.
Now, we turn our attention to the offensive side of the ball. With all signs pointing to Fields getting the starting job sooner rather than later, now it’s about putting him in the best position to succeed when he gets the nod from head coach Matt Nagy.
Wide receiver has been a big focus for the Bears this offseason, as has offensive line. The team has added a few players to the receiving corps and Pace also cut ties with both starting offensive tackles from last year in Charles Leno and Bobby Massie.
Get ready for a different Bears offense in 2021.
Although things are looking up for this unit, the following five free agents are still available and would provide the Bears a lift in one way or another.
Charleston native Cole Hoover played in the trenches for Eastern Illinois. (photo courtesy of eiupanthers.com)
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Ohio Valley Conference
Head Coach: Adam Cushing
Overall Record: 1-5
Conference Record: 1-5
Biggest Win: EIU got solid contributions and key plays in all three phases of the game as the Panthers toppled Tennessee Tech 28-20 at O’Brien Field. Eastern intercepted three passes, scored on a blocked punt and produced a balanced offense.
Most Frustrating Loss: After taking a two-point lead on a Stone Galloway field goal with 41 seconds left, EIU lost 21-20 to Tennessee State on a last-second 35-yard field goal.
All-OVC: EIU had three honored as all-Ohio Valley Conference players. Linebacker Jason Johnson was selected for the first team. Defensive back Mark Williams and kick returner Matt Judd were picked for the second team.
No season finale: The Panthers did not play their season finale against Austin Peay. Under the OVC’s COVID-19 protocols, APSU did not have the requisite number of student-athletes to compete, forcing the cancellation.
Fourth down frenzy: The Panthers went on fourth down 31 times in their six games. EIU converted 10 times (32 percent).
Fall kickoff: Eastern opens its fall season Saturday, August 28 at Indiana State. The Ohio Valley will be down to seven teams in the fall after Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State announced they were leaving the conference.
Next Up: Barry Bottino explores Five Burning Questions that face EIU football for fall 2021.
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).
A man was struck by a CTA Blue Line train May 25, 2021, after falling off the platform in West Garfield Park. | Sun-Times file photo
About 3:10 a.m., the man was standing on the platform at the Cicero Avenue stop in the 700 block of North Cicero Avenue, when he stumbled and fell onto the northbound tracks and was struck by a train.
A 58-year-old man was struck by a CTA Blue Line train Tuesday morning after he accidentally from the platform of a station in West Garfield Park on the West Side.
About 3:10 a.m., the man was standing on the platform of the Cicero Avenue stop in the 700 block of North Cicero Avenue, when he stumbled and fell onto the northbound tracks and was struck by a train, Chicago police said.
Chicago fire officials remain on scene and are attempting to extract the man from beneath the train, police said. He is believed to be in critical condition.
Blue Line service has been temporarily suspended between Pulaski and Forest Park, according to the Chicago Transit Authority. Shuttle buses are available.
This is a developing story, check back for details.
A man was killed and a teen girl was wounded in a shooting May 25, 2021, in the 4700 block of West Arthington Street. | Sun-Times file
About 2:10 a.m., the man, 31, and the girl, 16, were sitting in a vehicle in the 4700 block of West Arthington Street, when someone approached and fired multiple shots.
A man was killed, and a teen girl was wounded in a shooting Tuesday morning in Lawndale on the West Side.
About 2:10 a.m., the man, 31, and the girl, 16, were sitting in a vehicle in the 4700 block of West Arthington Street, when someone approached and fired multiple shots, Chicago police said.
The man was struck in the head and brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. The girl was struck in the leg and brought to Stroger Hospital where her condition was stabilized.
Twelve people were shot, two fatally, including two 17-year-old boys who were shot, one fatally, in Tri-Taylor on the Near West Side.
They were on the sidewalk about 9:10 p.m. in the 500 block of South Oakley Boulevard, when someone in a silver-colored BMW opened fire, Chicago police said. One boy was shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released. The other was struck in the shoulder and taken to the same hospital in fair condition.
A 56-year-old man was shot to death in West Garfield Park. Officers found the man unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the neck about 1:30 a.m. in the 4500 block of West Maypole Avenue, Chicago police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In non-fatal shootings, an 86-year-old woman was struck by a stray bullet while watering her lawn in West Garfield Park. She was outside about 9:46 p.m. in the 4300 block of West Monroe Street, when someone fired shots from a dark-colored Dodge Charger, police said. The woman was struck in the foot and refused medical treatment at the scene.No other injuries were reported. Police said the 86-year-old was not the intended target of the shooting.
A man helping a friend with car trouble was shot and critically wounded during a struggle with a carjacker in West Lawn. The 28-year-old had just finished changing his friend’s flat tire about 6:25 p.m. in the 4700 block of West 64th Street, when a male approached and tried to take the man’s car keys, police said. A struggle ensued, and the carjacker pulled out a gun, but the man knocked the gun from the carjacker’s hand. The carjacker retrieved the gun and fired a shot, striking the man in the head. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.
About an hour prior a man is in critical condition after being shot in Lawndale on the West Side. The 27-year-old was outside about 5:20 p.m. in the 2200 block of South Keeler Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the chest and hand, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Minutes prior, a man and a teenage girl were shot in South Chicago. A 33-year-old man was in front of a residence about 5:15 p.m. in the 8200 block of South Houston Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the back, police said. A 17-year-old girl who was riding in a vehicle in the area was struck in the shoulder. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was in good condition. Later, the girl walked into Jackson Park Hospital for treatment, and she was transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
A man was shot in Chatham on the South Side. About 4 p.m., he was in the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the shoulder, police said. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized.
Four others were wounded in shootings citywide.
Last weekend was the deadliest weekend of the year, with twelve people killed, and forty-two people wounded citywide.
A shooting left two people wounded, including a teenage girl, May 24, 2021, in South Chicago. | File photo/Getty Images
The shooting happened in the 8200 block of South Houston Avenue, police said.
A man and a teenage girl were shot Monday in South Chicago.
A 33-year-old man was in front of a residence about 5:15 p.m. in the 8200 block of South Houston Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the back, Chicago police said.
A 17-year-old girl who was riding in a vehicle in the area when shots were fired was struck in the shoulder, police said.
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was in good condition, police said.
Later, the girl walked into Jackson Park Hospital for treatment, and she was transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.
Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta won’t get a vaccine. He says the knowledge is still unsettled. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Some players are creating their own competitive disadvantage because they refuse to take one for the team.
It’s just plain pitiful the Cubs can’t get to the 85% COVID vaccination rate needed to relax all kinds of rules.
According to MLB spokesman Mike Teevan, 14 teams have reached that threshold, two more are waiting to be cleared and several others are getting close.
But not the Cubs.
The White Sox are there, and have been since mid-May.
These are but a few of the things they can do that the Cubs can’t: go mask-free in the dugout and clubhouse, go in groups to restaurants, meet with three or more teammates in hotel rooms, talk to managers without masks, go mask-free on the team airplane.
The list goes on.
Basically getting to 85% means you can become semi-human again in this crazy world. It means you can play baseball better, communicate better, be less of a virus threat to your fellow man.
What getting there entails is this: sit down, roll up your sleeve, get jabbed. Then, if you got one of the double-dose vaccines, do it again two weeks later.
Voila! You are protected from the coronavirus that has sickened 33 million Americans and killed almost 600,000.
To refuse the vaccine — which is available everywhere, even at many ballparks — is to draw a line in the sand that says something about your education, beliefs, awareness, personality, fears and empathy (or lack thereof).
You could hear the suppressed dismay verging on anger in Cubs president Jed Hoyer’s voice when he acknowledged the team’s failure to vaccinate.
“I think we’re at a place right now, candidly, where I’m not going to give up hope that we can get there, but my level of optimism is waning, candidly,’’ he said.
When you use “candidly’’ twice in one sentence, folks, you’re ticked off.
But, of course, these are modern times, and he daren’t offend a gazillion-dollar star player or even run-of-the-mill bench players because they might rebel. Or their agents might. Or their union.
Nor is this about something unknown, dangerous, experimental. Of course, the vaccine is new — COVID itself has only been around for 17 months — but this is as safe as we can get for now, and it’s for sure the vaccine is a lot more pleasant than a full-blown case of the disease.
Blame the internet and the damaging words of former president Donald Trump for a lot of the disinformation. Remember when he said getting bleach into the body might be a possible remedy? Or that the virus was “under control’’ when only 500 people had died? Etc.
And the anti-vaxxers and fake-news people never cease their screed on various websites and platforms. And players are free to believe all the anti-science they want.
Right-hander Jake Arrieta, who won’t get a vaccine, says the knowledge is unsettled.
“Seems like things change daily,’’ he said. “So who knows?’’
Well, experts do. And they want us all to get vaccinated.
I even have a scientific article declaring Bill Gates did not put controlling micro-chips in the vaccine. So rest easy, conspiracy-minded Cubs.
As best can be told, the holdouts are mostly white players. All the Latin players on the team apparently have been vaccinated. And there are few Blacks and no Asians.
Shortstop Javy Baez, from Puerto Rico, even did a public-service ad for Walgreens, urging people to get their shots.
Then there’s second baseman Eric Sogard, whose wife, Kaycee, went on Instagram and called MLB’s COVID policy “absolutely disgusting.’’
Third baseman Kris Bryant got his shots, and he has said he “feels great’’ and has “great peace of mind to just go out there and play baseball.’’
Yet a bunch of his teammates won’t budge.
You don’t fight illogic and false beliefs with logic and real facts.
But you could simply get angry about supposed teammates who won’t consider anyone else in their health equations, who won’t, quite literally, take one for the team.
We are even trying bribes to get reluctant people to get their shots. Free hot dogs, beer, money, hunting licenses, on and on. In Ohio, you can win $1 million in a lottery, kids can win free college scholarships — just for doing what every citizen should do.
Herd immunity, which probably means at least 70% vaccinated, is the dream for our country. MLB’s standard is even higher. That’s sweet. Pro sports should lead the way.
COVID and quarantining have wreaked havoc with starting lineups throughout baseball, and, as Hoyer said, getting vaccinated is a ‘‘competitive advantage.’’
This is undeniable.
Guess the Cubs like playing from a hole. One they dug themselves.
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