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Does SIU still have a chance to make the FCS playoffs?on April 14, 2021 at 12:16 pm

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Does SIU still have a chance to make the FCS playoffs?

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Coco Pazzo to reopen: What’s new?on April 14, 2021 at 12:19 pm

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Coco Pazzo to reopen: What’s new?

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Coco Pazzo to reopen: What’s new?on April 14, 2021 at 12:19 pm Read More »

The Chicago Cubs owe an apology to Joe Maddon right nowon April 14, 2021 at 11:00 am

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Chicago Cubs stands in the dugout during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 21, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 21: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Chicago Cubs stands in the dugout during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 21, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs won their game last night but they only scored three runs. For the most part, their offense has been horrible. In fact, horrible is making it sound better than it is. It has been one of the worst starts to a season offensively in the history of Major League Baseball. You’d have to go back to the early 1900s to find an offense that started this bad. After reviewing it all, it is time that the Chicago Cubs and their fans gave Joe Maddon an apology.

The Chicago Cubs and their fans owe Joe Maddon an apology for the things that happened.

When Joe Maddon was doing things his way for the Chicago Cubs, they were an explosive group. Year after year, they were a very dangerous offense that was also clutch. Then, they started to change things and take control away from Maddon and they fell off hard. Multiple hitting coaches came through but none of them helped them fix the broken offense. Eventually, Maddon was fired as well. None of it worked as the offense is still atrocious to this day with David Ross as manager.

None of this is a slight to David Ross. He was a great Cub and is doing a good job as a manager. In fact, he might be a great MLB manager in his post-playing days. None of this is his fault either. It just shows that it doesn’t matter who the manager is, they are just a bad offensive baseball team. Guys like Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, and Kris Bryant aren’t the superstars we thought they were.

It isn’t for anyone to say if they are simply “no longer” superstars or if the one or two great years were the outliers. No matter what you wanna call it, they need to be better if they have any hopes of competing in the National League this year.

It is clear that Joe Maddon wasn’t the problem. Theo Epstein certainly wasn’t the problem either. Both of those guys are going to the Hall of Fame. The players became the problem in the end. Most of the stars still need long-term extensions but they don’t deserve anything too lucrative right now.

Hot: Did the Seattle Kraken influence the Blackhawks trade deadline?

They even claimed that things were too “loose” towards the end of Joe Maddon’s tenure. Well, what is the excuse now? Are they too serious now? No. They just aren’t good enough. People who blamed Maddon for the struggles owe him an apology.

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The Chicago Cubs owe an apology to Joe Maddon right nowon April 14, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

House of Fire Restauranton April 14, 2021 at 11:46 am

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House of Fire Restaurant

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House of Fire Restauranton April 14, 2021 at 11:46 am Read More »

12 shot Tuesday in Chicagoon April 14, 2021 at 9:05 am

Twelve people were shot Tuesday in Chicago including a 20-year-old man who was shot in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.

About 11:50 p.m., he was on the sidewalk in the 6200 block of South Troy Street, when he heard shots and felt a pain, Chicago police said. He was struck in the right hand, grazed by a bullet on his head, and brought to Christ Medical Center in good condition.

A man was hurt in a shooting in West Lawn on the Southwest Side. He was on the sidewalk about 9:30 p.m. in the 3800 block of West 64th Street, when someone fired shots from a black sedan, police said. The 30-year-old was grazed in the head and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition.

A man was critically hurt in a shooting in Chatham on the South Side. About 6:55 p.m., the 20-year-old was in the 300 block of East 86th Street, when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He was struck in the chest and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

A 17-year-old boy was shot in Gresham on the South Side. The boy was on the sidewalk about 6:50 p.m. in the 7700 block of South Aberdeen Street, when a person approached and fired shots, police. He suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

A man was shot in Chatham on the South Side. He was in a park about 4:35 p.m. in the 300 block of East 79th Street, when someone opened fire, striking him in the foot, police said. The 38-year-old was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

A woman was shot in Albany Park on the Northwest Side. About noon, the 30-year-old was near the sidewalk in the 4000 block of North Kimball Avenue, when two unknown males approached and fired shots, police said. She was struck in the hand and brought herself to Swedish Convenient Hospital in good condition.

Minutes prior a man was shot while he was driving in Lawndale on the West Side. About 11:40 a.m., he was driving when shots were fired in the 1900 block of South Ridgeway Avenue, police said. He drove to the 1900 block of South Avers Avenue, and was brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his chest.

A man was critically wounded in a shooting in Pullman on the Far South Side. The 36-year-old was sitting in a parked vehicle about 8:50 a.m. in the 12300 block of South Parnell Avenue, when someone approached on foot and fired shots, police said. He suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.

A 33-year-old man was shot in Burnside on the South Side. About 3:05 a.m., he was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 9300 block of South University Avenue, when shots were fired, police said. He was struck in the back and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition.

Less than an hour prior an 18-year-old woman was wounded in a drive-by in Chatham on the South Side. About 2:15 a.m., she was a passenger of a vehicle when a passing black SUV fired shots in the 400 block of West 81st Street, police said. She was struck in the left foot and brought to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

In the day’s first reported shooting, two people were shot in Lawndale on the West Side. About 1 a.m., they were in an alley in the 2400 block of West Grenshaw Street, when someone approached them and fired shots, police said. One man, 25, was struck in the back and the other man, 23, was struck in the right side of his body. They were both brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital in serious condition.

Sixteen people were shot, one fatally, Monday citywide.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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12 shot Tuesday in Chicagoon April 14, 2021 at 9:05 am Read More »

2 fatally shot in Englewoodon April 14, 2021 at 9:25 am

Two men were fatally shot Tuesday morning in Englewood on the South Side.

About 2:30 a.m., they were sitting in a parked vehicle in the 7300 block of South Stewart Avenue, when someone fired into the vehicle and fled in a red SUV, Chicago police said.

The two men attempted to drive off and struck several parked cars, police said. A 31-year-old man was struck in the armpit and a man, whose age is unknown, was struck in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

The 31-year-old was brought to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet identified the men.

Area One detectives are investigating.

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2 fatally shot in Englewoodon April 14, 2021 at 9:25 am Read More »

Hit this! Willson Contreras gets his revenge as game-winning homer lifts Cubs past BrewersRussell Dorseyon April 14, 2021 at 4:11 am

AP Photo/Morry Gash

Contreras’ two-run shot in the eighth inning gave the Cubs a much-needed 3-2 victory.

MILWAUKEE — You knew it was only a matter of time before catcher Willson Contreras got his revenge on the Brewers, and he did it when the Cubs needed it most.

Contreras has voiced his displeasure early this season about being hit by pitches, especially by the Brewers, who had drilled him twice, including once in the head.

Teams have begun to go up and in on Contreras as a game plan, and the Brewers hit him again during the fourth inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 victory Tuesday. But there was no conversation from Contreras or outward anger toward the Brewers.

He was waiting for just the right time to explode, and the moment came with the Cubs trailing 2-1 and the offense needing a big hit in the eighth inning.

After Ian Happ singled with one out, Contreras got his payback by launching a no-doubt, two-run home run into the second deck at American Family Field to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

‘‘I think I let all my frustration come out [on the home run],’’ Contreras said. ‘‘Because when you get hit a lot, you feel bottled up with frustration.’’

‘‘That’s a big home run,’’ manager David Ross said. ‘‘I think with everything we’ve gone through today and the ups and downs, there’s a lot of credit to go around. Willson obviously had that huge home run, and that has got to feel so good for him. He almost ripped my hand off when he high-fived me.’’

With a monster bat flip and an enthusiastic trot around the bases, Contreras made sure to enjoy the moment, even putting his finger over his mouth as he rounded third base to silence the boos that rained down on him.

‘‘Today was such an important win coming off that [bad] stretch,’’ said reliever Pedro Strop, who earned his first victory for the Cubs since 2019.

Contreras’ homer helped keep the Cubs from dropping their fourth consecutive game and gave them a much-needed victory after a rough three games against the Pirates and Brewers.

‘‘It feels good to shut people up when they boo me,’’ Contreras said. ‘‘I don’t really care. . . . That’s something that they have to understand. It is a game. A lot of people that watch the game from the stands, they don’t understand what’s going on. So that’s my takeaway after tonight. We sent a message. I think they picked the wrong guy to throw at.’’

Right-hander Alec Mills’ contribution might not have shone as brightly as the go-ahead homer by Contreras, but what he did was just as important. Mills was forced into emergency action after right-hander Kyle Hendricks was scratched because he felt under the weather.

Not only did Mills give the Cubs four solid innings in his spot start, but he gave them a chance to be in position to take advantage of Contreras’ heroics by keeping them in the game.

‘‘That was kind of my goal to start the day: to [go] as many as possible and give the bullpen as much rest as I could,’’ Mills said.

‘‘I don’t know how many times I’ve got to sing his praises on just being so versatile,’’ Ross said of Mills. ‘‘He really is so important to our team with how many roles he can fill and what he can do with the baseball. His personality is unflappable.’’

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Hit this! Willson Contreras gets his revenge as game-winning homer lifts Cubs past BrewersRussell Dorseyon April 14, 2021 at 4:11 am Read More »

Cook County temporarily halts Johnson & Johnson vaccine after FDA recommends pause (LIVE UPDATES)Sun-Times staffon April 14, 2021 at 1:55 am

AP

Here’s Tuesday’s news on how COVID-19 is impacting Chicago and Illinois. Follow here for live updates.

News

8:55 p.m. Cook County, state will stop administering J&J vaccine after US recommends ‘pause’ over clot reports

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine sits on a table at a pop-up vaccinations site.
Archivo de AP
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine sits on a table at a pop-up vaccinations site.

Use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine came to a grinding halt across Illinois Tuesday after federal health authorities recommended a “pause” on its use while it investigates reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

“IDPH has notified all Illinois COVID-19 providers throughout the state to discontinue use of the J&J vaccine at this time. In order to keep appointments, IDPH is strongly advising providers to use Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines,” the Illinois Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

“Moderna and Pfizer make up the vast majority of doses on hand in the state of Illinois. This week, the state’s allocation of J&J was 17,000 doses. For the week of April 18, 2021, the expected allocation for the state is 483,720 total doses. Of that total allocation, 5,800 doses were expected to be J&J.

More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects.

U.S. federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will suspend the use of the J&J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow. The other two authorized vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, make up the vast share of COVID-19 shots administered in the U.S. and are not affected by the pause.

The mass vaccination site at the United Center had been scheduled to begin administering J&J shots Monday but that plan is on hold, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman.

Read the full story from Mitch Dudek here.

7:03 p.m. Pritzker ‘does not have concerns’ 20 days after getting his shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Federal health officials who recommended shelving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday did so just under three weeks after the one-and-done shot went into Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s left arm.

That means the chief executive of the state’s pandemic response is still within the three-week window experts have spotlighted since six vaccinated women suffered severe complications from blood clots within that time frame.

But like the overwhelming majority of the other 6.8 million Americans who have gotten the J&J jab, J.B. hasn’t had any problems, according to his office.

“The Governor does not have concerns after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, nor has he experienced any health issues since receiving his shot,” Pritzker’s press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh said in an email.

Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.

4:53 p.m. Aldermen move to protect workers who take time off for COVID-19 vaccination

Chicago employees who take time off to get the coronavirus vaccine would be shielded from all forms of retaliation and compensated for the time it takes, under a mayoral protection plan advanced Tuesday.

During the early days of the pandemic, the City Council moved to protect employees from retaliation for absences tied to the coronavirus.

The earlier anti-retaliation ordinance prevented employers from firing, suspending, transferring or reducing the pay of workers who stay home because they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus, or their business is deemed nonessential by statewide stay-at-home order.

On Tuesday, the City Council’s Workforce Development Committee broadened the protective umbrella to include the vaccination process.

Reporter Fran Spielman has the full story.

3:15 p.m. FEMA accepting applications for funeral expense reimbursement to families who lost someone to COVID-19

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering up to $9,000 per burial to help families cover the funeral expenses of loved ones who died of COVID-19.

The application process can be started by calling 844-684-6333.

There’s currently no deadline for the program, which launched Monday and was quickly overwhelmed by callers.

“There was an extraordinarily high call volume Monday,” FEMA spokesman Dan Shulman told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.

There were close to 20,000 calls that got through Monday. We knew going in we were going to experience an extremely high call volume on the first day because of the number of people who’ve passed in the last year and some people experienced extended busy signals,” he said.

Read Mitch Dudek’s full story here.

1:37 p.m. Poll: 15% of Americans worse off a year into pandemic

While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S.

Overall, 55% of Americans say their financial circumstances are about the same now as a year ago, and 30% say their finances have improved, according to a new poll from Impact Genome and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. But 15% say they are worse off.

The problem is more pronounced at lower-income levels: 29% of Americans living below the federal poverty line say their personal finances worsened in the past year. Roughly that many also find themselves in a deepening financial hole, saying they struggled to pay bills in the past three months.

Read the full story here.

11:27 a.m. Loretto CEO should be fired after COVID vaccine controversy, community petition states

Some community organizers in Austin are calling for the firing of The Loretto Hospital President and Chief Executive George Miller over his handling of COVID-19 vaccines.

As of Monday, an online petition had almost 250 signatures and the lead organizers say they are asking for a video-conference meeting with the hospital board members, a request the directors so far are not granting.

“The documented inappropriate use of our vaccines, the lack of accountability/respect of our vaccines by President Miller and his team during the pandemic have and continue to disgrace Loretto Hospital and the community it serves,” said an April 5 letter from organizer Mary Russell Gardner and a dozen other women.

Miller is being disciplined by his board, receiving a two-week suspension, following vaccine events at the Trump Tower, the CEO’s South Suburban church and elsewhere that led Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Administration to cut off vaccine supplies until the hospital can show that it has a plan to make sure shots are going to the Austin community.

The hospital is conducting an inquiry and audit to present to the city. The hospital’s No. 2 executive, former Chief Operating Officer Anosh Ahmed, resigned last month in the wake of the controversy.

Brett Chase and Mary Mitchell have the full story here.

9:05 a.m. Pritzker office staffer tests positive for COVID-19

An employee in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, a spokeswoman for the governor said.

The staff member was not in close contact with Pritzker Monday, or in previous days, and all staff who were identified as having been so will follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocol, Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for Pritzker’s office, said in a statement.

“The Governor’s Office continues to follow COVID-19 safety protocols including testing staff multiple times per week, weekly deep cleaning procedures, mask wearing, social distancing, and limiting the number of staff reporting to the office for in person work,” Abudayyeh said in the statement.

Since Pritzker had no direct contact with the staffer, he will not be self-isolating, his office said.

Rachel Hinton has the full story here.

New cases and vaccination numbers

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Cook County temporarily halts Johnson & Johnson vaccine after FDA recommends pause (LIVE UPDATES)Sun-Times staffon April 14, 2021 at 1:55 am Read More »