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Wildfire burns 325 acres at Indiana Dunes National Parkon April 3, 2021 at 8:30 pm

Fire crews Saturday contained a wildfire to 325 acres of Indiana Dunes National Park in northwest Indiana.

The fire started Friday afternoon and had burned about 300 acres of Miller Woods at the Indiana Dunes by about 6 p.m., national park spokesman Micah Bell said.

By Saturday afternoon, the fire had been contained to 325 acres of the woods, Bell said.

No injuries or private property damage have been reported, Bell said.

In a satellite photo shared by the national park, smoke from the wildfire could be seen extending about 80 miles north onto Lake Michigan.

The area around Miller Woods is closed as fire crews work to put out the blaze, Bell said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Wildfire burns 325 acres at Indiana Dunes National Parkon April 3, 2021 at 8:30 pm Read More »

Gang members ‘instructed’ to shoot at police vehicles after Adam Toledo shooting, CPD warns officerson April 3, 2021 at 6:04 pm

Chicago police leaders have issued an “officer safety alert” to cops saying the department’s narcotics unit learned that factions of the Latin Kings in the Ogden patrol district on the Southwest Side “were instructed by ranking members to shoot at unmarked Chicago police vehicles.”

The alert sent out Thursday said factions of the gang planned to retaliate following the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo at about 2 a.m. March 29 in an alley in the 2400 block of South Sawyer.

According to the alert, Latin Kings members were likely to shoot at a passing unmarked Chicago police vehicle and flee. It didn’t specify why the Kings would be retaliating. The police department’s News Affairs office declined to comment.

The warning covered a large portion of Little Village — between 23rd and 28th streets and between Lawndale Avenue on the west and Whipple Street on the east.

Police officials previously said that on the morning of the shooting, officers responded to reports of gunfire and found Adam and a man in an alley to the west of the 2300 block of South Sawyer Avenue.

An officer chased Adam — who police said was armed — and then shot him in the chest behind Farragut Career Academy High School. Police shared a photo of a gun allegedly recovered at the scene.

It wasn’t until two days later that the boy’s mother was notified of his death — and three days later until authorities revealed publicly that he was just 13.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates all city police shootings, said Friday it would show the “troubling video footage” of the encounter to the Toledo family before releasing it to the public.

Contributing: Sam Kelly

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Gang members ‘instructed’ to shoot at police vehicles after Adam Toledo shooting, CPD warns officerson April 3, 2021 at 6:04 pm Read More »

2 cut during fight on Red Line train at Sheridanon April 3, 2021 at 6:44 pm

Two people were cut during a fight on a Red Line train Saturday at the Sheridan stop on the North Side.

A man and woman got into an altercation just before 11 a.m. on a train at the Sheridan stop, 3940 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago police said.

At least one of them had a knife, and both of them were cut during the course of the fight, police said.

The woman, 27, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition with a cut on her wrist, Chicago fire officials said.

The cut appeared to be self-inflicted and the woman was undergoing a mental evaluation, fire officials said.

The man, whose exact age was unknown, showed up later at nearby Thorek Memorial Hospital, police said. His condition was not immediately known.

CTA Red Line trains bypassed the Sheridan stop for over two hours as police investigated, but normal service resumed about 1:20 p.m., the transit authority said.

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

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2 cut during fight on Red Line train at Sheridanon April 3, 2021 at 6:44 pm Read More »

Game Post 4/3on April 3, 2021 at 5:43 pm

Cubs Den

Game Post 4/3

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Game Post 4/3on April 3, 2021 at 5:43 pm Read More »

MOMENT OF TRUTH – Who Really Killed James Jordanon April 3, 2021 at 5:06 pm

Bonnie’s EYE On…!

MOMENT OF TRUTH – Who Really Killed James Jordan

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MOMENT OF TRUTH – Who Really Killed James Jordanon April 3, 2021 at 5:06 pm Read More »

Sistas Actress Crystal Hayslett Shares Delicious Easter Recipeon April 3, 2021 at 5:49 pm

Just N

Sistas Actress Crystal Hayslett Shares Delicious Easter Recipe

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Sistas Actress Crystal Hayslett Shares Delicious Easter Recipeon April 3, 2021 at 5:49 pm Read More »

White Sox’ Yermin Mercedes’ historic 5-for-5 night begged a question: ‘Is this real?’Daryl Van Schouwenon April 3, 2021 at 5:01 pm

Yermin Mercedes of the White Sox reacts after his RBI double against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 02, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty

If you’re Yermin Mercedes, and you have 10 years of professional baseball toil in your cleats, it’s hard to find the words.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — If you’re Yermin Mercedes, and you have 10 years of professional baseball toil in your cleats, it’s hard to find the words.

So it was for the 28-year-old who, somewhat surprisingly despite a proven ability to hit a baseball, made the White Sox Opening Day roster and got his first major league start in the second game of the season Friday night at Angel Stadium.

Mercedes, the designated hitter batting eighth against left-hander Andrew Heaney, singled his first time up. The 5-11, 245-pounder pointed to the sky and was handed the ball, a souvenir for life, from Angels first baseman and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.

“Congratulations, take the ball. There’s many more coming,” Pujols said, not knowing the second, third, fourth and fifth would also come that night in a 12-8 Sox victory, their first of the season.

By the end of his historic evening, Mercedes would have four singles and a double and four RBI in a perfect 5-for-5 effort that set him in a class by himself.

The only other player besides Mercedes in the modern era to have five hits in first career start was Washington’s Cecil Travis against Cleveland on May 17, 1933, and Travis needed seven at-bats. So Mercedes is the first in modern history — Fred Clarke also did it for the Louisville Colonels in 1894. Not bad for someone who entered with one other at-bat, against the Royals last season

“Historic,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Most of it was outstanding pieces of hitting, deep in the count.”

Mercedes had three hits with two strikes. Not bad for a Rule 5 draftee who had bounced around in rugged independent leagues trying to find his way. There were times he actually thought about quitting, he said Friday.

“I mean, it’s too hard,” Mercedes said after the game, searching for words. “I just want to cry every time when I see I’m in the majors right now. I want to cry because it’s been a long time, a long time. I pass every [test]. I got a big history. Just looking around I’m so like, ‘Is this real? I’m here.’

“I don’t know what to say right now. I’m just so happy.”

Signed by the Nationals in 2011 and acquired by the Sox from the Orioles in the minor league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 draft, the Dominican-born Mercedes is a career .302 hitter in the minor leagues. He hit 23 homers between Class AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte in 2019. Defensive deficiencies kept him out of the majors, but he showed some improvements during spring training, and has been quick throwing from home to second.

With Eloy Jimenez out, there’s room in the Sox lineup for some pop. Mercedes doesn’t figure to be an everyday player, but he might have forced his way into a second straight start Saturday night.

“It’s a shame he’s not playing tomorrow,” La Russa said, laughing. “I told Tim [Anderson], ‘You tell him he’s not playing tomorrow.’ He said, ‘No, you better play him.’ I said ‘yes I will.’ ’’

“I don’t know [if I’m playing],” Mercedes said. “When Tony puts the lineup tomorrow, I just need to come to the field and be ready if I’m playing. Today is passed. Tomorrow is another day. Everyday is another day. Don’t focus on ‘Oh, I had five hits today’ or ‘Oh, I’m happy.’ No, today is passed. Yeah I had fun, I’m excited, but if I’m playing tomorrow, I just keep trying to do the same thing, do the best I can do on the plate. Keep working hard.”

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White Sox’ Yermin Mercedes’ historic 5-for-5 night begged a question: ‘Is this real?’Daryl Van Schouwenon April 3, 2021 at 5:01 pm Read More »

How the Super 25 fared in Week 3on April 3, 2021 at 4:39 pm

1. Loyola (3-0)

Won 28-7 at No. 9 Brother Rice

2. Lincoln-Way East (3-0)

Won 41-0 vs. Lincoln-Way Central

3. Marist (2-0) 7

Saturday at No. 8 Mount Carmel

4. Batavia (2-0)

Won 42-0 vs. Geneva

5. Glenbard West (2-0)

DNP

6. St. Rita (2-1)

Won 33-28 vs. Providence

7. Naperville Central (2-0) 10

Saturday at Naperville North

8. Mount Carmel (1-1) 2

Saturday vs. No. 3 Marist

9. Brother Rice (1-2)

Lost 28-7 vs. No. 1 Loyola

10. Warren (3-0)

Won 55-0 at Waukegan

11. Nazareth (2-0)

Won 41-0 at De La Salle

12. Maine South (2-0) 13

Saturday vs. Glenbrook North

13. Prairie Ridge (2-1)

Lost 14-13 OT at Crystal Lake Central

14. Hinsdale Central (2-0) 15

Saturday vs. York

15. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-0) 16

Saturday at Wheaton North

16. Joliet Catholic (3-0)

Won 21-7 vs. St. Ignatius

17. Oswego (3-0)

Win 46-0 vs. West Aurora

18. Cary-Grove (1-0)

DNP

19. Fremd (2-1)

Lost 26-24 at Palatine

20. Huntley (3-0)

Won 53-8 at McHenry

21. Barrington (3-0)

Won 35-13 at Conant

22. Neuqua Valley (1-0)

DNP

23. Simeon (1-0) NR

Saturday vs. Perspectives

24. Hillcrest (3-0)

Won 72-0 at Tinley Park

25. DeKalb (1-0) 25

Saturday at Waubonsie Valley

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