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A COMEDIAN CRASHES YOUR PAD!on March 26, 2021 at 6:19 pm

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A COMEDIAN CRASHES YOUR PAD!

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A COMEDIAN CRASHES YOUR PAD!on March 26, 2021 at 6:19 pm Read More »

Dion Payton, legendary Chicago underground blues guitarist, dead at 70on March 26, 2021 at 5:07 pm

Dion Payton made a name for himself in the Chicago blues scene in the 1980s.

Local musicians and blues fans would flock to the Kingston Mines nightclub to see Payton’s 43rd Street Blues Band perform. At one point or another, Mr. Payton and his band played there three or four nights a week.

His wife, Jean Payton, and their friend Maria Mavraganes came to every show, where Mr. Payton always wore a cowboy hat.

“It wasn’t Dion without the hat,” Mrs. Payton said.

Mr. Payton, known by musicians and fans as brutally honest, incredibly kind and exceptionally talented, died March 12 after years of struggling with multiple health issues.

Blues guitarist Dion Payton in his trademark cowboy hat.
Dion Payton in his trademark cowboy hat.
Provided

Mr. Payton was born Oct. 21, 1950, in Greenwood, Mississippi, and was already playing guitar by the time he moved to Chicago at age 5.

At age 4, his father taught him to play “Under The Coconut Tree.” As a teen, he was taken under the wing of a local blues musician and began performing on the road.

Before he was a full-time musician, Mr. Payton had worked at a Frito-Lay factory and on the Chicago docks. He never wanted anyone to tell him what to do, so he left those jobs for music — to “be his own boss” — and went on to an extensive career of performing and recording with other artists.

Mr. Payton’s favorite possession was his ebony black Gibson Les Paul 25/50 Anniversary Edition Special. That guitar, he used to say, would “play itself” — and he bought an extra plane ticket for it whenever he flew.

Mr. Payton played with several local gospel groups, and recorded with the Violinaires on Chess Records.

He played rhythm guitar on Lonnie Brooks’ 1983 album “Hot Shot,” and for a while, he toured with musicians Millie Jackson, O.V. Wright and Albert King, whom he considered his hero.

In 1985, Mr. Payton formed the 43rd Street Blues Band, leading to regular gigs at the Kingston Mines as well as the Checkerboard Lounge.

Mr. Payton also played in two other bands: People of Truth and Five the Hard Way.

A cautious man, Mr. Payton didn’t trust record companies to treat him fairly as a Black musician. He is known to have recorded only one song with his 43rd Street Blues Band — “All Your Affection Is Gone,” with Alligator Records for “The New Bluebloods,” an anthology album that showcased up-and-coming blues artists. According to his wife, he wrote the song in 30 minutes.

Mr. Payton stopped performing about 10 years ago as health problems made it too difficult to play.

Jean Payton met her future husband in 1980, and though they didn’t marry until 2002, they considered each other spouses. They just hadn’t cared to make it official.

“He was very kind, especially to the underdogs,” Mrs. Payton said. “He didn’t like anyone to be treated badly.”

He called her “Little Jean Jean” — Mavraganes said every time Mr. Payton played “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” he would look deeply at Mrs. Payton.

She recalled that he used to tell her: “I hope I die before you, because I know you can make it. I would never make it without you.”

And she would respond: “Oh, be quiet.”

Along with his love of music and his wife, friends also recalled Mr. Payton’s love of dogs. When Mr. Payton was younger, he often rescued dogs off the street.

“He would bring them to the house, I would put them out, and he would bring them back in again,” said his sister Jessie Sanders.

Once, Sanders said, the house they were living in burned down, and he ran into the flames to save a puppy.

Mr. Payton often shared cheese with Boris, a schnauzer-Staffordshire terrier mix, who survives.

Dion Payton performs on his favorite guitar, a Gibson Les Paul 25/50 Anniversary Edition.
Dion Payton performs on his favorite guitar, a Gibson Les Paul 25/50 Anniversary Edition. He would buy an extra ticket so the Gibson would have its own seat when he flew, his wife recalled.
Provided

Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix and Zak Starkey all came to see Mr. Payton and his band play at different points at the Kingston Mines. Mr. Payton also performed live with Bono.

John Christy, who played keyboards in the 43rd Street Blues Band, said musicians called Mr. Payton the “urban cowboy.”

Other members of the 43rd Street Blues Band included Lafayette Evans on bass and Joanna Connor on guitar.

“He was ahead of his time,” said Connor, who considered Mr. Payton her mentor.

“He was a tough coach,” she added. “He didn’t sugarcoat anything.”

Besides his wife and sister, Mr. Payton’s survivors include his son, Antoine Payton; two nieces; one nephew; and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Payton is making arrangements for a memorial service, and raising money to cover funeral expenses.

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Dion Payton, legendary Chicago underground blues guitarist, dead at 70on March 26, 2021 at 5:07 pm Read More »

Police seek man wanted in 2020 Lawndale murderon March 26, 2021 at 5:40 pm

Police released video Friday of a man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting last summer in Lawndale on the West Side.

The incident happened Aug. 2, 2020, in the 2300 block of South Kolin Avenue, Chicago police said. Officers responded to gunfire about 6 a.m. and found two 28-year-old men unresponsive with gunshot wounds.

Video released by police shows two people getting out of an SUV and walking down an alley. A short time later, the duo runs back through the alley and gets into the SUV, which drives off.

The men who were killed were identified as Quincy Ferguson Jr. of North Chicago and Darren D. Sims of Lawndale, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

The suspect was described as 20 to 30 years old, wearing a blue baseball cap, white T-shirt, blue tattered pants and white shoes.

Anyone with information was asked to call Area Four detectives at (312) 746-8252.

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

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Police seek man wanted in 2020 Lawndale murderon March 26, 2021 at 5:40 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Chances of drafting a top QB just fell dramaticallyon March 26, 2021 at 5:40 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears chances of drafting a quarterback in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft just took a substantial hit.

If you weren’t thrilled with the signing of Andy Dalton and had been holding out hope that the Bears still had a big move up their sleeve, that likely won’t come in the draft. So absent a big time turn of events in the Russell Wilson saga, it looks more and more likely as if Dalton will be under center come September.

Let’s start with the news that has led to this conclusion.

Chicago Bears chances of taking a quarterback in the draft take a big hit

Let’s start with BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who held his Pro Day on Friday and showcased his talents for NFL teams in the market for a franchise quarterback. Among them are the New York Jets, who now appear ready to move on from Sam Darnold and select Wilson.

As ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweeted out on Thursday, the job appears to be Wilson’s to lose. In other words, if the Jets like what they see at his Pro Day, and it confirms what they’ve seen on tape, it is very likely they will make him the No. 2 overall pick, after Trevor Lawrence who is the prohibitive favorite to be taken No. 1 by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Then, early Friday afternoon, Adam Schefter broke the news that the San Francisco 49ers had executed a trade with the Miami Dolphins to acquire their No. 3 overall pick. It seems clear the 49ers have their eyes on selecting a quarterback at No. 3. In fact, according to Schefter, the team does not have a specific quarterback in mind, but believes they will be comfortable with what they perceive to be their options after the first two picks.

Regardless of how the first three picks shake out, the fact of the matter is the Bears would have to be comfortable moving all the way up to No. 4 — a move that would require a considerable amount of assets — just to select the fourth quarterback in the draft. The reality is that quarterback will likely be either Trey Lance or Mac Jones, assuming Lawrence, Wilson, and Justin Fields are the first three off the board.

Now perhaps the 49ers end up taking Lance. This would mean Fields and Jones would be the two available quarterbacks. Jones would be a considerable reach at No. 4. So the only way a move up that high would seem plausible for the Bears is if Fields, and to a lesser extent Lance, are on the board — though even the latter feels like a reach at No. 4.

Next: The Bears aren’t cheap, they’re incompetent

In any event, without knowing how the top three picks will shake out, any deal likely wouldn’t occur until on draft night after the first three picks were made. However, the odds of them making a big move for a quarterback in the draft just decreased significantly.

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Chicago Bears: Chances of drafting a top QB just fell dramaticallyon March 26, 2021 at 5:40 pm Read More »

Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Lankinen put up insane shutout numberson March 26, 2021 at 5:21 pm

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 25: Kevin Lankinen #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops a shot by Anthony Duclair #91 of the Florida Panthers at the United Center on March 25, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 25: Kevin Lankinen #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops a shot by Anthony Duclair #91 of the Florida Panthers at the United Center on March 25, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks went into the year thinking they were going to be one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League. Without Corey Crawford or Robin Lehner in the mix, it was clear that they needed someone new to step up. It got worse when Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia started the season 0-3-1 while giving up five goals in every game. Before we knew it, Kevin Lankinen had a shot and ran with it. Now, we are months into the season and he has led this team into a playoff race and is looking good.

Kevin Lankinen is putting up insane numbers for the Chicago Blackhawks.

On Thursday night, the Hawks needed to put together another big win. They were coming off a big win at home to end a losing streak on the road. Keeping it going was very important. The Florida Panthers are one of the best teams in the league so taking two in a row from them would be huge for their confidence.

Kevin Lankinen put the team on his back. He shutout the Panthers by making 41 saves on 41 shots in the contest. That is the most saves an NHL goalie has made in a shutout so far this season. It is also the 3rd most in a shutout by any Blackhawks’ goalie since 1979. There is no doubt that this was an incredible performance by Lankinen and the Hawks desperately needed it.

He struggled a little bit on their road trip but the team was dreadful in front of him too. The whole team was bad but they are starting to dig out of it. They are now sitting three points clear of the Columbus Blue Jackets for that final playoff spot in the Central Division. More importantly, they are seven points clear of the Dallas Stars who are a better team on paper than both and have four games in hand because of early-season COVID-19 issues.

One last note that is worth mentioning was Patrick Kane’s game to help Lankinen record his shutout. He is truly having a special season. He had one goal and one assist in the contest for his 12th multi-point game of the season. He now has more multi-point games this season (12) than games with a single point (11).

Related Story: Three trades the Blackhawks can make with the Ducks

We know he will be in the Hart Trophy conversation but when you dive deep, he is really having a magical season. His success along with Lankinen’s are the biggest factors towards the Blackhawks being a good team this year. Hopefully, they are able to continue.

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Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Lankinen put up insane shutout numberson March 26, 2021 at 5:21 pm Read More »

Boulder supermarket shooting suspect passed background check before buying gun, store owner saysAssociated Presson March 26, 2021 at 4:21 pm

Mourners console each other at a vigil for the 10 victims of the Monday massacre at a King Soopers grocery store late Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colo. | AP

Authorities previously said Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa purchased the AR-15 style gun used in the mass shooting on March 16, six days before Monday’s fatal shootings.

BOULDER, Colo. — The suspect in the Colorado supermarket shootings bought a gun before the shooting at a local gun store after passing a background check, the store’s owner said Friday.

John Mark Eagleton, owner of Eagles Nest Armory in the Denver suburb of Arvada, said in a statement that his store was cooperating with authorities as they investigate the Monday shooting that killed 10 people, including a police officer.

Eagleton said the suspect in the shooting, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, passed a background check conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation before purchasing the firearm.

Authorities previously said Alissa, 21, purchased the AR-15 style gun used in the mass shooting on March 16, six days before Monday’s fatal shootings. Alissa is from Arvada.

“We are absolutely shocked by what happened and our hearts are broken for the victims and families that are left behind. Ensuring every sale that occurs at our shop is lawful, has always been and will always remain the highest priority for our business,” Eagleton said in the statement.

The statement added: “Regarding the firearm in question, a background check of the purchaser was conducted as required by Colorado law and approval for the sale was provided by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. We have and will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement as their investigation continues.”

Alissa was convicted in 2018 of misdemeanor assault after he knocked a fellow high school student to the floor, climbed on top of him and punched him in the head several times, according to police documents. He was sentenced to probation and community service.

Colorado has a universal background check law covering almost all gun sales, but misdemeanor convictions generally do not prevent people from purchasing weapons. If Alissa had been convicted of a felony, his gun purchase would’ve been prohibited under federal law.

According to the arrest affidavit, Alissa bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol — which resembles an AR-15 rifle with a slightly shorter stock.

According to two law enforcement officials, Alissa was born in Syria in 1999, emigrated to the U.S. as a toddler and later became a U.S. citizen. He would need to be a citizen to buy a gun. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

An AR-15-style gun recovered inside the supermarket was believed to have been used in the attack, said a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Alissa made his first court appearance Thursday. His public defender asked for the mental health evaluation but provided no details about Alissa’s mental health.

The suspect’s next hearing will not be scheduled for two to three months to allow his defense team to evaluate his mental state and evidence collected by investigators.

He is charged with 10 counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a police officer who was not hurt. Among those slain was Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51, who was the first officer to arrive on the scene, according to Boulder police Chief Maris Herold.

Alissa entered court in a wheelchair, presumably because of a gunshot wound to the leg that he suffered in an exchange of gunfire with police at the King Soopers grocery.

Before his court hearing, Alissa was last seen handcuffed and being led out of the supermarket by police on Monday. He had removed all clothing except his shorts before being taken into custody, and his leg was bloody.

A rifle, a green tactical vest and a handgun were recovered inside the grocery store, according to the arrest affidavit.

Alissa was treated at a hospital before police transferred him — using Talley’s own handcuffs — to the Boulder County Jail. Police said they made sure to tell Alissa the handcuffs on his wrists were Talley’s.

Alissa has since been moved to a jail outside Boulder County due to safety concerns stemming from threats made against him that jail staff became aware of, Boulder County sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Haverfield said in a statement Friday.

Alissa did not enter a plea, which will come later in the judicial process, and is jailed without bail.

Talley’s funeral has been scheduled for Tuesday in the Boulder County city of Lafayette. Talley, who joined the police department in 2010, had seven children.

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Boulder supermarket shooting suspect passed background check before buying gun, store owner saysAssociated Presson March 26, 2021 at 4:21 pm Read More »

Video shows SUV wanted in West Side homicide that also wounded 10-year-oldDavid Struetton March 26, 2021 at 4:34 pm


The dark-colored SUV was used in a March 19 shooting in the 3100 block of West Lake Street, police say.

Police released surveillance video showing an SUV wanted in a shooting last week in East Garfield Park that killed a man and wounded two others, including a 10-year-old boy.

The dark-colored SUV was used in a March 19 shooting in the 3100 block of West Lake Street, according to a statement from Chicago police.

About 6:50 p.m. that day, the three victims were sitting in a vehicle when someone walked up and fired shots at them, police said.

Chicago police investigate the scene where three people were shot, including a 10-year-old boy in the 3100 block of West Lake St. in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, Friday, March 19, 2021.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Police investigate the scene where three people were shot, including a 10-year-old boy in the 3100 block of West Lake St. Friday, March 19, 2021.

Marquel Robinson, 24, was shot and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The boy was shot in the leg, while a 25-year-old woman was struck in the thigh and ankle, police said. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

The boy was the second child shot in Chicago in less than three hours that day. Earlier in the afternoon, a 4-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting in Washington Park.

Police asked anyone with information about the SUV to call Area Three Violent Crimes Detective Mckenna at (312) 744-8261.

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

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Video shows SUV wanted in West Side homicide that also wounded 10-year-oldDavid Struetton March 26, 2021 at 4:34 pm Read More »

Former Bulls and Bradley coach Stan Albeck dies at age 89on March 26, 2021 at 2:51 pm

SAN ANTONIO — Former Bulls coach Stan Albeck, who also coached the Spurs, Cavaliers and Nets during a long NBA career, died Thursday in hospice care at son John’s home. He was 89.

John Albeck told the San Antonio Express-News his father entered hospice care Thursday after having a stroke on March 14. He also had a stroke in 2001 while an assistant coach with Toronto.

Albeck coached the ABA’s Denver Rockets in 1970-71, then directed Cleveland in 1979-80, San Antonio from 1980-83, New Jersey from 1983-85 and Chicago in 1985-86 — with Michael Jordan in his second season.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Stan Albeck,” the Bulls said in a tweet. “While he was only a head coach in Chicago for the 1985-86 season, he was a good man who will always be a part of our history. We send our condolences to Stan’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

He took San Antonio to consecutive Western Conference finals in 1982 and 1983. The Spurs had a moment of silence to honor Albeck before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

“Coach Albeck wasn’t just important to the Spurs, he was what I call a lifer,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “People like myself don’t come close to loving the game as he did, and his whole family did. They participated in so many ways and followed him so many places.

“He would come to games, he would talk to players, talk to us as coaches. He always had a smile for us, a suggestion or two — because he’s a coach. … He is somebody we always respected and he brought a bright light to wherever he was.”

Albeck grew up in Chenoa, Illinois, and starred at Bradley. He got his first head coaching job at Adrian College in Michigan in 1956, and spent 14 seasons as a college head coach at Adrian, Northern Michigan and the University of Denver before joining the Rockets’ staff in 1970.

Albeck was inducted into the Bradley University Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Former Bulls and Bradley coach Stan Albeck dies at age 89on March 26, 2021 at 2:51 pm Read More »

8 shot, 1 fatally, at overnight party on Southwest Sideon March 26, 2021 at 2:10 pm

A man was killed and at least seven others wounded after gunfire broke out at a “pop-up party” early Friday in the Wrightwood neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

It was the second mass shooting at an impromptu party this month. On March 15, a shooting wounded 15 people, 2 fatally, at a party in Park Manor.

In Friday’s shooting, at least two men opened fire shortly after midnight at a “pop-up party” in the 2500 block of West 79th Street, police spokeswoman Karie James said.

At least six of the victims were men in their 20s and 30s, police said. One victim was a woman.

Several handguns were found at the scene of the shooting — a line of storefronts that include a daycare, salon and storefront church. St. Rita of Cascia High School is located across the street. No arrest had been announced.

Police said the victims were:

  • A 26-year-old man shot in his head was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released.
  • Another man, 27, was shot in his head and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.
  • A man, 22, was shot in the left knee and a man, 28, was struck in the left leg, police said. Both were taken to the same hospital in fair condition.
  • Another man, 28, and a woman, 41, both suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen, and were listed in serious condition.
  • A man, 32, went to the Little Mary of Company Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back.
  • An eighth person brought themselves to Roseland Hospital with a gunshot wound to the body.

The shooting happened at a storefront at 2515 W. 79th St., according to the Chicago Fire Department. City records don’t show a business registered at that address.

About two weeks ago, 15 people were gun downed at a Park Manor business where a party was being held. Two people were killed and at least five others seriously wounded.

That shooting was the most violent attack in terms of the number of victims since last July when 15 people were shot outside a Gresham funeral home.

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

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8 shot, 1 fatally, at overnight party on Southwest Sideon March 26, 2021 at 2:10 pm Read More »