A man was killed and 13 other people were wounded by gunfire in Chicago Wednesday, including a 3-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy.

Officers responding to a shots fired report found the man with a gunshot wound to the head about 10:30 p.m. on a sidewalk in the 1500 block of South Springfield Avenue, Chicago police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died. His age was not released. No one was in custody.About half an hour earlier, a 3-year-old boy was shot while sleeping inside a residence in the Burnside neighborhood on the South Side. The boy was hit by shots fired from outside of the home in the 700 block of East 93rd Street, police said. A family member found him about 10 p.m. with a gunshot wound in the left elbow. The boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was listed in good condition. No arrests were made.An 8-year-old boy was grazed by gunfire about 20 minutes earlier while inside a home in Douglas on the South Side. The boy complained about pain to his leg about 9:40 p.m. after residents of the home in the 3600 block of South Rhodes Avenue heard gunshots from outside, police said. He was grazed in the left leg and was not taken to a hospital. No one was in custody.Two teenagers were wounded in Kelvyn Park on the Northwest Side. A boy and girl, both 17, were in the 3000 block of North Knox Avenue around 8 p.m. when someone began shooting, police said. The boy was shot in the buttocks, and the girl was struck in the left leg and grazed in the abdomen. Both were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where they were listed in good condition. No arrests were reported.A third teenager was wounded an hour earlier in North Lawndale on the West Side. The girl, 16, was sitting inside a car about 7 p.m. in the 2200 block of South Keeler Avenue when she saw a man pull out a handgun and begin shooting, police said. She was grazed in the right thigh and a family member took her to Rush Hospital, where she was in good condition. No one was arrested.

At least eight other people were wounded, four of them critically, in shootings Wednesday across Chicago.

Read More

Two young children were wounded in their homes by shots fired from outside on the South Side Wednesday night.

A 3-year-old boy was sleeping when shots were fired in the 700 block of East 93rd Street just before 10 p.m., police said.

A family member found the boy with a gunshot wound in the left elbow. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.

Around the same time, an 8-year-old boy was grazed in the leg from shots fired in the 3600 block of South Rhodes Avenue, police said. He was not taken to a hospital,police said.

No arrests were reported in either shooting.

Read More

Trevis Gipson makes a confident prediction for the week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Trevis Gipson is a key cog in the Bears’ pass rush in 2022 after racking up seven sacks in place of Khalil Mack.  While Gipson may not be starting, he is an extremely productive part of the Bears’ defensive end rotation.  Trevis Gipson racked up five QB pressures and followed it up this week with one big prediction about the Packers game.

Gipson’s confidence is inspiring if not altogether a little nerve-racking.  Aaron Rodgers rarely loses two straight games and the Packers will be at home, another place they rarely lose.  Rodgers doesn’t need any added motivation to get up for the Bears.

Trevis Gipson gave him a bit more motivation with that prediction.  Gipson’s confidence isn’t unwarranted though given the Packers’ injury situation.  The Packers could be without both starting offensive tackles for the second straight game, and as good as the Bears’ defensive ends were against the 49ers in a biblical rainstorm, they could be even better on a cool night in Green Bay.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More

Trevis Gipson makes a confident prediction for the week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Trevis Gipson is a key cog in the Bears’ pass rush in 2022 after racking up seven sacks in place of Khalil Mack.  While Gipson may not be starting, he is an extremely productive part of the Bears’ defensive end rotation.  Trevis Gipson racked up five QB pressures and followed it up this week with one big prediction about the Packers game.

Gipson’s confidence is inspiring if not altogether a little nerve-racking.  Aaron Rodgers rarely loses two straight games and the Packers will be at home, another place they rarely lose.  Rodgers doesn’t need any added motivation to get up for the Bears.

Trevis Gipson gave him a bit more motivation with that prediction.  Gipson’s confidence isn’t unwarranted though given the Packers’ injury situation.  The Packers could be without both starting offensive tackles for the second straight game, and as good as the Bears’ defensive ends were against the 49ers in a biblical rainstorm, they could be even better on a cool night in Green Bay.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More

DES MOINES – About a half an hour before first pitch on Wednesday, Iowa Cubs Marty Pevey had to shuffle his starting lineup. He’d received word that Jared Young was needed elsewhere.

Later that evening, the Cubs announced that they’d called up the outfielder/corner infielder from Triple-A and put Rafael Ortega (broken left ring finger) on the 60-day injured list before facing the Mets in New York in the final game of a three-game set.

Young is lined up to be the 16th Cub to make his MLB debut this season.

The I-Cubs have been moving Young around on defense this season. He’s primarily played first base in his professional career, but this season he’s played almost as many games at third base (40) as first (42). He’s also made 24 appearances in the outfield this year.

After Ortega broke his finger Tuesday while attempting a bunt, Young’s versatility was an advantage.

Schwinel likely out for season

Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel told the Sun-Times he is “probably” out for the season. His nagging back injury flared up again, and the Iowa Cubs put him on the seven-day injured list last month, about a week and a half after the Cubs optioned him to Triple-A.

“It’s just been really frustrating,” he said. “Especially [because] last year was unbelievable, and obviously, you come back, try and do it all over again. But having a setback in spring and then just grinding the whole way, never really catching my stride, it was tough.

“Because I wouldn’t feel good more than a couple of days in a row before it would get me again. But it’s part of the game, and build from that, and come back even better.”

He’s ramping up toward hitting.

“But just running out of days,” he said.

Alzolay to join cubs this weekend

Right-hander Adbert Alzolay is set to rejoin the Cubs this weekend when they take on the Rockies at Wrigley Field, manager David Ross told reporters in New York on Wednesday.

Alzolay, who entered spring training with a right lat strain, has been on the injured list all season. But he told the Sun-Times that he’s used that time to gain strength and clean up his mechanics.

“I feel that I can throw the ball harder now without trying to really throw the ball harder,” he said. “So, it’s just those little things that, at the end of the day, make a big difference.”

Read More

The latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters.

Class 8A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Loyola (11) (3-0) 110 1

2. Lincoln-Way East (3-0) 98 2

3. Warren (3-0) 81 4

4. Glenbard West (3-0) 78 3

5. Naperville North (3-0) 57 5

6. O’Fallon (3-0) 48 6

7. Maine South (2-1) 35 7

8. Marist (2-1) 23 8

9. Edwardsville (3-0) 15 9

10. Lockport (3-0) 14 NR

Others receiving votes: York 13, Bolingbrook 10, Glenbard East 7, Palatine 7, Glenbrook South 4, Lyons 3, South Elgin 1, Neuqua Valley 1.

Class 7A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Mount Carmel (11) (3-0) 110 1

2. Prospect (3-0) 94 2

3. Wheaton North (3-0) 90 7

4. Jacobs (3-0) 71 5

5. St. Rita (1-2) 43 4

6. Pekin (3-0) 38 9

7. Batavia (1-2) 34 3

8. Geneva (3-0) 31 NR

9. Hersey (3-0) 26 NR

10. Hononegah (3-0) 23 10

Others receiving votes: Yorkville 16, Brother Rice 14, Downers North 10, Glenbard North 4, Wheaton-Warrenville South 1.

Class 6A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. East St. Louis (10) (1-2) 106 1

2. Prairie Ridge (2) (3-0) 104 2

3. Simeon (3-0) 95 4

4. Lemont (3-0) 90 3

5. Crete-Monee (2-1) 63 6

6. Chatham Glenwood (3-0) 53 7

7. Notre Dame (2-1) 32 5

8. Kenwood (2-1) 29 8

9. Normal West (3-0) 25 NR

10. Cary-Grove (2-1) 23 9

Others receiving votes: Carmel 20, Wauconda 7, Crystal Lake South 5, Harlem 5, St. Ignatius 3.

Class 5A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Morris (5) (3-0) 106 3

2. Kankakee (5) (2-1) 101 2

3. Mahomet-Seymour (1) (3-0) 91 4

4. Sycamore (3-0) 77 5

5. Nazareth (1) (1-2) 72 1

6. Peoria (3-0) 67 6

7. Morgan Park (3-0) 43 8

8. Glenbard South (3-0) 29 9

9. Mascoutah (3-0) 27 10

10. Highland (2-1) 13 NR

Others receiving votes: St. Patrick 10, St. Viator 8, Sterling 6, Marian Catholic 5, Rockford Boylan 3, Centralia 2.

Class 4A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Joliet Catholic (6) (3-0) 114 2

(tie) Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield) (6) (3-0) 114 1

3. St. Francis (3-0) 94 3

4. Richmond-Burton (3-0) 81 4

5. Rochester (2-1) 65 5

6. Stillman Valley (3-0) 59 6

7. Genoa-Kingston (3-0) 50 7

8. Wheaton Academy (3-0) 39 8

9. Carterville (3-0) 25 9

10. Freeburg (3-0) 16 10

Others receiving votes: Macomb 2, St. Laurence 1.

Class 3A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. IC Catholic (10) (2-1) 118 1

2. Williamsville (1) (3-0) 102 2

3. Reed-Custer (1) (3-0) 94 3

4. Princeton (3-0) 84 4

5. Byron (2-1) 70 5

6. Mt. Carmel (3-0) 58 6

7. Fairbury Prairie Central (3-0) 47 7

8. Eureka (3-0) 38 8

9. Peotone (3-0) 15 T10

10. Tolono Unity (2-1) 13 T10

Others receiving votes: Montini 10, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 7, Seneca 2, Elmwood-Brimfield 1, Durand-Pecatonica 1.

Class 2A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Wilmington (10) (3-0) 118 1

2. Decatur St. Teresa (2) (3-0) 110 2

3. Maroa-Forsyth (3-0) 95 4

4. Bismarck-Henning (3-0) 81 5

5. North-Mac (3-0) 70 8

6. Knoxville (3-0) 59 7

7. Rockridge (2-1) 37 9

8. Downs Tri-Valley (2-1) 26 3

9. Pana (2-1) 14 10

10. Johnston City (3-0) 13 NR

Others receiving votes: Vandalia 11, Nashville 9, Carmi White County 7, Mercer County 5, El Paso-Gridley 4, Flora 1.

Class 1A

School W-L Pts Prv

1. Lena-Winslow (12) (3-0) 128 1

2. Athens (1) (3-0) 108 2

3. Colfax Ridgeview (4-0) 97 4

4. Fulton (3-0) 84 6

5. Camp Point Central (3-0) 76 5

6. Hope Academy (3-0) 53 9

7. Tuscola (3-0) 29 7

8. Forreston (2-1) 26 8

8. Gilman Iroquois West (3-0) 26 10

10. Moweaqua Central A&M (2-1) 21 3

Others receiving votes: Jacksonville Routt 15, St. Bede 15, Greenfield-Northwestern 15, Ottawa Marquette 8, Annawan-Wethersfield 7, Brown County 6, Shelbyville 1.

Read More

Aaron Rodgers has dominated the Bears throughout his career, so much so that last fall he screamed, “I own you” to fans at Soldier Field and no one could tell him he was wrong.

He is 23-5 against them in his run as the Packers’ starter and looking for his seventh consecutive win when the Bears visit Lambeau Field on Sunday. As he swept them last season, he threw six touchdown passes with no interceptions and even rushed for a touchdown. It looked easy.

But there are still elements of the Bears that Rodgers respects — most prominently, versatile star linebacker Roquan Smith.

“Wouldn’t have minded if he’d gotten traded,” Rodgers cracked Wednesday, referring to Smith’s contract squabble.

Rodgers is a four-time MVP in his 18th season and doesn’t fear much. But Smith concerned him from the jump.

In the 2018 opener, relatively fresh off Smith ending his rookie holdout, he played just eight snaps but had three tackles and sacked backup DeShone Kizer while Rodgers missed time with a knee injury. Rodgers said the Packers “were all pretty happy” that Smith didn’t play much because they knew what a problem he presented.

And since then, he has only ascended.

“He’s a difference maker,” Rodgers said, listing off Smith’s abilities to cover receivers, smash running backs and blitz. “He can do it all. He’s one of the top guys at his position, for sure.

“I like the way he goes about his business. He’s kind of low-key classy… Every now and then you hear a little trash talk, which he’s good at. A lot of respect for Roquan.”

If Smith is still looking for an agent, maybe Rodgers wants the job.

Virtually everything other than Smith has changed for the Bears since their failed upset bid against Rodgers in the 2018 opener.

There’s a new general-manager-coach-quarterback trio trying to knock him and the Packers off the NFC North mountaintop as Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields have replaced Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky. Big stars like Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks are long gone. The only remaining players who were on the field for at least 40% of the snaps in that opener are left guard Cody Whitehair and safety Eddie Jackson.

And, once again, the Bears are restarting with a belief that they’ll “take the North and never give it back,” as Poles said in his opening press conference.

And, once again, Rodgers is skeptical.

“All the other teams in the NFC North, it seems like every single year their fan base and their teams feel like, ‘This is our year to win the North,'” he said last week. “Hasn’t really been the case during my time, for the most part.”

Rodgers made that comment a few days before posting a 67.6 passer rating in the Packers’ 23-7 loss to the Vikings.

Nonetheless, the Packers have taken notice of Fields’ potential and Eberflus’ impressive history as Colts defensive coordinator.

While LaFleur said it was difficult to discern much from the Bears’ opener because of the pouring rain, but through the muck, he saw evidence of Eberflus’ influence.

“One thing that shows through is their identity in terms of their style of play, how hard they play, how physical they are,” LaFleur said. “It’s very sound football, and they’ve got all the necessary ingredients in order to have a great defense.”

He also saw something in Fields’ performance despite completing just 8 of 17 passes for 121 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

“He looks more decisive out there, and I think that’s a natural progression,” LaFleur said. “But most importantly, especially for young quarterbacks, it’s just staying resilient, and he definitely did that.”

Potential, resilience, effort — will that be enough for the Bears to topple the team that has towered over them for three decades? It typically hasn’t been. But it seems like they’ve gotten the Packers’ attention.

Read More