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An off-duty Chicago police officer exchanged gunfire with gunmen who shot at him after following him into a parking lot Monday in Portage Park. No one was hurt.

The 24-year-old was driving about 5:15 a.m. when he noticed he was being followed by a gray sedan, Chicago police said. The off-duty officer turned into a parking lot in the 3900 block of North Lamon Avenue and the sedan followed.

Two people got out of the sedan and fired shots, striking the 24-year-old’s vehicle, police said. The off-duty officer returned fire, and the attackers fled in the sedan.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made, police said.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability was investigating the off-duty officer’s use of force.

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The San Diego Padres, desperate for starting pitching while battling for the playoffs, signed former Cubs Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta to a contract Monday for the rest of the season, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the deal.

The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

Arrieta, released last week from the Cubs, is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The Padres, who failed to acquire a starter at the trade deadline, are two men down with Yu Darvish (back) and Chris Paddack (oblique) going on the injured list.

Arrieta, who won the 2015 National League Cy Young award, badly struggled in his return with the Cubs this season. He yielded a 6.88 ERA in 86 1/3 innings, including eight runs in four innings in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers. He has yet to last past six innings in his last 13 starts, and went four or fewer innings in his past five starts.

The Padres hold the second wild card spot, but are now only 2 1/2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Lee Wright was hard at work, building a nail salon near an abandoned hospital in downstate Cairo, when Jody Johnson stopped by to introduce himself.

For Johnson, who works for the University of Illinois’ extension program, it was the first step in trust in the city of fewer than 2,200 people as extension programs across the United States — long valued in rural communities for helping farmers and supporting 4-H clubs — expand to include educating the public about COVID-19 vaccines.

Wright, 68, was unvaccinated even though he’d followed other public health guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. When it came to the shots, he was putting his fate in his faith.

“Doctors are good, don’t get me wrong,” Wright said. “But we got to have something that we can really depend on.”

Johnson didn’t talk with Wright about the vaccines that day. He just listened.

“No one wants to feel ashamed or belittled because they’re not doing something,” Johnson said later.

Only 16% of the people living in Alexander, County, home to Cairo, are fully vaccinated against COVID, the lowest rate in Illinois, according to the state Department of Public Health.

And case counts of coronavirus infections are rising. So the nation’s Cooperative Extension System, which is tied to a network of land-grant universities, plans to spend the next two years talking about vaccines in Cairo and elsewhere.

The extension system has a tradition of bringing research-based information to communities on a wide range of topics, including water quality, food safety and disaster preparedness. With roots sunk deep in rural America, where vaccines have been slow to catch on, the system is using state and federal funding to pay for immunization education efforts tailored to specific communities.

In Illinois, the agency has a COVID resource guide for families, business owners and farmers. The office covering the southern part of the state is looking to hire someone in the community to help spread the word on why vaccinations matter. Johnson also wants to work with churches, civic groups and business owners.

And 4-H clubs have been making masks and face shields.

“This is not our first global pandemic,” said Carissa Nelson, a 4-H spokesperson in Illinois, noting that the organization’s agents and club members nursed patients during the 1918 flu pandemic.

In Cairo, a long history of racial tension dating to the Civil War still stings. As in rural towns across the United States, many in the downstate town feel underappreciated and misunderstood. And vaccine apathy is common in Cairo, where infection rates remained low until recently.

“We haven’t had great turnouts,” said Tyrone Coleman, president and co-founder of the Alexander and Pulaski NAACP chapter, which has helped organize vaccine clinics in Cairo.

In June, Coleman invited the health department to a Juneteenth celebration at St. Mary’s Park. More than 300 people attended. But a state pop-up clinic drew just two people seeking vaccinations, Coleman said.

More than 15,000 people lived in Cairo in the early 20th century, helping it earn the nicknames “Little Chicago” and “the Gateway to the South.” Old factories, antebellum homes, an ornate library and a vacant hospital remain as reminders of the city’s past. The library prominently displays the work of Mark Twain, who, after traveling through Cairo, wrote about the city in 1884 in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

In the novel, Cairo represents freedom and the chance for a better life.

But the hospital was shut down in 1987. The only grocery store in Cairo closed years ago, public housing was torn down in recent years, and the only nursing home was closed during the pandemic without much notice.

Fewer than 2,200 people, most of them Black, live in Cairo, which is often mislabeled by reporters and travel guides as abandoned.

“Cairo is not a ghost town,” said Ronnie Woods, a pastor and retired schoolteacher. “It’s not dead at all.”

Tourists still stop by to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

But they don’t typically see the rocky riverbank where locals fish for their dinner. Beverly Davis, 60, heads there often, rod in hand, giving much of her catch away to others. The scenic waterfront, though, is carpeted with driftwood and dead fish that washed ashore.

“I guess it’s meant to be like this,” Davis said, standing on the riverbank among the fish carcasses. ” ‘Cause, if not, it would be better.”

But many continue to believe their city will return to its past glory.

“The world hears that this is a negative part of the country, and it’s not,” Johnson said. “We’ve got too many good things and people here.”

University of Illinois Extension director Jody Johnson (right) exchanges contact information with Lee Wright (left) and his son Roman Wright. The extension’s office in southern Illinois has launched a vaccination education program that aims to win over the unvaccinated in Cairo.Cara Anthony /KHN

On a recent day, the only outdoor basketball court in town, anchored by a single hoop, was busy in a rural community that already was fighting to stay alive long before the pandemic. The men playing didn’t seem worried about COVID.

“I haven’t had COVID, so I feel like I don’t need to get vaccinated right now,” said Jeffery DeWitt, 24. “I’ll just take it as it goes.”

Wright’s son Roman Wright, 36, said much the same thing while helping his father build the nail salon across town. He works for the prison system, and one of its facilities nearby reported COVID cases. But he hadn’t contracted the virus and, like his father, said he didn’t plan on getting the shots.

“I’m like my dad,” he said. “I was born and raised in church all my life. So I say we believe in God. I know my parents pray for me. We pray for each other, and we just believe in God.”

Woods, the pastor, has a different view. He keeps his vaccination card in a plastic sheath and carries it wherever he goes.

“I have strong faith,” said Woods, 66. “And, at my age, my risk factors, I just felt that God placed science there to help us.”

But Woods said it’s going to take work to persuade others in Cairo to get vaccinated even if they know someone who died of COVID.

Tourists still stop by to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Cairo, where commercial ships dock on the banks.Cara Anthony / KHN

“It’s going to take more than explaining,” Woods said. “It is going to take a cultural shift because people are just not trusting.”

That’s one reason Johnson is searching for a local voice to lead the extension service’s vaccine education program. As a 51-year-old white man who grew up in a predominantly white community 45 miles away from Cairo, he recognizes that locals would be more likely to share their thoughts with someone who lives in town. He is searching for someone who will spend time with locals who don’t hold titles and positions.

“Everybody doesn’t think like me,” Johnson said. “So we need to take that into consideration.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) produces in-depth journalism on health issues.

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Things can change quickly in a year.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to the team for training camp after an offseason full of speculation about his future and discontent with the franchise that became public. Things were so fractured, that Rodgers was already making plans for a post-Packers future.

“Last year at this time, I was looking at the season as my last year in Green Bay,” Rodgers told NBC Sports.

Rodgers’ has been open about his issues with the Packers front office and has lobbied in recent weeks to have some former players brought back to the organization, such as receiver Randall Cobb, a close friend of Rodgers’ whom the team traded for July 28.

Rodgers served as the guest host of the TV game show Jeopardy! but skipped all of the team’s offseason workout program.

Now, as Rodgers is practicing with the team after he and the organization restructured his contract, the relationship between both sides seems to have thawed. In a revealing press conference to open training camp, Rodgers spoke about his disagreement with many organizational decisions, specifically referencing his relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst.

“The other one (Gutekunst), you know, I leave space and optimism for growth and change,” Rodgers told NBC. “But, you know, at this point, my focus is just on the football staff and making sure those conversations and communication are right going into the season.”

Rodgers has said that he is focused solely on winning another Super Bowl in Green Bay this season. That was part of the message he delivered to the rest of the team in a speech he gave after he broke the team down following the first practice of the season.

“I can’t remember the exact words,” Rodgers said, “but I said your thoughts are becoming real things. I talked about a positive mindset. I did want to assure the guys how special it was to be back, how committed I am to the team, how special the relationships are to me, how focused I am on this season and accomplishing all of our goals. But I talk a lot about positivity, about a mindset, about manifestation, about embracing the journey. That stuff that’s really important to me. Be present. This is a great time in our lives.”

Rodgers, 37, is entering his 17th season in the NFL and just won the NFL’s MVP award. He completed 70.7% of his throws for 4,299 yards with 48 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

“I really do love it,” Rodgers said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come back. I’ve got so many other things that I love and I’m passionate about. I love competing. I love practice, still. I’ve had a really good camp. Last year I felt like I started a little slow and then something clicked. I’ve actually had a really good camp here. I feel good about where I’m at. …

“I think a lot of how I’ve felt is perspective. Perspective leads to a lot of the happiness in your life. If we’re looking for things to be upset about or pissed off about, I’m sure we can find them in our own life. If we’re looking for what we don’t have, I’m sure we can find it. But if we can focus on the thing we do have and the things we’re grateful for, then every day can be a little more special than the last because you realize how great of an opportunity we have.”

Read more at usatoday.com

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Pat Fitzgerald insisted things will be different for Northwestern this time.

The All-America linebacker who led the Wildcats on a fairytale run to the Rose Bowl in the 1990s and is the program’s winningest coach by a wide margin enters his 16th season confident there won’t be another first-to-worst crash.

From winning the Big Ten West in 2018 to finishing last in 2019, it was quite a decline. Just as dramatic was the turnaround that followed last year in the pandemic-shortened season. Northwestern jumped back to the top of the division, gave Ohio State a scare in the conference championship game, beat Auburn in the Citrus Bowl and finished 7-2 overall after going 3-9.

“I think the seniors, especially, are guys that learned through ’19,” said Fitzgerald, 106-81 since taking over in 2006. “In a year like ’20, everything was abnormal. I thought we handled it really well, and we executed what you have to do to be a championship level team. To continue that momentum on is more of our focus than what went wrong in ’19.”

When it came to keeping opponents out of the end zone, few teams were as effective as Northwestern. The Wildcats ranked fifth in the nation and led the Big Ten in scoring defense.

On offense, Northwestern ranked ninth in the league in yards per game and 10th in scoring.

The season opens with a Friday night home game against Michigan State on Sept. 3.

PRODUCTION LOST

Peyton Ramsey, who helped steady the quarterback spot last season as a graduate transfer from Indiana, is gone. So are the top two tacklers — linebackers Blake Gallagher and Paddy Fisher. Junior cornerback Greg Newsome II was drafted in the first round by Cleveland.

“We did a lose a lot of production last year,” All-American safety Brandon Joseph said. “I was blessed to have the opportunity to play with those guys last year, a lot of whom are on an NFL team or working to be on an NFL team right now. But we also have a lot of young talent that people haven’t seen.”

Joseph is back after a dominant freshman season.

BEHIND CENTER

If South Carolina transfer quarterback Ryan Hilinski starts the opener, it will be an emotional moment for him on more than one level.

His late brother Tyler’s final game for Washington State was against Michigan State in the 2017 Holiday Bowl. Tyler Hilinski took his life in 2018, and the family aims to destigmatize mental illness among college athletes through the Hilinski’s Hope Foundation.

Ryan Hilinski is competing with Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty for the starting job.

ON THE RUN

Northwestern figures to rely heavily in the run game on Cam Porter, after he led the team in rushing as a freshman. Porter ran for 333 yards — 4.1 per carry — and five touchdowns.

CALLING ON DEFENSE

Northwestern has a new defensive coordinator after hiring Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O’Neil to replace the retired Mike Hankwitz. O’Neil spent three seasons on Jon Gruden’s staff in Oakland and Las Vegas and was previously defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and the San Francisco 49ers (2016).

TAKE ME OUT TO …

The Wildcats are scheduled again to play at Wrigley Field, this time against Purdue on Nov. 20 after last year’s game against Wisconsin got moved to Ryan Field because of the pandemic. It will be Northwestern’s first game at the Friendly Confines since losing to Illinois there in 2010.

The matchup with Illinois had an unusual twist. Because of safety concerns, offensive plays ran only toward the west end zone near the third-base dugout. The east end zone in right field came within a foot or so of a heavily padded brick wall.

That shouldn’t be an issue this time following a massive renovation to the ballpark in recent years.

The rest of the schedule includes visits to Michigan and Wisconsin and the Illini.

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MADISON, Wis. — Perhaps no program savors a return to normalcy this season as much as Wisconsin.

The Badgers canceled two games last year due to a COVID-19 outbreak and dealt with numerous injuries during a three-game skid. The Badgers finished 4-3 with a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over Wake Forest.

“We have a lot to prove after the year we had last year,” safety Collin Wilder said. “It was disappointing as fans, disappointing as players.”

Now they’re back with an experienced roster that includes a half-dozen sixth-year seniors.

Wide receiver Kendric Pryor said he’s back for a sixth year in part because last season didn’t go the way the Badgers wanted. His decision also came from “knowing what we will be capable of this year.”

Wisconsin certainly is capable of bouncing back.

Linebacker Jack Sanborn leads a defense that ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed per game and tied for ninth in points allowed per game last season. Quarterback Graham Mertz should benefit from having Pryor and Danny Davis back after injuries caused both receivers to miss most of last season.

“It’s great dropping back knowing you’ve got depth at that position,” Mertz said. “I’m excited, man. I can go on for days about those guys. We’re ready.”

Wisconsin has enough firepower to regain its status as one of the top teams in the Big Ten. But the Badgers have higher goals.

They’re seeking their first Big Ten title since 2012 as well as their first College Playoff berth.

“We’ve been riding that wave and there’s been a dip,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “You look at what we did in the Orange Bowl (in the 2017 season) and then there was a dip. And then we get back to the Rose Bowl (in the 2019 season) and last year we had another dip. We have to eliminate those if we want to be talked about as that type of program.

“And eventually when you get to that game, you must win that game. You have to move past that. That’s the focus. You have to show up in those moments consistently. And it can’t be get close and come up short and everyone loves the effort you gave. You have to finish. That’s what great programs do.”

STAFF CHANGES

Wisconsin has some newcomers on the staff with Gary Brown as running backs coach, Hank Poteat as cornerbacks coach and former strength coach Ross Kolodziej taking over the defensive line.

Former offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph is now the offensive line coach. Coach Paul Chryst is calling plays again after ceding those responsibilities to Rudolph last season.

“I have all the trust and confidence in the world in Joe,” Chryst said. “But Joe and I sat down and said, ‘OK, what do we need to do to help this group be the best it can be?’ It was to fully commit Joe to the offensive line.”

MERTZ VS. COAN

Former Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan will get a chance to face his former teammates when the Badgers face Notre Dame on Sept. 25 at Solider Field.

Coan made 18 starts for Wisconsin from 2018-19 but injured his right foot in preseason practice last year as Mertz took over. Coan is now the starter for the Fighting Irish.

“I wish nothing but the best for him,” Mertz said. “Still do. I hope they have a great season. But when we play them, we’re going to be ready to go.”

OPTIONS AT RUNNNG BACK

Jalen Berger led the Badgers in rushing last season while running for 301 yards in only four games. The Badgers have more depth in the backfield this year, thanks to the additions of Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi and heralded freshman Braelon Allen.

THE SCHEDULE

Wisconsin jumps right into Big Ten competition by hosting Penn State on Sept. 4. The Badgers face Notre Dame on Sept. 25 and host Michigan a week later. The schedule includes home dates with Iowa (Oct. 30), Northwestern (Nov. 13) and Nebraska (Nov. 20) plus trips to Illinois (Oct. 9), Purdue (Oct. 23) and Minnesota (Nov. 27).

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Joe Walton, the former New York Jets coach who built Robert Morris University’s football program from the ground up, has died. He was 85.

Robert Morris announced in an obituary posted on its website that Walton died Sunday. No cause of death was provided.

Walton, a native of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania — the hometown of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath — coached the Jets for seven years and went 53-57-1 while leading New York to the playoffs twice.

A former NFL tight end for Washington and the Giants, Walton caught 178 passes for 2,628 yards and 28 touchdowns in seven seasons. He retired from playing after the 1963 season and joined the Giants as a scout two years later. Walton was promoted to wide receivers coach in 1969, a role he would serve for five years before going to Washington as the running backs coach.

Walton became Washington’s offensive coordinator in 1978 and moved to the Jets in the same role in 1981. He replaced Walt Michaels as the Jets’ head coach in 1983 and had one of the more successful coaching runs for the franchise with the two playoff runs, but he was fired after a 4-12 season in 1989.

“Joe Walton poured his heart into this franchise for nine seasons,” the Jets said in a statement. “Joining us as an offensive coordinator before taking over as the head coach, Joe fielded some of the franchise’s most productive offenses and helped the teams to four playoff appearances during his tenure.

“He was a good man who cared for his players and loved the game of football.”

Walton closed out his NFL coaching career in Pittsburgh, where he served as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator for two years.

Among the quarterbacks Walton worked with during his NFL career were Joe Theismann, Fran Tarkenton, Norm Snead, Ken O’Brien and Richard Todd.

In 1993, Walton was hired as the first coach in Robert Morris history and built the program by recruiting players, hiring assistants and even buying equipment for the team to play in its first season in 1994.

It was the beginning of a 20-year run during which the Colonials won outright Northeast Conference championships three times — in 1997, ’99 and 2000 — and shared three others — 1996, ’98 and 2010. Walton also led Robert Morris to consecutive ECAC Bowl victories in 1996 and ’97.

Walton finished 114-92-1 at the school, was a four-time conference coach of the year and is one of just a few men to win 50 games as a head coach in both the NFL and college. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013. The football stadium is also named after him.

“Coach Walton took our football program from nothing to something special,” Robert Morris senior associate athletic director Marty Galosi said in a statement. “The fact that he built it from scratch and won early on was a bonus. He was a great coach, but he was a better man as well as a role model for all of the student-athletes and coaches that were under his tutelage. His legacy at RMU will last a long time.”

The son of former Washington guard Frank “Tiger” Walton, Joe Walton was an All-America selection at tight end twice at the University of Pittsburgh before being drafted by Washington in the second round in 1957.

Walton, who moved back to Beaver Falls in 1990, was married for 47 years before wife Ginger died in 2007. They had three children — daughters Jodi and Stacy, and son Joe — and six grandchildren. Walton also is survived by his second wife, Patty Sheehan Walton.

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