A police officer who accidentally shot a budding teenage musician in 2019 while pursuing a bank robber on the Northwest Side won’t face criminal charges, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office has decided.

Des Plaines Police Officer James Armstrong was “justified in using deadly force” against the bank robber, Christopher Willis, on Nov. 19, 2019, Foxx’s office concluded.

And even though Armstrong also struck 15-year-old Rylan Wilder, it was unintentional and the officer acted “reasonably,” the state’s attorney’s office stated in a memo dated Oct. 19, 2020.

The decision came to light after Foxx’s office recently posted a letter on her website in support of her actions from a state prosecutors’ agency that reviews counties’ charging decisions. Foxx’s memo was attached to the letter.

“A criminal prosecution for either first- or second-degree murder would require proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the involved officer was not legally justified in using deadly force against Christopher Willis,” the memo states. “In other words, a judge or a jury would have to find that Officer Armstrong’s belief that he or others were in imminent danger of great bodily harm or death — was not reasonable. In this case, however, the uncontroverted evidence shows that Officer Armstrong did have a reasonable belief that Christopher Willis put Officer Armstrong and others in imminent danger of great bodily harm or death.”

Patrick J. Delfino, director of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutors, backed up that decision in a letter to Foxx dated July 7, 2021.

“Based upon a comprehensive and independent evaluation of the information provided, we find that the decision by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to decline prosecution is consistent with the evidence,” Delfino wrote. “This finding is strictly limited to the conclusion as to criminal charges and makes no determination regarding the existence of any administrative violations or the potentiality of civil liability.”

A lawyer who represents the Wilder family in a civil lawsuit said he’s outraged that he only learned Tuesday of Foxx’s decision not to charge Armstrong.

“We just obtained the Cook County state’s attorney’s report now. The family was not notified of the decision in advance, which was devastating for them. The reckless behavior by the officer is clearly negligent,” Attorney Tim Cavanagh said in a statement. “Why did he pursue a suspect into the city, in violation of department policy, and why did he use his personal gun — a military-style assault rifle? The multiple wounds to Rylan’s arm inflicted damage commensurate with a war victim. His life will never be the same. We are lucky more kids were not shot as a result of the officer’s reckless actions.”

Before the shooting, Willis had robbed a bank in Des Plaines and then fled in a stolen car to Chicago, pursued by Armstrong and officers from multiple police agencies. After ditching the car, Willis ran into Upbeat Music and Arts, a music school on the Northwest Side where Wilder was an intern.

Surveillance video from inside the school shows a man holding a handgun running in through the front entrance. Moments later, Armstrong, with a rifle at his shoulder, yells, “Drop it!” Wilder is seen in the video, ducking and running for cover just as Armstrong squeezes the trigger. Wilder suffered catastrophic injuries to his left arm and is still undergoing treatment for those injuries.

In April of this year, the Des Plaines Police Department’s new chief, David Anderson, told the Chicago Sun-Times that after viewing the UpBeat surveillance video multiple times, he is uncertain whether Armstrong actually struck Wilder. He said it might have been the bank robber.

“If you listen to the video, what I hear is the potential of a shot being fired just prior to Officer Armstrong firing his weapon,” Anderson said.

Anderson also said Armstrong was trying to stop “a very violent, active shooter” and that he did the best he could under quickly changing circumstances.

Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern told the Sun-Times in April: “We did confirm that the 15-year-old victim and the offender were shot by Des Plaines police.”

Cavanagh has said the suggestion that anyone other than a Des Plaines police officer shot Wilder is “nonsense.”

In a lawsuit filed in Cook County, the Wilders claim that Armstrong’s use of force was “excessive” and that it constituted “reckless, willful and wanton conduct.”

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SAITAMA, Japan — They believe they are the best basketball team at the Olympics, too good to consider anything but gold.

“If we do what we do well, we bring the intensity on defense, we play our roles but we’re ourselves in our roles, we’re free, we’re the best players in the world,” U.S. guard Zach LaVine said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to beat us.”

Australia and France already have this summer.

And Slovenia has beaten everyone its ever played with Luka Doncic in the lineup.

So the semifinals might be as wide open as any time during the Americans’ run of three straight titles. The U.S. is the only team left that has won Olympic gold, but the other three teams think this is their time.

“We’re well experienced,” Australia guard Patty Mills said. “We’ve been to this stage many a time and haven’t crossed the line. But we’ve bottled those experiences up, and I think we’re well prepared for this moment and for this stage to make the next step.”

The U.S. plays Australia in the first semifinal Thursday at Saitama Super Arena, with a victory assuring the Australians their first medal in men’s basketball.

But they’d have to win again Saturday to get the one they believe is in reach.

“Our goal is the gold medal,” guard Matthew Dellavedova said.

France faces Slovenia in the nightcap. The winners meet Saturday for gold.

The U.S. was beaten 91-83 by Australia in an exhibition game and fell to France 83-76 in the teams’ Olympic opener. But the Americans, who didn’t have their full roster for the game in Las Vegas, may have rounded into top form.

They pulled away from Spain in the quarterfinals for a 95-81 victory, getting 29 points from Kevin Durant and improving to 3-0 since Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker joined the starting lineup after arriving on the eve of the tournament after the NBA Finals.

“I think the potential of this team is endless,” forward Draymond Green said. “Unfortunately, we got two games left and so we need to make sure that we’re continuing to get better each and every time we step on the floor, and I think that’s what we’ve done.”

Australia and France had big head starts, with a generation of players who have been together for years.

Mills, Dellavedova and Joe Ingles are the heart of an Australian team that has finished fourth four times at the Olympics, including 2016 in Rio. The French veterans, including Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, won a European title and two Basketball World Cup bronze medals since 2013, but had lost in the quarterfinals of the last two Olympics before beating Italy 84-75 on Tuesday.

The French haven’t medaled at the Olympics since winning silver in 2000. Like the Australians, it’s been a long wait and a lot of heartbreak since.

Slovenia is trying to avoid all that.

The Slovenians reached the final four of their Olympic debut by beating Germany 94-70 on Tuesday. Doncic had 20 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, the second straight game the tournament’s leading scorer was just shy of a triple-double.

Now he has his country two wins from adding Olympic gold to the European title it won in 2017.

“They are the reigning European champion for a reason. Luka is 17-0 with the national team. He is a great player, one of the best in the world, but they are a great team,” Batum said.

“Of course we have to stay focused on him, but we can’t disrespect the other guys.”

The French showed how good their defense can be in the opener, when they held the U.S. to 36% shooting from the field.

The Americans have responded by averaging 111.3 points in their last three games, but now comes an opponent that has had their number. The Australians also beat them in a tune-up for the 2019 Basketball World Cup before the victory in Las Vegas.

That July 12 defeat was the Americans’ second straight to begin their Olympic preparations, following a loss to Nigeria. A gold medal seemed a long way off.

Now, it’s just two victories away.

“So, I love how we stuck with it throughout this whole period of time and guys started to figure out what we needed to do,” Durant said.

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As we view and read unending news stories about the devastation wrought by climate change (wildfires, historic flooding, super-heated waters killing fish, record heat waves all over the world), it’s worth noting that the State of Illinois recently missed an historic opportunity to cut pollution that is a major cause of this problem.

Climate scientists the world over are saying that we must reduce carbon pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels that power our heating, cooling and transportation sectors. Renewable sources of energy are available right now that would reduce pollution and improve public health, but clean energy legislation that would have helped us reduce our reliance on dirty fossil fuels recently failed to pass the Illinois State legislature. How could we have missed this opportunity to clean our environment?

SEND LETTERS TO: [email protected]. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be approximately 350 words or less.

Supporters of dirty fossil fuels say we need a “balanced” approach to energy policy. The truth is that the Illinois power grid is out of balance now. Clean renewable energy only accounts for 8 to 10% of Illinois energy production. This percentage is woefully inadequate and shows that we are failing to live up to our responsibility to give future generations healthy air to breath. If we are to be responsible stewards of our environment, we must pass legislation that insures we use more clean, renewable energy (solar and wind) to power our state. Failure to do so is to make a future clean up much more difficult for our children and grandchildren.

The Illinois state legislature must act as soon as possible to pass clean energy legislation that will create good jobs and clean our air and water.

Mark Kraemer, Wilmette

Following up on cop tips

As a frequent reporter of incidents to the Chicago Police Department’s TipSubmit website (new.tipsubmit.com), I’m frequently disappointed because nothing seems to get done. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police Supt. David Brown seem to agree with what Brown said earlier this week, that the police can’t solve crimes “alone” and need the public to “work with us.”

Yes, as reported on June 18 in the Sun-Times, the city for years sought “security fixes” at home where eight people recently were shot, “ut nothing was done.”

I can assure you this was not the only time a house was reported to the police for criminal activity and nothing was done. Though the narrative from City Hall is that residents don’t report problem locations, that’s certainly not the case in all situations. The four murders at that house might have been avoided had reports to the police actually been acted upon.

Michael Pearson, Englewood

All public schools require multiple vaccinations when registering children for classes. This is for the sake of protecting all children. If you don’t feel your child should have to comply, send them to a private school. It’s that simple.

Edwina Jackson, Washington Heights

Ultra-right are not conservatives

Why does the media describe the ultra-right or “alt-right” as conservatives? What do they conserve? They certainly aren’t interested in conserving civil rights, human rights or our planet.

When House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy “joked” about hitting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a gavel, he was not being conservative; he was pandering to his base, the Republican Party’s motley crew of far-rightists, white supremacists, white nationalists, neo-fascists and advocates of violence. All those people whom the previous occupant of the White House helped his party solidify.

They should be described as far-right, ultra-right, or alt-right — definitely not as “conservatives.”

Muriel Balla, Hyde Park

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After a week of training camp, the Sun-Times’ Mark Potash breaks down what he’s seen:

Justin Fields has looked …

Like a rookie quarterback being introduced to the NFL. Fields has a lot to learn — any rookie quarterback does. But already you can see differences between him and Mitch Trubisky in 2017 — his first-step speed and acceleration and the velocity on those mid-range passes that need to be completed at a high percentage.

But he’s not ready yet because …

It’s just too early. The rudimentary, non-padded phase of training camp accentuates Andy Dalton’s biggest advantage over Fields — experience. Fields needs game speed to accelerate the process — how well he reacts, how well he learns. His rookie year readiness shouldn’t be defined by what he’s done so far. Once the adrenaline starts pumping, we’ll see how ready he is.

What is the best development for the Bears so far?

Andy Dalton looks like an upgrade — he’d already be the clear leader over Trubisky and Nick Foles if he were in that open competition last year. Dalton is unlikely to lift this offense on his shoulders and carry it to another level. But he appears better equipped to overcome hurdles that neither Trubisky nor Foles could last season, which could allow Matt Nagy to turn to Fields when he wants to instead of when he has to.

What’s the worst?

The absence of starting offensive tackles Teven Jenkins and Germain Ifedi. It’s questionable whether Jenkins — the rookie second-round draft pick — and Ifedi would be an overall upgrade over proven veterans Charles Leno and Bobby Massie. But without them, the Bears are down to Elijah Wilkinson and Lachavious Simmons. And with Wilkinson on the COVID-19 list, rookie fifth-round pick Larry Borom was at left tackle. That’s not optimal.

Which under-the-radar player has caught your eye

Second-year cornerback Kindle Vildor is going toe-to-toe with Desmond Trufant opposite Jaylon Johnson and holding his own. The Bears were excited about Vildor’s prospects this season after showing potential in spot duty last year and so far, he doesn’t look out of place. Still a long way to go, though.

What’s the shakiest part of the Bears’ plan for this season?

The focus is rightfully on the quarterbacks, but any Bears’ offensive surge begins with an improved offensive line, with a healthy James Daniels and two new tackles in rookie Teven Jenkins and Germain Ifedi. If the Bears can’t block, they likely can’t run. And if they can’t run, any quarterback will struggle to make it work, including Justin Fields.

Which newcomer has been the most impressive?

Rookie running back Khalil Herbert didn’t look like a major need when he was drafted in the sixth round, but he already has shown the kind of versatility that could fill the Tarik Cohen role, with Cohen unlikely to be ready in Week 1. Herbert looks the part so far — effective with the ball in his hands anywhere on the field.

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When it comes to the many rankings of individual high school basketball prospects, it’s the offseason where those players make their mark, especially at the national level.

The summer months are where they are seen. They play on the same court with other top prospects in the country and with a lot of eyes from around the country watching.

The national top 100 lists — and even selections for the McDonald’s All-American game — are often determined based on what transpired in the summer, during the shoe-sponsored grassroots basketball events.

With an evaluation already made by the end of July, particularly for rising seniors who are set to sign in November, the high school season can often be an afterthought in the minds of some national decision-makers. Unfortunately, that’s sometimes a hinderance for certain players who develop late, played with nagging injuries or may have had a bad club basketball fit in the summer. At times it’s just hard to make up that ground during the actual high school basketball season.

But a monster senior season right here in Illinois, however, can still matter. Those in-state players are watched closely by those of us here in Illinois. Thus, impressions can be made and minds changed locally over the course of the high school basketball season.

Which brings us to this: Unlike many past years, this year’s high school basketball season will determine the top-ranked college prospect in the Class of 2022.

Remember, this isn’t about being a Player of the Year candidate; the top prospects generally are POY candidates by the time they are seniors. But every year so many fans miss or don’t understand the difference between “top prospect” and Player of the Year.

Sure, they can at times be one and the same. But when you look into the lens of each, we’re talking two completely different prerequisites. There are different evaluation objectives when choosing Player of the Year vs. state’s top college prospect.

For the first time in a long time, the spot at the top of the class is up for grabs with multiple prospects in the discussion. Summer play left us ready to evaluate some more and see which player rises to the top of the prospect rankings in the coming year.

This year’s senior class features four top prospects — Young’s AJ Casey, Buffalo Grove’s Kam Craft, Glenbard West’s Braden Huff and Yorkville Christian’s Jaden Schutt — and then everyone else. There is a significant drop in the level of college prospect after those four.

Here is a closer look at the four highly-regarded prospects, who the City/Suburban Hoops Report believes are all top 100 prospects in the country. They will all be vying to be the No. 1 ranked prospect in Illinois in the Class of 2022.

(Listed alphabetically)

AJ Casey, Young

The player: A little of the unknown remains in a player who still has untapped, long-term potential but has battled some consistency issues over the course of his heavily hyped career. The physical attributes as a 6-8 skilled 4-man have always stood out. Now consistent production is the next big step.

The summer: As noted, it was a bit of an up-and-down summer for the promising and talented Casey, who fought through July playing with an severely injured finger.

The recruitment: Currently Casey doesn’t have any official visits set up. He’s been hearing the most from Memphis, DePaul, Gonzaga, Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Florida and Marquette.

Kam Craft, Buffalo Grove

The player: There is a track record of premier production since the day the 6-4 spark-plug scorer entered high school. And it’s continued throughout his career. Craft is what you call a “bucket-getter” who scores in bunches and in a variety of ways, starting as a sniper from the perimeter.

The summer: After missing out on the live high school events in June with Buffalo Grove not playing in either the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout or Ridgewood Shootout, Craft picked up right where he left off in the spring with a resounding notice-me July. He led his Meanstreets club team in scoring and to the semifinals of the prestigious Peach Jam.

The recruitment: After picking up offers and generating a buzz in the spring and visiting Marquette, Iowa and Xavier, Craft committed to the Musketeers on July 1.

Braden Huff, Glenbard West

The player: As versatile and as skilled of a big man as you will find. Huff is a 6-10 prospect who any team can legitimately run its offense through. Huff can handle, pass and shoot while still boasting the upside you covet in a prospect.

The summer: There were moments this summer when Huff absolutely dazzled, whether it was with his high school team in June or with the Illinois Wolves in their run to an Under Armour Association title in July. As a result, his stock soared.

The recruitment: Huff took official visits to Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt in June and unofficial visits to Illinois and Wisconsin. The offers and interest haven’t slowed down with a July offer from Michigan State, where he will take an unofficial visit Thursday of this week, and Gonzaga showing significant interest.

Jaden Schutt, Yorkville Christian

The player: The 6-4 guard has lived up to the hype of state’s best shooter. But he continues to show he’s more than just an elite, fundamentally sound marksman. He’s a player with a competitive edge, sneaky athleticism and a player who opposing defenses must account for with how he shoots and moves off the ball.

The summer: As the leading scorer of an Illinois Wolves team that captured an Under Armour Association title and went 16-1 along the way, Schutt was able to open even more eyes. He showed over and over again the ability to make next-level shots. Look for Schutt to skyrocket up national player rankings.

The recruitment: This one will be a hotly contested recruitment with some big players involved. Schutt took an official visit to Michigan State in June and unofficial visits to Illinois and Iowa. He picked up several other high-major offers this summer, including ones from Florida and Duke.

Schutt is set to visit Duke later this month where the Blue Devils’ coach-in-waiting, Jon Scheyer, is in the process of putting together a monster recruiting class. A possible trip to Florida could follow. Schutt hopes to have a decision sometime in September.

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Eight years ago, in a report the NCAA asked Big East commissioner Val Ackerman to write, she recommended the men’s and women’s Final Fours be played at the same venue on the same weekend.

She also suggested the women’s basketball tournament have its own television contract, not one combined with other sports as is currently the case, and that the NCAA streamline its governance structure, among other things.

Nothing happened.

After Tuesday’s release of a report ripping the NCAA for failing to uphold gender equity in its management of men’s and women’s basketball, Ackerman said she’s confident changes are coming because momentum is on the side of the women’s game after the embarrassing revelations of unequal treatment of athletes at the 2021 tournaments.

Some of the recommendations by the law firm hired to investigate rang familiar to Ackerman, like her ideas about combining the Final Fours, negotiating a stand-alone TV contract and restructuring the NCAA organizational chart.

“What I don’t know is how long it will take,” she said. “I hope quickly. That remains to be seen. My questions will continue to revolve around structure and how best to navigate the NCAA bureaucracy to bring these ideas into being.”

Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP was hired in March after the NCAA failed to provide similar amenities to the teams in the men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments. The situation blew up on social media amid player complaints and prompted apologies from NCAA executives.

Ackerman, founding president of the WNBA and past president of USA Basketball, said she was interviewed twice for the Kaplan report and she provided investigators her 2013 white paper and other materials.

The Kaplan report gave a nod to Ackerman’s work and other studies of the NCAA’s treatment of women’s basketball, noting that “while it is true that some progress has been made, all too often, the proposed reforms that came out of these efforts ended up doing no more than sitting on a shelf.”

Ackerman praised the thoroughness of the 113-page Kaplan report and said, “This can’t be a report that sits on a shelf for the next eight years. That can’t happen. It can’t happen again. I hope many see that and that everybody can be part of the solution this time.”

Ackerman said the problems, and solutions, are rooted in the NCAA’s structure.

The Kaplan report found the organization of men’s and women’s basketball leadership makes it difficult for women to get a fair hearing of its issues with some of the NCAA’s top leaders.

“You have this sort of multitude of committees, and I think we make it hard on ourselves by having a murky pathway to decision-making,” Ackerman said.

The senior vice president of basketball, Dan Gavitt, is supposed to oversee both the men’s and women’s games. Gavitt acknowledged in the report he has devoted most of his time to men’s basketball, the NCAA’s cash cow with a tournament whose TV contract value approaches $1 billion. NCAA staff told investigators that vice president for women’s basketball Lynn Holzman has been left to run women’s basketball autonomously.

Gavitt, as a senior VP, is on the senior management team and attends meetings led by the NCAA president. Holzman, as a vice president, does not.

Under that setup, women’s basketball is not fully represented in important discussions within the NCAA or with broadcast and corporate partners.

Despite having the same senior vice president, the report found the men’s and women’s basketball staffs operate largely independently of one another and that there is little communication between the two.

“When you’re working in the same company,” Ackerman said, “I think there is an expectation that the right hand is talking to the left hand.”

Former Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, now an ACC Network analyst, said the lack of collegiality between the men’s and women’s staffs troubles her.

“That’s something that should be a much better situation for the women’s staff, to have the help of the guys that are running the men’s tournament and get some feedback and some comments,” McGraw said. “We just haven’t had a good working relationship there. That can change overnight.”

Kaplan recommended that the leadership of men’s and women’s basketball should be at equivalent levels of seniority within the organization and should coordinate to ensure gender equity in the athlete experience. They should report to a head of championships who would review budgets and participation opportunities with an eye toward spotting disparities.

Several coaches expressed interest in looking at a combined Final Four weekend.

“You know I’m an advocate for the synergy of the men’s and women’s game and think creative thinking should always be valued as we chart the future course for the NCAA and (women’s basketball) in particular,” USC women’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb said

Also recommended was a reset of the budgeting process to make spending more equitable, and that the NCAA allot an equal number of staff to work both tournaments.

“It’s hard work and it’s going to require some real leadership and a better effort at organization, pulling together the governance structure in the right way to implement this with all due speed and effectively,” Ackerman said. “That’s what I’ve got my eye on. Now what? How do we take this and do what we’re supposed to do to make this come to life?”

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Chicago Bears: Tarik Cohen’s knee rehab update not a good sign by Ryan Heckman

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Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

After just a single day of NBA Free Agency, The Chicago Bulls have a much different-looking roster. All of a sudden, a team that languished in mediocrity and failed tank attempts is a strong playoff contender.

The Bulls executed two separate sign and trade deals to acquire guard Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans and forward DeMar DeRozan from the San Antonio Spurs. By adding two top free agency targets to an improving roster, this team feels totally different.

To top that off, the Bulls signed versatile guard Alex Caruso to a four-year, $37 million deal. He’ll come off the bench and help shore up the defense as well as add a needed spark to the roster.

Bulls fans are used to offseason disappointment, with the team failing to land big targets in free agency. It was a situation where the team would fail to land the big target and end up with a consolation prize signing like Carlos Boozer.

The Chicago Bulls look like a playoff contender after big free agency moves.

The Bulls starting five:

Lonzo Ball
Zach LaVine
DeMar DeRozan
Patrick Williams
Nikola Vucevic pic.twitter.com/AUz5wDWuUB

— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 3, 2021

This is a different Bulls front office and a different time with vastly different results. Gone are the days of GarPax settling for less. It was clear from the start that EVP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas had a plan to give this team a major makeover.

In just over a season, Karnisovas transformed this team from a directionless group of young players to a playoff team with a strong starting five. Although this group is yet to hit the court, it will be a major shock if they aren’t in the mix for a playoff spot.

If the team gels well and has some luck on their side, things could look even brighter for the Bulls next year. Although it’s a long shot, here are three reasons why this team can compete for the Central Division title next season.

Next: It’s a new era

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I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

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The search for all fifty states continues

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By Howard Moore,
today at 10:06 am

Four young chiquitas in Omaha
Waitin’ for the band to return from the show
Feelin’ good, feelin’ right, it’s Saturday night
The hotel detective, he was outta sight
Now these fine ladies, they had a plan
They was out to meet the boys in the band
They said, “Come on dudes, let’s get it on”
And we proceeded to tear that hotel down

February 2020. I entered the state of Utah for the very first time. We were going to the city of St. George and then on to a nearby national park, but the only destination that really mattered was the seeing the Utah state sign. It became the latest state in my journey to get to all fifty states.

Forty-seven down, three to go. All that remained was Nebraska, North Dakota and Alaska. Three little states.

It was going to be so easy. I had day trips planned to Omaha and Fargo. I was looking forward to visiting the Roger Maris museum that’s located in some mall in Fargo. The finish line was going to be crossed with a cruise through Alaska in June. Number 50 was going to be done in style.

And then came a little thing called the pandemic.

The country started to shut down a few days after I returned from the Utah trip. In retrospect, I was lucky to get there when I did. Still, who knew that there would be zero travel for more than year and even limited travel to this day?

But two weeks ago the journey for fifty restarted. I have now been to Nebraska. A long weekend in Kansas City began with a flight to Omaha. Nice place. A little hot but what city in the country can’t say that this summer? We had a nice dinner, took a walk around a touristy area, had some ice cream and headed off to K.C. the following morning.

Forty-Eight down….two to go!! North Dakota and Alaska. Sigh!

Since the return we’ve been talking about how the Hell to get to Fargo? I’ve been checking flights and guess what….it’s damn expensive. Can’t find anything on any airline for less than $650. That’s a lot of money to see a museum in a mall!!! Plus airlines have been canceling flights at the last moment on a whim.

But I may have a solution. Fly to Minneapolis, rent a car and drive three hours to Fargo. Sounds doable, doesn’t it? Or maybe just rent the car and drive all the way to Fargo. We’ll see.

I’m pretty sure it will happen in September or October. You definitely want to go before the snow hits….and the snow starts early in Minnesota and North Dakota.

So after being stuck at home for the last year-plus, it’s time to hit the road again. The search for the entire United States is back on! Two to go!

Hey, does anyone know anything or anyone in Fargo?

Related Post: The search for all fifty states

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Rising COVID-19 cases prompts another Chicago festival to cancel their plans for 2021.

The Hyde Park Summer Fest, scheduled for Sept. 11-12 at the Midway Plaisance, was canceled for 2021 by festival organizers who made the announcement Wednesday citing an increase in COVID-19 cases.

In June, Jonathan Swain, Hyde Park Summer Fest co-organizer, announced that the festival was back and taking place at a new location.

“After thoughtful evaluation of recent COVID-19 developments and consultation with various stakeholders, we have decided to cancel the 2021 Hyde Park Summer Fest scheduled for September 11 and 12 on the Midway Plaisance,” said festival organizers in a statement. “With increasing COVID-19 cases and associated risks, we do not believe it is the right choice to move forward with the festival at this time. This was an incredibly difficult decision, but we believe putting the community’s health and safety first is the most responsible decision.”

The Hyde Park Summer Fest was rebranded from the hugely popular annual Hyde Park Beer Fest, one of the most highly anticipated South Side summer festivals.

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WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama, who turns 60 on Wednesday, is scratching his Saturday outdoor birthday party for “hundreds” on Martha’s Vineyard, deciding to scale back the gala because of Delta variant concerns.

Guests coming to the Massachusetts island, where Obama owns a mansion, were expected to include boldface celebrity names, family, former staff and friends, including a good number from Chicago.

Invitations went out months ago — when COVID-19 vaccines were diminishing the spread of the coronavirus and before the Delta variant surged. Guests were asked to be fully vaccinated and needed to be tested and cleared by a “COVID coordinator” in order to attend.

Now, the party is “significantly” scaled back.

“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and with COVID safeguards in place,” Hannah Hankins, a spokeswoman for Obama, said Wednesday in a statement.

“Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon,” Hankins said.

The invitees originally numbered in the “hundreds,” I was told.

The party as first conceived was a potential tempting target for anti-maskers, vaccine opponents and GOP critics, taking place as the Biden White House is battling COVID and vaccine misinformation — and with new mask guidelines in different jurisdictions creating confusion.

Obama and his team did not seem to factor in, earlier on, how his party would be or could be politically perceived, despite taking health safeguards.

The extravaganza also threw a spotlight on the elite and wealthy world Obama inhabits — at a time when some community activists worry whether the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park will price them out of their South Side homes.

Construction starts on Aug. 16, when the Obama Presidential Foundation takes possession of 19.3 acres in the park, unless a long-shot federal court case creates another delay. A formal groundbreaking is supposed to take place in the fall, with the size and scope of the event subject, in part, to how the battle against the Delta variant is doing.

While the public and elected officials are willing to take some risks despite the Delta variant — as Mayor Lori Lightfoot did with Lollapalooza — the giant music festival in Grant Park was an economic boost to the city’s pandemic-battered hotel and restaurant industry.

Obama’s big party also did not do any favors for the Biden White House. Press Secretary Jen Psaki was forced on the defensive at the Monday briefing when asked about it. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden was pleading with GOP governors in Florida and Texas to do more to fight the pandemic rampaging through their states.

“Look, we need leadership from everyone. And if some governors aren’t willing to do the right thing to beat this pandemic, then they should allow businesses and universities who want to do the right thing to be able to do it,” Biden said Tuesday. “I say to these governors, ‘Please, help.’ But if you aren’t going to help, at least get out of the way of the people who are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.”

Psaki, when asked about the potential of the Obama bash becoming a super spreader event, said, “Well, we certainly advise everyone to follow public health guidelines, which I know the former president, who is a huge advocate of getting vaccinated, of following the guidance of public health experts, would certainly advocate for himself as well.”

Meanwhile, the Obama Presidential Foundation is using Obama’s birthday as a small-dollar fundraising tool. “Here are a few ways you can join us in celebrating my dear friend’s birthday,” Obama Foundation President Valerie Jarrett said in an e-mail appeal. “Support our work to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders. Donate now!”

Jarrett, a longtime confidant of Barack and Michelle Obama, and a senior adviser during Obama’s two terms, summered on Martha’s Vineyard as a youth and hosted them in her rented home in 2004 and 2007. Obama went on to vacation there during his presidency, renting homes. The Obamas purchased their estate on the island in 2019.

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