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Chicago comedy calendar for Monday, July 19-Sunday, July 25, 2021on July 19, 2021 at 11:40 pm

Comedians Defying Gravity

Chicago comedy calendar for Monday, July 19-Sunday, July 25, 2021

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Chicago comedy calendar for Monday, July 19-Sunday, July 25, 2021on July 19, 2021 at 11:40 pm Read More »

Alderman taking no chances with coveted ward superintendent’s positionFran Spielmanon July 19, 2021 at 10:03 pm

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has vowed to preserve the power aldermen cherish to hand-pick ward superintendents who can make or break their political futures. But Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) isn’t taking any chances.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Hopkins plans to introduce an ordinance changing the law to make it clear that the job of ward superintendent is a Shakman-exempt position with hiring and firing controlled by the local alderman.

Superintendents have been hired by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, but essentially chosen by the alderman.

“The hiring authority was not formally in the aldermanic office. It was in Streets and San. It was just a courtesy that, all these years, the department always went along with the aldermanic recommendation. That’s a problem. Informal processes don’t really work with the Shakman consent decree,” Hopkins said.

“We had a court-appointed monitor for a period of time who made all those decisions. The mayor didn’t always agree with them, going back two mayors. And who’s to say we won’t eventually have another court-appointed monitor who has to look at our Shakman compliance? … It just makes sense to clean it up and to make sure the language in the statute is in full compliance with the spirit of the Shakman consent decree.”

The Shakman decree banned political considerations in city hiring and firing, though some positions are exempt. A federal hiring monitor had been in charge of enforcing that ban, but a judge dismissed that monitor in 2014, and the job fell to Joe Ferguson, the soon-to-depart city inspector general.

After a two-year audit, Ferguson concluded the ward superintendent’s job title “does not meet the legal requirements for a Shakman-exempt designation and, therefore, should be subject to the standards and procedures, as well as political factor prohibitions, generally applicable under the city’s hiring plan.”

Lightfoot said last week she plans to steer clear of that “third rail.”

But, Hopkins said he’s not about to leave such an important issue to “the mayor’s judgment call.”

“It’s a key policy position that, in many ways, can make or break an alderman’s reputation. If you do a good job maintaining your ward and the streets are plowed, the trash is picked up, the trees are trimmed, the graffiti is removed, your voters will likely forgive you for a lot other things that you do that they might not agree with,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins’ ordinance turns longstanding practice into city policy. It states ward superintendents are “to advise the alderman of the ward to which they are assigned” on Streets and Sanitation operations, “allocation of discretionary infrastructure resources” and a host of other issues.

“Contingent upon the recommendation of the alderman of the applicable ward, ward superintendents shall be hired by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, provided that the individual meets the qualifications under this section and is otherwise eligible for employment with the city,” Hopkins’ proposed ordinance states.

“The alderman for the ward to which the ward superintendent is assigned may, at any time, request the removal of the ward superintendent in writing to the Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation.”

For the first time, the ordinance also spells out qualifications for the job.

Ward superintendents must have “at least five years of work experience in municipal refuse collection, street cleaning or snow removal operations,” with three of those years spent “in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.” Either that or “an equivalent of education, training and experience.”

They must also “possess a valid State of Illinois driver’s license.”

That’s particularly important because indicted Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) once hired her son, Kenny, as ward superintendent even though he lacked a valid driver’s license, which would be essential to drive around the ward to survey conditions.

In 2017, she argued there was nothing wrong with nepotism if the person getting hired does a decent job.

“If I can’t have somebody there that I trust, who am I gonna put there? Some lazy anybody? … My people deserve better than that. And most of the people in our ward pretty much know my family,” Austin said at the time.

“Why is it so wrong for you to have your family member, your cousin or whatever working? Are you saying they don’t deserve to work either? . . . It’s so unfair for you to lambast us all the time when we have our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, whomever on the payroll.”

The day after the Sun-Times disclosed Kenny Austin’s hiring, Carrie Austin paid her son’s delinquent child support payments, lifting his license suspension.

Ferguson refused to comment on Hopkins’ ordinance.

In a press release accompanying his audit, the departing inspector general recommended the Department of Human Resources “immediately remove” the ward superintendent’s job from the “exempt titles list” and conduct “all future hires … in accordance with the processes and procedures under the city’s hiring plan.”

That means minimum qualifications, a “competitive interview process” to identify the “best-qualified candidates” and prohibiting “political factors and considerations” from invading the selection process, he wrote.

“An improperly classified position can negatively affect training, productivity, and development not only within the role itself, but in public perception of political influence and bias,” Ferguson was quoted as saying.

“Shakman-exemption applies only to titles with the authority to make policies or involve duties with a certain threshold of political sensitivity. The ward superintendent title has neither.”

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Alderman taking no chances with coveted ward superintendent’s positionFran Spielmanon July 19, 2021 at 10:03 pm Read More »

Man critically wounded in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 19, 2021 at 10:05 pm

A man was in critical condition after being shot Monday in East Garfield Park.

He was standing outside about 4 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Fulton Street when someone pulled up in a light-colored vehicle and opened fire, Chicago police said.

The 22-year-old was struck in the neck and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. His name hasn’t been released.

No arrests have been made. Area four detectives are investigating.

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Man critically wounded in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 19, 2021 at 10:05 pm Read More »

Positive COVID-19 test knocks U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball player Katie Lou Samuelson out of OlympicsUSA TODAY SPORTSon July 19, 2021 at 9:20 pm

Another U.S athlete will miss out on the Tokyo Olympics.

Katie Lou Samuelson, who was instrumental in the U.S. qualifying for the first-ever Olympic 3×3 women’s basketball competition, was in COVID-19 health and safety protocols on Saturday and will not compete in Tokyo, USA Basketball announced.

The team’s first game is scheduled for Saturday against France.

“Our hearts are broken for Lou. We thank her for her endless commitment to building up USA Basketball 3×3 & we will miss her dearly in Tokyo,” USA Basketball tweeted on Monday.

Samuelson is currently a member of the Seattle Storm and was part of the team that qualified for the Olympics alongside Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum, Sky center Stefanie Dolson and Dallas Wings guard Allisha Gray. Samuelson will be replaced by Aces guard Jackie Young for the games.

Samuelson posted on Instagram that she was “fully vaccinated and took every precaution” against COVID-19.

“Competing in the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I hope someday soon, I can comeback to realize that dream,” Samuelson wrote. “I wish nothing but the best to my USAB teammates as they go out there and crush it. I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.”

Samuelson is one of an increasing number of athletes and others in Tokyo who have been placed in COVID-19 protocols. On Monday, Bulls player Zach LaVine went into health protocols. On Sunday, U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff said she tested positive for COVID-19 and would withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics, while an alternate on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in Tokyo tested positive for the virus. Tokyo Olympic organizers said on Saturday a “games-concerned personnel” member in the Olympic Village also tested positive for COVID-19.

A total of 55 people connected with Tokyo 2020 had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Sunday, according to organizers.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Positive COVID-19 test knocks U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball player Katie Lou Samuelson out of OlympicsUSA TODAY SPORTSon July 19, 2021 at 9:20 pm Read More »

Peyton and Eli Manning team up with ESPN for MNF MegaCastJoe Reedy | Associated Presson July 19, 2021 at 9:40 pm

ESPN has finally landed Peyton Manning as a “Monday Night Football” commentator. It’s just not in a way anyone expected, and it won’t be for the full season.

Walt Disney Co. announced on Monday a partnership with Manning and his Omaha Productions company in which Peyton and Eli Manning will be part of a “Monday Night Football” MegaCast for 10 games a year the next three seasons.

Manning, who will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month, has long been rumored as a “Monday Night Football” commentator since he retired after the 2015 season, but the sides were never able to reach an agreement. Now fans will be able to get his views, albeit in a different format and with his brother, who retired last year after leading the New York Giants to two Super Bowl championships.

The Manning’s MegaCast will debut the first three weeks of this season, including the Sept. 13 opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders, with the remaining seven weeks to be announced. It will air on ESPN2 and be streamed on ESPN+ while the standard broadcast will be on ESPN and/or ABC.

The MNF crew of Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters and John Parry will return for a second season.

MegaCasts had been a staple of ESPN’s coverage of the College Football Playoffs before it expanded to the NFL last year. The Week 2 game between the New Orleans Saints and Raiders averaged 15.59 million viewers on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, which was one of the most-watched MNF games of the season. ESPN also brought back the MegaCast for the wild-card round game between Baltimore and the Tennessee Titans.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement that the MegaCast is designed to be a great complement to the traditional telecast. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in April when the league finalized its new 11-year broadcast agreements that the networks would have more leeway for alternate broadcasts.

Amazon, which will become the exclusive outlet for “Thursday Night Football” beginning in 2022, had alternate presentations during its simulcasts with Fox last season. CBS did a kids-focused broadcast of the wild-card game between the Chicago Bears and Saints.

“Offering multiple viewing options for the next three seasons continues our innovation efforts and provides additional value for our fans,” Pitaro said. “Peyton and Eli will bring a different approach, delving into conversation about broader, big-picture topics while also honing in on the game, much like fans do when watching with their family and friends.”

The MegaCast will originate from a remote location. The Mannings will be joined by a host to be determined and will include other guests. While the game will always be visible, the conversation will be informal and is geared to be as if viewers are watching a game at home with friends.

“This partnership with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company reflects an ongoing, shared commitment to offering fans fun, innovative content,” Peyton Manning said in a statement. “ESPN+ has been a terrific partner for Omaha Productions as we built out The Places franchise and we’re excited to co-create a new MegaCast format that will have something for everyone.”

Peyton Manning already has a working history with ESPN. His “Peyton’s Places” series on ESPN+ was meant to be a one-off to celebrate the NFL’s 100th season, but is in its third season. The franchise has expanded to include “Places” series involving Abby Wambach (soccer), Eli Manning (college football), David Ortiz (Major League Baseball), Ronda Rousey (combat sports) and Vince Carter (NBA). Wambach’s series premiered this month.

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Peyton and Eli Manning team up with ESPN for MNF MegaCastJoe Reedy | Associated Presson July 19, 2021 at 9:40 pm Read More »

Chicago Now’s 20 Best Posts of May 2021on July 19, 2021 at 9:21 pm

Margaret Serious

Chicago Now’s 20 Best Posts of May 2021

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Chicago Now’s 20 Best Posts of May 2021on July 19, 2021 at 9:21 pm Read More »

NHL schedule to pause in February for Winter Olympics, but participation not yet certain: reportBen Popeon July 19, 2021 at 8:37 pm

The NHL has yet to guarantee its players will be able to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, but its schedule will nonetheless reportedly include a break for the Olympics.

The 2021-22 NHL regular-season schedule — which will be announced Thursday — will pause between Feb. 5-22 to align with the men’s ice hockey tournament schedule in Beijing, ESPN reported Monday.

But the NHL is still negotiating issues and logistics with the International Olympic Committee and hasn’t reached a definitive agreement on NHL participation, which was assured to the NHL Players Association in the Collective Bargaining Agreement extension signed last summer.

Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly cast that presumed Olympic participation into doubt with skeptical comments during a Stanley Cup Final press conference.

“We have real concerns about whether or not it’s sensible to be participating,” Bettman said. “We’re already past the time that we hoped this would be resolved. We’ll deal with it…but we’re getting to be on a rather short time frame now because this can’t go on indefinitely.”

“We agreed [with the NHLPA that] if the conditions were right and we could reach an agreement on all the material issues, we would commit and support going to the Olympics,” Daly said. “That remains our position.”

NHL players were not allowed to participate in 2018 but did participate in five consecutive Winter Olympics before that. The NHL has also not yet announced dates for its 2022 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.

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NHL schedule to pause in February for Winter Olympics, but participation not yet certain: reportBen Popeon July 19, 2021 at 8:37 pm Read More »

Preparations in place for quick turnaround from spring FCS season to fallon July 19, 2021 at 8:50 pm

Prairie State Pigskin

Preparations in place for quick turnaround from spring FCS season to fall

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Preparations in place for quick turnaround from spring FCS season to fallon July 19, 2021 at 8:50 pm Read More »

Short-handed USA Basketball team heads to TokyoTim Reynolds | Associated Presson July 19, 2021 at 7:21 pm

The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team has been together for two weeks. There have been six practices. The team played four exhibitions. A pair of roster changes have already been required and the Americans have no idea when three other players will join the team for the first time.

If that wasn’t enough, shortly before they were scheduled to fly on Monday, they found out Zach LaVine has entered the health and safety protocols and wouldn’t be accompanying them on the flight to Tokyo.

All that probably isn’t the formula for Olympic success, but ready or not, Tokyo awaits.

“It’s a little bit different,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said.

No, it’s a lot different. Unprecedented, really, just like almost everything else about these Tokyo Olympics that start on Friday. The U.S. — the three-time defending men’s basketball gold medalist — was leaving Las Vegas on Monday for the trip to Japan, where it’ll commence final preparations for the start of the Tokyo Games.

The plan is to have four more practices in Japan before opening Olympic play against France on July 25. The Americans have 12 names on the roster; only eight will be with the team for the trip to Japan because three — Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker — are still playing in the NBA Finals and LaVine is in the protocols. There is hope that LaVine will be able to join the team at some point in the not-too-distant future, but he wasn’t cleared for Monday’s flight.

“I think all of us are better for the adversity we go through, because you either handle it or you don’t,” Popovich said. “You figure it out. And these guys have had to do that. They’ve kept their heads up. There might be a disappointment here or there, or an event that takes place, but they move on. And that’s what life’s all about. So, this is no different.”

The adversity has come in bunches for the Americans. During their two-week stay in Las Vegas:

— Bradley Beal was forced to leave the team for virus-related reasons and Kevin Love backed out because of an injury.

— Jerami Grant was briefly in the health and safety protocols related to the virus and missed a few days.

— Keldon Johnson was promoted from the Select Team (the players brought to Las Vegas so they could practice against the Olympians) to replace Beal, and JaVale McGee was added to the roster to replace Love. McGee was with the team for Sunday’s exhibition finale against Spain but did not play, meaning his first action with this team will be during actual Olympic competition.

— Oh, and the Americans lost to Nigeria and Australia, had to cancel the rematch against the Australians, and for a brief while had only six of the 12 Olympic team members available in camp.

“We’re still won’t have those other three, but at this point that’s not going to change,” Popovich said. “We just have to persevere and find ways to keep them in shape even though we’re not going to be able to execute too much very well. So, we’re going to have to figure out common denominators for this exact group. Less is more, so to speak. Inventing the wheel would be the worst thing we can do for this group.”

Middleton, Holiday and Booker will play Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. If Milwaukee wins that game — the Bucks, with Middleton and Holiday, lead Booker and the Phoenix Suns 3-2 in that series — they would win the NBA title. That would also mean the trio could be in Japan by the weekend, giving time to join the Americans for at least one practice in advance of the game against France.

If Phoenix forces Game 7, it would be Thursday night, the day before the opening ceremony in Tokyo, three days before the U.S.-France game. A grueling playoff run is daunting enough on players; a grueling playoff run followed by a flight halfway around the world is not the recipe for fresh legs, so it’s anyone’s guess how effective Middleton, Holiday and Booker will be when they get to Japan.

Popovich doesn’t know what to expect.

“I have no idea. You know, I’m not trying to be glib. I’m just totally transparent,” Popovich said. “We’ve thought about, ‘Are they going to have jet lag? Is it going to be like two days later after they land and they’ll be OK?’ … In some ways, it might depend on if everybody else is healthy. If they’re not, they’ve got to play. So, we’ve gone over lots of scenarios. We haven’t figured it out yet, that’s for sure.”

And that’s a rarity, Popovich being at a loss for answers.

“He takes it very seriously,” said Johnson, who also plays for Popovich with the Spurs.

The five-time NBA champion as San Antonio’s coach has matched wits with 11 different members of the Basketball Hall of Fame in his career. The Spurs have won 60% of those games, a fancy way of saying that the best minds to ever coach the game lose three of every five times they face Popovich. He has a history of having the answers.

But as he heads to Tokyo, for an Olympics amid a pandemic, without fans and without one-quarter of his roster, even he’s still scratching his head. Plus, the U.S. opener in Tokyo is no cakewalk — France is the team that ousted the U.S. from medal contention at the 2019 Basketball World Cup in China, the tournament that was Popovich’s debut as the head coach of the American program.

And Popovich, who typically doesn’t reveal anything by accident, said Sunday night that the Americans have been preparing for France “for two years,” a clear nod to what happened in China.

“We still have a long way to go,” Popovich said. “And we’ve got another week before we play, so, although that’s not a long time … I think it’s wonderful because we need that time. So, hopefully we’ll continue to improve during the week, and be ready to play a very good French team.”

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Short-handed USA Basketball team heads to TokyoTim Reynolds | Associated Presson July 19, 2021 at 7:21 pm Read More »