Three males were shot June 23, 2021, in the 3800 block of South Wentworth Avenue. | Sun-Times file
Officers responded to calls of shots fired about 5:40 a.m. Monday in the 3800 block of South Wentworth Avenue.
A man was killed and two others were seriously wounded in a shooting Wednesday morning in Wentworth Gardens on the South Side, according to police.
The three men were outside when someone fired shots about 5:40 a.m. in the 3800 block of South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement.
One man, 24, was shot several times and died at the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
Another man, 22, was shot twice in his chest and taken to the same hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, police said.
A third man, 25, was in serious condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his neck and back and a graze wound to the forehead.
No arrest was made, police said.
This is a developing story, check back for details.
There were long odds, but the ChicagoBulls were hoping to jump into the top four picks in Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery. This would’ve allowed them to keep the pick they traded this season, but it wasn’t in the cards. Now there’s a lot of work to do this offseason to improve the roster. The […]
It’s a common misconception that true, filthy rock ‘n’ roll died in the early 80s after being eclipsed by new wave, whose shiny commercial sound piled on the gated reverb, drum machines, keytars, and New Romantic vocals. In fact, noisy rock and garage punk flourished underground during that era, thanks to the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, Butthole Surfers, Loop, Dwarves, and Australian caveman thudders the Scientists, whose front man and guitarist, Kim Salmon, formed the noirish, blackened-earth postpunk band in 1978 and later put in a few stints in homicidally heavy alt-rock group Beasts of Bourbon. Though till this year the Scientists had only squeezed out two albums (plus several mini albums, EPs, and singles), they’ve left their dark stain on rock history, which the Numero Group celebrated with a box set and reissues in 2016. Shortly thereafter, the band began recording new EPs and touring again–this author was extremely fortunate to see their incendiary performance at the East Room in 2018, where they absolutely slayed on a cover of Jacques Dutronc’s “Mini-Mini-Mini.”
Despite the fact that band members now live in two different countries, the Scientists have at last crafted their third proper album, Negativity. Lead guitarist Tony Thewlis mailed his riffs from London to Salmon in Australia, who fleshed them out with bassist Boris Sujdovic (also a founding member) and drummer Leanne Cowie (who first joined the group in 1985). The fuzz bombs laid down on the opening cut, “Outsider,” cement the band’s mission statement. “Make It Go Away” and “Naysayer” bristle with similar intensity, combining rhythmic scuzz with Salmon’s ominous half-spoken vocals. The gnarly “Seventeen” and the sarcastic “The Science of Suave” come closest to the Scientists’ vintage sound: dirty, mutant surf licks, saturated with reverb and Stooges-style bluster, much like their 80s contemporaries the Gun Club and Pussy Galore. With its catchy chorus, snappy drums, and cooing background vocals, “I Wasn’t Good Enough” could’ve been a radio hit–though perhaps in a strange dimension where first-generation punks such as Jayne County and Johnny Thunders formed the foundation of classic rock rather than dismantling it. The band throw a melodic curveball with the slow-burning “Moth-Eaten Velvet,” a tribute to the Velvet Underground that features piano by Salmon’s daughter Emma, trumpet by producer Myles Mumford, and a full-tilt string section. The track would’ve made a fine, elegiac album closer, but instead of bowing out gracefully, the Scientists sign off with the trudging, irreverent experiment “Outer Space Boogie,” whose lyrics consist mostly of “C’mon let’s boogie / Out here in space.” I don’t know about you, but I feel like the world could use far more swinging for the cosmos–and the Scientists might just take you there with muddy 80s moon boots on. v
Tuesday night, the Chicago Bulls found themselves hoping for a bit of luck in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery.
Entering the lottery, the Bulls had a 20.3% chance to land in the top four picks and a 4.5% chance to come home with the no. 1 overall pick. If the Bulls’ pick landed in the top four, they would get to keep it. If not, it would go to the Orlando Magic by way of the Nikola Vucevic trade.
In the end, the Bulls stayed put at the eight spot where they were most likely to pick going into Tuesday night. Because they drew the no. 8 selection, of course, it went to the Magic.
To say that the Bulls lost the lottery may be a bit of a stretch, considering they were able to trade for an All Star center. However, Bulls fans were hoping to see some magic happen, and were let down.
Other than just losing out on a top-4 pick, the Chicago Bulls metaphorically lost in another way during the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery.
Not only do the Bulls lose out on their first rounder, but they saw two fellow NBA Central rivals land in the top three picks.
The Detroit Pistons get to pick first overall after moving up one spot in the lottery, bumping the Houston Rockets down to no. 2 overall. The Cleveland Cavaliers also moved up two spots from five to three.
More than likely, the Bulls will see two of either Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green or Evan Mobley on a regular basis for a long time.
Although it would have been nice to secure one of those guys, the Bulls do have hope for the future. Having an All Star center like Vucevic paired with Zach LaVine for at least the 2021-2022 season means Chicago could make a playoff run depending upon the pieces they add this summer.
Looking ahead, the Bulls will pick in the first round next year and the 2022 NBA Draft class is absolutely loaded. Compared to the 2021 class, next year is a far better class to pick from. This year, there are about five players to get wildly excited about. Next year? There could be a solid 8-12 players teams will be gushing over.
For now, it’s about building for the future. Locking down LaVine on a long-term extension should be a priority, that way he and Vucevic will be around for a while. From there, adding talent around those guys and particularly finding a solution at point guard will be key.
A buck in velvet in May near the Des Plaines Riverwalk. | Alan Anderson
Experts answer some of readers’ better universal questions—buck in velvet, coy-wolves, smallmouth bass wound—from around Chicago outdoors, plus the Stray Cast.
Readers asked questions, and people in the know answered.
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‘‘My buddy is convinced that the Chicagoland coyotes are actually coy-wolves,’’ Timothy Powell emailed. ‘‘I disagree. Is there any data to answer our debate?’’
Chris Anchor, a senior wildlife biologist for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, replied via Carl Vogel, the director of communications for FPCC:
‘‘It wouldn’t be accurate to say there are coy-wolves in Northern Illinois. That would imply that our coyotes are a hybrid of coyotes and wolves or even that the animals have a wolf and a coyote as parents. That isn’t true.
‘‘However, coyotes in our region do have trace amounts of wolf DNA, typically 1% to 3%. That is a result of the brief period 50 years or so ago — about 30 generations — when coyotes were reappearing in the region but were relatively rare. During this time, they would occasionally mate with dogs or wolves when they could not find another coyote for mating. As their population quickly grew, that stopped [because] the first preference of a coyote would be to mate with its own species.
‘‘Note that this trace amount of DNA does not impact the coyotes in any notable way, in terms of size, coloration, behavior, etc.’’
ProvidedFile photo that Sandy Melovic photographed, with her zoom, of coyotes across a pond while her husband, Steve, shot trap at Naperville Sportsman’s Club in 2019.
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Tim Ledbetter emailed a photo of a wounded smallmouth bass caught from Monroe Harbor and noted, ‘‘Have seen similar lesions on too many SMB this season.’’
‘‘I would classify the lesion as a wound of life, possibly from an interaction with a predator (bird or fish) or related to spawning activity,’’ responded Vic Santucci, Illinois’ Lake Michigan program manager. ‘‘It looks pretty severe on this fish, going deep into the musculature. However, given that this fish hit bait or an artificial lure, it suggests to me that it was doing OK even with the lesion.’’
Santucci checked with Rebecca Redman, a Lake Michigan biologist, who noted: ‘‘The wound somewhat resembles what folks in northern LM have been seeing on smallies over the course of several years. No consistent pathogen was found in northern LM smallies with lesions that have been tested to date.’’
Tim LedbetterA smallmouth bass with a wound or lesion, caught this spring at Monroe Harbor.
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In May, Alan Anderson visited the Des Plaines Riverwalk for the River Bird Blitz when he spotted a buck in velvet and wondered if it was early.
Dan Skinner, the forest wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, gave this primer:
‘‘When an antler is actively growing, it’s going to be covered in a ‘velvet’ coating. Velvet is essentially a furry skin covering the growing bone, and it is highly vascular, meaning it’s full of blood vessels. These blood vessels carry nutrients and oxygen to the rapidly growing antlers. We can always see individual variation based on the age or body condition of a buck, but generally speaking, in northern Illinois, annual antler growth begins in late March or early April and continues through mid- to late August.
‘‘In late summer, blood flow to the antlers will stop. After a period of drying and hardening, the buck will scrape or ‘peel’ the velvet from his antlers by physically rubbing his rack against vegetation, trees, fences or similar material. This process of shedding velvet usually lasts only a day or two, so it’s pretty common around Labor Day or so to see a buck in velvet, only to observe the same deer a couple of days later sporting a set of ‘polished’ antlers.’’
Illinois hunting
Waterfowl-blind draws at IDNR public sites are returning in July. Click here for details.
Wild things
Wildlife biologist Bob Massey messaged Tuesday, “Wild raspberries are ready.”
Stray cast
Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded to the Bears’ threat to move the same emotional way I do to a muskie boatside.
One person was killed and five others were wounded in shootings June 22, 2021, in Chicago. | Sun-Times file photo
A man was killed, and another man was wounded in the first block of East 118th Street.
One person was killed, and five others were wounded in shootings Tuesday in Chicago, including a man who was killed and another wounded in a shooting in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
About 9 p.m., they were in the first block of east 118th Street when someone fired shots, striking them both, Chicago police said. One man, 27, suffered a gunshot wound to the side of his body and was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The other man, 50, was shot in the arm and taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
In non-fatal shootings, a 37-year-old man was shot in South Shore on the South Side. About 10:50 p.m., he was driving in the 2400 block of East 74th Street, when he heard shots and felt a pain, police said. He was struck in the shoulder and drove himself to Trinity Hospital, where he is in good condition. He told police he did not see a shooter or know where the shots came from.
Minutes earlier, a 22-year-old man was critically wounded after he was shot in Back of the Yards on the South Side. About 10:30 p.m., he was driving when he was shot in the chest in the 5400 block of South Union Avenue, police said. He drove to the 600 block of West Garfield Boulevard, abandoned his vehicle, and was dropped off at the University of Chicago Medical Center by an unknown person, where he is in critical condition. The circumstances of the shooting are unknown.
About 6:45 p.m., a 20-year-old man was shot in Austin on the West Side. He was on the sidewalk in the 5500 block of West Augusta Boulevard, when he was shot in the right ankle, police said. He took himself to West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, where his condition was stabilized.
In the day’s first reported shooting, a 15-year-old boy was wounded in Washington Park on the South Side. He was standing outside about 2 p.m. in the 300 block of East 56th Street when a dark-colored vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire, police said. The teen was struck in the leg and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Seven people were killed, nine others were wounded in shootings Monday citywide.
Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 9 p.m. Chicago time. The moon is in Sagittarius.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a fabulous day to entertain at home. It’s also a great day to have a group congregate where you live. Be open to real estate deals or ways to improve or expand where you live. You might even find better digs!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today you’re in a positive frame of mind. This is wonderful because the mind creates its own ease or difficulty depending on how it approaches things. So, if you are in a positive frame of mind, you’ll be happier in whatever you’re doing. (Everything begins in the mind.)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This is a great money day! Look for ways to boost your income or perhaps to get a better-paying job. You might also see ways to make money on the side? If shopping, you won’t be afraid to consider big-ticket items.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today the sun is in your sign dancing with lucky Jupiter, which is great news because it gives you feelings of peace and harmony when dealing with others. You’re enthusiastic, optimistic and up for anything! Admittedly, you would rather play than work.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
It’s easy for you to have a warm feeling in your tummy. Of course, nothing is perfect because it never is. Nevertheless, things are falling into place. Today you are more inclined to see your life as a whole and take stock of what you’re doing to see how it fits into where you want to be down the road.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
You will get along with others today, especially groups, clubs and organizations because you’re in an upbeat, enthusiastic frame of mind and enjoying congregating with others. Be open to new activities, especially with groups, because you might learn something that is edifying. (Like the meaning of that word.)
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You look fabulous in the eyes of others today because a particular planetary aspect makes you look successful and affluent (even if you don’t do anything special.) Knowing this, you might as well milk this for all it’s worth. Go for the gold!
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Many of you are excited about big travel plans. Others are just as excited about opportunities to get further education or to explore new avenues in the media, publishing, the law or medicine. Today is full of many possibilities! (Do get out of bed.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is an excellent day to do financial transactions with others or to decide how to share something like an inheritance. Whatever happens, you will likely come out smelling like a rose. You will also feel generous to others, which is a good thing because what goes around, comes around.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Relations with partners and close friends are warm and rewarding today, which is why this is a great day to schmooze with others. It’s also an excellent day to mend broken fences or to ask for a favor, because doors will open for you. (Expect a warm hug from someone.)
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Work-related travel is likely today. Regarding your job, any activity with a group or a professional association will be mutually beneficial. Furthermore, your mind is eager to learn something new! You will benefit from talking to people from other cultures.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is a party day! Enjoy schmoozing with others. Take a long lunch. Enjoy sportsevents. You will definitely enjoy the arts and playful activities with kids. Treat the world with a smile on your face! (Romance blossoms.)
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actress Frances McDormand (1957) shares your birthday. You are a generous person. You are also dynamic, talkative and very astute. You are a good listener and can often mimic others. Some might consider you eccentric. You are curious about people and enjoy interacting with them. This year is a year of learning as well as teaching for you. Study as much as possible. Soak it all in.
Along with Bryant, Willson Contreras and Patrick Wisdom knocked home runs as Cubs string together some much needed hits.
After a rough stretch at the plate, the Cubs were looking for a game in which they could turn things around on offense. They got it Tuesday, stringing some hits together when they needed them in a 7-1 victory over the visiting Indians.
Kris Bryant got it started in the fourth inning with a solo home run for the Cubs’ first hit and first run. The blast broke a streak of 48 straight at-bats without an extra-base hit — the longest of Bryant’s career.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets hot here real soon after the at-bats I saw [Monday],” manager David Ross said before the game.
Said Bryant: “I’m just trying to be a little more patient. [They’re] not really throwing me much over the middle of the plate. The last few games, I’ve gotten some pitches to hit, but sometimes you’ve just got to be a little patient and take walks. Three in two games is pretty good. So, yeah, I feel good with those results.”
More offense came in the sixth after starter Kyle Hendricks (10-4) threw six scoreless innings — good for his eighth consecutive win. The Cubs sent nine men to the plate in the sixth, scoring four runs on RBI doubles by Joc Pederson and Javy Baez and Willson Contreras’ RBI single.
“It’s a long season, and putting together an inning like that, it’s good for us,” Contreras said. “That’s small ball. Javy had a nice at-bat, swinging at the first two pitches and [making] an adjustment. We’ve been getting better and better.”
Contreras and Patrick Wisdom added back-to-back homers in the eighth to extend the lead — the Cubs’ fourth set of back-to-back homers this season.
Cubs pitchers adjusting to MLB’s new foreign substance policy, mid-game checks
Pitchers across baseball have been adjusting to life under MLB’s new foreign substance guidelines. Last week, the league sent out a memo to all 30 teams that they would be cracking down on the use of a variety of substances including products like Spider Tack, Pelican Grip and different combinations of pine tar, sunscreen and rosin.
The rules change took effect on Monday and as each pitcher entered the game or finished an inning, they were met by the umpires before entering the dugout
“We’ve got all the protocols and things we’ve got to go through to be prepared for the new kind of protocols that are in place,” manager David Ross said. “I think it’s a big wait and see for a lot of us. Guys are going to get checked. Guys are all aware of how it’s going to be done. We’ve passed out the memos, we’ve had the discussions. And now it’s just kind of in the umpire’s hands and we’ll see how it all goes down.”
Under the league’s new guidelines, players who are caught using foreign substances will be suspended for 10 games. Right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who pitched 4 2/3 innings on Monday, was the first Cubs pitcher to be checked under the league’s new rules and didn’t have any issues with the new process..
“It was pretty normal,” Alzolay said. “I guess that’s what MLB wants to do, so they just checked my hat, checked my glove and made sure everything was okay. But I feel it was normal. It was easy.
“[The umpires] are out there doing their job too, you know. They gotta make sure to follow the protocol, so I thought that they were fine with that too.”
As expected, the change has already been followed by a drop in spin rates around the game and as pitchers have to adjust, hitters will likely continue to see an increase in production, which had taken a dip this season.
“The information so far in the last 10 days, batting average has gone up, on base has gone up, slug has gone up,” Ross said. “Spin rates are down on fastballs and breaking balls and hit by pitches are exactly the same. So you draw your own conclusions.”
Rizzo gets the night off
First baseman Anthony Rizzo didn’t play in the second of a two-game set against the Indians. Ross has attempted to string together days off for players by sitting them at the back end of a series before a scheduled team day off. Rizzo is slashing .252/.347/.443 with nine home runs and 31 RBI.
“He’s been going pretty hard,” Ross said. “I pencil him in pretty regularly and was trying to find him an off day at some point and earmarked [Tuesday] if it looked like everybody else was healthy and we could have a pretty good lineup. It made sense to give him a day.”
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