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Chicago Sun-Times journalism recognized with national, state and regional honorson June 15, 2021 at 2:50 pm

Since December, Chicago Sun-Times journalism has received a host of national, state and regional honors. The awards recognize a wide range of work by 29 individual Sun-Times journalists, the newspaper’s editorial board and the entire staff.

They include:

National Association of Black Journalists

In December 2020, one staff member received recognition for her lifetime achievement, and six Sun-Times staffers received honors for three powerful stories:

  • Mary Mitchell | Enshrined in the NABJ Hall of Fame, recognizing the work she’s done over the span of her career.
  • Mary Mitchell | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place for best feature for her July 26, 2019, report “A century of progress but still an invisible divide,” in which she wrote about how much — and how little — has changed in Chicago since the city’s 1919 race riots.
  • Carlos Ballesteros, Tom Schuba, Jon Seidel and Rachel Hinton | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place in the category “news-single story” for “Rev. Leon Finney Jr.’s free fall,” published Sept. 8, 2019, an examination of the precarious finances of a clout-heavy minister with decades of government contracts.
  • Manny Ramos | NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards, first place for business reporting for “Why tearing down Englewood to save it hasn’t worked,” by Manny Ramos, published Aug. 25, 2019, investigating systemic housing redevelopment failures in the South Side neighborhood.

National Society of Newspaper Columnists

  • Mark Brown | National Society of Newspaper Columnists, first place, general column writing, recognized for these two columns published in 2020:

‘Ghosts of summers past: When the big worries were bees, barbed wire, bullies — and that bull’

‘A 7-decade love story cut short by coronavirus’

  • Steve Greenberg | National Society of Newspaper Columnists, third place, sports columns, recognized for these two columns published in 2020:

‘Down but never out’

‘One-handed player’s passion for hoops has no limits’

National Headliner Awards

  • Nader Issa | National Headliner Awards, second place, education beat reporting, recognized for his reporting on the Chicago Public Schools. Three of his stories were honored for best education beat reporting in 2020:

‘At CPS high schools, a stark racial divide on when cops are called on students and arrests’

‘Inside the life of a homeless Chicago student in the age of the coronavirus: Fear of failing — or not surviving

‘From 1619 to now: How CPS students are learning about black history and white supremacy — and how that’s helping them understand George Floyd’

Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards

In May 2021, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 10 first-place honors in the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards for work published in 2020. Awards included breaking news coverage, best website, video storytelling, enterprise reporting, sports columns and editorial writing.

The Sun-Times also swept the statewide competition’s three top honors — for general excellence (for the best showing overall in all categories), a best-in-show “sweepstakes” honor selected from among the winners in all categories and “news innovator of the year.”

One staff member also received a lifetime achievement recognition.

The Sun-Times staff also swept 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in two categories — sports columns and editorial writing — and was recognized with 1st and 2nd place awards for video storytelling and enterprise reporting.

The top honors

  • Mary Mitchell | Lincoln League of Journalists induction, a lifetime achievement honor “bestowed on professionals whose careers have greatly advanced the cause of newspaper journalism in Illinois.”
  • Sun-Times staff | General excellence, first place, recognized for the best overall showing among big-circulation newspapers in the competition.
  • Frank Main and Andy Grimm | Editorial / writing sweepstakes winner, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”
  • Paul Saltzman and Alice Bazerghi | “News innovator of the year,” recognized for a yearlong daily reader outreach that used a daily newsletter and social media to solicit readers on their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and their views on issues related to the pandemic. This effort produced dozens of stories (including multiple page 1 stories) and a curated stream of the findings.

Other IAPME Awards first-place honors

Studs Terkel Community Media Awards

In May 2021, Maureen O’Donnell received the Studs Terkel Community Media Awards for her obituaries that provide an insightful look into the lives of ordinary people in and around Chicago. The honor spotlights journalists “whose work is driven by service and connection to their communities.”

  • Maureen O’Donnell | Studs Terkel Community Media Awards, recognized for a selection of obituaries.

Illinois Press Association Editorial Excellence Contest

In May, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 22 first-place awards in the Illinois Press Association’s editorial excellence contest for work published in 2020 — as well as an award in the IPA’s advertising contest for the best newspaper promotion for “Lost and found: rescuing the Sun-Times photo archive,” a video report by Brian Ernst, Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Brian Rich.

The winning entries included top honors for: editorial writing, sports coverage, news reporting, government beat coverage, business reporting, obituary writing, feature writing, columns, photography, design, graphics, video journalism, best website, best coverage of taxes, investigative reporting and agricultural coverage.

  • Sun-Times editorial board | Local editorial, recognized for “Strife on the streets and police reform” editorials.
  • Neil Steinberg, Ashlee Rezin Garcia | News reporting-single story, recognized for “Our worst day,” an inside look at a hospital during the coronavirus epidemic.
  • Frank Main and Andy Grimm | News reporting-series, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”
  • Tom Schuba | Government beat reporting, recognized for a series of stories documenting failures by the state of Illinois to meet social justice and diversity goals in legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.
  • Tim Novak and Lauren FitzPatrick | Business and economic reporting, recognized for a series of investigative reports documenting failures by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.
  • Maureen O’Donnell | Obituary tribute, recognized for her Danny Leake obituary, “Longtime sound engineer for Stevie Wonder, Lane Tech grad.”
  • Stefano Esposito | feature writing, recognized for “‘25 years later, Fox River Grove Metra-school bus crash still haunts engineer, other survivors,” a retelling of a horrific crash in which he got the train engineer to talk for the first time to any reporter — 25 years after the crash.
  • Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Brian Rich | feature writing-personality profile, recognized for “Resettlement, reunification and romance,” the richly reported story — in print and video — of a refugee couple finally together in the United States after nearly four years apart.
  • Mary Mitchell | original columns, for a selection of three columns.
  • Tyler LaRiviere | feature photo, for “My kind of town,” a photo shot June 4, 2020, of Chicago police officers using a CTA bus and themselves to block Black Lives Matter marchers heading toward police headquarters after George Floyd’s death.
  • Akiko Spencer | informational graphic, for a Sports Saturday graphic headlined “10 more men of steal.”
Akiko Spencer's winning graphic.
Akiko Spencer’s winning graphic.
  • Eric White | single-page design, for a front-page design highlighting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Eric White's winning design.
Eric White’s winning design.
  • Sun-Times staff | newspaper design, recognizing outstanding design throughout the newspaper based on two complete editions.
  • Darel Jevens | headline writing, for selection of five headlines.
  • Sun-Times sports staff | sports section, recognizing outstanding work based on two sample sports sections.
  • Sun-Times sports staff | special section, recognizing “Visionaries,” a 2020 baseball preview section.
  • Ben Pope | sports feature, for “Last fan standing,” for a story, told through the eyes of fans who were there, of the last pro sports game in Chicago before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down.
  • Tom Schuba | agriculture reporting, for ” ‘Epic failure’ on legal weed licensing in Illinois” series.
  • Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia, Brian Rich and Brian Ernst | video journalism, recognized for “Resettlement, reunification and romance,” the richly reported story — in print and video — of a refugee couple finally together in the United States after nearly four years apart.
  • Sun-Times staff | Best website, recognized for chicago.suntimes.com, the Chicago Sun-Times’ main web portal.
  • Tim Novak and Lauren FitzPatrick | best coverage of taxation, Maurice Scott Award, recognized for a series of investigative reports documenting failures by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.
  • Frank Main and Andy Grimm | investigative / enterprise reporting, Knight Chair Award, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism

In May, Sun-Times journalists were recognized with 12 top honors in the Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, sponsored by the Chicago Headline Club, an affiliate of the Society of Professional Journalists, for work published in 2020.

The winning entries included “bests” for politics and government reporting, columns, editorial writing, business reporting, sports writing, design and breaking news coverage.

Altogether, 14 individual Sun-Times staffers — as well as the Sun-Times staff for the year-in-review special section, best news website, best email newsletter and general excellence in online journalism — won top honors.

Sun-Times winners

o Frank Main and Andy Grimm | Politics and government reporting, recognized for the investigative series “Long delays for justice.”

o Ismael Perez | News column / commentary, recognized for a selection of three columns: “Mexican mother raised American children,” “Remote learning bilingual students challenges Chicago public schools” and “Non-voting Latino ballot box.”

o Lee Bey | Editorial writing, recognized for a series of “Keep Mercy Hospital open” editorials.

o Tim Novak and Robert Herguth | Business / consumer reporting, recognized for reports examining “What Chicago’s COVID hospital cost.”

o Ben Pope | Sports story, recognized for “Last fan standing,” looking at the last pro sports event in Chicago before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down.

o Ashlee Rezin Garcia | News photo, recognized for “Burning rage,” capturing a police car set on fire during protests following the killing of George Floyd.

o Eric White | Best design (among all newspapers regardless of circulation), recognized for three examples of page 1 design.

o Sun-Times staff | Best special news section (among all newspapers regardless of circulation), recognized for “2020: The year in review.”

o Sun-Times staff | News website, recognized for chicago.suntimes.com, the Chicago Sun-Times’ main web portal.

o Sun-Times staff | Email newsletter, recognized for “Chicago coronavirus newsletter” daily email newsletter.

o Tom Schuba, Rachel Hinton, Ashlee Rezin Garcia, Jake Wittich, Brian Ernst and Brian Rich | Breaking news, recognized for “Customers turned away as recreational weed sales wrap up historic first day in Illinois.”

o Sun-Times staff | General excellence in online journalism.

READ MARY MITCHELL’S NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING COLUMN

READ MARK BROWN’S NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING COLUMNS

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Chicago Sun-Times journalism recognized with national, state and regional honorson June 15, 2021 at 2:50 pm Read More »

You’ve been unmasked in Illinois, but not the children. What the hell?on June 15, 2021 at 2:29 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

You’ve been unmasked in Illinois, but not the children. What the hell?

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You’ve been unmasked in Illinois, but not the children. What the hell?on June 15, 2021 at 2:29 pm Read More »

“Do I need to wear a mask here?”on June 15, 2021 at 2:39 pm

I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

“Do I need to wear a mask here?”

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“Do I need to wear a mask here?”on June 15, 2021 at 2:39 pm Read More »

Tuna loves the grill: try this summer barbecue recipeLynda Balslev, TasteFoodon June 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm


Tuna is thick and dense, and it holds its shape while you take the time to sear it golden brown.

There is more to tuna than the mayo-based sandwich filler. In fact, if there is one fish that can handle a robust marinade and the fire of the grill, it would be tuna. Tuna is thick and dense, and it holds its shape while you take the time to sear it golden brown. The key is choosing which kind of tuna is best to use.

There are a number of types of tuna available, from albacore and skipjack (which are popular candidates for canning) to meatier bluefin tuna and ahi (also known as yellowfin), which are excellent fish choices for grilling. Bluefin, with its dark, meaty color and flavor, is the king of tuna — and the priciest. Ahi is the next best option and my favorite. It’s slightly less expensive, milder in flavor and paler in color than bluefin, with a deep rose hue that browns with cooking. This is the tuna you will find served raw and cut into small cubes in the Hawaiian poke bowls. Ahi is also delicious when seared and grilled.

Now, when talking about big fish, it’s important to talk about health. With many big fish at the top of the food chain, such as tuna and swordfish, there will be increased amounts of mercury in the flesh. Ahi has a lower amount of mercury than bluefin. It’s labeled a “good choice” to eat one serving a week by the FDA, and a “good alternative” by The Monterey Seafood Watch.

Here is my go-to recipe for searing and grilling ahi tuna. It’s inspired by an Epicurious recipe I found years ago, and since then I’ve modified it slightly to my taste. I like to use a flat, not ridged, griddle when grilling the skewers, which provides more surface area to sear the fish. Alternatively, you can sear the skewers in a large cast iron pan over medium-high heat on the stove.

Grilled Ahi Tuna Skewers

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS:

For the marinade:

  • 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Sriracha

For the tuna:

  • 2 pounds ahi tuna, cut into 1- to 1 1/4-inch chunks
  • 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • Vegetable oil
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk the marinade ingredients in a bowl to blend and to dissolve the sugar. Set aside 1/4 cup for brushing.

2. Place the tuna chunks in a large bowl. Pour in the marinade and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3. Thread the tuna on pre-soaked bamboo skewers, alternating with pepper and onion pieces. Lightly brush the vegetables with some of the reserved marinade. Let the skewers stand at room temperature while you prepare the grill.

4. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat and preheat a griddle for 10 minutes. Lightly oil the griddle. Arrange the skewers on the griddle, in batches as necessary, and cook to your desired doneness, turning to evenly color, 5 to 6 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and brush with some of the reserved sauce. Garnish with cilantro and serve with the remaining sauce for drizzling.

For more information about fish nutrition and safety visit www.fda.gov/media/102331/download and seafoodwatch.org.

Lynda Balslev is an award-winning food and wine writer, cookbook author and recipe developer. She also authors the blog TasteFood, a compilation of more than 600 original recipes, photos and stories.

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Tuna loves the grill: try this summer barbecue recipeLynda Balslev, TasteFoodon June 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

4 people shot dead, 4 others seriously wounded after argument in Englewood homeJermaine Nolenon June 15, 2021 at 1:32 pm

A man was found shot to death June 4, 2021 in West Town.
Multiple people were shot June 15, 2021, in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street. | Sun-Times file photo

Police say shooting erupted during an argument in a home early Tuesday in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street.

Four people were shot and killed, and four others were seriously wounded, when an argument broke out inside a home in Englewood on the South Side early Tuesday, according to preliminary information from Chicago police and fire officials.

Four of the wounded were pronounced dead at the scene in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street after gunfire erupted around 5:40 a.m., Chicago police said.

Four others were taken to hospitals, at least two of them in critical condition:

  • A woman was taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Hospital.
  • A 23-year-old man went to St. Bernard Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to University of Chicago Hospital also in critical condition.
  • A man suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head was was taken to Christ Hospital.
  • A 25-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head. He was also taken to Christ.
  • A 2-year-old girl was taken from the home and brought to Comer Children’s Hospital for observation but did not appear injured, police said.

Fire officials initially said the shooting happened on Carpenter Street. The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation, police said.

The attack is the third mass shooting in Chicago in little over a week.

Early Saturday, a woman was killed and nine others wounded near 75th Street and South Prairie Avenue. Kimfier Miles, 29, a mother of three, was out with a group of girlfriends when two men opened fire about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Struck in her leg and abdomen, Miles was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center and pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

“She was only 29; in the prime of her life,” her cousin Takita Miles told the Chicago Sun-Times. “She hasn’t even experienced life. She just started traveling. It’s unfortunate. It’s really bad.”

The weekend before, six men and two women were wounded in a shooting in Burnside on the South Side.

The group were standing in the sidewalk about 4 a.m. June 6 when two people inside a silver-colored car opened fire in the 8900 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago police and Fire officials said.

This is a developing story, check back for details.

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4 people shot dead, 4 others seriously wounded after argument in Englewood homeJermaine Nolenon June 15, 2021 at 1:32 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls land Luka Doncic in these 3 trade packagesRyan Heckmanon June 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm

This past season, we saw plenty of big stories come from the 2018 NBA Draft class. Even the Chicago Bulls got in on the headlines. Back in that draft, the Bulls selected Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. at pick no. 7 only to trade him away this year in a deal that saw Chicago […]

Chicago Bulls land Luka Doncic in these 3 trade packages – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Chicago Bulls land Luka Doncic in these 3 trade packagesRyan Heckmanon June 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Multiple people shot when argument breaks out inside home in EnglewoodJermaine Nolenon June 15, 2021 at 11:55 am

A man was found shot to death June 4, 2021 in West Town.
Multiple people were shot June 15, 2021, in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street. | Sun-Times file photo

The shooting happened around 5:40 a.m. Tuesday in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street, Chicago police said.

Multiple people were shot Tuesday morning in Englewood on the South Side, according to preliminary information from Chicago police.

About 5:40 a.m., there was an argument at a gathering inside a home in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street and shots were fired, police said.

This is a developing story, check back for details.

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Multiple people shot when argument breaks out inside home in EnglewoodJermaine Nolenon June 15, 2021 at 11:55 am Read More »

Verzuz to ‘celebrate the queens’ with Eve, Trina matchupEvan F. Mooreon June 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Universal Music Group’s 2019 After Party To Celebrate The GRAMMYs - Arrivals Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/
Verzuz battle contestants Eve (pictured in 2019) and Trina previously collaborated on the Philadelphia native’s album, “Scorpion.” | Getty Images

The Eve, Trina Verzuz matchup is the first-ever battle between women rappers.

Rappers Eve and Trina are slated for the next Verzuz battle at 7 p.m. Wednesday via Instagram, the Triller app and the Fite TV app.

The battle, which is the first matchup between two women rappers, is in partnership with “Friday Night Vibes,” a new TBS weekly movie showcase hosted by actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish.

Eve, then a Philadelphia-based MC, burst onto the scene in 1999 as the “Pitbull in a skirt,” on Ruff Ryders’ Ryde or Die Vol. 1 album with the tracks, “Ryde or Die” and “What Ya Want.” Later that year, she dropped her debut, the RIAA-certified double platinum album, “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady,” featuring hit singles “Gotta Man,” and “Love is Blind,” a song discussing domestic violence.

She followed up her debut with “Scorpion,” the platinum-certified RIAA album featuring stand-out tracks “Who’s That Girl?,” “Gangsta B- – – – – s,” featuring Chicago native Da Brat and fellow Verzuz battle contestant Trina, and “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” with No Doubt lead singer Gwen Stefani.

Miami-based rapper Trina debuted on the hit Trick Daddy single, “Nann.” In 2000, she released “Da Baddest B—,” a RIAA-certified gold album that stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 29 weeks. She followed up her first album with a string of albums including “Glamorest Life,” which includes “Here We Go,” a gold single with Kelly Rowland.

2017 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca Cola Louisiana Superdome - Day 3 Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival
Getty Images
In 2000, Miami-based rapper Trina released “Da Baddest B—,” a RIAA-certified gold album.

Krista Hayes, executive producer and on-air talent with “The Ed Lover Morning Show “on WBMX (104.3-FM), says having Eve and Trina at the center of the next Verzuz battle is a win for the culture.

“Finally! Two women rappers who moved the culture in their own respective lanes,” said Hayes. “Two different sounds. Two different successes, but one thing they have in common: both women have bars.”

Upcoming Verzuz battles include a June 26 edition with Bow Wow and Soulja Boy, and a yet-to-be-announced July 1 battle sponsored by Essence, the African American women lifestyle magazine.

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Verzuz to ‘celebrate the queens’ with Eve, Trina matchupEvan F. Mooreon June 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »