Three people were shot, one fatally, Monday in Chicago including a man who was killed in a shooting in South Shore on the South Side.

About 5:50 p.m., the 31-year-old was in the 7800 block of South South Shore Drive, when someone opened fire, striking him in the hand, groin and leg, Chicago police said. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

In non-fatal shootings two teens were wounded in a drive-by in Englewood on the South Side. Just before midnight, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman were outside in the 7000 block of South Throop Street, when someone inside a passing vehicle fired shots at them, police said. The boy was grazed by a bullet on the back of his head and brought to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. The girl was struck in the ear and brought to Stroger Hospital where her condition was stabilized.

Five people were killed and forty others were wounded last weekend citywide.

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Two teens were wounded in a drive-by Monday night in Englewood on the South Side.

Just before midnight, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman were outside in the 7000 block of South Throop Street, when someone inside a passing vehicle fired shots at them, Chicago police said.

The boy was grazed by a bullet on the back of his head and brought to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said. The girl was struck in the ear and brought to Stroger Hospital where her condition was stabilized.

Area One detectives are investigating.

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Confident shortstop, who says he wants to be the best, just loves to compete.

One of manager Tony La Russa’s mantras for his young players is: Be confident but never comfortable. That leaves no room for complacency to seep in.

Even though he’s in his sixth year in the majors, shortstop Tim Anderson embodies that philosophy.

Since debuting in 2016, he has gone from a guy who can hit for some power but not for average to the 2019 batting champion and 2020 runner-up. And as he gains more experience in the majors, Anderson is going from making adjustments game by game to at-bat by at-bat.

For instance, in the White Sox’ 7-3 victory Saturday against the Indians, Anderson faced starter Triston McKenzie twice, with divergent results. McKenzie got Anderson to strike out with his fastball the first time, but in his second at-bat, Anderson clubbed another McKenzie fastball over the right-field wall for a grand slam.

Anderson said after the game that he adjusted his plan at the plate after the first at-bat, telling himself to look for the fastball again and time it up so he could connect the next time he saw it.

“I want to be the best, so I practice like it, and I think like it,” Anderson said. “Confidence is always at an all-time high. I never lose. A guy might strike me out, but I got myself out. He didn’t get me out.”

Or after an 0-for-4 night with four strikeouts last week against the Tigers, Anderson said he used a hard line drive that went foul as fuel for his next game. That day, he went 2-for-5 with an RBI. He’s confident enough to shrug off a bad night but never comfortable enough not to learn from it.

Ask Anderson’s manager and his teammates, and they love seeing what he can do on the field, whether it’s with his bat or his glove or on the bases. But maybe even more than that, they love his attitude and work ethic.

“You’re looking at a guy that has slowed the game down by just doing him, being him, being what he’s about,” right-hander Lance Lynn said.

La Russa likened having Anderson on his team to managing Rickey Henderson and Dennis Eckersley from his time with the Athletics in the 1980s and ’90s.

“What Tim does is what they did,” La Russa said. “He’s competing, and he’s having fun competing.”

The comparisons don’t stop there for La Russa, either. During the Bulls’ heyday in the 1990s, La Russa would go to their games and had the opportunity to watch them practice from time to time. In Anderson’s work ethic and energy, La Russa sees things that remind him of Michael Jordan — namely, his vocal leadership and drive to keep becoming a better player.

“He’s the same every stinking, wonderful day,” La Russa said. “He brings effort, he brings a commitment to the practices, to the competition. And he does it because he enjoys competing.”

As a result, Anderson has the Sox remaining sure of themselves but never complacent.

That attitude might carry over into the game as a whole, too. Just a few years ago, Anderson called baseball boring, and rather than leave it at that, he has set out to change things. In the process, he has helped bring excitement to Sox baseball.

“When you come on the South Side, that’s the plan,” Anderson said. “We’re going to try to give you a show and go out and have fun with it. Make you want to come back and watch some more.”

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Moon Alert

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7 to 9:20 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today you feel optimistic about your future. You’re happier when dealing with others, especially friends and members of groups and organizations. You also feel generous to others. (This is a good thing because what goes around, comes around.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Whereas yesterday was a testy day with authority figures, today is different! Now parents, teachers and people in authority will sing your praises. One of the reasons you look so good to others is that you are confident; and you are kind.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Today you will do whatever is within your power to expand your experience of the world! Ideally, you want to travel. But if you can’t physically travel, then you will travel through film, books, the media and talking to people from other backgrounds. Great day to study or finish an important paper or manuscript. Yes!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Financial discussions will definitely benefit you. Oh yeah, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. However, avoid important financial discussions during the moon alert. This is easy to do. Looking swell!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is fantastic day to enjoy the company of partners and close friends. (We’re talking spouses as well as professional contacts.) Because you are confident and you feel that you have nothing to fear, your good feelings will rub off onto others as well. Everyone will be happy to see you!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This is a good day for work-related travel. It’s also an excellent day for any kind of group activities, Zoom meetings and interactions with others that are work-related or not. You will do well dealing with the public in large numbers. Trust your intuition!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Lucky you! This is a fun-loving, playful, light-hearted day! Enjoy talking to your kids, romantic partners and anyone related to sports events, the entertainment world or the hospitality industry. You feel happy because you know you’re in the groove. Yeah!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Family discussions will go well today because people are happy to share their ideas and to be in each other’s company. In fact, you might decide to tackle a major renovation or an ambitious project that relates to home and family. Good luck!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

When we change the way we see things, the things we see change. Today is a fantastic example of this. Because you are in a happier frame of mind, suddenly everything looks better. Enjoy short trips and dealing with siblings, neighbors and relatives.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

It’s a money day! (Music to your ears.) Look for ways to boost your earnings because this is possible. You might find a better-paying job. You might see ways to make money on the side. Dealings with distant or foreign interests are likely. Ka-ching!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

It doesn’t get much better than this. Today the moon is in your sign lined up with moneybags lucky Jupiter. You will enjoy the company of others and you will get what you give in terms of kindness, assistance and generosity to others. Cool!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You are a sensitive sign and today your concerns for the welfare of others, especially those who are less fortunate, are genuine. This could lead to metaphysical or spiritual insights on your part. You will find it rewarding if you can build a strong rapport with people who need your help.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Will Arnett (1970) shares your birthday. You are a cool, confident perfectionist. You are also mild-mannered, ambitious and hard-working. As your new year begins, you are entering a time of change in your life. Get ready to pivot in a major way. Welcome this because it presents exciting opportunities for you to explore new ideas and ways of doing things. As you navigate these changes, your personal independence will be tested.

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The children were taken to Stroger Hospital, where two were in serious-to-critical condition and the others were in fair-to-serious condition, officials said.

Five people, including four children, were hurt in a crash Monday night in Lawndale on the West Side.

The incident happened in the 1200 block of South Central Park Avenue, according to Chicago fire officials.

The children were taken to Stroger Hospital, where two were in serious-to-critical condition and the others were in fair-to-serious condition, officials said.

An adult was also taken to the same hospital in fair-to-serious condition, officials said.

Details on the crash were not immediately released.

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A 22-year-old man is facing charges nearly three years after allegedly shooting and robbing another man in West Englewood on the South Side.

Derieon Thomas was arrested Sunday after he was identified as the person who allegedly shot a 29-year-old man August 3, 2018, in the 5500 block of South Marshfield Avenue, Chicago police said.

That day, Thomas allegedly fired shots at the man and struck him in the hip, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition at the time.

Thomas was charged with one felony count each of armed robbery and aggravated battery, police said.

He is due in court Tuesday.

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Is the Cubs’ Kris Bryant really an underrated player? Teammate Anthony Rizzo thinks so.

Before the Cubs’ game Monday against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field was postponed because of the forecast of inclement weather, Rizzo was asked about Bryant’s hot start to the season. Bryant, who was named the National League player of the week Monday, has looked like the player who became a household name after being voted the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the NL MVP in 2016.

Since those first two years, Bryant has accumulated 5.7 wins above replacement (according to Baseball Reference) in 2017 and 4.5 WAR in 2019, but he had an injury-plagued 2018 and struggled badly when he was in the lineup in the shortened 2020 season.

Rizzo has been connected with Bryant for more than a half-decade. He said Bryant is underrated and implied his consistency has gotten him overshadowed by other players.

”In this league, when you come on and you don’t continue to somehow ‘wow’ and you just stay consistent, the next guy comes up and wows or someone breaks out,” Rizzo said. ”Meanwhile, KB’s just been Steady Eddie. He’s had a couple of injuries, but he’s a really good baseball player, and it’s really nice to see him have this start of success because he’s enjoying it a lot more now and it’s contagious.”

The struggling Cubs hope it will prove to be contagious when they actually begin their series against the Dodgers. The Cubs will send right-hander Kyle Hendricks against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of a doubleheader Tuesday. Dodgers right-hander Trevor Bauer will oppose a to-be-determined Cubs starter in the nightcap.

On Monday, Bryant was going to show off another hallmark of his game: versatility. For only the second time in the majors, Bryant was set to start in center field. He has spent most of his career at third base but also has played left and right field to go with a handful of appearances at first base.

And it’s not as though Bryant looks lost when he leaves third. A strong athlete, he gets good jumps on the ball because he can read it well off the bat, giving the Cubs another viable outfield option when they need to juggle the lineup.

”His ability to do that is huge for our team,” Rizzo said. ”It gives us so much flexibility for him to jump around, and I don’t think he seems to mind it, either.”

None of this is news to Cubs manager David Ross, who was there as a teammate for Bryant’s first two seasons. He has started Bryant in the outfield 12 times this season and hasn’t noticed a drop-off at the plate despite moving him around the diamond.

”To me, it just says how good of a baseball player he is,” Ross said. ”He’s showing that. It doesn’t matter what he does, where you move him to, he’s going to go out and do his best.”

NOTES: Manager David Ross said outfielder Ian Happ and second baseman Nico Hoerner were both pretty sore after their collision Sunday in Cincinnati. Both went through a series of tests to see how they were doing. Neither was in the lineup posted before the postponement.

o Outfielder Joc Pederson (tendinitis in his left wrist) was activated from the 10-day injured list, and right-hander Keegan Thompson was optioned to the Cubs’ alternate site in South Bend, Indiana. By optioning Thompson, the Cubs are going with a five-man bench and keeping Hoerner in the majors.

o Ross said he hopes reliever Pedro Strop, who is on a personal leave, returns to the Cubs but indicated he doesn’t know when that will be.

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday the state has met some metrics that could allow Illinois to enter the “bridge” stage between restrictions now in place and a full reopening, cracking the door to higher capacity limits at museums, zoos and meetings potentially as early as next week.

At an unrelated news conference, Pritzker said he couldn’t provide the exact date the state could move into the stage between Phases 4 and 5 because he hadn’t yet looked at data from Sunday and Monday about hospital admissions, but he said it looks like the state is in “decent shape” to advance to the bridge phase.

“I think the common view is that Illinois has weathered the storm well, that we’ve seen what’s happened in in Michigan, and that hasn’t happened in Illinois — thank God,” Pritzker said. “This virus is sometimes unpredictable. We’ve seen new variants that arise. The UK variant is the one, of course, that is most prevalent.”

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“That’s why we’ve been very careful not to move to the bridge phase while we watch that variant in Illinois, but it looks very good so far. We look at all of those variants — I talked to the experts about this — I think everybody feels like we’re in a decent position — again, following the metrics — we believe that we’ll be able to move to the bridge phase.”

As for when the state will cross that bridge, the governor said, “I can’t say exactly what day that is. … I believe that it may be next week, and it’s only because I haven’t looked at today’s data or the data from yesterday with regard to hospital admissions.”

Statewide reopening metrics from the Illinois Department of Public Health show the state is largely trending in the right direction.

Nearly 80% of those 65 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while roughly 55% of those 16 and older have received the inoculation. Both figures surpass the benchmarks Pritzker set in March when unveiling guidelines for his newly created “bridge” phase.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file

Metrics for available, and staffed, beds in intensive care units have hovered near 20% since late April.

The department’s data also show new daily COVID-19 cases on the decline and no significant changes in the state’s daily mortality rate or new hospital admissions for COVID-19 or similar illnesses.

But the department’s data does show an increase in the overall trend of patients hospitalized with the deadly virus, a figure that’s been on the decline over the past four days.

Pritzker said he’s been “amazed” at Illinois residents’ willingness to follow the mitigations, including those who’ve been vaccinated but continue to wear masks while outdoors. He encouraged those who haven’t yet been vaccinated to do so, saying “one of the rewards is that we can all enjoy the summer without a mask on if you’ve gotten vaccinated, and you’re also doing what’s right for your family and your community.”

The governor announced the 28-day “bridge” phase of his reopening plan in March, nearly a year after issuing his first stay-at-home order.

To reach that phase, 70% of those 65 and over must have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A full reopening comes when 50% of the state’s 16 and over population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file

The state must also maintain a 20% or lower intensive-care-unit bed availability rate and hold steady on COVID-19 and COVID-like illness hospital admissions, mortality rate, and case rate over a 28-day monitoring period.

Less than two weeks after Pritzker announced that new plan, rising case numbers and hospitalizations pushed back any reopening plans.

In the intermediate bridge stage between Phases 4 and 5, museums will see their capacity limitations increase from 25% to 60%. The same limitations will apply to zoos.

Brian Rich/Archivo Sun-Times file

Amusement parks will be able to increase capacity from the 25% restriction in Phase 4 to 60% in the intermediate stage. Festivals and general admission outdoor, spectator events can seat 30 people per 1,000 square feet in the bridge phase.

Amusement parks will be able to increase capacity from the 25% restriction in Phase 4 to 60% in the intermediate stage. Festivals and general admission outdoor, spectator events can seat 30 people per 1,000 square feet in the bridge phase.

Meetings, conferences and conventions will see their capacity limit increase to either 1,000 people or 60%, whichever is less. The limitations around meetings also apply to theaters and performing arts venues.

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All I’ve seen for analysis of the Bears 2021 draft are grades of A to A++ to ”The Rapture.”

The previously reviled Ryan Pace, once a dunce as a general manager, is now a genius.

Amazing what a quarterback named Justin Fields can do for a franchise.

Well, so.

Sports columnists are skeptical by nature, even cynical. Some people might say we’re a herd of Negative Nancies.

Then there is my colleague Rick Morrissey. If a water glass is half-full, I’ll instinctively say it’s half empty. Rick M. will say its three-quarters full of pesticide.

Indeed, upon hearing the Bears’ draft news, that human rain cloud wrote that he wished he ”had slept in” and did it ”for a month.” He said that all the ”salivating” deeply troubled him, that the main outcome of this choosing of a star quarterback from Ohio State in the first round was that Pace ”will likely gain another year or two of employment.”

I am a cheerful tulip compared to that crabgrass.

And yet . . . even I have doubts.

Small ones, true. But they lurk.

For example, why was Fields, who was predicted to go way up in the draft, as high as No. 2 or No. 3, available all the way down at No. 11?

I mean, there was a time when Fields was considered an equal or better quarterback than first overall pick, Trevor Lawrence.

Big-haired Mel Kiper called Fields his ”second-ranked quarterback, who would be in the discussion at No. 1 overall in any other year.”

So three quarterbacks went before Fields? At one, two, and three?

Then nothing for seven picks? The Bears traded up for Fields, so who knows when he would have gone if they hadn’t taken him.

A tight end, an offensive tackle, two cornerbacks, three wide receivers — all better picks than Fields?

Yes, I’ve heard the justifications, the ”logic.”

Those teams didn’t need quarterbacks. They needed help elsewhere.

So the Panthers are happy with Sam Darnold? The Falcons love Matt Ryan, who turns 36 in a week?

The Lions like their swap with the Rams for Jared Goff?

The Broncos are good with Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock?

The Eagles — serious? — will hand the controls to 22-year old Jalen Hurts? And then there’s the 49ers, who took virtually untested North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance at No. 3.

All those teams passed on Fields. Maybe they’re right. In fact, they might be absolutely right.

Which troubles me.

Very little has been made of Fields having epilepsy. He had one seizure in ninth grade, woke up in an ambulance, and that was pretty much the extent of it, he has said. It’s under control, with medication, and he claims it has had ”zero effect on football.”

I’m sure he’s right. But it’s hard not to worry about possible exacerbating head trauma in a league where head blows are fast and furious.

Indeed, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are themselves potential causes of epilepsy.

”TBI is a well-recognized cause of seizures and epilepsy” says the foundation’s website. ”TBI can occur as a result of the head suddenly and violently hitting an object (falls, car accidents, sports injuries).”

”We’re completely fine with it,” Pace said of Fields’ condition.

I guess we should be too.

Yet I’m reminded here of former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, and his Type 1 diabetes, and his need to maintain precise sugar/insulin balancing for optimum performance.

Cutler almost never talked about his condition. But it was hard not to wonder if late in tough games in hot, humid conditions, he didn’t fade a bit either mentally or physically because of it.

There was some idle gossip among NFL ”insiders” that Fields was not a hard worker. A big no-no. But that stuff got blasted out of the water by, among others, Fields’ college coach, Ryan Day, who called it ”reckless.”

But did some of it stick?

I don’t know. In this year-plus of COVID, we know so little about so many athletes.

I also wonder if Pace isn’t trying to make up for his 2017 blunder of taking bust Mitch Trubisky when the transcendent Patrick Mahomes was staring him in the face. Let’s hope this isn’t Pace-ian payback, or even the Bears’ way of proving they will take a black quarterback as their premier player.

One last thing. Ohio State is not known as the cradle of quarterbacks, unless Art Schlichter from 30 years ago floats your boat.

Call me concerned. Not Morrissey-level, of course. Just garden-variety concerned.

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A man was killed in a shooting Monday in South Shore, police said.

About 5:50 p.m., the 31-year-old was in the 7800 block of South South Shore Drive when someone opened fire, striking him in the hand, groin and leg, Chicago police said.

The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details.

Area Two detectives are investigating.

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