Hundreds of mourners wearing COVID-19 masks packed into Shiloh Temple International Ministries to remember Wright, a 20-year-old father of one who was shot by a police officer on April 11 in the small city of Brooklyn Center.

MINNEAPOLIS — Daunte Wright, the young Black man shot by police during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis, was to be remembered Thursday at a funeral just two days after a former police officer was convicted in the death of George Floyd and amid a national reckoning on racism and policing.

Hundreds of mourners wearing COVID-19 masks packed into Shiloh Temple International Ministries to remember Wright, a 20-year-old father of one who was shot by a police officer on April 11 in the small city of Brooklyn Center.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights leader, was to deliver the eulogy, and told The Associated Press that he would first pay tribute to Wright, “a young man just at the beginning of life, full of life.”

He said he would also use his remarks to remind those in attendance or watching from afar that the fight for justice didn’t end when white former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter for holding a knee to Floyd’s neck, choking off his breathing until he went limp last May.

“We should not think that, because we won one battle with Chauvin, the war is over, or that if we do not get justice for this case, that we will undo what we were able to do with George Floyd,” Sharpton said. “This is round two, and we must win this round.”

At Floyd’s Minneapolis funeral last year, Sharpton put Floyd’s death in the context of brutality long felt by Blacks in America, saying: “The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed to be is you kept your knee on our neck.”

“What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country,” Sharpton said at the time. “It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, ‘Get your knee off our neck!’”

Among those attending Wright’s funeral were Valerie Castile, whose son Philando Castile died after being shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb in 2016, and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who was filmed saying “I can’t breathe” in a fatal 2014 encounter with New York City police. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also attended.

More than a dozen members from an armed team of local men, the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, provided security.

Wright’s killing set off protests in Brooklyn Center, a working-class, majority nonwhite city, with hundreds of people gathering every night for a week outside the city’s heavily guarded police station. While the mayor called for law enforcement and protesters to scale back their tactics, the nights often ended with demonstrators lobbing water bottles and rocks at the officers, and law enforcement responding with pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets.

The police chief said it appeared from body camera video that the officer who shot Wright used her pistol when she meant to use her Taser. The white officer, 26-year veteran Kim Potter, is charged with second-degree manslaughter. Both she and the chief resigned soon after the shooting.

Wright’s killing came amid increasing tension during the weekslong trial of Chauvin. By the day of the verdict, more than 3,000 National Guard soldiers had flooded the area, along with police, state troopers and other law enforcement officers.

Minneapolis residents who peacefully celebrated Tuesday’s guilty verdicts had barely one full day before attention turned to burying Wright.

At a viewing for Wright on Wednesday, friends and family members wept as they stood before Wright’s open casket, which was blanketed with red roses. Inside the open casket, the young man was dressed in a jean jacket bedazzled with several red and green gem-like buttons on the lapels.

An obituary handed out at the memorial recalled Wright’s love of Fourth of July fireworks, the “lemon head” nickname bestowed by an aunt and the months he spent in a hospital intensive care unit when his son was born prematurely.

Wright was pulled over on a Sunday afternoon. His mother said he called her to say he was stopped for having air fresheners hanging from his rear-view mirror — a traffic violation in Minnesota. Police said he was stopped for having an expired car registration.

The shooting occurred when a scuffle broke out as police tried to arrest Wright, after realizing he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on charges of fleeing police and having a gun without a permit.

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Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan. Morrison is a member of the AP’s Race and Ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison.

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With the J&J shots, the recommended “pause” announced last week was a precautionary measure as government advisers investigated the unusual clots and alerted doctors about how to treat them. But the news was bound to inflame fears.

NEW YORK — Confronted with rare cases of blood clots potentially linked to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. health officials faced a delicate task: how to suspend distribution of the shots without setting off alarm about their safety.

It was the just the latest challenge in crisis messaging for officials since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago. The behavior of the new virus, the benefits of masks and the need for school and business closings have all been marked by public confusion, changing guidance and squabbling.

With the J&J shots, the recommended “pause” announced last week was a precautionary measure as government advisers investigated the unusual clots and alerted doctors about how to treat them. But the news was bound to inflame fears.

“It’s going to be painful either way. It’s less painful if you address it early on,” said Dr. Wilbur Chen, a member of the government’s advisory committee on vaccines, which is expected to meet on Friday and could make a recommendation soon after on whether and how to resume use of the J&J vaccine.

Whether the pause seriously undermines public confidence in the J&J shot — or the other vaccines — remains to be seen.

Even before the coronavirus surfaced, training guides by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted the difficulty of communicating in a public health crisis, when fear and uncertainty are running high. Yet how leaders communicate can be key to winning public cooperation. Or undermining it.

By promptly notifying the public that they were investigating clots, officials were following a fundamental rule in the crisis playbook: transparency, even when the answers aren’t yet clear.

“We want people to know what we know,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy explained at a media briefing soon after the announcement on the J&J vaccine.

Trying to appear confident when uncertain — which leaders are often taught to do — can backfire in a public health crisis, a CDC guide notes. In addition to building trust, being up front about the unknowns leaves room for officials to change their guidance as new information emerges.

“COVID is a new disease and we learn new things, and that is hard,” said Alice Payne Merritt, an expert in public health communications at Johns Hopkins University. “What we knew in April 2020 is different than what we know in April 2021.”

Quickly stating what isn’t yet known and why has another benefit: blunting the potential for misinformation to spread. Otherwise, people may start filling in the blanks themselves, the CDC guide says.

“Silence can be harmful,” Payne Merritt agreed.

Still, leaders might be reluctant to acknowledge uncertainty, especially since people crave clear answers and reassurance in stressful and unfamiliar situations.

Another problem: Anxiety can make it difficult for people to process new information, or as Payne Merritt put it, “Fear can override rational thinking. That’s just human nature.”

With the J&J shots, for example, helping people understand the magnitude of any risk has been a challenge. So far, officials said there have been six cases of the unusual blood clots out of about 7 million J&J shots given in the U.S.

People regularly take bigger risks just getting into a car.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, noted the difficulty of putting the odds of severe side effects in proper perspective for the public.

“They hear about a risk, and they don’t know what it is relative to other things that they do,” he said in an NBC interview.

Confusion and anger around public messaging haven’t been limited to the J&J shots.

In September, President Donald Trump came under fire when it was revealed he sought to “ play it down ” to avoid a panic about the virus. Last April, U.S. officials sparked criticism when they advised people to wear face coverings, after earlier saying masks weren’t needed and should be reserved for health workers.

And for months, officials have been trying to ease worries about the COVID-19 vaccines overall, in part by enlisting local leaders.

In the early days of the rollout, rare cases of severe allergic reactions fueled worries about the vaccines. Chen, the government adviser, said officials built trust by addressing the problem head-on. Now, he said, people have moved past it.

“Can you imagine if we had basically tried to cover it up, tried to minimize it?” said Chen, a vaccine expert at the University of Maryland, adding that U.S. vaccination rates probably wouldn’t be where they are today.

As of this week, more than half of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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“My name is on the door. … I don’t believe in pushing blame or the buck,” State’s Attorney Kim Foxx told the Sun-Times. “The public was relying on information that our office presented to the court and the media relied upon that wasn’t fully accurate. I own that.”

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx acknowledged Thursday she should have known what one of her top deputies was going to say in court about the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo because it was a “heater case.”

“My name is on the door. Anything that happens that comes from the state’s attorney’s office, I am responsible for. I don’t believe in pushing blame or the buck,” Foxx told the Sun-Times.

“In this instance, the public was relying on information that our office presented to the court and the media relied upon that wasn’t fully accurate. I own that.”

Foxx has placed veteran prosecutor Jim Murphy on administrative leave because, according to a statement from her office, Murphy “failed to fully present the facts” during a bond hearing when he didn’t specifically state Toledo was unarmed at the moment a Chicago police officer shot him.

During an April 10 bond hearing describing allegations against 21-year-old Ruben Roman — who was arrested at the scene of Adam’s shooting in Little Village — Murphy told a judge Toledo had a gun in his right hand a moment before he was shot.

“The officer tells [Adam] to drop it as [Adam] turns towards the officer. [Adam] has a gun in his right hand,” Murphy said in court. “The officer fires one shot at [Adam], striking him in the chest. The gun that [Adam] was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.”

Murphy’s statement matches a portion of what the video of the fatal March 29 shooting shows, but did not specifically note Adam dropped the weapon and had his hands in the air less than a second before he was shot by the officer.

On Thursday, Foxx acknowledged she did not see the statement of facts Murphy read aloud in court — and that she should have seen it.

“We do bond proffers daily, many times a day. They don’t rise up to me. One of the things that we are looking at in this particular case, because it’s a heater case, is why it had not been sent up to me,” she said.

Foxx was asked why she didn’t demand to see Murphy’s statement and whether she would put herself on leave for failing to do so.

She would say only that the internal investigation she has ordered would make certain there are “mechanisms and protocols in place so that people are properly notified in cases like this.”

“What I said is I didn’t know. … And how that happened is something that is critically important to our organization,” she said.

“I’m not disagreeing with the significance of the case. And I’m not disagreeing that those types of proffers are things that would be expected to be elevated. … Something was amiss here. And we’re taking responsibility by getting to the heart of what that is so that it doesn’t happen again.”

Foxx acknowledged Murphy’s punishment — and the possibility his supervisors may be similarly held accountable — has impacted morale in the state’s attorney’s office.

“Morale in our office has been very difficult. This is someone who is well-respected and regarded both internally [and] externally by judges and defense attorneys and has a reputation that has been incredibly strong,” she said.

“But I have a responsibility … to make sure that we’re as transparent as we need to be and take responsibility” for mistakes.

Having said that, Foxx categorically denied Murphy was being thrown under the bus to minimize the political heat Foxx is getting from Hispanic community leaders for the false narrative her office waited five days to correct.

“This isn’t about political cover. This is about the expectation of law enforcement to be forthright and transparent. There is no sacrificial lamb here. This is about making sure that we get it right and when we don’t get it right, owning it doing what we need to do to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Video released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability last week appeared to show Toledo with both hands in the air after tossing the gun he was carrying behind a fence a split second before he was shot in the chest.

Foxx refused to characterize the video as her office continues its investigation to determine whether to file criminal charges against the officer, but she said she won’t be influenced by what happened to her predecessor, Anita Alvarez.

Alvarez was swept out of office by Foxx after waiting a year — until the day the Laquan McDonald shooting video was released by a judge’s order — to file murder charges against then-Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot McDonald 16 times. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.

“My pressure is that we have a 13-year-old boy who was killed and the expectation from people in our community … who want to be able to see answers and resolution to this,” she said.

“It is not a pressure related to previous elections. It’s a pressure to the severity of the incident that brought us to this point.”

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Taking a staycation in your own city offers tons of uplifting and memorable experiences. Hang out in Chicago like a tourist and come away with a fresh perspective of the city you call home. If you are looking for creative ways to spend your time, we have compiled a list of staycation ideas in Chicago.

Start On the River

See Chicago’s architectural jewels from the water. Cruise on a Wendella Architecture Tour for a true sense of history and place in Chicago’s 130 years of design innovation. Captain Craig Wenokur told us the best description of Chicago’s architecture is really diversity, creating a skyline with structures built from 1920 to 2020. Many older buildings along the river have been repurposed. Once empty factories have been turned into the city’s hottest condos. If you are taking a staycation in Chicago, sign up for a 45 – 90 minute Chicago River Architecture Cruise and you’ll be impressed by the dynamic vision of the city builders.  And you’ll love being out on the water!

Sleep in a Museum

As a guest at two other 21C hotels, I was primed to enjoy their newest Chicago location. Conveniently located just steps away from Michigan Avenue, the 4-star 21C Museum Hotel is within easy walking distance to everywhere! Here, you’ll be surrounded by two stories of contemporary art featuring sculpture, tapestries, photographs and paintings that create a hip vibe. Free and open 24/7, the historic 21c Museum actually brings a new cultural resource to Chicago’s vast art scene.

But it’s the elegant details, unique amenities like the Nespresso coffee maker, Malin & Goetz bath luxuries and bathroom fixtures that made staying at the 21C such a joyful experience. The bed was uber-comfortable and the bedding exquisite, matched only by the expansive views of the city. What’s really funky is their signature Evergreen penguins that (pre-Covid) could be found in the halls, in your room or even your shower! The entire experience evoked a real sense of inspiration and relaxation.

Visit the New Monet and Chicago Exhibit

No matter how many times you’ve been to the Art Institute, there’s always something new to see. Featuring more than 70 works of art, Monet and Chicago traces the history of the French Impressionist and his relationship with the city that started in 1888. If you’re searching for activities to try on a staycation in Chicago, see these masterpieces up close through June 14. Their other new exhibit is the fabric portrait quilts of Bisa Butler demonstrating colorful and cultural memory. Through September 6.

Be Friends With “Friends” 

“The Friends Experience – The One in Chicago” puts fans front and center of the  popular TV show through an interactive 2-story experience. Have serious fun as you explore 12 nostalia-filled rooms that bring back the memories featuring video clips, larger-than-life photographs, props, costumes and more. Step inside Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Rachel and Monica’s kitchen and Central Perk where you’ll find everything “Monica clean.” This is Instagram bliss at its best! 

Go Digital at Immersive Van Gogh 

No vacation in Chicago is complete without a visit to the new Immersive Van Gogh, a visually spectacular digital art exhibition that invites audiences to “step inside” the iconic works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. Through art, light, music and movement, the experience envelops your visual and audio senses. Get immersed in the music, too with Edith Piaf’s “No Regrets.” Stand in one of the circles on the main floor, then step up to the balcony for a higher perspective.

Grab a Seat on Chicago’s Crime Scene Tour

Almost as famous as Michael Jordan is the reputations of most-wanted criminals, John Dillinger and Al Capone. Get all the deets on America’s original crime legends on this 2-hour tour. Hop on and off the bus where the real events took place, see videos of the historic events and find out what really happened. Elise, our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, making  the stories come alive. You’ll come away knowing “crime doesn’t pay!” Chicago Crime Tour also offers Night Crime Tours, if you dare!

Dining Divine!

As a Chicagoan, you know dining is an experience to be savored.  From mouth-watering steaks to ethnic cuisine to brunch, there are plenty of restaurants to attend on a staycation in Chicago with outstanding food. Here’s the buzz.

Go Deep! 

Chicago’s newest entry into the foodie tours is Finger Licking Deep Dish Pizza Tours. Created by former Chicagoan Don Contursi, founder of Finger Licking Foodie Tours of Las Vegas, the self-guided Deep Dish Pizza Tour includes three of Chicago’s most iconic pizza landmarks.  Schedule between 11 am – 6 pm for your two-hour stairway to pizza heaven!

Get seated quickly and dig into fresh hot pizza in just 10 minutes. Start at Gino’s East, then walk to Pizzeria Uno and end at Lou Malnati’s for a Signature Deep Dish Pizza, topped with ½ cheese ½ sausage or veggies. With the optional beverage package, pair your pizza with a local Chicago beer at each stop. Best part, you can take the leftover pizza from your staycation home. Look for more Finger Licking Foodie Tours coming soon.

Eleven City Diner Delivers On Oversize Everything! 

This eatery takes deli to a whole new level. Founder Brad Rubin opened Eleven City Diner about 15 years ago with a single mindset – to do it his way. The results are in — slam dunk, the best deli in the whole city. Grab breakfast all day, try his home brew Root Beer, slurp homemade malts and shakes, see smoked meats in a sandwich stacked like Willis Tower, matza balls the size of baseballs, oversized potato pancakes, and ginormous cakes. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and authentic. Dine in, pick up, or delivery. If you haven’t been, high tail it over to Eleven City Diner and see for yourself.

Get Casual and Creative at Bernie’s 

I had an Uncle Bernie and he would have loved this place. Named after the owner’s grandfather, Bernie’s is a part of the Peas & Carrots restaurant group, Chicago’s first opening in 2015. Serving an American-style menu with a twist, Bernie’s most popular dishes are their burgers and ground lamb hummus, all locally sourced. We started with the fresh kale salad that was chock-full of apples, almonds and quinoa. Dine on the braised short ribs with heirloom carrots, asparagus, polenta and mushroom sauce. Or try the glazed salmon that was rich and tasty. Head up to their seasonal rooftop patio for great views while you dine.

Indulge in Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse – The Ultimate Chicago Dining Experience

Hope you’re hungry because Gibsons has been Chicago’s go-to place for USDA prime angus steaks going on 23 years. This intimate iconic restaurant serves up fabulous steaks, seafood and classic cocktails, coupled with unsurpassed attention to details that makes it such a spectacular dining experience.

Which steaks do you choose from? I went with the New York Strip, masterfully grilled to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning. Tasty sides included yummy double-baked potato and creamed spinach. My husband opted for the Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut with asparagus pesto. We splurged, calorie-wise, on the luscious Carrot Cake, with more than enough to take home.

Hang Out at R.J. Grunts

This is Chicago’s first date place, celebrating its 50^th anniversary in June. Still known for its awesome burgers, giant hand-scooped milk shakes and the city’s first salad bar, R.J. Grunts was Richard Melman’s original eatery that launched a restaurant empire, Lettuce Entertain You. Try the Tuna Melt Trio plate which was enormous with crisp fries. Or the Grunt Burger with fried onions and bleu cheese that continues to delight. Manager Ron Forsman told me some 20 years ago, the company wanted to shut Grunts down and the outcry from the neighborhood was so intense, they decided to keep it open. Lucky us. Come enjoy all that Grunts is famous for in the heart of Lincoln Park.

Let Chicago Greeters Show You Around

Get up close and personal with Chicago neighborhoods through Chicago Greeters, now available for locals, too. We were escorted through the Gold Coast, South Loop and Lincoln Park with a friendly, knowledgeable guide.  Enjoy a free 2-4 hour tour on your staycation based on your choice of neighborhoods and interests. Register at least 10 days in advance.  Or, check out an Insta-Greeter for an hour-long walk of downtown. Guide Judith Robinson showed us around the Gold Coast, with its art-deco architecture, well-maintained buildings and million-dollar homes. One gem was Restoration Hardware in the historic Three Arts Club, which featured six floors of home furnishings and a gorgeous café setting.  Rush on over, ASAP.

To plan your own Chicago Stay-Cation, go to Choosechicago.com

The post Staycation Ideas: 12 Things to Do On a Staycation in Chicago appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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On Tuesday, Mike Battaglia will set the Kentucky Derby morning line for the 48^th consecutive year. He told the Louisville Courier Journal last week that he had Essential Quality as the likely favorite at “around 3-1 or 7-2.”

Cue Eddie Olczyk: “Stop it right there.”

Olczyk, the Blackhawks analyst and horse racing handicapper, is leaning toward a different horse in the 147^th Run for the Roses on May 1.

“If the Derby was tomorrow, I would be in the direction of Known Agenda,” said Olczyk, who will be on the NBC broadcast from Churchill Downs and recently extended his partnership with the betting and handicapping platform 1/ST BET. “He won the Florida Derby and seems to be coming into his own since he put blinkers on.

“[Essential Quality] won the Breeders’ Cup last year, has been perfect so far. The only concern I have is that [April 3] in the Blue Grass, I don’t wanna say he was all out, but he was all O-U- in trying to win that race. Can he bounce back? I just wonder how much that took out of him that would have an effect going a mile and a quarter at Churchill.”

Skeptics might think Olczyk likes Known Agenda because of the hockey connection – the horse is owned by Vinnie and Teresa Viola, who own the Florida Panthers. But that’s irrelevant.

“The race to me, at least right now, is setting up for a horse that can be tactical, can be relatively close and has the ability to accelerate,” Olczyk said. “Obviously, depending on what happens between now and then and the weather and post position, I’ll be building a lot of my plays with Known Agenda.”

Olczyk also is eyeing Essential Quality, Rock the World and Sainthood and figures to bet those four horses in some fashion. But he likes Known Agenda’s potential value most.

“I think you get every bit of north of 5-1, maybe 6-1 if Known Agenda’s the third choice,” Olczyk said, “because I would feel a lot of the experts and wise guys will be looking at that number and going, Wow, that’s a pretty good number to be betting on an undefeated horse and a horse that’s got so much class.”

Olczyk has handicapped for NBC since 2014, and his relationship with 1/ST BET dates to 1996, when he became a client. He began working with the company in 2013, providing picks, insights and wagering strategies.

“The [1/ST BET] app is another resource to put in certain information,” Olczyk said. “You could set up your own formula on what you like, and it spits out the horses that have the best percentage of what you asked for. I rely on the eye test, but getting up to speed and gathering more information off the app helps me make decisions.”

His Kentucky Derby decisions can change before race day. Check back in a week for the latest from Olczyk.

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A lawsuit alleging excessive force has been filed against two Evanston police officers shown on bodycam video struggling with a man in a parking lot and using a Taser on him, causing him to hit his head against a curb.

Ronald Louden says police had no reason to approach him in the 2100 block of Wesley Avenue in June of 2018.

“Without cause or provocation, (the officers) forcibly handcuffed Mr. Louden, tased him in the back twice, and smashed him face-first into a cement parking curb,” the amended lawsuit states.

But the city of Evanston said in a statement Thursday the officers were responding to a report of a man with a gun, and found a loaded weapon in Louden’s car.

“Mr. Louden refused to oblige officers’ verbal requests and did not comply with subsequent verbal commands to step away from a vehicle where he had a loaded gun inside,” the city said. “He then resisted physical restraint.”

It noted that Louden later pleaded guilty to having the gun.

Louden says he was outside grilling for family and friends when the officers approached him. A grill and a blue cooler on wheels can be seen in the police video as the officers walk up to Louden on the passenger side of a white Lexus. Music is playing from the car.

One of the officers asks Louden why he was reaching into the car, and he responds that he was going to roll up the window.

When Louden protests that he was doing nothing wrong, an officer in the video says, “We talked about this Ronald, this is a problem area.” The officer mentions he has arrested Louden before.

Louden dials 911, telling the officers, “I’m scared. . .I want them to hear me.” After reaching a dispatcher, he says, “I’m about to die, y’all.”

The officers press Louden against the car and try to handcuff him as Louden struggles, according to the police footage. One of the officers repeatedly yells at him, “Roland, stop. Stop, Ronald. I’m going to taze you.”

The officer fires his Taser and Louden falls to the pavement, appearing to hit his head against a curb. Officers continue to struggle with him while trying to pick him up and a Taser is used again, according to the video.

The police footage ends there. According to the lawsuit, officers placed a spit mask over Louden’s face as he bled from the fall, making it difficult to breathe.

Officers also shackled him to a gurney and attempted to search him for drugs as he cried out for help, the suit states.

Louden was held at the Evanston police station for over two days with untreated injuries to the mouth, teeth, face, neck, shoulders and back, the complaint said.

The lawsuit notes that Louden has bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the incident has caused him “severe emotional distress.”

In its statement, Evanston said Louden “was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he received treatment for injuries sustained while resisting officers.”

“Mr. Louden was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon as a result of the interaction depicted, and he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years ,” it added.

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JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Thursday that a Syrian missile that reached deep into Israeli territory and set off air raid sirens near the country’s top-secret nuclear reactor was the result of a misfire and not a deliberate attack.

The missile landed in southern Israel early Thursday, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes on the missile launcher and other targets in Syria.

The army’s chief spokesman, Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, was quoted as telling military correspondents that the Israeli air force was already operating in Syrian airspace when the anti-aircraft missile was fired. He said the projectile, identified as a Russian-made SA-5 missile, missed its target and flew some 200 miles before exploding in southern Israel.

The missile, also known as an S200, set off air raid sirens in a village just a few miles from Dimona, the southern desert town where Israel’s nuclear reactor is located.

“There was no intention of hitting the nuclear reactor in Dimona,” Zilberman was quoted as saying.

An Israeli missile-defense system tried but failed to intercept the incoming missile. Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the incident was under investigation.

In recent years, Israel has repeatedly launched air strikes at Syria, including at military targets linked to foes Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, both allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Such strikes routinely draw Syrian anti-aircraft fire. Thursday’s exchange was unusual because the Syrian projectile landed deep inside Israel.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said the exchange began with an Israeli air strike on Dumeir, a suburb of the capital, Damascus. Dumeir is believed to house Syrian army installations and batteries as well as bases and weapons depots belonging to Iran-backed militias. SANA said four soldiers were wounded.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitoring group based in Britain that tracks Syria’s civil war, said the Israeli strikes hit an air defense base belonging to the Syrian military and destroyed air defense batteries in the area. It said the Syrian military fired surface-to-air missiles in response.

Syrian media made no mention of an anti-aircraft missile landing deep inside Israel.

The air raid sirens were sounded in Abu Krinat, a village near Dimona. Explosions heard across Israel might have been the air-defense systems.

Apparent missile fragments were found in a swimming pool in Ashalim, a community approximately 20 miles southwest of Dimona. Israeli troops arrived at the scene and collected the fragments. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

The exchange between Israel and Syria comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between Israel and Iran, which maintains troops and proxies in Syria. Iran has accused Israel of a series of attacks on its nuclear facilities, including sabotage at its Natanz nuclear facility on April 11, and vowed revenge.

The exchange of fire also threatened to complicate U.S.-led attempts to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran, to which Israel is deeply opposed.

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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

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Victoria C. Kelly

Victoria C. Kelly has attracted attention for her work as a litigator and in alternative family law dispute, sharing her mindful and family-centered approach with Chicagoland families. Kelly is a partner and award-winning family law attorney with Grunyk Family Law. She takes great pride in navigating her clients through complicated family law issues and loves a challenging case that requires her to think of an innovative resolution.

“Regardless of the approach, whether litigation or settlement, I believe in a dignified approach to your case. As a family law attorney, your family’s happiness is important to me.” In addition to her work with Grunyk Family Law, Kelly will be seated this May as the 36th president of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.

200 E. 5th Ave., Suite 125,
Naperville, IL 60563
630-428-3300
grunyklaw.com

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Fleet Feet Chicago

The owner and five store managers, different running experiences. One “heart pumping” bursting common thread, a deep passion for running. Fleet Feet has gone the distance to empower women, founded in 1976 by two powerful women, Sally Edwards and Elizabeth Jansen, to 1996 with Chicago owner Lisa Zimmer to now with these influential leaders throughout Fleet Feet Chicagoland. Whether you are completing your 100th marathon or just stepping out the door for your first run, these leaders have the knowledge, joy and experience to get you to the starting line of your next goal. This group is leading the pack and pushing the pace in a traditionally male dominated running industry. It’s all part of reaching the top of the hill and propelling the industry forward. 

Old Town • Lincoln Square • South Loop
Lakeview • Elmhurst • Deetrfield • Oak Park
fleetfeetchicago.com

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Women to Watch – Chicago Magazine

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