One person has been killed and at least 22 others wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend.

Sunday morning, a man shot dead and another critically wounded in a shooting in Roseland on the South Side.

A 31-year-old man was arguing with two people about 1:30 a.m. in the 200 block of West 108th Street when one person fired multiple shots at him, Chicago police said.

He suffered 14 gunshot wounds to the upper body and was transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

A 45-year-old man tried to intervene and was also shot, police said.

He suffered two gunshot wounds to the chest and was taken to the same hospital in critical condition, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet released information on the fatality.

Saturday night, a 24-year-old man was critically hurt in a shooting in West Town.

About 7:25 p.m., he was standing in an alley in the 2000 block of West Maypole Avenue, when he was approached by a man who pulled out a gun and fired several shots at him, police said.

He was struck once in the abdomen and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Saturday morning, a person was shot on the Kennedy Expressway in Avondale on the North Side.

The person was shot about 6:35 a.m. as he drove south on Interstate 90 near Belmont Avenue, Illinois State Police said. He was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were thought to be non-life-threatening.

A 25-year-old man was critically hurt in a shooting over an hour earlier in Cragin on the Northwest Side.

About 5:15 a.m., the man was in the 5000 block of West Deming Place when someone fired shots, police said. He was struck in the abdomen and taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition.

Earlier Saturday, a 29-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in the Loop.

The man was a passenger in a vehicle about 3:30 a.m. on Lower Wacker Drive when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He was shot in the knee and taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

Another man was critically wounded in a shooting Friday night in Roseland on the Far South Side.

The shooting happened about 10:05 p.m. in the 10400 block of South Corliss Avenue, according to police. The 29-year-old man brought himself to Roseland Hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was listed in critical condition.

In the weekend’s earliest reported shooting, a man was seriously hurt in a shooting Friday night in Austin on the West Side.

The 54-year-old was standing near a home about 7:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Mason Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain, police said.

He was struck in the leg and taken to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, police said. He was listed in serious condition.

At least 14 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday.

Thirty-six people were shot, 4 fatally, last weekend in Chicago.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

Read More

LONDON — Britain is planning to test a series of measures including “coronavirus status certifications” over the coming weeks to see if they can allow people to safely return to mass gatherings at sports arenas, nightclubs and concerts.

People attending a range of events this month and in May, including a club night and key FA Cup soccer matches, will need to be tested both before and after. The trials will also gather evidence on how ventilation and different approaches to social distancing could enable large events to go ahead.

Officials are also developing plans to test out COVID-19 passports that are expected to show if a person has received a vaccine, has recently tested negative for the virus, or has some immunity due to having had coronavirus in the previous six months.

The issue of vaccine passports has been a hotly debated topic around the world, including in the United States and Israel. The question is how much governments, employers, venues and other places have a right to know about a person’s virus status. Many disagree over what the right balance is between a person’s right to medical privacy and the collective right of people in groups not to be infected with a dangerous disease by others.

Some critics also say such vaccine passports will enable discrimination against poor people and impoverished nations that do not have ready access to vaccines.

Authorities in Britain have said the passes could involve the use of an app or paper certificates for those who don’t have access to the digital option.

But U.K. Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston stressed to reporters that “the earliest pilots almost certainly won’t involve any elements of certification” but will involve testing before and after the events. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out more details about the coronavirus passports on Monday.

“We are doing everything we can to enable the reopening of our country so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible, and these reviews will play an important role in allowing this to happen,” Johnson said.

Dozens of British lawmakers, including some from Johnson’s own Conservative Party, have opposed the plans.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who has led the task force responsible for drawing up the plans, acknowledged that vaccine passports raised “a host of practical and ethical questions” which needed to be resolved before any wider rollout.

Officials said the trial events include the FA Cup semi-final at London’s Wembley Stadium later this month with a crowd of 4,000 in a stadium that seats 90,000, and the event’s final on May 15, with a crowd of 21,000.

Other upcoming trial events include the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, central England; a club night at a warehouse and a comedy club event in Liverpool; and three marathon races involving thousands of runners.

The news about the trials came as U.K. businesses including pubs, restaurants, nonessential shops and hairdressers prepared to welcome back customers as restrictions ease in England. Officials say 47% of the country’s population has had a first vaccine dose and more than 5 million people in the U.K. have received their second shot.

Johnson’s government is also expected to set out its approach to easing restrictions on international travel next week. Media reports say when Britain’s current ban on foreign holidays is lifted, a risk-based traffic light system with ratings for countries around the world will be introduced and travellers will be required to quarantine accordingly.

More details are to be unveiled when a government task force on global travel reports on April 12. The government has said that international vacation travel cannot take place until mid-May at the earliest.

Last week the U.K. added four more nations to its red list of countries from which travel is banned except for U.K. citizens and those with residency rights. By April 9, the U.K. red list will be up to 39 countries. It aims to prevent more virus variants — especially ones first detected in Brazil and South Africa — from getting into the U.K.

Despite Britain’s success on the vaccination front, it still has the highest reported COVID-19 death toll in Europe at around 127,000 deaths.

Infections have come down significantly in Britain. The government on Sunday reported only 2,297 confirmed new daily cases and 10 additional deaths. That compares to nearly 70,000 daily new cases and up to 1,800 daily COVID-19 deaths in January.

The latest figures were likely lower than expected because of a lag in reporting over the Easter weekend.

Read More

Latest

2,839 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois as Cook County faces ‘the beginning of another surge’

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

A troubling rise in COVID-19 cases across the Chicago area and the rest of Illinois means another coronavirus “clamp-down” could soon be in store for businesses in suburban Cook County, officials warned Saturday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,839 new cases of the deadly respiratory disease were diagnosed across the state, raising Illinois’ average testing positivity rate to 3.8%. That figure has almost doubled in just three weeks.

Hospitals statewide have seen a 32% increase in COVID-19 patients over that period, with 1,426 beds occupied Friday night.

And with about 600 people testing positive in Cook County each day — most of them young adults — suburban cases have more than doubled over the past month, according to Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-lead and senior medical officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health.

“We are in the beginnings of another surge now,” Rubin said during a virtual news conference. “Maybe this is as high as we’ll go, and maybe it’ll level out and go down. We can’t say. It’s very very hard to predict. But that’s one of the reasons we’re pushing out vaccine as quickly as we get it.”

The state reported its second-most productive vaccination day yet with 145,315 doses administered Friday. At a rolling average of 110,057 shots given per day, Illinois is vaccinating more people than ever — but still, only 18.2% of the population have been fully immunized.

Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.

News

1:26 p.m. UK to test series of measures to determine if people can return to mass gatherings

LONDON — Britain is planning to test a series of measures including “coronavirus status certifications” over the coming weeks to see if they can allow people to safely return to mass gatherings at sports arenas, nightclubs and concerts.

People attending a range of events this month and in May, including a club night and key FA Cup soccer matches, will need to be tested both before and after. The trials will also gather evidence on how ventilation and different approaches to social distancing could enable large events to go ahead.

Officials are also developing plans to test out COVID-19 passports that are expected to show if a person has received a vaccine, has recently tested negative for the virus, or has some immunity due to having had coronavirus in the previous six months.

The issue of vaccine passports has been a hotly debated topic around the world, including in the United States and Israel. The question is how much governments, employers, venues and other places have a right to know about a person’s virus status. Many disagree over what the right balance is between a person’s right to medical privacy and the collective right of people in groups not to be infected with a dangerous disease by others.

Read the full story here.

9:05 a.m. From child care to COVID-19, rising job market faces obstacles

WASHINGTON — A surge in hiring in the United States last month — 916,000 added jobs, the most since August — coincides with growing confidence that a blistering pace of job growth will continue as vaccinations increase and federal aid fuels economic growth.

The most optimistic economists even predict that between now and year’s end, the nation could produce as many as 10 million more jobs and restore the labor market to its pre-pandemic level.

Maybe so. Yet even in normal times, it would be hard to regain all those jobs so quickly. And these aren’t normal times.

Many people who’ve been thrown out of the labor force remain fearful of the coronavirus and reluctant to take face-to-face service jobs. Millions of women are still caring for children attending school online — and can’t take jobs because they can’t find or afford child care.

Extended unemployment aid has meant that some employers might have to pay more to attract workers, which they may feel unable to do. And some people will need new skills before they can land a job to replace the one they lost.

While few doubt that the trillions in federal money flowing through the economy will help accelerate hiring, the challenges are sure to endure. Here’s a look at some of them:

Read more here.

New Cases & Vaccination Numbers

• The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,839 new cases of the deadly respiratory disease were diagnosed across the state.
• The state reported 13 more COVID-19 deaths, including that of a Cook County woman in her 40s.
• Illinois’ pandemic death toll is up to 21,361, among almost 1.3 million who have tested positive over the past year.
• Public health officials announced Friday that more than 6 million COVID-19 vaccinations have now gone into Illinois arms.

Read More

Wheaton North and Lake Forest join for the first time this season and Phillips is back after a season-opening win.

New additions to the Super 25

Wheaton North: This was an easy call. The Falcons are unbeaten and take the spot of crosstown rival Wheaton Warrenville South after knocking them off on Saturday.

Lake Forest: The Scouts are unbeaten with wins against Lake Zurich, Libertyville and Mundelein.

Phillips: Clearly a bit rusty in the season opener, but the potential is there.

Dropping out

Prairie Ridge (2-1): When in doubt I rank Fox Valley teams. The top tier of the conference is so good. But the upset loss to Crystal Lake Central knocks the Wolves out for now.

Wheaton Warrenville South (2-1): This is another team that could play its way back in over the next couple of weeks. Especially considering it will get to play in the DuKane playoff setup.

Fremd (2-1): The Vikings fall out after losing to Palatine.

Week 4’s Super 25

With record and last week’s ranking

1. Loyola (3-0) 1

No game scheduled

2. Lincoln-Way East (3-0) 2

Friday at Lockport

3. Batavia (3-0) 4

Friday vs. Wheaton Warrenville South

4. St. Rita (2-1) 6

Friday at Marian Catholic

5. Mount Carmel (2-1) 8

Friday at De La Salle

6. Marist (2-1) 3

Saturday at No. 11 Nazareth

7. Glenbard West (2-0) 5

Saturday vs. Lyons

8. Naperville Central (3-0) 7

Saturday at No. 20 DeKalb

9. Warren (3-0) 10

Friday vs. Lake Zurich

10. Maine South (3-0) 12

Friday at Glenbrook South

11. Nazareth (2-0) 11

Saturday vs. No. 5 Marist

12. Hinsdale Central (3-0) 14

Friday at Proviso West

13. Joliet Catholic (3-0) 16

Friday at Carmel

14. Brother Rice (1-2) 9

Friday at St. Laurence

15. Oswego (3-0) 17

Friday at Oswego East

16. Wheaton North (3-0) NR

Friday at St. Charles North

17. Huntley (3-0) 20

Friday at Dundee-Crown

18. Barrington (3-0) 21

Friday vs. Fremd

19. Cary-Grove (1-0) 18

Friday vs. Prairie Ridge

20. DeKalb (2-0) 25

Saturday vs. No. 8 Naperville Central

21. Hillcrest (3-0) 24

Friday vs. TF North

22. Neuqua Valley (1-0) 22

Saturday vs. Waubonsie Valley

23. Simeon (2-0) 23

Friday vs. Morgan Park

24. Lake Forest (3-0) NR

Friday at Zion-Benton

25. Phillips (1-0) NR

Saturday vs. Lincoln Park

Read More

Public League problems, big wins for Lockport and Crystal Lake Central and appreciating Kyle Franklin and Batavia’s Urwilers.

The challenges facing Public League football are well-documented. Most stem from financial disparities between Chicago Public Schools and their suburban and private counterparts.

There aren’t enough coaches, equipment or practice fields for the average Public League school to field a competitive program.

The pandemic has dealt another significant blow to Public League football. The schools weren’t allowed all the contact days and practices that other schools had over the last year. And CPS high school kids still aren’t attending school in person, which has made gathering players for practice or anything at all a challenge.

To put it plainly, the Public League players are out of shape and months of practice behind everyone else.

That showed in Taft’s 37-0 loss to visiting Crystal Lake South on Saturday. The Eagles are one of the best-coached and most capable programs in the Public League and they couldn’t manage to score against a Fox Valley team that came in winless.

Phillips was clearly rusty in its season-opening win and many CPS schools have totally opted out of the football season. In many ways it is just a lost year for CPS sports, even the high-profile basketball teams averaged less than nine games during the season.

There is one positive on the horizon. It seems likely that CPS will start school in August instead of the traditional post-Labor Day start. That would be a major boon for Public League football programs, which usually have to begin the season before school starts, making it difficult to find players.

Streak breakers

There were two eye-opening scores this weekend. High school football is terribly predictable, so anything that goes against the long-established pecking order is welcome.

Lockport beat Bolingbrook 42-14. The result was as surprising as the margin. The Porters (2-1) haven’t beaten the Raiders (1-2) since 2015.

Lockport did it on the ground, led by Andrew LoPresti’s 152 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

There’s a name to watch for Bolingbrook. Freshman wide receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson was tremendous in the season opener at Lincoln-Way East with nine catches for 82 yards. He had nine catches for 163 yards on Saturday against the Porters.

The other major upset was up north. Crystal Lake Central beat perennial power Prairie Ridge 14-13 in overtime. It’s the Tigers first win against Prairie Ridge since 2012.

Quarterback Colton Madura had a massive game with 25 carries for 119 yards, 140 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Kyle Franklin update

IC Catholic running back Kyle Franklin has been one of the area’s dynamic stars for several seasons. He doesn’t get quite the attention that he deserves due to playing for a small school.

The Indiana State recruit was back at it this weekend. He gained 141 yards on just 11 carries in a lopsided win against St. Edward. Franklin scored four touchdowns.

Keep an eye on Franklin the next few weeks. There isn’t a runaway Player of the Year favorite this season and Franklin certainly has put together a career worthy of consideration.

Urwiler time

What a run it’s been for the Urwiler brothers at Batavia. Quinn Urwiler, now at North Dakota was a Player of the Year contender that did it all for the Bulldogs.

His brother Trey is continuing the tradition this season. Trey Urwiler, who already played receiver, running back and kick returner for the Bulldogs, stepped in at quarterback this week in the 42-0 win against rival Geneva.

Urwiler ran for two touchdowns and threw for one. He replaced Kyle Oroni, who went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2.

Read More

Just N

• About

Healthy Alternatives For Your Easter Basket

Tweet

By Nekia Nichelle,
today at 9:58 am

Leave the cavities to the Easter Bunny, Lifestyle expert Nekia Nichelle has some yummy and healthy swaps for the kiddies this year (even the adults can enjoy them too). These swaps are so delicious that the kiddies will never know the difference.   

[embedded content]

BELLIWELLI

In the U.S. alone, over 70% of the adult population suffers from some form of gut trouble—something our founder Katie knows all too well. After six colonoscopies, four endoscopies, and twenty-six rounds of antibiotics, Katie found she was more interested in treats than treatment.

Tired of wading through labels and consulting with doctors, Katie just wanted to enjoy food without fear. A chef in shining armor, her husband Nick spent countless late nights in the kitchen crafting a gut-friendly treat she could eat without worrying about the consequences—they call it BelliWelli.

IMPACT SNACKS

Over 1 billion single-use snacks are eaten and discarded every single day, and while undeniably tasty, this creates an enormous waste pileup directly harming the spaceship we all call home.

Impact Snack is 100% plant-based snacking (including packaging)Impact reporting: using stories to cultivate powerful decision-making makes the good decision easy by reclaiming 250% more carbon than they produce per product.

Need a healthy swap for chips or beverages? Head on over to a local health food store that provides an array of healthy food brands.

Also, let’s not forget the “people with fur babies”, there are several business owners that provide healthy food alternatives for your pets too. Whatever you decide to fill your Easter Baskets with, just make sure it’s filled with love, and have a Happy Easter!

Filed under:
Uncategorized

Tags:
belliwelli, Easter Basket, easter basket diy, easter basket haul, easter basket ideas, easter basket ideas 2021, easter baskets 2020, easter baskets 2021, easter bunny, easter egg hunt, healthy easter basket, impact snacks, Lifestyle Expert, Lifestyle segment

Tweet

• Advertisement:

• Advertisement:

• 
  

  Welcome to ChicagoNow.

  Meet
  our bloggers,
  
  post comments, or
  
  pitch your blog idea.

  Sign in
  Pitch your idea
  Play games

• This Just N:

Get Updates on Celebrity Interviews, trendy Beauty & Fashion Tips, and coverage of Live Events

Meet The Blogger

Nekia Nichelle

Nekia Nichelle is a digital and broadcast journalist covering entertainment, lifestyle, beauty, and pinch of fashion.

As a contributing blogger for ChicagoNow, she has interviewed celebrities such as John Legend, Halle Berry, Jenny McCarthy, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Katie Couric, and more.

Nekia’s background in journalism includes working as an on-air traffic reporter for iHeart Radio & News Anchor for ABC/FOX affiliate.

Stay social with her on:
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat: @NekiaNichelle
Facebook Fan Page: @IamNekiaNichelle

Tweets by @NekiaNichelle

Facebook

Latest on ChicagoNow

• The new boss is still the same as the old boss: Who’s Next and Won’t Get Fooled Again fifty years later

  from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
  posted today at 10:19 am

• Healthy Alternatives For Your Easter Basket

  from Just N by Nekia Nichelle
  posted today at 9:58 am

• 3 things we learned: Western Illinois savors first win of unique spring football season

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Barry Bottino
  posted today at 12:17 am

• The Week in Chicago Craft Beer, April 5-8

  from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
  posted today at 12:10 am

• 3 things we learned: Jacksonville State clips EIU Panthers in final OVC Charleston appearance

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Dan Verdun
  posted Saturday at 4:42 pm

Posts from related blogs

• 

  The Beeronaut

  Most recent post: The Week in Chicago Craft Beer, April 5-8

• 

  Show Me Chicago

  Most recent post: Sable Hotel opens on Navy Pier

• 

  Candid Candace

  Most recent post: We got our first Covid-19 shot and this is what happened

More from Entertainment: Nightlife

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

• 

  Cubs Den

  Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
  • Game Post 4/3
• 

  Pets in need of homes

  Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
  • Migaloo — Petraits Rescue
• 

  Hammervision

  It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
  • Movie Review: Nomadland

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

• 

  Candace Jordan

  from Candid Candace:
  We got our first Covid-19 shot and this is what happened
• 

  Dennis Byrne

  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor:
  The case for reparations
• 

  LeaGrover

  from Becoming SuperMommy:
  Grieving Love with Intention

Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

• About ChicagoNow
• •
• FAQs
• •
• Advertise
• •
• Recent posts RSS
• •
• Privacy policy (Updated)
• •
• Comment policy
• •
• Terms of service
• •
• Chicago Tribune Archives
• •
• Do not sell my personal info

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

• About
• Subscribe by Email
• Beatles
• Music
• Parkinson’s Awareness Month
• Faces of Homelessness
• Gallery Week

The new boss is still the same as the old boss: Who’s Next and Won’t Get Fooled Again fifty years later

Tweet

By Howard Moore,
today at 10:19 am

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

The first time I heard those words was in the summer of 1971. I was working a summer job after my freshman year in college. Someone had the office radio tuned to an fm station. I didn’t know what the song was but it certainly caught my attention. By the end of the day it had been played a few more times.

The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” was seared into my brain. It’s stayed there for the following fifty years.

1971 was a year filled with turbulence. We were still recovering from the events of the 1960’s. We were now dealing with Richard Nixon, Vietnam and nationwide protests. Watergate was right around the corner. The youth of America wanted/needed change, but who? Who was worthy of our trust? Would the next leader be any better or would their words and promises be just as empty?

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

This anthem had everything that made it so relevant in 1971. Besides the lyrics that fit the scene, there was Pete Townshend’s guitar and driving, pounding of Keith Moon’s drums. Both went right through your body. It was a song you could listen to over and over again without burnout. It was a perfect song for an imperfect time.

After those first few hearings, I needed to have the album. I ran immediately to my local record store, only to find out the album had yet to be released. I returned the next day and the day after and the day after that. I became such a pest that the store owner told me he’d called when the album came in. It took a few weeks but I finally received that call. “Who’s Next” became a major part of my record collection. It’s stayed that way ever since.

The rest of the album is almost as stunning. The synthesizer intro to “Baba O’Riley” draws you in immediately. The song is so intense that when it ends you need to hear it again just to validate your feelings. But you move ahead and find more classic tunes. Other highlights include “Bargain”, John Entwistle’s “My Wife” and “Behind Blue Eyes.” It’s forty-three minutes of classic rock that sounds as great in 2021 as it did when it was released in 1971. In a year that produced so many great albums, “Who’s Next” more than holds its own.

But like it did fifty years ago, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” stands on its own. In an era where our country and its politics are so divided, we’re still looking for that leadership that we can believe in. We’re looking for that one person that we can trust and move us forward to a better place. Usually we end up disappointed. Sadly, we did get fooled again.

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

Related Post: Stairway to Heaven is still legendary, but what about the rest of Led Zeppelin IV fifty years later?

Type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

Filed under:
Entertainment:: Music, Music, Pop Music

Tags:
John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Peter Townshend, Roger Daltrey, The Who, Who's Next, Won't Get Fooled Again

Tweet

• Advertisement:

• Advertisement:

• 
  

  Welcome to ChicagoNow.

  Meet
  our bloggers,
  
  post comments, or
  
  pitch your blog idea.

  Sign in
  Pitch your idea
  Play games

• Meet The Blogger

  

  Howard Moore

  My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
  I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
  It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
  I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
  Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.

• Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Facebook

Tweets by @howardmoore611

Tags

• Donald Trump (197)
• Parkinson”s Disease (50)
• Coronavirus (34)
• Chicago Cubs (31)
• Paul McCartney (24)
• John Lennon (24)
• Cancer (23)
• Melanoma (22)
• Covid-19 (21)
• Mike Pence (20)

Show more tags »

Categories

• Music (344)
• Wellness (306)
• News (270)
• Health (238)
• Satire (191)
• humor (175)
• Uncategorized (165)
• Parkinsons (153)
• Pop Music (143)
• Entertainment:: Music (106)

Show more categories »

Latest on ChicagoNow

• The new boss is still the same as the old boss: Who’s Next and Won’t Get Fooled Again fifty years later

  from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
  posted today at 10:19 am

• Healthy Alternatives For Your Easter Basket

  from Just N by Nekia Nichelle
  posted today at 9:58 am

• 3 things we learned: Western Illinois savors first win of unique spring football season

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Barry Bottino
  posted today at 12:17 am

• The Week in Chicago Craft Beer, April 5-8

  from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
  posted today at 12:10 am

• 3 things we learned: Jacksonville State clips EIU Panthers in final OVC Charleston appearance

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Dan Verdun
  posted Saturday at 4:42 pm

Posts from related blogs

• 

  Spiritual and Physical Wellness

  Most recent post: Should You Monitor Your Saturated Fat Intake?

• 

  Improv Class For The Soul

  Most recent post: CHOOSE PROGRESS

• 

  Say What?

  Most recent post: When Is It Time To Replace Hearing Aids?

More from Lifestyle: Wellness

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

• 

  Cubs Den

  Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
  • Game Post 4/3
• 

  Pets in need of homes

  Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
  • Migaloo — Petraits Rescue
• 

  Hammervision

  It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
  • Movie Review: Nomadland

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

• 

  Candace Jordan

  from Candid Candace:
  We got our first Covid-19 shot and this is what happened
• 

  Dennis Byrne

  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor:
  The case for reparations
• 

  LeaGrover

  from Becoming SuperMommy:
  Grieving Love with Intention

Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

• About ChicagoNow
• •
• FAQs
• •
• Advertise
• •
• Recent posts RSS
• •
• Privacy policy (Updated)
• •
• Comment policy
• •
• Terms of service
• •
• Chicago Tribune Archives
• •
• Do not sell my personal info

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $47,000 from about 400 donors. Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons donated $5,000.

A legendary stagehand who has worked for decades in the Chicago independent music scene will get a second chance at a new smile, and maybe even help others out in the process.

Jolly Roger, whose real name is Chris Shaw, has toured with acts such as Ministry, Ozzy Osbourne, Cheap Trick and the Pixies. Chances are, you’ve run into this one-man concert-producing machine. He’s worked for Jam Productions, a Chicago-based concert promotion company that hosts shows at the Vic, Riviera Theatre and Aragon Ballroom for over 40 years.

Health care benefits such as dental insurance aren’t something 73-year-old Roger had access to throughout his career. Over the decades he’s had to have teeth pulled because he “did some things wrong” — like smoking for 45 years. He kicked the habit 18 years ago, but he’s now down to four teeth.

“I can’t eat nuts, can’t eat apples unless they’ve been cut up. My daughter keeps trying to feed me kale,” Roger said, chuckling. “Not because of anything other than there’s no way to chew it.”

Provided

Though Roger was initially hesitant, Geno Byrnes, one of Roger’s friends, persuaded him to create a GoFundMe campaign to pay for his dental work. They said the page reached $20,000 on its first day.

“He’s been in the industry since the ’70s. I met him in 1978,” Byrnes said. “There’s so many bands and people he’s worked with from when they were unknown. He’s beloved.”

Created on March 21, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $47,000 from close to 400 donors. Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons donated $5,000 to the cause. Most of the donations are coming from Roger’s colleagues in the industry, other stagehands, producers and sound and lighting technicians.

Byrnes said it’s hard to forget Roger because of his size — he stands at 6-foot-8 and at one point weighed 300 pounds — and his caring nature.

“He’s a big man with a booming voice and a big heart. He loves helping the little guy, giving people a second chance,” Byrnes said. “He knows a lot of famous people, but I told him, ‘I think it’s the people you’ve worked with over the years who are going to come together and do this. There’s a lot of people you’ve helped over the years, and I think you’re going to get a little payback.’ And I was right.”

Jolly Roger’s nickname started in high school when classmates began calling him “Jolly” after the Jolly Green Giant. The second name, Roger, came from an unexpected source.

“Gene Simmons (of the band KISS) gave me that name,” Jolly said. “He said, ‘From now on, you’re Jolly Roger.’ And it’s been that way ever since.”

Roger’s dental implants will cost about $40,000. Roger and Byrnes said any money left over will be donated to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 2 of Chicago.

“It’s going to go back to the people who are out of work — the concert industry and the convention industry. They’ve been out of work for 13 months, and they’re dead in the water. He’s giving it back to the people who have helped him, so it’s a full circle,” Byrnes said.

As for the dental work itself, Roger said he’s ready for a new smile.

“That’s the part I’m going to find interesting, is if it’s going to change my looks,” he said. “I know it won’t make me look any better; let’s hope it doesn’t make me look worse.”

Read More

Notes after the Chicago Bulls suffered another tough loss to the Utah Jazz by Ryan Taylor

The Chicago Bears did what some of us expected them to do this offseason.

They underwhelmed once again at the quarterback position. Sure the rumors about the Bears potentially trading for Russell Wilson existed but Chicago instead landed Andy Dalton.

When speaking with the media on Friday, Pace doubled down on Dalton as the Bears starter for 2021. However, history tells us a different story about how much the Bears really believe in Dalton.

Don’t believe Ryan Pace about the Chicago Bears quarterback situation.

History tells us a different story. Five offseason’s ago, Chicago signed Mike Glennon to a three-year deal but then nearly a month later drafted Mitchell Trubisky. At the time, Pace doubled down again, saying that Chicago believed in Glennon and that he was the starter, despite Trubisky waiting in the wings.

Sure the Bears situation has changed compared to 2017. Five years ago, Chicago was in the middle of a rebuild, with the Pace and the Bears have enough salary cap space and draft capital to be able to make a number of moves. Essentially, the Bears were a young team on the rise.

Circumstances can change quickly in the NFL. Now, the Bears have an aging defense and arguably an offense with a number of questions. Combine that with a limited number of resources in the 2021 NFL Draft and it’s clear that Chicago has little room for error.

It’s difficult to see the Bears heading into 2021 with only Dalton as the starter. Veteran Nick Foles will likely be on the roster as well, which means that unless Chicago plans to have a QB room consisting of Dalton and Foles, a rookie quarterback is likely on the way.

When asked about the possibility of drafting a quarterback, Pace didn’t totally brush off the idea, however, he didn’t fully commit to the idea either. That means either a rookie quarterback is on the way or isn’t on the way.

There have also been times where Pace saves his splash moves for the NFL Draft. Considering the Bears have taken a conservative approach to the offseason where they’ve made a number of smaller signings to beef up roster depth, its quite likely that Pace is saving his biggest move for the NFL Draft.

Next: Chicago Bears: Should you buy into the Kellen Mond hype?

For now, Dalton will be the Bears starter to open the 2021 season but the Bears haven’t mentioned how long Dalton will be the starter for, which just means Pace clearly has a bigger move on the way.

Read More

Six people were hurt in a crash early Sunday on Lake Shore Drive near Belmont Avenue on the North Side.

A driver, traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control and rolled over into a tree after 4 a.m. near Belmont Avenue, according to Chicago fire officials.

Six people were hospitalized, all with non-life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash, according to Chicago police.

Authorities have not yet released additional details.

Read More