Shooting at Colorado supermarket leaves several people dead: policeon March 23, 2021 at 1:10 am

BOULDER, Colo. — Police say multiple people were killed in a shooting at a Colorado supermarket, including a police officer.

Boulder police Cmdr. Kerry Yamaguchi said at a news conference Monday that a person of interest is in custody and is being treated. He didn’t give more details on how many people were killed or other details about the shooting.

He said they’re still investigating and didn’t have details on a motive.

A man who had just left the store in Boulder, Dean Schiller, told The Associated Press that he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he “couldn’t tell if they were breathing.”

Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the King Soopers store and two more outside on the ground, but the extent of their injuries wasn’t clear. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video.

Officers escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs and an ambulance pulled away from the store.

One person was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. Sheehan said he could not provide additional details but did say that “we have been notified we will not be receiving any additional patients.”

Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters were on the roof in the city that’s home to the University of Colorado and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver.

Some windows at the front of the store were broken. Authorities over a loudspeaker said the building was surrounded and that “you need to surrender.” They said to come out with hands up and unarmed.

Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then “we just ran.”

Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body.

“I knew we couldn’t do anything for the guy,” he said. “We had to go.”

James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops.

“I was then at the front of a stampede,” he said.

Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his “heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community.” He called it “very much an active situation” and said the state was “making every public safety resource available to assist the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department as they work to secure the store.”

Boulder police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an “armed, dangerous individual” about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the grocery store but later lifted it and police vehicles were seen leaving the residential area near downtown and the University of Colorado. They had said they were investigating if that report was related to the shooting at the supermarket but haven’t released any more information.

The FBI said it’s helping in the investigation at the request of Boulder police.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting.

In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered “thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation.”

Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away.

Shooting at Colorado supermarket leaves several people dead: policeon March 23, 2021 at 1:10 am Read More »

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 23, 2021 at 1:17 am

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday said the $35 million he funneled into his campaign fund doesn’t signal the start of a pricy battle to retain elected office, but rather is a “preventative measure” to protect against Republican attacks on the “Democratic agenda.”

But one Republican vying for the chance to become the next governor said it’s typical of Pritzker, whose “answer to everything is raising taxes and throwing money at problems instead of solving them.”

At an unrelated news conference Monday, Pritzker doubled down on what he’s previously told reporters asking him about his re-election plans, insisting he’s “focused on getting us past this pandemic keeping people safe and healthy in the state of Illinois” not on politics.

“Any of the support for my committee is really designed as a preventative measure in the event that Republicans continue, in any more public way, to try to attack the Democratic agenda of standing up for working people or to, frankly, lie about the Democratic agenda,” Pritzker said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces the opening of a mass vaccination site in Forest Park on Monday.

“We’re doing what’s right for people all across the state of Illinois, making sure that working families get what they need to stay in their homes, to get jobs and raise their wages, etc., and so, those resources will be used simply to fend off those illegitimate attacks,” Pritzker said.

The Chicago billionaire, who is an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, gave his J.B. for Governor campaign fund $35 million on March 12 and reported it a week later, state board of election records show.

Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey launches his bid for governor in Effingham last month.

The actual drop into his campaign bucket came just days before Pritzker gave interviews to reporters around the state about the anniversary of Illinois’ first death due to COVID-19. In his sit-down with the Chicago Sun-Times, Pritzker said he is “focused on doing what’s right for the people of the state of Illinois and not on the politics.”

So far, three Republican candidates have lined up to take on Pritzker, assuming the first-term Democrat decides to launch a formal re-election bid as expected. Those Republican challengers include state Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of downstate Waterloo and businessman Gary Rabine of northwest suburban Johnsburg.

Gary and Cheryl Rabine at the Museum of Science and Industry's 33rd Annual Columbian Ball in 2014. — Gary and Cheryl Rabine at the Museum of Science and Industry’s 33rd Annual Columbian Ball in 2014.

None of the three had lined up financial firepower comparable to Pritzker as of Monday. Illinois Board of Elections data shows Rabine has loaned his campaign $110,000.

At the close of the last filing period, Schimpf had $62,529 and has reported raising $117,000 since then.

Bailey has nearly tripled the $179,214.29 he had at the close of 2020, reporting another $324,500 in contributions since he filed his quarterly campaign figures with the state.

In a statement, Bailey said Pritzker’s “answer to everything is raising taxes and throwing money at problems instead of solving them.

“He raised the gas tax, and that wasn’t enough for his failed agenda, so he spent $58 million to promote his progressive income tax, and voters overwhelmingly rejected it,” Bailey’s statement continued. “He’s worried, and he should be because working Illinoisans are tired of his failed leadership, high taxes, and lack of results, so he’s doing the only thing he knows how to do, spend money.

Former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, in early January.

“We are building a grassroots movement across the state because Illinoisans are hungry for change, and we are ready to stand with them and say enough is enough.”

Pritzker has sunk large sums of his personal fortune into his political bids, including the $58 million he dumped into his failed “Fair Tax” ballot initiative that would’ve changed the state’s flat income tax into a graduated one.

Before that Pritzker pumped $171 million into his 2018 bid to oust then Gov. Bruce Rauner, making that election a battle of the checkbook between the two investment titans that went down as one of the most expensive gubernatorial races in American history.

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 23, 2021 at 1:17 am Read More »

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 23, 2021 at 12:47 am

The Chicago billionaire, who is an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, gave his J.B. for Governor campaign fund $35 million on March 12, state board of election records show.

The drop into his campaign bucket came just days before Pritzker gave interviews to reporters around the state about the anniversary of Illinois’ first death due to COVID-19. In his sit-down with the Chicago Sun-Times, Pritzker said he is “focused on doing what’s right for the people of the state of Illinois and not on the politics.”

None of the three had lined up financial firepower comparable to Pritzker as of Monday. Illinois Board of Elections data shows Rabine has loaned his campaign $110,000.

At the close of the last filing period, Schimpf had $62,529 and has reported raising $117,000 since then.

Bailey has nearly tripled the $179,214.29 he had at the close of 2020, reporting another $324,500 in contributions since he filed his quarterly campaign figures with the state.

In a statement, Bailey said Pritzker’s “answer to everything is raising taxes and throwing money at problems instead of solving them.

“We are building a grassroots movement across the state because Illinoisans are hungry for change, and we are ready to stand with them and say enough is enough.”

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 23, 2021 at 12:47 am Read More »

Watch Republican Gov Candidate Gary Rabine discuss this week w/Berkowitz his roadmap to fixing IL, Cable and Webon March 23, 2021 at 12:14 am

Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz

Watch Republican Gov Candidate Gary Rabine discuss this week w/Berkowitz his roadmap to fixing IL, Cable and Web

Watch Republican Gov Candidate Gary Rabine discuss this week w/Berkowitz his roadmap to fixing IL, Cable and Webon March 23, 2021 at 12:14 am Read More »

Mark Giangreco interview — from before ABC7 ouster — featured on George Ofman podcaston March 22, 2021 at 11:26 pm

Mark Giangreco hasn’t spoken publicly since his last sportscast Jan. 28, but fans can hear him in a podcast interview that predates his ouster from ABC7 on March 12.

George Ofman, a longtime radio voice in Chicago, spoke with Giangreco in October for his podcast “Tell Me a Story I Don’t Know.” Ofman, who interviews sports personalities with a Chicago connection, addresses Giangreco’s departure to open the show before delving into his past. The podcast dropped Monday and can be heard here.

Giangreco was forced out after he jokingly referred to news anchor Cheryl Burton as someone who could “play the ditzy, combative interior decorator” as part of a fictional DIY Network show. Burton complained to management, which took Giangreco off the air.

“I’ve gotta be the only person that’s sitting here with a 40-plus minute interview with Mark Giangreco,” Ofman said. “And he was very graphic about his suspensions in the past, which was an obvious question to ask him.

“But it’s about him growing up, coming here, his great stories of the TV wars that were epic. [Tim] Weigel and Giangreco and Johnny Morris, they were as competitive as you can get. I watched all three of them because you couldn’t miss them.”

It’s believed Giangreco’s silence is part of his separation agreement, which ended his 27-year run at the station. Giangreco, who first worked in Chicago for NBC5 in 1982, had 18 months left on a contract he signed in the fall of 2019. Sources believe he will be paid for the remainder of the deal.

Ofman alerted Giangreco’s agent, Joel Weisman, of the podcast and said he was gracious in his response. As for the interview, Giangreco is as his fans would expect him to be – entertaining, revealing and himself.

“For anybody who knows him, he is as genuine as they come,” said Ofman, who has known Giangreco since his arrival. “And on top that, there’s a reason why he has won so many awards and he’s being honored by so many people: He’s a terrific journalist. He just happens to be that creative guy that comes along once in a while, that just jumps right out of the page.”

The show is available via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and other podcast platforms.

Mark Giangreco interview — from before ABC7 ouster — featured on George Ofman podcaston March 22, 2021 at 11:26 pm Read More »

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 22, 2021 at 11:42 pm

The Chicago billionaire, who is an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, gave his J.B. for Governor campaign fund $35 million on March 12, state board of election records show.

So far, three Republican candidates have lined up to take on Pritzker, assuming the first-term Democrat decides to launch a formal re-election bid. Those Republican challengers include state Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of downstate Waterloo and businessman Gary Rabine of northwest suburban Johnsburg.

None of those three had comparable financial firepower as of Monday. Illinois Board of Elections data shows Rabine has loaned his campaign $110,000.

At the close of the last filing period, Schimpf had $62,529 and has reported raising $117,000 since then.

Bailey has nearly doubled the $179,214.29 he had at the close of 2020, reporting another $324,500 in contributions since he filed his quarterly campaign figures with the state.

In a statement, Bailey said Pritzker’s “answer to everything is raising taxes and throwing money at problems instead of solving them.

“We are building a grassroots movement across the state because Illinoisans are hungry for change, and we are ready to stand with them and say enough is enough.”

State Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, in early January.

Pritzker’s $35 million gambit: Hedge against GOP’s ‘illegitimate attacks’ or just more ‘throwing money at problems?’on March 22, 2021 at 11:42 pm Read More »

Jamie Foxx to star as Mike Tyson in boxer’s take on his lifeon March 22, 2021 at 11:43 pm

LOS ANGELES — Mike Tyson is getting in the TV drama ring against himself.

On the heels of Hulu’s announcement of a Tyson miniseries to be made without his involvement, the boxing great said he’s producing a limited series starring Jamie Foxx. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Foxx also are among the producers.

“I have been looking to tell my story for quite some time,” Tyson said in a statement Monday. He said he looks forward to creating a series that “not only captures my professional and personal journey but also inspires and entertains.”

The announcement did not include when and on what outlet it will be shown.

Tyson called this “perfect moment” for the project, citing the Legends Only League he launched last November with his exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. The pay-per-view event included other bouts and music acts.

Last month, Hulu said it had ordered the eight-episode series “Iron Mike,” saying it would explore the “the wild, tragic and controversial life and career” of a polarizing athlete. A release date wasn’t announced.

Tyson took to social media at the time to slam the production, calling it “cultural misappropriation” and saying he wasn’t being compensated for his story. Hulu didn’t respond to a request for comment on his remarks.

Jamie Foxx to star as Mike Tyson in boxer’s take on his lifeon March 22, 2021 at 11:43 pm Read More »