At least four people were shot, one fatally in Chicago since 5 p.m. March 19, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file photo
A man was killed in a shooting Friday in the 3100 block of West Lake Street.
A man was killed and three others were wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend, including a 10-year-old boy who was shot Friday in East Garfield Park on the West Side.
The boy was sitting in a vehicle with two others when someone walked up and fired shots at them about 6:50 p.m. in the 3100 block of West Lake Street, Chicago police said.
The man, 24, was struck in the side and pronounced dead on the scene, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Marquel Robinson of East Garfield Park.
The boy was shot in the leg, while a 25-year-old woman was struck in the thigh and ankle, police said. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
Saturday morning, a 17-year-old boy was shot and seriously wounded by a person who then stole his vehicle in Austin.
The teen was sitting in his vehicle about 2:55 a.m. in the 5400 block of West Race Avenue when a person shot him and took his vehicle, Chicago police said.
He suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and leg and was transported to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood in serious condition, police said.
The teen was unable to provide any additional details on the shooting, according to police.
The Chicago History Museum has a new president and CEO. | Sun-Times file
Donald Lassere is returning to his hometown of Chicago with a plan to make the museum more interactive and exciting and to build and diversify a clientele that is now “more than 80%” white in a majority-minority city.
Chicago’s oldest museum also has one of the lowest profiles, playing second-fiddle to the Art Institute, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.
But that could change, if Donald Lassere, newly hired president and CEO of the Chicago History Museum, has his way.
Lassere is returning to his hometown of Chicago with a plan to make the History Museum more interactive and exciting and to build and diversify museum attendance that is now “more than 80%” white in a majority-minority city.
Retiring CEO Gary Johnson’s replacement knows how to do that because he’s already done it.
He tripled attendance at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville by shifting the public’s perception of it from a boxing museum to a cultural center. It used Ali’s core principles — spirituality, respect, confidence, dedication, giving and conviction — to inspire people.
“I had an idea that the target market for the Muhammad Ali Center should be women, ages 18-to-40. Basically mothers. When I said that, I got some very strange looks. But when families are planning their outings, it’s the head of the household, i.e., the woman, who is planning where the family is going to go,” Lassere told the Sun-Times.
“Because we decided we were gonna target women, we changed our branding. We changed the type of temporary exhibits we had. We really changed our messaging about the center. And it worked.”
Lassere envisions endless possibilities to engineer a similar transformation at the History Museum.
“I went to Percy L. Julian High School on the South Side of Chicago. And it wasn’t until years later that I learned about Percy L. Julian. That he was this fantastic entrepreneur, African-American. He was an extremely brilliant scientist,” Lassere said.
“What if we talked about, from an exhibit perspective, why certain high schools are named after certain people from a historical perspective. That’s an idea that would resonate with the entire community and would be interesting to the entire community. That’s just one idea. It’s pie-in-the-sky. But who knows? It might happen.”
The History Museum could similarly play a role in the ongoing review of whether to retain or replace 41 Chicago statues, including those of four U.S. Presidents: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley.
“The History Museum should be the teller of truth. That’s unbiased truth. Once that’s out there, then you can create a constructive discourse about why it may be necessary for some of these statutes to be removed from a historical perspective, what they represent,” Lassere said.
“We’re not gonna play politics. That’s not our role. Our role really is to make sure people understand the importance of why these things are even being discussed. What the history is. Why it’s offensive to some people. Creating that environment where people can talk about these significantly divisive issues.”
Lassere also has a few ideas to boost attendance by appealing directly to the melting pot of ethnic groups that “migrated to Chicago.”
“Chicago history is world history because we have so many ethnic groups that migrated here. Let’s talk about the reasons for that. Why do you have a large Latinx community? Why do you have a large African-American community? Why do you have a large Polish community, Greek community? Talk about those migratory patterns. Why did that happen? That would be so interesting to so many people,” he said.
Lassere pointed to the global shoes exhibit he put together in Louisville.
“Kids could come in and try on different shoes from different cultures, different communities, different countries. That was exciting to them. It taught them about other cultures. And the touching and the feeling of these artifacts is very important. You can’t do that through a video screen,” he said.
With a 15-year-old daughter, Lassere said he’s well aware the History Museum needs to become more exciting to teenagers addicted to cell phones, video games and social media.
He plans to do that, in part, through the types of music made famous in Chicago: jazz, blues and house music.
“Believe it or not, I listened to house music when I was a teenager. Teenagers are still listening to it. Did they know that it originated in Chicago? No. We may be able to have an exhibit around that as well as other genres of music,” he said.
He suggested the exhibit could be interactive, allowing teens to perhaps leave with their own recording of house music.
“It’s creative things like that that can really be attractive to multi-generations of Chicagoans,” Lassere said.
Chris Andrews is the sportsbook director at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. | John Locher/AP
COVID-delayed Football Championship Subdivision, spring baseball with its peculiar rules are odd ducks on wagering menu
LAS VEGAS — Chris Andrews scans five computer faces. Turning to his right, he gazes at a dozen large TV screens — resembling “The Brady Bunch” intro — on the opposite wall.
The South Point sportsbook director zeroes in on a game of consequence for his shop that has nothing to do with the NBA, NHL or NCAA basketball.
Presbyterian leads 6.5-point underdog Morehead State 24-3 just before halftime late last Saturday morning. It’s spring football. Andrews said, “We’ve gotten steamed on Morehead.”
A statement no book director could have ever envisioned uttering. In industry lexicon, that means cash has flowed on Morehead, reducing its point spread and creating liability for the house.
That steam, though, was misdirected. Presbyterian would win 31-16. The book wins again, this time on the coronavirus-delayed oddity of the Football Championship Subdivision, whose 16-team playoff is slated for April 18 to May 15.
Baseball’s spring training has been another odd duck on the wagering menu. Games end whenever, with pitch limits and uncertain split-squad lineups.
With unusual candor, Andrews will explain how he and his oddsmakers line those two sports. On a spring Saturday, he’s grateful to be in this office, with a plethora of sports on these screens.
Not long ago, a doctor told him he had a 50-50 chance of surviving a medical procedure.
“Well,” Andrews said, “that’s better odds than the casino gives you.”
Record Figures
In January, a record was set for a sixth consecutive month when $4.6 billion in legal sports wagers were made in the United States. New Jersey topped the chart at $959 million. Nevada ($647 million) was second, and the nascent Illinois market ($581 million) was fourth.
“Many said growing legalization would hurt Las Vegas, but I thought it would just grow the market,” said Andrews, a 40-year Nevada bookmaker. “I think I was right. I’d be bullish on Illinois, too, because they’re well-educated on betting.
“People know they’re not going to win all the time, but they don’t want to get screwed, either. They won’t put up with that.”
He scans a sheet of last weekend’s 37 FCS games. As a four-point underdog, Southern Illinois upset Northern Iowa 17-16. As a 20.5-point underdog, Western Illinois covered in a 38-21 loss to North Dakota.
The lines of nine games, he said, moved by at least three points from their opening numbers. That’s significant because handicappers salivate over gaining a point or two in perceived value.
“We’re kinda kickin’ ass on it,” Andrews said. “Favorites are ahead, but by no more than 60-40%.”
Meaning bettors, such as well-regarded Brad Powers, are not doing so well. On March 8, he tweeted that he was 16-25 and down five grand, betting $500 limits. He recommended going against his picks to “make $$$.”
Andrews said he and his crew tap Jeff Sagarin’s ratings and spreads from other books — an uncommon admission in the business — to produce South Point lines.
“We kind of heist the line off everybody else,” Andrews said. “We have an idea of where we’re supposed to be. After that, the money goes where the money goes.”
The South Point, though, is about breaking even on the diamond.
“Tell you the truth, I don’t know what the hell is going on in baseball,” he said. “We’re completely heisting the line [from others] when it comes out in the morning, but we’re doing business.”
With such a vast sports menu, Andrews and his oddsmakers must allocate their time wisely.
Last Saturday, the Brewers were -135 (risk $135 to win $100) against the Rangers, at +115. The game ended 4-4 after seven innings. Bettors were refunded their money.
Some sharp clientele has wagered the $500 limit, but Andrews suspects arbitrage: playing numbers against those from other books to guarantee profit or limit loss.
“I’d rather be bettin’ hockey or NBA or college basketball than baseball, with these funky rules,” Andrews said. “That’s a tough handicap right now.”
A Big Anniversary
Andrews, who turns 65 in April, hails from the Pittsburgh area, a melting-pot region known as the Cradle of Bookies. He booked his first bet in the fifth grade. He likens the area to Chicago.
“With a lot of ethnicities, gambling is unifying, a common denominator,” he said. “I think it’s kind of built into the ethos of both places.”
A certain toughness, maybe from those roots, might have helped Andrews in 2017, when he was first diagnosed with a form of blood cancer — myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
A bone-marrow transplant was recommended, but the grueling process worried him for more than a year. His condition worsened. Wife Pamela and their five children convinced him to have the procedure at USC Medical Center.
“Those first couple of weeks were horrible,” Andrews said. “They knock out your entire immune system so it will take the transplant.”
Doctors, however, buoyed him. Little by little, he began feeling better.
In November, he contracted the coronavirus, the worst of it being a persistent cough that didn’t allow him to sleep for five or six days.
Today, Andrews looks good and feels good. A follow-up to his successful and entertaining “Then One Day . . .” 2017 autobiography is in the works, as is a novel involving his Greek heritage.
Then comes July.
“A big benchmark, my two-year [transplant] anniversary,” he said. “They say if you make it to two years, you’ve survived. I should have regular immunity like any other 65-year-old.” V
Chicago Sky’s Astou Ndour plays defense during the second half a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, in Chicago. | Mark Black/AP
Forward thrilled to be back, will add needed depth to frontcourt
When forward Astou Ndour found out earlier this month that she would be back with the Sky — the team with whom she said she played “her best game” — she couldn’t have been more ecstatic.
“It was a privilege to come back to Chicago,” she said in a phone interview this week. “It’s where I feel comfortable on the court and off the court. So honestly, I’m happy to be back.”
Ndour signed a one-year deal with the Sky last week after the Wings waived her one year into her deal worth more than $570,000 following an underwhelming 2020.
Ndour didn’t live up to her contract and played in only 13 games, averaging a measly 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.7 minutes.
But now she’s determined to return to 2019 form — or perhaps even better, she said.
“Why not? [I] can do a lot more,” Ndour said.
Not that the Sky necessarily expect her to put up the numbers she did as a starter in 2019.
Ndour joins a loaded frontcourt that includes Candace Parker, Azura Stevens, Stefanie Dolson and Ruthy Hebard. She primarily was brought back to add veteran depth and familiarity in an area that the Sky historically have needed it. Last season, the Sky were forced to play with a short roster due to mounting injuries, especially among their bigs.
“You have to be deep at the post spot,” coach James Wade said. “Look at how last year where we started off deep and [where] we ended up — we’re looking for post players and we had to trade for one. So I think we have to play it out, we have good pieces, we know that all five of our post players can play and they will play, but it’s going to be competitive.”
With Ndour already comfortable and familiar with the Sky’s system, the hope is for a smooth transition.
“It’s a really good gift for us, and I’ve been coaching Astou for a while now, I’m just happy to have her back,” Wade said.
Ndour feels the same way.
The week before 2020 WNBA free agency began, Ndour, then a restricted free agent, pledged her loyalty to the Sky — and more specifically, to Wade.
Ndour credits Wade as the reason why she made it to the WNBA after he played a major role in getting the San Antonio Stars to draft her 16th overall in the 2014 draft. Leading up to free agency, she discussed her desire to return to Chicago and compete for a championship after a heartbreaking second-round loss to the Aces.
Wade didn’t want to part ways with Ndour, but the new collective-bargaining agreement complicated last offseason. Under the new deal, the league’s top veteran players’ maximum base salaries nearly doubled, while the salary cap increased by only 30%.
The Sky had seven free agents, including Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Dolson and Kahleah Copper. And Ndour’s market value skyrocketed after she seamlessly stepped into the starting lineup for an injured Jantel Lavender.
Last February, Wade and Ndour met for dinner in a small town in Russia, where the two were based with their offseason teams. Wade explained that the Sky couldn’t match the max offers she received.
“They wanted me back and I knew the situation and their circumstance so we were talking about that and I understood,” Ndour said.
But all that is history. And Ndour is turning the page to the upcoming season.
“I like pushing myself to break records,” Ndour said. “If I want something right now, I want to do it again, that’s going to be motivation to push myself and help the team.”
Bears fans seem to be — how to put this? — less than excited about Dalton. | Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
One year. Ten million dollars. And all the Dalton Bears fans can stand. Can you feel the excitement?
One year. Ten million dollars. And all the Andy Dalton Bears fans can stand.
Can you feel the excitement?
In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter, we took respondents’ temperatures after the Bears signed Dalton to pilot their offense in 2021. Let’s just say general manager Ryan Pace’s move didn’t go over so well.
“I choose to boycott the Bears’ upcoming season,” @reesetheone1 commented. “There are other teams to watch. I’m content watching the Bulls constantly blow double-digit leads and lose games they should have won.”
But seriously, folks.
So whom would they rather have for one season: Dalton, veteran backup Nick Foles or the gone-for-good Mitch Trubisky?
“If these were my choices,” @LTWujek wrote, “I’d just punt it on every down.”
Rim shot, anyone?
“Just snap it into an open backfield and let it bounce around,” @DL2379 offered. “Probably as effective as having one of them catch it.”
Sheesh. It’s almost like Bears fans are tired of never having a franchise quarterback.
On to the polls:
Poll No. 1: If you had to choose one of these QBs to lead a team in 2021, whom would it be?
Time again for our weekly “Polling Place” questions. Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Saturday’s paper.
Q1: If you had to choose one of these QBs to lead a team in 2021, whom would it be?
Upshot: Well, well, look who ran away with it. Perhaps the Bears should’ve hung on to Trubisky and built their future around him? Would it have been too soon for a statue of him outside Soldier Field? “If Mitch were the new guy coming in and Andy just left, the numbers would be reversed,” @wrote @rrt_nps. “This fanbase is a joke!” The grass is always greener on the other side of the Outer Drive.
Poll No. 2: If Dalton is the Bears’ starter in 2021, what will be their ceiling?
Q2: If Dalton is the Bears’ starter in 2021, what will be their ceiling?
Upshot: Who are these people who answered A or B? What is it like on their planet? Does everyone eat sunshine and spit rainbows? Whoever they are, they have little in common with @JBIRD1268, who wrote, “I predict 2-14.” That’s cold-blooded. It also better be an overstatement. Besides, there are reports out that the NFL might go to a 17-game regular season this year. No 2-15 cracks!
Poll No. 3: The Bears reportedly offered three first-round picks, a third-rounder and two players to Seattle for QB Russell Wilson. Good thing or bad thing the Seahawks nixed it?
Q3: The Bears reportedly offered three first-round picks, a third-rounder and two players to Seattle for QB Russell Wilson. Good thing or bad thing the Seahawks nixed it?
Upshot: Clearly, a majority of respondents disagree with the notion that the Bears would’ve been mortgaging their future to get their arms around one of the elite performers in the NFL. And really, what would we know around here about the dangers of overpaying for — or anything else related to having — a superstar at the most important position in sports?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 19: Kofi Cockburn #21, Adam Miller #44, Jacob Grandison #3, and Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini look on against the Drexel Dragons in the second half of the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 19, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
I’ve held up on writing this for a few days because I needed time to reflect on this Illinois Fighting Illini basketball season. But they’ve just played their first NCAA tournament game in 2,917 days, so now is probably as good a time as any.
I wrote a couple of years ago about how Brad Underwood was building a foundation of sorts as his young, inexperienced, and overwhelmed team had shown tremendous growth from the beginning of the season. The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball program had long lost its ways. They were a decade removed from being seen as a respectable team in what had become the best conference in all of college basketball.
However, what I was not expecting at all was Underwood transforming the pond scum of the Big Ten into a bonified championship-contending team. It’s so bizarre because I continue to stare at the “1” next to “Illinois” on the NCAA bracket and it still hasn’t dawned on me that this team is five more wins away from immortality.
I have so many thoughts about this team and how successful this season has been. It obviously starts with Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn rescinding their draft declarations last spring and getting ready at one big push for college basketball glory.
I feel like my heart stopped when Dosunmu announced his return last summer and Cockburn the following suit a day later. What both guys have done this year has been nothing short of remarkable. There really isn’t much I can say that the national sports media hasn’t already covered. Those two are special and provide such a unique combination that no team in the country can effectively counter when firing on all cylinders. There is a reason why guys like Jon Rothstein and Gary Parrish predict that Illinois will be the last team standing at the end of the tournament.
No matter what happens to them when they eventually go pro, the numbers 11 and 21 will be hung up in the State Farm Center rafters when it’s all said and done. Two All-American performers who helped Underwood return Illinois to respectability.
But the storylines with this team almost seem endless.
How could I not wax poetic when it comes to the two seniors in Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams? Two dudes who saw this program at its lowest when they were just exiting puberty. Frazier went from leading all Big Ten freshmen in scoring to making it his goal to be part of the Big Ten All-Defense team (mission accomplished). ‘Monte, son of Illini great Frank Williams, had a lofty reputation to live up to. The guy has turned into one of Underwood’s most reliable players and has shot nearly 55% from long range this season.
Last year was supposed to be their year to experience the postseason play that excites any college basketball player. It truly warms my heart to see those two get the opportunity to play on the big stage for the first time in their careers. Safe to say their patience has been rewarded. I could talk about these two forever, but that’s because they deserve it.
And it isn’t all about the elder statesmen…
One of the things I also look forward to is watching Andre Curbelo dazzle the nation with his seemingly bottomless bag of offensive tricks. Going into the season, I was woefully unprepared for ‘Belo to run away with Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year. He is undeniably one of the most fun players in the country to watch, and his fingerprints are all over this team’s success.
Adam “Ace” Miller was seen as the crown jewel of Underwood’s most recent recruiting class. The 2020 Illinois Mr. Basketball opened up his campaign with a record-breaking performance against North Carolina A&T but has since cooled off. However, when he scores double digits, the team is 10-1. So when he has a good day, so does the team.
I could’ve lumped him in with Trent and ‘Monte, but Giorgi Beshanisvilli has one of the most important jobs on this team as Kofi’s backup. A true fan favorite had also seen this rebuild from the ground up, Giorgi has literally never had a bad day in his life. It’s hard not to think about his infectious personality, but he’s grown each year in Champaign. He started every single game his freshman year, took a backseat to Cockburn last season, and embraced his role off the bench. This season has been especially tough for the Georgia native, given he hasn’t seen his family in well over a year.
But he’s had his Illini family with him the whole time, and the sacrifices they’ve made have lead to this moment.
I was genuinely concerned when this team was 9-5. I felt we had vastly overrated them and their preseason expectations. Clearly, they were a tournament team, but they weren’t a team that could go all the way.
But then something happened. I don’t know if all the switches managed to flip themselves or not but when Dosunmu suffered a concussion and a broken nose against Michigan State, this team could’ve curled up without their leader. Instead, they decided to blast Michigan in the most impressive win out of any team this season and fight their way with the “Masked Man” to the Big Ten title.
His three-game absence managed to make this team better in a week’s time. There is no other squad in the country that has more Quad 1 victories than Illinois. They are true contenders and they took care of the first test of the Big Dance. Such a long way from where they were two years ago, but here we are. Five more to go. Loyola-Chicago has a warm spot in our hearts thanks to their 2018 tournament run.
But they’re going up against a program that has finally completed its resurrection after years of being the conference doormat.
Junior Stone Labanowitz (6) took over at quarterback against Northern Iowa and completed 11 of 15 passes in the SIU victory. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
As a former college and professional quarterback, Nick Hill knows it can be a lonely job.
“It’s the toughest position on the team,” the Southern Illinois head football coach said. “Only one person gets to play. If you’re a backup linebacker, a backup D-lineman, you’re going to get some reps. You’re going to go into Saturdays knowing you’re going to get a few reps. Even if you’re not starting, you’re going to get in.”
In Southern’s case, however, injuries have made the QB position a revolving door and shined a spotlight on how backups need to be prepared at a moment’s notice.
The fifth-ranked Salukis (4-1 overall, 3-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will need to be ready for another test Saturday when they host No. 6 South Dakota State (3-1) at noon in Carbondale. (ESPN+)
Kare’ Lyles started SIU’s spring opener before being injured. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
After senior Kare’ Lyles suffered broken ribs in the spring season opener against North Dakota, sophomore Nic Baker took over and led the team to three consecutive wins.
When Baker injured his left foot on a scramble out of the pocket in the first half against Northern Iowa last Saturday, junior Stone Labanowitz took over and connected on 11 of 15 passes in the victory.
“It starts with their approach,” Hill said of the QBs. “It’s up to them as individuals to buy into that.”
Despite not getting as many reps in practice as the starter, SIU’s backups have proven ready to go. Hill said consistency in the coaching staff is one of the reasons that the quarterbacks have performed well.
“It’s been nice that we’ve all been together now for two years – same quarterback coach, same coordinator, myself – knowing these guys,” he said. “It’s paid off and we’re going to continue to need them all.”
Nic Baker started three games this season and helped SIU to a 3-0 record in those games. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
During his weekly press conference, Hill was unsure who would start. Baker is listed as the starter on the team’s weekly two-deep roster, but “he was in a lot of pain” after Saturday’s game, according to Hill.
Lyles was in uniform against Northern Iowa and could have played if needed.
“He was cleared on Thursday, but he just hadn’t practiced much,” Hill said. “He could’ve, in a worst-case scenario, got out there and played.”
Then there’s Labanowitz, who was the opening-day starter for SIU in 2019 before an injury derailed his season and Lyles took over. Labanowitz is one year removed from back surgery.
Big honor for Big Z
Senior guard ZeVeyon Furcron was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Northern Iowa.
The Joliet Catholic High School graduate graded out at 92% for the game and had five knockdowns against the Panthers. Furcron helped SIU rush for 192 yards in the contest and pile up 414 yards of total offense.
This is the first career MVFC O-line weekly honor for Furcron.
The Salukis face a test on the ground this week. SIU is averaging 182.8 yards on the ground, which ranks third in the conference. SDSU has the league’s fourth-best run defense, allowing 122 yards a game.
About South Dakota State
Junior running back Pierre Strong has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. This spring, he is second in the MVFC with 89.5 yards a game and has a 5.2 yards per carry average. “Strong is a top back in the country,” Hill said. “He’s a big back, makes guys miss. He’s really patient.” … SDSU’s quarterback job has been taken over by true freshman Mark Gronowski of Naperville. He ranks second in total offense (248.2 yards a game) in the conference. … The Jackrabbits have the longest active streak in FCS with 10 consecutive trips to the playoffs. … Dating back to October 2012, SDSU has been ranked in the top 25 in national media polls for 110 consecutive weeks. … The Jackrabbits have scored on their first offensive drive of the game in all four of its contests this spring.
News and notes
Hill said this week that defensive tackle Jujuan Blankenship will miss the remainder of the season because of injury. The transfer from FBS Tulsa played in three games this season, collecting eight tackles and two tackles for loss. … The Salukis will get some reinforcements in the secondary, according to Hill, as junior safety Aaron Maddox returns from injury. Maddox will join a stingy defensive backfield. The Salukis’ secondary has allowed an MVFC-low 135.6 passing yards per game this spring. … Linebackers Bryson Strong (30) and Bryce Notree (27) lead the team in tackles.
Where to find the game
SIU will kick off at noon against South Dakota State on ESPN+ online. The radio broadcast is available at CILFM.com.
Blog co-authors Barry Bottino and Dan Verdun bring years of experience covering collegiate athletics. Barry has covered college athletes for more than two decades in his “On Campus” column, which is published weekly by Shaw Media. Dan has written four books about the state’s football programs–“NIU Huskies Football” (released in 2013), “EIU Panthers Football (2014), “ISU Redbirds” (2016) and “SIU Salukis Football” (2017).
Mail was stolen from several buildings March 2021 in Lincoln Park and Uptown. | Sun-Times file photo
The first robbery was March 9 in the 800 block of West Argyle Avenue.
Chicago police are warning residents in Lincoln Square and Uptown of a recent string of March mail robberies.
Police are searching for a group of five people, including three males and a female, who allegedly took mail from inside several mailboxes in buildings on the North Side, Chicago police said.
The robberies happened in the overnight hours on:
March 9 in the 800 block of West Argyle Avenue;
March 10 in the 2400 block of West Foster Avenue;
March 16 in the 4900 block of North Marine Drive; and
March 19 in the 4900 block of North Western Avenue.
The female was described as wearing black and white tennis shoes with strawberry blonde hair in a ponytail, police said.
One male was bald and wearing a leather jacket, police said. Another was wearing a white baseball cap.
The third male was wearing a gray baseball cap, police said. The fifth person had a tattoo on their left hand and was wearing a panda hat.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263.
