Category: Chicago, Illinois Local News

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards talks to Josh Brolin on the new movie “Dune: Part 2.”

Four people were hospitalized in a two-vehicle crash in Beverly on Sunday night, police said.

A woman was driving a Honda SUV northbound in the 10700 block of South Western Avenue when she tried to make a left turn and was hit by a Chevy SUV, police said.

The woman driving the Honda was taken to Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park in fair condition, and a man in her car was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in fair condition, police said.

A woman driving the Chevy and a man in the vehicle were both taken to Christ Medical Center in serious condition.

The crash is still under investigation.

A man was killed and a teen was injured in a drive-by shooting in Little Village Saturday night, police said.

The shooting happened on the 2500 block of South Trumbull at around 11:54 p.m. The men were in a vehicle stopped at a stop sign when a two-door white sedan pulled up and fired shots.

A 22-year-old man was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head where he was pronounced dead. A 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to Mt. Sinai in fair condition, according to police.

No arrests have been made.

karmanini@chicagotribune.com

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Sagittarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

A friend might surprise you, or you might be surprised when dealing with a group or an organization. Someone might say or do something that catches you off guard. Perhaps a casual friendship suddenly becomes flirtatious and romantic?

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Good fortune might come to you today. Someone in authority might do you a favor or give you permission to do something. Others will suddenly strike up a romantic flirtation with a boss or someone in a position of authority. (It’s an interesting day.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Unexpected travel plans might fall in your lap today. Or perhaps, you’ll have a chance to study something new and exciting, or explore further education? An unexpected legal decision might benefit you, or, perhaps, you’ll hear medical news that is a pleasant surprise. Fingers crossed.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Keep your pockets open because gifts, goodies and favors from others might come your way. Perhaps a financial decision will make you happy? This is certainly a good day to ask for a loan or mortgage or to borrow something from someone because Lady Luck is smiling on you!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

A partner or close friend might say or do something that pleases you today. It might be an unexpected treat or invitation? Someone might be generous to you or pay you a compliment. Whatever happens will be unexpected, but it will make you happy. Possibly, you will meet someone who is a real character.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Something related to your health or your work might surprise and please you today. This could be unexpected praise, or a promotion or a raise. It could be good news about a medical procedure or something to do with your general well-being. It might be good news about a pet.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Sudden romance might happen today. It could be a surprise flirtation or a new encounter with someone who is exciting. You might also get an invitation to a social event. Sports outcomes might also surprise. Parents should be vigilant with their kids because this is a mildly accident-prone day for them.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Something unusual might impact your home routine. You might suddenly entertain. Some of you might purchase something high tech, modern or unusual for your home. A family member might have exciting news? Could be anything. Stock the fridge, because unexpected company might drop by.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Something surprising might occur to you today (or around this time). It will be good news. It might be related to a new friendship or a fresh encounter with someone unusual. Something unexpected might make your daily surroundings more attractive? Whatever it is, it’s a pleasant surprise.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today you might spontaneously buy something for yourself that makes you excited or pleased for yourself. It could be something beautiful or something high tech or unusual. You might also see ways to boost your income or get a better-paying job?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Life is a bit exciting now because unexpected favors can come your way. A friend might surprise you with a social outing or a pleasant visit. You might suddenly be popular with others? New romance is possible, especially this evening. Be open to opportunities that can come your way now.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You might be secretly pleased about something. It could be something going on behind the scenes that no one else knows about. It could even be private flirtation or a secret love affair? Whatever the case, it will catch you off guard and will make you feel happier.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Physicist, musician Brian Cox (1968) shares your birthday. You are intelligent, multitalented and determined. You do your homework, and you like to share your ideas. You’re enthusiastic about what you love. Expect exciting changes this year along with increased personal freedom. You might have to act fast. Trust your intuition. Travel is likely.

CHICAGO — Several men who sheltered under a bridge in North Park escaped after a fire tore through their living space on Saturday morning.

Several firefighters responded after the fire erupted beneath the bridge on West Foster Avenue near North Kedzie Avenue.,

The men who lived beneath the bridge had collected a lot of things to help them survive, but after the fire, it was all gone.

“I just happened to look out into the yard and I just saw black smoke,” Kathy Nelson, who lives nearby, said.

The bridge does not allow passage over the North Shore channel but offers shelter for several people.

“You know sometimes you’ll see someone there and there’s mattresses and there are clothes hanging to be dried,” Jennifer Conway, who lives nearby, said.

Some of the items under the bridge belong to Robert, who asked to remain anonymous, one of six men who lived under the bridge and escaped Saturday morning’s fire.

“I was sleeping when it, next door to my place where I am sleeping,” Robert said. “I’m lucky enough to get out alive.”

Robert made it back to the bridge on Saturday night to see if any of his belongings were still intact, but it appeared most things were heavily damaged.

“Right now I just have all whatever I wear that’s it, a dollar in my pocket, that’s it. Lucky enough I have a dollar in my pocket,” Robert said.

Residents in the area said this isn’t the first fire at one of the bridge shelters in the area.

“Every once in a while, there’s a fire so it’s kind of scary,” Conway said.

While some people may call the items underneath the bridge junk, they are valuable to Robert, who calls North Park his neighborhood too, and hopes others will show more humanity towards him and others in the midst of hard times.

“Nobody came here to offer oh here maybe at least a phone number for a shelter or offer a shelter or something somewhere,” Robert said. “We’re human still, we’re people still breathing.”

According to the Chicago Fire Department, no one was injured in the fire and the cause remains under investigation.

Massive blizzard wallops Nevada, California; Greek cookbook author shares secrets of island known for its long-living residents.

WASHINGTON — U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops.

Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local). The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territory’s Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months.

“The combined operation included U.S. Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft and respective Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of supplies, built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on “X”, formerly known as Twitter.

The U.S. airdrop is expected to be the first of many.

Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) — shelf-stable meals that contain a day’s worth of calories in each sealed package — in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Afterward, the U.S. monitored the sites and was able to see civilians approach and distribute food among themselves, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that had not been made public.

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the U.S. would begin air dropping food to starving Gazans after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded in the Thursday attack as they scrambled for aid, the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said.

Hundreds of people had rushed about 30 trucks bringing a predawn delivery of aid to the north. Palestinians said nearby Israeli troops shot into the crowds. Israel said they fired warning shots toward the crowd and insisted many of the dead were trampled.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that the airdrops were being planned to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in a safe way to people on the ground. The United States believes the airdrops will help address the dire situation in Gaza, but they are no replacement for trucks, which can transport far more aid more effectively, though Thursday’s events also showed the risks with ground transport.

Kirby said the airdrops have an advantage over trucks because planes can move aid to a particular location very quickly. But in terms of volume, the airdrops will be “a supplement to, not a replacement for moving things in by ground.”

The C-130 is widely used to deliver aid to remote places because of its ability to land in austere environments.

A C-130 can airlift as much as 42,000 pounds of cargo and its crews know how to rig the cargo, which sometimes can include even vehicles, onto massive pallets that can be safely dropped out of the back of the aircraft.

Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles onto pallets with netting that is rigged for release in the back of a C-130, and then crews release it with a parachute when the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone.

The Air Force’s C-130 has been used in years past to air drop humanitarian into Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations and the airframe is used in an annual multi-national “Operation Christmas Drop” that air drops pallets of toys, supplies, nonperishable food and fishing supplies to remote locations in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.

Since the war began on Oct. 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for a trickle of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing.

The United Nations says one-quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million people face starvation. Aid officials have said that airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a measure of last resort.

Nothing good happens after 9 p.m. at the United Center.

At least, that’s what Giannis Antetokounmpo proved Friday night with his utter dominance in the Bulls’ 113-97 loss to the Bucks.

The Bulls had no answer for him from the moment the ball was tipped, proving that this border battle is better characterized as bullying by the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo was bigger, faster and stronger than anybody the Bulls deployed to defend him. He had 23 points at the half and finished with 46 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, validating the case Bucks coach Doc Rivers made before the game for his MVP candidacy.

The one quality of the game that warranted the rivalry characterization was its chippiness. Even with the Bucks in control, both teams had much to say to each other.

“We have to look at how we can respond in those situations better and control the emotional level better,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said.

DeMar DeRozan and Bobby Portis exchanged words in the final minute of the third quarter after the Bucks forward sent DeRozan to the floor going for a defensive rebound. While DeRozan was on the floor, Portis took an extra second to stare him down.

When DeRozan got up, he fouled Portis in transition and was issued a technical foul. It was the glance from Portis that DeRozan took issue with.

“I don’t play the games, staring down somebody,” DeRozan said. “I’m always competing, doing your thing, all that. I feel anything disrespectful in any type of way I don’t accept that.”

DeRozan also expressed frustration with the officiating. The Bucks took 32 free-throw attempts compared to the Bulls’ 16.

“I don’t think [the Bucks] were trying to get under our skin,” DeRozan said. “I think as far as officiating, just call it fair. That’s more where the frustration came from.”

The teams continued to clash in the fourth quarter.

With just under 10 minutes to play, Nikola Vucevic sent AJ Green to the deck as he drove to the rim. A brief dust-up under the basket left Portis and Vucevic chirping at each other.

Vucevic was ejected after his foul was upgraded to a flagrant 2 following the officials’ review.

“I commented to the officials early in the game about where this was going,” Donovan said. “I’ll just leave it at that.”

Vucevic left the game with 17 points and nine rebounds. Coby White led the Bulls with 22 points, and DeRozan added 12 points and nine assists. On his way out of the arena, Vucevic went looking for Green to apologize.

He didn’t acknowledge that any one moment provoked his hard foul. Instead, he attributed it to a build-up of frustration throughout the game.

“We weren’t playing as well as we wanted to,” Vucevic said. “We weren’t making shots. They got going a little bit and were able to build a lead.”

The Bucks put the game on ice with a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter. After notching 10 straight points in the quarter, Patrick Beverley — a product of Marshall High School — pridefully yelled, “This is my city,” to the fans behind the Bucks’ bench.

One of the only bright spots in the Bulls’ loss was DeRozan eclipsing 23,000 career points. He’s the 35th player in NBA history to do so and one of just six active players to hit that mark, joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Steph Curry.

With the fate of the so-called “Bring Chicago Home” campaign in court limbo, steadfast supporters filed amicus briefs and rallied Friday in a bid to reinstate the ballot referendum to raise real estate transfer tax revenue to fight homelessness.

The campaign’s supporters filed two amicus briefs to back an appeal that came after Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Burke invalidated the referendum question in a decision shared last Friday. Attorney Ed Mullen, who represents a coalition supporting the referendum, said he expects the panel of state Appellate Court judges hearing the appeal to issue a decision on it next week.

The referendum seeks to raise an estimated $100 million in new revenue by hiking real estate transfer taxes on property values over $1 million. It is paired with a cut in the transfer taxes for properties under $1 million — a combination that led opponents to sue, claiming the ballot question illegally tacked on a more popular secondary proposal to get its less popular parts to pass.

Under Burke’s decision, voters will see the referendum on their March 19 election ballot and be able to cast a vote on it, but those votes will not be counted. The city and Chicago Board of Elections appealed the decision this week.

Amid the uncertainty, the referendum’s backers continue to aggressively campaign.

The invalidation decision has galvanized supporters and brought more attention to the referendum, said Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th. Volunteers set a campaign canvassing record last weekend and have reached out to 800,000 people by phone, text and visits, a coalition spokesperson said.

“We haven’t stopped knocking doors. We haven’t stopped making phone calls. We haven’t stopped bringing in folks from the outside to say yes, we will Bring Chicago Home,” said Crystal Gardner, deputy political director for the Service Employees International Union Local 73, during a rally outside the appellate court Friday.

The supporters touted amicus briefs from the “Bring Chicago Home” coalition and Legal Action Chicago signed by aldermen and dozens of labor, community and faith groups. The briefs rehashed the city’s need for major investment in homelessness services and pushed back against the so-far successful lawsuit filed by real estate interests and other corporate leaders.

“They know that if the votes are counted, they will lose. They’re trying everything they can to undermine the democratic process,” Hadden said.

Mullen sounded confident in the appeal’s prospects, rattling off the many grounds on which Bring Chicago Home’s attorneys believe they will overturn the decision. He argued the referendum’s three separate questions on tax cuts and raises don’t amount to an unfair “log-rolling” pairing, but reflect Chicago’s desire for a progressive tax structure where wealthier people pay more.

It’s possible another appeal takes the case to the Illinois Supreme Court or a judge decides to move the referendum item to the November ballot, he added.

Between chants of “count every vote,” the around three dozen Bring Chicago Home supporters called on the city’s businesses to support the measure.

“For far too long, we have allowed big real estate elites to control our rights, our voices and our votes. It ends this year,” Gardner said.

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, also on the primary ballot in a heated race against 27-year incumbent Danny Davis for the 7th Congressional District seat, said the referendum “just makes sense” while echoing the coalition’s get-out-the-vote lines.

“Continue to vote,” she said. “Do not listen to the hype. Don’t be fooled. Continue to vote.”

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com