Hoge’s Practice Observations: Trestman Takes Hands-On Approach

 

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (CBS) — The Bears took the field Friday morning at Olivet Nazarene University for their first practice of training camp. Here are some quick observations from what we saw:

- Marc Trestman was vocal in offseason workouts, but he took it to a new level Friday and I suspect it will stay that way throughout the rest of the season. He’s a very hands on coach, especially with the offense. He has a comment on almost every single rep, whether it’s team drills or individual drills. During one of the wide receiver sessions, Trestman was yelling out pointers before, during and after every rep for every player.

At one point during team drills, Trestman was unhappy with how slowly Jay Cutler and the offense were getting out of the huddle and he yelled: “It’s not a symposium. Get the play going!”

This is a pretty significant departure from Lovie Smith, who took a quieter approach during practice. He was more of an observer who let his coaching staff do most of the yelling during practice. Smith saved the majority of his commentary for the meeting rooms.

- Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis are really the only two other coaches whose voice you heard Friday. Tucker takes a similar approach as Trestman with the defense, but usually waits until after each rep to interject. DeCamillis is pretty vocal during the special teams portions of practice.

- Trestman is pretty serious about not wanting players on the ground. After wide receiver Joe Anderson fumbled a ball early in practice, the head coach was not happy that a mini-scrum for the ball ensued. It’s a safety issue, but at the same time, you wonder if that will affect any instinctive reactions that are often needed on the football field.

- Martellus Bennett was very active Friday, catching passes both on plays that were designed for him and others that were just check downs. Most importantly, it appears he and Cutler are getting close and the quarterback trusts him. Having a reliable, dynamic tight end could be a game-changer for Cutler. Bennett is a guy who has to stay on the field.

- James Brown and Kyle Long split reps at right guard as expected. Not that we needed confirmation, but Trestman admitted after the practice that there is a battle going on there. J’Marcus Webb got all the reps at right tackle, but that will be a position to watch as the preseason goes on because Jonathan Scott is lurking.

- Shea McClellin and Corey Wootton split reps at defensive end, but that position battle isn’t nearly as interesting because both players will see significant playing time either way. If McClellin pushes Wootton for the starting job, that will give the Bears some options on what they can do with the defensive line. Don’t be surprised if Wootton rotates inside every once in a while.

- It was a pretty clean practice penalty-wise, but the offensive line didn’t have a perfect day. The first lineman guilt of a false start was… new left tackle Jermon Bushrod. (Insert your own “he’s fitting right in” joke here.)

- Up Next: The Bears return to the practice field Saturday at 9 a.m. CT.

Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.

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Boy Rescued From Ind. Sand Dune Released From Rehab

 

Nathan Woessner was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital after he fell into and was buried a a sand hole at the Indiana Dunes. (Credit: Woessner Family Photo)

CHICAGO (AP) — A 6-year-old Illinois boy who survived being buried under a sand dune in Indiana has been released from rehabilitative care at a children’s hospital in Chicago.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital says Nathan Woessner of Sterling was discharged Friday morning. He went to the facility after he was discharged from a hospital Tuesday.

Doctors at La Rabida say he underwent physical, occupational and speech therapy. They say he was seen for issues with balance, gait and memory. He’s scheduled to return for more rehabilitation. Doctors say he is doing well and can bathe himself, brush his own teeth and walk by himself.

Nathan was rescued after being buried for more than three hours on July 12 in a dune called Mount Baldy at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Four Injured In Near West Side Hit-And-Run Crash

 

CHICAGO (STMW) – Four people were injured early Saturday when a pickup truck that blew a stop sign crashed into a taxicab on the Near West Side.

The crash happened about 2:15 a.m. at Ogden Avenue and Congress Parkway, according to police News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada.

A Ford pickup truck was heading east on Congress Parkway when it failed to stop at a stop sign at Ogden and struck a 2013 Toyota Camry that was heading south on Ogden, Estrada said. According to a witness report the Camry was a taxicab. The Ford fled the scene of the crash.

The driver of the Camry, as well as three passengers, were taken to local hospitals, according to police. Their conditions were not believed to be life-threatening. At least five ambulances were sent to the scene.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Congressman Roskam Facing Ethics Probe Over Taiwan Trip

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) (File Photo; Credit: CBS)

WASHINGTON (CBS) – The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation focusing on a trip Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) took to Taiwan in 2011.

The committee announced on its website Friday that it was extending its investigation of Roskam, and that the Office of Congressional Ethics – an independent, non-partisan group – had brought the matter to its attention.

The committee did not state the reason for the probe, but Roskam’s office indicated the case involved an eight-day trip to Taiwan the congressman and his wife took in October 2011.

“The record reflects that Rep. Roskam fully complied with all laws, rules, and procedures related to privately sponsored travel,” Roskam spokeswoman Stephanie Kittredge said said in a written statement. “ The trip was vetted and approved by the House Ethics Committee, the body legally authorized to make determinations on Congressional conduct. The OCE is wrong to take issue with the involvement of the Government of Taiwan in planning and conducting the trip, a matter that is routine, allowed under the law, and was known to the House Ethics Committee as they thoroughly vetted and approved the trip.”

Roskam, 51, represents a district that includes his hometown of Wheaton and other suburbs. He serves as the chief deputy whip for the House Republicans.

The committee said it would announce any action it takes against Roskam in September, and noted its decision to extend the investigation doesn’t indicate any proof an ethics violation took place.

“He fully expects the clear and indisputable facts of the case to speak for themselves, that both he and his staff have acted in accordance with all laws, rules, and regulations,” Kittredge said. “ Rep. Roskam and his staff have fully followed House Ethics Committee procedures to take an approved, appropriate, and informative trip to a key U.S. strategic ally.”

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Blackhawks Make Quenneville Extension Official

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Stan Bowman wanted to keep Joel Quenneville in Chicago, and the coach had no desire to leave.

After two Stanley Cup titles in four seasons, this was a no-brainer.

The Blackhawks announced a three-year contract extension for Quenneville on Friday, kicking off their annual fan convention with a crowd-pleasing move that keeps the coach in Chicago through the 2016-17 season.

The 54-year-old Quenneville is 222-106 in five seasons in Chicago. He led the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, ending a 49-year drought, and then coached them to another title this year.

“I think you always know what you’re going to get with him and I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us, why we have success,” defenseman Duncan Keith said before Game 5 of this year’s Stanley Cup finals. “He’s level-headed, brings that even-keel attitude to the team.”

Quenneville’s deal was set to expire after the upcoming season, but general manager Bowman had said an extension was a priority and the coach talked all along about how much he enjoyed being part of the organization.

This is Quenneville’s third stop as a head coach in the NHL. The former defenseman is 660-389-77 in 16 seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and Chicago. He won the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team’s success, in 2000 with the Blues and was a nominee for the award again this year.

Quenneville led Chicago to a NHL-best 36-7-5 record this season. The Blackhawks earned at least one point in each of their first 24 games, setting an NHL record.

The Windsor, Ontario, native was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 1978 draft and played 803 games in parts of 13 seasons in the NHL. He is one of two men in NHL history to play in 800 or more games and coach 1,000 or more games.

He has recorded at least 40 wins in nine of his 10 full seasons as a coach. His best total was 52 victories with Chicago for the 2009-10 season.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rodgers: Braun ‘Looked Me In The Eye’ & Lied To Me

Aaron Rodgers. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he was “shocked” when his friend Ryan Braun admitted he violated baseball’s rules against using performance-enhancing substances.

Rodgers says the Milwaukee Brewers slugger “looked me in the eye” and it “didn’t feel great being lied to like that.” He says he’s disappointed.

Braun has accepted a season-ending 65-game suspension. He and Rodgers are friends and co-own a Milwaukee restaurant. Rodgers defended Braun on Twitter last year, saying he would bet his salary that his friend was clean.

On Thursday at training camp, Rodgers says he was simply “backing up a friend.”

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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Woman Killed In Domestic Disturbance In Addison

ADDISON, Ill. (STMW) — A woman was killed in a domestic disturbance at her home in west suburban Addison Friday, authorities said.

Police responded at 3:12 a.m. Friday to the 900 block of North Craig Place for a “domestic disturbance,” according to a release from Addison police.

The woman died at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at 5 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. She had suffered blunt head trauma, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The incident, which is not detailed in the release, is an isolated occurrence and there is no direct threat to the community, the release said.

Police did not release any more details early Saturday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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That’s All She Wrote: Class Is In Session For Trestman’s Group

Marc Trestman. (Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

By George Ofman-

(CBS) The bell has rung. Class is in session. Professor Trestman’s students better listen, particularly, Mr. Cutler. You too, Mr. Webb.

***************

Just curious but where is Lovie Smith these days? And Brian Urlacher? More importantly, do you care?

***************

Ryan Braun: cheater, liar, stinker. I wrote back in February I really wanted to believe this guy but the evidence against him was overwhelming. If I was Alex Rodriguez, I’d get a shovel and start digging. If I was Bartolo Colon I’d be prepared to jump into that hole, though, there might not be room for the other cheaters.

***************

If you’re a member of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup team, how embarrassing is it you were not selected to attend an Olympic camp?

***************

Amazing how many tweets I received after the Matt Garza trade. There were many of them comparing Mike Olt to Kevin Orie. Please get a grip! And then there were a few who roasted Kris Bryant upon making three errors in his first game. They called him a bust, kind of like Ryne Sandberg going 0 for his first 40 something as a Cub was a bust. Cubs fans are an interesting lot. And a lot of them aren’t interested in sensibility. Some probably think trading Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees isn’t sensible. Sometimes, I just can’t take it.

***************

If Alshon Jeffery can learn the nuisances of running a patterns without interfering with his defender, he might make Cutler look better than he is.

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Devin Hester will race a cheetah. I’m taking Hester figuring the cheetah will pull a hamstring.

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Ed O’Bannon might go down in history as the man who busted the NCAA. Presidential Medal of Honor?

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You have to wonder how the White Sox, who had the best defense in the majors last season, are in the bottom third this year. Paul Konerko said “I don’t think anyone saw this coming.” Just how many outs an inning do you want to give the opponents? The Sox put a punctuation mark on their season by committing four errors Tuesday night. You really have to wonder how a team could make so many base-running blunders. Seems these days you to have “pickoff” on your résumé to be on this roster.

***************

While RGIII is cleared to practice, he won’t to play in the Redskins’ preseason. This guy desperately wants to test the surgically repaired ACL he tore last January. Meanwhile, Derrick Rose was running around Europe selling shoes. That’s a good way to test your knee.

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Here’s an idea: That hotel the Cubs want to build the neighborhood is railing about… turn it into a halfway house for those Cubs fans that don’t get it.

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Better yet, scrap the plan, build a three-story walk up and name it Tom Tunney Place, only with no rooftop.

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Aren’t you glad he’s the Dodgers problem now? Carlos Marmol made his debut with them and promptly gave up a double, single and then… a home run. His line: 1 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, one walk and of course, one wild pitch.

My line: That’s all she wrote.

George Ofman is a sports anchor and reporter for WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM. Look for him on Facebook and find him on Twitter at @georgeofman.

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Woman Killed In Domestic Disturbance In Addison

AppId is over the quota

ADDISON, Ill. (STMW) — A woman was killed in a domestic disturbance at her home in west suburban Addison Friday, authorities said.

Police responded at 3:12 a.m. Friday to the 900 block of North Craig Place for a “domestic disturbance,” according to a release from Addison police.

The woman died at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at 5 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. She had suffered blunt head trauma, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The incident, which is not detailed in the release, is an isolated occurrence and there is no direct threat to the community, the release said.

Police did not release any more details early Saturday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Korean War Vets Mark 60th Anniversary Of End To “Forgotten War”

 

File picture taken circa April 15, 1951 around Seoul shows US troops waiting for attack order as North Korean troops launching a great offensive over the South Korean capital. United States supported South Korea during the 1950-1953 Korean war which ended with an armistice temporarily and the deployment of 37.000 US forces in South Korea. (Photo credit : STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago area Korean War veterans on Friday marked the 60th anniversary of the end of what many call “The Forgotten War.”

WBBM Newsradio’s Brandis Friedman reports, with the help of their canes, walkers, and wheelchairs, a group of 55 Korean War veterans attended a memorial service at Kennedy Park in the Morgan Park neighborhood.

They were remembered for their able-bodied efforts more than 60 years ago in Korea.

“Looking back now, I think, ‘Well, we did help found an active democracy,’” said 82-year-old Army veteran James Fitch.

60th Anniversary Of End To Korean WarWBBM Newsradio's Brandis Friedman

Ald. James Balcer (11th), a Vietnam veteran, was on hand to thank the veterans, and praised them for serving in conditions often seen as some of the most brutal for fighting a war – with unbearable heat and humidity in summer, and frigid conditions in winter.

“It was a terrible war. It was absolutely terrible for you guys; the hills, the mountains, the cold, the hot, the Communist forces that you fought,” Balcer said. “But through your efforts, you liberated South Korea from the North Koreans, and Communist Chinese forces.”

Fitch noted, however, that there was little support for the war at the time. He noted it was never officially called a war – but, rather, a “police action” – even though the fighting was intense.

“There was a time when we were called on artillery missions, and didn’t have shells to shoot,” he said.

He was serving in a command position, ordering artillery strikes on the night of the cease-fire in 1953.

“At 10:54, we were still shooting, and at 11 o’clock, everything stopped. It was bizarre. It was absolutely … everything went silent,” Fitch said.

At the time, Fitch said, soldiers didn’t expect the cease fire to last six hours – following more than two years of armistice talks – but it has lasted 60 years, although there has never been a formal peace treaty.

“They stopped firing at their side, we stopped firing at our side, and there hasn’t been any firing since,” Fitch said.

At Friday’s memorial service, the veterans took part in a wreath-laying, and South Korean Consul General Jin-hyun Lee thanked them by presenting them with commemorative coins.

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Harris: Quenneville Grateful For Contract Extension, Credits Players

Joel Quenneville hoists the Stanley Cup. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Adam Harris

(CBS) – Joel Quenneville will be in Chicago for at least four more years, and his players are all smiles.

“It’s great to see and we have a lot of consistency with him (Quenneville) as our coach and our leader,” said Captain Jonathan Toews, smiling throughout the press conference. “We are looking forward to continuing on down the road.”

Quenneville is already under contract for next season, so the extension is technically for three years. Quenneville won his second Stanley Cup Championship in four seasons, earning this extension; however he says his players deserve tons of credit.

“Looking over here and seeing the guys, they’re a big part of it,” Quenneville said, with eight of his players looking on. “I’m privileged to coach the best group, probably, in the league. I haven’t seen them for three weeks, and I look forward to hearing their stories about their summers.”

Summer Nights

Many players have had relaxing summers, with winger Bryan Bickell getting married and Captain Jonathan Toews going on a long two-week vacation.

Patrick Kane has stayed out of trouble as well, enjoying some time in his home town of Buffalo.

“I’ve tried to keep out of trouble I guess, and keep maturing as a person, but it seems easier these days as you get older,” Kane said. “I’m obviously going to have some fun, but I can still prove a lot more as a player and accomplish some more things with this team.”

Injured Wings

Bryan Bickell tore a ligament in his thumb and has had surgery to repair it. Doctors took a ligament from his finger and put it in his thumb. He says he will be ready for the regular season.

Hangover Cure

When asked how to avoid another Stanley Cup hangover, players said they need to “turn the page” after this weekend.

“It’s important to recognize it’s a new season,” defenseman Duncan Keith said. “Teams are going to be playing their hardest against us and we knew that last time, but individually and as a team you have to make sure that you don’t just come to camp ready to turn the page. You turn the page in the offseason. This is the time now, where after this convention, it turns into August and you start to get your minds focused.”

Follow Adam on Twitter at @AHarris670 and listen for him on Score Overnights, with Les Grobstein.

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Cubs Rally Past Giants 3-2

tarlin Castro #13 of the Chicago Cubs hits an RBI single scoring Nat Schierholtz #19 in the six inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on July 26, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As tough as it was for Chicago manager Dale Sveum to say goodbye to Alfonso Soriano, he sure likes how the Cubs played without the slugging outfielder.

Just hours after completing a trade that sent Soriano to the New York Yankees for a minor league pitcher — the club’s third deal this month — Chicago got an outstanding start from Edwin Jackson and then rallied for two unearned runs in the ninth inning to beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Friday night.

“This is a complete different team out there now from the beginning of the season,” Sveum said. “We’ve been playing really good defense for a while. When guys are playing up to their capability we can win games.”

Chicago’s 14th come-from-behind win this season — and fourth when trailing after eight innings — didn’t come easily.

Pinch-hitter Julio Borbon singled leading off the ninth against closer Sergio Romo (3-5) and moved to second when pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro walked.

After David DeJesus struck out looking, Lake reached on a fielder’s choice. Anthony Rizzo then hit a sharp liner that went through Belt’s legs and into the right field corner.

It was rough night all around for Belt. The first baseman was tagged out in between third and home after trying to score from first on Jeff Francoeur’s two-run single in the seventh.

“He was positioned right, it was hit right to him. He just missed it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said after his club lost for the fifth time in six games. “This was a tough one. You’re one pitch away from winning.”

Matt Guerrier (4-4) retired four batters for the win. Kevin Gregg earned his 20th save.

The wild ending was in stark contrast to the pitching duel between Edwin Jackson and San Francisco’s Matt Cain.

Jackson faced just one batter over the minimum through four innings and carried a two-hit shutout into the seventh until giving up two walks and a double before Francoeur’s two-run single.

“We had some terrific defensive plays out there, guys were just hustling after balls all night,” Jackson said. “For us to come back in the ninth inning like that, it was huge.”

Cain allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked one. He was in line to win consecutive starts for the first time since early May until Romo’s fourth blown save followed the Giants’ NL-leading 74th error.

Before Soriano was dealt, Chicago traded pitcher Matt Garza to Texas, and pitcher Scott Feldman went to Baltimore.

Sveum said he isn’t sure if the team is done making moves before the July 31 trade deadline, but doesn’t want that to become a distraction.

“I’m not exhaling yet,” Sveum said before the game. “I don’t really see anything else happening, but until that 11th hour is here, I don’t think you can relax. We don’t dwell on it anyway.”

Nate Schierholtz, batting in the cleanup spot with Soriano gone, doubled and scored Chicago’s first run to continue a strong stretch for the Cubs’ slugging right fielder. He went 1 for 3 and is batting .428 (9 for 21) on the road trip.

Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence both doubled and scored for San Francisco, which dropped a season-high 10 games below .500.

Sandoval walked with one out in the seventh and took third on Pence’s double. After Belt was intentionally walked to load the bases, Francoeur blooped a two-run single to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. Belt was tagged out trying to score after the relay throw went to the backstop and bounced back to Jackson.

“It ended up costing us the game,” Belt said of his gaffe.

NOTES: Lake went 0 for 5, ending his seven-game hitting streak. It was the longest by any Cubs player starting his career since Jerome Walton’s seven-game streak in 1989. … As part of the trade with the Yankees, the Cubs will send almost $17.7 million to New York to cover the rest of Soriano’s contract. Chicago received minor league pitcher Corey Black in the deal. … San Francisco activated Joaquin Arias from the disabled list, more than two weeks after the reserve infielder underwent an emergency appendectomy. To make room, the Giants optioned right-handed reliever Jake Dunning to Triple-A Fresno (PCL). … The Giants also acquired RHP Guillermo Moscoso from the Cubs. Moscoso has appeared in 57 games in the majors with Texas, Oakland and Colorado, but has spent this season with Chicago’s Triple-A team in Iowa. … LHP Madison Bumgarner (10-6) pitches for San Francisco on Saturday. He has a 2.17 ERA over his past eight starts. LHP Chris Rusin (1-0) makes his third start for the Cubs. … Chicago purchased the contract of RHP Eduardo Sanchez from Iowa (PCL). Sanchez began the season with St. Louis before being waived in May. … Former Giants players Robb Nen and Darren Lewis were in attendance.

(© 2013by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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8 Wounded In Shootings Since Friday

CHICAGO (STMW) – Eight people were wounded in shootings across the city since Friday evening.

Early Saturday, a woman who was dropped off at Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the backside was “extremely uncooperative” with investigators, police said.

The woman, 23, was dropped off at the hospital about 5:45 a.m. and refused to tell police where she was shot. She was listed in serious condition.

Police said the woman has gang affilations.

Early Saturday, a man was shot in the West Englewood neighborhood.

The 32-year-old man drove himself to Mount Sinai Hospital about 2:17 a.m. after he was shot in the chin and back near West 70th Street and South Wolcott Avenue, police said. He was listed in critical condition.

About 1 a.m. Saturday, a man was shot in the foot in the 1400 block of North St. Louis Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side. The man, 19, was taken to Norwegian-American Hospital in good condition.

A 21-year-old man was shot late Friday in the South Chicago neighborhood. He was shot twice in the hip about 11:27 p.m. in the 9000 block of South Escanaba Avenue, police said.

He was taken in “stable” condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police said.

About an hour earlier, a 19-year-old man was seriously wounded in a West Side shooting.

The man was shot in the chest about 10:36 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Douglas Boulevard, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.

Friday night on the South Side, a man who had been shot wrestled the gun away from the man who shot him and shot him multiple times.

Friday night, a man wrestled a gun away from his attacker after he was shot and shot him multiple times, police said.

The 21-year-old man was walking with another male in the 200 block of West Root Street about 6:25 p.m. when they were approached by a gunman who fired two shots, police said.

The 21-year-old man was shot in the arm and back, then wrestled the gun away and shot the gunman multiple times.

The 19-year-old gunman was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where he is in custody. The 21-year-old man was also listed in critical condition at Stroger.

Both men are documented gang members, police said.

A man was shot in the face Friday evening in the South Side Englewood neighborhood.

The 24-year-old man was shot just before 6 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Aberdeen Street, police said.

He was shot once in the face and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in “stable” condition, police said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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High-Rise Owners, Residents Fight Proposed State Rule For Sprinklers

 

CHICAGO (CBS) – Residents and owners of older high rises in Chicago were racing against the clock to fight a proposed state mandate that they say would force many residents to move.

WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports some said sprinklers are necessary to save lives and property in Chicago’s oldest tall buildings, but others said there have to be less costly options that are just as effective.

“If we have to retrofit sprinklers in our building, we’d be looking at a bill just for the work of around $9 million, which broken down would be enough to cause many people in my building – who are on fixed incomes and probably myself – to say we can’t afford $40,000, $50,000 in special assessments, said Allen Lipscher, president of Waterford Condominium Association on Lake Shore Drive.

High-Rises Fighting Sprinkler RuleWBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding

Lipscher and hundreds of high rise condo owners have been fighting a proposed rule by the Illinois State Fire Marshal that imposes retrofitting requirements for high-rise buildings built before 1975.

Lipscher said the cost would be ruinous for many homeowners.

“This would be a giant project. We are a poured-concrete building. That would entail bringing in standpipes, drilling holes through the floor to bring in the main pipes,” he said. “We would have to have pipes run the center of our hallways hanging from our ceilings exposed. Over each door they would drill through the wall, and bring into your whole house and it won’t look pretty as a retrofit.”

“We just think to spend $9 million, especially when we’ve already spent money on all the other things, it’s something we can’t afford. If this law passes, many of us will have to sell and move,” he added.

It started in 2003, when a fire took the lives of six people trapped in a stairwell at the Cook County Administration Building at 69 W. Washington St.

In an effort to prevent further high-rise fire deaths, the City Council enacted the life-safety ordinance, which required all pre-1975 buildings 80 feet and higher to submit a professionally-prepared evaluation and to implement certain safety features by Jan. 1, 2012.

By late 2011, half of the residential high-rises had not submitted reports, much less implemented the safety features, so the City Council gave them more time, to Jan. 1, 2015.
Chicago’s ordinance gives high-rises a choice: retrofit for sprinklers or install alternative safety features, such as fire-resistant stairwell doors and frames, and one- and two-way voice communication systems.

Virtually none of the owners have opted for sprinklers.

Lipscher said The Waterford has already implemented much of the city’s Life Safety and High Rise Ordinance, and other safety measures as required.

“It’s a continuing process. We have fire people coming in all the time to make sure lights and fire stairs and doors are working. We will have elevators that have automatic recall, an enunciator system, fire doors in the trash chutes and many other safety improvements,” he said. “Now the addition of sprinkler systems is too much. The city is happy with what we are doing and with the progress we’ve made. They are watching it closely and at the end of 2014, all the buildings will be done and now this got thrown into the mix. The City doesn’t know what to do either.”

Lipscher urged building owners to write letters to the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which will take up the proposal on Aug. 12.

Currently, Chicago requires sprinklers only in new residential high-rises. Many condominium associations and the Illinois Association of Realtors have come out against this new mandate for older buildings.

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Fire Destroys Hammond Warehouse

AMMOND, Ind. (CBS) — A fire that could be seen for miles destroyed a Hammond trucking company this morning and prompted the evacuation of some nearby businesses and residents, reports WBBM’s Mike Krauser.

The Fire broke out at a trucking company called Bulk Express in view of the Indiana Toll Road at Cline Avenue.

The fire started according to Fire Chief Jeff Smith when two workers were using a torch on the back end of a semi-tanker holding liquid asphalt.

Fire Destroys Hammond WarehouseWBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser

“There was a propane tank on the ground when the guts were using the torch. The tank didn’t blow up but something on the ground, according to the guys that were there, fire just erupted around them and they got out but no tank blew up,” said Smith.

Terry was working security nearby when he says he heard popping sounds and then saw two buildings catch on fire.

“I didn’t know exactly what was going off I heard a pop and I didn’t pay any attention to it because you hear it around here and all of a sudden I open the door and there is all this smoke,” said Terry.

The fire chief says BP was a big help as it brought in foam from its nearby refinery which was used to put the fire out.

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Elderly Man Dies Hours After Being Shot By Police With Beanbag Rounds

 

PARK FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — Police are waiting for an autopsy to determine the cause of death of a 95-year-old Park Forest nursing home resident who died several hours after a confrontation with officers, reports WBBM’s Mike Krauser.

Park Forest Police say in a statement they were called to a Victory Centre nursing home at 101 Main Street to assist a private ambulance company with what they say was a combative 95-year-old male resident who was being involuntarily committed for medical treatment.

Elderly Man Dies Hours After Police ConfrontationWBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser

According to the statement, arriving officers were confronted by the man identified as John Warna who was threatening paramedics and staff with a metal cane and a two-foot long metal shoehorn. Police say he would not drop the items and instead produced a foot-long butcher knife.

Again police say he refused to comply with verbal commands to drop it and they used a Taser which was ineffective. Officers then used non-lethal beanbag rounds and the man dropped the weapon and was taken into custody.

Police say he was alert and talking before being taken to a local hospital. He was then transferred to Christ Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m.

Neighbors say there had to be a better way to get the man to stop waving his cane and brandishing the knife.

“If they were smart policemen, one could have got in the front of that man and one could have went through back door and thrown a sheet over him, put him down and put the cuffs on him before they shot him,” said neighbor David Atkins.

Administrators at Victory Centre say they’d never had any problems with the resident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as we mourn the loss of one of our own,” said Emily Powell, Victory Centre Executive Director.

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Hoge’s Practice Observations: Trestman Takes Hands-On Approach

Reporting Adam Hoge

By Adam Hoge-

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (CBS) — The Bears took the field Friday morning at Olivet Nazarene University for their first practice of training camp. Here are some quick observations from what we saw:

- Marc Trestman was vocal in offseason workouts, but he took it to a new level Friday and I suspect it will stay that way throughout the rest of the season. He’s a very hands on coach, especially with the offense. He has a comment on almost every single rep, whether it’s team drills or individual drills. During one of the wide receiver sessions, Trestman was yelling out pointers before, during and after every rep for every player.

At one point during team drills, Trestman was unhappy with how slowly Jay Cutler and the offense were getting out of the huddle and he yelled: “It’s not a symposium. Get the play going!”

This is a pretty significant departure from Lovie Smith, who took a quieter approach during practice. He was more of an observer who let his coaching staff do most of the yelling during practice. Smith saved the majority of his commentary for the meeting rooms.

- Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis are really the only two other coaches whose voice you heard Friday. Tucker takes a similar approach as Trestman with the defense, but usually waits until after each rep to interject. DeCamillis is pretty vocal during the special teams portions of practice.

- Trestman is pretty serious about not wanting players on the ground. After wide receiver Joe Anderson fumbled a ball early in practice, the head coach was not happy that a mini-scrum for the ball ensued. It’s a safety issue, but at the same time, you wonder if that will affect any instinctive reactions that are often needed on the football field.

- Martellus Bennett was very active Friday, catching passes both on plays that were designed for him and others that were just check downs. Most importantly, it appears he and Cutler are getting close and the quarterback trusts him. Having a reliable, dynamic tight end could be a game-changer for Cutler. Bennett is a guy who has to stay on the field.

- James Brown and Kyle Long split reps at right guard as expected. Not that we needed confirmation, but Trestman admitted after the practice that there is a battle going on there. J’Marcus Webb got all the reps at right tackle, but that will be a position to watch as the preseason goes on because Jonathan Scott is lurking.

- Shea McClellin and Corey Wootton split reps at defensive end, but that position battle isn’t nearly as interesting because both players will see significant playing time either way. If McClellin pushes Wootton for the starting job, that will give the Bears some options on what they can do with the defensive line. Don’t be surprised if Wootton rotates inside every once in a while.

- It was a pretty clean practice penalty-wise, but the offensive line didn’t have a perfect day. The first lineman guilt of a false start was… new left tackle Jermon Bushrod. (Insert your own “he’s fitting right in” joke here.)

- Up Next: The Bears return to the practice field Saturday at 9 a.m. CT.

Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.

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Autistic Youth Earns Eagle Scout Rank, With Merit Badges To Spare

AppId is over the quota

July 26, 2013 4:51 PM

: 18 year old Eagle Scout Dylan Miller and his mother, Dyann Miller, live in Berwyn. (WBBM)

Reporting John Cody

(CBS) – Eighteen-year-old Dylan Miller says Autism means his brain works extra hard to learn new things, but apparently it works well enough: He’s earned Eagle Scout rank from Troop 32 in Berwyn.

Eagle rank requires 21 Merit Badges. Miller earned 28, including swimming. He says that was the most difficult because he had to retrieve a brick from the swimming pool floor.

But he said a fellow scout from troop 32 worked with him until he could submerge and retrieve without problem.

He said his Eagle Scout project was building an 18-inch-wide path from Morton West to the school’s athletic field.

Miller says he has dual ambitions. He wants to be a pizza chef and a professional guitar player.

Dylan’s mother, Dyann, says her son sees autism as a gift. Dylan says it slows things down but he’ll deal with it because “God gave it to me.”

Miller receives his Eagle Scout rank from in a ceremony Saturday with scout Troop 32 at Saint Leonard’s church in Berwyn.

The assistant scoutmaster, Tony Capua, says Miller hadn’t flourished at other scout troops.   But Capua says at the urging of two friends, Miller joined Troop 32, rejected a track for special needs scouts, and scored 7 more than the number of merit badges needed for Eagle.

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That’s All She Wrote: Class Is In Session For Trestman’s Group

Marc Trestman. (Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

By George Ofman-

(CBS) The bell has rung. Class is in session. Professor Trestman’s students better listen, particularly, Mr. Cutler. You too, Mr. Webb.

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Just curious but where is Lovie Smith these days? And Brian Urlacher? More importantly, do you care?

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Ryan Braun: cheater, liar, stinker. I wrote back in February I really wanted to believe this guy but the evidence against him was overwhelming. If I was Alex Rodriguez, I’d get a shovel and start digging. If I was Bartolo Colon I’d be prepared to jump into that hole, though, there might not be room for the other cheaters.

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If you’re a member of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup team, how embarrassing is it you were not selected to attend an Olympic camp?

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Amazing how many tweets I received after the Matt Garza trade. There were many of them comparing Mike Olt to Kevin Orie. Please get a grip! And then there were a few who roasted Kris Bryant upon making three errors in his first game. They called him a bust, kind of like Ryne Sandberg going 0 for his first 40 something as a Cub was a bust. Cubs fans are an interesting lot. And a lot of them aren’t interested in sensibility. Some probably think trading Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees isn’t sensible. Sometimes, I just can’t take it.

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If Alshon Jeffery can learn the nuisances of running a patterns without interfering with his defender, he might make Cutler look better than he is.

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Devin Hester will race a cheetah. I’m taking Hester figuring the cheetah will pull a hamstring.

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Ed O’Bannon might go down in history as the man who busted the NCAA. Presidential Medal of Honor?

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You have to wonder how the White Sox, who had the best defense in the majors last season, are in the bottom third this year. Paul Konerko said “I don’t think anyone saw this coming.” Just how many outs an inning do you want to give the opponents? The Sox put a punctuation mark on their season by committing four errors Tuesday night. You really have to wonder how a team could make so many base-running blunders. Seems these days you to have “pickoff” on your résumé to be on this roster.

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While RGIII is cleared to practice, he won’t to play in the Redskins’ preseason. This guy desperately wants to test the surgically repaired ACL he tore last January. Meanwhile, Derrick Rose was running around Europe selling shoes. That’s a good way to test your knee.

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Here’s an idea: That hotel the Cubs want to build the neighborhood is railing about… turn it into a halfway house for those Cubs fans that don’t get it.

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Better yet, scrap the plan, build a three-story walk up and name it Tom Tunney Place, only with no rooftop.

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Aren’t you glad he’s the Dodgers problem now? Carlos Marmol made his debut with them and promptly gave up a double, single and then… a home run. His line: 1 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, one walk and of course, one wild pitch.

My line: That’s all she wrote.

George Ofman is a sports anchor and reporter for WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM. Look for him on Facebook and find him on Twitter at @georgeofman.

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Rodgers: Braun ‘Looked Me In The Eye’ & Lied To Me

Aaron Rodgers. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he was “shocked” when his friend Ryan Braun admitted he violated baseball’s rules against using performance-enhancing substances.

Rodgers says the Milwaukee Brewers slugger “looked me in the eye” and it “didn’t feel great being lied to like that.” He says he’s disappointed.

Braun has accepted a season-ending 65-game suspension. He and Rodgers are friends and co-own a Milwaukee restaurant. Rodgers defended Braun on Twitter last year, saying he would bet his salary that his friend was clean.

On Thursday at training camp, Rodgers says he was simply “backing up a friend.”

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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