Afternoon Edition: Dec. 28, 2020

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be sunny — but windy — with a high near 32 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 15 degrees. Tomorrow will be cloudy with a high near 33 degrees, plus there’s a 30% chance of snow in the afternoon.

Top story

Former Ald. Proco ‘Joe’ Moreno charged with DUI in Gold Coast crash

Former 1st Ward Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno was charged with several misdemeanors today — including driving under the influence — after he allegedly crashed into several cars in the Gold Coast last night.

Moreno, 48, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, one count of reckless driving and five counts of failing to report damage to an unattended vehicle, according to Chicago police.

Moreno crashed a car into several others before hitting a tree in the 1200 block of North Astor Street about 9:20 p.m., according to police. After the crash, he was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.

Moreno could not be reached for comment.

Today marked the second time in as many years that criminal charges were brought against the former alderman.

In May 2019 — three months after he lost his reelection bid — Moreno was charged with insurance fraud, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice and filing a false police report.

Those charges stemmed from a report Moreno filed four months prior in which he claimed his car was stolen from his Wicker Park home.

In January 2019, Moreno loaned the car to Liliya Hrabar — who he was dating at the time — the night before he reported the car stolen, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Hrabar was arrested after police pulled her over in Moreno’s car, and she was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle, a misdemeanor, though that charge was dropped.

Records show Moreno’s fraud case is still pending, with the next court date set for Jan. 19, 2021.

This is a developing story. Get the latest here.

More news you need

1. Illinois reported 105 deaths from the coronavirus and 4,453 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus today. That raised the state’s death toll to 16,074 since the pandemic began nine months ago.
2. Health care workers who live near downtown or on the North Side stepped forward in large numbers to get vaccinated for COVID-19, while a smaller number of the city’s South Side and West Side residents got the shots. The trend in the first weeks of vaccine distribution points to a challenge for Mayor Lightfoot and public health officials who want to emphasize racial equity throughout the process.
3. A third person, 20-year-old Devin Barron, has been charged in a botched carjacking in early December that ended in the murder of retired firefighter Dwain Williams. Two others have been charged in what police say was a “carjacking crew” that followed Williams and tried to steal his Jeep.
4. The first Black woman to become a federal judge in Chicago — who was once on the shortlist for the Supreme Court — will lead the investigation into the botched 2019 raid of Anjanette Young’s home. Retired Judge Ann Claire Williams, now Of Counsel at the law firm Jones Day, will lead the inquiry.
5. Rep. Adam Kinzinger said he’s concerned about “people being driven to violence” as President Donald Trump, frantically trying to overturn the election, is urging his backers to demonstrate in Washington when Congress counts Electoral College votes on Jan. 6. Kinzinger is one of the few Republicans speaking out against Trump’s claims the election was rigged.

A bright one

Former Northwestern football player Dwight White II tackles new career as an artist

While playing football, Dwight White II’s hands were among his most important tools — used to derail a catch, make a tackle, pick off a pass.

He made the difficult decision in 2014 to give up the sport while a cornerback for the Northwestern University Wildcats after discovering he’d been born with only one kidney and suffering an injury in practice before the season opener in Evanston.

But White — who went on to earn his bachelor’s degree and a master’s from Northwestern — continues to work with his hands on walls and canvas rather than the gridiron. He’s an artist, having left a corporate job during the pandemic to make art his full-time profession.

The 27-year-old Chicagoan has started to garner attention — most recently along Ida B. Wells Drive, where in October he painted a towering mural in recognition of Loop workers. White also painted a mural on the West Side as part of an arts initiative to honor medical workers during the pandemic, and another one on the North Side amid Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year.

“What I really love about art is being able to reach people with different backgrounds,” says White, who grew up in the Houston area and got a football scholarship from Northwestern. “It connects different walks of life. It builds community.“

Read Robert Herguth’s full story to see more of White’s art.

From the press box

Donnie Kirksey, the head basketball coach at Vocational and a fixture in Chicago hoops the last 40 years, died today after a battle with COVID-19. He was 57.

And with the Bears in need of a win or a Cardinals loss Sunday to clinch their postseason spot, the NFL has moved back the team’s season finale against the Packers to 3:25 p.m. Now it’ll start at the same time as Cardinals-Rams, giving football fans some added drama on the last day of the regular season.

Your daily question ☕

What was the best gift you received for the holidays this year?

Email us (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Thursday, we asked you: What’s one nice thing you’ve done to help someone out this holiday season? Here’s what some of you said…

“I taught two old ladies how to FaceTime their families for Thanksgiving by saying ‘Hey Siri, FaceTime my brother.’” — David LaPlaca

“Wore a mask and stayed six feet away.” — Genevieve Williams

“I shopped for neighbors, gave more generously to the homeless and organized safe, COVID-friendly neighborhood activities.” — Sandra J. Limjuco

“Donated new toys.” — Sharon Anderson

“I bring homeless people food at the gas station by my house.” — Brian McDonough

“Gave groceries to the food bank.” — John Green

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