Afternoon Edition: June 29, 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 partly sunny with scattered showers and a high near 91 degrees. Chance of rain is 50%. Tonight’s low will be around 72 degrees. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with high near 89 degrees and a 40% chance of thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m.

Top story

CPD to put 1,200 extra officers on street starting Thursday

After another violent weekend in Chicago, with 18 people killed — including three children — in a total of 65 shootings, the Chicago Police Department announced plans today to put hundreds more officers on the street.

CPD Supt. David Brown, noting that “tired cops make mistakes,” said he will make sure every officer gets a day off, but said that starting Thursday, 1,200 additional officers will be deployed every day through the historically violent Fourth of July weekend.

Brown started a news conference at CPD headquarters by decrying the “evil bastards behind those guns who caused the senseless loss of life this past weekend.”

That included a 1-year-old who was shot in a car with his mom while heading home from the laundromat — police said the child’s dad, who was not in the car, was the intended target — and a 10-year-old girl killed by a bullet that came through the window of a Logan Square apartment.

“When we have young innocent lives lost, we all need to be outraged, all of us, by this violence,” Brown said.

Brown said it was up to the public to help identify the killers or come forward with any information that could help police make arrests.

“Now is the time to stand up and say, enough is enough. ... For God’s sake, for the sake of Chicago’s children ... I am pleading. Please help us bring these murderers to justice,” Brown added.

“We cannot do this alone. We need the help of the entire criminal justice system,” he said, again arguing for keeping more violent offenders locked up.

Beefing up patrols during historically violent holiday weekends — Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day — is a favored tactic by the CPD.

In 2019, the department deployed an extra 1,500 officers over the Fourth of July weekend. Five people were killed and another 63 were wounded by gunfire over the holiday weekend last year.

Read the full story from Tom Schuba here.

More news you need

1. President Trump has claimed that members of Antifa are terrorists and suggested they’re to blame for much of the violence at recent protests. Local antifascists say nothing could be further from the truth.
2. Chicago’s most beloved close-of-summer event, the Bud Billiken Parade, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the first time the nation’s largest African American parade has been canceled in its 91-year history.
3. For some theaters, digital content has helped keep audiences engaged in lieu of live shows as COVID-19-related cancelations continue. But with long-term uncertainty looming, there’s little light at the end of the tunnel.
4. A 66-year-old man has been extradited from Poland to Lake Forest to face a reckless homicide charge from a fatal crash that occurred nearly 25 years ago. Police say the man, Marek Josko, fled to Warsaw at the time to avoid prosecution.
5. The Bears have started offering full refunds on 2020 season tickets over COVID-19 concerns. The team stuck to its March deadline for season ticket renewals, but it’s still in question whether fans will be allowed at all.
6. A 28-year-old man wanted for questioning in connection with a fatal stabbing over the weekend in Schiller Park turned himself in to authorities today. Kasim Askar was accompanied by his attorney when he surrendered.

A bright one

Endurance athlete Corey Cappelloni once ran six days through the Sahara Desert in what’s considered the most grueling foot race on Earth. But a 218-mile run to grandma after she was sickened with COVID-19 turned out to be the longest, toughest and most rewarding of his life.

Cappelloni spent seven days covering the distance from his home in Washington, D.C., to the nursing home where 98-year-old Ruth Andres lives in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, arriving June 19 to cheers, flags and purple balloons, her favorite color.

Jessie Wardarski/AP Photo

Dozens of workers at the Allied Services Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center applauded as he crossed the finish line. Out of breath but smiling, he pointed to “Nana’s” fourth-floor room, where she peered through the window. A sign hung outside read, “I Love You Corey.”

“Nana, you’re a strong person,” Cappelloni said into a cellphone and microphone, as a nurse held up the other end of the line to Andres. “You’re going on 99, and you still have many more miles.”

Unable to visit in person due to safety concerns for other residents, he promised to give her a long-awaited hug soon.

Cappelloni’s “Run for Ruth” has raised more than $24,000 so far for smartphones and tablets to help older adults isolated due to the pandemic communicate with loved ones.

Read the full story here.

From the press box

The White Sox announced their 44-man summer training camp roster, which includes top prospects Luis Robert, Nick Madrigal and Andrew Vaughn, this morning. Don’t assume that means they’ll all suit up during the 60-game season, however.

And while a shortened season isn’t what the Sox envisioned for their breakout 2020, they’re ready to embrace the opportunity.

Your daily question ☕

Chicago’s minimum wage will go up on Wednesday to $13.50 or $14, depending on company size. Do you think the increase is enough? Why or why not?

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

On Friday, we asked how you planned to take advantage of Chicago’s move into Phase 4 of reopening this weekend. Here’s what some of you said…

“I am not changing anything…. will continue staying in… Curbside pick up… only necessary shopping!” — Judy Weiner Arvey

“I think I’m going to just find a nice restaurant and sit inside and have a meal. I have really missed that.” — Chris Vaughn

“I finally made an appointment to get a mani/pedi. It’s by appointment only and they remodeled for safety.” — Sharee Jackson

“I’ll continue to follow the guidelines for safety that are recommended by actual health officials. Clearly they’re working. I don’t see wearing a mask as an infringement. I see it as a protective measure that is about the bare minimum of consideration for other people.” — Shaye Hall

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition.Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.