Afternoon Edition: March 11, 2021

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 and breezy with a high near 54 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 36 degrees. Tomorrow’s weather will be a repeat of today’s: sunny and breezy with a high near 55 degrees.

Though it might feel like spring has arrived, don’t put that winter coat away just yet. Forecasters expect another round of snow Monday.

Top story

Four Corner Hustler who toured with Chief Keef gets 10 years in prison

A Four Corner Hustlers street gang member who earned the nickname “Lil’ Boss” and once toured with rapper Chief Keef has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in the gang, including an August 2012 shooting that nearly killed a 15-year-old girl.

Prosecutors said Rontrell Turnipseed, 28, of Matteson, obtained his nickname “because he was the heir apparent and had exhibited the bona fides” to one day become a gang leader.

Turnipseed’s defense attorney, Michael Schmiege, argued last month that Turnipseed only joined the Four Corner Hustlers after a violent childhood, which included a shooting when Turnipseed was 15 that led to the death of his best friend.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin handed Turnipseed the 10-year sentence Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Turnipseed pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy in August 2019, admitting to his role in the gang that violently defended itself and its drug territory that included the 4300 block of West Wilcox Street and the 4300 block of West Jackson Boulevard.

Three members of the gang — Labar “Bro Man” Spann, Tremayne Thompson and Juhwun Foster — are set for what is expected to be a lengthy trial in September.

Turnipseed admitted in his plea agreement that, on Aug. 31, 2012, he and another Four Corner Hustler, identified in court records as Marchello Devine, got into an argument with another drug dealer over sales in the 4300 block of West Wilcox Street. During the argument, Turnipseed pulled a gun and began shooting at the other drug dealer, who then shot back.

They ended up wounding a 15-year-old girl.

Read Jon Seidel’s full story here.

More news you need

1. The Chicago Police Department suffers from an “enormous deficit of trust and confidence” that’s undermining police reform, a top official said today. Deborah Witzburg, the city’s deputy inspector general for public safety, argued “transparency” is key to rebuilding public trust.
2. Chicago aldermen took their first step today toward implementing a trail-blazing universal basic income pilot program to address economic inequities. Ald. Gilbert Villegas hopes to use $30 million in federal relief funds to test the idea by giving 5,000 of Chicago’s neediest families $500 a month.
3. Soldiers running the mass vaccination site at the United Center have been hungry because they haven’t been fed enough food, a problem the Army says it’s aware of and trying to fix. About 220 soldiers, most from the 101st Airborne Division, arrived in Chicago on Friday to work at the mass vaccination center.
4. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today launched a program that will provide millions in rental assistance to residents of suburban Cook County. The program will disburse $65 million to help renters facing eviction and allow landlords to apply for relief on behalf of their tenants.
5. Illinois counties, municipalities and townships will receive $250 million for transportation needs in the third installment of a six-part plan to fund transportation infrastructure projects. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the news today in DeKalb County, where program dollars are being used for the reconstruction of a stretch of Waterman Road.
6. Parking passes for fisherman’s lots at Burnham and DuSable harbors are about to go on sale for the spring. Park Bait at Montrose Harbor will start sales of passes today, while Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport will start sales of passes tomorrow.

A bright one

A 9-year-old missed the Evanston library so much that she collected pennies for a year — then finally donated them last week

The Evanston Public Library staff got a “beautiful” surprise last week when one of its young patrons presented them with a donation a year in the making — a jelly jar full of pennies.

As the branch at 1703 Orrington Ave. prepared to close for the evening, Circulation Clerk Liz Steimle helped to check out books for the remaining patrons, including those of 9-year-old Zoe and her mom.

“Then her mom said to me, ‘We have one more thing,’ and then (Zoe) raised up her little jar and just melted my heart. It was just so so sweet and it was so uplifting,” Steimle said.

Provided

“She said she’d been missing the library and this is the money she’d found. She’d been walking around, looking down at the ground and thinking about the library over the past year,” Steimle said.

All told, the donation amounted to $7.72, according to Jill Schacter, the Community Engagement Coordinator at the library, who shared Zoe’s story on the library’s Facebook page on March 2.

She said while people have walked in and donated before, this is the first time a child has.

“She’s an original,” Schacter said.

Keep reading Matt Moore’s story here.

From the press box

Bulls guard Zach LaVine is one of 57 players named to Team USA’s preliminary player pool for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. The pool, usually 42 at this point in the process, has been expanded because more elite players are expected to decline to play given the NBA playoffs stretching into July.

And this weekend’s Chipotle Clash of Champions will feature eight of the best high school basketball teams in the Chicago area. Joe Henricksen breaks down the matchups, top players and more for the big event.

Your daily question ☕

It’s been a year since WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, so we want to know: How has the pandemic changed you?

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

Yesterday, we asked you: Which major Chicago event do you hope you can attend this summer? Here’s what some of you said...

“Cubs game with my daughter and grandson.” — Lewis Paul

“Though I’m not planning to be at North Avenue show central, I am looking forward to The Air & Water Show, with a lavish picnic on my balcony. Hopefully the weather will cooperate more than it did in 2019.” — Manisha Makwana

“SummerDance is always a favorite, enjoying house music, steppin and dance from other cultures.” — Jamy Lewis

“Silver Room fest in Hyde Park.” — Shawn Williams Sr.

“Any of the street fests! Roscoe Village Burger Fest is always a good time.” — Kimberly Battles-Proctor

“Millennium Park concerts!” — Dawn Stockmo

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