Afternoon Edition: Aug. 5, 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 mostly sunny with a high near 86 degrees. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers and a high near 83.

Top story

Chicago police officer charged with battery, official misconduct in on-duty Red Line shooting

A Chicago police officer was released on her own recognizance today after being charged for shooting and wounding a man while on duty at the CTA Red Line’s Grand station last year.

Officer Melvina Bogard, 32, is facing aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct for the Feb. 28, 2020 shooting.

In her order, Cook County Judge Susana Ortiz said she found Bogard to be neither a danger to the community, nor at risk of not showing up for her court hearings.

The state’s attorneys office, which announced the charges against Bogard today, has not filed charges against Officer Bernard Butler, who was with Bogard at the time of the shooting and was recorded by a bystander yelling “shoot him” before Bogard opened fire.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountabilitysubmitted findings from its investigation to Supt. David Brown in October. The Chicago Police Department later moved to fire both officers.

Federal authorities also have opened a criminal investigation into the high-profile police shooting.

Matthew Hendrickson has more on the charges here.

More news you need

1. Powered by the highly infectious Delta variant, COVID-19 is now spreading across Illinois at the fastest rate seen in over six months. This means déjà vu for health care workers as the state’s fourth coronavirus surge shows no signs of letting up soon.
2. College students and people experiencing homelessness will have better access to free menstrual products under new legislation signed into law today. Another new law will make it possible to use SNAP or WIC benefits for diapers and menstrual hygiene products.
3. CDOT is still forfeiting millions of dollars a year by failing to adequately bill and collect permit fees from commercial property owners whose driveways use the public way. This comes two years after an audit by Inspector General Joe Ferguson.
4. Rita Crundwell, who was convicted of embezzling nearly $54 million from the city of Dixon when she worked as the comptroller there, has been released from prison. Officials in Dixon are not happy about her release.
5. Ruby Ferguson takes over as Chicago’s first food equity policy lead today as officials try to tackle food insecurity. Ferguson will work with the newly established Food Equity Council, whose members range from city workers to community groups.
6. Richard Trumka, who went from working in the coal mines of Pennsylvania to becoming president of AFL-CIO — one of the largest labor organizations in the world — died today at 72. He was remembered by AFL-CIO’s Chicago-based leader as “a blue collar guy” with a gift for energizing union members.

A bright one

First-generation college triplets, other students surprised with laptops from CHA

Eighteen-year-old triplets Javier, Gerald Jr. and Miles Lumpkins are days away from heading to college — the first generation in their families to do so.

Yesterday, their journey was made a little easier when, along with more than 170 other students at the Charles Hayes Center at 4859 S. Wabash, they took part in the Chicago Housing Authority’s annual Take Flight College Send Off.

CHA’s annual event partners with Springboard to Success to provide incoming college freshmen from public housing with dorm room essentials like toothbrushes, laundry detergent and towels.

And this year, families were surprised with new Chromebook laptops for each student.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The Lumpkins graduated from Steinmetz College Prep High School and are scheduled to move into their dorms in mid-August.

Miles will move first to the University of Illinois at Springfield, where he plans to major in business and minor in marketing. Gerald will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to major in biochemistry and Javier will attend Southern Illinois University on a pre-law track.

Their mom, Silk Lumpkins, is having the same mixed emotions, alternating between happy and sad tears. But she knew this day would eventually come. From the time the triplets were born, she said, “college was never not an option.”

She added that the supplies from the CHA and Springboard to Success program, particularly the new Chromebooks, will help the triplets succeed.

Cheyanne M. Daniels has more on the Lumpkins here.

From the press box

• The lead director of FOX’s MLB coverage discussed how the network will cover the upcoming “Field of Dreams” game between the White Sox and Yankees with our Jeff Agrest.
• Bears tight end Jimmy Graham could hardly contain his excitement about young quarterback Justin Fields today, comparing the first-round pick to another passer he’s played with: Seattle’s Russell Wilson.
• How long will it take to build the next Cubs contender? Russell Dorsey on a process that North Side fans have been through before.

Your daily question ☕

What’s your favorite “L” line? Tell us why.

Yesterday we asked you: What’s the best summer job you’ve ever had? Here’s some of what you said...

“Umpire for little kids softball/baseball — because it’s adorable and outdoors and cancels if the weather is bad. You have to stop when they get about 10-11 because the parents forget it’s supposed to be fun and think they are all future major leaguers.” — Dylan Yellowlees

“Showing our beef cattle at County and State Fairs.” — Darrell Ippensen

“Camp counselor/coach for the Chicago Park District. I worked with the Special Olympics, etc. at parks throughout the city. I really had a good time that summer.” — John C. Bonk

“Almost 25 years ago, I was a seasonal employee for the Catholic Cemeteries. I worked for Resurrection. I did it for 3 seasons during my college years and immediately afterward. It was nice to be able to work outside in nature and get paid for it.” – Bradley Nawara

“Brookfield Zoo, working till past midnight for parties, weddings and special events.” — Javier Santos

“Worked for SportService at Comiskey Park in 1984-85. It was a great place for someone who is a huge baseball fan and loves the Sox.” — Mike Walsh

“City of Chicago Jumping Jack Program.” — Edward Olivieri

“Driving a cab in Chicago — freedom, play all day, getting to ride my bike down Pulaski. I would pick up a cab, go anywhere I wanted, bring back the cab at 2 a.m. and ride my bike home. Repeat in the morning. I made a lot of money for me and them!” — Tom Jurgensen

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