Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: The April 25 shooting that killed a police officer and gravely wounded another was the second shooting at an Endeavor Health hospital in less than a year. We look at potential security fail points.
🗞️ Plus: An escalating North Side dispute spurred by sex abuse allegations, a new bar’s community donation model and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Cubs beat the Diamondbacks, 8-4; the White Sox fell to the Padres, 4-3; the Stars fell to the Thorns, 2-0.
⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🔆
Sunny with a high near 79.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Swedish Hospital shooting of police highlights critical security fail points
By Kade Heather and Elvia Malagón
Two shootings: A gun brought into Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital and used in a shooting that killed a Chicago police officer and left another gravely wounded exposes potential security fail points when an arrestee arrives for treatment. The April 25 shooting was the second at an Endeavor Health hospital in the Chicago area in less than a year.
Key context: Last summer, a man who had been taken to Evanston Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation reached for a gun in his backpack after he became agitated, striking a security guard trying to restrain him, according to prosecutors. In the April incident, prosecutors accuse Alphanso Talley of using a 10mm handgun to kill Chicago cop John Bartholomew and wound his partner at Swedish Hospital.
Potential fail points: It’s unclear what type of search officers conducted after Talley’s initial arrest. It’s also unclear if anyone, police or hospital security, patted down Talley again once he was at the hospital. Endeavor Health, which owns Swedish Hospital, previously said Talley “was wanded upon arrival” as part of hospital safety protocols. Security experts say a wand used correctly should have picked up the gun, even if it was concealed on the body.
THE WATCHDOGS ✍️
Court case hints at larger issue in Orthodox Jewish community: Child sex abuse and secrecy
By Robert Herguth
Zooming in: In a case unfolding before Cook County Judge Daniel Gallagher, it seems on the surface that two men are involved in a neighbor dispute, with threatening words, slashed tires and alleged stalking. Each man wants an order of protection against the other. But deep undercurrents speak to how the Orthodox Jewish community deals with allegations of child sexual abuse, which often is shrouded in secrecy while offenders at times are seemingly shown deference over victims.
Who’s involved: Michael Weldler claims he was sexually abused as a boy at a Jewish school on the North Side. The other man in the case, David Sussman, was accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting his roommate at a Jewish boarding school in New York years ago. Sussman, now a rabbi, and Weldler don’t know each other. But when Sussman moved to Chicago to take a teaching job at Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, Weldler heard about the accusations and allegedly tried to make his concerns about Sussman known.
FOOD SCENE 🍽️
New bar tries loyalty program to raise funds ahead of opening
By Maggie Hennessy
Community donation model: Jeremy Leven and Ines de Haro are hoping Chicagoans will buy into their new bar, Gilda, after launching an experimental loyalty program to raise capital ahead of their June 1 opening.
How it works: Customers who donate any amount will receive a “Compañero Card,” which is good for a percentage off their bill every time they dine at Gilda until their full contribution is “paid back.” Up to $499 gets them 8% off; $500 to $999, 10%; and $1,000, 12%. The bigger the donation, the more Gilda will “give back,” not just in discounts but also in preferential treatment for reservations and first dibs on goings-on at the restaurant.
Key context: The experiment will be closely watched in an era that increasingly favors the corporate-backed and the deep-pocketed, and in a year when several local independent restaurateurs have closed due to shaky industry economics.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- May Day recap: Chicago Public Schools held a districtwide day of civic engagement that saw some students take field trips to civic engagements and marches while others got civics lessons at school. One mother took her whole family to protest.
- Fundraiser for teen killed: Loved ones for Carrillo Noguera have launched a fundraiser to cover funeral expenses after the 17-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding a scooter April 24.
- Illinois opioid settlement: The state is receiving $148.8 million from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family as part of a nationwide $7.4 billion settlement agreement that took effect Friday — Illinois’ latest payout from companies that systematically addicted generations of Americans to opioids.
- United Airlines cuts flights: The Chicago-based company is cutting more than 100 daily flights at O’Hare Airport this summer to comply with federal limits, which are meant to pare down recent expansions by United and American airlines.
- Pritzker pauses: Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday underwent a “routine outpatient urology procedure” and will be stepping back from public duties this week, his office said
- New housing: Under the community-led, city-backed campaign Reclaiming Chicago initiative, 10 new homes have opened in Roseland. The campaign’s mission is to build 2,000 homes across the South and West sides to give residents affordable options.
- Kuma’s Corner franchises: The restaurant plans to franchise its heavy metal music and unique burger formula across the U.S. and the world.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- Voting Rights decision: Stevie Valles of Chicago Votes, Karen Freeman-Wilson of the Chicago Urban League and Chika Okafor of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law discuss what the U.S. Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision means for Illinois.
- What’s That Building?: The latest installation in this series explores Forrestal Elementary School in North Chicago, with guests Dennis Rodkin of Crain’s Chicago Business, Cara Kranz of Forrestal Elementary and Josh Bergman of Perkins Eastman.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- Housing market: Chicago home prices are rising five times faster than the rest of the nation. Experts say it’s a sign the city’s housing market is strong. But for buyers, particularly young people, sticker shock is causing many to rethink. What’s causing this spike? Is now a good time to sell property? Financial journalist Ilyce Glink and callers weigh in.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏀⚾🏒
- Bulls’ next skipper?: With the draft lottery less than a week out, the Bulls are looking to start getting the house in order with a new boss. Could it be one-time Bull Matt Lloyd?
- Sky need DiJonai Carrington: Carrington will be key to the team’s defense, but she’s still “a couple weeks” away from returning after injury.
- Ben Brown in the zone: Brown might’ve found his sweet spot on the Cubs’ pitching staff — in the bullpen, writes Jeff Agrest.
- Hawks analysis: Ben Pope breaks down the Blackhawks’ odds entering the NHL draft lottery.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 8A: Award won by Chicago rapper Common for his music in Selma
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Austin resident builds her first home alongside Habitat for Humanity
By Elleiana Green
Courtney B. has only ever called Austin home. But as housing costs rose and her options began to shrink, she feared being priced out. For the past eight years, Courtney rented a third-floor apartment, where long trips up the stairs and limited space often made it difficult to host family.
Now, with the help of Habitat for Humanity Chicago, the 45-year-old is helping to build the first home she’ll ever own.
On Saturday morning, she joined volunteers from Habitat Chicago and members of By the Hand Club for Kids, an after-school program serving children across the city, to paint the walls of the house she is working to finish.
Next month, she will move into the home — a 1,800-square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a fenced-in backyard and detached two-car garage.
“Is this really happening? Am I really going to have my own house?” Courtney said in excitement as she stood painting drywall.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
What’s the best household item you’ve scored in a Chicago alley? Do you still have it in your home today?
Email your answer to us (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
On Friday, we asked you: What’s your defining memory of going to the Lincolnwood Town Center?
Here’s some of what you said…
“Buying a new suit at Carsons for an interview.” — Ray Bieniasz
“I took my son there in 1996 for his first visit [and] picture with the Easter Bunny.” — Kimberly Rose
“Somehow, my friend convinced me to go with him there to get his mother a present on Christmas Eve. Pure shopping hell.” — Jeffrey A. Janusch
“Running from one bus at the end of the mall to the other [end] to catch the other bus, just to see it pull away and then slowly drive around the parking lot as you watch it, hopelessly looking at the next bus arrival. So you go back inside the mall, only to lose track of time and miss the second bus!” — Tony E. Meneses
“Getting my ears pierced at Claire’s as a little girl and then many years later, taking my oldest son to trick-or-treat there as a toddler when it snowed one Halloween! So many great memories. I’m very sad to see it go.” — Amanda Grace Marcheschi
Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition!
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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