Chicago Sun-Times: All posts by Catherine Odom

CPS students struggle to graduate college within 6 years: UChicago study

2023-12-05T05:30:00-06:00

Nidalis Burgos, a 2016 CPS graduate, says she felt pushed in high school to attend a four-year university, though it wasn’t the best choice for her.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Nidalis Burgos said she used to commute an hour and 20 minutes each way on public transportation to get from her home in Humboldt Park to Loyola University Chicago.

She graduated from Lincoln Park High School in 2016. She commuted to school to save money on her education, but withdrew from Loyola after two years.

Burgos, who was a first-generation, low-income student, completed an associate’s degree at Harold Washington College.

Struggling to graduate on time or at all from a four-year university is not an uncommon experience for Chicago Public Schools graduates.

A new study from the University of Chicago’s To&Through Project showed just 30% of CPS graduates at bachelor’s degree-granting universities received their degrees in four years. The six-year graduation rate was more than 20 percentage points higher at 51%.

Although both those rates have increased in the last decade — even as the number of college enrollees from CPS doubled to nearly 9,000 in that time — they are significantly less than the national four- and six-year graduation rates, the study says.

The study, titled “The Four Years Fallacy,” is scheduled to be released Tuesday. The study used data from students who graduated from CPS in 2014 and immediately went to four-year universities.

The study says 90% of students nationally expect to finish college in four years. Jenny Nagaoka, one of the authors of the study and the deputy director of the UChicago Consortium on School Research, said calling bachelor’s-granting institutions “four-year universities” is a “misnomer” for many students.

More CPS grads are pursuing college in recent years, study finds

Disparity in grad rates exists among CPS grads at all types of schools

This disparity exists at selective-enrollment high schools, too, the study shows. Some selective-enrollment schools have six-year college completion rates 30 percentage points higher than their four-year graduation rates.

Tanvi Kapatral said she considered herself a strong student at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. She said it was “jarring” when she began to struggle academically during her freshman year at the University of Illinois. The university placed Kapatral on academic probation and ultimately asked her to leave.

Kapatral moved home to Chicago and took classes at Roosevelt University. She was later able to return to the University of Illinois, and she graduated with a degree in psychology in August 2022, one term later than she had initially planned to graduate.

The study cited extra tuition costs and delayed entry into the workforce as challenges students face when they do not graduate in the expected four years. Nagaoka added that graduating late can take a “psychological toll.”

Kapatral said she “felt a lot of shame” about her path in college. She added that it was frustrating to feel like her first year was “a waste,” especially considering how much tuition cost.

Cassie Creswell, executive director of the advocacy group Illinois Families for Public Schools, says she is concerned about the financial burden of extra semesters of college, especially for low-income families. Creswell said pursuing a bachelor’s degree is “not necessarily a great economic investment for everyone.”

Burgos said she felt in high school she was pushed toward attending a four-year university. She said this was not necessarily the best choice for her, given her family’s financial situation.

Though certain factors — like higher test scores and GPAs — affect students’ graduation rates, the gap between four- and six-year graduation rates persists across demographics. These differentials ranged from 15% to 25%, the study reported.

Even though students who scored a 24 or higher on the ACT have a better chance of graduating with a bachelor’s degree than students with lower scores, there is still a difference of 22 percentage points between those students’ four- and six-year graduation rates.

Bump in CPS high school grad rates hailed by mayor, education officials

Black male students need more support, author says

Black male students have the lowest four- and six-year graduation rates, the study found. Just 13% of Black male CPS graduates completed bachelor’s degrees in four years. Alexandra Usher, a co-author of the study, said this was particularly concerning to the research team. Usher said CPS should offer greater support for Black male students to remedy this disparity.

Nagaoka said it is also up to colleges to provide resources and support for students to graduate on the expected timeline. These resources could include better academic advising and nontuition financial support, such as emergency loans or free use of textbooks.

College search tools that provide information about schools to prospective students should also include both four- and six-year graduation rates, Nagaoka said.

Advanced Placement courses key to getting out on time

One way to speed things up is by taking Advanced Placement courses in high school, which give students a chance to earn college credit before they enroll in college.

Daniel Pitzele, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, will likely complete his degree in four years or less with the AP credits he earned at Whitney Young, his parents said.

Adrian Pitzele, a senior at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School is in the process of applying to colleges.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

His brother Adrian, a senior at Whitney Young who is applying to colleges now, said he was confident he would also be able to graduate from college in four years or less. He said he was encouraged by the school to take AP classes.

“We are extremely lucky,” Monika Pitzele said of the opportunities her sons have had in high school.

15 shot at Halloween party in North Lawndale; suspect in custody

2023-10-29T06:45:45.174-05:00

Police officers look at the bullet holes on the security curtains at Studio 1258, a North Lawndale art gallery previously cited for operating without a proper license, according to the city.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

A man was arrested early Sunday after allegedly shooting 15 people at an unsanctioned Halloween party in North Lawndale just minutes after he had been thrown out, police said.

William Betancourt, commander of the Chicago Police Department’s Ogden District, told reporters the “senseless act of violence” occurred around 1 a.m. in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road.

Some of the roughly 100 partygoers told officers that the alleged shooter “was ejected from the party, and he came back a few minutes later with a gun and he began to shoot,” Betancourt said during a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Ogden District Police Cmdr. William Betancourt discusses the Chicago police response to a shooting Sunday at 13th Street and Pulaski Road.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

The suspect was taken into custody a short time later in the 4000 block of West 14^th Street, Betancourt said, crediting attendees of the party who provided his description and path of flight. A gun was recovered.

The party was held at Studio 1258, an art gallery that Betancourt said has a “history of throwing unlicensed events.” Police said Studio 1258 will be closed under the city’s summary closure ordinance, which gives the department the power to immediately shut down businesses associated with violence.

The business, at 1258 S. Pulaski Road, previously received a cease-and-desist order and citations for operating without proper licenses, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said in a statement.

A person associated with the business couldn’t be reached.

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The victims of the attack ranged in age from 26 to 53, including nine men and six women, Betancourt said. Two of them were critically wounded, while the others were listed in good-to-fair condition.

Andre Williams, one of the performers at the party, said the suspect had argued with security before shooting.

“He came back and put his arm through the door and started shooting,” Williams told Network Video Productions Inc., which shared video of the interview.

Another video circulating on social media appeared to show the frantic scene after the shooting, with some of the victims still bleeding on the ground.

Police radio transmissions further describe the chaotic aftermath in which many victims took themselves to hospitals as officers arrived and struggled to accurately count the number of wounded.

Officers, responding to a ShotSpotter gunshot detection alert, arrived as the gunman was still firing.

“They’re still shooting,” one officer radioed.

In a statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson said his “heart is with the victims” and others impacted by the shooting. He added his administration is working “to reduce the number of guns on Chicago streets.”

“The proliferation of high-powered artillery is tearing the fabric of our nation,” Johnson posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter.

Glen Brooks, director of community policing for the Chicago Police Department, said the entire neighborhood will need to heal from the trauma of the shooting.

“If we don’t address this, we know hurt people can hurt other people,” Brooks said during the news conference. “We’re trying to break that cycle.”

Local residents hold hands during a prayer circle outside Studio 1258, where 15 people were shot during a party Sunday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Brooks said an emergency assistance center will provide resources for those affected by the shooting. The center will open at the Young Men’s Educational Network, 1241 S. Pulaski Road, on Tuesday.

A person associated with the business couldn’t be reached.

Ivan Capifali, the agency’s first deputy commissioner, said BACP will wait for the police investigation to conclude before starting its own probe.

Sunday’s attack was the largest mass shooting recorded in Chicago so far this year.

In the Ogden District — which includes parts of the Little Village, North Lawndale and Heart of Chicago neighborhoods — shootings and homicides have continued to fall, mirroring a citywide trend.

Shootings in the district have dropped 22% from the same time last year, from 179 to 140 through Oct. 22, according to police department statistics. Murders have dropped 9% over the same period, from 34 to 31.

Still, Ald. Monique Scott expressed concern that “senseless” acts of violence are becoming normalized in her 24th Ward.

“I don’t know whether to scream or cry,” Scott told reporters.

After the news conference, community members gathered near the scene of the shooting. Reshorna Fitzpatrick, executive pastor of Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church in North Lawndale, led a prayer.

“My heart is so heavy because it really doesn’t have to be this way,” Fitzpatrick said after the gathering.

Reshorna Fitzpatrick, executive pastor of Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church, leads a prayer outside Studio 1258 in North Lawndale, where 15 people were shot during a party Sunday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Vigil in support of Israel held in Wheeling

2023-10-16T20:25:50.036-05:00

Two women wrapped in Israeli flags are among the attendees of a vigil in support of Israel on Monday evening at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling.

Tyler Pasciak-LaRiviere/Sun-Times

A vigil was held Monday evening in Wheeling in support of Israel.

Community members and religious leaders invited those of the Jewish faith and other faiths to pray for Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as those who have been killed, wounded and taken hostage since the surprise Hamas attack of Oct. 7.

The event was organized by Friends of Eastern European Refugees, a Chicago-area Jewish community organization, and it included prayers, songs and speeches in support of Israel.

The Israel-Hamas war has claimed more than 1,300 Israeli lives and more than 2,200 lives in Gaza.

iLuminate hopes to lift spirits in show at Genesee Theatre

2023-10-11T07:00:00-05:00

iLuminate showcases the troupe’s signature blend of dance and LED light suits during an eclectic musical journey presented in this scene from the world of Club iLuminate.

Christopher DeVargas

Miral Kotb was working as a software engineer around 15 years ago when she decided to marry her two passions: technology and dance.

She created iLuminate, a dance company that combines glow-in-the-dark LED suits with music, dance and comedy. The show has performed with stars like Christina Aguilera, and it won third place in the 2011 season of “America’s Got Talent.”

iLuminate, which Kotb, the founder and creative director, described as “a show about joy,” will perform at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Oct. 13 as part of a national tour.

Untitled

iLuminate

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 13

Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N Genesee St,,, Waukegan

Tickets: $25-$47

Info: geneseetheatre.com

The hour-long show follows a cast of characters on a journey through “different worlds and eras,” said Téah Bell, a jazz dancer performing with iLuminate. The show “combines technology and art and dance and storytelling,” Bell said.

The show features a variety of musical genres that pair with lighting elements and choreography. The show’s track list includes artists like Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, Doja Cat and James Brown.

The team of choreographers behind the show includes Josh Smith, who has worked with Chris Brown and Ray Leeper, who has created routines for the hit TV reality shows “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Choreographers that have worked with pop stars like Gwen Stefani and Janet Jackson have also contributed to iLuminate’s dance catalog.

A scene from an iLuminate performance in Vegas is inspired by the music and dance of Michael Jackson.

Courtesy of iLuminate

The troupe’s latest tour, which recently kicked off in Midland, Texas, features an entirely new cast, Kotb said. The nine dancers featured have been rehearsing since mid-September, she added.

In the nearly 15 years since Kotb founded iLuminate, she said the show has undergone changes she likened to new generations of technology. At this point, she said, iLuminate and its light-up suits are in their sixth generation. As the technology advances, so does the show and the capabilities of its light suits, Kotb said.

Learning to dance in these illuminated suits can be a challenge, though. Bell said the suits are heavy and took some getting used to.

“That’s been our biggest practice — working with basically weighted suits,” Bell said. “We’re going to become super-jacked after this.”

The light-up suits are the signature element of iLuminate’s performances, which take place in the dark. Kotb said these suits can create captivating illusions and allow dancers to disappear or to illuminate only some parts of their bodies.

The suits, designed by Kotb (who also designs the lighting), also reference iconic artists. In a scene from their Vegas residency, for example, iLuminate danced to the music of Michael Jackson while its performers were illuminated with Jackson’s signature fedora and suit. The light suits have also created the ruffled can-can skirts in a Moulin Rouge-inspired scene.

The music and dance of the Moulin Rouge inspires this scene from iLuminate.

Courtesy of iLuminate

Bell is one of two main jazz dancers in the show, which includes a variety of other dance styles. She said when she and her jazz counterpart dance together, the lighting makes them look like they are floating in air.

“We can really create magic,” Bell said.

Kotb said she is glad to be able to share her love of dance with iLuminate’s audience members. Seeing audiences’ joy after the show is one of the most rewarding parts of her job, Kotb said. She added that the show resonates with children and adults alike. She recommends anyone planning to see the show comes ready to tap into their “youthful joy.”

For Kotb, a cancer survivor, that joy is especially meaningful.

“Art is a way to really navigate emotions that are so hard to understand and also a way to ... bring joy to people,” Kotb said. “I know what it’s like to need that joy.”

Chicago parking garages to add 300 EV charging stations with ComEd’s help

2023-10-03T06:10:24.768-05:00

An electric vehicle charges at one of Millennium Garages’ facilities, which will see 300 more chargers by 2026, according to the company.

Provided

Commonwealth Edison has partnered with Millennium Garages to offer more EV charging stations for the growing number of drivers going electric.

More than 22,500 electric vehicles are registered in Cook County, up from around 14,000 this time last year. Millennium Garages, which has more than 9,000 parking spaces across four garages in the Loop, has committed to installing 300 chargers in its facilities by 2026.

On Tuesday, ComEd and Millennium Garages highlighted the nearly 100 Level 2 chargers that have already been installed, a news release said. Level 2 chargers can charge an EV from zero to 80% in a few hours.

Millennium Garages is also home to the Midwest’s largest public EV charging hub, according to the company.

ComEd awarded $200,000 in incentives to Millennium Garages to support sustainability and clean energy initiatives, the release said.

“ComEd is committed to working with customers and our partners from across the state to accelerate the adoption of EVs,” Melissa Washington, the utility’s senior vice president for customer operations and chief customer officer, said in a statement.

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, signed into law in September 2021, introduced rebates for Illinoisans who bought electric cars and motorcycles. The law stated Illinois’ goal is to have 1 million EVs on the road by 2030. Since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it into law, the number of EVs in Cook County has more than doubled.

Despite the rising numbers and statewide incentives encouraging Illinoisans to switch to EVs, some parts of Chicago are still lacking charger access.

Millennium Garages offers a range of charger types, including EVPassport, ChargePoint, FlashParking and Tesla, according to the release.

Jamie Ponce, Millennium Garages’ chief innovation and strategy officer, said in a statement that the company was “proud to expand charging access for local residents, commuters, visitors and fleets.”

The expansion of Millennium’s downtown charging hub is part of an effort to reduce emissions and pollution, the release said.

Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, praised the expansion and said the EV transition would help improve air quality for Illinois residents.

Tom Carney, acting commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transit, also expressed his support for the new chargers, saying in a statement that they complement “the city’s ongoing efforts to build out EV infrastructure.”

Pritzker’s signature climate law has seen slow progress on clean energy, green jobs promises

Purple hearts. In these divided times, can red and blue find love together?

2023-09-21T16:23:59.337-05:00

American singles are less willing to date outside their political party, survey data from the online dating platform Match suggests.

Olivier Douliery, Getty

Greta Berna and her husband do not always see eye-to-eye politically. But the Lake County residents have been able to make it work for over 25 years.

Berna is a Democrat, but her husband, Steven, is a Republican. She said it’s been challenging at times to navigate their political differences, especially when they started having kids. Having kids together brings values-oriented questions to the fore, Berna said.

“When you’re raising kids, there has to be some type of consensus,” Berna said. “It took a lot of compromising to come up with something in the middle that we could both live with.”

Though the couple has been able to make it work for decades, Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and the chief science adviser for dating site Match, said recent data shows fewer singles are willing to reach across the aisle in their relationships like the Bernas did.

In 2015, Fisher said Match found that 78% of singles would date someone from across the aisle in its annual Singles in America survey. By 2022, that number had “plummeted” to 46%, said Fisher.

Erika Kybartas has worked for the Chicago branch of matchmaking service It’s Just Lunch for 12 years. Over the last five or six years, she said she has noticed clients talking more about how politics influences their dating preferences.

Aidan Grogan is looking for a partner whose values align with his. One of the most important issues to the Palos Heights native is abortion, which he opposes.

Provided photo

“We have had some who say, ‘I will not date a Trump supporter,’” Kybartas said. “We’ve had some clients who say, ‘I have people in my family who are LGBTQ, and I need to make sure that somebody I’m dating is going to be open to that.’”

She said politics are often a question of values, and people want to date people with similar values.

Aidan Grogan said a person’s values are more important to him than their political party.

“I think their overall morals and their outlook on life are more important than how they voted in the last election,” said Grogan, who is from Palos Heights.

For Grogan, 25, that means he wants a partner who is Christian and opposes abortion. To him, abortion is “a spiritual or metaphysical issue,” not just a political one.

Grogan and an ex-girlfriend parted ways over politics while he was a student at Columbia College. She was not interested in politics, but her friends encouraged her to break up with Grogan, whom they viewed as too conservative, he said.

Greta Berna said she and her husband Steven do not always see eye-to-eye on politics, but they enjoy having lively debates with each other.

Provided photo

Elizabeth Lombardo, a Chicago-based relationship therapist, said politics can be a “litmus test” for a potential partner’s values, but she advises clients not to “personalize” their partner’s political views.

“If your partner likes steak and you prefer pasta, you’re not going to belittle him or her or think that they’re less than,” Lombardo said. “It’s just a difference of opinion.”

Zeljka Dekic immigrated to Chicago from Serbia a few years ago with her husband, whom she described as more conservative than her. But she said she tries not to let their views come between them.

When politics come up, “I try to change the subject, and if one of us starts to get overheated, I just make a joke,” Dekic said.

Kybartas said avoiding political debates can be helpful for couples with opposing political views. In fact, she recommends couples skip the political talk altogether on first dates. But, she added, having “off-limits” topics can breed tension.

Political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin are a famous political odd couple. Carville helped propel Bill Clinton to the White House, while Matalin is known for her work with Republican presidents and candidates. The couple is seen here in 2003.

Damian Dovarganes, AP

Berna, though, said she and her husband “love debating each other” about politics. She said she thinks these discussions are a big reason they’re able to make it work.

Stanford University professor Neil Malhotra, who has researched politics and dating, said one reason politics affects how people couple up is an us-versus-them mindset. For some, he said, it’s like Cubs versus White Sox — if you don’t belong to my political party, “you’re not on my team.”

On the flip side, agreeing on politics can help bring a couple closer together. Ryan Williams said he and his ex-girlfriend both got into conservative politics while they were dating. Williams has been studying at DePaul University, where he’s been the president of the university’s chapter of College Republicans.

“It was another thing that we could talk about,” said Williams. “It was a nice little coincidence.”

Ryan Williams, who has served as president of DePaul University’s chapter of College Republicans, said it can be challenging to date as a conservative.

Provided photo

Malhotra said the subject of politics is also important in relationships because it can signal whether a couple will agree on major life decisions, like whether to have an abortion after an unplanned pregnancy.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, the number of single women who view abortion as a dealbreaker spiked on the Singles in America survey, Fisher said. Two-thirds said they would not date someone who disagreed with them on abortion. Fisher said she is not surprised abortion has become such an important issue.

But Fisher added she is still optimistic about the future of cross-party relationships. She pointed to findings from the survey, like 40% of singles wanting someone who discusses both sides of an issue, and 58% considering it a dealbreaker if someone doesn’t.

“That’s cool,” she said. “I think that that’s good news for singles.”

Fisher knows cross-party relationships can succeed from personal experience. In 2020, she married John Tierney, a conservative writer. Fisher, who is a Democrat, said sometimes they just disagree. But, she added, sometimes she’s glad they do.

“I’ve learned a lot from him,” Fisher said. “I understand a lot of Republican issues differently — not all of them. I’ll never change who I am, but I have found it very valuable.”

Chicago gears up for Juneteenth festivities

2023-06-09T15:58:50.037-05:00

The 2022 West Garfield Park Juneteenth Parade took place on West Monroe Street in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file

A Juneteenth celebration in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side will be “painting the hood orange” on June 19.

The color orange represents the national anti-gun violence movement and the event’s mission of violence prevention.

The event, the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum’s Juneteenth Community Recommitment Celebration, is one of many taking place in neighborhoods across Chicago to celebrate Juneteenth.

Chicagoans will celebrate the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans June 19. Festivals, performances and other events will take place on the holiday and the weekend leading up to it.

The “Paint the Hood Orange” event is Pullman’s 11th annual Juneteenth celebration. The day’s events will include a youth basketball tournament, block party and parade.

All events are free, according to the museum. The day of festivities begins at 10 a.m. with a parade that leads into the block party and basketball tournament.

More than 500 participants have already signed up for a basketball tournament, sponsored by Wintrust, to be held at Corliss High School and Butler College Prep, according to the museum.

While he appreciates the growing awareness of the holiday, David Peterson Jr., president and executive director of the Pullman Porter Museum noted it’s important to use the holiday to educate as well as celebrate.

“This isn’t just a barbecue,” Peterson said.

In June 2021, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared Juneteenth a paid city holiday, just days before it was federally recognized.

The holiday is observed on the date news of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved people in Texas in 1865.

On the West Side, Douglass Park will host the second annual Juneteenth Village Fest June 18. The free event runs from noon to 8 p.m.

The event will feature musical performances by Angie Stone, Marsha Ambrosius and more, food vendors, community-based organizations and carnival rides, according to its website.

Markets featuring Black-owned businesses are scheduled across Chicago over the weekend and on Juneteenth. Hyde Park will host the Thank You Chicago Juneteenth Market at the Promontory June 19 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring vendors, food and music.

Nearby at the University of Chicago, the Logan Center for the Arts will stage “1619: The Journey of a People, The Musical.” The production covers Black history in America, starting with the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, and will be followed by a panel discussion. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.

There’s also 1865 Fest, a three-day festival in Garfield Park starting June 16.

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, as well as Juneteenth, at its third annual community barbecue. The free event is all day June 19, and will feature a discussion with hip-hop artist Kool Moe Dee.

Return of Chonkosaurus: Huge snapping turtle spotted on Chicago River

2023-06-08T16:55:16.804-05:00

Chonkosaurus was spotted again Wednesday afternoon near the Division Street bridge, on the east side of Goose Island.

Charlie Portis photo

Chonkosaurus is back — without much of a vengeance.

Charlie Portis and his 14-year-old son Bokai spotted the Chicago River’s celebrity snapping turtle, dubbed Chonkosaurus, soaking up the sun on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s Chonkosaurus part four — this time, it’s personal,” Portis quipped in a deep voice, while recording a video of the monster turtle.

The snapping turtle, which the Field Museum’s curator of reptiles and amphibians Sara Ruane estimated weighs about 35 pounds, went viral after kayakers spotted it sunbathing on a rusty metal chain in the Chicago River last month.

Portis, who owns the kayak rental and tour company Wateriders, said he and Bokai were towing kayaks on Wednesday around 4 p.m., when they decided to stop by the internet-famous turtle’s stomping grounds near Goose Island.

Field Museum reptile expert Sara Ruane compared the original sighting of Chonkosaurus with Charlie Portis’ sighting in this graphic. She confirmed the Portises had seen the viral Chonkosaurus.

Field Museum/Sara Ruane

At first, Portis said he told his son he doubted they’d see the turtle, since it spends much of its time underwater. But as they approached a hefty mass basking in the sun near the Division Street bridge, the father-son duo realized they might be in luck.

Even with the noise from his boat’s motor, Portis said the turtle remained unperturbed on its perch.

In a video he shared with the Sun-Times, Portis can be heard saying, “Bokai, is that a large turtle ... or what?”

Ruane confirmed the Portises had seen Chonkosaurus by comparing their photos and videos with those from the original sighting.

What you need to know about Chonkosaurus — Chicago’s big ol’ snapping turtle

Last month, Wateriders took a team of Sun-Times journalists out to search for the famed snapping turtle, but to no avail. Portis said striking out back in May made it all the more exciting to see the turtle on Wednesday.

Chicago River Snapper aka Chonkosaurus. Great to see this beast thriving here on what was once such a toxic river, but is slowly getting cleaned up & restored. Somebody planted a bunch of native plants up the river from here, too. I can only wonder this things been eating. pic.twitter.com/u6bhlpo4p5
— Joey Santore (@JoeySantore) May 6, 2023

Ruane said although Chonkosaurus is certainly a big snapping turtle, it is not outside the range of normal for its species. She added that the turtle growing to that size is a “positive indicator” of the health of both the turtle and the Chicago River.

Based on the photos and videos of this turtle, Ruane said it would be difficult to determine whether the turtle is male or female. But she said female turtles, especially those carrying eggs, typically bask in the sun more often than their male counterparts do.

This photo provided by Joey Santore shows a snapping turtle relaxing along the Chicago River. Footage of the plump turtle went viral after Santore marveled at its size and nicknamed it “Chonkosaurus.”

Joey Santore/Distributed by the Associated Press

Basking at all is somewhat unusual, Ruane said. Snapping turtles spend most of their time in the water.

In Portis’ videos, the turtle appears to be catching some rays on the same metal chain seen in the original Chonkosaurus footage. That didn’t surprise Ruane, who said snapping turtles, like many other animals, are creatures of habit.

“If something works for them, they’ll continue to do it,” she said.

Ruane reminded Chonkosaurus fans to avoid touching, grabbing or poking the turtle if they spot it. Still, even though snapping turtles have powerful jaws, you probably won’t need a bigger boat if you run into Chonkosaurus on the river.

If a turtle in its natural environment feels threatened, Ruane said, it will likely just slide back into the water, posing no danger to passing kayakers.

She added that Chonk spotters should make sure they don’t drop their phones or fall out of their boats trying to get closer to the turtle.

The presence of a turtle like Chonkosaurus in the Chicago River shows how resilient animals can be, even right next to a noisy bridge, Ruane said.

It’s an example of “wildlife doing OK in an urban environment,” said Ruane.

‘MJ’ musical to star ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ alum in run at Nederlander Theater

2023-06-07T09:19:57.169-05:00

Roman Banks poses Tuesday at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre, where he will play Michael Jackson in the musical “MJ” during its North American tour.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“Hamilton” altered Roman Banks’ direction in life when he was in high school.

Until his friends at theater camp convinced him to watch blurry, unauthorized clips from the musical, Banks wanted to act for TV and film.

“It changed my life to see people who look like me on stage,” Banks said. “I didn’t think Broadway was a place for people like that and music like that and art like that.”

From then on, Banks knew he wanted to act on Broadway. At 19, he became the first person of color to play Evan in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Now, at 24, he is set to play Michael Jackson in “MJ,” the musical starting its North American tour in Chicago this August.

Banks has also played a recurring character on the Disney+ series “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”

On Tuesday, Broadway in Chicago announced Banks would be starring as the King of Pop in the highly anticipated first national tour of the jukebox musical. The full cast for the Chicago show will be announced soon.

Roman Banks will star as Michael Jackson in “MJ: The Musical.”

Matthew Murphy

“Roman is a stunning performer, and we are lucky to have him leading the company on our first National Tour,” said director Christopher Wheeldon in a statement.

“MJ,” which premiered on Broadway in December 2021, won four Tonys. Opening night at the Nederlander Theater, located at 24 W. Randolph St., is Aug. 1. The show will run through Sept. 2. Tickets are now on sale at ticketmaster.com.

Set in 1992 just two days before Jackson set out on his Dangerous world tour, the musical has a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage (“Ruined,” “Sweat”). More than three dozen of Jackson’s hits are featured in the show.

Banks said he is overjoyed to be playing his “musical hero” on stage. “I grew up on this music,” he added.

He said he is also excited to kick off the tour in Chicago. He was on his first trip to the city Tuesday.

“I can’t believe we get to start this moment, this show in such a town full of people who are so passionate about arts and theater,” Banks said.

Guide to Chicago’s 2023 summer theater lineup

When Banks found out he had been cast as Jackson, he said he was “relieved.” When he told his mom, he said they had a dance party on FaceTime to Jackson’s music.

The news came around Halloween last year, he said. Though Banks had to keep his upcoming role largely under wraps, he said he’s been preparing ever since.

Banks added that he connected with Jackson’s perfectionism, which drove his precise and distinctive style of movement. Banks said nailing Jackson’s unique style and persona through dance has been one of the most challenging parts of preparing for the show.

But the “grueling” rehearsals are worth it for Banks. He said he hopes audiences will “bring an attitude of welcoming and joy” when they see the show.

“If that can happen every night,” he said, “then we’re in for one hell of a year.”

Cannabis farm among recipients of $12.6 million in Illinois grants for EV chargers

2023-06-05T17:33:42.105-05:00

Ten companies received grants from the Illinois EPA to build public direct-current fast chargers across the state. The agency expects to add chargers at 87 sites.

Associated Press

A DuPage County hemp farm will receive a grant of nearly $500,000 to build public direct current fast chargers for electric vehicles.

Kerry Farms, which grows hemp for CBD oil and honey, is one of 10 companies receiving grants from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, according to a news release.

The agency is awarding $12.6 million in grants using money from the multibillion dollar 2016 Volkswagen settlement. Illinois received about $109 million from the settlement, of which over half remains unspent.

“We are excited to see EV-charging infrastructure expanding throughout Illinois, providing much needed access, and complementing the state’s goals to expand EVs in Illinois,” said Illinois EPA Director John Kim in a statement.

The Illinois EPA announced Monday that it expects to build nearly 350 new charging ports for light-duty vehicles through this program. None of the 87 planned charging sites will be in Chicago, where over half of neighborhoods have no public EV chargers.

Joe Sheehan, founder and owner of Kerry Farms, said he thinks his company will be able to build about six public direct current fast chargers in high-traffic areas of DuPage, Peoria and St. Clair counties with the grant. He said his company is still deciding where to place the chargers. Kerry Farms will lease the land where it is building chargers.

“We’re taking risks no one else is willing to take,” he said. Sheehan said he hopes Kerry Farms will profit from this, but he is not certain it will.

He said his goal is to “find a profitable way to do it,” but the environmental and community benefits are more important to him.

Joe Sheehan, the founder and owner of Kerry Farms in Winfield, said keeping his farm at the forefront of environmental change is important to him. Kerry Farms has received a $480,000 grant to build public EV chargers.

Provided photo/Kerry Farms

The grantee that received the largest chunk of the $12.6 million was Universal EV, a Plano, Texas-based company building chargers at hotels operated by Hilton and IHG. Universal EV received over $5.8 million.

Love’s Travel Stops and Pilot Travel Centers received grants to build chargers at their truck stops. BP Pulse, GPM Midwest, Francis Energy and Road Ranger received grants for chargers at gas stations. Francis Energy’s grant also covers chargers at restaurants.

ChargePoint received grants to build charging stations at restaurants and retail stores, and Powered Dynamics secured funding for chargers at shopping centers. Kerry Farms’ grant was approved for chargers at retail locations and event centers.

In 2015, Volkswagen was caught cheating on emissions regulations by installing software in diesel vehicles to circumvent standards set by the Clean Air Act, leading to a multibillion dollar national settlement.

The Volkswagen settlement’s mitigation plan outlined three priority areas in Illinois. These areas are Chicago and its surrounding counties, the counties bordering St. Louis and a band of central Illinois counties, including the cities of Springfield, Peoria and Champaign.

The priority designations are based on the number of Volkswagens registered, the area’s air quality and whether an area bears a disproportionate burden in terms of air pollution.

Six sites in Cook County are receiving funding from these grants, but none are in Chicago.

Brian Urbaszewski, the director of environmental health programs at the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, said he found that “odd,” considering that over a fifth of the state’s population lives in the city.

Urbaszewski said it’s promising the charging sites are spread around the state, including in areas with relatively few chargers and low EV adoption. But he said he wished there were chargers being built using this money in Chicago, particularly on the South and West sides.

He added that building more charging stations in low-income areas would help people who live there feel “more comfortable” buying EVs, in turn helping them reap the cost savings of driving and maintaining an EV.

Whether the lack of proposed sites in Chicago is due to who applied or how sites were chosen is unclear, Urbaszewski said.

Another concern of Urbaszewski is how little of the Volkswagen settlement money Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration has spent. Pritzker’s administration inherited nearly $88 million from the administration of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, he said.

In 2021, Pritzker overhauled Rauner’s plan for the Volkswagen settlement money to focus more on electric vehicles. Rauner’s plan had originally focused on replacing old diesel with newer diesel engines, an idea opposed by environmental advocates.

In January 2022, Pritzker announced that he would use around $4 million from the settlement to buy 17 electric school buses for schools in the Chicago and St. Louis areas.

Urbaszewski said this most recent charging initiative is one of the first big uses of the money by Pritzker’s administration but more than $70 million is still “just sitting there” unused.

Although Urbaszewski said building out the public charging network is a positive step, he thinks Pritzker could be doing more to drive EV adoption in Illinois. He pointed to rules pioneered in California and adopted by a handful of other states that require car and truck makers to boost the percentage of their sales made up by EVs.

Increasing the funding for the state’s EV rebate program is another important step, he added. The money for rebates ran out in January, and Urbaszewski said the Illinois EPA cut its budget for rebates by about 40% for this fiscal year, despite the growing number of EVs in the state.