Afternoon Edition: April 19, 2021on April 19, 2021 at 8:00 pm

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 cloudy with a 50% chance of rain and a high around 46 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 37 degrees. Tomorrow will be “winter’s last hurrah” with snow expected — don’t worry, it’s not supposed to be more than a half-inch — and a high around 38 degrees.

Top story

Toddler shot in road rage incident is out of intensive care, showing ‘remarkable progress’ hospital says

A child wounded in a road rage shooting incident on Lake Shore Drive earlier this month continues to improve and has been moved out of the pediatric intensive care unit at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Reporters were told today that 22-month-old Kayden Swann is now breathing on his own and is moving all of his extremities. It’s “very good news” and “remarkable progress,” a Lurie doctor said.

Though Kayden’s initial prognosis seemed grim, his health has gradually improved since the shooting. Doctors removed Kayden from a medically-induced coma about a week ago.

Swann was shot about 11 a.m. April 6 on Lake Shore Drive near Grant Park after a road-rage dispute turned violent, police said.

Prosecutors have said the altercation started when an SUV tried to merge onto Lake Shore Drive near Soldier Field and nearly struck the car Swann was riding in.

Read Manny Ramos’ full story here.

More news you need

1. For the first time in nearly a year, all 515 of Chicago’s non-charter schools were open today for in-person learning as high schools welcomed some students back. “There are only 18 days of school,” one student said. “I’m going to try to make sure I look good for each and every one of those days.”
2. Illinois health officials reported 1,959 new cases of COVID-19 today while the state’s average positivity rate remains at 4%. Chicago officially moved into Phase 2 of vaccine distribution today, meaning anyone 16 or older is now eligible for the shot.
3. Ald. Gilbert Villegas is forging ahead with an ordinance to establish a guaranteed basic income pilot program in Chicago after the proposal led to emotional debate about reparations for African Americans. Ald. Jason Ervin, the chairman of the Black Caucus, says reparations should come first, but Villegas still plans to introduce his ordinance Wednesday.
4. Another proposed ordinance would help to prevent City Council from being blindsided by major deficits in the city’s annual budget. Ald. Brendan Reilly’s proposal would require the city’s finance departments to publish monthly reports detailing revenue collection.
5. Of all the questions surrounding the One Central project, a proposed clutch of nine high-rises over Metra tracks near Soldier Field, three are most pressing. Our David Roeder breaks down the trio of key issues facing the feasibility of the possible lakefront transit hub.
6. Tribune Publishing confirmed today that its board continues to endorse a sale to Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that’s currently a minority owner. Hotel magnate Stewart Bainum Jr. had enlisted Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss to make an offer to buy the company, but he’s now looking for other partners after Wyss’ recent withdrawal from talks.

A bright one

Chicago’s Mother Nature aims to ‘disrupt’ monotony heard on mainstream radio airwaves

Chicago rap duo Mother Nature believes in timing — and one of their latest singles, “Momentz,” aims to be the vehicle to get their brand of hip-hop recognized by audiences who want more than the average content heard via mainstream radio.

“‘Momentz’ is a reintroduction for Mother Nature in Chicago,” said TRUTH, one-half of the successful duo. “We wanted this project to be something that allowed us to shine as MCs, as well as disrupt the monotony that we see going on right now; a lot of things being regurgitated through the airwaves.”

Mother Nature, which consists of longtime friends — University of Illinois classmates Klevah and TRUTH — plans to strike while the iron is hot via “Boom-bap,” a hip-hop sub-genre popularized by 1980s and ’90s East Coast rappers.

Nicci Briann

Buffalo, New York, rap trio Griselda — Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher — are proving that the subgenre continues to resonate with audiences.

“Mother Nature is everything that you didn’t expect — that you didn’t know that you needed,” says TRUTH. “It’s a mix between giving you the medicine and turning up the party at the same time. Definitely something that is a mix between allowing you to feel, as well as pushing you on your journey.”

Read Evan F. Moore’s full interview with the hip-hop duo here.

From the press box

Antron Pippen, the oldest son of basketball legend Scottie Pippen, died Sunday at age 33. The former Bulls star announced the news this morning but did not provide a cause of death.

The Bears are bringing back veteran safety Tashaun Gipson on a one-year contract. Gipson, 30, picked off two passes and started all 16 games alongside Eddie Jackson in the Bears’ secondary last year.

And while ESPN projects the Bears to take Texas A&M offensive lineman Teven Jenkins with their first-round pick in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, our Patrick Finley breaks down the possibility of the Bears taking a swing on one of the class’ talented-yet-inexperienced QBs – even if it didn’t work last time they tried that.

Your daily question ?

What’s the best way to tell that winter in Chicago is finally over?

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

On Friday, we asked you: What’s something you hope to accomplish this summer? Here’s what some of you said…

“We previously created a nature path in the backyard and will continue this summer adding flowers and shrubs. I love being surrounded by nature. Especially after the pandemic!” — Jo Ann Fields

“To do something fun … would like to go to a concert and see Phish. It has been boring not going to hear live music and hang out.” — Erin Eileen

“Visit a National Park, go camping in either Michigan or Tennessee and swim a lot – last summer was great!” — Erika Hoffmann

“Celebrating my 40th birthday in June properly in Las Vegas with my brother, brother in law and father in law.” — Drew Hedderman

“Go places other than the grocery store.” — Maureen Vanderbilt

“Go somewhere, anywhere.” — Carol Wortel

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