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 thunderstorms and a high near 78 degrees. Tonight will be cloudy with a chance for more storms and a low around 66. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with showers likely, the chance for thunderstorms and a high near 71.
Top story
Professor yelled racial slurs, spit on Black woman and her 7-year-old daughter outside Oak Park Jewel-Osco, prosecutors say
A health sciences professor has been charged with a felony hate crime after he allegedly yelled racial slurs and spit on a Black woman and her daughter outside a Jewel-Osco in Oak Park earlier this month.
Alberto Friedmann, 53, is also facing one count of felony aggravated assault with a motor vehicle for accelerating toward the woman and nearly hitting her with his car during the attack Sept. 7 in the parking lot of the store at 438 W. Madison St., according to Cook County prosecutors.
The woman was parked along the traffic lane between the parking aisles while waiting for her mother to finish shopping about 4:30 p.m., prosecutors said. As she sat in her car with her daughter, the woman said she heard someone honking and yelling.
The woman looked up and saw Friedmann in a Jaguar behind her, prosecutors said. He allegedly yelled a racial slur at her and told her to move her car. Then he got out of his car and approached the woman while continuing to shout racial slurs, according to a court document.
When the woman tried to open her door, Friedmann allegedly pushed the door closed and spit in her face. He told the woman he spit on her because he doesn’t like Black people, prosecutors said.
By this point, the woman’s mother had left the store and heard Friedmann yelling slurs and saw him spit on her daughter, prosecutors said.
Read the full story from Emmanuel Camarillo here.
More news you need
Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered her 2022 city budget address today, describing it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity to transform” Chicago. Lightfoot received a standing ovation from aldermen at City Hall following her speech.
A divided City Council also voted today to address some issues in the legal pot industry by shrinking the city’s downtown “exclusion zone” and relaxing zoning requirements for marijuana businesses. Read more on what different aldermen said about the ordinance, which passed by a 33-to-13 vote.
After the Senate Parliamentarian ruled yesterday that a path to citizenship for Dreamers and other immigrants cannot be included in the proposed $3.5 trillion budget bill, Sen. Dick Durbin said today an alternative plan is already in the works. Lynn Sweet has more from the nation’s capital.
A Discover call center in the city’s Chatham neighborhood ranks as the Fortune 500 company’s best in customer satisfaction. Discover CEO and President Roger Hochschild told our Maudlyne Ihejirika that it proves moving into a disinvested community was a “great decision.”
Congo Square Theatre Company named Ericka Ratcliff as its new artistic director today. A longtime member of the African American theater company, Ratcliff is the first woman to hold the position.
A bright one
‘Open Boulevard’ series debuts in Logan Square
A popular road in Logan Square was flooded with people — not cars — Sunday for the first of several street festivals along the city’s historic boulevards.
People mingled with friends and neighbors and stopped at various vendors and tents along Logan Boulevard for the debut of “Open Boulevard,” a series of three-day-long street fests that will include pop-up performances, food and other activities hosted by local businesses within the community.
Ira Cox, of Logan Square, brought his two kids to Palmer Square Park where they took turns walking a tightrope that was set up by Aloft Circus Arts, a performance arts school in the neighborhood. But for Cox, who admittedly was having trouble getting his footing, it was good enough to just be outside on a beautiful day.
People walk up and down Logan Boulevard in Logan Square Sunday. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
“Being in the city, it feels like you just have human contact all the time. But when everyone’s kind of avoiding each other, it’s really isolating,” he said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic’s toll. “This is spectacular at this point in history to have good outdoor community stuff coming back.”
Shayna Swanson, Aloft’s owner, noted that she’s been living in Berlin, Germany, where “this type of open streets concept is really common.”
“I’m really into the idea of creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, especially in Logan Square,” Swanson said. “Because there’s so much great stuff in Logan Square, but I’ve noticed when I come here that no one’s out walking around. I’m like, does anyone live in the city?”
Read the full story from Tom Schuba and Madeline Kenney here.
From the press box
Your daily question ?
How do you feel about restaurants that have adopted no-tipping policies and fixed service charges?
Send us an email at [email protected] and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.
On Friday, we asked you: What’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line? What were you waiting for? Here’s what some of you said…
“In January 1988 I waited six hours on Rush Street in the cold for Michael Jackson tickets for my mother. Be advised there was no internet and we got tickets in person or on the phone.” — Colleen Curry
“Only four hours in 16-degree weather in line for one picture with the Cubs’ 2016 trophy. Well worth it.” — Sergio Maguellal
“Waited eight hours in line while hungover for Game 4 World Series tickets. Cubs got smoked but being in Wrigley [Field] for a World Series game is something that no one can ever take away.” — Russ DeLude
“Overnight at River Oaks Mall for REM tickets in 1987.” — Jeff Madden
“At Hot Doug’s for 2 hours. The dogs were great but don’t think I would ever wait that long for food again.” — Ellen Zemaitis
“About 12 hours, through the night when it was raining, sleeting and snowing to get tickets to see Elvis.” — Judy Frohlich
“Concert tickets. AC/DC back in the 80s. Stayed in line overnight at Sears store.” — Kim Bakken Campbell
“I don’t know but I’m sure it was at a DMV.” — Steve Bruns
Thanks for reading the Chicago Sun-Times Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.
Sign up here to get the Afternoon Edition in your inbox every day.