The deadline came Friday and Kate Hunt, the Florida 18 year-old accused of "lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12 to 16 years-old," rejected a plea deal offer by the state’s attorney, meaning the case goes to trial June 20.
The deal would have meant two years of house arrest, one year of probation and a conviction of child abuse (rather than be required to register as a sex offender for life). It would have, in effect, kept Hunt from going to college and likely ended any chance she could ever have a career involving minors, including her choice of nursing. In other words: Hunt would have been stigmatized for life.
The Florida teenager sex saga continues
May. 27, 2013Blackhawks need a win; Cubs vs. Sox
May. 27, 2013Make sure your television remote control has plenty of battery power for the local sports action tonight. The Blackhawks try again to stave off elimination in Detroit and the Cubs travel across town to US Cellular to play the White Sox.
Game 6 will be another bruising battle for the Hawks and Red Wings. Down 3 games to 2, which team will show up for Coach Joel Quenneville?
Will it be the one that dominated in the first and last games or the one that was battered and embarrassed by their arch rivals in the middle contests?
On Saturday, the Blackhawks had the edge on every aspect of the game. They must try to carry the momentum at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It will not be easy. During games 3 and 4 the Wings were fueled by their rabid fans and physically dominated the Hawks, especially Jonathan Towes. Chicago's "Captain Serious" has found scoring goals a huge struggle this post season. When he finally scored his first of the playoffs last Saturday (on the power play, no less) it was a huge weight off his shoulders and it seemed the team felt it, too.
A Chicago tourist's guide to New York theater awards season
May. 26, 2013A five-day visit to New York. Six shows, half good and half not-so. Three museums. Some of this is utterly evanescent; some will come to Chicago if you're patient; but some of it requires you to jump on a plane and go. Herewith a guide to your trip.
What to see:
Pippin at the Music Box. There are plenty of people whose first response to the revival of Pippin was, "Oh, I hate that show!" but I've always loved it. (No one is neutral.) The Broadway revival, faced with the challenge of eradicating otherwise ineradicable memories of Ben Vereen doing Bob Fosse's dances, makes two major changes to the original: Vereen's role is played by a woman (the excellent Patina Miller), and much of Fosse's athletic choreography gives way to actual acrobatics created by circus artist Gypsy Snider, including tumbling, trapeze, contortionism and human pyramids. This makes wonderful thematic sense, as the titular character spends the entire show seeking thrills. With superb performances by all concerned (a special nod to almost-certain-Tony-winner Andrea Martin as Pippin's remarkably nimble grandmother), director Diana Paulus's production should satisfy novices and Pippin cultists alike. Most likely it will play on Broadway until we're all as old as Granny, but the producers have just announced that it will begin a national to
The Portage Theater didn’t have to close, but it did
May. 26, 2013
UPDATED SUNDAY 7:45 p.m.
Although the city on Friday revoked the liquor license owned by mercurial landlord Erineo “Eddie” Carranza at Logan Square’s Congress Theater, the move did not immediately affect his second venue, the Portage Theater, four miles northwest on Milwaukee Avenue at Six Corners.
Yet several hours after the license revocation became public Friday afternoon, the Facebook page maintained by the current Portage film programmers announced that, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Portage Theater is closed until further notice.”
Phil Jackson on Bulls past and present
May. 24, 2013
It has been 15 years since Phil Jackson rode out on his motorcycle and ended his coaching career in Chicago. He continued his success after his six Bulls NBA Championships with the Lakers and earned five more rings. Now at the age of 67, he has authored a new book aptly titled, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success."
Jackson held court about his new book at the Trib Nation's Printers Row session conducted by the Chicago Tribune's beat reporter K.C. Johnson. An audience of dignitaries, including new Bears head coach Marc Trestman, and a large group of fans filled the Palmer House Hilton Ballroom.
Congress Theater liquor license revoked
May. 24, 2013
UPDATED 4:45 P.M.: NEW COMMENTS ON THE APPEAL AND THE PORTAGE THEATER
Controversial Congress Theater owner Erineo “Eddie” Carranza has lost his liquor license at the embattled Logan Square concert venue.
“We will appeal,” Carranza said.
Despite the city’s revocation of the liquor license, state law allows a venue to continue to sell alcohol during the appeals process.
The city issued an order to police to close the venue. But Carranza’s attorney Harlan Powell said the appeal was filed this afternoon and copies were forwarded to police, who should allow the next public event, a Latin music show on Sunday afternoon, to continue as scheduled.
Today’s decision from the Liquor Control Commission comes after three sessions of sometimes harrowing testimony before Hearings Commissioner Robert Nolan.
Why Chicago summers are the best
May. 24, 2013
“Chicago in the summer...” I began in a conversation with a friend since junior high school.
“Oh, there’s nothing better,” she finished.
What do people mean when they say Chicago is the greatest city in the summer? Well, they mean a couple of things, I suppose. If we truly consider the weather, Chicago summers are usually unbearable. The stickiness is never pleasant. By mid-July, the weather rules with an iron fist. It becomes difficult to imagine a Chicago outside of these temperatures. Where is the cold? Where is the chill? Where is the bite?
But in the beginning, a Chicago summer is nothing short of heavenly. Chicago truly only has two seasons: hot and cold. To live here is to know this. Chicago exists in a binary and to escape the months of cold feels like a triumph over the adversity of snow and ice. “I made it! I finally made it,” you think. The winter is an obstacle of the spirit.