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.
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Top story
Killing of 15-year-old tests a justice system strained by more arrests, fewer resources
Michael Brown and Anthony Brown grew up together around a tough housing project in Bronzeville.
They weren’t related, but their families say the boys had a lot in common. By the time they hit high school, though, they had become “opps,” rival gang members, maybe more imagined than real but still deadly.
On Feb. 8, police say, Anthony got out of an Infiniti SUV he had just stolen and shot Michael at least 10 times while standing over his body on a snowy street about a mile from where they had played as boys. Michael was 15, Anthony 16.
The shooting once again confronted the city with kids killing kids and the problem of meting out justice to juveniles while keeping the streets safe.
Anthony had twice been arrested on gun charges last year but remained free on electronic monitoring. On the day of the murder, police say Anthony appeared before a judge in one of those cases, then ordered a Lyft and carjacked the driver, picking up a friend before targeting Michael as he walked home from the Chicago Military Academy.
The debate over the handling of cases like these has sharpened as gun violence has hit record levels in Chicago, and more and more juveniles are being arrested for serious crimes. Families like those of Michael’s and Anthony’s are caught in the middle, at a loss when talking of justice.
“Everybody wants justice,” said Resheima Bailey, who describes herself as Michael’s second mom. “They caught him right away, so they’re like, we got justice. But did we really get justice? Because that’s another kid. That’s another kid, and I feel for that kid. He was just another boy living his life on the street the best way he knew how.”
More news you need
- A 27-year-old mother of four young children who had been celebrating Mother’s Day over the weekend was fatally shot yesterday in Lawndale. Marquita Davis was “a great mom, and she will be missed by so many people,” her sister, Lashawn Ward, said.
- A 23-year-old man who had been shot three times last week during a robbery in Lincoln Park remained in critical condition as of yesterday, according to family. Dakotah Earley moved to Chicago six months ago to study culinary arts and figure out what to do with his life, his brother, DeShawn, wrote in an update on a GoFundMe page.
- Clearview AI, a Manhattan-based developer of highly controversial facial recognition software, agreed today to stop providing its technology to most private clients and halt doing business in Illinois for five years as part of a lawsuit settlement. Tom Schuba has more on the settlement of the lawsuit, which alleged Clearview violated state privacy law.
- A local preservation group is working on a proposal to revive a pair of early 20th-century high-rises owned by the federal government, which wants them destroyed because of perceived security risks for the neighboring Dirksen Federal Building. David Roeder has more on the efforts to save the towers at 202 and 220 South State Street.
- Chicagoans will get another chance to immerse themselves in the works of brilliant artists with the upcoming “Immersive Monet & The Impressionists” exhibit at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago. The state-of-the-art showcase, which features works from Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and more, will run from June 17 through Sept. 25.
A bright one
Chicago artist Hebru Brantley’s first statue inspires ‘wonderment’ outside children’s museum at Navy Pier
When kids approach Navy Pier’s new 16-foot statue of Flyboy — the iconic be-goggled character created by renowned Chicago artist Hebru Brantley — they imitate him.
They cross their arms over their chests, like he does. They stand up straight and look toward the South Side, like he does. And they grin, just like he does.
“They look up, they gaze at it, and they’re instantly inspired,” said Jennifer Farrington, president of the Chicago Children’s Museum, where the statue stands outside on the pier’s south dock.
That’s the type of thing Brantley hopes his work will do.
Flyboy and Brantley’s other characters are already the focal point of murals around the city, but the statue, titled “The Great Debate,” is Brantley’s first.
“Watching how kids from the South Side, West Side, North Side, wherever, how they all respond … it was a sense of wonderment,” Brantley said.
Brantley, joined by city leaders and donors Thad Wong and Emily Sachs Wong, dedicated the statue and an accompanying interactive art studio at the museum Saturday.
The artist said he hopes the spaces will inspire kids to play, create and imagine.
Mary Norkol has more on Navy Pier’s newest attraction.
From the press box
- White Sox roster moves: Third baseman Yoan Moncada and reliever Joe Kelly are back while Aaron Bummer hit the 15-day injured list and Jake Burger was demoted to Triple-A Charlotte.
- Bears roster moves: The team waived linebacker Ledarius Mack and signed six players who participated in their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis last weekend
- Talking about his initial impressions of Bears quarterback Justin Fields, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said that the team is asking a lot of the second-year pro but he’s ”really accepted this challenge.”
- Rob Miech on the love story between a horse-racing journalist and Aussie rules football.
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On Friday, we asked you: How do you plan to celebrate the mother figure in your life this Mother’s Day? Here’s what some of you said...
“In my heart where she always is.” — Kathy Boyer Deutsch
“My mother is gone so i will be thinking of her.” — Linda Orlowski
“Going and spending time with my granddaughter. Which I know my mom had a hand in choosing her. I wish my mom was here but she sent her to me. She definitely knew I needed her.” — Shawna Hoke
“I celebrate my mom all year. No need for special day.” — Katherine Konopasek
“By having Mom and Dad over for pizza.” — Tom Mattson
“Spending the day with my daughter.” — Conni Lobsiger
“Thinking of all the good we shared and the wisdom she shared with me and others.” — Ruth Cowen
“By going to her favorite place, the casino.” — Sasja Alskare
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