Wayfair to open outlet store in Chicago suburbs

Months after Wayfair’s first-ever brick-and-mortar store opened in suburban Wilmette, the online furniture and home store will open another store in the Chicago area — but this one will be an outlet.

In fall of 2024, a Wayfair Outlet is set to open in the western suburb of Naperville, a spokesperson confirmed.

According to the spokesperson, the store is set to sell items that have been returned to the online store, as well as discounted items in good condition.

No further details about the new store were immediately available.

According to the Wayfair outlet website, the Naperville store will be the fifth Wayfair outlet in the country and the first in Illinois, joining Kentucky, Texas, New York, North Carolina. Wayfair’s signature brand Joss & Main also has a store in suburban Oakbrook.

Wilmette’s Wayfair store, at 3232 Lake Avenue in Eden’s Plaza was two years in the making and opened in May.

Visible from the highway, the 150,000 square-foot, purple-and-white store sits in the Plaza’s remodeled Carson Pirie Scott space, which has sat empty since 2018. According to Wilmette village president Senta Plunkett, the store is expected to have a “transformative effect” on the suburb.

“It will be our largest sales tax generator,” Plunkett told NBC Chicago in an interview. “We’re excited to be able to reinvest those sales tax dollars into our infrastructure. It’s a big deal here.”

The store also features an on-site restuarant called “The Porch,” with all-day breakfast along with snacks, salads, sandwiches, coffee and beer and wine, officials said, where customers can “sip and shop.”

What the Wilmette Wayfair store is like on the inside

The store contains more than 80,000 pieces of inventory — from couches and cribs, to wallpaper, flooring, backsplash, showers, sinks and refrigerators — plus a home improvement section, test kitchen and fully-loaded design center line the newly renovated walls.

“We wanted customers to see that we have things for the entire home,” Barclay Resler, Wayfair’s head of visual merchandising said. “And not only that, we have the entire style spectrum, so everything from the most modern, through the spectrum to the most traditional, and also really every price point.”

Similar to a home furnishings store, a walk through Wayfair offers multiple home vignettes and colors along with finishing touches like pillows, candles, vases and tableware. While many of its furniture and finishing brands are signature ones — like Joss & Main, which also has a brick-and-mortar store in the Chicago area — it also carries appliances from top names like Samsung, Bosch and Cuisinart.

The store also offers custom cabinetry for kitchens, complimentary design services, a gallery wall creator and a “Dream Center” that allow customers to get matched with certain mattresses and pillows using a five-question process.

According to officials, customers can select and purchase items in store and pick them up at the end of the shopping trip, though some items would need to be delivered. Customers can also order items online for store pick-up, or select “fast and free shipping,” which typically takes under a week.

Officials said the Chicago market — Wilmette, in particular — offered a “great” opportunity for Wayfair’s first physical store.

“Lots of young families here,” said Liza Lefkowski, VP of merchandising. “It’s kind of right for our brand.”

Lefkowski went on to say that the store is meant to be a destination for all things “home,” and to fit a wide variety of budgets.

Ahead of the opening, here’s a sneak peek into what it looks like inside:

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Jordan Chiles goes viral for epic move during brilliant floor routine on night of US gymnastics win

U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles is known for the fun and fiery competitive nature she brings to the Olympic sport of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, and the women’s team final on Tuesday was no exception.

Chiles, 23, of Vancouver, Washington, kept her teammates hyped up all day. Throughout the afternoon, she was seen dancing and cheering. When she fell during her balance beam routine, she was able to keep cool and nail the rest of the routine with poise.

When it came down to the fourth and final rotation — the floor exercise — Team USA had already nearly secured a gold medal.

But Chiles did not hold back.

Long-time gymnastics fans and those new to the sport have come to love Chiles’ entertaining and powerful performances on the beam, but floor exercise is arguably her best event, and the gymnast’s Beyoncé-themed floor routine has gone viral across the internet.

When it came time for Chiles’ routine Tuesday, the American gymnast pulled out a move she doesn’t usually do — but it wasn’t your typical gymnastics skill.

Instead it was a wink, looking straight into the camera.

Fans — and celebrities — all over the world went crazy for Chiles’ now-viral wink, with many noting her confidence and swagger.

Chiles’ went on to dominate her floor routine, helping to catapult the U.S. women’s team to win the gold medal. As a member of the 2020 Tokyo team who narrowly missed the gold medal, helping lead the team to first place was bound to be an emotional moment.

Chiles will perform again at the women’s floor exercise final Monday, Aug. 5.

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Women's gymnastics scores: How do they work at the Olympics? How many rotations are there?

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team, on its way to gold medal redemption, saw some pivotal point shifts and some massive scores, but how does the scoring system work in Olympic gymnastics?

Between the various apparatuses, competition formats and additional rules, there is a lot to follow when it comes to gymnastics — and that’s before even getting into the turns, spins and twists of the gymnasts themselves.

Here’s an explainer on how the scoring system works:

How gymnastics judging and scoring works

Nine judges are chosen to score each Olympics gymnastics event. Those judges are broken into three groups: the D panel (difficulty score), E panel (execution score) and reference panel.

Difficulty score

The D panel is made up of two judges who determine the difficulty score.

Both judges record their difficulty score, accounting for the eight most difficult skills — including dismount — for women and 10 most difficult skills for men. The D panel judges compare scores and determine the routine’s difficulty score.

Vault is the only apparatus that has a predetermined difficulty score, which is displayed to the judges before the gymnast begins their vault.

Execution score

The E panel has five judges who determine the execution score. The execution score starts at 10.0 and the E panel makes deductions for errors during the routine. Deductions range in value from 0.1 to 1.0.

The five judges each record their own execution score for the routine. The top and bottom scores are dropped and the three remaining scores are averaged out to determine a final execution score.

Neutral deductions

Certain errors such as time violations, stepping out of bounds, behavior faults and falls are penalized as neutral deductions.

Inquiries

A gymnast can make a verbal challenge, called an inquiry, to the judges after their routine. The verbal inquiry must be followed by a written inquiry and can only occur after the gymnast’s final score has been posted.

Scores can be raised, lowered or remain the same based on the inquiry.

Code of Points

The Code of Points defines the scoring system for each level of gymnastics competitions.
Different gymnastics levels, disciplines and countries have their own codes. The International Gymnastics Federations sets the Code of Points for the top level of the sport, including the Paris Olympics.

Each athlete is awarded both and execution and difficulty score following their routines.

What is a perfect score in gymnastics?

According to NBC Olympics, there is no more “Perfect 10” in gymnastics, but gymnasts can still reach a perfect score — there is just no number associated with it.

“Now, a perfect score for a gymnast would be receiving no deductions from the judges, while also completing their planned routine with full difficulty. Under the open-ended scoring system, no gymnast has received a perfect score,” NBC Olympics reported.

How many Olympic gymnastics events are there?

There are 14 total artistic gymnastics medal events at the Paris Olympics.

Women compete on four apparatuses, while men compete on six. Women and men each have an individual all-around event and team event, as well.

Here are the apparatuses for women’s and men’s gymnastics:

Women’s

• Vault
• Uneven bars
• Balance beam
• Floor

Men’s

• Floor
• Pommel horse
• Rings
• Vault
• Parallel bars
• Horizontal bar

Olympics gymnastics competition format

Artistic gymnastics at the Olympics is broken up into four phases: qualification, team finals, all-around finals and event finals.

Qualification

Whether they are competing as an individual, with a team or both, every gymnast competes in the qualification.

This round serves as qualification for event finals, the all-around final and the team final. Teams consist of four athletes, but only the top three scores count. Gymnasts looking to reach the all-around final must perform every event (four for women and six for men) in order to get an all-around score in qualification.

Gymnasts perform one routine per apparatus, with the exception of vault. Gymnasts who want to compete individually in the vault event must do two vaults in qualification in order to contend for a spot in the event final.

Scores from qualification do not carry over into the finals.

How team scoring works

The top eight teams from qualifying advance to the team finals. The placings for teams that finished ninth through 12th will be determined.

All eight teams compete in one session. Only three gymnasts from each team compete on a given apparatus and all three scores count toward the team final. Each gymnast only gets one attempt per apparatus, including vault, and the team with the highest cumulative score across all apparatuses wins gold.

Each team in the women’s team final goes through apparatuses in Olympic order: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. The teams that ranked first and second in qualifying begin the final on vault, third and fourth begin on uneven bars, fifth and sixth begin on balance beam and seventh and eighth begin on floor.

The men’s Olympic order goes floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. The teams that ranked first and second in qualifying begin the final on floor, third and fourth begin on pommel horse, fifth and six begin on rings and seventh and eighth begin on vault.

How all-around scoring works

Twenty-four gymnasts with the top cumulative scores from qualification advance to the individual all-around final. A maximum of two gymnasts per country are allowed to compete in the individual all-around final, allowing some gymnasts who were not in the top 24 in qualifying to reach the final and keeping others who finished in the top 24 out of the final. 

Each gymnast only gets one attempt per apparatus, including vault, and the gymnast with the highest cumulative score across all apparatuses earns gold as the individual all-around winner.

For both the women’s and men’s individual all-around finals, the 24 gymnasts are split into four groups of six. 

On the women’s side, the gymnasts that ranked first through sixth in qualifying begin the final on vault, Nos. 7-12 begin on uneven bars, Nos. 13-18 begin on balance beam and Nos. 19-24 begin on floor.

On the men’s side, the gymnasts that ranked first through sixth in qualifying begin the final on floor, Nos. 7-12 begin on pommel horse, Nos. 13-18 begin on rings and Nos. 19-24 begin on vault.

How gymnastics event final scoring works

The top eight gymnasts on each apparatus in qualifying advance to the respective apparatus final. No scores carry over from qualifying and the starting order for an apparatus final is determined by a random draw. 

Each gymnast gets one attempt on an apparatus in the event final, with the exception of vault. Gymnasts in the women’s and men’s vault finals must perform two different vaults from two different vault groups. The average score of the two vaults is then averaged out to give a final apparatus score.

Are there banned gymnastics moves in the Olympics?

There are banned moves in both men’s and women’s gymnastics — and some moves in women’s gymnastics, including some classic Biles moves, have a “reduced value” due to safety concerns.

NBC Olympics reports the following moves are banned:

• In men’s gymnastics, a salto (a forward flip without touching the ground with your arms) is banned from being performed in the first-flight phase, or if the athlete has straddled legs in the second flight phase.
• In women’s gymnastics, vaults with sideward takeoffs or landings are prohibited, as well as dismounts on uneven bars where the gymnast takes off from two feet, dance elements with a cross-sit landing on the balance beam or, in floor routines, acrobatic elements with sideward takeoffs or that land in a forward roll. 

In addition, the Biles, the Biles II and a Yurchenko double pike vault all have lower values due to safety concerns.

How did Simone Biles, Team USA score in women’s gymnastics team final?

The U.S. finished with a score of 171.296, well above the second place Italy at 165.494.

Simone Biles Team USA scored the highest totals in nearly every event. Here were the highest totals:

Vault: 14.9 (Biles)

Uneven bars: 14.566 (Suni Lee), Italy’s Alice D’Amato (14.566)

Beam: Suni Lee (14.6)

Floor: 14.666 (Biles)

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MLB Trade Deadline: Cubs' Mark Leiter Jr. headed to Yankees, reports say

The Chicago Cubs have made a few key acquisitions in the lead-up to the MLB trade deadline, but now they’ve made a move sending a pitcher to the New York Yankees as Mark Leiter Jr. will head to the Big Apple.

According to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Cubs are sending Leiter to the Yankees in exchange for a pair of prospects.

Those prospects, according to the report, are infielder Ben Cowles and reliever Jack Neely.

Leiter has turned his season around after a brief stint on the injured list. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last seven appearances, striking out 14 of the 23 batters he has faced during that time. He now has a 2-4 record on the season, with two saves and a 4.21 ERA.

Cowles is currently playing for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate in Somerset, with nine home runs, 51 RBI’s and 14 stolen bases in 326 at-bats. He’s slashing .295/.376/.472 on the season.

Neely was recently promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with a 3.38 ERA and a 1-1 record in nine games. He has a 3.02 ERA in 31 minor league appearances this season, with 63 strikeouts in 41.2 innings of work.

Leiter may not be the only Cubs player on the move Tuesday, with the MLB trade deadline arriving in the early evening.

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Chicago-area star Paul Juda medals in men's gymnastics team final — and he's not done yet

NOTE: Spoiler alerts below. Men’s gymnastics team final will re-air in primetime starting at 7 p.m. CT on NBC 5

Chicago-area gymnastics star Paul Juda has become a viral sensation for the men’s U.S. team in recent days — and now, he’s officially and Olympic medalist. But there’s still plenty more to come for the Deerfield native in Paris.

Carried by incredible performances from each member of the relatively young team, including Juda, the relatively young U.S. team exceeded expectations at the 2024 Olympics Monday, finishing with a bronze medal and securing their first medal in men’s gymnastics since 2008.

The team is made up of Juda, Frederick Richard, Brody Malone, Asher Hong and Stephen Nedoroscik. On Monday, they finished with a score of 257.793, narrowly falling below China and Japan, widely considered top medal favorites for the event, but who both suffered major falls.

Juda continued to surprise and awe in the team final event at the 2024 Paris Olympics Monday.

The 23-year-old Deerfield native managed to flawlessly complete a critical vault routine for Team USA, before executing a solid routine on bars and floor.

But this won’t be the end of the Olympic road for Juda, who now heads into a challenge he never anticipated he’d face in Paris — the individual all-around.

After a stellar performance Saturday, Juda became one of the two US. contenders for the individual all-around medals, topping U.S. star and teammate Brody Malone, who suffered numerous falls and shattered his chances at individual medals in what was expected to be an inspiring and incredible comeback following a devastating injury.

“Of course I’m upset with myself,” Malone said. “But at the same time, I’m extremely happy for Fred and Paul. I know they’re going to crush it.”

Here’s what to know and when you can see him compete again:

When do Paul Juda and other members of men’s US gymnastics team compete at the Olympics?

Wednesday, July 31 – The men’s gymnastics all-around final will take place starting at 10:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 31. The event will air live on NBC 5, and streaming on Peacock. Paul Juda and Fredrick Richard will compete.

Remaining men’s gymnastics schedule includes:

Saturday, Aug. 3 – The men’s gymnastics floor exercise final will take place at 9:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 3. The event will air live on E! and streaming on Peacock.

Saturday, Aug. 3 – The men’s pommel horse final will be held at 10:16 a.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 3. The event will air live on E! and streaming on Peacock.

Sunday, Aug. 4 – The men’s rings final will be held at 8 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 4. The event will air live on NBC 5 and streaming on Peacock.

Sunday, Aug. 4 – The men’s vault final will be held at 9:24 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 4. The event will air live on NBC 5a and streaming on Peacock.

Monday, Aug. 5 – The men’s parallel bars final takes place at 4:45 a.m. CT on Monday, Aug. 5. The event will air live on E! and streaming on Peacock.

Monday, Aug. 5 – The men’s horizontal bar final will take place at 6:33 a.m. CT on Monday, Aug. 5. The event will air live on E! and streaming on Peacock.

What to know about Paul’s next event

Tasked with serving as the leadoff on five of the six events for the five-man American team Saturday — a spot reserved for gymnasts known more for their consistency and reliability than anything — Juda put together an all-around total of 82.865 that was good enough to earn a berth in the all-around finals next week.

“I think today could have been one of those things where I got to say, ‘I did all- around at the Olympics’ (and that’s it),” Juda said. “But then to hopefully be making an all-around final, I think that’s the cooler thing.”

He’ll be joined by teammate Frederick Richard, though the definition of “crushing it” may differ for the two Michigan teammates.

Richard, 20, is the reigning bronze medalist on the all-around who mixes big skills with a big personality.

Juda is more measured. High performance director Brett McClure put Juda in the leadoff spot because his gymnastics are a little safer, with the idea being that if Juda avoids mistakes it will provide a solid foundation that allows those who come after a little more freedom to go for it.

“He wanted to go up with a hit routine and kind of set the momentum for everybody else,” McClure said. “So he did his job.”

Juda won’t be favored to finish on the podium. He knows that. His scores have a ceiling. It hardly matters. He will compete in the biggest meet of his life in front of friends and family who have backed him every step of the way.

“People would kill for that,” he said. “And so I’m just like, going to try and enjoy it as much as possible because I know if it wasn’t me, somebody else would do it.”

Who is Paul Juda?

The 23-year-old is from Deerfield, Illinois, and is the son of two Polish immigrants.

He graduated from Adlai E. Stevenson Highschool in 2019 and now attends University of Michigan, where he is studying psychology and is expected to graduate in 2025.

He began gymnastics as a child in 2007.

“I was always a very energetic kid. I would always either be upside down or jumping around my house. People suggested that I join gymnastics and ever since I began I fell involve with the sport,” Juda told USA Gymnastics.

Juda’s two other siblings also tried the sport, but did not take to it in the same way.

His favorite events now are highbar and the floor.

Juda has been eyeing an Olympic appearance for years, having narrowly missed the team in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

He went viral last month when he broke down in tears after being named to Team USA.

“I was the first name called, and the second I heard ‘Pa—,’ I started crying right away,” Juda said.

What else to know about Paul Juda

There was a time earlier this year when reaching Paris seemed like a long shot for Juda. The native of the northern Chicago suburbs went through a stretch where his gymnastics were “horrible” and he pondered shifting his focus away from making the Olympic team.

A pep talk from girlfriend Reyna Guggino helped him turn things around. She told him it was OK to make the Olympics a priority. To attack the opportunity rather than shrink from it.

And there was Guggino, also a gymnast at Michigan, yelling from the stands on Saturday as Juda put together six routines that weren’t the best gymnastics of his life but were good enough to earn the second American spot in the all-around after three-time national champion Brody Malone faltered.

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Cubs, Christopher Morel share emotional goodbye in dugout after trade

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly made a blockbuster trade on Sunday afternoon, sending Christopher Morel to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The trade went down during the Cubs game against the Kansas City Royals and Morel was seen in the dug out making an emotional goodbye.

According to multiple reports, not only will Morel be heading to Tampa as part of the trade, but two other Cubs prospects will be heading there, too. Relief pitching prospects Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson are also headed to the Rays, according to reports.

Paredes set career highs in home runs, RBIs, and batting average last season with the Rays, clobbering 31 home runs and driving in 98 RBIs in 143 games.

In 100 games so far this season, Paredes has 16 home runs and 55 RBIs, with a slash line of .247/.355/438. He also made his first career All-Star appearance for Tampa.

Paredes is under team control for three more seasons, and is earning $3.4 million this season for Tampa.

Morel has 18 home runs and 51 RBIs for the Cubs this season, slashing .199/.302/.374 in 420 total plate appearances.

We will update this story with additional details as they become available.

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George Russell disqualified from Belgian GP for underweight car, Lewis Hamilton declared winner

Lewis Hamilton was promoted to first place at the Belgian Grand Prix after race officials disqualified his Mercedes teammate George Russell for driving an underweight car on Sunday.

Russell crossed the line first after making just one pit stop, finishing just ahead of Hamilton. He celebrated the win in Spa, which would have been the third of the British driver’s career.

But race officials found that his car weighed in below the established limits and ruled to disqualify his result.

Hamilton took his record haul to 105 career victories for the former seven-time world champion.

George Russell led a Mercedes one-two with Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix after pulling off an audacious one-stop strategy and keeping his teammate at bay to add to a thrilling Formula 1 season on Sunday.

Russell’s victory, however, could be in doubt after his car was found to be underweight. The race officials are reviewing the technical report regarding his car’s weight, with Mercedes summoned by F1 stewards.

If Russell is disqualified, the win will pass to Hamilton in what would be his 105th GP victory in F1.

If Russell is not disqualified, this will have been his second win of the season and the third of the British driver’s career after nursing his tires in expert fashion over the 44-lap race while all the rest of the top cars stopped twice.

Either way, it will have little impact on the overall driver’s championship, which Verstappan leads comfortably.

“Amazing result, definitely didn’t predict that this morning,” Russell said well before it was announced that his car was suspected of a possible violation. “But the race was awesome and the tires just felt great. I just kept saying ‘I think we can do the one stop’.”

Hamilton finished ahead right behind with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third.

Points leader Max Verstappen crossed fifth behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari after the three-time defending champion started from 11th following a 10-place grid penalty for using one too many engines in his Red Bull.

Lando Norris endured another poor start in his McLaren and finished sixth, allowing Verstappen to extend his championship lead to 78 points.

Russell was not expected to be in the mix for the win after he started sixth. But he told his team that he felt confident that he could milk his tires for all they were worth and forego a second, time-consuming, pit stop.

That proved to be a brilliant move.

Russell looked like he would be caught by Hamilton and other drivers on fresher tires. Instead, he defended his position over the nail-biting final laps with Piastri lurking in case the teammates clashed.

His only stop came on lap 10, so Russell stayed out for 34 laps on the same tires and fended off a Hamilton who had spent 18 laps on his last set.

“We definitely didn’t (expect this), so first of all, congratulations to George and to the team,” Hamilton said. “I was trying to get closer, but George did a great job on going long on the tires. Every stint I had tires left but the team brought me in, unfortunately.”

After Russell shouted for joy after the checkered flag, his team radio half-jokingly praised him as “the tire whisperer.”

The 26-year-old driver shared any credit with his team for making that strategy call.

“It was a team effort, the strategists did a wonderful job. The car felt great and the pace was there. It’s so well deserved for everybody,” he said. “Well done to Lewis, he did a great job controlling the race and if circumstances were different he could have won the race.”

After struggling early on this season, Mercedes has now won three of the last four races. Russell triumphed in Austria and Hamilton in Britain.

With McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari all producing similar pace – and avoiding race-ending crashes — the victory was a question of small margins and getting the pit-stop and tire strategy right.

Piastri was under two seconds behind Russell and the top six all crossed within 10 seconds.

Piastri, who got his first F1 win last weekend in Budapest, said that he thought his fresh tires would make the difference.

“(But) you just had to keep going, as George showed us,” Piastri said after his fourth podium of the season.

The seven winners in 13 races after the Hungarian GP had already made this season the most competitive since 2012.

Verstappen has now gone four races without a win after he won four of the first five grands prix this year.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was seventh, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez, who had started second in another poor showing for the under-pressure Mexican driver. Fernando Alonso was ninth for Aston Martin, and Esteban Ocon 10th in his Alpine.

The Spa track, set in the rolling forests of the Ardennes, is the longest in F1 at seven kilometers (4.3 miles). It stayed dry on Sunday in contrast to the constant drizzle the day before that led to a F2 race being postponed.

With 14 of 24 races down, the season now enters a summer break until the Dutch GP on Aug. 25.

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Marquette Park to host Taste of Chicago pop-up this weekend. Here's what to know

Though long a hallmark of July in Chicago, this year’s Taste of Chicago festival in Grant Park has been moved to September, due to major events such as the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, the Chicago Air & Water Show and the Democratic National Convention.

While the main event is still more than a month away, one Chicago neighborhood will receive a preview of the iconic event this weekend.

On Saturday from 12 to 8 p.m., foodies can make their way to Marquette Park at 6743 South Kedzie Avenue for food, house music and more.

The one-day event serves as a preview of sorts for the flagship Taste of Chicago festival, which will be held in Grant Park from Sept. 6-8.

The event follows a similar one-day pop-up event held in Rogers Park on June 15, with a third one-day Taste of Chicago event scheduled for Aug. 17 in Pullman Park.

This will mark the second straight year the festival has been held in September, with the shift first being made in 2023 due to the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race.

Also moving dates will be the Chicago Air and Water Show, a two-day spectacle of incredible displays in the skies and waters along Lake Michigan.

With Chicago hosting the Democratic National Convention for the first time since 1996, the Air and Water Show will take place one week earlier than normal, according to city officials.

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Man who shot tree trimmer in Schaumburg following noise dispute told authorities he heard voices from outer space

Additional details in the shooting of a tree trimmer in Schaumburg following a noise dispute with a nearby resident that led to an hours-long standoff Wednesday were revealed in court Friday, shortly after charges were filed against a suspect.

Michael Lang, 55, was charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm in connection to the incident.

According to court documents, four employees of the Davey Tree Expert Company were doing landscape work for a homeowner at approximately 2:46 p.m. in the 800 block of South Braintree Drive.

The homeowner was a regular customer of the Davey Tree Expert Company and was known to all four employees, court documents said.

According to a bond court proffer, the homeowner lives with his wife and son, the latter of whom is Michael Lang, the defendant.

Prior to Wednesday, none of the four employees had interacted with Lang, according to the proffer.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Lang’s parents left for dinner, leaving Lang home alone. Shortly afterwards, Lang opened the garage door and exited the garage, wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts, according to the proffer.

At this time, Lang told the employees that they were making too much noise and had to leave, to which one of the employees responded that they were almost done with their work, the proffer said.

Lang then walked towards a dark blue Mazda 3 that was parked in the driveway, opening the door and grabbing a silver revolver before exiting, according to the proffer.

Lang then pointed the firearm toward the employees, telling them, “I told you to leave or one of you is going to die,” according to court documents.

At this time, Lang fired one shot at an employee, a 66-year-old man, striking him in the stomach. Lang then walked back inside the house through the garage, closing the garage door behind him, the proffer said.

One of the other employees called 911 at this time, as did a driver passing by that observed the incident from his vehicle, according to court documents.

Approximately two minutes later, officers arrived on the scene and discovered the victim laying unresponsive on his back in the front yard. The man was struck to the lower abdomen, with the bullet not exiting, according to the proffer.

The man was then transported to Lutheran General Hospital where he was treated for a fractured spine, ruptured liver and internal intestinal damage. During surgery, a “projectile” was recovered from his body, court documents revealed.

A standoff ensued between Lang, who remained inside the residence, and law enforcement, with multiple attempts to communicate via phone and loudspeaker deemed unsuccessful, the proffer said.

Shortly after 4:35 p.m., Lang’s parents returned home and learned what had happened, informing police that there were also firearms inside the residence, court documents revealed. Lang’s parents said they were unaware of any possible mental health issues with their son.

Lang called 911 twice while inside the residence during the standoff, telling the dispatcher that someone was sending him messages from outer space. Lang requested an ambulance to take him to the hospital in his second message, according to the proffer.

At 9:18 p.m., Lang exited the residence wearing the same clothes he was wearing at the time of the shooting and surrendered, being taken into custody by the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System before being turned over to Schaumburg police, court documents said.

Lang was transported to Alexian Brothers Medical Center for a mental health evaluation before being turned over to Schaumburg police, according to the proffer.

A search warrant was then executed on the residence, Lang’s vehicle and Lang’s cell phone. Upon search of the home, five handguns, three boxes of ammunition and additional loose ammunition. Lang’s father told authorities he was the owner of three of the handguns, according to court documents.

Lang’s parents said the other two handguns, one of which was a Smith & Wesson silver revolver, belonged to Lang, the proffer said. Both weapons were recovered from Lang’s bedroom, where bills and a passport in Lang’s name were found.

The revolver was a five-shot revolver that remained loaded with four live rounds. One spent shell casing was recovered from the office attached to Lang’s bedroom, court documents said.

Lang is due to appear in court again on Aug. 23 in Rolling Meadows. There was no further information available.

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Full list of Chicago free museum days for August 2024

This summer, Chicago museums have provided city-goers opportunities to visit for free on certain days, and it’s not stopping any time soon.

Attractions such as Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and more continue to offer free visits throughout the month of August. Also good to remember: The Lincoln Park Zoo is always free.

Here is a full list of the free days in August:

Art Institute of Chicago

Illinois residents can visit the Art Institute for free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Sept. 26.

Admission is always free for Illinois Pre-K to 12 teachers, teaching artists working in schools, kids under 14, Chicago teens and active-duty members.

Art-lovers can reserve their tickets for free, according to the Art Institute.

Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium allows Illinois residents to visit the museum for free every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Interested parties must reserve tickets in advance.

The museum said admission is always free for Illinois teachers.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Located in the Chicago suburb of Glencoe, the Chicago Botanic Garden will offer two free days of admission in August, on Aug. 6 and Aug. 8. For the rest of the year, select dates will be offered for free admission as well. More information can be found here.

Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum has one day of free admission for residents in August. On Aug. 28, head to the museum to see all of the historic exhibits the museum has to offer.

According to officials, the museum is always free admission for active duty Chicago police and firefighters, as well as for Illinois teachers, residents under 18 and all children under 12.

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

Although pre-booking tickets is always required, the museum offers free admission every Wednesday.

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Field Museum

A press release from the museum stated that admission to the museum will be free every Wednesday throughout 2024 for Illinois residents.

To visit for free, individuals must provide proof of residency. Tickets are not able to be purchased online, they are only available on site.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Free entry for Illinois residents will be available on Aug. 19, 20, 26 and 27. A full list of free dates for the coming months can be found here. Reserving tickets in advance is available.

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Illinois residents can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art for free every Tuesday. The museum is always free for visitors under the age of 18. The museum also has a pay-what-you-can policy.  

Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium offers free admission Aug. 6, 13,  20 and 27. For ticket reservations made online, there is a $5 convenience fee. For ticket reservations made over the phone, there is no fee.

More information can be found here.

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Live updates: USWNT playing Zambia in 2024 Olympics opener

What to Know

• There are no overage limits for women’s soccer at the Olympics.
• The Olympics marks Emma Hayes’ first major tournament as the USWNT’s new manager.
• Zambia is the No. 64-ranked nation in FIFA’s latest international ranking.

The U.S. women’s national team will open its journey at the Paris Olympics against Zambia on Thursday, a game it is expected to win.

Zambia is led by NWSL stars Racheal Kundananji (Bay FC) and Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride), though its overall quality and depth isn’t as high as the USWNT’s.

Watch Live Olympics Soccer: USWNT vs. Zambia

The U.S. does not have Alex Morgan in its squad, but manager Emma Hayes has Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan and more as the team looks to reignite its spark in front of goal.

Follow along for live updates from the game at the Stade de Nice:

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In fiery speech to Congress, Netanyahu seeks support for war in Gaza, sparking large protests

What to Know

• Olympic men’s soccer features mostly U23 players, though three exceptions are permitted.
• The USMNT has Walker Zimmerman (31), Miles Robinson (27) and Djordje Mihailovic (25) as its three overage players.
• The stacked France squad is head coached by soccer legend Thierry Henry.

The U.S. men’s national team opens its journey at the Paris Olympics against France, one of the nations expected to medal due to its deep squad.

Head coached by Marko Mitrovic, the U.S. is led by Walker Zimmerman, Tanner Tessman and Gianluca Busio while France boasts Alex Lacazette, Michael Olise and Desire Doue, among other young stars.

Watch Live: USMNT vs. France

Follow along for live updates of the game at the Stade de Marseille:

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Chicago suburb ranks among Fortune's '50 Best Places to Live for Families'

Multiple Midwestern towns, including one in Illinois, just ranked among Fortune’s “50 Best Places to Live for Families” report for 2024.

The report, released Tuesday, reviewed more than 2,000 cities nationwide and analyzed approximately 200 data categories across five main themes: education, resources for aging adults, general wellness, financial health and livability.

The report also eliminated areas with home sale prices that were more than twice as high as the state median, editors said, to ensure affordability.

The results span the country. Several of the top spots have a small-town appeal, with fewer than 30,000 residents, editors said.

While the No. 1 spot on the list belongs to Silver Spring, Maryland, the Midwest makes its first appearance at No. 4, where Ann Arbor, Michigan is ranked.

“Ann Arbor is more than just a college town,” the entry reads. “It boasts a lively downtown for families, with plenty of events and places to explore,” noting the town’s farmers markets, hundreds of restaurants, walkability scores and more.

“Outside of downtown life, Ann Arbor has earned the nickname ‘Tree Town’ for its bountiful green spaces,” the entry continued, calling out Ann Arbor’s 162 parks across the city, Huron River and Waterloo Recreation Area.

According to the report, the median sale price for a single family home in Ann Arbor was $485,792, with a median household income of $95,884.

The western suburb of West Chicago, in DuPage County, makes the report at No. 20, coming in behind Middleton, Wisconsin at No. 18, and Westfield, Indiana at No. 19.

“West Chicago sits exactly where it sounds—west of Chicago—32 miles from downtown to be exact,” the town’s entry reads. “With above-average public schools, many restaurants, and a suburban feel, it’s a prime choice for families who don’t want to be in the center of Chicago itself.”

The report also boasted West Chicago’s many parks, festivals, and rich history as the first Illinois community to be established by the railroads.

According to the report, the median home sale price for West Chicago was $347, 457 with a median household income of $100,498.

Below are the top 20 towns that landed on Forbes’ list of 50:

1. Silver Spring, Marland
2. Upper Merion, Pennsylvania
3. Chantilly, Virginia
4. Ann Arbor, Michigan
5. Mason, Ohio
6. Franklin, Tennessee
7. Lafayette, Colorado
8. Overland Park, Kansas
9. Morristown, New Jersey
10. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
11. Somerville, Massachusetts
12. Woodbury, Minnesota
13. Frisco, Texas
14. San Jose, California
15. North Hempstead, New York
16. Bethany, Orgeon
17. South Portland, Maine
18. Middletown, Wisconsin
19. Westfield, Indiana
20. West Chicago, Illinois

The full list of 50 can be found here.

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Sen. Bob Menendez will resign NJ seat after guilty verdict in federal bribery case: Sources

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez will resign his position, sources familiar with the matter said, a week after he was found guilty on all counts in his federal corruption trial and amid mounting calls for him to step down.

Menendez plans to step down effective Aug. 20, sources told NBC New York. The senator had informed some of his staff as of Tuesday afternoon, according to two sources.

The announcement comes after a chorus of bipartisan voices called for the Menendez to step aside, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who had been an longtime ally of New Jersey’s senior senator.

Most other Senate Democrats had already called for his resignation once the allegations came to light, but Schumer had resisted until Menendez was found guilty. His call added significant pressure on Menendez to give up his Senate seat. It was also joined by Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat, who posted on social media that “the people of New Jersey deserve better.”

Menendez, who had previously announced plans to run as an Independent, was convicted on July 16 of all the counts he faced at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer’s statement last week read.

Sen. Cory Booker, the junior senator from New Jersey, had also called for Menendez to resign.

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy said Menendez should resign — and had he refused, should face expulsion. Murphy previously said he is ready to temporarily fill Menendez’s seat if needed.

It was unclear if the Senate would’ve moved to expel Menendez had he refused to step down.

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McDonald's makes big decision about popular $5 value meal

McDonald’s plans to extend the $5 value meal it launched earlier this summer beyond its original four-week window citing the menu item’s success in driving customers back into its restaurants.

In a memo obtained by CNBC, executives said nearly every business unit, encompassing 93% of its restaurants, voted to extend the promotion past its original end date. The memo said the majority of locations will extend through August, or plan to vote on whether to do so. 

“Our message is resonating with our millions of customers,” Myra Doria, national field president, and Tariq Hassan, U.S. chief marketing and customer experience officer, wrote in the memo. “When our customers are ordering the $5 Meal Deal, they aren’t visiting the competition, and early performance shows this deal is meeting the objective of driving guests back to our restaurants.” 

The $5 value meal hit McDonald’s menus June 25, and was initially set to last roughly a month. It includes a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink — and costs substantially less than purchasing those items individually.

The meal was introduced as the world’s largest hamburger chain, based in Chicago, aims to combat declines in customer spending due to rising costs and inflation.

“We heard our fans loud and clear – they’re looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that’s exactly what they’ll get,” Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, said in a statement. “Value has always been part of our DNA. We’re focused on living up to that legacy and offering delicious, affordable options customers can enjoy any time they walk through our doors, go through our drive thru or place an order through our app.”

In addition to the $5 meal deal, the company noted franchisees across the U.S. are offering their own specials, including some like “buy one get one for $1 breakfast sandwiches” or mix and match deals and more. Customers will need to check deals at their local McDonald’s to find out if any are being offered.

“Affordable prices and creating memorable moments are what McDonald’s is all about,” John Palmaccio, a McDonald’s owner and operator, said in a statement. “As small business owners, it’s our responsibility to deliver great value to our local communities when they need it most. The $5 Meal Deal is the perfect complement to the everyday local deals customers can find in store and on the app, like the 25 percent off any purchase of $10 or more deal that I’m offering at my restaurants in Savannah, Georgia.”

Erlinger previously said he hopes customers will find the company’s upcoming deals “meaningful.”

“It’s clear that we — together with our franchisees — must remain laser-focused on value and affordability,” Erlinger said.

Recently, McDonald’s fought back on criticism of its price increases after viral tweets and media reports claimed some locations were selling Big Mac combo meals for as much as $18.

In a post on the company’s website in May, Erlinger said reports suggesting the price of the average Big Mac has doubled since 2019 were false. McDonald’s said the average U.S. Big Mac was $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, a 20.5% increase.

“For a brand that proudly serves nearly 90% of the U.S. population every year, we feel a responsibility to make sure the real facts are available,” Erlinger said.

Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchisees were frustrated by a post on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18, calling the price “an exception.” He noted that franchisees own and operate 95% of U.S. McDonald’s locations and set their own pricing but “work hard to minimize the impact of price increases.”

Still, the Chicago burger giant said the cost of some items have seen bigger price jumps than the Big Mac. The average price of medium fries was $2.29 in 2019 and is $3.29 now, a 44% increase.

McDonald’s said the average price of all menu items has risen 40% over the last five years, to account for a 40% average increase in the cost of labor, paper and food. That is higher than overall consumer prices, which have increased 21% since December 2019, according to government figures.

McDonald’s saw a marked slowdown in store traffic in the first three months of this year as inflation-weary customers in the U.S. and other big markets ate out less often. As a result, the company promised more deals.

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Bodycam video shows police shooting of Sonya Massey, Black woman who called 911 for help

Authorities on Monday released police body camera video showing the deadly shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Springfield woman, that occurred during a tense moment over a pot of water in her home.

The July 6 incident Massey dead and prompted first-degree murder charges against former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. Authorities said Massey, who is Black, called 911 in the early morning hours to report a suspected prowler.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office responded to the scene and spent several minutes searching through nearby yards, body-worn footage showed. The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office released multiple edited video segments, totaling approximately 35 minutes, on Monday as questions surrounding the incident continued to mount.

Around 5 minutes and 30 seconds into the footage, deputies are seen knocking on the front door of the home – at one point claiming they hear a phone ringing and say the woman is refusing to come to the door.

Massey opens the door approximately four minutes later, explaining that there was someone outside her house.

She then says, “Please God, please God, please.”

The two deputies who responded to the call explain they searched the area and didn’t find anyone, to which Massey replies, “Please God , please God, I’m trying to get help, ya’ll.”

The deputies then ask – multiple times – what Massey needs help with and the Springfield woman replies she heard somebody outside. The deputies ask why Massey took so long to answer the door and question if she’s doing alright mentally – to which the 36-year-old says “yes” and explains she was getting dressed. The deputies then ask for her name follow her into the house.

While Grayson talks to Massey, the other deputy’s body camera shows him searching different rooms of the home. The deputies then ask for her ID so they “can then get out of her hair.”

When Massey insists she wants to show them unspecified paperwork, they again ask for her ID. After receiving permission from Grayson, Massey then walks over to her stove, grabs a boiling pot of water sitting on top of it and asks the deputies, “Where are you going?”

“…Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson said.

“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus… I rebuke you,” Massey replied.

“You better f—ing not, I swear I’ll f—king shoot you in your f—ing face,” Grayson said.

Massey replies she was sorry and ducks for cover as the deputies yell multiple times for her to drop the pot. Then three shots ring out. Following the shooting, the second deputy says he is going to get his emergency kit to render aid, but Grayson discourages him.

“Not with a head shot…” he says on body camera video. “She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a head shot.”

Grayson, speaking to his partner, says he wasn’t going to “take hot, boiling water to the f—ing face.”

Despite being told not to get his medical kit, Grayson’s partner walks over to Massey and attempts to stop the bleeding, saying she was shot in what appeared to be the eye.

“She’s still gasping a little bit,” he can be heard saying as he holds a rag to her head while Grayson appears to say in the background he’s “not going to waste” his medical kit.

Grayson, who was fired following the incident, did not activate his body camera until after firing the shots, prosecutors contended. If convicted, he faces prison sentences of 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for battery and two to five years for misconduct.

Following the video’s release, Illinois Attorney General issued a statement calling the body camera footage “horrific.”

“The body camera footage is horrific, and I offer my deepest sympathy to Sonya Massey’s family as they relive a moment no family should experience,” Raoul stated, in part. “As the community reacts to the release of the footage, I urge calm as this matter works its way through the criminal justice system.”

Raoul added it appears the investigation by the Illinois State Police and the subsequent referral to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office “have complied with the letter and spirit of the law by providing the appropriate transparency and moving toward accountability.”

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Street, sidewalk closures for Chicago's 2024 Lollapalooza underway, with more to come

Major street closures for the 2024 Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park are underway, with more set to come in the coming weeks as the iconic summer event draws near.

“We have worked with the City of Chicago to ensure we have a plan in place which maximizes convenience to all of our neighbors and minimizes overall impact to the street and circulation patterns for area residents and businesses,” a post on Lollapalooza’s website said. “We have also coordinated the breakdown of the event to return your sidewalks, streets, and parkways to you as soon as possible. ”

The bulk of the street closures for the event, scheduled for Aug. 1-4, will begin next week, the event’s website said. Many sidewalk and street closures will last well after the festival is over and into mid-August, the site showed.

Some street sidewalk closures went into effect as early as July 17. Beginning July 22, a flew of others will take place, followed by more the week of July 29.

Here’s a full list of what’s closed and when:

Street Closures

• Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 17th – August 11th
• Jackson, from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 23rd – August 10th
•  Balbo, from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th– August 5th
• Jackson, from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th – August 5th
• Columbus, from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 29th – August 5th
• Columbus (Northbound, two center lanes), from 13th Street to Roosevelt: July 29th – August 5th
• Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th – August 5th
• Monroe, from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 31st – August 5th

Sidewalk Closures

• Michigan, from Jackson to 11th St. Bridge: July 30th – August 4th
• Balbo (both sides, from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 17th – August 11th
• Columbus (Northbound side), from Roosevelt to the 9th St. Yard: July 17th – August 19th
• Columbus (Southbound side), from 9th St. Yard to S. Ida B. Wells: July 22nd – August 10th
• Jackson (both sides), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 22nd – August 10th
• DuSable  Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 24th
• Monroe (Eastbound side), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 20 and July 22nd – August 10th
• DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Southbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 27th – August 10th
• Balbo (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th – August 5th
• Jackson (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th – August 5th
• Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus: July 29th – August 5th
• Congress Plaza Dr. (Westbound & Eastbound side), from Michigan to Columbus: July 27th – July 28th
• Columbus (both sides), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 29th– August 6th
• DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: August 6th

Lollapalooza, with headliners including SZA, The Killers, Blink-182 and Skrillex is scheduled for Aug. 1 through 4 in Grant Park. Tyler, The Creator, was also set to headline, but announced he was dropping out last month. He was replaced by Megan Thee Stallion.

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