WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own

North Shore moms to 'March Fourth' in Washington, D.C. for gun reform

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 03:01 PM PDT

Kitty Brandtner joins Lisa Denton Chicago's Afternoon News to discuss how the tragedy of the shooting in Highland Park has fueled their desire to mobilize mothers, fathers, and others to march to Washington, D.C. to demand a federal ban on assault weapons.

Follow Your Favorite Chicago's Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:

Brewers honor 8-year-old injured in Highland Park shooting

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 04:35 PM PDT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers placed a ceremonial jersey in their dugout Friday to honor an 8-year-old fan of the team who was wounded during the July Fourth mass shooting in a Chicago suburb.

Cooper Roberts took bullets in the chest during the shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, that left seven dead. His family said his spine was severed and he is paralyzed from the waist down. The Brewers hung a jersey in their dugout with the name Roberts and Christian Yelich's jersey number, 22.

Cooper's family said Friday that he had regained consciousness for the first time since the shooting. They said doctors don't believe he suffered any brain damage.

"The strength to go through something like that is unimaginable," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said before the team's game Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We're doing such a small thing, but hopefully it can maybe make one part of the day for them a little bit better."

The Brewers said in a statement that "we are working on other initiatives to connect players with Cooper and his family, but the priority for now is to focus on their recovery."

"We're happy he's a Brewer fan and want to recognize that and let their family know we're thinking about them," Counsell said.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Sopranos' actor Tony Sirico dies at 79

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 05:15 PM PDT

(NEXSTAR) – "Sopranos" star Tony Sirico, known by fans of the beloved HBO mobster series as Peter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gaultieri, has died at the age of 79.

His brother, Robert Sirico, said in a statement Friday evening, "​It is with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories, that the family of Gennaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico wishes to inform you of his death on the morning of July 8, 2022."

The cause of Siricos death wasn't immediate clear.

Longtime "Soprano's" costar Michael Imperioli, who played the role of Christopher Moltisanti, mourned Sirico's passing in an Instagram post Friday.

"It pains me to say that my dear friend, colleague and partner in crime, the great TONY SIRICO has passed away today," Imperioli wrote. "Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone i've ever known."

Sirico was also known for his roles in "Goodfellas," "Mighty Aphrodite," "Cafe Society" and others.

Sirico, a Brooklyn, New York native, is survived by his two children, grandchildren, siblings, and many other relatives, his family said.

Robert Sirico, who is a Catholic priest, will lead a celebration of his brother's life at the Basilica of Regina Pacis in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning. The family says that they are deeply grateful for "the many expressions of love, prayer and condolences" but are requesting privacy to grieve.

The family requests that any memorial donations be made to Wounded Warriors, St. Jude's Hospital and the Acton Institute.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Legendary Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall looks back on a long career

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 03:37 PM PDT

On this podcast, Paul goes behind the curtain with legendary host of the TV game show Hollywood Squares, Peter Marshall. Now 96 years old, Peter has so many stories to share about the very popular game show and he doesn't hold back! Who he liked, who he did not like, he talks about it all. Funnyman Paul Lynde was actually a tragic figure, and Wally Cox? You'll never guess who his roommate and best friend was! Really….you'll never guess…..but Peter tells us. This is a wonderful look back, and Peter's Son also chimes in? Who is he? Well ask your nearest Cubs fan! You can read about Peter Marshall's life in his book: "Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square," available on line. And Peter also encourages you to check out the videos for "Hollywood Museum Squares," a wonderful visit to the Hollywood Squares to raise money in support of the The Hollywood Museum. Check it out at this link: https://www.stellartickets.com/o/the-hollywood-museum/events/the-hollywood-museum-squares-all-star-benefit-series

NewsNation Weekly News Roundup with Adrienne Bankert

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 04:23 PM PDT

Adrienne Bankert, host of Morning in America on NewsNation, joins Lisa Dent on Chicago's Afternoon News to recap this week's biggest stories, and to talk about her new book, Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone.

Follow Your Favorite Chicago's Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:

First funerals begin for victims of Highland Park shooting

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 09:37 AM PDT

(NewsNation) — Friday marks the first day of funerals for the victims of the Highland Park, Illinois shooting where a gunman killed seven at a Fourth of July parade.

Three of the seven victims are being laid to rest as the wounded start to recover. They are Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63, who worked at a nearby synagogue for decades teaching preschoolers and leading Bar Mitzvah ceremonies; Steven Straus, an 88-year-old who liked to stay active in the community, and Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78, a grandfather whose family was hoping he would move home permanently.

The suburban Chicago community of Highland Park is still reeling after Monday's attack, in which a gunman perched on the rooftop of a business downtown and began spraying bullets.

An 8-year-old boy injured in the shooting remains in critical condition. Cooper Roberts was shot in the chest and the bullet then severed his spinal cord, doctors say. He is expected to recover.

"He's undergone several surgeries since Monday, including one last night during which doctors were finally able to close up his belly," Anthony Loizzi, spokesman for the Roberts family, said.

Roberts' mother and twin brother were grazed by shrapnel in the shooting.

Robert Crimo III, 21, was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Multiple other charges are expected as well, according to Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart.

Some in the community are calling for the suspect's father to face charges as well.

Robert Crimo III was already known to authorities, after he attempted suicide in April 2019. Five months later, he threatened to "kill everyone" in the home. Despite this, his father, Robert Crimo, Jr., still helped him get a gun permit in 2019 by sponsoring the license.

Robert Crimo, Jr. told the New York Post this week that the threats his son made against the family were just a "childish outburst" and denied any responsibility for his son's actions.

Police are still investigating the motive for the attack.

If you or someone you know is thinking of harming themselves, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free support at 1-800-273-8255. Starting on July 16, 2022, U.S. residents can also be connected to the Lifeline by dialing 988. For more about risk factors and warning signs, visit the organization's official website.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Can we reverse memory loss caused by smartphones?

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 03:25 PM PDT

Harvard University Professor Daniel L. Schacter joins Lisa Dent on Chicago's Afternoon News to explain why excessive smartphone use may lead to memory loss, and whether there's a solution to the problem.

Follow Your Favorite Chicago's Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:

Sports marketing expert Marc Ganis is highly confident the Bears will be playing games in Arlington Heights

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 01:47 PM PDT

Chicago sports marketing expert Marc Ganis joins John Williams to talk about the likelihood the Chicago Bears stay in their current location on Chicago's lakefront. Are the Bears going be playing in Arlington Heights in a few years?

8-year-old boy critically wounded at Highland Park parade may not walk again

Posted: 07 Jul 2022 06:30 PM PDT

CHICAGO (WGN) — An 8-year-old boy who was one of the victims of the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Ill., is fighting for his life Thursday.

Cooper Roberts, remains in critical condition and had his spinal cord severed as a result of the shooting, according to medical staff and a GoFundMe set up for his family.

He was shot along with his mother, Zion Elementary School District 6 Superintendent Dr. Keely Roberts, and his twin brother Luke, who was grazed by shrapnel. His father was at the parade with them, but was not injured.

A family spokesperson said Cooper is currently in critical but stable condition and is on a ventilator. He sustained at least one gunshot wound to the chest.

Dr. Roberts was seriously injured but will recover, according to the hospital. Luke was shot and has since been released from the hospital.

The family is among dozens wounded after a 21-year-old man fired from a rooftop into the parade, killing seven.

A GoFundMe for the family had raised over $180,000 as of publishing time Thursday.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Elon Musk tells Twitter he's ending $44B bid to buy it

Posted: 08 Jul 2022 02:54 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP/NEXSTAR) — Elon Musk's tumultuous $44 billion bid to buy Twitter is on the verge of collapse — after the Tesla CEO sent a letter to Twitter's board Friday saying he is terminating the acquisition.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a message for comment. It is not entirely clear whether Twitter's board will accept the $1 billion breakup fee or if there will be a court battle over the deal.

Musk's letter reportedly cites lack of information on bot accounts as a reason for the termination.

The possible unraveling of the deal is just the latest twist in a saga between the world's richest man and one of the most influential social media platforms. Much of the drama has played out on Twitter, with Musk — who has more than 95 million followers — lamenting that the company was failing to live up to its potential as a platform for free speech.

In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk said Twitter has "not complied with its contractual obligations" surrounding the deal, namely giving Musk enough information to "make an independent assessment of the prevalence of fake or spam accounts on Twitter's platform."

Musk's flirtation with buying Twitter appeared to begin in late March. That's when Twitter has said he contacted members of its board — including co-founder Jack Dorsey — and told them he was buying up shares of the company and interested in either joining the board, taking Twitter private or starting a competitor. Then, on April 4, he revealed in a regulatory filing that he had became the company's largest shareholder after acquiring a 9% stake worth about $3 billion.

At first, Twitter offered Musk a seat on its board. But six days later, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted that Musk will not be joining the board after all. His bid to buy the company came together quickly after that.

Musk had agreed to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share, inserting a "420" marijuana reference into his offer price. He sold roughly $8.5 billion worth of shares in Tesla to help fund the purchase, then strengthened his commitments of more than $7 billion from a diverse group of investors including Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Inside Twitter, Musk's offer was met with confusion and falling morale, especially after Musk publicly criticized one of Twitter's top lawyers involved in content-moderation decisions.

As Twitter executives prepared for the deal to move forward, the company instituted a hiring freeze, halted discretionary spending and fired two top managers. The San Francisco company has also been laying off staff, most recently part of its talent acquisition team.

On Friday, shares of Twitter fell 5% to $36.81, well below the $54.20 that Musk had offered to pay. Shares of Tesla, meanwhile, climbed 2.5% to $752.29.

Musk, 51, is currently the wealthiest man in the world, with a new worth of $237.9 billion. In addition to heading EV giant Tesla, Musk is also a cofounder of the spacecraft engineering company SpaceX and The Boring Company, which constructs tunnels and infrastructure.

It's been a busy week for the mogul, with a surprise reveal of his eighth and ninth children with Tesla project director Shivon Zilis. The children were born weeks after his second child with ex-girlfriend musician Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes.

The end of the Musk-Twitter negotiations may jeopardize the possibility of former Pres. Donald Trump from rejoining the social network. Musk previously said he would reverse Trump's "permaban" after the platform blocked him following the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now