| Shelter beds go empty as homeless
As temperatures dipped into the single digits and lower last week, beds at some homeless shelters around the city remained unfilled. Homeless advocates say getting to those unoccupied beds is a barrier for many people in need. Lisa Elkuss, spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Human Services, said private agencies operate enough beds to accommodate the city's homeless population during the cold winter months. But many of those beds aren't located in neighborhoods with the most need, according to homeless advocates. "Anytime you have to put cots on the floor of a police station or firehouse, it doesn't reflect effective housing for people," said Eithne McMenamin, a policy specialist at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, referring to makeshift accommodations established in some neighborhoods.
Extortion plot targets Ore. families of ex-pro athletes
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The families of former NFL defensive back Anthony Newman and former NBA guard Terrell Brandon were the victims of an extortion attempt, the Portland Police Bureau said. Bobby Hayes, 41, was charged with theft by extortion and attempted theft by extortion. Police suspect he wrote threatening letters demanding $10,000 from the families of Newman and Brandon, according to court papers. One of the letters arrived early last week at the home of Newman's 65-year-old mother. It was addressed to "NFL Mom." "U don't know me, but I know U," it read. "I want 10K in cash in a black bag set next to your garage door Friday night. If you tell the police and try to be a hero you will be responsible for the murder of your whole family." However Hayes told KGW Friday that he's wrongly accused.
Corrections and clarifications
The sales price of a property was misstated Sunday in the Done Deals column of the Real Estate section. The property at 2527 W. Michigan St., sold for $55,500, not $555,000. Metro MLS, the multiple listing service, provided incorrect information. *** An article Monday in the Sports section about the Daytona 500 incorrectly stated that NASCAR drivers Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann did not compete in the race last year. 2/10/08 An article Saturday misstated when the state's Emergency Operations Center opened to coordinate the response to last week's big snowstorm. It opened at 8 p.m. Tuesday, not 8 p.m. Wednesday. 2/8/08 An article Friday about Milwaukee Common Council candidate Sam McGovern-Rowen misstated where he earned his bachelor's degree.
Filed under: MLB
I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. I was flipping around the tv and landed on ESPN. I figured that listening to more in depth coverage of Tom Brady's ankle would be tv's version of Ambien, it would help me get my zzzzs. However, I made one fatal flaw, one that many mortals in Greek mythology made when looking at a Gorgon, I took a peek at the scroll on the bottom of the screen. There were two categories, NFL and SANTANA. Much to my astonishment, the Twins had agreed to send Johan Santana to the Mets for a hamburger today (pending the Mets contract extension for Santana). Well, maybe not a hamburger, but the Mets package of Phil Humber, Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey. Mulvey, wasn't that Jerry called his girlfriend who's name he couldn't remember. Oh no, that was Mulva.
Alley's problems can be solved
There it sat a decade ago, dubbed in a Mail Tribune story at the time as Medford's "street with no name." It got a name, and then it got attention and business and traffic. Today downtown's Middleford Alley has more: problems with speeders, garbage and trucks parked too long, say some of the business owners with entrances that open onto the little cobblestone street that connects Central and Riverside avenues at the end of Bartlett Street. They want the city to take action that returns the alley to the pedestrian-friendly way everyone envisioned a decade ago. The City Council heard the issue last week. This isn't a situation that rises to the level of crisis, but it ought to have attention. With new development under way to the north and south in former car lots and college buildings, the alley has potential to serve as a useful link for people walking downtown.
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