Barton’s Layup In Waning Seconds Lifts Nuggets Past Bulls, 111-110

DENVER (AP) — Will Barton capped a career-high 37 points with a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets overcame the loss of Nikola Jokic to beat the Chicago Bulls, 111-110, on Thursday night.

Gary Harris added 21 points, and Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Denver.

Jokic went down in with 44 seconds left in the second quarter when he drove to the basket and stepped on Jerian Grant’s foot. Jokic hit two free throws before heading to the locker room with an obvious limp. He didn’t return in the second half.

Lauri Markanen and Robin Lopez had 20 points each for Chicago, and Kris Dunn added 19. The Bulls have lost seven straight to finish 2-13 in November and drop to 3-17 overall.

The Bulls, who led for most of the game, took advantage of Jokic’s absence and led 108-105 in the final minute. Barton was fouled on a 3-point attempt and hit all three free throws to tie it, then made 1 of 2 to give Denver a one-point lead with 20 seconds left.

Dunn gave Chicago the lead with a layup with 9.6 seconds left, but Barton drove the length of the court and hit a reverse layup.

Chicago led 68-62 at halftime but Denver rallied to briefly take the lead in the third quarter. Grant hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third to put the Bulls ahead 92-91.

TIP-INS

Bulls: F Nikola Mirotic has increased his practice load and is close to returning. “He’s really in training camp mode,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He’s had a lot of individual work but nothing simulates that playing up and down, five-on-five type action. Mirotic has been out since a preseason altercation with teammate Bobby Portis left him with several broken bones in his face as well as a concussion. … Zach LaVine (left ACL tear) will have a full practice Friday after going through individual drills Thursday.

Nuggets: F Wilson Chandler was out for the second straight game with low back soreness. Juancho Hernangomez again got the start in his place. … Richard Jefferson played a season-high 12 minutes.

UP NEXT

Bulls: Host Sacramento on Friday night.

Nuggets: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night in Lonzo Ball’s first game at Pepsi Center.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.

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Janmark Scores Twice As Stars Beat Blackhawks 4-3 In OT

CHICAGO (AP) — Mattias Janmark scored his second goal of the game 51 seconds into overtime and the Dallas Stars beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Thursday night.

Radek Faksa had a goal and an assist and Remi Elie also scored for Dallas, which has won three straight and five of six. Ben Bishop made 19 saves.

Janmark skated in and beat Corey Crawford over the goaltender’s right shoulder for his sixth of the season, giving the Stars the opener of the home-and-home series between division rivals. Dallas hosts Chicago on Saturday night.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who dropped to 1-1-1 in a seven-day stretch with five games. Alex DeBrincat and Artem Anisimov also scored, and Nick Schmaltz had two assists.

Chicago trailed 3-2 before Kane redirected defenseman Gustav Forsling’s shot past Bishop at 4:34 of the third. Kane has at least one point in eight of his last nine games.

Elie, who replaced an ailing Martin Hanzal in the lineup, had three good looks at a potential go-ahead score with about 5 1/2 minutes left, but Crawford turned him away each time. Crawford finished with 31 saves.

Dallas led 2-1 after a strange first period. The Stars jumped in front when Janmark stuffed home a wraparound off Crawford’s left skate at 14:46, but the Blackhawks responded nine seconds later on DeBrincat’s wrist shot by Bishop on the stick side.

It was DeBrincat’s fourth goal in his last three games and 10th of November, making him the first rookie in franchise history with 10 goals in a calendar month, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Chicago had four power plays in the opening period and was still outscored by Dallas with the man advantage. Faksa buried his first career penalty shot after Kane was called for hooking on a short-handed breakaway, making it 2-1 at 17:20.

Faksa has four goals in his last two games. He had a natural hat trick in Dallas’ 3-0 win at Vegas on Tuesday night.

Chicago’s fourth power-play opportunity carried over into the second, and it took advantage. With Elie in the box for slashing, Kane made a terrific pass to Anisimov in front for his ninth goal in November and his team-leading 12th on the season.

Elie made up for the costly penalty later in the second. He went in all alone on Crawford after a nice pass from Faksa and scored his third of the season with a nifty move, making it 3-2 at 14:04.

NOTES: Bishop was shaken up after Schmaltz’s shot went off his chin 40 seconds into the third, but stayed in the game after he was checked by a trainer. … Hanzal was scratched with what coach Ken Hitchcock called “general soreness.” The 30-year-old Hanzal has been in and out of the lineup so far this season due to injuries. “We’ve learned to deal with it, but it’s been very disappointing for him because he’s been a very effective player every game he’s played,” Hitchcock said. … The Blackhawks assigned forward Jordin Tootoo to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

UP NEXT

Stars: Take on Chicago on Saturday night and visit Colorado on Sunday night.

Blackhawks: Following the trip to Dallas, Chicago returns home to face the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.

(© 2017 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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Chief Judge Files Action Against Cook County Board

CHICAGO (CBS) — Chief Cook County Judge Timothy Evans made good Thursday on his promise to sue to block 2018 budget cuts planned by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that would hit the court system hard.

More than 160 employees in the court system are slated for layoffs under the budget approved in November, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Evans said the suit against Cook County, Preckwinkle and county Treasurer Maria Pappas aims to make the county to take “whatever action is necessary” to stave off the layoffs.

Those targeted for termination have higher salaries and more seniority, according to the chief judge’s lawsuit, which says the layoffs would cause “disruption to the essential functioning of the court” and also force him to violate union contracts.

Preckwinkle spokesman Frank Shuftan said late Thursday that the county will “certainly defend the budget passed by the board.” He also said “any delay in implementing the reductions in force established in the budget will result in deeper cuts later.”

A hearing on Evans’ bid to block the layoffs is set for 11 a.m. Friday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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No. 3 Michigan State Beats No. 5 Notre Dame 81-63

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Joshua Langford scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half to help No. 3 Michigan State take a huge lead it was able to restore in the second half against No. 5 Notre Dame in an 81-63 victory Thursday night.

The Spartans (6-1) have won five straight, including a rout against then-No. 9 North Carolina, since losing to top-ranked Duke.

The Fighting Irish (6-1) trailed by 20 at halftime and cut their deficit to seven with 13:09 left, but couldn’t get closer against a team with a lot of options on offense that is defending and rebounding as if it is in mid-season form under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.

In the marquee matchup of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the Spartans turned a highly anticipated game into a showcase of their talent and depth.

Michigan State’s Cassius Winston had 17 points and seven assists, Miles Bridges scored 14 points and Nick Ward added 12.

Notre Dame’s Bonzie Colson had 11 of his 17 points in the second half and Rex Pflueger scored 15. Matt Farrell was scoreless in the first half and finished with 10 points and T.J. Gibbs added 11 points for the Irish.

BIG PICTURE

Notre Dame: The Irish, coming off a Maui Invitational championship, found out how far they have to go to compete with college basketball’s best.

Michigan State: Early in the season, the Spartans are playing perhaps as well as they have at both ends of the court.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame: Hosts St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday.

Michigan State: Hosts Nebraska on Sunday in a Big Ten opener.

(© 2017 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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Sweetened Beverage Tax Set To Expire Friday

CHICAGO (CBS) — Cook County’s sweetened beverage tax becomes history at midnight, and store managers and shoppers alike are pleased.

Whether they admit to drinking pop or not, shoppers say they are happy to see the tax die. One woman says she can now stop going out of her way to purchase soda.

“I have been going to Lake County to pay, and I hate taking business away from local stores by my house,” she said.

Cook County officials are also among those happy to see the tax go.

RELATED: Cook County Finance Committee Votes 15-1 To Can The Soda Tax

Commissioner Richard Boykin said, “tomorrow is a new day in Cook County, and all 5.2 million residents can celebrate their newfound independence from the sweetened beverage tax.” He went on to say that unlike the state of Illinois or the City of Chicago, Cook County balanced its budget without increasing taxes. Boykin called this a “momentous accomplishment.”

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) also issued a statement ahead of the expiration:

“On behalf of the retail community and the consumers they serve on a daily basis, we are thankful the day has finally arrived when the sweetened beverage tax repeal takes effect. Due to the widespread public outrage, consumers will once again be able to choose to purchase these products in Cook County without the burden of this tax,” said Rob Karr, president and CEO, IRMA.

The County stopped collecting the penny-an-ounce tax on sweetened beverages as of Thursday.

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Human Resources Departments At The Epicenter Of Harassment Claims

CHICAGO (CBS) — From Matt Lauer back to Harvey Weinstein – and many others in between -corporate America is undergoing seismic changes.

As CBS 2’s Sandra Torres reports human resources departments are at the epicenter.

“We are seeing so many allegations come out that it’s on the top of heads of human resources’ minds everywhere across the country,” says Andrew Challenger, Vice President of Challenger, Gray and Christmas.

A shared sentiment right now among human resources professionals.

Liz Summy is the President and CEO of the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago.

“You have some very high profile cases. Not every employer in the Chicago community is going to have that but no lesson is too small,” says Summy.

There are multiple high profile cases against men like Kevin Spacey, Charlie Rose and now Matt Lauer. All for allegations ranging from inappropriate behavior to sexual misconduct.

“So many of allegations happened in the workplace. So the people that are in charge of protecting the culture of the company making a safe environment are heads of human resources and they’re thinking about it very seriously,” says Challenger.

So seriously that a Challenger, Gray and Christmas survey among 150 employers shows 11% of companies won’t hold a holiday party this year.

That’s compared to 4% last year.

“It means they are concerned about creating a safe environment for their employees. They’re concerned that holiday parties are going to be a place where inappropriate behavior happens.”

A learning opportunity for those in leadership roles to help regain trust.

“Everyone is reviewing policies right now,” says Challenger.

“The best thing we can do is learn from this and move forward as a culture and hopefully create better workplaces,” adds Summy.

She adds some companies offer anonymous tip lines so employees can feel safe if they have to share specific incidents.

Summy suggests this may be something that organizations can implement to regain the trust of their employees.

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South Side Schools Set To Close

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago Teachers Union  is warning tonight that four schools are set to close.

All of them in Englewood.

CBS 2’s Jeremy Ross reports from one of the schools in jeopardy.

The teacher’s union is calling it a hit list.

At Chicago’s John Hope College Prep students and parents like Jackie Claybon suddenly find themselves preparing for life in another school.

“This whole thing about them closing, it’s kind of a shocker

In a news conference, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey says they expect at least four public schools to close.

All in Englewood.

“This is unprecedented, closing all the public schools in a neighborhood,” says Sharkey. “You’re talking about really waging a war on and targeting an entire working class black neighborhood.”

Sharkey says John Hope College Prep and Harper High School will let out class for good this June. Adding parents should expect closure announcements for Robeson High School and TEAM Englewood Community Academy as soon as Friday.

“Four is what we know about so far. We fear they’re be more announcements tomorrow,” he says.

Sharkey says community members were promised a new high school in Englewood would be ready for students to move into before any closures. Adding the district hasn’t even broken ground on a new building.

“That promise has been broken. All those decisions that get made about school closings and school openings at that level run though the mayor’s office,” says Sharkey.

Claybon didn’t have an answer when asked where her daughter would go to school next year.

She says the school hinted at possibly closing at the start of the school year due in part to low enrollment.

Claybon calls the announcement a blow to this community and her daughter.

“I would really like to see her graduate from here,” she says.

Neither Chicago Public Schools nor Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office returned calls for comment.

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Man, 84, Killed In Crash Near Oakbrook Center

CHICAGO (CBS) — An 84-year-old man died in a crash Thursday afternoon near Oakbrook Center in the western suburbs.

The crash happened about 1:30 p.m. at 22nd Street and Midwest Road in Oak Brook, according to Oak Brook police.

A red Chevrolet Colorado pick-up truck was traveling erratically north on Midwest when it ran a red light at 22nd and slammed into a Toyota Prius, Ford Taurus and a Lexus SUV, all of which were traveling west on 22nd, police said.

A crash with injuries was reported Thursday afternoon near Oakbrook Center. | Oak Brook police

The driver of the Chevrolet, a 53-year-old Park Forest man, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, police said. The two occupants of the Ford Taurus, a 52-year-old woman and 57-year-old man from Chicago, were also taken to Good Samaritan.

The driver of the Prius, 84-year-old Chen Tien, was initially taken to Good Samaritan in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead, police said. Tien lived in Glen Ellyn.

A fifth person involved in the crash declined medical treatment.

Roads were expected to be closed until about 6:30 p.m. as Oak Brook Police and the Felony Investigative Assistance Team (FIAT) Major Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the scene at the intersection.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Chicago Man Trapping Cats Hopes To Get City’s Attention

CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago man, who has trapped more than 40 cats this week, was back at it on Thursday.

Chicago’s Animal Care and Control (CACC) asked Disgrace Felyer to stop, and even issued a warning to cat owners, or those who care for feral cat colonies, to keep their feline friends indoors.

Felyer, however, told CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar he has no intentions of stopping.

He baits the cats with food, then brings all those he’s captured to the shelter on Western Avenue. Wednesday night, he dropped off about 10 cats; he brought in about 15 on both Monday and Tuesday.

Felyer says the city could be doing more to tackle the cat population on the West and South Sides, and that the traps are an effort to get his point across.

Animal Care and Control asked him to stop trapping neighborhood cats and dropping them off. It’s putting pressure on the shelter and pets are being brought in. Today, he was at it again. @cbschicago http://pic.twitter.com/Cm9VcoRpYO

— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) November 30, 2017

“Please leave them where they are. Usually they will go home,” Susan Russell said, executive director of Animal Care and Control. She added that many of the cats are in good health, and fears some Felyer has brought in might be pets. “Many of them do not look injured — many of them look perfectly fine,” she added.

Felyer runs the not-for-profit Snowball Animal Welfare out of his home on the West Side. And there’s no shortage of cats.

Margaret Leach, Felyer’s neighbor, said, “No, it doesn’t smell good, especially in the summer time. The stench reportedly makes it “unbearable” to sit on the front porch.

Tree House Humane Society, a no kill, humane, organization, issued a statement that said, in part: “The strategy he is using is inappropriate for the population of cats he’s trapping. His tactics , while well intentioned, are flawed.”

Animal Care and Control may have been called to Felyer’s home, but could not provide immediate details of the visit. Neighbors said they have also gone to the alderman about the cats.

If your cat has gone missing, click here to view lost pets.

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Armed Man Attempted To Carjack Uber Driver

CHICAGO (CBS) — An Uber driver escaped an armed man attempting to carjack him Thursday in the North Side Lincoln Park neighborhood.

CBS 2’s Roseanne Tellez reports Samuel Wright had just dropped off a customer when he was targeted on N. Bissell Street. A man ran into the road, urgently flagging the driver down. He approached from the passenger side, flashing a gun, and demanded Wright’s car.

Wright says an SUV pulled out of a nearby alley, blocking his path. Still, he cut the alley’s corner, sideswiping the garbage dumpster as he sped off and called police. He managed to get away with only scrapes on the passenger door and a dent in the front fender

RELATED: Carjackings Spike In Chicago

And some rattled nerves. “I’m kind of shook up,” Wright said. People who work along the busy stretch of Armitage Avenue told CBS 2 they were shocked an attempted carjacking could happen in that area.

Chicago has had more than 790 carjackings so far this year.

RELATED: Criminal Justice Expert Shares Thoughts On The Rise Of Carjackings

Chicago Police confirm they are looking for a pair of would-be carjackers and as a general rule, do not advise ignoring the orders of a gunman.

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RTA: More Train Troubles Possible Without State Funding

CHICAGO (CBS) — The head of the Regional Transportation Authority says more Metra service interruptions and other transit problems are a certainty if the state does not come up with a lot more money for equipment and maintenance.

RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard told reporters even the derailment of a Metra train earlier this week is an example of poor maintenance, though he calls it an Amtrak problem.

“Amtrak actually controls the area of Union Station where the derailment happened,” says Dillard. “But it’s symptomatic that you have to keep up your infrastructure.”

Dillard told the City Club of Chicago the transit system needs hundreds of millions of dollars for capital projects and upkeep.

He admits he can’t say he’s confident the state can be persuaded to provide it.

“Not only have we not passed an infrastructure spending bill in Illinois to take care of our crumbling infrastructure, the state legislature cut the mass transit budget by close to 100 million dollars,” he says. “We’re going backwards.”

Still Dillard is urging the public to press lawmakers hard before the problem gets worse.

 

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Eddie Jackson, Robbie Gould To Honor Bears Trainer’s Ailing Daughter

By Chris Emma—

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – Bears safety Eddie Jackson sees the customary smile of Will Rogers each day, what they’ve come to know at Halas Hall.

But the rookie Jackson can also sense the bad days, too. An assistant team athletic trainer with the Bears, Rogers has a 14-month-old daughter, Charlotte, who’s battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Many players wouldn’t even know the struggle for the Rogers family.

“She didn’t do anything to get it,” Jackson said. “It’s just sad. But you got to keep fighting. He’s being strong, very strong, to come out here and do his job every day. He’s a strong guy.”

On Sunday, Jackson will honor Charlotte Rogers and Jacqueline Setas, the sister of his agent, Ben Setas, who’s fighting Hodgkins lymphoma. As part of the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative, Jackson will wear the names of Charlotte and Jacqueline as he takes the field when the Bears host the 49ers at Soldier Field.

Jackson was overjoyed to share with Rogers of his cleats cause.

“He was shocked,” Jackson said. “He was so happy. He didn’t believe it at first.

“It was good putting a smile on his face.”

Repping @LLSusa on My Cleats this weekend for #MyCauseMyCleats. Supporting My Boy Will who’s Apart Of Our Wonderful training Staff and His Beautiful daughter Charlotte fighting leukemia and My Brother/Agent Big Ben Sister Jacquelin who is fighting lymphoma… http://pic.twitter.com/vTUOYkinG4

— Eddie Jackson (@EJackson_4) November 28, 2017

Jackson and Rogers have built a strong bond since he was drafted by the Bears in the fourth round this past April. Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould, now with the 49ers, shared a connection with Rogers from their time together and linked through Lurie Children’s Hospital, with which he still associates.

On Sunday, Gould will also wear the name of Charlotte on his cleats as he kicks against the Bears. He and Rogers remain in touch weekly.

“I couldn’t imagine going through that situation,” Gould said. “The guy’s been pretty tough and been a rock for his family. Anything I can do to help them means a lot for me.”

Jackson considers Jacqueline Setas to be like a sister, as he does Ben Setas a big brother. Jacqueline grew up Lansing, Mich., and is a senior golfer at Michigan State. She was diagnosed with lymphoma in August and began treatment a month later.

The opportunity for Jackson to represent two individuals battling a horrible illness is an honor he doesn’t take likely. Sunday will be bigger than just a game for him. This one’s for Charlotte and Jacqueline.

“She’s a 14-month-old baby,” Jackson said of Charlotte. “She didn’t do anything to get it. (Jacqueline), she didn’t do anything to get it as well.

“I could be in that same situation.”

You can donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society here.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

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New Study Finds Dogs Are Brainier Than Cats

CBS Local — There’s a new twist in the age-old argument over whether cats are smarter than dogs, or vice versa.

A new study provided by Vanderbilt University to phys.org found that dogs have significantly more cortical neurons, the “little gray cells” associated with thinking, planning, and complex behavior.

The official cortical count provided by the study shows dogs having about 530 million while cats have 250 million. Humans have about 16 billion.

Suzana Herculano-Houzel, associate professor of psychology and biological sciences, developed the method of accurately measuring the number of neurons in the brains.

Are dogs smarter than cats? Yes, and science proves it https://t.co/PRal5sL6PI http://pic.twitter.com/mExnBgYCtg

— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) November 30, 2017

“I believe the absolute number of neurons an animal has, especially in the cerebral cortex, determines the richness of their internal mental state and their ability to predict what is about to happen in their environment based on past experience,” said Herculano-Houzel in the study.

The good news for cat lovers is that cats have about the same number of those neurons as bears even though a bear’s brain is about ten times larger.

The researchers analyzed the brains of other animals like lions and hyenas as well, comparing the number of neurons in their brains compared to the size of their brains.

Herculano-Houzel said that studying the brains of different species is important. “Diversity is enormous. Not every species is made the same way. Yes, there are recognizable patterns, but there are multiple ways that nature has found of putting brains together. And we’re trying to figure out what difference that makes.”

[H/T CBS Dallas/Ft. Worth]

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Fantasy Football Week 13 Starts And Sits

By Matt Citak

Week 13 of the NFL season is finally here, which means that we have reached the final week of the fantasy football regular season. Most fantasy leagues’ playoffs begin in Week 14, so this represents your final chance to push your team towards the postseason. If your leagues are anything like mine, then multiple playoff spots are still up for grabs. Every point matters in fantasy football, which means every lineup decision you make counts.

With that in mind, here are CBS Local Sports’ Week 13 Starts and Sits.

Starts

QB: Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers has been on a tear over the last two weeks, tossing for 685 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions while completing 72.3 percent of his passes in Chargers’ wins over the Cowboys and Bills. In Week 13, Rivers has one of the best matchups possible as the Chargers welcome the Cleveland Browns to Los Angeles. The Browns are surrendering the third-highest passer rating to opposing quarterback this season, while also allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per dropback. Rivers has the Chargers’ offense firing on all cylinders, and with LA firmly back in the playoff picture, look for the Bolts to keep the momentum going against the Browns. I like Rivers as a strong QB1 this week.

Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

QB: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

Cousins hasn’t been blowing opponents out of the water this year, but the Redskins QB has quietly put together a rather impressive season thus far. The 29-year-old quarterback has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 3,038 yards (trailing only Tom Brady’s 3,374 yards) and 19 touchdowns while throwing six interceptions. Cousins ranks fourth in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks, and his matchup this week should help boost those stats even more. Cousins will face off against a Cowboys defense riddled with injuries, as Dallas will be without starting linebacker Sean Lee for the fourth straight game. In their previous three contests, opposing quarterbacks are averaging 22.8 fantasy points per game on the Lee-less Dallas defense. Cousins could finish as a high-end QB1 this week.

QB: Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings

Keenum’s performance could be one of the biggest surprises of the 2017 NFL season. The journeyman quarterback has helped lead the Vikings to seven straight victories, and has thrown for 1,154 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in the last four games alone. The Week 13 contest against the Falcons isn’t the easiest of matchups, but Atlanta cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Brian Poole are both dealing with injuries and are questionable this week. If either (or both) cannot go, it will make Keenum an even stronger play. Regardless, it is finally time for everyone to start taking Keenum seriously and trusting him as a starting fantasy quarterback.

RB: Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings

Of the two Vikings running backs, you may be surprised to see McKinnon on this list ahead of Latavius Murray. In the last three games, Murray has looked impressive, totaling 247 rushing yards and four touchdowns, but those stats came against the Lions, Rams, and Redskins, three teams that have struggled to stop the run this year. In Week 13, the Vikings face a Falcons defense that has been surprisingly stingy against opposing running backs on the ground, allowing the ninth-fewest rushing fantasy points per game to opposing backs. However they are giving up the sixth-most receiving fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, and finished last in this category last season. McKinnon is likely to play a big role in the passing game this week, which makes him a solid RB2.

Credit: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

RB: Dion Lewis, New England Patriots

Lewis has found his way onto this list several times over the last month-and-a-half, and for good reason. The 5-foot-8 back has seen 10-15 carries in each of the last six games, and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry since Week 5. Rex Burkhead also makes for a solid play this week, but facing off against a struggling Buffalo defense, Lewis gets the slight nod. Buffalo has allowed the most rushing fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, and that includes Kareem Hunt’s complete dud of a performance last week. There’s a chance Burkhead could vulture the goal line work from Lewis, but both backs have a good chance of putting together strong fantasy games. Both Patriots backs should be starting this week, but I feel slightly more confident with Lewis.

RB: Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens

Despite the return of Danny Woodhead to the Baltimore backfield, it is clear that Collins has solidified himself as the team’s lead rusher. The second-year back has carried the ball 36 times over the last two games, scoring a touchdown in each contest, while accumulating six receptions on nine targets. The Ravens will take on a Lions defense this week that has struggled to stop opposing running backs. Detroit has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing backs, allowing 116.2 rushing yards per game and 14 rushing touchdowns on the season. Collins has just two touchdowns on the season, but has a very good chance of adding to that total on Sunday.

WR: Jamison Crowder, Washington Redskins

We saw on Thanksgiving what the Redskins offense will look like for the rest of the season with Chris Thompson and Terrelle Pryor now on IR, and it was great news for anyone with Crowder on their team. Cousins targeted Crowder a game-high 10 times, giving the receiver double digit targets in three of his last four games. The 5-foot-9 speedster converted those 10 targets into seven receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown, and has emerged as Washington’s No. 1 wide receiver. The Cowboys are giving up the third-most fantasy points to receivers out of the slot, which is where Crowder runs almost 75 percent of his routes. Crowder is going to carve up an NFC East rival for the second consecutive week on Thursday.

WR: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

I’ve been high on Kupp all season, but it was his performance in Week 12 that finally showed off his true potential. With Robert Woods sidelined, Kupp was targeted a game-high 11 times, catching eight of those passes for 116 yards as the Rams defeated the Saints. His targets, receptions, and yards represented career-highs for the rookie receiver, but with another great matchup this week, those career-marks may not last long. The Rams travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals this week, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing slot WRs. Patrick Peterson will likely shadow Sammy Watkins, leaving Kupp free to terrorize the rest of Arizona’s secondary. Kupp could finish as a strong WR2 or better this week.

Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

WR: Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars

After scoring touchdowns in two straight games, Lee has been quiet over the last two weeks, catching a combined six passes for 58 yards. In Lee’s defense, the last two outings have been against two of the league’s top corners in Peterson of the Cardinals and Jason McCourty of the Browns. But things are looking up for the veteran receiver this week, as the Jaguars play the struggling Indianapolis Colts in Jacksonville. The Colts enter this Week 13 matchup already giving up the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, and will be without their top corner Rashaan Melvin. I like Lee’s chances of finding his way back into the end zone this week.

TE: Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers

Henry’s volume has been incredibly frustrating for fantasy owners this season. One week he might see eight targets, while the next week he could only get one. While Henry has been a little tough to trust this year, one thing has become abundantly clear- start whatever tight end is facing the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has given up touchdowns to opposing tight ends in each of the last four games, and have surrendered nine touchdowns to the position on the year. Even with his inconsistency, Henry has seen between five and eight targets in five of the last seven games. He’s a strong TE1 in Week 13.

Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

TE: Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders

Henry may have the best matchup among tight ends this week, but Cook comes in a close second. The Raiders tight end is coming off two consecutive rough outings in which he caught a combined 3-of-10 targets for 38 yards. However this week, he faces a Giants defense that has struggled immensely at keeping opposing tight ends out of the end zone. New York gave up a touchdown to an opposing tight end in each of their first nine games of the season, and allowed Travis Kelce to catch eight passes for 109 yards in the 10th game of the year. The Raiders will be without Michael Crabtree (suspension), and likely won’t have Amari Cooper (ankle, concussion) for this Week 13 matchup either, which raises Cook’s touchdown-upside. I’m firing Cook up as a strong TE1 this week.

Sits

QB: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford has looked good over the last few games, throwing for at least 249 yards and two touchdowns in each of his last four outings. But that streak is likely coming to an end this week with the Lions set to face off against the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 13. The Ravens enter this matchup ranked first in opposing passer rating and second-best in fantasy points allowed per dropback. The Baltimore defense is allowing a measly 190 passing yards per game, with just 11 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions on the year. Blake Bortles is the only quarterback to register more than 18 fantasy points on the Ravens defense in 2017, and that came all the way back in Week 3. Stafford should be seen as a QB2 against the Ravens’ elite secondary.

QB: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

After struggling a bit to start the season, Ryan has picked it up over the last few weeks. The Falcons QB has finished with a completion percentage over 70 percent in each of his last three games, throwing for five touchdowns and one interception over that span. Even with his improved play, I would feel very hesitant to start him against the Vikings this week. Minnesota has given up only 12 passing touchdowns on the year, which is tied for the third-best mark in the league. The Vikings have done a great job of limiting Stafford and Jared Goff over the last two games, and both of those quarterbacks have played better than Ryan this season. Options may be limited, but I would look elsewhere for my starting quarterback this week.

Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

QB: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton enters this game on a hot streak, having thrown seven touchdowns with no interceptions over his last three games. In fact, his last interception came in Cincinnati’s Week 7 loss to the Steelers, where Dalton tossed for just 140 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Well in Week 13, the 30-year-old quarterback out of TCU will once again face off against the Steelers and their strong pass defense. Dalton has struggled to produce against Pittsburgh over the last few years, finishing with 13 fantasy points or fewer in four of his past five games against them. Considering his recent play, it wouldn’t shock me if Dalton puts together a solid performance on Monday night. However it seems a lot more likely that the Steelers shut Dalton down. This isn’t the week to roll the dice on Dalton.

RB: Demarco Murray, Tennessee Titans

Believe it or not, Week 5 was the last time Murray averaged 4.0 yards or more per carry in a game. Since then, the veteran back has not been able to garner more than 3.3 yards per carry, and is coming off an abysmal performance against the Colts in which he carried the ball 12 times for only nine yards. Murray has had three games with under 20 rushing yards in his last four outings, and hasn’t crossed the 60-yard plateau in eight games. The 29-year-old running back’s luck is unlikely to change this week, as he faces the Texans, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Murray is nothing more than a flex play.

RB: Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions

To put it plain and simple, Abdullah has looked bad this season. The third-year back out of Nebraska is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry on the season, and has seen his production wane even more over the last two games. During that stretch, Abdullah has totaled just 17 carries for 36 yards to go along with five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens have not allowed an opposing running back to run for more than 57 yards in their last four games, with Lamar Miller being the only back to reach double digits in fantasy points against them over that span. Abdullah has been way too inconsistent this season, and with the playoffs potentially on the line this week, he should be nowhere near your lineup.

Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

RB: Jay Ajayi, Philadelphia Eagles

Many people (myself included) thought the trade to Philadelphia would do wonders for Ajayi’s fantasy value this season. While he has looked good when given the ball, Ajayi has not received nearly enough volume to warrant a spot in fantasy lineups. In the three games since being acquired by the Eagles, Ajayi has received just 20 carries, but has turned that into 194 yards. The production has been there for the 24-year-old back, but until Doug Pederson starts giving him more carries, it’ll be very tough to trust Ajayi. And given the way LeGarrette Blount has run with the ball since Ajayi joined the team, I can’t imagine Pederson naming Ajayi the team’s starting back anytime soon.

WR: Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams

No one seemed to benefit more from the injury to Woods than Sammy Watkins, who saw a season-high nine targets in last week’s win over the Saints. Watkins turned those nine targets into four receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown, and now has three touchdowns in his last four games. But in Week 13, Watkins has the unfortunate luck of having to face Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals. Peterson ranks second-best in fantasy points allowed per route run among qualifying cornerbacks, which includes matchups against DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Alshon Jeffery, Dez Bryant, and more. When Watkins faced Peterson in Week 7, the elite corner shadowed the veteran receiver on 50 percent of his routes, and Watkins failed to see a single target against him. With Woods still out, Watkins will see even more of Peterson. I’m keeping Watkins firmly on my bench this week.

WR: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

Once one of the league’s premier wide receivers, Hilton has looked lost for most of the season. The veteran receiver has had three games of 150 yards or more over his last nine contests, but during the same span, has had six games of 30 or fewer yards. Hilton does not look like the same receiver without Andrew Luck throwing to him, and things aren’t going to get any easier this week. The Jaguars rank first in fantasy points per game and fantasy points per target allowed to opposing wide receivers, both outside and in the slot. Only two receivers have scored on the Jaguars all season, and in their Week 7 meeting, Hilton finished with just two catches for 27 yards on eight targets. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye will have their way with Hilton and the Colts receivers this week, so I’m staying away from everyone on the Colts in Week 13.

Credit: Bob Levey/Getty Images

WR: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have not looked the same since Ezekiel Elliott began serving his six-game suspension. However Bryant’s struggles extend further than just Elliott’s absence. After reaching the end zone in four of Dallas’ first six games, Bryant now enters Week 13 on a five-game scoreless streak. To make matters worse, the talented 29-year-old receiver has gone 18 regular season games without gaining 100 receiving yards. If he isn’t scoring touchdowns, then it’s difficult to trust Bryant as anything more than a WR3. And with a matchup against the Redskins and his cornerback nemesis, Josh Norman, in Week 13, I’m avoiding Bryant altogether.

TE: Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brate was one of the biggest surprises towards the beginning of the season, catching a touchdown pass in four of Tampa Bay’s first five games. But the third-year tight end out of Harvard has not been able to find the end zone in any of his last six games, and has gained 15 yards or more only twice during that stretch. Brate has been completely unreliable over the last month, as the big tight end has caught only one pass in each of the last four games for a combined 37 yards. Yes, you read that correctly- four receptions for 37 yards TOTAL in his last four games. The return of Jameis Winston should help Brate, but the Packers have allowed just one touchdown and one 50-yard game to opposing tight ends all year. Brate could still turn it around this season, but it won’t start this week.

Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images

TE: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets

ASJ hasn’t been playing his best football lately, recording less than 30 yards in four of his last five games. He’s only topped 46 yards once all season, but his three touchdowns earlier in the year helped save the day for fantasy owners. This week the Jets face a Chiefs defense that has struggled at times in 2017, but has been consistently strong against the tight end position. Kansas City has surrendered the third-fewest receptions and are tied for the fewest touchdowns allowed to opposing tight ends this season, making ASJ an unappealing option in Week 13.

Matt Citak is a producer for CBS Local Sports and a proud Vanderbilt alum. Follow him on Twitter or send comments to mcitak@cbs.com.

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Bears’ Josh Bellamy Calls Heated Exchange With Waived Tre McBride ‘Brotherly Love’

By Chris Emma–

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — Bears receiver Josh Bellamy said it was “crazy” to arrive at Halas Hall on Wednesday and find position mate Tre McBride had been waived the afternoon before.

On Monday, Bellamy and McBride were engaged in a heated hallway argument outside the team meeting rooms and media center. The Bears waived McBride on Tuesday, while Bellamy — a key special-teams contributor — remained on the roster.

The angry tone between the two was clear to all who could hear the exchange. It was a football-related argument, though one Bellamy denied it being heated.

“It wasn’t that, man,” Bellamy said. “It was just a little brotherly love.”

Reminded that brothers don’t get each other fired, Bellamy responded: “He didn’t get fired, man. He’s just on relieve or something.”

Asked if he feels bad for McBride being waived, Bellamy responded, “I don’t feel bad for nothing.”

Bellamy hasn’t been in contact with McBride since he was waived by the team. Coach John Fox on Wednesday said that such arguments are simply a part of the game, though it was apparently enough to warrant waiving one of the team’s most utilized receivers.

The Bears are 3-8 and have lost four straight games. Veteran running back Benny Cunningham said that frustration is natural when a team is struggling.

“We just got to hold everybody accountable,” Bellamy said. “That’s it. Just get everybody on the same page so we can get this thing going.”

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

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Train Delays Possible On 3 Metra Lines

CHICAGO (CBS) — Delays are possible Thursday evening and Friday morning on three Metra lines after a partial train derailment Tuesday night at Union Station.

Trains on the BNSF, Southwest Service and Heritage Corridor lines could experience delays up to 15 minutes during the Thursday evening commute and Friday morning commute, according to a statement from Metra. The agency will be prepared to implement its plan to limit overcrowding on the South Concourse, if needed.

The Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes went better than expected, according to the transit agency. But there are still fewer tracks available than normal, which leaves a greater potential for delays.

RELATED: Metra Train Derailment At Union Station

The delays are residual from the cleanup and repairs from a derailment Tuesday night. About 10:50 p.m., an inbound SouthWest Service train was arriving at Union Station when the third, fourth and fifth cars derailed.

The other five cars of the eight-car train and the locomotive remained on the tracks, and the derailed cars remained upright.

Three passengers were on the train at the time and no injuries were reported.

Amtrak and Metra customers should check information displays and listen carefully to boarding announcements because some trains could be arriving and departing from tracks that differ from normal.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

 (Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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This Week in College Basketball: ACC Dominates ACC-Big Ten Challenge

By Steve Silverman

As we head into December and the college basketball season gains real steam, the Duke Blue Devils are an oncoming freight train.

Not only are the Devils undefeated at 8-0, they are so loaded that they could go another month or more before they taste defeat.

Perhaps an undefeated season is at hand? No way, since this is not 1976, the year the Indiana Hoosiers finished the last perfect season and culminated it by winning the national title.

The latest rankings have Duke as a unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25, and they are also in the top spot of the USA Today Coaches Poll. Kansas snared one first-place vote in those rankings.

Both polls agree on the top eight teams, with Duke at the top followed by Kansas, Michigan State, Villanova, Notre Dame, Florida, Kentucky and Wichita State. The AP follow with Texas A&M at No. 9 and Miami as No. 10. The Coaches’ poll has Cincinnati at No. 9, while the Aggies are No. 10.

While the Blue Devils may lose a game or two at some point, Mike Krzyzewski’s team is going to be tough to beat for a simple reason. They have remarkable personnel, with four players who could be drafted in the Top 20 of next year’s NBA draft.

Power forward Marvin Bagley III has an excellent chance of going as the No. 1 pick, according to NBAdraft.net, with 6-6 shooting guard Gary Trent Jr.  going 13^th, point guard Trevon Duval going 14^th and forward-center Wendell Carter rated at No. 17.

Kentucky and Michigan State both have two players going in the top 20, and no other school has more than one. That’s why Duke has a major edge this season.

Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

ACC dominates Big Ten once again

With one game left to be played in this year’s ACC-Big Ten challenge, the ACC has proved to be dominant once again.

Whether the games were blowouts or nail-biters, the ACC has a 9-2 edge in this year’s competition. The only game remaining is tonight’s match-up between No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 3 Michigan State at East Lansing.

If the Irish find a way to beat Tom Izzo’s team on it’s home floor, the ACC will have the biggest edge it has ever gained in the rivalry between the two-high profile conferences.

Purdue and Nebraska are the only Big Ten teams to pull out wins at this point, while North Carolina rolled to a 15-point win over Michigan and Clemson hammered Ohio State by 14 points.

Duke toyed with Indiana in winning by 10, while Northwestern was beaten by a point at Georgia Tech when Tadric Jackson of the Yellow Jackets took the ball to the hole and converted a left-handed layup at the buzzer.

This competition regularly belongs to the ACC. It began in 1999, and the Big Ten was on the losing end of the first 10 meetings. The Big Ten finally won 2009, and also held on to their advantage in 2010 and 2011, before the two conferences finished tied in 2012 and 2013.  The Big Ten added two more wins before the ACC won last year and dominated this year.

That makes the count 13-5-2 in favor of the ACC, and that conference has extreme bragging rights once again.

Quentin Goodin #3 of the Xavier Musketeers drives against Manu Lecomte #20 of the Baylor Bears. Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Xavier rebounds in a big way

After suffering a brutal loss to Arizona State in which the Sun Devils shredded the Xavier (6-1) defense for 102 points, the Musketeers bounced back with their best win of the year.

Xavier took on undefeated and 16^th-ranked Baylor, and the Musketeers recorded a 76-63 victory over the Bears Wednesday night.

The victory was significant for X because they were challenged by head coach Scott Drew to demonstrate their toughness. That has been one of the primary underpinnings of the Xavier program from a time long before Drew became head coach.

Drew made sure his players knew what he wanted to see, but they took it upon themselves to up the tempo in practice before the Musketeers met Baylor.

“All we did in practice when we got back was defense,” point guard Quentin Goodin said. “I thought we played with a lot of pride on defense and it showed.

“We knew what we had to do to prepare for this game. Toughness was a huge part of this game.”

Xavier opened the game with a 21-8 burst and they dictated the pace for 40 minutes.

Arizona State had beaten Xavier 102-86 last Friday, and while the Sun Devils are clearly a very good team that has gotten off to a 6-0 start, Xavier doesn’t give up 100 points to any opponent.

Look for Xavier to turn up the defensive heat from this point forward.

Upstarts, we have upstarts

College basketball fans know that one of the best parts of the game is that it’s not all about the power conferences and teams like Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas and Notre Dame.

The traditional powers will always be heard from, but smaller schools from unheralded conferences can give a season flavor.

One of those teams is Loyola (Chicago), as the Ramblers have gotten off to 7-1 start in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Ramblers have games coming up against Illinois-Chicago and No. 6 Florida in the coming week. Head coach Porter Moser’s team has four players averaging in double digits, including freshman Marques Townes, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting a sizzling .560 from the field.

Keep an eye on this team as one that could make Cinderella dreams come true.

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Bears’ Danny Trevathan In Line To Play Sunday

By Chris Emma–

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan took another step forward in his recovery from a calf injury, practicing in full Thursday at Halas Hall. He’s now in line to play against the 49ers at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Trevathan suffered a calf strain in late October during the loss to the Saints in New Orleans. He returned to practice in a limited role Wednesday.

The Bears have sorely missed Trevathan, the quarterback of their defense. In his absence, the team has turned to Nick Kwiatkoski, Christian Jones and John Timu. Trevathan was the Bears’ leading tackler before his injury, posting 52 tackles in seven games.

“He was playing at a very, very high level,” Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “If he can come back to that level, that would be a bonus.”

The Bears practiced without safety Adrian Amos (hamstring), defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson (ankle), defensive back Deon Bush (ankle) and linebacker Isaiah Irving (knee). Both Bush and Irving suffered injuries in practice Wednesday but weren’t listed on the injury report then.

Guard Josh Sitton (concussion) returned to work in a limited role, as did cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee), offensive lineman Tom Compton (ankle) and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (hamstring).

Safety Quintin Demps also rejoined the Bears at practice, opening a 21-day window in which he can be designated from a return from injured reserve. Fangio was unsure whether Demps would be available to play in Sunday’s game. He suffered a fractured left forearm in September.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

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Men Try To Carjack Mother, 3-Year-Old Daughter At Gunpoint In Oak Park

CHICAGO (CBS) — Two men tried to carjack a mother and her 3-year-old daughter at gunpoint Tuesday evening in west suburban Oak Park.

About 6:20 p.m., the woman had parked her car on the street in the 700 block of North Lombard Avenue and was removing her daughter from her car seat when a man approached her from behind, showed her a handgun and demanded her keys, according to a statement posted on the Village of Oak Park’s website.

A second man standing on the sidewalk approached, but the woman asked to get her daughter out of the vehicle and the men ran south on Lombard Avenue, then east on August Street, according to the statement.

The suspect armed with a gun was described as a black male between 16 and 19 years old, 5-foot-10 and 6-foot with a slim build and short black hair, according to the statement. He was wearing saggy jeans with red boxers showing and a dark sweatshirt.

The other suspect was described as a black male between 16 and 19 years old, 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8 and 140 to 150 pounds with a medium build. He was wearing dark jeans, a dark hooded sweatshirt and a green mask.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oak Park police at (708) 386-3800. Anonymous tips can be provided at (708) 434-1636 or online at http://ift.tt/2pydI1d.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Plainfield Burger King Robbed At Gunpoint For Second Time

CHICAGO (CBS) — A fast-food restaurant in southwest suburban Plainfield was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night for the second time in two months.

At 9:07 p.m. Wednesday, two suspects armed with black handguns robbed the Burger King at 11740 S. Rt. 59, according to Plainfield police.

Police are searching for two suspects who robbed a southwest suburban Burger King at gunpoint Wednesday night. (Plainfield police)

They ran from the neighborhood to the north of the restaurant, entered the front door, jumped the counter and robbed the store, police said. They jumped back over the counter, left through the front door and ran back north. They amount of money they got away with was undetermined.

One of the suspects is described as a black male, about 5-foot-10 with a slender, muscular build, police said. He was wearing black sweat pants, a black hooded sweatshirt with a stripe, a black ski mask, tan or brown boots and blue latex gloves.

The other suspect is described as a black male, about 5-foot-10 with a regular build, police said. He was wearing black pants, a black hooded sweatshirt with a white T-shirt underneath, black tennis shoes, blue latex gloves and had a white cloth covering his face, possibly with a clown-face print.

One of the suspects resembled the suspect in an armed robbery at the same Burger King at 9:12 p.m. on Oct. 23, according to police. The suspect entered the restaurant through a side door, jumped the counter and robbed the store before running north.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Plainfield Police Department Investigations Unit at (815) 436-6544.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Winter Overnight Parking Bans Starts Friday

CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s that time of year  again where parking on a city street could cost you over $200 in fines and fees.

Starting tomorrow, the annual winter overnight parking ban is enforced regardless of snow.

That’s according to Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation.

“Snow can accumulate quickly during winter storms and crews need immediate access to the city’s most vital roads to ensure that they are safe for motorists,” says Acting Commissioner John Tully. “Residents can help us keep the roads clear by checking the permanently posted street signs and following the posted restrictions.”

The parking ban covers 107 miles of streets throughout the city from 3:00 a.m. through 7:00 a.m.

DSS says it has posted flyers on cars parked on affected streets.

People parking illegally face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and a storage fee of up to $20 a day.

The winter parking ban runs through April 1st.

For more information on which streets are affected, motorists are encouraged to visit the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation website.

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‘I gave it my all – 120 percent.’ ‘Survivor’ Castoff Joe’s Q&A

CBS Local – After a stunning double-elimination episode, he man almost always looking for a hidden immunity idol, Joe Mena, is now the fourth member of the jury ‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers v. Hustlers.’ Here’s his unique perspective (as told by CBS Local’s Adam Bloom and Samantha Bennet) on how he was portrayed on the show and who his game play most emulates.

AB: After watching the show, what was your feelings now knowing that Ben was playing this double agent?

J: Kudos to him for playing double agent. I don’t think that would have changed anything with the outcome. I was completely surprised with him playing double agent. I was more surprised that Lauren, Ashley and Devin would allow anybody to play double agent – something I would never allow or think anyone would allow someone to do. It goes along with the theme of the season which is mistake after mistake so kudos to Ben for playing the role.

AB: It is risky because he could have told them misinformation – you never know that he could be trusted.

J: Yeah, especially someone as dangerous as Ben – you’re just handing him more ammo. It’s good for Ben but I don’t think that benefits the three at all. I don’t see how they would benefit from that but let’s see how that plays out.

SB: The big thing with you playing on “Survivor” was always looking for an idol – were you looking for an idol before the last immunity challenge as well?

J: Where Ben found the clue – I would [go to the bathroom] there every single day and I would look in that area every day. That was my go-to spot and kudos to Ben for finding that clue because I never found it and I would go there literally everyday. I would look for coconuts and that’s where the name coconuts came up. Mike and I would go around looking for coconuts and we would knock them from the tree. So once again – we missed a base on a tree. I would look for idols pretty often but I never had an hour to look – it would be like a minute or two. They definitely had the eyes on me. I’m not sure how previous players were able to look for idols for hours because no one was allowed to look for more than maybe five minutes at a time.

AB: You mentioned coconuts – that was a really fun part of the show. You and Mike need to tour the country as the coconuts group. Did you think that was actually going to be highlighted on the show? 

J: They had to highlight it! This went on for quite some time – it wasn’t just three days. Our bond was formed maybe after Desi and coconuts emerged as far as the name after Cole’s vote out. Our relationship was pretty dynamic – it was an odd combo but it really did work out. Mike is overall a good solid guy and he’s hilarious. I don’t think things serious and he doesn’t so we played off of that.

SB: Do you have any regrets about the way you may have been portrayed on the show? When you watch yourself – are you surprised?

J: I love it – I love my portrayal for so many reasons. I gave it my all – 120 percent. I’m imperfect. I make errors. I get angry at times. I think my portrayal was great because it shows different sides of the game. In the game currently – some people portray as if they’re angels and they’re not. I’m not concerned about my edit. My friends and family know who I am and if you look at the edit it’s like “Joe’s playing the game.” The rest of players respect me. They may not like me necessarily but they definitely respect me.

AB: Does your real live experience help you to determine if people were lying and if so, who would you say is the best liar out there?

J: I spent enough time with Devin. Devin, Mike and myself would always sleep in the same area so I had some really deep conversations with Devin – he would strategize a lot. Obviously I wasn’t a part of his strategy – he’s very open about it. He said, “At the end of the day, we’ll probably vote for you. You played a really good game. You’re strategic and playing one hundred percent.” So I knew Devin was playing this role but I knew he was playing a good game as well. So I think he convinced everyone else that he was dumb but I knew he wasn’t. Everyone lied. Chrissy lied about her age – we all knew she wasn’t 38 or 39 years old. Ryan lied about being a community college kid – we all knew something was up with that. I think we were all horrible liars. I lied about being a PO. I don’t think anyone picked up on that. I think horrible and great liars. I don’t think I can answer that. Ben maybe – he played a good role being the spy that he was. I had no idea but I knew he had a relationship with Lauren because of Yawa. I knew he had a relationship with Ashley from the Heroes.

SB: Which one of the players from “Survivor” do you think you modeled your game after or strategy or did you just play it as your own?

J: My strategy was to go in there and not have a strategy to be honest. But once you’re in the game – you have to figure it out. I absolutely wanted to look for idols like Tony. I definitely wanted to do that.  I went out there and played aggressive like Tony – I found the two idols and then I decided to piss everybody off and hopefully drag me to the end but that didn’t work in my favor at all.

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Levine: Alex Cobb Still The Big Fish Cubs Hope To Reel In

By Bruce Levine–

CHICAGO (CBS) — Like that of many franchises, the Cubs’ offseason moves are in a holding pattern. And like many teams, the Cubs want to get a head start on roster fortification before the Winter Meetings begin in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 10.

In the case of the Cubs, they’re zeroed in on adding starting pitching that they can lock down for three or four years. That’s been the goal of executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer for the last 18 months. They accomplished some of that heavy lifting by trading for left-hander Jose Quintana in July. Now, the focus is on replacing the innings and steady presence of Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, who have hit the open market.

Right-hander Alex Cobb, who has spent his entire big league career with the Rays, has been the primary target of the Cubs in free agency. Cobb, 30, went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 29 starts in 2017. He has also received plenty of interest from other clubs, including the Yankees, Orioles, Phillies and Blue Jays.

The Cubs would love to sign Cobb before the Winter Meetings, because doing so would give them even more leverage and comfort in their other dealings. The target for Cobb appears to be in the range of a four-year deal worth around $50 million. A four-year contract for Cobb may be viewed as quite the commitment for a pitcher who has only topped the 170-inning mark once in his career, but the supply-and-demand factor may be on his side, as he’s in the second tier of starting pitchers available after Arrieta, Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani.

Cobb had his biggest workload this past season, when he logged 179 1/3 innings. That came after he missed almost all of the 2016 season following Tommy John surgery in 2015.

The fact that the new Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey had Cobb as a student in Tampa Bay since his debut in 2011 should be a leg up for Chicago in the race for his services. On top of that, Joe Maddon was also Cobb’s manager for four seasons in Tampa.

So when it comes to communication and comfort for Cobb with his coaches, the Cubs check every box.

“I don’t hide the fact I have the utmost respect for Joe Maddon and what he did for me coming up as a player,” Cobb said a few weeks ago on MLB Network radio. “Not so much as a pitcher but as a professional athlete and a professional baseball player. It had to deal with the stresses that come with a big league lifestyle. There’s nobody better in the game to control and deal with people as he is.”

Money usually is the deciding factor in free agents choosing where to play, but the Cubs now also represent an ideal situation for veterans looking to win a championship and play in a great city. When outfielder Jason Heyward signed an eight-year, $184-million deal with the Cubs in December 2015, he turned down a bigger offer from the Cardinals.

“Jim is not only a good pitching coach but a really close friend of mine,” Cobb said of Hickey in the MLB Network interview.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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Teacher Who Stopped Student Shooter Speaks About Experience For The First Time

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Mattoon High School teacher who stopped a student gunman a few months ago was honored Thursday at the school for her heroic efforts.

Angela McQueen was on cafeteria duty on Sept. 20 when a male student started shooting, prompting her to spring into action.

RELATED: Student Shot In High School Cafeteria; Teacher Subdues Suspect

“In that moment you don’t really think, you just react,” McQueen said.

The 40-year-old math and gym teacher was able to subdue the gunman after he had shot one student. McQueen told her union what was going though her mind that day. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) released the interview on its Facebook page.

“To me it’s almost like the mama bear instinct. I mean I don’t have kids of my own right now, but it’s the instinct of, ‘You’re not going to do this to my kids,’” McQueen said. “These are still my kids — even though I don’t know every single kid in there. You’re not going to do this to my kids. You’re not going to do this at my school.”

State and local police were among those to honor McQueen for her quick thinking.

The injured student was initially hospitalized but has since been released and is now back at school.

The student shooter has been charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm.

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2niyjYc

Bill Raftery: Duke Can Be Scary Good With More Time

Ryan Mayer

College basketball season has hummed along through its first three weeks, in the background of the NFL playoff chase, the NBA season’s wild beginning and the college football season rumbling toward conclusion. Many of the familiar names remain at the top of the AP Top 25 poll, with Duke leading the pack, followed by Kansas, Michigan State, Villanova and Notre Dame.

The Blue Devils were voted the unanimous number one team in the country by voters this week, thanks in large part to the play of some very talented freshmen, in particular, forward Marvin Bagley III. Through nine games, Bagley is averaging 22.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, leading Duke to a perfect 9-0 record. To better understand what makes Bagley and Duke so good, we caught up with legendary CBS Sports college basketball analyst Bill Raftery to get his thoughts. In addition, Bill broke down what he’s seen from the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines, the two teams he’ll cover this week when they meet in the first game of the year on CBS.

CBS Local Sports: About three weeks into the season, what has stood out to you so far?

Bill Raftery: How scary Duke can be. I know they’ve had a close call here or there, but when these kids get some more game action and the competition level picks up — the size they have, the speed, the quickness — they’re going to be scary. You can always find flaws. They may not be as good of a three-point-shooting team as they were in the past, but they certainly make up for that with the talent that they have up front.

Kansas too, every year they seem to have a star or two. Having Graham back, and if he gets Preston back, the kid who’s sitting out, they’re going to be a factor. He’s (Bill Self) limited in terms of bench strength and things of that nature, but they’re a solid program. Self obviously is an outstanding coach, and they’ve had their way in that conference for 13 straight years. With the addition of Newman to their backcourt, that’s another team that is scary.

CBS Local Sports: You mention Bagley, what allowed him to seemingly make the transition to college so smoothly prior to his injury?

Bill Raftery: It’s just amazing, obviously the talent, but the poise that he has for a guy that size. He’s young too, because he re-classified to get into this year’s class. He doesn’t hurry into things, he started to make some free throws now, he’s mobile. He can just be such a dominant force.

CBS Local Sports: Outside of Bagley, which players have stood out to you the most so far?

Bill Raftery: A lot of the teams that I’ve done games for, I’ve noticed some of their guys the most, obviously. Miles Bridges can just be an incredible force. They (Michigan State) also have Nick Ward on that team [who] had a big game recently.

Ethan Happ, from Wisconsin, is just a steadying influence on his team. He’s a kid who, sort of, plays old, and he really understands positioning and how to score. Jordan Murphy, at Minnesota, is another kid who had a huge game when I watched him. Bonzie Colson, at Notre Dame, I was very impressed with him. And then USC, I saw some of their practice and I loved Bennie Boatwright.

CBS Local Sports: You mentioned two guys there who are a bit of a rarity in college basketball these days in Ethan Happ and Bonzie Colson. Both have been with their programs for four years (Colson a senior, Happ a red-shirt junior). What have you seen from their development that has allowed them to grow into the players they are now? 

Bill Raftery: What’s happened with them is that they’ve been around the program and competed at such a high level on a consistent basis that, you get to improve, because you’re generally competing against guys who are a little bigger or a little quicker than you. For Bonzie, most opponents are a little bigger, and Happ, most guys are a little quicker. You just learn how to play.

Bonzie’s been able to expand his game a little bit and get outside and do some damage from the perimeter now. He’s got a “big” game, and he’s exasperating around the rim as well.

Playing a couple of years, if you’ve got talent, it brings the best out of you. You sort of mature under the gun. You understand scouting reports and how important they are. They all add up to you getting better and having a little more understanding of what the coaches want and also what you can get away with.

I didn’t mention Purdue before, but I’m also a big Vince Edwards fan. He’s another kid who’s been there forever. When you say “forever” now, that’s a senior. That’s another kid who really has the goods and is mature.

CBS Local Sports: College basketball on CBS starts Saturday with Indiana taking on Michigan. [It’s the] first year for Archie Miller with the Hoosiers. What’s your impression early in his tenure with the Hoosiers?

Bill Raftery: If Archie wasn’t patient, he’s going to learn how to be patient. I saw them early in the year against Seton Hall, and then I saw them in that Indiana State game that they lost at home, and it was a real struggle for them. He has some talent, but the problem is, these older guys have to play well in order for these other guys to get to the point where they can. Devonte Green is a very talented kid who’s going to be a great contributor as the year goes on. But (Robert) Johnson and (Josh) Newkirk have to play well to help him. Same thing with (Aljami) Durham, who’s a really fine player.

They also started the year without Collin Hartman, who will, at least, step in down the road to make threes. Interestingly enough, the first shot he took when he came back the other night was a three. Those guys have to play well. Davis and Morgan up front have to play well to let the other guys grow. Justin Smith’s a nice-looking prospect also. He (Archie Miller) has really good young kids, but they have to play well every night, and we know that’s not going to happen, so the other guys really have to be steady for him.

CBS Local Sports: On the other side, you have Michigan, John Beilein always puts together solid teams in Ann Arbor. What’s stood out to you about this year’s team?

Bill Raftery: Well, you have to go with Mo, and I’m not talking about sporting goods. (Laughing) Moritz is a bigtime performer who looked at the draft but decided he wasn’t quite ready for it. Along with him, they have some guys who have played before, like Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. He’s a kid who is certainly going to help the cause here, because he’s a great driver, pretty good offensive rebounder, and he’s played a lot of big games. Duncan Robinson is another kid who looks like he’s mixing it up a little bit and not just settling for the three. They have some really outstanding kids. Then, you throw in Matthews, the kid from Kentucky, who’s had some real terrific games. He’s been a great addition to this team.

Just like Beilein’s teams every year, they’re going to get better as this year goes on. He’s playing a lot of kids right now. (Jaaron) Simmons and (Isaiah) Livers, two young kids, are going to get an opportunity to go and play, but they’re not going to be under the gun, because they have other people to help them. They’re going to get better. That’s one of those teams that is a tournament team, it’s just a matter of how much they improve over the course of the year.

CBS Local Sports: Where do these two teams stack up among the Big Ten contenders this season?

Bill Raftery: Michigan State, Purdue, and Minnesota are sort of the foundation this year for the conference, and then Michigan could be in that next tier somewhere. Indiana will be a little bit lower than that, because they just don’t — it’s a new system, it’s a new approach that’s different from what they’re accustomed to. Michigan has more defining pieces that are back too, which enables their younger guys to grow quicker.

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