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USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chicago Bears to honor Virginia McCaskey, Steve McMichael in 2025
The Chicago Bears will NOT be wearing alternate or throwback uniforms this they are remembering Virginia McCaskey throughout the entire season with this patch. #Bears The Chicago Bears will honor matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael with jersey patches during the 2025 season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Bears chairman George McCaskey told the Sun-Times that the Bears will wear a football-shaped patch with Virginia McCaskey's initials inside for every game this season, starting with next week's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. Virginia McCaskey passed away on Feb. 6 at the age of 102. The patch will be placed on player's jerseys above their hearts. The football is orange with navy stitches and a white outline. The navy 'M' is outlined in white and larger than the other two letters — V to the player's right, and H, for Halas, to the left. It's a nod to Virginia's father, George S. Halas, who died on Oct. 31, 1983. The Bears wore a similar patch for the remainder of the season, and it soon became permanent with the "GSH" on the left jersey sleeve which remains to this day. 'We thought it'd be appropriate to have a patch that mirrored her dad's after he passed away,' McCaskey told the Sun-Times. 'It came out great. We like the look of it.' The Bears also will not be wearing an alternate or throwback uniform this season as they remember Virginia McCaskey. The Bears will also honor McMichael, who passed away in April after a battle with ALS, with a decal on the back of their helmets. It will feature a navy football outlined in orange with white laces and his No. 76 in the middle. That same logo will be featured on Soldier Field grass on game day. McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2024, less than a year before his death. The patch The Bears have found a way to honor two important figures in their storied history who passed away this season, and fans will get their first glimpse on Aug. 10 when Chicago hosts the Dolphins for their first preseason game.
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Did you read your horoscope today?
Good Monday morning, Georgia Nicols, what have you got to say about me? 'Because the moon is sitting in the sign opposite yours, you'll have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. This is no big deal. It simply means you have to make an effort to be accommodating and cooperative. Smile.' Well, seems OK, but Magi Helena, what about you? 'Morning doubts should fade, replaced by a surge of optimism and confidence. Use this momentum for presentations to decision-makers.' These two women are astrologers who write daily columns for, respectively, the Sun-Times and Tribune. Helena comes to you via the Tribune Content Agency, which syndicates her columns to many papers and touts her as 'An astrology pioneer (and) author of two books: 'Build Your Dream Life,' and 'How To Sing the Uni-Verse,' and is currently at work on her third book, 'Astro-Goddesses.'' Newspaper horoscopes are read by more people than you might imagine, millions of you. Even as the number of newspapers has diminished, horoscopes remain a popular offering, much like such non-news items as games, crosswords and comics. There are also, it should come as no surprise, dozens of magazines and websites in the horoscope and astrology business. Horoscopes are based on the ancient practice of astrology, positing that information about human affairs and Earthly events may be discerned by studying the positions of celestial objects. This study of celestial bodies and their alignment with human behavior has intrigued civilizations for centuries. Based on that, horoscopes outline opportunities and challenges one may face based on one's zodiac sign, which is determined by one's date of birth. I'm a Virgo, and one website tells me that means, among many things, I am loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical, shy and overly critical of myself and others, and that I like animals and books. I can live with that. Though astrology has ancient roots, horoscopes did not enter wide public consciousness until about 100 years ago. Some experts point to a 1916 horoscope of then-President Woodrow Wilson that appeared in the Boston Sunday Post for sparking the popularity. Soon, daily horoscopes began to appear in papers across the country, offering information to people born on a specific day, often with additional reading directed toward the general public. Many other experts credit the widespread popularity to a man named R.H. Naylor, a London astrologer who wrote a 1930 column headlined 'What the Stars Foretell for the New Princess' in London's Sunday Express for the newborn Princess Margaret's birth horoscope. He soon began writing a recurring feature called 'What the Stars Foretell.' In the United States, a daily horoscope began running in the Washington Post in the 1920s and into the 1940s. During those decades of deprivation and war, newspaper horoscopes offered for many some words of hope. Hundreds of newspapers ran daily columns and so did many women's magazines. As the newspaper industry has been battered over the last decades, still horoscopes remain popular, and polls consistently show that. A 2024 report by the Pew Research Center showed that younger adults, in particular younger women, are more likely to consult astrology or horoscopes. Some 43% of women and 20% of men ages 18 to 49 say they believe in astrology, compared with 27% of women and 16% of men ages 50 and older. It's possible that has got something to do with the proliferation of social media platforms, some of which have created communities of individuals interested in discussing astrological topics. No question, horoscopes are here to stay. As to why, theories abound. Here are some: that reading horoscopes are useful for meditating on your day; that they appear to be so personal that it is as if someone is talking directly to a reader about their life; they allow people a moment of self-reflection; act as a kind of mirror, reflecting back to readers their hopes, wishes and fears; engaging with daily horoscopes can become a source of inspiration, fostering greater awareness and proactive strategies for navigating the complexities of daily life. I have a friend who tells me he started consulting horoscopes — he's a Cancer — when sports gambling was legalized in Illinois. My attitude? It's his money. To me, horoscopes seem pretty harmless. Still, there have always been skeptics. When it was learned that then first lady Nancy Reagan and her astrologer helped shape her husband's schedule based on the location of various planets and constellations, a Tribune editorial at the time described her reliance on astrology as an 'ignorant superstition.' Still, each day in the paper, there was a syndicated horoscope column. And it remains to this day. So, yesterday I read what Georgia Nicols and Magi Helena had to say. I may do that again this morning, but after that I'll stick with another person. He wasn't an astrologer, and I'm sure he had no idea what a horoscope was. But he had this to say, 'The fault … is not in our stars, but in ourselves.' William Shakespeare was his name. He was born in April 1564, precise date uncertain, which means he could have been an Aries or a Taurus, for what that's worth.
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Family left broken after mother allegedly killed her 4-year-old son in Logan Square during an emotional collapse: ‘I know she loved him'
Wendy Tolbert deeply loved her three children and dedicated her life to them, with dreams for their future, said her ex-husband, Dion Wallace, the father of the children. 'I loved her. I still do. And I know she loved them. … I know she loved him,' Wallace, 50, told the Tribune, struggling to continue the interview. Wallace was talking about his 4-year-old son, Jordan Wallace, whom, according to prosecutors, Tolbert stabbed more than 36 times, killing him on Independence Day morning. The mother also stabbed her two older children before setting their Logan Square home on fire, according to Chicago police. The mother attacked her children because she believed they were 'possessed by the devil,' according to Cook County prosecutors. For Wallace, the surviving children and the rest of their family, the pain is still raw, the grief is strong and the reality difficult to comprehend. Tolbert, he said, had never been abusive toward the children despite dealing with perhaps a deteriorating mental condition. 'That was not her,' Wallace said. Though he has not spoken to Tolbert, as he arranges the funeral for his 4-year-old, he prays for her because he knows, he said, that she is not OK. 'It hurts my heart that not only is my son gone, but his mom destroyed herself in the making,' Wallace said. 'And then I got these other two children that (are) traumatized. If something or whatever they (prosecutors) do to Wendy, it is going to be another painful situation.' Tolbert, 45, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson and other felonies in the July 4 attack that killed Jordan and injured her two other children. A Cook County judge on Sunday ordered Tolbert detained pending trial. In a statement, the Cook County public defender's office said the case is still in the 'earliest stage of a complex and lengthy legal process.' It noted that the allegations by police and prosecutors have not yet been proven. According to a health care order filed in court, Tolbert reported that she suffers from schizophrenia and cancer. 'This is a dream. This is not real,' she said as she held her hands over her ears and sobbed during the hearing, according to a Sun-Times report. Now both in stable condition, the 10-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl are left to face the heaviness of the aftermath of the attack and a trial against their mother as they try to comprehend the sudden attack. Tolbert's 10-year-old son was on a couch playing video games while his 4-year-old brother was asleep next to him at their home in the 3600 block of West Palmer Street in the Logan Square neighborhood, according to prosecutors. Their 13-year-old sister was in her bedroom. The children were alone with their mother. The two boys are Wallace's biological children. And though Wallace helped to raise the 13-year-old girl until the couple's recent divorce, she is now under her biological father's care. The mother suddenly approached the children coming out of the kitchen and stabbed the 10-year-old in his arm as he tried to push her off, prosecutors said. The boy then got up and ran to the basement. His little brother, who had woken up, tried to follow him. Tolbert then kicked the younger boy, causing him to fall down the stairs, prosecutors alleged. She then stabbed Jordan 36 times in the face, chest and back, according to the charges. Meanwhile, the 10-year-old then ran into his room and spoke with his sister, who was in a different room, through the wall, hatching a plan to escape. The girl called 911, prosecutors said, and reported that 'her mother was trying to kill her.' As their mother banged on her bedroom door, prosecutors said, the two older children made a plan to open their doors at the same time and fight back. Tolbert then stabbed the girl multiple times, leaving her severely wounded, according to Wallace. 'My son said it came as a complete surprise. Her face was not the same. He couldn't comprehend what was coming out of her mouth calling them devils,' Wallace said, recounting what he said his son, now under his care, shared with him. Chicago police officers arrived at the apartment around 9:20 a.m., according to prosecutors, and heard the 10-year-old call out from a window. Tolbert stepped outside carrying the knife as well as a paper towel that was on fire, according to prosecutors. Smoke then started coming from the apartment as police arrested Tolbert. Within minutes, the building was engulfed in flames. Officers had to break several windows to get into the apartment, where they found Jordan and the girl unresponsive. All three kids were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Jordan was pronounced dead. Upon arriving at the hospital, Wallace asked to see his children. He was devastated, he said, after seeing Jordan's body lifeless and deeply wounded. Tolbert admitted to officers that she attacked her children because she believed they were possessed by the devil, prosecutors said. 'I couldn't believe it,' Wallace said. He was crying hysterically, but amid the chaos, he had to find strength and serenity because his other two children needed him, he recalled. When he was finally able to hug his 10-year-old boy, there was some brief relief. 'At least I have him and he has me, but we have a long way to go to move forward,' he said. Although Wallace no longer lived with the children and their mother, he visited the children regularly. His two biological boys with Tolbert were his inspiration to progress his life after a tumultuous youth and relationship with Tolbert. Though they had a rocky ending, Wallace loved Tolbert, he said. The couple were married in 2017 but had been together several years before that. In June of this year, they finalized their divorce. 'I married Wendy because I love Wendy, and Wendy was the nicest woman I ever had. She was so caring,' Wallace said. Tolbert, he said, was a caring and loving mother. Sometimes, even overprotective, where she wouldn't let their children sleep over at friends' or family's homes. Like any other mother, she would scold or yell at the children from time to time, but nothing ever beyond that, Wallace said. 'Wendy is loved. Wendy is loved outside of this situation,' Wallace added. In the many years that Wallace spent by her side, Tolbert showed no signs of a troubled mental state. However, he recalls the arguments, anger and frustration in their relationship that could have been a sign of an unstable mental state. Still, nothing could have predicted such a serious mental illness that could have caused the tragedy. 'I just wish it was something that we can try to fix, her brain, you know. But maybe she can't, you know, I don't know. I just know that the system is not forgiving of this type of situation,' Wallace said. Wallace said the two had made a plan to co-parent though he had agreed to give her full custody until he felt more comfortable sharing. Tolbert agreed, he said. 'Never did or could I have ever imagined them being in any danger, let alone this type of danger,' he said. Jordan was Wallace's youngest son. A portrait of the little boy smirking with his hands crossed and wearing short braids was his Facebook profile even before the tragedy. It reflects the boy's attitude, Wallace said — one that he will never experience again. After the divorce, losing a job and now living with his parents, Wallace found motivation from his sons to start over, he said. Jordan was a happy boy. He loved to race with his father, mimicking how fast Hot Wheels cars would go. 'He was fast,' Wallace recalled with a smile. 'He would say he couldn't wait to get bigger.' But Wallace could. He wanted to have more time with his baby to give him everything he couldn't give his older sons, who perhaps got a different version of him, he said. Jordan was so special, caring and smart, 'to the point where I felt like he was reincarnated from somewhere,' Wallace said. The boy could often sense when someone raised their voice and asked them nicely to quiet down, or he would urge them to stop arguing and calm down. 'If my head was down, he'll come and pick my head up and want to look at my eyes, you know, because he was concerned about me,' Wallace said. 'He was so loving that he taught me how to love. And because of him, you know, I feel like I'm gonna be a better man because he was a blessing.' His little Jordan, Wallace said, was special. 'I just didn't know he was so special that he would only get to be here for four years,' he said. As Wallace arranges the funeral for his boy, he is also looking for a home and a way to handle medical expenses. The fire destroyed everything inside their home. The support from family, friends and community has given Wallace and their family strength, he said. A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the burial services and other expenses. Despite all the pain and frustration, Wallace hopes that one day, 'we can try to be more compassionate about mental health issues and be more aware about the signs and symbols of this.' It could have saved his son's life.
Politico
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Crime cools, politics heats up
Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Reminding myself it's a workday not a lazy day of summer. TOP TALKER For Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Fourth of July weekend brought more than fireworks — it brought a rare political gift: a noticeable drop in gun violence. Over the four-day holiday, 44 people were shot, seven fatally, reports WGN 9. The numbers are sobering, especially given the River North shooting that happened ahead of the weekend. The holiday crime stats are a big improvement over 2024, when 100 people were shot and 19 were killed, and over 2023 when 73 were shot, 11 fatally. It's been six years, in fact, since the numbers were this low, according to the Sun-Times. The decline in violence follows a post-pandemic trend across the country, and Johnson, a first-term mayor, is heralding the data wherever he goes. Getting props: Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling's efforts at deploying officers to hotspots like the beaches, may have helped, as well as extending the hours of outreach workers to 3 a.m. It's hard to say one tactic made the difference, but the holiday outcomes suggest something is working. Public safety remains a political third rail. Data doesn't always move voters. It's perceptions that matter. The tightrope. Johnson can say, as he did recently, that 'numbers don't lie.' But they don't always persuade, either. Ask a Chicagoan how they feel about crime, and you won't get a spreadsheet. You'll get a gut check based on headlines, social media and personal experience. News of one shooting can outweigh a dozen positive data points. Watch for Johnson's mayoral opponents in 2027 to focus on anecdotal shootings instead of the nuances of data. They'll talk about the River North mass shooting that preceded the weekend, where four people were killed. They'll zero in on fear, not figures. And they'll have help: Paid media remains a potent tool in shaping public opinion. Campaign ads don't show charts — they show crime scenes. THE BUZZ CROWDED HOUSE: State Sen. Mike Simmons is launching his campaign today in the 9th Congressional District for the seat now held by retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, reports the Tribune's Olivia Olander. 'I'm running because the communities in the 9th District have raised me, and they're struggling,' Simmons told Olivia. 'It's one of the most diverse areas in the nation, and it is becoming unaffordable for too many.' Some background: Simmons, the first openly gay member of the state Senate, isn't up for reelection until 2028, so he could keep the Senate seat if he doesn't win in the congressional race. He joins a crowded field of Democrats vying for the seat that includes Chicago's North Side and nearby suburbs. Democratic candidates include fellow state Sen. Laura Fine, state Rep. Hoan Huynh, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala, civil rights attorney Howard Rosenblum, progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh, community organizer and former Schakowsky aide Miracle Jenkins, high school math teacher David Abrevaya, Evanston resident Bethany Johnson, environmental health and safety professional Justin Ford and homeless advocate Lauren Million. Also in: Democratic Committeeman Bruce Leon has signed his paperwork to run but won't officially launch until later this month. Republicans Mark Su and Rocio Cleveland are also running for the seat in the Democratic-drawn district. If you are Laura Fine, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON At City Hall at 10 a.m. to take questions from reporters Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — Illinois Senate President Don Harmon appeals potential $9.8M fine for improperly accepting campaign cash: 'Harmon contributed $100,001 to his own campaign in January 2023. It was precisely one dollar over the contribution limit threshold that allowed him or anyone else running for his Senate seat to accept unlimited funds for that race. In campaign paperwork, Harmon indicated he thought the move allowed him to collect unlimited cash through the November 2024 election cycle. But State Board of Elections officials informed him that the loophole would only be open through the March 2024 primary,' by the Tribune's Dan Petrella. — What Christian Mitchell brings to Gov. JB Pritzker's ticket: 'We think about the state the same way,' he told Capitol News' Ben Szalinski. — Timnetra Burruss, who's running for Cook County assessor against incumbent Fritz Kaegi, just received $50,000 from state Sen. Napoleon Harris III, according to the State Board of Elections. Burruss is chief deputy commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review. She and Kaegi are both Democrats. — Patricia Joan 'Trish' Murphy, a Worth Township supervisor and president of the Illinois Community College Trustees Board Association, has filed paperwork to run for Cook County commissioner in the 6th District. Murphy, a Democratic committee person, will run in the primary for the seat now held by Democratic Commissioner Donna Miller (who's considering a run for Congress). — Paula Deacon Garcia, a DuPage County Board member, announced her campaign for DuPage County clerk Monday. Deacon Garcia will challenge incumbent Jean Kaczmarek in the Democratic primary for the office in March. THE STATEWIDES — Nuclear plant deal sets stage for AI billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg to reshape Illinois energy policy: 'Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to take over subsidies that Illinois ratepayers have been providing to a nuclear power station in central Illinois since 2017. The move could be the first step in a Silicon Valley bailout of nuclear power stations that supply half the electricity generated in Illinois,' by the Tribune's John Lippert. — Local officials trying to stop ICE agents from hiding behind masks: 'Seven Illinois representatives co-sponsored a bill that would ban immigration agents from wearing masks. In Chicago, police district council members want the city to enforce 'identification standards' for law enforcement,' by the Block Club's Francia Garcia Hernandez. — Illinois nonprofits worry about the ripple effect of Trump's megabill, by Fox 32's Paris Schutz — Illinois-based American Academy of Pediatrics sues Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine changes, by the Tribune's Lisa Schencker — DAY IN COURT: Feds want nearly 6 years for former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, by the Sun-Times' Jon Seidel ILLINOIS' POPE — A Pope Leo bus tour is coming to Chicago, showing off the new pope's hometown roots, by Gerrish Lopez for TimeOut Chicago CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson open to keeping NASCAR in Chicago — after exploring date change, top aide says: 'Senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee acknowledged that there are 'some real limitations on moving the date' based on NASCAR's overall schedule and 'some of the local events in Chicago in the same footprint,'' by the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — Congressman Jesús 'Chuy' García (IL-04) appeared before the Chicago City Council's Committee on Workforce Development to deliver testimony against the Trump administration's attempt to shut down Job Corps programs nationwide — including the Paul Simon Job Corps Center, located in his district. — Park District employees seriously injured lighting fireworks in Humboldt Park during cleanup, by the Block Club's Ariel Parrella-Aureli — A national view | How Chicago became a fiscal mess: Lawmakers passed a pension boost despite the city's 'huge current debt,' via an editorial in The Wall Street Journal COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Jeff Tobolski's 'web of corruption' deserves 5½ years in prison, feds say: 'The former mayor of McCook admitted in 2020 that he shook down a restaurant owner and engaged in other extortion and bribery schemes,' by the Sun-Times' Jon Seidel. — Three-story sporting, dining and entertainment venue coming to St. Charles, by Shaw Local's David Petesch — Glen Ellyn police: Teen crowd forces Sunset Pool to close early, via the Daily Herald's TAKING NAMES — Tony Barracca has been elected president of the board of the Illinois Production Alliance, which lobbies for the film and television industries. Michael Scott Jr. is vice president. In their day jobs, Barracca is business manager and secretary-treasurer of IATSE Studio Mechanics Local 476, and Scott is director of industry and community affairs at Cinespace. Also joining the alliance's board are Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter and Manhattan Beach Studios VP Brett Burns. Reader Digest We asked what you'd call Congress if it was a reality show. Jimmy Dean, the former mayor of Johnston City: 'Jokers Wild' or 'Show Me the Money.' Matthew Beaudet: 'The Unreal World' or 'Lost.' John Dempsey: 'Race to the Bottom.' Charles Keller: ''Million Dollar Secret.' Watch as contestants explain their multi-million dollar personal wealth on a congressman's salary.' Terry Bibo Knight: 'Profiles Without Courage.' Gregory Koeppen: 'Keeping Up with the Constituent' or 'The Real House Members of Capitol Hill.' Joseph Monack: ''Big House, Little Johnson,' followed by 'Thune's Room of Doom.'' Joan Pederson: 'The Puppet Show.' Tim Steil: 'Eight (years) Is Enough.' John Straus: 'Trump's Inferno.' Timothy Thomas: 'With a nod to Joseph de Maistre's famous quote, 'The Government We Deserve.'' NEXT QUESTION: If you could create your own new political party, what would you call it? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Casten, Garcia decry benching of EPA employees as political payback by GOP: The workers were put on leave by Administrator Lee Zeldin last week 'after signing a letter of dissent,' by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Climate change makes deadly floods more likely — but Washington is responding with cuts, by POLITICO's Zack Colman, Annie Snider and James Bikales — Democrats retreat on climate: 'It's one of the more disappointing turnabouts,' by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White and Camille von Kaenel — How Elon Musk's third party gamble could succeed, by POLITICO's Alexander Burns — Game of chicken: Eric Adams, Cuomo want each other out of NYC mayoral race, by POLITICO's Joe Anuta and Amira McKee EVENTS — Aug. 16: Congressman Danny Davis hosts his annual Back to School picnic and parade. Details here TRIVIA MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Steve Sheffey for correctly answering that Abner Mikva was the former Chicago alderman who battled with Mayor Richard J. Daley before running for Congress. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the Illinois governor who vetoed a bill requiring cats to wear leashes outdoors? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former state Rep. Helen Satterthwaite, former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, Intersect Illinois Communications VP Amanda Vinicky, Illinois House Dems' Executive Director TaQuoya McConnico, Cubs EVP Michael Lufrano, businessman and political fundraiser Raj Fernando, Cook County Deputy Assessor Kelwin Harris, Abelin Strategies President Hector Villagrana, former SEIU Healthcare President Keith Kelleher, SEIU Healthcare government relations exec Alex Paterakos-Figueroa, Zephyr Government Strategies Principal Michael Cassidy, Democratic political consultant Steve Sheffey, Razorfish Senior VP Jerry Lawrence, Mill communications exec Molly Spaeth, WBEZ political reporter Dave McKinney and Wall Street Journal reporter Doug Belkin -30-
Axios
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Monica celebrates 40 years in journalism
Forty years ago this month, I started my first journalism job as a copy clerk at the Sun-Times. Full disclosure: My mom was dating Roger Ebert at the time, and I got the gig entirely through clout. Why it matters: The milestone gives me a chance to reflect on changes in the biz and thank my lucky stars I'm still in it. The tech: My job was to take written phone messages, cart up the afternoon editions and distribute mail to the features department — duties and a department that no longer exists. Trump effect: In 2004, the Sun-Times building at 401 N. Wabash was demolished to make way for Trump Tower, where many staffers believed the newsroom would return until the deal was nixed. Cross street rivals: Despite the competition between the Sun-Times and Tribune (where I would report from 1996-2013), reporters would regularly commiserate over drinks in neutral territory downstairs at the Billy Goat Tavern. Today, both papers have decamped for cheaper, less prominent office space. The latest: One recent Tribune relocation spot — Freedom Center on West Grand — is now slated to become a giant haunted house. Enough said. The one constant: My favorite lunch as a teenage (sort of) vegetarian in 1985 became a Billy Goat cheeseburger, minus the patty and loaded with pickles, onions, ketchup and mustard. Forty years later, I assembled the same burger in the still charmingly grimy tavern and zinged immediately back to the summer of 1985.
