Good morning, Chicago.
Aug. 5, 1974. It was the seventh-inning stretch at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Alex Stein knew this was his chance. He ran out to his car and grabbed his whippet, Ashley, who was waiting patiently inside. Together, they hurried to the stands.
Leash in hand, Stein waited until the timing was just right. Then — go time. He launched a frisbee towards the field. Ashley followed, dashing over the wall separating fans from players. Soon, Stein was on the field too.
For eight minutes, the show continued. Stein threw and threw, while Ashley caught, twisted and leapt to the sound of a cheering crowd. Stein ultimately was arrested for the rogue display, but the deed was done. The sport of canine frisbee was born.
50 years later, the tradition continues in Naperville.
This weekend, the Ashley Whippet World K-9 Frisbee Championship is again taking over the city’s Nike Sports Complex. The competition, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will have teams of people and their dogs testing their frisbee prowess through a variety of events.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Kamala Harris defends shifting from some liberal positions in first interview of presidential campaign
Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday defended shifting away from some of her more liberal positions in her first major television interview of her presidential campaign, but insisted her “values have not changed” even as she is “seeking consensus.”
Boar’s Head plant linked to deadly outbreak broke food safety rules dozens of times, records show
A Boar’s Head deli meat plant tied to a deadly food poisoning outbreak repeatedly violated federal regulations, including instances of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment, newly released records show.
First Chicago Board of Education meeting of the new school year reflects tension over district leadership
At its monthly meeting on Thursday, the Chicago Board of Education listened as union leaders and parents aired their concerns for the new school year.
But as the Aug. 29 meeting showed, the summer did not yield consensus among the district, the teachers union and advocates on solutions to a number of challenges plaguing Chicago Public Schools.
Potential testimony in Madigan case is previewed as attorneys start wrangling over what a jury might hear
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was back in a federal courtroom Thursday to hear proposed expert testimony from a former Chicago alderman about the structure and importance of political operations like the one Madigan helmed during his record run in the state legislature.
Madigan’s attorneys asked a judge to bar Dick Simpson, a political science professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago who served as 44th Ward alderman in the 1970s, saying his opinions are not based on any scientific methodology and that he has a long history of bias against Madigan and the regular Democratic Party.
Tiffany Henyard says Thornton Township trustees spending caps harming residents
Supervisor Tiffany Henyard called a special Thornton Township Board meeting in an effort to change recent ordinances that cap spending. But when none of the four township trustees showed up, Henyard railed against the measures, saying they prevent the township from providing services to children and older adults.
“You thought it was just a way to stop Tiffany Henyard,” the supervisor told about 20 people, many of whom left after about 10 minutes, when Henyard refused to respond to their questions. “But it was a way to basically stop the services here in Thornton Township.”
Kerry Wood
David Ward Retired Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife, Sarah, sold their Georgian Revival-style mansion in Winnetka for its $8.5 million asking price. (David Ward)
Retired Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood sells Winnetka mansion for $8.5M, making it that suburb’s highest-priced sale this year
Kerry Wood and his wife, Sarah, sold their six-bedroom, 11,250-square-foot Georgian Revival-style mansion in Winnetka for its $8.5 million asking price — making it that suburb’s highest-priced sale of the year.
Chicago White Sox swept again, suffer 104th loss — 2 shy of the franchise record — and fall to 4-33 in the 2nd half
Depending on your point of view, the White Sox are a historically bad team playing out the string or just a bad team that’s playing well despite all the losses piling up.
Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark duel for Rookie of the Year offers intriguing subplot for final Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever matchup
Since they joined the league in May, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have redefined expectations for the WNBA.
That much was easy to see with a single glance around Wintrust Arena in June when the rookies met in Chicago for the first time.
Sky ticket sales have more than doubled this year in reaction to the popularity of Reese and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso. And Friday’s fourth and final matchup against Clark and the Indiana Fever is expected to draw another sellout crowd with the second-highest average ticket price of the season.
Michael Jackson fans visit his childhood home in Gary to mark his birthday
The King of Pop grew up in Gary, and hundreds of fans visit the home to celebrate his birthday.
“Being here just has a different type of feeling,” said Jaylynne Williams, a Gary resident. “We have something so beautiful here. A legend came from here, and that just uplifts us and gives us hope that we’re worth something.”
Nainoa Langer
North Coast Music Festival headliners at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview include returning artist Illenium. (Nainoa Langer)
What to do in Chicago: Labor Day Parade, Jazz Fest and dueling EDM festivals
Chicago’s Labor Day parade tradition dates back to the 1880s. And for the second year, you can find it in the Pullman Historic District — followed by Eddie Fest, a festival named for United Steelworkers labor activist Edward “Oilcan” Sadlowski.
