CLTV Local News

CLTV SPORTS :60: Bears Get Their Ugly A$$ Kicked!

2009-11-08T23:37:44Z

By JERRY RILES Losing ugly. Better yet, it was an old fashion butt kicking. The Arizona Cardinals kicked the Bears all over their home field beating the so-called Monsters of the Midway 41-21, dropping them to 4-4 on the season. Defensive end Alex Brown, in his post game comments, said it’s not easy for him to put a loss like this behind him. Believe me it’s not easy for the Bear fans either. Brown stepped up by admitting that he needed to play a better game defensively. He collected 2-sacks and a forced fumble in the Bears fourth loss. Unfortunately, Brown and the Bears could not stop Kurt Warner and that Cards offense. Arizona moved the ball successfully producing an impressive 18 first downs against the home team in the first half. They were so good, the squad from out West converted all five of their third downs against the Bears defense. Warner threw five TDs on the day. It all started going downhill very early. Thanks to 3-time pro-bowler defensive tackle Tommy Harris. At the 13:42 mark in the first quarter, on just the fourth play of the game, Harris’ frustration level exceeded its limit. The defenseman punched Card’s right guard Deuce Lutui in the face as he lay on the turf of Soldier Field. The refs saw it and tossed him out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Bears were also hit with a 15-yard penalty. Talk about a lack of discipline. Talk about a stupid penalty. Does this come down to coaching? The game just started. How could a player in the eighth game of the season lose control on just the fourth play? Is Head Coach Lovie Smith to blame? Fans are calling for his firing. Should he be fired? Have the players given up on the coaching staff? It appears there’s no imagination on either side of the ball. Harris gets ejected. Charles Tillman is escorted off the field and into the tunnel after injuring his shoulder. He would be done for the day, and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer gets rattled as well. This Bears team appears to be going in the wrong direction. DOWN! Smith believes the Bears can fix the problems they have. That’s nice to know, but unfortunately, they won’t have much time to work on getting things righted. It’s a short week. Very short. They take on the 49ers in San Francisco on Thursday night. It’ll be a quick turn around for them for sure. The Bears have talked about executing a lot. Good luck. They couldn’t even do it against visiting Arizona at Soldier Field. And, the Cards did it without star receiver Anquan Boldin who is nursing an injury. Tight end Gregg Olsen feels the Bears can bounce back from the terrible defeat. The only problem is they’ll be taking on Mike Singletary’s Niners, and he won’t be feeling too sorry. Olsen would have three touchdowns on the day in a losing effort. QB Jay Cutler who found his tight end would finish the day 29 of 47 for 369 yards including the three strikes and an interception. Samauri Mike is very aware of this Bears team demeanor. Can Lovie’s team get back on track Thursday night? In Singletary’s words “Can’t do it.” They are riddled with injuries, have very limited talent, and lack depth at the safety position. It sure would be nice to have Mike Brown back there playing center field. And the scary thing is, the schedule only gets tougher. So if you thought the Bengals, Browns, and Cardinals games were ugly, just wait, there’s more to come. A .500 record might not be too bad by the end of December. Ugly, yes! (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: 27th Time Yanks Do It. What About The Cubs?

2009-11-05T06:28:14Z

By JERRY RILES The New York Yankees are the Champions of the World. They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the 2009 World Series for the 27th time in franchise history. Call it money, call it high priced talent, call it the greedy, but whatever the case, the boys in pinstripes made it happen again. 7-3 was the final from the new Yankee Stadium. Alex Rodriguez collects his first. Derek Jeter latches on to another. Johnny Damon picks up one with his second team. The Yankee magic continues in the Bronx. The goal and the mission was to win the entire thing after the Steinbrenner family invested and built a $1-billion modern day Yankee Stadium. They acquired a smart, disciplined, and intellectual manager in Joe Girardi. They sought out and convinced C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira to sign on with a team of stars and they all made it happen. Even pitcher Andy Pettitte, after all the steroid controversy, can finally smile up to the baseball gods and say thank you. Are the Yankees deserving of the championship? Did they simply pay for the darn thing? Do you hate New York? Maybe yes to all or some, maybe no to all or some. But one thing for sure the drought is finally over in the Big Apple. After nine years the Bronx-bombers once again bring home the World Series title and they win it in front of the hometown crowd. Even those fortunate enough to spend more than $1,000 for a seat per game during the regular season. How sweet it is. Even former White Sox nutty guy Nick Swisher gets a ring. 29 homers during the season and most of them on the road. What a great teammate and quite an acquisition by the organization. And son Hal the new GM of the team, was so elated after the victory, that he shouted out to daddy George Steinbrenner during the post game celebration who was watching from home, and said “Dad this one’s for you.” The Boss gets his wish. Another title! A-Rod finally had the opportunity to hoist the trophy as a World Series Champion after an incredible post-season performance including six homeruns while also being binged three times. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Yankees do it the right way. They pay, they play, they win. Hideki Matsui was named the game’s MVP after killing the Phils pitching, including Game 6 hurler Pedro Martinez. Godzilla belted in six runs in leading the Yanks to the 4-2 series victory over the defending champs. What a night in New York. Lady Liberty certainly is standing proud sitting in the Hudson River just outside the city that never sleeps. The captain Jeter once again held the trophy in the house that HE built, and super closer Mariano Rivera was so ecstatic that he predicted that he would return to play for the squad for another 5 more years. And just think, it all started in spring training. These guys just seem to play the game the right way, and when that happens, everyone can now see what the results are. The White Sox tasted that magic in 2005. Let’s hope the Cubs can share in the experience come 2010. The Ricketts, new owners of the organization, made a prediction after paying $850-million for the team, that there would be a World Series victory on the north side. The only question not answered was when. Hopefully, the new family will be able to tell their fans very, very soon, “This one’s for you.” Congrats to the 2009 World Series Champions. The New York Yankees. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: Can Bears Stop Former Mate Benson?

2009-10-20T02:30:50Z

By JERRY RILES Three turnovers, nine penalties, and a loss once again to the hosting Atlanta Falcons down in the Georgia Dome was not what Lovie Smith and his Chicago Bears were looking for, but it’s what they got. The Bears beat themselves 21-14 falling to the Falcons for the second straight year. Last year it was a Matt Ryan deep pass coupled with a Jason Elam game winning field goal. On Sunday night, it was a combination of coaching, poor execution and just bad judgment. Running back Matt Forte fumbled the ball twice inside the red zone with the Bears knocking on the door. That should not have happened. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner should have called a Jay Cutler dive at the one for the touchdown instead of handing to Forte. The running game wasn’t clicking based on the play selection. Did the Bears drop this contest because of the lack of creative play calling by Turner? Did Lovie and his coaching staff fumble the ball in game planning? Was it Cutler trying to do too much, or was the offensive line just bad? Smith admitted during the post game comments that the blame for the lost starts with him. He’s absolutely right. It starts with the top man. The coaching staff should’ve been prepared. Turner wasn’t. Cutler was indeed too cocky. When you try to thread the needle between three defenders down the middle of the field to get the ball to the tight-end, that’s simply being too cocky. Play smart. I’m not against taking chances, but do it intelligently. The play of the offensive line was not up to standard as well. Future Hall Of Famer Orlando Pace was called for a false start on fourth and one during the Bears last drive. Defensively, rookie middle linebacker Nick Roach, filling in for the injured Brian Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer, got brunt several times simply because he has very limited experience. Defensive coordinator Smith and sideline guy Urlacher should’ve assisted the Northwestern grad in recognizing some of the Falcons lineups and formations. They didn’t and Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzales hooked up for a 10 yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone. Now the Bears are tied for second in the NFC North with rival Green Bay. Both at 3-2 with Minnesota leading the division with a 6-0 slate. Next up, former teammate Cedric Benson and the Cincinnati Bengals in Ohio. Benson will be ready. He had a disappointing game against the Texans rushing for 44 yards on 16 carries. Let the games begin. It’s time to regroup fellas. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: Those Amazing Hawks

2009-10-13T20:57:57Z

By JERRY RILES Here come the Hawks. Man, here come the Hawks. What a tremendous performance by Coach Joel Quenneville’s bunch. The Blackhawks skated to a 6-5 come from behind victory over the Calgary Flames over at the United Center. The comeback, as you’ve heard by now, was for the record books. Trailing 5-zip in the first period, the sluggish boyz ripped off six unanswered goals in the next 45-minutes to knock off the Flames in front of a spirited UC crowd of 20,000. Brent Seabrook scored the game winner :26 into the overtime period. OVERTIME! This was the second time in two games the Hawks needed extra time to win. Saturday it took a club record nine-round shootout against Colorado to claim that amazing 4-3 victory off an Andrew Ladd goal. It would be the longest shootout in team history. Last night’s overwhelming win would be the Hawks biggest comeback in the team’s history as well. Some hockey experts around town believe the guys on skates have a better and more exciting game than the guys on the hardwood. What do you think? Back-to-back history making performances supports their argument. The Bulls are still trying to figure things out without their star player and second year head coach Vinny Del Negro. Derrick Rose has yet to lace them up this early preseason due to a bad wheel. If you ask me, both the NHL and the NBA are pretty good and exciting. Could they both improve…of course? Jonathan Toews believes if the Hawks stay the course and reach their short term goals throughout the season the bigger picture of advancing to the Stanley Cup will happen for sure. “To win our division or make the playoffs, even, is going to be a tough task,” the captain explained. “We have to not try to bite off more that what we can chew at any given time. If we keep everything short-term and worry about that, the long-term goals will take care of themselves.” With Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and the rest of the boyz it should make for a fun and exciting season. Don’t count the Bulls out either. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: Cabrera-Don't Blame It On The Alcohol Dude!

2009-10-07T00:58:42Z

By JERRY RILES Hey, Miguel Cabrera you can try to blame it on the alcohol as Jamie Foxx would say. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get off that easy. I don’t mind if you have a nice cold one or two after work with co-workers and/or friends, but to hang out with the team who’s chasing you in the division and attempting to help eliminate the Detroit Tigers from the playoffs, man that’s cold. To make matters worse, you get to the house at about 5am in the morning and began to get into it with your wife. If she’s upset with you for staying out all night long and then coming home intoxicated, the only thing you needed to do was man up. “I said I was sorry for what I did,” said Cabrera, who sat in front of his locker with a contrite look. That’s it? All this commotion as the team makes a playoff run and you can just say to them I’m sorry? I don’t think skipper Jim Leyland is going to accept that kind of apology sitting down. You guys have to play 163 games this season to get into the playoffs. Talk about selfish. Despite a 2-run blast off the end of your bat, the Tigers are going home and the Twins will face the New York Yankees in the first round of the ALDS. Talk about timing. You got caught with the three Ds. Drunk, Domestic, Defeat. What a tough week. I must commend your wife Rosangel. She did not put up with your crap. How dare you begin yelling and fighting with her after staying out all night with a White Sox player in a Birmingham (Detroit suburb) hotel? She had every right to scold and kick you out of the house. Now, you were the only two in the house, so I don’t know if she hit and attacked you or not, but police felt they had to remove you from the residence to prevent any further confrontation. I don’t condone hitting women. Just be a man and step away. I know in your state it must have been somewhat difficult. It was reported that Cabrera’s blood alcohol level registered a .26 later after being taken to the police station. Wow! Must have been pounding those tequila shots pretty heavily. And just think you had a game just a few hours later. The question remains, should Cabrera have been out at all, let alone until 5am on a game day? Should he have gotten into a verbal (and possibly physical) confrontation with his wife waking his 4-year old daughter? Should manager Jim Leyland have punished the superstar by benching him down the stretch and into the tie-breaking clash against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night? I guess when you’re the man and can play the game of baseball better than most players in the league you can get away with almost anything. Including getting filthy drunk and fighting with your wife instead of just going home at a decent hour and sleeping it off. Cabrera told his teammates and the media that it wouldn’t happen again. I hope for his sake that's remembered the next time he slams a few cold ones down. Thank goodness it wasn’t his wife who got slammed. Then again, I think maybe she was the one doing the slamming that early Saturday morning. You go girl! (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: The Cubs Are At It Again!

2009-10-05T21:56:43Z

By JERRY RILES Cubs fans said goodbye to another year of not reaching the ultimate goal. Another season of saying “wait ‘til next year”. The 101st time the franchise will look toward another season of trying to get that monkey off their backs. In one of his final press conferences of the season, Cub manager Lou Piniella told reporters that injuries were the main reason the Northsiders struggled in ‘09. It had nothing to do with a lack of production regarding pitching or hitting. So, I ask the question, why was hitting coach Von Joshua brought in to boost the team’s offense? He replaced Gerald Perry midway through the season in hopes of lighting a fire under a group of so called sluggers who could barely hit the side of a barn. The only real bright spot for the Cubs offensively was second baseman Ryan Theriot. At one point during the first half of the season, the little spark plug had cranked out something like four homers in a five game span. That all slowed down after a local writer simply asked the innocent question about rather or not The-riot was under the influence. The influence of possibly engaging in performance enhancing drugs. Of course Theriot isn’t engaging, we believe, but the newspaper article appeared to have some type of effect on him. He began to struggle at the plate along with the rest of his teammates. Joshua was supposed to change the hitting style of the Cubs, not work half a season. GM Jim Hendry fired Perry halfway into the season. The logic behind the move was that Joshua was better suited to work with the younger guys, like Theriot and others. “Basically I told him it wasn’t anything that I was upset with him,” Hendry explained. “He didn’t do anything wrong. But when you come from the system in the middle of year, if things don’t make significant differences, in improvement, then obviously in my opinion we need to do something different.” This sounds fishy to me. Why give him the job back in June then take it away from him in October? That’s basically three months of service. Now reports indicate that Joshua will go back down to AAA and former second baseman and current Peoria Chief skipper Ryne Sandberg may replace the former White Sox hitting coach. But why unload him at the end of the ‘09 campaign? Could this be the first shoe to drop because of the new ownership in the Ricketts family? Are the Ricketts preparing to elevate Ryno to the manager’s post after Sweet Lou is let go? My concern for Cubs fans is will the new owners make smart business decisions, or just happy fan moves? "Ryne has had a Hall of Fame career here as a player," Piniella said. "I'm not the one who is going to be hiring the next manager here, but certainly he'll be in the mix." Remember this family used to hang out in the bleachers back when number 23 was making magic back in 1984 along with his loveable teammates. Unfortunately, Steve Garvey and the San Diego Padres put an end to that. But I digress. For Cubs fans’ sake, let’s just hope this is the first move in the right direction for the struggling organization. Ryno replacing Joshua would be a great PR move. I just hope the Ricketts don’t become the Mark Cuban of baseball. Showering, taking batting practice, and yucking it up with the players because you own the team now. Instead, take a page from the Steinbrenner family and build a baseball dynasty like the New York Yankees. Don’t be too surprised if you see good ole Sarge, The Deer, Bobby Keith, and Jody-Jody Davis back in the pinstripes trying to bring back the glory days. All that will be missing is Van Halen’s Cub theme song “Jump” to start off the new regime. Here’s to you, Men in Blue! (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

Just Horse'n Around

2009-10-05T20:30:39Z

Driving down the bumpy streets of Cicero the last thing I expected to see was the majestic building and grounds of Hawthorne Race Course. My fellow CLTV producer Lindsey Nesselbush and I, along with two Executive Producers, Jeimmie Nevalga and Frava Burgess, were invited to watch CLTV anchor/reporter Monica Schneider act as the "celebrity guest announcer" for one of the horse races. I got a kick out of her being called a celebrity -- which I guess to the average person she is, but to me- her producer, she's just Monica (this must be how Angelina Jolie's assistant feels). Monica and Rhonda Upon our arrival we were greeted by Rhonda (Hawthorne's PR rep) and given a brief tour of part of the building and grounds. I loved all the old pictures that lined the walls of the hallways. Hawthorne has been up and running for about 100 years; the photos gave you insight to the race track's history and its effect on the surrounding community. Part of our tour included an underground area where the horses are taken after they complete their races. It was interesting to see how each horse is examined and rubbed down before it's led into an individual stall. Along the way, Monica was interviewed by Hawthorne TV announcer Katie. My favorite part, by far, was when she gave a shout-out to us producers...by letting all of the viewers know that we're all single (cue Beyonce's Single Ladies song). Little did Monica know -- that interview was not only being broadcast via the in-house channel at Hawthorne Racing, but it was also being streamed on-line to countries around the world! I have video of the camera-man panning to get a shot of Lindsey, Frava, and Jeimmie standing together. I was lucky enough to not be included in the shot, as I was working on taping my own video of the goings-on and taking pictures for this blog. We didn't bet on any horses -- though we did pick one during the second race named 'Weed of Wild Flowers' (we went with 'Weedy,' for short). It looked like Weedy was going to pull out a win -- zipping right out of the gate and staying in first place right up until ..the final stretch. That's when our horse apparently got winded and ended the race -in sixth place! Needless to say, we were not happy (Though secretly, I was, because I would have been upset had Weedy won and we didn't bet any dough). "Weedy" after ..losing The horses by the way are absolutely beautiful- we didn't actually get to touch any of them -- but here are some pictures of them from afar. After our horse failed to pull out the win, we went into the announcer's booth -- where Monica began to warm up her chops and learn the ropes of horse race announcing (with the help of official race announcer Peter). It's not as easy as it looks. I will tell you one thing-- the race announcer has the best view of the track and an incredibly beautiful view of the city. The roof top of Hawthorne would make a great place to host parties or have a small café. (Maybe not the best idea though, for a bunch of people to go tramping all over the roof -- as it did look a little old.) Monica did an awesome job of calling the race -- which lasted about 90 seconds. I can't remember which horse won, though -- because at that point I was starving and all I could think about was the spectacular buffet we passed on our tour. This is the video of Monica calling the race: We did get a chance to go back to the buffet -- our news director told us to try out a Mint Julip -- unfortunately they didn’t serve any. But they do offer a fabulous food spread. Needless to say our energy levels were way down after we finished eating (all that great food!). For most of us, this was our first time at a horse track. It was a great experience. Everyone was so kind to us and we really learned a lot. If you have some free time this weekend definitely go check out Hawthorne Race Course...especially for the buffet! Afua S. Owusu (Uh-fee-yah) (Oh-woo-sue) News Producer

CLTV SPORTS :60: Mayor Daley Let The Games Begin.

2009-09-29T21:19:14Z

By JERRY RILES Heads or tails? It can go either way. My feelings about the 2016 Olympics here in Chicago that is. I love the Olympics, sports, winning and definitely the City of Chicago. But I also love life and love my fellow brethren, although some of my close friends and family members may differ at times. All in all, the life that God has given us is very precious and we should all cherish each and every day that we breathe the air and walk on this glorious planet we call home. Unfortunately, there are too many young African American teens and young adults on the city’s South and West Sides that no longer have that chance to enjoy life anymore. They are no longer with us because someone felt that their lives weren’t important enough. Derrion Albert became the fourth Chicago public School student to have his life snuffed out by violence this 2009 school year. Corey McClaurin, senior at Simeon High School on the city’s South Side, lost his life just five days before Albert fell victim to a senseless and brutal attack. Mayor Richard Daley and the Chicago 2016 Olympic supporters are in Copenhagen this week in hopes of convincing the IOC to vote in favor of awarding the City of Chicago the bid. I think the city winning the bin would be an incredible honor. My question is at what expense? Better yet, at whose expense? The lives of young African American teens living on the South and West Sides? I hope not. Chicago and the United States are being represented very well, and by very high profile and prominent African American supporters. The list includes, Pres. Barack Obama and his lovely wife Michelle, Oprah Winfrey, an endorsement from Michael Jordan, Gold Medalists Jackie Joyner-Kersee, sprinter Michael Johnson, triple-jumper Michael Conley Sr. just to name a few. Too bad this prestigious group of leaders can’t or are not interested in finding time to help come up with a solution to the brutal violence that is taking place in the city. They’re more interested in traveling overseas to help the Mayor secure the 2016 Olympic games. Again, I love the Olympics. My love began many years ago when I was cheering on Frank Shorter to win the marathon. I rooted for Mark Spitz before there was a Michael Phelps. I ran along with Edwin Moses as he pushed toward Olympic glory in the finals of the hurdles. Yes, I screamed at the television as Florence Griffith –Joyner, Jackie, Evelyn Ashford, Carl Lewis, Kristi Yamaguchi, Bart Conner, Bruce Jenner, and the many other Americans, who represented this country in the past Olympics, brought home the Gold medals. I urge the Mayor to rally a group of these individuals to come back to Chicago and help rid the City of these ridiculous acts of violence that are destroying its image. If Chicago receives the bid, jobs, programs, and better education must be implemented immediately to help those living in the community. The killings of young males must cease. The numbers are astounding. Before 2006, on average, 10-15 students were fatally shot each year. That climbed to 24 fatal shootings in the 2006-07 school year, 23 deaths and 211 shootings in the 2007-08 school year and 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year. Just this month, the city announced a $30 million project that targets 1,200 high school pupils identified as most at risk to become victims of gun violence, giving them full-time mentors and part-time jobs to keep them off the streets. Some money also will pay for more security guards and to provide safe passage for students forced to travel through areas with active street gangs. Kudos to leaders like Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina on the City’s South Side. May his hard work and dedication to the lives of these young individuals not go unnoticed. So let the Games begin. But let’s not forget that life is more than just a game. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

HIV Researchers: Vaccine works

2009-09-24T21:51:32Z

From the Los Angeles Times: More than a quarter-century after scientists discovered the virus that causes AIDS, researchers have finally shown that an experimental vaccine can block at least some infections, marking the first small but significant step toward eventual control of this lethal pandemic.

The results were released in Bangkok, Thailand, where the research was conducted by a team including Thai researchers, the U.S. Army and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "This is a historic day in the 26-year quest to develop an AIDS vaccine," Dr. Alan Bernstein, executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, who was not involved in the research, said in a statement. "We now have evidence that it is possible to reduce the risk of HIV infection with a vaccine," said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, in his own statement. "There is little doubt that this finding will energize and redirect the AIDS vaccine field as all of us begin the hard work to translate this landmark result into true public health benefit." The trial, which began in 2003, had been disparaged by many critics as a waste of time and money because each of the two vaccines used in it had been shown in individual trials to produce no benefit. But researchers speculated that using them together, with one vaccine priming the immune system and the second boosting that response, would be more effective, and their optimism about this "prime-boost" combination has been validated. Experts said that it will be many more years before a vaccine is available for wider use, but the results indicate at last that such a vaccine may, indeed, be possible. "It gives me cautious optimism," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which helped fund the study. The primer in this combo is Alvac, made by Sanofi Pasteur, which uses a defanged canarypox virus to carry three synthetic HIV genes into the body. The boost comes from Aidsvax, originally made by VaxGen and now owned by the nonprofit group Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases. It contains a genetically engineered version of a protein from the HIV surface. The study involved more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand who had no unusual exposure to the virus. Half received four priming doses of Alvac and two boost doses of Aidsvax over a six-month period, and half received placebo shots. After three years of follow-up, new HIV infections were observed in 74 of the 8,198 people who received the placebo, but in only 51 of the 8,197 given the vaccine, a statistically significant 31 percent reduction. To the researchers' disappointment, however, the vaccine did not reduce levels of HIV activity in those who became infected after being vaccinated. Full details of the study will be released next month at a conference in Paris. The vaccine was made using strains of virus that circulate commonly in Thailand, so it is not clear whether it would have any benefit elsewhere in the world. The manufacturers have not said whether they will attempt to license their products in Thailand. At least 33 million people worldwide are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, and 25 million have died, according to the World Health Organization. An estimated 7,500 are infected each day. Aidsvax had failed in two large trials halted in 2003, showing no benefit to recipients. Another trial by Merck & Co. of a different vaccine was halted in 2007 when researchers found that the vaccine might increase the risk of contracting the virus.

Proposed Safety Rules for Illinois Dentists

2009-09-24T21:50:42Z

From the Associated Press: Proposed rules prompted by the deaths of two Illinois dental patients would increase the training that's required for dentists and their staffs. The changes are meant to prevent tragedies like the death of a 5-year-old girl who slipped into a coma after being sedated during a routine procedure at a Chicago dentist's office. That death in 2006 was followed the next year by the death of a 46-year-old Chicago school principal who suffered cardiac arrest while under sedation for a root canal. The proposals are on the Web site of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The department is accepting public comments. The rules are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

CLTV SPORTS :60: Big Z & Uncle Milty!

2009-09-22T03:26:50Z

By JERRY RILES Stud pitcher Carlos Zambrano and just plain stud Milton Bradley. No question these two players are the most fiery on this disappointing Cubs team this season. Bradley was brought in to improve the outfield play and to solidify the left-handed spot in the team‘s batting order. Something the Cubs were missing from a year ago after they were swept by the L.A. Dodgers in three straight playoff contests. The argument was the Cubs went down in the first round of the playoffs because they lacked hitting from the left-side of the plate. GM Jim Hendry went out and acquired the volatile outfielder who was known for his outburst and violent temper. Hendry felt he could manage Bradley’s demeanor and that he was one of the missing pieces the Cubs needed to go deep into the playoffs if not all the way to the World series and winning it. Heck, he had already dealt with the fiery personality of big Carlos Zambrano who the organization signed to a hefty $90-plus-million-dollar deal. This was supposed to be an easy task. Unfortunately, for Hendry and skipper Lou Piniella, the plan back fired and neither GM nor coach could handle the explosive nature of the two. Big Z just a week ago scolded reporters about asking him if he wanted to stay in Chicago with the Cubs or be traded somewhere else. He sharply responded, “What kind of question is that? I’m done.” He abruptly left the post game press conference. Hendry told Bradley to go home with 15 games remaining in the regular season after the struggling right-fielder responded to reporters’ questions with “What else ya got, what else ya got, what else ya got?” Hendry said Bradley was a detriment to the team and so he suspended him for the rest of the season. My question is, didn’t the Cub brass figure this out before hand? Weren’t they aware of his antics in the past? Did they think he was another Zambrano, and maybe did they think “Z” was another Milton? I said the move was a great move, ONLY, if the Cubs and Lou could handle the two. The organization from top to bottom dropped the ball. Both players appear to be ready for a new address. It is clear Zambrano is ready to take the money and run. It’s unfortunate that neither player wants to play ball for the organization in an effort to bring home a World Series title. But you can’t overlook Hendry and Piniella. They certainly cannot go blameless in this debacle. The whole team has crumbled before our eyes. And it’s a sad situation. I say good riddance to the both of them because it’s obvious they’re more interested in the money that the game, but shame on the other two for not handling them in a proper fashion. Lou at times seemed uninterested. Then to call Bradley out in front of his teammates, chase him down into the locker-room on the road and call him a “piece of sh%!” and to take the uniform off and go home was just wrong. How would Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, Joe Girardi, or even Ozzie Guillen have handled the situation? All the Cubs can do now is just agree with their fans and say, “wait till next year.” It’s only 101 years and counting. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

Chicago Manhunt - Like CRAZY Movie Plot!

2009-09-18T16:46:41Z

He's now been APPREHENDED! But, if you were to watch the story of escaped bank robbery suspect Robert Maday on the big screen -- you probably wouldn't believe such nuttiness could really happen. Namely, that a little guy (he's reportedly only about 5'6", 130 pounds), could overpower not one, but TWO, armed men transporting him to a sentencing hearing? Well, 39 year old Maday allegedly did! He reportedly took their guns, one guy's pants (apparently to wear instead of his jail garb) and drove off in their vehicle! Since then, he reportedly carjacked at least two more vehicles and allegedly robbed a bank in west suburban Bloomingdale Friday morning. Oh, and it's not just any bank; it's supposedly the very same bank he was implicated with robbing in 2008! Meantime, cops from multiple suburbs are all over the place, trying to figure out where the little guy was -- and hoping to not be further embarrassed. At a Bloomingdale Police press conference Friday morning, police made a point of pointing out that Maday's escape from law enforcement officers -didn't- happen under *their watch! Of course, if this *was a movie, someone would be dead by now. Maday would no doubt be a guns-blazing, bank-robbing, take-no-nonsense, bad guy. But as it turns out 'the bad guy' was caught by West Chicago police Friday around noon...after crashing the vehicle he was in.

Have you seen this Suspect?

2009-09-18T16:23:39Z

Authorities continue to search for an armed escapee who is now accused of robbing a bank this morning in Bloomingdale and hijacking a car from a woman in Hoffman Estates. The hijacked car was described as an 2004 gray Volkswagen Jetta with Illinois license plate A392846. It was last seen headed west on Hassel toward Barrington Road, which is near an entrance to Interstate 90. Read the full story from the Chicago Breaking News Center here. If you have any information on where the suspect may be, authorities are asking you to call: 1-888-869-4590

CLTV SPORTS :60: Bears, Defense On The Hunt

2009-09-16T00:26:10Z

Hillenmeyer Takes Over At Middle Linebacker By JERRY RILES The Bears and Lovie Smith should be able to survive without the services of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher after it was announced on Monday that the 10 year veteran will miss the remainder of the season because of a broken wrist. While Urlacher has been a serviceable player on the defensive side of the ball, he hasn’t been overwhelming in that position. He is a great physical specimen and a pretty decent athlete, but to think the Bears defense will falter because he’s not in the starting lineup is kind of stretching it. I like Brian, but I think he’s a tad bit overrated. The question was asked, could the Bears continue to make a run toward the Super Bowl, after it was revealed that Urlacher’s season was over, or were they done? There are four individuals who can answer that question, or more importantly, must answer that question. They are GM Jerry Angelo, Head Coach Smith, Defensive Line Coach Rod Marinelli, and Quarterback Jay Cutler. There lies the answer to the million dollar question. It’s not the receivers, the corners, or special teams. Will Cutler settle down and produce the type of numbers he accomplished with the Denver Broncos last season? Can Marinelli develop the defensive line which will help take some of the pressure off the Bears’ corners, and is Hunter Hillenmeyer capable of filling in for number 54? Smith must keep the pressure on these guys to produce consistently and often throughout the season. This is the only way that run can continue. Angelo must keep his eyes open for potential talent that may be available to help the Bears fill those holes caused by injury. I think the team’s depth is good but you’re going to need some impact players. The Philadelphia Eagles sought the services of QB Jeff Garcia after starting passer Donovan McNabb suffered a cracked rib in Week 1. Garcia will backup the backup Kevin Kolb if McNabb can’t play. The Bears were considering going after veteran 36-year-old linebacker Derrick Brooks who’s looking for a gig these days, but that interest has dissipated. Urlacher recorded 93 tackles in the ’08 season with 79 of them solo. Many critics felt his performance fell off and that opponents knew how to attack the six-time Pro-Bowler and that was to run right at him. Hillenmeyer played 16 regular season games back in the 2007 and recorded 101 tackles on the year. The first time in his career. He’s more than capable. And if Marinelli does his job of getting the front four defensive studs to reach their potential the defense shouldn’t miss a beat. The test begins this Sunday in Week 2 when the Bears take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field. Brian’s subtraction from the defense just might mean an addition of superb play from the middle linebacker’s position. Only time will tell. (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye)

CLTV SPORTS :60: Jordan, Oprah, Barack (Chicago's Very Own)

2009-09-10T17:43:13Z

SWEET HOME CHICAGO AFRICAN AMERICAN WEEK CHICAGO STYLE By JERRY RILES It’s ALL about being number one! Or should I say JUST about being #1? It, or they, come in the form of Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Pres. Barack Obama. What a week of #1s making a national splash in the swimming pool of America/Chicago to closeout the Labor Day weekend. Talk about these African Americans who have labored for years to gain the prestigious honor of being called number one in the respective fields they represent. And believe me you can’t forget the Chicago/African American honorable mentions this week. How about, Jennifer Hudson, Jay-Z, and Serena Williams. Did I mention Pres. Barack Obama? In a nutshell, the incredible impact of these extraordinary individuals making a powerful impression upon this city and the nation this week was impeccable. Oprah blocked off the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue to host her 24th Anniversary broadcast in front of an estimated crowd of more than 40,000 Chicagoans. A feat never accomplished before in one of the greatest cities in the world. Pres. Obama addressed the nation’s students on their first day back to school to encourage them to work hard, set goals, and to go for it. That was on Tuesday of this week. The next day, on Wednesday of this week, 09/09/09, the president went after the big boys and pretty much told them and the country in a nationally televised speech that his Health Care Plan was going to work here in these United States. Yes “you” can, Mr. President! Jordan will finally be inducted into the NBA Hall-Of-Fame on Friday to close out the week with Comcast Sports paying a special tribute to the best basketball player ever to lace them up by broadcasting 23-straight hours of the best of Jordan. This is a guy who should’ve gotten a free pass to enter into the Hall the minute he called it quits. But to be fair, who knew if he would comeback again? He’s in folks! Set your VCR, Tivo, DVRs, and whatever recording devices you may have. Twenty three hours of the King. The best player in golf, although not of late since the growth of his family, Tiger, returns to the Midwest to take part in the BMW Championship being played at Cog Hill (Dubsdread) just outside of Chi-town in Lemont this weekend. Jennifer jammed during Oprah’s block party, Jay-Z rocked the House Of Blues the same night and Serena powered to the semi-finals of the U.S. Open to defend her title on Tuesday as well. Let me also mention, I did forget to acknowledge the Bulls Derrick Rose and home-town home-boy Dwayne Wade chillin’ at the House Of Blues grooving’ to Jay-Z rockin’ the House. Could the Bulls, Rose and Wade have something brewing? Stay tuned as I always tell ya. Olympics aside, Chicago took center stage this week and the world was watching. If you thought that was something, there’s more to come. You would think it’s Black History Month, but based on all that has happened this past week, one might want to think of the first week of September as being the first ever Black History Week. It’s all about being #1. Holla at yo boy Chi-town! (Jerry Riles is a weekly 5on5 contributor featured every Tuesday in the RedEye) click here