Author: staff

The U.S. Soccer Federation reached milestone agreements to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally, making the American national governing body the first in the sport to promise both sexes matching money.The federation announced separate collective bargaining agreements through December 2028 with the unions for both national teams on Wednesday, ending years of often acrimonious negotiations.AdvertisementThe men have been playing under the terms of a CBA that expired in December 2018. The women’s CBA expired at the end of March but talks continued after the federation and the players agreed to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by some of the players in 2019. The settlement was contingent on the federation reaching labor contracts that equalized pay and bonuses between the two teams.“I feel a lot of pride for the girls who are going to see this growing up, and recognize their value rather than having to fight for it. However, my dad always told me that you don’t get rewarded for doing what you’re supposed to do — and paying men and women equally is what you’re supposed to do,” U.S. forward Margaret Purce said. “So I’m not giving out any gold stars, but I’m grateful for this accomplishment and for all the people who came together to make it so.”AdvertisementPerhaps the biggest sticking point was World Cup prize money, which is based on how far a team advances in the tournament. While the U.S. women have been successful on the international stage with back-to-back World Cup titles, differences in FIFA prize money meant they took home far less than the men’s winners.The unions agreed to pool FIFA’s payments for the men’s World Cup later this year and next year’s Women’s World Cup, as well as for the 2026 and 2027 tournaments.Each player will get matching game appearance fees in what the USSF said makes it the first federation to pool FIFA prize money in this manner.“We saw it as an opportunity, an opportunity to be leaders in this front and join in with the women’s side and U.S. Soccer. So we’re just excited that this is how we were able to get the deal done,” said Walker Zimmerman, a defender who is part of the U.S. National Team Players Association leadership group.The federation previously based bonuses on payments from FIFA, which earmarked $400 million for the 2018 men’s tournament, including $38 million to champion France, and $30 million for the 2019 women’s tournament, including $4 million to the champion United States.FIFA has increased the total to $440 million for the 2022 men’s World Cup, and its president, Gianni Infantino, has proposed that FIFA double the women’s prize money to $60 million for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, in which FIFA has increased the teams to 32.For the current World Cup cycles, the USSF will pool the FIFA funds, taking 10% off the top and then splitting the rest equally among 46 players — 23 players on the roster of each team. For the 2026-27 cycle, the USSF cut increases to 20% before the split.After missing the 2018 World Cup, the men qualified for this year’s World Cup in Qatar starting in November. The women’s team will seek to qualify this year for the 2023 World Cup, cohosted by Australia and New Zealand.AdvertisementFor lesser tournaments, such as those run by the governing body of North America, players will earn identical game bonuses. And for exhibition games, players will receive matching appearance fees and performance payments based on the match result and opponent rank. Players who don’t dress will earn a fee that is the equivalent of participating in a national team training camp.The women gave up guaranteed base salaries which had been part of their CBA since 2005. Some players had been guaranteed annual salaries of $100,000.“I think we’ve outgrown some of the conditions that may look like we have lost something, but now our (professional) league is actually strong enough where now we don’t need as many guaranteed contracts, you know, we can be on more of a pay-to-play model,” Purce said.Child care, covered for women for more than 25 years, will be extended to men during national team training camps and matches.The women and men also will receive a portion of commercial revenue from tickets for matches controlled by the USSF, with bonuses for sellouts, and each team will get a portion of broadcast, partner and sponsor revenue.Players will get a 401(k) plan and the USSF will match up to 5% of a player’s compensation, subject to IRS limits. That money will be deducted from the shares of commercial revenue.Advertisement“There were moments when I thought it was all going to fall apart and then it came back together and it’s a real credit to all the different groups coming together, negotiating at one table,” said federation President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former national team player who became head of the governing body in 2020. “I think that’s where the turning point really happened. Before, trying to negotiate a CBA with the women and then turn around and negotiate CBA terms with the men and vice versa, was really challenging. I think the real turning point was when we finally were all in the same room sitting at the same table, working together and collaborating to reach this goal.”Women ended six years of litigation over equal pay in February in a deal calling for the USSF to pay $24 million, a deal contingent on reaching new collective bargaining agreements.As part of the settlement, players will split $22 million, about one-third of what they had sought in damages. The USSF also agreed to establish a fund with $2 million to benefit the players in their post-soccer careers and charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.Mark Levinstein, counsel for the men’s union, said the agreement ended “more than 20 years of federation discrimination against the USWNT players.”“Together with the USWNTPA, the USMNT players achieved what everyone said was impossible — an agreement that provides fair compensation to the USMNT players and equal pay and equal working conditions to the USWNT players,” he said. “The new federation leadership should get tremendous credit for working with the players to achieve these agreements.”

The title and story behind Cave In’s 2019 LP, Final Transmission, led many to believe that the eclectic rock band’s two-and-a-half-decade run had come to an…

When WGN-Ch. 9 hired Dan Roan as a sports reporter and weekend anchor in December 1983, the station most associated with live local sports in Chicago wasn’t totally committed to it during its nightly newscast.Veteran Bill Frink was the lead sports anchor, well past his years on the popular “Happy Talk” newscasts at WLS-Ch. 7 with Joel Daly, Fahey Flynn and weatherman John Coleman.AdvertisementFamiliarity was key in Chicago newscasts, and WGN seemed perfectly content with Frink narrating a couple of Cubs or Blackhawks highlights before throwing it back to the newscasters or Tom Skilling’s five-day forecast.But news director Paul Davis hired the 30-year-old Roan out of Champaign, taking a chance on a Keokuk, Iowa, native who began as a news correspondent/cameraman in Decatur, Ill., and had no name recognition in Chicago.Advertisement“Everyone should have goals, and working in Chicago is one I set for myself,” Roan told Tribune sports TV/radio columnist Skip Myslenski upon being hired.Roan was on the air by February 1984 and stuck around long enough to report on championship seasons for the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, Cubs, Fire and Sky over 38 years at the station. His long run comes to an end May 26, when Roan delivers his final sportscast before heading off to retirement.“I’m 69 and just thought it was time to do it,” Roan said at the WGN studio. “We have three grandkids, and two live five blocks away now. And you don’t want to get home after midnight every night, which I do with the late show.“I do have to say the pandemic wrecked it for me — all those months without any access, doing shows in my basement on a delay with Jarrett (Payton). That kind of set everything in motion.”Even Roan’s traditional jump into a swimming pool after the final spring training report in Arizona had to be scrapped, a sure sign it was time to go after 46 years in the business.The role of the local sports anchor was outsized in the mid-1980s, when there was no internet to get quick updates or watch highlights if your team wasn’t ESPN-worthy. In a town that craved sports like ours, a sports anchor’s job ensured celebrity status in Chicago. And with WGN’s superstation status for much of his career, Roan was a recognizable figure almost anywhere he went.On the day Roan was hired, the big news was who would replace Chet Coppock, who had been fired by WMAQ-Ch. 5. Would it be interim anchor Mark Giangreco or one of the big-name candidates, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and former Minnesota Vikings star Ahmad Rashad?The competition for stories back then was fierce. Tim Weigel had carved out a niche at Channel 7 with his wry, cerebral take on the sports world, and the “Big Kahuna” was WBBM-Ch. 2′s Johnny Morris, the former Bears receiver and close friend of popular coach Mike Ditka.AdvertisementBut Roan didn’t look at them as rivals and simply focused on getting to know the main characters and teams that provided the daily drama Chicago sports fans devoured.Timing is everything in life, and 1984 — Roan’s first year at WGN — was a turning point in Chicago sports after the Dark Ages of the late 1960s and 1970s.The Bears were emerging under Ditka and beat Washington to advance to the NFC title game, setting the stage for the ’85 championship season. Michael Jordan was drafted by the Bulls and immediately became the team’s brightest star. Tony La Russa’s White Sox were coming off their 1983 division title and added an ace in Tom Seaver. The Cubs were about to change the course of franchise history with Ryne Sandberg and Rick Sutcliffe leading them to their first playoff appearance in 39 years.It was like walking into a dream.“I thought, ‘Hey, what is this?’” Roan said. “But then after the ’85 Bears we had to wait a while before we won anything.”The cast of characters he got to meet along the way was the best part of the journey. Jordan, Ditka, Walter Payton, Harry Caray, Ozzie Guillén, Sammy Sosa, Dusty Baker and Phil Jackson — a who’s who of the last half-century of Chicago sports — were among the hundreds of personalities he interviewed.AdvertisementRoan played hoops at the East Bank Club with President Barack Obama and once set a pick for Jordan in a pickup game. He played golf in Iceland and picked up a couple of Emmys for the story. He subbed for Caray and was in the Cubs booth during the Sosa-Mark McGwire home run race of 1998. Roan’s trip was a trip.The city has changed quite a bit since he arrived in Chicago, and obviously so has the TV news business. We’ve seen sports reporters and anchors come and go with little knowledge of the history or culture of the teams they cover.But Chicagoans can see through the lack of expertise, which makes anchors like Roan all the more valuable. Roan wasn’t a showman or a wise guy and seldom made himself the focus of the story, with the exception of jumping into a swimming pool every spring.He outlasted most of his competitors and never felt the urge to switch jobs after joining WGN in ’84. Though he wanted Chicago teams to succeed, he didn’t sugarcoat their failures. He did his job well without calling attention to himself, which was why Roan was so widely respected by his peers in press boxes and newsrooms.While Roan doesn’t know what the future of local sportscasting holds, he doesn’t believe many up-and-coming anchors will last four decades on the job. One-on-one interviews with players are more difficult to secure since the pandemic limited media access in 2020, and other viewing options — including streaming — have cut into legacy media’s audiences.“The audiences are shrinking because the way people get their information is so much different now,” he said. “When I first got here, everybody watched the news. That’s where they got their info. Now you can get it off your wristwatch.Advertisement“We’re not as immediate as some of the other sources, so that makes it different too. But in sports, Chicago is unique. Everyone cares so much about these teams.”Working for WGN in its sports heyday, Roan was able to work in the booth on Notre Dame football, DePaul and Illinois basketball and Bulls, Cubs and Sox games. Less than an hour before a 1990 White Sox game against Cleveland, he was called upon to fill in on play-by-play for Harrelson, who didn’t show up for work. (“I know now how fast I can get from WGN to Comiskey Park,” Roan said after the game.)For decades WGN was the undisputed sports leader in town, and Roan was often the congenial emcee. Whether hosting a show on the first night game at Wrigley Field in 1988, “The Cubby Awards” after the 1989 season or “Michael Comes Home,” an hourlong pregame show celebrating Jordan’s return to the Bulls in 1995, he frequently was involved in special programming.WGN promoted its reputation as a sports station, knowing anything with a sports theme was gold. Now the station has mostly given up on live sports besides Fire games, cutting ties with the Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks and watching the Cubs move their games to their own network.It’s a new era, like it or not.ESPN can show highlights of your teams but can’t provide the local flavor you’re accustomed to seeing. And sometimes you just want to see a familiar face, someone you’re sure knows what they’re talking about when discussing your favorite teams.AdvertisementRoan said he hasn’t had time to reflect on his final week at Channel 9. But he said he was overwhelmed by the response he received from viewers after news of his pending retirement first leaked.“It’s really humbling to think you’ve touched these people who have been watching you for a long time,” he said. “I went into this out of school at Illinois State just trying to find a job, hoping it would turn into a career but not really knowing.“For someone who grew up in Keokuk, Iowa, listening to Harry Caray and Jack Buck, and then to fill in for Harry when he went into the Hall of Fame and doing games next to him … shoot, I feel lucky.”

Last week Meta, the social media company formerly known as Facebook, removed some of its augmented reality effects and applications, such as avatars and filters, from…

Last week Meta, the social media company formerly known as Facebook, removed some of its augmented reality effects and applications, such as avatars and filters, from…

What could be more glorious in Chicago than that first burst of heat, chasing away winter blues with a shock of sunlight and sprouts shooting up out of nowhere?Spring took her time to get here, but as the high temperatures of early May mellow into more typical weather for the season, eager gardeners can spend a little time ahead of Memorial Day weekend prepping for the coming months of planting, weeding, mowing and more.Whether you’re a first-time homeowner looking to lay some groundwork, or a seasoned pro exploring new ideas, here are our top tips for garden and lawn care in the Chicago area.Richard McMurray builds several spring plants and flowers into individual organic containers at City Grange. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Take note of what type of soil is in your yard, be it sandy or claylike, as well as the sunlight exposure and degree of shade. It’s vital to consider these conditions when choosing the best plants for your garden, which will also change with the season.Draw out your space on paper so you can plot out your vision for a garden. Consider things like where your utilities are located, or how you can use plants to create some privacy in your yard or bolster home security. The microclimate within a garden can also affect plants. Use the color wheel to help you understand the basic relationships between the colors and to gain an understanding about how to mix them more effectively.If you’re planning to start a garden in the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street — whether you call it a parkway, berm or hell strip — there are additional considerations to make.Use plant catalogs or get information through the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic and Chicago Botanic Garden to figure out which plants will fit your needs and the time of year, then order from a nearby garden center. Chicago Botanic Garden also offers a free smartphone app for advice on the go.The city and suburbs have a wealth of garden centers with a sweeping range of offerings. In Chicago, garden centers include Adams & Son Gardens (Humboldt Park), Christy Webber Farm & Garden (East Garfield Park), CityEscape (East Garfield Park), Farmers Market Garden Center (Irving Park), Gethsemane Garden Center (Edgewater), Growers Outlet (Gresham), and Old Town Gardens.In the suburbs, check out Chalet Nursery (Wilmette), Meinke’s Garden Center (Niles), and Ted’s Greenhouse (Tinley Park).More tips:AdvertisementDividing perennials in spring gives the new transplants time to become established over the course of the entire growing season. (Chicago Botanic Garden)If you’re starting fresh, you’ll need to measure your garden bed to determine how much soil, compost or mulch you’ll need. There are tips below for choosing the tools that suit your needs, as well as how to care for them.Start your own compost pile to provide nutrient-rich compost for your plants, while also reducing waste. Composting at home is easy to do by simply finding a discreet spot to pile up landscape waste or purchasing a free-standing plastic composter.For growing plants from seeds, growing cells or jiffy pots will help get sprouts going before they’re strong enough to plant outside. (Not all seeds can be started in pots, so check the package label or website.)For indoor plants, look for pots with drainage holes, as trapped water can lead to root rot. Use plastic inner pots inside slightly larger terra cotta, clay or other decorative pots, and fill them with indoor potting soil or, for succulents, a cactus blend.If your pots do not have holes, fill the bottom with small stones to keep the soil from becoming too soggy. For plants that need more humidity, you can place stones in the saucer and fill it with water, or mist leaves regularly.You may also need fertilizer after your new plants settle in. Garden centers will usually provide advice for how best to care for your plants, and some are offering online help during the pandemic.More tips:AdvertisementLettuce at the City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center in Chicago, on April 22, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Hardiness zones help determine which types of plants will thrive in your garden’s climate. The Chicago area is generally 6a or 5b, and gardening catalogs will include that information for each plant (you can read more about hardiness zones here).You’ll need to wait until fall to plant most spring-flowering bulbs, but early spring is the perfect time for violas and pansies, wildflowers and mild-mannered native plants.Shrubs can add visual texture and shade coverage. Arborvitaes are a popular choice and are available inexpensively at nearly every garden center and home store. In many Chicago-area neighborhoods and suburbs, yew shrubs are ubiquitous.More tips:AdvertisementA butterfly sips nectar from a blossom at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Butterflies & Blooms exhibition. (Chicago Botanic Garden)Early spring weeds are already sprouting, but you can act now to lessen the spread. It’s also a good time to rework garden bed edges, which will improve the overall appearance of your garden and be much easier to mow along.You might be considering some changes to your garden, like adding native prairie plants or paying some extra attention to those lush hydrangea bushes. If last year’s gardening didn’t go as planned, consider the shade and soil conditions, and whether the type of plant you selected match up. For spots that didn’t get as much sun as you expected, consider switching to plants that thrive in dry, shady areas, such as hostas, wild ferns and wild columbine.If you’ve planted anything new in the past two or three years, the young plants will likely need supplemental watering, especially during hot weather.More tips:AdvertisementMoth orchids are among the easier orchids to grow. (Mincho Minchev / Getty Images)Consider the amount of daylight each room in your home gets, as well as factors like proximity to radiant heat (which dehydrates air and fluctuates temperature) or access for curious pets to nibble. Be sure to get the right soil, or soilless medium, for the type of plant you select.Certain houseplants thrive on neglect, so if you haven’t had good luck, try a low-maintenance plant like a ZZ plant, a parlor palm, a pothos or a monstera. Succulents and air plants also tend to require little care — in fact, watering them too often can do more harm than good.Most garden centers sell young plants, so you don’t have to start from seeds. Certain plants, like a pothos or spider plant, are easy to propagate, meaning a cutting can grow roots and become its own plant, or be added back into the pot for a denser look. Ask friends if they have cuttings to spare, or check plant care or trade groups on social media for fellow enthusiasts in your area.If you have pets, consult experts on which plants would be toxic or poisonous for your animal. While mild toxicity can result in minor side effects, these plants should be kept out of reach of curious critters.More tips:AdvertisementAfrican violets are easy to grow and come in many varieties. (Chicago Botanic Garden)Do a routine check for any pests or diseases, like spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, black fungus gnats or mildew. If your houseplant is inside a plastic container, give it a squeeze, or gently lift the plant up without harming the root ball, to see if it needs to be repotted (many do after being dormant in winter).If the plastic container doesn’t have much give, or if roots have started forming in the shape of the pot or are growing out of the holes at the bottom, it’s time to repot. If a plant is too large to repot, add fresh soil to provide nutrients.Lower leaves on some plants, like dracaenas and palms, will start to brown and wither as new growth begins. Prune dead leaves, but take a closer look if the entire plant is affected.AdvertisementThe first red leaves of fall are often seen in sumac shrubs. This is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra). (John Hagstrom/Morton Arboretum)If you’ll be planting any new trees this year, consider species that are native to the Midwest, which are likely to handle the local weather and can feed the local wildlife. Dogwood, oaks and tupelo are a few choice options.For already established trees and shrubs, make sure you’re selecting the right kind of mulch as you start your springtime garden TLC.Prune dead or broken branches on deciduous shrubs. If you didn’t give them a major pruning when they were dormant during the winter, you can still tidy them up a bit. It can be tricky to tell which branches are deadwood, but decay, cracks and other clues can help.At this point in spring, don’t prune spring-blooming shrubs such as forsythia, viburnum, lilac and quince, or you’ll be cutting off their buds.If pruning, be sure to research best practices — too steep of a cut or too much weight on the branch could be fatal to your tree. If a tree suffered damage over the winter, a professional arborist might be able to recommend ways to save them.Take stock of damage to shrubs and your yard as well. Pesky deer might have munched on evergreens and caused browning bottoms, while burrowing voles could carve runways through your yard under winter snow.More tips:AdvertisementAn easy way to improve the quality of your lawn and better prepare it for the typical hotter and drier weather in summer is to mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Many gardeners mow their lawns too short. (Robin Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)If you’re a first-time homeowner, we’ve got a rundown on what to look for when buying the gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and weed wackers you’ll need this summer.Don’t bother with power raking at this point in the year, and only consider it if you’ve got an excessive buildup of thatch under your grass. But measures like core aeration and using a mulching mower are preferred maintenance alternatives.Proper mowing practices can have a big impact on the health and appearance of your lawn. Cutting at a height of 3 to 3 ½ inches helps grass develop a deeper root system and be better able to withstand stress when the weather gets hotter and drier. The taller grass will also help discourage weeds.It is OK to cut at a shorter height in the early season, when growing conditions are typically ideal for bluegrass. Cutting at a lower height, around 2 to 2 ½ inches in early spring allows you to neaten up your lawn as it is starting to grow and before it broadly passes the 3-inch height mark, and then again for the last cut in late fall.More tips:AdvertisementCurley parsley at City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center offering curbside pickup and delivery during the stay-at-home order. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Full sun is best for a vegetable garden, and if you’re new to the process, start small. The end of April is the right time to plant cool-season vegetable crops like peas, cilantro, lettuce and radish, but most vegetables, including tomatoes and squash, should be planted in late May, after the final frost of the season.The University of Illinois Extension has a vegetable guide and lots of advice on troubleshooting for vegetable gardens, while Chicago magazine has a great guide on easy-to-grow vegetables and windowsill vegetable gardens. Growing microgreens is a fun option for indoor enthusiasts, and they only take a couple of weeks until they’re ready to harvest.For self-water, ready-to-go herb kits, Chicago-based company Modern Sprout puts seeds, soil and other growing materials into a mason jar. Aside from a variety of herbs, the company also makes kits for cactuses, flowers and vegetables, plus equipment like grow lights and hydroplanters.Some gardening centers also sell young herbs or kits, as well.AdvertisementThe staff at the Chicago Botanic Garden is dealing with a robust weed population to remove this spring. (robin carlson/Robin Carlson)There are lots of resources for gardening enthusiasts. The Tribune’s Homes section includes a weekly Q&A for gardeners, and local experts like WGN’s Lou Manfredini offer advice on a wide range of gardening topics. You can also send questions to the U. of I. Extension expert gardeners, who usually respond in a couple of days.More tips:archeung@chicagotribune.com

What could be more glorious in Chicago than that first burst of heat, chasing away winter blues with a shock of sunlight and sprouts shooting up out of nowhere?Spring took her time to get here, but as the high temperatures of early May mellow into more typical weather for the season, eager gardeners can spend a little time ahead of Memorial Day weekend prepping for the coming months of planting, weeding, mowing and more.Whether you’re a first-time homeowner looking to lay some groundwork, or a seasoned pro exploring new ideas, here are our top tips for garden and lawn care in the Chicago area.Richard McMurray builds several spring plants and flowers into individual organic containers at City Grange. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Take note of what type of soil is in your yard, be it sandy or claylike, as well as the sunlight exposure and degree of shade. It’s vital to consider these conditions when choosing the best plants for your garden, which will also change with the season.Draw out your space on paper so you can plot out your vision for a garden. Consider things like where your utilities are located, or how you can use plants to create some privacy in your yard or bolster home security. The microclimate within a garden can also affect plants. Use the color wheel to help you understand the basic relationships between the colors and to gain an understanding about how to mix them more effectively.If you’re planning to start a garden in the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street — whether you call it a parkway, berm or hell strip — there are additional considerations to make.Use plant catalogs or get information through the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic and Chicago Botanic Garden to figure out which plants will fit your needs and the time of year, then order from a nearby garden center. Chicago Botanic Garden also offers a free smartphone app for advice on the go.The city and suburbs have a wealth of garden centers with a sweeping range of offerings. In Chicago, garden centers include Adams & Son Gardens (Humboldt Park), Christy Webber Farm & Garden (East Garfield Park), CityEscape (East Garfield Park), Farmers Market Garden Center (Irving Park), Gethsemane Garden Center (Edgewater), Growers Outlet (Gresham), and Old Town Gardens.In the suburbs, check out Chalet Nursery (Wilmette), Meinke’s Garden Center (Niles), and Ted’s Greenhouse (Tinley Park).More tips:AdvertisementDividing perennials in spring gives the new transplants time to become established over the course of the entire growing season. (Chicago Botanic Garden)If you’re starting fresh, you’ll need to measure your garden bed to determine how much soil, compost or mulch you’ll need. There are tips below for choosing the tools that suit your needs, as well as how to care for them.Start your own compost pile to provide nutrient-rich compost for your plants, while also reducing waste. Composting at home is easy to do by simply finding a discreet spot to pile up landscape waste or purchasing a free-standing plastic composter.For growing plants from seeds, growing cells or jiffy pots will help get sprouts going before they’re strong enough to plant outside. (Not all seeds can be started in pots, so check the package label or website.)For indoor plants, look for pots with drainage holes, as trapped water can lead to root rot. Use plastic inner pots inside slightly larger terra cotta, clay or other decorative pots, and fill them with indoor potting soil or, for succulents, a cactus blend.If your pots do not have holes, fill the bottom with small stones to keep the soil from becoming too soggy. For plants that need more humidity, you can place stones in the saucer and fill it with water, or mist leaves regularly.You may also need fertilizer after your new plants settle in. Garden centers will usually provide advice for how best to care for your plants, and some are offering online help during the pandemic.More tips:AdvertisementLettuce at the City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center in Chicago, on April 22, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Hardiness zones help determine which types of plants will thrive in your garden’s climate. The Chicago area is generally 6a or 5b, and gardening catalogs will include that information for each plant (you can read more about hardiness zones here).You’ll need to wait until fall to plant most spring-flowering bulbs, but early spring is the perfect time for violas and pansies, wildflowers and mild-mannered native plants.Shrubs can add visual texture and shade coverage. Arborvitaes are a popular choice and are available inexpensively at nearly every garden center and home store. In many Chicago-area neighborhoods and suburbs, yew shrubs are ubiquitous.More tips:AdvertisementA butterfly sips nectar from a blossom at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Butterflies & Blooms exhibition. (Chicago Botanic Garden)Early spring weeds are already sprouting, but you can act now to lessen the spread. It’s also a good time to rework garden bed edges, which will improve the overall appearance of your garden and be much easier to mow along.You might be considering some changes to your garden, like adding native prairie plants or paying some extra attention to those lush hydrangea bushes. If last year’s gardening didn’t go as planned, consider the shade and soil conditions, and whether the type of plant you selected match up. For spots that didn’t get as much sun as you expected, consider switching to plants that thrive in dry, shady areas, such as hostas, wild ferns and wild columbine.If you’ve planted anything new in the past two or three years, the young plants will likely need supplemental watering, especially during hot weather.More tips:AdvertisementMoth orchids are among the easier orchids to grow. (Mincho Minchev / Getty Images)Consider the amount of daylight each room in your home gets, as well as factors like proximity to radiant heat (which dehydrates air and fluctuates temperature) or access for curious pets to nibble. Be sure to get the right soil, or soilless medium, for the type of plant you select.Certain houseplants thrive on neglect, so if you haven’t had good luck, try a low-maintenance plant like a ZZ plant, a parlor palm, a pothos or a monstera. Succulents and air plants also tend to require little care — in fact, watering them too often can do more harm than good.Most garden centers sell young plants, so you don’t have to start from seeds. Certain plants, like a pothos or spider plant, are easy to propagate, meaning a cutting can grow roots and become its own plant, or be added back into the pot for a denser look. Ask friends if they have cuttings to spare, or check plant care or trade groups on social media for fellow enthusiasts in your area.If you have pets, consult experts on which plants would be toxic or poisonous for your animal. While mild toxicity can result in minor side effects, these plants should be kept out of reach of curious critters.More tips:AdvertisementAfrican violets are easy to grow and come in many varieties. (Chicago Botanic Garden)Do a routine check for any pests or diseases, like spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, black fungus gnats or mildew. If your houseplant is inside a plastic container, give it a squeeze, or gently lift the plant up without harming the root ball, to see if it needs to be repotted (many do after being dormant in winter).If the plastic container doesn’t have much give, or if roots have started forming in the shape of the pot or are growing out of the holes at the bottom, it’s time to repot. If a plant is too large to repot, add fresh soil to provide nutrients.Lower leaves on some plants, like dracaenas and palms, will start to brown and wither as new growth begins. Prune dead leaves, but take a closer look if the entire plant is affected.AdvertisementThe first red leaves of fall are often seen in sumac shrubs. This is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra). (John Hagstrom/Morton Arboretum)If you’ll be planting any new trees this year, consider species that are native to the Midwest, which are likely to handle the local weather and can feed the local wildlife. Dogwood, oaks and tupelo are a few choice options.For already established trees and shrubs, make sure you’re selecting the right kind of mulch as you start your springtime garden TLC.Prune dead or broken branches on deciduous shrubs. If you didn’t give them a major pruning when they were dormant during the winter, you can still tidy them up a bit. It can be tricky to tell which branches are deadwood, but decay, cracks and other clues can help.At this point in spring, don’t prune spring-blooming shrubs such as forsythia, viburnum, lilac and quince, or you’ll be cutting off their buds.If pruning, be sure to research best practices — too steep of a cut or too much weight on the branch could be fatal to your tree. If a tree suffered damage over the winter, a professional arborist might be able to recommend ways to save them.Take stock of damage to shrubs and your yard as well. Pesky deer might have munched on evergreens and caused browning bottoms, while burrowing voles could carve runways through your yard under winter snow.More tips:AdvertisementAn easy way to improve the quality of your lawn and better prepare it for the typical hotter and drier weather in summer is to mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Many gardeners mow their lawns too short. (Robin Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)If you’re a first-time homeowner, we’ve got a rundown on what to look for when buying the gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and weed wackers you’ll need this summer.Don’t bother with power raking at this point in the year, and only consider it if you’ve got an excessive buildup of thatch under your grass. But measures like core aeration and using a mulching mower are preferred maintenance alternatives.Proper mowing practices can have a big impact on the health and appearance of your lawn. Cutting at a height of 3 to 3 ½ inches helps grass develop a deeper root system and be better able to withstand stress when the weather gets hotter and drier. The taller grass will also help discourage weeds.It is OK to cut at a shorter height in the early season, when growing conditions are typically ideal for bluegrass. Cutting at a lower height, around 2 to 2 ½ inches in early spring allows you to neaten up your lawn as it is starting to grow and before it broadly passes the 3-inch height mark, and then again for the last cut in late fall.More tips:AdvertisementCurley parsley at City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center offering curbside pickup and delivery during the stay-at-home order. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)Full sun is best for a vegetable garden, and if you’re new to the process, start small. The end of April is the right time to plant cool-season vegetable crops like peas, cilantro, lettuce and radish, but most vegetables, including tomatoes and squash, should be planted in late May, after the final frost of the season.The University of Illinois Extension has a vegetable guide and lots of advice on troubleshooting for vegetable gardens, while Chicago magazine has a great guide on easy-to-grow vegetables and windowsill vegetable gardens. Growing microgreens is a fun option for indoor enthusiasts, and they only take a couple of weeks until they’re ready to harvest.For self-water, ready-to-go herb kits, Chicago-based company Modern Sprout puts seeds, soil and other growing materials into a mason jar. Aside from a variety of herbs, the company also makes kits for cactuses, flowers and vegetables, plus equipment like grow lights and hydroplanters.Some gardening centers also sell young herbs or kits, as well.AdvertisementThe staff at the Chicago Botanic Garden is dealing with a robust weed population to remove this spring. (robin carlson/Robin Carlson)There are lots of resources for gardening enthusiasts. The Tribune’s Homes section includes a weekly Q&A for gardeners, and local experts like WGN’s Lou Manfredini offer advice on a wide range of gardening topics. You can also send questions to the U. of I. Extension expert gardeners, who usually respond in a couple of days.More tips:archeung@chicagotribune.com

When Rick Dawson decided his Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike, would skip the Preakness, he reignited a decades-old debate about the spacing of the Triple Crown series, which many horsemen and racing analysts see as out of step with modern practices.Dawson and trainer Eric Reed have said that if they had a month to prepare for the second jewel of the Triple Crown instead of the traditional two weeks, Rich Strike would be on his way to Baltimore. Instead, they opted to give him five weeks to rest for the Belmont Stakes.AdvertisementWith a 94-word statement, Dawson eliminated the possibility for a Triple Crown winner in 2022.Healthy Derby winners typically don’t bypass the Preakness. It had not happened since 1985, when Spend a Buck eschewed the race in favor of the greater riches available on the New Jersey racing circuit of that era.AdvertisementBut students of modern racing said it was only a matter of time until an owner and trainer decided that two weeks was not enough prep time for the Preakness.“Inevitable,” NBC racing analyst Randy Moss said, noting that most current trainers prefer to wait a month or more between races.Preakness contender Simplification is comforted by owner Tami Bobo as he is washed following a morning workout Tuesday. The 147th Preakness Stakes gets underway on Saturday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)Animal wellness advocates applauded Dawson and Reed’s decision.“Hopefully, this will prompt the racing industry to modernize the demanding Triple Crown schedule by extending the time between the three races to less-inhumane intervals of one month each,” said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo.That would mean an early-June Preakness and a Belmont Stakes run closer to July 4. But with no overarching authority to mandate reform, such change is easier said than done, and plenty of people in the sport are reluctant to alter a tradition that has elevated some of the greatest champions in history, from Citation to Secretariat to American Pharoah.For the Triple Crown calendar to change, officials from 1/ST Racing, the forward-facing arm of The Stronach Group, which owns and operates Pimlico Race Course, and the New York Racing Association, which operates the Belmont Stakes, would have to agree on a new timeline.Preakness organizers have an incentive; the Preakness field suffers every year because trainers are reluctant to run their Kentucky Derby contenders on two weeks’ rest. But the allure is less obvious for New York racing officials, who annually welcome talented horses that have skipped a trip to Pimlico in favor of resting up for the Belmont Stakes.Though 1/ST Racing offered no formal comment on a possible calendar change, a representative said the company “is looking at this internally and intends to speak with our other Triple Crown partners once we are through Preakness 147.”AdvertisementKentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter a 6-5 morning-line favorite in nine-horse Preakness field; will break from No. 8 post https://t.co/ia5KJER5AU— Baltimore Sun Sports (@BaltSunSports) May 16, 2022

Dave O’Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, nodded to tradition in his statement on the issue: “The Triple Crown galvanizes the attention of the sports world precisely because of its difficulty. To sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes requires an extraordinarily talented horse to perform heroically at three different racetracks over a period of just five weeks.“This condensed schedule helps to sustain the excitement and enthusiasm that surrounds a Triple Crown quest and plays a role in the lasting success of each leg of the series. NYRA is always willing to engage in thoughtful conversation around issues that will impact the future of horse racing. Fundamental changes to the sport’s most successful and important institution, however, would demand careful and deliberate consideration among all relevant parties.”Debate around the schedule — three races in five weeks, starting with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May — intensified during the 37-year gap between Affirmed’s Triple Crown in 1978 and American Pharoah’s Triple Crown in 2015. As the 1970s dominance of Affirmed, Seattle Slew and Secretariat faded deeper into the past, fans wondered if modern thoroughbreds were cut out for the test.Secretariat had raced 12 times — four of those on two weeks’ rest or less — before he reached the Triple Crown series in 1973. Affirmed had raced 13 times — five of those on two weeks’ rest or less — before he entered the starting gate for the 1978 Kentucky Derby.Preakness contender Skippylongstocking is led to the Pimlico Race Course track early Tuesday for a workout in preparation for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)Such early workloads are unheard of for today’s top 3-year-olds. (Rich Strike had raced seven times, usually on at least a month’s rest, going into the Derby.) Thus, many see the Triple Crown schedule as a relic from a bygone era.In 2014, former Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas tried, unsuccessfully, to force discussion of a new calendar.Advertisement“I respect tradition,” he said at the time, “but I also think tradition cannot impede the growth or betterment of the industry.”American Pharoah and Justify put this conversation on hold when they won Triple Crowns in 2015 and 2018, respectively, proving supremely gifted horses still could pull it off.But Rich Strike’s withdrawal from the Preakness revived the same issues in a slightly different context, as Dawson and Reed said they would be uncomfortable rushing their Derby champion back to the starting gate two weeks after the greatest effort of his life.It’s a reservation other Derby-winning trainers such as Todd Pletcher have expressed in recent years, though they bowed to tradition and raced their horses in the Preakness anyway.Trainers who have participated in the Triple Crown series are as divided as fans and track operators on the merits of the traditional schedule.At age 86, D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times and the Preakness six times. Though he never minded bringing his Derby champions to Pimlico on two weeks’ rest — “Being old school, I think we can handle it” — he said the Preakness would benefit from a longer lead-up time.AdvertisementAt age 86, trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times and the Preakness six times. Though he never minded bringing his Derby champions to Pimlico on two weeks’ rest — “Being old school, I think we can handle it” — he said the Preakness would benefit from a longer lead-up time. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)“I think it would make for a better field here,” Lukas said Tuesday morning, as he prepared his filly, Secret Oath, to run in this year’s Preakness. “More trainers would participate because the two-week turnaround limits some horses making it. You’d get more of the Derby horses in the field if you stretch it out to say, Memorial Day, and then maybe run the Belmont on the Fourth of July. I think it would work.”On the other side, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who was born the year before Lukas won his first Kentucky Derby in 1988, said he’d prefer to see the schedule remain the same.“The reason the Triple Crown is what it is, it’s not supposed to be easy,” Joseph said. “Are we going to lower the bar to make it easier for the horses? No. There’s a reason it’s that way, and it takes a special horse to do it.”If his Derby contender, White Abarrio, had run well in Kentucky (he finished 16th), Joseph said he would not have felt reluctant to take him on to the Preakness.Maryland-based trainer Graham Motion, who won the 2011 Derby with Animal Kingdom, also said “it would be a shame” if the Triple Crown calendar was extended.“It’s not meant to be easy,” Motion wrote on Twitter, adding that he was surprised how much energy Animal Kingdom had going into the Preakness 11 years ago.AdvertisementRegardless of such arguments for the old way, Moss, the NBC analyst, said the Preakness will continue to suffer as an event if the schedule remains the same. He hopes the New York Racing Association will take a long view and consider a change that might not immediately help the Belmont Stakes. Otherwise, he expects to see more cases akin to Rich Strike.“There’s no good reason other than an antiquated desire to cling to history,” Moss said. “Hopefully, this will spur Pimlico to be aggressive about changing the date of the Preakness and spur NYRA to go along with changing the date of the Belmont. Then, things like this could be just a historical blip on the radar.”147th Preakness StakesPimlico Race CourseSaturdayTV: Chs. 11, 4 (coverage begins at 4 p.m.)

Dear Amy: My partner, “Chris” just showed me a gift he bought for his adult son. This gift is a “verified” personal calling card once owned by Adolf Hitler (Hitler allegedly gave them out to people he would meet).Chris purchased this card from an American museum’s rare items collection and spent quite a bit of money for it.AdvertisementHe finds this gift funny and amusing.Chris is a nice and kind person, and he doesn’t have any prejudice against any ethnic groups.AdvertisementI felt very disturbed, angry, disappointed, and perplexed by the nature of this gift. I don’t find anything related to Hitler an appropriate item for gift-giving, laughter, or amusement.The night I learned of this gift, I was plagued by horrific images and thoughts of the crimes against humanity brought about by this monster.I wrote a note to my partner about how I felt about it and invited him to do some soul searching about his choice. He read my note, stated that he felt angry and frustrated by it, and said, “I knew I shouldn’t have shown it to you.” He then said, “I don’t want my day ruined by this.”I feel perplexed as how this sweet and kind partner could come up with such a gift, honoring an evil person.I wonder how I can be at peace with it.– Perplexed Partner!Dear Perplexed: Using information supplied by you, I verified that the place where your partner purchased this artifact is less a “museum” and more an individual’s private collection located in the dealer’s home.Diving into this disturbing topic, I’ve also learned that there is quite a market for these artifacts, and that collectors use various justifications for purchasing them.AdvertisementIn my opinion, unless a purchaser intends to use artifacts as teaching tools to illustrate both the banality (“calling cards”) and the monstrosity of evil, then there is absolutely no ethical reason to purchase them.It is certainly not “funny,” in any context.So yes, I’d say that at the least, your “nice and kind” guy is sensitive regarding himself (he didn’t want your reaction to “ruin his day”), and not actually sensitive to the reality of suffering experienced by millions of people that should be brought to mind by any Hitler artifact.So yes, I agree that the act itself of purchasing this item as an “amusing” gift is tasteless and troubling. Additionally, his reaction to your honest feedback and concern will quite naturally make you ponder his personal ethics.You ask how to be “at peace” with this choice. Perhaps – when you are less reactive and he is less defensive – you two will be able to come to an understanding about his choice.But there are times when you should stand up for your own values. Doing so is rarely peaceful.AdvertisementDear Amy: A dear friend, whom I met through my ex-husband, recently died.The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the deceased’s favorite charity. I intend to make such a donation.My partner of 15 years thinks that I should ask my ex to contribute to the donation and make it from my ex and me.I strongly disagree for a variety of very valid reasons. While I did meet this friend and his wife through my ex, I have maintained a friendship with them while my ex has not.For a variety of very valid reasons, I only communicate with my ex-husband when absolutely necessary.In spite of knowing all this, my partner still insists that he is right. I maintain that it is entirely inappropriate as my ex and I are no longer a couple.AdvertisementAnd your opinion is…?– Perplexed Re: The ExDear Perplexed: I’m surprised that this is even up for discussion.Let your partner know that joint donations between hardly speaking ex-spouses would be the exception – not the norm.More important, this is your friend, your money, and your choice.Dear Amy: Your advice to “Bay Area Stepmom Cook” was, as usual, tasteless.AdvertisementYou NEVER tell a cook how to cook! Ever. Especially when they are doing it for free, as a favor.If this son-in-law does not like his mother-in-law’s cooking, then he can cook his own or eat out of a can.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.– DisgustedDear Disgusted: Even though she was aware of her son-in-law’s extreme aversion to onions, this mother-in-law insisted on including them in everything.He isn’t telling her how to cook.She is telling him how to eat.AdvertisementGot a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Senior pitcher Anthony Johnson has a knack for getting out of jams for Batavia.It’s nothing new, really.Advertisement“I guess I’ve always done that,” Johnson said. “My freshman year, I would always load the bases in the first inning and somehow I would get out of it every time. “I guess it just puts the pressure on me to pitch well and then I pitch well.”AdvertisementBatavia’s Henry Saul (2) and Anthony Johnson (20) look to the dugout during a DuKane Conference game against St. Charles North in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Johnson went to that well again Tuesday, and his experience in those tense situations came in handy during a 4-0 DuKane Conference win over St. Charles North.While Johnson and reliever Blake Sotir ended up allowing 15 runners, they stranded 14 and the Bulldogs also cut down the other one on the bases.That allowed Batavia (17-10-1, 14-7) to close out the series by taking two of three games from St. Charles North (17-12, 12-8).Kudos to the starter on the mound.“He seemed to be making the pitches at the right time,” Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said of Johnson. “He put himself in those spots and really executed when he needed to. “That was great to see from him. He kind of finds another level of focus when he needs to. He definitely showed that (Tuesday).”Batavia’s Austin Winslow (1) fields a ground ball against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)The North Stars left the bases loaded in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Johnson recorded a strikeout to escape the second and induced a fly out to finish off the fifth for Batavia. Sotir got a pop out to end the sixth.Advertisement“I’m just excited to pitch,” Johnson said. “I like to go out there. I like to compete and help my team win as much as possible. I just go out there and pitch.”Johnson only hits the upper 70s with his fastball, but he finds a way to wiggle out of tough situations while working in tandem with catcher Henry Saul.“I like to mix up my pitches with curveballs and sliders,” Johnson said. “I developed a new two-seam (fastball) two weeks ago thanks to my pitching coach. “That helps a lot. My catcher being there, he’s great behind the plate. I love pitching to him.”Batavia’s Jackson Bland (26) applauds after reaching third base against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Johnson went 5 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out five.“This was the hardest I’ve seen him throw,” Beckmann said. “He’s not going to overpower many people, but he’s just a good baseball player. Advertisement“Good hitter, good pitcher, can play the field if we need him.”After taking a series from DuKane Conference champion St. Charles East, the North Stars took a step back in losing to Batavia. Clutch hitting was the main culprit, according to St. Charles North coach Todd Genke.“It was unfortunate,” Genke said. “You come out and your goal is to get guys on base. You try to execute and move those guys across the plate, and for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. “We’ve been having some issues with that. Guys are getting on base and we’re not getting that big hit. We don’t get shut out at home very often. It just happened.”Batavia scratched across runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth to support Johnson. AdvertisementBatavia’s Ryan Boe (21) gets greeted by teammates Jackson Bland (26), Henry Saul (2) and Connor Desmet (14) after scoring a run in the first inning against St. Charles North during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Charlie Saul singled in his brother Henry in the first. Eric Newberry singled and scored on an error in the second. Henry Saul doubled in Newberry in the fourth.Alex Taylor singled in Austin Winslow in the sixth to cap the scoring.Johnson also made his case to be in the playoff rotation for the Bulldogs, who have a final nonconference tuneup Friday against Kaneland at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.“We have some options,” Beckmann said. “We don’t really have one dominant guy. We have to think about that the next few days, what we want to do. “We have some starters for the playoffs, and Anthony is definitely one of them.”Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.