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Lifestyle

With Roe v. Wade reversal expected, Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledges $500K for abortion access in Chicago

The city of Chicago will spend $500,000 to support abortion access for residents and people from neighboring states in anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday.The money will go toward transportation, lodging, care “and, if necessary, safe and legal access to an abortion procedure,” Lightfoot said.AdvertisementMayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois members of Congress hold a press conference on May 3 in the offices of Planned Parenthood of Illinois in reaction to the leaked draft decision from Supreme Court that showed justices’ intention to overturn Roe v. Wade. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)Lightfoot’s pledge comes after a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling previewed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. Reiterating a concern she first expressed after the opinion leaked, Lightfoot said the case’s repeal could lead to gay and interracial marriages being outlawed.“The architects of this destruction will not stop at a woman’s right to choose,” she said in a statement released last week, the day the draft decision was first reported by Politico. “The Court’s draft opinion will establish a precedent for gutting the legal underpinnings used to protect against gender-based discrimination overall including women’s rights, trans rights, immigrant rights, and of course, the right to same-sex and interracial marriage. This decision truly epitomizes the dangers that exist at the intersection of racism and sexism.”AdvertisementLightfoot’s announced the new funding as part of what the city called the “Justice for All Pledge,” made in direct response to the leaked draft of the Supreme Court ruling.“This pledge signals that the City will continue to be a safe haven for all who are unjustly denied the resources and opportunities they deserve; to fight for the rights of all people; and to ensure that no person will be attacked, assaulted, bullied, or discriminated against because of who they are, the choices they make regarding their bodily autonomy, or who they love,” a news release said.As it relates to reproductive health, the pledge is to “protect and increase access for all safe reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological healthcare regardless of the patient’s age, sex, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, place of residence, or immigration status in order to support the choices of all people to have or not bear children on their terms.”Advertisement

Local

The Failures Before the Fires

This yearlong investigation, a collaboration between the Tribune and the Better Government Association, revealed that at least 61 people died in residential fires in Chicago where…

Sports

Frank Schwindel — less than a day after being optioned to Triple-A — is set to rejoin the Chicago Cubs

SAN DIEGO — First baseman Frank Schwindel’s time with Triple-A Iowa didn’t last long.Schwindel is expected to rejoin the Chicago Cubs in San Diego ahead of their series opener Monday night, a source confirms. A Cubs fan spotted Schwindel on a Monday morning flight from Chicago to San Diego.AdvertisementIt is not yet clear what corresponding move the Cubs will make for Schwindel. However, for Schwindel to be so quickly recalled and not spend the minimum stint in the minors indicates the Cubs have some sort of injury or injured list move within the roster.Left-hander Justin Steele exited Sunday’s start with left thumb soreness. He was originally slated to start Monday against the Padres but had his outing pushed up. Right-hander Marcus Stroman was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start and placed on the IL without an injury distinction. Players can only go on the IL under those circumstances when it relates to COVID.AdvertisementSchwindel, 30, was optioned to Triple A before Sunday night’s 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He does not lose his final minor-league option because he has not spent the minimum 20 days in the minors. The Cubs hoped the move would allow Schwindel to get locked in and recapture what made him successful during his stellar two months to close out last season.[ [Don’t miss] How Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel’s experience at catcher helps him defensively: ‘He’s hungry’ ]After missing time in spring training because of back tightness, Schwindel has struggled to get going. He posted a .209/.250/.308 slash line with a 62 OPS+, five extra-base hits, 21 strikeouts and five walks. His strikeout rate is nearly 7% higher than last year while his walk rate has dipped by 1.5%.

Sports

Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, dies in a shooting at 31

ORLANDO — Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, has died in a shooting. He was 31.The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a shooting at 1:34 a.m. Monday when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.AdvertisementLawrence Dority, 29, was present at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested on a first-degree murder warrant after homicide detectives interviewed him.Payne played in 107 NBA games, averaging four points and three rebounds, over four seasons with Atlanta, Minnesota and Orlando. The Hawks drafted him No. 15 overall in 2014, traded him to the Timberwolves, and he averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds as a potentially promising rookie.AdvertisementThe Magic waived the 6-foot-10 forward in January, 2018, after he was part of an ESPN report that detailed sexual assault allegations against former basketball and football players at the school.Michigan State’s Adreian Payne speaks during a NCAA Tournament press conference in New York on March 29, 2014. (Brad Horrigan / McClatchy-Tribune)Payne played professionally earlier this year for Juventus in Lithuania. He also played in Turkey, France, Greece and China.Payne, who is from Dayton, Ohio, started in 94 of 138 games over four seasons for Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior during the 2013-14 season.While in college, Payne befriended 8-year-old, cancer-stricken Lacey Holsworth and spoke at her memorial ceremony in April, 2014.