Midwest
Chicago shootings: July 4th weekend sees more than 100 people shot, 19 killed
Chicago’s explosive Fourth of July weekend left 19 people dead and more than 100 others wounded in shootings, including multiple mass shootings, across the Windy City in a four-day span, according to police.
The victims included two women, Neekshia Strong, 45, and Capri Edwards, 24, who lost their lives shielding children from gunfire on Independence Day, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Bullets struck all three of the boys with them, ages 5, 8 and 8. One of the boys died.
“There was also a 1-year-old at that location inside the home, who luckily and thankfully was not harmed but was traumatized by the event,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters during a Monday morning news briefing.
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Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling responds to a question during a news conference on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Chicago. Snelling asked for city residents to come forward with information about violent crime after a weekend of shootings left 19 dead and more than 100 hurt. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Those victims were all from a single shooting. Police responded to dozens over the weekend, including an incident in Little Italy that left eight people wounded between the ages of 18 and 74.
We need every single person to step up. We need people to start coming forward. We need people to take responsibility. Help us help you. We want to take these people off the street.
“These are not just numbers on pages, these are not just headlines in the news,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said during the briefing. “No, these are our fellow Chicagoans, our neighbors, family members, who’ve lost their lives.”
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to reporters on Jan. 29, 2024 in Chicago. Johnson blamed illegally purchased firearms for widespread, deadly violence in his city after the July Fourth weekend saw more than 100 people shot, 19 fatally. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Snelling slammed the “brazenness” of a suspect who could barge into a home and shoot at women and children and repeatedly called on residents to come forward with information.
“Just think about that again, children who are being shot in our city,” he said. “Somebody knows something. Somebody knows who the offenders are in these cases, and it’s really important that we work with our communities and our communities understand that we’re trying to work with [them].”
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Chicago police want to take violent offenders off the streets and keep them locked up, and they are asking for witnesses to come forward to help them do so. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto)
He also took a subtle swipe at some of Illinois’ progressive bail reforms that allow more suspects out of jail before their trials and said his focus is on the victims.
“We have to take them off the street, and we have to keep them off the street so they don’t destroy other families,” he said.
Johnson vowed consequences for violent criminals and placed the blame on “generations of disinvestment” and illegally purchased firearms, which he said are fueling a culture of violence in Chicago, using the example of a 16-year-old with an AK-47.
Someone like that has a history of violence long before they unlawfully obtain a weapon, he said.
“We will not let criminal activity ruin and harm our city,” he added.
Chicago is hosting the 2024 Democratic National Convention. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In just over a month, the city will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Leaders are hoping to keep the city’s violence problem out of view during the event, with cordoned-off safe zones and a huge increase in security.
While murders have declined two years in a row after rising in 2020 and 2021, violent crime as a whole, led by soaring robberies, has climbed in the Windy City, police statistics show. Yearly car thefts nearly tripled between 2020 and 2023 from 9,910 to 29,287.
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Minnesota
Aurora clinches division championship with 4-1 win over River Light
Eagan, MN – Minnesota Aurora FC clinched a fifth straight Heartland Division title and a spot in the USL W League playoffs with a 4-1 win over River Light FC on Saturday at TCO Stadium.
Aurora improved to 10-0-0 on the season and finished its home schedule unbeaten.
Ai Kitagawa scored twice and added an assist, increasing her season total to 11 goals. Flavie Dubé had a goal and an assist, and Amelia Brown scored her first goal of the season.
***Click video box at the top of the page for postgame interviews***
Kitagawa opened the scoring in the 14th minute off a through ball from Dubé. River Light tied it in the 27th on a header from Victoria Adams — the first goal allowed by Aurora this season.
Minnesota regained the lead in first-half stoppage time on Dubé’s breakaway finish and extended it in the 51st minute when Kitagawa scored again on a cross from Gracie Dunaway. Brown added a late goal in the 81st minute.
Aurora will play its final two regular-season games on the road before the playoffs begin the weekend of July 3-5.
Missouri
Silverfield Might Have Master Plan For Arkansas to Finally Take Down Missouri
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — “It’s difficult to call the Battle Line Rivalry a true rivalry when Arkansas has won just twice since Missouri joined the SEC.”
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has made this one matter even more for the Tigers during his time in Columbia due to his Natural State roots.
The Alma native is 5-1 against his home-state with three victories coming by seven points or less.
Silverfield has watched the Razorbacks from just across the river in Memphis, and has noticed a pattern in most of the losses over the years. Turnovers have been a major issue in this series through the years.
Whether it was the Alex Collins fumble in 2014, a blown 24-7 halftime lead in 2016, a 48-45 shootout loss in 2017, allowing Missouri to drive 60 yards in 43 seconds for a walk-off field goal by Harrison Mevis in 2020, or letting Brady Cook sprint 30 yards untouched during the Snowmaggedon game in 2024, the Razorbacks have been allergic to holding onto fourth quarter leads against the Tigers.
The biggest curse of all was Arkansas’ game against Missouri was scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, which effectively replaced the Battle of the Golden Boot against LSU. Despite not playing on an annual basis prior to joining the SEC, this game became quite the underrated rivalry not only in the SEC, but nationally with eight games coming down to the final possession from 2005-2013.
Talent Advantage: Missouri
When it comes to talent on the field, this might be Drinkwitz’s deepest team since his arrival at Missouri in 2020. The Tigers have a total of 43 former 4-star prospects and 25 who were rated as 3-stars during their recruitment, according to the Razorbacks on SI offseason Tracker.
Between Austin Simmons at quarterback, Ahmad Hardy in the backfield, Ben Norfleet at tight end and wide receiver Donovan Olugbode there is plenty of firepower to create mismatches in space. Then, Missouri’s defense is fairly deep with linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, safety Santana Banner and defensive lineman Darris Smith.
The Tigers can bring the heat to opposing backfields, field a standout secondary and always seem to have instinctive, hard hitting linebackers. Drinkwitz’s best year came in 2023 with an 11-3 overall record but have yet to officially breakthrough in the SEC.
And with this roster, it’s either time for the Tigers to solidify its place among SEC brethren in 2026 season, or continue its slow path back to mediocrity within the league.
A talent advantage alone won’t always win teams ball games, but one that plays disciplined and understands how to control momentum throughout a game can find ways to win.
The Razorbacks have held the talent edge several times over the years, but still suffered defeat in 2016, 2017 and 2022. Since Missouri joined the SEC, their teams have played with confidence that kept them in games they had no business winning.
Former National Championship winning coach Urban Meyer once said, “Leave no doubt” when it comes to winning at the Power Conference level. Maybe it’s Arkansas’ turn to have a coach whose players are ready to run through a wall for in Silverfield this fall.
The Silverfield Mindset
There’s something to be said about a coach who can motivate his team for the biggest of challenges and overcoming talent deficiencies.
Any team can have the Jimmys and Joes but it all comes down to execution, and that’s something that Arkansas has struggled with over the past several years. Silverfield believes a lot of Arkansas’ struggles came down to a culture of losing, which is something he’ll have to cleanse it of this offseason.
“We’ve had one Power Four win at home the last three years,” Silverfield said in an appearance on McElroy And Cubelic In The Morning radio show earlier this spring. “We have to play more disciplined football. Arkansas has not done a great job with penalties, pre-snap, post-snap, dead ball. Taking care of the football, ball security. That’s been part of some of the failures here.”
Silverfield understands Arkansas’ quickest path to improvement begins with eliminating self-inflicted mistakes. After all, the program is just 17-49 in one possession games since 2012.
Arkansas was close last season to being a very good team last year, but weren’t able to do the small things needed to win games.
The Razorbacks finished last season ranked No. 125 in turnover margin (-11), No. 121 in third down defense (45%), No. 99 in sacks allowed, No. 126 in penalties (7.8 per game) and No. 112 in total penalties showed that a change in leadership was sorely needed.
And the truth is, the Razorbacks might’ve found the right man for the job going into 2026. Arkansas has been close time and time again.
With this game being played on Halloween this fall, it’s possible Arkansas can practice its Houdini act and put the struggles against Missouri behind them once and for all.
Hogs on SI Season Preview Series
North Alabama: Why Week One Matters More Than It Should
Utah: Silverfield Doesn’t Know What Razorbacks Are, Utes Will Provide Answers
Georgia: Razorbacks Might Not Beat Georgia, But Offer Test Kirby Smart Didn’t Expect
Texas A&M: Can Hogs’ Rebuilt Defense Slow Down Marcel Reed?
Tennessee: Razorbacks Must Reclaim Homefield Advantage Against Tennessee
Vanderbilt: Arkansas Might Be Catching Vanderbilt at Right Time in 2026
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