Midwest
Democrat mayor not welcome at funeral for slain police officer
A funeral service was held Monday for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, killed two weeks ago in the line of duty, and the city’s mayor did not attend at the request of the officer’s family members.
Darion C. McMillian, 23, was charged with several felonies, including one count of first-degree murder, for the killing of the 26-year-old officer on Nov. 4.
“My brother and I… we wanted to become Chicago police officers… it was our calling,” Martinez’s brother, Adrian Martinez, also a police officer, told mourners at the funeral. “Becoming police officers was not just a job title for us, but who we were supposed to be.”
Hundreds of mourners, including police officers, citizens and public officials, gathered for the funeral.
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After originally planning to attend the service, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reversed his decision on Saturday, Fox 32 reported.
“The family of Officer Enrique Martinez continues to be in my prayers as they prepare to lay him to rest. I heard from the family and am honoring their request and will no longer plan to attend the honors funeral services,” the mayor’s statement read.
“This has been an emotional two weeks for the loved ones of Officer Martinez, the Chicago Police Department, and the city of Chicago. We all want to do right by Officer Martinez and give his family and the CPD family space to grieve. The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at City Hall on Jan. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
That latest statement came after the mayor’s previous comments on Friday, when he said he would be attending.
“Mayor Johnson will attend honors funeral services and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez. Mayor Johnson will join Superintendent Snelling and the Chicago Police Department to honor the legacy of service Officer Martinez will forever inspire. Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Martinez family and Officer Martinez’s beloved fiancé.
WATCH: Hundreds mourn Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez
“The Mayor of Chicago will attend all honors funeral services for every Police Officer, Firefighter or EMT who loses their life in the line of duty. These official honor services are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders. It is the Mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.”
Representatives for Martinez’s family held a press conference on Friday evening, when they said that both Johnson and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker would not be welcomed at the funeral, Fox 32 reported.
The governor’s office said it always respects the wishes of the family and would not attend, according to the outlet.
CHICAGO OFFICIALS DISCUSS THE KILLING OF A CITY POLICE OFFICER
Police Officer Enrique Martinez’s visitation services. (Facebook/Chicago Police Department)
Fatal Chicago shooting
Chicago police said the fatal shooting happened when Martinez and his partner responded to a report about a vehicle, with three people inside, blocking traffic in the East Chatham neighborhood.
Before additional officers arrived to assist, Martinez and his partner spoke with the driver and observed McMillian reaching for a bag on the floor of the vehicle, police said.
When instructed to stop, McMillian allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired, fatally wounding Martinez.
“Officer Martinez and all of our police officers run toward this danger to protect everyone in the city,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a previous press conference. “We all need to be outraged at the violent offenders who are creating endless cycles of trauma in our communities.
‘FURIOUS’ CHICAGO RESIDENTS TEAR INTO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON BEFORE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX HIKE SHOT DOWN
Chicago police announced the arrest of Darion McMillian, who is charged in connection with the murder of Officer Enrique Martinez. (Chicago Police Department)
Martinez is survived by his mother, Rosa; father, Adrian; sister, Angelica; brother, Adrian, and fiancée, Lesly, according to his obituary.
“On the night of his murder, my brother was taken from all of us, our world stopped. On his final tour, my brother looked evil and terror in the face and took his final breath,” Adrian Martinez said at the funeral. “That night, my brother saved countless lives, as he was pierced by multiple bullets. Every bullet that struck my brother could have taken the life of someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, or friend.”
“Because of my brother’s strength and courage, we are all able to see another day, embrace a loved one…and live without fear. Enrique will always be my little brother…you will never be forgotten.”
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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South Dakota is getting another chief elections officer.
Secretary of State Monae Johnson failed to win the Republican nomination for a second term during the South Dakota Republican Party Convention Saturday in Rapid City, where GOP delegates instead favored another Pierre outsider to oversee the state’s elections for the next four years.
“When this office runs well, you don’t notice it. When it doesn’t, you feel it everywhere,” Rep. Heather Baxter told a capacity crowd of delegates and attendees at The Monument events center, where she received nearly 60 percent of votes cast by more than 700 party delegates.
Populist push falls short in South Dakota GOP contest for Public Utilities nod
Looking to explore Wisconsin this summer? The state is full of lakefront beaches, forests, rivers, bluffs, waterfalls and more.
These pockets of nature span several state counties and can make for great road trips. Here are eight hidden gems across Wisconsin for nature-lovers to enjoy while the weather is warm:
This state park is home to Wisconsin’s largest waterfall, Big Manitou Falls. It is accompanied by Little Manitou, a smaller cascade. Around every bend in the trail, there’s opportunity to get right next to a waterfall or rumbling rapid.
The park is on the Black River within Pattison State Park in Douglas County.
For a full Wisconsin waterfall experience, visit waterfalls at Copper Falls, 90 miles east, and Pattison State Park, 15 miles southwest.
On the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield peninsula 22 islands sit in Lake Superior. Most of the islands are part of Ashland County.
It’s known for its mainland sea caves, which you can visit with a kayak. Also accessible (exclusively) by kayak or boat, there are campsites on 18 of the 21 islands. Visitors can go on cruises for tours of lighthouses, sea caves and more.
Stretching across Vernon and Crawford counties, this region’s forested hills and winding rivers make it unique from other Wisconsin landscapes. Its 125-mile stretch starts near Wilton, winds through La Farge and Ontario and ends at Wauzeka.
It’s beautiful year-round, but canoeing or kayaking the Kickapoo River during the summer can make for great memories. Wildcat Mountain State Park and Kickapoo Valley Reserve trails are also great places to explore.
There are private cabins with large porches to enjoy the view of hills, but the area isn’t as touristy as some other Wisconsin summer spots.
This scenic byway spans 3,000 miles along the Mississippi river across several states. The Wisconsin stretch goes through small towns like Stockholm, Pepin and Alma, which have wineries and natural attractions to visit along a road trip. For a nature break, there’s hiking at Perrot State Park in Trempealeau County and Maiden Rock State Natural Area in Pepin County. To grab a bite or drink, get pizza on a farm at the Stone Barn and go wine tasting at Villa Bellezza and Danzinger.
Bluff-top camping along the Mississippi River
There are campsites in Wyalusing State Park near Bagley and Nelson Dewey State Park near Cassville that sit on bluffs above the Mississippi River. The campgrounds tend to fill quickly, so stay vigilant about any snatch-able sites, or keep it on your radar for a few months down the line.
Wyalusing sites are car-camping sites and have limited privacy, but they have great views, looking directly out on the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.
The four walk-in sites at Nelson Dewey State Park have a great view of the Mississippi with better privacy between sites. Below the bluff, trains whizz past.
Lakeside camping in the Northwoods
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest protect over 1.75 million forest acres and thousands of lakes. There are dozens of small campgrounds – many on lakes – at both parks. You could even backcountry camp off the North Country Trail on national forest land and off the Ice Age Trail.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest encompasses 1.5 million acres and crosses 11 counties, including Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer and Price counties. It’s just south of Lake Superior’s shores. Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest reaches Iron, Oneida and Vilas counties.
Some extra gems here are Laura Lake, Bagley Rapids and Crystal Lake.
On the way to Door County, the Ridges is a nature preserve in Baileys Harbor. It was Wisconsin’s first land trust, and today has lots of boardwalks, typical of this area of Lake Michigan.
The Kettle Moraine State Forest
Lakes, pines, prairies and glacial landforms can all be found in the Kettle Moraine. Dozens of forested campsites stretch through the woods, with plenty of privacy and space.
Its most famous trail is the Ice Age, which travels through 30 counties. More than 600 miles of it can be hiked, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, but 30 miles are in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine grounds. It’s meant to be hiked by foot but has branches for mountain biking and horseback riding.
The forest is divided into six units, which hit Fond Du Lac, Jefferson, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties.
Contact Elena Metinidis at emetinidis@usatodayco.com.
Detroit — The Tigers will get pitcher Jack Flaherty back in the starting rotation for a start in the series finale against the Houston Astros on Sunday, manager AJ Hinch confirmed on Saturday.
Flaherty, who has been on the 15-day injured list since June 13 with a strain of the peroneal tendons in his left foot/ankle, will get back on the active roster with a yet-to-be-announced move on Sunday morning, as it’s the first day he’s eligible to come back from the IL.
“He’s good to go for tomorrow,” Hinch said. “We can’t make it official until the morning. But yeah, we’re fully expecting him to be good to go.”
Flaherty completed a rehab assignment with Double-A Erie on Tuesday, throwing 5⅔ innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts.
That outing and the lack of any hang-ups in the days since have Flaherty on the precipice of his return. Hinch was hopeful that Flaherty could make his return on Sunday, and a few days earlier he recalled some words of motivation he gave the pitcher in a postgame handshake line.
“I told him, I was standing in the high-five line yesterday, that we’re getting closer, closer to him being back,” Hinch said. “So, he’s definitely the right amount of being agitated and wanting to pitch.”
With Flaherty back in the mix, Hinch is unsure if Detroit will stick with a six-man pitching rotation of Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, Troy Melton, Keider Montero and Flaherty or take it back down to five. The latter option likely requires Montero to move into a bullpen role.
As of Saturday, the inflection point on any decision will be the series opener against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
The plan is for Flaherty to pitch the finale against Houston. Detroit then travels to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees where it’s set up for Mize, Skubal and Melton to pitch Monday through Wednesday.
That Thursday opener against the Rangers, where Hinch will make a call between Valdez and Montero, sits in an odd pocket of the schedule, too, as the two teams are off on Friday before completing a three-game series over the weekend. That’s because there’s a Round of 32 game in the FIFA World Cup taking place in Arlington, Texas, that afternoon.
And with a day off the following Monday, Detroit has two days of rest in a four-day span after coming off a 14-game stretch without an off day.
“We’ll have a decision to make on Thursday, going to Texas,” Hinch said. “We can bring Framber back on regular rest. We could put Keider in there, do the six man. We’re kind of considering all of our options. Going with Jack coming in tomorrow kind of creates that decision for the back end of that. Then we have two off days surrounding the weekend. It’s really weird with the World Cup. We have that weird mid-series off day. So we’ll see.”
Hinch shares updates on Perez, Báez
The timeline for Wenceel Perez and Javier Báez to rejoin the active roster remains murky, though both are progressing in recovering from their respective injuries, Hinch said.
Perez, who suffered a fractured orbital bone on his left side after a resistance band under tension released and hit him the face last week, is on the 60-day injured list. Hinch shared that things are going slow in Perez’s recovery as all parties are basically waiting for the fracture to heal and Perez’s vision to be fully restored.
Perez is back in Detroit, but is otherwise laying low on any sort of rehab until the injury itself subsides enough.
“There’s a little bit of unknown on how long this can take but given — I mean, it’s like two-sided,” Hinch said. “You want everybody to know he’s safe and out of harm’s way. He’s just mending slowly in that. And the swelling, the vision, not disrupting the healing of the orbital bone, it’s a lot more sensitive than just getting hit in the face.”
Báez is getting back to some physical activity after taking some prolonged rest, which came as a result of his sprained right ankle not responding well to earlier rehab.
Báez has been on the IL since late April and got moved to the 60-day IL on June 11.
And despite the need for serious ramping up, Báez’s return to some light physical activity is a welcome sign for Hinch and Co. for an injury they worried could be much more serious.
“He’s doing well and going to continue on with his rehab and getting back into baseball stuff. There’s jump tests, there’s running, there’s the hitting, again,” Hinch said. “So the good news is he’s not shut down. That’s what our fear was. The continual delay is it has just been a complicated injury.”
Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.
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