Thinking about all the folks hit by the twisters. Spent some time in the basement, wondering if 2019s tornado traveling along Jarvis was going to have a sequel. Some of the pics of people sheltering in place at ORD are wild, glad my flight was this morning.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 8:09 am:
Thankfully there was no loss of life in yesterday’s multiple tornadoes. It was scary and fascinating watching a tornado form live on TV. Hoping for calmer weather in the days ahead.
Woke up to chainsaws removing fallen limbs along my street. Also realizing summer is about halfway over. Boo.
- Chief of Station, Chicago - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 9:29 am:
Got lucky, the twister that was up and down northwest (Barrington, etc) seemed to miss me in Deer Park.
If the maps are true from the perspective of the multiple rotations in such a small area out west (streamwood, south of 90 corridor, ORD) - yesterday will go down in the annals of Chicago weather history, without a doubt. And on the anniversary of the 95 Heat Wave.
I was having dinner with friends in Oak Park when everyone’s cellphone went off with alerts, though everything had cleared by the time we were ready to leave.
The sky was amazing. Driving east on the Eisenhower, it was bright blue with fluffy white clouds to the north, and very dark gray to the east and south. When I turned south on Lake Shore Drive, though, I saw a double rainbow! The outer arc was soft and blurry, but the inner one was vibrant, each color clearly delineated, and it seemed to end in an opening in the clouds. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Was grateful that we had cleared the basement enough for us to shelter there (we’re in Berwyn just recently declared a disaster area by the gov) during the tornado warning.
2 weeks ago I was in Iowa and we had a tornado warning combined with a 3 hour power interruption.
If I were paranoid I might feel the weather was out to get me. I think it’s just midwestern weather, though.
I miss having a basement.
Sitting on a can of birdseed in the closet’s really uncomfortable.
Used sit in my car in the garage, but I guess that’s considered unsafe.
The tornado comments reminded me of a terrific storm that I drove through in Iowa. Inching along at under 5 mph on an interstate. Windshield wipers could not keep pace with the torrential rain and I had to focus on the red taillights of the car in front of me to advance. I thought that I was going to be carried off to see the Wizard of Oz. Suddenly, I reached the edge of the storm and the sky was clear ahead. Being in such a storm on the prairie is damned frightening.
==If you’re referring to Springfield, I’ve seen coverage of the murder in every source I track. They just haven’t released the name yet.==
Individuals are talking about it on their social media. But none of the local media sources are reporting anything beyond the Sherriff department’s press release.
The story everyone keeps linking is from an organization based on in South Africa because it contains actual details.
I guess maybe it just highlights how far local media has fallen not just in Springfield, but everywhere in this day and age.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 2:15 pm:
=But none of the local media sources are reporting anything beyond the Sherriff department’s press release.=
Just what kind of reporting are you looking for. Front page of SJR, on NC 20, all 3 radio stations have it. They just issued an arrest warrant, what more is there at this point?
Maybe some actual reporting? All any of these media outlets have done is regurgitate police department press releases.
Talk to people that knew her, look into what happened, report something, anything beyond a press release.
Considering some guy in South Africa provided such information 24 hours ago, there was obviously elements of these story even one ounce of actual reporting could uncover.
Meanwhile, while the local media sat around and did nothing, the murderer got a 24 hours head start and has not yet be apprehended.
Sorry, I am just really disappointed how far media in this country has fallen.
Also, for the record, the story was not on the front page of the SJ-R, at least not in the screenshot of the paper a friend sent me. It was buried on the 2nd or 3rd page.
Isabel has been working on a story today. Also, people have been waiting on the coroner.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 3:10 pm:
Some right wing rally in Rotary Park, West of Springfield, went a little bit nuts or something… and Springfield police blockaded the roads around the Keresotes YMCA for several hours. Roads open again now but little explanation available as to what went down to require that large of a law enforcement operation.
I am glad nobody was hurt during the storms. I’m a storm watcher so I sat on my front porch when the sirens went off. The storms were farther south than me. I’m not that bright so no need to remind me to go in when the sirens go off.
Former Downstater, until the coroner makes an official identification what should the media do? It’s one thing for social media to be going nuts, but if I was the victims family I don’t know if I would appreciate the name being out there before the official identification is made. As the latest SJ-R & WICS stories from today state it’s still pending next of kin notification.
==until the coroner makes an official identification what should the media do?==
Then what exactly is the coroner waiting on? Considering her employer held an open to the public tribute last night, is it really reasonable to believe her family has not been notified?
Further, even if they waited to identify the victim, why on earth did they wait nearly 48 hours to identity of the suspect? You think the family wouldn’t want that information widely distributed as quickly and to as many people as possible in order to catch him?
I get the coroner reasoning. But do you really think this story would have been reported this way had Springfield newsrooms not been scraped done to the barest of bones?
===Then what exactly is the coroner waiting on?===
No idea, but they finally confirmed.
“The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, can confirm the identity of the Springfield woman who has found deceased in her residence shortly before midnight on July 11, 2023. According to an autopsy conducted today, Emma Shafer, 24, of Springfield died from multiple sharp force injuries. The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Springfield Police Department.”
- Loyal Virus - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 7:43 am:
Thinking about all the folks hit by the twisters. Spent some time in the basement, wondering if 2019s tornado traveling along Jarvis was going to have a sequel. Some of the pics of people sheltering in place at ORD are wild, glad my flight was this morning.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 8:09 am:
Thankfully there was no loss of life in yesterday’s multiple tornadoes. It was scary and fascinating watching a tornado form live on TV. Hoping for calmer weather in the days ahead.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 9:02 am:
what a terrifying time yesterday. the photos are stunning, unprecedented, frightening.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 9:23 am:
Woke up to chainsaws removing fallen limbs along my street. Also realizing summer is about halfway over. Boo.
- Chief of Station, Chicago - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 9:29 am:
Got lucky, the twister that was up and down northwest (Barrington, etc) seemed to miss me in Deer Park.
If the maps are true from the perspective of the multiple rotations in such a small area out west (streamwood, south of 90 corridor, ORD) - yesterday will go down in the annals of Chicago weather history, without a doubt. And on the anniversary of the 95 Heat Wave.
- DuPage - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 10:20 am:
Heavy wind driven rain, no damage.
- JoanP - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 10:21 am:
I was having dinner with friends in Oak Park when everyone’s cellphone went off with alerts, though everything had cleared by the time we were ready to leave.
The sky was amazing. Driving east on the Eisenhower, it was bright blue with fluffy white clouds to the north, and very dark gray to the east and south. When I turned south on Lake Shore Drive, though, I saw a double rainbow! The outer arc was soft and blurry, but the inner one was vibrant, each color clearly delineated, and it seemed to end in an opening in the clouds. I’ve never seen anything like it.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 10:22 am:
Was grateful that we had cleared the basement enough for us to shelter there (we’re in Berwyn just recently declared a disaster area by the gov) during the tornado warning.
2 weeks ago I was in Iowa and we had a tornado warning combined with a 3 hour power interruption.
If I were paranoid I might feel the weather was out to get me. I think it’s just midwestern weather, though.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 11:00 am:
A local activist was murdered by her boyfriend in Springfield, IL. None of the local news seems to be covering it.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 11:04 am:
I miss having a basement.
Sitting on a can of birdseed in the closet’s really uncomfortable.
Used sit in my car in the garage, but I guess that’s considered unsafe.
- Gravitas - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 11:05 am:
The tornado comments reminded me of a terrific storm that I drove through in Iowa. Inching along at under 5 mph on an interstate. Windshield wipers could not keep pace with the torrential rain and I had to focus on the red taillights of the car in front of me to advance. I thought that I was going to be carried off to see the Wizard of Oz. Suddenly, I reached the edge of the storm and the sky was clear ahead. Being in such a storm on the prairie is damned frightening.
- fs - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 11:07 am:
== A local activist was murdered by her boyfriend in Springfield, IL. None of the local news seems to be covering it.==
If you’re referring to Springfield, I’ve seen coverage of the murder in every source I track. They just haven’t released the name yet.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 11:17 am:
==If you’re referring to Springfield, I’ve seen coverage of the murder in every source I track. They just haven’t released the name yet.==
Individuals are talking about it on their social media. But none of the local media sources are reporting anything beyond the Sherriff department’s press release.
The story everyone keeps linking is from an organization based on in South Africa because it contains actual details.
I guess maybe it just highlights how far local media has fallen not just in Springfield, but everywhere in this day and age.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 2:15 pm:
=But none of the local media sources are reporting anything beyond the Sherriff department’s press release.=
Just what kind of reporting are you looking for. Front page of SJR, on NC 20, all 3 radio stations have it. They just issued an arrest warrant, what more is there at this point?
- Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 2:52 pm:
Maybe some actual reporting? All any of these media outlets have done is regurgitate police department press releases.
Talk to people that knew her, look into what happened, report something, anything beyond a press release.
Considering some guy in South Africa provided such information 24 hours ago, there was obviously elements of these story even one ounce of actual reporting could uncover.
Meanwhile, while the local media sat around and did nothing, the murderer got a 24 hours head start and has not yet be apprehended.
Sorry, I am just really disappointed how far media in this country has fallen.
Also, for the record, the story was not on the front page of the SJ-R, at least not in the screenshot of the paper a friend sent me. It was buried on the 2nd or 3rd page.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 3:00 pm:
===Maybe some actual reporting?===
Isabel has been working on a story today. Also, people have been waiting on the coroner.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 3:10 pm:
Some right wing rally in Rotary Park, West of Springfield, went a little bit nuts or something… and Springfield police blockaded the roads around the Keresotes YMCA for several hours. Roads open again now but little explanation available as to what went down to require that large of a law enforcement operation.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 3:12 pm:
===little explanation available as to what went down===
Check the afternoon roundup.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 3:39 pm:
Sorry, Rich. I should have made clear when I was criticizing local media, I was not including you and Isabella.
Ya’ll do great work and are unfortunately a dying breed.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 4:06 pm:
I am glad nobody was hurt during the storms. I’m a storm watcher so I sat on my front porch when the sirens went off. The storms were farther south than me. I’m not that bright so no need to remind me to go in when the sirens go off.
- MyTwoCents - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 4:14 pm:
Former Downstater, until the coroner makes an official identification what should the media do? It’s one thing for social media to be going nuts, but if I was the victims family I don’t know if I would appreciate the name being out there before the official identification is made. As the latest SJ-R & WICS stories from today state it’s still pending next of kin notification.
- Former Downstater - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
==until the coroner makes an official identification what should the media do?==
Then what exactly is the coroner waiting on? Considering her employer held an open to the public tribute last night, is it really reasonable to believe her family has not been notified?
Further, even if they waited to identify the victim, why on earth did they wait nearly 48 hours to identity of the suspect? You think the family wouldn’t want that information widely distributed as quickly and to as many people as possible in order to catch him?
I get the coroner reasoning. But do you really think this story would have been reported this way had Springfield newsrooms not been scraped done to the barest of bones?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 13, 23 @ 4:41 pm:
===Then what exactly is the coroner waiting on?===
No idea, but they finally confirmed.
“The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, can confirm the identity of the Springfield woman who has found deceased in her residence shortly before midnight on July 11, 2023. According to an autopsy conducted today, Emma Shafer, 24, of Springfield died from multiple sharp force injuries. The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Springfield Police Department.”