Chicago

2021 is shaping up to be one of the worst years for deadly violence in Chicago history. 

Over 1,000 homicides have already been recorded in Cook County in 2021 and we still have a month to go. 

Why it matters: Gun violence continues to have an impact on everything from safety to the economy. 

By the numbers: Per Cook County Medical Examiner's office data released at the end of November, there have been 1,009 homicides as of Tuesday, 927 of which were gun-related. 

777 of those homicides were in Chicago. The next highest count was in South Suburban Harvey (30). 

The new numbers follow the sharp rise of 2020 but are also almost 40% higher than 2019, when 624 homicides were recorded. 

Context: The last time Cook County saw this many homicides in a year was 1994 (1,141). 

1991 was the worst year on record, with 1,229. 

And at least 4,100 people have been shot in Chicago this year, 69% more than in 2019. 

What they're saying: "Much of what we believe contributed to the spike in homicides and shootings in 2020 has continued into 2021," Roseanna Ander, executive director of the UChicago Crime Lab tells Axios. 

"The population most at risk for gun violence involvement continues to live through an economic crisis and mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic." 

Between the lines: 81% of the county's homicide victims were Black and 15% were Latino. 

Most affected age group: 20-29 (389 homicides).

Be smart: The uptick in gun violence follows the trend that has seen homicide numbers spike across the country, not just here in Cook County.

What's next: Ander is hopeful that new federal funds from the infrastructure package will help. 

"Chicago is set to receive an unprecedented infusion of federal resources including some that are reportedly going to be used for violence prevention. If those dollars are invested in data-driven and evidence-informed ways, we can hope to have a different conversation about gun violence trends in the coming years." 

2021 violence stats the worst in nearly 30 years

Cook County hasn't seen this kind of gun-violence since the early 1990s.

 Police tape surrounds a crime scene where three people were shot at the Wentworth Gardens housing complex in June, 2021. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images  

2021 is shaping up to be one of the worst years for deadly violence in Chicago history. <ul><li>Over 1,000 homicides have already been recorded in Cook County in 2021 and we still have a month to go. </li></ul>

News

 The J.P. Graziano Beef Kit. Photo: J.P. Graziano Grocery Co, Inc.    

 Welcome to our list of locally sourced, Chicago-themed gifts. The rest of the collection will roll out over the coming days.

Today: The Barstool Chicago x JP Graziano Beef Kit Gift Box.

Why: There's nothing like the holidays in Chicago when you can gift a beef kit. 

The price: $13 for Graziano's seasoning and world famous giardiniera, a spicy condiment of oil and vegetables. You gotta get the beef on your own. 

The experience:  You can trace the Graziano family business to the turn of the 20th century, when it started as a wholesale shop that sold things like imported Italian oil, spices and cheese. 

In other words: They know what they are doing. 

Giardiniera is a Chicago gift all by itself. Add the Italian beef seasoning and you get a true wet and spicy beef sandwich, just as the Chicago gods intended. 

Be careful:  Graziano's mezzo giardiniera is a mix between their varieties of hot and mild. That's something you don't see in Chicago every day. 

Best for: Anyone who loves Italian beef. And even if they don't, the mezzo giardiniera is worth it alone. 

Where to get it: Order online or stop by the shop at 901 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop.  

12 Days of Chicago Christmas: Graziano's Beef Kit

A new mix of gardiniera highlights an Italian beef sandwich kit.

<figure><img alt="A photo of a jar of food. " height="1200" id="832ea241-b4bf-41cd-90cc-139614ad0c97" src="https://images.axios.com/IXC-2qJcVTPwDFJBv6m_BzLMovY=/2021/12/05/1638742472417.jpg" width="1200"/><figcaption> The J.P. Graziano Beef Kit. Photo: J.P. Graziano Grocery Co, Inc. </figcaption></figure> Welcome to our list of locally sourced, Chicago-themed gifts. The rest of the collection will roll out over the coming days.Today: The <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Barstool Chicago x JP Graziano Beef Kit Gift Box" data-vars-click-url="https://store.barstoolsports.com/products/barstool-chicago-x-j-p-graziano-beef-kit-gift-box?variant=39331296903265&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUARIsABEee8XSxCkITYGtOtVR2wWJdPOWIfFETrZAN_VVtJgCjU4O--ga6l7BGP0aAtdqEALw_wcB" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://store.barstoolsports.com/products/barstool-chicago-x-j-p-graziano-beef-kit-gift-box?variant=39331296903265&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUARIsABEee8XSxCkITYGtOtVR2wWJdPOWIfFETrZAN_VVtJgCjU4O--ga6l7BGP0aAtdqEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Barstool Chicago x JP Graziano Beef Kit Gift Box</a>.Why: There&#x27;s nothing like the holidays in Chicago when you can gift a beef kit.

Food and Drink

In the last two weeks, the Bears had the chance to compare themselves against the best and worst teams in the NFC. After a blowout loss to the NFC-leading Cardinals yesterday at Soldier Field, it's clear the Bears are closer to the worst. 

Chicago turned the ball over four times and let Kyler Murray and the Cardinals work with a short field the entire game in a 33-22 loss. 

Why it matters: The Bears dropped to 4-8 and are all but mathematically eliminated from postseason play. 

MVP: Running back David Montgomery, who totaled 141 yards and scored a touchdown. 

LVP: Quarterback Andy Dalton threw four interceptions, but three were either tipped or bad drops. It's the most interceptions by a Bears QB since 2016. 

Play of the game: For the Bears? Oh, there weren't any. They did control time of possession, but came away with just seven first half points.

What's next: The Bears play the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football.  

Bears no match for Cardinals

The Bears turn the ball over four times in a loss to the NFC-leading Arizona Cardinals.

A photo of a coach on the sidelines of a football game. 

 Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy during the loss. Photo: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images  

In the last two weeks, the Bears had the chance to compare themselves against the best and worst teams in the NFC. After a blowout loss to the NFC-leading Cardinals yesterday at Soldier Field, it&#x27;s clear the Bears are closer to the worst. <ul><li>Chicago turned the ball over four times and let Kyler Murray and the Cardinals work with a short field the entire game in a 33-22 loss. </li></ul>

Sports

Chicago singer/songwriter Tasha. Photo: Alexa Viscius 

 Today's Bandcamp Friday is the last in 2021.

Why it matters: On Bandcamp Fridays, the music site doesn't charge hosting fees and gives almost all proceeds back to artists. 

Created to help offset pandemic losses for musicians, it gives local musicians a place to sell their music directly to fans.

By the numbers: Since March 2020, Bandcamp reports it brought in $40 million for local artists on Bandcamp Fridays alone. 

A few recommendations of great Chicago artists selling their work today:

🎧 Rich Jones has come a long way from hosting rap shows at the old Tonic Room in Lincoln Park. Jones is still producing high quality R&B but his music has matured.  

🥁 Makaya McCraven embodies the future of Chicago jazz, high praise in a town where jazz used to reign supreme.  

🎸 Half Gringa (aka Izzy Olive) serves up great Chicago indie-rock in her new album, Sevenwater. 

🎙 Tasha is one of Chicago's best up-and-coming singer/songwriters. She just put out a brand new album today! 

🌊 No list would be complete without the hard driving rock and roll produced by Meat Wave. 

Go deeper: A complete list of 2021 recommendations, per Chicago Reader.  

Chicago celebrates the last Bandcamp Friday of 2021

A few Chicago artists we recommend on the final Bandcamp Friday of 2021.

<figure><img alt="A photo of a woman. " height="1000" id="d9d8004c-fe51-4876-b4f6-f1ffc4bad09f" src="https://images.axios.com/jNgcP6SZVZEGPobpNjbUk5kw4F0=/2021/12/02/1638484855203.png" width="1000"/><figcaption>Chicago singer/songwriter Tasha. Photo: Alexa Viscius </figcaption></figure> Today&#x27;s Bandcamp Friday is the last in 2021.Why it matters: On Bandcamp Fridays, the music site doesn&#x27;t charge hosting fees and gives almost all proceeds back to artists. <ul><li>Created to help offset pandemic losses for musicians, it gives local musicians a place to sell their music directly to fans.</li></ul>By the numbers: Since March 2020, <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Bandcamp report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/bandcamp-fridays-artists-music-covid-1103769/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/bandcamp-fridays-artists-music-covid-1103769/" target="_blank">Bandcamp report</a>s it brought in $40 million for local artists on Bandcamp Fridays alone. A few recommendations of great Chicago artists selling their work today:🎧 <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Rich Jones" data-vars-click-url="https://richjonesmusic.bandcamp.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://richjonesmusic.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Rich Jones</a> has come a long way from hosting rap shows at the old Tonic Room in Lincoln Park. Jones is still producing high quality R&amp;B but his music has matured. 🥁 <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Makaya McCraven" data-vars-click-url="https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/universal-beings" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/universal-beings" target="_blank">Makaya McCraven</a> embodies the future of Chicago jazz, high praise in a town where jazz used to reign supreme. 🎸 <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Half Gringa" data-vars-click-url="https://halfgringa.bandcamp.com/album/sevenwater" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://halfgringa.bandcamp.com/album/sevenwater" target="_blank">Half Gringa</a> (aka Izzy Olive) serves up great Chicago indie-rock in her new album, Sevenwater. 🎙 <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Tasha" data-vars-click-url="https://tashamusic.bandcamp.com/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tashamusic.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Tasha</a> is one of Chicago&#x27;s best up-and-coming singer/songwriters. She just put out a brand new album today! 🌊 No list would be complete without the hard driving rock and roll produced by <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Meat Wave" data-vars-click-url="https://meatwavechicago.bandcamp.com/album/volcano-park" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://meatwavechicago.bandcamp.com/album/volcano-park" target="_blank">Meat Wave</a>. Go deeper: A complete list of 2021 recommendations, per <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Chicago Reader" data-vars-click-url="https://chicagoreader.com/music/the-years-last-bandcamp-friday-arrives/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://chicagoreader.com/music/the-years-last-bandcamp-friday-arrives/" target="_blank">Chicago Reader</a>.

Business

Things to Do

 A new BGA/Sun-Times investigation looks into life-changing incarcerations of thousands for low-level drug offenses prosecutors know won't stick. 

Why it matters: Under state law, drug possession cases under 15 grams — a trace of heroin or one Xanax pill — are a felony. 

The offenders can languish behind bars for months, losing work, housing and freedom and altering their lives. 

Of the 10,480 drug possession cases from 2018, 72% were ultimately tossed out.

More than $100 million was spent on jailing people on low-level drug possession charges from 2013-2018.

The 11th police district, which represents the West Side of Chicago and its open-air drug markets off the Eisenhower Expressway called "the heroin highway," has twice as many drug arrests as any other district in the city.

A former gang member said that a West Side heroin operation could bring in $10,000 a day. 

Be smart: Some in Illinois are trying to change the felony charge to a misdemeanor as it is in more than 20 states, including Oregon. A measure to do this stalled in the Illinois state senate after passing the state house this spring. 

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx called this "a colossal waste of time," per the BGA/Sun-Times investigation. 

Between the lines: One reason the city is still classifying these charges as felonies is that low-level drug possession arrests often are based on the word of the officer and don't usually require a confession or witness testimony. 

In the report, defense attorneys cite the power officers have to stop and search possible suspects. 

Go deeper: The BGA and Injustice Watch teamed up to create The Circuit, which crunched years worth of data for this report. 

"The consequences of these dead-end arrests can be devastating for the individuals themselves, but also their families and the entire community," BGA investigative reporter John Chase tells Axios. "Sadly, after 20 years and tens of thousands of arrests, it's still business as usual in the West Side drug markets. 

"Drug sales and purchases continue, and people keep dying."

Low-level drug arrests ruining lives

A new investigation looks into the practice of dismissing low-level drug offenses.

The Eisenhower Expressway, also known as "the heroin highway." Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images  

A new <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="BGA/Sun-Times investigation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bettergov.org/news/the-costly-toll-of-dead-end-drug-arrests/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bettergov.org/news/the-costly-toll-of-dead-end-drug-arrests/" target="_blank">BGA/Sun-Times investigation</a> looks into life-changing incarcerations of thousands for low-level drug offenses prosecutors know won&#x27;t stick. Why it matters: Under state law, drug possession cases under 15 grams — a trace of heroin or one Xanax pill — are a felony. <ul><li>The offenders can languish behind bars for months, losing work, housing and freedom and altering their lives. </li></ul>

Justin Kaufmann

Featured stories

Bears no match for Cardinals

12 Days of Chicago Christmas: Graziano's Beef Kit

Low-level drug arrests ruining lives

2021 violence stats the worst in nearly 30 years

Chicago celebrates the last Bandcamp Friday of 2021