dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-22--Opponent blasts Lake County Board incumbent Terry Wilke for 'questionable behavior'

Despite criticisms of `` double-dipping '' by his opponent and calls from the Lake County Republican chairman to resign his seat for `` bilking taxpayers , '' Lake County Board incumbent Terry Wilke said he will continue to fight for reelection to his seat on Nov. 3 and will seek another term this spring as Avon Township supervisor .
County board challenger John Frazier , in a Daily Herald editorial board endorsement interview this week with Wilke , joined other Republicans in blasting the Democrat for a series of township actions and for collecting almost $ 1,000 in mileage reimbursement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for township use .
`` It 's not a secret Mr. Wilke was involved in a lot of different questionable behavior that questions his integrity and it is very disappointing , '' Frazier said .
Republicans also criticized Wilke , who has been on the county board since 2008 , for holding two elected positions at the same time .
Wilke makes more than $ 41,000 for his county board work and more than $ 59,000 for serving as Avon Township supervisor .
Wilke , a Round Lake resident who represents Lake County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago that he improperly bought a vacant house and vehicle on behalf of Avon Township .
Wilke said he made the purchases under the `` direction '' of the township board .
Wilke said in 2018 the township board gave him direction to spend $ 5,000 on a car for him to use because the mileage reimbursement cost to continue using his personal car would likely exceed that amount .
He pointed out that the township budget had a $ 5,000 line item for vehicles and provided a copy of the agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed to .
Frazier also accused Wilke of improperly buying a house for $ 1 .
Wilke said he bought the house at 320 Bellevue Drive in Round Lake Park for that amount intending it to be the first in a township revitalization program .
He said records that prove the board gave him direction to buy the home have been destroyed , and he believes the destruction was intentional .
Wilke claimed in an email Monday that Avon Township Clerk Jeanne Kearby had been `` adulterating the township board meeting minutes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge her version of events . ''
Kearby flatly denied Wilke 's accusations when reached for comment Tuesday .
She said she has never been accused of altering written records in her career as a public servant .
`` Not only did I not tamper with the minutes , my minutes are extensive , '' Kearby said .
`` His accusation of destroying records is ludicrous . ''
As for claims that he `` deliberately '' collected county mileage payments for a township vehicle , Wilke said all county board members are automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he discovered this he paid the county back and no longer accepts any mileage reimbursement .
Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw has called for Wilke to resign .
`` It 's been through the ( Lake County Board ) ethics committee and state 's attorney 's office and they agree it is nonsense , '' Wilke said .
Wilke defended his choice to keep both elected jobs , saying his township work gives him a better understanding of the issues his constituents face .
`` I plan to continue both , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been for anyone who has done it , '' Wilke said .
`` He can not represent both parties at same time , so has to recuse himself and so he ends up not representing the people , '' Frazier said .

Opponent blasts Lake County Board incumbent Terry Wilke for 'questionable behavior'
John Frazier, left, and Terry Wilke, right, are candidates for Lake County Board Dist 16 in the 2020 election.
The original version of this story improperly stated where Terry Wilke lives.
Despite criticisms of "double-dipping" by his opponent and calls from the Lake County Republican chairman to resign his seat for "bilking taxpayers," Lake County Board incumbent Terry Wilke said he will continue to fight for reelection to his seat on Nov. 3 and will seek another term this spring as Avon Township supervisor.
County board challenger John Frazier, in a Daily Herald editorial board endorsement interview this week with Wilke, joined other Republicans in blasting the Democrat for a series of township actions and for collecting almost $1,000 in mileage reimbursement from the county for a vehicle acquired for township use.
"It's not a secret Mr. Wilke was involved in a lot of different questionable behavior that questions his integrity and it is very disappointing," Frazier said.
Republicans also criticized Wilke, who has been on the county board since 2008, for holding two elected positions at the same time. Wilke makes more than $41,000 for his county board work and more than $59,000 for serving as Avon Township supervisor.
Wilke, a Round Lake Beach resident who represents Lake County District 16, denied accusations that surfaced months ago that he improperly bought a vacant house and vehicle on behalf of Avon Township. Wilke said he made the purchases under the "direction" of the township board.
Wilke said in 2018 the township board gave him direction to spend $5,000 on a car for him to use because the mileage reimbursement cost to continue using his personal car would likely exceed that amount. He pointed out that the township budget had a $5,000 line item for vehicles and provided a copy of the agreement he said township board members discussed and agreed to.
Frazier also accused Wilke of improperly buying a house for $1. Wilke said he bought the house at 320 Bellevue Drive in Round Lake Park for that amount intending it to be the first in a township revitalization program. He said records that prove the board gave him direction to buy the home have been destroyed, and he believes the destruction was intentional.
Wilke claimed in an email Monday that Avon Township Clerk Jeanne Kearby had been "adulterating the township board meeting minutes and destroying the recordings so no one could challenge her version of events."
Kearby flatly denied Wilke's accusations when reached for comment Tuesday. She said she has never been accused of altering written records in her career as a public servant.
"Not only did I not tamper with the minutes, my minutes are extensive," Kearby said. "His accusation of destroying records is ludicrous."
As for claims that he "deliberately" collected county mileage payments for a township vehicle, Wilke said all county board members are automatically reimbursed for mileage. He said when he discovered this he paid the county back and no longer accepts any mileage reimbursement.
Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw has called for Wilke to resign.
Wilke dismissed the accusations as political "nonsense."
"It's been through the (Lake County Board) ethics committee and state's attorney's office and they agree it is nonsense," Wilke said.
Wilke defended his choice to keep both elected jobs, saying his township work gives him a better understanding of the issues his constituents face.
"I plan to continue both, it was never a conflict and never has been for anyone who has done it," Wilke said.
Frazier, however, characterized Wilke's decision as "double-dipping."
"He cannot represent both parties at same time, so has to recuse himself and so he ends up not representing the people," Frazier said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-22--After problems with energy supplier, Arlington Heights picks a different firm

Citing `` skeletons in the closet '' and communication problems , Arlington Heights officials will flip the switch to a different green energy electric aggregation supplier once their one-year trial is done with a firm ordered to pay a $ 1 million settlement over deceptive sales tactics .
As the trial program with Chicago-based Eligo Energy is due to expire at the end of the year , the village will ink a new three-year contract with competitor MC Squared Energy Services to manage the local renewable energy initiative , in which wind farms in the Midwest help supply power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they received hundreds upon hundreds of phone calls at village hall a year ago from confused residents who started receiving notification letters about the electric program .
Then word got out about Eligo 's settlement with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul , in which the company paid customers $ 1 million and was banned from telemarketing and door-to-door marketing for three years .
The attorney general said Eligo 's sales agents failed to disclose its rates and fees to customers , referenced a fake energy choice program and promised customers would save up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though most paid more than they would have with ComEd , according to an Aug. 19 , 2019 news release .
The firm inked a one-year deal with Arlington Heights in September 2019 to provide renewable energy certificates from wind-generated energy to offset the electricity load of residential and small business customers .
A year later , the village is rejecting Eligo 's latest bid for a three-year contract , in favor of one submitted by MC Squared .
That 's despite Eligo 's offer of a $ 254,957 yearly civic contribution for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 150,000 offered annually by MC Squared .
`` We want to make sure that we have a smooth transition process given some of the challenges we faced last time , '' said Village Manager Randy Recklaus .
`` We want to make sure our residents are comfortable with who we partner with and that the communications can be clearer . ''
During a village board meeting Monday night , trustees peppered Recklaus and the village 's energy consultant with questions about the new contract .
`` It 's safe to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this one ? ''
asked Trustee Robin LaBedz .
`` I know there was a lot of concern not just with the questions ( from residents ) , but the reputation of the company we actually did go with . ''
Recklaus said officials checked the references of MC Squared , and the firm has an `` impeccable reputation . ''
Trustee Bert Rosenberg was the lone board member to vote against the deal , citing the bigger contribution being offered by Eligo .
Residents could receive up to two letters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them of the new energy supplier , and another , for residents deemed to be the most energy efficient .
That group will have their power provider switched to MC Squared unless they opt out , and all others will remain with ComEd .
All customers will pay ComEd rates , officials said .

After problems with energy supplier, Arlington Heights picks a different firm
Power generated by wind farms in the Midwest will help supply power to the electricity grid, under an electric aggregation deal approved by the Arlington Heights village board. But the board is going with a different supplier this year, after a trial run with a firm that was subject to a $1 million settlement for deceptive sales tactics, officials said. Daily Herald File Photo, 2008
Citing "skeletons in the closet" and communication problems, Arlington Heights officials will flip the switch to a different green energy electric aggregation supplier once their one-year trial is done with a firm ordered to pay a $1 million settlement over deceptive sales tactics.
As the trial program with Chicago-based Eligo Energy is due to expire at the end of the year, the village will ink a new three-year contract with competitor MC Squared Energy Services to manage the local renewable energy initiative, in which wind farms in the Midwest help supply power to the electricity grid.
Village officials said they received hundreds upon hundreds of phone calls at village hall a year ago from confused residents who started receiving notification letters about the electric program.
Then word got out about Eligo's settlement with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in which the company paid customers $1 million and was banned from telemarketing and door-to-door marketing for three years.
The attorney general said Eligo's sales agents failed to disclose its rates and fees to customers, referenced a fake energy choice program and promised customers would save up to 20% with Eligo, even though most paid more than they would have with ComEd, according to an Aug. 19, 2019 news release.
The firm inked a one-year deal with Arlington Heights in September 2019 to provide renewable energy certificates from wind-generated energy to offset the electricity load of residential and small business customers.
A year later, the village is rejecting Eligo's latest bid for a three-year contract, in favor of one submitted by MC Squared. That's despite Eligo's offer of a $254,957 yearly civic contribution for green projects in Arlington Heights, compared to $150,000 offered annually by MC Squared.
"We want to make sure that we have a smooth transition process given some of the challenges we faced last time," said Village Manager Randy Recklaus. "We want to make sure our residents are comfortable with who we partner with and that the communications can be clearer."
During a village board meeting Monday night, trustees peppered Recklaus and the village's energy consultant with questions about the new contract.
"It's safe to say there are no skeletons in the closet with this one?" asked Trustee Robin LaBedz. "I know there was a lot of concern not just with the questions (from residents), but the reputation of the company we actually did go with."
Recklaus said officials checked the references of MC Squared, and the firm has an "impeccable reputation."
Trustee Bert Rosenberg was the lone board member to vote against the deal, citing the bigger contribution being offered by Eligo.
Residents could receive up to two letters in the coming weeks: one, informing them of the new energy supplier, and another, for residents deemed to be the most energy efficient. That group will have their power provider switched to MC Squared unless they opt out, and all others will remain with ComEd. All customers will pay ComEd rates, officials said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-22--Death of 10-week-old  infant investigated in Geneva

The Geneva Police Department and the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force are investigating the death of a 10-week-old boy @ @ @ @ @ 5 a.m. on Tuesday , Geneva police and paramedics responded to a report of an @ @ @ @ @ 1100 block of East State Street .
A staff member at the BRIA of Geneva @ @ @ @ @ a woman brought the boy inside the facility seeking assistance .
According to a statement @ @ @ @ @ paramedics attempted to resuscitate the infant before transporting him to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in @ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead at the hospital .
Although the preliminary investigation focused on the death being @ @ @ @ @ have been filed .
Police said the family of the infant is cooperating with the @ @ @ @ @ coroner 's office will conduct an autopsy on Wednesday .

Death of 10-week-old infant investigated in Geneva
The Geneva Police Department and the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force are investigating the death of a 10-week-old boy on Tuesday.
Just before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Geneva police and paramedics responded to a report of an infant not breathing in the 1100 block of East State Street. A staff member at the BRIA of Geneva nursing home called 911 after a woman brought the boy inside the facility seeking assistance.
According to a statement from the Geneva police, paramedics attempted to resuscitate the infant before transporting him to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Although the preliminary investigation focused on the death being an accident and no charges have been filed. Police said the family of the infant is cooperating with the investigation.
The Kane County coroner's office will conduct an autopsy on Wednesday.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--Feder: Orion Samuelson to retire after 60 years at WGN Radio

On the eve of his 60th anniversary as the booming voice of agriculture and business at WGN 720-AM , Orion Samuelson says it 's time to retire from the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station , Robert Feder writes .
A beloved hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon if there ever was one , Samuelson , 86 , informed his bosses he 'll bow out at the end of the year .
`` December 31st will be my last time on the air at WGN , '' Samuelson told me Tuesday .
`` I do n't know how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more years , so I do n't know if it 's that much of a milestone . ''
`` The Big O , '' as he 's known around the station , will continue to deliver five or six daily business reports for WGN until he hangs up the mic and rides off into the sunset with his wife , Gloria .
They plan to divide their time between homes in west suburban Huntley and Scottsdale , Arizona .
Get the full report , and more Chicago media news , at robertfeder.com .

Feder: Orion Samuelson to retire after 60 years at WGN Radio
Orion Samuelson, 86, informed his bosses he'll retire at the end of the year.
On the eve of his 60th anniversary as the booming voice of agriculture and business at WGN 720-AM, Orion Samuelson says it's time to retire from the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station, Robert Feder writes.
A beloved hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon if there ever was one, Samuelson, 86, informed his bosses he'll bow out at the end of the year.
"December 31st will be my last time on the air at WGN," Samuelson told me Tuesday. "I don't know how many broadcasters have been around for 60 or more years, so I don't know if it's that much of a milestone."
"The Big O," as he's known around the station, will continue to deliver five or six daily business reports for WGN until he hangs up the mic and rides off into the sunset with his wife, Gloria. They plan to divide their time between homes in west suburban Huntley and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-22--Challenger for Kane County auditor says incumbent Hunt's second job is too distracting

Incumbent Kane County Auditor Terry Hunt refuted accusations of being distracted in his duties by having a second job and wasting time in getting $ 93 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to those who need it , during an endorsement interview with the Daily Herald this week .
Democratic challenger Penny Wegman agreed with Hunt that financial and accounting skills are needed for the job , but she said Hunt spends too much time outside the office to provide that know-how .
`` We have an auditor that is not in the office , '' Wegman said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may require some expertise , but it 's not coming from him . ''
Wegman 's only proof was Hunt 's listing as the controller of Hampshire-based Rotec Industries , and a picture she said she had of his vehicle at the business on Friday , Sept. 4 .
Hunt said the job is part-time consulting work .
`` I do other work when it 's not on the public 's time , '' he said .
`` I do work in the evenings and on weekends .
There is nothing illegal or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's nothing about that that causes a conflict for me . ''
Hunt said he 's been in the office at the county complex , even through the COVID-19 pandemic , except for two sick days and a weeklong vacation .
Wegman , who currently serves as a Kane County Board member , said Hunt wasted two months of the board 's time in delaying the allocation of federal CARES Act money getting to local businesses , not-for-profits and municipalities .
Hunt was the chairman of a committee formed by county board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proper and legal expense of the $ 93 million the county received .
The county board ultimately dissolved the committee over growing concerns that Hunt and the other committee members were n't bringing actionable recommendations to them .
Hunt 's committee did provide a framework even as the board moved to disband the group .
Several recommendations Hunt 's committee made did become the basis for a new committee the board formed of its own members .
`` We did not have the ability to disburse dollars , '' Hunt said of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and always was , and will still be , the function of the county board .
The task force actually provided a great example .
We outlined almost every action the ( board 's ) committee is following at this point . ''
Wegman said if Hunt 's committee was so productive , the board would n't have had to take the unprecedented move of calling for a special vote to disband it .
She said the two months the committee fretted over U.S. Treasury Department rules amounted to an `` epic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to take credit for everything that was done , the ( board ) committee had to start from scratch , '' Wegman said .
`` Whatever benefit ( Hunt 's ) task force feels they submitted to the county board is inaccurate .
They wasted our time . ''

Challenger for Kane County auditor says incumbent Hunt's second job is too distracting
Incumbent Kane County Auditor Terry Hunt refuted accusations of being distracted in his duties by having a second job and wasting time in getting $93 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to those who need it, during an endorsement interview with the Daily Herald this week.
Democratic challenger Penny Wegman agreed with Hunt that financial and accounting skills are needed for the job, but she said Hunt spends too much time outside the office to provide that know-how.
"We have an auditor that is not in the office," Wegman said. "He has another job. The position may require some expertise, but it's not coming from him."
Wegman's only proof was Hunt's listing as the controller of Hampshire-based Rotec Industries, and a picture she said she had of his vehicle at the business on Friday, Sept. 4.
Hunt said the job is part-time consulting work.
"I do other work when it's not on the public's time," he said. "I do work in the evenings and on weekends. There is nothing illegal or immoral about taking a second job. There's nothing about that that causes a conflict for me."
Hunt said he's been in the office at the county complex, even through the COVID-19 pandemic, except for two sick days and a weeklong vacation.
Wegman, who currently serves as a Kane County Board member, said Hunt wasted two months of the board's time in delaying the allocation of federal CARES Act money getting to local businesses, not-for-profits and municipalities. Hunt was the chairman of a committee formed by county board chairman Chris Lauzen charged with researching the proper and legal expense of the $93 million the county received.
The county board ultimately dissolved the committee over growing concerns that Hunt and the other committee members weren't bringing actionable recommendations to them. Hunt's committee did provide a framework even as the board moved to disband the group. Several recommendations Hunt's committee made did become the basis for a new committee the board formed of its own members.
"We did not have the ability to disburse dollars," Hunt said of his committee. "That job is absolutely, and always was, and will still be, the function of the county board. The task force actually provided a great example. We outlined almost every action the (board's) committee is following at this point."
Wegman said if Hunt's committee was so productive, the board wouldn't have had to take the unprecedented move of calling for a special vote to disband it. She said the two months the committee fretted over U.S. Treasury Department rules amounted to an "epic failure."
"While Mr. Hunt would like to take credit for everything that was done, the (board) committee had to start from scratch," Wegman said. "Whatever benefit (Hunt's) task force feels they submitted to the county board is inaccurate. They wasted our time."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-22--Indians clinch postseason berth; Braves claim NL East title

CLEVELAND -- JosÃ© RamÃrez pushed the Cleveland Indians into the playoffs with one swing and strengthened his case for the AL MVP award .
RamÃrez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning , giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox that clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night .
RamÃrez 's drive to right off JosÃ© Ruiz scored CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez and Francisco Lindor , setting off a wild celebration at home plate as the Indians reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years .
Lindor had pulled Cleveland within one on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who began the inning on second base .
After Matt Foster ( 5-1 ) walked HernÃ¡ndez , Ruiz entered and gave up the game-ending drive .
ATLANTA -- Bryse Wilson pitched five scoreless innings , Marcell Ozuna drove in five runs with four hits that included two homers and Atlanta clinched its third straight NL East title .
Atlanta hit five homers , including drives by Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman off Nick Vincent in a five-run seventh .
Freeman drove in two runs with three hits .
Wilson ( 1-0 ) allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a career-high seven .
Atlanta clinched its record 20th division title , one more than the New York Yankees .
Miami remained in position to earn its first playoff berth since winning the 2003 World Series .
Ozuna hit a first-inning homer off JosÃ© UreÃ±a ( 0-3 ) , who allowed four runs in six innings .
Ozzie Albies homered in the second , and Ozuna added a two-run double in the fifth and drove in Freeman with a 450-foot homer to center field in the eighth .
Starling Marte led off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomlin .
BUFFALO , N.Y. -- Gerrit Cole limited Toronto to five hits over seven innings in his final preparation for the playoffs , and Aaron Hicks drove in three runs in a rout over the Blue Jays .
Cole ( 7-3 ) struck out seven and walked none , inducing 11 ground-ball outs and 14 swings and misses .
His one mistake was Cavan Biggio 's sole homer in the fourth .
Aaron Judge had his first three-hit game since Aug. 8 .
Gio Urshela had four hits and Gleyber Torres had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York has won 11 of 13 following a 5-15 slide .
New York lowered its magic number to one for clinching second place in the AL East .
Tanner Roark ( 2-3 ) allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings .
CINCINNATI -- Tyrone Taylor homered , Eric Sogard doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning , and Milwaukee rallied over Cincinnati .
Taylor had a solo shot off Sonny Gray , who went five innings in a solid return from a hip injury .
Milwaukee rallied against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave up Daniel Vogelbach 's single and Jedd Gyorko 's double to open the seventh .
Orlando Arcia tied it with a sacifice fly to deep center , and Sogard doubled down the line in left field for a 3-2 lead .
Left-hander Brett Anderson ( 4-3 ) allowed four hits in six innings , including Nick Castellanos ' two-run homer .
Devin Williams struck out five in two innings .
Josh Hader retired the side in order in the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances .
WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia tumbled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swept in a doubleheader by Washington when Yadiel HernÃ¡ndez hit a game-ending , two-run homer in eighth inning off Brandon Workman ( 1-4 ) in the second game .
The 32-year-old HernÃ¡ndez became the oldest player to hit a walkoff homer for his first big league home run , according to STATS .
Austin Voth ( 1-5 ) pitched a three-hitter to win the opener , his first complete game in 20 big league starts and his first victory in 10 starts this season .
Philadelphia ( 27-29 ) lost its fourth game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 28-28 ) , Milwaukee ( 27-27 ) and San Francisco ( 26-27 ) for the National League 's eighth and final playoff berth .
Defending champion Washington ( 23-32 ) kept alive its slim postseason hopes by extending its winning streak to four .
Daniel Hudson ( 3-2 ) claimed the win .
Juan Soto , started in right field for the first time in his 308-game big league career , hit a three-run homer in the fourth , his 12th homer this season and first since Aug. 31 .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) allowed five runs - three earned - in six innings .
AsdrÃºbal Cabrera hit an RBI single in the first , Trea Turner doubled in a run in the second and Holt hit a two-run double in the third .
PITTSBURGH -- Jacob Stallings hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and Pittsburgh stalled Chicago 's bid to win the NL Central .
The Cubs began the day with a 4 Â½-game lead over St. Louis and Cincinnati in the division standings and a magic number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected with one out off Andrew Chafin ( 1-2 ) to help the Pirates end their five-game losing streak and win for the just second time in 15 games .
Anthony Rizzo 's two-run homer in the eighth inning had pulled the Cubs into a tie at 2-all .
NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso and the Mets prevented Tampa Bay from clinching the AL East crown , beating the Rays behind three home runs and Seth Lugo 's bounce-back pitching performance .
Robinson CanÃ³ , Alonso and Guillermo Heredia went deep for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National League playoff chase with five games remaining in the regular season .
Tampa Bay needs just one win or a New York Yankees loss to secure their first division title in 10 years , .
Blake Snell ( 4-2 ) struck out nine and threw a season-high 108 pitches in 5 2/3 innings .
But he gave up three runs and six hits .
Lugo ( 3-3 ) allowed two runs , one earned , and four hits in 6 1/3 innings .
Edwin Diaz got three outs for his fifth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solo homer for the Rays .
BOSTON -- Nick Pivetta struck out eight in five innings of one-run ball in his Boston debut and Christian VÃ¡zquez hit a three-run homer in a win over Baltimore .
There were five errors combined by the teams , a misplayed fly ball and a runner picked off third to kill a rally , a performance befitting the AL East 's worst two teams .
Bobby Dalbec drove in a pair of runs and J.D .
Martinez had three hits with an RBI for the last-place Red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solo homer for the Orioles that hit halfway up a light stanchion above the Green Monster .
Baltimore has lost five of six .
The 27-year-old Pivetta ( 1-0 ) gave up three singles and walked three .
Matt Barnes got the final out with the bases loaded for his ninth save .
Keegan Akin ( 1-2 ) was roughed up for eight hits and four runs - two earned - in four innings .
KANSAS CITY , Mo .
-- Austin Gomber tossed six innings of four-hit ball in a crucial spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erratic pitching from Brady Singer , beating Kansas City .
The Cardinals , who trail the Chicago Cubs by 3 1/2 games in the NL Central , improved to 27-25 by evening their series with their cross-state rivals .
Gomber ( 1-1 ) earned his first win since beating Atlanta on Sept. 18 , 2018 .
He struck out three without a walk while blanking an opponent for the 11th time in 13 appearances .
Dylan Carlson had two RBIs while finishing a homer shy of the cycle .
Brad Miller , Tommy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs for the Cardinals .
Singer ( 3-5 ) wound up walking five in three-plus innings , throwing just 44 of 81 pitches for strikes .
MINNEAPOLIS -- Max Kepler hit the tying home run in the eighth inning and the game-winning single with two outs in the 10th , giving Minnesota a victory over Detroit that tightened the AL Central race .
Byron Buxton and Mitch Garver also homered for the Twins ( 34-22 ) , who have all four of their remaining games at home , where their 22-5 record is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the regular season by hosting Cincinnati this weekend .
If the Twins do n't retain their division title , they would still host one of the four best-of-three AL wild card series if they stay ahead of the New York Yankees ( 32-23 ) .
After Jeimer Candelario 's RBI single in the 10th gave the Tigers the lead against closer Taylor Rogers ( 2-4 ) , pinch-runner Jake Cave promptly scored from second base on Eddie Rosario 's soft single to center to begin the bottom of the inning facing Bryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put another blooper in just the right place to give the Twins another dramatic win .

Indians clinch postseason berth; Braves claim NL East title
The Atlanta Braves celebrate clinching their third consecutive National League East championship after with a victory over the Miami Marlins in a baseball game on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Associated Press
Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor, right, tosses water on Jose Ramirez after Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Cleveland. The Indians won in ten innings. Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) -
José Ramírez pushed the Cleveland Indians into the playoffs with one swing and strengthened his case for the AL MVP award.
Ramírez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning, giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox that clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night.
Ramírez's drive to right off José Ruiz scored César Hernández and Francisco Lindor, setting off a wild celebration at home plate as the Indians reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years.
Lindor had pulled Cleveland within one on a two-out double that plated Roberto Perez, who began the inning on second base. After Matt Foster (5-1) walked Hernández, Ruiz entered and gave up the game-ending drive.
BRAVES 11, MARLINS 1
ATLANTA -- Bryse Wilson pitched five scoreless innings, Marcell Ozuna drove in five runs with four hits that included two homers and Atlanta clinched its third straight NL East title.
Atlanta hit five homers, including drives by Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman off Nick Vincent in a five-run seventh. Freeman drove in two runs with three hits.
Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits and one walk, striking out a career-high seven.
Atlanta clinched its record 20th division title, one more than the New York Yankees.
Miami remained in position to earn its first playoff berth since winning the 2003 World Series.
Ozuna hit a first-inning homer off José Ureña (0-3), who allowed four runs in six innings. Ozzie Albies homered in the second, and Ozuna added a two-run double in the fifth and drove in Freeman with a 450-foot homer to center field in the eighth.
Starling Marte led off the sixth with a homer off Josh Tomlin.
YANKEES 12, BLUE JAYS 1
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Gerrit Cole limited Toronto to five hits over seven innings in his final preparation for the playoffs, and Aaron Hicks drove in three runs in a rout over the Blue Jays.
Cole (7-3) struck out seven and walked none, inducing 11 ground-ball outs and 14 swings and misses. His one mistake was Cavan Biggio's sole homer in the fourth.
Aaron Judge had his first three-hit game since Aug. 8. Gio Urshela had four hits and Gleyber Torres had three hits and two RBIs. New York has won 11 of 13 following a 5-15 slide.
New York lowered its magic number to one for clinching second place in the AL East.
Tanner Roark (2-3) allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
BREWERS 3, REDS 2
CINCINNATI -- Tyrone Taylor homered, Eric Sogard doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Milwaukee rallied over Cincinnati.
Taylor had a solo shot off Sonny Gray, who went five innings in a solid return from a hip injury. Milwaukee rallied against Tejay Antone (0-3), who gave up Daniel Vogelbach's single and Jedd Gyorko's double to open the seventh. Orlando Arcia tied it with a sacifice fly to deep center, and Sogard doubled down the line in left field for a 3-2 lead.
Left-hander Brett Anderson (4-3) allowed four hits in six innings, including Nick Castellanos' two-run homer.
Devin Williams struck out five in two innings. Josh Hader retired the side in order in the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances.
NATIONALS 5, PHILLIES 1, 1st game
NATIONALS 8, PHILLIES 7, 8 inn., 2nd game
WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia tumbled out of a playoff position, getting swept in a doubleheader by Washington when Yadiel Hernández hit a game-ending, two-run homer in eighth inning off Brandon Workman (1-4) in the second game.
The 32-year-old Hernández became the oldest player to hit a walkoff homer for his first big league home run, according to STATS.
Austin Voth (1-5) pitched a three-hitter to win the opener, his first complete game in 20 big league starts and his first victory in 10 starts this season.
Philadelphia (27-29) lost its fourth game in a row and dropped behind Cincinnati (28-28), Milwaukee (27-27) and San Francisco (26-27) for the National League's eighth and final playoff berth.
Defending champion Washington (23-32) kept alive its slim postseason hopes by extending its winning streak to four. Daniel Hudson (3-2) claimed the win.
Juan Soto, started in right field for the first time in his 308-game big league career, hit a three-run homer in the fourth, his 12th homer this season and first since Aug. 31.
Scott Kingery homered for the Phillies.
In the first game, Aaron Nola (5-4) allowed five runs - three earned - in six innings.
Asdrúbal Cabrera hit an RBI single in the first, Trea Turner doubled in a run in the second and Holt hit a two-run double in the third.
PIRATES 3, CUBS 2
PITTSBURGH -- Jacob Stallings hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and Pittsburgh stalled Chicago's bid to win the NL Central.
The Cubs began the day with a 4 ½-game lead over St. Louis and Cincinnati in the division standings and a magic number of four to clinch the title.
Stallings connected with one out off Andrew Chafin (1-2) to help the Pirates end their five-game losing streak and win for the just second time in 15 games.
Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer in the eighth inning had pulled the Cubs into a tie at 2-all.
Richard Rodriguez (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
METS 5, RAYS 2
NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso and the Mets prevented Tampa Bay from clinching the AL East crown, beating the Rays behind three home runs and Seth Lugo's bounce-back pitching performance.
Robinson Canó, Alonso and Guillermo Heredia went deep for the Mets, desperately trying to stay in the National League playoff chase with five games remaining in the regular season.
Tampa Bay needs just one win or a New York Yankees loss to secure their first division title in 10 years,.
Blake Snell (4-2) struck out nine and threw a season-high 108 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. But he gave up three runs and six hits.
Lugo (3-3) allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Edwin Diaz got three outs for his fifth save.
Willy Adames hit an early solo homer for the Rays.
RED SOX 8, ORIOLES 3
BOSTON -- Nick Pivetta struck out eight in five innings of one-run ball in his Boston debut and Christian Vázquez hit a three-run homer in a win over Baltimore.
There were five errors combined by the teams, a misplayed fly ball and a runner picked off third to kill a rally, a performance befitting the AL East's worst two teams.
Bobby Dalbec drove in a pair of runs and J.D. Martinez had three hits with an RBI for the last-place Red Sox.
Renato Núñez clubbed a towering solo homer for the Orioles that hit halfway up a light stanchion above the Green Monster. Baltimore has lost five of six.
The 27-year-old Pivetta (1-0) gave up three singles and walked three. Matt Barnes got the final out with the bases loaded for his ninth save.
Keegan Akin (1-2) was roughed up for eight hits and four runs - two earned - in four innings.
CARDINALS 5, ROYALS 0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Austin Gomber tossed six innings of four-hit ball in a crucial spot start and St. Louis capitalized on some erratic pitching from Brady Singer, beating Kansas City.
The Cardinals, who trail the Chicago Cubs by 3 1/2 games in the NL Central, improved to 27-25 by evening their series with their cross-state rivals.
Gomber (1-1) earned his first win since beating Atlanta on Sept. 18, 2018. He struck out three without a walk while blanking an opponent for the 11th time in 13 appearances.
Dylan Carlson had two RBIs while finishing a homer shy of the cycle. Brad Miller, Tommy Edman and Kolten Wong also drove in runs for the Cardinals.
Singer (3-5) wound up walking five in three-plus innings, throwing just 44 of 81 pitches for strikes.
TWINS 5, TIGERS 4, 10th inn.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Max Kepler hit the tying home run in the eighth inning and the game-winning single with two outs in the 10th, giving Minnesota a victory over Detroit that tightened the AL Central race.
Byron Buxton and Mitch Garver also homered for the Twins (34-22), who have all four of their remaining games at home, where their 22-5 record is the best in baseball. They wrap up the regular season by hosting Cincinnati this weekend.
If the Twins don't retain their division title, they would still host one of the four best-of-three AL wild card series if they stay ahead of the New York Yankees (32-23).
After Jeimer Candelario's RBI single in the 10th gave the Tigers the lead against closer Taylor Rogers (2-4), pinch-runner Jake Cave scored from second on Eddie Rosario's single to center to begin the bottom of the inning facing Bryan Garcia (2-1). Then Kepler put another blooper in just the right place to give the Twins another dramatic win.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, RANGERS 0
PHOENIX -- Carson Kelly had a three-run homer, Caleb Smith and Riley Smith combined to throw a six-hitter and Arizona blanked Texas.
David Peralta had three hits. Eduardo Escobar added two singles and Nick Ahmed had a triple for the Diamondbacks.
Riley Smith (2-0) took over from Caleb Smith in the fifth and needed just 59 pitches - including 47 strikes - to finish the game. He struck out seven and gave up five hits over five innings.
Jordan Lyles (1-6) gave up seven runs, including four earned, on 10 hits over five innings.
ANGELS 4, PADRES 2
SAN DIEGO -- Max Stassi had two impressive home runs among his four hits, Griffin Canning struck out 10 in six innings and the Angels beat punchless playoff-bound San Diego.
The loss, plus St. Louis' 5-0 win at Kansas City, kept the Padres from clinching the NL's No. 4 seed in the playoffs and homefield advantage in the wild-card round next week.
The Padres struck out 13 times and got just four hits.
The Angels remain mathematically in the race for the second wild card and for second place in the AL West.
Both of Stassi's homers were off Zach Davies (7-4). He has seven this season.
Canning (2-3) held San Diego to one run and two hits while walking five.
Davies allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out five and walked three.
ASTROS 6, MARINERS 1
SEATTLE -- Martin Maldonado hit a three-run home run, Framber Valdez struck out eight to set career highs for wins and strikeouts, and Houston beat Seattle to close in on its fourth straight playoff berth.
Houston cut its magic number to one over the Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels for clinching second in the AL West.. The defending AL champions have five games left.
Houston has won three of four, scoring more than four runs for just the second time in its last 12 games.
Maldonado's sixth homer, off reliever Brandon Brennan, highlighted a five-run sixth inning that included Michael Brantley's tiebreaking, leadoff home run against Casey Sadler (1-2).
Valdez (5-3) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. He gave up a leadoff single to J.P. Crawford and an RBI double to Kyle Seager in the first, then settled and scattered three hits over his final six innings.
Kyle Tucker went 4 for 5 for the Astros with a run and an RBI.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case, not for her death

LOUISVILLE , Ky. -- A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong , with prosecutors saying Wednesday two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves .
The grand jury instead charged fired Officer Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into Taylor 's neighbors ' homes during the raid on the night of March 13 .
The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case .
Along with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor 's case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May -- drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform .
Taylor 's image has been painted on streets , emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities .
The charges drew immediate sadness , frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further .
The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years .
Protesters began marching through the streets of Louisville , where Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouting `` No justice , no peace . ''
Some sat quietly and cried .
Attorney Ben Crump , who is representing Taylor 's family , called the grand jury 's decision `` outrageous and offensive ! ''
`` Justice has NOT been served , '' tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom , a group that has pushed for charges in the case .
Taylor , an emergency medical worker , was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation .
The warrant used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suspect who did not live there , and no drugs were found inside .
The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville 's Metro Council .
The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans , and the laws under which those officers are charged , which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations .
At a news conference , state Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke to that disconnect .
`` Criminal law is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grief , '' Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced .
`` But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor .
And I 've said that repeatedly .
My mother , if something was to happen to me , would find it very hard , '' he added , choking up .
But Cameron , who is the state 's first Black attorney general , said that the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor 's boyfriend fired at them .
He added that Hankison and the two other officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entering -- and so did not execute the warrant as `` no-knock , '' according to the investigation .
`` According to Kentucky law , the use of force by ( Officers Jonathan ) Mattingly and ( Myles ) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves , '' he said .
`` This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor 's death . ''
Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , opened fire when police burst in , hitting Mattingly .
Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge .
Walker told police he heard knocking but did n't know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense .
Regarding the disappointment of those who wanted criminal charges brought in Taylor 's death , he remarked , `` The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor 's life was a tragedy .
The answer to that is unequivocally yes . ''
A Republican , Cameron is a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heir apparent .
His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump 's list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy .
Before charges were brought , Hankison was fired from the city 's police department on June 23 .
A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing `` extreme indifference to the value of human life '' when he `` wantonly and blindly '' shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor 's apartment in March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassignment , as were Sgt .
Johnathan Mattingly , Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant , Joshua Jaynes .
On Sept. 15 , the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylor 's mother , Tamika Palmer , agreeing to pay her $ 12 million and enact police reforms .
Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months .
The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylor 's boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Louisville , fueled by her shooting and the killing of Floyd while at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25 .
Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyoncé have joined those urging that the officers be charged .
Lovan reported from Frankfort , Kentucky .
Associated Press writers Bruce Schreiner and Rebecca Reynolds Yonker contributed from Louisville , Kentucky .
Hudsbeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
This story has been updated to clarify that , according to the investigation , officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant , not that they did n't use a no-knock warrant .

1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case, not for her death
Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home in Louisville, Kentucky, using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation on March 13. Associated Press
A woman reacts to news Wednesday in the Breonna Taylor shooting in Louisville, Kentucky. A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Taylor was fatally shot by police in Kentucky. The jury presented its decision against fired officer Brett Hankison Wednesday to a judge in Louisville, where the shooting took place. Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves.
The grand jury instead charged fired Officer Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into Taylor's neighbors' homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.
Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor's case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May -- drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform. Taylor's image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities.
The charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years. Protesters began marching through the streets of Louisville, where Taylor was killed, after the announcement, shouting "No justice, no peace." Some sat quietly and cried.
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor's family, called the grand jury's decision "outrageous and offensive!"
"Justice has NOT been served," tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case.
Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville's Metro Council.
The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans, and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.
At a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke to that disconnect.
"Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief," Cameron told reporters after the charges were announced.
"But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. And I've said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard," he added, choking up.
But Cameron, who is the state's first Black attorney general, said that the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor's apartment announced themselves before entering -- and so did not execute the warrant as "no-knock," according to the investigation.
"According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves," he said. "This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor's death."
Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.
Walker told police he heard knocking but didn't know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.
Regarding the disappointment of those who wanted criminal charges brought in Taylor's death, he remarked, "The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor's life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes."
A Republican, Cameron is a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trump's list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.
Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing "extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor's apartment in March.
Hankison had already been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.
On Sept. 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.
Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylor's boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fueled by her shooting and the killing of Floyd while at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25.
Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyoncé have joined those urging that the officers be charged.
Lovan reported from Frankfort, Kentucky. Associated Press writers Bruce Schreiner and Rebecca Reynolds Yonker contributed from Louisville, Kentucky.
Hudsbeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
This story has been updated to clarify that, according to the investigation, officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant, not that they didn't use a no-knock warrant.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--Rozner: Bears' Sayers remembered as the elite of the elite

It is our greatest enemy , the clock relentless , stealing precious moments and memories , undefeated as it removes from us that which we hold dear .
Harshest is it to the athletes of our youth -- or our parents ' youth -- stars forgotten and diminished as every new ESPN highlight is trumpeted as the latest and greatest .
Gale Sayers died Wednesday at the age of 77 , after a long and awful battle with dementia , Sayers himself robbed of all that mattered most to him .
Many watched for the first time Wednesday his greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lightning-fast stops and starts , the eyes in the back of his head , the electrifying and transformative style .
Sayers was not the greatest athlete in Chicago sports history .
He was not the best football player .
He was n't even the best running back .
But before knee injuries stole from him his greatest gifts , Sayers was as exciting and explosive an athlete as any in this city 's history , the ability to lift fans out of their seats , for pure wizardry on a very shortlist with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Sayers had the football , whether 9 yards or 99 yards away from the end zone , no one could take their eyes off him for fear of missing something extraordinary , missing something they had never seen before and might never see again .
So great was Sayers , so brilliant his ability , that he was the youngest player ever enshrined in the Hall of Fame at age 34 after only 68 games played , most of those over five brilliant NFL seasons .
The `` Kansas Comet '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1965 , one spot behind Hall of Fame teammate Dick Butkus , who also suffered knee injuries that shortened a brilliant career .
`` If you wish to see perfection as a running back , '' said George Halas as he presented Sayers for induction , `` you had best get a hold of a film of Gale Sayers .
He was poetry in motion .
His like will never be seen again . ''
It was probably 20 years ago that teammate Johnny Morris stopped me in the middle of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the greatest running backs of all time .
Listing one after another , who you would want for a career or a season or a game , he made it clear that for one play it was Gale Sayers and only Gale Sayers .
There is no other player , Morris said , that he 'd want to try to break a long one .
Not only was Sayers instant offense , but on punt or kick returns he was the greatest threat of all time .
Many will say Devin Hester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only because they never saw Sayers .
More than the highlights we finally saw on national shows Wednesday , most that even know the name think of Sayers from the movie `` Brian 's Song , '' a tear-jerker about his close friend Brian Piccolo , who died of cancer at 26 .
It 's an emotional love story about two men of different races , one an animated and entertaining Italian , the other a very shy and unassuming Black man who faced so much adversity in his life .
Sayers told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego in 1988 that he believed much of what was written , said or portrayed throughout the years was trivial compared to the life he had led .
With a smile on his face -- always a smile on his face -- he said life is so much bigger than that .
I sensed no bitterness -- though he was entitled -- not toward any one person or moment , even if his career was not all what it could have been , and hardly remembered beyond those players who played with or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bobby Orr , and wondered what all of them might have been able to accomplish in that era had there been arthroscopic surgery during their careers .
Though there has never been a more exciting football player , he walked through the lobby of that San Diego hotel largely unnoticed .
The horrific irony of dementia was that in the end , Sayers suffered the worst loss , memories and love evading him as did his rightful place among the elite of the elite .
But there is no denying what you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't done it , spend a few minutes on YouTube watching ballet on a football field , beauty amid the brutality , a thoroughbred galloping free from the plow horses through the slop and mud .
On the day he died , Gale Sayers was suddenly and mournfully remembered as unique , his like never to be witnessed again .
We must hope that somewhere in his soul , the man knew his legacy was secure .

Rozner: Bears' Sayers remembered as the elite of the elite
Rookie Gale Sayers takes a break after scoring six touchdowns against San Francisco in the Bears' 61-20 victory Dec. 12, 1965 at Wrigley Field. Associated Press
Time does few a favor.
It is our greatest enemy, the clock relentless, stealing precious moments and memories, undefeated as it removes from us that which we hold dear.
Harshest is it to the athletes of our youth -- or our parents' youth -- stars forgotten and diminished as every new ESPN highlight is trumpeted as the latest and greatest.
Gale Sayers died Wednesday at the age of 77, after a long and awful battle with dementia, Sayers himself robbed of all that mattered most to him.
Many watched for the first time Wednesday his greatest runs, the impossible cuts, the lightning-fast stops and starts, the eyes in the back of his head, the electrifying and transformative style.
Sayers was not the greatest athlete in Chicago sports history. He was not the best football player. He wasn't even the best running back.
But before knee injuries stole from him his greatest gifts, Sayers was as exciting and explosive an athlete as any in this city's history, the ability to lift fans out of their seats, for pure wizardry on a very shortlist with perhaps only Michael Jordan and Denis Savard.
When Sayers had the football, whether 9 yards or 99 yards away from the end zone, no one could take their eyes off him for fear of missing something extraordinary, missing something they had never seen before and might never see again.
A rare talent indeed.
So great was Sayers, so brilliant his ability, that he was the youngest player ever enshrined in the Hall of Fame at age 34 after only 68 games played, most of those over five brilliant NFL seasons.
The "Kansas Comet" was selected fourth overall by the Bears in 1965, one spot behind Hall of Fame teammate Dick Butkus, who also suffered knee injuries that shortened a brilliant career.
"If you wish to see perfection as a running back," said George Halas as he presented Sayers for induction, "you had best get a hold of a film of Gale Sayers. He was poetry in motion. His like will never be seen again."
Halas was correct.
It was probably 20 years ago that teammate Johnny Morris stopped me in the middle of our conversation at Arlington Park as we talked about the greatest running backs of all time.
Listing one after another, who you would want for a career or a season or a game, he made it clear that for one play it was Gale Sayers and only Gale Sayers. There is no other player, Morris said, that he'd want to try to break a long one.
Not only was Sayers instant offense, but on punt or kick returns he was the greatest threat of all time. Many will say Devin Hester or Deion Sanders, but that's only because they never saw Sayers.
More than the highlights we finally saw on national shows Wednesday, most that even know the name think of Sayers from the movie "Brian's Song," a tear-jerker about his close friend Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at 26.
It's an emotional love story about two men of different races, one an animated and entertaining Italian, the other a very shy and unassuming Black man who faced so much adversity in his life.
Sayers told me at the Super Bowl in San Diego in 1988 that he believed much of what was written, said or portrayed throughout the years was trivial compared to the life he had led.
With a smile on his face -- always a smile on his face -- he said life is so much bigger than that.
I sensed no bitterness -- though he was entitled -- not toward any one person or moment, even if his career was not all what it could have been, and hardly remembered beyond those players who played with or against him.
He mentioned Butkus and Bobby Orr, and wondered what all of them might have been able to accomplish in that era had there been arthroscopic surgery during their careers.
Though there has never been a more exciting football player, he walked through the lobby of that San Diego hotel largely unnoticed.
The horrific irony of dementia was that in the end, Sayers suffered the worst loss, memories and love evading him as did his rightful place among the elite of the elite.
But there is no denying what you see on film, and if you haven't done it, spend a few minutes on YouTube watching ballet on a football field, beauty amid the brutality, a thoroughbred galloping free from the plow horses through the slop and mud.
On the day he died, Gale Sayers was suddenly and mournfully remembered as unique, his like never to be witnessed again.
We must hope that somewhere in his soul, the man knew his legacy was secure.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--Driver injured after car split in two in Arlington Heights crash

A driver was seriously injured late Tuesday after a car slammed into a utility pole in Arlington Heights , breaking @ @ @ @ @ The accident occurred just before 9 p.m. in front of Jimmy D 's District restaurant @ @ @ @ @ and Wilke Road in Arlington Heights , authorities said .
The impact left the Honda @ @ @ @ @ line down , causing an outage in the area until ComEd crews arrived to repair @ @ @ @ @ on scene for hours during the crash reconstruction and investigation .
The driver of the @ @ @ @ @ hospital with serious injuries , but his condition was unknown Wednesday .
Arlington Heights police @ @ @ @ @ to provide further details Wednesday , saying a news release would be issued Thursday .

Driver injured after car split in two in Arlington Heights crash
A serious one-vehicle crash occurred Tuesday night in front of Jimmy D's District restaurant and bar in Arlington Heights. Courtesy of Bob Study
A Honda Accord split in two and landed upside down after striking a utility pole Tuesday night on Northwest Highway at Wilke Road in Arlington Heights. Courtesy of Bob Study
A driver was seriously injured late Tuesday after a car slammed into a utility pole in Arlington Heights, breaking the vehicle in two.
The accident occurred just before 9 p.m. in front of Jimmy D's District restaurant and bar at Northwest Highway and Wilke Road in Arlington Heights, authorities said.
The impact left the Honda Accord mangled and a power line down, causing an outage in the area until ComEd crews arrived to repair it. Emergency crews were on scene for hours during the crash reconstruction and investigation.
The driver of the car was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, but his condition was unknown Wednesday.
Arlington Heights police and fire department officials declined to provide further details Wednesday, saying a news release would be issued Thursday.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--Nine suburban districts started school in person. How are they faring against COVID-19?

It took all summer for Butler Elementary District 53 in Oak Brook to get ready for students to return to the classroom this fall .
Some students opted for remote learning , but about 60 % of them returned to the schools .
They started with half days , and more than a week ago began all-day in-person learning .
The district has been able to avoid any cases of COVID-19 among students , faculty and staff , something Superintendent Paul O'Malley chalks up to the summerlong preparations .
`` Overall , to date , it 's been pretty successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of nine suburban public school districts that started the school year with in-person learning .
Administrators in several of the nine , which tend to have smaller student populations than many in the suburbs , report their districts remain free of COVID-19 .
One , Itasca Elementary District 10 , is reporting four staff members and as many as five students have contracted the disease since school started Aug. 20 .
All the cases were contracted out of school , administrators said .
Northbrook Elementary District 28 officials notified parents Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive .
When that happens , state guidelines require that anyone who is within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes must quarantine for 14 days or until medically cleared .
Rooms have to be deep-cleaned and health departments are also notified .
`` Yes , we have received reports of COVID-19 cases associated with schools -- several individual cases and some clusters .
Although this is unfortunate , it is not a surprise due to the high levels of community transmission , '' said Karen Ayala , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is not making that data public .
`` We are not releasing individual school information at this time , since schools are communicating directly with their students , staff , and families , '' she said .
Experiences of the nine districts come into focus as more schools that initially started classes remotely transition to in-person learning .
Elmhurst Unit District 205 , for instance , returned some students to classrooms this week .
Even the schools that have opened their doors offer remote learning for families concerned about health risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households , or for those who might be quarantining .
School officials say they are firm in removing symptomatic individuals from campus .
`` You ca n't let your guard down , '' said John Butts , superintendent at Medinah Elementary District 11 .
`` You have to have a really good relationship with the health department and follow all the guidance . ''
Administrators say it 's taken vigilance and extra effort at every level to keep students in classrooms .
`` Our teachers have been working extraordinarily hard and had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are educating students , '' said Jenny Wojcik , Superintendent of Rondout Elementary District 72 in Lake Forest .
`` It 's been one of the most complex working environments I 've dealt with in all my years . ''
O'Malley said some at District 53 have stayed home or been sent home because of possible exposure to the disease .
`` But none have resulted in positive cases of COVID , '' he said .
Other suburban districts that began the year offering full-time , in-person learning were Grass Lake Elementary District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 , Rosemont Elementary District 78 and West Northfield Elementary District 31 .
There were no plans for those districts to halt in-person learning , administrators said .
`` It 's going well , '' Rosemont Elementary Principal Laurie Kovalcik said .
`` It 's a year like no other , but the kids are so happy to be back , and Aug. 18 was one of the most rewarding openings of school I 've had , I 'll tell you that . ''
More school districts are announcing plans to bring students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , either through a combination of in-person and remote learning or full-time , in-class sessions .
Administrators at the districts that have been operating in-person programs all along say communication is key , especially with parents .
`` It 's all about building that partnership with the parents , '' Wojcik said .
`` They 're front line .
They 've got to know the plan and how to monitor . ''

Nine suburban districts started school in person. How are they faring against COVID-19?
It took all summer for Butler Elementary District 53 in Oak Brook to get ready for students to return to the classroom this fall.
Some students opted for remote learning, but about 60% of them returned to the schools. They started with half days, and more than a week ago began all-day in-person learning. The district has been able to avoid any cases of COVID-19 among students, faculty and staff, something Superintendent Paul O'Malley chalks up to the summerlong preparations.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Katie Myers teaches English on Thursday at Butler Junior High School in Oak Brook.
"Overall, to date, it's been pretty successful," he said.
District 53 is one of nine suburban public school districts that started the school year with in-person learning. Administrators in several of the nine, which tend to have smaller student populations than many in the suburbs, report their districts remain free of COVID-19. One, Itasca Elementary District 10, is reporting four staff members and as many as five students have contracted the disease since school started Aug. 20. All the cases were contracted out of school, administrators said.
Northbrook Elementary District 28 officials notified parents Tuesday that one person at Greenbriar Elementary has tested positive.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Students learn in person and online at Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook.
When that happens, state guidelines require that anyone who is within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes must quarantine for 14 days or until medically cleared. Rooms have to be deep-cleaned and health departments are also notified.
"Yes, we have received reports of COVID-19 cases associated with schools -- several individual cases and some clusters. Although this is unfortunate, it is not a surprise due to the high levels of community transmission," said Karen Ayala, director of the DuPage County Health Department, which is not making that data public.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Third-grade Brook Forest Elementary School student Nathan Matthews, 8, wipes down his space as he prepares for lunch at his desk in Oak Brook.
"We are not releasing individual school information at this time, since schools are communicating directly with their students, staff, and families," she said.
Experiences of the nine districts come into focus as more schools that initially started classes remotely transition to in-person learning. Elmhurst Unit District 205, for instance, returned some students to classrooms this week.
Even the schools that have opened their doors offer remote learning for families concerned about health risks to students or to others in their households, or for those who might be quarantining.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer A third-grade Brook Forest Elementary School student prepares for lunch at his desk in Oak Brook.
School officials say they are firm in removing symptomatic individuals from campus.
"You can't let your guard down," said John Butts, superintendent at Medinah Elementary District 11. "You have to have a really good relationship with the health department and follow all the guidance."
Administrators say it's taken vigilance and extra effort at every level to keep students in classrooms.
"Our teachers have been working extraordinarily hard and had to shift in every aspect with how they are educating students," said Jenny Wojcik, Superintendent of Rondout Elementary District 72 in Lake Forest. "It's been one of the most complex working environments I've dealt with in all my years."
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Water fountains are covered and marked out of order at Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook. It's intended to help prevent spread of COVID-19.
O'Malley said some at District 53 have stayed home or been sent home because of possible exposure to the disease.
"But none have resulted in positive cases of COVID," he said.
Other suburban districts that began the year offering full-time, in-person learning were Grass Lake Elementary District 36 in Antioch, Roselle Elementary District 12, Rosemont Elementary District 78 and West Northfield Elementary District 31. There were no plans for those districts to halt in-person learning, administrators said.
"It's going well," Rosemont Elementary Principal Laurie Kovalcik said. "It's a year like no other, but the kids are so happy to be back, and Aug. 18 was one of the most rewarding openings of school I've had, I'll tell you that."
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Katie Myers teaches English at Butler Junior High School in Oak Brook.
More school districts are announcing plans to bring students back to the classroom in the coming weeks, either through a combination of in-person and remote learning or full-time, in-class sessions. Administrators at the districts that have been operating in-person programs all along say communication is key, especially with parents.
"It's all about building that partnership with the parents," Wojcik said. "They're front line. They've got to know the plan and how to monitor."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--District 203 elementary students to gradually return to in-person learning next month

Three weeks after Naperville Unit District 203 kicked off its academic year with remote learning , administrators say the greatest lesson learned so far is the importance of getting the youngest students back in the classroom .
Actively engaging with live online curriculum for hours at a time is emotionally taxing for early elementary learners , despite the improvements made to the e-learning experience since last spring , Superintendent Dan Bridges said .
Teachers also have reported difficulties with collecting authentic data to assess those grade levels .
That feedback has been the driving force behind a plan to gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early as mid-October , Bridges said .
The district is on track to transition into the second stage of its `` Return to Learn '' plan the week of Oct. 12 , he said , offering `` enhanced e-learning '' that now prioritizes in-person instruction for early education through second grade .
After the youngest learners are back in the classroom , third through fifth grades will return in phases the following weeks , Bridges said .
An online-only model will remain available for those who are n't comfortable going back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet been determined , he said , noting half-day , hybrid and other scheduling options are being considered .
A survey sent out to families this week will help the district finalize details .
Middle- and high-schoolers will continue with e-learning , though educators are expected to offer some in-person experiences for priority groups , Bridges said .
Students also will be able to access school buildings if they need a quiet place to work or a stable internet connection .
The updated plan was announced Monday during a school board meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the e-learning model and urged district leaders to reinstate an in-person option .
A similar message was conveyed ahead of the meeting during a rally that drew hundreds of community members to Naperville 's Rotary Hill .
`` Many of us want to see schools open to the greatest extent allowed , '' said parent Amanda Mullarkey , whose children are in kindergarten and third grade .
`` It 's not developmentally appropriate to isolate children indefinitely .
We need leaders who will move forward with facts and transparency instead of fear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bridges , who is tasked with developing and implementing reopening plans .
As a parent and administrator , he said , he 's empathetic of the unique needs of families , and shares the goal of getting students back in the classroom -- as long as it can be done safely .
`` This personally impacts me in my house as well , '' Bridges said .
`` I hear you , and I understand , and it remains my commitment to get our students back to in-school learning as soon as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are put in place for us . ''
The district 's `` Return to Learn '' plan is designed to be responsive to evolving COVID-19 conditions and evaluated every six weeks .
As students start returning to school , administrators and school board members stressed that in-person learning wo n't be the same as it was before the pandemic hit .
Desks will be spread apart , classrooms will be structured differently , supplies will not be shared , and students will have their own space during recess .
`` It 's been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've gone through since March , '' board member Kristine Gericke said .
`` I know we have the right people helping to develop these plans .
...
If we do it together , hopefully we do it right and mitigate any problems down the road . ''

District 203 elementary students to gradually return to in-person learning next month
Three weeks after Naperville Unit District 203 kicked off its academic year with remote learning, administrators say the greatest lesson learned so far is the importance of getting the youngest students back in the classroom.
Actively engaging with live online curriculum for hours at a time is emotionally taxing for early elementary learners, despite the improvements made to the e-learning experience since last spring, Superintendent Dan Bridges said. Teachers also have reported difficulties with collecting authentic data to assess those grade levels.
That feedback has been the driving force behind a plan to gradually bring elementary students back to school as early as mid-October, Bridges said.
The district is on track to transition into the second stage of its "Return to Learn" plan the week of Oct. 12, he said, offering "enhanced e-learning" that now prioritizes in-person instruction for early education through second grade.
After the youngest learners are back in the classroom, third through fifth grades will return in phases the following weeks, Bridges said. An online-only model will remain available for those who aren't comfortable going back to school.
The format of in-person learning has not yet been determined, he said, noting half-day, hybrid and other scheduling options are being considered. A survey sent out to families this week will help the district finalize details.
Middle- and high-schoolers will continue with e-learning, though educators are expected to offer some in-person experiences for priority groups, Bridges said. Students also will be able to access school buildings if they need a quiet place to work or a stable internet connection.
The updated plan was announced Monday during a school board meeting, where several parents voiced frustrations with the e-learning model and urged district leaders to reinstate an in-person option. A similar message was conveyed ahead of the meeting during a rally that drew hundreds of community members to Naperville's Rotary Hill.
"Many of us want to see schools open to the greatest extent allowed," said parent Amanda Mullarkey, whose children are in kindergarten and third grade. "It's not developmentally appropriate to isolate children indefinitely. We need leaders who will move forward with facts and transparency instead of fear."
Several speakers directed their criticism toward Bridges, who is tasked with developing and implementing reopening plans.
As a parent and administrator, he said, he's empathetic of the unique needs of families, and shares the goal of getting students back in the classroom -- as long as it can be done safely.
"This personally impacts me in my house as well," Bridges said. "I hear you, and I understand, and it remains my commitment to get our students back to in-school learning as soon as we can do so within the parameters that are put in place for us."
The district's "Return to Learn" plan is designed to be responsive to evolving COVID-19 conditions and evaluated every six weeks.
As students start returning to school, administrators and school board members stressed that in-person learning won't be the same as it was before the pandemic hit. Desks will be spread apart, classrooms will be structured differently, supplies will not be shared, and students will have their own space during recess.
"It's been exhausting for everybody to go through what we've gone through since March," board member Kristine Gericke said. "I know we have the right people helping to develop these plans. ... If we do it together, hopefully we do it right and mitigate any problems down the road."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--Illinois COVID-19 death toll surpasses 8,500

More than 8,500 Illinois residents have now died from COVID-19 , according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health .
The grim milestone comes a day after the nation surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak began .
In 2018 -- the year with the most recent available data -- only heart disease and cancer each killed more than 8,500 Illinoisans , according to IDPH records .
That year , the flu killed 2,562 people , by comparison .
IDPH officials announced 22 more deaths Wednesday , pushing the state 's death toll from the respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of the disease have been diagnosed , bringing the number of Illinois residents infected by the virus to 279,114 , IDPH officials also reported Wednesday .
The state 's seven-day average infection rate remained at 3.5 % for the fifth straight day , one of the longest stretches of stabilization during the pandemic for that figure , which represents the percentage of tests that have positive results .
`` I 'd like to see it at 2 % , but we 're not anywhere near that yet , '' Gov .
J.B. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 've still got one region under a mitigation plan and another region heading in that direction . ''
State officials are keeping an eye on the nine-county region in the northwest corner of the state that contains cities like Rockford , DeKalb , Galena and Freeport .
The average infection rate for the region is at 7.5 % as of Sunday .
It has risen from 6 % on Sept. 14 .
The increase is fueled by Jo Daviess County , which is exceeding three risk categories : more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past week , an average positivity rate for the week exceeding 8 % and not enough testing being performed on residents in the area .
If the region exceeds an 8 % average positivity rate , businesses will be put under greater operating restrictions and the size of gatherings will be reduced .
Currently , the Metro East region near St. Louis is still under mitigation restrictions .
Last week , the region that contains Will and Kankakee counties had those restrictions lifted after nearly three weeks .
Pritzker also blasted critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school football season until at least spring while allowing other sports to be played this fall .
`` Attacking my daughter for playing a sport that is allowed .
People protested in front of a state employee 's house over the last few days , scaring their children , '' Pritzker reported .
`` People need to understand that I 'm focused on saving lives .
The fact that people want to get personal is disturbing in the context that people are dying from this .
Maybe they should step back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about ? '
'' It 's unknown whose home was the site of protests .
State officials did not immediately respond to questions about the governor 's statement .

Illinois COVID-19 death toll surpasses 8,500
Researchers at the University of Illinois and state health officials are working to make the university's saliva-based COVID-19 test more widely available throughout the state. Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois
More than 8,500 Illinois residents have now died from COVID-19, according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The grim milestone comes a day after the nation surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak began.
In 2018 -- the year with the most recent available data -- only heart disease and cancer each killed more than 8,500 Illinoisans, according to IDPH records. That year, the flu killed 2,562 people, by comparison.
IDPH officials announced 22 more deaths Wednesday, pushing the state's death toll from the respiratory disease to 8,508.
Another 1,848 new cases of the disease have been diagnosed, bringing the number of Illinois residents infected by the virus to 279,114, IDPH officials also reported Wednesday.
The state's seven-day average infection rate remained at 3.5% for the fifth straight day, one of the longest stretches of stabilization during the pandemic for that figure, which represents the percentage of tests that have positive results.
"I'd like to see it at 2%, but we're not anywhere near that yet," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Wednesday. "We've still got one region under a mitigation plan and another region heading in that direction."
State officials are keeping an eye on the nine-county region in the northwest corner of the state that contains cities like Rockford, DeKalb, Galena and Freeport. The average infection rate for the region is at 7.5% as of Sunday. It has risen from 6% on Sept. 14.
The increase is fueled by Jo Daviess County, which is exceeding three risk categories: more than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, an average positivity rate for the week exceeding 8% and not enough testing being performed on residents in the area.
If the region exceeds an 8% average positivity rate, businesses will be put under greater operating restrictions and the size of gatherings will be reduced. Currently, the Metro East region near St. Louis is still under mitigation restrictions. Last week, the region that contains Will and Kankakee counties had those restrictions lifted after nearly three weeks.
Pritzker also blasted critics who complained about the state postponing the high school football season until at least spring while allowing other sports to be played this fall.
"Attacking my daughter for playing a sport that is allowed. People protested in front of a state employee's house over the last few days, scaring their children," Pritzker reported. "People need to understand that I'm focused on saving lives. The fact that people want to get personal is disturbing in the context that people are dying from this. Maybe they should step back and ask themselves, 'what is this all about?'"
It's unknown whose home was the site of protests. State officials did not immediately respond to questions about the governor's statement.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-23--'We have too many guns': Casten proposes national gun buyback program

Already an advocate of stricter gun control laws , U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove this week voiced support for a national buyback program in the U.S. similar to the one implemented in Australia 24 years ago .
`` If we passed all the greatest laws in the world , the guns are still out there , '' Casten said Tuesday during an online endorsement interview with the Daily Herald and Shaw Media .
Casten is running for reelection to the 6th Congressional District seat .
His Republican challenger in the Nov. 3 election , former state Rep. Jeanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend .
The availability of guns in the U.S. is a source of frustration for Casten , who ousted six-term Republican incumbent Peter Roskam in 2018 .
Casten has called for a new ban on assault weapons to replace the one that expired in 2004 .
He also supports expanding federal law to mandate criminal background checks for all gun purchases , not just those involving licensed dealers as is now required .
Casten has backed red flag laws that permit police or family members to seek the temporary removal of firearms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earlier this year he and other lawmakers proposed legislation that would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours to prevent illegal trafficking .
In interviews and forums , Casten has noted there are more guns in the U.S. than people and far more than any other nation -- but a hard count is n't possible because no official record-keeping system for firearm ownership in the U.S. exists , according to the fact-checking website PolitiFact .
Regardless , according to various estimates , the U.S. leads the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita gun ownership .
`` What we need to talk about ... is that we have too many guns , '' Casten said .
Casten pointed to Australia as a nation that 's taken positive action on gun control .
Following a 1996 mass shooting that left 35 people dead , the Australian government adopted strict firearm regulations , including a ban on certain semi-automatic rifles and shotguns , licensing criteria and sales restrictions .
Additionally , Australia launched a national , mandatory buyback program for prohibited weapons that resulted in more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Library of Congress .
Another Australian gun buyback program in 2003 reportedly netted more than 68,000 firearms , and a three-month national amnesty in 2017 led to more than 57,000 guns being turned in .
Casten , who has touted the success of gun buyback programs before , suggested the U.S. follow Australia 's lead .
`` They took a whole bunch of guns out of circulation , and they have n't had a mass shooting since , '' Casten said .
`` Why do n't we do that ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia since those laws were enacted , however , including at least one last year .
But none were as deadly as the 1996 attack .
Casten said Australian leaders used money as an incentive because they recognized reducing the number of privately owned guns would be `` extremely difficult . ''
`` Would it work exactly the same way , adapted to U.S. culture ?
I do n't know , '' Casten said .
`` My interest right now is less about how to do that particular policy ( and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation . ''
Casten noted that the majority of gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides , an assertion supported by Justice Department statistics .
`` We 're not going to fix that with background checks or assault weapons bans , '' said Casten , who has proudly touted the F rating he received from the National Rifle Association .
`` Let 's find a way to have fewer guns . ''
Although Ives skipped Tuesday 's interview and did n't respond to emails Wednesday , her thoughts on gun control are public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ives did n't support the concept of universal background checks for would-be gun buyers or a new ban on assault weapons , saying the government is n't enforcing the gun laws already in place .
Last month , the Ives campaign criticized Casten for saying `` having small genitals is not a sufficient reason to own a gun '' during a recent online forum .
Casten made the comment after questioning why people need to own guns and subsequently called his remark a joke `` about the toxic-masculinity that has infected this whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several gun-control measures while a state representative , including proposals that created a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases , created licensing rules for gun dealers and sought to create minimum age limits for people buying assault-style weapons .
Ives has been endorsed by the NRA and received an A- grade from the group .
The 6th District includes parts of Cook , DuPage , Kane , Lake and McHenry counties .

'We have too many guns': Casten proposes national gun buyback program
Sean Casten, left, and Jeanne Ives, right, are candidates for the 6th Congressional District race in the 2020 November general election.
Already an outspoken advocate of stricter gun control laws, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove this week voiced support for a national buyback program in the U.S. similar to the one implemented in Australia 24 years ago.
"If we passed all the greatest laws in the world, the guns are still out there," Casten said Tuesday during an online endorsement interview with the Daily Herald and Shaw Media.
Casten is running for reelection to the 6th Congressional District seat. His Republican challenger in the Nov. 3 election, former state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, refused an invite to attend.
The availability of guns in the U.S. is a source of frustration for Casten, who ousted six-term Republican incumbent Peter Roskam in 2018.
Casten has called for a new ban on assault weapons to replace the one that expired in 2004. He also supports expanding federal law to mandate criminal background checks for all gun purchases, not just those involving licensed dealers as is now required.
Casten has backed red flag laws that permit police or family members to seek the temporary removal of firearms from anyone who may be dangerous, and earlier this year he and other lawmakers proposed legislation that would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours to prevent illegal trafficking.
In interviews and forums, Casten has noted there are more guns in the U.S. than people and far more than any other nation -- but a hard count isn't possible because no official record-keeping system for firearm ownership in the U.S. exists, according to the fact-checking website PolitiFact.
Regardless, according to various estimates, the U.S. leads the world in total private gun ownership and per capita gun ownership.
"What we need to talk about ... is that we have too many guns," Casten said.
Casten pointed to Australia as a nation that's taken positive action on gun control.
Following a 1996 mass shooting that left 35 people dead, the Australian government adopted strict firearm regulations, including a ban on certain semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, licensing criteria and sales restrictions. Additionally, Australia launched a national, mandatory buyback program for prohibited weapons that resulted in more than 700,000 weapons being surrendered, according to the U.S. Library of Congress.
Another Australian gun buyback program in 2003 reportedly netted more than 68,000 firearms, and a three-month national amnesty in 2017 led to more than 57,000 guns being turned in.
Casten, who has touted the success of gun buyback programs before, suggested the U.S. follow Australia's lead.
"They took a whole bunch of guns out of circulation, and they haven't had a mass shooting since," Casten said. "Why don't we do that?"
There have been shootings with multiple deaths in Australia since those laws were enacted, however, including at least one last year. But none were as deadly as the 1996 attack.
Casten said Australian leaders used money as an incentive because they recognized reducing the number of privately owned guns would be "extremely difficult."
"Would it work exactly the same way, adapted to U.S. culture? I don't know," Casten said. "My interest right now is less about how to do that particular policy (and more about) let's start having the conversation."
Casten noted that the majority of gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides, an assertion supported by Justice Department statistics.
"We're not going to fix that with background checks or assault weapons bans," said Casten, who has proudly touted the F rating he received from the National Rifle Association. "Let's find a way to have fewer guns."
Although Ives skipped Tuesday's interview and didn't respond to emails Wednesday, her thoughts on gun control are public.
In one recent online forum, Ives didn't support the concept of universal background checks for would-be gun buyers or a new ban on assault weapons, saying the government isn't enforcing the gun laws already in place.
Last month, the Ives campaign criticized Casten for saying "having small genitals is not a sufficient reason to own a gun" during a recent online forum. Casten made the comment after questioning why people need to own guns and subsequently called his remark a joke "about the toxic-masculinity that has infected this whole debate."
Ives also voted against several gun-control measures while a state representative, including proposals that created a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, created licensing rules for gun dealers and sought to create minimum age limits for people buying assault-style weapons.
Ives sponsored legislation allowing people to carry concealed firearms, too.
Ives has been endorsed by the NRA and received an A- grade from the group.
The 6th District includes parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.