dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Illinois among last states to apply, be approved for added $300 unemployment benefit

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois is one of the last states to apply and be approved for a federal program providing an additional $ 300 in unemployment assistance per week to qualifying residents .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he instructed the Illinois Department of Employment Security to submit an application `` despite serious concerns about the unfairness '' of the program .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency certified that request on Tuesday .
Funding for the Lost Wage Assistance Program was redirected by President Donald Trump from the agency 's disaster relief fund .
That money is typically used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major domestic disasters , such as assisting hurricane survivors .
Trump issued the order in July shortly after a measure creating $ 600 in added weekly benefits through the federal Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act expired .
Up to $ 44 billion is available to states through Dec. 27 , or until the funding runs out .
Benefits can be retroactively paid to eligible Illinoisans , starting with the week ending Aug. 1 .
The governor 's office , in a news release , estimated that funding will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspecified `` economic projections for the demand of these funds . ''
Only those Americans who are eligible for at least $ 100 per week in unemployment benefits qualify for the extra $ 300 in federal funding .
That is why Pritzker said Illinois did not apply for the program sooner -- about 55,000 residents will be excluded , according to his office .
As of Wednesday , 45 states are approved to receive grants , including Illinois , which was the 44th state approved .
Applications were accepted beginning Aug. 15 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits .
`` President Trump 's program will likely cut off the most vulnerable workers , create needless competition among the states for these limited FEMA dollars , and sow more confusion among the unemployed , so I want to caution that those eligible for these dollars will likely encounter frustration and unfairness brought on by the president 's shortsighted and short-lived program , '' Pritzker said in a written statement .
`` However , the $ 300 benefit will provide much needed assistance for those who can get it , too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether to pay their rent , buy groceries or get medicine , '' he continued .
`` We will do everything in our power to make sure that every eligible recipient can participate in this program . ''
Other states developed a workaround to tackle the issue of residents not otherwise qualifying for the extra federal financial assistance .
New Hampshire , for example , is supplementing its residents ' unemployment benefits to ensure everyone reaches the $ 100 threshold .
According to the New Hampshire Employment Security Department , `` for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in weekly unemployment benefits , New Hampshire is making additional changes to increase the minimum state unemployment benefit up to $ 100 so that all unemployed Granite Staters will be eligible . ''
In Rhode Island , Scott Jensen , the state 's Department of Labor and Training director , said officials will briefly increase residents ' benefits so they qualify for the Lost Wage Assistance program .
Representatives of Pritzker and the Department of Employment Security did not respond to questions about whether a similar strategy was considered in Illinois .
IDES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois is allocated and identifying which residents qualify for that assistance .
According to the U.S. Department of Labor , 24,116 Illinoisans filed new unemployment claims for the week ending Aug. 29 .
That is down 2,146 new claims filed the week prior .

Illinois among last states to apply, be approved for added $300 unemployment benefit
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he instructed the Illinois Department of Employment Security to apply for a federal program providing an additional $300 in unemployment assistance per week to qualifying residents, despite his concerns about unfairness. Tyler LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times, April 17
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois is one of the last states to apply and be approved for a federal program providing an additional $300 in unemployment assistance per week to qualifying residents.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he instructed the Illinois Department of Employment Security to submit an application "despite serious concerns about the unfairness" of the program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency certified that request on Tuesday.
Funding for the Lost Wage Assistance Program was redirected by President Donald Trump from the agency's disaster relief fund. That money is typically used to finance the federal government's response to major domestic disasters, such as assisting hurricane survivors.
Trump issued the order in July shortly after a measure creating $600 in added weekly benefits through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act expired.
Up to $44 billion is available to states through Dec. 27, or until the funding runs out. Benefits can be retroactively paid to eligible Illinoisans, starting with the week ending Aug. 1.
The governor's office, in a news release, estimated that funding will be exhausted in three weeks. It cited unspecified "economic projections for the demand of these funds."
Only those Americans who are eligible for at least $100 per week in unemployment benefits qualify for the extra $300 in federal funding. That is why Pritzker said Illinois did not apply for the program sooner -- about 55,000 residents will be excluded, according to his office.
As of Wednesday, 45 states are approved to receive grants, including Illinois, which was the 44th state approved. Applications were accepted beginning Aug. 15 and the federal government has begun paying out benefits.
"President Trump's program will likely cut off the most vulnerable workers, create needless competition among the states for these limited FEMA dollars, and sow more confusion among the unemployed, so I want to caution that those eligible for these dollars will likely encounter frustration and unfairness brought on by the president's shortsighted and short-lived program," Pritzker said in a written statement.
"However, the $300 benefit will provide much needed assistance for those who can get it, too many of whom are facing terrible choices about whether to pay their rent, buy groceries or get medicine," he continued. "We will do everything in our power to make sure that every eligible recipient can participate in this program."
Other states developed a workaround to tackle the issue of residents not otherwise qualifying for the extra federal financial assistance. New Hampshire, for example, is supplementing its residents' unemployment benefits to ensure everyone reaches the $100 threshold.
According to the New Hampshire Employment Security Department, "for those people eligible for less than $100 in weekly unemployment benefits, New Hampshire is making additional changes to increase the minimum state unemployment benefit up to $100 so that all unemployed Granite Staters will be eligible."
In Rhode Island, Scott Jensen, the state's Department of Labor and Training director, said officials will briefly increase residents' benefits so they qualify for the Lost Wage Assistance program.
Representatives of Pritzker and the Department of Employment Security did not respond to questions about whether a similar strategy was considered in Illinois.
IDES is tasked with distributing whatever federal funds Illinois is allocated and identifying which residents qualify for that assistance.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 24,116 Illinoisans filed new unemployment claims for the week ending Aug. 29. That is down 2,146 new claims filed the week prior.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Man hurt in Long Grove crash

Man hurt in Long Grove crash

A 19-year-old man is in serious but stable condition after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a tree in @ @ @ @ @ sheriff 's officials said Thursday .
The driver , a 19-year-old Chicago Heights man , @ @ @ @ @ Road , north of Route 22 , when the crash occurred at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ news release .
The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle by Long Grove @ @ @ @ @ driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control and striking the @ @ @ @ @ of the roadway , according to the release .
The driver was transported to Advocate @ @ @ @ @ with critical injuries .
His condition was later upgraded to serious but stable .
The @ @ @ @ @ the Lake County Sheriff 's Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit .

Man hurt in Long Grove crash
A 19-year-old man is in serious but stable condition after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a tree in Long Grove, Lake County sheriff's officials said Thursday.
The driver, a 19-year-old Chicago Heights man, was southbound on Old McHenry Road, north of Route 22, when the crash occurred at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, officials said in a news release.
The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle by Long Grove firefighters.
Witnesses reported the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control and striking the tree on the west side of the roadway, according to the release.
The driver was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington with critical injuries. His condition was later upgraded to serious but stable.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--GoFundMe page set up for Palatine Uber driver who was shot in Chicago

An Uber driver from Palatine survived being shot in Chicago , but he has a bullet lodged in his brain and likely permanent loss of vision in one eye .
Family and friends hope the public will help pay for his medical expenses .
Tim Rohr , 56 , is hospitalized at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge .
His wife , Lori Rohr , said doctors have said it 's a miracle that he 's alive with his neurological and cognitive functions intact .
But his life has changed dramatically .
`` It 's strange when you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're blind in your right eye , and somebody says you 're lucky .
It does n't feel like you 're lucky , '' Tim Rohr said .
`` You 're just driving there and randomly getting shot -- wrong place , wrong time -- and your life changes in a second . ''
Rohr was shot at 12:54 a.m. Aug. 12 on the 3900 block of South Archer Avenue in Chicago 's Brighton Park neighborhood .
He said he had just dropped off an Uber passenger when he drove by a T-Mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people inside .
Then he heard a shot , he said .
`` I felt my blood run out of my nose and I 'm like , 'Oh , man .
I 'm shot in the head , ' '' he said .
`` I put the car in reverse , went down the entire block , and as I was doing that , I just heard 'pop , pop , pop ' ... just shot after shot after shot . ''
According to Chicago police , three men were involved in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots were fired from a white Acura SUV ; Rohr said he never saw the SUV .
Police said they continue to investigate , and no arrests have been made .
After stopping down the block to gather his thoughts , Rohr said , he spotted a Chicago police squad car and drove up to the officers for help .
He was taken in critical condition to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he underwent surgery .
The bullet entered his back , went through his lung , ricocheted off his jaw and lodged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Rohrs have been married for 27 years and have a daughter , Sophie , who started her junior year at Palatine High School the day after her father was shot .
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic , he could n't get visitors at the hospital , which made the experience all the more harrowing , his wife said .
He was discharged from Mount Sinai on Aug. 27 but the next day had to be hospitalized in Park Ridge due to a cerebrospinal fluid leak , for which doctors are deciding whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Rohr has an engineering degree and worked in engineering and industrial sales until he lost his job in 2009 due to the Great Recession .
He held other jobs afterward , but without stable , satisfying employment , he decided to start driving for Uber .
Working seven days a week at 60 or more hours per week , he ended up making enough money , coupled with his wife 's income as an instructor for Club Pilates , the Rohrs said .
`` You make the best of every situation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding he enjoyed driving around different neighborhoods in Chicago .
His wife said she worried about him getting in a car accident and the dangers of Chicago , especially lately .
The Rohrs have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act but do n't know what medical bills they will be facing , along with the loss of Tim Rohr 's income and Lori Rohr 's reduced income due to COVID-19 .
Friend Madeline Franklin of Palatine , who 's worked with Lori Rohr at several community theaters , started a GoFundMe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within a day .
`` The outpouring of generosity , love and concern for the Rohrs has been unbelievably amazing , '' Franklin said .
Tim Rohr said some days he 's in better spirits than others and credited his wife for her support .
`` She 's always there when times are tough .
It 's been really a beautiful thing , '' he said .
A normally reserved person , he said being in the spotlight feels a bit awkward , but the GoFundMe has been a `` godsend . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- it 's about my wife and my daughter , and we are all in this together , '' he said .

GoFundMe page set up for Palatine Uber driver who was shot in Chicago
Tim Rohr, 56, of Palatine was driving for the ride-share company Uber when he was shot as he witnessed a burglary in Chicago. Courtesy of Lori Rohr
An Uber driver from Palatine survived being shot in Chicago, but he has a bullet lodged in his brain and likely permanent loss of vision in one eye.
Family and friends hope the public will help pay for his medical expenses.
Tim Rohr, 56, is hospitalized at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. His wife, Lori Rohr, said doctors have said it's a miracle that he's alive with his neurological and cognitive functions intact. But his life has changed dramatically.
"It's strange when you have a bullet in your head and you're blind in your right eye, and somebody says you're lucky. It doesn't feel like you're lucky," Tim Rohr said. "You're just driving there and randomly getting shot -- wrong place, wrong time -- and your life changes in a second."
Rohr was shot at 12:54 a.m. Aug. 12 on the 3900 block of South Archer Avenue in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.
He said he had just dropped off an Uber passenger when he drove by a T-Mobile store with the window smashed and three people inside. Then he heard a shot, he said.
"I felt my blood run out of my nose and I'm like, 'Oh, man. I'm shot in the head,'" he said. "I put the car in reverse, went down the entire block, and as I was doing that, I just heard 'pop, pop, pop' ... just shot after shot after shot."
According to Chicago police, three men were involved in the burglary and the shooting. Police said shots were fired from a white Acura SUV; Rohr said he never saw the SUV. Police said they continue to investigate, and no arrests have been made.
After stopping down the block to gather his thoughts, Rohr said, he spotted a Chicago police squad car and drove up to the officers for help. He was taken in critical condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
A bullet entered Tim Rohr's back, went through his lung, ricocheted off his jaw and lodged in his brain, he said. - Courtesy of Lori Rohr
The bullet entered his back, went through his lung, ricocheted off his jaw and lodged in his brain, he said.
The Rohrs have been married for 27 years and have a daughter, Sophie, who started her junior year at Palatine High School the day after her father was shot. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he couldn't get visitors at the hospital, which made the experience all the more harrowing, his wife said.
He was discharged from Mount Sinai on Aug. 27 but the next day had to be hospitalized in Park Ridge due to a cerebrospinal fluid leak, for which doctors are deciding whether to intervene, the Rohrs said.
Tim Rohr has an engineering degree and worked in engineering and industrial sales until he lost his job in 2009 due to the Great Recession. He held other jobs afterward, but without stable, satisfying employment, he decided to start driving for Uber.
Working seven days a week at 60 or more hours per week, he ended up making enough money, coupled with his wife's income as an instructor for Club Pilates, the Rohrs said.
"You make the best of every situation that you can," Tim Rohr said, adding he enjoyed driving around different neighborhoods in Chicago. His wife said she worried about him getting in a car accident and the dangers of Chicago, especially lately.
The Rohrs have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act but don't know what medical bills they will be facing, along with the loss of Tim Rohr's income and Lori Rohr's reduced income due to COVID-19.
Uber driver Tim Rohr, 56, of Palatine is pictured here about two years ago with his wife, Lori, and their daughter, Sophie. - Courtesy of Lori Rohr
Friend Madeline Franklin of Palatine, who's worked with Lori Rohr at several community theaters, started a GoFundMe page that racked up about $13,000 within a day.
"The outpouring of generosity, love and concern for the Rohrs has been unbelievably amazing," Franklin said.
Tim Rohr said some days he's in better spirits than others and credited his wife for her support.
"She's always there when times are tough. It's been really a beautiful thing," he said.
A normally reserved person, he said being in the spotlight feels a bit awkward, but the GoFundMe has been a "godsend."
"It's not just about me -- it's about my wife and my daughter, and we are all in this together," he said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Endangered turtles bred at Brookfield Zoo released into DuPage wild

The tiny turtle squirming in Dan Thompson 's hands looks like a content creature .
The shape of its mouth gives the appearance of a smile and the impression that the young reptile is blissfully unaware it takes a village to reach this rite of passage .
Every fall , Thompson wades into knee-deep , murky water to release Blanding 's turtles into the marshes of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County .
After a year in captivity , the turtles have grown from quarter-sized hatchlings to plucky juveniles , eager to experience the natural world .
Each youngster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conservationists who have spent 25 years working to offset population losses .
`` They 're all special , really , '' said Thompson , a district ecologist .
But the batch released Wednesday are unique in their own way .
They are the first Blanding 's turtles bred and hatched at Brookfield Zoo 's captive breeding pond , a genetic reservoir built with females from the forest preserves .
`` We 're just very happy to see them move on and contribute to a population , '' said Andy Snider , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brookfield contributed 10 turtles to Wednesday 's release , while another dozen from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago ventured into grassy marshes .
The species is endangered in Illinois , under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation , predators , roadside mortalities as females cross traffic to get to nesting sites , and an illegal black market .
The forest preserve district does n't disclose the exact location of their release to protect the turtles from collectors .
District ecologists launched the species recovery program in the mid-1990s after observing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outnumbered more vulnerable , younger turtles as raccoons and other midlevel predators flourished with suburban sprawl .
`` We were dealing with a really small population of wild adult turtles , and that 's all we had , '' Thompson said .
`` We did not have any kind of age structure . ''
The district tracks turtle births with radio transmitters attached to females .
When they 're ready to nest around early June , ecologists bring the turtles to Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn so the reptiles can lay their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After an incubation period , the hatchlings spend about a year at zoos , museums and other partner institutions until the turtles are large enough to have a better chance at survival in the wild .
Then the process starts all over again .
A slowing-maturing species , Blanding 's turtles do n't start reproducing until their midteens to their 20s .
`` We 've been fortunate that we 've hit that threshold , and we 've actually had some of our head starts in the wild survive to maturity and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turtles now , '' Thompson said .
In 2011 , Brookfield Zoo began to develop a breeding pond to produce captive-bred youngsters to send into the wild .
Last year , some of the nearly 25 females in the pond were old enough to successfully breed and lay fertile eggs in a nesting beach .
In the spring and summer months , the zoo also uses outdoor enclosures in Dragonfly Marsh to `` head start '' the district 's hatchlings .
Nearly 3,500 turtles have hatched out since the inception of the forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that eventually , the region will see signs of a self-sustaining population , but conservation efforts take time .
They keep at it knowing that their work preserving the Great Lakes native supports biodiversity .
`` We 're really certainly at a time right now that we really need to be much more vigilant about how we care for the planet and how we live to make sure that we have less impact , '' Thompson said .

Endangered turtles bred at Brookfield Zoo released into DuPage wild
The tiny turtle squirming in Dan Thompson's hands looks like a content creature.
The shape of its mouth gives the appearance of a smile and the impression that the young reptile is blissfully unaware it takes a village to reach this rite of passage.
Every fall, Thompson wades into knee-deep, murky water to release Blanding's turtles into the marshes of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. After a year in captivity, the turtles have grown from quarter-sized hatchlings to plucky juveniles, eager to experience the natural world.
Each youngster carries a spotted shell and the hopes of conservationists who have spent 25 years working to offset population losses.
"They're all special, really," said Thompson, a district ecologist.
But the batch released Wednesday are unique in their own way. They are the first Blanding's turtles bred and hatched at Brookfield Zoo's captive breeding pond, a genetic reservoir built with females from the forest preserves.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Dan Thompson, an ecologist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, releases a Blanding's turtle Wednesday.
"We're just very happy to see them move on and contribute to a population," said Andy Snider, the zoo's curator of herpetology and aquatics.
Brookfield contributed 10 turtles to Wednesday's release, while another dozen from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago ventured into grassy marshes.
The species is endangered in Illinois, under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation, predators, roadside mortalities as females cross traffic to get to nesting sites, and an illegal black market. The forest preserve district doesn't disclose the exact location of their release to protect the turtles from collectors.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Dan Thompson, an ecologist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, shows how the microchipped Blanding's turtle is scanned.
District ecologists launched the species recovery program in the mid-1990s after observing a troubling population decline. Older generations outnumbered more vulnerable, younger turtles as raccoons and other midlevel predators flourished with suburban sprawl.
"We were dealing with a really small population of wild adult turtles, and that's all we had," Thompson said. "We did not have any kind of age structure."
The district tracks turtle births with radio transmitters attached to females. When they're ready to nest around early June, ecologists bring the turtles to Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn so the reptiles can lay their eggs away from the threat of raccoons.
After an incubation period, the hatchlings spend about a year at zoos, museums and other partner institutions until the turtles are large enough to have a better chance at survival in the wild.
Then the process starts all over again. A slowing-maturing species, Blanding's turtles don't start reproducing until their midteens to their 20s.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer "It's still not where it needs to be, but it's increasing," ecologist Dan Thompson said of efforts to rebuild the Blanding's turtle population in DuPage County.
"We've been fortunate that we've hit that threshold, and we've actually had some of our head starts in the wild survive to maturity and are reproducing and providing our third generation of turtles now," Thompson said.
In 2011, Brookfield Zoo began to develop a breeding pond to produce captive-bred youngsters to send into the wild. Last year, some of the nearly 25 females in the pond were old enough to successfully breed and lay fertile eggs in a nesting beach.
In the spring and summer months, the zoo also uses outdoor enclosures in Dragonfly Marsh to "head start" the district's hatchlings.
Nearly 3,500 turtles have hatched out since the inception of the forest preserve district's program.
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer About two dozen Blanding's turtles were released into DuPage County wetlands Wednesday.
Ecologists hope that eventually, the region will see signs of a self-sustaining population, but conservation efforts take time. They keep at it knowing that their work preserving the Great Lakes native supports biodiversity.
"We're really certainly at a time right now that we really need to be much more vigilant about how we care for the planet and how we live to make sure that we have less impact," Thompson said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Cubs pitcher Hendricks still trying to fix timing issues

The best hope for the Cubs to make some noise in the postseason is likely getting pitcher Kyle Hendricks back on track .
Yu Darvish , who was just named NL pitcher of the month for August , has been one of the best pitchers in the majors .
So a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation would be an appealing situation .
But Hendricks , who snapped a personal three-game losing streak against the Pirates on Wednesday , admitted he 's been working through some issues with arguably his best pitch .
`` My changeup just is n't feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's victory .
`` Last outing and this outing , it 's just not feeling right , not coming out of my hand right .
So that 's something I 've really got to focus on , really got to work on at my side this week .
`` In game , we just had to make the adjustment to go to more heaters and curveballs , but it was a little bit part of the plan too . ''
Losing the mechanics on his changeup might help explain Hendricks ' slide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his previous start in Cincinnati .
`` It 's kind of been that way through my last few starts , '' he said .
`` I 've just been searching for it , it 's just been a grind , it does n't feel quite right .
I 've been putting a lot of work in my sides and stuff , and it feels good at times there .
But then I get to game day and it 's just off again .
`` It was better , it 's getting closer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take those positives .
But it 's just a timing issue .
My mechanics are good , the ball 's coming out fine , just a little bit of timing at the top of my balance point .
I just rush through it a little bit at times .
I 've just got to keep working on it , keep grinding and it will come . ''
Hendricks said it release felt the best it has in a while completing the sixth inning in Pittsburgh before the left the game .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my hand gets out front for my changeup to get depth on it , and it 's just coming out completely flat right now or I 'm just burying it right in the ground , '' he said .
`` It 's probably a timing issue with that .
If I just throw it a bunch , maybe I 'll get my timing back .
`` The sixth inning , my timing felt the best it had , just taking my time , focus all on the glove .
So I 'm really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sixth inning and just build on those . ''

Cubs pitcher Hendricks still trying to fix timing issues
Kyle Hendricks snapped a personal three-game losing streak by beating the Pirates on Wednesday. Afterward, he detailed the struggle to get contol of his changeup. Associated Press
The best hope for the Cubs to make some noise in the postseason is likely getting pitcher Kyle Hendricks back on track.
Yu Darvish, who was just named NL pitcher of the month for August, has been one of the best pitchers in the majors. So a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation would be an appealing situation.
But Hendricks, who snapped a personal three-game losing streak against the Pirates on Wednesday, admitted he's been working through some issues with arguably his best pitch.
"My changeup just isn't feeling good," Hendricks said after Wednesday's victory. "Last outing and this outing, it's just not feeling right, not coming out of my hand right. So that's something I've really got to focus on, really got to work on at my side this week.
"In game, we just had to make the adjustment to go to more heaters and curveballs, but it was a little bit part of the plan too."
Losing the mechanics on his changeup might help explain Hendricks' slide. He allowed 10 hits and 5 runs in his previous start in Cincinnati.
"It's kind of been that way through my last few starts," he said. "I've just been searching for it, it's just been a grind, it doesn't feel quite right. I've been putting a lot of work in my sides and stuff, and it feels good at times there. But then I get to game day and it's just off again.
"It was better, it's getting closer, so I've just got to take those positives. But it's just a timing issue. My mechanics are good, the ball's coming out fine, just a little bit of timing at the top of my balance point. I just rush through it a little bit at times. I've just got to keep working on it, keep grinding and it will come."
Hendricks said it release felt the best it has in a while completing the sixth inning in Pittsburgh before the left the game.
"I've got to be on time so my hand gets out front for my changeup to get depth on it, and it's just coming out completely flat right now or I'm just burying it right in the ground," he said. "It's probably a timing issue with that. If I just throw it a bunch, maybe I'll get my timing back.
"The sixth inning, my timing felt the best it had, just taking my time, focus all on the glove. So I'm really going to take those thoughts I had in the sixth inning and just build on those."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Chicago Bears' real quarterback competition starts in Detroit

Well , guys , the hay is in the barn as far as the Bears ' starting quarterback `` competition '' goes , and the winner is ... Actually , we 'll have to wait a few more days for that announcement , but Thursday was the Bears ' last practice before it comes .
All that 's left now is for Matt Nagy , Bill Lazor , Dave Ragone , John DiFilippo and , I 'd assume , Ryan Pace to sit behind closed doors and debate the outcome .
The reason `` competition '' is in quotes is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's sincerity when they told us that 's what it would be and that it would be truly open .
The unfortunate reality though is that when all four exhibition games went out the window , the competition went as well .
The main concern with Trubisky going into camp was whether his recognition and feel for the offense could improve over the off-season .
With Foles , the question always has been how long it would take him to get his timing with new targets down , and does he have what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' or is he meant to be a super sub ?
As Nagy told us after the scrimmage last Saturday : `` For us we know there certainly can be improvement with both of them ... '' '' But they 're making good decisions .
There 's times they 're making good throws .
There 's times they 're making throws they wish they had back ... '' '' We realize that this is a very important decision , not just for us but for them too , and they know the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing it out ...
Ultimately there 's going to come a time when we have to say OK , you are the starter and you are the backup and it 's go time . ''
`` It can not be a time where there 's a setback mentally because you 're the backup . ''
These are clipped phrases from longer answers , but absolutely none of it is out of context , and I chose them to make two points that appear to be very clear .
Neither player has been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly separate himself and claim the job .
And while Nagy insists repetitive study of the practice tapes will yield an answer , it 's impossible to not believe the decision will involve in some part what these coaches knew about these two going in .
It 's not ideal , but the rules were taken out of Nagy 's and Pace 's hands , and this is what they 're left with .
What does Trubisky believe he has done to win the job ?
`` I think overall just showing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in situations with the team ( drills ) and one-on-ones ( individual ) routes , just showing that I could make better decisions with the football for the offense and being more accurate , especially out and to the left and outside the numbers , '' he said .
`` I think I 've shown that I can make those throws , and I 've done better with my footwork and just being able to lead and run this offense .
I feel like I 've had a good camp . ''
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Day One that he 's more interested in the process than the outcome .
`` I know everyone wants an answer to what it takes , but it just takes being myself and going out there and playing and letting them decide who 's the best to lead the team , and no matter what happens we 're all a part of the Chicago Bears , '' Foles said .
These are two very likable guys , and it will be hard not to feel good for , if perhaps not about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , two inescapable facts .
For all of his considerable successes in the NFL , it has all come to Foles as a backup .
On the three different occasions he has been named a starter it has not worked out .
At the same time , Trubisky is the better athlete with the better tools and he 's never really been a backup .
The only logical choice for opening day in Detroit appears to be Trubisky .
But logic does n't always rule , and if it is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it ever really was a competition , and whoever it is in Detroit , that will be where the competition really begins .

Chicago Bears' real quarterback competition starts in Detroit
FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2020, file photo, Chicago Bears quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky, left, and Nick Foles walk on the field during an NFL football camp practice in Lake Forest, Ill. The Bears acquired Super Bowl 52 MVP Foles to compete with former No. 2 draft pick Trubisky for the starting quarterback job, one of several moves to shake up an offense that ranked among the NFL's worst last season.
Well, guys, the hay is in the barn as far as the Bears' starting quarterback "competition" goes, and the winner is ...
Actually, we'll have to wait a few more days for that announcement, but Thursday was the Bears' last practice before it comes.
All that's left now is for Matt Nagy, Bill Lazor, Dave Ragone, John DiFilippo and, I'd assume, Ryan Pace to sit behind closed doors and debate the outcome.
The reason "competition" is in quotes is not to question Pace's or Nagy's sincerity when they told us that's what it would be and that it would be truly open.
The unfortunate reality though is that when all four exhibition games went out the window, the competition went as well.
The main concern with Trubisky going into camp was whether his recognition and feel for the offense could improve over the off-season.
With Foles, the question always has been how long it would take him to get his timing with new targets down, and does he have what it takes to be "the man" or is he meant to be a super sub?
As Nagy told us after the scrimmage last Saturday: "For us we know there certainly can be improvement with both of them ..."
"But they're making good decisions. There's times they're making good throws. There's times they're making throws they wish they had back ..."
"We realize that this is a very important decision, not just for us but for them too, and they know the decision is in their hands and they're playing it out ... Ultimately there's going to come a time when we have to say OK, you are the starter and you are the backup and it's go time."
"It cannot be a time where there's a setback mentally because you're the backup."
These are clipped phrases from longer answers, but absolutely none of it is out of context, and I chose them to make two points that appear to be very clear. Neither player has been able to do anything on the field to clearly separate himself and claim the job.
And while Nagy insists repetitive study of the practice tapes will yield an answer, it's impossible to not believe the decision will involve in some part what these coaches knew about these two going in.
It's not ideal, but the rules were taken out of Nagy's and Pace's hands, and this is what they're left with.
What does Trubisky believe he has done to win the job?
"I think overall just showing that I've improved throwing the ball downfield in situations with the team (drills) and one-on-ones (individual) routes, just showing that I could make better decisions with the football for the offense and being more accurate, especially out and to the left and outside the numbers," he said.
"I think I've shown that I can make those throws, and I've done better with my footwork and just being able to lead and run this offense. I feel like I've had a good camp."
For Foles' part, he has insisted from Day One that he's more interested in the process than the outcome.
"I know everyone wants an answer to what it takes, but it just takes being myself and going out there and playing and letting them decide who's the best to lead the team, and no matter what happens we're all a part of the Chicago Bears," Foles said.
These are two very likable guys, and it will be hard not to feel good for, if perhaps not about, which one wins.
There are, however, two inescapable facts.
For all of his considerable successes in the NFL, it has all come to Foles as a backup. On the three different occasions he has been named a starter it has not worked out.
At the same time, Trubisky is the better athlete with the better tools and he's never really been a backup. The only logical choice for opening day in Detroit appears to be Trubisky.
But logic doesn't always rule, and if it isn't Mitch it will be fair to question whether it ever really was a competition, and whoever it is in Detroit, that will be where the competition really begins.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--When will U of I's saliva test see wider rollout?

When the Illinois Department of Public Health announced the state 's daily COVID-19 testing data Monday , something odd was tucked in among the county figures .
It showed that of the 47,379 tests results returned that day , a full one-third of them -- 15,714 results -- came from Champaign County , which is home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an FDA-approved COVID-19 testing program that could potentially turn the tide in the fight against the virus .
`` We 're routinely running 10,000 tests a day , '' said Marty Burke , a chemistry professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois ' COVID-19 saliva test project .
`` And you 're getting the results back in hours , not days . ''
The tests work much faster and are cheaper than the nasal swabs that are more commonly used .
By getting the results faster , the spread of the virus can be controlled better , Burke said .
`` We want to turn testing into a weapon to get rid of this because the whole goal is n't to monitor the disease , but to eradicate it , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , there 's less chance for that person to infect others . ''
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker touted this breakthrough test more than two weeks ago and announced plans to make it widespread throughout Illinois in the coming months .
But why does it take so long to implement if it 's so effective ?
Locations , personnel and equipment are the short answers .
Each lab that is set up to perform saliva testing needs to be certified by the FDA .
Not only does the certification process take time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel to lead and work in the lab is also time-consuming .
Burke and his research team converted the university 's veterinarian lab and relied heavily on campus volunteers to staff the testing sites .
And finally , while saliva testing does n't use as much equipment as nasal swabs , the equipment needed for the labs is still in short supply .
`` It 's kind of a bit of a race for which one of the locations can pull all the things together first , '' said Ron Watkins , associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gies College of Business and managing director of Shield Illinois .
`` The shortest amount of time you could possibly go is really an eight-week time frame , but it could take as much as 16 weeks to 20 weeks on the longer end . ''
Shield Illinois is responsible for deploying the university 's saliva test capabilities throughout the state .
`` Our hope is that we can have the first tests coming out of labs in October , '' Watkins said .
In the meantime , students , faculty and staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are required to get tested twice a week by spitting into a cup .
`` Dribble , '' Burke corrected .
`` We say dribble , not spit .
Because spitting can aerosolize . ''
Initially , this constant testing helped drive the county 's infection rate down from 1.5 % at the beginning of July , when the saliva tests began , to as low as 0.3 % by mid-August .
But in the past few weeks , the campus has seen cases begin to rise again .
The seven-day average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 0.9 % , with 100 new cases diagnosed that day for the second time in a week .
`` Over these past few days , the irresponsible actions of a small number of students have created the very real possibility of ending an in-person semester for all of us , '' University of Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a mass email sent Wednesday .
`` Their poor choices have led to a concerning and rapid increase in the number of new undergraduate COVID-19 positive cases . ''
Administrators threatened discipline for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , some have been critical of the university 's threats , arguing that an uptick in cases was inevitable with in-person attendance during a pandemic .
The university 's testing figures are also part of the state 's daily COVID-19 reports .
Champaign County is averaging 6,883 tests a day over the past week .
The sheer volume of tests from Champaign County has artificially decreased the state 's infection rate since so many people on the campus are getting tested and retested weekly .
The state 's daily average infection rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But when data from Champaign County is eliminated , the average infection rate becomes 5.2 % .
`` The data is the data , '' Burke argued .
`` We need to get the state and the rest of the country to as much as we are testing . ''
Burke and the state health department also stand by the results of the saliva tests .
Despite the number of tests performed , the resulting lower case counts do n't match what other counties have seen with traditional swab testing .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position where our starting positivity rate was already low , '' Burke said .
State health officials said the confidence they have in the test stems from the FDA emergency approval of the testing protocols .
Burke also explained that when testing the validity of the saliva test initially , researchers at the university did comparative nasal swabs to rule out false positives and negatives .
Additionally , there 's the science part that makes them even more confident of the test 's accuracy .
`` The virus makes very unique molecules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , '' Burke explained .
`` The chances of the human body making all three of these molecules is infinitesimally small .
And when we see a positive , we run it again , just to be sure . ''

When will U of I's saliva test see wider rollout?
Faculty, staff and students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are required to take free, on-campus COVID-19 tests twice a week. Courtesy of the University of Illinois
When the Illinois Department of Public Health announced the state's daily COVID-19 testing data Monday, something odd was tucked in among the county figures.
It showed that of the 47,379 tests results returned that day, a full one-third of them -- 15,714 results -- came from Champaign County, which is home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an FDA-approved COVID-19 testing program that could potentially turn the tide in the fight against the virus.
"We're routinely running 10,000 tests a day," said Marty Burke, a chemistry professor and lead researcher on the University of Illinois' COVID-19 saliva test project. "And you're getting the results back in hours, not days."
Fighting a war
The tests work much faster and are cheaper than the nasal swabs that are more commonly used. By getting the results faster, the spread of the virus can be controlled better, Burke said.
"We want to turn testing into a weapon to get rid of this because the whole goal isn't to monitor the disease, but to eradicate it," he said. "The sooner we know of a case, there's less chance for that person to infect others."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted this breakthrough test more than two weeks ago and announced plans to make it widespread throughout Illinois in the coming months.
But why does it take so long to implement if it's so effective?
Locations, personnel and equipment are the short answers. Each lab that is set up to perform saliva testing needs to be certified by the FDA.
Not only does the certification process take time, but converting that space and finding the personnel to lead and work in the lab is also time-consuming. Burke and his research team converted the university's veterinarian lab and relied heavily on campus volunteers to staff the testing sites.
And finally, while saliva testing doesn't use as much equipment as nasal swabs, the equipment needed for the labs is still in short supply.
"It's kind of a bit of a race for which one of the locations can pull all the things together first," said Ron Watkins, associate dean of the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business and managing director of Shield Illinois. "The shortest amount of time you could possibly go is really an eight-week time frame, but it could take as much as 16 weeks to 20 weeks on the longer end."
Shield Illinois is responsible for deploying the university's saliva test capabilities throughout the state.
"Our hope is that we can have the first tests coming out of labs in October," Watkins said.
Dealing with outcomes
In the meantime, students, faculty and staff on the campus, roughly 55,000 people, are required to get tested twice a week by spitting into a cup.
"Dribble," Burke corrected. "We say dribble, not spit. Because spitting can aerosolize."
Initially, this constant testing helped drive the county's infection rate down from 1.5% at the beginning of July, when the saliva tests began, to as low as 0.3% by mid-August. But in the past few weeks, the campus has seen cases begin to rise again. The seven-day average infection rate for the county by Thursday was 0.9%, with 100 new cases diagnosed that day for the second time in a week.
"Over these past few days, the irresponsible actions of a small number of students have created the very real possibility of ending an in-person semester for all of us," University of Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a mass email sent Wednesday. "Their poor choices have led to a concerning and rapid increase in the number of new undergraduate COVID-19 positive cases."
Administrators threatened discipline for not complying with COVID-19 safety policies. However, some have been critical of the university's threats, arguing that an uptick in cases was inevitable with in-person attendance during a pandemic.
The university's testing figures are also part of the state's daily COVID-19 reports. Champaign County is averaging 6,883 tests a day over the past week. The sheer volume of tests from Champaign County has artificially decreased the state's infection rate since so many people on the campus are getting tested and retested weekly.
The state's daily average infection rate over the past week is 4.4%. But when data from Champaign County is eliminated, the average infection rate becomes 5.2%.
"The data is the data," Burke argued. "We need to get the state and the rest of the country to as much as we are testing."
Why it works
Burke and the state health department also stand by the results of the saliva tests. Despite the number of tests performed, the resulting lower case counts don't match what other counties have seen with traditional swab testing.
"We were fortunate to be in a position where our starting positivity rate was already low," Burke said.
State health officials said the confidence they have in the test stems from the FDA emergency approval of the testing protocols.
Burke also explained that when testing the validity of the saliva test initially, researchers at the university did comparative nasal swabs to rule out false positives and negatives.
Additionally, there's the science part that makes them even more confident of the test's accuracy.
"The virus makes very unique molecules, and we are looking for three of them," Burke explained. "The chances of the human body making all three of these molecules is infinitesimally small. And when we see a positive, we run it again, just to be sure."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Lawsuit alleges shooting by North Aurora officer was unjustified

Surrounded by police and holding a gun to his head , Jesus Ocasio acted like a man wanting to end his own life the night of Aug. 21 , 2019 .
A North Aurora police officer shot and killed him instead , and now Ocasio 's family members are suing the officer and the village for what they say was excessive force and a wrongful death .
The suit , filed late last month in federal court in Chicago , seeks more than $ 1 million in damages for the survivors of Ocasio , a 54-year-old North Aurora husband and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State 's Attorney Joe McMahon determined the officer who shot Ocasio acted properly and criminal charges would n't be filed .
In a six-page letter to North Aurora Police Chief David Fisher outlining his decision , McMahon wrote that the shooting was `` necessary and justified to prevent Mr. Ocasio from causing imminent deadly harm '' to officers and people inside his home .
The family 's lawsuit disputes little of McMahon 's version of events -- only his conclusions .
Court documents and McMahon 's letter portray Ocasio as despondent , suicidal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hours before his death last summer .
According to the lawsuit , police were called late that night by a family member reporting that Ocasio was missing .
McMahon 's account adds that Ocasio had made suicidal statements and was threatening to shoot another person , sending the man a text that night telling him he needed to watch his back .
About 15 minutes after the initial call , a North Aurora officer on patrol spotted Ocasio driving and tried to pull him over .
Ocasio refused to stop and drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , Ocasio pulled into the driveway and sat in his SUV holding a handgun against his head .
The police officers repeatedly instructed him to put down the gun , telling him , `` We can help you , '' `` Jesus , you are not in trouble , '' and , `` Think of your daughter , '' according to the lawsuit .
Police dashboard video then shows Ocasio getting out of the SUV with the gun still against his head and taking a few steps toward an open garage while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I do n't want to drop the gun , '' he replies .
Moments later , Ocasio stops , turns back toward police and is shot dead .
Shooting with no warning or cause ?
While McMahon determined the shooting to be a necessary use of force , the lawsuit labels it a `` deliberate and malicious deprivation of ( Ocasio 's ) constitutional rights . ''
The suit says Ocasio made no sudden moves and was not a threat to any officer , bystander or person in his home when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fired his gun at Jesus Ocasio within seconds and without provocation from Jesus Ocasio , and without cause , '' the suit states .
Ocasio family attorney Kelly Q. Bennett told us Thursday there is an important difference between the `` beyond a reasonable doubt '' standard prosecutors would need to prove guilt in a criminal courtroom and the `` preponderance of the evidence '' standard he 'll have to prove in a civil case .
`` In this case , the force used was not justified , '' Bennett said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder conviction and 60-year prison sentence of an Aurora man found guilty of fatally shooting his former girlfriend as the couple 's two children sat in a car parked nearby .
In the unanimous decision , appellate justices rejected Christopher Whetstone 's arguments he did n't receive a fair trial in 2017 .
Those arguments ranged from claims of potential racial bias among jurors to prosecutorial misconduct .
A Kane County jury convicted Whetstone , 52 , of first-degree murder in the January 2014 slaying of 22-year-old Rachel Taylor .
Authorities said Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Whetstone 's Aurora home for a visit when an argument erupted and Whetstone shot her in the abdomen and chest .
In his appeal , Whetstone argued that the jurors who heard his case were n't fully questioned about racial bias before the trial began ; that police were allowed to testify about prior contacts with Whetstone ; and that a prosecutor engaged in `` childish behavior '' during the defense 's closing arguments , such as laughing , throwing back his head , and rolling his eyes .
The appellate court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally improper , '' but said there 's no evidence it , or any of Whetstone 's other claims , prevented him from receiving a fair trial .
Instead , the court ruled , the evidence against Whetstone was overwhelming .
`` Here , defendant 's appellate arguments are not unreasonable , but most of them are not error , and none amounts to reversible error , '' Justice Ann B. Jorgensen wrote .
`` The record does not reflect any unfair prejudice to defendant 's case . ''
State records show Whetstone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawrence Correction Center in downstate Sumner .
He 's not eligible for parole until January 2074 .
Arlington Heights police plan to give out face masks at community events this fall , and they 're looking for local youth artists to design them .
Winners of the department 's `` Protect With Police '' contest will see their artwork printed on cloth masks officers will distribute later this year .
Age categories are prekindergarten-fourth grade and fifth-eighth grade .
Participants may use crayons , watercolors , pen and ink or markers to complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selected based on their creativity and originality .
Submissions are due Sept. 15 and may be scanned and emailed to aovington @ vah.com , or dropped off at BerryYo , 50 N. Vail Ave. , or the front desk of the police department , 200 E. Sigwalt St .
Copies of `` Protect With Police '' coloring contest sheets are available online at www.ahpd.org and www.vah.com .
Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 , during a party hosted by BerryYo , which is co-sponsoring the contest with Matrix Home Solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question , tip or comment ?
Email us at copsandcrime @ dailyherald.com .

Lawsuit alleges shooting by North Aurora officer was unjustified
A North Aurora police officer shot and killed Jesus Ocasio during a brief standoff outside his home in August 2019. In March, Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon determined that the shooting was justified, but now Ocasio's family is suing the police officer and North Aurora, alleging excessive force and wrongful death. Courtesy of North Aurora Police
Surrounded by police and holding a gun to his head, Jesus Ocasio acted like a man wanting to end his own life the night of Aug. 21, 2019.
A North Aurora police officer shot and killed him instead, and now Ocasio's family members are suing the officer and the village for what they say was excessive force and a wrongful death.
The suit, filed late last month in federal court in Chicago, seeks more than $1 million in damages for the survivors of Ocasio, a 54-year-old North Aurora husband and father.
In March, Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon determined the officer who shot Ocasio acted properly and criminal charges wouldn't be filed. In a six-page letter to North Aurora Police Chief David Fisher outlining his decision, McMahon wrote that the shooting was "necessary and justified to prevent Mr. Ocasio from causing imminent deadly harm" to officers and people inside his home.
The family's lawsuit disputes little of McMahon's version of events -- only his conclusions.
The facts
Court documents and McMahon's letter portray Ocasio as despondent, suicidal and possibly a threat to others in the hours before his death last summer. According to the lawsuit, police were called late that night by a family member reporting that Ocasio was missing. McMahon's account adds that Ocasio had made suicidal statements and was threatening to shoot another person, sending the man a text that night telling him he needed to watch his back.
About 15 minutes after the initial call, a North Aurora officer on patrol spotted Ocasio driving and tried to pull him over.
Ocasio refused to stop and drove home instead, documents state.
Once home, Ocasio pulled into the driveway and sat in his SUV holding a handgun against his head.
The police officers repeatedly instructed him to put down the gun, telling him, "We can help you," "Jesus, you are not in trouble," and, "Think of your daughter," according to the lawsuit.
Police dashboard video then shows Ocasio getting out of the SUV with the gun still against his head and taking a few steps toward an open garage while ignoring police commands to drop the weapon.
"I don't want to drop the gun," he replies.
Moments later, Ocasio stops, turns back toward police and is shot dead.
Shooting with no warning or cause?
While McMahon determined the shooting to be a necessary use of force, the lawsuit labels it a "deliberate and malicious deprivation of (Ocasio's) constitutional rights." The suit says Ocasio made no sudden moves and was not a threat to any officer, bystander or person in his home when he was gunned down.
The officer "fired his gun at Jesus Ocasio within seconds and without provocation from Jesus Ocasio, and without cause," the suit states.
Ocasio family attorney Kelly Q. Bennett told us Thursday there is an important difference between the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard prosecutors would need to prove guilt in a criminal courtroom and the "preponderance of the evidence" standard he'll have to prove in a civil case.
"In this case, the force used was not justified," Bennett said.
Christopher Whetstone
A state appeals court has upheld the murder conviction and 60-year prison sentence of an Aurora man found guilty of fatally shooting his former girlfriend as the couple's two children sat in a car parked nearby.
In the unanimous decision, appellate justices rejected Christopher Whetstone's arguments he didn't receive a fair trial in 2017. Those arguments ranged from claims of potential racial bias among jurors to prosecutorial misconduct.
A Kane County jury convicted Whetstone, 52, of first-degree murder in the January 2014 slaying of 22-year-old Rachel Taylor. Authorities said Taylor had brought the couple's two children to Whetstone's Aurora home for a visit when an argument erupted and Whetstone shot her in the abdomen and chest.
In his appeal, Whetstone argued that the jurors who heard his case weren't fully questioned about racial bias before the trial began; that police were allowed to testify about prior contacts with Whetstone; and that a prosecutor engaged in "childish behavior" during the defense's closing arguments, such as laughing, throwing back his head, and rolling his eyes.
The appellate court condemned that behavior, calling it "totally improper," but said there's no evidence it, or any of Whetstone's other claims, prevented him from receiving a fair trial. Instead, the court ruled, the evidence against Whetstone was overwhelming.
"Here, defendant's appellate arguments are not unreasonable, but most of them are not error, and none amounts to reversible error," Justice Ann B. Jorgensen wrote. "The record does not reflect any unfair prejudice to defendant's case."
State records show Whetstone is serving his sentence at the medium-security Lawrence Correction Center in downstate Sumner. He's not eligible for parole until January 2074.
Coloring with the cops
Arlington Heights police plan to give out face masks at community events this fall, and they're looking for local youth artists to design them.
Winners of the department's "Protect With Police" contest will see their artwork printed on cloth masks officers will distribute later this year. Age categories are prekindergarten-fourth grade and fifth-eighth grade.
Participants may use crayons, watercolors, pen and ink or markers to complete the drawing, and winners will be selected based on their creativity and originality. Submissions are due Sept. 15 and may be scanned and emailed to aovington@vah.com, or dropped off at BerryYo, 50 N. Vail Ave., or the front desk of the police department, 200 E. Sigwalt St.
Copies of "Protect With Police" coloring contest sheets are available online at www.ahpd.org and www.vah.com. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Oct. 23, during a party hosted by BerryYo, which is co-sponsoring the contest with Matrix Home Solutions -- Arlington Heights.
• Have a question, tip or comment? Email us at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Grayslake, Lake County in talks to drop $20 million 'obstacle' to redevelopment

The last burst of activity at the former Lake County Fairgrounds at routes 120 and 45 in Grayslake involved the demolition of the old buildings two years ago to make the site more attractive for development .
But that has been about it since the Lake County Fair Association sold its home of 53 years and hosted the last annual fair on the site in 2008 .
One drawback for potential reinvestment , village officials say , is an outdated agreement with Lake County requiring a $ 20 million contribution toward roadwork .
However , that could soon change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ created to offset the impact on surrounding roads in anticipation of a large retail development that never materialized and likely wo n't be sought again .
`` The village is working with Lake County to remove the extraordinary redevelopment fees being imposed on the property , which have been an obstacle for redevelopment , '' Assistant Village Manager Brett Kryska said .
Market studies and developer feedback shows a mix of homes , retail and offices are current market possibilities that could work there , Kryska said .
`` The village is talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but nothing is ready for ( village ) board consideration , '' he added .
Before the last fair was held , the village gave developers the go-ahead to proceed with `` The Fairgrounds of Grayslake , '' which at 807,000 square feet of retail space would have been the largest nonresidential development in town .
County officials , expecting a significant impact on traffic from a large retail development , identified a list of road projects that would need to be completed .
The intent was the village would collect the money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval .
But the project evaporated , and since then many of the road improvements identified in 2005 , such as widening Route 45 from Route 120 to Center Street , have been completed , said Shane Schneider , director of the Lake County Division of Transportation .
`` The intent of the agreement is no longer viable , '' he said .
Schneider discussed the agreement Wednesday in a report to the Lake County Board 's public works , planning and transportation committee , saying talks with Grayslake are ongoing .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when they do a title search , this agreement shows up as a lien , '' he said .
Since a large outdoor mall is no longer planned or expected , and the majority of roadwork has been completed , the village and county are considering terminating the agreement .
Both parties would have to approve any changes .
`` I think it will be really good for the development of the entire area , '' county board Chairwoman Sandy Hart said .
With the agreement negated , general development could proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any needed roadwork would be accomplished through typical permitting requirements , according to LCDOT .
`` We do n't think , based on what we know about this site , any more than that is justified , '' Schneider said .

Grayslake, Lake County in talks to drop $20 million 'obstacle' to redevelopment
The last burst of activity at the former Lake County Fairgrounds at routes 120 and 45 in Grayslake involved the demolition of the old buildings two years ago to make the site more attractive for development.
But that has been about it since the Lake County Fair Association sold its home of 53 years and hosted the last annual fair on the site in 2008.
One drawback for potential reinvestment, village officials say, is an outdated agreement with Lake County requiring a $20 million contribution toward roadwork.
However, that could soon change. Talks are ongoing to terminate the pact created to offset the impact on surrounding roads in anticipation of a large retail development that never materialized and likely won't be sought again.
"The village is working with Lake County to remove the extraordinary redevelopment fees being imposed on the property, which have been an obstacle for redevelopment," Assistant Village Manager Brett Kryska said.
Market studies and developer feedback shows a mix of homes, retail and offices are current market possibilities that could work there, Kryska said.
"The village is talking to different potential developers about the site but nothing is ready for (village) board consideration," he added.
Before the last fair was held, the village gave developers the go-ahead to proceed with "The Fairgrounds of Grayslake," which at 807,000 square feet of retail space would have been the largest nonresidential development in town.
County officials, expecting a significant impact on traffic from a large retail development, identified a list of road projects that would need to be completed.
The intent was the village would collect the money from the developer as a condition of approval.
But the project evaporated, and since then many of the road improvements identified in 2005, such as widening Route 45 from Route 120 to Center Street, have been completed, said Shane Schneider, director of the Lake County Division of Transportation.
"The intent of the agreement is no longer viable," he said.
Schneider discussed the agreement Wednesday in a report to the Lake County Board's public works, planning and transportation committee, saying talks with Grayslake are ongoing.
"Developers are looking at this property, and when they do a title search, this agreement shows up as a lien," he said.
Since a large outdoor mall is no longer planned or expected, and the majority of roadwork has been completed, the village and county are considering terminating the agreement. Both parties would have to approve any changes.
"I think it will be really good for the development of the entire area," county board Chairwoman Sandy Hart said.
With the agreement negated, general development could proceed on the former fairgrounds and approvals for any needed roadwork would be accomplished through typical permitting requirements, according to LCDOT.
"We don't think, based on what we know about this site, any more than that is justified," Schneider said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Naperville councilwoman says rule change could prevent campaign donations from influencing vote

Imagine a scenario in which a Naperville City Council candidate receives a large campaign contribution from someone who later petitions the city for a project , incentive or policy change .
The candidate , upon being elected , now faces the predicament of considering a proposal that is in the interest of a political donor , Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan said .
Regardless of intent , she says , `` what are the chances that generosity is n't going to weigh into my deliberations , whether consciously or unconsciously ? ''
Preventing the influence of campaign donations on future council decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment proposed this week by Sullivan .
The policy change would require elected officials to recuse themselves from matters involving a donor who contributed $ 500 or more to their most recent campaign .
The amendment would n't alter campaign financing laws set by the state , she said , nor would it inhibit a candidate 's ability to raise the funds necessary to run a successful campaign .
`` At this level and in this city , we can choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we have to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 'll make us and Naperville better . ''
But Mayor Steve Chirico said he believes such a policy would be riddled with flaws and unintended consequences .
Donors involved in future city business , for example , could see the move as a punishment for financially backing a political campaign , he said .
That could affect a candidate 's fundraising efforts , potentially giving an edge to those who are independently wealthy .
His biggest concern , he says , is that the proposed amendment would suppress voters ' right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel like we 're trying to solve a problem that 's never existed , '' he said .
The timing and reasoning of her proposal are not specific to any action by current or former council members , said Sullivan , who has advocated for such a policy change since before she was elected .
Though it may not be bulletproof , she and a handful of other council members said Tuesday the concept is worth exploring and directed staff members to draft an amendment for future consideration .
The ethics rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , City Attorney Michael DiSanto said , meaning a violation would not result in criminal charges or a contract cancellation but could lead to censure or criticism from peers and members of the public .
Council members have always been expected to recuse themselves from issues they felt were a conflict of interest , Councilman John Krummen said .
Forcing another elected official to step aside during a certain discussion `` seems unfair , '' he said .
But Councilman Kevin Coyne said the proposal touches on a `` serious issue in politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited to petitioners .
Objectors , vendors , unions and other parties donate to campaigns , too , he said , and could have just as much sway in city decisions .
`` It 's a serious concern to many voters , '' Coyne said .
`` I think if we are going to go down this road , we have to look at all of it and not cherry-pick . ''
Though there are some logistical holes that need to be filled , Sullivan said , the spirit of the proposal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held accountable .
`` Our constituents want to know that , when we or any future council members sit up here and take a vote , we 're voting based on the merits of the argument and in good faith and using our best judgment , '' she said , `` and that how much money we did or did n't collect from certain donors during our last campaign has nothing to do with that . ''

Naperville councilwoman says rule change could prevent campaign donations from influencing vote
Imagine a scenario in which a Naperville City Council candidate receives a large campaign contribution from someone who later petitions the city for a project, incentive or policy change.
The candidate, upon being elected, now faces the predicament of considering a proposal that is in the interest of a political donor, Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan said. Regardless of intent, she says, "what are the chances that generosity isn't going to weigh into my deliberations, whether consciously or unconsciously?"
Preventing the influence of campaign donations on future council decisions is the goal of an ethics code amendment proposed this week by Sullivan. The policy change would require elected officials to recuse themselves from matters involving a donor who contributed $500 or more to their most recent campaign.
The amendment wouldn't alter campaign financing laws set by the state, she said, nor would it inhibit a candidate's ability to raise the funds necessary to run a successful campaign.
"At this level and in this city, we can choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we have to," Sullivan said. "I think it'll make us and Naperville better."
But Mayor Steve Chirico said he believes such a policy would be riddled with flaws and unintended consequences. Donors involved in future city business, for example, could see the move as a punishment for financially backing a political campaign, he said. That could affect a candidate's fundraising efforts, potentially giving an edge to those who are independently wealthy.
His biggest concern, he says, is that the proposed amendment would suppress voters' right to choose the candidates they want.
"I feel like we're trying to solve a problem that's never existed," he said.
The timing and reasoning of her proposal are not specific to any action by current or former council members, said Sullivan, who has advocated for such a policy change since before she was elected. Though it may not be bulletproof, she and a handful of other council members said Tuesday the concept is worth exploring and directed staff members to draft an amendment for future consideration.
The ethics rule would likely be self-policed by elected officials, City Attorney Michael DiSanto said, meaning a violation would not result in criminal charges or a contract cancellation but could lead to censure or criticism from peers and members of the public.
Council members have always been expected to recuse themselves from issues they felt were a conflict of interest, Councilman John Krummen said. Forcing another elected official to step aside during a certain discussion "seems unfair," he said.
But Councilman Kevin Coyne said the proposal touches on a "serious issue in politics" -- one that shouldn't be limited to petitioners. Objectors, vendors, unions and other parties donate to campaigns, too, he said, and could have just as much sway in city decisions.
"It's a serious concern to many voters," Coyne said. "I think if we are going to go down this road, we have to look at all of it and not cherry-pick."
Though there are some logistical holes that need to be filled, Sullivan said, the spirit of the proposal is to provide transparency and ensure elected officials are held accountable.
"Our constituents want to know that, when we or any future council members sit up here and take a vote, we're voting based on the merits of the argument and in good faith and using our best judgment," she said, "and that how much money we did or didn't collect from certain donors during our last campaign has nothing to do with that."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-03--Official: Suspect in Portland slaying was killed when authorities moved to arrest him

A vocal proponent of the far-left antifa movement who was suspected of fatally shooting a supporter of a far-right group in Portland , Ore. , this weekend was shot and killed in a confrontation with federal law enforcement Thursday , a Justice Department official said .
Investigators were seeking to take Michael Forest Reinoehl into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Aaron Danielson on Saturday after confrontations between supporters of President Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter counterprotesters .
The FBI located Reinoehl somewhere in Washington state , the official said , and an officer shot him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The U.S .
Marshals Service was also involved in apprehending him , the official said .
News of Reinoehl 's death was first reported by the New York Times .
In an interview aired Thursday on `` VICE News Tonight , '' Reinoehl said he believed he and a friend were in danger when Danielson was shot and killed .
In the footage VICE aired , Reinoehl strongly implied he was the shooter , though if he said so directly , that was not shown .
One person who asserted he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he did not realize a gun was being pointed in his direction before shots rang out and believes he and Danielson were targeted because they wore hats showing their affiliation with the far-right Patriot Prayer group - apparently disputing Reinoehl 's account .
`` I was confident that I did not hit anyone innocent , and I made my exit , '' Reinoehl told VICE News when asked about what happened immediately after the incident .
`` I see a civil war right around the corner , '' he added later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a war . ''
VICE News reported that Reinoehl approached a freelance journalist , who came to them .
Reinoehl 's sister had previously told The Washington Post that police asked her if her brother was the person captured in images of the incident that circulated online .
`` You know , lots of lawyers suggest that I should n't even be saying anything , but I feel it 's important that the world at least gets a little bit of what 's really going on , '' Reinoehl told VICE News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean , I , I had a choice .
I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color .
But I was n't going to do that . ''
Police had not publicly accused Reinoehl , 48 , of any crimes as of Thursday night , and they had said little about the shooting of Danielson .
The Post 's efforts to reach him had been unsuccessful .
A Portland police spokeswoman said Thursday only that the investigation is ongoing .
Friends of Danielson , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged that he might have been targeted because he was wearing a hat that bore the Patriot Prayer insignia .
The incident came after a caravan of Trump supporters , including members of the Patriot Prayer group , made their way through Portland , sparking skirmishes with those who objected to their presence .
Portland has seen more than three months of often violent protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis , and the shooting seemed to intensify the persistent tension .
Video posted online of the encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one video , men can be heard shouting , followed in rapid succession by the sound of something spraying and then two gunshots .
In another video , shouts of `` We got a couple right here '' and `` He 's pulling it out '' can be heard before the gunfire .
In a taped interview posted online , Chandler Pappas , who said he was with Danielson during the shooting , said whoever fired the shots `` recognized our Patriot Prayer hats , '' and just before gunfire rang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 've got a couple of 'em right here .
Pull it out .
Pull it out . ''
He said it `` did n't even register that somebody was pointing a gun at us until the shots went off . ''
Pappas told The Post that Danielson was `` killed in cold blood '' but did not provide other details .
A representative for Pappas referred a reporter to a Fox News interview Thursday night in which Pappas said of Reinoehl 's assertion : `` I think their whole campaign is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will not be able to produce anything to corroborate that story , whatsoever . ''
Reinoehl told VICE News that he had seen the caravan of trucks with flags on them earlier in the day , and that the scene generally provoked him .
`` I immediately think that they 're out to get me , '' he said .
He said someone later called him to tell him to come downtown because `` security '' might be necessary , '' and when he arrived and saw the trucks , `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Joey Gibson , the founder of Patriot Prayer , said Danielson owned a local moving company and - as far as he knew - had no confrontations with Reinoehl earlier in the night , and that the incident occurred after the caravan had broken up .
Reinoehl insisted his actions were `` totally justified , '' and that the incident was related to the protest .
`` Not to mention the fact that they say that they do n't know who it was .
That 's a lie , '' Reinoehl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook and Twitter and all that had my face and name labeled as the shooter . ''
Justin Dunlap , a lighting technician from nearby Vancouver , Wash. , who recorded one of the widely circulated videos and broadcast it live on Facebook , previously told The Post that he heard yelling and saw mace being sprayed .
Then gunshots rang out .
Dunlap , 44 , said that when the gunshots were fired , `` the guy who had sprayed the bear mace turned and took three or four steps and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing that , the two that he had bear-maced ran back in my general direction and kind of went around the corner . ''
Reinoehl 's Instagram page indicates that he had been attending Black Lives Matter demonstrations in recent months .
He often posted photos and videos using the hashtag `` blaklivesmatter '' and indicated a distaste for Trump , the police and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler , a Democrat .
In a lengthy post on June 16 , he wrote that he was `` 100 % ANTIFA all the way !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters !
Even if some of them are too ignorant to realize what antifa truly stands for .
We do not want violence but we will not run from it either ! ''
he wrote , adding later , `` We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything .
But it will be a fight like no other !
It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties . ''
In the VICE News interview , Reinoehl said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Antifa , but supported the ideology .
The Oregonian reported that one of its photographers had gotten a picture of him Friday night during a demonstration outside Wheeler 's home .
Court records indicate Reinoehl was cited on July 5 for possessing a loaded firearm in a public place , resisting arrest and interfering with a peace officer , though the case was later dropped .
The Oregonian reported that stemmed from an incident during a protest .
Later that month , Reinoehl was apparently back at protests .
Showing a bloody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg News in a video posted online that he intervened in an altercation to pull a gun away from someone and was shot .
Reinoehl said on the video that he had military experience and had been `` working security '' to try to protect people in the crowd .
He said he had brought his daughter to the demonstrations .
`` It 's escalating to a point where they 're trying to disrupt us in every way that 's illegal , '' Reinoehl said , asserting that people were shooting at protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who asked that her name be withheld because her family had been receiving threats , said she had not had contact with her brother in three years .
But she said soon after the incident - when online sleuths had apparently figured out her brother 's identity from videos of the shooting - she was awakened to callers threatening to harm her and her family .
The sister said she was soon put in touch with police in Portland , who asked her if she could identify Reinoehl in images captured of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she told law enforcement that the images appeared to show her brother , and they later warned her they might soon have to release information to the press about the case .
The sister said even when they were in closer contact , Reinoehl , a professional snowboarder who had also done construction work , was a `` nebulous figure who showed up every once in a while demanding money from Mom and then disappearing again . ''
She and her mother both said they broke contact with Reinoehl years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around to ask for money .
In June , Reinoehl was arrested for driving under the influence , reckless endangerment of a person and unlawful possession of a firearm after an Oregon State Police trooper saw him appearing to race another car - which investigators would later find was being driven by Reinoehl 's 17-year-old son - on Interstate 84 in Oregon .
According to a police account of the incident , the two cars were traveling at 111 mph .
Police said that after they stopped and searched Reinoehl 's car , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loaded pistol for which Reinoehl did not have a license .
They said Reinoehl `` showed signs of impairment '' and was traveling with his 11-year-old daughter , a kitten and a large dog .
The sister said she did not know Reinoehl had become so actively involved in recent racial-justice demonstrations , as his social media posts seem to suggest .
She said she was dismayed that some people seemed to be hailing the killing because the victim was a supporter of the president and that others were trying to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` No one should ever celebrate the death of anyone , even in the rare circumstances where a person deserves it , it 's never a celebratory moment , '' she said , adding later : `` There 's too much hate and violence in this country right now , and people think the solution is more hate and violence , but that 's never been the case .
Violence begets violence , and hate begets hate . ''
The sister said that she had received dozens of threats , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Patriot Prayer group .
One person , she said , sent her husband a picture of her with the text , `` Patriot Prayer says hello . ''
`` They were saying 'blood for blood , ' if we did n't turn him over , our family was in danger , '' the sister said .

Official: Suspect in Portland slaying was killed when authorities moved to arrest him
Police take control of the streets near a Portland police precinct on Sunday, the day after a supporter of a far-right group was fatally shot. Associated Press
A vocal proponent of the far-left antifa movement who was suspected of fatally shooting a supporter of a far-right group in Portland, Ore., this weekend was shot and killed in a confrontation with federal law enforcement Thursday, a Justice Department official said.
Investigators were seeking to take Michael Forest Reinoehl into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Aaron Danielson on Saturday after confrontations between supporters of President Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter counterprotesters.
The FBI located Reinoehl somewhere in Washington state, the official said, and an officer shot him when he "pulled a gun." The U.S. Marshals Service was also involved in apprehending him, the official said.
News of Reinoehl's death was first reported by the New York Times.
In an interview aired Thursday on "VICE News Tonight," Reinoehl said he believed he and a friend were in danger when Danielson was shot and killed. In the footage VICE aired, Reinoehl strongly implied he was the shooter, though if he said so directly, that was not shown.
One person who asserted he was with Danielson during the encounter has previously said he did not realize a gun was being pointed in his direction before shots rang out and believes he and Danielson were targeted because they wore hats showing their affiliation with the far-right Patriot Prayer group - apparently disputing Reinoehl's account.
"I was confident that I did not hit anyone innocent, and I made my exit," Reinoehl told VICE News when asked about what happened immediately after the incident.
"I see a civil war right around the corner," he added later. "That shot felt like the beginning of a war."
VICE News reported that Reinoehl approached a freelance journalist, who came to them. Reinoehl's sister had previously told The Washington Post that police asked her if her brother was the person captured in images of the incident that circulated online.
"You know, lots of lawyers suggest that I shouldn't even be saying anything, but I feel it's important that the world at least gets a little bit of what's really going on," Reinoehl told VICE News. "I had no choice. I mean, I, I had a choice. I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn't going to do that."
Police had not publicly accused Reinoehl, 48, of any crimes as of Thursday night, and they had said little about the shooting of Danielson. The Post's efforts to reach him had been unsuccessful.
A Portland police spokeswoman said Thursday only that the investigation is ongoing. Friends of Danielson, who also went by "Jay," alleged that he might have been targeted because he was wearing a hat that bore the Patriot Prayer insignia.
The incident came after a caravan of Trump supporters, including members of the Patriot Prayer group, made their way through Portland, sparking skirmishes with those who objected to their presence. Portland has seen more than three months of often violent protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, and the shooting seemed to intensify the persistent tension.
Video posted online of the encounter left few clear answers about what happened. In one video, men can be heard shouting, followed in rapid succession by the sound of something spraying and then two gunshots. In another video, shouts of "We got a couple right here" and "He's pulling it out" can be heard before the gunfire.
In a taped interview posted online, Chandler Pappas, who said he was with Danielson during the shooting, said whoever fired the shots "recognized our Patriot Prayer hats," and just before gunfire rang out, he heard someone say, "We've got a couple of 'em right here. Pull it out. Pull it out." He said it "didn't even register that somebody was pointing a gun at us until the shots went off."
Pappas told The Post that Danielson was "killed in cold blood" but did not provide other details. A representative for Pappas referred a reporter to a Fox News interview Thursday night in which Pappas said of Reinoehl's assertion: "I think their whole campaign is disinformation. . . . I know they will not be able to produce anything to corroborate that story, whatsoever."
Reinoehl told VICE News that he had seen the caravan of trucks with flags on them earlier in the day, and that the scene generally provoked him.
"I immediately think that they're out to get me," he said. He said someone later called him to tell him to come downtown because "security" might be necessary," and when he arrived and saw the trucks, "It felt like the beginning of a war."
Joey Gibson, the founder of Patriot Prayer, said Danielson owned a local moving company and - as far as he knew - had no confrontations with Reinoehl earlier in the night, and that the incident occurred after the caravan had broken up. Reinoehl insisted his actions were "totally justified," and that the incident was related to the protest.
"Not to mention the fact that they say that they don't know who it was. That's a lie," Reinoehl said. "Within an hour, Facebook and Twitter and all that had my face and name labeled as the shooter."
Justin Dunlap, a lighting technician from nearby Vancouver, Wash., who recorded one of the widely circulated videos and broadcast it live on Facebook, previously told The Post that he heard yelling and saw mace being sprayed. Then gunshots rang out.
Dunlap, 44, said that when the gunshots were fired, "the guy who had sprayed the bear mace turned and took three or four steps and then went face down. While he was doing that, the two that he had bear-maced ran back in my general direction and kind of went around the corner."
Reinoehl's Instagram page indicates that he had been attending Black Lives Matter demonstrations in recent months. He often posted photos and videos using the hashtag "blaklivesmatter" and indicated a distaste for Trump, the police and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat. In a lengthy post on June 16, he wrote that he was "100% ANTIFA all the way!" and hinted of violence.
"I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters! Even if some of them are too ignorant to realize what antifa truly stands for. We do not want violence but we will not run from it either!" he wrote, adding later, "We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything. But it will be a fight like no other! It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties."
In the VICE News interview, Reinoehl said he was not a "member" of Antifa, but supported the ideology.
The Oregonian reported that one of its photographers had gotten a picture of him Friday night during a demonstration outside Wheeler's home.
Court records indicate Reinoehl was cited on July 5 for possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, resisting arrest and interfering with a peace officer, though the case was later dropped. The Oregonian reported that stemmed from an incident during a protest.
Later that month, Reinoehl was apparently back at protests. Showing a bloody bandage on his arm, he told Bloomberg News in a video posted online that he intervened in an altercation to pull a gun away from someone and was shot. Reinoehl said on the video that he had military experience and had been "working security" to try to protect people in the crowd. He said he had brought his daughter to the demonstrations.
"It's escalating to a point where they're trying to disrupt us in every way that's illegal," Reinoehl said, asserting that people were shooting at protesters and starting fights.
Reinoehl's sister, who asked that her name be withheld because her family had been receiving threats, said she had not had contact with her brother in three years. But she said soon after the incident - when online sleuths had apparently figured out her brother's identity from videos of the shooting - she was awakened to callers threatening to harm her and her family.
The sister said she was soon put in touch with police in Portland, who asked her if she could identify Reinoehl in images captured of the incident that had been circulating online. She said she told law enforcement that the images appeared to show her brother, and they later warned her they might soon have to release information to the press about the case.
The sister said even when they were in closer contact, Reinoehl, a professional snowboarder who had also done construction work, was a "nebulous figure who showed up every once in a while demanding money from Mom and then disappearing again." She and her mother both said they broke contact with Reinoehl years ago, frustrated by his frequently coming around to ask for money.
In June, Reinoehl was arrested for driving under the influence, reckless endangerment of a person and unlawful possession of a firearm after an Oregon State Police trooper saw him appearing to race another car - which investigators would later find was being driven by Reinoehl's 17-year-old son - on Interstate 84 in Oregon.
According to a police account of the incident, the two cars were traveling at 111 mph. Police said that after they stopped and searched Reinoehl's car, they found marijuana, prescription pills and a loaded pistol for which Reinoehl did not have a license. They said Reinoehl "showed signs of impairment" and was traveling with his 11-year-old daughter, a kitten and a large dog.
The sister said she did not know Reinoehl had become so actively involved in recent racial-justice demonstrations, as his social media posts seem to suggest. She said she was dismayed that some people seemed to be hailing the killing because the victim was a supporter of the president and that others were trying to "use it for their political agendas."
"No one should ever celebrate the death of anyone, even in the rare circumstances where a person deserves it, it's never a celebratory moment," she said, adding later: "There's too much hate and violence in this country right now, and people think the solution is more hate and violence, but that's never been the case. Violence begets violence, and hate begets hate."
The sister said that she had received dozens of threats, and they seemed to be coming from supporters of the Patriot Prayer group. One person, she said, sent her husband a picture of her with the text, "Patriot Prayer says hello."
"They were saying 'blood for blood,' if we didn't turn him over, our family was in danger," the sister said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-04--Feder: Loyola Phoenix editor rises up for journalism

The world needs more journalists like Mary Chappell .
The Loyola University senior and editor-in-chief of the Loyola Phoenix student @ @ @ @ @ this week that made many in the business want to stand up and cheer , @ @ @ @ @ the piece headlined `` As Reporters , It 's Our Duty to Document the Good @ @ @ @ @ Ugly , '' Chappell explained why her paper needs to cover campus protests without fear @ @ @

Feder: Loyola Phoenix editor rises up for journalism
The world needs more journalists like Mary Chappell. The Loyola University senior and editor-in-chief of the Loyola Phoenix student newspaper, wrote a column this week that made many in the business want to stand up and cheer, reports Robert Feder.
In the piece headlined "As Reporters, It's Our Duty to Document the Good, the Bad and the Ugly," Chappell explained why her paper needs to cover campus protests without fear or favor.
Read the full story here.