dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Trump invokes emergency authority; Big 3 automakers closing

MINNEAPOLIS -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to invoke emergency authority to marshal industry to fight the coronavirus , as the economic fallout from the crisis mounted with word that Detroit 's Big Three automakers are shutting down their North American factories to protect workers .
-- Stocks tumbled again on Wall Street , falling so fast they triggered another automatic trading halt .
-- More borders slammed shut across Europe and North America , with the U.S. and Canada agreeing to close their shared boundary to all but essential travel , and Trump saying he plans to assert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico anyone who crosses the border illegally .
-- And the Trump administration pressed Congress to swiftly pass a potentially $ 1 trillion rescue package to prop up the economy and speed relief checks to Americans in a matter of weeks .
Calling himself a `` wartime president , '' Trump said he would employ the Defense Production Act as needed to steer industrial output and overcome shortages of face masks , ventilators and other supplies needed against the expected onslaught of cases .
The law , which dates to 1950 , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary authority to compel industries to expand production and turn out vital materials .
`` It 's a war , '' Trump said , likening the anti-coronavirus efforts to measures taken during World War II and warning of national sacrifices .
The virus has infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and killed over 8,000 .
The United Nations warned that the global economic fallout could cost nearly 25 million job losses around the world .
Around the world , officials took increasingly drastic measures to fight the epidemic and the threat of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers .
California 's governor warned that martial law could be imposed .
The mayor of New York said the city 's 8.6 million residents should be prepared for a lockdown .
Czech authorities used emergency powers to raid a warehouse and seize hundreds of thousands of face masks .
And Hong Kong widened the use of electronic wristbands that monitor people under self-quarantine .
With a growing number of Americans thrown out of work by the near-shutdown of much of the U.S. economy , Trump also said the Housing and Urban Development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public housing .
The Trump administration 's plan for issuing relief checks to Americans calls for the payment of $ 500 billion in two installments over the next two months .
The amounts have yet to be decided but would be based on income and family size .
Ford and General Motors said they will shut down all of their factories in the U.S. , Canada and Mexico , and Fiat Chrysler will do the same , according to two people who were briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shutdowns would idle about 150,000 workers , who are likely to receive supplemental pay in addition to unemployment benefits .
The U.S. reported more than 6,500 coronavirus cases and at least 121 deaths , almost half of them in Washington state , where dozens of residents from a suburban Seattle nursing home have died .
Some bright spots emerged : Wuhan , the locked-down Chinese city where the virus was first detected in late December , reported just one new case for a second straight day Wednesday .
The situation had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies to hard-hit France , returning a favor done by the French weeks ago .
But in a grim illustration of the epidemic 's shifting center of gravity , the death toll in Italy was close to overtaking China 's .
Italy had more than 2,900 dead after a record one-day total of 475 deaths ; China 's toll was just over 3,200 .
Iran has also been hit especially hard , with more than 17,000 cases and 1,100 deaths .
In releasing the new global infection figure of over 200,000 , Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have recovered from the virus , which causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough in most cases , with severe illness more likely in the elderly and those with existing health problems .
Still , scientists have no doubt the true number of people infected is higher than reported because of the possibility that many mild cases have gone unrecognized or unreported , and because of the lag in large-scale testing in the U.S. , where the effort has been marked by bumbling and bureaucratic delay .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the nation 's coronavirus deaths so far mirror what has been reported in other countries , with about 4 out of 5 fatalities occurring in people 65 and older -- and no deaths in children .
The coronavirus is present in all 50 states after West Virginia reported its first infection .
In far-flung Hawaii , the governor encouraged travelers to postpone their island vacations .
Las Vegas casinos were closed for the time since President John F. Kennedy 's funeral in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blasio warned that residents should be prepared for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order within days -- a near-lockdown like the one covering almost 7 million people in the San Francisco Bay area .
In the most sweeping measure of its kind in the U.S. , they are allowed to leave their homes only for food , medicine or exercise .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom put the National Guard on alert for humanitarian duties such as food distribution , as some grocery stores resorted to rationing to control panic buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the ability to do martial law '' if necessary .
Meanwhile , miles-long traffic jams spread at border crossings around Europe after leaders closed international boundaries to nonessential traffic .
Tens of thousands of people across the continent struggled to return home amid the closed land crossings and dramatic cuts in airline flights .
At one point , trucks were backed in Austria up for 28 kilometers ( 17 miles ) and cars for 14 kilometers ( nearly 9 miles ) .
In an unprecedented move during peacetime , the French army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , the country 's worst-hit region .
France is Europe 's third worst-hit country in fatalities , with at least 175 .
In Southeast Asia , the causeway between Malaysia and the financial hub of Singapore was eerily quiet after Malaysia shut its borders , while the Philippines backed down on an order giving foreigners 72 hours to leave from a large part of its main island .
Taiwan said that it , too , would ban foreigners from entry and citizens would have to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say 200,000 virus cases , not deaths .
AP reporters around the world contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 's Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Trump invokes emergency authority; Big 3 automakers closing
Trucks are jammed in the early morning on Autobahn 12 in front of the German-Polish border crossing near Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. In order to make it more difficult for the coronavirus to spread, Poland had reintroduced controls at the border crossings to Germany. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
Trucks are jammed in the early morning on Autobahn 12 in front of the German-Polish border crossing near Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. In order to make it more difficult for the coronavirus to spread, Poland had reintroduced controls at the border crossings to Germany. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to invoke emergency authority to marshal industry to fight the coronavirus, as the economic fallout from the crisis mounted with word that Detroit's Big Three automakers are shutting down their North American factories to protect workers.
On a day of head-spinning developments:
-- Stocks tumbled again on Wall Street, falling so fast they triggered another automatic trading halt.
-- More borders slammed shut across Europe and North America, with the U.S. and Canada agreeing to close their shared boundary to all but essential travel, and Trump saying he plans to assert extraordinary powers to immediately turn back to Mexico anyone who crosses the border illegally.
-- And the Trump administration pressed Congress to swiftly pass a potentially $1 trillion rescue package to prop up the economy and speed relief checks to Americans in a matter of weeks.
Calling himself a "wartime president," Trump said he would employ the Defense Production Act as needed to steer industrial output and overcome shortages of face masks, ventilators and other supplies needed against the expected onslaught of cases.
The law, which dates to 1950, during the Korean War, gives the president extraordinary authority to compel industries to expand production and turn out vital materials.
"It's a war," Trump said, likening the anti-coronavirus efforts to measures taken during World War II and warning of national sacrifices.
The virus has infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and killed over 8,000. The United Nations warned that the global economic fallout could cost nearly 25 million job losses around the world.
Around the world, officials took increasingly drastic measures to fight the epidemic and the threat of a recession, in some cases using emergency powers.
California's governor warned that martial law could be imposed. The mayor of New York said the city's 8.6 million residents should be prepared for a lockdown. Czech authorities used emergency powers to raid a warehouse and seize hundreds of thousands of face masks. And Hong Kong widened the use of electronic wristbands that monitor people under self-quarantine.
With a growing number of Americans thrown out of work by the near-shutdown of much of the U.S. economy, Trump also said the Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions from public housing.
The Trump administration's plan for issuing relief checks to Americans calls for the payment of $500 billion in two installments over the next two months. The amounts have yet to be decided but would be based on income and family size.
Ford and General Motors said they will shut down all of their factories in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and Fiat Chrysler will do the same, according to two people who were briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because the closings had not been announced.
The shutdowns would idle about 150,000 workers, who are likely to receive supplemental pay in addition to unemployment benefits.
The U.S. reported more than 6,500 coronavirus cases and at least 121 deaths, almost half of them in Washington state, where dozens of residents from a suburban Seattle nursing home have died.
Some bright spots emerged: Wuhan, the locked-down Chinese city where the virus was first detected in late December, reported just one new case for a second straight day Wednesday. The situation had improved enough that China even sent medical supplies to hard-hit France, returning a favor done by the French weeks ago.
But in a grim illustration of the epidemic's shifting center of gravity, the death toll in Italy was close to overtaking China's. Italy had more than 2,900 dead after a record one-day total of 475 deaths; China's toll was just over 3,200. Iran has also been hit especially hard, with more than 17,000 cases and 1,100 deaths.
In releasing the new global infection figure of over 200,000, Johns Hopkins University said more than 82,000 people have recovered from the virus, which causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough in most cases, with severe illness more likely in the elderly and those with existing health problems.
Still, scientists have no doubt the true number of people infected is higher than reported because of the possibility that many mild cases have gone unrecognized or unreported, and because of the lag in large-scale testing in the U.S., where the effort has been marked by bumbling and bureaucratic delay.
In the first breakdown of its kind in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the nation's coronavirus deaths so far mirror what has been reported in other countries, with about 4 out of 5 fatalities occurring in people 65 and older -- and no deaths in children.
The coronavirus is present in all 50 states after West Virginia reported its first infection. In far-flung Hawaii, the governor encouraged travelers to postpone their island vacations. Las Vegas casinos were closed for the time since President John F. Kennedy's funeral in 1963.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that residents should be prepared for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order within days -- a near-lockdown like the one covering almost 7 million people in the San Francisco Bay area. In the most sweeping measure of its kind in the U.S., they are allowed to leave their homes only for food, medicine or exercise.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom put the National Guard on alert for humanitarian duties such as food distribution, as some grocery stores resorted to rationing to control panic buying. But he also said "we have the ability to do martial law" if necessary.
Meanwhile, miles-long traffic jams spread at border crossings around Europe after leaders closed international boundaries to nonessential traffic. Tens of thousands of people across the continent struggled to return home amid the closed land crossings and dramatic cuts in airline flights.
At one point, trucks were backed in Austria up for 28 kilometers (17 miles) and cars for 14 kilometers (nearly 9 miles).
In an unprecedented move during peacetime, the French army started evacuating critical coronavirus patients from eastern France, the country's worst-hit region. France is Europe's third worst-hit country in fatalities, with at least 175.
In Southeast Asia, the causeway between Malaysia and the financial hub of Singapore was eerily quiet after Malaysia shut its borders, while the Philippines backed down on an order giving foreigners 72 hours to leave from a large part of its main island.
Taiwan said that it, too, would ban foreigners from entry and citizens would have to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.
The headline has been corrected to say 200,000 virus cases, not deaths.
AP reporters around the world contributed to this report.
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--How do you tame young kids stuck at home? Give them a schedule.

Nine-year-old Jemma Pearl and her brother , Noah , 7 , are a handful under normal circumstances .
Their dad , Chuck Pearl , works from home in Elgin .
He 's a project manager in the finance department of a health care company .
Their mom , Jenn , is a surgical nurse for a hospital in Rockford who works a lot of night shifts .
She found a schedule on the internet for the kids to follow during the day while they are home from school , Chuck is running teleconferences and Jenn is sleeping .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
`` It 's been rough , '' Jenn said Monday afternoon .
`` I had to sleep during the day .
They do n't understand boundaries , so they come in and bother me .
It 's a me , me , me mentality .
It 's a pain , but they 're kids . ''
The color-coded schedule includes time specifically for meals , exercise , academics , creativity , chores , TV time and bedtime .
`` Kids need structure and they need guidance .
You have to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Chuck manages quite a few people .
But they 're 40-year-olds .
They remember what you tell them to do .
Little kids ... they are another story . ''
Jenn said she will gather up materials related to each of the activity types and put them in labeled bins in one spot , brief the kids on what to do and then merely refer them to the schedule they 've agreed to keep .
`` This has to get better , '' she said .

How do you tame young kids stuck at home? Give them a schedule.
Chuck and Jenn Pearl and their kids Noah and Jemma. COURTESY OF THE PEARL FAMILY
Nine-year-old Jemma Pearl and her brother, Noah, 7, are a handful under normal circumstances.
Their dad, Chuck Pearl, works from home in Elgin. He's a project manager in the finance department of a health care company.
Their mom, Jenn, is a surgical nurse for a hospital in Rockford who works a lot of night shifts.
She found a schedule on the internet for the kids to follow during the day while they are home from school, Chuck is running teleconferences and Jenn is sleeping.
The first day home from school did not go well.
"It's been rough," Jenn said Monday afternoon. "I had to sleep during the day. They don't understand boundaries, so they come in and bother me. It's a me, me, me mentality. It's a pain, but they're kids."
The color-coded schedule includes time specifically for meals, exercise, academics, creativity, chores, TV time and bedtime.
It's very regimented.
"Kids need structure and they need guidance. You have to walk them through it and remind them.
"Chuck manages quite a few people. But they're 40-year-olds. They remember what you tell them to do. Little kids ... they are another story."
Jenn said she will gather up materials related to each of the activity types and put them in labeled bins in one spot, brief the kids on what to do and then merely refer them to the schedule they've agreed to keep.
"This has to get better," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Curran knows he's an underdog against Durbin -- but voters "like the underdog"

Newly minted Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mark Curran knows taking on veteran incumbent Dick Durbin -- the second-most powerful Democrat in the chamber -- is an uphill battle .
He knows Durbin has an expansive campaign organization and that the Democrat is vastly better funded .
But Curran , a Libertyville attorney who served 12 years as Lake County 's sheriff , relishes his underdog role .
He compared himself to Rocky Balboa , the cinematic club-fighter-turned-boxing-champ .
`` People like those stories , '' Curran said Wednesday .
`` They like the underdog -- as long as it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Curran claimed victory in Tuesday 's primary election with about 41 % of the vote in a five-way race , unofficial results showed .
No other candidate came close .
Curran now can focus on Durbin -- a Springfield Democrat whose 24 years in the Senate followed 14 years in the U.S. House .
He said he 'll rely on his experience before juries to win over voters .
In a courtroom and in politics , he said , emotion can win over logic .
`` Having been a successful trial lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energize people , '' Curran said .
`` Do I have the ability to do that ?
Absolutely . ''
In social media posts , Curran has called Durbin a `` swamp creature , '' using one of President Donald Trump 's campaign references for the nation 's capital .
On Wednesday , Curran said he regrets using that phrase .
But he also said 38 years is enough time in Washington for Durbin .
`` Your average Illinoisan is thinking , 'Go get a job , ' '' Curran said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
'' Curran is far behind Durbin when it comes to fundraising .
Durbin had more than $ 4.6 million saved for future TV ads , polling and other expenses as of late February , a preelection filing showed .
In stark contrast , Curran had only $ 9,964 saved and $ 10,000 in debt at the same point , records show .
`` We 're going to need money , '' Curran said .
`` I need enough money to be competitive and get my message out . ''
The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for GOP Senate candidates , did n't respond to interview requests .
During the primary , Curran -- a former Democrat -- was blasted by a rival for comments he made about Trump shortly after the 2018 election .
Curran narrowly lost the sheriff 's post to Democrat John Idleburg that November .
Before the results were clear , Curran told WBBM 780-AM that Trump hurt GOP candidates .
`` We , as Republicans , should probably look to take him out in some way , shape , or form because ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Curran said at the time .
`` If he 's the future of our party , put a fork in it . ''
Looking back , Curran said he spoke `` in frustration '' about Trump because he knew his exit as sheriff would mean employees would lose their jobs or be demoted .
Still , Curran admitted the blue wave that swept many Democrats to victory in Lake County reflects an anti-Trump sentiment among voters .
`` President Trump does n't play well around here , '' Curran said Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in 2016 and will do so again this fall .

Curran knows he's an underdog against Durbin -- but voters "like the underdog"
Newly minted Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mark Curran knows taking on veteran incumbent Dick Durbin -- the second-most powerful Democrat in the chamber -- is an uphill battle.
He knows Durbin has an expansive campaign organization and that the Democrat is vastly better funded.
But Curran, a Libertyville attorney who served 12 years as Lake County's sheriff, relishes his underdog role.
He compared himself to Rocky Balboa, the cinematic club-fighter-turned-boxing-champ.
"People like those stories," Curran said Wednesday. "They like the underdog -- as long as it's not an underdog that bores them."
Curran claimed victory in Tuesday's primary election with about 41% of the vote in a five-way race, unofficial results showed. No other candidate came close.
Curran now can focus on Durbin -- a Springfield Democrat whose 24 years in the Senate followed 14 years in the U.S. House.
He said he'll rely on his experience before juries to win over voters. In a courtroom and in politics, he said, emotion can win over logic.
"Having been a successful trial lawyer, I understand that I have to energize people," Curran said. "Do I have the ability to do that? Absolutely."
A Durbin representative couldn't be reached.
In social media posts, Curran has called Durbin a "swamp creature," using one of President Donald Trump's campaign references for the nation's capital.
On Wednesday, Curran said he regrets using that phrase. But he also said 38 years is enough time in Washington for Durbin.
"Your average Illinoisan is thinking, 'Go get a job,'" Curran said. "'See how hard it is out there.'"
Curran is far behind Durbin when it comes to fundraising. Durbin had more than $4.6 million saved for future TV ads, polling and other expenses as of late February, a preelection filing showed. In stark contrast, Curran had only $9,964 saved and $10,000 in debt at the same point, records show.
"We're going to need money," Curran said. "I need enough money to be competitive and get my message out."
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which raises money for GOP Senate candidates, didn't respond to interview requests.
During the primary, Curran -- a former Democrat -- was blasted by a rival for comments he made about Trump shortly after the 2018 election. Curran narrowly lost the sheriff's post to Democrat John Idleburg that November. Before the results were clear, Curran told WBBM 780-AM that Trump hurt GOP candidates.
"We, as Republicans, should probably look to take him out in some way, shape, or form because ultimately, he's horrible for our brand," Curran said at the time. "If he's the future of our party, put a fork in it."
Looking back, Curran said he spoke "in frustration" about Trump because he knew his exit as sheriff would mean employees would lose their jobs or be demoted.
Still, Curran admitted the blue wave that swept many Democrats to victory in Lake County reflects an anti-Trump sentiment among voters.
"President Trump doesn't play well around here," Curran said Wednesday.
Regardless, Curran said he voted for Trump in 2016 and will do so again this fall.
"He's our guy," Curran said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Stocks fall with bonds with stimulus uncertain

Financial markets spasmed , sending U.S. stocks down more than 5 % and Bloomberg 's dollar index up to a record , as the economic fallout from the pandemic outpaced the massive response from governments and central banks .
The S & P 500 fell as much as 9.8 % , before a late-session bounce trimmed the decline .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly wiped out all the gains logged since Donald Trump took office , with investors craving more government spending to offset the impact from the virus .
Bonds tumbled around the world a day after Treasuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and municipal bonds extended the deepest rout since 1987 as markets braced for the potential flood of spending .
Oil sank 24 % to an 18-year low .
The dollar strengthened a seventh straight day .
The pound hit its lowest level against the greenback since 1985 .
Dollar-funding markets remained strained , although improved from extreme levels in recent days .
Trump offered few details at a press briefing on the specifics his Treasury secretary is discussing with Congress .
The Federal Reserve dusted off crisis-era programs to stabilize financial markets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal support to offset the economic shock from the pandemic , with the Trump administration moving toward a big package , but the virus continues to spread at a pace that is forcing massive shutdowns across the globe .
`` The missing fundamental ingredient for a sustainable recovery in risk appetite is some evidence that the growth of global Covid-19 infection rates is peaking , '' said Paul O'Connor , head of multi-asset at Janus Henderson Investors .
`` Clearly , we are not there yet . ''
The planned U.S. stimulus could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stave off the worst impact of a crisis that already looks set to plunge many of the world 's economies into recession .
Meantime , the Federal Reserve reintroduced additional crisis-era tools to stabilize financial markets .
Those responses came after stresses appeared in the short-term funding markets .
`` I do n't think we 're out of the woods yet in terms of liquidity , '' Mark Konyn , chief investment officer at AIA Group in Hong Kong , told Bloomberg TV .
`` It 's a question of when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
These are the main moves in markets :

Stocks fall with bonds with stimulus uncertain
Stock trader Gregory Rowe works Wednesday at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Global stock markets have sunk in a third day of wild price swings after President Donald Trump promised to prop up the U.S. economy through the coronavirus outbreak. Associated Press
Financial markets spasmed, sending U.S. stocks down more than 5% and Bloomberg's dollar index up to a record, as the economic fallout from the pandemic outpaced the massive response from governments and central banks.
The S&P 500 fell as much as 9.8%, before a late-session bounce trimmed the decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly wiped out all the gains logged since Donald Trump took office, with investors craving more government spending to offset the impact from the virus.
Bonds tumbled around the world a day after Treasuries notched biggest yield jump since 1982, and municipal bonds extended the deepest rout since 1987 as markets braced for the potential flood of spending. Oil sank 24% to an 18-year low. The dollar strengthened a seventh straight day. The pound hit its lowest level against the greenback since 1985. Dollar-funding markets remained strained, although improved from extreme levels in recent days.
Trump offered few details at a press briefing on the specifics his Treasury secretary is discussing with Congress. The Federal Reserve dusted off crisis-era programs to stabilize financial markets.
Governments have pledged or are considering massive fiscal support to offset the economic shock from the pandemic, with the Trump administration moving toward a big package, but the virus continues to spread at a pace that is forcing massive shutdowns across the globe.
"The missing fundamental ingredient for a sustainable recovery in risk appetite is some evidence that the growth of global Covid-19 infection rates is peaking," said Paul O'Connor, head of multi-asset at Janus Henderson Investors. "Clearly, we are not there yet."
The planned U.S. stimulus could amount to $1.2 trillion, aiming to stave off the worst impact of a crisis that already looks set to plunge many of the world's economies into recession. Meantime, the Federal Reserve reintroduced additional crisis-era tools to stabilize financial markets. Those responses came after stresses appeared in the short-term funding markets.
"I don't think we're out of the woods yet in terms of liquidity," Mark Konyn, chief investment officer at AIA Group in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg TV. "It's a question of when the fiscal measures will have the most efficacy."
These are the main moves in markets:
(c)2020 Bloomberg L.P.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Naperville voters say 'yes' to pot sales, but debate continues

Opponents of legalized recreational cannabis sales in Naperville already are calling for a new referendum question in November after a majority of voters on Tuesday supported such sales .
Officials say 28,968 people cast ballots for Tuesday 's advisory referendum and 15,426 -- or 53.25 % -- supported cannabis sales compared to 13,542 who opposed them .
But opponents say those results are flawed because concerns about the new coronavirus may have kept some voters from the polls .
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico , a supporter of recreational cannabis sales , said he has commitments from six city council members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who weighed in on Tuesday 's question and turn the advisory guidance into local law .
`` I 'm highly confident that they will , '' Chirico said .
To follow the recommendation from voters , the council could overturn a ban on recreational marijuana sales enacted in September , then set zoning parameters for shops , governing issues such as the number , location and hours of stores .
The council also could move to tax any marijuana products sold for nonmedical use at a rate of up to 3 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ object to taxing it if it 's going to be here , '' Chirico said .
The council could schedule a meeting to discuss taxation as soon as Monday , which would be in advance of a state deadline of April 1 to file necessary paperwork to begin taxing sales as soon as July 1 .
While supporters would be happy to move forward , opponents are questioning the vote on a few fronts , mainly related to the coronavirus outbreak .
DuPage County moved 14 polling places away from senior living facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings of more than 10 people -- all in an effort to help contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Jennifer Bruzan Taylor , leader of Opt Out Naperville , a group that formed to oppose pot sales , said such measures prevented many nursing home residents from voting and discouraged others who are at risk of contracting more severe cases of the virus from casting ballots .
`` Unfortunately , this is not the most accurate vote , '' Bruzan Taylor said .
`` This was n't , for either side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naperville pushed for the referendum to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot in the first place , and now Patty Gustin , a city council member who opposes recreational marijuana sales , said she will push for that idea again .
But that 's not how it 's supposed to work with referendum questions , said Patrick Skarr , spokesman for Naperville For Legal Cannabis PAC , which formed to support sales expansion .
`` Just because you do n't like the results , does n't mean you get to call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` After weighing the facts , the voters spoke and they want safe , legal access to adult-use cannabis . ''
The question on Tuesday drew a high number of participants when compared with Naperville races in the past .
The 28,968 votes cast on both sides were more than 10,000 more than the 18,674 total votes cast in the Naperville mayoral race last spring , a tightly fought contest between Chirico and challenger Richard `` Rocky '' Caylor .
Chirico and leaders of Green Thumb Industries , which runs the 3C Compassionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the question drew the third-highest number of voters in any Naperville referendum since 2001 , topped by questions in 2010 about whether to create city council wards and whether to impose term limits .
`` It would be a very difficult argument to make to say people were n't given the opportunity to vote or did n't vote , '' Chirico said .
Instead , the 6.5-percentage-point victory margin is what supporters of adult-use cannabis sales call a clear indication that voters want such commerce to take place .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting the judgment of the voters , and it 's clear Naperville residents want safe , legal access to adult-use cannabis at a local dispensary , '' Dina Rollman , senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for Green Thumb Industries said in a written statement .
`` We look forward to working with the community on implementing a responsible opt-in ordinance in the weeks and months ahead . ''
Chirico said gaining taxation authority will be the first step toward codifying permission for sales .
Steps then would include hearings before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinance approval .
During the period of social distancing because of the new coronavirus , Chirico said , the city will encourage use of technology to facilitate public participation in meetings and will find new physical separation protocols to make in-person participation safe as well .
Bruzan Taylor , though , said now is not the time to rush .
`` I do n't think the city council could even have a vote in the near future on this issue to be fair to both sides , '' she said .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through , it 's going to be very suspicious . ''
Naperville is an outlier among communities in putting this issue to voters .
After the state last spring approved the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act , the city councils or village boards in most communities made their own decisions about local sales .
Among 89 of the communities in the Northwest and West suburbs , 43 have allowed sales and 46 have enacted bans or moratoriums .

Naperville voters say 'yes' to pot sales, but debate continues
Opponents of legalized recreational cannabis sales in Naperville already are calling for a new referendum question in November after a majority of voters on Tuesday supported such sales.
Officials say 28,968 people cast ballots for Tuesday's advisory referendum and 15,426 -- or 53.25% -- supported cannabis sales compared to 13,542 who opposed them.
But opponents say those results are flawed because concerns about the new coronavirus may have kept some voters from the polls.
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, a supporter of recreational cannabis sales, said he has commitments from six city council members to follow the will of the voters who weighed in on Tuesday's question and turn the advisory guidance into local law.
"I'm highly confident that they will," Chirico said.
To follow the recommendation from voters, the council could overturn a ban on recreational marijuana sales enacted in September, then set zoning parameters for shops, governing issues such as the number, location and hours of stores. The council also could move to tax any marijuana products sold for nonmedical use at a rate of up to 3%.
"I don't think anybody will object to taxing it if it's going to be here," Chirico said.
The council could schedule a meeting to discuss taxation as soon as Monday, which would be in advance of a state deadline of April 1 to file necessary paperwork to begin taxing sales as soon as July 1.
While supporters would be happy to move forward, opponents are questioning the vote on a few fronts, mainly related to the coronavirus outbreak.
DuPage County moved 14 polling places away from senior living facilities, and federal officials have recommended against gatherings of more than 10 people -- all in an effort to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, leader of Opt Out Naperville, a group that formed to oppose pot sales, said such measures prevented many nursing home residents from voting and discouraged others who are at risk of contracting more severe cases of the virus from casting ballots.
"Unfortunately, this is not the most accurate vote," Bruzan Taylor said. "This wasn't, for either side, the most representative." Opt Out Naperville pushed for the referendum to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot in the first place, and now Patty Gustin, a city council member who opposes recreational marijuana sales, said she will push for that idea again.
But that's not how it's supposed to work with referendum questions, said Patrick Skarr, spokesman for Naperville For Legal Cannabis PAC, which formed to support sales expansion.
"Just because you don't like the results, doesn't mean you get to call for a do-over," Skarr said. "After weighing the facts, the voters spoke and they want safe, legal access to adult-use cannabis."
The question on Tuesday drew a high number of participants when compared with Naperville races in the past.
The 28,968 votes cast on both sides were more than 10,000 more than the 18,674 total votes cast in the Naperville mayoral race last spring, a tightly fought contest between Chirico and challenger Richard "Rocky" Caylor.
Chirico and leaders of Green Thumb Industries, which runs the 3C Compassionate Care Center medical marijuana shop in Naperville, said the question drew the third-highest number of voters in any Naperville referendum since 2001, topped by questions in 2010 about whether to create city council wards and whether to impose term limits.
"It would be a very difficult argument to make to say people weren't given the opportunity to vote or didn't vote," Chirico said.
Instead, the 6.5-percentage-point victory margin is what supporters of adult-use cannabis sales call a clear indication that voters want such commerce to take place.
"A majority of the council has committed to supporting the judgment of the voters, and it's clear Naperville residents want safe, legal access to adult-use cannabis at a local dispensary," Dina Rollman, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for Green Thumb Industries said in a written statement. "We look forward to working with the community on implementing a responsible opt-in ordinance in the weeks and months ahead."
Chirico said gaining taxation authority will be the first step toward codifying permission for sales. Steps then would include hearings before the planning and zoning commission and potential ordinance approval.
During the period of social distancing because of the new coronavirus, Chirico said, the city will encourage use of technology to facilitate public participation in meetings and will find new physical separation protocols to make in-person participation safe as well.
Bruzan Taylor, though, said now is not the time to rush.
"I don't think the city council could even have a vote in the near future on this issue to be fair to both sides," she said. "If there is a rush to push this through, it's going to be very suspicious."
Naperville is an outlier among communities in putting this issue to voters.
After the state last spring approved the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the city councils or village boards in most communities made their own decisions about local sales. Among 89 of the communities in the Northwest and West suburbs, 43 have allowed sales and 46 have enacted bans or moratoriums.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Rozner: Bears' Pace might be finally admitting mistakes

Welcome to the sixth year of the Ryan Pace Rebuild .
It 's the one in which there might finally be hope because Pace has accepted the fact that he 's terrible at his job , and his only chance to succeed is to acquire players other teams have identified , drafted , signed and watched perform at a high level .
And you have to believe Matt Nagy has played a big role in convincing him that the players Pace drafts and loves are generally bad at football .
There 's no other explanation for suddenly coming to terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leonard Floyd and Adam Shaheen are not the answer to any question , unless that question is , `` Who are some of the worst draft picks in Bears history ? ''
We 'll not spend time reminding you of Kevin White , the very first Pace selection ( seventh overall ) for a team in total need of a rebuild six years ago , when the offensive and defensive lines were looking at a complete overhaul .
Apologies , guess we just reminded you .
In any case , this had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that a Super Bowl-caliber defense was getting older by the day , while Trubisky was getting worse by the week .
Pace never falls out of love with his projects , so one must assume his head coach gave it to him straight .
And repeatedly -- until it finally hit home .
When there is no truth to power , nothing changes .
These are big philosophy changes .
In 24 hours , the Bears added a dynamic pass rusher in Robert Quinn to play opposite Khalil Mack , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , he 's not Tom Brady and he 's far from perfect .
At times , he can be quite average -- or worse .
But Foles has won 4 playoff games and a Super Bowl in the last three years .
The Bears have won 6 playoff games since their only Super Bowl victory 35 years ago .
One of those Foles victories was with a beat-up and battered Eagles team that walked into Soldier Field in January 2019 and defeated the Bears in the only 60 minutes of playoff football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managed to put most of the blame on kicker Cody Parkey for his infamous miss , while pretending that Trubisky was n't awful -- when he could have easily thrown 4 picks in the first half of that nightmare .
The 31-year-old Foles also has a history with much of the Bears ' coaching staff , playbook and terminology , having been with Nagy twice ( Eagles and Chiefs ) , coordinator Bill Lazor ( Eagles ) and QB guru John DeFilippo , who was in the same job with the Eagles in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Foles took over for an injured Carson Wentz with four games to play and won three playoff games , ultimately named Super Bowl MVP .
That is one of the great and surprising QB stories of the last decade .
That was also a time in which DeFilippo seemed like the logical candidate to replace John Fox .
That job went to Nagy , who has at times seemed as clueless as his general manager , but right now he 's a hero .
Of course , the Bears will deny his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to admit his massive number of mistakes , but these immense changes and the urgency to win immediately have to be at the behest of Nagy .
There seems no other reason for Pace 's sudden shift in thinking , when he has been so impossibly obtuse in evaluating his own players .
There 's also no guarantee here of anything , but the Bears are closer to a Super Bowl than they were 24 hours ago .
That 's good because the clock is ticking .
The team that many thought could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if only they had a quarterback , is two years older .
Father time is undefeated and Mack , the most important player on this team , is 29 , having looked quite ordinary for long stretches last season .
He has help now , both on defense and offense .
If the NFL starts on time this year -- and it 's difficult to predict anything right now -- there is reason again to be mildly optimistic about the Bears .
Good news is hard to find these days .
We @ @ @ @

Rozner: Bears' Pace might be finally admitting mistakes
Jacksonville is expected to trade quarterback Nick Foles to the Bears for a compensatory fourth-round draft pick. It could become official Wednesday afternoon. Associated Press
Welcome to the sixth year of the Ryan Pace Rebuild.
It's the one in which there might finally be hope because Pace has accepted the fact that he's terrible at his job, and his only chance to succeed is to acquire players other teams have identified, drafted, signed and watched perform at a high level.
And you have to believe Matt Nagy has played a big role in convincing him that the players Pace drafts and loves are generally bad at football.
There's no other explanation for suddenly coming to terms with the notion that Mitch Trubisky, Leonard Floyd and Adam Shaheen are not the answer to any question, unless that question is, "Who are some of the worst draft picks in Bears history?"
We'll not spend time reminding you of Kevin White, the very first Pace selection (seventh overall) for a team in total need of a rebuild six years ago, when the offensive and defensive lines were looking at a complete overhaul.
Apologies, guess we just reminded you.
In any case, this had to be Nagy telling his GM the truth, that a Super Bowl-caliber defense was getting older by the day, while Trubisky was getting worse by the week.
Pace never falls out of love with his projects, so one must assume his head coach gave it to him straight.
And repeatedly -- until it finally hit home. When there is no truth to power, nothing changes. These are big philosophy changes.
In 24 hours, the Bears added a dynamic pass rusher in Robert Quinn to play opposite Khalil Mack, and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Nick Foles.
No, he's not Tom Brady and he's far from perfect. At times, he can be quite average -- or worse.
But Foles has won 4 playoff games and a Super Bowl in the last three years. The Bears have won 6 playoff games since their only Super Bowl victory 35 years ago.
One of those Foles victories was with a beat-up and battered Eagles team that walked into Soldier Field in January 2019 and defeated the Bears in the only 60 minutes of playoff football Trubisky has ever played.
The Bears managed to put most of the blame on kicker Cody Parkey for his infamous miss, while pretending that Trubisky wasn't awful -- when he could have easily thrown 4 picks in the first half of that nightmare.
The 31-year-old Foles also has a history with much of the Bears' coaching staff, playbook and terminology, having been with Nagy twice (Eagles and Chiefs), coordinator Bill Lazor (Eagles) and QB guru John DeFilippo, who was in the same job with the Eagles in 2017.
That was the year in which Foles took over for an injured Carson Wentz with four games to play and won three playoff games, ultimately named Super Bowl MVP.
That is one of the great and surprising QB stories of the last decade.
That was also a time in which DeFilippo seemed like the logical candidate to replace John Fox. That job went to Nagy, who has at times seemed as clueless as his general manager, but right now he's a hero.
Of course, the Bears will deny his influence here, that Pace is willing to admit his massive number of mistakes, but these immense changes and the urgency to win immediately have to be at the behest of Nagy.
There seems no other reason for Pace's sudden shift in thinking, when he has been so impossibly obtuse in evaluating his own players.
There's also no guarantee here of anything, but the Bears are closer to a Super Bowl than they were 24 hours ago.
That's good because the clock is ticking.
The team that many thought could have won a Super Bowl in 2018, if only they had a quarterback, is two years older.
Father time is undefeated and Mack, the most important player on this team, is 29, having looked quite ordinary for long stretches last season.
He has help now, both on defense and offense.
If the NFL starts on time this year -- and it's difficult to predict anything right now -- there is reason again to be mildly optimistic about the Bears.
Good news is hard to find these days. We'll take it.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Want barbecue or pho? Two popular eateries to be neighbors in Palatine

Palatine 's far north side on Long Grove 's border is poised to become a foodie destination .
Village council members this week approved a special-use permit for popular Chicago Culinary Kitchen to relocate in vacant space at Lake Cook Commons .
Chicago Culinary Kitchen will move from North Quentin Plaza in Palatine to the southeast corner of Lake-Cook and Hicks roads .
Chicago Culinary Kitchen 's Texas-style barbecue will neighbor critically acclaimed Viet Taste , known for banh mi sandwiches , pho and other dishes .
Councilmen in January approved a special-use permit for the Vietnamese restaurant to operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Myslinski was among the elected officials who thanked Chicago Culinary Kitchen for staying in the village .
The eatery will be in council District 3 , which Myslinski represents .
`` You had a lot of options out there , so we appreciate you staying in Palatine , '' Myslinski told co-owners Greg and Kristina Gaardbo .
`` And District 3 is going to treat you well . ''
Chicago Culinary Kitchen is a hybrid business with cooking classes , catering , special gatherings and a weekend barbecue restaurant in North Quentin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional following for brisket , pulled pork , spare ribs , 18-hour pit beans and other items on a limited menu served from 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays until they run out .
To meet customer demand , the much larger new location will have 77 indoor seats , a bar and 20 outdoor patio seats .
The Gaardbos said it could open by early summer .
Chicago Culinary Kitchen , which debuted as an event space in October 2016 and began the weekend restaurant five months later , will have a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its current license allows only beer and wine sales in the cozy space at Northwest Highway and Quentin Road .
`` I 'm originally from Palatine , '' said Kristina Gaardbo , a certified craft beer expert whose husband is a pitmaster .
`` I 'm so excited that we 're staying in Palatine .
That was our hope for the business growth . ''
As for Viet Taste , the Palatine location will join existing restaurants in Libertyville and Norridge .
Viet Taste projects about 100 seats for the Lake Cook Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Terry Yormark II of South Barrington purchased what was a rundown strip mall about three years ago and has made building and parking lot improvements , along with attracting the high-profile restaurant tenants .
`` It 's important to keep green sprouts going during this difficult time for everybody , especially for the restaurant business , '' Yormark told council members .
`` And so it allows them and other companies to go ahead and lay seeds today that we 'll see the fruition in a couple months . ''

Want barbecue or pho? Two popular eateries to be neighbors in Palatine
Greg and Kristina Gaardbo, owners of the popular Chicago Culinary Kitchen in Palatine, are moving their popular restaurant from North Quentin Plaza to a strip mall in the village on the southeast corner of Lake-Cook and Hicks roads. The couple's Texas-style barbecue joint will neighbor popular Vietnamese restaurant Viet Taste. Daily Herald file photo
Palatine's far north side on Long Grove's border is poised to become a foodie destination.
Village council members this week approved a special-use permit for popular Chicago Culinary Kitchen to relocate in vacant space at Lake Cook Commons. Chicago Culinary Kitchen will move from North Quentin Plaza in Palatine to the southeast corner of Lake-Cook and Hicks roads.
Chicago Culinary Kitchen's Texas-style barbecue will neighbor critically acclaimed Viet Taste, known for banh mi sandwiches, pho and other dishes. Councilmen in January approved a special-use permit for the Vietnamese restaurant to operate in Lake Cook Commons.
Palatine Councilman Doug Myslinski was among the elected officials who thanked Chicago Culinary Kitchen for staying in the village. The eatery will be in council District 3, which Myslinski represents.
"You had a lot of options out there, so we appreciate you staying in Palatine," Myslinski told co-owners Greg and Kristina Gaardbo. "And District 3 is going to treat you well."
Chicago Culinary Kitchen is a hybrid business with cooking classes, catering, special gatherings and a weekend barbecue restaurant in North Quentin Plaza. The eatery has developed a regional following for brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, 18-hour pit beans and other items on a limited menu served from 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays until they run out.
To meet customer demand, the much larger new location will have 77 indoor seats, a bar and 20 outdoor patio seats. The Gaardbos said it could open by early summer.
Chicago Culinary Kitchen, which debuted as an event space in October 2016 and began the weekend restaurant five months later, will have a full liquor license in the new location. Its current license allows only beer and wine sales in the cozy space at Northwest Highway and Quentin Road.
"I'm originally from Palatine," said Kristina Gaardbo, a certified craft beer expert whose husband is a pitmaster. "I'm so excited that we're staying in Palatine. That was our hope for the business growth."
As for Viet Taste, the Palatine location will join existing restaurants in Libertyville and Norridge.
Viet Taste projects about 100 seats for the Lake Cook Commons spot, with a possible summer opening.
Terry Yormark II of South Barrington purchased what was a rundown strip mall about three years ago and has made building and parking lot improvements, along with attracting the high-profile restaurant tenants.
"It's important to keep green sprouts going during this difficult time for everybody, especially for the restaurant business," Yormark told council members. "And so it allows them and other companies to go ahead and lay seeds today that we'll see the fruition in a couple months."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Cancellations continue at Midway, no word on tower reopening

With more than 70 % of flights canceled Wednesday at Midway International Airport , it 's unclear when operations will normalize as the air traffic control tower is scrubbed down after coronavirus exposure .
`` Midway is open , but operations remain limited , '' Chicago Department of Aviation Deputy Communications Commissioner Matthew McGrath said .
`` We 're working with the FAA to resume normal operations as quickly and safely as possible -- which ultimately means having the tower back in service .
Given this reality , and for their own business and network reasons , the airlines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
An FAA official said Wednesday afternoon there was no word yet when air traffic controllers could return to the tower .
Authorities closed the air traffic control tower when several technicians tested positive Tuesday for the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for more information .
On Wednesday morning , Southwest Airlines ceased operations at Midway but some flights were resuming as of the afternoon .
In all , the Chicago Department of Aviation on Wednesday at 4 p.m. reported 378 of 527 flights were canceled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretched more than 45 minutes .
The CDA said pilots were following `` one-in-one-out '' procedures at the airport , which has five runways .
`` The air traffic control tower at Midway Airport is temporarily closing while we ensure a safe work environment for air traffic controllers and technicians , '' the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday .
Much of the air traffic in and out of Midway has been handed off to the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control ( TRACON ) facility in Elgin .
TRACON controllers will manage flights until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then arriving pilots will announce their presence on the airport frequency .
Outbound pilots will announce their presence before departing , then be picked up by TRACON staff .

Cancellations continue at Midway; no word on tower reopening
Flights are arriving and departing at reduced rates at Midway International Airport after air traffic control tower staff members tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. ASSOCIATED PRESS
With more than 70% of flights canceled Wednesday at Midway International Airport, it's unclear when operations will normalize as the air traffic control tower is scrubbed down after coronavirus exposure.
"Midway is open, but operations remain limited," Chicago Department of Aviation Deputy Communications Commissioner Matthew McGrath said.
"We're working with the FAA to resume normal operations as quickly and safely as possible -- which ultimately means having the tower back in service. Given this reality, and for their own business and network reasons, the airlines are making the decision to cancel many flights."
An FAA official said Wednesday afternoon there was no word yet when air traffic controllers could return to the tower.
Authorities closed the air traffic control tower when several technicians tested positive Tuesday for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for more information.
On Wednesday morning, Southwest Airlines ceased operations at Midway, but some flights were resuming as of the afternoon.
In all, the Chicago Department of Aviation at 4 p.m. Wednesday reported 378 of 527 flights were canceled in the last 24 hours. Some delays stretched more than 45 minutes.
The department said pilots were following "one-in-one-out" procedures at the airport, which has five runways.
"The air traffic control tower at Midway Airport is temporarily closing while we ensure a safe work environment for air traffic controllers and technicians," the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday.
Much of the air traffic in and out of Midway has been handed off to the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Elgin.
TRACON controllers will manage flights until planes are within sight of Midway, then arriving pilots will announce their presence on the airport frequency. Outbound pilots will announce their presence before departing, then be picked up by TRACON staff.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Winfield, CDH reach tentative agreement on redevelopment plan

Winfield has reached a tentative agreement with Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital that would pave the way for a massive redevelopment of the village 's Town Center .
Trustees on Thursday night are expected to approve a memorandum of understanding that will be used to draft a development agreement between the village and hospital .
`` I feel completely confident that the memorandum of understanding will receive unanimous support by the village board , '' Village President Erik Spande said Wednesday .
`` Then we 'll be able to move forward with the next pieces . ''
CDH is proposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its campus into a medical and commercial district .
To the west of the 392-bed hospital , a proposed parking deck would alleviate parking problems at CDH .
The plan also calls for village hall to be torn down and moved to free space for more development near the Metra station .
Spande said the memorandum of understanding will allow attorneys for Winfield and CDH to work on a development agreement while the village starts the public approval process for `` Phase 1A '' of the project .
That phase includes construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridge over Winfield Road linking the structure to the main campus .
In the parking structure , ground floor space would be set aside for an 18,800-square-foot day care facility and a 5,000-square-foot `` fast casual '' restaurant .
`` Going through the public approval process for the first phase before the development agreement is done is highly irregular , '' Spande said .
`` But we wanted to make sure we could accommodate an aggressive schedule . ''
Spande said Northwestern Medicine is hoping to begin construction on the parking deck this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of urgency to get that moving . ''
Six months after starting construction on the parking deck , Northwestern Medicine would like to begin work on `` Phase 1B , '' which would include construction of a three-story , mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and medical/office space on the upper two floors .
There 's also plans for two stand-alone buildings for retail , restaurant or commercial use .
`` Phase 1B is the anchor of the Town Center redevelopment , '' Spande said .
During the village 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were compromises on both sides .
He said Northwestern Medicine made accommodations on several issues important to the village .
For example , the village will be able to decide if it wants to purchase an existing office building from CDH and convert it into a village hall and police station .
The three-story building is located on the south side of Jewell Road .
However , the village could decide to acquire another property and build a new village hall .
`` So the village will have the option of either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an existing office building and rehabbing it , '' Spande said .
Either way , money for the village hall project would come from revenue generated by a tax increment financing district set to expire in 2028 .
In a TIF district , property taxes above a certain point are funneled into development rather than to local governments .
The proposed deal also addresses the issue of property taxes .
CDH , which is tax-exempt , previously told the village that it wanted to remove a large portion of the development from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Spande said Northwestern Medicine has agreed to keep the parking deck on the tax rolls for 20 years .
But it will be able to take the second and third floors of the mixed-use building off the tax rolls immediately .
Overall , Spande said , there will be a large amount of new construction in Town Center .
`` There 's going to be a huge amount of change in our Town Center in the next couple of years . ''

Winfield, CDH reach tentative agreement on redevelopment plan
Winfield has reached a tentative agreement with Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital that would pave the way for a massive redevelopment of the village's Town Center.
Trustees on Thursday night are expected to approve a memorandum of understanding that will be used to draft a development agreement between the village and hospital.
"I feel completely confident that the memorandum of understanding will receive unanimous support by the village board," Village President Erik Spande said Wednesday. "Then we'll be able to move forward with the next pieces."
CDH is proposing to transform part of Town Center south of its campus into a medical and commercial district. To the west of the 392-bed hospital, a proposed parking deck would alleviate parking problems at CDH.
The plan also calls for village hall to be torn down and moved to free space for more development near the Metra station.
Spande said the memorandum of understanding will allow attorneys for Winfield and CDH to work on a development agreement while the village starts the public approval process for "Phase 1A" of the project.
That phase includes construction of the parking deck and a pedestrian bridge over Winfield Road linking the structure to the main campus. In the parking structure, ground floor space would be set aside for an 18,800-square-foot day care facility and a 5,000-square-foot "fast casual" restaurant.
"Going through the public approval process for the first phase before the development agreement is done is highly irregular," Spande said. "But we wanted to make sure we could accommodate an aggressive schedule."
Spande said Northwestern Medicine is hoping to begin construction on the parking deck this fall, "so there's a sense of urgency to get that moving."
Six months after starting construction on the parking deck, Northwestern Medicine would like to begin work on "Phase 1B," which would include construction of a three-story, mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and medical/office space on the upper two floors. There's also plans for two stand-alone buildings for retail, restaurant or commercial use.
"Phase 1B is the anchor of the Town Center redevelopment," Spande said.
During the village's negotiations with Northwestern Medicine, Spande said, there were compromises on both sides. He said Northwestern Medicine made accommodations on several issues important to the village.
For example, the village will be able to decide if it wants to purchase an existing office building from CDH and convert it into a village hall and police station. The three-story building is on the south side of Jewell Road.
However, the village could decide to acquire another property and build a new village hall.
"So the village will have the option of either building a new village hall or buying an existing office building and rehabbing it," Spande said.
Either way, money for the village hall project would come from revenue generated by a tax increment financing district set to expire in 2028. In a TIF district, property taxes above a certain point are funneled into development rather than to local governments.
The proposed deal also addresses the issue of property taxes. CDH, which is tax-exempt, previously told the village that it wanted to remove a large portion of the development from the tax rolls after a period of time.
Spande said Northwestern Medicine has agreed to keep the parking deck on the tax rolls for 20 years. But it will be able to take the second and third floors of the mixed-use building off the tax rolls immediately.
Overall, Spande said, there will be a large amount of new construction in Town Center. "There's going to be a huge amount of change in our Town Center in the next couple of years."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Feder: 25 years later, NBC Sports Chicago looks back on Michael Jordan's return

Twenty-five years ago today Michael Jordan stunned the world with the two-word declaration : `` I 'm back . ''
NBC Sports Chicago will mark the 25th anniversary of Jordan 's Chicago Bulls comeback with a half-hour documentary premiering at 6:30 p.m.tonight .
`` I 'm Back : The Return of Michael Jordan , '' produced by Sarah Lauch , Ryan McGuffey and Matt Buckman , features interviews with numerous teammates and other players , Jordan 's former agent David Falk , and sportscasters Mark Giangreco and Marc Silverman .
The quick turnaround by NBC Sports Chicago follows disappointing news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't completed production on `` The Last Dance , '' the long-awaited 10-part documentary series on Jordan and the 1990s Bulls dynasty .
Also at NBC Sports Chicago , the regional sports network has begun airing every Blackhawks win from the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship playoff run and every Bulls win from the 1996 NBA Playoffs title drive , starting at 7 p.m. nightly .
The classic rebroadcasts are scheduled to air through April 16 in place of live sports programming derailed by the coronavirus shutdown of all major leagues .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media at robertfeder.com .

Feder: 25 years later, NBC Sports Chicago looks back on Michael Jordan's return
Twenty-five years ago today Michael Jordan stunned the world with the two-word declaration: "I'm back." NBC Sports Chicago will mark the 25th anniversary of Jordan's Chicago Bulls comeback with a half-hour documentary premiering at 6:30 p.m.tonight. "I'm Back: The Return of Michael Jordan," produced by Sarah Lauch, Ryan McGuffey and Matt Buckman, features interviews with numerous teammates and other players, Jordan's former agent David Falk, and sportscasters Mark Giangreco and Marc Silverman. The quick turnaround by NBC Sports Chicago follows disappointing news Tuesday from ESPN that it still hasn't completed production on "The Last Dance," the long-awaited 10-part documentary series on Jordan and the 1990s Bulls dynasty.
Also at NBC Sports Chicago, the regional sports network has begun airing every Blackhawks win from the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship playoff run and every Bulls win from the 1996 NBA Playoffs title drive, starting at 7 p.m. nightly. The classic rebroadcasts are scheduled to air through April 16 in place of live sports programming derailed by the coronavirus shutdown of all major leagues.
Read more of Robert Feder's observations on the media at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Access to our coverage of coronavirus outbreak

As a public service , the Daily Herald is temporarily removing the paywall from most stories related to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ keep the community informed during the health crisis .
We rely on the support of @ @ @ @ @ cost of our journalism .
If you do not already subscribe , we hope you @ @ @ @ @ .
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You also can sign up for @ @ @ @ @ 'll email a roundup of latest news on the outbreak .
If you have suggestions @ @ @ @ @ specific questions you 'd like us to address , email coronavirus @ dailyherald.com .
Thank @ @ @ @ @

Access to our coverage of coronavirus outbreak
As a public service, the Daily Herald is temporarily removing the paywall from most stories related to the coronavirus outbreak to ensure that we keep the community informed during the health crisis.
We rely on the support of our subscribers to underwrite the cost of our journalism. If you do not already subscribe, we hope you will consider voluntarily doing so. You can click here to sign up.
You also can sign up for our coronavirus newsletter and we'll email a roundup of latest news on the outbreak.
If you have suggestions for our COVID-19 coverage or specific questions you'd like us to address, email coronavirus@dailyherald.com.
Thank you. Stay well.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Gun dealers report 'panic buying' due to coronavirus

SPRINGFIELD -- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer are in short supply at Illinois supermarkets .
At gun shops , firearms and ammunition are flying off the shelves , too .
As the coronavirus spreads through the state , Illinois firearms retailers say sales of guns and ammunition have substantially increased over the past two weeks and especially in recent days .
`` It 's a lot of a panic situation , '' said Jim Feagans , who owns J. Gooch Shooting Sports in Springfield .
`` Firearms and ammunition are going crazy . ''
Feagans said his shop started getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois restaurants and bars closing to dine-in customers and schools shutting their doors to students .
`` I think ... all of a sudden people realized , 'Hey , this is serious , ' '' he said .
`` Everybody 's talking long term now .
So now I think people are starting to get a little bit more panicky . ''
Panic buying was also apparent at other Springfield gun stores , employees told Capitol News Illinois , including a pawnshop , chain retailer and a military surplus store .
`` People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surplus store said .
Gun shops across the U.S. and in every corner of Illinois have seen firearm and ammunition sales increase , says Richard Pearson , executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association .
He said most purchases have been related to home protection .
Feagans said purchases of handguns , common for home protection , have gone up the most , along with ammunition .
He also noted his recent clientele has included an unusual number of first-time buyers .
`` Even the non-firearms people are wanting firearms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a lot of new people who have never had guns before coming in . ''
Though Feagans said no customer has told him their purchase is related to coronavirus , he suspects people might be preparing for a worst-case scenario .
`` I can only speculate that they 're worried that it 's going to get worse before it gets better , '' he said .
`` And maybe they need something to protect themselves , whether it 's going to be looting or something . ''
Pearson said he knows of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of rounds of ammunition per purchase so the most panicked people do n't hoard the supply .
Feagans recalled the last time his shop was this busy was in 2013 , when people were worried that governments would restrict access to guns after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut .
`` It 's got to be almost a record , '' he said .
To buy a gun in Illinois , residents must first be licensed with a Firearm Owners Identification card , which requires a background check .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Firearms Transfer Inquiry Program request .
Recent numbers for FOID card applications , FTIPs and concealed carry license applications were not immediately available because ISP is `` operating on essential personnel only '' amid the COVID-19 pandemic , a spokesperson said .
Capitol News Illinois is awaiting response to a submitted Freedom of Information Act request for the data .
Multiple calls Wednesday to ISP 's Firearms Services Bureau were answered by a recorded message that said the bureau was `` experiencing a high call volume . ''
A Tuesday article from Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nationwide surge in gun sales will not be available until April , but the article noted that FBI background checks are `` up considerably '' over last January and February .
Illinois ' minimum age for buying a firearm is 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns and pistols .
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 288 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday , though the number is likely higher due to scarcity of testing .
IDPH reports one person has died from the disease , a Chicago woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions .
For those with general COVID-19 questions , IDPH maintains a hotline at ( 800 ) 889-3931 and an email address ( dph.sick @ illinois.gov ) .

Gun dealers report 'panic buying' due to coronavirus
Jim Feagans holds a handgun while standing behind the counter of his Springfield gun store on Wednesday. Feagans said his store has seen a surge in firearm and ammunition purchases amid concerns over the coronavirus. Ben Orner/Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD -- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer are in short supply at Illinois supermarkets. At gun shops, firearms and ammunition are flying off the shelves, too.
As the coronavirus spreads through the state, Illinois firearms retailers say sales of guns and ammunition have substantially increased over the past two weeks and especially in recent days.
"It's a lot of a panic situation," said Jim Feagans, who owns J. Gooch Shooting Sports in Springfield. "Firearms and ammunition are going crazy."
Feagans said his shop started getting busy Monday, on the eve of Illinois restaurants and bars closing to dine-in customers and schools shutting their doors to students.
"I think ... all of a sudden people realized, 'Hey, this is serious,'" he said. "Everybody's talking long term now. So now I think people are starting to get a little bit more panicky."
Panic buying was also apparent at other Springfield gun stores, employees told Capitol News Illinois, including a pawnshop, chain retailer and a military surplus store.
"People are panicking," an employee at the surplus store said.
Gun shops across the U.S. and in every corner of Illinois have seen firearm and ammunition sales increase, says Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. He said most purchases have been related to home protection.
"They're worried about civil unrest," Pearson said.
Feagans said purchases of handguns, common for home protection, have gone up the most, along with ammunition. He also noted his recent clientele has included an unusual number of first-time buyers.
"Even the non-firearms people are wanting firearms," he said. "We've got a lot of new people who have never had guns before coming in."
Though Feagans said no customer has told him their purchase is related to coronavirus, he suspects people might be preparing for a worst-case scenario.
"I can only speculate that they're worried that it's going to get worse before it gets better," he said. "And maybe they need something to protect themselves, whether it's going to be looting or something."
Pearson said he knows of some Illinois gun shops that are limiting the number of rounds of ammunition per purchase so the most panicked people don't hoard the supply.
Feagans recalled the last time his shop was this busy was in 2013, when people were worried that governments would restrict access to guns after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut.
"It's got to be almost a record," he said.
To buy a gun in Illinois, residents must first be licensed with a Firearm Owners Identification card, which requires a background check. And every gun they buy requires a Firearms Transfer Inquiry Program request.
A representative of the Illinois State Police said the agency's Firearms Services Bureau "has experienced a high volume of (FTIP) submissions" since last Friday, receiving 18,980 in the six-day span.
Illinois' minimum age for buying a firearm is 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns and pistols.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 288 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, though the number is likely higher due to scarcity of testing. IDPH reports one person has died from the disease, a Chicago woman in her 60s who had underlying health conditions.
For those with general COVID-19 questions, IDPH maintains a hotline at (800) 889-3931 and an email address (dph.sick@illinois.gov).


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-18--Possible COVID-19 exposure in Buffalo Grove tests negative

A person feared to have indirectly exposed Buffalo Grove village employees to COVID-19 has tested negative for the virus , village officials announced Wednesday .
An on-site vendor who was working in a village facility had contact with a friend 's parent who displayed flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Europe , according to the village .
The parent was tested Monday , and the village learned of negative test result Wednesday .
Despite the result , the village continues to take all precautions necessary to assist in slowing or limiting the spread of COVID-19 to the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order and a local state of emergency proclamation issued Tuesday by Village President Beverly Sussman , which ensures the Village has the authority and ability to react immediately for the safety of the community .
As part of that action , the village ordered all places of public assemblage -- movie theaters , health clubs and recreational facilities among them -- closed until further notice .
For additional updates , the village encourages residents and businesses to follow Buffalo Grove 's social media accounts on Facebook , Twitter , NextDoor , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on vbg.org .

Possible COVID-19 exposure in Buffalo Grove tests negative
A person feared to have indirectly exposed Buffalo Grove village employees to COVID-19 has tested negative for the virus, village officials announced Wednesday.
An on-site vendor who was working in a village facility had contact with a friend's parent who displayed flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Europe, according to the village. The parent was tested Monday, and the village learned of negative test result Wednesday.
Despite the result, the village continues to take all precautions necessary to assist in slowing or limiting the spread of COVID-19 to the community, officials said.
That includes an executive order and a local state of emergency proclamation issued Tuesday by Village President Beverly Sussman, which ensures the Village has the authority and ability to react immediately for the safety of the community. As part of that action, the village ordered all places of public assemblage -- movie theaters, health clubs and recreational facilities among them -- closed until further notice.
For additional updates, the village encourages residents and businesses to follow Buffalo Grove's social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor, and LinkedIn. Updates also will be posted on vbg.org.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-19--Three new deaths, cases jump to 422, Pritzker says

Three more people have died in Illinois from coronavirus infections , according to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker .
A Will County man in his 50s , a Cook County woman in her 80s and a Florida woman visiting in Sangamon County succumbed to COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus , Pritzker said .
The total number of confirmed cases in Illinois climbed Thursday to 422 infections in 22 counties , up from 289 cases on Wednesday .
Pritzker urged medical professionals , particularly doctors , to sign up for a statewide emergency alert system at siren.illinois.gov .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections rose at a Willowbrook nursing home that saw 46 residents and staff members test positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and Wednesday .
DuPage County Health Department officials said they had no updates .
Dr. Ngozi Ezike , head of the Illinois Department of Public Health , said despite the greater risk to older residents , there is no plan to test nursing home residents and staffers who are not exhibiting symptoms .
Some of the new cases announced Thursday are nursing home residents , though the three who died were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases is rising exponentially , '' Ezike said .
`` And sadly , we do anticipate more deaths . ''
So far , Illinois has tested 3,151 people , according to state reports .
For his part , Pritzker addressed rumors that had been circulating about services closing , like highways , grocery stores and pharmacies .
`` Those will never close , '' Pritzker said .
`` There is no need to hoard food , gas or medicine .
There is enough to go around as long as people do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents that school closures could be extended beyond the end of the month .
`` We 're obviously evaluating that every day , '' he said , `` They should be planning for the possibility of an expansion of that date , but right now we 're sticking with the March 31 date . ''
Businesses are also being given a two-month delay in paying sales taxes to the state and local jurisdictions , Pritzker announced .
Late fees are being waived , he said .
`` Our small businesses are already hurting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't going away anytime soon , '' he acknowledged .
Small businesses are eligible for low-interest loans of up to $ 2 million under a new program , the governor said .
Information about the loans and other coronavirus information is available at the state 's website coronavirus.illinois.gov .
Elsewhere , College of Lake County officials announced an employee , who was last on the Grayslake campus on March 12 , had tested positive for the coronavirus .
`` The college has verified that the spaces the employee came in contact within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 16 and have been under daily touch-point cleaning since Feb. 29 , '' a college news release stated .

Three new deaths, cases jump to 422, Pritzker says
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker provided more details about the state's ongoing fight against the coronavirus outbreak Thursday. Daily Herald File Photo
Three more people have died in Illinois from coronavirus infections, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
A Will County man in his 50s, a Cook County woman in her 80s and a Florida woman visiting in Sangamon County succumbed to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, Pritzker said.
The total number of confirmed cases in Illinois climbed Thursday to 422 infections in 22 counties, up from 289 cases on Wednesday.
There was no word on whether the number of infections rose at a Willowbrook nursing home that saw 46 residents and staff members test positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and Wednesday.
DuPage County Health Department officials said they had no updates.
Elgin Area Unit District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said in an emailed statement that the Cook County Health Department told U-46 officials a student who attended Independence Center for Early Learning has a confirmed case of the coronavirus. Because of privacy laws, Sanders would say only that the student has been isolated for the past several days.
Pritzker urged medical professionals, particularly doctors, to sign up for a statewide emergency alert system at siren.illinois.gov.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said despite the greater risk to older residents, there is no plan to test nursing home residents and staffers who are not exhibiting symptoms.
Some of the new cases announced Thursday are nursing home residents, though the three who died were not, she said.
"The number of cases is rising exponentially," Ezike said. "And sadly, we do anticipate more deaths."
So far, Illinois has tested 3,151 people, according to state reports.
For his part, Pritzker addressed rumors that had been circulating about services closing, like highways, grocery stores and pharmacies.
"Those will never close," Pritzker said. "There is no need to hoard food, gas or medicine. There is enough to go around as long as people do not hoard."
Pritzker also warned parents that school closures could be extended beyond the end of the month.
"We're obviously evaluating that every day," he said, "They should be planning for the possibility of an expansion of that date, but right now we're sticking with the March 31 date."
Businesses are also being given a two-month delay in paying sales taxes to the state and local jurisdictions, Pritzker announced. Late fees are being waived, he said.
"Our small businesses are already hurting and the root of that pain isn't going away anytime soon," he acknowledged.
Small businesses are eligible for low-interest loans of up to $2 million under a new program, the governor said.
Information about the loans and other coronavirus information is available at the state's website coronavirus.illinois.gov.
Elsewhere, College of Lake County officials announced an employee, who was last on the Grayslake campus on March 12, had tested positive for the coronavirus.
"The college has verified that the spaces the employee came in contact within the building have been deep cleaned twice since March 16 and have been under daily touch-point cleaning since Feb. 29," a college news release stated.
And an Aurora University student has tested positive for the coronavirus.
"I know that yesterday's news about an AU student testing positive for COVID-19 was distressing to many in our community," said a message Thursday afternoon from university President Rebecca Sherrick.
"We can confirm ... that this student has not been on campus since the start of the Spring semester. Following guidance from public health authorities, the student is in self-isolation off campus."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-19--'It went from being surreal to real': Former Island Lake trustee diagnosed with COVID-19

Stuck at home in her pajamas watching Netflix , former Island Lake village trustee Debra Westfall asked an unsettling question .
`` Is the worst ahead of me or behind me ? ''
she wondered Thursday .
`` I 'm just sitting here bracing myself . ''
Westfall , who now lives in a condo in Chicago 's Lincoln Park neighborhood , is among the 422 confirmed cases -- up from 288 earlier Thursday -- of COVID-19 in Illinois .
She has learned the hard way the virus is no joke and wants to dispel skepticism .
So , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a very public point to humanize it .
To let people know it 's real , '' she said .
Like most people , the 52-year old sales rep and cancer survivor could n't avoid the nonstop news about the marauding virus and had been being careful .
She figured the little dry cough , low energy and mild body aches she was experiencing last week was a seasonal ailment .
She felt bedraggled but able to go about her business , albeit abiding by the protocols of social distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in her building , which is home to about 200 .
`` They said , 'Did you hear the news ?
A resident was rushed off by ambulance today and was diagnosed with COVID-19 , ' '' she recalled Thursday .
Until then , Westfall had n't been overly concerned , figuring the number of confirmed cases among a population of millions were a drop in the bucket .
`` When I heard someone in my building had it , I thought , 'Oh , crap . '
It went from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning I had this coughing attack , so much so that I got lightheaded , '' she said .
Westfall called her doctor , who immediately told her to get a clinic in Gurnee to be tested .
She was whisked into a separate room and given a surgical mask to wear .
Her temperature was 97.9 degrees .
Normal .
`` I 'm thinking this is just a panic attack , '' she said .
Three hours later , a swab of her throat and two from her nose were taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throat .
She was sent home and told to self-quarantine for 14 days .
About a day later , a representative of NorthShore Evanston Hospital called to say the test was positive for COVID-19 .
`` The Chicago Health Department will be reaching out to you shortly , '' Westfall said she was told .
`` If you feel any worse at all , go to a hospital . ''
One of her biggest concerns has been the inability to get any response from the city health department .
She wants to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The other is the downturn in her field , the special events industry .
`` The only calls I 'm getting are cancellation notices .
All my friends are getting laid off .
It 's tough . ''
So far , Westfall is holding her own .
`` You know , I 'm actually doing OK. Every day I 'm feeling a little bit stronger , '' she said Thursday .
`` For me , it 's a nagging cough , a little bit low energy and body aches .
It has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flus I 've had , '' she said .
She 's confident she 'll prevail and worries more about people with pulmonary disease or threatened immune systems .
The man in her building got it much worse and is younger , she noted .
`` I 'm just kind of riding this thing out and praying the worst is behind me , '' she said .

'It went from being surreal to real': Former Island Lake trustee diagnosed with COVID-19
Debra Westfall's French bulldogs, Frank, left, and Wilbur are staying with a dog sitter while she's out home under self-quarantine with COVID-19. Courtesy of Debra Westfall
Debra Westfall at a clinic Monday where she was tested for COVID-19. The test came back positive. Courtesy of Debra Westfall
Debra Westfall at her condo in Lincoln Park on Thursday. The former Island Lake village trustee was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this week. Courtesy of Debra Westfall
Stuck at home in her pajamas watching Netflix, former Island Lake village trustee Debra Westfall asked an unsettling question.
"Is the worst ahead of me or behind me?" she wondered Thursday. "I'm just sitting here bracing myself."
Westfall, who now lives in a condo in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, is among the 422 confirmed cases -- up from 288 earlier Thursday -- of COVID-19 in Illinois.
She has learned the hard way the virus is no joke and wants to dispel skepticism. So, she posted on Facebook.
"I decided to make a very public point to humanize it. To let people know it's real," she said.
Like most people, the 52-year old sales rep and cancer survivor couldn't avoid the nonstop news about the marauding virus and had been being careful.
She figured the little dry cough, low energy and mild body aches she was experiencing last week was a seasonal ailment. She felt bedraggled but able to go about her business, albeit abiding by the protocols of social distancing.
On Sunday, she heard from other residents in her building, which is home to about 200.
"They said, 'Did you hear the news? A resident was rushed off by ambulance today and was diagnosed with COVID-19,'" she recalled Thursday.
Until then, Westfall hadn't been overly concerned, figuring the number of confirmed cases among a population of millions were a drop in the bucket.
"When I heard someone in my building had it, I thought, 'Oh, crap.' It went from being surreal to real."
Reality quickly followed.
"On Monday morning I had this coughing attack, so much so that I got lightheaded," she said.
Westfall called her doctor, who immediately told her to get a clinic in Gurnee to be tested. She was whisked into a separate room and given a surgical mask to wear. Her temperature was 97.9 degrees. Normal.
"I'm thinking this is just a panic attack," she said.
Three hours later, a swab of her throat and two from her nose were taken and tested negative for flu and strep throat. She was sent home and told to self-quarantine for 14 days.
About a day later, a representative of NorthShore Evanston Hospital called to say the test was positive for COVID-19.
"The Chicago Health Department will be reaching out to you shortly," Westfall said she was told. "If you feel any worse at all, go to a hospital."
One of her biggest concerns has been the inability to get any response from the city health department. She wants to know when she can be tested again.
The other is the downturn in her field, the special events industry.
"The only calls I'm getting are cancellation notices. All my friends are getting laid off. It's tough."
So far, Westfall is holding her own.
"You know, I'm actually doing OK. Every day I'm feeling a little bit stronger," she said Thursday.
"For me, it's a nagging cough, a little bit low energy and body aches. It hasn't been as bad of some of the flus I've had," she said.
She's confident she'll prevail and worries more about people with pulmonary disease or threatened immune systems. The man in her building got it much worse and is younger, she noted.
"I'm just kind of riding this thing out and praying the worst is behind me," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-03-19--Prosecutors: Naperville woman told police abuse prompted shooting of longtime boyfriend

A Naperville woman charged with murdering her boyfriend told police dispatchers `` she went ballistic and shot him '' after he attacked her during an argument Tuesday night , a DuPage County prosecutor said Thursday .
Judge Jeffrey MacKay set bail at $ 500,000 for April O. Turner , 36 , of the 6S100 block of Lakewood Drive , during her court appearance Thursday morning .
According to Assistant DuPage County State 's Attorney Claudia Fantauzzo , Turner and her boyfriend of eight years , Nicarro L. Drake , were drinking heavily Tuesday night at the home on Lakewood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the visitors left to go to a Walgreens store .
Turner told police she accused Drake of flirting with the other women .
Drake attacked her , she said , hitting her in the face and knocking her down .
They struggled , and she hit him with a metal towel bar , Fanauzzo said .
The two women returned as Turner went into a bedroom to get a 9-millimeeter handgun out of a closet , authorities say .
Despite one of the women urging her not to , Turner fired three shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fauntazzo said .
Fantauzzo said Turner told investigators she `` had swallowed everything up and could not take it anymore . ''
Court records show Turner received an emergency order of protection against Drake in 2012 .
The couple had a 2-year-old son , and Turner has a 17-year-old daughter .
Both are staying with relatives .
Turner , who has a concealed-carry gun permit .
has worked for 17 years as a customer service agent for Comcast , officials say .
If she posts bail , Turner will have to surrender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition , to the DuPage County sheriff 's office .
She also will have to wear a GPS monitor .

Prosecutors: Naperville-area woman told police abuse led her to shoot boyfriend
A Naperville-area woman charged with murdering her boyfriend told police dispatchers "she went ballistic and shot him" after he attacked her during an argument Tuesday night, a DuPage County prosecutor said Thursday.
Judge Jeffrey MacKay set bail at $500,000 for April O. Turner, 36, of the 6S100 block of Lakewood Drive, during her court appearance Thursday morning.
According to Assistant DuPage County State's Attorney Claudia Fantauzzo, Turner and her boyfriend of eight years, Nicarro L. Drake, were drinking heavily Tuesday night at the home on Lakewood, along with two other women.
After the visitors left to go to a Walgreens store. Turner told police she accused Drake of flirting with the other women. Drake attacked her, she said, hitting her in the face and knocking her down. They struggled, and she hit him with a metal towel bar, Fantauzzo said.
The two women returned as Turner went into a bedroom to get a 9 mm handgun out of a closet, authorities say. Despite one of the women urging her not to, Turner fired three shots, hitting Drake once in the chest, Fantauzzo said.
Turner then called 911.
Fantauzzo said Turner told investigators she "had swallowed everything up and could not take it anymore."
Court records show Turner received an emergency order of protection against Drake in 2012.
The couple have a 2-year-old son, and Turner has a 17-year-old daughter. Both are staying with relatives. Turner, who has a concealed-carry gun permit. has worked for 17 years as a customer service agent for Comcast, officials say.
If she posts bail, Turner will have to surrender that permit, and any guns and ammunition, to the DuPage County sheriff's office. She also will have to wear a GPS monitor.