dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-10--Geneva's Sip and Sample replaces Festival of the Vine all month long

It might not be Festival of the Vine , but so far Geneva 's Sip and Sample event has served as a tasty replacement .
Recognizing that they could not accommodate tens of thousands of wine and food enthusiasts as they had in the past , organizers from the Chamber of Commerce changed the festival , originally slated for this weekend , into the Sip and Sample event that will take place all through September .
A dozen Geneva restaurants are participating in Sip and Sample .
Tickets , which can be purchased at the chamber office or on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be redeemed at restaurants for varying combinations of drinks , food and desserts .
`` We still wanted the flavor of Festival of the Vine , so involving the restaurants was a given , '' said Laura Rush , communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce .
`` At this stage the restaurants are better equipped to work with crowd control , disinfecting , etc .
So having an event in individual restaurants was the best option . ''
Stockholm 's brewpub at 306 West State St. , a longtime supporter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a choice of five different food and drink pairings .
Owner Michael Olesen said Sip and Sample business has been steady , but he expects crowds to pick up throughout the month as word gets around about the event .
`` People were confused when it was first introduced , and over the weekend there was a lot of discussion about it , '' Olesen said .
`` I 'm quite certain by this coming weekend we 'll have much greater participation .
I think it 's going to be a snowballing type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1910 Bar , Aurelio 's Pizza , Cafe and Barr , Craft Urban , The Dam Bar and Grill , FoxFire Restaurant , GIA MIA , Livia Italian Eatery , Niche , Nobel House and Nosh .
`` Everybody just seems excited to be able to do something as opposed to just giving up on Festival of the Vine , '' Olesen said .
`` Geneva is not a town to roll over and give up , '' With COVID-19 restrictions expected to continue , residents can expect a continuation of alternative event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always to support our businesses and bring people to Geneva , both residents and visitors , '' Rush said .
`` We will continue to think of smaller events for Geneva during COVID-19 that are both safe and fun . ''

Geneva's Sip and Sample replaces Festival of the Vine all month long
Geneva's Festival of the Vine, seen here from last year, was canceled, but organizers are trying a Sip and Sample event all this month at participating restaurants. Daily Herald File Photo
It might not be Festival of the Vine, but so far Geneva's Sip and Sample event has served as a tasty replacement.
Recognizing that they could not accommodate tens of thousands of wine and food enthusiasts as they had in the past, organizers from the Chamber of Commerce changed the festival, originally slated for this weekend, into the Sip and Sample event that will take place all through September.
A dozen Geneva restaurants are participating in Sip and Sample. Tickets, which can be purchased at the chamber office or on its website, are $20 and can be redeemed at restaurants for varying combinations of drinks, food and desserts.
"We still wanted the flavor of Festival of the Vine, so involving the restaurants was a given," said Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. "At this stage the restaurants are better equipped to work with crowd control, disinfecting, etc. So having an event in individual restaurants was the best option."
Stockholm's brewpub at 306 West State St., a longtime supporter of Festival of the Vine, is offering a choice of five different food and drink pairings. Owner Michael Olesen said Sip and Sample business has been steady, but he expects crowds to pick up throughout the month as word gets around about the event.
"People were confused when it was first introduced, and over the weekend there was a lot of discussion about it," Olesen said. "I'm quite certain by this coming weekend we'll have much greater participation. I think it's going to be a snowballing type effect."
Other participating restaurants are 1910 Bar, Aurelio's Pizza, Cafe and Barr, Craft Urban, The Dam Bar and Grill, FoxFire Restaurant, GIA MIA, Livia Italian Eatery, Niche, Nobel House and Nosh.
"Everybody just seems excited to be able to do something as opposed to just giving up on Festival of the Vine," Olesen said. "Geneva is not a town to roll over and give up,"
With COVID-19 restrictions expected to continue, residents can expect a continuation of alternative event planning.
"Our main goal is always to support our businesses and bring people to Geneva, both residents and visitors," Rush said. "We will continue to think of smaller events for Geneva during COVID-19 that are both safe and fun."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-10--This year, see Morton Arboretum holiday lights from your car

Transforming a section of its sprawling forestry into a spectacle of festive lights has become a holiday season tradition for the Morton Arboretum .
But instead of strolling along a milelong trail through the interactive displays this year , visitors will have a new method for experiencing the eighth annual `` Illumination : Tree Lights '' event : driving .
Starting with a tunnel of lights , a winding 2-mile road on the east side of the Lisle campus will meander through five new exhibits and several returning favorites , including Symphony Woods and Crystal Promenade , said Alicia LaVire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Guests will remain in their cars as they drive slowly among groves of trees -- spruces , crabapples , oaks and more -- while listening to a synced musical soundtrack on the radio .
Scheduled for Nov. 20 through Jan. 3 , the re-imagined event aims to offer a safe and socially distanced twist on the popular holiday attraction , which drew a record 200,000 people last year .
In light of the COVID-19 crisis , LaVire said , the Arboretum has received `` a lot of energy '' from members and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving experience .
Not only is the concept an innovative response to the pandemic , she said , but it 's also more conducive to the cold winter weather .
`` If we did a walking experience , it would greatly diminish the number of people who would be able to participate .
That was a drawback , '' LaVire said .
`` ( The driving experience ) will all be new for us ... but I 'm confident people will enjoy it . ''
Forming one of the suburbs ' largest holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year by John Featherstone , a partner and principal at Lightswitch .
The visual design company partners with Arlington Heights-based Intelligent Lighting Creations to construct and produce the show .
`` No matter how physically distanced we are from others , this year 's Illumination is designed to be a shared experience , bringing much-needed celebration and joy to the holiday season , '' Featherstone said in a statement .
Daily hours will be extended until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays , officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New Year 's Day , as usual , the event also will be open on Thanksgiving , Christmas Eve and Christmas .
Ranging from $ 29 to $ 49 per vehicle , timed tickets must be purchased in advance online at mortonarb.org/illumination or in person at the visitor center , 4100 Route 53 .
Early pricing for members only takes place Oct. 1-7 , with regular ticket sales open to the public beginning Oct. 8 .

This year, see Morton Arboretum holiday lights from your car
Popular light exhibits from previous years will be reinvented in this season's "Illumination: Tree Lights" at the Morton Arboretum. But instead of walking through the Lisle campus, visitors will stay in their cars and drive along a two-mile path to experience the spectacle. Courtesy of the Morton Arboretum
This year's "Illumination: Tree Lights" event at the Morton Arboretum will be re-imagined into a driving experience amid the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of the Morton Arboretum
Transforming a section of its sprawling forestry into a spectacle of festive lights has become a holiday season tradition for the Morton Arboretum.
But instead of strolling along a milelong trail through the interactive displays this year, visitors will have a new method for experiencing the eighth annual "Illumination: Tree Lights" event: driving.
Starting with a tunnel of lights, a winding 2-mile road on the east side of the Lisle campus will meander through five new exhibits and several returning favorites, including Symphony Woods and Crystal Promenade, said Alicia LaVire, vice president of marketing and communications. Guests will remain in their cars as they drive slowly among groves of trees -- spruces, crabapples, oaks and more -- while listening to a synced musical soundtrack on the radio.
Scheduled for Nov. 20 through Jan. 3, the re-imagined event aims to offer a safe and socially distanced twist on the popular holiday attraction, which drew a record 200,000 people last year.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, LaVire said, the Arboretum has received "a lot of energy" from members and other guests who expressed support for the driving experience. Not only is the concept an innovative response to the pandemic, she said, but it's also more conducive to the cold winter weather.
"If we did a walking experience, it would greatly diminish the number of people who would be able to participate. That was a drawback," LaVire said. "(The driving experience) will all be new for us ... but I'm confident people will enjoy it."
Forming one of the suburbs' largest holiday light shows, the exhibits are designed each year by John Featherstone, a partner and principal at Lightswitch. The visual design company partners with Arlington Heights-based Intelligent Lighting Creations to construct and produce the show.
"No matter how physically distanced we are from others, this year's Illumination is designed to be a shared experience, bringing much-needed celebration and joy to the holiday season," Featherstone said in a statement.
Daily hours will be extended until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, officials said. In addition to New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, as usual, the event also will be open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Ranging from $29 to $49 per vehicle, timed tickets must be purchased in advance online at mortonarb.org/illumination or in person at the visitor center, 4100 Route 53. Early pricing for members only takes place Oct. 1-7, with regular ticket sales open to the public beginning Oct. 8.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Singer takes no-hitter into 8th as Royals trounce Indians

CLEVELAND -- Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit - a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning - while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night .
Making his ninth career start , the 24-year-old Singer ( 2-4 ) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges , who came in batting .148 , bounced a single through a wide-open right side .
The hit came on a full count and Singer 's 116th pitch .
Maikel Franco and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Royals .
Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale ( 3-5 ) .
Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak .
Franco also had a two-run single , giving him five RBIs .
WASHINGTON -- Freddie Freeman homered twice , Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington .
Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh with a 443-foot , two-run drive to right-center off Will Harris .
Swanson 's solo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first lead .
After a scary bout with COVID-19 during the Braves ' summer camp , Freeman is among the major league leaders in OPS .
He has five homers and 20 RBIs in his past seven games .
Chris Martin ( 1-1 ) got the win and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances .
Ronald AcuÃ±a Jr. also hit a two-run homer for the Braves , who weathered another ineffective outing from their makeshift rotation .
Spot starter Robbie Erlin got five outs and allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- Mike Trout hit his major league-leading 16th home run , a 449-foot drive into the left field second deck , and the Los Angeles Angels avoided being swept in six games this season at new Globe Life Field .
Trout homered in the fifth inning against Kyle Gibson ( 1-5 ) for a 4-1 lead .
Angels rookie Jared Walsh homered for the third time in five games , a go-ahead , three-run drive in the first .
Los Angeles is five games behind the New York Yankees for the AL 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-2 ) allowed two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts and one walk .
Gibson gave up five runs , 10 hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings .
ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. -- Red Sox rookie Bobby Dalbec homered for the fifth consecutive game , and Rafael Devers also went deep and drove in three runs as AL-worst Boston beat AL-best Tampa Bay .
Devers hit a two-run drive in the third inning and gave Boston the lead for good with a seventh-inning single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dalbec 's power surge is the longest by a Boston rookie .
He put the Red Sox up 3-2 with an opposite-field solo drive off Josh Fleming in the fifth .
Dalbec became the fifth player to have at least six homers in his first 10 games .
Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe homered on consecutive pitches for the Rays , who have lost three in a row .
ST. LOUIS -- Jeimer Candelario capped a two-homer day with a two-run , bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help the Detroit Tigers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-run homer in the first game and added a solo shot in the second game .
Jose Cisnero ( 2-2 ) picked up the win for the Tigers .
Giovanny Gallegos ( 1-2 ) took the loss .
ST. LOUIS -- Yadier Molina , wearing uniform No .
21 in honor of Roberto Clemente , hit a two-run homer in the second inning as the Cardinals hit five homers in a rout in the first game of a doubleheader against Detroit .
The normally stoic Molina jumped into the air after passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tear with his uniform sleeve as he approached home plate .
Born in Bayamon , Puerto Rico , Molina was among players from the commonwealth who wore the number as part of Major League Baseball 's tributes this week to Clemente , who died when a plane crashed en route to a relief mission in Nicaragua on Dec. 31 , 1972 .
Molina put St. Louis ahead 2-0 in the second against Tarik Skubal ( 1-2 ) with his third home run this season .
It was his 158th homer for St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Cardinals career list .
Lane Thomas , Tyler O'Neill , Paul Goldschmidt and Rangel Ravelo also homered for St. Louis .
Jack Flaherty ( 3-1 ) went five innings and struck out six .
OAKLAND , Calif. -- Sean Manaea carried a perfect game into the sixth inning on the way to winning his fourth straight start , Matt Olson hit a two-run homer and Oakland beat stumbling Houston .
Manaea ( 4-2 ) struck out four and did n't walk a batter over seven innings .
Astros right-hander JosÃ© Urquidy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runner until Marcus Semien 's one-out walk in the fourth and did n't give up at hit until Mark Canha 's single in the fifth .
The division-leading A 's ( 27-15 ) moved 6 1/2 games ahead of Houston in the AL West race .
The A 's have their largest division lead since they were 6Â½ games up on Sept. 25 , 2013 .
The teams split Tuesday 's doubleheader forced by an Aug. 30 postponement at Houston because of Oakland pitcher Daniel Mengden 's positive coronavirus test result the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner of a majors-best 107 games last season and the past three AL West titles , has lost eight of nine .
MIAMI -- Starling Marte hit a tying , three-run double off Brandon Workman in the eighth inning and Jorge Alfaro singled home the winning run in the ninth for Miami in the opener of a seven-game series , the longest in a major league regular season in 53 years .
Alfaro grounded a single up the middle just past the glove of diving shortstop Didi Gregorius for his first big league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first walkoff win this season .
The series includes three makeup games and two doubleheaders , replacing a series postponed from July 31 to Aug. 2 due to a novel coronavirus outbreak among the Marlins .
The previous seven-game , regular-season series was between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in 1967 , according to the Elias Sports Bureau .

Singer takes no-hitter into 8th as Royals trounce Indians
Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson hits a home run during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Associated Press
Washington Nationals' Asdrubal Cabrera (13) is safe at first as Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) misses a catch during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Associated Press
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer delivers in the seventh inning of the baseball team's game against the Cleveland Indians, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Cleveland. Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Royals rookie Brady Singer allowed just one hit - a two-out single through an infield shift in the eighth inning - while pitching Kansas City to an 11-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.
Making his ninth career start, the 24-year-old Singer (2-4) was four outs from becoming the 36th rookie to throw a no-hitter when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges, who came in batting .148, bounced a single through a wide-open right side. The hit came on a full count and Singer's 116th pitch.
Maikel Franco and Adalberto Mondesi each hit a three-run homer for the Royals. Edward Olivares added a solo shot off Aaron Civale (3-5). Kansas City has won three straight since a seven-game losing streak.
Franco also had a two-run single, giving him five RBIs.
BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6
WASHINGTON -- Freddie Freeman homered twice, Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead shot in the eighth inning and Atlanta rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Washington.
Freeman tied the game at 6 in the seventh with a 443-foot, two-run drive to right-center off Will Harris. Swanson's solo shot off Tanner Rainey gave the Braves their first lead.
After a scary bout with COVID-19 during the Braves' summer camp, Freeman is among the major league leaders in OPS. He has five homers and 20 RBIs in his past seven games.
Chris Martin (1-1) got the win and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Ronald Acuña Jr. also hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who weathered another ineffective outing from their makeshift rotation. Spot starter Robbie Erlin got five outs and allowed five extra-base hits.
ANGELS 6, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Mike Trout hit his major league-leading 16th home run, a 449-foot drive into the left field second deck, and the Los Angeles Angels avoided being swept in six games this season at new Globe Life Field.
Trout homered in the fifth inning against Kyle Gibson (1-5) for a 4-1 lead. Angels rookie Jared Walsh homered for the third time in five games, a go-ahead, three-run drive in the first.
Los Angeles is five games behind the New York Yankees for the AL's final playoff spot.
Dylan Bundy (5-2) allowed two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts and one walk.
Gibson gave up five runs, 10 hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
RED SOX 4, RAYS 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox rookie Bobby Dalbec homered for the fifth consecutive game, and Rafael Devers also went deep and drove in three runs as AL-worst Boston beat AL-best Tampa Bay.
Devers hit a two-run drive in the third inning and gave Boston the lead for good with a seventh-inning single off Pete Fairbanks (4-2).
Dalbec's power surge is the longest by a Boston rookie. He put the Red Sox up 3-2 with an opposite-field solo drive off Josh Fleming in the fifth. Dalbec became the fifth player to have at least six homers in his first 10 games.
Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe homered on consecutive pitches for the Rays, who have lost three in a row.
Ryan Weber (1-2) allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings.
TIGERS 6, CARDINALS 3
ST. LOUIS -- Jeimer Candelario capped a two-homer day with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help the Detroit Tigers earn a doubleheader split.
Candelario hit a two-run homer in the first game and added a solo shot in the second game.
Jose Cisnero (2-2) picked up the win for the Tigers. Giovanny Gallegos (1-2) took the loss.
Jorge Bonifacio added a two-run homer for Detroit. Tommy Edman homered for St. Louis.
CARDINALS 12, TIGERS 2
ST. LOUIS -- Yadier Molina, wearing uniform No. 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, hit a two-run homer in the second inning as the Cardinals hit five homers in a rout in the first game of a doubleheader against Detroit.
The normally stoic Molina jumped into the air after passing first base and appeared to wipe away a tear with his uniform sleeve as he approached home plate.
Born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Molina was among players from the commonwealth who wore the number as part of Major League Baseball's tributes this week to Clemente, who died when a plane crashed en route to a relief mission in Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972.
Molina put St. Louis ahead 2-0 in the second against Tarik Skubal (1-2) with his third home run this season. It was his 158th homer for St. Louis, passing Johnny Mize for 10th on the Cardinals career list.
Lane Thomas, Tyler O'Neill, Paul Goldschmidt and Rangel Ravelo also homered for St. Louis. Jack Flaherty (3-1) went five innings and struck out six.
ATHLETICS 3, ASTROS 1
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Sean Manaea carried a perfect game into the sixth inning on the way to winning his fourth straight start, Matt Olson hit a two-run homer and Oakland beat stumbling Houston.
Manaea (4-2) struck out four and didn't walk a batter over seven innings.
Astros right-hander José Urquidy (0-1) didn't allow a runner until Marcus Semien's one-out walk in the fourth and didn't give up at hit until Mark Canha's single in the fifth.
The division-leading A's (27-15) moved 6 1/2 games ahead of Houston in the AL West race. The A's have their largest division lead since they were 6½ games up on Sept. 25, 2013.
The teams split Tuesday's doubleheader forced by an Aug. 30 postponement at Houston because of Oakland pitcher Daniel Mengden's positive coronavirus test result the day before. Houston (22-23), winner of a majors-best 107 games last season and the past three AL West titles, has lost eight of nine.
MARLINS 7, PHILLIES 6
MIAMI -- Starling Marte hit a tying, three-run double off Brandon Workman in the eighth inning and Jorge Alfaro singled home the winning run in the ninth for Miami in the opener of a seven-game series, the longest in a major league regular season in 53 years.
Alfaro grounded a single up the middle just past the glove of diving shortstop Didi Gregorius for his first big league walk-off hit, giving the Marlins their first walkoff win this season.
The series includes three makeup games and two doubleheaders, replacing a series postponed from July 31 to Aug. 2 due to a novel coronavirus outbreak among the Marlins.
The previous seven-game, regular-season series was between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in 1967, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
PADRES 6, GIANTS 1
SAN DIEGO -- Jorge Oña homered for his first major league hit, Manny Machado also went deep and San Diego beat San Francisco despite an injury to starter Chris Paddack.
Six relievers blanked the Giants over the final seven innings as San Diego won its fifth straight and stopped San Francisco's five-game winning streak. Paddack went two innings before exiting with a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative.
Adrian Morejon (2-0), Craig Stammen, Matt Strahm, Pierce Johnson, Emilio Pagán and Dan Altavilla quieted the Giants to secure the Padres' 18th victory in their last 23 games.
Trevor Cahill (0-1) pitched three innings, permitting four runs and five hits.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, DODGERS 2
PHOENIX -- Carson Kelly hit a two-run homer, Christian Walker added a two-run double and Arizona earned a rare win over Los Angeles.
The Diamondbacks snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Dodgers and won for just the third time in 21 games overall.
Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner fought through five decent innings, giving up two runs on back-to-back homers by Corey Seager and AJ Pollock.
Diamondbacks rookie Daulton Varsho brought home the go-ahead run when his triple scored Nick Ahmed in the sixth. Kelly followed with a towering homer that made it 5-2.
Arizona rookie Riley Smith (1-0) earned his first career win after throwing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Travis Bergen got two outs for his first career save.
Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May was pulled after just one inning with a bruise after he was hit on the left foot by a sharp grounder.
Tony Gonsolin (0-1) gave up three runs over five innings.
CUBS 8, REDS 5
CHICAGO -- Willson Contreras had four hits to tie a career high, rookie Nico Hoerner added three RBIs and Chicago overcame an early three-run deficit to top Sonny Gray and Cincinnati on a long, wet night at Wrigley Field.
Ian Happ drove in two runs and Hoerner, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Cameron Maybin each had two hits as the Cubs broke out of an offensive funk and strengthened their grip on first place in the NL Central. Maybin and Contreras each scored twice in a game that started 75 minutes late because of rain and ended after 4 hours, 7 minutes, with 1 a.m. approaching.
Six relievers combined for 5 1/3 innings and allowed only one earned run for the Cubs. Kyle Ryan (1-0) got the win and Jeremy Jeffress earned his seventh save.
Gray (5-3) was chased in a five-run fourth.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Embroiled in scandal, state Sen. Terry Link resigns

Veteran state Sen. Terry Link , a once-powerful Lake County Democrat whose legacy has been tainted by a federal tax evasion charge and ties to a corruption scandal , is resigning Saturday .
The resignation is effective at 9 a.m. , Link said in a two-sentence letter delivered late Friday afternoon to the secretary of the Senate , Senate leaders from both parties and other officials .
Link , 73 , of Indian Creek , could n't be reached Friday .
He has represented the 30th District since 1997 .
Link had been Lake County Democratic Party chairman for 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was a senator .
But he resigned the party post late last month , about two weeks after being charged with tax evasion in U.S. District Court in Chicago .
Federal prosecutors said Link falsified his income on his return for 2016 .
Link reported his total income that year was $ 264,450 even though he knew his income `` substantially exceeded that amount , '' according to the charging document .
The tax charge followed media reports identifying Link as the unnamed senator who cooperated with the FBI and wore a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago in a federal bribery case .
Arroyo has pleaded not guilty .
Federal documents indicate the person who cooperated falsified tax returns and helped the FBI to get leniency .
Link repeatedly has denied he was the FBI source .
After the charge was announced , many Lake County politicians on both sides of the aisle demanded Link resign .
His current term expires in 2022 .
The 30th District covers much of eastern and central Lake County and a small part of northern Cook County , so it falls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beth Gash and Wheeling Township Democratic committee representatives to appoint Link 's successor in Springfield .
If Link had stepped down sooner , a special election to fill the seat would have been scheduled on Nov. 3 , the same day as the general election .
Friday was the deadline .
Link 's timing did n't sit well with state Sen. Melinda Bush , a Grayslake Democrat who represents the neighboring 31st District and was among the legislators who 'd called for Link to resign .
`` I want people to choose their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Bush said .
`` This just continues the distrust that is out there with the public . ''
In a statement , Senate President Don Harmon said he looks forward to `` welcoming and working with a new senator from Lake County . ''
Link , who served for a time as assistant Senate majority leader , had a tremendous impact on Illinoisans and Lake County residents through the legislation he championed .
He successfully campaigned to ban smoking in indoor , public places as part of the smoke-free Illinois effort more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently pushed to add vaping to the ban .
Link also backed a plan giving 17-year-olds who turn 18 before a November general election the ability to vote in the preceding primary election .
But Link 's greatest legislative legacy might be his successful efforts to expand legalized gambling in Illinois and bring a casino to Waukegan .
Link spent much of his career ardently campaigning for both , and last year a gambling expansion bill he sponsored was signed by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker .
It authorized an operation in Waukegan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waukegan in 2013 while living in that city .
Link 's partisanship runs deep .
An unabashedly proud Democrat , he 's often butted heads with the county 's Republican leaders .
In 2013 , he pushed legislation that would have created an appointed Lake County Election Commission to oversee elections -- a job long handled by the county clerk , who was a Republican at the time .
That proposal was signed into law but ruled unconstitutional by a judge and struck down .
Link denied responsibility for the plan 's creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support it .
In 2017 , Link backed a plan to make the county board chairman elected by voters rather than by the panel 's members .
Again , the board chairman at the time was a Republican .
The bill was vetoed by then-Gov .
Bruce Rauner , also a Republican .
And yet , Link often worked well with Republican legislators .
During his 13 years representing the Mundelein area in the House , former Republican state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. teamed with Link to push many bills through their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the smoke-free Illinois effort .
`` He has a lot of remarkable accomplishments that no one can take away from him , '' said Sullivan , now a Libertyville resident and independent government consultant .
Even so , the tax charge is `` a stain on ( Link 's ) legacy , '' Sullivan said .
In an interview earlier this year , Bush called Link `` the original Lake County Democrat . ''
`` He was elected at a time when there simply were n't Democrats in this county , and ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party through sheer force of will , determination and hard work , '' Bush said .
On Friday , Bush said Link 's resignation is `` a really sad way to see his career end . ''
`` But it 's the right thing to do , '' she said .
This is n't the first time Link has been tied to scandal .
In 2008 , two campaign workers were charged with faking dozens of signatures on the senator 's candidate petitions .
Later that year , Link was formally accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments to those campaign workers on his financial disclosure paperwork .
Link denied wrongdoing in the fake-signature case and threatened to sue the Republican Party leaders who brought the financial-disclosure complaint against him .

Embroiled in scandal, state Sen. Terry Link resigns
State Sen. Terry Link speaks at an event in Waukegan in 2015. Daily Herald file photo
Editor's note: Link's term was set to expire in January 2023.
Veteran state Sen. Terry Link, a once-powerful Lake County Democrat whose legacy has been tainted by a federal tax evasion charge and ties to a corruption scandal, is resigning Saturday.
The resignation is effective at 9 a.m., Link said in a two-sentence letter delivered late Friday afternoon to the secretary of the Senate, Senate leaders from both parties and other officials.
Link, 73, of Indian Creek, couldn't be reached Friday. He has represented the 30th District since 1997.
Link had been Lake County Democratic Party chairman for 28 years, too, even longer than he was a senator. But he resigned the party post late last month, about two weeks after being charged with tax evasion in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Federal prosecutors said Link falsified his income on his return for 2016. Link reported his total income that year was $264,450 even though he knew his income "substantially exceeded that amount," according to the charging document.
The tax charge followed media reports identifying Link as the unnamed senator who cooperated with the FBI and wore a wire to trap then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo of Chicago in a federal bribery case. Arroyo has pleaded not guilty.
Federal documents indicate the person who cooperated falsified tax returns and helped the FBI to get leniency. Link repeatedly has denied he was the FBI source.
After the charge was announced, many Lake County politicians on both sides of the aisle demanded Link resign. The term expires in January 2023.
The 30th District covers much of eastern and central Lake County and a small part of northern Cook County, so it falls to new Lake County Democratic Party Chair Lauren Beth Gash and Wheeling Township Democratic committee representatives to appoint Link's successor in Springfield.
If Link had stepped down sooner, a special election to fill the seat would have been scheduled on Nov. 3, the same day as the general election. Friday was the deadline.
Link's timing didn't sit well with state Sen. Melinda Bush, a Grayslake Democrat who represents the neighboring 31st District and was among the legislators who'd called for Link to resign.
"I want people to choose their elected officials, not a party," Bush said. "This just continues the distrust that is out there with the public."
Gash couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
In a statement, Senate President Don Harmon said he looks forward to "welcoming and working with a new senator from Lake County."
Link, who served for a time as assistant Senate majority leader, had a tremendous impact on Illinoisans and Lake County residents through the legislation he championed.
He successfully campaigned to ban smoking in indoor, public places as part of the smoke-free Illinois effort more than a decade ago, and he recently pushed to add vaping to the ban.
Link also backed a plan giving 17-year-olds who turn 18 before a November general election the ability to vote in the preceding primary election.
But Link's greatest legislative legacy might be his successful efforts to expand legalized gambling in Illinois and bring a casino to Waukegan.
Link spent much of his career ardently campaigning for both, and last year a gambling expansion bill he sponsored was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It authorized an operation in Waukegan.
Link also unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Waukegan in 2013 while living in that city.
Link's partisanship runs deep. An unabashedly proud Democrat, he's often butted heads with the county's Republican leaders.
In 2013, he pushed legislation that would have created an appointed Lake County Election Commission to oversee elections -- a job long handled by the county clerk, who was a Republican at the time. That proposal was signed into law but ruled unconstitutional by a judge and struck down.
Link denied responsibility for the plan's creation but was the only Lake County senator to support it.
In 2017, Link backed a plan to make the county board chairman elected by voters rather than by the panel's members. Again, the board chairman at the time was a Republican. The bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, also a Republican.
And yet, Link often worked well with Republican legislators. During his 13 years representing the Mundelein area in the House, former Republican state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. teamed with Link to push many bills through their respective chambers, including gambling legislation and the smoke-free Illinois effort.
"He has a lot of remarkable accomplishments that no one can take away from him," said Sullivan, now a Libertyville resident and independent government consultant.
Even so, the tax charge is "a stain on (Link's) legacy," Sullivan said.
In an interview earlier this year, Bush called Link "the original Lake County Democrat."
"He was elected at a time when there simply weren't Democrats in this county, and (he) worked to build an entire party through sheer force of will, determination and hard work," Bush said.
On Friday, Bush said Link's resignation is "a really sad way to see his career end."
"But it's the right thing to do," she said.
This isn't the first time Link has been tied to scandal.
In 2008, two campaign workers were charged with faking dozens of signatures on the senator's candidate petitions. Later that year, Link was formally accused of breaking state election law by not including payments to those campaign workers on his financial disclosure paperwork.
Link denied wrongdoing in the fake-signature case and threatened to sue the Republican Party leaders who brought the financial-disclosure complaint against him.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Vacancy of former Schaumburg Town Square Dominick's could end in 2021

A former Dominick 's in Schaumburg 's Town Square will get its first chance next year to be something other than a vacant building since the grocery chain shut down at the end of 2013 .
Albertsons , the parent company of Jewel-Osco , has opted not to extend beyond May 31 its lease that has kept the old Dominick 's deliberately empty .
As a result , a new grocery store could fill the building by early 2022 .
Through a series of corporate mergers , Albertsons found itself in possession of potential five-year lease extensions previously held by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than open yet another store of its own in the area , it chose to use the lease to prevent any competitors from moving in .
Itasca-based Tony 's Fresh Market had purchased the building at 200 S. Roselle Road in 2005 with the intent of opening a new location there after a $ 6 million renovation .
But officials from Tony 's realized the impact of Albertsons ' binding lease extensions only after closing on the property .
Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said negotiating an active use for the building has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since his election last year .
A grocery store remains his preference , even if it were one that did n't fill the entire building single-handedly , he said .
`` One of the questions I most often get asked by residents in our community is what is happening with the old Dominick 's in Town Square , '' Dailly said in a written statement Friday .
`` This has been a priority to bring back a reputable grocer to fill this space and we 're committed to working to realize the vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's closed . ''
Village officials added Friday they 've been told there is strong interest by a grocer to open a location there in late 2021 or early 2022 -- but also that it 's too soon to say whether that store would necessarily be a Tony 's .
A representative of Tony 's Fresh Market could not be reached for comment Friday .

Vacancy of former Schaumburg Town Square Dominick's could end in 2021
A former Dominick's in Schaumburg's Town Square will get its first chance next year to be something other than a vacant building since the grocery chain shut down at the end of 2013.
Albertsons, the parent company of Jewel-Osco, has opted not to extend beyond May 31 its lease that has kept the old Dominick's deliberately empty.
As a result, a new grocery store could fill the building by early 2022.
Through a series of corporate mergers, Albertsons found itself in possession of potential five-year lease extensions previously held by Dominick's through 2036. But rather than open yet another store of its own in the area, it chose to use the lease to prevent any competitors from moving in.
Itasca-based Tony's Fresh Market had purchased the building at 200 S. Roselle Road in 2005 with the intent of opening a new location there after a $6 million renovation. But officials from Tony's realized the impact of Albertsons' binding lease extensions only after closing on the property.
Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said negotiating an active use for the building has been at the top of his priority list since his election last year. A grocery store remains his preference, even if it were one that didn't fill the entire building single-handedly, he said.
"One of the questions I most often get asked by residents in our community is what is happening with the old Dominick's in Town Square," Dailly said in a written statement Friday. "This has been a priority to bring back a reputable grocer to fill this space and we're committed to working to realize the vision we had for this space when Dominick's closed."
Village officials added Friday they've been told there is strong interest by a grocer to open a location there in late 2021 or early 2022 -- but also that it's too soon to say whether that store would necessarily be a Tony's.
A representative of Tony's Fresh Market could not be reached for comment Friday.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--DuPage County trips virus warning as officials probe graduation party, youth sports

New cases of COVID-19 surpassed 2,000 Friday for the first time since Saturday , reaching 2,145 , with 32 people dying from the respiratory disease , officials said .
The latest data came as DuPage County landed on a list of 30 counties showing signs of a virus surge .
DuPage County has 89 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people -- over the state 's target of 50 -- and shows an increasing death rate instead of staying stable or decreasing , the Illinois Department of Public Health reported .
Six people died of the virus in DuPage between Aug. 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Aug. 23 to 29 .
`` These increases tell us too many people are not following public health guidelines .
We need everyone to take this seriously , '' DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said .
She encouraged residents to wear masks , social-distance and wash hands frequently .
The health department is investigating nine virus outbreaks originating from a graduation party , youth sports and workplaces .
Of DuPage County 's 18 outbreaks , nine occurred in nursing homes .
If a county trips two or more metrics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is intended to inform residents and encourage local leaders to stem the trend .
Suburban Cook , Kane , Lake , McHenry and Will counties are on alert for just one metric -- high virus cases per 100,000 people , according to data through Sept. 5 .
Illinois ' seven-day virus test positivity rate is 3.9 % .
Labs reported 55,661 tests were performed in the last 24 hours and the daily positivity rate is 3.8 % .
At a news conference about unemployment insurance problems , state Sen. Don DeWitte of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , almost seven months into this pandemic and things have yet to improve at the Illinois Department of Employment Security .
A new callback system , purchased to the tune of $ 22 million , continues to operate in a state of dysfunction .
Callbacks either are not happening or take weeks . ''
Gilberts resident Sue Sloan , who lost her part-time job at a fitness center because of the pandemic , said IDES is now harassing her to pay back $ 6,700 she received in unemployment benefits .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sloan said , adding she received three letters stating she does not qualify for benefits .
`` There was no explanation .
...
It 's been a nightmare .
I 've done exactly what IDES said to do . ''
At a briefing Friday , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced a $ 16.6 million job program with federal funds to train Illinoisans who have lost their jobs for new positions related to the pandemic , such as contact tracing .
The lack of a national strategy , such as mandating masks across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires face coverings in public , Pritzker said .
`` I just looked at Iowa and Missouri -- those are literally double , almost triple our positivity rates .
They 're on our border and people are crossing that border all the time , both ways , '' he said .
Neither state has a mask rule .
`` I 'm very prayerful and hopeful that we will see a vaccine sometime soon .
I hope that will change the trajectory here ... but we 're never going to be able to recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have true national leadership on this , '' Pritzker said .
The number of patients in Illinois hospitals as of Thursday night was 1,619 , up from the seven-day average of 1,550 .
Total infections statewide stand at 257,788 with 8,273 deaths , the IDPH announced .
Will and Kankakee counties ( making up Illinois public health Region 7 ) are still showing a positive rate over 6.5 % , the level needed to lift state restrictions like a ban on indoor dining , IDPH data showed Friday .
The 29 other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are outside the metro region .

DuPage County trips virus warning as officials probe graduation party, youth sports
Gov. J.B. Pritzker joins local leaders Friday at Cara Chicago to announce investments to expand job opportunities in Chicago for those who have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of state of Illinois
New cases of COVID-19 in Illinois surpassed 2,000 Friday for the first time since Saturday, reaching 2,145, with 32 people dying from the respiratory disease, officials said.
The latest data came as DuPage County landed on a list of 30 counties showing signs of a virus surge.
DuPage County has 89 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people -- over the state's target of 50 -- and shows an increasing death rate instead of staying stable or decreasing, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported. Six people died of the virus in DuPage between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, compared with four from Aug. 23 to 29.
"These increases tell us too many people are not following public health guidelines. We need everyone to take this seriously," DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said. She encouraged residents to wear masks, social-distance and wash hands frequently.
The health department is investigating nine virus outbreaks originating from a graduation party, youth sports and workplaces. Of DuPage County's 18 outbreaks, nine occurred in nursing homes.
If a county trips two or more metrics, it will trigger a warning, which is intended to inform residents and encourage local leaders to stem the trend.
Suburban Cook, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties are on alert for just one metric -- high virus cases per 100,000 people, according to data through Sept. 5.
Illinois' seven-day virus test positivity rate is 3.9%. Labs reported 55,661 tests were performed in the last 24 hours and the daily positivity rate is 3.8%.
At a news conference about unemployment insurance problems, state Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles said "we are six months, almost seven months into this pandemic and things have yet to improve at the Illinois Department of Employment Security. A new callback system, purchased to the tune of $22 million, continues to operate in a state of dysfunction. Callbacks either are not happening or take weeks."
Gilberts resident Sue Sloan, who lost her part-time job at a fitness center because of the pandemic, said IDES is now harassing her to pay back $6,700 she received in unemployment benefits.
"I have been in a panic," Sloan said, adding she received three letters stating she does not qualify for benefits. "There was no explanation. ... It's been a nightmare. I've done exactly what IDES said to do."
At a briefing Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a $16.6 million job program with federal funds to train Illinoisans who have lost their jobs for new positions related to the pandemic, such as contact tracing.
The lack of a national strategy, such as mandating masks across the U.S., is hamstringing Illinois, which requires face coverings in public, Pritzker said.
"I just looked at Iowa and Missouri -- those are literally double, almost triple our positivity rates. They're on our border and people are crossing that border all the time, both ways," he said. Neither state has a mask rule.
"I'm very prayerful and hopeful that we will see a vaccine sometime soon. I hope that will change the trajectory here ... but we're never going to be able to recover the economy that we once had unless we have true national leadership on this," Pritzker said.
The number of patients in Illinois hospitals as of Thursday night was 1,619, up from the seven-day average of 1,550.
Total infections statewide stand at 257,788 with 8,273 deaths, the IDPH announced.
Will and Kankakee counties (making up Illinois public health Region 7) are still showing a positive rate over 6.5%, the level needed to lift state restrictions like a ban on indoor dining, IDPH data showed Friday.
The 29 other counties on the warning list with DuPage are outside the metro region.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Ex-DCFS employees charged in AJ Freund case released from jail after making bail

Two former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services employees have posted bail after their arrests Thursday in connection with a 2018 investigation involving slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund .
The two face allegations that they , `` in a willful and wanton manner , knowingly caused or permitted ( AJ ) ... to be placed in circumstances that endangered AJ 's life or health , '' according to the indictments released Friday .
McHenry County Board member and former veteran DCFS employee Carlos Acosta was released from the McHenry County jail shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday , records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached for comment Friday morning .
His arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 24 .
Acosta 's former supervisor , Andrew Polovin , also posted bail and was released just before midnight , according to the McHenry County jail 's website .
His next court date is 9 a.m. Sept. 17 .
Both men 's bails previously were set at $ 20,000 , meaning they would have been required to post $ 2,000 each to secure their release .
McHenry County sheriff 's deputies arrested Acosta , 54 , and Polovin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of endangering the life of a child and reckless conduct .
A grand jury approved the charges Thursday , McHenry County State 's Attorney Patrick Kenneally said .
Acosta had contact with AJ about four months before prosecutors say the boy 's parents beat him to death in their Crystal Lake home and falsely reported him missing .
Polovin was Acosta 's supervisor at the time .
Official charging documents filed with the McHenry County circuit clerk 's office Friday morning allege Polovin and Acosta `` knowingly caused or permitted ( AJ ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endangered AJ 's life or health ... '' They 're also accused of recklessly performing an act that `` caused great bodily harm or permanent disability '' to a child , according to the grand jury indictment .
A first offense of child endangerment in Illinois typically is charged as a misdemeanor , which often results in less than one year in jail .
Those charges can be upgraded to felony offenses punishable by prison time if the alleged offense led to the death of a child , according to Illinois law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ child endangerment charge could result in a two- to five-year prison sentence .
Acosta had contact with AJ in December 2018 after a Crystal Lake police officer expressed concern about a large bruise on the boy 's hip .
Acosta and Polovin were placed on desk duty in April 2019 , after AJ was reported missing April 18 .
Both former employees were fired from DCFS in December .
Neither was directly involved with any investigation involving the family at the time of AJ 's death .
Kenneally declined to say what evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but said the joint investigation with police had been underway to some extent since AJ 's April 2019 death .
Reached by phone Thursday , Illinois DCFS spokesman Bill McCaffery declined to comment , noting that the case is an ongoing investigation being handled by another agency .
According to a May search warrant affidavit which also referenced Acosta , Polovin allowed protective custody of AJ to lapse before conducting a proper investigation into the large bruise on AJ 's hip in 2018 .
He 's also accused of omitting a corresponding Crystal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home safety checklist from AJ 's December 2018 file .
Acosta , who had been with the department for about 25 years before his firing , has said he followed DCFS procedures during the 2018 investigation .
Polovin did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Northwest Herald throughout the past year .
Peter Flowers , an attorney with Meyers & Flowers who in October filed a lawsuit on behalf of the estate of AJ against Acosta and Polovin , said the arrests are overdue .
`` These arrests have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinforce our claims about the need to hold not only these individuals accountable but also highlight the need for changes in the agency itself , '' Peters said in an email .
`` We all heard the tapes and saw the pictures and videos , '' he continued .
`` We know AJ 's death was entirely preventable .
These two DCFS employees who were supposed to help him ignored every red flag , even ignoring reports of abuse from the local police , medical professionals , and AJ 's neighbors . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding they will `` work to hold them accountable for their reckless and apathetic disregard for AJ and other children within the DCFS system . ''

Ex-DCFS employees charged in AJ Freund case released from jail after making bail
Two former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services employees have posted bail after their arrests Thursday in connection with a 2018 investigation involving slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund.
The two face allegations that they, "in a willful and wanton manner, knowingly caused or permitted (AJ) ... to be placed in circumstances that endangered AJ's life or health," according to the indictments released Friday.
McHenry County Board member and former veteran DCFS employee Carlos Acosta was released from the McHenry County jail shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, records show. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday morning. His arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 24.
Acosta's former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, also posted bail and was released just before midnight, according to the McHenry County jail's website. His next court date is 9 a.m. Sept. 17.
Both men's bails previously were set at $20,000, meaning they would have been required to post $2,000 each to secure their release.
McHenry County sheriff's deputies arrested Acosta, 54, and Polovin, 48, Thursday afternoon on felony charges of endangering the life of a child and reckless conduct. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally said.
Acosta had contact with AJ about four months before prosecutors say the boy's parents beat him to death in their Crystal Lake home and falsely reported him missing. Polovin was Acosta's supervisor at the time.
Official charging documents filed with the McHenry County circuit clerk's office Friday morning allege Polovin and Acosta "knowingly caused or permitted (AJ) ... to be placed in circumstances that endangered AJ's life or health ..." They're also accused of recklessly performing an act that "caused great bodily harm or permanent disability" to a child, according to the grand jury indictment.
A first offense of child endangerment in Illinois typically is charged as a misdemeanor, which often results in less than one year in jail. Those charges can be upgraded to felony offenses punishable by prison time if the alleged offense led to the death of a child, according to Illinois law. A conviction of a Class 3 felony child endangerment charge could result in a two- to five-year prison sentence.
Acosta had contact with AJ in December 2018 after a Crystal Lake police officer expressed concern about a large bruise on the boy's hip.
Acosta and Polovin were placed on desk duty in April 2019, after AJ was reported missing April 18. Both former employees were fired from DCFS in December. Neither was directly involved with any investigation involving the family at the time of AJ's death.
Kenneally declined to say what evidence was presented to the grand jury, but said the joint investigation with police had been underway to some extent since AJ's April 2019 death.
Reached by phone Thursday, Illinois DCFS spokesman Bill McCaffery declined to comment, noting that the case is an ongoing investigation being handled by another agency.
According to a May search warrant affidavit which also referenced Acosta, Polovin allowed protective custody of AJ to lapse before conducting a proper investigation into the large bruise on AJ's hip in 2018. He's also accused of omitting a corresponding Crystal Lake police report, medical records and home safety checklist from AJ's December 2018 file.
Acosta, who had been with the department for about 25 years before his firing, has said he followed DCFS procedures during the 2018 investigation. Polovin did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Northwest Herald throughout the past year.
Peter Flowers, an attorney with Meyers & Flowers who in October filed a lawsuit on behalf of the estate of AJ against Acosta and Polovin, said the arrests are overdue.
"These arrests have been a long time coming and serve to reinforce our claims about the need to hold not only these individuals accountable but also highlight the need for changes in the agency itself," Peters said in an email.
"We all heard the tapes and saw the pictures and videos," he continued. "We know AJ's death was entirely preventable. These two DCFS employees who were supposed to help him ignored every red flag, even ignoring reports of abuse from the local police, medical professionals, and AJ's neighbors."
The lawsuit is ongoing, Flowers said, adding they will "work to hold them accountable for their reckless and apathetic disregard for AJ and other children within the DCFS system."
• Northwest Herald contributor Amanda Marrazzo contributed this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Wake today, funeral Saturday for Glenview 5-year-old; GoFundMe site established

The funeral for Luca Berlingerio , the 5-year-old boy died of a traumatic head injury at a wedding reception Sept. 4 at Drake Hotel in Oak Brook , will be held Saturday , following a wake this evening .
Visitation was scheduled from 4-8 p.m. today at Cumberland Chapels , 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. , Norridge .
Due to current health guidelines , attendance is limited to 50 people at a time , wearing masks and using proper social distancing .
Attendees are asked to quickly exit the funeral home after paying respects to the family so that all visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cumberland Chapels , then process to a 12:30 p.m. funeral Mass at St. William Church , 2600 N. Sayre Ave. , Chicago .
Entombment will be at All Saints Cemetery , 700 N. River Road , Des Plaines .
A GoFundMe site to support his mother , Simone Berlingerio of Glenview , has been established .
Under the name `` Luca J Berlingerio , '' it was initiated Sept. 9 with a goal of raising $ 10,000 .
As of early Friday afternoon it had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged $ 2,610 .
Police say surveillance video from the hotel showed the child was lying across a granite-top table directly behind a sofa .
He tried to slide off but grabbed an edge , which caused the table to fall on his head , according to a news release by Oak Brook police Wednesday .
Family members found the boy unresponsive and called 911 .
A physician who happened to be at the reception performed CPR .
The boy was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital .
For more information on funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Wake today, funeral Saturday for Glenview 5-year-old; GoFundMe site established
The funeral for Luca Berlingerio, the 5-year-old boy died of a traumatic head injury at a wedding reception Sept. 4 at Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, will be held Saturday, following a wake this evening.
Visitation was scheduled from 4-8 p.m. today at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. Due to current health guidelines, attendance is limited to 50 people at a time, wearing masks and using proper social distancing. Attendees are asked to quickly exit the funeral home after paying respects to the family so that all visitors have an opportunity to enter.
People will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cumberland Chapels, then process to a 12:30 p.m. funeral Mass at St. William Church, 2600 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago. Entombment will be at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines.
A GoFundMe site to support his mother, Simone Berlingerio of Glenview, has been established. Under the name "Luca J Berlingerio," it was initiated Sept. 9 with a goal of raising $10,000. As of early Friday afternoon it had been shared 337 times and 45 donors had pledged $2,610.
Police say surveillance video from the hotel showed the child was lying across a granite-top table directly behind a sofa. He tried to slide off but grabbed an edge, which caused the table to fall on his head, according to a news release by Oak Brook police Wednesday.
Family members found the boy unresponsive and called 911. A physician who happened to be at the reception performed CPR. The boy was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.
For more information on funeral arrangements, call (708) 456-8300.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--9th House District candidates spar on health care, climate, guns

Health care , foreign policy , climate change and guns were among the topics discussed this week in a Daily Herald endorsement interview with candidates running to represent the 9th Congressional District .
Schakowsky said she is proud of her role in the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act .
`` I believe that every American , every person in the United States , should have the right -- not the privilege -- the right to health care , affordable accessible health care , '' she said .
She said she supports adding a public option , allowing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they go onto the exchange '' to sign up for insurance .
Said Sangari , a retired Army lieutenant colonel : `` I was never a fan of the ACA .
I thought it was just large government .
I do n't think it was well thought out .
But with that said , the constituents in my district like it . ''
He said he would work to keep what works and get rid of what does n't .
Addressing the standing of the U.S. on the world stage , Schakowsky bemoaned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the Paris climate accord and withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal , as well as his criticism of the World Health Organization .
She also said Trump has enabled authoritarian regimes .
`` So for most of my adult life , the United States was looked to as a beacon of democracy , a country that would lead in negotiations , that would make alliances around the world to create more peace , and I think that that has actually disappeared . ''
Sangari -- who is still active in foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strategic Engagement , a think tank he founded -- said Trump 's actions on the foreign policy front have promoted peace .
`` I can only just look at the reality on the ground that there 's actually more peace on the ground in the Middle East , '' he said .
`` A lot of the Asian countries that were initially in the hemisphere of China have turned against China because they 're not happy with what China has been doing . ''
He also said he supported pulling out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latter `` a disaster '' that was basically an economic deal .
On the issue of climate change , Schakowsky said : `` I think the problem of climate change is existential .
It is the question of whether or not human life will be able to survive on this planet . ''
Sangari said the solution is to bring scientists from both sides of the climate issue together .
He said the United States has already made technological advances in bringing carbon emissions under control and he supports free market approaches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures as universal background checks .
She also said , referring to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , `` We have to , I think , even limit the amount of weapons that the police carry at times for certain calls . ''
Sangari said there should be enforcement of existing laws .
`` If you use a gun in committing a crime , you go to jail .
How about enforcing that ? ''
The 9th District covers much of the North Shore but also stretches into @ @ @ @ @ @

9th House District candidates spar on health care, climate, guns
Health care, foreign policy, climate change and guns were among the topics discussed this week in a Daily Herald endorsement interview with candidates running to represent the 9th Congressional District.
The race pits longtime Democratic incumbent Jan Schakowsky against Republican challenger Sargis Sangari.
Schakowsky said she is proud of her role in the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act.
"I believe that every American, every person in the United States, should have the right -- not the privilege -- the right to health care, affordable accessible health care," she said.
She said she supports adding a public option, allowing people to choose "a Medicare-like option when they go onto the exchange" to sign up for insurance.
Said Sangari, a retired Army lieutenant colonel: "I was never a fan of the ACA. I thought it was just large government. I don't think it was well thought out. But with that said, the constituents in my district like it."
He said he would work to keep what works and get rid of what doesn't.
Addressing the standing of the U.S. on the world stage, Schakowsky bemoaned President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord and withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, as well as his criticism of the World Health Organization. She also said Trump has enabled authoritarian regimes.
"So for most of my adult life, the United States was looked to as a beacon of democracy, a country that would lead in negotiations, that would make alliances around the world to create more peace, and I think that that has actually disappeared."
Sangari -- who is still active in foreign affairs through the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement, a think tank he founded -- said Trump's actions on the foreign policy front have promoted peace.
"I can only just look at the reality on the ground that there's actually more peace on the ground in the Middle East," he said. "A lot of the Asian countries that were initially in the hemisphere of China have turned against China because they're not happy with what China has been doing."
He also said he supported pulling out of the Paris and Iran agreements, calling the latter "a disaster" that was basically an economic deal.
On the issue of climate change, Schakowsky said: "I think the problem of climate change is existential. It is the question of whether or not human life will be able to survive on this planet."
Sangari said the solution is to bring scientists from both sides of the climate issue together. He said the United States has already made technological advances in bringing carbon emissions under control and he supports free market approaches.
Schakowsky said she supports such gun control measures as universal background checks. She also said, referring to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, "We have to, I think, even limit the amount of weapons that the police carry at times for certain calls."
Sangari said there should be enforcement of existing laws. "If you use a gun in committing a crime, you go to jail. How about enforcing that?"
The 9th District covers much of the North Shore but also stretches into Des Plaines and Park Ridge.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Feder: New CEO choice withdraws before getting started at WBEZ

In an embarrassing setback for the nonprofit parent company of news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM , it 's back to square one @ @ @ @ @ new president and chief executive officer of Chicago Public Media , Robert Feder writes .
@ @ @ @ @ the job in May and was expected to start at the end of September , @ @ @ @ @ the wake of a scandal that occurred on her watch at her previous employer .
@ @ @ @ @ how she handled complaints of sexual misconduct against a male reporter while she was chief @ @ @ @ @ the NPR station at American University in Washington , D.C. McDaniel , 39 , who @ @ @ @ @ held the job from 2015 until earlier this year .
Get the full report , @ @ @ @ @ , at robertfeder.com .

Feder: New CEO choice withdraws before getting started at WBEZ
In an embarrassing setback for the nonprofit parent company of news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM, it's back to square one in the search for a new president and chief executive officer of Chicago Public Media.
In an embarrassing setback for the nonprofit parent company of news/talk WBEZ 91.5-FM, it's back to square one in the search for a new president and chief executive officer of Chicago Public Media, Robert Feder writes.
Andi McDaniel, who accepted the job in May and was expected to start at the end of September, withdrew her acceptance Friday in the wake of a scandal that occurred on her watch at her previous employer.
McDaniel came under fire for how she handled complaints of sexual misconduct against a male reporter while she was chief content officer at WAMU, the NPR station at American University in Washington, D.C. McDaniel, 39, who grew up in Schaumburg, held the job from 2015 until earlier this year.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--McHenry County Board, board chairman candidates want Acosta to resign

The McHenry County Board and Board Chairman Jack Franks were united in calling for the resignation of board member Carlos Acosta on Friday after his arrest the previous night .
Acosta , a Democrat from Woodstock , was released on bond Thursday night after being charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct .
`` I believe it 's safe to say that if it was up to the county board , and up to me , the overwhelming sentiment would be for him to step down , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon .
`` If the public had the power under the law to remove him from office , I have no doubt that the consensus would be to do so . ''
Some board members have been encouraging Acosta to resign ever since he was fired from his position as a Department of Children and Family Services worker in December 2019 for his handling of the case of the murdered Crystal Lake child , AJ Freund .
In May , an investigation was opened into the conduct of Acosta and his former supervisor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested on the same charges Thursday .
`` I can not stress enough the need to overhaul the child welfare system to ensure that this tragedy never happens again , as well as the need to hold people accountable if they were negligent in their duty , '' Franks said in the news release .
Board member Suzanne Ness said she was `` shocked , but not surprised '' to hear about the charges brought against Acosta .
She said she advised Acosta to resign at the beginning of the year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him on any resolutions in the meantime .
`` I never asked him about the case or what transpired , I only knew that his political life was over , '' Ness said Friday .
`` We serve at the will of the people and the people 's voice mattered more in this than mine . ''
`` In light of his arrest and charges , I now publicly call for him to step down from his position as I believe his continued presence on the board serves no one , '' Ness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reached for comment Friday .
In his news release , Franks said he spoke with Acosta Friday morning and encouraged him to resign .
`` My opinion is not based on his innocence or guilt , which is up to the court to decide , but his ability to represent the citizens of County Board District 5 with these charges being filed , '' Franks said in the release .
Board member Joseph Gottemoller said Friday that if Acosta is unwilling to resign , he should -- at the very least -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case is heard .
The best thing , however , would be for Acosta to resign as court proceedings around these charges are likely to take a while , leaving District 5 underrepresented in his absence , Gottemoller said .
District 5 covers all of Dorr Township and the central part of Grafton Township .
The district is also represented by county board members Paula Yensen , Michael Skala and John Jung , Jr .
It has been quite some time since board member Carolyn Schofield has been able to work with Acosta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
`` I would really hope that he will reconsider resigning at this time , '' Schofield said .
`` I have a hard time working with him knowing that he has lost the respect of so many people in his district , that so many people have called for his resignation . ''
In January , a petition was started on change.org asking for signatures from the public to call for Acosta 's resignation .
The petition has more than 5,200 signatures .
Republican McHenry County Board Chairman candidate Mike Buehler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the resignations of Acosta and Franks .
`` Just recently , Franks called Acosta a model board member , '' Buehler said .
`` Franks should have asked Acosta to resign a long time ago .
But the chairman put politics ahead of justice or decency .
With Franks , politics always come first . ''
In the news release , Buehler accused Franks of subduing calls for Acosta 's resignation earlier in the year and called for Franks to resign based on accusations of stalking and sexual misconduct made against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
If Acosta is going to resign , then Franks should go with him , Buehler said -- a statement which was backed by board member Chuck Wheeler in the news release .
`` I will not dignify Mr. Buehler 's shameless and pathetic attempt to score political points on a 5-year-old boy 's grave with a response , '' Franks said in a statement after reading Buehler 's news release .
`` We should all be mourning the loss of AJ and trying to fix a broken system -- not exploit @ @ @ @ @ @

Chairman, others urge Acosta to resign from McHenry County Board
The McHenry County Board and board Chairman Jack Franks were united in calling for the resignation of board member Carlos Acosta on Friday after his arrest the previous night.
Acosta, a Democrat from Woodstock, was released on bail Thursday night after being charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct.
"I believe it's safe to say that if it was up to the county board, and up to me, the overwhelming sentiment would be for him to step down," Franks said in a news release Friday afternoon. "If the public had the power under the law to remove him from office, I have no doubt that the consensus would be to do so."
Some board members have been encouraging Acosta to resign ever since he was fired from his position as a Department of Children and Family Services worker in December 2019 for his handling of the case of AJ Freund of Crystal Lake, a boy who was killed the previous April.
In May this year, an investigation was opened into the conduct of Acosta and his former supervisor at DCFS, Andrew Polovin, who was arrested on the same charges Thursday.
In his news release, Franks said he spoke with Acosta Friday morning and encouraged him to resign.
"My opinion is not based on his innocence or guilt, which is up to the court to decide, but his ability to represent the citizens of County Board District 5 with these charges being filed," Franks said in the release.
Board member Suzanne Ness said she was "shocked but not surprised" to hear about the charges brought against Acosta. She said she advised Acosta to resign at the beginning of the year and informed him she would not collaborate with him on any resolutions in the meantime.
"I never asked him about the case or what transpired, I only knew that his political life was over," Ness said Friday. "We serve at the will of the people and the people's voice mattered more in this than mine."
"In light of his arrest and charges, I now publicly call for him to step down from his position as I believe his continued presence on the board serves no one," Ness added.
Acosta could not be reached for comment Friday.
Board member Joseph Gottemoller said Friday that if Acosta is unwilling to resign, he should -- at the very least -- take a leave of absence while his case is heard. The best thing, however, would be for Acosta to resign as court proceedings around these charges are likely to take a while, leaving District 5 underrepresented in his absence, Gottemoller said.
District 5 covers all of Dorr Township and the central part of Grafton Township. The district is also represented by county board members Paula Yensen, Michael Skala and John Jung, Jr.
It has been quite some time since board member Carolyn Schofield has been able to work with Acosta effectively, she said in an interview Friday.
"I would really hope that he will reconsider resigning at this time," Schofield said. "I have a hard time working with him knowing that he has lost the respect of so many people in his district, that so many people have called for his resignation."
In January, a petition was started on change.org asking for signatures from the public to call for Acosta's resignation. The petition has more than 5,200 signatures.
Republican McHenry County Board Chairman candidate Mike Buehler sent out a news release Friday calling for the resignations of Acosta and Franks.
"Just recently, Franks called Acosta a model board member," Buehler said. "Franks should have asked Acosta to resign a long time ago. But the chairman put politics ahead of justice or decency. With Franks, politics always come first."
In the news release, Buehler accused Franks of subduing calls for Acosta's resignation earlier in the year and called for Franks to resign based on accusations of stalking and sexual misconduct made against him, which came to light earlier this year.
If Acosta is going to resign, then Franks should go with him, Buehler said -- a statement backed by board member Chuck Wheeler in the news release.
"I will not dignify Mr. Buehler's shameless and pathetic attempt to score political points on a 5-year-old boy's grave with a response," Franks said in a statement after reading Buehler's news release. "We should all be mourning the loss of AJ and trying to fix a broken system -- not exploit it for political gain."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--Watch the full debate between Schneider and Ramirez Mukherjee in race for Congress

The two candidates for Congress from the 10th U.S. House District debated gun control and mail-in voting during a Zoom @ @ @ @ @ Daily Herald Editorial Board .
Incumbent Brad Schneider of Deerfield and Republican opponent Valerie Ramirez @ @ @ @ @ issues and others in a wide-ranging interview that ran a little over an hour .
@ @ @ @ @ in all or part of Beach Park , Buffalo Grove , Deerfield , Fox Lake @ @ @ @ @ Highland Park , Lake Bluff , Lake Forest , Lake Villa , Lindenhurst , Libertyville @ @ @ @ @ , North Chicago , Northbrook , Prospect Heights , Round Lake , Round Lake Beach @ @ @ @ @ , Wheeling and Zion .

Watch the full debate between Schneider and Ramirez Mukherjee in race for Congress
The two candidates for Congress from the 10th U.S. House District debated gun control and mail-in voting during a Zoom interview with members of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.
Incumbent Brad Schneider of Deerfield and Republican opponent Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee of Northbrook discussed those issues and others in a wide-ranging interview that ran a little over an hour.
The North suburban district takes in all or part of Beach Park, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Glencoe, Grayslake, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Libertyville, Morton Grove, Mundelein, North Chicago, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, Wheeling and Zion.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--10 dead as California fire becomes deadliest of year

GRIDLEY , Calif. -- The terrible toll of California 's wildfires became more evident as a mother confirmed her 16-year-old son was among those killed when an inferno tore through several hamlets in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada this week .
Jessica Williams , who earlier pleaded for her missing son Josiah to call her , told CBS13 Sacramento that DNA confirmed the teen 's death .
`` He was alone , terrified and ran for his life ... my son was a good , smart , caring young boy that died alone and it kills me thinking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TV station reported Friday .
It was not immediately clear if the teen was counted among the 10 wildfire deaths or 16 missing persons reported so far by local authorities .
The North Complex fire near the small city of Oroville that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature , allowing firefighters to make progress , authorities said .
However , the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot , dry weather or gusty winds were lifted .
Only a day or two earlier , the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed , locals fled for their lives to a pond , and the town of Berry Creek , population 525 , and other communities were gutted .
On Thursday , Butte County sheriff 's Capt .
Derek Bell said seven bodies were discovered , boosting the death toll to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people with critical burns were hospitalized .
Deputies and detectives were searching for human remains as they made their way into devastated areas with a team of anthropologists from Chico State University , Bell said .
Burned-out and overturned cars , downed power lines and the ruins of buildings littered Berry Creek and nearby areas , the Sacramento Bee reported .
One hatchback found on a dirt road had three dead dogs in it , while a pickup truck had the remnants of a guitar case and melted CDs in the bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings burned in the fire , which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes 125 miles ( 201 kilometers ) northeast of San Francisco .
The final toll is expected to be much higher .
Damage assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday .
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband , who had called their son to say they planned to escape the flames in a pond .
`` We 're still hoping and praying for good news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two children with the Butler 's grandson and considers them her own grandparents .
`` Everything is replaceable , but not my grandparents ' lives .
I 'd rather lose everything than those two .
They kind of held the family together . ''
Fallon said she 'd been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents .
There was no word about them late Thursday night .
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers , even those who remembered a blaze only two years earlier that killed some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paradise , a few miles away from the current blaze .
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid falling ash and red skies .
Authorities lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert .
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after they used the emergency shelters they carry with them .
It was the second time in two days that firefighters in California had to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The blaze is among 29 major wildfires burning from the Oregon border to just north of Mexico .
More than 4,800 square miles ( 12,500 square kilometers ) have burned so far this year -- more land than Rhode Island , Delaware and Washington , D.C. , combined -- and fall is typically the worst season for fires .
Nineteen people have been killed and at least 4,000 buildings have burned across California .
`` It 's a historic season on top of a historic season that replaced a historic season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then we keep destroying them , '' said Sean Norman , a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Smoke blew into vineyards in wine country north of San Francisco , and rose above scenic Big Sur on the Central Coast and in the foothills and mountains of Los Angeles , San Bernardino and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state .
President Donald Trump spoke with Gov .
Gavin Newsom `` to express his condolences for the loss of life and reiterate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines of the fires , '' according to White House spokesman Judd Deere .
Neighboring Oregon and Washington also have been beseiged .
More than 1,400 square miles ( 3,625 square kilometers ) have burned this week in Oregon , where hot , windy conditions continued .
Authorities said more than 500,000 people -- more than 10 % of the state 's population -- have been forced to evacuate .
Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles ( 2,426 kilometers ) in Washington .
Journalists have captured compelling images of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access .
That 's not the case everywhere as rules about media access vary by state , and even by government agency .
Melley reported from Los Angeles .
Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

10 dead as California fire becomes deadliest of year
A firefighter puts out a hot spot Thursday along Highway 38 northwest of Forrest Falls, California, as the El Dorado Fire continues to burn. The fire started by a device at a gender reveal party on Saturday. Associated Press
GRIDLEY, Calif. -- The terrible toll of California's wildfires became more evident as a mother confirmed her 16-year-old son was among those killed when an inferno tore through several hamlets in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada this week.
Jessica Williams, who earlier pleaded for her missing son Josiah to call her, told CBS13 Sacramento that DNA confirmed the teen's death.
"He was alone, terrified and ran for his life ... my son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone and it kills me thinking about what he was going through," the TV station reported Friday.
It was not immediately clear if the teen was counted among the 10 wildfire deaths or 16 missing persons reported so far by local authorities.
The North Complex fire near the small city of Oroville that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature, allowing firefighters to make progress, authorities said.
However, the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters couldn't fly Thursday.
Throughout the state, red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry weather or gusty winds were lifted.
Only a day or two earlier, the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed, locals fled for their lives to a pond, and the town of Berry Creek, population 525, and other communities were gutted.
On Thursday, Butte County sheriff's Capt. Derek Bell said seven bodies were discovered, boosting the death toll to 10 in two days. At least four people with critical burns were hospitalized.
Deputies and detectives were searching for human remains as they made their way into devastated areas with a team of anthropologists from Chico State University, Bell said.
Burned-out and overturned cars, downed power lines and the ruins of buildings littered Berry Creek and nearby areas, the Sacramento Bee reported. One hatchback found on a dirt road had three dead dogs in it, while a pickup truck had the remnants of a guitar case and melted CDs in the bed.
More than 2,000 homes and other buildings burned in the fire, which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes 125 miles (201 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. The final toll is expected to be much higher. Damage assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday.
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband, who had called their son to say they planned to escape the flames in a pond.
"We're still hoping and praying for good news," said Jessica Fallon, who has two children with the Butler's grandson and considers them her own grandparents. "Everything is replaceable, but not my grandparents' lives. I'd rather lose everything than those two. They kind of held the family together."
Fallon said she'd been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents. There was no word about them late Thursday night.
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers, even those who remembered a blaze only two years earlier that killed some 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise, a few miles away from the current blaze.
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid falling ash and red skies. Authorities lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert.
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after they used the emergency shelters they carry with them. It was the second time in two days that firefighters in California had to take the rare last-ditch effort to save their lives.
The blaze is among 29 major wildfires burning from the Oregon border to just north of Mexico.
More than 4,800 square miles (12,500 square kilometers) have burned so far this year -- more land than Rhode Island, Delaware and Washington, D.C., combined -- and fall is typically the worst season for fires. Nineteen people have been killed and at least 4,000 buildings have burned across California.
"It's a historic season on top of a historic season that replaced a historic season. We just keep setting new precedents, and then we keep destroying them," said Sean Norman, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Smoke blew into vineyards in wine country north of San Francisco, and rose above scenic Big Sur on the Central Coast and in the foothills and mountains of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state.
President Donald Trump spoke with Gov. Gavin Newsom "to express his condolences for the loss of life and reiterate the administration's full support to help those on the front lines of the fires," according to White House spokesman Judd Deere.
Neighboring Oregon and Washington also have been beseiged.
More than 1,400 square miles (3,625 square kilometers) have burned this week in Oregon, where hot, windy conditions continued. Authorities said more than 500,000 people -- more than 10% of the state's population -- have been forced to evacuate.
Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles (2,426 kilometers) in Washington.
Journalists have captured compelling images of wildfires burning in California, due in large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access. That's not the case everywhere as rules about media access vary by state, and even by government agency.
Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-09-11--'A sinking feeling that doesn't go away': Naperville ceremony honors Sept. 11 victims

At the tolling of the Millennium Carillon bells Friday evening , Naperville leaders and residents honored the memory of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .
Among the victims was Naperville native Cmdr .
Dan Shanower , a 40-year-old Naval intelligence officer who was working at the Pentagon when tragedy struck 19 years ago .
A memorial dedicated to him and all who perished now stands along the Riverwalk behind city hall , where crowds of community members gather annually in remembrance .
This year , about 200 people congregated around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either saluting or placing hands over hearts as colors were presented .
Among those there were American Airlines flight attendants .
`` It 's heartbreaking , '' said Wendy Schaven of Plano , who spoke for the attendants .
`` You think every year would get better , but it does n't .
It 's a sinking feeling that does n't go away . ''
Schaven said she thinks about the first responders who died on Sept. 11 , 2001 .
`` I think about how they try to contact our operations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woke up that day , it was a normal day to them and they did n't return home . ''
Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Naperville , this year 's event featured music from the Naperville Municipal Band and a member of the Young Naperville Singers , as well as ceremonial duties performed by the Naperville Firefighters Highland Guard and a combined Color Guard .

'A sinking feeling that doesn't go away': Naperville ceremony honors Sept. 11 victims
At the tolling of the Millennium Carillon bells Friday evening, Naperville leaders and residents honored the memory of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Among the victims was Naperville native Cmdr. Dan Shanower, a 40-year-old naval intelligence officer who was working at the Pentagon when tragedy struck 19 years ago. A memorial dedicated to him and all who perished now stands along the Riverwalk behind city hall, where crowds of community members gather annually in remembrance.
This year, about 200 people congregated around the Riverwalk, lining the DuPage River and either saluting or placing hands over hearts as colors were presented.
Among those there were American Airlines flight attendants.
"It's heartbreaking," said Wendy Schaven of Plano, who spoke for the attendants. "You think every year would get better, but it doesn't. It's a sinking feeling that doesn't go away."
Schaven said she thinks about the first responders who died Sept. 11, 2001.
"I think about how they try to contact our operations," she said. " ... Everybody that woke up that day, it was a normal day to them and they didn't return home."
Sponsored by the Exchange Club of Naperville, this year's event featured music from the Naperville Municipal Band and a member of the Young Naperville Singers, as well as ceremonial duties performed by the Naperville Firefighters Highland Guard and a combined Color Guard.
Speakers included Exchange Club President Ron Amato, Exchange Club Americanism Committee member Marty Walker, Mayor Steve Chirico, Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis and Police Chief Robert Marshall.
'Love is the ultimate force' in Roselle
Pause. Reflect. Honor.
That was the purpose of a brief service held Friday afternoon outside Roselle United Methodist Church in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said the Rev. Zaki L. Zaki, senior pastor.
Zaki talked about being called to ground zero in New York City to serve with other pastors from around the country after the attacks, which destroyed the twin 110-story towers at the World Trade Center.
"I remember to this day the message on a billboard near the site. It said, 'Fear is not the ultimate force in the world today, love is.' It was very overwhelming," he told the gathering of 18 residents and seven police officers on the Roselle church's lawn. "We wept together."
While maintaining social distancing guidelines, community members gathered on the church's front lawn to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died on that fateful day 19 years ago.
They prayed for the officers who were in attendance. They prayed for the victims' surviving families. They prayed for communities both locally and globally. They prayed for the protection of first responders.
They prayed for peace.
Zaki said he hoped attendees walked away with a key message: Though fear may be at work among them, "love is the ultimate force."
-- John Starks
Batavia VFW hosts Patriot Day
The Batavia Overseas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 and Auxiliary hosted a Patriot Day tribute Friday to honor everyone lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
About 125 people safely social-distanced themselves as they gathered on the 6-acre lawn behind the VFW building.
Country artist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bill Gray performed a free outdoor concert, pausing for a memorial reflection at exactly 7 p.m. to honor 9/11 and post-9/11 veterans and first responders.
Gray slowly read the events that took place that day 19 years ago.
"That was as tough to read as it was to hear," admitted Gray after finishing addressing the crowd.
Mary Ellen Hollis of Elmwood Park wiped away a tear as it rolled down her cheek during the program. She said sh e usually attends at least two ceremonies for Sept. 11.
"COVID-19 has over taken everything," Hollis said. "... We will take back our country."
Local police and fire departments were on hand and recognized by the crowd after Gray thanked them.
-- Brian Hill
Palatine firefighters remember
In memory of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, members of the Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard Friday placed a wreath at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial and performed a ceremonial ringing of the bell to signify a firefighter's last call of duty.
Because of coronavirus restrictions on crowd size and social distancing guidelines, the historic assembly of firefighters and police officers did not occur. Only those directly involved in the ceremony and a few members of the public were present. The ceremony began at 9 a.m. with members of the Palatine Fire Department Honor Guard marching from Fire Station 85 at 39 E. Colfax St. to the memorial site at the corner of North Brockway and West Slade Streets in downtown Palatine.
Retired Palatine Firefighter Mark Hallett spoke after a benediction.
"No amount of time could or should diminish the accounts of that day," he said. "We will never forget images of firefighters rushing to the scene. We will never forget the terrible images of that day."
-- John Starks