dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Constable: Wheaton woman puts the 'able' in fashionable

At 13 , Molly Farrell played every sport she could , did well in school , and had a desire to dress well .
`` As a young kid , I always loved fashion and shopping and clothes , '' says Farrell , now a 31-year-old speech-language pathologist at Army Trail Elementary School in Addison .
Her life has changed dramatically since she was a 7th-grader , but her interest in fashion never waned .
`` I 'm a true believer in when you look good , you feel good , '' says Farrell , who now has a side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account she started on Instagram lives by the slogan , `` Everyone is fashion-abled ! ''
It 's too bad her Instagram posts were n't around when she was a kid who suddenly found her wardrobe limited to baggy pants fastened with a drawstring .
`` As a 13-year-old , that 's not what I wanted to wear , '' remembers Farrell , whose fashion worries were more dramatic than her typical teenage girl peers .
`` You definitely feel you are not 'cool ' anymore .
Luckily , my parents were so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would fit my needs . ''
Her needs changed because of what happened on June 28 , 2002 , at a Naperville swimming pool .
`` At swim team practice that morning , my team was practicing starts off the blocks and something went wrong during one of my dives , '' Farrell says .
`` I hit the bottom of the pool and became instantly paralyzed from my shoulders down .
I remember floating at the bottom of the pool , looking up through the water and hoping someone would save me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was taken by ambulance to nearby Edward Hospital , and then by helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center , where she had surgery to implant rods and a spinal support known as a `` bird cage . ''
She spent 17 days in the intensive care unit .
`` I had no idea what a spinal cord injury was .
I had never heard of it until it happened to me , '' says Farrell , who was more focused on an important swim meet coming up in a couple of weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fine .
I 'll be swimming .
I 'll be competing . ''
The news was far worse than not being ready for a swim meet .
`` The doctors told me I had less than a 1 % chance of moving my arms or being able to walk again , '' says Farrell , who also suffered collapsed lungs and pneumonia and needed a tracheostomy to breathe and a feeding tube .
Her parents , Nancy and Mike , older sister Colleen , and older brother , Sean , offered help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of her arms and hands , and still remembers her biggest breakthrough during therapy a couple of months after her accident .
`` I was able to move my big toe one day in August , '' she remembers .
That earned her a spot in a research program with activity-based therapy .
By the end of the year , she was able to donate her wheelchair to charity .
She used crutches to walk into St. Joan of Arc in Lisle for the second semester of her 7th-grade year .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reeve Foundation , Farrell became a frequent speaker at fundraisers and appeared on the `` Oprah Winfrey Show '' and the `` Today Show . ''
At St. Francis High School , she was named to the 2007-2008 Daily Herald Leadership Team .
She went on to get her bachelor 's degree from St. Mary College in South Bend , Indiana , before getting her master 's degree at Northern Illinois University and starting her career as a speech-language pathologist .
`` In college , I followed a lot of fashion blogs online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me who did a fashion blog , '' says Farrell , who remembers how difficult it was to find clothes as she worked to regain use of her arms .
`` I was n't able to button a shirt or pull up my pants .
Zippers were hard for me . ''
Many of the clothes that were accessible just did n't fit her personality .
`` When they hear 'adaptive clothing , ' they think of the elderly , '' says Farrell , who has seen a lot of fashion changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot more to adaptive clothes .
Slowly , but surely , it 's happening . ''
On her Instagram page , which she started a couple of years ago , `` I feature clothes from regular stores , '' she says .
Farrell has touted items from Tommy Hilfiger , Zappos , Patti and Ricky , The North Face and other makers of stylish clothes that appear to have buttons , but fasten with hidden Velcro or magnets .
Nike has a FlyEase shoe line with running shoes and other specialized footwear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` Wednesday Wonderful '' video every week that highlights all sorts of products she likes , from a device that fastens buttons to a rocker knife for the kitchen .
`` I 'm kind of a foodie , and I like shopping and bars , '' she says .
Her Instagram account often features pictures of her taken during outings with her sister and mom .
`` I have to stay healthy , be strong and continue to walk and be healthy .
It 's just a part of life now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy twice a week and exercises on her own .
`` I am able to walk without my crutches for short distances around the house . ''
Getting back to her fashion roots on Instagram came naturally .
`` I just started this for myself as a creative outlet , '' she says , noting that she 's also `` a very competitive person . ''
She 's considered an influencer , and gets a small compensation when people find products and clothes through her site .
She shares her story as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it .
People are curious .
I let them know , '' Farrell says .
`` I love to tell my story . ''
She also loves `` bright and happy colors , '' she says .
With more than 2,000 followers , she hopes to expand her reach .
`` I am so blessed that I 've come this far , '' Farrell says .
`` I was meant to help people . ''

Constable: Wheaton woman puts the 'able' in fashionable
A lover of "bright and happy colors," fashion influencer Molly Farrell of Wheaton often posts photos from outings with her mother and sister on her Instagram page. Courtesy of Molly Farrell
At 13, Molly Farrell played every sport she could, did well in school, and had a desire to dress well.
"As a young kid, I always loved fashion and shopping and clothes," says Farrell, now a 31-year-old speech-language pathologist at Army Trail Elementary School in Addison. Her life has changed dramatically since she was a 7th-grader, but her interest in fashion never waned.
"I'm a true believer in when you look good, you feel good," says Farrell, who now has a side gig as a fashionista. The all.fashion.able account she started on Instagram lives by the slogan, "Everyone is fashion-abled!" It's too bad her Instagram posts weren't around when she was a kid who suddenly found her wardrobe limited to baggy pants fastened with a drawstring.
"As a 13-year-old, that's not what I wanted to wear," remembers Farrell, whose fashion worries were more dramatic than her typical teenage girl peers. "You definitely feel you are not 'cool' anymore. Luckily, my parents were so supportive and helped me find clothes that would fit my needs."
Her needs changed because of what happened on June 28, 2002, at a Naperville swimming pool.
"At swim team practice that morning, my team was practicing starts off the blocks and something went wrong during one of my dives," Farrell says. "I hit the bottom of the pool and became instantly paralyzed from my shoulders down. I remember floating at the bottom of the pool, looking up through the water and hoping someone would save me."
Pulled from the pool, she was taken by ambulance to nearby Edward Hospital, and then by helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center, where she had surgery to implant rods and a spinal support known as a "bird cage." She spent 17 days in the intensive care unit.
"I had no idea what a spinal cord injury was. I had never heard of it until it happened to me," says Farrell, who was more focused on an important swim meet coming up in a couple of weeks. "I remember thinking I'll be fine. I'll be swimming. I'll be competing."
The news was far worse than not being ready for a swim meet.
"The doctors told me I had less than a 1% chance of moving my arms or being able to walk again," says Farrell, who also suffered collapsed lungs and pneumonia and needed a tracheostomy to breathe and a feeding tube. Her parents, Nancy and Mike, older sister Colleen, and older brother, Sean, offered help and support.
She began to regain use of her arms and hands, and still remembers her biggest breakthrough during therapy a couple of months after her accident.
"I was able to move my big toe one day in August," she remembers. That earned her a spot in a research program with activity-based therapy. By the end of the year, she was able to donate her wheelchair to charity. She used crutches to walk into St. Joan of Arc in Lisle for the second semester of her 7th-grade year.
An active volunteer with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Farrell became a frequent speaker at fundraisers and appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and the "Today Show." At St. Francis High School, she was named to the 2007-2008 Daily Herald Leadership Team. She went on to get her bachelor's degree from St. Mary College in South Bend, Indiana, before getting her master's degree at Northern Illinois University and starting her career as a speech-language pathologist.
"In college, I followed a lot of fashion blogs online. I realized there wasn't anyone like me who did a fashion blog," says Farrell, who remembers how difficult it was to find clothes as she worked to regain use of her arms. "I wasn't able to button a shirt or pull up my pants. Zippers were hard for me."
Many of the clothes that were accessible just didn't fit her personality.
"When they hear 'adaptive clothing,' they think of the elderly," says Farrell, who has seen a lot of fashion changes since middle school. "There's a lot more to adaptive clothes. Slowly, but surely, it's happening."
On her Instagram page, which she started a couple of years ago, "I feature clothes from regular stores," she says. Farrell has touted items from Tommy Hilfiger, Zappos, Patti and Ricky, The North Face and other makers of stylish clothes that appear to have buttons, but fasten with hidden Velcro or magnets. Nike has a FlyEase shoe line with running shoes and other specialized footwear with hands-free fasteners.
Farrell also does a "Wednesday Wonderful" video every week that highlights all sorts of products she likes, from a device that fastens buttons to a rocker knife for the kitchen.
"I'm kind of a foodie, and I like shopping and bars," she says. Her Instagram account often features pictures of her taken during outings with her sister and mom.
"I have to stay healthy, be strong and continue to walk and be healthy. It's just a part of life now," says Farrell, who does physical therapy twice a week and exercises on her own. "I am able to walk without my crutches for short distances around the house."
Getting back to her fashion roots on Instagram came naturally. "I just started this for myself as a creative outlet," she says, noting that she's also "a very competitive person."
She's considered an influencer, and gets a small compensation when people find products and clothes through her site. She shares her story as a way to help others.
"I get it. People are curious. I let them know," Farrell says. "I love to tell my story."
She also loves "bright and happy colors," she says. With more than 2,000 followers, she hopes to expand her reach.
"I am so blessed that I've come this far," Farrell says. "I was meant to help people."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Sam's of Arlington, a local staple for 34 years, closes for good

A dining staple in Arlington Heights for 34 years , Sam 's of Arlington closed this weekend for good , with its owner saying the restaurant would n't be able to make it through another shutdown .
Sam 's , located at 1863 W. Central Road within the Clearbrook Plaza strip mall , served its last meal Friday night , owner George Vassos confirmed Sunday .
He broke the news to customers on the restaurant 's Facebook page a day earlier , saying it was a very difficult decision that he did not take lightly .
But after serious consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a position to withstand the most recent state-ordered temporary ban on indoor dining due to COVID-19 .
He said the restaurant is still recovering from the first shutdown , having been closed for three months at the onset of the pandemic .
`` The memories made here at Sam 's will be cherished always , '' Vassos wrote .
`` Sadly we have to say goodbye to our staff , friends and loyal customers and wish you all good health and happiness .
Stay strong , stay safe and stay healthy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last decade , after original owner Sam Trakas started it in 1986 .
The eatery was known for a wide host of fare at affordable prices , including ribs , steak sandwiches , prime rib and roast duck .
It also had a full-service bar and private party room .
Vassos encouraged patrons to visit his other restaurant , Honey-Jam Cafe at 2944 W. Euclid Ave. , which remains open daily for breakfast and lunch on its outdoor patio .

Sam's of Arlington, a local staple for 34 years, closes for good
A dining staple in Arlington Heights for 34 years, Sam's of Arlington closed this weekend for good, with its owner saying the restaurant wouldn't be able to make it through another shutdown.
Sam's, located at 1863 W. Central Road within the Clearbrook Plaza strip mall, served its last meal Friday night, owner George Vassos confirmed Sunday.
He broke the news to customers on the restaurant's Facebook page a day earlier, saying it was a very difficult decision that he did not take lightly. But after serious consideration, Vassos said the restaurant isn't in a position to withstand the most recent state-ordered temporary ban on indoor dining due to COVID-19. He said the restaurant is still recovering from the first shutdown, having been closed for three months at the onset of the pandemic.
"The memories made here at Sam's will be cherished always," Vassos wrote. "Sadly we have to say goodbye to our staff, friends and loyal customers and wish you all good health and happiness. Stay strong, stay safe and stay healthy."
Vassos ran the restaurant for the last decade, after original owner Sam Trakas started it in 1986. The eatery was known for a wide host of fare at affordable prices, including ribs, steak sandwiches, prime rib and roast duck. It also had a full-service bar and private party room.
Vassos encouraged patrons to visit his other restaurant, Honey-Jam Cafe at 2944 W. Euclid Ave., which remains open daily for breakfast and lunch on its outdoor patio.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--DuPage woman held on $1.5 million bail in domestic shooting

A Naperville-area woman was ordered held on $ 1.5 million bail Sunday in connection with a domestic shooting Friday that left a man hospitalized with a bullet lodged in his spine , authorities said .
Rosa Lagrone , 34 , of the 25W000 block of Keswick Lane in unincorporated DuPage County , is charged with attempted first-degree murder , aggravated battery involving the discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery .
Judge Paul Marchese set bail at a Sunday morning hearing .
DuPage County Sheriff 's Office officials said Lagrone is accused of firing a pistol in her home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his arm and torso , at about 2:15 p.m. Friday .
The sheriff 's office reported that domestic violence cases are up in DuPage County nearly 50 % over the same period last year .
`` Just days removed from Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October , we are faced with this tragic shooting of a young man near Naperville , '' Sheriff James Mendrick said in a news release .
`` I 'd like to thank our deputies for their tireless work to ensure prosecutors have the strongest case possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ State 's Attorney Robert Berlin and his office for their hard work on this case . ''

DuPage woman held on $1.5 million bail in domestic shooting
A Naperville-area woman was ordered held on $1.5 million bail Sunday in connection with a domestic shooting Friday that left a man hospitalized with a bullet lodged in his spine, authorities said.
Rosa Lagrone, 34, of the 25W000 block of Keswick Lane in unincorporated DuPage County, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery involving the discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery. Judge Paul Marchese set bail at a Sunday morning hearing.
DuPage County Sheriff's Office officials said Lagrone is accused of firing a pistol in her home at a 27-year-old man, striking him in his arm and torso, at about 2:15 p.m. Friday.
The sheriff's office reported that domestic violence cases are up in DuPage County nearly 50% over the same period last year.
"Just days removed from Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, we are faced with this tragic shooting of a young man near Naperville," Sheriff James Mendrick said in a news release. "I'd like to thank our deputies for their tireless work to ensure prosecutors have the strongest case possible. I'd like to thank DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and his office for their hard work on this case."
Lagrone is due back in court Dec. 7.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Images: The country reacts to Biden's projected victory

People celebrate in Times Square after former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was announced as the winner @ @ @ @ @ to become the 46th president of the United States , Saturday , Nov. 7 , @ @ @ @ @ .
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted @ @ @ @ @ votes that delayed the processing of some ballots .

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
People celebrate in Times Square after former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was announced as the winner over Pres. Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in New York. His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Hospital chief says Northwest Community is better prepared for this COVID-19 surge

The second COVID-19 wave is here , but Northwest Community Hospital is better prepared to deal with the expected influx of patients now compared to the initial surge in the spring , the hospital 's chief medical officer said .
Like other suburban health care leaders , Dr. Alan Loren has been watching the rising case numbers in recent weeks and started to see more patient admissions at the Arlington Heights hospital .
On Saturday , Illinois set a single-day high of 12,438 positive cases of the coronavirus , beating the previous record -- set Friday -- by 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community is better positioned to handle this surge , which is climbing even faster than the initial outbreak .
`` We definitely understand the virus better and how to treat it , '' said Loren , adding that the drug Remdesivir is more readily available , helping to decrease lengths of hospital stays .
Better treatment also has meant fewer people in the intensive care unit or on a ventilator , Loren said .
Capacity in those areas is OK right now , he said , as are staffing levels .
The hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment for its staff in anticipation of the second wave , Loren said .
Hospital officials are more concerned about bed capacity , as numbers continue to rise .
As of Friday , the 509-bed hospital was treating 70 patients with COVID-19 -- a number that 's continued to increase in the next four weeks .
It previously hovered at 10 to 12 at a time for several months following a peak of 109 in May , officials said .
Northwest Community was among the first hospitals in Illinois to treat a patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the hospital has treated more than 1,000 patients with the respiratory disease , but many more have been outpatients at a specialty COVID-19 clinic the health system set up in Palatine .
Those with a positive COVID-19 case or symptoms can see a doctor there first , and be referred to the hospital if their condition worsens .
Some have virtual follow-up visits with doctors .
Loren says the hospital has also been admitting a slightly younger population with the virus .
He believes nursing homes have done a better job at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions a patient may have , one 's length of stay in the hospital can vary from just a few days to several weeks , Loren said .
Like other medical professionals , Loren predicted it could take several months , if not a full year , to get the disease under control , given how long it will take to develop a vaccine and roll it out .
`` It 's definitely going to get worse before it gets better , '' said Loren , fearing increases in COVID-19 cases with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In order to combat this disease , it really is a multifaceted approach .
It 's treatment , a vaccine , masking -- all of those things coming together . ''

Hospital chief says Northwest Community is better prepared for this COVID-19 surge
Dr. Alan Loren, chief medical officer at Arlington Heights-based Northwest Community Healthcare, says officials are better prepared to deal with the second surge of COVID-19 than they were during the initial outbreak. Courtesy of Northwest Community Healthcare
The second COVID-19 wave is here, but Northwest Community Hospital is better prepared to deal with the expected influx of patients now compared to the initial surge in the spring, the hospital's chief medical officer said.
Like other suburban health care leaders, Dr. Alan Loren has been watching the rising case numbers in recent weeks and started to see more patient admissions at the Arlington Heights hospital. On Saturday, Illinois set a single-day high of 12,438 positive cases of the coronavirus, beating the previous record -- set Friday -- by 20%.
But Loren expressed confidence that Northwest Community is better positioned to handle this surge, which is climbing even faster than the initial outbreak.
"We definitely understand the virus better and how to treat it," said Loren, adding that the drug Remdesivir is more readily available, helping to decrease lengths of hospital stays.
Better treatment also has meant fewer people in the intensive care unit or on a ventilator, Loren said. Capacity in those areas is OK right now, he said, as are staffing levels.
The hospital was also able to stockpile personal protective equipment for its staff in anticipation of the second wave, Loren said.
Hospital officials are more concerned about bed capacity, as numbers continue to rise.
As of Friday, the 509-bed hospital was treating 70 patients with COVID-19 -- a number that's continued to increase in the next four weeks. It previously hovered at 10 to 12 at a time for several months following a peak of 109 in May, officials said.
Northwest Community was among the first hospitals in Illinois to treat a patient with COVID-19 in February.
To date, the hospital has treated more than 1,000 patients with the respiratory disease, but many more have been outpatients at a specialty COVID-19 clinic the health system set up in Palatine. Those with a positive COVID-19 case or symptoms can see a doctor there first, and be referred to the hospital if their condition worsens. Some have virtual follow-up visits with doctors.
Loren says the hospital has also been admitting a slightly younger population with the virus. He believes nursing homes have done a better job at containing outbreaks.
Depending on other health conditions a patient may have, one's length of stay in the hospital can vary from just a few days to several weeks, Loren said.
Like other medical professionals, Loren predicted it could take several months, if not a full year, to get the disease under control, given how long it will take to develop a vaccine and roll it out.
"It's definitely going to get worse before it gets better," said Loren, fearing increases in COVID-19 cases with more indoor gatherings over the winter. "In order to combat this disease, it really is a multifaceted approach. It's treatment, a vaccine, masking -- all of those things coming together."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Five things you should know about travel for Thanksgiving and beyond

Can I still book a cheap flight for Thanksgiving ?
Should I book a cheap flight for Thanksgiving given the COVID-19 pandemic ?
Will a gallon of regular still cost $ 2.35 ?
The COVID-19 plague continues to roil travel this fall and likely well into 2021 .
Here are five take-aways from experts about what to expect in the near and short term .
1 .
We gather together -- not Stay at home this Thanksgiving , advises Illinois Department of Public Health Health Director Ngozi Ezike , because crowded airport security lines and hours in an enclosed space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do travel , book a direct flight , as `` layovers may be cheaper but pose more risks , '' she said .
Driving in your own bubble/car to visit family and friends is safer than a bus or train , but avoid unnecessary interactions by packing drinks and snacks , experts say .
Bring masks for gas station stops or bathroom breaks and wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol .
2 .
Take the path less traveled Expedia 's Christie Hudson scrolled Thanksgiving airfares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale , although `` prices are trending up as the holidays get closer . ''
`` If it were me , I would book as soon as possible because the prices look reasonable and I would n't want to risk paying more , '' Hudson said .
And , try to `` avoid the Wednesday through Sunday itinerary .
If you fly Monday through Monday instead , you 're looking at saving between 25 % to 50 % depending on the destination . ''
`` Those who decide to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheaper gas prices , '' AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart predicts .
`` The cost of a regular gallon of gas in Illinois today is $ 2.26 compared to a year ago when it was $ 2.68 . ''
In Indiana , rates are even lower at $ 2.06 a gallon and in Wisconsin , it 's $ 1.91 a gallon .
Major airlines are getting serious about enforcing mask rules in cabins .
Delta , for example , announced last month it added 460 people to its no-fly list for refusing to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fate when many carriers are booking flights to full capacity ?
`` On an aircraft , social distancing is not viable even if middle seats are blocked , '' American Airlines spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said .
`` Instead , American has focused our efforts on making the travel journey as safe as possible . ''
Will airfares tank , soar or stabilize next year ?
`` Expect 2021 to be 'bargain central ' for flyers , particularly on routes linking major airports , '' said DePaul University aviation expert and professor Joseph Schwieterman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep planes flying , even if they are half empty .
That means more aggressive price-cutting . ''
Have a comment about holiday travel during these unusual times ?
Drop an email to mpyke @ dailyherald.com .
Metra rider Travis Weidman of Island Lake disagrees with comments in a recent column that Union Pacific is lax about checking tickets at Ogilvie Transportation Center .
UP employees `` are , in fact , punching tickets wherever you buy them and they are also having you touch your phone screen to prove they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UP Northwest regular .
`` It is n't as nonchalant as you describe it to be and I think that 's important for your readers to understand .
Additionally , those buildups of people standing in line to have their tickets checked -- an issue which I thought to be a risk to the customers ' health -- are almost nonexistent . ''
Think twice before hopping onto the eastbound Reagan Memorial Tollway ( I-88 ) from northbound Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora .
The Farnsworth ramp will be closed now through 5 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on the toll plaza .
Detours will be posted .
There 's one more thing your iPhone and Apple watch can do -- get you aboard Pace and the CTA .
Riders who add the latest Ventra app to their devices can use it to access transit by tapping their screens .
For more information , go to ventrachicago.com/applepay .

Five things you should know about travel for Thanksgiving and beyond
Can I still book a cheap flight for Thanksgiving? Should I book a cheap flight for Thanksgiving given the COVID-19 pandemic? Will a gallon of regular still cost $2.35?
The COVID-19 plague continues to roil travel this fall and likely well into 2021. Here are five take-aways from experts about what to expect in the near and short term.
1. We gather together -- not
Stay at home this Thanksgiving, advises Illinois Department of Public Health Health Director Ngozi Ezike, because crowded airport security lines and hours in an enclosed space are breeding grounds for infections. If you do travel, book a direct flight, as "layovers may be cheaper but pose more risks," she said.
Driving in your own bubble/car to visit family and friends is safer than a bus or train, but avoid unnecessary interactions by packing drinks and snacks, experts say. Bring masks for gas station stops or bathroom breaks and wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
2. Take the path less traveled
Expedia's Christie Hudson scrolled Thanksgiving airfares last week, finding some deals to Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, although "prices are trending up as the holidays get closer."
"If it were me, I would book as soon as possible because the prices look reasonable and I wouldn't want to risk paying more," Hudson said. And, try to "avoid the Wednesday through Sunday itinerary. If you fly Monday through Monday instead, you're looking at saving between 25% to 50% depending on the destination."
3. Gas prices to remain low
"Those who decide to hit the road for Thanksgiving will find cheaper gas prices," AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart predicts. "The cost of a regular gallon of gas in Illinois today is $2.26 compared to a year ago when it was $2.68."
In Indiana, rates are even lower at $2.06 a gallon and in Wisconsin, it's $1.91 a gallon.
4. No kidding about mask rules
Major airlines are getting serious about enforcing mask rules in cabins. Delta, for example, announced last month it added 460 people to its no-fly list for refusing to comply with mask requirements.
And why tempt fate when many carriers are booking flights to full capacity? "On an aircraft, social distancing is not viable even if middle seats are blocked," American Airlines spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said. "Instead, American has focused our efforts on making the travel journey as safe as possible."
5. 'Bargain central' in 2021
Will airfares tank, soar or stabilize next year?
"Expect 2021 to be 'bargain central' for flyers, particularly on routes linking major airports," said DePaul University aviation expert and professor Joseph Schwieterman. "Airlines will find it preferable to keep planes flying, even if they are half empty. That means more aggressive price-cutting."
Have a comment about holiday travel during these unusual times? Drop an email to mpyke@dailyherald.com.
Your voice
Metra rider Travis Weidman of Island Lake disagrees with comments in a recent column that Union Pacific is lax about checking tickets at Ogilvie Transportation Center. UP employees "are, in fact, punching tickets wherever you buy them and they are also having you touch your phone screen to prove they are real," said Weidman, a UP Northwest regular. "It isn't as nonchalant as you describe it to be and I think that's important for your readers to understand. Additionally, those buildups of people standing in line to have their tickets checked -- an issue which I thought to be a risk to the customers' health -- are almost nonexistent."
Gridlock alert
Think twice before hopping onto the eastbound Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) from northbound Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora. The Farnsworth ramp will be closed now through 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, to allow work on the toll plaza. Detours will be posted.
Contactless transit
There's one more thing your iPhone and Apple watch can do -- get you aboard Pace and the CTA. Riders who add the latest Ventra app to their devices can use it to access transit by tapping their screens. For more information, go to ventrachicago.com/applepay.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--How Elgin Eats program aims to help downtown restaurants amid COVID-19 spike

With the recent return to shutdowns of restaurant dining rooms and bars , the Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association has stepped up its efforts to make patronizing downtown eateries easier .
When the initial COVID-19 stay-at-home order came down this spring , the association created an online portal to downtown restaurants called Elgin Eats at www.downtownelgin.com/ElginEats/ .
They 've recently updated the page to include all the dining and ordering options available from more than two dozen downtown businesses , including restaurants , bars , coffee shops and others serving food .
`` It 's like a one-stop shop portal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downtown food service businesses and know accurate information about what they 're offering right now , '' said Jennifer Fukala , the association 's executive director .
The page has detailed information for 27 businesses , informing people about takeout and curbside options , and includes links to menus , online ordering and delivery services .
`` As businesses continue to change and upgrade their offerings , we 're working to keep that portal current , and it 'll be a place where we can continue to build additional offerings into it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Fukala said .
The association 's marketing coordinator Jennifer Arndt said the page has been generating good traffic .
`` The Elgin Eats campaign has brought thousands of people to DowntownElgin.com where analytic data has shown thousands of clicks going straight to the restaurants websites , menus and online ordering portals , '' Arndt said .
Fukala said they 're promoting the page through all their social media accounts , and with Google ads and through their 12,000-person email list .
`` We 're pumping this through all our channels to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyes , '' she said .
In addition to the Elgin Eats portal , Fukala said the association has worked with the city to help provide reserved curbside pickup spaces for restaurants , as well as providing grants that restaurants have used to provide takeout options and online ordering .
The COVID adaptation grants totaled about $ 25,000 and were given out to businesses this summer , Fukala said .
While they were n't all for restaurants , Arabica Cafe used one to roll out a remote payment system , and Elgin Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website to handle online ordering , she said .
`` We 're trying to be a be an asset for the downtown businesses , '' Fukala said .
`` We want to be seen as a support system and a resource for them that they 're not going to necessarily get if they 're located in other places . ''

How Elgin Eats program aims to help downtown restaurants amid COVID-19 spike
With the recent return to shutdowns of restaurant dining rooms and bars, the Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association has stepped up its efforts to make patronizing downtown eateries easier.
When the initial COVID-19 stay-at-home order came down this spring, the association created an online portal to downtown restaurants called Elgin Eats at www.downtownelgin.com/ElginEats/. They've recently updated the page to include all the dining and ordering options available from more than two dozen downtown businesses, including restaurants, bars, coffee shops and others serving food.
"It's like a one-stop shop portal for customers to engage with all of the downtown food service businesses and know accurate information about what they're offering right now," said Jennifer Fukala, the association's executive director.
The page has detailed information for 27 businesses, informing people about takeout and curbside options, and includes links to menus, online ordering and delivery services.
"As businesses continue to change and upgrade their offerings, we're working to keep that portal current, and it'll be a place where we can continue to build additional offerings into it as the businesses make those things available," Fukala said.
The association's marketing coordinator Jennifer Arndt said the page has been generating good traffic.
"The Elgin Eats campaign has brought thousands of people to DowntownElgin.com where analytic data has shown thousands of clicks going straight to the restaurants websites, menus and online ordering portals," Arndt said.
Fukala said they're promoting the page through all their social media accounts, and with Google ads and through their 12,000-person email list.
"We're pumping this through all our channels to get it in front of the community's eyes," she said.
In addition to the Elgin Eats portal, Fukala said the association has worked with the city to help provide reserved curbside pickup spaces for restaurants, as well as providing grants that restaurants have used to provide takeout options and online ordering.
The COVID adaptation grants totaled about $25,000 and were given out to businesses this summer, Fukala said.
While they weren't all for restaurants, Arabica Cafe used one to roll out a remote payment system, and Elgin Public House used a grant to redo its website to handle online ordering, she said.
"We're trying to be a be an asset for the downtown businesses," Fukala said. "We want to be seen as a support system and a resource for them that they're not going to necessarily get if they're located in other places."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Feder: Chicago Journalists Association to honor BGA's David Jackson

David Jackson , the esteemed senior investigator for the Better Government Association , will be honored with this year 's @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Journalists Association , reports Robert Feder .
The group 's 2020 virtual awards ceremony @ @ @ @ @ from 8 to 9 p.m. Nov , 20 .

Feder: Chicago Journalists Association to honor BGA's David Jackson
David Jackson, the esteemed senior investigator for the Better Government Association, will be honored with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Journalists Association, reports Robert Feder.
The group's 2020 virtual awards ceremony will stream live via Zoom from 8 to 9 p.m. Nov, 20.
Read the full story here.


US-Pres-Sum,100

Needed to win : 270 of the 538 electoral votes ( ev ) from the 50 states and the District @ @ @

US-Pres-Sum,100
Trump 71,075,087 - 48 percent
Has won 23 states with 214 ev.
Leads in 2 states with 18 ev.
Others 2,489,909 - 2 percent
Has won 0 states with 0 ev.
Leads in 0 states with 0 ev.
Needed to win: 270 of the 538 electoral votes (ev) from
the 50 states and the District of Columbia.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--DuPage, Kane and Will counties moving to Tier 2 restrictions Wednesday

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Monday announced that heightened restrictions on DuPage , Kane , Kankakee and Will counties will take effect Wednesday as COVID-19 surges with 10,573 new cases and 14 more deaths from the respiratory disease reported Monday .
The number of patients in hospitals with the virus came to 4,409 as of Sunday night , the highest tally since May 13 .
The total seven-day average of hospitalizations is 4,042.6 , up nearly 31 % from 3,090 a day between Oct. 26 and Nov. 1 , according to Illinois Department of Public Health data .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state imposed restrictions , such as no indoor dining in DuPage and Kane ( Region 8 ) and Will and Kankakee ( Region 7 ) , after the four counties surpassed an 8 % virus case positivity rate .
Those rates have n't diminished .
As of Sunday , DuPage 's seven-day average rate was 13.9 % , Kane 's was 18.4 % , Will 's was 17.5 % , and Kankakee 's was 15 % .
`` Too many local officials across the state are ignoring their local public health departments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following even the most basic COVID-19 guidelines , '' Pritzker said .
Leaders `` need to take some responsibility for keeping constituents safe .
I promise them that responsibility will pale between what comes when hospitals in your area are filling up and there 's not enough doctors and nurses to save their constituents ' lives . ''
New rules will include reducing the size of parties eating outdoors at bars and restaurants from 10 to six and closing at 11 p.m. And the size of social gatherings , such as weddings or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 people per room , rather than 25 , indoors and outdoors .
The tighter restrictions , known as Tier 2 mitigations , go into effect Wednesday .
Around the region , some leaders including the mayors of Libertyville and Itasca have said they are worried about the economic future of restaurants and wo n't enforce restrictions .
Asked about Pritzker 's warning , Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn had no comment Monday .
Meanwhile , Republican state Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles is dubious about the state 's rationale for closing indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing interviews with patients show restaurants and bars as a high-risk activity .
`` I think the governor had doubled down on his decision without providing the transparency that these business owners are owed about this mitigation dramatically affecting their businesses , '' DeWitte said .
The state already imposed Tier 2 rules on northwest Illinois , which includes Rockford , Northern Illinois University and Galena , on Oct. 25 .
Those actions did not require schools to halt in-person learning .
Elgin Area School District U-46 , which extends into Cook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed with offering in-person instruction Tuesday for kindergarten through second grade .
However , just hours after the decision , Downers Grove School District 58 announced it would switch to fully remote learning temporarily , Nov. 16-30 , because of a rise in cases .
The state 's virus positivity rate is 11.4 % based on a seven-day average , the highest since May and indicative of a continued climb .
The daily positivity rate is 16.3 % , although that reflects a below-average number of tests .
Pritzker also confirmed that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , one of those representatives tested positive for COVID-19 Friday .
That person developed symptoms Thursday , three days after the meeting , and therefore was outside a two-day window where exposure to the virus could occur , IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said .
Pritzker has tested negative for COVID-19 since .
Tests processed by state labs reached 64,760 in the last 24 hours .
The week 's average is 84,663 .
The total number of virus infections is 498,560 , while Illinoisans dying from the pandemic total 10,210 .
The tally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new IDPH policy enacted Friday of combining possible and confirmed infections .
By lumping those cases together , state officials said they are following U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocols , but it means comparisons between Illinois caseloads since the pandemic began and as of Friday wo n't parallel exactly .
In DuPage County this week , the state is offering pop-up COVID-19 testing : • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Churchville Middle School , 155 Victory Parkway , Elmhurst .
• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale Heights Aquatic Center parking lot , 240 Civic Center Plaza .

DuPage, Kane and Will counties moving to Tier 2 restrictions Wednesday
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday announced that heightened restrictions on DuPage, Kane, Kankakee and Will counties will take effect Wednesday as COVID-19 surges with 10,573 new cases and 14 more deaths from the respiratory disease reported Monday.
The number of patients in hospitals with the virus came to 4,409 as of Sunday night, the highest tally since May 13. The total seven-day average of hospitalizations is 4,042.6, up nearly 31% from 3,090 a day between Oct. 26 and Nov. 1, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.
It's been more than two weeks since the state imposed restrictions, such as no indoor dining in DuPage and Kane (Region 8) and Will and Kankakee (Region 7), after the four counties surpassed an 8% virus case positivity rate. Those rates haven't diminished. As of Sunday, DuPage's seven-day average rate was 13.9%, Kane's was 18.4%, Will's was 17.5%, and Kankakee's was 15%.
"Too many local officials across the state are ignoring their local public health departments and doing nearly nothing to assist residents in following even the most basic COVID-19 guidelines," Pritzker said.
Leaders "need to take some responsibility for keeping constituents safe. I promise them that responsibility will pale between what comes when hospitals in your area are filling up and there's not enough doctors and nurses to save their constituents' lives."
New rules will include reducing the size of parties eating outdoors at bars and restaurants from 10 to six and closing at 11 p.m. And the size of social gatherings, such as weddings or professional meetings, will be limited to 10 people per room, rather than 25, indoors and outdoors.
The tighter restrictions, known as Tier 2 mitigations, go into effect Wednesday.
Around the region, some leaders including the mayors of Libertyville and Itasca have said they are worried about the economic future of restaurants and won't enforce restrictions. Asked about Pritzker's warning, Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn had no comment Monday.
Meanwhile, Republican state Sen. Don DeWitte of St. Charles is dubious about the state's rationale for closing indoor dining. State officials have said contract tracing interviews with patients show restaurants and bars as a high-risk activity.
"I think the governor had doubled down on his decision without providing the transparency that these business owners are owed about this mitigation dramatically affecting their businesses," DeWitte said.
The state already imposed Tier 2 rules on northwest Illinois, which includes Rockford, Northern Illinois University and Galena, on Oct. 25. Those actions did not require schools to halt in-person learning.
Elgin Area School District U-46, which extends into Cook, DuPage and Kane, still intends to proceed with offering in-person instruction Tuesday for kindergarten through second grade.
However, just hours after the decision, Downers Grove School District 58 announced it would switch to fully remote learning temporarily, Nov. 16-30, because of a rise in cases.
The state's virus positivity rate is 11.4% based on a seven-day average, the highest since May and indicative of a continued climb. The daily positivity rate is 16.3%, although that reflects a below-average number of tests.
Pritzker also confirmed that after a Nov. 2 meeting with restaurant industry members, one of those representatives tested positive for COVID-19 Friday. That person developed symptoms Thursday, three days after the meeting, and therefore was outside a two-day window where exposure to the virus could occur, IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said. Pritzker has tested negative for COVID-19 since.
Tests processed by state labs reached 64,760 in the last 24 hours. The week's average is 84,663.
The total number of virus infections is 498,560, while Illinoisans dying from the pandemic total 10,210.
The tally of daily and cumulative virus cases reflects a new IDPH policy enacted Friday of combining possible and confirmed infections.
By lumping those cases together, state officials said they are following U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocols, but it means comparisons between Illinois caseloads since the pandemic began and as of Friday won't parallel exactly.
In DuPage County this week, the state is offering pop-up COVID-19 testing:
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Churchville Middle School, 155 Victory Parkway, Elmhurst.
• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Bartlett North Metra lot.
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale Heights Aquatic Center parking lot, 240 Civic Center Plaza.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Underwood widens lead over Oberweis as Lake, Kane counties post new results

With new ballot counts coming from Kane and Lake counties , U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood 's lead has widened in her hard-fought race for reelection against Republican challenger Jim Oberweis .
The new unofficial results , posted just after 10 p.m. Sunday in Lake and 11 a.m. Monday in Kane , now give the Naperville Democrat a total of 192,601 votes to 191,454 for Oberweis , a 1,147-vote advantage .
The update came less than 24 hours after a late Saturday night posting by the Lake County clerk 's office flipped the race in Underwood 's favor , turning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 584-vote edge .
However , the counting in the 14th District is not over , and additional updates are expected over the next nine or 10 days .
Mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive at county clerks ' offices by Nov. 17 will be counted , as will provisional ballots .
The Lake County clerk 's office has said it plans updates on Tuesday and Nov. 17 , and the McHenry County clerk is expected to post an update Wednesday and final totals Nov. 18 .
Kendall and Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeKalb is waiting until Nov. 18 .
Oberweis , a state senator from Sugar Grove , declared victory in a video posted Wednesday , when he led by 895 votes .
The Underwood campaign called the proclamation premature .
The sprawling 14th District includes parts of DuPage , Kane , Lake , McHenry , Will , DeKalb and Kendall counties .

Underwood widens lead over Oberweis as Lake, Kane counties post new results
With new ballot counts coming from Kane and Lake counties, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood's lead has widened in her hard-fought race for reelection against Republican challenger Jim Oberweis.
The new unofficial results, posted just after 10 p.m. Sunday in Lake and 11 a.m. Monday in Kane, now give the Naperville Democrat a total of 192,601 votes to 191,454 for Oberweis, a 1,147-vote advantage.
The update came less than 24 hours after a late Saturday night posting by the Lake County clerk's office flipped the race in Underwood's favor, turning the count from a 558-vote disadvantage to a 584-vote edge.
However, the counting in the 14th District is not over, and additional updates are expected over the next nine or 10 days. Mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive at county clerks' offices by Nov. 17 will be counted, as will provisional ballots.
The Lake County clerk's office has said it plans updates on Tuesday and Nov. 17, and the McHenry County clerk is expected to post an update Wednesday and final totals Nov. 18. Kendall and Will counties are waiting until Nov. 17. DeKalb is waiting until Nov. 18.
Oberweis, a state senator from Sugar Grove, declared victory in a video posted Wednesday, when he led by 895 votes. The Underwood campaign called the proclamation premature.
The sprawling 14th District includes parts of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb and Kendall counties.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective

Pfizer said Monday that an early peek at the data on its coronavirus vaccine suggests the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90 % effective at preventing COVID-19 , putting the company on track to apply later this month for emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration .
The announcement , less than a week after a presidential election that was seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump 's handling of the crisis , was a rare and major piece of encouraging news lately in the battle against the scourge that has killed more than 1.2 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States alone .
Confirmed cases in the U.S. were expected to eclipse 10 million on Monday , the highest in the world .
`` We 're in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope , '' Dr. Bill Gruber , Pfizer 's senior vice president of clinical development , told The Associated Press .
`` We 're very encouraged . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government 's top-infectious disease expert , said the results suggesting 90 % effectiveness are `` just extraordinary , '' adding : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as high as that . ''
`` It 's going to have a major impact on everything we do with respect to COVID , '' Fauci said .
Pharmaceutical companies and various countries are in a global race to develop a vaccine against the virus .
Fauci said that the Pfizer vaccine and virtually all others in testing target the spike protein the coronavirus uses to infect cells , so the results validate that approach .
Monday 's announcement does n't mean for certain that a vaccine is imminent : This interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board , looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. and five other countries .
Some participants got the vaccine , while others got dummy shots .
Pfizer Inc. did not provide any more details about those infections and cautioned that the initial protection rate might change by the time the study ends .
Even revealing such early data is highly unusual .
Whenever any vaccine arrives , initial supplies will be scarce and rationed , with priority likely to be given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front lines .
Pfizer has estimated that 50 million doses of its vaccine could be available globally by the end of the year , which could cover 25 million people , since it is given in two doses .
`` We need to see the data , but this is extremely promising , '' said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University , former chief of the FDA 's vaccine division .
He ticked off many questions still to be answered , including how long the vaccine 's effects last and whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones .
Marylyn Addo , head of the tropical medicine unit at UKE hospital in Hamburg , Germany , said the interim results were `` an interesting first signal , '' but questions remain .
Global markets , already buoyed by the victory of President-elect Joe Biden , exploded on the news from Pfizer .
Major markets in Europe , where infections have soared , were up 5 % .
In the U.S. , the S % P 500 surged 3.7 % after the opening bell , and the Dow Jones Industrial Average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who had suggested during the presidential campaign that a vaccine could be ready by Election Day , tweeted on Monday : `` STOCK MARKET UP BIG , VACCINE COMING SOON .
REPORT 90 % EFFECTIVE .
SUCH GREAT NEWS ! ''
The timing is likely to feed unsubstantiated suspicions from Trump supporters that the pharmaceutical industry was withholding the news until after the election .
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted : `` The timing of this is pretty amazing .
Nothing nefarious about the timing of this at all right ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CNBC that the election was always an artificial deadline and that the data was going to be ready when it was ready .
The independent data monitors met on Sunday , analyzing the COVID-19 test results so far and notifying Pfizer .
`` I am very happy , '' Bourla said , `` but at the same time , sometimes I have tears in my eyes when I realize that this is the end of nine months , day-and-night work of so many people and how many people , billions , invested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I never thought it would be 90 % . ''
Earlier this year , Fauci said he would be happy with a COVID-19 vaccine that was 60 % effective .
Scientists have warned for months that any COVID-19 shot may be only as good as flu vaccines , which are about 50 % effective and require yearly shots .
Pfizer opted not to join the Trump administration 's Operation Warp Speed , which helped a half-dozen drugmakers accelerate their vaccine testing and helped fund the work .
Instead , Pfizer funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company said it has invested billions of dollars .
The coronavirus shots , made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech , are among 10 possible vaccine candidates in late-stage testing around the world -- four of them so far in huge studies in the U.S. Another U.S. company , Moderna Inc. , also has said it hopes to be able to file an application with the FDA later this month .
Volunteers in the final-stage studies , and the researchers , do n't know who received the real vaccine or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after their second required dose , Pfizer 's study began counting the number who developed COVID-19 symptoms and were confirmed to have the coronavirus .
Because the study has n't ended , Gruber could n't say how many in each group had infections .
But the math suggests that almost all the infections counted so far had to have occurred in people who got the dummy shots .
Pfizer does n't plan to stop its study until it records 164 infections among all the volunteers , a number that the FDA has agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is working .
The agency has made clear that any vaccine must be at least 50 % effective .
No participant so far has become severely ill , Gruber said .
Nor could he provide a breakdown of how many of the infections had occurred in older people , who are at highest risk from COVID-19 .
Participants were tested only if they developed symptoms , leaving unanswered whether vaccinated people could get infected but show no symptoms and unknowingly spread the virus .
FDA has told companies they must track half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two months , the time period when problems typically crop up .
Pfizer expects to reach that milestone later this month , but said Monday no serious safety concerns have been reported .
Because the pandemic is still raging , manufacturers hope to seek permission from governments around the world for emergency use of their vaccines while additional testing continues -- allowing them to get to market faster than normal but raising concerns about how much scientists will know about the shots .
The FDA 's scientific advisers last month said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 vaccine could damage confidence in the shots and make it harder to ever find out how well they really work .
Those advisers said it 's critical these massive studies are allowed to run to completion .
AP writers Marilynn Marchione , Frank Jordans and Charles Sheehan contributed to this report .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 's Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective
FILE -- In this Monday, Nov. 23, 2015, file photo, the Pfizer logo is displayed at world headquarters in New York. On Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, Pfizer said an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE -- This May 4, 2020, file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shows the first patient enrolled in Pfizer's COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. On Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, Pfizer said an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. (Courtesy of University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP, File)
AP Medical Writers
Pfizer said Monday that an early peek at the data on its coronavirus vaccine suggests the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19, putting the company on track to apply later this month for emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
The announcement, less than a week after a presidential election that was seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis, was a rare and major piece of encouraging news lately in the battle against the scourge that has killed more than 1.2 million people worldwide, including almost a quarter-million in the United States alone. Confirmed cases in the U.S. were expected to eclipse 10 million on Monday, the highest in the world.
"We're in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope," Dr. Bill Gruber, Pfizer's senior vice president of clinical development, told The Associated Press. "We're very encouraged."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top-infectious disease expert, said the results suggesting 90% effectiveness are "just extraordinary," adding: "Not very many people expected it would be as high as that."
"It's going to have a major impact on everything we do with respect to COVID," Fauci said.
Pharmaceutical companies and various countries are in a global race to develop a vaccine against the virus. Fauci said that the Pfizer vaccine and virtually all others in testing target the spike protein the coronavirus uses to infect cells, so the results validate that approach.
Monday's announcement doesn't mean for certain that a vaccine is imminent: This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. and five other countries. Some participants got the vaccine, while others got dummy shots.
Pfizer Inc. did not provide any more details about those infections and cautioned that the initial protection rate might change by the time the study ends. Even revealing such early data is highly unusual.
Whenever any vaccine arrives, initial supplies will be scarce and rationed, with priority likely to be given to health care workers and others on the front lines. Pfizer has estimated that 50 million doses of its vaccine could be available globally by the end of the year, which could cover 25 million people, since it is given in two doses.
"We need to see the data, but this is extremely promising," said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, former chief of the FDA's vaccine division. He ticked off many questions still to be answered, including how long the vaccine's effects last and whether it protects older people as well as younger ones.
Marylyn Addo, head of the tropical medicine unit at UKE hospital in Hamburg, Germany, said the interim results were "an interesting first signal," but questions remain.
Global markets, already buoyed by the victory of President-elect Joe Biden, exploded on the news from Pfizer. Major markets in Europe, where infections have soared, were up 5%. In the U.S., the S%P 500 surged 3.7% after the opening bell, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up more than 1,300 points.
Trump, who had suggested during the presidential campaign that a vaccine could be ready by Election Day, tweeted on Monday: "STOCK MARKET UP BIG, VACCINE COMING SOON. REPORT 90% EFFECTIVE. SUCH GREAT NEWS!"
The timing is likely to feed unsubstantiated suspicions from Trump supporters that the pharmaceutical industry was withholding the news until after the election. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: "The timing of this is pretty amazing. Nothing nefarious about the timing of this at all right?"
Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said on CNBC that the election was always an artificial deadline and that the data was going to be ready when it was ready. The independent data monitors met on Sunday, analyzing the COVID-19 test results so far and notifying Pfizer.
"I am very happy," Bourla said, "but at the same time, sometimes I have tears in my eyes when I realize that this is the end of nine months, day-and-night work of so many people and how many people, billions, invested hopes on this."
He added: "I never thought it would be 90%."
Earlier this year, Fauci said he would be happy with a COVID-19 vaccine that was 60% effective. Scientists have warned for months that any COVID-19 shot may be only as good as flu vaccines, which are about 50% effective and require yearly shots.
Pfizer opted not to join the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed, which helped a half-dozen drugmakers accelerate their vaccine testing and helped fund the work. Instead, Pfizer funded all its testing and manufacturing costs itself. The company said it has invested billions of dollars.
The coronavirus shots, made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, are among 10 possible vaccine candidates in late-stage testing around the world -- four of them so far in huge studies in the U.S. Another U.S. company, Moderna Inc., also has said it hopes to be able to file an application with the FDA later this month.
Volunteers in the final-stage studies, and the researchers, don't know who received the real vaccine or a dummy shot. But a week after their second required dose, Pfizer's study began counting the number who developed COVID-19 symptoms and were confirmed to have the coronavirus.
Because the study hasn't ended, Gruber couldn't say how many in each group had infections. But the math suggests that almost all the infections counted so far had to have occurred in people who got the dummy shots.
Pfizer doesn't plan to stop its study until it records 164 infections among all the volunteers, a number that the FDA has agreed is enough to tell how well the vaccine is working. The agency has made clear that any vaccine must be at least 50% effective.
No participant so far has become severely ill, Gruber said. Nor could he provide a breakdown of how many of the infections had occurred in older people, who are at highest risk from COVID-19.
Participants were tested only if they developed symptoms, leaving unanswered whether vaccinated people could get infected but show no symptoms and unknowingly spread the virus.
FDA has told companies they must track half their participants for side effects for at least two months, the time period when problems typically crop up. Pfizer expects to reach that milestone later this month, but said Monday no serious safety concerns have been reported.
Because the pandemic is still raging, manufacturers hope to seek permission from governments around the world for emergency use of their vaccines while additional testing continues -- allowing them to get to market faster than normal but raising concerns about how much scientists will know about the shots.
The FDA's scientific advisers last month said they worry that allowing emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine could damage confidence in the shots and make it harder to ever find out how well they really work. Those advisers said it's critical these massive studies are allowed to run to completion.
------
AP writers Marilynn Marchione, Frank Jordans and Charles Sheehan contributed to this report.
------
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Kenosha man charged with supplying gun to Rittenhouse

KENOSHA , Wis. -- Prosecutors have charged a Wisconsin man with supplying the gun that police say an Antioch teen used to kill two people during a protest over police brutality in August .
Online court records show prosecutors in Kenosha charged 19-year-old Dominick Black on Nov. 3 with two felony counts of supplying a dangerous weapon to a minor causing death .
Black could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted on both counts .
Black made his initial court appearance Monday .
Court Commissioner Loren Keating set his bail at $ 2,500 cash and scheduled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attorney , Robert Keller , did n't immediately return a message left at his office after the court appearance .
The Kenosha News reported that a criminal complaint alleges Black asked his friend Kyle Rittenhouse , 17 , of Antioch to help him guard businesses in Kenosha from protesters the night of Aug. 25 .
Demonstrators converged on the city for several nights after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake , who is Black , in the back seven times during a domestic dispute .
The shooting left Blake paralyzed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to Black 's stepfather 's house to get an assault-style rifle that Rittenhouse could use that night , the complaint said .
Wisconsin law prohibits minors from carrying or possessing firearms unless they 're hunting .
The complaint alleges that Rittenhouse used the rifle to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wound a third man , Gaige Grosskreutz .
Rittenhouse has been charged with multiple counts , including intentional homicide and illegally possessing a gun .
His attorneys contend he was acting in self-defense .
The case has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction during protests across the country this year .
Police first met Black at the Rittenhouse family 's apartment in Antioch , where he told them he had the rifle that Rittenhouse used in the trunk of his car and that he 'd given Rittenhouse the weapon , authorities said .
Police said they recovered the rifle as well as another rifle Black carried during the protest from the car .
According to Antioch police reports , Black 's stepfather said Black bought the gun for Rittenhouse in Ladysmith , Wisconsin , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his own name .
Black told police that when they went to his stepfather 's house he was concerned about Rittenhouse having the gun because he was n't 18 , but if he told Rittenhouse he could n't have it , Rittenhouse `` would have thrown a fit , '' the reports said .

Kenosha man charged with supplying gun to Rittenhouse
Associated PressAntioch resident Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, appears for an extradition hearing Oct. 30 in Lake County court in Waukegan. Rittenhouse fatally shot two men and wounded another during a night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August. His attorneys say he was acting in self-defense.
KENOSHA, Wis. -- Prosecutors have charged a Wisconsin man with supplying the gun that police say an Antioch teen used to kill two people during a protest over police brutality in August.
Online court records show prosecutors in Kenosha charged 19-year-old Dominick Black on Nov. 3 with two felony counts of supplying a dangerous weapon to a minor causing death. Black could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted on both counts.
Black made his initial court appearance Monday. Court Commissioner Loren Keating set his bail at $2,500 cash and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 19. Black's attorney, Robert Keller, didn't immediately return a message left at his office after the court appearance.
The Kenosha News reported that a criminal complaint alleges Black asked his friend Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch to help him guard businesses in Kenosha from protesters the night of Aug. 25. Demonstrators converged on the city for several nights after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, who is Black, in the back seven times during a domestic dispute. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down.
Black and Rittenhouse went to Black's stepfather's house to get an assault-style rifle that Rittenhouse could use that night, the complaint said. Wisconsin law prohibits minors from carrying or possessing firearms unless they're hunting.
The complaint alleges that Rittenhouse used the rifle to fatally shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wound a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse has been charged with multiple counts, including intentional homicide and illegally possessing a gun. His attorneys contend he was acting in self-defense. The case has been a rallying point for conservatives upset with property destruction during protests across the country this year.
Police first met Black at the Rittenhouse family's apartment in Antioch, where he told them he had the rifle that Rittenhouse used in the trunk of his car and that he'd given Rittenhouse the weapon, authorities said. Police said they recovered the rifle as well as another rifle Black carried during the protest from the car.
According to Antioch police reports, Black's stepfather said Black bought the gun for Rittenhouse in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, using Rittenhouse's money but put the gun in his own name.
Black told police that when they went to his stepfather's house he was concerned about Rittenhouse having the gun because he wasn't 18, but if he told Rittenhouse he couldn't have it, Rittenhouse "would have thrown a fit," the reports said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Stocks burst higher, S&P 500 at record on vaccine hopes

NEW YORK ( AP ) -- Stocks are jumping worldwide Monday , catapulting Wall Street back to record heights , on a burst of hope following encouraging data about a potential COVID-19 vaccine .
The S & P 500 was 2.8 % higher in midday trading after Pfizer said an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90 % effective at preventing COVID-19 , though that does n't mean its release is imminent .
The index at the heart of many 401 ( k ) accounts is on track to close at an all-time high for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , after soaring as much as 3.9 % earlier in the morning .
Financial markets around the world were already climbing before the vaccine data 's release , and Wall Street seemed set to follow on relief that the limbo created by the long , market-bruising battle for the White House was finally clearing .
Democrat Joe Biden over the weekend clinched the last of the electoral votes needed to become the next president .
U.S. stock futures , Treasury yields and oil prices burst even higher immediately following the vaccine news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot up from 0.81 % before the announcement to 0.95 % , a very big move for the bond market and one that shows stronger confidence in the economy .
It 's the highest level for that key rate since March 20 .
Stocks of companies that most need the economy and the world to return to normal for their profits to heal led the way .
A 10.8 % surge for Chevron and 9.3 % jump for The Walt Disney Co. amid hopes that people will start driving and flying to theme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial Average to a leap of 1,071 points , or 3.8 % , to 29,394 , as of 11:23 a.m. Eastern time .
Cruise operators , airlines and mall owners were also among the market 's biggest winners .
Carnival surged 32.2 % , though it 's still down by more than half for 2020 so far .
The Big Tech companies that drove the market higher earlier in the pandemic , in large part because they did n't need a `` normal '' economy to succeed , were lagging behind .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nasdaq composite , which rose a more modest 1.1 % .
Companies whose fortunes soared directly because the pandemic kept everyone hunkered at home , meanwhile , fell sharply .
Zoom Video Communications , whose online meetings became the de facto way for students and workers to communicate , sank 13.1 % .
Grubhub , which benefited from people ordering in for dinner , dropped 8.5 % .
Etsy , whose online marketplace rode a wave of popularity for handmade masks , lost 10.5 % .
If a vaccine for COVID-19 does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a `` game changer '' and just what the market had been waiting for .
It underscores again how the coronavirus and its effect on the economy are the dominant concerns for investors , much more than who wins what in Washington .
The 90 % effectiveness rate for Pfizer 's potential vaccine is what struck Ajay Rajadhyaksha , head of macro research at Barclays .
`` If that proves to be correct , it is a significant positive surprise and increases the odds of a quicker return to normalcy , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that several risks remain that could trip up the market 's big recent gains .
Investors are pushing stocks up as they focus on a more encouraging future , but the present is still bleak in many ways .
Coronavirus counts continue to rise at troubling rates across much of Europe and the United States , so much that several European governments have brought back restrictions on businesses .
And in Washington , some uncertainties remain that could derail what 's already become a better than 10 % rally for the S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markets are banking on control of Congress remaining split between Democrats and Republicans , which can keep low tax rates and other pro-business policies the status quo in Washington , but that hinges on the result of run-off elections in Georgia in January .
Potential gridlock also makes any potential rescue package for the economy from Congress likely to be smaller than if Democrats had swept control of all of Washington .
President Donald Trump , meanwhile , has refused to concede the election .
For now , though , euphoria about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force across markets , particularly as it layers on top of the tremendous aid the Federal Reserve has already put in place for the economy .
`` Keep in mind that when you remove the virus from the equation , we are set up tremendously well for growth given the unprecedented easy money policies of the Fed , '' said Chris Larkin , managing director of trading and investing product at E-Trade Financial .
Economists expect the central bank to boost its support for the economy even further in an attempt to pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pfizer jumped 9.6 % as its announcement indicates the company is on track to file an emergency use application with U.S. regulators later this month .
Some investors were n't able to participate immediately , though .
Customers were complaining about problems across Charles Schwab , Fidelity , Vanguard and other brokerages Monday morning .
Charles Schwab said a technical issue meant clients may have difficulty logging in .
In markets around the world , stocks strengthened amid expectations that a Biden-led White House could tamp down tariffs and rising trade tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
France 's CAC 40 soared 7.2 % and Germany 's DAX returned 4.8 % .
The FTSE 100 in London jumped 4.8 % .
Japan 's Nikkei 225 rose 2.1 % , South Korea 's Kospi rose 1.3 % , Hong Kong 's Hang Seng gained 1.2 % and stocks in Shanghai rose 1.9 % .

Stocks burst higher, S&P 500 at record on vaccine hopes
A stock ticker with Pfizer stock information is shown at the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. World markets rocketed higher after Pfizer said early data show its coronavirus vaccine is effective. That added to investor relief that results from the U.S. presidential election were finally decided, with Joe Biden declared the president-elect. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Stock trader Thomas Ferrigno arrives to work at the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. World markets rocketed higher after Pfizer said early data show its coronavirus vaccine is effective. That added to investor relief that results from the U.S. presidential election were finally decided, with Joe Biden the president-elect. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are jumping worldwide Monday, catapulting Wall Street back to record heights, on a burst of hope following encouraging data about a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
The S&P 500 was 2.8% higher in midday trading after Pfizer said an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19, though that doesn't mean its release is imminent. The index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts is on track to close at an all-time high for the first time in more than two months, after soaring as much as 3.9% earlier in the morning.
Financial markets around the world were already climbing before the vaccine data's release, and Wall Street seemed set to follow on relief that the limbo created by the long, market-bruising battle for the White House was finally clearing. Democrat Joe Biden over the weekend clinched the last of the electoral votes needed to become the next president.
U.S. stock futures, Treasury yields and oil prices burst even higher immediately following the vaccine news. The yield on the 10-year Treasury shot up from 0.81% before the announcement to 0.95%, a very big move for the bond market and one that shows stronger confidence in the economy. It's the highest level for that key rate since March 20.
Stocks of companies that most need the economy and the world to return to normal for their profits to heal led the way. A 10.8% surge for Chevron and 9.3% jump for The Walt Disney Co. amid hopes that people will start driving and flying to theme parks again helped drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a leap of 1,071 points, or 3.8%, to 29,394, as of 11:23 a.m. Eastern time.
Cruise operators, airlines and mall owners were also among the market's biggest winners. Carnival surged 32.2%, though it's still down by more than half for 2020 so far.
The Big Tech companies that drove the market higher earlier in the pandemic, in large part because they didn't need a "normal" economy to succeed, were lagging behind. That kept a lid on the gains for the Nasdaq composite, which rose a more modest 1.1%.
Companies whose fortunes soared directly because the pandemic kept everyone hunkered at home, meanwhile, fell sharply. Zoom Video Communications, whose online meetings became the de facto way for students and workers to communicate, sank 13.1%. Grubhub, which benefited from people ordering in for dinner, dropped 8.5%. Etsy, whose online marketplace rode a wave of popularity for handmade masks, lost 10.5%.
If a vaccine for COVID-19 does indeed pan out, analysts say it's a "game changer" and just what the market had been waiting for. It underscores again how the coronavirus and its effect on the economy are the dominant concerns for investors, much more than who wins what in Washington.
The 90% effectiveness rate for Pfizer's potential vaccine is what struck Ajay Rajadhyaksha, head of macro research at Barclays.
"If that proves to be correct, it is a significant positive surprise and increases the odds of a quicker return to normalcy," he said.
Still, analysts caution that several risks remain that could trip up the market's big recent gains.
Investors are pushing stocks up as they focus on a more encouraging future, but the present is still bleak in many ways. Coronavirus counts continue to rise at troubling rates across much of Europe and the United States, so much that several European governments have brought back restrictions on businesses.
And in Washington, some uncertainties remain that could derail what's already become a better than 10% rally for the S&P 500 so far in November. Markets are banking on control of Congress remaining split between Democrats and Republicans, which can keep low tax rates and other pro-business policies the status quo in Washington, but that hinges on the result of run-off elections in Georgia in January.
Potential gridlock also makes any potential rescue package for the economy from Congress likely to be smaller than if Democrats had swept control of all of Washington. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has refused to concede the election.
For now, though, euphoria about a possible return to normal is the dominant force across markets, particularly as it layers on top of the tremendous aid the Federal Reserve has already put in place for the economy.
"Keep in mind that when you remove the virus from the equation, we are set up tremendously well for growth given the unprecedented easy money policies of the Fed," said Chris Larkin, managing director of trading and investing product at E-Trade Financial.
Economists expect the central bank to boost its support for the economy even further in an attempt to pick up the slack from a hesitant Congress.
Pfizer jumped 9.6% as its announcement indicates the company is on track to file an emergency use application with U.S. regulators later this month.
Some investors weren't able to participate immediately, though. Customers were complaining about problems across Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard and other brokerages Monday morning. Charles Schwab said a technical issue meant clients may have difficulty logging in.
In markets around the world, stocks strengthened amid expectations that a Biden-led White House could tamp down tariffs and rising trade tensions that had built under Trump's administration.
France's CAC 40 soared 7.2% and Germany's DAX returned 4.8%. The FTSE 100 in London jumped 4.8%. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 2.1%, South Korea's Kospi rose 1.3%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.2% and stocks in Shanghai rose 1.9%.
------
AP Business Writer Yuri Kageyama and AP journalist Alice Fung contributed.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--How Elgin Eats program aims to help downtown restaurants amid COVID-19 spike


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Two years in the making, dog rescue opens adoption center in Palatine

After a two-year search and months of renovation , a nonprofit dog rescue has opened a dog adoption center in Palatine .
Second City Canine Rescue was able to buy the building at 570 N. Smith Street in Palatine thanks to a bequest from a donor , said founder and board President Jacquie Cobb .
The 3,500-square-foot property used to hold Fortune Kookie restaurant that closed about five years ago , she said .
The building can house up to 12 dogs , but it will hold only up to five dogs in November -- currently there are four -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , as per the permits approved by the village of Palatine , Cobb said .
The renovation work , for which the rescue raised about $ 500,000 , included soundproofing , she said .
The nonprofit was founded in 2011 and has seven employees , all part-timers , Cobb said .
It gets rescue dogs from Chicago Animal Care and Control -- which typically has pit bull-type dogs -- and from partner animal shelters in places like Kentucky and Alabama , which typically have a variety of breeds , Cobb said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 100 foster homes plus about 400 individuals who do fundraising , scheduling of veterinary appointments and more , she said .
Typically it rescues about 500 dogs per year , but this year the count already is at 600 , she said .
`` Typically we have between 30 and 50 dogs in our care but with COVID-19 it 's been a lot less , because as soon as they go in they get adopted .
So many people are adopting right now , it 's wonderful . ''
The nonprofit used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PetSmart in Schaumburg .
With the new building , adoptions visits can be held seven days a week , Cobb said .
The agency settled on Palatine because its volunteers are mostly within a 10- to 15-minute drive , said Cobb , who lives in St. Charles and just opened her private veterinary practice in Elgin .
Cobb said she started Second City Canine Rescue with the help of two friends after volunteering for another organization .
`` We felt the need for a different type of rescue , one that made really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs in our care , '' she said .
Christine Nendick , who works as adoption coordinator assistant for Second City Canine Rescue , said she started as a foster parent for the organization , and also has fostered dogs and cats for others .
Second City Canine Rescue is a `` fantastic '' rescue , Nendick said .
`` They are extremely supportive of their fosters .
They give their foster everything that they need : food , bedding , toys and all that .
They are also very supportive in term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fosters .
You always know who to reach out to .
They always do good by their dogs .
They make sure the animals are taken care of . ''
Cobb said the nonprofit closed on the Palatine property just two weeks before the stay-at-home order in March , which put a damper on the capital campaign for the renovation work .
The group hopes to raise another $ 100,000 to expand the building 's play yard , she said .
For more information , visit sccrescue.org or call ( 847 ) 807-5364 @

Two years in the making, dog rescue opens adoption center in Palatine
The interior of Second City Canine Rescue at 570 N. Smith St. in Palatine. Courtesy of Second City Canine Rescue
Second City Canine Rescue last week had the grand opening of its adoption at 570 N. Smith St. in Palatine. The building used to house Fortune Kookie restaurant. Courtesy of Second City Canine Rescue
Second City Canine Rescue last week had the grand opening of its adoption center at 570 N. Smith St. in Palatine. Courtesy of Second City Canine Rescue
Second City Canine Rescue has opened its first adoption center in Palatine. Pictured here at the grand opening last week are, from left, Jennifer Moreland, adoption center manager, Jacquie Cobb, board president, and Judy Anglada, executive director, with Bo, a rescue. Courtesy of Second City Canine Rescue
After a two-year search and months of renovation, a nonprofit dog rescue has opened a dog adoption center in Palatine.
Second City Canine Rescue was able to buy the building at 570 N. Smith S. in Palatine thanks to a bequest from a donor, said founder and board President Jacquie Cobb. The 3,500-square-foot property used to be the site of the Fortune Kookie restaurant that closed about five years ago, she said.
The building can house up to 12 dogs, but it will hold only up to five dogs in November -- currently there are four -- and up to 10 dogs starting in December, as per the permits approved by the village of Palatine, Cobb said.
The renovation work, for which the rescue raised about $500,000, included soundproofing, she said.
The nonprofit was founded in 2011 and has seven employees, all part-timers, Cobb said. It gets rescue dogs from Chicago Animal Care and Control -- which typically has pit bull-type dogs -- and from partner animal shelters in places like Kentucky and Alabama, which typically have a variety of breeds, Cobb said.
The nonprofit has a volunteer network of about 100 foster homes plus about 400 individuals who do the fundraising, scheduling of veterinary appointments and more, she said. Typically it rescues about 500 dogs per year, but this year the count already is at 600, she said.
"Typically we have between 30 and 50 dogs in our care, but with COVID-19 it's been a lot less, because as soon as they go in they get adopted. So many people are adopting right now, it's wonderful," she said.
The nonprofit used to hold adoption events on Saturdays at PetSmart in Schaumburg. With the new building, adoptions visits can be held seven days a week, Cobb said. The agency settled on Palatine because its volunteers are mostly within a 10- to 15-minute drive, said Cobb, who lives in St. Charles and just opened her private veterinary practice in Elgin.
Cobb said she started Second City Canine Rescue with the help of two friends after volunteering for another organization. "We felt the need for a different type of rescue, one that made really responsible decisions both financially and with the dogs in our care," she said.
Christine Nendick, who works as adoption coordinator assistant for Second City Canine Rescue, said she started as a foster parent for the organization, and also has fostered dogs and cats for others. Second City Canine Rescue is a "fantastic" rescue, Nendick said.
"They are extremely supportive of their fosters. They give their foster everything that they need: food, bedding, toys and all that. They are also very supportive in term of being responsive in terms of their fosters. You always know who to reach out to. They always do good by their dogs. They make sure the animals are taken care of."
Cobb said the nonprofit closed on the Palatine property just two weeks before the stay-at-home order in March, which put a damper on the capital campaign for the renovation work. The group hopes to raise $100,000 more to expand the building's play yard, she said.
For more, visit sccrescue.org or call (847) 807-5364.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Glendale Heights police respond to two shootings Sunday night

Glendale Heights police are seeking information about two shootings on Sunday night .
According to police , officers responded at @ @ @ @ @ of numerous shots fired on the 500 block of James Court .
No one was @ @ @ @ @ Witnesses described a person leaving the area on foot and a dark vehicle fleeing the @ @ @ @ @ 9:14 p.m. , officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 2100 block @ @ @ @ @ bullets passed through a home 's exterior , and a person inside was struck , @ @ @ @ @ was taken to Amita Health Adventist Medical Center in Hinsdale and was released a short @ @ @ @ @ this shooting also described a person fleeing on foot .
The two shootings appear to @ @ @ @ @ Glendale Heights police .
Investigators have identified a person of interest and are working to @ @ @ @ @ with information should call police at ( 630 ) 260-6070 .

Glendale Heights police respond to two shootings Sunday night
Glendale Heights police are seeking information about two shootings on Sunday night.
According to police, officers responded at 6:38 p.m. to a report of numerous shots fired on the 500 block of James Court.
No one was struck in this shooting. Witnesses described a person leaving the area on foot and a dark vehicle fleeing the scene.
Then, at 9:14 p.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 2100 block of College Drive.
Several bullets passed through a home's exterior, and a person inside was struck, police said. The victim was taken to Amita Health Adventist Medical Center in Hinsdale and was released a short time later. Witnesses to this shooting also described a person fleeing on foot.
The two shootings appear to be related, according to Glendale Heights police. Investigators have identified a person of interest and are working to determine a motive.
Anyone with information should call police at (630) 260-6070.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--Trump fires Esper as Pentagon chief after less than 2 years

WASHINGTON ( AP ) -- President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday , a stunning move on @ @ @ @ @ failed reelection bid .
Presidents who win reelection often replace Cabinet members , including the @ @ @ @ @ losing presidents have kept their Pentagon chiefs in place until Inauguration Day to preserve stability @ @ @ @ @ security .
Trump announced the news in a tweet , saying that `` effective immediately @ @ @ @ @ director of the National Counterterrorism Center , will serve as acting secretary , sidestepping the @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist Esper 's strained relationship with Trump came close to collapse @ @ @ @ @ that triggered a debate within the administration over the proper role of the military in @ @ @ @ @ 's opposition to using active duty troops to help quell protests in Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ led to wide speculation that the defense chief was prepared to quit if faced with @ @ @ @ @

Trump fires Esper as Pentagon chief after less than 2 years
FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2020, file photo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks before a meeting with Romanian Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca, at the Pentagon, in Washington. President Donald Trump has fired Esper.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, a stunning move on the heels of Trump's failed reelection bid.
Presidents who win reelection often replace Cabinet members, including the secretary of defense, but losing presidents have kept their Pentagon chiefs in place until Inauguration Day to preserve stability in the name of national security.
Trump announced the news in a tweet, saying that "effective immediately" Christopher Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will serve as acting secretary, sidestepping the department's No.2-ranking official, Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist
Esper's strained relationship with Trump came close to collapse last summer during civil unrest that triggered a debate within the administration over the proper role of the military in combatting domestic unrest. Esper's opposition to using active duty troops to help quell protests in Washington, D.C., infuriated Trump, and led to wide speculation that the defense chief was prepared to quit if faced with such an issue again.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-09--HUD Secretary Ben Carson tests positive for the coronavirus

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Carson is the first member of @ @ @ @ @ known to have tested positive .
The department 's deputy chief of staff , Coalter @ @ @ @ @ Carson is `` in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics @ @ @ @ @ his recovery . ''
The 69-year-old Carson is among several top Trump administration officials who @ @ @ @ @ night party at the White House .
Carson has been a steadfast surrogate for the @ @ @ @ @ many of the swing states before Election Day to discuss the administration 's priorities and @ @ @ @ @ events Trump held to appeal to African American voters .
Before joining the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ GOP 's presidential nomination in 2016 .
He served for nearly 30 years as director @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins Children 's Center .

HUD Secretary Ben Carson tests positive for the coronavirus
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, shown at a 2018 White House event, has tested positive for the coronavirus. Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson holds notes as he speaks during a campaign event before President Donald Trump at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus. Carson is the first member of President Donald Trump's cabinet known to have tested positive.
The department's deputy chief of staff, Coalter Baker, said Monday that Carson is "in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery."
The 69-year-old Carson is among several top Trump administration officials who attended last week's election night party at the White House. Carson has been a steadfast surrogate for the Republican president, traveling to many of the swing states before Election Day to discuss the administration's priorities and achievements. Carson attended several events Trump held to appeal to African American voters.
Before joining the Trump administration, Carson had sought the GOP's presidential nomination in 2016. He served for nearly 30 years as director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.