dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Suburban hospitals worrying about their ability to staff the fall COVID-19 surge

As Illinois sets another single-day record for COVID-19 infections , hospitals are preparing to feel the strain of a fall and winter surge after weeks of steadily rising patient numbers .
Some medical centers are tightening visitor restrictions .
Hospital administrators are hoping they wo n't have to postpone elective surgeries again .
But national trends are leaving suburban hospital officials anxious .
`` I am extremely worried about staff , '' said Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua , chief physician executive and COVID-19 incident commander at Edward-Elmhurst Health .
Nine months into the pandemic , hospital leaders say they 're equipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to add bed capacity , and can quickly adjust surge plans .
In earlier peaks , some hospitals could bring in out-of-state medical workers to help with the COVID-19 response .
The difference now is a new wave of infections is blanketing much of the country , adding to concerns over the availability of workers to handle a crush of patients .
`` Every state around Illinois is surging , '' said Danny Chun , a spokesman for the Illinois Hospital Association .
`` Look at Wisconsin .
Look at Missouri .
Look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's a limited pool of health care professionals . ''
All but 11 states reported a rise in the number of people hospitalized this week , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Illinois hospitals had 3,092 patients with COVID-19 as of Thursday night , still below a high in April when more than 5,000 were hospitalized .
But health care systems are bracing for an influx because admissions tend to lag behind new infections .
Edward-Elmhurst was treating 96 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 across its two hospitals as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there were 33 .
A new visitor policy on Friday limited patients to `` one care partner '' with some exceptions .
`` Now that the whole nation is dealing with this , and you think about staffing as a whole and more community prevalence and spread , I worry about our workforce getting sick , '' Khatua said .
`` I also worry about the ability to staff for all of our patients with what 's happening nationally and the need for labor . ''
Khatua wants to avoid delaying elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals to redirect staff members to COVID-19 care , but it remains within the realm of possibilities .
`` We do n't want to get there , but depending on the numbers , if they continue to increase threefold every two to three weeks , I could foresee that happening , '' he said .
At its peak in the spring , NorthShore University HealthSystem had about 170 to 180 COVID-19 patients .
Physicians are `` definitely seeing the second wave , '' with 61 COVID-19 patients at Glenbrook Hospital on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine specialist and medical director of the capacity management center .
Glenbrook has 72 hospital beds for COVID patients , including ICU and medical/surgical beds .
`` We 're still centralizing the patients with this uptick to Glenbrook , '' Donlan said .
`` So if you have COVID and require a medical admission , unless there 's an extenuating circumstance , you would be admitted or transferred to Glenbrook , depending on which pavilion you presented to through the emergency departments . ''
One positive sign ?
For virus patients , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are seeing that through our experience and through our comfort level with treating COVID that the majority of patients are requiring less time in the hospital , '' Donlan said .
That trend also is mirrored at Edward-Elmhurst .
`` We have n't had to use ventilators as often , '' Khatua said .
`` Our mortality rates have gone down , which are all good things . ''
At St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates , the number of COVID-19 patients has increased from just six at the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Amita Health had a total of 260 Wednesday .
Physicians are caring for `` much younger '' patients and patients with seemingly less severity , said Dr. Michael Handler , Amita 's regional chief medical officer .
The system is reevaluating staffing needs several times a week .
`` We are looking at temp agencies and so on as needed , but there 's only so many qualified people out there , even among those agencies , '' Handler said .
As a mental health resource , Edward-Elmhurst has support groups available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek counselors anonymously .
`` Just like the general public , I think people are forgetting that health care workers throughout this whole pandemic have had to come to their jobs daily with the same struggles of everyone else about having kids , doing remote learning , trying to find child care , coping with isolation , '' Khatua said .
But they 're still facing lax attitudes around public health measures .
Gatherings during the holidays and the looming flu season could add to the burden on hospitals .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers when we see cases where people are having sleepovers , '' Khatua said .
Experts keep coming back to the same refrain : Wear masks .
Wash your hands .
Keep physical distance .
And stay within your bubble .
`` The hospitals are prepared , but the numbers can not keep surging , '' said Chun , of the hospital association .
`` If they keep surging , hospitals will be overwhelmed .
They will .
It 's just a matter of time . ''

Suburban hospitals worrying about their ability to staff the fall COVID-19 surge
As Illinois sets another single-day record for COVID-19 infections, hospitals are preparing to feel the strain of a fall and winter surge after weeks of steadily rising patient numbers.
Some medical centers are tightening visitor restrictions. Hospital administrators are hoping they won't have to postpone elective surgeries again. But national trends are leaving suburban hospital officials anxious.
"I am extremely worried about staff," said Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, chief physician executive and COVID-19 incident commander at Edward-Elmhurst Health.
Nine months into the pandemic, hospital leaders say they're equipped with protective supplies, can find ways to add bed capacity, and can quickly adjust surge plans.
In earlier peaks, some hospitals could bring in out-of-state medical workers to help with the COVID-19 response. The difference now is a new wave of infections is blanketing much of the country, adding to concerns over the availability of workers to handle a crush of patients.
"Every state around Illinois is surging," said Danny Chun, a spokesman for the Illinois Hospital Association. "Look at Wisconsin. Look at Missouri. Look at Iowa. They're all surging. There's a limited pool of health care professionals."
All but 11 states reported a rise in the number of people hospitalized this week, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Illinois hospitals had 3,092 patients with COVID-19 as of Thursday night, still below a high in April when more than 5,000 were hospitalized.
But health care systems are bracing for an influx because admissions tend to lag behind new infections.
Edward-Elmhurst was treating 96 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 across its two hospitals as of Friday morning. Three weeks ago, there were 33.
A new visitor policy on Friday limited patients to "one care partner" with some exceptions.
"Now that the whole nation is dealing with this, and you think about staffing as a whole and more community prevalence and spread, I worry about our workforce getting sick," Khatua said. "I also worry about the ability to staff for all of our patients with what's happening nationally and the need for labor."
Khatua wants to avoid delaying elective procedures, a measure that would enable hospitals to redirect staff members to COVID-19 care, but it remains within the realm of possibilities.
"We don't want to get there, but depending on the numbers, if they continue to increase threefold every two to three weeks, I could foresee that happening," he said.
'The second wave'
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer, April 2020 Edward-Elmhurst Health staff members walk outside the east entrance to Elmhurst Hospital where decorative daffodils are being placed to represent each patient who has been discharged after treatment for the COVID-19 virus. Since March 24, 655 patients have been discharged from Elmhurst Hospital after treatment for COVID-19.
At its peak in the spring, NorthShore University HealthSystem had about 170 to 180 COVID-19 patients.
Physicians are "definitely seeing the second wave," with 61 COVID-19 patients at Glenbrook Hospital on Friday, said Dr. Sarah Donlan, an emergency medicine specialist and medical director of the capacity management center.
Glenbrook has 72 hospital beds for COVID patients, including ICU and medical/surgical beds.
"We're still centralizing the patients with this uptick to Glenbrook," Donlan said. "So if you have COVID and require a medical admission, unless there's an extenuating circumstance, you would be admitted or transferred to Glenbrook, depending on which pavilion you presented to through the emergency departments."
One positive sign? For virus patients, the length of stays has generally decreased.
"We are seeing that through our experience and through our comfort level with treating COVID that the majority of patients are requiring less time in the hospital," Donlan said.
That trend also is mirrored at Edward-Elmhurst.
"We haven't had to use ventilators as often," Khatua said. "Our mortality rates have gone down, which are all good things."
At St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, the number of COVID-19 patients has increased from just six at the start of the month to 34 Thursday morning. Amita Health had a total of 260 Wednesday.
Physicians are caring for "much younger" patients and patients with seemingly less severity, said Dr. Michael Handler, Amita's regional chief medical officer.
The system is reevaluating staffing needs several times a week.
"We are looking at temp agencies and so on as needed, but there's only so many qualified people out there, even among those agencies," Handler said.
The emotional toll
As a mental health resource, Edward-Elmhurst has support groups available for front-line workers. Physicians also can seek counselors anonymously.
"Just like the general public, I think people are forgetting that health care workers throughout this whole pandemic have had to come to their jobs daily with the same struggles of everyone else about having kids, doing remote learning, trying to find child care, coping with isolation," Khatua said.
But they're still facing lax attitudes around public health measures. Gatherings during the holidays and the looming flu season could add to the burden on hospitals.
"I think it's really frustrating for health care workers when we see cases where people are having sleepovers," Khatua said.
Experts keep coming back to the same refrain: Wear masks. Wash your hands. Keep physical distance. And stay within your bubble.
"The hospitals are prepared, but the numbers cannot keep surging," said Chun, of the hospital association. "If they keep surging, hospitals will be overwhelmed. They will. It's just a matter of time."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--'We are on the precipice': State reports nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 cases, 36 more deaths

New cases of COVID-19 totaled a record 6,943 Friday , an 89 % spike from September averages , and deaths from the respiratory disease came to 36 , the Illinois Department of Public Health reported .
In September , new infections totaled 1,924 a day on average contrasted with 3,638 daily from Oct. 1 through Friday .
Illinois hospitals had 3,092 patients with COVID-19 as of Thursday night .
It contributed to a 38 % surge in hospitalizations in October over those in September , with 2,129 patients a day in hospitals from Oct. 1 to 29 , compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thirteen of the deaths were in Chicago and the collar counties , and 23 were downstate .
The news came as Gov .
J.B. Pritzker imposed restrictions that include no indoor service at restaurants and bars in east-central Illinois ( Region 6 ) effective Monday .
`` This is an extraordinarily dangerous time , and as a result I am doing everything in my power to keep down the infection rate , '' Pritzker said .
The 21-county area , which includes Champaign County , is measuring a virus test positivity rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That means 10 out of 11 Illinois public health regions , including those that comprise Cook , DuPage , Lake , Kane , McHenry and Will counties , are facing restrictions as COVID-19 metrics leap higher .
`` We are on the precipice of the entire state entering into mitigation , '' IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said in a statement .
And , with Halloween imminent , `` we remind parents and children alike to make good decisions , '' Pritzker said at a briefing Friday .
`` Find new ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , and build surgical or medical masks into your costume . ''
The IDPH offers tips for trick or treating safely at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/halloween-guidance .
The increase in hospitalizations is being felt at Elmhurst Hospital .
The hospital handled as many as 72 patients a day with COVID-19 in April that dropped to one person in early September .
As of Friday , the hospital had 45 virus patients .
`` It was chaos in the spring , '' said Bonnie Haddad , a registered nurse at Elmhurst Hospital .
`` Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care .
Two patients died in a four-hour period .
It was awful .
I had to deal with the death of one patient , and then the death of the other . ''
At the same time , Haddad was caring for a third patient and `` I had to be ready to take on more . ''
Now , `` the numbers are definitely going up , '' Haddad said .
However , `` the first time no one knew what to expect .
This time , we have a treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
... We know how quickly things can deteriorate and to be ready for it . ''
DuPage and Kane counties ( Region 8 ) were hit with restrictions a week ago , but their virus test positivity rate was at 10.1 % Friday compared to 9.5 % on Oct. 23 , IDPH records showed .
Hospital admissions continue to increase , so regular hospital bed availability is at 23 % although ICU beds are at 40 % as of Tuesday , the most recent state data indicated .
If available beds dip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state intervention .
Will and Kankakee counties ( Region 7 ) fell under similar action ; their positivity rate was 10.2 % Friday compared to 9.3 % Oct. 23 .
Regular hospital bed availability was at 24 % , and ICU beds measured 26 % .
The state 's actions are devastating the hospitality industry , Illinois Restaurant Association members said at a news conference Friday .
`` What the governor is doing is killing us , '' said Jodi Fyfe , who owns Paramount Group catering and recently closed her Eden restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group is filing legal motions of support for several lawsuits by restaurateurs around the state , including FoxFire Restaurant in Geneva , against Pritzker 's suspension of indoor dining .
`` Ninety-nine percent of restaurant operators are doing everything they 've been asked to do , '' association President Sam Toia said .
`` We 're sanitizing , we 're distancing , we are testing . ''
Toia said he 's hoping to meet Pritzker face to face next week and work out a compromise .
`` There 's no doubt people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly restaurant and bar owners , are suffering , '' Pritzker said .
But `` if people who are sick go into a bar or restaurant , it 's very easily spread in that environment .
`` We have got to get the numbers down , and you know why -- so we can reopen the bars and restaurants , and so we can make sure our kids can go to school . ''
The state 's virus test positivity rate is 7.3 % based on a seven-day average , levels not seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported in the last 24 hours .
The state 's total caseload is 402,401 , and deaths since the pandemic began have reached 9,711 .
Other restrictions on Region 6 include limiting social events , gatherings and meetings to 25 people or less or 25 % of room capacity , and closing outdoor service at bars and restaurants at 11 p.m .

'We are on the precipice': State reports nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 cases, 36 more deaths
New cases of COVID-19 totaled a record 6,943 Friday, an 89% spike from September averages, and deaths from the respiratory disease came to 36, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported.
In September, new infections totaled 1,924 a day on average contrasted with 3,638 daily from Oct. 1 through Friday.
Illinois hospitals had 3,092 patients with COVID-19 as of Thursday night. It contributed to a 38% surge in hospitalizations in October over those in September, with 2,129 patients a day in hospitals from Oct. 1 to 29, compared to 1,540 over that period in September.
Thirteen of the deaths were in Chicago and the collar counties, and 23 were downstate.
The news came as Gov. J.B. Pritzker imposed restrictions that include no indoor service at restaurants and bars in east-central Illinois (Region 6) effective Monday.
"This is an extraordinarily dangerous time, and as a result I am doing everything in my power to keep down the infection rate," Pritzker said.
The 21-county area, which includes Champaign County, is measuring a virus test positivity rate of 8.2% based on a seven-day average.
That means 10 out of 11 Illinois public health regions, including those that comprise Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Will counties, are facing restrictions as COVID-19 metrics leap higher.
"We are on the precipice of the entire state entering into mitigation," IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said in a statement.
And, with Halloween imminent, "we remind parents and children alike to make good decisions," Pritzker said at a briefing Friday. "Find new ways to celebrate the holiday while staying safe from the virus, and build surgical or medical masks into your costume." The IDPH offers tips for trick or treating safely at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/halloween-guidance.
The increase in hospitalizations is being felt at Elmhurst Hospital. The hospital handled as many as 72 patients a day with COVID-19 in April that dropped to one person in early September. As of Friday, the hospital had 45 virus patients.
"It was chaos in the spring," said Bonnie Haddad, a registered nurse at Elmhurst Hospital. "Back in March I was working in critical care. Two patients died in a four-hour period. It was awful. I had to deal with the death of one patient, and then the death of the other."
At the same time, Haddad was caring for a third patient and "I had to be ready to take on more."
Now, "the numbers are definitely going up," Haddad said. However, "the first time no one knew what to expect. This time, we have a treatment, and we know what's coming. ... We know how quickly things can deteriorate and to be ready for it."
The day';s #COVID19 cases in Illinois are 89% above Sept. averages, and hospitalizations are up 38% over September. And see how the positivity rate has risen ... https://t.co/TgPWH5VNtI pic.twitter.com/CoJJhhIsbH — Daily Herald (@dailyherald) October 30, 2020
DuPage and Kane counties (Region 8) were hit with restrictions a week ago, but their virus test positivity rate was at 10.1% Friday compared to 9.5% on Oct. 23, IDPH records showed. Hospital admissions continue to increase, so regular hospital bed availability is at 23% although ICU beds are at 40% as of Tuesday, the most recent state data indicated. If available beds dip below 20%, it can trigger state intervention.
Will and Kankakee counties (Region 7) fell under similar action; their positivity rate was 10.2% Friday compared to 9.3% Oct. 23. Regular hospital bed availability was at 24%, and ICU beds measured 26%.
The state's actions are devastating the hospitality industry, Illinois Restaurant Association members said at a news conference Friday.
"What the governor is doing is killing us," said Jodi Fyfe, who owns Paramount Group catering and recently closed her Eden restaurant in Chicago because of the pandemic.
The group is filing legal motions of support for several lawsuits by restaurateurs around the state, including FoxFire Restaurant in Geneva, against Pritzker's suspension of indoor dining.
"Ninety-nine percent of restaurant operators are doing everything they've been asked to do," association President Sam Toia said. "We're sanitizing, we're distancing, we are testing." Toia said he's hoping to meet Pritzker face to face next week and work out a compromise.
"There's no doubt people who run business in this state, particularly restaurant and bar owners, are suffering," Pritzker said. But "if people who are sick go into a bar or restaurant, it's very easily spread in that environment.
"We have got to get the numbers down, and you know why -- so we can reopen the bars and restaurants, and so we can make sure our kids can go to school."
The state's virus test positivity rate is 7.3% based on a seven-day average, levels not seen since June. Also, 95,111 tests were reported in the last 24 hours.
The state's total caseload is 402,401, and deaths since the pandemic began have reached 9,711.
Other restrictions on Region 6 include limiting social events, gatherings and meetings to 25 people or less or 25% of room capacity, and closing outdoor service at bars and restaurants at 11 p.m.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Kyle Rittenhouse extradited to Wisconsin after judge's ruling

Antioch teen Kyle Rittenhouse , who has been charged with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during civil unrest in Kenosha , was moved to Wisconsin Friday after a Lake County judge 's ruling cleared the way for his extradition .
Minutes after the judge 's ruling was published , the 17-year-old was driven by Lake County sheriff 's deputies to the Wisconsin border , where he was officially transferred to Kenosha County authorities at 3:45 p.m. , according to Sgt .
Christopher Covelli , Lake County sheriff 's spokesman .
Lake County Judge Paul Novak shared his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after an in-person morning hearing attended by Rittenhouse at the Waukegan courthouse .
Novak disagreed with the argument from Rittenhouse 's lawyers , who said their client should be freed because of an issue with the extradition paperwork .
Rittenhouse attorney John Pierce said Friday morning there was not sufficient evidence that the criminal complaint document , which charges Rittenhouse with the crimes , was sworn to before a magistrate as required by law .
`` For today , this Illinois child must go free , '' Pierce argued .
Novak disagreed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court were to find the complaint was not made before a magistrate , the argument made by Rittenhouse 's lawyers would fail because of another document provided by prosecutors , an affidavit of probable cause that `` clearly satisfies all the requirements . ''
Pierce vowed on Twitter to keep fighting for Rittenhouse .
`` We will never surrender .
Kyle will be set free and cleared of all charges , '' Pierce tweeted .
`` He is grateful to you all and asks for your continued prayers .
God Bless Kyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would be filing an appeal of the judge 's ruling .
Rittenhouse appeared at the hearing in dress clothes and a gray face mask .
He faces first-degree intentional homicide , first-degree reckless homicide , attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other charges in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz .
The shootings took place Aug. 25 , two days after Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake , 29 , in the back .
Authorities say Rittenhouse shot and killed Rosenbaum , 36 , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bag at Rittenhouse , missing him , and then tried to wrestle his rifle away .
Cellphone video captured Rittenhouse saying , `` I just killed somebody . ''
Prosecutors ' complaint indicated someone in the crowd said `` beat him up '' and another yelled , `` Get him !
Get that dude ! ''
Video shows Rittenhouse tripped and , while on the ground , Huber , 26 , of Silver Lake , hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle .
Rittenhouse opened fire , killing Huber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was holding a handgun .
During an earlier hearing , Pierce argued his client acted in self-defense while exercising his right to bear arms .
At the hearing Friday , Pierce drew an objection from prosecutors when he said he believed the case against his client was a political prosecution from high-ranking politicians in Illinois and Wisconsin .
Lake County State 's Attorney Michael Nerheim expressed support for Novak 's ruling and said his office believed as the judge did that the extradition paperwork was in order .
`` We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements of the statute , '' Nerheim said .
Clyde McLemore , the founder of the Lake County chapter of Black Lives Matter , led a crowd of about 30 people at a protest outside the Waukegan courthouse Friday morning to support Rittenhouse 's extradition .
Rittenhouse had been held without bail at the Minard E. Hulse Juvenile Detention Center near Vernon Hills .
If convicted of the most serious charges , he could spend the rest of his life in prison .
`` Now Rittenhouse can go to Kenosha and face these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we can go on with our business in Lake County . ''

Kyle Rittenhouse extradited to Wisconsin after judge's ruling; records show friend bought rifle for him
Kyle Rittenhouse's mother Wendy Rittenhouse stands up after an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. Associated Press
Kyle Rittenhouse, left, listens to defense attorney John Pierce during an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. Associated Press
Kyle Rittenhouse appears for an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday, in Waukegan. Associated Press
Defense Attorney John Pierce speaks during an extradition hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. Associated Press
Kyle Rittenhouse appears for an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. Associated Press
Kyle Rittenhouse sits while listening during an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis. Associated Press
Antioch teen Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been charged with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during civil unrest in Kenosha, was moved to Wisconsin Friday after a Lake County judge's ruling cleared the way for his extradition.
Also, records released Friday show an 18-year-old friend, at Rittenhouse's request in April, bought the assault rifle Rittenhouse used in the shooting because Rittenhouse wasn't old enough to legally buy the rifle himself.
Minutes after the judge's ruling was published Friday, the 17-year-old was driven by Lake County sheriff's deputies to the Wisconsin border, where he was officially transferred to Kenosha County authorities at 3:45 p.m., according to Sgt. Christopher Covelli, Lake County sheriff's spokesman.
Lake County Judge Paul Novak shared his ruling in a six-page document Friday afternoon after an in-person morning hearing attended by Rittenhouse at the Waukegan courthouse.
Novak disagreed with the argument from Rittenhouse's lawyers, who said their client should be freed because of an issue with the extradition paperwork.
Rittenhouse attorney John Pierce said Friday morning there was not sufficient evidence that the criminal complaint document, which charges Rittenhouse with the crimes, was sworn to before a magistrate as required by law.
"For today, this Illinois child must go free," Pierce argued.
Defense Attorney John Pierce, right, speaks as Kyle Rittenhouse, left, listens during an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. - Associated Press
Novak disagreed, writing in his opinion that even if the court were to find the complaint was not made before a magistrate, the argument made by Rittenhouse's lawyers would fail because of another document provided by prosecutors, an affidavit of probable cause that "clearly satisfies all the requirements."
Pierce vowed on Twitter to keep fighting for Rittenhouse.
"We will never surrender. Kyle will be set free and cleared of all charges," Pierce tweeted. "He is grateful to you all and asks for your continued prayers. God Bless Kyle Rittenhouse and the USA."
Lake County Judge Paul Novak listens to defense attorney John Pierce during an extradition hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan. - Associated Press
Pierce said he would be filing an appeal of the judge's ruling.
Rittenhouse appeared at the hearing in dress clothes and a gray face mask. He faces first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other charges in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz. The shootings took place Aug. 25, two days after Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, 29, in the back.
Authorities say Rittenhouse shot and killed Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, after Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, missing him, and then tried to wrestle his rifle away.
Cellphone video captured Rittenhouse saying, "I just killed somebody." Prosecutors' complaint indicated someone in the crowd said "beat him up" and another yelled, "Get him! Get that dude!"
Kyle Rittenhouse, left, will be extradited to Wisconsin, a judge ruled Friday. The Antioch 17-year-old is charged with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third on Aug. 25 during civil unrest after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. - Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP
Video shows Rittenhouse tripped and, while on the ground, Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle. Rittenhouse opened fire, killing Huber and wounding Grosskreutz, of West Allis, who was holding a handgun.
During an earlier hearing, Pierce argued his client acted in self-defense while exercising his right to bear arms.
Friend bought rifle
Police records made public Friday and obtained by The Washington Post, among other media, show Rittenhouse used an assault rifle that an 18-year-old friend had bought for him.
The newly released police records contain details of Rittenhouse's surrender as well as of statements he gave to police. He grew emotional in the lobby of the police station, saying he had "ended a man's life," according to the records.
"I shot two White kids," the records quote him as saying in the lobby.
Rittenhouse and the friend who bought him the gun each told police they had been hired by a local business owner to provide security that night, the Post reported. The records were released after the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel filed a lawsuit seeking them. The Washington Post obtained them through a public records request.
The friend sometimes stays with his stepfather in Kenosha, the records say. During a camping trip to Ladysmith in northern Wisconsin in April, Rittenhouse gave the friend money for the gun at a local hardware store, they say.
The records say the friend, who drove Rittenhouse home after the shootings with the gun in the trunk of his car, told Antioch police that Rittenhouse kept the gun at the friend's stepfather's house in Kenosha.
The friend told police he regretted that he did not stop Rittenhouse from taking it out on Aug. 25.
"(The friend) stated after the shooting he spoke with Kyle and told Kyle that he believed he was going to be in more trouble than Kyle," the records say. "He told Kyle that he (Kyle) was defending himself and said he told Kyle, 'In all reality, you are not supposed to have that gun. That gun was in my name.'" The friend has not been charged,
Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim said on Oct. 13 only that the rifle was "purchased, stored and used" in Wisconsin. An Antioch police investigation found no evidence that Rittenhouse possessed the AR-15 in Illinois before the Aug. 25 shootings, Nerheim's office said. But Antioch Chief Geoffrey Guttschow did said his officers took possession of the rifle and another gun the morning of Aug. 26 from a vehicle belonging to an adult acquaintance of Rittenhouse that was parked near the 17-year-old's home.
Politics and a protest
At the hearing Friday, Pierce drew an objection from prosecutors when he said he believed the case against his client was a political prosecution from high-ranking politicians in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Nerheim expressed support for Novak's ruling and said his office believed as the judge did that the extradition paperwork was in order.
"We were confident all along that it fit the requirements of the statute," Nerheim said.
Clyde McLemore, the founder of the Lake County chapter of Black Lives Matter, led a crowd of about 30 people at a protest outside the Waukegan courthouse Friday morning to support Rittenhouse's extradition.
Rittenhouse had been held without bail at the Minard E. Hulse Juvenile Detention Center near Vernon Hills. If convicted of the most serious charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
"Now Rittenhouse can go to Kenosha and face these charges," Nerheim said. "And we can go on with our business in Lake County."
• Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--COVID-19 pandemic makes it hard for educators to measure student growth from previous year

The protracted coronavirus pandemic not only has disrupted schools and students in an unprecedented manner , but it 's also made it difficult for educators to measure student growth from the previous school year .
The 2020 Illinois Report Card released Friday for the first time does not include comprehensive or reliable data on assessments , student/teacher attendance or graduation rates .
Nor does it have designations for schools to indicate overall performance or percentages of low-income students , among other accountability metrics for the 2019-20 school year .
A statewide school shutdown last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school year either unavailable or incomplete , limiting year-to-year comparisons .
Illinois received a federal waiver and did not administer otherwise mandated state assessments in math , English language arts and science last spring .
The state amended graduation requirements for students who matriculated last spring , and schools were urged to amend grading policies for ninth-graders on track .
Illinois schools also were n't required to administer the annual culture and climate survey last school year .
The federal waiver allowed the state to not issue new summative designations , which indicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school received the same summative designation in 2020 as in 2019 with a name change .
The `` lowest-performing '' designation now is labeled `` comprehensive '' and `` underperforming '' is now `` targeted '' to show the level of support each school will receive through the state 's IL-EMPOWER program .
That essentially preserves the status quo for schools so they wo n't be penalized for a decline in student performance or participation caused by adjusting to a new remote learning environment .
`` Everybody kind of got frozen where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent of Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 .
`` It 's hard enough to improve math and reading proficiency in a normal year .
Now , when you are trying to do it remotely ... for all schools , it 's important that they froze things to the extent that they could .
Really we will get a better indicator ( of student growth ) at the end of this year depending on what will happen with testing . ''
The 2020 report card includes the second year of per-pupil spending broken down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and for the first time , data from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey results measuring students ' developmental readiness in the first 40 days of kindergarten is included .
Advanced coursework is among the few areas on the 2020 report card not affected by the pandemic .
The data show growth and higher-than-ever participation among high schoolers in college and career preparation courses .
More than 8,000 additional high school students took career and technical education , dual credit , Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in the 2019-20 school year compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year took more than 14,500 more AP exams in high school than in the previous school year and earned a 70 % pass rate -- two percentage points higher than the Class of 2019 .
High school students also took about 70,000 dual-credit courses last school year -- an increase of about 6,000 courses from the year before -- and about 1,500 more students took career and technical education courses .
`` These advanced courses offer opportunities for students to earn college credits in high school , making earning a degree more affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or elective courses in college , '' State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala said .
Ayala said state budgets for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years included funding for fee waivers to reduce the cost of AP exams for low-income students .
The state board of education 's state plan for career and technical education also will help increase access to college and career preparation courses for historically underrepresented students .
At Elgin Area School District U-46 , the state 's second-largest school system , 2,995 students took AP classes last school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials said the district saw an increase in students taking AP exams , even remotely , and partly attributed that to the dual language program offering an AP Spanish language test .
Officials also noted growth in the number of students taking CTE courses , specifically automotive and welding , which are accredited courses that come with industry certification .
`` We are extremely proud of the work that our students have , especially in these times of uncertainty and a lot of challenges , '' said Josh Carpenter , U-46 assistant superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're excited about the results that we 've seen .
It is extremely hard to be able to quantify the growth that our students have made over the past eight months .
I would probably have an easier time trying to qualify it .
... Our students and our staff have really grown exponentially in ways that we probably ca n't sum up in a number . ''

COVID-19 pandemic makes it hard for educators to measure student growth from previous year
Due to pandemic disruptions last school year, the 2020 Illinois School Report Card released Friday does not include reliable data on assessments, student/teacher attendance, graduation rates, and performance designations for schools among other accountability measures. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46
The protracted coronavirus pandemic not only has disrupted schools and students in an unprecedented manner, but it's also made it difficult for educators to measure student growth from the previous school year.
The 2020 Illinois Report Card released Friday for the first time does not include comprehensive or reliable data on assessments, student/teacher attendance or graduation rates. Nor does it have designations for schools to indicate overall performance or percentages of low-income students, among other accountability metrics for the 2019-20 school year.
A statewide school shutdown last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic made most student data from the 2019-20 school year either unavailable or incomplete, limiting year-to-year comparisons.
Illinois received a federal waiver and did not administer otherwise mandated state assessments in math, English language arts and science last spring. The state amended graduation requirements for students who matriculated last spring, and schools were urged to amend grading policies for ninth-graders on track. Illinois schools also weren't required to administer the annual culture and climate survey last school year.
The federal waiver allowed the state to not issue new summative designations, which indicate schools' level of performance. Each school received the same summative designation in 2020 as in 2019 with a name change. The "lowest-performing" designation now is labeled "comprehensive" and "underperforming" is now "targeted" to show the level of support each school will receive through the state's IL-EMPOWER program.
That essentially preserves the status quo for schools so they won't be penalized for a decline in student performance or participation caused by adjusting to a new remote learning environment.
"Everybody kind of got frozen where they were," said Fred Heid, superintendent of Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300. "It's hard enough to improve math and reading proficiency in a normal year. Now, when you are trying to do it remotely ... for all schools, it's important that they froze things to the extent that they could. Really we will get a better indicator (of student growth) at the end of this year depending on what will happen with testing."
The 2020 report card includes the second year of per-pupil spending broken down by school compared to the previous year, and for the first time, data from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey results measuring students' developmental readiness in the first 40 days of kindergarten is included.
Advanced coursework is among the few areas on the 2020 report card not affected by the pandemic. The data show growth and higher-than-ever participation among high schoolers in college and career preparation courses.
More than 8,000 additional high school students took career and technical education, dual credit, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in the 2019-20 school year compared to the year before. Students last year took more than 14,500 more AP exams in high school than in the previous school year and earned a 70% pass rate -- two percentage points higher than the Class of 2019.
High school students also took about 70,000 dual-credit courses last school year -- an increase of about 6,000 courses from the year before -- and about 1,500 more students took career and technical education courses.
"These advanced courses offer opportunities for students to earn college credits in high school, making earning a degree more affordable or allowing students to take more advanced or elective courses in college," State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala said.
Ayala said state budgets for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years included funding for fee waivers to reduce the cost of AP exams for low-income students. The state board of education's state plan for career and technical education also will help increase access to college and career preparation courses for historically underrepresented students.
At Elgin Area School District U-46, the state's second-largest school system, 2,995 students took AP classes last school year across all five district high schools. Officials said the district saw an increase in students taking AP exams, even remotely, and partly attributed that to the dual language program offering an AP Spanish language test.
Officials also noted growth in the number of students taking CTE courses, specifically automotive and welding, which are accredited courses that come with industry certification.
"We are extremely proud of the work that our students have, especially in these times of uncertainty and a lot of challenges," said Josh Carpenter, U-46 assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. "We're excited about the results that we've seen. It is extremely hard to be able to quantify the growth that our students have made over the past eight months. I would probably have an easier time trying to qualify it. ... Our students and our staff have really grown exponentially in ways that we probably can't sum up in a number."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Push to decrease social distancing in classrooms divides many in District 25

A push to decrease social distancing in classrooms that would lead to a full reopening of Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 schools has drawn sharp differences of opinion among school board members , district administrators , parents and teachers .
The board was expected to have voted as early as Thursday night to set a date to return to full in-person learning -- which a number of parents have been calling for since the start of the school year -- but the elected panel agreed instead to resurvey all parents before making a decision .
At the heart of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard recommended by health experts is defined .
For Superintendent Lori Bein and administrators , it 's the distance from the edge of one student to the edge of the next , and means a dozen students can fit into an average sized classroom at a time .
Board member Rich Olejniczak said he believes the measurement should be taken from head to head , which would allow perhaps as many as 20 students per classroom .
`` We got ta look at how do we change the dynamic here .
How do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Olejniczak said .
`` COVID is here for a long time .
It 's gon na be here .
We have to figure out how to work with it . ''
Bein said under the shorter distance , more students would be required to stay home and quarantine if a student in their vicinity tested positive for COVID-19 or showed symptoms .
She said it would tax school nurses already overwhelmed with contact tracing since a limited number of students were allowed back in schools Oct. 12 .
Since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported nine positive COVID-19 cases , while 121 staff members and 223 students have been required to quarantine , either because they tested positive , had symptoms , or were in close contact with someone , officials said .
Cases are surging in Illinois , averaging 5,000 new diagnoses a day for the past week and hitting a single-day record of 6,943 new cases on Friday .
Bein 's survey would ask parents about their comfort levels with remote , hybrid and in-person learning , and present them with the possibility of reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the district fully reopens its doors , it would be required to provide a remote learning option for families , under state rules .
Since the district began a transition to its hybrid phase almost three weeks ago , more than 4,000 students have returned for half-day class sessions two times a week , while some 1,200 students have remained fully remote .
Per the board 's direction , Bein will also sit down with the 460-member Arlington Teachers Association about working conditions .
Teachers and parents have already begun to weigh in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous board meetings , Thursday night it was the turn for teachers , who wore red and honked car horns outside the District 25 administration building while union President Kelly Drevline addressed board members .
`` We are not opposed to in-person learning .
We are opposed to unsafe learning , '' Drevline said .
`` Try to think of our classroom as your homes .
Right now in the midst of the pandemic , most of us would not invite 25 people into our homes , especially if you did n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Drevline called the return of all students at once `` irresponsible . ''
Besides Olejniczak , other board members Thursday did n't directly address his proposal , but some have previously shown an openness to it .
While some parents said they prefer the current hybrid system , many others said they were pleased the board was finally considering a move to a full reopening .
`` Schools are open in Illinois , and the simple fact is there is not a risk to having our schools open full time , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated with the metric of feelings -- feelings of safety and caution have resided over the scientific fact that schools are safe and could be open every day . ''
Bein is expected to report back to the board on Nov. 12 .

Push to decrease social distancing in classrooms divides many in District 25
A debate continues in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 about whether to fully reopen all of its schools, including Thomas Middle School. Daily Herald File Photo
This story was updated to say students attend full-day class sessions two times a week, under District 25's hybrid plan.
A push to decrease social distancing in classrooms that would lead to a full reopening of Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 schools has drawn sharp differences of opinion among school board members, district administrators, parents and teachers.
The board was expected to have voted as early as Thursday night to set a date to return to full in-person learning -- which a number of parents have been calling for since the start of the school year -- but the elected panel agreed instead to resurvey all parents before making a decision.
At the heart of the matter is how the 6-foot social distancing standard recommended by health experts is defined.
For Superintendent Lori Bein and administrators, it's the distance from the edge of one student to the edge of the next, which means a dozen students can fit into an average sized classroom at a time.
Board member Rich Olejniczak said he believes the measurement should be taken from head to head, which would allow perhaps as many as 20 students per classroom.
"We gotta look at how do we change the dynamic here. How do we get kids back in class?" Olejniczak said. "COVID is here for a long time. It's gonna be here. We have to figure out how to work with it."
Bein said under the shorter distance, more students would be required to stay home and quarantine if a student in their vicinity tested positive for COVID-19 or showed symptoms. She said it would tax school nurses already overwhelmed with contact tracing since a limited number of students were allowed back in schools Oct. 12.
Since the start of the school year, the district has reported nine positive COVID-19 cases, while 121 staff members and 223 students have been required to quarantine, either because they tested positive, had symptoms or were in close contact with someone who was infected, officials said.
Cases are surging in Illinois, averaging 5,000 new diagnoses a day for the past week and hitting a single-day record of 6,943 new cases on Friday.
Bein's survey would ask parents about their comfort levels with remote, hybrid and in-person learning and would present them with the possibility of reducing or eliminating 6-foot distancing. Even if the district fully reopens its doors, it would be required to provide a remote learning option for families, under state rules.
Since the district began a transition to its hybrid phase almost three weeks ago, more than 4,000 students have returned for full-day class sessions two times a week, while some 1,200 students have remained fully remote.
Per the board's direction, Bein also will sit down with the 460-member Arlington Teachers Association about working conditions.
Teachers and parents already have begun to weigh in. Following rallies by pro-reopening parents at previous board meetings, Thursday night was the teachers' turn. Educators wore red and honked car horns outside the District 25 administration building while union President Kelly Drevline addressed board members.
"We are not opposed to in-person learning. We are opposed to unsafe learning," Drevline said.
"Try to think of our classroom as your homes. Right now in the midst of the pandemic, most of us would not invite 25 people into our homes, especially if you didn't know where those 25 people have been."
Drevline called the return of all students at once "irresponsible."
Besides Olejniczak, other board members Thursday didn't directly address his proposal, but some have previously shown an openness to it.
While some parents said they prefer the current hybrid system, many others said they were pleased the board was finally considering a move to a full reopening.
"Schools are open in Illinois, and the simple fact is there is not a risk to having our schools open full time," said Stephanie Levinsky. "You've operated with the metric of feelings -- feelings of safety and caution have resided over the scientific fact that schools are safe and could be open every day."
Bein is expected to report back to the board on Nov. 12.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--'It was a little ping of joy': Suburban businesses share $15 million in COVID-19 grant funds

Michelle Dacy first thought the email she received offering grant funds for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was some kind of scam .
But instead of hitting the delete button , the Wheaton businesswoman sent it to her accountant who verified the unsolicited offer from the state was indeed legitimate .
`` I still do n't know how I got the email , '' said Dacy , who operates a paratransit service available throughout the Chicago area for wheelchair-bound individuals called Special Needs Chicago .
`` I did everything online Oct. 16 , and it only took a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations .
But I got another email on Oct. 28 saying I was approved .
I did n't know when I 'd get the money , though , but I checked my bank accountant yesterday and all the sudden it was there .
It was a little ping of joy . ''
The $ 25,000 grant will help her with her mortgage payment and other associated costs Dacy 's endured throughout the pandemic , though it does n't cover all the revenue shortfalls she 's experienced since the beginning of the outbreak when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went away .
`` The effect on us was very swift because we have so many clients in long-term care facilities that were immediately placed on lockdown , '' she said .
Dacy 's company was one of more than 1,200 small businesses in Illinois that shared in $ 46 million worth of Business Interruption Grants issued by the state .
This is the second wave of grants funds issued by the state and administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity .
Earlier this summer , the state issued $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by the pandemic in increments of $ 10,000 to $ 20,000 .
This round of funding targeted specific business types and operations in certain geographic areas , state officials said .
The grants also ranged in size from $ 5,000 to as much as $ 150,000 .
Restaurants , entertainment venues and businesses in disproportionately affected areas were prioritized in this round of funding , according to state officials .
`` These latest funds released will provide a much-needed boost to cover losses and withstand the ongoing nature of the crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Illinois is taking necessary steps to overcome the virus quickly so we can begin the long-term work of rebuilding our businesses and our local economy . ''
More than 400 suburban businesses received a combined $ 14.7 million in grant funds from the latest round , according to DCEO records .
In suburban Cook County , 189 small businesses received a combined $ 5 during this latest round of funding .
Elsewhere in the suburbs , 78 Will County small businesses shared more than $ 3.5 million of the grants .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in grant funding went to 48 businesses .
There were 49 Lake County small businesses that received a combined $ 1.75 million .
The state also released nearly $ 1.4 million in grant funds to 31 McHenry County businesses .
And 32 Kane County small businesses shared in more than $ 1 million worth of grant funds .
The state has about $ 175 million additional BIG funds to issue .
Interested business owners are urged to apply at the DCEO 's website , illinois.gov/dceo .

'It was a little ping of joy': Suburban businesses share $15 million in COVID-19 grant funds
More than 1,200 small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Illinois received more than $46 million in the latest round of business interruption grants issued to help offset revenue losses during the pandemic. Associated Press File Photo/May 9
Special Needs Chicago owner Michelle Dacy said her paratransit company lost 90% of its business at the start of the pandemic and was pleased by how easy it was to receive a Business Interruption Grant from the state. Courtesy of Michelle Dacy
Michelle Dacy first thought the email she received offering grant funds for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was some kind of scam.
But instead of hitting the delete button, the Wheaton businesswoman sent it to her accountant who verified the unsolicited offer from the state was indeed legitimate.
"I still don't know how I got the email," said Dacy, who operates a paratransit service available throughout the Chicago area for wheelchair-bound individuals called Special Needs Chicago. "I did everything online Oct. 16, and it only took a few minutes. I did not have any expectations. But I got another email on Oct. 28 saying I was approved. I didn't know when I'd get the money, though, but I checked my bank accountant yesterday and all the sudden it was there. It was a little ping of joy."
The $25,000 grant will help her with her mortgage payment and other associated costs Dacy's endured throughout the pandemic, though it doesn't cover all the revenue shortfalls she's experienced since the beginning of the outbreak when 90% of the company's business went away.
"The effect on us was very swift because we have so many clients in long-term care facilities that were immediately placed on lockdown," she said.
Dacy's company was one of more than 1,200 small businesses in Illinois that shared in $46 million worth of Business Interruption Grants issued by the state.
Business owners can apply at illinois.gov/dceo.
This is the second wave of grants funds issued by the state and administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Earlier this summer, the state issued $46 million more to nearly 2,650 businesses affected by the pandemic in increments of $10,000 to $20,000.
This round of funding targeted specific business types and operations in certain geographic areas, state officials said. The grants also ranged in size from $5,000 to as much as $150,000. Restaurants, entertainment venues and businesses in disproportionately affected areas were prioritized in this round of funding, according to state officials.
"These latest funds released will provide a much-needed boost to cover losses and withstand the ongoing nature of the crisis," said DCEO Director Erin Guthrie. "Illinois is taking necessary steps to overcome the virus quickly so we can begin the long-term work of rebuilding our businesses and our local economy."
More than 400 suburban businesses received a combined $14.7 million in grant funds from the latest round, according to DCEO records.
In suburban Cook County, 189 small businesses received a combined $5 during this latest round of funding. Elsewhere in the suburbs, 78 Will County small businesses shared more than $3.5 million of the grants. In DuPage County, nearly $2 million in grant funding went to 48 businesses. There were 49 Lake County small businesses that received a combined $1.75 million. The state also released nearly $1.4 million in grant funds to 31 McHenry County businesses. And 32 Kane County small businesses shared in more than $1 million worth of grant funds.
The state has about $175 million additional BIG funds to issue. Interested business owners are urged to apply at the DCEO's website, illinois.gov/dceo.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Suspect in $150,000 Libertyville jewelry store robbery sought

Libertyville police are searching for a man who robbed a downtown jewelry store of $ 150,000 in merchandise Friday morning .
Police were called to Rolland 's Jewelers , 500 N. Milwaukee Ave. , about 11:24 a.m. on a report of a robbery that had just occurred .
Police said they were told a man entered the business and looked at jewelry for approximately 30 minutes before showing an employee a note that implied he had a gun .
The man took the items he was looking at and fled west on West Cook Avenue and got into a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items were valued at approximately $ 150,000 , according to police .
The vehicle was last seen driving south on Brainerd Avenue from West Cook Avenue .
The man was described as white or Hispanic , in his late 20s or early 30s , and was about 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds , police said .
He was last seen wearing a white and gray baseball hat , blue hooded sweatshirt with a white T-shirt under it , blue jeans and tan or brown boots , according to police .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene by Libertyville Fire Department paramedics but was released .
No injuries were reported .
Anyone with information related should call the nonemergency police number ( 847 ) 362-8310 .

Suspect in $150,000 Libertyville jewelry store robbery sought
Libertyville police are looking for this man, whom they suspect of robbing a downtown jewelry store Friday morning. Courtesy of village of Libertyville
Libertyville police are searching for a man who robbed a downtown jewelry store of $150,000 in merchandise Friday morning.
Police were called to Rolland's Jewelers, 500 N. Milwaukee Ave., at 11:24 a.m.
Police said they were told a man entered the business and looked at jewelry for approximately 30 minutes before showing an employee a note that implied he had a gun.
The man took the items he was looking at, then fled west on West Cook Avenue and got into a black 4-door vehicle, police said.
The vehicle was last seen driving south on Brainerd Avenue from West Cook Avenue.
The man was described as white or Hispanic, in his late 20s or early 30s, and was about 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds, police said.
He was last seen wearing a white and gray baseball hat, a blue hooded sweatshirt with a white T-shirt under it, blue jeans and tan or brown boots, according to police.
A jewelry store employee was checked at the scene by Libertyville Fire Department paramedics but was released. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information related should call the nonemergency police number (847) 362-8310.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Lombard's Brauer House sues governor over ban on indoor dining

The Brauer House in Lombard has joined the list of Illinois restaurants and bars suing Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and state and local health departments over the governor 's order forbidding them from letting patrons eat and drink inside due to a recent increase in positive COVID-19 tests .
SBBL LLC , the corporation that owns Brauer House and BHouse Live !
, filed the suit Wednesday .
It argues that Pritzker 's executive order is invalid because he does n't have the authority to continue declaring disaster emergencies beyond the first declaration he made in March .
It asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor , the state and the DuPage County Health Department from enforcing the ban on indoor dining until the lawsuit is resolved .
But DuPage Judge Bonnie Wheaton on Friday denied the temporary restraining order request .
Wheaton said the argument presented by the lawyer for Pritzker and the state `` accurately reflected the law and the ability of the governor to make proclamations , and especially successive proclamations , in the face of this unprecedented emergency . ''
She also said Brauer House was unlikely to succeed on the merits , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet to get a temporary restraining order .
Brauer Houses attorney Joel Rabb argued that if authorities close Brauer House , there wo n't be a case to pursue because his client will likely go out of business .
`` There will be no further litigation , '' Rabb said .
`` Brauer House closes .
Its 40 employees will be out of work . ''
The case was continued until February .
At that time , both sides will argue whether it should be moved to Sangamon County .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sangamon because several similar cases from other judicial districts have been moved there .
In September , Brauer House sued its landlord , seeking relief on its rent for several months in the spring when the state banned indoor dining .
That suit noted that Brauer House was never designed for carryout business , that much of its revenue came from alcohol sales , and that consequently it earned only about 15 % of what it normally would have made .
Earlier this week , a Kane County judge granted a temporary restraining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pursuing a similar lawsuit .
A lawsuit also has been filed in McHenry County on behalf of 37 restaurants , Shaw Media reports .

Lombard's Brauer House sues governor over ban on indoor dining
The Brauer House in Lombard has joined the list of Illinois restaurants and bars suing Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state and local health departments over the governor's order forbidding them from letting patrons eat and drink inside due to a recent increase in positive COVID-19 tests.
SBBL LLC, the corporation that owns Brauer House and BHouse Live!, filed the suit Wednesday. It argues that Pritzker's executive order is invalid because he doesn't have the authority to continue declaring disaster emergencies beyond the first declaration he made in March.
It asked for a temporary restraining order preventing the governor, the state and the DuPage County Health Department from enforcing the ban on indoor dining until the lawsuit is resolved. But DuPage Judge Bonnie Wheaton on Friday denied the temporary restraining order request.
Wheaton said the argument presented by the lawyer for Pritzker and the state "accurately reflected the law and the ability of the governor to make proclamations, and especially successive proclamations, in the face of this unprecedented emergency."
She also said Brauer House was unlikely to succeed on the merits, which is one of four standards you have to meet to get a temporary restraining order.
Brauer Houses attorney Joel Rabb argued that if authorities close Brauer House, there won't be a case to pursue because his client will likely go out of business.
"There will be no further litigation," Rabb said. "Brauer House closes. Its 40 employees will be out of work."
The case was continued until February. At that time, both sides will argue whether it should be moved to Sangamon County. The state attorney general wants the case moved to Sangamon because several similar cases from other judicial districts have been moved there.
In September, Brauer House sued its landlord, seeking relief on its rent for several months in the spring when the state banned indoor dining. That suit noted that Brauer House was never designed for carryout business, that much of its revenue came from alcohol sales, and that consequently it earned only about 15% of what it normally would have made.
Earlier this week, a Kane County judge granted a temporary restraining order to a Geneva restaurant, which is pursuing a similar lawsuit.
A lawsuit also has been filed in McHenry County on behalf of 37 restaurants, Shaw Media reports.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Mother sues in Waukegan police shooting, says son was left to die

The mother of the Black man who was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer has filed a federal lawsuit accusing law enforcement of letting him bleed to death in the eight minutes it for took an ambulance to arrive .
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Zharvellis Holmes , the mother of 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette , who was shot to death Oct. 20 by a Waukegan police officer .
Tafara Williams , the 20-year-old Black woman who was with Stinnette when he was killed and who was also shot and wounded , filed a similar lawsuit on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same claims as Williams ' suit , including that the couple did nothing to justify being confronted by an officer as they sat in their vehicle outside Williams ' home , and that the two did nothing to put Officer Dante Salinas ' life in danger before he opened fire .
Neither Stinnette nor Williams was armed .
Holmes ' lawsuit names Salinas , Officer James Keating , Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles and the city of Waukegan .
It highlights what happened in the moments before the shooting and the actions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confrontation with the couple set in motion the events that led to the shooting .
Keating recognized Stinnette and told him that he was under arrest , the suit says .
On one of the videos that the city released this week , an officer , presumably Keating , can be heard saying he had a warrant for Stinnette 's arrest .
The lawsuit says Stinnette had nothing to do with Williams ' decision to drive away and did not know that she was about to flee .
It also suggests that Keating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by falsely claiming on his radio : `` Hey , they just ran me over . ''
It also says Williams did n't try to run over Salinas , as he can be heard saying on body camera video that he failed to turn on until after the shooting .
Even after Williams screamed , `` He got shot , he got shot , he needs help , '' the officers on the scene `` did not render any aid at this time , '' Holmes ' lawsuit says .
Officers `` eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed him on the ground , then `` waited on the scene for an ambulance , '' the lawsuit says .
Stinnette `` did not receive medical assistance for over eight minutes , while he bled out on the ground , '' it says .
Walles and an attorney representing the city , Rick Hammond , did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

Mother sues in Waukegan police shooting, says son was left to die
Courtesy of Clyde McLemoreMarcellis Stinnette, 19, of Waukegan was shot and killed by Waukegan police Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in what they say was self-defense.
Marcellis Stinnette's mother Zharvellis Holmes, left, her daughter Zhanellis Banks, center, and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., walk to press conference, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Des Plaines, Ill., after viewing the videos of the Oct. 20, 2020 police involved shooting in Waukegan that killed 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette and seriously wounded Tafara Williams.
Marcellis Stinnette's mother Zharvellis Holmes, left, and Marcellis's grandmother Sherrellis Stinnette attend a press conference, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Des Plaines, Ill., after viewing the videos of the Oct. 20, 2020 police involved shooting in Waukegan that killed 19-year-old Marcellis and seriously wounded Tafara Williams.
The mother of the Black man who was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer has filed a federal lawsuit accusing law enforcement of letting him bleed to death in the eight minutes it for took an ambulance to arrive.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Zharvellis Holmes, the mother of 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette, who was shot to death Oct. 20 by a Waukegan police officer. Tafara Williams, the 20-year-old Black woman who was with Stinnette when he was killed and who was also shot and wounded, filed a similar lawsuit on Wednesday.
Holmes' lawsuit makes many of the same claims as Williams' suit, including that the couple did nothing to justify being confronted by an officer as they sat in their vehicle outside Williams' home, and that the two did nothing to put Officer Dante Salinas' life in danger before he opened fire. Neither Stinnette nor Williams was armed.
Holmes' lawsuit names Salinas, Officer James Keating, Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles and the city of Waukegan. It highlights what happened in the moments before the shooting and the actions of Keating, who is white and whose confrontation with the couple set in motion the events that led to the shooting.
Keating recognized Stinnette and told him that he was under arrest, the suit says. On one of the videos that the city released this week, an officer, presumably Keating, can be heard saying he had a warrant for Stinnette's arrest.
The lawsuit says Stinnette had nothing to do with Williams' decision to drive away and did not know that she was about to flee. It also suggests that Keating ratcheted up the tension of the situation by falsely claiming on his radio: "Hey, they just ran me over."
It also says Williams didn't try to run over Salinas, as he can be heard saying on body camera video that he failed to turn on until after the shooting.
Even after Williams screamed, "He got shot, he got shot, he needs help," the officers on the scene "did not render any aid at this time," Holmes' lawsuit says.
Officers "eventually" pulled Stinnette from the vehicle and placed him on the ground, then "waited on the scene for an ambulance," the lawsuit says. Stinnette "did not receive medical assistance for over eight minutes, while he bled out on the ground," it says.
Walles and an attorney representing the city, Rick Hammond, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Jim O'Donnell: A life of triumph -- the improbable dream of Vaughn McClure

WHEN A YOUNG LAD from Conant High School in Hoffman Estates decided to pursue a longshot dream to become an acclaimed sports writer , there were no national headlines .
Two weeks ago , when Vaughn McClure suddenly died at age 48 , there were .
In between is a story of triumph .
Interwoven are also tales of a genius for friendship , a remarkable knack for networking and an unfailing capacity to rub people the right way .
`` He knew what he wanted to do from the time we met at Robert Frost Middle School , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest multisport stars in the history of Northern Illinois University .
`` With me , it was always , ' I 'm gon na be a big NFL star . '
With Vaughn , it was always , ' I 'm gon na be a sports writer and some day cover Michael Jordan . '
`` Man , did he love Michael Jordan .
Cupcakes with sprinkles , Lou Malnati 's pizza and Michael Jordan .
We were kids . ''
Added columnist Elliott Harris , a colleague during McClure 's brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He seemed like a fellow who knew he was going somewhere .
He did n't have to push it , he did n't have to be up in your face about it .
He just had that elusive 'it . '
`` For the past seven years , that `` it '' took McClure about as high up as it gets in current American sports media .
Since 2013 , he served as the Atlanta Falcons beat writer for ESPN 's sprawling `` NFL Nation . ''
It was n't the Bulls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nor was it Chicago , where his passion was first stoked .
But it was where McClure would achieve national acclaim .
And it was where he would be posted when he quietly passed , in his sleep , of natural causes , hours after filing his final breakaway .
His mother , Mrs. Earlene Montgomery , worked for The Red Cross .
Theophilus Montgomery , the man who raised him as a son , was a mailman .
At Conant ( Class of '90 ) , his great jones was basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teen perfecta .
`` He was full of a spitfire energy that sometimes got him into trouble , '' said Kevin Katovich , a 1989 graduate of Conant who is currently the head boys basketball coach at Rolling Meadows High School .
`` Anyone who played basketball at Conant for Tom McCormack and Bruce Hilldebrand were aware of two things -- there were rules and expectations that were to be met without exception .
And , if you were a member of the basketball program , you were family . ''
While McCormack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beleaguered Cougars brigade into those Sweet Sixteeners , McClure was relentless in his pursuit of belonging .
By his junior year , he was a practice player/manager , according to Katovich .
The next season , the big year , he was a full-fledged contributor .
But his parents also made certain academics remained No .
1 .
Said McCormack : `` The night we were playing in the sectional we were going to Malnati 's for a team meal after school .
Vaughn did n't go because he had to study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was evident even back then . ''
A foreshadowing bit of convergence happened during McClure 's senior year at Conant when the great Taylor Bell was asked to speak to his journalism class .
`` Afterward , the teacher introduced Vaughn to me , '' said Bell , the iconic prep sports editor first at the Chicago Daily News and later the Sun-Times .
`` He wanted to be a sports writer and he wanted some advice .
`` I told him the most important thing to do was to get as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had chosen , like writing and covering sports .
I even invited him to call me and be a part-timer and cover events on my 50-man 'SWAT squad . '
But he never did .
`` And I still remember one thing I told him that I 've often wondered if he might have taken the wrong way .
`` I said to take advantage of what he had going for him .
At that time , 25 to 30 years ago , the newspaper industry was starting to decline and jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But opportunities were opening up big-time for females and minorities .
`` It was n't a racial thing , I insisted , just the way it was -- and is today .
`` Remember TV and newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s ?
How many Blacks , Latinos , Asians and females ?
How about today ?
I was right .
I hope he understood .
At any rate , he made the most of his talent . ''
That talent and drive and focus took him to the journalism program at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Stevenson North dormitory , McClure met Nick Gialamas , a freshman from Oak Lawn , who like Patterson , would be a wake-up/midnight-call friend to the end .
`` His personality was infectious and magnetic from our first conversation to our last , '' Gialamas said .
`` He lived my peaks and valleys and I lived his .
And people , all sorts of people , simply loved him .
We used to joke that he was 'The Mayor of NIU . '
`` He also quickly established himself on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's supremely facile director of sports information .
`` That demeanor .
That smile -- his 'sweet smile , ' as the secretary in our department always called it , '' Korcek recalled .
`` And his curiosity .
That was the key .
That 's the center of any good , or great , journalist .
And Vaughn had it .
He not only wanted facts , he wanted to know the background of the facts , why they were facts , how they came to be facts .
`` After graduation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Chronicle and also did the local news beat there .
So from afar , I watched his ascension up the media ladder -- Daily Herald , Fresno Bee , South Bend Tribune , Sun-Times , Chicago Trib and then ESPN.com in Atlanta .
McClure finally got to touch Bulls as a professional in 2007 , when Sun-Times sports editor Stu Courtney assigned him to the paper 's postseason NBA posse .
Backstage , it was fun to watch how much fun he was having , even if Tayshaun Prince and the Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Gordon , et al , to get past the second round .
Within a year , hawk-eyed Trib sports chiefs Mike Kellams and Dan McGrath snapped him up to catch the final silver skating of The World 's Greatest Newspaper .
McClure 's power alley evolved into coverage of the Bears and the NFL .
That made him a natural for ESPN in 2013 , when the broadcast behemoth expanded its multimedia coverage from eight `` divisional '' beat reporters to a full coterie of 32 for each NFL team .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister Nona succumbed to heart disease at age 37 .
His younger brother , Mark Montgomery , died of lupus at 28 .
Last winter , in another blow to his spirit , McClure 's beloved stepdad passed away .
On Easter weekend in April , he posted a plaintive Instagram below a picture of his family : '' Would do anything in the world to have you four back right now to celebrate Easter .
As you would say Mom , 'This is the day the Lord has made .
We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' This pandemic has made folks understand the value of family .
Believe me , I understand that family is EVERYTHING .
I will see you in Heaven one day Mom , Dad , Big Sis and Little Markie . ''
On the final full day of his life -- a Tuesday -- McClure did his job , focused on the Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch , Ga .
The news was big -- head coach Dan Quinn had been fired two days before after an 0-5 start .
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arthur Blank , a co-founder of Home Depot .
McClure edged all competition by minutes on the announcement of Morris 's elevation .
In the endless 24/7 cycles of contemporary sports journalism , that 's a win .
He was at his condo .
He had not been feeling well for weeks .
`` He kept saying he was tired and that he kept getting headaches , '' Gialamas said .
`` And I kept saying , 'Vaughn , go to a doctor . '
But he hated doctors .
We talked briefly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said he was going to try and go to bed early . ''
So he did .
And dream years from Hoffman Estates , and thousands of deadlines from DeKalb and the chest bumps with the Conant Sweet Sixteen team and the bus rides to Frost Middle School with Patterson , he died .
The following Friday , Gialamas and Patterson flew to Atlanta .
A McClure cousin from Texas , Khris Bashford , was en route to oversee the estate .
News of McClure 's death prompted waves of social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole slew of cardboard obituaries -- generic mentions of his life vitae followed by excerpts of the social media reactions .
Gialamas , an insurance broker and financial adviser , is in the process of establishing The Vaughn McClure Foundation .
He and Patterson have been attempting to schedule a Chicago-area memorial .
But , according to Patterson , `` The new pandemic spike is n't making that easy .
We 're still hoping for something the weekend of Nov. 6-7 .
My first suggestion for a place was Conant High School , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Wherever it 's held , whenever it 's held , whomever attends , there is one theme that must dominate : Through his own sweet angles of determination , Vaughn McClure crafted a life of triumph .
• Jim O'Donnell 's Sports & Media column appears Thursday and Sunday .
Reach him at jimodonnelldh @ yahoo.com .

Jim O'Donnell: A life of triumph -- the improbable dream of Vaughn McClure
Vaughn McClure was a senior on the 1990 Conant High School Sweet Sixteen team. Courtesy of Thomas McCormack
Vaughn McClure in March 2014 at the ESPN studio in Bristol, Conn. Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images
WHEN A YOUNG LAD from Conant High School in Hoffman Estates decided to pursue a longshot dream to become an acclaimed sports writer, there were no national headlines.
Two weeks ago, when Vaughn McClure suddenly died at age 48, there were.
In between is a story of triumph.
Interwoven are also tales of a genius for friendship, a remarkable knack for networking and an unfailing capacity to rub people the right way.
"He knew what he wanted to do from the time we met at Robert Frost Middle School," said Vaurice Patterson, still one of the greatest multisport stars in the history of Northern Illinois University.
"With me, it was always, 'I'm gonna be a big NFL star.' With Vaughn, it was always, 'I'm gonna be a sports writer and some day cover Michael Jordan.'
"Man, did he love Michael Jordan. Cupcakes with sprinkles, Lou Malnati's pizza and Michael Jordan. We were kids."
Added columnist Elliott Harris, a colleague during McClure's brief turn at the Sun-Times in 2006-'07: "He seemed like a fellow who knew he was going somewhere. He didn't have to push it, he didn't have to be up in your face about it. He just had that elusive 'it.' "
For the past seven years, that "it" took McClure about as high up as it gets in current American sports media.
Since 2013, he served as the Atlanta Falcons beat writer for ESPN's sprawling "NFL Nation."
It wasn't the Bulls, where his heart would always lay. Nor was it Chicago, where his passion was first stoked.
But it was where McClure would achieve national acclaim.
And it was where he would be posted when he quietly passed, in his sleep, of natural causes, hours after filing his final breakaway.
A look back
His mother, Mrs. Earlene Montgomery, worked for The Red Cross. Theophilus Montgomery, the man who raised him as a son, was a mailman.
At Conant (Class of '90), his great jones was basketball. Visions of journalism completed McClure's teen perfecta.
"He was full of a spitfire energy that sometimes got him into trouble," said Kevin Katovich, a 1989 graduate of Conant who is currently the head boys basketball coach at Rolling Meadows High School.
"Anyone who played basketball at Conant for Tom McCormack and Bruce Hilldebrand were aware of two things -- there were rules and expectations that were to be met without exception. And, if you were a member of the basketball program, you were family."
While McCormack was doing a stellar job of flipping a beleaguered Cougars brigade into those Sweet Sixteeners, McClure was relentless in his pursuit of belonging.
By his junior year, he was a practice player/manager, according to Katovich. The next season, the big year, he was a full-fledged contributor.
But his parents also made certain academics remained No. 1.
Said McCormack: "The night we were playing in the sectional we were going to Malnati's for a team meal after school. Vaughn didn't go because he had to study. That attention to detail and priorities was evident even back then."
A foreshadowing bit of convergence happened during McClure's senior year at Conant when the great Taylor Bell was asked to speak to his journalism class.
"Afterward, the teacher introduced Vaughn to me," said Bell, the iconic prep sports editor first at the Chicago Daily News and later the Sun-Times.
"He wanted to be a sports writer and he wanted some advice.
"I told him the most important thing to do was to get as much experience as he could in the craft he had chosen, like writing and covering sports. I even invited him to call me and be a part-timer and cover events on my 50-man 'SWAT squad.' But he never did.
"And I still remember one thing I told him that I've often wondered if he might have taken the wrong way.
"I said to take advantage of what he had going for him. At that time, 25 to 30 years ago, the newspaper industry was starting to decline and jobs were getting scarce for college journalism graduates. But opportunities were opening up big-time for females and minorities.
"It wasn't a racial thing, I insisted, just the way it was -- and is today.
"Remember TV and newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s? How many Blacks, Latinos, Asians and females? How about today? I was right. I hope he understood. At any rate, he made the most of his talent."
Up and coming
That talent and drive and focus took him to the journalism program at Northern Illinois.
On day one at the Stevenson North dormitory, McClure met Nick Gialamas, a freshman from Oak Lawn, who like Patterson, would be a wake-up/midnight-call friend to the end.
"His personality was infectious and magnetic from our first conversation to our last," Gialamas said. "He lived my peaks and valleys and I lived his. And people, all sorts of people, simply loved him. We used to joke that he was 'The Mayor of NIU.' "
He also quickly established himself on the radar of Mike Korcek, the university's supremely facile director of sports information.
"That demeanor. That smile -- his 'sweet smile,' as the secretary in our department always called it," Korcek recalled.
"And his curiosity. That was the key. That's the center of any good, or great, journalist. And Vaughn had it. He not only wanted facts, he wanted to know the background of the facts, why they were facts, how they came to be facts.
"After graduation, Vaughn covered us for the DeKalb Daily Chronicle and also did the local news beat there. So from afar, I watched his ascension up the media ladder -- Daily Herald, Fresno Bee, South Bend Tribune, Sun-Times, Chicago Trib and then ESPN.com in Atlanta.
"All amazing but well-earned."
(Full historical mosaic: McClure was never full-time at the Daily Herald. According to the esteemed Marty Maciaszek, he covered high school sports as a freelancer, "primarily in the Fox Valley region," while still living in DeKalb.)
McClure finally got to touch Bulls as a professional in 2007, when Sun-Times sports editor Stu Courtney assigned him to the paper's postseason NBA posse.
Backstage, it was fun to watch how much fun he was having, even if Tayshaun Prince and the Detroit Pistons would not allow Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, et al, to get past the second round.
Within a year, hawk-eyed Trib sports chiefs Mike Kellams and Dan McGrath snapped him up to catch the final silver skating of The World's Greatest Newspaper.
McClure's power alley evolved into coverage of the Bears and the NFL. That made him a natural for ESPN in 2013, when the broadcast behemoth expanded its multimedia coverage from eight "divisional" beat reporters to a full coterie of 32 for each NFL team.
Never forgetting
His mother died in 2010. His older sister Nona succumbed to heart disease at age 37. His younger brother, Mark Montgomery, died of lupus at 28.
Last winter, in another blow to his spirit, McClure's beloved stepdad passed away.
On Easter weekend in April, he posted a plaintive Instagram below a picture of his family:
"Would do anything in the world to have you four back right now to celebrate Easter. As you would say Mom, 'This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.' This pandemic has made folks understand the value of family. Believe me, I understand that family is EVERYTHING. I will see you in Heaven one day Mom, Dad, Big Sis and Little Markie."
On the final full day of his life -- a Tuesday -- McClure did his job, focused on the Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Ga.
The news was big -- head coach Dan Quinn had been fired two days before after an 0-5 start. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris was named interim head coach by owner Arthur Blank, a co-founder of Home Depot.
McClure edged all competition by minutes on the announcement of Morris's elevation. In the endless 24/7 cycles of contemporary sports journalism, that's a win.
He was at his condo. He had not been feeling well for weeks.
"He kept saying he was tired and that he kept getting headaches," Gialamas said. "And I kept saying, 'Vaughn, go to a doctor.' But he hated doctors. We talked briefly that day like we always did and he said he was going to try and go to bed early."
So he did.
And dream years from Hoffman Estates, and thousands of deadlines from DeKalb and the chest bumps with the Conant Sweet Sixteen team and the bus rides to Frost Middle School with Patterson, he died.
The following Friday, Gialamas and Patterson flew to Atlanta. A McClure cousin from Texas, Khris Bashford, was en route to oversee the estate.
News of McClure's death prompted waves of social media notes of sadness and shock and a whole slew of cardboard obituaries -- generic mentions of his life vitae followed by excerpts of the social media reactions.
Gialamas, an insurance broker and financial adviser, is in the process of establishing The Vaughn McClure Foundation.
He and Patterson have been attempting to schedule a Chicago-area memorial.
But, according to Patterson, "The new pandemic spike isn't making that easy. We're still hoping for something the weekend of Nov. 6-7. My first suggestion for a place was Conant High School, but that's not going to happen."
Wherever it's held, whenever it's held, whomever attends, there is one theme that must dominate:
Through his own sweet angles of determination, Vaughn McClure crafted a life of triumph.
• Jim O'Donnell's Sports & Media column appears Thursday and Sunday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Daily Herald wins general excellence, best website

The Daily Herald won the General Excellence award and first place for best website Thursday night at the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association 's 2020 annual awards gathering .
The Daily Herald won 52 awards altogether , including 21 for first place in a variety of categories .
Judges said `` The Daily Herald team gets it .
The website is organized well and updated regularly .
This is a top-notch site . ''
Travis Siebrass , the assistant managing editor overseeing dailyherald.com , said : `` Our staff is committed to telling stories that matter to the suburbs .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a direct reflection of that . ''
Burt Constable , Elena Ferrarin , Rick West and Marie Wilson each earned three first-place awards .
Constable and Ferrarin each won five awards in all .
West won first place for video and feature photography on the same assignment on a 75th wedding anniversary story .
`` Keep looking and you notice the little things that make this photo great , '' the judges said .
`` We 're proud of our hardworking staff and its ongoing commitment to serve our readers , '' Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is appreciated .
But what 's really important is the good work on behalf of the community that our journalists strive to provide each day . ''

Daily Herald wins general excellence, best website
The Daily Herald won the General Excellence award and first place for best website Thursday night at the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association's 2020 annual awards gathering.
The Daily Herald won 52 awards altogether, including 21 for first place in a variety of categories.
Judges said "The Daily Herald team gets it. The website is organized well and updated regularly. This is a top-notch site."
Travis Siebrass, the assistant managing editor overseeing dailyherald.com, said: "Our staff is committed to telling stories that matter to the suburbs. We work to make sure our website is a direct reflection of that."
Burt Constable, Elena Ferrarin, Rick West and Marie Wilson each earned three first-place awards. Constable and Ferrarin each won five awards in all.
West won first place for video and feature photography on the same assignment on a 75th wedding anniversary story. "Keep looking and you notice the little things that make this photo great," the judges said.
"We're proud of our hardworking staff and its ongoing commitment to serve our readers," Editor John Lampinen said. "The recognition is appreciated. But what's really important is the good work on behalf of the community that our journalists strive to provide each day."
First place
• General Excellence: Daily Herald Staff
• Website: Daily Herald Staff
• Design: Daily Herald Staff
• Public Affairs Reporting: Marie Wilson and Elena Ferrarin
• Coverage of Social Issues: Madhu Krishnamurthy
• In-depth News Story: Burt Constable
• Sports Columnist: Barry Rozner
• Video: Rick West
• Spot News Story: Eric Peterson and Elena Ferrarin
• Headline Writing: Melynda Findlay
• General Feature: Burt Constable
• Personality Profile: Robert Feder and Jim O'Donnell
• Business/Financial Coverage: Marie Wilson and Elena Ferrarin
• Technology/Medical Coverage: Marie Wilson
• Columnist: Burt Constable
• Editorial: Jim Slusher
• Spot News Photo: Rick West
• Feature Photo: Rick West
• Sports Photo: Mark Welsh
• Sports Story: John Dietz
• Online Photo Gallery: John Starks
• News Series: Jake Griffin and Lauren Rohr
Second Place
• Historical Feature: Burt Constable
• Headline Writing: Don Friske
• General Feature: Barbara Vitello
• Personality Profile: Burt Constable
• Business/Financial Coverage: Daily Herald Staff
• Technology/Medical Coverage: Daily Herald Staff
• Editorial: Pete Nenni
• Spot News Photo: Mark Welsh
• Sports Photo: Brian Hill
• Sports Story: Scot Gregor
• Online Photo Gallery: Daily Herald Staff
• COVID-19 Coverage: Daily Herald Staff
• Spanish Coverage of Latino Community: Marni Harvey, Reflejos
Third Place
• Watchdog Reporting: Jake Griffin
• Public Affairs Reporting: Robert Sanchez
• Coverage of Social Issues: Elena Ferrarin
• Education Reporting: Madhu Krishnamurthy
• Use of Humor: Jim Baumann
• Video: Rick West
• Headline Writing: Sean Stangland
• General Feature: Madhu Krishnamurthy
• Personality Profile: Elena Ferrarin
• Business/Financial Coverage: Eric Peterson and Bob Susnjara
• Technology/Medical Coverage: Daily Herald Staff
• Columnist: Jim Slusher
• Editorial: John Lampinen
• Spot News Photo: Joe Lewnard
• Sports Story: Patricia Babcock McGraw
• Online Photo Gallery: Jeff Knox
• News Series: Jake Griffin