dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--Elgin mayor, councilman at odds over proposed ban on lobbying

Debate over an ethics ordinance that bans lobbying by Elgin City Council members will begin anew after Mayor David Kaptain pledged this week to push it forward before next year 's municipal election .
Kaptain first announced his idea for an ethics ordinance at a state of the city address in February .
It came on the heels of Chicago aldermen passing their own ban , in December , on members of their council or city employees lobbying state , county or any or units of government or receiving any compensation from lobbying .
Kaptain said the Elgin City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police reform .
Elected officials should set an example that they also are not above acting with ethics .
`` Tied into that ethics ordinance are a number of things that will influence how people campaign , where they get their funding from , how they vote if they get elected , '' Kaptain said .
`` Those things are important for us to get out there or at least make a decision about . ''
Councilman Baldemar Lopez , who is a registered lobbyist , did n't react to Kaptain 's announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But in an interview Thursday he said he feels unfairly targeted by the mayor 's push .
Lopez represents one of four council seats on the ballot in 2021 .
`` I 'm not embarrassed about the work I do , '' Lopez said .
`` I 've always done everything above board .
This move by the mayor is really unfortunate .
But I feel I 've got to keep moving forward and just doing the best for my community . ''
WBEZ reported Lopez is a partner in an Elgin-based consulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partner in that firm , Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas Jr. , told WBEZ that Lopez did lobbying work for ComEd in Springfield .
ComEd agreed to pay a $ 200 million fine after a federal criminal probe resulted in bribery charges for people connected to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan .
Madigan has denied any wrongdoing .

Elgin mayor, councilman at odds over proposed ban on lobbying
Debate over an ethics ordinance that bans lobbying by Elgin City Council members will begin anew after Mayor David Kaptain pledged this week to push it forward before next year's municipal election.
Kaptain first announced his idea for an ethics ordinance at a state of the city address in February. It came on the heels of Chicago aldermen passing their own ban, in December, on members of their council or city employees lobbying state, county or any or units of government or receiving any compensation from lobbying.
Kaptain said the Elgin City Council is putting a lot of attention into police reform. Elected officials should set an example that they also are not above acting with ethics.
"Tied into that ethics ordinance are a number of things that will influence how people campaign, where they get their funding from, how they vote if they get elected," Kaptain said. "Those things are important for us to get out there or at least make a decision about."
Councilman Baldemar Lopez, who is a registered lobbyist, didn't react to Kaptain's announcement during the council meeting this week. But in an interview Thursday he said he feels unfairly targeted by the mayor's push. Lopez represents one of four council seats on the ballot in 2021.
"I'm not embarrassed about the work I do," Lopez said. "I've always done everything above board. This move by the mayor is really unfortunate. But I feel I've got to keep moving forward and just doing the best for my community."
WBEZ reported Lopez is a partner in an Elgin-based consulting firm known as Stratagem. Lopez' partner in that firm, Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas Jr., told WBEZ that Lopez did lobbying work for ComEd in Springfield. ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine after a federal criminal probe resulted in bribery charges for people connected to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Madigan has denied any wrongdoing.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--Feds charge Bloomingdale Township highway commissioner in kickback scheme

The Bloomingdale Township highway commissioner pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the owner of a Bloomingdale-based excavation company and her employee , according to a federal indictment released Thursday .
Robert Czernek , who is in his second elected term as the township 's highway commissioner , received more than $ 280,000 in kickbacks from Debra Fazio , the owner of Bulldog Earth Movers Inc. , and Mario Giannini , 58 , a company employee , federal prosecutors say .
The trio is charged with 14 counts of honest services wire fraud .
Fazio , 63 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money laundering .
In exchange for the secret kickbacks , Czernek , 69 , used his official position to approve payment of stone delivery , dump leveling and storm sewer invoices submitted by Bulldog Earth Movers to Bloomingdale Township , according to the 30-page indictment .
Czernek approved the invoices knowing that much of the work and services had not actually been performed by Bulldog , the indictment states .
The fraud scheme spanned eight years and resulted in Bloomingdale Township issuing checks totaling more than $ 700,000 to Bulldog , federal prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment since federal investigators raided his offices in January .
Czernek and his attorney did not return messages Thursday .
The indictment accuses Czernek of leaving handwritten notes for Giannini at secluded areas of the Bloomingdale Township Highway Department building or construction yard .
The notes included the description , hours and dates of work purportedly performed by Bulldog .
Some detailed the amount of money Czernek wanted to reap in kickbacks , the indictment states .
Fazio and Giannini used the notes to prepare false invoices submitted to Bloomingdale Township , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated verbatim what Czernek wrote in the notes , the indictment says .
Fazio and Giannini deposited Bloomingdale Township checks into Bulldog bank accounts and directed a portion of the proceeds from the checks to Czernek .
The alleged scheme also involved drawing from Bulldog bank accounts and making checks payable to Tri-State Express , a corporation formed by Czernek and which ceased functioning as a business .
The amount of each kickback was typically $ 5 or $ 6 for each ton of stone on delivery invoices , half of the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ varied amounts for the dump leveling invoices , prosecutors said .
After the indictment was made public , Bloomingdale Township Supervisor Michael Hovde repeated calls for the embattled highway commissioner to resign .
In a statement issued through attorneys Thursday , Hovde said the township has fully cooperated with federal investigators .
`` The Bloomingdale Township office is not involved in today 's developments and Czernek 's conduct related solely his activities within the Bloomingdale Township Road District , which is a separate entity , and one of its vendors , '' Hovde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three are convicted , the government is seeking forfeiture of Czernek 's 2014 Lexus RX350 , 1966 Buick Wildcat and a 1981 Corvette as well as large excavation equipment prosecutors said Bulldog purchased during the scheme .
Each fraud count in the indictment carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years , while the maximum sentence for each count of money laundering is 10 years .
When federal agents raided the road district office in January , their targets included Czernek 's desk calendar , a `` dirt log , '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a search warrant .

Feds charge Bloomingdale Township highway commissioner in kickback scheme
The Bloomingdale Township highway commissioner pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the owner of a Bloomingdale-based excavation company and her employee, according to a federal indictment released Thursday.
Robert Czernek, who is in his second elected term as the township's highway commissioner, received more than $280,000 in kickbacks from Debra Fazio, the owner of Bulldog Earth Movers Inc., and Mario Giannini, 58, a company employee, federal prosecutors say.
The trio is charged with 14 counts of honest services wire fraud. Fazio, 63, also is charged with six counts of money laundering.
In exchange for the secret kickbacks, Czernek, 69, used his official position to approve payment of stone delivery, dump leveling and storm sewer invoices submitted by Bulldog Earth Movers to Bloomingdale Township, according to the 30-page indictment.
Czernek approved the invoices knowing that much of the work and services had not actually been performed by Bulldog, the indictment states. The fraud scheme spanned eight years and resulted in Bloomingdale Township issuing checks totaling more than $700,000 to Bulldog, federal prosecutors said.
Czernek has refused multiple requests for comment since federal investigators raided his offices in January. Czernek and his attorney did not return messages Thursday.
The indictment accuses Czernek of leaving handwritten notes for Giannini at secluded areas of the Bloomingdale Township Highway Department building or construction yard. The notes included the description, hours and dates of work purportedly performed by Bulldog. Some detailed the amount of money Czernek wanted to reap in kickbacks, the indictment states.
Fazio and Giannini used the notes to prepare false invoices submitted to Bloomingdale Township, according to court documents. Some invoices repeated verbatim what Czernek wrote in the notes, the indictment says.
Fazio and Giannini deposited Bloomingdale Township checks into Bulldog bank accounts and directed a portion of the proceeds from the checks to Czernek.
The alleged scheme also involved drawing from Bulldog bank accounts and making checks payable to Tri-State Express, a corporation formed by Czernek and which ceased functioning as a business.
The amount of each kickback was typically $5 or $6 for each ton of stone on delivery invoices, half of the total amount for the storm sewer invoices and varied amounts for the dump leveling invoices, prosecutors said.
After the indictment was made public, Bloomingdale Township Supervisor Michael Hovde repeated calls for the embattled highway commissioner to resign. In a statement issued through attorneys Thursday, Hovde said the township has fully cooperated with federal investigators.
"The Bloomingdale Township office is not involved in today's developments and Czernek's conduct related solely his activities within the Bloomingdale Township Road District, which is a separate entity, and one of its vendors," Hovde said in the statement.
If the three are convicted, the government is seeking forfeiture of Czernek's 2014 Lexus RX350, 1966 Buick Wildcat and a 1981 Corvette as well as large excavation equipment prosecutors said Bulldog purchased during the scheme.
Each fraud count in the indictment carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, while the maximum sentence for each count of money laundering is 10 years.
When federal agents raided the road district office in January, their targets included Czernek's desk calendar, a "dirt log," and financial records involving three companies, according to a search warrant.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-26--Fremd teacher makes triumphant return following cancer battle

During a homecoming pep rally at William Fremd High School on Sept. 20 , 2013 , special education teacher T.J. Valacak said he was n't feeling very well .
This day was the latest in a series of days feeling fatigued .
When he spoke to his doctor the next day , he received a shock .
`` I got a call from my doctor after they had run some blood work , and he said 'hey , you have to get to the hospital .
It looks like you have leukemia , ' '' Valacak said .
`` At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what that would entail .
I thought I would have to get it checked out , maybe see a doctor a couple times a day .
I did n't leave the hospital for a month . ''
Valacak was informed that he was suffering from two different forms of leukemia .
`` I could n't just stick to one , '' he said .
`` The predominant form was ALL ( Acute lymphoblastic leukemia ) .
The doctors created an aggressive treatment plan for Valacak , which included chemotherapy , radiation treatments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , Valacak had to search for a bone marrow donor who matched with him .
`` I was lucky enough that my sister was a match , '' he said .
`` I had the transplant on Nov .
13 . ''
He started showing improvements following the transplant and the leukemia was in remission .
But by late August 2014 , Valacak noticed he started having new complications .
`` It 's what they called graft vs. host disease , '' he said .
`` Things started getting worse and worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
For the next three and a half years , Valacak and his family looked for solutions to the newest complication .
In January 2018 , a new medication seemed to be the solution .
`` It did n't really help me get better , but it put an end to the downward slide I had been going through , '' he said .
`` By 2019 , I was able to start getting immunization shots to build up my immune system , which had been nonexistent since 2013 . ''
Through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received an outpouring of support from his colleagues .
`` When I was first diagnosed ( the school ) had a night for me at one of the games , '' he said .
`` They did a Color Run .
People have continued , through this whole process , to check up on me . ''
He added that support came from across District 211 .
`` It 's not just people from Fremd , '' he said .
`` People from the administration , teachers and coaches from the other schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been incredible . ''
After completing the immunization shots in March 2020 , Valacak was cleared to fulfill one of his major goals , a return to Fremd .
`` Fremd is a family .
It 's a second home , '' Valacak said .
`` Not leaving on my own terms was definitely a motivation to try to get back . ''
Valacak said walking back through the doors to return to work on Aug. 13 was an emotional experience .
`` It felt like , 'You made it .
You hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The excitement was winning out more than anything .
I felt proud walking in . ''
Two of the biggest changes Valacak said he noticed after his lengthy absence were technology and personnel .
`` We 're a technology world now , '' he said .
`` There is so much technology involved in the day and in the delivery of education than when I was last here .
`` There 's a lot of new faces here , '' he added .
`` There are some who have retired or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He noted that Dr. Lisa Small was principal at Fremd on his last day and is now the superintendent .
Valacak said for anyone facing severe obstacles , he encourages them to keep pushing ahead .
`` We have a saying from the NIU fight song : Forward together forward , '' he said .
`` There 's too much here on this earth to have it any other way . ''

Fremd teacher makes triumphant return following cancer battle
William Fremd High School special education teacher T.J. Valacak meets with students on Zoom during District 211's first day of school Aug. 13. Courtesy of District 211
During a homecoming pep rally at William Fremd High School on Sept. 20, 2013, special education teacher T.J. Valacak said he wasn't feeling very well. This day was the latest in a series of days feeling fatigued. When he spoke to his doctor the next day, he received a shock.
"I got a call from my doctor after they had run some blood work, and he said 'hey, you have to get to the hospital. It looks like you have leukemia,'" Valacak said. "At the time, I didn't know what that would entail. I thought I would have to get it checked out, maybe see a doctor a couple times a day. I didn't leave the hospital for a month."
Valacak was informed that he was suffering from two different forms of leukemia.
"I couldn't just stick to one," he said. "The predominant form was ALL (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia).
The doctors created an aggressive treatment plan for Valacak, which included chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and a bone-marrow transplant. During his treatment, Valacak had to search for a bone marrow donor who matched with him.
"I was lucky enough that my sister was a match," he said. "I had the transplant on Nov. 13."
He started showing improvements following the transplant and the leukemia was in remission. But by late August 2014, Valacak noticed he started having new complications.
"It's what they called graft vs. host disease," he said. "Things started getting worse and worse with problems in my lungs and skin."
For the next three and a half years, Valacak and his family looked for solutions to the newest complication. In January 2018, a new medication seemed to be the solution.
"It didn't really help me get better, but it put an end to the downward slide I had been going through," he said. "By 2019, I was able to start getting immunization shots to build up my immune system, which had been nonexistent since 2013."
Through his lengthy battle, Valacak said he received an outpouring of support from his colleagues.
"When I was first diagnosed (the school) had a night for me at one of the games," he said. "They did a Color Run. People have continued, through this whole process, to check up on me."
He added that support came from across District 211.
"It's not just people from Fremd," he said. "People from the administration, teachers and coaches from the other schools were reaching out. The support has been incredible."
After completing the immunization shots in March 2020, Valacak was cleared to fulfill one of his major goals, a return to Fremd.
"Fremd is a family. It's a second home," Valacak said. "Not leaving on my own terms was definitely a motivation to try to get back."
Valacak said walking back through the doors to return to work on Aug. 13 was an emotional experience.
"It felt like, 'You made it. You hit a goal,'" he said. "The excitement was winning out more than anything. I felt proud walking in."
Two of the biggest changes Valacak said he noticed after his lengthy absence were technology and personnel.
"We're a technology world now," he said. "There is so much technology involved in the day and in the delivery of education than when I was last here.
"There's a lot of new faces here," he added. "There are some who have retired or moved to other positions within the district."
He noted that Dr. Lisa Small was principal at Fremd on his last day and is now the superintendent.
Valacak said for anyone facing severe obstacles, he encourages them to keep pushing ahead.
"We have a saying from the NIU fight song: Forward together forward," he said. "There's too much here on this earth to have it any other way."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--McHenry County Board members approve new budget policy after heated debate over role of chairman

After a heated debate Wednesday morning , McHenry County Board members approved a new budget policy that omits the county board chairman when listing the department heads who should be involved in various aspects of budget proceedings .
In a special meeting , county board members voted , 17-4 , to approve the new budget policy , which passed through the county 's finance and audit committee in May but was never brought before the full board for approval .
Board member Michael Vijuk , the only of the committee 's eight members who voted against the policy in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his department , Chairman Jack Franks should be included in the policy .
`` The changes to the budget policy , by removing the duly-elected county board chairman , in my opinion , is shortsighted at the very least and will , in the long term , reduce the success of the budget policy and our fiscal responsibility to manage the people 's money left in our care , '' Vijuk said .
Under the new policy , Franks still would be able to contribute to budgetary matters , but would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions without consulting with the board , said board member Mike Skala , who chairs the finance and audit committee .
Franks said he deserved a `` seat at the table , '' citing his track record of saving the county money .
He pointed to cuts to the county 's tax levy and returning $ 15 million worth of surplus funding from Valley Hi Nursing Home back to taxpayers .
The new budget policy was created by the county 's director of finance , Kevin Bueso , who said the policy was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the finance committee for a vote .
Since the board chairman was considered part of the board until Franks became the first publicly elected chairman in 2016 , Bueso said he revised the county 's previous budget policy to include Franks ' department .
`` This policy is the county board 's policy and is all comprehensive ; it 's got to include everybody 's input on that and that 's why that was included in there , '' Bueso said in Wednesday 's meeting .
Members of the finance and audit committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included removing these references to the chairman 's department , Vijuk said .
Franks asked Bueso whether he truly thought the resulting budget policy was a comprehensive , inclusive plan , a question that incited objections from several board members .
Bueso did not respond .
Skala agreed the policy could be revised to be more inclusive , adding he would encourage staff to bring that recommendation forward .
He said he disagreed with Franks ' statements that the new policy seeks to cut him out of the budget process .
Skala described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pillar on a `` three-pillar stool , '' stating Franks should provide independent oversight on the budgets of county departments and other agencies that report to the county .
The county board and the county 's administration make up the other two pillars of the stool , which should always be equal and balanced , Skala said .
`` Collectively , as the three pillars , we have to come together to pass a budget , '' he said .
`` What I see as the problem that has happened in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is independently altering things outside of the purview of the other two pillars and that 's where I feel that we have gone astray and we need to correct . ''
`` So I disagree with you chairman , I do feel you are an important part of the process , '' Skala said .
`` But I do feel that you are a part of the process , not the process itself . ''

McHenry County Board members approve new budget policy after heated debate over role of chairman
After a heated debate Wednesday morning, McHenry County Board members approved a new budget policy that omits the county board chairman when listing the department heads who should be involved in various aspects of budget proceedings.
In a special meeting, county board members voted, 17-4, to approve the new budget policy, which passed through the county's finance and audit committee in May but was never brought before the full board for approval.
Board member Michael Vijuk, the only of the committee's eight members who voted against the policy in May, said, as the head of his department, Chairman Jack Franks should be included in the policy.
"The changes to the budget policy, by removing the duly-elected county board chairman, in my opinion, is shortsighted at the very least and will, in the long term, reduce the success of the budget policy and our fiscal responsibility to manage the people's money left in our care," Vijuk said.
Under the new policy, Franks still would be able to contribute to budgetary matters, but would not be able to use his position to make decisions without consulting with the board, said board member Mike Skala, who chairs the finance and audit committee.
Franks said he deserved a "seat at the table," citing his track record of saving the county money. He pointed to cuts to the county's tax levy and returning $15 million worth of surplus funding from Valley Hi Nursing Home back to taxpayers.
The new budget policy was created by the county's director of finance, Kevin Bueso, who said the policy was revised five times before it went to the finance committee for a vote.
Since the board chairman was considered part of the board until Franks became the first publicly elected chairman in 2016, Bueso said he revised the county's previous budget policy to include Franks' department.
"This policy is the county board's policy and is all comprehensive; it's got to include everybody's input on that and that's why that was included in there," Bueso said in Wednesday's meeting.
Members of the finance and audit committee later amended the policy, changes that included removing these references to the chairman's department, Vijuk said.
Franks asked Bueso whether he truly thought the resulting budget policy was a comprehensive, inclusive plan, a question that incited objections from several board members. Bueso did not respond.
Skala agreed the policy could be revised to be more inclusive, adding he would encourage staff to bring that recommendation forward. He said he disagreed with Franks' statements that the new policy seeks to cut him out of the budget process.
Skala described the department of the chair as one pillar on a "three-pillar stool," stating Franks should provide independent oversight on the budgets of county departments and other agencies that report to the county. The county board and the county's administration make up the other two pillars of the stool, which should always be equal and balanced, Skala said.
"Collectively, as the three pillars, we have to come together to pass a budget," he said. "What I see as the problem that has happened in the past is when one of those pillars, is independently altering things outside of the purview of the other two pillars and that's where I feel that we have gone astray and we need to correct."
"So I disagree with you chairman, I do feel you are an important part of the process," Skala said. "But I do feel that you are a part of the process, not the process itself."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-26--'Fake News' course comes to COD courtesy of ex-CIA agent

Wheaton resident Joe Goldberg was taken aback when he was asked to create a new course on fake news for the College of DuPage .
`` Your first reaction is , 'You 're kidding , because it 's a huge topic , ' '' said Goldberg , an adjunct professor who teaches other mass communication classes at the Glen Ellyn-based school .
Goldberg titled his class `` Fake News & The Search for Truth in Today 's Media . ''
The three-credit course begins Sept. 21 .
Sandy Fries , program chair of mass communications and journalism at COD , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ago .
Fries says he felt Goldberg was uniquely qualified to develop a curriculum examining fake news .
`` ( Goldberg ) is a former covert agent for the CIA , '' Fries said .
`` He knows about this subject matter in a way that goes beyond textbooks and what most people would know . ''
Goldberg worked for the CIA from 1985 to 1993 , focusing on propaganda , analysis , recruitment and training .
He drew from his CIA career as inspiration for his self-published 2014 fictional thriller `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Goldberg said he already incorporates introductory media literacy lessons in his existing courses .
But Goldberg 's new class allowed him to go deeper into ways that suspect information can spread and be weaponized .
With social media , `` we 're all broadcasters , we 're all journalists , we 're all content creators , '' Goldberg said .
`` This can all help fake news to proliferate . ''
Goldberg plans on exploring traditional propaganda and how graphs and data can be altered to deceive .
Goldberg also outlined different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberately created deceptive information ) , misinformation ( mistakes or errors that could do damage ) and `` malinformation '' ( the manipulation of true source materials to cause harm ) .
Increases in technology also factor into Goldberg 's course .
These include the digital manipulation of a person 's voice and moving image for `` deepfake '' videos , and how search engine logarithms can reinforce a person 's preexisting `` bias bubble . ''
Goldberg said he hopes students who take his course will share what they learn .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have more influence on shaping a person 's perceptions rather than established news sources .
For example , instead of immediately sharing a graphic meme on Facebook that affirms your biases , Goldberg suggests people should take a moment `` to identify , to be critical of it , to decide what you believe , where it came from , what 's the motive behind it -- the types of questions you would normally ask but people do n't ask anymore . ''
Fries said Goldberg 's course is aimed at COD 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others pursuing different degrees will consider it , especially in the midst of an election year and a global pandemic .
`` Everybody needs to be aware what is a reliable source and what is not , '' Fries said .
`` You could be a student , you could be a doctor -- whatever you are , if you are living your life based upon unreliable sources , you are in deep trouble . ''

'Fake News' course comes to COD courtesy of ex-CIA agent
Former CIA agent and Wheaton resident Joe Goldberg is set to teach a new course called "Fake News & The Search for Truth in Today's Media" for the College of DuPage this semester. Courtesy of Joe Goldberg
Former CIA agent Joe Goldberg is set to teach a new course called "Fake News & The Search for Truth in Today's Media" for the College of DuPage. Goldberg, pictured with his dog, Ollie, also is author of the self-published 2014 fictional thriller "Secret Wars: An Espionage Story." Daily Herald File Photo, 2015
Wheaton resident Joe Goldberg was taken aback when he was asked to create a new course on fake news for the College of DuPage.
"Your first reaction is, 'You're kidding, because it's a huge topic,'" said Goldberg, an adjunct professor who teaches other mass communication classes at the Glen Ellyn-based school.
Goldberg titled his class "Fake News & The Search for Truth in Today's Media." The three-credit course begins Sept. 21.
Sandy Fries, program chair of mass communications and journalism at COD, reached out to Goldberg more than a year ago. Fries says he felt Goldberg was uniquely qualified to develop a curriculum examining fake news.
"(Goldberg) is a former covert agent for the CIA," Fries said. "He knows about this subject matter in a way that goes beyond textbooks and what most people would know."
Goldberg worked for the CIA from 1985 to 1993, focusing on propaganda, analysis, recruitment and training. He drew from his CIA career as inspiration for his self-published 2014 fictional thriller "Secret Wars: An Espionage Story."
Goldberg said he already incorporates introductory media literacy lessons in his existing courses. But Goldberg's new class allowed him to go deeper into ways that suspect information can spread and be weaponized.
With social media, "we're all broadcasters, we're all journalists, we're all content creators," Goldberg said. "This can all help fake news to proliferate."
Goldberg plans on exploring traditional propaganda and how graphs and data can be altered to deceive. Goldberg also outlined different types of false information including disinformation (deliberately created deceptive information), misinformation (mistakes or errors that could do damage) and "malinformation" (the manipulation of true source materials to cause harm).
Increases in technology also factor into Goldberg's course. These include the digital manipulation of a person's voice and moving image for "deepfake" videos, and how search engine logarithms can reinforce a person's preexisting "bias bubble."
Goldberg said he hopes students who take his course will share what they learn. That's because friends and family can sometimes have more influence on shaping a person's perceptions rather than established news sources.
For example, instead of immediately sharing a graphic meme on Facebook that affirms your biases, Goldberg suggests people should take a moment "to identify, to be critical of it, to decide what you believe, where it came from, what's the motive behind it -- the types of questions you would normally ask but people don't ask anymore."
Fries said Goldberg's course is aimed at COD's mass communication students. But he hopes others pursuing different degrees will consider it, especially in the midst of an election year and a global pandemic.
"Everybody needs to be aware what is a reliable source and what is not," Fries said. "You could be a student, you could be a doctor -- whatever you are, if you are living your life based upon unreliable sources, you are in deep trouble."
For more information, visit cod.edu/registration.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--COVID-19 testing site in Wheaton ramps up capacity

DuPage County 's COVID-19 testing site in Wheaton is now providing up to 600 tests a day as public health officials warn of a concerning rise in new virus cases .
The Illinois Department of Public Health and a downstate lab processing test results has increased the testing capacity at the drive-through site at the county fairgrounds .
The operation had been conducting as many as 400 daily tests .
The site has handled well over 14,000 tests since opening June 16 .
The average positivity rate at the site stands at 2.41 % , DuPage Health Department Executive Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes as the county is averaging 100 cases per day over the last week , with the addition of Thursday 's COVID-19 data .
Before moving into the fourth phase of the state 's reopening plan , DuPage had a seven-day rolling average of about 35 cases per day in mid-June .
`` So we are seeing a concerning 248 % increase in the number of cases that are being confirmed over the past eight weeks , '' Ayala told the county board Tuesday .
The county also will shift to a Monday-Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic at the site on Saturdays .
Starting next week , the new hours are 7 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays , or until testing capacity is reached .
The changes were made to align with demand for testing earlier in the week and to make testing available throughout the week as DuPage County schools and other environments continue to reopen , health department spokesman Don Bolger said .
Wheaton residents compromise the vast majority of people coming to the site , with 3,081 tested through Aug. 10 .
The site also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and 1,055 Naperville residents .
DuPage residents can access the site through the main entrance of the county government complex off County Farm Road .
They do n't need an appointment , doctor referral or insurance to receive a free test .
All the tests are self-administered .
Testing personnel will give each person a nasal swab and directions through their car window .
They then must swab their own nose without leaving their vehicle .
The site will close to observe Labor Day and reopen 7 a.m. Tuesday , Sept. 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff and 5 county health department employees .
Cumulatively , more than 14,000 people have contracted COVID-19 in DuPage County since March .
More than 530 people have died .

COVID-19 testing site in Wheaton ramps up capacity
DuPage County's COVID-19 testing site in Wheaton is now providing up to 600 tests a day as public health officials warn of a concerning rise in new virus cases.
The Illinois Department of Public Health and a downstate lab processing test results has increased the testing capacity at the drive-through site at the county fairgrounds. The operation had been conducting as many as 400 daily tests.
The site has handled well over 14,000 tests since opening June 16. The average positivity rate at the site stands at 2.41%, DuPage Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said.
The new capacity comes as the county is averaging 100 cases per day over the last week, with the addition of Thursday's COVID-19 data. Before moving into the fourth phase of the state's reopening plan, DuPage had a seven-day rolling average of about 35 cases per day in mid-June.
"So we are seeing a concerning 248% increase in the number of cases that are being confirmed over the past eight weeks," Ayala told the county board Tuesday.
The county also will shift to a Monday-Friday operation after seeing a lower volume of traffic at the site on Saturdays.
Starting next week, the new hours are 7 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays, or until testing capacity is reached.
The changes were made to align with demand for testing earlier in the week and to make testing available throughout the week as DuPage County schools and other environments continue to reopen, health department spokesman Don Bolger said.
Wheaton residents compromise the vast majority of people coming to the site, with 3,081 tested through Aug. 10. The site also has performed tests for 1,372 Glen Ellyn residents and 1,055 Naperville residents.
DuPage residents can access the site through the main entrance of the county government complex off County Farm Road. They don't need an appointment, doctor referral or insurance to receive a free test.
All the tests are self-administered. Testing personnel will give each person a nasal swab and directions through their car window. They then must swab their own nose without leaving their vehicle.
The site will close to observe Labor Day and reopen 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. It's run by 48 temporary staff and 5 county health department employees.
Cumulatively, more than 14,000 people have contracted COVID-19 in DuPage County since March. More than 530 people have died.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--Libertyville study will focus on Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of Route 176

A consultant has been hired to determine what it would take to make streetscape and other improvements along a half-mile of the Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of Route 176 in Libertyville .
The downtown area along the major thoroughfare has benefitted from years of reinvestment , and now the village is looking for possibilities to extend that reach .
As the village works to draft a new comprehensive plan for the community , Milwaukee Avenue between Route 176 and Austin Avenue south of downtown was identified during the process as a candidate for reinvestment in the properties and streetscape .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is characterized by lack of streetscaping , several small parcels with individual curb cuts , narrow frontage and some properties that could benefit from redevelopment .
`` It does act as an entry to some of our commercial areas and does n't present itself the same as some of our other corridors , '' said Heather Rowe , the village 's economic development coordinator .
`` This area is a gateway of sorts to the downtown .
It would be nice to have a smoother transition , '' Rowe added .
With that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved a not-to-exceed $ 55,000 contract with SB Friedman Development Advisors for the South Milwaukee Corridor study .
The firm and its subcontractor , the Lakota Group , have been working on the village 's comprehensive plan update , which has progressed to draft form .
Village planners said interest in pursuing redevelopment and improvement along Milwaukee Avenue south of Route 176 surfaced during that public process .
Since both firms are familiar with the area and the comprehensive plan objectives , village planners recommended hiring them to take a more in-depth look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision identified in the comprehensive planning process and digging deeper , '' Caitlin Johnson of SB Friedman told trustees .
First , the scale of desired change in the area would be determined .
Then , the village would be presented with potential redevelopment tools , including tax increment financing , to determine if any would be feasible to achieve what it wants .
`` This would be a next-level study and really evaluating the possibilities of what would be the level of improvement , investment or involvement the village would have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes beyond the comprehensive plan . ''
The goal is to determine the market feasibility of some development concepts and identify financial gaps so anything presented to future developers is viable , according to the village .
`` It 's a vital part of our Milwaukee Avenue corridor , '' said Trustee Scott Adams , who also is president and CEO of the GLMV Chamber of Commerce .
`` I think we need to look at it . ''
The entire Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of downtown is 2.75 miles and includes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealers , and Advocate Condell Medical Center .

Libertyville study will focus on Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of Route 176
A consultant has been hired to determine what it would take to make streetscape and other improvements along a half-mile of the Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of Route 176 in Libertyville.
The downtown area along the major thoroughfare has benefitted from years of reinvestment, and now the village is looking for possibilities to extend that reach.
As the village works to draft a new comprehensive plan for the community, Milwaukee Avenue between Route 176 and Austin Avenue south of downtown was identified during the process as a candidate for reinvestment in the properties and streetscape.
According to the village, the area is characterized by lack of streetscaping, several small parcels with individual curb cuts, narrow frontage and some properties that could benefit from redevelopment.
"It does act as an entry to some of our commercial areas and doesn't present itself the same as some of our other corridors," said Heather Rowe, the village's economic development coordinator.
"This area is a gateway of sorts to the downtown. It would be nice to have a smoother transition," Rowe added.
With that in mind, the village this week approved a not-to-exceed $55,000 contract with SB Friedman Development Advisors for the South Milwaukee Corridor study.
The firm and its subcontractor, the Lakota Group, have been working on the village's comprehensive plan update, which has progressed to draft form. Village planners said interest in pursuing redevelopment and improvement along Milwaukee Avenue south of Route 176 surfaced during that public process.
Since both firms are familiar with the area and the comprehensive plan objectives, village planners recommended hiring them to take a more in-depth look.
"We are building on the vision identified in the comprehensive planning process and digging deeper," Caitlin Johnson of SB Friedman told trustees.
First, the scale of desired change in the area would be determined. Then, the village would be presented with potential redevelopment tools, including tax increment financing, to determine if any would be feasible to achieve what it wants.
"This would be a next-level study and really evaluating the possibilities of what would be the level of improvement, investment or involvement the village would have," according to Rowe. "It goes beyond the comprehensive plan."
The goal is to determine the market feasibility of some development concepts and identify financial gaps so anything presented to future developers is viable, according to the village.
"It's a vital part of our Milwaukee Avenue corridor," said Trustee Scott Adams, who also is president and CEO of the GLMV Chamber of Commerce. "I think we need to look at it."
The entire Milwaukee Avenue corridor south of downtown is 2.75 miles and includes a concentration of small shops, several auto dealers, and Advocate Condell Medical Center.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--Police: Arlington Heights death investigation stems from domestic disturbance

Arlington Heights police on Thursday were conducting a death investigation in an office complex parking lot that stemmed from an apparent domestic situation .
Police responded to the 2400 block of South Goebbert Road for the report of a domestic disturbance just after 8 a.m. , when the victim was able to safely leave the scene in a vehicle and met with responding officers at a safe location , according to a police department news release .
The suspect fled in a vehicle and was possibly involved in two minor hit and run traffic crashes , police said .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officers found the suspect dead in a parking lot blocks away in the 2100 block of South Arlington Heights Road , police said .
Police Cmdr .
Ed Commers said there 's no indication of any criminal activity occurring at the scene of the death investigation .
He said evidence suggests the incident is isolated and there is no threat to the public .
Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics also responded to the office parking lot where they determined the subject was beyond medical attention .
Police secured the scene and blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Police: Arlington Heights death investigation stems from domestic disturbance
Arlington Heights police on Thursday were conducting a death investigation in an office complex parking lot that stemmed from an apparent domestic situation.
Police responded to the 2400 block of South Goebbert Road for the report of a domestic disturbance just after 8 a.m., when the victim was able to safely leave the scene in a vehicle and met with responding officers at a safe location, according to a police department news release.
The suspect fled in a vehicle and was possibly involved in two minor hit and run traffic crashes, police said. No one was injured.
At 8:24 a.m., officers found the suspect dead in a parking lot blocks away in the 2100 block of South Arlington Heights Road, police said.
Police Cmdr. Ed Commers said there's no indication of any criminal activity occurring at the scene of the death investigation. He said evidence suggests the incident is isolated and there is no threat to the public.
Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics also responded to the office parking lot where they determined the subject was beyond medical attention.
Police secured the scene and blocked off traffic for a short time.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-27--WATCH THE RNC LIVE: Trump's moment, Giuliani and more

LAS VEGAS -- President Donald Trump has popped up multiple times during this week 's Republican National Convention , but his big moment is scheduled for tonight when he is to make his case for another four years in the White House .
What to watch on the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention : Trump is scheduled to accept his party 's renomination in an address from the White House South Lawn .
The decision to give the speech from an elaborate stage in front of the Executive Mansion has attracted criticism from Democrats and ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the independent Office of Special Counsel has said holding it on the White House grounds does not violate federal law .
Trump 's address is likely to be lengthy and list his second-term priorities , but it 's too soon to say if he 'll use the speech to broaden his appeal beyond his die-hard supporters .
After he 's done , a fireworks show is expected to launch from the National Mall .
The president will be introduced by his daughter Ivanka Trump , the fourth of his five children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only his teenage son , Barron , is not in the lineup . )
She 's expected to focus on how he 's offered to help working families , draw contrasts between her father and opponent Joe Biden , and include personal anecdotes about her father 's decision-making .
Her stories would follow an effort by organizers throughout the convention to try to portray a softer side of a president known for his abrasive and blunt demeanor .
Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to help close out the convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach during his time as New York City 's mayor , something that dovetails with the law-and-order theme the GOP has been hammering during the week .
Giuliani 's work for the president has n't been without controversy .
Beyond the percussive rhetoric he 's used to support the president , his efforts to dig up scandal in Ukraine regarding Biden 's family were at the center of the president 's impeachment last year .
The theme for the final night of the convention is `` Land of Greatness , '' and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California .
Republicans also will feature New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who switched from Democrat to Republican .
Other speakers include Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton ; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson ; Dana White , president of the mixed martial arts organization Ultimate Fighting Championship ; Alice Johnson , a criminal justice advocate whose drug crime sentence Trump commuted at the urging of celebrity Kim Kardashian ; evangelist Rev .
Franklin Graham ; and Carl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights activists Kayla Mueller , slain by Islamic State militants while being held in Syria .

WATCH THE RNC LIVE: Trump's moment, Giuliani and more
President Donald Trump speaks Monday at the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Trump has popped up multiple times during this week's Republican National Convention but his big moment is scheduled for Thursday night when he is to make his case for another four years in the White House. Associated Press
LAS VEGAS -- President Donald Trump has popped up multiple times during this week's Republican National Convention, but his big moment is scheduled for tonight when he is to make his case for another four years in the White House.
What to watch on the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention:
TRUMP
Trump is scheduled to accept his party's renomination in an address from the White House South Lawn. The decision to give the speech from an elaborate stage in front of the Executive Mansion has attracted criticism from Democrats and ethics groups for mixing politics and official business. But the independent Office of Special Counsel has said holding it on the White House grounds does not violate federal law. Trump's address is likely to be lengthy and list his second-term priorities, but it's too soon to say if he'll use the speech to broaden his appeal beyond his die-hard supporters. After he's done, a fireworks show is expected to launch from the National Mall.
IVANKA TRUMP
The president will be introduced by his daughter Ivanka Trump, the fourth of his five children to speak during the convention. (Only his teenage son, Barron, is not in the lineup.) She's expected to focus on how he's offered to help working families, draw contrasts between her father and opponent Joe Biden, and include personal anecdotes about her father's decision-making. Her stories would follow an effort by organizers throughout the convention to try to portray a softer side of a president known for his abrasive and blunt demeanor.
RUDY GIULIANI
Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to help close out the convention. Giuliani is known for his tough-on-crime approach during his time as New York City's mayor, something that dovetails with the law-and-order theme the GOP has been hammering during the week. Giuliani's work for the president hasn't been without controversy. Beyond the percussive rhetoric he's used to support the president, his efforts to dig up scandal in Ukraine regarding Biden's family were at the center of the president's impeachment last year.
MAKE AMERICA 'GREATNESS'
The theme for the final night of the convention is "Land of Greatness," and the lineup will include GOP congressional leaders: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. Republicans also will feature New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched from Democrat to Republican.
Other speakers include Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson; Dana White, president of the mixed martial arts organization Ultimate Fighting Championship; Alice Johnson, a criminal justice advocate whose drug crime sentence Trump commuted at the urging of celebrity Kim Kardashian; evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham; and Carl and Marsha Mueller, the parents of human rights activists Kayla Mueller, slain by Islamic State militants while being held in Syria.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--RNC's final day: Trump blasts Biden from White House stage

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans ' safety as he accepted his party 's renomination Thursday on the South Lawn of the White House .
Trump spoke for more than an hour to a tightly packed , largely maskless crowd .
Facing a moment fraught with racial turmoil , economic collapse and a national health emergency , Trump delivered a triumphant , optimistic vision of America 's future .
But he said that brighter horizon could only be secured if he defeated his Democratic foe , who currently has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state polls .
`` We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years , '' Trump said , referring to the former senator and vice president 's career in Washington .
When Trump finished , a massive fireworks display went off by the Washington Monument , complete with explosions that spelled out `` Trump 2020 . ''
His acceptance speech kicked off the final stretch of the campaign , a race now fully joined and , despite the pandemic , soon to begin crisscrossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel will pick up to a near daily pace while Biden , who has largely weathered the pandemic from this Delaware home , announced Thursday that he will soon resume campaign travel .
Teasing once more that a vaccine could arrive soon , the president promised victory over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 people , left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society .
And , in the setting for his speech , Trump sought to project a sense of normalcy by throwing caution about the coronavirus aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was both familiar and controversial .
Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events , a huge stage was set up outside the executive mansion , dwarfing the trappings for some of the most important moments of past presidencies .
The speaker 's stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two large video screens .
Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent , Trump rarely includes calls for unity , even in a time of national uncertainty .
Presenting himself as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life under siege from radical forces , Trump has repeatedly , if not always effectively , tried to portray Biden -- who is considered a moderate Democrat -- as a tool of extreme leftists .
He mocked his opponent 's record and famous empathy , suggesting that `` laid off workers in Michigan , Ohio , New Hampshire , Pennsylvania '' do n't `` want Joe Biden 's hollow words of empathy , they wanted their jobs back . ''
In a week of racial tumult , Republicans have claimed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin , and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors and would only grow worse under a Biden administration .
That drew a stern rebuke from Biden .
`` The problem we have right now is that we are in Donald Trump 's America , '' Biden said on MSNBC .
`` He views this as a political benefit to him , he is rooting for more violence , not less .
He is pouring gasoline on the fire . ''
Both parties are watching with uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order -- with no words offered for Black victims of police violence -- while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness .
Rudy Giuliani , Trump 's personal attorney and New York City 's former mayor , declared that Democrats ' `` silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump . ''
Though some of the speakers , unlike on previous nights , offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black men killed by police , Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement , suggesting that it , along with ANTIFA , was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to `` execute their pro-criminal , anti-police policies '' and had `` hijacked the protests into vicious , brutal riots . ''
Along with Biden , running mate Kamala Harris offered counter-programming for Trump 's prime-time speech .
She delivered a speech a half mile from the White House , declaring , `` Donald Trump has failed at the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States : He failed to protect the American people , plain and simple . ''
Some demonstratiors took to Washington 's streets Thursday night , ahead of a march planned for Friday .
New fencing was set up along the White House perimeter to keep the protesters at bay , but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn where more than 1,500 people gathered .
Soon after Trump began talking , the horns and sirens -- which came through occasionally to the millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last row to turn around and look for the source of the disturbance .
Trump , who has defended his handling of the pandemic , touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing .
The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $ 750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes , schools and other areas with populations at high risk .
Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters , and has tried to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of his possible backers stay home .
Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women .

RNC's final day: Trump blasts Biden from White House stage
From left, Tiffany Trump, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump stand on stage on the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans' safety as he accepted his party's renomination Thursday on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump spoke for more than an hour to a tightly packed, largely maskless crowd.
Facing a moment fraught with racial turmoil, economic collapse and a national health emergency, Trump delivered a triumphant, optimistic vision of America's future. But he said that brighter horizon could only be secured if he defeated his Democratic foe, who currently has an advantage in most national and battleground state polls.
"We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years," Trump said, referring to the former senator and vice president's career in Washington.
When Trump finished, a massive fireworks display went off by the Washington Monument, complete with explosions that spelled out "Trump 2020."
His acceptance speech kicked off the final stretch of the campaign, a race now fully joined and, despite the pandemic, soon to begin crisscrossing the country. Trump's pace of travel will pick up to a near daily pace while Biden, who has largely weathered the pandemic from this Delaware home, announced Thursday that he will soon resume campaign travel.
Teasing once more that a vaccine could arrive soon, the president promised victory over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 people, left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society. And, in the setting for his speech, Trump sought to project a sense of normalcy by throwing caution about the coronavirus aside.
The president spoke from a setting that was both familiar and controversial. Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events, a huge stage was set up outside the executive mansion, dwarfing the trappings for some of the most important moments of past presidencies. The speaker's stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two large video screens.
Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent, Trump rarely includes calls for unity, even in a time of national uncertainty. Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces, Trump has repeatedly, if not always effectively, tried to portray Biden -- who is considered a moderate Democrat -- as a tool of extreme leftists.
He mocked his opponent's record and famous empathy, suggesting that "laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania" don't "want Joe Biden's hollow words of empathy, they wanted their jobs back."
In a week of racial tumult, Republicans have claimed that the violence that has erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors and would only grow worse under a Biden administration. That drew a stern rebuke from Biden.
"The problem we have right now is that we are in Donald Trump's America," Biden said on MSNBC. "He views this as a political benefit to him, he is rooting for more violence, not less. He is pouring gasoline on the fire."
Both parties are watching with uncertainty the developments in Wisconsin and cities across the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order -- with no words offered for Black victims of police violence -- while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness.
Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney and New York City's former mayor, declared that Democrats' "silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump."
Though some of the speakers, unlike on previous nights, offered notes of sympathy to the families of Black men killed by police, Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting that it, along with ANTIFA, was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to "execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies" and had "hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots."
Along with Biden, running mate Kamala Harris offered counter-programming for Trump's prime-time speech. She delivered a speech a half mile from the White House, declaring, "Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple."
Some demonstratiors took to Washington's streets Thursday night, ahead of a march planned for Friday. New fencing was set up along the White House perimeter to keep the protesters at bay, but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn where more than 1,500 people gathered. Soon after Trump began talking, the horns and sirens -- which came through occasionally to the millions watching at home -- caused some people in the last row to turn around and look for the source of the disturbance.
Trump, who has defended his handling of the pandemic, touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing. The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes, schools and other areas with populations at high risk.
Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters, and has tried to drive up negative impressions of Biden so that some of his possible backers stay home. Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--Trump lashes Biden, defies pandemic on White House stage

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans ' safety as he accepted his party 's renomination on the South Lawn of the White House .
While the coronavirus kills 1,000 Americans each day , Trump defied his own administration 's pandemic guidelines to speak for more than an hour to a tightly packed , largely maskless crowd .
Facing a moment fraught with racial turmoil , economic collapse and a national health emergency , Trump delivered a triumphant , optimistic vision of America 's future Thursday .
But he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he defeated his Democratic foe , who currently has an advantage in most national and battleground state polls .
`` We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years , '' Trump said , referring to the former senator and vice president 's career in Washington .
When Trump finished , a massive fireworks display went off by the Washington Monument , complete with explosions that spelled out `` Trump 2020 . ''
His acceptance speech kicked off the final stretch of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , despite the pandemic , soon to begin crisscrossing the country .
Trump 's pace of travel will pick up to a near daily pace while Biden , who has largely weathered the pandemic from this Delaware home , announced Thursday that he will soon resume campaign travel .
Teasing once more that a vaccine could arrive soon , the president promised victory over the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed more than 180,000 people in the United States , left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society .
And , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump sought to project a sense of normalcy by throwing caution about the coronavirus aside .
All week long , Republicans at the nonconvention convention tried to create the illusion that the pandemic is largely a thing of the past .
The rows of chairs on the South Lawn were inches apart .
Protective masks were not required , and COVID-19 tests were not administered to everyone .
As his speech brought the scaled-back Republican National Convention to a close , Trump 's incendiary rhetoric risked inflaming a divided nation reeling from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a major hurricane that slammed into the Gulf Coast and nights of protest after Jacob Blake , a Black man , was shot by a white Wisconsin police officer .
Prosecutors charged a white , 17-year-old police admirer with the fatal shooting of two protesters and wounding of a third .
The president spoke from a setting that was both familiar and controversial .
Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events , a huge stage was set up outside the Executive Mansion , dwarfing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments of past presidencies .
The speaker 's stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two large video screens .
Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent , Trump rarely includes calls for unity , even in a time of national uncertainty .
Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces , Trump has repeatedly , if not always effectively , tried to portray Biden -- who is considered a moderate Democrat -- as a tool of extreme leftists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and famous empathy , suggesting that `` laid-off workers in Michigan , Ohio , New Hampshire , Pennsylvania '' do n't `` want Joe Biden 's hollow words of empathy , they wanted their jobs back . ''
In a week of racial tumult , Republicans have claimed that the violence that has erupted in Kenosha , Wisconsin , and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors and would only grow worse under a Biden administration .
That drew a stern rebuke from Biden .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are in Donald Trump 's America , '' Biden said on MSNBC .
`` He views this as a political benefit to him , he is rooting for more violence , not less .
He is pouring gasoline on the fire . ''
Both parties are watching with uncertainty the developments in Wisconsin and cities across the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order -- with no words offered for Black victims of police violence -- while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness .
Rudy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City 's former mayor , declared that Democrats ' `` silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump . ''
Though some of the speakers , unlike on previous nights , offered notes of sympathy to the families of Black men killed by police , Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement , suggesting that it , along with antifa , was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to `` execute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had `` hijacked the protests into vicious , brutal riots . ''
Along with Biden , running mate Kamala Harris offered counterprogramming for Trump 's prime-time speech .
She delivered a speech a half-mile from the White House , declaring , `` Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States : He failed to protect the American people , plain and simple . ''
Some demonstrators took to Washington 's streets Thursday night , ahead of a march planned for Friday .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House perimeter to keep the protesters at bay , but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn , where more than 1,500 people gathered .
Soon after Trump began talking , the horns and sirens -- which came through occasionally to the millions watching at home -- caused some people in the last row to turn around and look for the source of the disturbance .
After the convention concluded , there were skirmishes as protesters yelled and threw water bottles at police at the historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter Plaza .
There were some arrests .
Trump , who has defended his handling of the pandemic , touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing .
The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $ 750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes , schools and other areas with populations at high risk .
Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters , and has tried to drive up negative impressions of Biden so that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women .
Four years ago , Trump declared in his acceptance speech that `` I alone can fix '' the nation 's woes , but he has found himself asking voters for another term at the nadir of his presidency , amid the devastating pandemic , crushing unemployment and real uncertainties about schools and businesses reopening .
Another one million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week , in numbers released Thursday .
And the U.S. economy shrank at an alarming annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter as it struggled under the weight of the viral pandemic .
It was sharpest quarterly drop on record .
Price reported from Las Vegas .
Associated Press writers Zeke Miller , Jill Colvin , Darlene Superville and Aamer Madhani contributed reporting .

Trump lashes Biden, defies pandemic on White House stage
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans' safety as he accepted his party's renomination on the South Lawn of the White House. While the coronavirus kills 1,000 Americans each day, Trump defied his own administration's pandemic guidelines to speak for more than an hour to a tightly packed, largely maskless crowd.
Facing a moment fraught with racial turmoil, economic collapse and a national health emergency, Trump delivered a triumphant, optimistic vision of America's future Thursday. But he said that brighter horizon could only be secured if he defeated his Democratic foe, who currently has an advantage in most national and battleground state polls.
"We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years," Trump said, referring to the former senator and vice president's career in Washington.
When Trump finished, a massive fireworks display went off by the Washington Monument, complete with explosions that spelled out "Trump 2020."
His acceptance speech kicked off the final stretch of the campaign, a race now fully joined and, despite the pandemic, soon to begin crisscrossing the country. Trump's pace of travel will pick up to a near daily pace while Biden, who has largely weathered the pandemic from this Delaware home, announced Thursday that he will soon resume campaign travel.
Teasing once more that a vaccine could arrive soon, the president promised victory over the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 180,000 people in the United States, left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society. And, in the setting for his speech, Trump sought to project a sense of normalcy by throwing caution about the coronavirus aside.
All week long, Republicans at the nonconvention convention tried to create the illusion that the pandemic is largely a thing of the past. The rows of chairs on the South Lawn were inches apart. Protective masks were not required, and COVID-19 tests were not administered to everyone.
As his speech brought the scaled-back Republican National Convention to a close, Trump's incendiary rhetoric risked inflaming a divided nation reeling from a series of calamities, including the pandemic, a major hurricane that slammed into the Gulf Coast and nights of protest after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot by a white Wisconsin police officer. Prosecutors charged a white, 17-year-old police admirer with the fatal shooting of two protesters and wounding of a third.
The president spoke from a setting that was both familiar and controversial. Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events, a huge stage was set up outside the Executive Mansion, dwarfing the trappings for some of the most important moments of past presidencies. The speaker's stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two large video screens.
Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent, Trump rarely includes calls for unity, even in a time of national uncertainty. Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces, Trump has repeatedly, if not always effectively, tried to portray Biden -- who is considered a moderate Democrat -- as a tool of extreme leftists.
He mocked his opponent's record and famous empathy, suggesting that "laid-off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania" don't "want Joe Biden's hollow words of empathy, they wanted their jobs back."
In a week of racial tumult, Republicans have claimed that the violence that has erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors and would only grow worse under a Biden administration. That drew a stern rebuke from Biden.
"Every example of violence Donald Trump decries has happened on his watch. Under his leadership. During his presidency," Biden tweeted. He has accused Trump of "rooting for more violence" to benefit him politically.
Both parties are watching with uncertainty the developments in Wisconsin and cities across the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order -- with no words offered for Black victims of police violence -- while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness.
Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney and New York City's former mayor, declared that Democrats' "silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump."
Though some of the speakers, unlike on previous nights, offered notes of sympathy to the families of Black men killed by police, Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting that it, along with antifa, was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to "execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies" and had "hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots."
Along with Biden, running mate Kamala Harris offered counterprogramming for Trump's prime-time speech. She delivered a speech a half-mile from the White House, declaring, "Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple."
Some demonstrators took to Washington's streets Thursday night, ahead of a march planned for Friday. New fencing was set up along the White House perimeter to keep the protesters at bay, but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn, where more than 1,500 people gathered. Soon after Trump began talking, the horns and sirens -- which came through occasionally to the millions watching at home -- caused some people in the last row to turn around and look for the source of the disturbance.
After the convention concluded, there were skirmishes as protesters yelled and threw water bottles at police at the historic St. John's Church near Black Lives Matter Plaza. There were some arrests.
Trump, who has defended his handling of the pandemic, touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing. The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes, schools and other areas with populations at high risk.
Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters, and has tried to drive up negative impressions of Biden so that some of his possible backers stay home. Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women.
Four years ago, Trump declared in his acceptance speech that "I alone can fix" the nation's woes, but he has found himself asking voters for another term at the nadir of his presidency, amid the devastating pandemic, crushing unemployment and real uncertainties about schools and businesses reopening.
Another one million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, in numbers released Thursday. And the U.S. economy shrank at an alarming annual rate of 31.7% during the April-June quarter as it struggled under the weight of the viral pandemic. It was sharpest quarterly drop on record.
Price reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin, Darlene Superville and Aamer Madhani contributed reporting.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--Constable: All the news not fit to print makes newsrooms special

We are in an age where fear , hatred and violence drag us down as we struggle with trying to make a living , overcome a deadly pandemic , grapple with the results of climate change , argue about politics , and seem on the verge of finally tackling the racism that has stained our nation for 400 years .
The sports world , once seen as an escape from all our daily woes , now is a lens that focuses attention on our problems and the work that must be done .
The communal bonding , learning and energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and teachers , co-workers and bosses , religious groups , bowling leagues and other gatherings is gone , or far from normal .
That 's a loss that weighs on some of us .
I miss the newsroom , and the stories that help us escape .
Working as a rookie reporter at the Journal & Courier newspaper in Lafayette , Indiana , I fell in love with newsrooms .
Above the clatter of typewriters ( yep , I 'm that old ) and ringing phones , a beloved editor married to another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement .
She took a deep breath , let a smile spread across her face and announced , `` I am pregnant ! ''
There was n't even a pregnant pause before someone yelled out , `` Any suspects ? ''
We do n't have class clowns , wiseacres and group fun offering us an escape from the world these days .
I have n't been part of our newsroom family since mid-March .
With the pandemic shutting down newsrooms across the nation , and threatening to make them extinct , I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 'll return in 2021 .
Newsrooms always have been filled with characters -- mostly interesting , creative , smart and funny people .
I married one of those types after we met in our small satellite newsroom in Mundelein , where our bureau chief stopped me from bothering her on deadline by giving me quarters to play video games at the nearby arcade .
When an editor announced that Cheryl and Burt were getting married , there were congratulations , but it was a half-hour later before a reporter gave the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To each other ? ''
I was impressed by the resourcefulness of a copy desk chief who noticed that we copy editors under her command would rush to edit stories with a title that sounded juicy , and ignore the boring ones .
More than once , I grabbed a story slugged axmurder or killerpuppy only to discover her note at the top telling me to edit the routine listing of chicken dinners and prayer meetings and re-slug them properly as religion notes .
An editor once designed our front page with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci 's famous `` The Last Supper '' painting of Jesus eating at a long table with his 12 disciples .
Realizing the photo had to be horizontal , the copy desk chief barked , `` Hey , Bozo , are we supposed to run a photo with the caption , 'Christ , flanked by both disciples ? '
'' Sometimes , we did n't even need words .
I once communicated with a deaf pressman by turning on and off the overhead lights .
I remember lunches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Granger , where I 'd get the French dip , he 'd have a pitcher of beer and cigarettes , and I 'd get one of his stories for dessert .
Some of the characters I 've met in newsrooms remain close friends throughout the decades .
The newsroom is the place we bonded , celebrated and grieved , and helped each other be better at our jobs .
Modern newsrooms corrected some of the problems of previous generations , when the stories of less admirable characters often provided the escape .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man until you 've been fired and spent the night in jail , '' I was told by one editor who had checked off those boxes .
I do n't qualify -- yet .
`` On many afternoons , I was the only sober person in the newsroom , '' Jack Mabley , my late columnist buddy , used to say while spinning stories of the old Chicago Daily News newsroom in the 1950s .
My favorite was Jack 's story of a reporter who bragged that he was leaving as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a married woman at a hotel in Milwaukee .
Having completing their night shift a few hours later , Jack and his newsroom buddies decided to play a joke .
They tracked down the reporter in his hotel room and had the hotel operator put through their call .
`` That 's my wife you 're with , '' one of them bellowed into the phone .
`` I 'm in the lobby , and I 'm coming up to kill you . ''
When the reporter showed up in the newsroom the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how his date went .
The man launched into a vivid story .
`` I barely got out alive , '' said the reporter , who went into great detail about how the husband , a brute of a man with arms as thick as railroad ties and a face crimson with anger , was charging down the hotel hallway screaming at him .
The reporter said he fled to the fire escape with his pants in his hands and made it to the street before the murderous ape could catch him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his amazing story .
No one ever fessed up , carrying their private joke with them to their graves .
It 's hard to get those stories from Zoom .

Constable: All the news not fit to print makes newsrooms special
The late, great columnist Bill Granger wrote a series of award-winning spy books, crime novels and nonfiction books. But he made his home in newsrooms throughout the city before landing at the Daily Herald. "I can't think of a day without newspapering in it," Granger once said. Daily Herald file
A legendary newspaper columnist, Jack Mabley was a star at the Chicago Daily News. He also told stories about being the only sober person in the newsroom by late afternoon. Courtesy of Mabley family
We are in an age where fear, hatred and violence drag us down as we struggle with trying to make a living, overcome a deadly pandemic, grapple with the results of climate change, argue about politics, and seem on the verge of finally tackling the racism that has stained our nation for 400 years.
The sports world, once seen as an escape from all our daily woes, now is a lens that focuses attention on our problems and the work that must be done. The communal bonding, learning and energy that comes from the mingling of students and teachers, co-workers and bosses, religious groups, bowling leagues and other gatherings is gone, or far from normal. That's a loss that weighs on some of us.
I miss the newsroom, and the stories that help us escape.
Working as a rookie reporter at the Journal & Courier newspaper in Lafayette, Indiana, I fell in love with newsrooms. Above the clatter of typewriters (yep, I'm that old) and ringing phones, a beloved editor married to another staffer gathered everyone around to make an announcement. She took a deep breath, let a smile spread across her face and announced, "I am pregnant!"
There wasn't even a pregnant pause before someone yelled out, "Any suspects?"
We don't have class clowns, wiseacres and group fun offering us an escape from the world these days. I haven't been part of our newsroom family since mid-March. With the pandemic shutting down newsrooms across the nation, and threatening to make them extinct, I'm not sure when, or if, we'll return in 2021.
Newsrooms always have been filled with characters -- mostly interesting, creative, smart and funny people. I married one of those types after we met in our small satellite newsroom in Mundelein, where our bureau chief stopped me from bothering her on deadline by giving me quarters to play video games at the nearby arcade. When an editor announced that Cheryl and Burt were getting married, there were congratulations, but it was a half-hour later before a reporter gave the announcement a second thought, and asked, "To each other?"
I was impressed by the resourcefulness of a copy desk chief who noticed that we copy editors under her command would rush to edit stories with a title that sounded juicy, and ignore the boring ones. More than once, I grabbed a story slugged axmurder or killerpuppy only to discover her note at the top telling me to edit the routine listing of chicken dinners and prayer meetings and re-slug them properly as religion notes.
An editor once designed our front page with a vertical photo accompanying a story about the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's famous "The Last Supper" painting of Jesus eating at a long table with his 12 disciples. Realizing the photo had to be horizontal, the copy desk chief barked, "Hey, Bozo, are we supposed to run a photo with the caption, 'Christ, flanked by both disciples?'"
Sometimes, we didn't even need words. I once communicated with a deaf pressman by turning on and off the overhead lights. I remember lunches with the late, great columnist Bill Granger, where I'd get the French dip, he'd have a pitcher of beer and cigarettes, and I'd get one of his stories for dessert. Some of the characters I've met in newsrooms remain close friends throughout the decades. The newsroom is the place we bonded, celebrated and grieved, and helped each other be better at our jobs.
Modern newsrooms corrected some of the problems of previous generations, when the stories of less admirable characters often provided the escape.
"You can't call yourself a newspaper man until you've been fired and spent the night in jail," I was told by one editor who had checked off those boxes. I don't qualify -- yet.
"On many afternoons, I was the only sober person in the newsroom," Jack Mabley, my late columnist buddy, used to say while spinning stories of the old Chicago Daily News newsroom in the 1950s. My favorite was Jack's story of a reporter who bragged that he was leaving as soon as he finished his story to rendezvous with a married woman at a hotel in Milwaukee.
After completing their night shift a few hours later, Jack and his newsroom buddies decided to play a joke. They tracked down the reporter in his hotel room and had the hotel operator put through their call.
"That's my wife you're with," one of them bellowed into the phone. "I'm in the lobby, and I'm coming up to kill you."
When the reporter showed up in the newsroom the next day, Jack innocently asked him how his date went.
The man launched into a vivid story. "I barely got out alive," said the reporter, who went into great detail about how the husband, a brute of a man with arms as thick as railroad ties and a face crimson with anger, was charging down the hotel hallway screaming at him. The reporter said he fled to the fire escape with his pants in his hands and made it to the street before the murderous ape could catch him.
The newsroom hung on every word of his amazing story. No one ever fessed up, carrying their private joke with them to their graves.
It's hard to get those stories from Zoom.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--Feder: New NBC 5 series offers perspective on 'Race in Chicago'

Marion Brooks , veteran news anchor and investigative reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 , just launched a weekly series of @ @ @ @ @ in Chicago : How Did We Get Here . ''
Airing each Wednesday on NBC @ @ @ @ @ through the end of the year , stories by Brooks and her colleagues , including @ @ @ @ @ and Chris Hush , will examine the African American experience in Chicago and provide historical @ @ @ @ @ `` As a journalist , I feel a sense of responsibility to report stories that @ @ @ @ @ viewers about the important issues that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement , @ @ @ @ @ the full report , and more Chicago media news , at robertfeder.com .

Feder: New NBC 5 series offers perspective on 'Race in Chicago'
Marion Brooks, veteran news anchor and investigative reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, just launched a weekly series of special reports on "Race in Chicago: How Did We Get Here."
Marion Brooks, veteran news anchor and investigative reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, just launched a weekly series of special reports on "Race in Chicago: How Did We Get Here."
Airing each Wednesday on NBC 5's 6 p.m. newscast through the end of the year, stories by Brooks and her colleagues, including Phil Rogers, Kate Chappell and Chris Hush, will examine the African American experience in Chicago and provide historical perspective on vital issues.
"As a journalist, I feel a sense of responsibility to report stories that will hopefully inform and educate viewers about the important issues that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement," Brooks said.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--Elgin rezones former Colonial Cafe site, clearing way for ECC land buy

The Elgin City Council has agreed to rezone the former Colonial Cafe restaurant near Elgin Community College , which paves @ @ @ @ @ to acquire the property .
ECC is currently under contract to purchase the site on @ @ @ @ @ .
The restaurant closed almost two years ago .
Officials said the property could be @ @ @ @ @ a campus expansion at ECC .
The school is considering a new regional training center @ @ @ @ @ its campus that could include industrial manufacturing , industrial maintenance , welding , HVAC and @ @ @ @ @ council voted 8-1 on Wednesday to approve the rezoning motion .
Councilman Toby Shaw cast @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm a big believer in ECC and their mission , '' Shaw said @ @ @ @ @ us is a zoning issue ... and it 's being rezoned from a commercial property @ @ @ @ @ `` If we let this rezoning go forward , '' he said , `` then @ @ @ @ @ the future opportunity to have a restaurant and business there . ''

Elgin rezones former Colonial Cafe site, clearing way for ECC land buy
The Elgin City Council has agreed to rezone the former Colonial Cafe restaurant near Elgin Community College, which paves the way for the school to acquire the property.
ECC is currently under contract to purchase the site on McLean Boulevard and Spartan Drive. The restaurant closed almost two years ago.
Officials said the property could be integrated into future plans for a campus expansion at ECC. The school is considering a new regional training center on the eastern side of its campus that could include industrial manufacturing, industrial maintenance, welding, HVAC and energy management.
The city council voted 8-1 on Wednesday to approve the rezoning motion. Councilman Toby Shaw cast the lone dissenting vote.
"I'm a big believer in ECC and their mission," Shaw said. "The issue before us is a zoning issue ... and it's being rezoned from a commercial property, driving tax revenue.
"If we let this rezoning go forward," he said, "then we also lose out on the future opportunity to have a restaurant and business there."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-28--Recreational marijuana in Buffalo Grove still on hold

Buffalo Grove 's medical marijuana dispensary is running into a roadblock from the state in its attempt to expand into the recreational pot market .
It 's a delay that is projected to cost the village around $ 500,000 a year in anticipated tax revenue , village officials say .
Cresco Labs , which operates the Sunnyside cannabis dispensary at 830 N. Milwaukee Ave. , recently moved from 1623 Barclay Blvd.
, so it could expand into adult recreational marijuana use .
But Village Manager Dane Bragg said the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation , the agency responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facility can not legally operate for adult use .
The sticking point is state law prevents medical dispensaries from selling recreational marijuana if they move to a new location .
State Rep. Daniel Didech , who is working to get legislation passed that will clear the hurdle , said the intent of the rule was to encourage new players in the marketplace .
`` We did n't want a situation where all of these existing facilities sucked up all the market share , '' Didech said .
However , he added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we were trying to do really should allow them to sell recreational out of their new location . ''
Didech said he and other legislators hope to amend the law when they return to Springfield this fall .
`` It 's frustrating on a number of levels , '' said Jason Erkes , chief communications officer for Cresco Labs .
`` It affects the tax revenue for the municipalities that went through a thoughtful process on whether to even allow cannabis retailers in their community , the customers that want access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the businesses , like us , that were told the intent of the legislation was always to allow relocation .
We hope there is resolution to this soon . ''
Bragg said village officials `` conservatively '' estimated the facility would generate about $ 40,000 a month in tax revenue for adult use .
As a result , the funds that would have been applied to capital projects , including streets , will have to be delayed , he said .
`` At this time , we have removed that from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We can not rely on that revenue stream coming in yet . ''
One village board member who expressed concern is Trustee Gregory Pike .
`` Buffalo Grove did the heavy lifting last October to pass the legislation , and here we are in August , and we still do n't have the ability to open up the facility , '' Pike said .
The village counted on that tax revenue for budgeting purposes , he said .
`` It 's disappointing when we see other communities , such as Schaumburg and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month or two and they are already opening up their facilities , '' Pike said .

Recreational marijuana in Buffalo Grove still on hold
Buffalo Grove's medical marijuana dispensary is running into a roadblock from the state in its attempt to expand into the recreational pot market.
It's a delay that is projected to cost the village around $500,000 a year in anticipated tax revenue, village officials say.
Cresco Labs, which operates the Sunnyside cannabis dispensary at 830 N. Milwaukee Ave., recently moved from 1623 Barclay Blvd., so it could expand into adult recreational marijuana use.
But Village Manager Dane Bragg said the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the agency responsible for enforcing the state rules, said the facility cannot legally operate for adult use.
The sticking point is state law prevents medical dispensaries from selling recreational marijuana if they move to a new location.
State Rep. Daniel Didech, who is working to get legislation passed that will clear the hurdle, said the intent of the rule was to encourage new players in the marketplace.
"We didn't want a situation where all of these existing facilities sucked up all the market share," Didech said.
However, he added, "I think that the spirit of what we were trying to do really should allow them to sell recreational out of their new location."
Didech said he and other legislators hope to amend the law when they return to Springfield this fall.
"It's frustrating on a number of levels," said Jason Erkes, chief communications officer for Cresco Labs. "It affects the tax revenue for the municipalities that went through a thoughtful process on whether to even allow cannabis retailers in their community, the customers that want access to cannabis to help with their everyday wellness and the businesses, like us, that were told the intent of the legislation was always to allow relocation. We hope there is resolution to this soon."
Bragg said village officials "conservatively" estimated the facility would generate about $40,000 a month in tax revenue for adult use. As a result, the funds that would have been applied to capital projects, including streets, will have to be delayed, he said.
"At this time, we have removed that from our capital planning," Bragg said. "We cannot rely on that revenue stream coming in yet."
One village board member who expressed concern is Trustee Gregory Pike.
"Buffalo Grove did the heavy lifting last October to pass the legislation, and here we are in August, and we still don't have the ability to open up the facility," Pike said.
The village counted on that tax revenue for budgeting purposes, he said.
"It's disappointing when we see other communities, such as Schaumburg and Arlington Heights, pass theirs within the last month or two and they are already opening up their facilities," Pike said.