dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--A pandemic winter feels daunting. Here's how parents can help kids cope.

`` He 's over it , '' a friend said of her son recently .
`` He does n't like the cold .
He does n't want to play outside anymore . ''
And so , she said , her remote-schooling 10-year-old will get through this mess as best he can , even if that means more time playing video games with friends .
After three seasons of this pandemic during which kids could mostly cure their cabin fever with bike rides and socially distanced outdoor games , we 're staring down the next few months of winter , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short day .
The kids are done .
D-O-N-E .
The parents are out of ideas and patience .
And yet , we have no choice but to navigate this time as we continue to work ( at home or in person ) , go to school ( at home or in person ) and attempt to still like one another when this is all over .
So how are we going to get through these upcoming cold , dark days ?
I asked experts and parents for their ideas .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naturally involves socializing and connecting with people , '' says Lucy McBride , a D.C. doctor , mother of three teens and author of a newsletter about COVID-19 .
`` We 're wired for survival , but also for connection .
We ca n't expect ourselves to survive in our rooms alone in lockdown . ''
And so it 's imperative we think creatively about how to be with other people -- and to help our kids do the same -- `` to maintain some semblance of mental and emotional health . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ need some help to figure out how to still `` be '' with friends .
It might help children if you ask them , `` What does your joy look like today ? ''
says Vanessa Joy Walker , author of `` Make Room for Joy . ''
`` If it 's ' I wish I could play with my friends , ' then help them figure out how to create a connection . ''
Try an online Netflix watch party , where kids each make popcorn and wear pajamas `` together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via Zoom .
`` Instead of trying to avoid the difficulty '' of this time , Walker says , `` spend your energy doing something else , like creating an environment that makes sense for this normal . ''
That also means finding ways to connect with your child , no matter their age .
Even though many of us are together , all day , every day , we might not realize how little we 're making time for moments to truly be with one another .
But , McBride says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day filled with games and fun with your teenagers , necessarily , and do n't nag them to hang out or get outside or go do something .
Kids will connect with you if you `` provide a nonjudgmental safe space .
You 're not agitating on things that are n't realistic , '' she says .
And so , for instance , when her teenage middle child takes a quick walk with her to the Giant for brownie mix , and they chat along the way , she sees that as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it 's cold We also have to get comfortable with being outside in colder weather , McBride says .
Outdoor gatherings with family friends , kid friends , other parents and their kids , even if the gathering is brief and cold , will help us all get through .
She suggests we prioritize those gatherings `` at a distance , of course . ''
The time outside does n't have to last forever .
This is when your kids can take those pandemic puppies outside to play , or to teach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distant fire pit for the teens .
Find new paths to walk and explore in the neighborhood .
Brainstorm fun outdoor activities together with kids , says Gene Beresin , executive director for the Clay Center for Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard .
`` Making obstacle courses , scavenger hunts ... getting outdoors and exercising . ''
As the saying goes , `` there is no bad weather , just bad clothing . ''
Who among us has n't yelled , begged , pleaded and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screens and get outside ?
Parents , McBride says , have to realize that tweens and teens socialize online , and that this can be a good outlet for them right now .
`` We have to not beat ourselves up if they 're on screens , '' she says .
She herself has a child who is `` like a moth to flame with screens . ''
But , she adds , she can hear him `` howling with laughter '' playing video games with friends he would n't otherwise be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells patients and friends to `` give themselves a little bit of a break '' and relax if children are online a lot .
`` Your kid has been in his room all weekend and you think , ' I 'm the worst parent in the world , ' but they 're connecting with each other , and they 're doing better than we think . ''
Acknowledge the hard parts , then be proactive '' We are taught by society to avoid difficulty and crisis from a young age , '' Walker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valuable about preparing for a crisis , as opposed to avoiding it . ''
Acknowledge that this is a difficult time for our children .
`` For school-aged kids , but even more , for teens , they 've lost activities , major events , time with friends , '' explains Beresin .
He added : `` Listen , listen , listen to the concerns and needs of our kids .
Validate them with empathy .
Do n't feel you need to do something all the time .
Just sit and let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a desire to connect with friends ?
There may be more going on there , such as seasonal affective disorder or depression .
You might want to invest in a light box , he suggests .
And check into therapy for your tween or teen .
They may want to talk through this incredibly difficult time with someone other than a guardian .
This is also the time for children to learn gratitude .
If they have something to grieve during this time , Walker says , that also means they have much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them see that by asking things like , `` If I 'm talking about this winter five years from now , what do I want to remember ? ''
Parts of their days that might normally not be a problem now might suddenly feel heavy and difficult .
So do your best to not add to the pressure .
Remember that schoolwork needs to `` only be good enough ; it does n't need to be perfect , '' Beresin says .
And to help them get through these tough days ?
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Positive reinforcement goes a really long way . ''
If your child gets an assignment done on time , for instance , offer social-emotional rewards rather than material rewards .
Meaning : Read an extra bedtime story .
Watch a special video .
A `` Sesame Street '' episode or `` Mister Rogers '' episode .
For older kids , extend bedtime a little .
Kids ( and adults ) can also get out of their own heads by helping others , Beresin says , `` because giving is far better than receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find ways to aid the homeless , write cards to the elderly .
Our brains release oxytocin when we help others , he says .
And remember : Your kids are watching you .
Be a good role model .
If you 're overly stressed , depressed , complaining or not taking breaks , they will do the same .
For instance , say , `` I 'm going to take a break and listen to some music . ''
They will follow .
Ultimately , we all just need to accept that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rough three months , '' McBride says .
`` Accept that it 's going to be rough , and not going to be a jewel in your parenting crown ... We just need to turn the volume down on what we can expect in our day . ''
And even more than that , Beresin says , this time , difficult as it may be , is a wonderful teaching lesson for them and for us : `` We always grow more when we come through the hard times . ''

A pandemic winter feels daunting. Here's how parents can help kids cope.
Think creatively about how to let kids stay in contact with their friends, experts say. iStock
"He's over it," a friend said of her son recently. "He doesn't like the cold. He doesn't want to play outside anymore." And so, she said, her remote-schooling 10-year-old will get through this mess as best he can, even if that means more time playing video games with friends.
After three seasons of this pandemic during which kids could mostly cure their cabin fever with bike rides and socially distanced outdoor games, we're staring down the next few months of winter, where one short day pushes into the next short day. The kids are done. D-O-N-E. The parents are out of ideas and patience.
And yet, we have no choice but to navigate this time as we continue to work (at home or in person), go to school (at home or in person) and attempt to still like one another when this is all over.
So how are we going to get through these upcoming cold, dark days? I asked experts and parents for their ideas.
Prioritize connection
"When you think about mental health, that naturally involves socializing and connecting with people," says Lucy McBride, a D.C. doctor, mother of three teens and author of a newsletter about COVID-19. "We're wired for survival, but also for connection. We can't expect ourselves to survive in our rooms alone in lockdown." And so it's imperative we think creatively about how to be with other people -- and to help our kids do the same -- "to maintain some semblance of mental and emotional health."
Younger children, in particular, might need some help to figure out how to still "be" with friends. It might help children if you ask them, "What does your joy look like today?" says Vanessa Joy Walker, author of "Make Room for Joy." "If it's 'I wish I could play with my friends,' then help them figure out how to create a connection." Try an online Netflix watch party, where kids each make popcorn and wear pajamas "together," or a dog fashion show held via Zoom.
"Instead of trying to avoid the difficulty" of this time, Walker says, "spend your energy doing something else, like creating an environment that makes sense for this normal."
That also means finding ways to connect with your child, no matter their age. Even though many of us are together, all day, every day, we might not realize how little we're making time for moments to truly be with one another.
But, McBride says, be realistic: Don't expect a day filled with games and fun with your teenagers, necessarily, and don't nag them to hang out or get outside or go do something. Kids will connect with you if you "provide a nonjudgmental safe space. You're not agitating on things that aren't realistic," she says. And so, for instance, when her teenage middle child takes a quick walk with her to the Giant for brownie mix, and they chat along the way, she sees that as a good connection.
Get outside, even if it's cold
We also have to get comfortable with being outside in colder weather, McBride says. Outdoor gatherings with family friends, kid friends, other parents and their kids, even if the gathering is brief and cold, will help us all get through. She suggests we prioritize those gatherings "at a distance, of course."
The time outside doesn't have to last forever. This is when your kids can take those pandemic puppies outside to play, or to teach them a trick. Set up a socially distant fire pit for the teens. Find new paths to walk and explore in the neighborhood.
Brainstorm fun outdoor activities together with kids, says Gene Beresin, executive director for the Clay Center for Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard. "Making obstacle courses, scavenger hunts ... getting outdoors and exercising."
As the saying goes, "there is no bad weather, just bad clothing."
Relax about screen time
Who among us hasn't yelled, begged, pleaded and threatened their kid to stop staring at screens and get outside? Parents, McBride says, have to realize that tweens and teens socialize online, and that this can be a good outlet for them right now.
"We have to not beat ourselves up if they're on screens," she says. She herself has a child who is "like a moth to flame with screens." But, she adds, she can hear him "howling with laughter" playing video games with friends he wouldn't otherwise be able to see right now.
So McBride tells patients and friends to "give themselves a little bit of a break" and relax if children are online a lot. "Your kid has been in his room all weekend and you think, 'I'm the worst parent in the world,' but they're connecting with each other, and they're doing better than we think."
Acknowledge the hard parts, then be proactive
"We are taught by society to avoid difficulty and crisis from a young age," Walker says. "There is something really valuable about preparing for a crisis, as opposed to avoiding it."
Acknowledge that this is a difficult time for our children. "For school-aged kids, but even more, for teens, they've lost activities, major events, time with friends," explains Beresin. He added: "Listen, listen, listen to the concerns and needs of our kids. Validate them with empathy. Don't feel you need to do something all the time. Just sit and let them talk."
Teens lacking motivation or a desire to connect with friends? There may be more going on there, such as seasonal affective disorder or depression. You might want to invest in a light box, he suggests. And check into therapy for your tween or teen. They may want to talk through this incredibly difficult time with someone other than a guardian.
This is also the time for children to learn gratitude. If they have something to grieve during this time, Walker says, that also means they have much to be thankful for. So help them see that by asking things like, "If I'm talking about this winter five years from now, what do I want to remember?"
Parts of their days that might normally not be a problem now might suddenly feel heavy and difficult. So do your best to not add to the pressure. Remember that schoolwork needs to "only be good enough; it doesn't need to be perfect," Beresin says.
And to help them get through these tough days? "Use praise, admiration and validation. Positive reinforcement goes a really long way." If your child gets an assignment done on time, for instance, offer social-emotional rewards rather than material rewards. Meaning: Read an extra bedtime story. Watch a special video. A "Sesame Street" episode or "Mister Rogers" episode. For older kids, extend bedtime a little.
Kids (and adults) can also get out of their own heads by helping others, Beresin says, "because giving is far better than receiving," he says. Help kids find ways to aid the homeless, write cards to the elderly. Our brains release oxytocin when we help others, he says.
And remember: Your kids are watching you. Be a good role model. If you're overly stressed, depressed, complaining or not taking breaks, they will do the same. For instance, say, "I'm going to take a break and listen to some music." They will follow.
Ultimately, we all just need to accept that it's going to be "a rough three months," McBride says. "Accept that it's going to be rough, and not going to be a jewel in your parenting crown ... We just need to turn the volume down on what we can expect in our day."
And even more than that, Beresin says, this time, difficult as it may be, is a wonderful teaching lesson for them and for us: "We always grow more when we come through the hard times."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--Muslim doctor lauded as hero for work on COVID-19 response

Dr. Omar Lateef of Hinsdale , nationally renowned for his work managing the COVID-19 pandemic , will receive the Top Muslim Achiever 2020 award Sunday night during the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago 's virtual community gala .
Lateef has been president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago since May 2019 .
Under his leadership , the center received national recognition for its effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic , including building a forward triage , deploying early testing , acceptance of critically ill patient transfers , and being one of the first health systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named one of `` Modern Healthcare 's '' 50 most influential clinical executives for his work .
`` I do not feel like I deserve this kind of recognition , especially at a time when so many are fighting the pandemic every day and remain at risk for exposure during this global pandemic , '' Lateef said .
`` The CIOGC is a voice of unity in the community , and unity is the message we need if we are going to successfully put this disease behind us and find a true return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Rush University , where he formerly was associate dean of medical sciences .
He has won numerous teaching awards as a clinical educator at Rush .
To register for the CIOGC gala , visit ciogc.org/gala2020 .
Equity , social justice , and diversity and inclusion are the focus of the American Library Association 's Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits Virtual , Jan. 22 to 26 .
It 's among the nation 's largest professional events for the library information industry , offering meetings , programs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibits .
Speakers include civil rights activist Ruby Bridges , who at the age of 6 was the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans and the subject of the Disney movie `` Ruby Bridges '' ; Joy Harjo , a member of the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation and a renowned musician , playwright , and author ; acclaimed actor , writer and director Ethan Hawke ; Ibram X. Kendi , New York Times bestselling author of `` How to Be an Antiracist '' ; and Cicely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lecturer and activist .
• `` Rising to the 2020 Challenge , '' 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 23 , exploring how the library system can address social justice and equity .
• ALA will honor 10 outstanding librarians who will receive the I Love My Librarian Award , 2:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 .
• ALA Youth Media Awards celebrating the best in children 's and youth literature , including the Newbery and Caldecott medals , 8 to 10 a.m. Jan. 25 .
• The 22nd annual Sunrise Celebration commemorating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 25 .
• A series of on-demand sessions : `` Anti-racism work and women in librarianship , '' `` Resilience : How libraries can partner to reshape the future , '' and `` The future of trust in the age of the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice . ''
• Jemar Tisby , award-winning author of `` The Color of Compromise , '' will lead an on-demand session offering solutions on confronting racism in everyday life .
Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and their families during a drive-through `` Christmas Story Caravan '' from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church , 307 Cedar Ave. Money raised will support Clara Biswas , a Bangladeshi Methodist missionary working in Cambodia with HIV positive adults and helping street children get an education to break the cycle of poverty , Senior Pastor Mary Zajac said .
`` She is amazing , '' Zajac said .
`` We send her money and she does miracles with it .
She can get things that are more appropriate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Islamic Center of Wheaton 's plan to build a youth center on its property at 900 E. Geneva Road will be delayed as fundraising for the project has stalled due to the pandemic .
The mosque had set aside roughly $ 300,000 for the more than $ 2 million project from earlier collections , but it has had to borrow from that fund to cover operations due to a decline in donations .
`` Right now , our goal is sustainability for the masjid ( mosque ) , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real estate broker and board member of the center .
Officials raised more than $ 40,000 in an online campaign last week and hope to collect more during the annual fundraiser to be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 .
Funds collected will go toward supporting the center 's operations , school , youth programs , COVID-19 relief and other services .
`` Before the pandemic happened we had a fundraising dinner planned , '' Antar said .
`` The main goal was to raise money to build a youth center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole perspective ( has ) changed . ''
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions , the American Association of Retired Asians is moving its annual fundraiser online to 6 p.m. Dec. 19 .
AARA , which has offices in Bolingbrook and Streamwood , provides a range of culturally appropriate and linguistically sensitive services for older adults primarily of South Asian descent .
Services include a congregate meal program for South Asian seniors at restaurants in Hanover Park , Naperville and Villa Park ; organizational activities to increase socialization and reduce isolation ; memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a music therapy program ; transportation , referral and translation services .
Canceling the fundraiser would have led to a serious shortfall and reduction of critical programs for clients , said Talat Khan , AARA executive director .
`` This year is even more critical as the older adults are unable to socialize during our congregated meal programs due to the pandemic , and this has led to further isolation , '' said Khan , an Indian American and a retired neuroscientist from Darien who founded the nonprofit in 2007 .
The fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cuisine .
Participants can join via Zoom and the event will be broadcast on Facebook Live .
Tickets are $ 50 per person .
To purchase , visit retiredasians.org .
AARA will deliver meals to clients who sign up during the fundraiser .
• Share stories , news and happenings from the suburban mosaic at mkrishnamurthy @ dailyherald.com .

Muslim doctor lauded as hero for work on COVID-19 response
Dr. Omar Lateef, CEO of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, is being honored Sunday by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago for his work managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of Rush University Medical Center
Dr. Omar Lateef of Hinsdale, nationally renowned for his work managing the COVID-19 pandemic, will receive the Top Muslim Achiever 2020 award Sunday night during the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago's virtual community gala.
Lateef has been president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago since May 2019. Under his leadership, the center received national recognition for its effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including building a forward triage, deploying early testing, acceptance of critically ill patient transfers, and being one of the first health systems to offer antibody testing. He was named one of "Modern Healthcare's" 50 most influential clinical executives for his work.
"I do not feel like I deserve this kind of recognition, especially at a time when so many are fighting the pandemic every day and remain at risk for exposure during this global pandemic," Lateef said. "The CIOGC is a voice of unity in the community, and unity is the message we need if we are going to successfully put this disease behind us and find a true return to normalcy."
Lateef is a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Rush University, where he formerly was associate dean of medical sciences. He has won numerous teaching awards as a clinical educator at Rush.
To register for the CIOGC gala, visit ciogc.org/gala2020.
Libraries confronting racism
Equity, social justice, and diversity and inclusion are the focus of the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits Virtual, Jan. 22 to 26.
It's among the nation's largest professional events for the library information industry, offering meetings, programs, discussion groups, in-depth conversations, and exhibits.
Speakers include civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, who at the age of 6 was the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans and the subject of the Disney movie "Ruby Bridges"; Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a renowned musician, playwright, and author; acclaimed actor, writer and director Ethan Hawke; Ibram X. Kendi, New York Times bestselling author of "How to Be an Antiracist"; and Cicely Tyson, a film and theater actress, lecturer and activist.
ALA conference highlights
• "Rising to the 2020 Challenge," 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 23, exploring how the library system can address social justice and equity.
• ALA will honor 10 outstanding librarians who will receive the I Love My Librarian Award, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 23.
• ALA Youth Media Awards celebrating the best in children's and youth literature, including the Newbery and Caldecott medals, 8 to 10 a.m. Jan. 25.
• The 22nd annual Sunrise Celebration commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 25.
• A series of on-demand sessions: "Anti-racism work and women in librarianship," "Resilience: How libraries can partner to reshape the future," and "The future of trust in the age of the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice."
• Jemar Tisby, award-winning author of "The Color of Compromise," will lead an on-demand session offering solutions on confronting racism in everyday life.
For more information, visit 2021.alamidwinter.org.
Helping Cambodian children
Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles will accept donations to support Cambodian street children and their families during a drive-through "Christmas Story Caravan" from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Money raised will support Clara Biswas, a Bangladeshi Methodist missionary working in Cambodia with HIV positive adults and helping street children get an education to break the cycle of poverty, Senior Pastor Mary Zajac said.
"She is amazing," Zajac said. "We send her money and she does miracles with it. She can get things that are more appropriate to the culture and support the local economy."
Youth center project
The Islamic Center of Wheaton's plan to build a youth center on its property at 900 E. Geneva Road will be delayed as fundraising for the project has stalled due to the pandemic.
The mosque had set aside roughly $300,000 for the more than $2 million project from earlier collections, but it has had to borrow from that fund to cover operations due to a decline in donations.
"Right now, our goal is sustainability for the masjid (mosque)," said Zahra Antar, of Naperville, a real estate broker and board member of the center.
Officials raised more than $40,000 in an online campaign last week and hope to collect more during the annual fundraiser to be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Funds collected will go toward supporting the center's operations, school, youth programs, COVID-19 relief and other services.
"Before the pandemic happened we had a fundraising dinner planned," Antar said. "The main goal was to raise money to build a youth center, hire a youth director. Now, the whole perspective (has) changed."
Fundraiser for seniors
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the American Association of Retired Asians is moving its annual fundraiser online to 6 p.m. Dec. 19.
AARA, which has offices in Bolingbrook and Streamwood, provides a range of culturally appropriate and linguistically sensitive services for older adults primarily of South Asian descent.
Services include a congregate meal program for South Asian seniors at restaurants in Hanover Park, Naperville and Villa Park; organizational activities to increase socialization and reduce isolation; memory cafe for individuals with memory loss; a music therapy program; transportation, referral and translation services.
Canceling the fundraiser would have led to a serious shortfall and reduction of critical programs for clients, said Talat Khan, AARA executive director.
"This year is even more critical as the older adults are unable to socialize during our congregated meal programs due to the pandemic, and this has led to further isolation," said Khan, an Indian American and a retired neuroscientist from Darien who founded the nonprofit in 2007.
The fundraiser will feature South Asian musicians, fashion and cuisine. Participants can join via Zoom and the event will be broadcast on Facebook Live. Tickets are $50 per person. To purchase, visit retiredasians.org. AARA will deliver meals to clients who sign up during the fundraiser.
• Share stories, news and happenings from the suburban mosaic at mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--$100 to donate to two priests in Batavia

Today 's winner of a $ 100 bill through the Believe Project is Ann MacDonald of Batavia .
Here is @ @ @ @ @ : '' Father James Parker and Father ( Romeo ) Pavin of Holy Cross Church @ @ @ @ @ deserving of a gift from the Believe Project .
`` These two men have given @ @ @ @ @ people of Holy Cross and beyond !
The past few months have been a special @ @ @ @ @ they closed/reopened the church and church school , tended to the sick and needy , @ @ @ @ @ project , etc.
, all while being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the same time !
@ @ @ @ @ for nothing but to serve God .
They are heroes . ''
• The Believe @ @ @ @ @ each day in December to a different person with a great idea for how to @ @ @ @ @ a good deed for someone else .
If you 'd like the chance to help @ @ @ @ @ for consideration in 150 words or fewer at events.dailyherald.com/believe/ .

$100 to donate to two priests in Batavia
Today's winner of a $100 bill through the Believe Project is Ann MacDonald of Batavia.
Here is an excerpt of her story:
"Father James Parker and Father (Romeo) Pavin of Holy Cross Church, Batavia, are very deserving of a gift from the Believe Project.
"These two men have given their lives to serve the people of Holy Cross and beyond! The past few months have been a special challenge for them, as they closed/reopened the church and church school, tended to the sick and needy, oversaw a major church construction project, etc., all while being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the same time!
"These two men ask for nothing but to serve God. They are heroes."
• The Believe Project is awarding $100 each day in December to a different person with a great idea for how to use the money to do a good deed for someone else. If you'd like the chance to help someone, submit your idea for consideration in 150 words or fewer at events.dailyherald.com/believe/.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--Grammar Moses: This has been an interminable, irredeemable year

If you had to choose one word to sum up 2020 , what would it be ?
These are definitely in my Top 10 .
Come to think of it , these are probably the one-word reviews of my column on Twitter .
But if you work for Merriam-Webster and you have a tradition of coming up with a Word of the Year , you look beyond yourself and do some statistical analysis of words that people are looking up in your online dictionary in increasing numbers .
It should not be surprising , then , that `` pandemic '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
We all know what a pandemic is by now .
But , before March , did you really know the difference between a `` pandemic '' and an `` epidemic '' ?
Just before St. Patrick 's Day is when the World Health Organization termed the coronavirus a `` pandemic '' and everything went to , well , guano .
In its infancy , when it was still causing an uproar just in China , the virus was an epidemic .
But when it had spread to Europe and the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic ( the `` pan- '' prefix meaning `` all . ''
Think of the Pan-American Games and `` panacea '' ) .
Merriam-Webster 's 2019 word of the year was `` they . ''
In 2018 , it was `` justice . ''
In 2017 , `` feminism . ''
My guess is that the good people at M-W recently were kicking themselves that they burned `` surreal '' in 2016 , because that might be the best descriptor for this weird and awful year .
The rest of Merriam-Webster 's Top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Defund .
I still do n't think there is much consensus on what the word means in the context of `` defund the police . ''
3 .
Mamba .
Hard to believe , but Kobe Bryant died in 2020 .
`` Mamba '' was his sobriquet , taken from the name of a particularly fast and lethal African snake .
4 .
Kraken .
When the new Seattle NHL team released its name this year , people wondered what the heck a Kraken is .
It is a mythological sea beast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heels of the New Orleans Pelicans for worst professional sports team name .
5 .
Quarantine .
As with `` defund , '' there seems to be a lot of confusion over what `` quarantine '' really means : Do I need to live alone in my basement and use a bucket for a toilet , taking food deliveries through the laundry chute for 14 days , or must I hang out with only my closest 20 pals at the corner bar for the next six months ?
As I was making a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other day , I removed a slice of Swiss from the packet and immediately was drawn back to the '90s , when I clacked away on a monstrous IBM computer , storing whatever I needed on 5¼-inch floppy disks .
If you read this column regularly , you know that 's called `` pareidolia . ''
• Jim Baumann is vice president/managing editor of the Daily Herald .
Write him at jbaumann @ dailyherald.com .
Put Grammar Moses in the subject line .
You also can friend or follow Jim at facebook.com/baumannjim .

Grammar Moses: This has been an interminable, irredeemable year
If you see a floppy disk when you look at this slice of Swiss cheese, you're experiencing pareidolia.
If you had to choose one word to sum up 2020, what would it be?
Interminable?
Irredeemable?
Abominable?
Guano?
These are definitely in my Top 10. Come to think of it, these are probably the one-word reviews of my column on Twitter.
But if you work for Merriam-Webster and you have a tradition of coming up with a Word of the Year, you look beyond yourself and do some statistical analysis of words that people are looking up in your online dictionary in increasing numbers.
It should not be surprising, then, that "pandemic" is its Top of the Pops for 2020.
We all know what a pandemic is by now. But, before March, did you really know the difference between a "pandemic" and an "epidemic"? Just before St. Patrick's Day is when the World Health Organization termed the coronavirus a "pandemic" and everything went to, well, guano.
In its infancy, when it was still causing an uproar just in China, the virus was an epidemic. But when it had spread to Europe and the U.S. and everywhere else, it became a pandemic (the "pan-" prefix meaning "all." Think of the Pan-American Games and "panacea").
Merriam-Webster's 2019 word of the year was "they." In 2018, it was "justice." In 2017, "feminism."
My guess is that the good people at M-W recently were kicking themselves that they burned "surreal" in 2016, because that might be the best descriptor for this weird and awful year.
The rest of Merriam-Webster's Top 5 shakes out like this:
2. Defund. I still don't think there is much consensus on what the word means in the context of "defund the police."
3. Mamba. Hard to believe, but Kobe Bryant died in 2020. "Mamba" was his sobriquet, taken from the name of a particularly fast and lethal African snake.
4. Kraken. When the new Seattle NHL team released its name this year, people wondered what the heck a Kraken is. It is a mythological sea beast, and it's nipping at the heels of the New Orleans Pelicans for worst professional sports team name.
5. Quarantine. As with "defund," there seems to be a lot of confusion over what "quarantine" really means: Do I need to live alone in my basement and use a bucket for a toilet, taking food deliveries through the laundry chute for 14 days, or must I hang out with only my closest 20 pals at the corner bar for the next six months?
Pareidolia
As I was making a glorious grilled ham and cheese sandwich the other day, I removed a slice of Swiss from the packet and immediately was drawn back to the '90s, when I clacked away on a monstrous IBM computer, storing whatever I needed on 5¼-inch floppy disks.
If you read this column regularly, you know that's called "pareidolia."
Write carefully!
• Jim Baumann is vice president/managing editor of the Daily Herald. Write him at jbaumann@dailyherald.com. Put Grammar Moses in the subject line. You also can friend or follow Jim at facebook.com/baumannjim.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--Hockman, defense carry N.C. State over Georgia Tech, 23-13

RALEIGH , N.C. -- Bailey Hockman threw for 309 yards and Ricky Person and Zonovan Knight each ran for a touchdown as North Carolina State beat Georgia Tech 23-13 in its regular-season finale Saturday .
The win was the fourth straight for the Wolfpack ( 8-3 , 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference ) , marking the first time it has closed out the regular season with four straight wins since 2008 .
Hockman started slow , completing only one of his first six passes .
He gradually settled in , completing 10 of his next 11 for 143 yards while engineering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately completed 23 of 36 passes to nine receivers en route to his second straight 300-yard passing game .
Despite outgaining N.C. State 412-397 , Georgia Tech ( 3-6 , 3-5 ) could n't convert in Wolfpack territory .
Jeff Sims completed 13 of 27 passes for 151 yards and rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown .
Jordan Mason also chipped in with 99 rushing yards .
Georgia Tech : The Yellow Jackets drove into N.C. State territory on five consecutive possessions between the second and fourth quarters .
But after scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those drives , Georgia Tech settled for two field goals and turned the ball over on downs twice .
N.C. State : The Wolfpack 's defense struggled at times throughout the season , but has started to round into form during its win streak .
Georgia Tech managed to move the ball well Saturday , but N.C. State made the stops it needed .
Among the 15 players honored during N.C. State 's pregame senior day ceremony was Alim McNeill , who announced via Twitter on Saturday morning that he 'll forgo his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The nation 's highest-graded Power 5 defender entering Saturday according to Pro Football Focus , McNeil has posted 78 tackles , 17.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his career .
Georgia Tech : The Yellow Jackets host Pittsburgh on Thursday night in a game that was initially scheduled for Nov. 14 , but was moved because of coronavirus-related issues on both teams .

Hockman, defense carry N.C. State over Georgia Tech, 23-13
North Carolina State quarterback Bailey Hockman (16) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game Georgia Tech in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson (11) tackles Georgia Tech running back Jordan Mason for a loss during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) Associated Press
Georgia Tech running back Jordan Mason (27) runs through the North Carolina State defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims (10) escapes from North Carolina State defensive tackle Alim McNeill (29) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
Georgia Tech defensive lineman Kyle Kennard (31) sacks North Carolina State quarterback Bailey Hockman (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims (10) escapes North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson (11) as he gains yards during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
North Carolina State running back Ricky Person Jr. (8) celebrates with Devin Carter (88) after scoring on a 20-yard touchdown run against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
North Carolina State wide receiver Devin Carter (88) makes a reception as Georgia Tech defensive back Juanyeh Thomas (1) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
North Carolina State running back Zonovan 'Bam' Knight (7) scores on a 5-yard touchdown run against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool) Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Bailey Hockman threw for 309 yards and Ricky Person and Zonovan Knight each ran for a touchdown as North Carolina State beat Georgia Tech 23-13 in its regular-season finale Saturday.
The win was the fourth straight for the Wolfpack (8-3, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), marking the first time it has closed out the regular season with four straight wins since 2008.
Hockman started slow, completing only one of his first six passes. He gradually settled in, completing 10 of his next 11 for 143 yards while engineering four consecutive first-half scoring drives. He ultimately completed 23 of 36 passes to nine receivers en route to his second straight 300-yard passing game.
Despite outgaining N.C. State 412-397, Georgia Tech (3-6, 3-5) couldn't convert in Wolfpack territory. Jeff Sims completed 13 of 27 passes for 151 yards and rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Mason also chipped in with 99 rushing yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets drove into N.C. State territory on five consecutive possessions between the second and fourth quarters. But after scoring its lone touchdown on the first of those drives, Georgia Tech settled for two field goals and turned the ball over on downs twice.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack's defense struggled at times throughout the season, but has started to round into form during its win streak. Georgia Tech managed to move the ball well Saturday, but N.C. State made the stops it needed.
MCNEILL'S FINAL HOME GAME
Among the 15 players honored during N.C. State's pregame senior day ceremony was Alim McNeill, who announced via Twitter on Saturday morning that he'll forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. The nation's highest-graded Power 5 defender entering Saturday according to Pro Football Focus, McNeil has posted 78 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his career.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets host Pittsburgh on Thursday night in a game that was initially scheduled for Nov. 14, but was moved because of coronavirus-related issues on both teams.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack awaits its bowl destination.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--MATCHDAY: Tottenham hosts Arsenal in north London derby

A look at what 's happening around European soccer on Sunday : Tottenham and Arsenal are going in opposite directions ahead of the first north London derby in the Premier League this season .
Hosts Tottenham came into the weekend in first place and looks like being a surprise title contender under Jose Mourinho .
Arsenal , meanwhile , reached the 11th round of games in 14th place and has won just one of its last six league games .
In another match that will have 2,000 fans in attendance , Liverpool hosts Wolverhampton and will have to cope without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the champions ' defensive set-up .
Last-place Sheffield United looks for a first win of the campaign in a home match against Leicester , and Crystal Palace is away to West Bromwich Albion .
Real Sociedad tries to regain the Spanish league lead when it visits midtable AlavÃ©s .
Sociedad is two points behind AtlÃ©tico Madrid , which beat Valladolid on Saturday to go top for the first time this season .
Sociedad has played one game more than AtlÃ©tico .
The Basque Country club is unbeaten in seven matches in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend ended the team 's five-game winning streak in the league .
Unai Emery 's Villarreal is looking to get back to third place and hosts promoted Elche , while Manuel Pellegrini 's Real Betis tries to end a three-match losing run when it visits Osasuna .
AC Milan will be again without the injured Zlatan IbrahimoviÄ when it visits Sampdoria as it looks to extend its lead at the top of the Serie A standings .
In IbrahimoviÄ 's absence , Milan has won two of its matches , drawing the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of second-place Inter and three above Juventus .
Sassuolo had its first defeat of the season last weekend but can move level with Inter if it wins at Roma .
The capital side is a point behind Sassuolo , as is Napoli , which visits last-place Crotone .
Also , it 's : Hellas Verona vs. Cagliari ; Parma vs. Benevento ; and Udinese vs. Atalanta .
Bayer Leverkusen can move second in the Bundesliga with a win at last-place Schalke , which is closing in on Tasmania Berlin 's league record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schalke is already at 25 games and unlikely to stop the unwanted trend against Leverkusen due to problems both in attack and defense .
Forwards GonÃ§alo PaciÃªncia , Ahmed Kutucu and Rabbi Matondo are all out , while coach Manuel Baum has a bigger headache in defense with Salif SanÃ© out and Ozan Kabak and Bastian Oczipka both doubtful .
Schalke has already conceded 28 goals in nine Bundesliga games this season .
Werder Bremen hosts Stuttgart in the early game .
Lille hosts Monaco and a win for either side will move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saint-Germain .
The same goes for seven-time champion Lyon , which can stay within touching distance of PSG by winning at midtable Metz .
Coach Rudi Garcia 's Lyon side is enjoying a strong run of form and looks to extend its unbeaten run to 10 league games since losing at Montpellier in September .
Elsewhere , midtable Nice travels to face Reims in its first game since coach and France great Patrick Vieira was fired on Friday , following the club 's Europa League elimination .

MATCHDAY: Tottenham hosts Arsenal in north London derby
Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Tottenham's Gareth Bale during the Europa League Group J soccer match between Linzer ASK and Tottenham Hotspur at the Linzer stadium in Linz, Austria, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Photo/Andreas Schaad) Associated Press
A look at what's happening around European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Tottenham and Arsenal are going in opposite directions ahead of the first north London derby in the Premier League this season. Hosts Tottenham came into the weekend in first place and looks like being a surprise title contender under Jose Mourinho. Arsenal, meanwhile, reached the 11th round of games in 14th place and has won just one of its last six league games. In another match that will have 2,000 fans in attendance, Liverpool hosts Wolverhampton and will have to cope without goalkeeper Alisson Becker in the latest blow to the champions' defensive set-up. Last-place Sheffield United looks for a first win of the campaign in a home match against Leicester, and Crystal Palace is away to West Bromwich Albion.
SPAIN
Real Sociedad tries to regain the Spanish league lead when it visits midtable Alavés. Sociedad is two points behind Atlético Madrid, which beat Valladolid on Saturday to go top for the first time this season. Sociedad has played one game more than Atlético. The Basque Country club is unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and its draw against Villarreal last weekend ended the team's five-game winning streak in the league. Unai Emery's Villarreal is looking to get back to third place and hosts promoted Elche, while Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis tries to end a three-match losing run when it visits Osasuna.
ITALY
AC Milan will be again without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimović when it visits Sampdoria as it looks to extend its lead at the top of the Serie A standings. In Ibrahimović's absence, Milan has won two of its matches, drawing the other. The Rossoneri are two points clear of second-place Inter and three above Juventus. Sassuolo had its first defeat of the season last weekend but can move level with Inter if it wins at Roma. The capital side is a point behind Sassuolo, as is Napoli, which visits last-place Crotone. Also, it's: Hellas Verona vs. Cagliari; Parma vs. Benevento; and Udinese vs. Atalanta.
GERMANY
Bayer Leverkusen can move second in the Bundesliga with a win at last-place Schalke, which is closing in on Tasmania Berlin's league record of 31 straight games without a victory. Schalke is already at 25 games and unlikely to stop the unwanted trend against Leverkusen due to problems both in attack and defense. Forwards Gonçalo Paciência, Ahmed Kutucu and Rabbi Matondo are all out, while coach Manuel Baum has a bigger headache in defense with Salif Sané out and Ozan Kabak and Bastian Oczipka both doubtful. Schalke has already conceded 28 goals in nine Bundesliga games this season. Werder Bremen hosts Stuttgart in the early game.
FRANCE
Lille hosts Monaco and a win for either side will move it two points behind league leader Paris Saint-Germain. The same goes for seven-time champion Lyon, which can stay within touching distance of PSG by winning at midtable Metz. Coach Rudi Garcia's Lyon side is enjoying a strong run of form and looks to extend its unbeaten run to 10 league games since losing at Montpellier in September. Elsewhere, midtable Nice travels to face Reims in its first game since coach and France great Patrick Vieira was fired on Friday, following the club's Europa League elimination.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-06--Voting by mail looks here to stay. Will it change in suburbs in 2021?

With more than 2 million Illinoisans voting by mail or using special drop boxes for those ballots in last month 's presidential election , there 's no question the service -- expanded because of the COVID-19 crisis -- was a hit .
Not only did that total shatter the previous state record for ballots cast by mail -- approximately 427,000 , in 2018 -- but it represented one-third of all the ballots cast statewide , newly finalized election results show .
The 2018 total represented only about 9 % of total votes cast .
Suburban officials predict the practice will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local election .
`` A large number of voters became familiar and comfortable with the process , '' Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry said .
`` I expect the number of people who choose ( to ) vote by mail will continue to grow . ''
Voter turnout in local elections -- for seats on village and school boards , among others -- historically is much lower than contests for county , state and national seats like those on last month 's ballot , so the number of people voting by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 6 general election likely will be smaller than this fall 's total .
But election officials expect more people will vote by mail in the spring than did in the last local election in April 2019 .
`` Voters who appreciate mail voting will continue to use it , and the curve will trend up , '' said Edmund Michalowski , Cook County 's deputy clerk of elections .
People long have been able to vote by mail in Illinois under the banner of absentee voting .
Any registered voter can request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to be given .
The program exploded this year because of the pandemic .
COVID-19 reached Illinois in January , less than two months before the March 17 primary .
Because it requires people to gather indoors and possibly stand in lines , in-person voting was seen as a potential hazard by health experts and many politicians .
All officials did for the primary was request people give each other space when waiting to vote .
In June , however , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker signed a law expanding voting by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the law resulted in applications for mail-in voting automatically being mailed to anyone who voted in 2018 , 2019 or this year 's primary .
Applications also were sent to voters who registered or changed addresses after the March primary .
Under the law , completed ballots could be returned via the mail or deposited in special , secure boxes .
The law made other changes , too , including allowing curbside voting and widening early voting hours .
Many political activists , organizations and candidates -- especially Democrats -- actively promoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , letters and even phone calls to voters .
In Will County , nearly 110,000 people returned ballots by mail or via drop boxes -- more than four times the number who did in the 2018 general election .
In DuPage County , nearly 180,000 people used the vote-by-mail system -- more than five times the number who did in 2018 .
In Kane County , nearly 85,000 people used the vote-by-mail system -- nearly six times as many who did in 2018 .
Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham was n't surprised voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a national association of county clerks and other officials , Cunningham had researched voting by mail for some time as some states moved to all-mail elections .
As he expected , voters here discovered it was easy to apply for mail-in ballots , vote and then use tracking programs to confirm their ballots were received .
Cunningham believes more people will vote by mail in 2021 than did in 2019 .
Other election officials agree .
`` Now that many more voters have tried mail voting for the first time in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we anticipate that choice to increase in 2021 , '' DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said .
Additionally , COVID-19 may still be a problem when it 's time to vote next year .
`` If there is still a rise in COVID-19 cases and restrictions are still in place , voters may opt to vote by mail to limit their risk and potential exposure , '' said Todd Govain , Lake County 's chief deputy clerk .
Unless new legislation is enacted , voting by mail will be a little different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to last month 's election .
For starters , the drop boxes that were popular depositories for ballots wo n't be available .
All ballots mailed to voters will have to be mailed back .
Additionally , election authorities wo n't be legally required to mail applications to voters as they did this year .
Whether they do or not will be decided locally .
`` We need to evaluate where we 'll stand on ballot postage costs , '' DuPage 's Kaczmarek said .
On the up side , because fewer people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local elections than did last month , it should take less time for election judges to process mail-in ballots -- which could result in a cost decrease from this year .
`` Many election judges worked days , nights and weekends to process returned VBM ballots for this election , '' Govain said .
The drop-off in total ballots cast could be significant .
For example , only about 11 % of Lake County 's registered voters voted in April 2019 , compared with more than 69 % last month .
Likewise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout was more than 71 % for last month 's election but only 14 % in April 2019 .
State Sen. Julie Morrison of Lake Forest intends to introduce a bill after the General Assembly reconvenes in January that would reinstate the expired vote-by-mail provisions .
Morrison was the lead Senate sponsor of the original legislation , and she remains a big proponent of the service .
New election legislation likely would n't happen in time for February 's primary , Morrison said , but it could be ready for April 's general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , such as allowing voters to bring mail-in ballots to polling places on Election Day .
Morrison also favors allowing people to register to automatically receive mail-in ballots every election .
`` That 's something we should look at , '' she said .

Voting by mail is here to stay. What will change in suburbs in 2021?
With more than 2 million Illinoisans voting by mail or using special drop boxes for those ballots in last month's presidential election, there's no question the service -- expanded because of the COVID-19 crisis -- was a hit.
Not only did that total shatter the previous state record for ballots cast by mail -- approximately 427,000, in 2018 -- but it represented one-third of all the ballots cast statewide, newly finalized election results show. The 2018 total represented only about 9% of total votes cast.
Suburban officials predict the practice will remain popular in next year's consolidated local election.
"A large number of voters became familiar and comfortable with the process," Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry said. "I expect the number of people who choose (to) vote by mail will continue to grow."
Voter turnout in local elections -- for seats on village and school boards, among others -- historically is much lower than contests for county, state and national seats like those on last month's ballot, so the number of people voting by mail in February's few primaries or the April 6 general election likely will be smaller than this fall's total.
But election officials expect more people will vote by mail in the spring than did in the last local election in April 2019.
"Voters who appreciate mail voting will continue to use it, and the curve will trend up," said Edmund Michalowski, Cook County's deputy clerk of elections.
Why voting changed
People long have been able to vote by mail in Illinois under the banner of absentee voting. Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot, and no reason has to be given.
The program exploded this year because of the pandemic.
COVID-19 reached Illinois in January, less than two months before the March 17 primary. Because it requires people to gather indoors and possibly stand in lines, in-person voting was seen as a potential hazard by health experts and many politicians.
All officials did for the primary was request people give each other space when waiting to vote.
In June, however, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law expanding voting by mail.
Good only for the November election, the law resulted in applications for mail-in voting automatically being mailed to anyone who voted in 2018, 2019 or this year's primary. Applications also were sent to voters who registered or changed addresses after the March primary.
Under the law, completed ballots could be returned via the mail or deposited in special, secure boxes.
The law made other changes, too, including allowing curbside voting and widening early voting hours.
Many political activists, organizations and candidates -- especially Democrats -- actively promoted voting by mail with social media posts, letters and even phone calls to voters.
And it worked.
Huge response
- Rick West | Staff Photographer This machine in the Kane County clerk's office verified signatures and sorted envelopes ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
In Will County, nearly 110,000 people returned ballots by mail or via drop boxes -- more than four times the number who did in the 2018 general election.
In DuPage County, nearly 180,000 people used the vote-by-mail system -- more than five times the number who did in 2018.
In Kane County, nearly 85,000 people used the vote-by-mail system -- nearly six times as many who did in 2018.
Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham wasn't surprised voters embraced the service. A former president of a national association of county clerks and other officials, Cunningham had researched voting by mail for some time as some states moved to all-mail elections.
As he expected, voters here discovered it was easy to apply for mail-in ballots, vote and then use tracking programs to confirm their ballots were received.
Cunningham believes more people will vote by mail in 2021 than did in 2019. Other election officials agree.
"Now that many more voters have tried mail voting for the first time in this past election and had a positive experience, we anticipate that choice to increase in 2021," DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said.
Additionally, COVID-19 may still be a problem when it's time to vote next year.
"If there is still a rise in COVID-19 cases and restrictions are still in place, voters may opt to vote by mail to limit their risk and potential exposure," said Todd Govain, Lake County's chief deputy clerk.
It'll be different
Unless new legislation is enacted, voting by mail will be a little different in 2021 because the law applied only to last month's election.
For starters, the drop boxes that were popular depositories for ballots won't be available. All ballots mailed to voters will have to be mailed back.
Additionally, election authorities won't be legally required to mail applications to voters as they did this year. Whether they do or not will be decided locally.
"We need to evaluate where we'll stand on ballot postage costs," DuPage's Kaczmarek said.
On the up side, because fewer people are expected to vote in the 2021 local elections than did last month, it should take less time for election judges to process mail-in ballots -- which could result in a cost decrease from this year.
"Many election judges worked days, nights and weekends to process returned VBM ballots for this election," Govain said.
The drop-off in total ballots cast could be significant.
For example, only about 11% of Lake County's registered voters voted in April 2019, compared with more than 69% last month. Likewise, in suburban Cook County, total voter turnout was more than 71% for last month's election but only 14% in April 2019.
State Sen. Julie Morrison of Lake Forest intends to introduce a bill after the General Assembly reconvenes in January that would reinstate the expired vote-by-mail provisions. Morrison was the lead Senate sponsor of the original legislation, and she remains a big proponent of the service.
New election legislation likely wouldn't happen in time for February's primary, Morrison said, but it could be ready for April's general.
Some adjustments could be made, too, such as allowing voters to bring mail-in ballots to polling places on Election Day. Morrison also favors allowing people to register to automatically receive mail-in ballots every election.
"That's something we should look at," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--Hub Arkush: It's desperation time for many in Bears organizations with Lions in town

Sunday 's game against the Detroit Lions takes on a very different significance for the Bears than their last five .
Yes , every game matters .
The Vikings game was the Bears ' chance to take control of the NFC North , and the Packers game was their last chance to control their own destiny .
All five games were winnable , but none was a guaranteed win -- not even for good teams against five very good opponents .
But a loss to the Lions would signal the wheels are completely off and the organization is in disarray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can afford right now .
When these two met Week 1 the ageless wonder Adrian Peterson , with less than a week as a Lion , dominated early and the Lions ' rushing ( 29 attempts for 138 yards ) allowed them to win the time of possession battle and pile up their 23-6 lead before the Bears came storming back .
The Bears ' run defense had improved dramatically until the whole defense collapsed last Sunday at Lambeau .
Shutting down Detroit 's run game Sunday would be the perfect way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clock .
Bevell has been a highly respected offensive mind in Minnesota and Seattle and a head coaching candidate several times over the past six or seven seasons , but with a new general manager coming too , it 's unlikely he 'll be a candidate to get this job .
But this is an audition .
Look for Bevell to pull out all the stops to have his Lions fired up and to give the Bears a few surprises they are n't expecting .
With wide receiver Kenny Golladay out again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to come out and make a difference .
Chuck Pagano is certain to try and take him away .
Cornerback Marcus Trufant is on injured reserve , Jeffrey Okudah is out again , and most of the Lions ' depth at cornerback is on I.R .
as well .
Coleman and Ford at the corners will have bulls eyes on them all day .
Bears receivers should be licking their chops .
Every team has injuries and losing one guy is never an excuse , but Hicks is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will be interesting to see if the defense bounces right back to where it was with his return .
Stafford has struggled in three of his last four games against below average defenses in Minnesota , Carolina and Houston .
He was just average against the Bears in Week 1 .
He missed both Bears games last season and was bad in both 2018 meetings .
But when he 's right , he 's a franchise QB .
Which Stafford shows up Sunday could be a game-changer one way or the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury that sidelined him the last two games , and with Golladay out he becomes key .
At 35 , he is still getting it done from the slot , and Bears nickelback Buster Skrine has struggled the last few games .
Johnson is a 2018 second-round pick , who will get his chances if the Swift concussion -- he did n't practice Thursday or Friday -- keeps him out .
Miller had the game of his life last Thanksgiving in Detroit and told us Friday , `` I 'm just focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do to get a win , to get back in that groove again .
I just think it 's long overdue , us losing games , that 's not us at all .
I feel like we have business to handle and we just need to focus on getting that win . ''
The Bears are not a great football team , but they 're too good to have lost five straight and then not be able to handle a banged-up club in disarray like the Lions .
The Bears embarrassed themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salvage the season or not remains to be seen , but they have to be angry enough to storm out and take this one .

Hub Arkush: It's desperation time for many in Bears organizations with Lions in town
Detroit's Adrian Peterson runs into trouble with the Bears' Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller in the season opener in September. Associated Press
Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions takes on a very different significance for the Bears than their last five.
Yes, every game matters. The Vikings game was the Bears' chance to take control of the NFC North, and the Packers game was their last chance to control their own destiny. All five games were winnable, but none was a guaranteed win -- not even for good teams against five very good opponents.
But a loss to the Lions would signal the wheels are completely off and the organization is in disarray -- something no one at Halas Hall can afford right now.
Matchup to watch
Lions' ground game vs. Bears' run D
When these two met Week 1 the ageless wonder Adrian Peterson, with less than a week as a Lion, dominated early and the Lions' rushing (29 attempts for 138 yards) allowed them to win the time of possession battle and pile up their 23-6 lead before the Bears came storming back.
The Bears' run defense had improved dramatically until the whole defense collapsed last Sunday at Lambeau.
Shutting down Detroit's run game Sunday would be the perfect way to come back physical, dominant and control the clock.
Coaching decision to watch
All from Darrell Bevell
Bevell has been a highly respected offensive mind in Minnesota and Seattle and a head coaching candidate several times over the past six or seven seasons, but with a new general manager coming too, it's unlikely he'll be a candidate to get this job.
But this is an audition.
Look for Bevell to pull out all the stops to have his Lions fired up and to give the Bears a few surprises they aren't expecting.
Player(s) to watch
Marvin Jones, Justin Coleman and Mike Ford
With wide receiver Kenny Golladay out again for the Lions, Jones has to be able to come out and make a difference. Chuck Pagano is certain to try and take him away.
Cornerback Marcus Trufant is on injured reserve, Jeffrey Okudah is out again, and most of the Lions' depth at cornerback is on I.R. as well.
Coleman and Ford at the corners will have bulls eyes on them all day. Bears receivers should be licking their chops.
The X-factor
Akiem Hicks and Matthew Stafford
Every team has injuries and losing one guy is never an excuse, but Hicks is one of the best interior linemen in the game. It will be interesting to see if the defense bounces right back to where it was with his return.
Stafford has struggled in three of his last four games against below average defenses in Minnesota, Carolina and Houston. He was just average against the Bears in Week 1. He missed both Bears games last season and was bad in both 2018 meetings.
But when he's right, he's a franchise QB. Which Stafford shows up Sunday could be a game-changer one way or the other.
Wild-card players
Danny Amendola, Kerryon Johnson and Anthony Miller
Amendola should return from a hip injury that sidelined him the last two games, and with Golladay out he becomes key.
At 35, he is still getting it done from the slot, and Bears nickelback Buster Skrine has struggled the last few games.
Johnson is a 2018 second-round pick, who will get his chances if the Swift concussion -- he didn't practice Thursday or Friday -- keeps him out.
Miller had the game of his life last Thanksgiving in Detroit and told us Friday, "I'm just focused on the Chicago Bears and what we need to do to get a win, to get back in that groove again. I just think it's long overdue, us losing games, that's not us at all. I feel like we have business to handle and we just need to focus on getting that win."
The final word
Bears 27, Lions 16
The Bears are not a great football team, but they're too good to have lost five straight and then not be able to handle a banged-up club in disarray like the Lions. The Bears embarrassed themselves last Sunday night. Whether they can salvage the season or not remains to be seen, but they have to be angry enough to storm out and take this one.
• Twitter: @Hub_Arkush


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--Madigan says he'd back income tax hike as he, Kifowit make cases to Black Caucus

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Saturday he 's prepared to vote for an increase in the state 's income tax rate and said he 's working with `` building blocks '' to get to 60 votes in his fight to secure another term in the leadership post he 's held for nearly four decades .
His challenger for the post , state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego , promised all Democrats running for the General Assembly would get the same campaign support from the party .
The two were making their cases before the House Black Caucus Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on state finances and also on redistricting , is to provide the same type of strong leadership that I provided to our caucus when we were fighting against Gov .
[ Bruce ] Rauner , '' Madigan said .
A showing of that strong leadership may come if Gov .
J.B. Pritzker asks the legislature to raise the state 's flat income-tax rate , which Madigan said is `` very possible , '' according to a recording of the closed candidate forum reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times .
Kifowit said the uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an opportunity to work together to `` get things going in the right direction . ''
`` I know that change can be scary , '' Kifowit said .
`` But , together -- working together -- I think we can make good change ... and help people . ''
• See more coverage at chicago.suntimes.com .

Madigan says he'd back income tax hike as he, Kifowit make cases to Black Caucus
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Saturday he's prepared to vote for an increase in the state's income tax rate and said he's working with "building blocks" to get to 60 votes in his fight to secure another term in the leadership post he's held for nearly four decades.
His challenger for the post, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, promised all Democrats running for the General Assembly would get the same campaign support from the party.
The two were making their cases before the House Black Caucus Saturday morning.
"My pledge to the caucus, on state finances and also on redistricting, is to provide the same type of strong leadership that I provided to our caucus when we were fighting against Gov. [Bruce] Rauner," Madigan said.
A showing of that strong leadership may come if Gov. J.B. Pritzker asks the legislature to raise the state's flat income-tax rate, which Madigan said is "very possible," according to a recording of the closed candidate forum reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Kifowit said the uncertainty around who will be the next speaker is an opportunity to work together to "get things going in the right direction."
"I know that change can be scary," Kifowit said. "But, together -- working together -- I think we can make good change ... and help people."
• See more coverage at chicago.suntimes.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-05--As storybook stay with Cubs closes, what's next for Schwarber?

No matter what happens in the days and seasons ahead , Kyle Schwarber is always going to be best remembered for his time in a Chicago Cubs uniform .
While playing college ball at Indiana , Schwarber 's powerful swing was compared to , gulp , Babe Ruth by Stan Zielinski , a Midwest scouting whiz for the Cubs before passing away in 2017 .
Schwarber certainly showed some glimpses of the Bambino during his six-year run with the Cubs but he 's now a free agent after being non-tendered last week .
He 'll never be forgotten on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be a Cubs legend , '' said president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer .
`` There 's no question about that . ''
The No .
4 overall draft pick in 2014 after hitting 32 home runs over his final two seasons with the Hoosiers , Schwarber will never forget the love he received from Cubs fans , especially the ones camped in the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field .
`` Chicago ... from being drafted , to playoffs 5 out of 6 years , to being a World Series champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I want to thank all the fans for the overwhelming support these past 7 years of being in the organization .
It never got old running out to left field and being able to give you guys a salute .
It really is different at Wrigley .
It was an absolute pleasure to go out there everyday and grind with the fellas for you guys and I 'm forever grateful for my teammates , coaches , staff and the fans .
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart !
Until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have commanded as much as $ 10 million for 2021 had the Cubs offered salary arbitration , so the decision to cut ties with the 27-year-old outfielder was not a surprise .
Last season , Schwarber hit .188/.308/.393 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI while tying for seventh in the National League with 66 strikeouts .
That was quite a drop from 2019 , when he had 38 homers and 92 RBI to go with a .250/.339/.531 slash line .
As he heads out the door , Schwarber will best be remembered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 , he lifted the Cubs to a 4-0 win over the Pirates in the wild-card game while going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI , highlighted by a 2-run homer off Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole that landed in the Allegheny River .
Moving on to the NLDS , he powered the Cubs over the Cardinals while going 5-for-10 with a pair of home runs .
Making the Babe Ruth comp come to life in Game 4 vs. St. Louis , Schwarber launched a mammoth homer in Game 4 at Wrigley that landed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , Schwarber injured his knee in the second game of the regular season and was expected to miss the rest of the year .
He made it back for the World Series and helped the Cubs rally past the Indians for their first championship in 108 years while going 7-for-17 .
That is some legendary stuff under the brightest of lights , and Schwarber 's down-to-earth persona elevated his popularity even more .
Now it 's on to the next chapter , and there is little doubt Schwarber is going to attract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free-agent market .
The Yankees are an obvious fit , and Schwarber would add some needed pop from the left side in a lineup loaded with right-handed weapons .
Returning to his native Ohio with the Indians or Reds is also possible , and the Tigers might be an attractive landing spot under new manager A.J .
Hinch .
The White Sox are another match that makes sense .
Once again in need of a left-handed power bat at designated hitter , the Sox would also have to weigh Schwarber 's cost .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-year deal in the $ 5 million range ?
Would the White Sox be worried about getting another Adam Dunn ?
That is a very probable sticking point .
Dunn had incredible left-handed power , but he batted .201/.321/.410 and struck out 720 times in 2,187 plate appearances over four miserable seasons on the South Side .
Schwarber , like Dunn , also struggles to hit left-handed pitching , so the Sox just might hand DH duties over to Andrew Vaughn , the No .
3 overall pick in the 2019 draft .

As storybook stay with Cubs closes, what's next for Schwarber?
Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez celebrates his home run against the Cleveland Indians with Kyle Schwarber during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series in Cleveland. AP File Photo
Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber smiles as he answers a question during a news conference for the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. AP File Photo
No matter what happens in the days and seasons ahead, Kyle Schwarber is always going to be best remembered for his time in a Chicago Cubs uniform.
While playing college ball at Indiana, Schwarber's powerful swing was compared to, gulp, Babe Ruth by Stan Zielinski, a Midwest scouting whiz for the Cubs before passing away in 2017.
Schwarber certainly showed some glimpses of the Bambino during his six-year run with the Cubs but he's now a free agent after being non-tendered last week.
He'll never be forgotten on the North Side.
"He's always going to be a Cubs legend," said president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. "There's no question about that."
The No. 4 overall draft pick in 2014 after hitting 32 home runs over his final two seasons with the Hoosiers, Schwarber will never forget the love he received from Cubs fans, especially the ones camped in the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field.
"Chicago ... from being drafted, to playoffs 5 out of 6 years, to being a World Series champion!" Schwarber wrote on Twitter. "I want to thank all the fans for the overwhelming support these past 7 years of being in the organization. It never got old running out to left field and being able to give you guys a salute. It really is different at Wrigley. It was an absolute pleasure to go out there everyday and grind with the fellas for you guys and I'm forever grateful for my teammates, coaches, staff and the fans. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart! Until we meet again."
Schwarber could have commanded as much as $10 million for 2021 had the Cubs offered salary arbitration, so the decision to cut ties with the 27-year-old outfielder was not a surprise.
Last season, Schwarber hit .188/.308/.393 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI while tying for seventh in the National League with 66 strikeouts.
That was quite a drop from 2019, when he had 38 homers and 92 RBI to go with a .250/.339/.531 slash line.
As he heads out the door, Schwarber will best be remembered for his postseason heroics.
A rookie in 2015, he lifted the Cubs to a 4-0 win over the Pirates in the wild-card game while going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, highlighted by a 2-run homer off Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole that landed in the Allegheny River.
Moving on to the NLDS, he powered the Cubs over the Cardinals while going 5-for-10 with a pair of home runs. Making the Babe Ruth comp come to life in Game 4 vs. St. Louis, Schwarber launched a mammoth homer in Game 4 at Wrigley that landed on top of the right-field scoreboard.
In 2016, Schwarber injured his knee in the second game of the regular season and was expected to miss the rest of the year.
He made it back for the World Series and helped the Cubs rally past the Indians for their first championship in 108 years while going 7-for-17.
That is some legendary stuff under the brightest of lights, and Schwarber's down-to-earth persona elevated his popularity even more.
Now it's on to the next chapter, and there is little doubt Schwarber is going to attract plenty of interest as he explores the free-agent market.
The Yankees are an obvious fit, and Schwarber would add some needed pop from the left side in a lineup loaded with right-handed weapons.
Returning to his native Ohio with the Indians or Reds is also possible, and the Tigers might be an attractive landing spot under new manager A.J. Hinch.
The White Sox are another match that makes sense.
Once again in need of a left-handed power bat at designated hitter, the Sox would also have to weigh Schwarber's cost. Would he be willing to sign a one-year deal in the $5 million range?
Would the White Sox be worried about getting another Adam Dunn? That is a very probable sticking point.
Dunn had incredible left-handed power, but he batted .201/.321/.410 and struck out 720 times in 2,187 plate appearances over four miserable seasons on the South Side.
Schwarber, like Dunn, also struggles to hit left-handed pitching, so the Sox just might hand DH duties over to Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft.


US-Pres-Sum,100

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

US-Pres-Sum,100
Trump 74,196,153 - 47 percent
Has won 25 states with 232 ev.
Leads in 0 states with 0 ev.
Others 2,702,997 - 2 percent
Has won 0 states with 0 ev.
Leads in 0 states with 0 ev.
Needed to win: 270 of the 538 electoral votes (ev) from
the 50 states and the District of Columbia.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-06--Voting by mail is here to stay. What will change in suburbs in 2021?


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-06--State reports 7,598 new cases, as hospitalizations continue to drop

State health authorities on Sunday reported 7,598 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois , along with 76 more deaths from the coronavirus .
That ends a five-day streak of at least 120 deaths -- including a record 238 deaths reported Wednesday -- though it 's not unusual for the numbers to be lower on Sundays .
Among the deaths reported were 23 in Cook County , four in DuPage , five in Kane , four in Lake and three in Will .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported a decline in hospitalizations due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital Friday night , 5,160 were hospitalized Saturday night , officials said .
That 's down nearly 700 patients from a week ago .
Those hospitalized in intensive care also dropped , from 1,134 patients Friday to 1,103 Saturday .
Patients needing ventilators fell from 694 Friday to 643 on Saturday , according to the IDPH .
The new cases Sunday bring the state 's total to 787,573 since the outbreak began , including 13,255 deaths .
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test remained relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 .
It also was 10.1 % for the week of Nov. 22 to Nov. 28 .

State reports 7,598 new cases, as hospitalizations continue to drop
State health authorities on Sunday reported 7,598 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, along with 76 more deaths from the coronavirus.
That ends a five-day streak of at least 120 deaths -- including a record 238 deaths reported Wednesday -- though it's not unusual for the numbers to be lower on Sundays. Among the deaths reported were 23 in Cook County, four in DuPage, five in Kane, four in Lake and three in Will.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported a decline in hospitalizations due to the respiratory illness. After reporting 5,331 in the hospital Friday night, 5,160 were hospitalized Saturday night, officials said. That's down nearly 700 patients from a week ago.
Those hospitalized in intensive care also dropped, from 1,134 patients Friday to 1,103 Saturday. Patients needing ventilators fell from 694 Friday to 643 on Saturday, according to the IDPH.
The new cases Sunday bring the state's total to 787,573 since the outbreak began, including 13,255 deaths.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test remained relatively steady, at 10.1% for the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5. It also was 10.1% for the week of Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-06--After 3 years, Michigan couple reunited with lost dog in DuPage County

Excitement and disbelief overwhelmed Debra Mejeur as she stood outside the DuPage County Animal Shelter on Saturday morning , waiting to be reunited with her dog , Lola .
The Kalamazoo , Michigan , resident had been counting down the hours until this moment , unable to sleep since she and her husband , Steve , received an unexpected phone call Thursday that their black Labrador retriever mix had been found safe in Glendale Heights -- three years after she went missing in Elk Grove Village .
`` I feel like I 'm in a dream right now , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was mourning her .
I had let her go .
I still had an ounce of hope , I guess , but the majority of me was thinking she had already crossed the rainbow bridge .
I was just completely stunned . ''
Trained to assist Mejeur as a seizure response dog , Lola was characteristically timid as she emerged from the Wheaton animal shelter wearing a bright red bow and surveyed her surroundings .
But the moment she realized the people in front of her were her owners , Lola 's hesitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years , it 's just an unbelievable feeling to be reunited with her , especially since she was lost in another state , '' Mejeur said .
`` Knowing that I can bring her home to Michigan is ... just beyond description .
I 'm so relieved .
I 'm so excited . ''
The couple had been visiting friends in Elk Grove Village on Oct. 21 , 2017 , when Lola escaped from the fenced-in backyard , Mejeur said .
They spent the weekend searching for their dog , whom Mejeur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained herself .
But with her husband 's job , her medication and two cats back in Kalamazoo , she said , they had to return home .
For weeks , Mejeur and her husband traveled back and forth between Michigan and Elk Grove , often spending hours scouring the area in the rain and bitter cold , she said .
They spread the word on social media and gained a following of volunteers who agreed to help .
But as the weather worsened near the end of November , they knew they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was just physically and emotionally so tough on us , '' Mejeur said .
`` It was a very difficult time . ''
Lola had been wearing a collar and was microchipped .
But after years of silence , her owners never expected to see her again .
Recently , a Glendale Heights couple began periodically spotting a dog wandering near the woods where they live .
They got a leash on her and brought her to DuPage County Animal Services this past week , county officials said .
Staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's microchip back to Mejeur .
Receiving a call and text from the microchipping company was a shock to Mejeur , who immediately contacted the animal shelter mentioned in the message .
`` By any chance , do you have a female black Lab Retriever named Lola ? ''
she asked the DuPage County employee who answered the phone .
The staffer responded with , `` Are you Debra ? ''
The nearly 9-year-old dog appears to be in good condition with no serious injuries or ailments , her owner said .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she did three years ago .
Mejeur expressed her gratitude for the caring couple who found and took in Lola , saying they will be `` part of our lives forever . ''
Lola 's story is a prime example of the importance of having pets microchipped and making sure the information on record is up to date , said Dr. Barbara Hanek , the shelter 's administrator .
Residents are encouraged to contact authorities if they see animals wandering in the community .
`` This could n't be more perfect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That 's a take-home message for me -- it 's just a little gift , but it reminds us to always have hope and to believe . ''

After 3 years, Michigan couple reunited with lost dog in DuPage County
Lauren Rohr/lrohr@dailyherald.comAfter going missing three years ago, Lola, a black Labrador retriever mix, reunites with her owner, Debra Mejeur, right, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the DuPage County Animal Shelter in Wheaton on Saturday morning.
Excitement and disbelief overwhelmed Debra Mejeur as she stood outside the DuPage County Animal Shelter on Saturday morning, waiting to be reunited with her dog, Lola.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan, resident had been counting down the hours until this moment, unable to sleep since she and her husband, Steve, received an unexpected phone call Thursday that their black Labrador retriever mix had been found safe in Glendale Heights -- three years after she went missing in Elk Grove Village.
"I feel like I'm in a dream right now," Mejeur said. "Mentally, I was mourning her. I had let her go. I still had an ounce of hope, I guess, but the majority of me was thinking she had already crossed the rainbow bridge. I was just completely stunned."
Trained to assist Mejeur as a seizure response dog, Lola was characteristically timid as she emerged from the Wheaton animal shelter wearing a bright red bow and surveyed her surroundings. But the moment she realized the people in front of her were her owners, Lola's hesitation was replaced by exuberance.
"After three years, it's just an unbelievable feeling to be reunited with her, especially since she was lost in another state," Mejeur said. "Knowing that I can bring her home to Michigan is ... just beyond description. I'm so relieved. I'm so excited."
The couple had been visiting friends in Elk Grove Village on Oct. 21, 2017, when Lola escaped from the fenced-in backyard, Mejeur said. They spent the weekend searching for their dog, whom Mejeur had rescued about two years earlier and trained herself. But with her husband's job, her medication and two cats back in Kalamazoo, she said, they had to return home.
For weeks, Mejeur and her husband traveled back and forth between Michigan and Elk Grove, often spending hours scouring the area in the rain and bitter cold, she said. They spread the word on social media and gained a following of volunteers who agreed to help. But as the weather worsened near the end of November, they knew they'd have to give up the search.
"It was just physically and emotionally so tough on us," Mejeur said. "It was a very difficult time."
Lola had been wearing a collar and was microchipped. But after years of silence, her owners never expected to see her again.
Recently, a Glendale Heights couple began periodically spotting a dog wandering near the woods where they live. They got a leash on her and brought her to DuPage County Animal Services this past week, county officials said. Staff members were then able to trace Lola's microchip back to Mejeur.
Receiving a call and text from the microchipping company was a shock to Mejeur, who immediately contacted the animal shelter mentioned in the message.
"By any chance, do you have a female black Lab Retriever named Lola?" she asked the DuPage County employee who answered the phone.
The staffer responded with, "Are you Debra?"
"I absolutely lost it," Mejeur said.
The nearly 9-year-old dog appears to be in good condition with no serious injuries or ailments, her owner said. In fact, she looks exactly the same as she did three years ago.
Mejeur expressed her gratitude for the caring couple who found and took in Lola, saying they will be "part of our lives forever."
Lola's story is a prime example of the importance of having pets microchipped and making sure the information on record is up to date, said Dr. Barbara Hanek, the shelter's administrator. Residents are encouraged to contact authorities if they see animals wandering in the community.
"This couldn't be more perfect for the Christmas season," Hanek said. "That's a take-home message for me -- it's just a little gift, but it reminds us to always have hope and to believe."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-06--3 AND OUT: Take-aways from the Bears' 34-30 loss to Detroit

Take-aways from the Bears ' 34-30 loss Sunday to the Detroit Lions : 1 .
Allen Robinson stepped out a yard short of a first down with 16 seconds left in the red zone .
David Montgomery was subsequently stopped on his fourth-down run well behind the marker , and the Lions pulled off the stunning , ugly win in Darrell Bevel 's interim head coaching debut .
2 .
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tossed his third touchdown with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Bears ' lead to 30-27 .
Mitch Trubisky was then strip-sacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own 7-yard-line .
Adrian Peterson then quickly scored the go-ahead touchdown .
3 .
After David Montgomery 's second rushing touchdown , the Fox telecast reported the last time the Bears scored 3 rushing touchdowns in the first half was in 1990 .
That 's hard to fathom considering the Bears once had Thomas Jones , Matt Forte and others preceding Montgomery .
Regardless , nothing cures a running game like playing the Lions .
Run like the wind : The Bears could n't rely on Montgomery as often last week due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were definitely able to establish an identity .
By halftime , the Bears had 3 rushing scores and averaged 5.6 yards per carry .
Their season average coming into the game was 3.9 .
Montgomery looks healthy and highly motivated after his 72-yard performance in Green Bay .
Trubisky : We know his fatal fumble ultimately gave the Lions the lead , but up until that point , Trubisky largely maintained a clean stat line of 26 for 34 for 267 yards and a touchdown .
Entering the game , he had thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lions in his career .
The Lions were missing third overall pick corner Jeff Okudah for both matchups .
He had the offense clicking ; it just collapsed at the worst time .
Offensive line : Trubisky and the running game 's successes would n't have happened without a relatively clean performance by the offensive line .
Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars are showing steady signs of anchoring center and right guard , respectively , for possibly next season .
The collective line allowed just one sack to compliment their strong day with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bears had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and both the offense and defense equally did everything right to blow their first win since Oct. 18 .
Stafford calmly led the offense for scores and they were able to capitalize on Trubisky 's late fumble .
All-around , this is the type of failure that continues to chip away at Matt Nagy 's job security .
Stafford went hunting : The Bears reverted to a soft zone and Stafford had no trouble carving it up : 402 passing yards and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a little time and he was also able to carve up the defense on third down .
The Lions were 5 of 7 at the half and 6 for 11 in the game .
Oh , Mack , where art thou : Stats certainly do n't tell the full picture .
Khalil Mack affects the game nearly every play he 's in .
But , after Aaron Rodgers was n't sacked at all last week , Mack only had one quarterback pressure on Stafford in the first half .
In the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sack and no QB hits .
A sack by Mack was wiped out after a Buster Skrine penalty , but he has n't been quite the same player with a back injury .
The Bears host Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans at Soldier Field next week .
The obvious spotlight will be on the former No .
2 overall pick in Trubisky vs. the No .
10 overall pick in Watson , who has his $ 156 million extension , while Trubisky had his fifth-year option declined .

3 AND OUT: Take-aways from the Bears' 34-30 loss to Detroit
Take-aways from the Bears' 34-30 loss Sunday to the Detroit Lions:
Moments that mattered
1. Allen Robinson stepped out a yard short of a first down with 16 seconds left in the red zone. David Montgomery was subsequently stopped on his fourth-down run well behind the marker, and the Lions pulled off the stunning, ugly win in Darrell Bevel's interim head coaching debut.
2. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tossed his third touchdown with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Bears' lead to 30-27. Mitch Trubisky was then strip-sacked with 1:48 left on the Bears' own 7-yard-line. Adrian Peterson then quickly scored the go-ahead touchdown.
3. After David Montgomery's second rushing touchdown, the Fox telecast reported the last time the Bears scored 3 rushing touchdowns in the first half was in 1990. That's hard to fathom considering the Bears once had Thomas Jones, Matt Forte and others preceding Montgomery. Regardless, nothing cures a running game like playing the Lions.
What worked
Run like the wind: The Bears couldn't rely on Montgomery as often last week due to being down so big, but they were definitely able to establish an identity. By halftime, the Bears had 3 rushing scores and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Their season average coming into the game was 3.9. Montgomery looks healthy and highly motivated after his 72-yard performance in Green Bay.
Trubisky: We know his fatal fumble ultimately gave the Lions the lead, but up until that point, Trubisky largely maintained a clean stat line of 26 for 34 for 267 yards and a touchdown. Entering the game, he had thrown 12 touchdowns to 1 interception against the Lions in his career. The Lions were missing third overall pick corner Jeff Okudah for both matchups. He had the offense clicking; it just collapsed at the worst time.
Offensive line: Trubisky and the running game's successes wouldn't have happened without a relatively clean performance by the offensive line. Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars are showing steady signs of anchoring center and right guard, respectively, for possibly next season. The collective line allowed just one sack to compliment their strong day with 389 total offensive yards
What didn't work
Closing time: The Bears had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and both the offense and defense equally did everything right to blow their first win since Oct. 18. Stafford calmly led the offense for scores and they were able to capitalize on Trubisky's late fumble. All-around, this is the type of failure that continues to chip away at Matt Nagy's job security.
Stafford went hunting: The Bears reverted to a soft zone and Stafford had no trouble carving it up: 402 passing yards and three touchdowns. Stafford can do wonders with just a little time and he was also able to carve up the defense on third down. The Lions were 5 of 7 at the half and 6 for 11 in the game.
Oh, Mack, where art thou: Stats certainly don't tell the full picture. Khalil Mack affects the game nearly every play he's in. But, after Aaron Rodgers wasn't sacked at all last week, Mack only had one quarterback pressure on Stafford in the first half. In the previous four games, Mack registered just 1 sack and no QB hits. A sack by Mack was wiped out after a Buster Skrine penalty, but he hasn't been quite the same player with a back injury.
What's next
The Bears host Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans at Soldier Field next week. The obvious spotlight will be on the former No. 2 overall pick in Trubisky vs. the No. 10 overall pick in Watson, who has his $156 million extension, while Trubisky had his fifth-year option declined.