dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Rozner: White Sox step back in time with La Russa hire -- less a disaster than disappointment

He is the one who sold the rebuild to White Sox ownership , moved assets for gobs of young talent , stuck with the plan even when the clowns were whining , and probably used Fernando Tatis as the example of why the team can never operate that way again .
So you know it had to hurt when he threw his body on a grenade Thursday and via Zoom welcomed Tony La Russa as the next manager , even though La Russa fit none of the criteria Hahn spelled out a few weeks ago when the manager search began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hahn was born here , raised here and has stayed here , waiting very patiently in the wings , turning down other GM jobs until this one would be his , and then waited even longer to be able to do the job the way he wanted to do it .
His family is happy here and his hope is to never leave Chicago .
So it was either quit in protest over Jerry Reinsdorf 's decision to bring back his old friend , or fall on his sword , never to admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a choice as the White Sox could possibly make from every aspect of the organization , from public relations , to ticket sales , to perception , to the actual job as field boss .
Doug Collins must have turned down Reinsdorf -- again -- and Mike Ditka simply ca n't operate a cellphone at this point .
The suggestion here is take a deep breath because this is less total disaster than it is total disappointment and embarrassment .
Such a shame after they had done so much so right , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it could work .
If La Russa still has his wits about him at age 76 , he has almost always been a superb tactician .
He was also once an innovator in bullpen usage and in pitching styles , but he was a mess while running the Diamondbacks ' front office and does not exactly speak the language of analytics , which is essential in today 's game .
If a team is good enough it can overcome the manager , as the Cubs did in 2016 , but when there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's absurd that the Sox might now have to overcome the dugout deficiencies of their manager .
This is n't about age , by the way .
Jack McKeon was 72 when he led the Marlins to a World Series in 2003 , but he was young of heart and mind and able to connect and communicate with his players .
McKeon was the life of that party .
At the same time , Mike Quade was only 53 when he got the Cubs job and he did n't have a clue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though the Sox failed to mention La Russa 's age in their news release Thursday , after Renteria 's age ( 54 ) was placed in the second sentence of the release when he was hired .
The Sox did remind us in the statement that at 34 , La Russa became the youngest manager in baseball when named to the White Sox post in August 1979 .
It 's not about La Russa 's age as much as being in tune with the modern age of baseball .
Analytics are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example of how you need to manage humans , not numbers , but without understanding analytics you are missing half of what 's available to you .
La Russa would probably not have removed a dominant starter in Game 6 of the World Series at 73 pitches merely because of how many times he had been through the order .
You ca n't be a prisoner to the script , but you also ca n't go into a game without a plan and the numbers play an enormous role in that .
La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly a decade and the concern there is communication .
He 's already been coached well on how to answer questions about how he views bat flips and protests , so he 's not going to be screaming at Tim Anderson to get off his lawn .
Besides , having respect for the game and your opponent is not a negative , and that is something La Russa believes in .
Understanding the concept is healthy , even if you do n't abide by it .
It 's more about the way today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all times .
They need to know every moment of the day that they are wanted and loved , and that their job is secure -- or they will quit on you .
Make no mistake about who runs the game .
The players with guaranteed contracts have all the power and La Russa will have adjust to that quickly .
If 46-year-old AJ Hinch does n't take a managing job , he would be an excellent bench coach and considerable help in that regard .
White Sox Twitter burned to the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely baffling decision , and a fan base so excited about the future feels abandoned when there were some outstanding managers available .
But it does n't alter the talent level on the club and it does n't harm Hahn 's knowledge of what is needed on the field for the Sox to take the next step .
So take a deep breath .
Nothing has changed except the face in the dugout , and the future is still very bright .
If it makes you feel any better , do n't think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't been noted .

Rozner: White Sox step back in time with La Russa hire -- less a disaster than disappointment
Tony La Russa will be back in the dugout for the White Sox in 2021. Associated Press
Rick Hahn is a smart man.
He is the one who sold the rebuild to White Sox ownership, moved assets for gobs of young talent, stuck with the plan even when the clowns were whining, and probably used Fernando Tatis as the example of why the team can never operate that way again.
So you know it had to hurt when he threw his body on a grenade Thursday and via Zoom welcomed Tony La Russa as the next manager, even though La Russa fit none of the criteria Hahn spelled out a few weeks ago when the manager search began.
What choice did he have?
Hahn was born here, raised here and has stayed here, waiting very patiently in the wings, turning down other GM jobs until this one would be his, and then waited even longer to be able to do the job the way he wanted to do it.
His family is happy here and his hope is to never leave Chicago.
So it was either quit in protest over Jerry Reinsdorf's decision to bring back his old friend, or fall on his sword, never to admit publicly that this was about as strange a choice as the White Sox could possibly make from every aspect of the organization, from public relations, to ticket sales, to perception, to the actual job as field boss.
Doug Collins must have turned down Reinsdorf -- again -- and Mike Ditka simply can't operate a cellphone at this point.
Lucky for you.
The suggestion here is take a deep breath because this is less total disaster than it is total disappointment and embarrassment. Such a shame after they had done so much so right, including the firing of Rick Renteria.
Nevertheless, it could work. If La Russa still has his wits about him at age 76, he has almost always been a superb tactician.
He was also once an innovator in bullpen usage and in pitching styles, but he was a mess while running the Diamondbacks' front office and does not exactly speak the language of analytics, which is essential in today's game.
If a team is good enough it can overcome the manager, as the Cubs did in 2016, but when there were really good candidates available, it's absurd that the Sox might now have to overcome the dugout deficiencies of their manager.
This isn't about age, by the way. Jack McKeon was 72 when he led the Marlins to a World Series in 2003, but he was young of heart and mind and able to connect and communicate with his players.
McKeon was the life of that party.
At the same time, Mike Quade was only 53 when he got the Cubs job and he didn't have a clue.
So it's not about age, even though the Sox failed to mention La Russa's age in their news release Thursday, after Renteria's age (54) was placed in the second sentence of the release when he was hired.
The Sox did remind us in the statement that at 34, La Russa became the youngest manager in baseball when named to the White Sox post in August 1979.
It's not about La Russa's age as much as being in tune with the modern age of baseball. Analytics are not everything, and Kevin Cash is an example of how you need to manage humans, not numbers, but without understanding analytics you are missing half of what's available to you.
La Russa would probably not have removed a dominant starter in Game 6 of the World Series at 73 pitches merely because of how many times he had been through the order.
So that's a good thing.
You can't be a prisoner to the script, but you also can't go into a game without a plan and the numbers play an enormous role in that.
La Russa has been out of the dugout nearly a decade and the concern there is communication. He's already been coached well on how to answer questions about how he views bat flips and protests, so he's not going to be screaming at Tim Anderson to get off his lawn.
Besides, having respect for the game and your opponent is not a negative, and that is something La Russa believes in. Understanding the concept is healthy, even if you don't abide by it.
It's more about today's players' needs and their need to know every moment of the day that they are wanted and loved, and that their job is secure -- or they will quit on you.
Make no mistake about who runs the game. The players with guaranteed contracts have all the power and La Russa will have to adjust to that quickly.
If 46-year-old AJ Hinch doesn't take a managing job, he would be an excellent bench coach and considerable help in that regard.
White Sox Twitter burned to the ground Thursday, an appropriate reaction to an absolutely baffling decision, and a fan base so excited about the future feels abandoned when there were some outstanding managers available.
But it doesn't alter the talent level on the club and it doesn't harm Hahn's knowledge of what is needed on the field for the Sox to take the next step.
So take a deep breath. Nothing has changed except the face in the dugout, and the future is still very bright.
If it makes you feel any better, don't think for a moment that your objection hasn't been noted.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--County might give $2.34 million in Winchester House fund back to taxpayers

It would n't amount to much per individual , but Lake County officials agree nearly $ 2.34 million in a defunct property tax fund for the former Winchester House nursing home should be rebated .
Official action would n't occur until March , and the best way to do that needs to be determined .
But the general consensus of the county board 's financial and administrative committee is that with limited options , a rebate would be best .
`` It goes beyond symbolic , '' said committee member John Wasik of Grayslake .
`` It 's money we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be returned to the taxpayers . ''
Since 1982 , county property tax bills have included a tax levy for Fund 218 to operate the Winchester House skilled nursing center .
But in July , the county 's involvement officially ended when all 98 residents of the five-story building at Winchester Road and Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville were transferred to a new state-licensed facility in Mundelein .
The building is closed and will be demolished .
`` This is a property tax fund that only applies if you have an operational nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director Patrice Sutton .
The remaining money ca n't be used for any other county purpose .
And because the fund was limited to the operation of Winchester House , even applying it to future demolition costs , for example , is off the table , barring a change in state law .
`` Bottom line , I think it needs to be rebated to the taxpayers , '' committee member Linda Pedersen of Antioch said .
Sutton said the rebate amount to each property tax-payer would be `` very minuscule , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best to do that needs to be considered in more detail .
The county does n't have a process to create and send rebate checks , for example .
And even if it did , the possibility the checks might not be cashed would delay the close out of the fund and create administrative issues , Sutton said .
`` We knew this was coming , but there is additional research that would need to be completed to really flush this out , '' she added .
`` This is something I absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've done some preliminary research but I need more time . ''
Sutton was directed to research the correct and most efficient way to proceed and report to the committee early next year .
Meanwhile , all utilities have been disconnected , entryways secured and the building made safe ahead of a planned demolition in late spring .
The Libertyville Fire Department has been using the building for training , such as high-rise firefighting and search and rescue operations .
Several departments have been invited to a multi-company training event in mid-November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thankful , '' said Fire Lt. Justin Hubbard .
`` It 's not too often we get a building of this size to train in . ''

Taxpayers would receive a few bucks each from defunct fund with about $2.3 million in it
It wouldn't amount to much per individual, but Lake County officials agree nearly $2.34 million in a defunct property tax fund for the former Winchester House nursing home should be rebated.
Official action wouldn't occur until March, and the best way to do that needs to be determined. But the general consensus of the county board's financial and administrative committee is that with limited options, a rebate would be best.
"It goes beyond symbolic," said committee member John Wasik of Grayslake. "It's money we had earmarked for this nursing home and should be returned to the taxpayers."
Since 1982, county property tax bills have included a tax levy for Fund 218 to operate the Winchester House skilled nursing center.
But in July, the county's involvement officially ended when all 98 residents of the five-story building at Winchester Road and Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville were transferred to a new state-licensed facility in Mundelein. The building is closed and will be demolished.
"This is a property tax fund that only applies if you have an operational nursing home," explained Lake County Finance Director Patrice Sutton.
The remaining money can't be used for any other county purpose. And because the fund was limited to the operation of Winchester House, even applying it to future demolition costs, for example, is off the table, barring a change in state law.
"Bottom line, I think it needs to be rebated to the taxpayers," committee member Linda Pedersen of Antioch said.
Sutton said the rebate amount to each property tax-payer would be "very minuscule," likely a couple of dollars.
How best to do that needs to be considered in more detail.
The county doesn't have a process to create and send rebate checks, for example. And even if it did, the possibility the checks might not be cashed would delay the close out of the fund and create administrative issues, Sutton said.
"We knew this was coming, but there is additional research that would need to be completed to really flush this out," she added.
"This is something I absolutely, positively have to get right. I've done some preliminary research but I need more time."
Sutton was directed to research the correct and most efficient way to proceed and report to the committee early next year.
Meanwhile, all utilities have been disconnected, entryways secured and the building made safe ahead of a planned demolition in late spring.
The Libertyville Fire Department has been using the building for training, such as high-rise firefighting and search and rescue operations. Several departments have been invited to a multi-company training event in mid-November.
"We're very grateful and thankful," said Fire Lt. Justin Hubbard. "It's not too often we get a building of this size to train in."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--COD board chairman Napolitano not seeking reelection

College of DuPage Board Chairman Frank Napolitano has announced he will not seek reelection in the April 6 consolidated election .
Napolitano , a Bloomingdale resident and former COD student , was elected to the board in 2015 as a member of the `` Clean Slate , '' which included Trustee Charles Bernstein and former trustee Deanne Mazzochi .
`` Together we removed College of DuPage from probation with the Higher Learning Commission , reduced tuition , decreased property tax and cut spending while continuing to deliver the quality education and exceptional services students and residents have come to expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have developed a strategic long-range plan that is fair for all our stakeholders and have worked to improve the image of College of DuPage . ''
During his tenure on the board , Napolitano served as board secretary , vice chairman and chairman .
He also served on board committees , include the presidential search , budget , auxiliary and outreach committees .
`` This board has come a long way and I am confident the board and the college will continue to do great things in the coming months and years , @ @ @ @

COD board chairman Napolitano not seeking reelection
College of DuPage Board Chairman Frank Napolitano has announced he will not seek reelection in the April 6 consolidated election.
Napolitano, a Bloomingdale resident and former COD student, was elected to the board in 2015 as a member of the "Clean Slate," which included Trustee Charles Bernstein and former trustee Deanne Mazzochi.
"Together we removed College of DuPage from probation with the Higher Learning Commission, reduced tuition, decreased property tax and cut spending while continuing to deliver the quality education and exceptional services students and residents have come to expect," he said. "We have developed a strategic long-range plan that is fair for all our stakeholders and have worked to improve the image of College of DuPage."
During his tenure on the board, Napolitano served as board secretary, vice chairman and chairman. He also served on board committees, include the presidential search, budget, auxiliary and outreach committees.
"This board has come a long way and I am confident the board and the college will continue to do great things in the coming months and years," he said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Former DCFS supervisor who oversaw AJ Freund investigation appears in court

The former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services supervisor who oversaw a 2018 investigation involving the family of slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund made a brief appearance Thursday morning in McHenry County court .
Andrew R. Polovin attended court with his attorney Matthew McQuaid , and the case was continued to Dec. 15 for a status hearing .
Polovin , 48 , of Island Lake , has pleaded not guilty to the charges of child endangerment to the health or life of a child causing death ; causing circumstances endangering the health or life of a child causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of the most serious count , Polovin would face between two and five years in prison .
The charges also are punishable by probation .
Polovin and fellow former DCFS worker Carlos Acosta , who also serves on the McHenry County Board , were arrested and criminally charged Sept. 11 in connection with a December 2018 , investigation .
Acosta also has pleaded not guilty .
Both Polovin and Acosta were involved in an investigation regarding a large bruise on AJ 's hip about four months before the boy died at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men are accused of allowing AJ to be placed in circumstances that endangered his life and health .
Both of AJ 's parents , JoAnn D. Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr. , have pleaded guilty to charges tied to their son 's death .
JoAnn Cunningham was sentenced in July to 35 years in prison for first-degree murder in connection with the boy 's death .
Freund Sr. accepted a plea deal in September and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated battery of a child , involuntary manslaughter and @ @ @ @ @ @

Former DCFS supervisor who oversaw AJ Freund investigation appears in court
McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney Randi Freeze, right, talks with Judge Robert Wilbrandt as former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services supervisor Andrew Polovin, left, appears with attorney Matthew McQuaid, center, for a brief hearing Thursday in Woodstock. Polovin directly supervised case worker Carlos Acosta, who was overseeing the AJ Freund case prior to the 5-year-old's murder. Matthew Apgar/pool/Shaw Media
Former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services supervisor Andrew Polovin, left, leaves McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt's courtroom with attorney Matthew McQuaid, right, after a brief hearing Thursday in Woodstock. Polovin directly supervised case worker Carlos Acosta, who was overseeing the AJ Freund case prior to the 5-year-old's murder. Matthew Apgar/pool/Shaw Media
The former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services supervisor who oversaw a 2018 investigation involving the family of slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund made a brief appearance Thursday morning in McHenry County court.
Andrew R. Polovin attended court with his attorney Matthew McQuaid, and the case was continued to Dec. 15 for a status hearing.
Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of child endangerment to the health or life of a child causing death; causing circumstances endangering the health or life of a child causing death; and reckless conduct.
If convicted of the most serious count, Polovin would face between two and five years in prison. The charges also are punishable by probation.
Polovin and fellow former DCFS worker Carlos Acosta, who also serves on the McHenry County Board, were arrested and criminally charged Sept. 11 in connection with a December 2018, investigation. Acosta also has pleaded not guilty.
Both Polovin and Acosta were involved in an investigation regarding a large bruise on AJ's hip about four months before the boy died at the hands of his parents. Now, the men are accused of allowing AJ to be placed in circumstances that endangered his life and health.
Both of AJ's parents, JoAnn D. Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr., have pleaded guilty to charges tied to their son's death. JoAnn Cunningham was sentenced in July to 35 years in prison for first-degree murder in connection with the boy's death. Freund Sr. accepted a plea deal in September and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated battery of a child, involuntary manslaughter and concealment of a homicidal death.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Families of Floyd, Taylor, Blake rally in Grant Park to encourage voting

With their relatives ' names now etched in the collective consciousness , the families of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor @ @ @ @ @ killed or wounded by police officers gathered in Grant Park Thursday to urge voters to @ @ @ @ @ Day next week .
The group of about 100 people -- family members , friends @ @ @ @ @ two hours near Jackson and Columbus drives to reaffirm their calls for justice and to @ @ @ @ @ as catalysts for social change .
Jacob Blake Sr. , the father of the man @ @ @ @ @ officer in Kenosha , Wisconsin , in August , said he and Blake 's other @ @ @ @ @ Chicago to show unity of families .
We came here to tell the world that @ @ @ @ @ ''

Families of Floyd, Taylor, Blake rally in Grant Park to encourage voting
Flanked by family members and supporters, Jacob Blake Sr. speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, on Thursday in Grant Park. Blake Sr.'s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times
Philonese Floyd, brother of George Floyd, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally Thursday in Chicago's Grant Park. George Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times
With their relatives' names now etched in the collective consciousness, the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and others killed or wounded by police officers gathered in Grant Park Thursday to urge voters to cast their ballots on Election Day next week.
The group of about 100 people -- family members, friends and supporters -- gathered for two hours near Jackson and Columbus drives to reaffirm their calls for justice and to use their relatives' stories as catalysts for social change.
Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man shot and paralyzed by an officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August, said he and Blake's other relatives "came here to Chicago to show unity of families. We came here to tell the world that we will not stop."
• For the full report, visit chicago.suntimes.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Elgin History Museum moves annual fundraiser online

Like so many other events this year , the Elgin History Museum 's annual fundraising gala and silent auction is moving online .
The new , all-virtual version will be Saturday , Nov. 7 , at 7 p.m. and held on Zoom .
`` Normally , in the past , we 've had a dinner , and we 've had entertainment or some sort of historical figure doing a portrayal , '' said Kathy Walters , who is chairing the gala this year .
`` Our theme this year was going to be an Oktoberfest , and we had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , and all that had to be canceled . ''
`` We decided that this year , pretty much the only part of it we could do would be the auction , '' Walters said of the event , which is the museum 's second largest fundraiser each year behind the Bluff City Cemetery Walk .
The online event will feature new local history videos , an update on museum projects , a presentation of the museum 's officers for the coming year and a countdown to the conclusion of the silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live Wednesday , Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. Those interested need to register at www.elginhistory.org to receive a link for the gala and the auction .
Walters said the auction will feature more than 25 items and be similar to years past .
`` We still have vacation packages , we have a golf package .
And then there 's different themed baskets , '' she said .
With the auction normally being a live event at the gala , Walters said organizers hope one positive of the change to online is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We have members that have moved out of state , but they still support the museum , '' she said .
`` Everyone will be able to participate if they wish , because everything will be online . ''
The Elgin History Museum , at 360 Park St. , is open to visitors Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m .
The museum highlights Elgin history with two floors of exhibits , an extensive artifact collection and research facilities .
For more information on the museum visit www.elginhistory.org , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Elgin History Museum moves annual fundraiser online
Like so many other events this year, the Elgin History Museum's annual fundraising gala and silent auction is moving online.
The new, all-virtual version will be Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. and held on Zoom.
"Normally, in the past, we've had a dinner, and we've had entertainment or some sort of historical figure doing a portrayal," said Kathy Walters, who is chairing the gala this year. "Our theme this year was going to be an Oktoberfest, and we had a band coming and we had German dancers coming, and all that had to be canceled."
"We decided that this year, pretty much the only part of it we could do would be the auction," Walters said of the event, which is the museum's second largest fundraiser each year behind the Bluff City Cemetery Walk.
The online event will feature new local history videos, an update on museum projects, a presentation of the museum's officers for the coming year and a countdown to the conclusion of the silent auction.
The silent auction will go live Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. Those interested need to register at www.elginhistory.org to receive a link for the gala and the auction.
Walters said the auction will feature more than 25 items and be similar to years past. "We still have vacation packages, we have a golf package. And then there's different themed baskets," she said.
With the auction normally being a live event at the gala, Walters said organizers hope one positive of the change to online is more people will have the opportunity to bid.
"We have members that have moved out of state, but they still support the museum," she said. "Everyone will be able to participate if they wish, because everything will be online."
The Elgin History Museum, at 360 Park St., is open to visitors Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum highlights Elgin history with two floors of exhibits, an extensive artifact collection and research facilities.
For more information on the museum visit www.elginhistory.org, call 847.742.4248 or email museum@elginhistory.org.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Reduced hours, new capacity limits at most Illinois casinos

Eight of Illinois ' 10 casinos are operating under reduced daily hours and new capacity limits amid rising COVID-19 positivity rates in most state regions .
The new Illinois Gaming Board rules , the latest of which took effect this week at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines , mean most casinos are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily , and capacity is limited to 25 % .
That 's down from the 50 % limit established in July , when gambling houses were allowed to reopen after being closed 3½ months at the onset of the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but outdoor service , curbside and carryout are permitted under the state 's rules .
For instance , at Rivers , Hugo 's Frog Bar & Chop House and the new BetRivers Sportsbook are serving food on outdoor heated patios .
The latest restrictions were triggered by positivity rates averaging at least 8 % for three consecutive days in most regions of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker 's Restore Illinois plan .
The new rules , for now , apply to all casinos in the state except Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are in Region 2 .
The same rules apply at many of the 36,000 video gambling machines in bars and restaurants statewide , which can remain open for betting from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. , though food and beverage ca n't be ordered .
Mask wearing , social distancing and sanitation measures still apply at casinos and video gambling terminals as they did this summer , state regulators say .
`` I want to thank our industry licensees at casinos , video gaming locations and our terminal operators for their efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take reasonable and common-sense steps to keep themselves , their employees and their patrons safe during this very challenging time , '' Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said during a special board meeting Thursday .
`` Needless to say , failure to comply with these common sense restrictions could result in serious health consequences for everybody and further contribute to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the state that could put the health and continued operation of our industry in jeopardy . ''
Failure to comply , Fruchter added , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and including revocation .
The rules could be relaxed , officials said , if a region 's positivity rate averages 6.5 % or less over a two-week period .
Also Thursday , Fruchter announced at least a six-month delay in the awarding of new casino licenses in Waukegan , the South suburbs , Rockford and downstate Williamson County .
The original deadline was Wednesday -- a year after applications were submitted -- but Fruchter attributed the delay to pandemic-related difficulties his staff members encountered during their routine review and investigation process .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews and obtaining tax documents and other records from local , state and federal agencies , he said .
The vetting process continues , he said .
`` Like all governmental agencies and private businesses , the board 's work has been impacted by COVID-19 , '' Fruchter said .
`` This is not an excuse or a crutch .
It is simply a recognition of the realities that work and life are different in a global pandemic . ''

Reduced hours, new capacity limits at most Illinois casinos
Plexiglass shields have been in place at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines since the state's most lucrative casino reopened in July. But new COVID-19 mitigation measures went into effect this week, including reduced operating hours and capacity limits. Courtesy of Rivers Casino
Eight of Illinois' 10 casinos are operating under reduced daily hours and new capacity limits amid rising COVID-19 positivity rates in most state regions.
The new Illinois Gaming Board rules, the latest of which took effect this week at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, mean most casinos are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and capacity is limited to 25%. That's down from the 50% limit established in July, when gambling houses were allowed to reopen after being closed 3½ months at the onset of the pandemic.
Indoor food and beverage service is suspended, but outdoor service, curbside and carryout are permitted under the state's rules. For instance, at Rivers, Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House and the new BetRivers Sportsbook are serving food on outdoor heated patios.
The latest restrictions were triggered by positivity rates averaging at least 8% for three consecutive days in most regions of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan. The new rules, for now, apply to all casinos in the state except Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria and Jumer's Casino in Rock Island, which are in Region 2.
The same rules apply at many of the 36,000 video gambling machines in bars and restaurants statewide, which can remain open for betting from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., though food and beverage can't be ordered.
Mask wearing, social distancing and sanitation measures still apply at casinos and video gambling terminals as they did this summer, state regulators say.
"I want to thank our industry licensees at casinos, video gaming locations and our terminal operators for their efforts to comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts and to take reasonable and common-sense steps to keep themselves, their employees and their patrons safe during this very challenging time," Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said during a special board meeting Thursday. "Needless to say, failure to comply with these common sense restrictions could result in serious health consequences for everybody and further contribute to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the state that could put the health and continued operation of our industry in jeopardy."
Failure to comply, Fruchter added, could subject licensees to discipline, up to and including revocation.
The rules could be relaxed, officials said, if a region's positivity rate averages 6.5% or less over a two-week period.
Also Thursday, Fruchter announced at least a six-month delay in the awarding of new casino licenses in Waukegan, the South suburbs, Rockford and downstate Williamson County.
The original deadline was Wednesday -- a year after applications were submitted -- but Fruchter attributed the delay to pandemic-related difficulties his staff members encountered during their routine review and investigation process. That included problems making site visits, conducting interviews and obtaining tax documents and other records from local, state and federal agencies, he said.
The vetting process continues, he said.
"Like all governmental agencies and private businesses, the board's work has been impacted by COVID-19," Fruchter said. "This is not an excuse or a crutch. It is simply a recognition of the realities that work and life are different in a global pandemic."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Carpentersville residents coming together for socially distanced Halloween 'party on the path'

Carpentersville resident Beth Miller was n't going to let the COVID-19 pandemic cancel Halloween in her neighborhood , not with the alternative sitting right outside her door .
Miller , neighbor Kelly Yarrington and a bunch of other volunteers are stepping up to provide a socially distanced Halloween celebration in their Silverstone Lake community of townhouses and condominiums .
Already known for her ability to entertain neighborhood children with outdoor movie nights , Miller has organized a Halloween `` party on the path '' from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday .
`` We started talking about it in the backyard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I 'm just going to do it , ' '' Miller said .
Miller charted a course through a 1,000-foot path along Silverstone Lake that features a gazebo at either end to serve as a starting and end point .
She and other volunteers will set up 22 stations with toys and snacks for kids , treats for pets and , of course , tons of candy .
Because the stations are spaced about 30 feet apart , there will be ample room for families to stay safely distanced .
Add in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the party few expected to enjoy during a pandemic .
`` We did n't really know what to expect , so we just put it out on Facebook to see what kind of reaction we 'd get , '' she said .
`` It just started coming together . ''
Miller 's movie nights kicked off before the pandemic , but she altered them this summer to make sure the kids stayed safely distanced .
She bought a projector and used a bedsheet as a screen , but a neighbor donated an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generous attitude extended to the Halloween party .
Miller has received donations from more than a dozen neighbors , whether it 's toys or a portion of the 2,000 pieces of candy she 's gathered .
She 's taping the candy to Popsicle sticks that are planted in florist foam .
The foam is glued to poster boards displayed at each station to make it easy for kids to grab and go .
Miller has advertised the party only in her neighborhood , but she expects others to join in .
She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids .
With the amount of fun she 's had organizing the Halloween celebration , Miller 's next aim is an Easter egg hunt in the spring .
For future events , she 's hoping to blend in a fundraiser for charity .
`` I have n't even finished this one and I 'm already on to the next one , '' she said .

Carpentersville residents coming together for socially distanced Halloween 'party on the path'
Carpentersville resident Beth Miller has been putting together Popsicle sticks with candy attached to them to prepare for a Halloween celebration in her Silverstone Lake neighborhood. Courtesy of Beth Miller
At Silverstone Lake in Carpentersville, resident Beth Miller and many others are preparing for a Halloween celebration in their neighborhood. Courtesy of Beth Miller
Carpentersville residents Kelly Yarrington, left, and Beth Miller are preparing for a socially distanced Halloween celebration in their Silverstone Lake neighborhood. Courtesy of Beth Miller
Carpentersville resident Beth Miller wasn't going to let the COVID-19 pandemic cancel Halloween in her neighborhood, not with the alternative sitting right outside her door.
Miller, neighbor Kelly Yarrington and a bunch of other volunteers are stepping up to provide a socially distanced Halloween celebration in their Silverstone Lake community of townhouses and condominiums. Already known for her ability to entertain neighborhood children with outdoor movie nights, Miller has organized a Halloween "party on the path" from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
"We started talking about it in the backyard one day and I was like, 'I'm just going to do it,'" Miller said.
Miller charted a course through a 1,000-foot path along Silverstone Lake that features a gazebo at either end to serve as a starting and end point. She and other volunteers will set up 22 stations with toys and snacks for kids, treats for pets and, of course, tons of candy.
Because the stations are spaced about 30 feet apart, there will be ample room for families to stay safely distanced. Add in some Halloween-themed music, and it will be the party few expected to enjoy during a pandemic.
"We didn't really know what to expect, so we just put it out on Facebook to see what kind of reaction we'd get," she said. "It just started coming together."
Miller's movie nights kicked off before the pandemic, but she altered them this summer to make sure the kids stayed safely distanced. She bought a projector and used a bedsheet as a screen, but a neighbor donated an actual screen to help out.
That generous attitude extended to the Halloween party. Miller has received donations from more than a dozen neighbors, whether it's toys or a portion of the 2,000 pieces of candy she's gathered.
She's taping the candy to Popsicle sticks that are planted in florist foam. The foam is glued to poster boards displayed at each station to make it easy for kids to grab and go.
Miller has advertised the party only in her neighborhood, but she expects others to join in. She's planning for a total of about 100 kids.
With the amount of fun she's had organizing the Halloween celebration, Miller's next aim is an Easter egg hunt in the spring. For future events, she's hoping to blend in a fundraiser for charity.
"I haven't even finished this one and I'm already on to the next one," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Watch Waukegan police video: Only moments before, after Black couple were shot are captured

The city of Waukegan has released dashcam and bodycam videos of the deadly encounter between a police officer and a young Black couple that has sparked protest rallies , prayer vigils and calls for justice for the past week .
The six videos offer a narrative of the initial stop , chase and shooting that left 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette dead and seriously injured his 20-year-old girlfriend , Tafara Williams , just before midnight Oct. 20 .
But there is no crucial body camera footage taken from the officer at the time he shot the couple .
`` The body-worn camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to properly archive the time of the shooting , '' Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said in a statement Wednesday .
`` This was a breach of Waukegan Police Department policies , and one of the reasons for the officer 's termination . ''
What happened immediately before and after the fatal shooting is captured .
Stinnette and Williams were sitting in a car when they first came in contact with Waukegan police around 11:57 p.m. An officer , identified as Officer 1 , identifies Stinnette and tells him he 's under arrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Because I said , '' the officer responds , crossing from Williams ' window to the passenger 's side of the car to get closer to Stinnette .
`` Hey , come on , show me the hands , pal , '' the officer says to Stinnette , shining a flashlight at his face .
`` I ai n't playing with you , 'cause I know you .
Marcellis , you 're under arrest . ''
When Williams asks again for an explanation , the officer said Stinnette has a warrant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was true , and police referred questions on that to city attorneys .
After a few moments , Williams revs the engine and drives away , and the officer exclaims , `` Hey , they just ran me over ! ''
The first officer and the second officer can be seen trying to stop Williams in two dashboard videos released by the city .
Instead of stopping when the two squad cars approach her car , Williams swerves and continues heading south on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue .
Police dashcam video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helmholz Avenue , then go off the road .
The second officer , identified as Officer 2 , is driving behind Williams and Stinnette and stops next to where their car went off the road .
Williams appears to be trying to reverse the car back onto the road so she can continue driving away .
The video shows that in the span of five seconds , the second officer opens his door , shouts , `` Get out of the car ! ''
and fires seven shots at the car .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the camera 's view .
Another camera , from atop a nearby business , shows that after the shooting , Williams kept reversing the car and crashed into a building on the northeast side of the intersection of Helmholz Avenue and South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue .
Officer 2 's body camera did not capture the shooting , but it did begin recording soon after .
In that video , the first words heard is the officer shouting to Williams , who is still in the car after it had crashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right behind you and you almost tried to run me over , '' Officer 2 shouts from the intersection .
`` Why did he shoot us ?
Why did he shoot us ? ''
Williams can be heard crying from the car .
Soon , other officers arrive and go to Williams ' car .
One officer can be heard asking Williams who shot them .
`` I did , '' Officer 2 said .
`` They almost ran me over . ''
By releasing the videos , the city fulfills a pledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that videos would be released after the Stinnettee 's family had viewed it .
`` I promised we would work with the families , the independent investigators , and the public to provide all details in a swift and impartial manner , '' Cunningham said in a statement Wednesday .
`` We are all hurting as a result of this incident , and while I intend to allow justice to run its course and not compromise the integrity of the process , I must balance that with my commitment to the families and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Waukegan police said initially an officer fired into the couple 's vehicle in self-defense after Williams started reversing as the officer walked toward it .
Police said the officer , who is Hispanic and a five-year veteran of the force , feared for his life .
The officer was fired by the department Friday for committing `` multiple policy and procedure violations , '' according to Police Chief Wayne Walles .
Williams said from her hospital bed Tuesday that she and Stinnette had their hands up while the officer was shooting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why , why he was shooting , '' Williams said , adding , `` More officers came and were pointing their guns at us .
My blood was gushing out of my body . ''

Watch Waukegan police video: Only moments before, after Black couple were shot are captured
This image of Tafara Williams, right, and Marcellis Stinnette, left, shows their initial Oct. 20 encounter with Waukegan police just before midnight. Soon after, Williams was badly injured and Stinnette was killed by another officer who shot at them seven times. Still from video courtesy of Waukegan Police Department
Marcellis Stinnette, 19, of Waukegan was shot and killed by Waukegan police, Oct. 20. Courtesy of Clyde McLemore
The city of Waukegan has released dashcam and bodycam videos of the deadly encounter between a police officer and a young Black couple that has sparked protest rallies, prayer vigils and calls for justice for the past week.
The six videos offer a narrative of the initial stop, chase and shooting that left 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette dead and seriously injured his 20-year-old girlfriend, Tafara Williams, just before midnight Oct. 20. But there is no crucial body camera footage taken from the officer at the time he shot the couple.
"The body-worn camera of the officer involved was not activated to properly archive the time of the shooting," Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said in a statement Wednesday. "This was a breach of Waukegan Police Department policies, and one of the reasons for the officer's termination."
What happened immediately before and after the fatal shooting is captured.
Stinnette and Williams were sitting in a car when they first came in contact with Waukegan police around 11:57 p.m. An officer, identified as Officer 1, identifies Stinnette and tells him he's under arrest.
Williams can be heard asking why.
"Because I said," the officer responds, crossing from Williams' window to the passenger's side of the car to get closer to Stinnette.
"Hey, come on, show me the hands, pal," the officer says to Stinnette, shining a flashlight at his face. "I ain't playing with you, 'cause I know you. Marcellis, you're under arrest."
When Williams asks again for an explanation, the officer said Stinnette has a warrant. The city did not say whether that was true, and police referred questions on that to city attorneys.
After a few moments, Williams revs the engine and drives away, and the officer exclaims, "Hey, they just ran me over!"
The first officer and the second officer can be seen trying to stop Williams in two dashboard videos released by the city. Instead of stopping when the two squad cars approach her car, Williams swerves and continues heading south on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Police dashcam video shows her attempt to turn right onto Helmholz Avenue, then go off the road. The second officer, identified as Officer 2, is driving behind Williams and Stinnette and stops next to where their car went off the road. Williams appears to be trying to reverse the car back onto the road so she can continue driving away.
The video shows that in the span of five seconds, the second officer opens his door, shouts, "Get out of the car!" and fires seven shots at the car. The officer and gunfire are only heard, off the camera's view.
Another camera, from atop a nearby business, shows that after the shooting, Williams kept reversing the car and crashed into a building on the northeast side of the intersection of Helmholz Avenue and South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Officer 2's body camera did not capture the shooting, but it did begin recording soon after. In that video, the first words heard is the officer shouting to Williams, who is still in the car after it had crashed into a building.
"I was right behind you and you almost tried to run me over," Officer 2 shouts from the intersection.
"Why did he shoot us? Why did he shoot us?" Williams can be heard crying from the car.
Soon, other officers arrive and go to Williams' car. One officer can be heard asking Williams who shot them.
"I did," Officer 2 said. "They almost ran me over."
By releasing the videos, the city fulfills a pledge Cunningham made during a Sunday prayer vigil that videos would be released after the Stinnettee's family had viewed it.
"I promised we would work with the families, the independent investigators, and the public to provide all details in a swift and impartial manner," Cunningham said in a statement Wednesday. "We are all hurting as a result of this incident, and while I intend to allow justice to run its course and not compromise the integrity of the process, I must balance that with my commitment to the families and the community to always maintain transparency."
Waukegan police said initially an officer fired into the couple's vehicle in self-defense after Williams started reversing as the officer walked toward it. Police said the officer, who is Hispanic and a five-year veteran of the force, feared for his life.
The officer was fired by the department Friday for committing "multiple policy and procedure violations," according to Police Chief Wayne Walles.
Williams said from her hospital bed Tuesday that she and Stinnette had their hands up while the officer was shooting at them.
"I kept asking him why, why he was shooting," Williams said, adding, "More officers came and were pointing their guns at us. My blood was gushing out of my body."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--2020 trick-or-treat hours in the suburbs

Halloween is Saturday , Oct. 31 .
This year , most suburbs are requiring masks ( not just scary ones ) for trick-or-treaters .
Many are offering printable signs for those who wish to inform trick-or-treaters that their household is opting out of giving candy .
See your village 's website for guidelines and more information .
The following is a listing of some of the trick-or-treat days and hours around the suburbs : • Des Plaines : No set hours , however police suggest that children be in by dusk .
• Lake in the Hills : 2 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours but should end at sundown ( 6 p.m. ) The Illinois Department of Public Health has offered the following guidelines for trick-or-treating this year : • As an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating , anyone who would like to distribute treats should leave individually wrapped candy or treats on a table , on their front walkways , sidewalks , or any outdoor space that allows for at least six feet of social distance from the door .
The individually wrapped candy should be spread out so each piece is not touching another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their hands properly for at least 20 seconds before placing the candy on the table and when replenishing .
• All individuals participating in trick-or-treating , including those passing out candy , should maintain social distance of least six feet and wear proper face coverings .
A costume mask , such as those worn for Halloween , is not a substitute for a face covering .
If face coverings are worn under costume masks , make sure it does not create breathing problems ; if it does , discard the costume mask .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they should maintain six-foot social distance from other trick-or-treaters at all times .
Mixed household trick-or-treaters are discouraged .
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be carried and used frequently .
• Candy collected during trick-or-treating should not be consumed until after hand-washing .
As always , a parent or guardian should check all candy to make sure it is wrapped and should discard unwrapped candy .
• Outdoor areas are preferred for trick-or-treating .
Enclosed indoor areas , like apartment buildings , present greater risk of transmission .
Open doors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

2020 trick-or-treat hours in the suburbs
Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. This year, most suburbs are requiring masks (not just scary ones) for trick-or-treaters. File photo
Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. This year, most suburbs are requiring masks (not just scary ones) for trick-or-treaters.
Many are offering printable signs for those who wish to inform trick-or-treaters that their household is opting out of giving candy. See your village's website for guidelines and more information.
The following is a listing of some of the trick-or-treat days and hours around the suburbs:
• Addison: 3-7 p.m.
• Antioch: 3-7 p.m.
• Arlington Heights: 3-7 p.m.
• Algonquin: 3-7 p.m.
• Aurora: 3-7 p.m.
• Barrington: 3-7 p.m.
• Batavia: 4 to 7 p.m.
• Barrington Hills: 3-7 p.m.
• Bartlett: 3-7 p.m.
• Bensenville: 3-8 p.m.
• Bloomingdale: 3-7 p.m.
• Bolingbrook: 3-7 p.m.
• Buffalo Grove: 3-7 p.m.
• Campton Hills: 2 to 6 p.m.
• Carol Stream: 3-8 p.m.
• Carpentersville: 3-7 p.m.
• Cary: 3-7 p.m.
• Crystal Lake: 3-7 p.m.; no "Halloween Handout" at downtown businesses
• Deer Park: 3-6 p.m.
• Downers Grove: No official hours
• Des Plaines: No set hours, however police suggest that children be in by dusk.
• East Dundee: 3-7 p.m.
• Elburn: 4-8 p.m.
• Elgin: 4-8 p.m.
• Elk Grove Village: 3-7 p.m.
• Elmhurst: 3:30-7:30 p.m.
• Fox Lake: 3-6 p.m.
• Fox River Grove: 3-7 p.m.
• Geneva: 3-7 p.m.
• Gilberts: 3-7 p.m.
• Glen Ellyn: 3-7 p.m.
• Glendale Heights: 3-7 p.m.
• Glenview: 3-7 p.m.
• Grandwood Park: 2-5 p.m.
• Grayslake: 4-7 p.m.
• Green Oaks: 4-8 p.m.
• Gurnee: 2-5 p.m.
• Hainesville: 1-3 p.m.
• Hampshire: 2 to 7 p.m.
• Hanover Park: 3-7 p.m.
• Hawthorn Woods: 4-8 p.m.
• Hinsdale: No official hours
• Huntley: 3-8 p.m.
• Island Lake: 4-8 p.m.
• Itasca: 3-7 p.m.
• Inverness: 3-7 p.m.
• Kildeer: 3-8 p.m.
• Lake Barrington: 3-7 p.m.
• Lake in the Hills: 2 to 8 p.m.
• Lake Villa: 4-7 p.m.
• Lake Zurich: 3-8 p.m.
• Lakemoor: 4-8 p.m.
• Libertyville: 4-8 p.m.
• Lily Lake: 4-8 p.m.
• Lincolnshire: 4-8 p.m.
• Lindenhurst: 4-7 p.m.
• Lisle: 3-8 p.m.
• Lombard: 3-7 p.m.
• Maple Park: 4 to 7 p.m.
• Mount Prospect: 2-7 p.m.
• Mundelein: 4-8 p.m.
• Naperville: No official hours
• North Aurora: 4-8 p.m.
• Northbrook: No set hours but should end at sundown (6 p.m.)
• Oak Brook: 4-7 p.m.
• Oakbrook Terrace: 2-6 p.m.
• Palatine: 3-7 p.m.
• Park Ridge: 4-7 p.m.
• Pingree Grove: 4-8 p.m.
• Port Barrington: 1-4 p.m.
• Prospect Heights: 2-7 p.m.
• Rolling Meadows: 1-6 p.m.
• Roselle: 4-8 p.m.
• Round Lake: 1-5 p.m.
• Round Lake Beach: 1-5 p.m.
• Round Lake Heights: 1-5 p.m.
• Round Lake Park: 1-5 p.m.
• Schaumburg: 3-7 p.m.
• St. Charles: 3-7 p.m.
• Sleepy Hollow: 3-7 p.m.
• South Barrington: 3-7 p.m.
• South Elgin: 3 to 6 p.m.
• Streamwood: 3-7 p.m.
• Sugar Grove: 3-7 p.m.
• Third Lake: 4-7 p.m.
• Tower Lakes: 3-8 p.m.
• Vernon Hills: 2-6 p.m.
• Villa Park: 3-7 p.m.
• Volo: 4-7 p.m.
• Wauconda: 4-8 p.m.
• Warrenville: 3-7 p.m.
• Waukegan: 2-5 p.m.
• Wayne: 3-7 p.m.
• West Dundee: 3-7 p.m.
• West Chicago: 3-7 p.m.
• Wheaton: 3-7 p.m.
• Wheeling: 3-7 p.m.
• Winfield: 3-8 p.m.
• Wood Dale: 2-7 p.m.
• Woodridge: 3-7 p.m.
• Woodstock: 4-7 p.m.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has offered the following guidelines for trick-or-treating this year:
• As an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating, anyone who would like to distribute treats should leave individually wrapped candy or treats on a table, on their front walkways, sidewalks, or any outdoor space that allows for at least six feet of social distance from the door. The individually wrapped candy should be spread out so each piece is not touching another. Anyone distributing candy or treats should wash their hands properly for at least 20 seconds before placing the candy on the table and when replenishing.
• All individuals participating in trick-or-treating, including those passing out candy, should maintain social distance of least six feet and wear proper face coverings. A costume mask, such as those worn for Halloween, is not a substitute for a face covering. If face coverings are worn under costume masks, make sure it does not create breathing problems; if it does, discard the costume mask.
• Only household members should trick-or-treat together, and they should maintain six-foot social distance from other trick-or-treaters at all times. Mixed household trick-or-treaters are discouraged.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be carried and used frequently.
• Candy collected during trick-or-treating should not be consumed until after hand-washing. As always, a parent or guardian should check all candy to make sure it is wrapped and should discard unwrapped candy.
• Practice good dental hygiene as well.
• Outdoor areas are preferred for trick-or-treating. Enclosed indoor areas, like apartment buildings, present greater risk of transmission. Open doors and windows as appropriate to promote increased ventilation.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--State expands pro bono program addressing backlog of criminal appeals

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Supreme Court is expanding a program that allows attorneys to volunteer on criminal appeals cases currently making up an extensive backlog .
The Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals will include the 3rd , 4th and 5th Appellate Districts , located in central and southern Illinois , starting Dec. 1 .
A six-month pilot version of the program was launched in February , but only for the 1st and 2nd Appellate Districts , which are made up of Cook County and the rest of northern Illinois , respectively .
In any criminal case determined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to request a review of the decision by an appellate court , with exceptions for cases appealed directly to the state 's Supreme Court .
The pro bono program has volunteer attorneys assist the Office of the State Appellate Defender with pending criminal appeals pro bono , which means free of charge .
According to a Wednesday release from the state 's highest court , the six-month pilot program saw 75 attorneys approved , with 42 cases assigned and 18 appellant briefs submitted by volunteer attorneys currently pending before courts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilot program has worked in reducing the backlog of criminal appeals cases , '' Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke said in a statement .
`` I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in getting the pilot program up and running and now organizing for a successful rollout for the rest of the state . ''
According to a spokesperson for the Illinois Supreme Court , the Appellate Defender 's Office 's backlog of criminal appeals peaked at approximately 3,800 cases in 2017 .
As of Oct. 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
In a state budget hearing in February , State Appellate Defender James Chadd called the backlog `` a crisis in the criminal justice system , '' noting that it was driven upward by a two-year impasse between legislative Democrats and Republican ex-Gov .
Bruce Rauner during which the state operated without a budget .
The impasse occurred beginning in July 2015 , lasting 736 days , after lawmakers allowed a temporary income tax hike to expire which decreased the individual income tax rate from 5 percent to 3.75 percent .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion , but in the absence of a state budget targeting cuts in spending for two years afterward , the state continued to spend at a rate far outpacing revenues .
As a result , many agencies , public schools and universities all eventually saw drastic drops in funding as the state 's backlog of unpaid bills eventually rose as high as $ 15 billion .
By the time Chadd came to the committee in February with a 6.8 percent budget increase request , the backlog of criminal appeals decreased to 2,672 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior when lawmakers overrode Rauner to pass a state budget that increased the income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent .
`` The reason for that ( decrease in the appeals backlog ) is one thing and one thing primarily -- and that is we 've been fully funded for both years that I 've been state appellate defender , '' Chadd said in February .
`` That has made all the difference .
That is why our backlog has gone down , and as long as we stay fully funded and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backlog will continue to go down at that rate . ''
Lawmakers went on to approve the increase for the fiscal year which began July 1 , upping funding for the Office of the State Appellate Defender by $ 1.6 million , bringing its budget to just shy of $ 25 million .
Since that hearing , the appeals backlog has decreased by more than 700 .
Chadd 's office represents Illinoisans who can not afford private attorneys but are often appealing serious charges .
He said the office handles `` the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appellate districts go through more than a thousand cases per year , and appeals can take years before they 're resolved .
In some cases , people finish the terms of their sentence even if they eventually win their appeal and acquittal .
Interested attorneys can submit an application to join the pro bono program at http : //illinoiscourts.gov/supremecourt/probono .
Eligible attorneys must have appellate experience or prior experience clerking for Supreme Court or appellate court justices or working in the appellate division of a state or federal agency .
Attorneys who do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program can participate under the supervision of an eligible attorney or complete a five-week training course put on by the Appellate Defender 's Office to become eligible .
Attorneys who complete the course will also receive credit for doing so .
`` I am overwhelmed by the level of commitment shown by legal counsel in the 1st and 2nd Districts to the Supreme Court 's call for pro bono counsel to help eradicate the backlog of appeals pending in our appellate courts , '' 1st District Appellate Justice Bertina Lampkin said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro bono attorneys from the 3rd , 4th and 5th Districts , I am confident that , in the near future , we will achieve timely , effective , and expeditious resolution of cases . ''

State expands pro bono program addressing backlog of criminal appeals
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Supreme Court is expanding a program that allows attorneys to volunteer on criminal appeals cases currently making up an extensive backlog.
The Volunteer Pro Bono Program for Criminal Appeals will include the 3rd, 4th and 5th Appellate Districts, located in central and southern Illinois, starting Dec. 1. A six-month pilot version of the program was launched in February, but only for the 1st and 2nd Appellate Districts, which are made up of Cook County and the rest of northern Illinois, respectively.
In any criminal case determined by a circuit court, a person has the right to request a review of the decision by an appellate court, with exceptions for cases appealed directly to the state's Supreme Court.
The pro bono program has volunteer attorneys assist the Office of the State Appellate Defender with pending criminal appeals pro bono, which means free of charge. According to a Wednesday release from the state's highest court, the six-month pilot program saw 75 attorneys approved, with 42 cases assigned and 18 appellant briefs submitted by volunteer attorneys currently pending before courts in the first two districts.
"The pilot program has worked in reducing the backlog of criminal appeals cases," Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke said in a statement. "I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in getting the pilot program up and running and now organizing for a successful rollout for the rest of the state."
According to a spokesperson for the Illinois Supreme Court, the Appellate Defender's Office's backlog of criminal appeals peaked at approximately 3,800 cases in 2017. As of Oct. 22, the backlog is currently at 1,917 cases.
In a state budget hearing in February, State Appellate Defender James Chadd called the backlog "a crisis in the criminal justice system," noting that it was driven upward by a two-year impasse between legislative Democrats and Republican ex-Gov. Bruce Rauner during which the state operated without a budget.
The impasse occurred beginning in July 2015, lasting 736 days, after lawmakers allowed a temporary income tax hike to expire which decreased the individual income tax rate from 5 percent to 3.75 percent. That reduced state revenues by about $4.5 billion, but in the absence of a state budget targeting cuts in spending for two years afterward, the state continued to spend at a rate far outpacing revenues. As a result, many agencies, public schools and universities all eventually saw drastic drops in funding as the state's backlog of unpaid bills eventually rose as high as $15 billion.
By the time Chadd came to the committee in February with a 6.8 percent budget increase request, the backlog of criminal appeals decreased to 2,672 as the impasse had ended about two years prior when lawmakers overrode Rauner to pass a state budget that increased the income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent.
"The reason for that (decrease in the appeals backlog) is one thing and one thing primarily -- and that is we've been fully funded for both years that I've been state appellate defender," Chadd said in February. "That has made all the difference. That is why our backlog has gone down, and as long as we stay fully funded and fully staffed, I anticipate that our backlog will continue to go down at that rate."
Lawmakers went on to approve the increase for the fiscal year which began July 1, upping funding for the Office of the State Appellate Defender by $1.6 million, bringing its budget to just shy of $25 million. Since that hearing, the appeals backlog has decreased by more than 700.
Chadd's office represents Illinoisans who cannot afford private attorneys but are often appealing serious charges. He said the office handles "the vast majority of criminal appeals."
Some appellate districts go through more than a thousand cases per year, and appeals can take years before they're resolved. In some cases, people finish the terms of their sentence even if they eventually win their appeal and acquittal.
Interested attorneys can submit an application to join the pro bono program at http://illinoiscourts.gov/supremecourt/probono. Eligible attorneys must have appellate experience or prior experience clerking for Supreme Court or appellate court justices or working in the appellate division of a state or federal agency.
Attorneys who do not meet the requirements to join the program can participate under the supervision of an eligible attorney or complete a five-week training course put on by the Appellate Defender's Office to become eligible. Attorneys who complete the course will also receive credit for doing so.
"I am overwhelmed by the level of commitment shown by legal counsel in the 1st and 2nd Districts to the Supreme Court's call for pro bono counsel to help eradicate the backlog of appeals pending in our appellate courts," 1st District Appellate Justice Bertina Lampkin said in a release. "With the addition of pro bono attorneys from the 3rd, 4th and 5th Districts, I am confident that, in the near future, we will achieve timely, effective, and expeditious resolution of cases."
•Capitol News Illinois Bureau Chief Jerry Nowicki contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Illinois Supreme Court OKs video jury selection for civil cases

SPRINGFIELD -- As jury trials throughout the state have been put on pause during the pandemic , the Illinois Supreme Court is now allowing jury selection for civil trials to be held remotely via video conference .
The court 's order to allow remote jury selection comes after months of discussion and research by the Court Operations during COVID-19 Task Force .
The COVID-19 task force , which was formed by the court in late June , is charged with making recommendations for safely continuing court operations -- including civil and criminal jury trials -- amid the pandemic .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration of justice in Illinois , and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an enormous impact on our entire court system , including the number of civil cases tried to verdict , '' according to the court 's order , which was issued Monday and was based on the task force 's proposed recommendations .
`` Remote jury selection by video conference in civil cases is permissible to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure so that litigants can access justice in a timely fashion while keeping all jurors , court personnel , litigants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order stated .
The 14-member task force was made up of a combination of attorneys , judges and legal professionals .
The order allowing remote jury selection for civil trials does not apply to criminal jury selection , nor does it `` address any other part of the jury trial , '' according to a news release from the Illinois Supreme Court .
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President Larry Rogers Jr. said in a phone interview that the order is a step in the right direction .
`` I applaud the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to returning to the courtroom , '' said Rogers , who is a partner at the plaintiff 's firm , Power Rogers LLP in Chicago .
Cook County circuit court , which includes Chicago and is the largest of the state 's 24 judicial circuits , has postponed civil jury trials since mid-March .
Rogers estimates his firm has postponed about 10 civil jury trials since then .
In Cook County , there is no date or time frame set for the resumption of jury trials , according to a spokesperson for Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rules and time frame for restarting civil jury trials vary across the 24 judicial circuits , as well as the individual county courts within those circuits .
In McLean County -- which is in the 11th Judicial Circuit and includes Bloomington and Normal -- jury trials restarted in June but the court is prioritizing criminal cases involving a person in custody .
However , other court circuits -- such as the 18th Judicial Circuit in suburban DuPage County bordering Cook County -- have postponed all civil jury trials until Jan. 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury selection is making sure the jury pool is inclusive .
`` I think we need to figure out a way to ensure that we have a jury selection that includes people from all different racial , ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and not just those with access to Wi-Fi and computers , '' he said .
One way the court plans to address this issue is by asking potential jurors to respond to a survey with questions about access to technology , according to Chris Bonjean , spokesperson for the Illinois Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it easier for low-income potential jurors because it does n't require them to travel to the courthouse .
Only a phone is needed , '' Bonjean said in an email .
The guidelines for remote jury selection in civil trials , created by the court 's COVID-19 task force , acknowledges some courts may have to offer alternatives , or `` points of access , '' for potential jurors who lack access to smart devices and reliable wireless internet .
`` For potential jurors who do not have access to a device that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or who lack the technical aptitude to videoconference , courts may consider providing free and reliable internet , equipment , and technical support , '' the guidelines state .
`` This can be done either at the courthouse , or in partnership with local entities like government agencies , public libraries , nonprofit organizations , and community centers . ''

Illinois Supreme Court OKs video jury selection for civil cases
SPRINGFIELD -- As jury trials throughout the state have been put on pause during the pandemic, the Illinois Supreme Court is now allowing jury selection for civil trials to be held remotely via video conference.
The court's order to allow remote jury selection comes after months of discussion and research by the Court Operations during COVID-19 Task Force.
The COVID-19 task force, which was formed by the court in late June, is charged with making recommendations for safely continuing court operations -- including civil and criminal jury trials -- amid the pandemic.
"Civil jury trials are necessary to the administration of justice in Illinois, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an enormous impact on our entire court system, including the number of civil cases tried to verdict," according to the court's order, which was issued Monday and was based on the task force's proposed recommendations.
"Remote jury selection by video conference in civil cases is permissible to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure so that litigants can access justice in a timely fashion while keeping all jurors, court personnel, litigants, and the public safe," the order stated.
The 14-member task force was made up of a combination of attorneys, judges and legal professionals.
The order allowing remote jury selection for civil trials does not apply to criminal jury selection, nor does it "address any other part of the jury trial," according to a news release from the Illinois Supreme Court.
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President Larry Rogers Jr. said in a phone interview that the order is a step in the right direction.
"I applaud the court for taking steps to get us back to returning to the courtroom," said Rogers, who is a partner at the plaintiff's firm, Power Rogers LLP in Chicago.
Cook County circuit court, which includes Chicago and is the largest of the state's 24 judicial circuits, has postponed civil jury trials since mid-March.
Rogers estimates his firm has postponed about 10 civil jury trials since then.
In Cook County, there is no date or time frame set for the resumption of jury trials, according to a spokesperson for Cook County Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
The rules and time frame for restarting civil jury trials vary across the 24 judicial circuits, as well as the individual county courts within those circuits.
In McLean County -- which is in the 11th Judicial Circuit and includes Bloomington and Normal -- jury trials restarted in June but the court is prioritizing criminal cases involving a person in custody.
However, other court circuits -- such as the 18th Judicial Circuit in suburban DuPage County bordering Cook County -- have postponed all civil jury trials until Jan. 2021.
Rogers said one challenge with conducting remote jury selection is making sure the jury pool is inclusive.
"I think we need to figure out a way to ensure that we have a jury selection that includes people from all different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and not just those with access to Wi-Fi and computers," he said.
One way the court plans to address this issue is by asking potential jurors to respond to a survey with questions about access to technology, according to Chris Bonjean, spokesperson for the Illinois Supreme Court.
"Remote jury selection actually makes it easier for low-income potential jurors because it doesn't require them to travel to the courthouse. Only a phone is needed," Bonjean said in an email.
The guidelines for remote jury selection in civil trials, created by the court's COVID-19 task force, acknowledges some courts may have to offer alternatives, or "points of access," for potential jurors who lack access to smart devices and reliable wireless internet.
"For potential jurors who do not have access to a device that allows for videoconferencing or reliable internet service or who lack the technical aptitude to videoconference, courts may consider providing free and reliable internet, equipment, and technical support," the guidelines state. "This can be done either at the courthouse, or in partnership with local entities like government agencies, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community centers."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-29--Barrington approves economic incentive for Motor Werks auto dealership expansion

The village of Barrington has approved an economic incentive agreement for the expansion of the Motor Werks of Barrington auto dealership , which wants to purchase and redevelop an adjacent 10-acre office complex .
The property 's owner , however , said he does n't want to sell .
Motor Werks , 1475 S. Barrington Road , sells and services vehicles from BMW , Cadillac , Honda , Infiniti , Mercedes-Benz and Porsche .
The dealership wants to purchase the Barrington Woods office complex , which includes six buildings at 18 E. Dundee Road , and could develop it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the potential relocation of the dealership 's Cadillac business , currently located downtown ; or to add another vehicle brand , village officials said .
But Robert Gienko Jr. , president of RCG Management Services LLC and majority owner of the Barrington Woods office complex , said he does n't want to sell the property and did n't know the dealership was pursuing a deal with the village .
`` This was a complete surprise to me .
If they want to acquire the complex , this is a pretty poor negotiating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no transaction ( acquisition or otherwise ) involving Motor Werks and 18 Dundee to discuss or report on . ''
Motor Werks of Barrington representatives did not respond to requests for comment .
Meanwhile , the village board approved Monday the agreement that allows the dealership to keep 65 % of all new sales tax revenue over $ 2.7 million -- a figure based on previous year averages -- for 10 years starting in 2023 , provided the dealership purchases the site and prepares it for redevelopment .
`` For over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very positive and productive relationship with Motor Werks , and we are pleased to be working to assist them with a significant expansion of their luxury auto dealership , '' Village President Karen Darch said .
Village Manager Scott Anderson said this is the first economic incentive agreement between the village and the auto dealership .
Sales tax revenue from motor vehicles makes up about 25 % of the village 's general operating funds .
In a memo to the village board , Anderson said village staff members had discussions in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said the dealership 's operational needs have outgrown its current space and proposed partnering on an economic incentive agreement .
`` Absent the ability to expand its operations , MWB ( Motor Werks of Barrington ) believes its sales have plateaued and that other locations could be evaluated to the better suit the future needs of the dealership , '' Anderson wrote .
The dealership `` has been an incredibly important business in the community and it is in the village 's best interest to partner with them to provide economic support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquisition costs to facilitate the expansion of their operations and increase its retail presence in Barrington , '' Anderson wrote .
Gienko said he 's owned the property since 2011 -- when Motor Werks also bid on its acquisition , he said -- and occupancy since has grown from 28 % to about 75 % .
He has a personal connection to the complex , as he grew up in Barrington and has family nearby , he said .
`` We continue to invest in the property and continue our efforts to both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` I look forward to continuing to own , manage and lease out the property for now and the foreseeable future . ''

Barrington approves economic incentive for Motor Werks auto dealership expansion
This map shows the 10-acre office complex with six buildings at 18 E. Dundee Road, which the auto dealership Motor Werks of Barrington wants to purchase and redevelop for its expansion. Courtesy of village of Barrington
The village of Barrington has approved an economic incentive agreement for the expansion of the Motor Werks of Barrington auto dealership, which wants to purchase and redevelop an adjacent 10-acre office complex.
The property's owner, however, said he doesn't want to sell.
Motor Werks, 1475 S. Barrington Road, sells and services vehicles from BMW, Cadillac, Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
The dealership wants to purchase the Barrington Woods office complex, which includes six buildings at 18 E. Dundee Road, and could develop it for a parking structure and vehicle reconditioning center; the potential relocation of the dealership's Cadillac business, currently located downtown; or to add another vehicle brand, village officials said.
But Robert Gienko Jr., president of RCG Management Services LLC and majority owner of the Barrington Woods office complex, said he doesn't want to sell the property and didn't know the dealership was pursuing a deal with the village.
"This was a complete surprise to me. If they want to acquire the complex, this is a pretty poor negotiating tactic," Gienko said. "There is no transaction (acquisition or otherwise) involving Motor Werks and 18 Dundee to discuss or report on."
Motor Werks of Barrington representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the village board approved Monday the agreement that allows the dealership to keep 65% of all new sales tax revenue over $2.7 million -- a figure based on previous year averages -- for 10 years starting in 2023, provided the dealership purchases the site and prepares it for redevelopment.
"For over 50 years, we have had a very positive and productive relationship with Motor Werks, and we are pleased to be working to assist them with a significant expansion of their luxury auto dealership," Village President Karen Darch said.
Village Manager Scott Anderson said this is the first economic incentive agreement between the village and the auto dealership. Sales tax revenue from motor vehicles makes up about 25% of the village's general operating funds.
In a memo to the village board, Anderson said village staff members had discussions in the past year with Motor Werks senior leadership, who said the dealership's operational needs have outgrown its current space and proposed partnering on an economic incentive agreement.
"Absent the ability to expand its operations, MWB (Motor Werks of Barrington) believes its sales have plateaued and that other locations could be evaluated to the better suit the future needs of the dealership," Anderson wrote.
The dealership "has been an incredibly important business in the community and it is in the village's best interest to partner with them to provide economic support. That support will partially offset land acquisition costs to facilitate the expansion of their operations and increase its retail presence in Barrington," Anderson wrote.
Gienko said he's owned the property since 2011 -- when Motor Werks also bid on its acquisition, he said -- and occupancy since has grown from 28% to about 75%. He has a personal connection to the complex, as he grew up in Barrington and has family nearby, he said.
"We continue to invest in the property and continue our efforts to both renew existing tenants and attract new tenants," he said. "I look forward to continuing to own, manage and lease out the property for now and the foreseeable future."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Rozner: White Sox step back in time with La Russa hire -- less a disaster than disappointment


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--What would 4 more years of Trump or a Biden administration mean for policing and criminal justice?

The police killings of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and other Black citizens this year , and the sometimes violent protests that followed , have made the role of law enforcement in America an issue in a presidential race perhaps like never before .
But how would another four years of a President Donald Trump administration shape our criminal justice system ?
What would a Joe Biden presidency mean for the men and women of law enforcement and the people they 're sworn to protect ?
We tried this week to cut past all the talking points , political attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates stand on these issues and what they might do if victorious in next week 's election .
Trump has spent the fall doubling down on the `` law and order '' message he first launched in June , just before his controversial photo opp outside St. John 's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square near the White House .
Among his proposals for a second term are providing an unspecified amount of federal dollars to hire more cops , increasing criminal penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers , prosecuting drive-by shootings as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cashless bail .
His administration also has threatened to cut funding for cities that do n't aggressively crack down on the kind of long-term , disruptive protests we 've seen in Seattle and Portland .
On matters of police reform , Trump this summer signed an executive order to create a database tracking acts of police misconduct and offerings grants for police use-of-force training .
Critics say he did n't go far enough in choosing not to enact a full ban on chokeholds or `` no-knock '' warrants .
And his Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's use of consent decrees to provide federal oversight over police agencies accused of institutional prejudice .
While he 's talked tough on crime , Trump also has backed measures to reform sentencing and reduce prison populations .
He won praise from the likes of the ACLU for signing the bipartisan First Step Act in 2018 .
Highlights of the measure include shortening mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses , easing the `` three strikes '' rule that imposed life sentences for repeat offenders , and giving judges more discretion when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trail , Trump 's been able to tout the endorsement of several police organizations , including the Fraternal Order of Police .
Let 's get this out of the way first : Despite claims to the contrary , Joe Biden does not support defunding the police .
In the wake of Floyd 's killing in Minneapolis , many on the left called for slashing police funding and redistributing that money to social services , education and other non-law enforcement purposes .
Biden quickly dismissed the idea and instead offered a plan to invest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs .
`` Every single police department should have the money it needs to institute real reforms like adopting a national use of force standard , buying body cameras and recruiting more diverse police officers , '' Biden wrote in an op-ed column published by USA Today in June .
The former vice president 's criminal justice plan also calls for a $ 20 billion grant program offering states funding for programs that provide alternatives to incarceration , expanding funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment , eliminating the federal death penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of private prisons , using the Justice Department to investigate discrimination by police and prosecutors , ending cash bail , and increasing prosecutions of hate crimes .
While many of his current proposals align with the agendas of reform advocates , Biden has been sharply criticized for his central role in the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994 .
The legislation , enacted during a surge in violent crime in the late '80s and early '90s , has been blamed for mass incarceration in the years since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week 's second and final debate , Biden called the act `` a mistake . ''
Biden has earned praise for co-sponsoring the 1994 Violence Against Women Act , which provides funding for victim services , prevents use of past sexual behavior against complainants in a rape case , makes state protective orders enforceable nationwide , provides legal aid for survivors of domestic violence and created the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice .
With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of slowing and the holiday shopping season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good bet that many of us will be buying online more than ever over the next couple of months .
And that makes a new report this week from the Better Business Bureau Institute for Marketplace Trust all the more alarming .
According to the Online Purchase Scams Report 2020 , the number of consumers who 've lost money to an online scam has grown 71 % since 2015 .
`` This year , the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to social distance and increase their online presence , putting them at further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scams , '' said Steve Bernas , president , and CEO of BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois .
Other key findings of the report : The promise of a great sales price was the top reason victims purchased a product and lost money , and those age 35 to 44 are most at risk of losing money to online purchase scams .
The platforms most reported by consumers who saw products and lost money were , in order , Facebook , Google , a direct merchant website , Instagram , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actively shopping .
Some tips to avoid becoming a victim : • If the deal looks too good to be true , it probably is .
• Beware of fake websites .
Check the URL , watch for bad grammar , research the age of the domain , search for contact information and read online reviews .
• Beware of making quick purchases while scrolling through social media .
Scammers have access to tools they need to learn about your buying behaviors , offering up exactly what you want at enticing low prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and payment methods .
Those who pay with a credit card or PayPal are less likely to lose money .
Avoid paying by wire transfer , prepaid money card , gift card or other nontraditional payment methods .
• Be careful purchasing sought-after products .
Scammers are offering the most popular products for the season at great prices .
• Got a question , comment or a tip ?
Email us at copsandcrime @ dailyherald.com .

What would 4 more years of Trump or a Biden administration mean for policing and criminal justice?
President Donald Trump, left, attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police Convention last year in Chicago. At right, Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden greets a police officer at a campaign event in Franklin, New Hampshire. Associated Press
The police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black citizens this year, and the sometimes violent protests that followed, have made the role of law enforcement in America an issue in a presidential race perhaps like never before.
But how would another four years of a President Donald Trump administration shape our criminal justice system? What would a Joe Biden presidency mean for the men and women of law enforcement and the people they're sworn to protect?
We tried this week to cut past all the talking points, political attacks and campaign bluster to see where the candidates stand on these issues and what they might do if victorious in next week's election.
Where Trump stands
Trump has spent the fall doubling down on the "law and order" message he first launched in June, just before his controversial photo opp outside St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square near the White House.
Among his proposals for a second term are providing an unspecified amount of federal dollars to hire more cops, increasing criminal penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers, prosecuting drive-by shootings as acts of domestic terrorism, and ending cashless bail.
His administration also has threatened to cut funding for cities that don't aggressively crack down on the kind of long-term, disruptive protests we've seen in Seattle and Portland.
On matters of police reform, Trump this summer signed an executive order to create a database tracking acts of police misconduct and offerings grants for police use-of-force training.
Critics say he didn't go far enough in choosing not to enact a full ban on chokeholds or "no-knock" warrants. And his Justice Department has scaled back on the Obama administration's use of consent decrees to provide federal oversight over police agencies accused of institutional prejudice.
While he's talked tough on crime, Trump also has backed measures to reform sentencing and reduce prison populations. He won praise from the likes of the ACLU for signing the bipartisan First Step Act in 2018. Highlights of the measure include shortening mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, easing the "three strikes" rule that imposed life sentences for repeat offenders, and giving judges more discretion when it comes to sentencing.
On the campaign trail, Trump's been able to tout the endorsement of several police organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police.
Where Biden stands
Let's get this out of the way first: Despite claims to the contrary, Joe Biden does not support defunding the police.
In the wake of Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, many on the left called for slashing police funding and redistributing that money to social services, education and other non-law enforcement purposes.
Biden quickly dismissed the idea and instead offered a plan to invest $300 million more in community policing programs.
"Every single police department should have the money it needs to institute real reforms like adopting a national use of force standard, buying body cameras and recruiting more diverse police officers," Biden wrote in an op-ed column published by USA Today in June.
The former vice president's criminal justice plan also calls for a $20 billion grant program offering states funding for programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, expanding funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment, eliminating the federal death penalty; ending the federal government's use of private prisons, using the Justice Department to investigate discrimination by police and prosecutors, ending cash bail, and increasing prosecutions of hate crimes.
While many of his current proposals align with the agendas of reform advocates, Biden has been sharply criticized for his central role in the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994. The legislation, enacted during a surge in violent crime in the late '80s and early '90s, has been blamed for mass incarceration in the years since, especially for Black Americans.
During last week's second and final debate, Biden called the act "a mistake."
Biden has earned praise for co-sponsoring the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding for victim services, prevents use of past sexual behavior against complainants in a rape case, makes state protective orders enforceable nationwide, provides legal aid for survivors of domestic violence and created the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice.
Holiday season, holiday scams
With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of slowing and the holiday shopping season soon upon us, it's a good bet that many of us will be buying online more than ever over the next couple of months.
Buyer beware is the warning for online holiday shoppers this year. According to a new report from the Better Business Bureau, the number of shoppers who've lost money to online scams has grown 71% over the last five years. - AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
And that makes a new report this week from the Better Business Bureau Institute for Marketplace Trust all the more alarming.
According to the Online Purchase Scams Report 2020, the number of consumers who've lost money to an online scam has grown 71% since 2015.
"This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to social distance and increase their online presence, putting them at further risk of being targeted by these types of scams," said Steve Bernas, president, and CEO of BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois.
Other key findings of the report: The promise of a great sales price was the top reason victims purchased a product and lost money, and those age 35 to 44 are most at risk of losing money to online purchase scams.
The platforms most reported by consumers who saw products and lost money were, in order, Facebook, Google, a direct merchant website, Instagram, and a pop-up ad in social media when actively shopping.
Some tips to avoid becoming a victim:
• If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Beware of fake websites. Check the URL, watch for bad grammar, research the age of the domain, search for contact information and read online reviews.
• Beware of making quick purchases while scrolling through social media. Scammers have access to tools they need to learn about your buying behaviors, offering up exactly what you want at enticing low prices.
• Use secure and traceable transactions and payment methods. Those who pay with a credit card or PayPal are less likely to lose money. Avoid paying by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or other nontraditional payment methods.
• Be careful purchasing sought-after products. Scammers are offering the most popular products for the season at great prices.
• Got a question, comment or a tip? Email us at copsandcrime@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-30--Lawn robot in Germany messages owner for help, foils thief

BERLIN -- A lawnmower robot 's electronic cries for help foiled a thief 's plan to make off with the @ @ @ @ @ said Friday that a homeowner in the western town of Lippstadt was surprised on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ from the robot that it had flipped upside down .
When he went outside to @ @ @ @ @ the device , he spotted a thief with the robot tucked under his arm .
@ @ @ @ @ the thief dropped the robot and fled , according to police .
Officers searched the @ @ @ @ @ a suspect .
Police are calling for any possible witnesses to come forward .
There @ @ @ @ @ the robot suffered damage in the incident .

Lawn robot in Germany messages owner for help, foils thief
BERLIN -- A lawnmower robot's electronic cries for help foiled a thief's plan to make off with the grass-cutting automaton.
German police said Friday that a homeowner in the western town of Lippstadt was surprised on Tuesday evening with a smartphone message from the robot that it had flipped upside down.
When he went outside to the lawn to check on the device, he spotted a thief with the robot tucked under his arm.
Caught in the act, the thief dropped the robot and fled, according to police.
Officers searched the area but did not locate a suspect. Police are calling for any possible witnesses to come forward.
There was no word on whether the robot suffered damage in the incident.