dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--Woodridge police investigating 'offensive content' in student blackface video

Woodridge police are helping Woodridge Elementary District 68 investigate a video created by several minors in blackface , Chief Brian Cunningham said Friday .
The video , posted and since removed on TikTok , involved seventh-grade students in District 68 , and police learned that `` numerous '' Woodridge students and parents viewed the `` offensive content . ''
Police became aware of the video on Wednesday and began their investigation .
Cunningham said the case illustrates the need for parents to carefully monitor their children 's social media use , especially while kids are using online means more often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stay-at-home order .
It only takes one online mistake to `` reverberate and impact people negatively -- potentially for a lifetime , '' Cunningham said .
The best way for parents to monitor children 's online activity is to take the child 's phone and open each of the apps , talking through what each program or network does and viewing the content .
`` You do n't have to be an IT expert to have that conversation , '' Cunningham said .
Parents should check the social media use of kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appropriate .
`` If police are looking at your kid 's phone , it 's probably too late , '' Cunningham said .
The video under investigation `` hurt many of our neighbors , '' Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham said .
`` And it happened when we all need to help and support each other , '' she said in a news release .
`` I 'm hopeful that those involved will learn from this matter and understand Woodridge 's unwavering commitment to being an inclusive community . ''

Woodridge police investigating 'offensive content' in student blackface video
Woodridge police are helping Woodridge Elementary District 68 investigate a video created by several minors in blackface, Chief Brian Cunningham said Friday.
The video, posted and since removed on TikTok, involved seventh-grade students in District 68, and police learned that "numerous" Woodridge students and parents viewed the "offensive content."
Police became aware of the video on Wednesday and began their investigation.
Cunningham said the case illustrates the need for parents to carefully monitor their children's social media use, especially while kids are using online means more often to connect with classmates and friends during the stay-at-home order.
It only takes one online mistake to "reverberate and impact people negatively -- potentially for a lifetime," Cunningham said.
The best way for parents to monitor children's online activity is to take the child's phone and open each of the apps, talking through what each program or network does and viewing the content.
"You don't have to be an IT expert to have that conversation," Cunningham said.
Parents should check the social media use of kids and teens frequently to ensure it is appropriate.
"If police are looking at your kid's phone, it's probably too late," Cunningham said.
The video under investigation "hurt many of our neighbors," Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham said.
"And it happened when we all need to help and support each other," she said in a news release. "I'm hopeful that those involved will learn from this matter and understand Woodridge's unwavering commitment to being an inclusive community."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--O'Donnell: Johnny Morris a Packer? It was a close call

ONE OF THE MARVELOUS residuals from an NFL draft is the traditions it sustains .
In the Chicago of 2020 , that would include things like blasting Ryan Pace , quartering Mitch Trubisky and wondering if the Bears will ever again have a semblance of an effective offensive line .
Those three happinesses aside , under prompting , Johnny Morris recounted a tale all about fate and football fortune : How he almost was drafted by the Green Bay Packers .
`` It was 1958 and I was a small but pretty fast halfback at Cal-Santa Barbara , '' Ol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NFL draft was far different from what we 've seen this week .
It lasted 30 rounds with four in December and the other 26 at the end of January . ''
Morris -- 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds with world-class speed in the 50-yard dash -- was making his mark in the `` small-college '' California Collegiate Athletic Association ( CCAA ) .
`` My coach was Ed Cody , who had played for Coach ( George ) Halas a decade or so before and also played for the Packers .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told 'Papa Bear ' about me and Halas told him the Bears would sign me as a free agent after the draft . ''
All was in place to happen until about three weeks before the January phase .
`` I 'd had a very solid senior season , including a four-touchdown game -- the best of my life -- in a California football showcase doubleheader at the L.A .
Coliseum before the main event between UCLA and Cal .
We played UC-Davis starting at 10 a.m. '' After the holidays , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were going to draft Morris .
`` Cody immediately called 'Papa Bear ' and told him of the Packers plan .
He also told me I really did n't want to play in Green Bay . ''
So in the 12th round , No .
137 overall in the 12-team league , the Bears chose the scatback who would prove to be one of the greatest receivers in their history .
And beginning in 1964 -- with a morning gig at WBBM-Channel 2 -- one of the most impacting sportscasters in the history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days into camp at Rensselaer , I thought I was good enough to stick , '' Morris said .
`` The rookies were a mixed lot .
The top pick was Chuck Howley , who never got going here and then went on to star in the first wave of Dallas 's Super Bowl teams .
`` A free agent who got cut was Fuzzy Thurston .
He finally made it with the Packers and won five NFL championships with them , including the first two Super Bowls . ''
Green Bay did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drafting three future Hall of Famers -- Jim Taylor , Ray Nitschke and Jerry Kramer .
And the fellow who wound up as the most famous of them all was an offensive tackle taken in the 21st round by Philadelphia .
But he never made it out of the Eagles camp because of bad knees .
Like Morris , he too was a veteran of the CCAA -- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo .
`` Just goes to show how much fate and good fortune can play into any NFL life . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL is boasting of a record 15.6 million viewers across all platforms for ABC/ESPN-based coverage of the 2020 Draft Thursday night .
Joe Burrow , Chase Young and all bested such quality competition as `` Superstore , '' `` Man with a Plan '' and `` Mental Samurai . ''
( Most importantly , the virtual technology was near flawless . )
...
Rumors continue that the Bears will have a first-round selection sometime before Mrs. Virginia McCaskey 's 100th birthday in 2023 .
...
Interesting to see if Episodes 3 and 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ESPN 's mammoth Michael Jordan docuseries -- jump up from the 6.1 million who watched its debut segments last weekend ( Sunday , 8 p.m. ) .
Answer is a bold `` probably , '' with Weeks 3 and 4 plateauing and climactic Week 5 on May 17 peaking .
... By the end of `` TLD , '' Jerry Krause could become the NBA 's first Hall of Fame deduction .
( Core fact : Someone was going to generally manage Jordan to NBA championships and almost all this side of Idi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grace and sense of history . )
...
The informed legion of Zach LaVine detractors will forever have to deal with the fact that he did defeat the WNBA 's Allie Quigley in ESPN 'S `` NBA HORSE Challenge . ''
( Maybe next he can take on Elliott Harris favorite Paige Spiranac . )
... Strong rumblings that ESPN could cut more costs and temporarily shut down The SEC Network with The ACC Network not far behind .
The Big Ten Network -- a joint venture of the conference and Fox -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block .
...
Nominations for the Arlington Million , the Beverly D. and the Secretariat are due May 16 .
All of which could prove problematic , since parent Churchill Downs Inc. laid off racing secretary Chris Polzin and all affiliated staff at ghost-ridden AP .
... And Dodgers play-by-play man Charley Steiner ( Bradley University , Class of '71 ) , on his new normal : `` DoorDash , Netflix and sleeping in . ''
( He could be back at Fredonia and Institute in Peoria doing that . )
• Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday and Sunday .
Reach him at jimodonnelldh @ yahoo.com .

O'Donnell: Johnny Morris a Packer? It was a close call
ONE OF THE MARVELOUS residuals from an NFL draft is the traditions it sustains.
In the Chicago of 2020, that would include things like blasting Ryan Pace, quartering Mitch Trubisky and wondering if the Bears will ever again have a semblance of an effective offensive line.
Those three happinesses aside, under prompting, Johnny Morris recounted a tale all about fate and football fortune:
How he almost was drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
"It was 1958 and I was a small but pretty fast halfback at Cal-Santa Barbara," Ol' No. 47 said.
"The NFL draft was far different from what we've seen this week. It lasted 30 rounds with four in December and the other 26 at the end of January."
Morris -- 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds with world-class speed in the 50-yard dash -- was making his mark in the "small-college" California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
"My coach was Ed Cody, who had played for Coach (George) Halas a decade or so before and also played for the Packers. He liked his Chicago experience.
"He told 'Papa Bear' about me and Halas told him the Bears would sign me as a free agent after the draft."
All was in place to happen until about three weeks before the January phase.
"I'd had a very solid senior season, including a four-touchdown game -- the best of my life -- in a California football showcase doubleheader at the L.A. Coliseum before the main event between UCLA and Cal. We played UC-Davis starting at 10 a.m."
After the holidays, the Packers sent Cody a letter saying they were going to draft Morris.
"Cody immediately called 'Papa Bear' and told him of the Packers plan. He also told me I really didn't want to play in Green Bay."
So in the 12th round, No. 137 overall in the 12-team league, the Bears chose the scatback who would prove to be one of the greatest receivers in their history.
And beginning in 1964 -- with a morning gig at WBBM-Channel 2 -- one of the most impacting sportscasters in the history of Chicago TV.
"A few days into camp at Rensselaer, I thought I was good enough to stick," Morris said.
"The rookies were a mixed lot. The top pick was Chuck Howley, who never got going here and then went on to star in the first wave of Dallas's Super Bowl teams.
"A free agent who got cut was Fuzzy Thurston. He finally made it with the Packers and won five NFL championships with them, including the first two Super Bowls."
Green Bay did well enough in the '58 pickings, drafting three future Hall of Famers -- Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke and Jerry Kramer.
And the fellow who wound up as the most famous of them all was an offensive tackle taken in the 21st round by Philadelphia. But he never made it out of the Eagles camp because of bad knees.
Like Morris, he too was a veteran of the CCAA -- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
His name?
John Madden.
Said Morris:
"Just goes to show how much fate and good fortune can play into any NFL life."
STREET-BEATIN': As expected, the NFL is boasting of a record 15.6 million viewers across all platforms for ABC/ESPN-based coverage of the 2020 Draft Thursday night. Joe Burrow, Chase Young and all bested such quality competition as "Superstore," "Man with a Plan" and "Mental Samurai." (Most importantly, the virtual technology was near flawless.) ...
Rumors continue that the Bears will have a first-round selection sometime before Mrs. Virginia McCaskey's 100th birthday in 2023. ...
Interesting to see if Episodes 3 and 4 of "The Last Dance" -- ESPN's mammoth Michael Jordan docuseries -- jump up from the 6.1 million who watched its debut segments last weekend (Sunday, 8 p.m.). Answer is a bold "probably," with Weeks 3 and 4 plateauing and climactic Week 5 on May 17 peaking. ...
By the end of "TLD," Jerry Krause could become the NBA's first Hall of Fame deduction. (Core fact: Someone was going to generally manage Jordan to NBA championships and almost all this side of Idi Amin could have done it with more grace and sense of history.) ...
The informed legion of Zach LaVine detractors will forever have to deal with the fact that he did defeat the WNBA's Allie Quigley in ESPN'S "NBA HORSE Challenge." (Maybe next he can take on Elliott Harris favorite Paige Spiranac.) ...
Strong rumblings that ESPN could cut more costs and temporarily shut down The SEC Network with The ACC Network not far behind. The Big Ten Network -- a joint venture of the conference and Fox -- is on a different sort of chopping block. ...
Nominations for the Arlington Million, the Beverly D. and the Secretariat are due May 16. All of which could prove problematic, since parent Churchill Downs Inc. laid off racing secretary Chris Polzin and all affiliated staff at ghost-ridden AP. ...
And Dodgers play-by-play man Charley Steiner (Bradley University, Class of '71), on his new normal: "DoorDash, Netflix and sleeping in." (He could be back at Fredonia and Institute in Peoria doing that.)
• Jim O'Donnell's Sports & Media column appears Thursday and Sunday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--2 men charged with carjacking at Lombard McDonald's

Two Cook County men have been charged with hijacking an SUV in a drive-through lane at a McDonald 's restaurant Thursday morning in Lombard .
DuPage County Judge John Kinsella set bail Friday morning at $ 250,000 each for Dallas Dabney , 25 , of the 1900 block of South 15th Avenue in Broadview , and Antonio Protho , 19 , of the 3500 block of West Adams Street , Chicago .
Each is charged with one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm .
Protho also is charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County State 's Attorney 's Office .
Prosecutors had asked the men be held without bail .
To be released from jail , they will need to post $ 25,000 .
Authorities said police were called at 2:46 a.m. to the restaurant at 300 E. Roosevelt Road .
A man was in a Cadillac Escalade in the drive-through when two men , armed with guns and wearing ski masks , got out of a vehicle behind him and approached .
Protho pointed a gun at the victim and ordered him out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SUV , with Protho driving , and took off .
Police saw the vehicle on Roosevelt Road and began pursuing it at speeds nearing 100 mph , but stopped due to concerns about officer safety .
Elmhurst police also pursued the vehicle until it crashed at Roosevelt Road and an entrance ramp to I-290 .
Dabney ran off , but was arrested shortly thereafter .
Protho was found 90 minutes later by Oak Brook police .
The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Lombard police at ( 630 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two men traveled to DuPage County , ordered a man out of his vehicle at gunpoint while he waited in line for food and then stole his vehicle are outrageous , '' DuPage County State 's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement .
`` The quick apprehension of these men however , sends the message that even in these extremely trying times , law enforcement in DuPage County is functioning at 100 percent and anyone who commits such a brazen act will be quickly caught and find themselves facing serious charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offenders allegedly committed such a brazen crime that placed citizens and numerous officers in harm 's way is unconscionable , '' Lombard Police Chief Roy Newton said in the release .
Dabney and Protho are next scheduled in court on May 19 .

2 men charged with carjacking at Lombard McDonald's
Two Cook County men have been charged with hijacking an SUV in a drive-through lane at a McDonald's restaurant Thursday morning in Lombard.
DuPage County Judge John Kinsella set bail Friday morning at $250,000 each for Dallas Dabney, 25, of the 1900 block of South 15th Avenue in Broadview, and Antonio Protho, 19, of the 3500 block of West Adams Street, Chicago.
Each is charged with one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm. Protho also is charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors had asked the men be held without bail. To be released from jail, they will need to post $25,000.
Authorities said police were called at 2:46 a.m. to the restaurant at 300 E. Roosevelt Road. A man was in a Cadillac Escalade in the drive-through when two men, armed with guns and wearing ski masks, got out of a vehicle behind him and approached.
Protho pointed a gun at the victim and ordered him out of the Escalade. The duo then entered the SUV, with Protho driving, and took off.
Police saw the vehicle on Roosevelt Road and began pursuing it at speeds nearing 100 mph, but stopped due to concerns about officer safety.
Elmhurst police also pursued the vehicle until it crashed at Roosevelt Road and an entrance ramp to I-290.
Dabney ran off, but was arrested shortly thereafter. Protho was found 90 minutes later by Oak Brook police.
The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Lombard police at (630) 873-4400.
"The allegations that these two men traveled to DuPage County, ordered a man out of his vehicle at gunpoint while he waited in line for food and then stole his vehicle are outrageous," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "The quick apprehension of these men however, sends the message that even in these extremely trying times, law enforcement in DuPage County is functioning at 100 percent and anyone who commits such a brazen act will be quickly caught and find themselves facing serious charges."
"The fact that these offenders allegedly committed such a brazen crime that placed citizens and numerous officers in harm's way is unconscionable," Lombard Police Chief Roy Newton said in the release.
Dabney and Protho are next scheduled in court on May 19.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--Federal judge loosens rules for third-party candidates in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- A federal judge 's ruling Thursday made official what Capitol News Illinois reported earlier this week : Requirements for third-party candidates to be on November ballots in the state will be loosened this election cycle .
Rebecca Pallmeyer , chief judge of the Northern District federal court , agreed with the state 's Libertarian and Green parties that stay-at-home and social distancing requirements in Illinois have made gathering the required number of petition signatures by June 22 `` practically impossible . ''
The parties filed a lawsuit on April 2 , and attorneys for Gov .
J.B. Pritzker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged in a court filing `` the need for some accommodations . ''
Because both the Libertarian and Green parties are considered `` new '' under state election rules , their candidates must obtain a greater number of signatures than those with `` established '' parties -- typically , Democrats and Republicans .
Those same regulations dictate `` new '' party and independent candidates have from March 24 until June 22 to gather enough signatures -- in person with a campaign worker watching -- to qualify for inclusion on the Nov. 3 general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order March 20 , and he announced Thursday it will extend through at least May 30 .
`` The combined effect of the restrictions on public gatherings imposed by Illinois ' stay-at-home order and the usual in-person signature requirements in the Illinois Election Code is a nearly insurmountable hurdle for new party and independent candidates attempting to have their names placed on the general election ballot , '' Judge Pallmeyer wrote in her opinion .
For only this election cycle , petition signatures may be collected remotely , Pallmeyer ordered .
Candidates may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital file online or by email .
Voters then are able to print it out , sign it and either send a hard copy to the candidate through the mail or electronically in an emailed attachment or as a photograph .
Voters can also electronically sign the forms from their smartphone , with a computer mouse or using a laptop 's trackpad .
The deadline for candidates to submit signatures to the Board of Elections was pushed by Pallmeyer to Aug. 7 , more than six weeks after the deadline established by law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates with third parties are required to gather was cut by 90 percent .
Independents or those in a `` new '' party needed at least 25,000 signatures to run for president or a seat in the U.S. Senate .
Under Pallmeyer 's terms , the minimum required number signatures is 2,500 .
In addition , Libertarian and Green candidates who were successfully placed on Illinois ' general election ballot either in 2016 or 2018 immediately qualify for inclusion on the 2020 ballot .
According to the State Board of Elections , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run for president and the U.S. Senate .
Also , Green Party candidates are able to choose a candidate to run in the 5th and 12th Congressional district races .
`` The court is satisfied that the ... order will ameliorate ( the parties ' ) difficulty meeting the statutory signature requirement due to the COVID-19 restrictions , '' Pallmeyer wrote in her opinion , `` ... while accommodating the state 's legitimate interest in ensuring that only parties with a measurable modicum of public support will gain access to the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in her opinion , added `` numerous states '' reduced the signature requirement for candidates , including Michigan , New York and Massachusetts .
The final decision is not one that the political parties , nor the state , requested as the lawsuit proceedings began .
The Libertarian and Green parties wanted Illinois ' signature collection mandates to be waived or suspended this general election cycle .
And if that was not possible , they wanted the state to develop fair , reasonable rules for candidates to meet petition signature requirements during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate the extraordinary and challenging circumstances from which this case arises , the fact is that it 's the state 's obligation to provide a procedure , a constitutional procedure , by which candidates can demonstrate that they have the modicum of support necessary to qualify for the ballot , '' Oliver Hall , the parties ' attorney and founder of the Center for Competitive Democracy , said in a court hearing , according to a transcript .
Attorneys for Pritzker and the elections board initially proposed allowing electronic petition submissions of hand-written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reducing the number of signatures by 50 percent .
The Board of Elections was `` very concerned '' about pushing that deadline to Aug. 7 , its representative Michael Kasper said , according to a court transcript .
`` That bumps up against the other statutory deadlines and the deadlines imposed to get military ballots out under federal law , '' he said .
Representatives of all parties said the judge 's decision addresses their concerns .
`` In general , we think Judge Pallmeyer 's order is a well-reasoned and fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case , and that it provides the plaintiffs with substantial relief , '' Hall said in a statement .
A spokesperson for the State Board of Elections said its directors `` think the order serves the best interests of all parties involved . ''
The attorney general 's office , which represented Pritzker , did not return a request for comment , but a spokesperson for the governor 's office said Pritzker `` supports an open and fair electoral process . ''
`` In light of the fact that the period for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the COVID-19 pandemic , the governor supports the court 's order allowing candidates additional means to obtain actual signatures for their ballot petitions , such as through email , and additional time in which to submit those petitions , '' the spokesperson said in an email .
One aspect absent from Pallemeyer 's order is a mandate that the State Board of Elections notifies voters of the ballot requirement changes -- namely that voters will be contacted by candidates to electronically sign their petitions .
Sam Cahnman , an attorney representing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit later , said the elections board should `` at a minimum post a big alert on the opening page of their website , alerting readers to the new rules ordered by the court . ''

Federal judge loosens rules for third-party candidates in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD -- A federal judge's ruling Thursday made official what Capitol News Illinois reported earlier this week: Requirements for third-party candidates to be on November ballots in the state will be loosened this election cycle.
Rebecca Pallmeyer, chief judge of the Northern District federal court, agreed with the state's Libertarian and Green parties that stay-at-home and social distancing requirements in Illinois have made gathering the required number of petition signatures by June 22 "practically impossible."
The parties filed a lawsuit on April 2, and attorneys for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Elections acknowledged in a court filing "the need for some accommodations."
Because both the Libertarian and Green parties are considered "new" under state election rules, their candidates must obtain a greater number of signatures than those with "established" parties -- typically, Democrats and Republicans.
Those same regulations dictate "new" party and independent candidates have from March 24 until June 22 to gather enough signatures -- in person with a campaign worker watching -- to qualify for inclusion on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Pritzker instituted his stay-at-home order March 20, and he announced Thursday it will extend through at least May 30.
"The combined effect of the restrictions on public gatherings imposed by Illinois' stay-at-home order and the usual in-person signature requirements in the Illinois Election Code is a nearly insurmountable hurdle for new party and independent candidates attempting to have their names placed on the general election ballot," Judge Pallmeyer wrote in her opinion.
For only this election cycle, petition signatures may be collected remotely, Pallmeyer ordered. Candidates may mail voters a petition or share a digital file online or by email. Voters then are able to print it out, sign it and either send a hard copy to the candidate through the mail or electronically in an emailed attachment or as a photograph.
Voters can also electronically sign the forms from their smartphone, with a computer mouse or using a laptop's trackpad.
The deadline for candidates to submit signatures to the Board of Elections was pushed by Pallmeyer to Aug. 7, more than six weeks after the deadline established by law.
Also, number of signatures that candidates with third parties are required to gather was cut by 90 percent.
Independents or those in a "new" party needed at least 25,000 signatures to run for president or a seat in the U.S. Senate. Under Pallmeyer's terms, the minimum required number signatures is 2,500.
In addition, Libertarian and Green candidates who were successfully placed on Illinois' general election ballot either in 2016 or 2018 immediately qualify for inclusion on the 2020 ballot.
According to the State Board of Elections, the parties are able to nominate a candidate to run for president and the U.S. Senate. Also, Green Party candidates are able to choose a candidate to run in the 5th and 12th Congressional district races.
"The court is satisfied that the ... order will ameliorate (the parties') difficulty meeting the statutory signature requirement due to the COVID-19 restrictions," Pallmeyer wrote in her opinion, "...while accommodating the state's legitimate interest in ensuring that only parties with a measurable modicum of public support will gain access to the 2020 general election ballot."
The judge, in her opinion, added "numerous states" reduced the signature requirement for candidates, including Michigan, New York and Massachusetts.
The final decision is not one that the political parties, nor the state, requested as the lawsuit proceedings began.
The Libertarian and Green parties wanted Illinois' signature collection mandates to be waived or suspended this general election cycle. And if that was not possible, they wanted the state to develop fair, reasonable rules for candidates to meet petition signature requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Although we appreciate the extraordinary and challenging circumstances from which this case arises, the fact is that it's the state's obligation to provide a procedure, a constitutional procedure, by which candidates can demonstrate that they have the modicum of support necessary to qualify for the ballot," Oliver Hall, the parties' attorney and founder of the Center for Competitive Democracy, said in a court hearing, according to a transcript.
Attorneys for Pritzker and the elections board initially proposed allowing electronic petition submissions of hand-written signatures, maintaining the June 22 deadline and reducing the number of signatures by 50 percent.
The Board of Elections was "very concerned" about pushing that deadline to Aug. 7, its representative Michael Kasper said, according to a court transcript.
"That bumps up against the other statutory deadlines and the deadlines imposed to get military ballots out under federal law," he said.
Representatives of all parties said the judge's decision addresses their concerns.
"In general, we think Judge Pallmeyer's order is a well-reasoned and fair resolution of the difficult issues raised by this case, and that it provides the plaintiffs with substantial relief," Hall said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the State Board of Elections said its directors "think the order serves the best interests of all parties involved."
The attorney general's office, which represented Pritzker, did not return a request for comment, but a spokesperson for the governor's office said Pritzker "supports an open and fair electoral process."
"In light of the fact that the period for these candidates to gather signatures is occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor supports the court's order allowing candidates additional means to obtain actual signatures for their ballot petitions, such as through email, and additional time in which to submit those petitions," the spokesperson said in an email.
One aspect absent from Pallemeyer's order is a mandate that the State Board of Elections notifies voters of the ballot requirement changes -- namely that voters will be contacted by candidates to electronically sign their petitions.
Sam Cahnman, an attorney representing an independent candidate for president who joined the lawsuit later, said the elections board should "at a minimum post a big alert on the opening page of their website, alerting readers to the new rules ordered by the court."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--What others are writing about COVID-19

What others are writing about COVID-19

Should you wear a face mask ?
( Yes . )
Was that `` flu '' you had in January really coronavirus ?
( Maybe . )
Here 's what we 're reading today about the pandemic .
This is the most comprehensive explanation we 've read for why everyone should wear a face mask in public .
Basically , it 's for the common good .
Your mask protects me , and my mask protects you .
And if we protect each other , maybe we can keep the virus from spreading .
Of course , The Atlantic does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete with data and graphics .
Read the story here .
Amid Signs Coronavirus Came Earlier , Americans Ask : Did I Already Have It ?
People got a new reason this week to wonder if that mysterious `` flu '' they had earlier this year was actually COVID-19 .
Doctors , too , are taking a new look at unexplained cases they encountered in January and February .
The New York Times investigates .
`` Contact tracers '' are public health workers who interview people who 've tested positive for a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contact with , and then inform those people .
NPR explains why we are going to need a lot more of more of these workers in the coming months .
His mother received a coronavirus stimulus check .
But she died last year Why will thousands of deceased taxpayers receive stimulus checks under the CARES Act ?
The Los Angeles Times explains .
Should you sanitize your groceries ?
How can you minimize risk while shopping ?
This short video from NPR 's Life Kit is a good wrap-up .

What others are writing about COVID-19
Raelene Critchlow, 86, receives a visit from her great-grandchild, Camille Carter, Thursday at Creekside Senior Living in Bountiful, Utah. Window visits help seniors connect to families despite coronavirus restrictions. Associated Press
Should you wear a face mask? (Yes.) Was that "flu" you had in January really coronavirus? (Maybe.) Here's what we're reading today about the pandemic.
The Real Reason to Wear a Mask
This is the most comprehensive explanation we've read for why everyone should wear a face mask in public. Basically, it's for the common good. Your mask protects me, and my mask protects you. And if we protect each other, maybe we can keep the virus from spreading. Of course, The Atlantic does a way better job of explaining, complete with data and graphics. Read the story here.
Amid Signs Coronavirus Came Earlier, Americans Ask: Did I Already Have It?
People got a new reason this week to wonder if that mysterious "flu" they had earlier this year was actually COVID-19. Doctors, too, are taking a new look at unexplained cases they encountered in January and February. The New York Times investigates.
Washington State Builds Coronavirus Contact Tracing 'Fire Brigade'
"Contact tracers" are public health workers who interview people who've tested positive for a disease to find out whom they've been in contact with, and then inform those people. NPR explains why we are going to need a lot more of more of these workers in the coming months.
His mother received a coronavirus stimulus check. But she died last year
Why will thousands of deceased taxpayers receive stimulus checks under the CARES Act? The Los Angeles Times explains.
VIDEO: 6 Tips For Staying Safe While Grocery Shopping
Should you sanitize your groceries? How can you minimize risk while shopping? This short video from NPR's Life Kit is a good wrap-up.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--Bears go local, draft TE Cole Kmet with 43rd pick

Kmet , a 2017 St. Viator graduate who just completed his junior season at Notre Dame , was selected by his hometown Chicago Bears with the 43rd pick .
The 6-foot-6 , 260-pound tight end was ecstatic to hear his named called on the NFL Draft show , which was done virtually and aired by ABC '' This is awesome , '' Kmet told the Daily Herald moments after the pick was announced .
`` This is just great . ''
With their 50th pick , the Bears filled a big need by drafting Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was targeted 190 times on 1.256 coverage snaps .
He allowed just 93 catches for 1,009 yards , three touchdowns , and seven interceptions .
He never allowed an opponent passer rating higher than 57.6 , and last season , on passes of 10 or more air yards , he gave up just four receptions on 31 targets .
As for Kmet , who announced in January he was foregoing his senior season at Notre Dame , he caught 60 passes for nearly 1,000 yards in his Notre Dame career .
Kmet missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college season due to a broken collarbone , finishing the year with 43 catches for 515 yards and 6 touchdowns .
Also a standout baseball player who at one time was a top MLB prospect , Kmet was a Daily Herald All-Area baseball captain and athlete of the year in 2017 , after leading St. Viator to the Class 3A state championship .
He appeared in 30 games as a relief pitcher at Notre Dame during his freshman year , but was limited to eight games his sophomore year due to an elbow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 1988 Hersey graduate who led the Huskies to the 1987 Class 6A state title and then played at Purdue , was a fourth-round draft pick by Buffalo in 1992 .
He did n't make it to an active NFL roster but did land on a couple of practice squads .
He signed as a free agent with the Bears in 1993 before being cut .
Cole Kmet 's uncle , Jeff Zgonina , graduated from Carmel High School in Mundelein and played in the NFL for 17 seasons with seven different teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defensive line coach for Washington .

Bears go local, draft TE Cole Kmet with 43rd pick; take Utah CB with 50th pick
St. Viator graduate and Lake Barrington native Cole Kmet, who played at Notre Dame, runs a drill at the NFL Combine in February. Associated Press
St. Viator graduate and Lake Barrington native Cole Kmet, who played at Notre Dame, runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February in Indianapolis. He was drafted by the Bears at 43. Associated Press
St. Viator graduate Cole Kmet, who played at Notre Dame, runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February. He was drafted 43rd by his hometown Bears. Associated Press
Cole Kmet's NFL dream came true Friday night. Kmet, a 2017 St. Viator graduate who just completed his junior season at Notre Dame, was selected by his hometown Chicago Bears with the 43rd pick. Associated Press
In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Cole Kmet, wearing a Chicago Bears cap, celebrates after being selected by the Bears during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2020. NFL via AP
Cole Kmet's NFL dream came true Friday night.
Kmet, a 2017 St. Viator graduate who just completed his junior season at Notre Dame, was selected by his hometown Chicago Bears with the 43rd pick.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end was ecstatic to hear his named called on the NFL Draft show, which was done virtually and aired by ABC
"This is awesome," Kmet told the Daily Herald moments after the pick was announced. "This is just great."
With their 50th pick, the Bears filled a big need by drafting Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Over three seasons with the Utes, Johnson was targeted 190 times on 1.256 coverage snaps. He allowed just 93 catches for 1,009 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He never allowed an opponent passer rating higher than 57.6, and last season, on passes of 10 or more air yards, he gave up just 4 receptions on 31 targets.
The Bears look to Kmet to help charge up their offense.
Bears tight ends combined for just 395 yards last season and none had more than 91 all year. They now have 10 on their roster after taking the sure-handed Kmet, who started 11 games as a junior last season after missing the first two because of a broken collarbone and caught 43 passes for 515 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Also a standout baseball player who at one time was a top MLB prospect, Kmet was a Daily Herald All-Area baseball captain and athlete of the year in 2017, after leading St. Viator to the Class 3A state championship.
The White Sox showed interest in drafting him out of high school. He even worked out for them at their ballpark.
He appeared in 30 games as a relief pitcher at Notre Dame during his freshman year but was limited to eight games his sophomore year due to an elbow injury.
With the Bears, he will get to work with one of this generation's most accomplished tight ends in Jimmy Graham. Chicago signed the veteran, hoping the five-time Pro Bowl pick can regain the form that made him a star for New Orleans and Seattle before getting released by Green Bay.
Kmet said he models his game after Rob Gronkowski. Either way, the Bears are banking on bigger things.
Kmet was home in Arlington Heights, where he recently moved, with his immediate family and girlfriend when he got the call. It got disconnected and so did a FaceTime attempt before coach Matt Nagy gave him the news.
"Yeah I know they've been looking for a tight end to fit in the room and stuff," Kmet said. "And I know they just signed Jimmy, and I think I'm a little different type of player than Jimmy in terms of how I play and how I can be used."
Kmet's father, Frank, a 1988 Hersey graduate who led the Huskies to the 1987 Class 6A state title and then played at Purdue, was a fourth-round draft pick by Buffalo in 1992. He didn't make it to an active NFL roster but did land on a couple of practice squads. He signed as a free agent with the Bears in 1993 before being cut.
Cole Kmet's uncle, Jeff Zgonina, graduated from Carmel High School in Mundelein and played in the NFL for 17 seasons with seven different teams from 1993 through 2009. He is a defensive line coach for Washington.
Chicago came into the night with seven selections over the final two days of the draft. The Bears have a fifth-rounder (163), as well as two each in the sixth (196, 200) and seventh (226, 233).
The Bears had to wait a day to make their first pick because they did not have a first-rounder for the second year in a row. They dealt them to Oakland for star pass rusher Khalil Mack before the 2018 season.
The Bears also added to a defense that has excelled in recent years. They signed former All-Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn to take the pressure off Mack.
They addressed one issue in the secondary by drafting Johnson. They could still use a safety to go with Eddie Jackson.
"Just being able to be a part of that defense and add some value to their defense, to their organization, will be big time," Johnson said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-24--Teens find body in field near Wauconda

Teens find body in field near Wauconda

Three teens found a body Friday afternoon in a field in an unincorporated area near Wauconda .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ , deputies responded about 4 p.m. to a report of a possible body in a @ @ @ @ @ of West Old Rand Road .
The teens said they discovered the body while collecting @ @ @ @ @ to an open area , where they saw a body in advanced stages of decomposition @ @ @ @ @ said the age and gender could not be determined .
There were no obvious signs @ @ @ @ @ Lake County coroner 's office is scheduling an autopsy as the investigation continues .

Teens find body in field near Wauconda
Three teens found a body Friday afternoon in a field in an unincorporated area near Wauconda.
According to the Lake County sheriff's office, deputies responded about 4 p.m. to a report of a possible body in a field on the 25200 block of West Old Rand Road.
The teens said they discovered the body while collecting firewood. Deputies were led to an open area, where they saw a body in advanced stages of decomposition.
The sheriff's office said the age and gender could not be determined. There were no obvious signs of foul play.
The Lake County coroner's office is scheduling an autopsy as the investigation continues.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--Illinois Poison Center gets more calls after Trump comments

State officials addressed `` myths , rumors and general misinformation '' regarding cleaning agents and COVID-19 in the wake of remarks made by President Trump .
`` Ingesting , injecting , snorting household cleaners is dangerous .
It is not advised and it can be deadly , '' Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said during a briefing Saturday .
The Illinois Poison Center has seen a `` significant '' increase in calls regarding the use of cleaning agents in the last two days , compared to the same time last year , Ezike said .
That included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution for a sinus rinse , and gargling with bleach and mouthwash in an attempt to kill the new coronavirus , Ezike said .
President Trump made comments Thursday that disinfectants perhaps could be injected or ingested to fight the new coronavirus .
That prompted some cleaning products makers to warn they should never be used internally .
`` Please listen to scientists and health experts about how to stay healthy and how to protect yourself from his novel coronavirus , '' Ezike said .
State officials also announced that Illinois registered 2,119 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths statewide .
The state is reporting a total of 41,777 cases of the respiratory disease , including 1,874 deaths .
A total 201,617 tests have been performed statewide , officials said .
Ezike said an estimated 2,600 people who were identified as health care workers have tested positive for the disease .
`` It 's a sad truth and sobering truth that those who are doing the most to protect the society as a whole are falling victim , '' she said .
The new data comes two days after Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ order through May 30 .
The order will require residents to wear face masks in public places effective May 1 .
Ezike said state officials are still examining how to potentially allow the McHenry Outdoor Theater to reopen .
The owner of the venue , the only remaining drive-in in the suburbs , initially announced it would open May 1 , then said Thursday he was told he could n't do that .
`` We are working really hard trying to think through and trying to take creative solutions in terms of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without putting additional people at risk , '' she said .
Construction work finished this week at the former Sherman Hospital campus in Elgin to turn it into a facility for nonacute COVID-19 patients .
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District did `` an amazing job '' of supervising the rehabilitation of the Elgin site , as well as MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island and Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park , Pritzker said .
The three sites are `` in a state of readiness but not turned on yet because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the moment , that we need them in the near future . ''
The McCormick Place alternate care facility , which has fewer beds than originally planned , began to see its first patients April 16 .
Current data shows the state has 947 ICU beds available of 3,456 , and 1,810 available ventilators available out of 3,303 .
Pritzker encouraged people to use the state 's mental health resources regarding COVID-19 .
People can text `` talk '' or `` hablar '' to 552020 , which will prompt a call back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The service is accessible to people with vision and hearing impairments .

Illinois Poison Center gets more calls after Trump comments
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave an update on the state's efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus at his daily media briefing Saturday. He's shown here at a briefing a week ago. Tyler LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
State officials addressed "myths, rumors and general misinformation" regarding cleaning agents and COVID-19 in the wake of remarks made by President Donald Trump.
"Ingesting, injecting, snorting household cleaners is dangerous. It is not advised and it can be deadly," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said during a briefing Saturday.
The Illinois Poison Center has seen a "significant" increase in calls regarding the use of cleaning agents in the last two days, compared to the same time last year, Ezike said.
That included calls regarding the use of a detergent solution for a sinus rinse, and gargling with bleach and mouthwash in an attempt to kill the new coronavirus, Ezike said.
On Thursday, Trump raised the idea of injections of disinfectant to fight the coronavirus.
"I see the disinfectant -- where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute," he said. "And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?"
Trump walked back his remarks the next day, calling it a sarcastic question to and health experts about how to stay healthy and how to protect yourself from this novel coronavirus," Ezike said.
State officials also announced that Illinois registered 2,119 new cases of COVID-19 and 80 more deaths statewide.
The state is reporting a total of 41,777 cases of the respiratory disease, including 1,874 deaths. A total 201,617 tests have been performed statewide, officials said.
Ezike said an estimated 2,600 people who were identified as health care workers have tested positive for the disease.
"It's a sad truth and sobering truth that those who are doing the most to protect the society as a whole are falling victim," she said.
The new data comes two days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker extended the state's stay-at-home order through May 30. The order will require residents to wear face coverings beginning May 1 in all indoor public places as well as other locations where social distancing of 6 feet or more isn't possible.
Ezike said state officials are still examining how to potentially allow the McHenry Outdoor Theater to reopen. The owner of the venue, the only remaining drive-in in the suburbs, initially announced it would open May 1, then said Thursday he was told he couldn't do that.
"We are working really hard trying to think through and trying to take creative solutions in terms of how we can make things available to people without putting additional people at risk," she said.
Construction work finished this week at the former Sherman Hospital campus in Elgin to turn it into a facility for nonacute COVID-19 patients. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District did "an amazing job" of supervising the rehabilitation of the Elgin site, as well as MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island and Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, Pritzker said.
The three sites are "in a state of readiness but not turned on yet because it does not appear, at least at the moment, that we need them in the near future."
The McCormick Place alternate care facility, which has fewer beds than originally planned, began to see its first patients April 16.
Current data shows the state has 947 ICU beds available of 3,456, and 1,810 available ventilators available out of 3,303.
Pritzker encouraged people to use the state's mental health resources regarding COVID-19. People can text "talk" or "hablar" to 552020, which will prompt a call back from a counselor within 24 hours. The service is accessible to people with vision and hearing impairments.
• Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--How a 9-year-old South Elgin girl defied the odds after she was born with half a heart

One by one , 9-year-old Breanna Ruud carefully pulls an assortment of long , colorful necklaces out of a bag and places them around her neck .
Each piece of jewelry is made up of dozens of beads varying in shapes , sizes and shades .
If Breanna had to guess , she 'd say there were at least 500 total , but probably more .
And they 're not just for show .
Every hand-strung bead represents a medical experience the South Elgin girl faced in the early years of her life after she was born with a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with different types of therapies : physical , occupational and speech .
The smaller beads are for blood draws or X-rays or CT scans .
Four of the beads symbolize Breanna 's four open-heart surgeries , the last of which took place just before she turned 4 .
And the lightning bolt -- that 's one of her favorites -- represents the pacemaker in her abdomen that keeps her heart beating fast enough .
From her size , strength and spirit alone , you would n't be able to tell that Breanna only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , she brings her `` Beads of Courage '' to school , shows pictures of her surgeries and explains her condition to her classmates .
She wants them to know what she 's been through .
And with one in 100 babies born with heart defects , she wants them to know she 's not alone .
Ashley and Jason Ruud knew something was n't right during their 20-week ultrasound .
They had been through all the scans and doctor appointments before with their oldest son , Caleb .
So when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unborn baby 's heart , they started to fear the worst .
Breanna , they soon learned , had a condition called tricuspid atresia , which was causing the right side of her heart to be underdeveloped .
The rare defect is found in less than 2 % of all congenital heart cases , Northwestern Medicine health officials said .
Learning of Breanna 's heart disease months before her birth was somewhat of a blessing in disguise , Ashley Ruud said .
Though many defects go undetected , the Ruuds were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case and prepare for their long and difficult road ahead .
But as a pregnant mom , she said , the news was simply devastating .
`` It was very daunting to know that she was much safer in me than she was out in the world , '' Ruud said .
When Breanna was born June 7 , 2010 , at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital , she was immediately intubated and transported to Children 's Memorial Hospital , now Lurie Children 's , in Chicago .
Her first open-heart surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days old , a palliative procedure that would n't fix her defect but would make it compatible with life .
As she was being extubated about a week later , Breanna went into cardiac arrest , requiring doctors to open her up again .
All her organs took a hit from that traumatic experience , her parents said , but her heart miraculously `` sprung back to life . ''
For six months , Breanna remained in the hospital while her parents rotated their daily visits and relatives looked after Caleb , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine became grueling , the Ruuds said , and they finally decided it was time to take their daughter home .
The only way to do that was to give her a tracheotomy and keep her hooked up to a ventilator -- and doctors were n't sure whether that would harm her or save her life .
On a Tuesday after school , a few months before her 10th birthday , Breanna twirls around her living room almost instinctively as her 4-year-old sister , Jillian , follows close behind .
With her pacemaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or do anything as strenuous as gymnastics , she explains .
But she does take dance classes -- tap and ballet -- and she just started violin lessons this past year .
Watching her lively , vivacious daughter now , Ashley Ruud says it 's hard to believe there was a time when she could n't eat through her mouth or breathe on her own or ride in the back seat of a car without someone next to her .
That was life for the Ruud family when they first brought Breanna home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But as she grew over time , she repeatedly beat the odds .
Her third major surgery took place after her first birthday .
About a year later , the tracheotomy tube that helped her breathe was removed , and she started talking and eating solid foods right away .
Breanna 's fourth surgery was the most important , albeit the most risky , in allowing her to move forward with a somewhat normal life , her parents said .
It was during that procedure that she received a pacemaker to regulate her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been affected by her defect , Jason Ruud says , including her liver function and brain development .
She 's at risk of developing additional side effects as she gets older , he says , and it 's possible she 'll eventually need a heart transplant .
But although she often has to sit out of gym class , Breanna 's condition has n't stopped her from traveling with her family , or playing outside with her friends , or going on low-impact rides at the amusement park .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , '' her dad said , `` but we just adjust . ''
`` We have the philosophy that her life is a big question mark , '' Ashley Ruud said .
`` We do n't know what the future holds .
There are no guarantees . ''
Breanna 's team of health care workers has become like a second family to the Ruuds .
They 've cared for Breanna in her weakest moments , cheered on her recovery and supported her family through the ups and downs .
One night nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl in her wedding .
So whenever she walks into a six-month checkup with her cardiologist , her mom said , those doctors and nurses are always thrilled to see how far she 's come .
`` I think she really defies what they thought was going to happen , '' Ashley Ruud said .
`` To see what she can do now is just amazing . ''
Though every case is different , she said , the success of Breanna 's medical journey so far has been used to help other pediatric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been through it , Ruud has volunteered to support and talk with parents who are navigating similar experiences .
`` I want to give them that little bit of hope that we were missing , '' she said .
Breanna has done her part to raise awareness for the cause , too , primarily among her peers and teachers at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles .
In honor of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week this past February , she made a presentation to the PTO , sent out flyers and collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for kids with conditions like hers .
It gets boring sitting in a hospital bed all day , she says .
Every morning that week , her principal read a heart-related fact over the loudspeaker -- did you know a newborn 's heart is the size of a walnut ?
-- and Breanna answered a plethora of questions from her classmates , many of whom were previously unaware of her condition .
`` I 've been there , and I know what it feels like , '' she said , `` so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

How a 9-year-old South Elgin girl defied the odds after she was born with half a heart
Breanna Ruud of South Elgin was born with a rare congenital heart defect and spent the first six months of her life in the hospital. She had to have a tracheotomy and be hooked up to a ventilator before she could return home. Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine
One by one, 9-year-old Breanna Ruud carefully pulls an assortment of long, colorful necklaces out of a bag and places them around her neck.
Each piece of jewelry is made up of dozens of beads varying in shapes, sizes and shades. If Breanna had to guess, she'd say there were at least 500 total, but probably more. And they're not just for show.
Every hand-strung bead represents a medical experience the South Elgin girl faced in the early years of her life after she was born with a rare congenital heart defect.
Certain colors correspond with different types of therapies: physical, occupational and speech. The smaller beads are for blood draws or X-rays or CT scans.
Four of the beads symbolize Breanna's four open-heart surgeries, the last of which took place just before she turned 4. And the lightning bolt -- that's one of her favorites -- represents the pacemaker in her abdomen that keeps her heart beating fast enough.
From her size, strength and spirit alone, you wouldn't be able to tell that Breanna only has half a heart. But every year, she brings her "Beads of Courage" to school, shows pictures of her surgeries and explains her condition to her classmates.
She wants them to know what she's been through. And with one in 100 babies born with heart defects, she wants them to know she's not alone.
The diagnosis
Ashley and Jason Ruud knew something wasn't right during their 20-week ultrasound.
They had been through all the scans and doctor appointments before with their oldest son, Caleb. So when the technician left the room after checking their unborn baby's heart, they started to fear the worst.
Breanna, they soon learned, had a condition called tricuspid atresia, which was causing the right side of her heart to be underdeveloped. The rare defect is found in less than 2% of all congenital heart cases, Northwestern Medicine health officials said.
Learning of Breanna's heart disease months before her birth was somewhat of a blessing in disguise, Ashley Ruud said. Though many defects go undetected, the Ruuds were able to meet with cardiologists, familiarize surgeons with the case and prepare for their long and difficult road ahead.
But as a pregnant mom, she said, the news was simply devastating.
"It was very daunting to know that she was much safer in me than she was out in the world," Ruud said.
When Breanna was born June 7, 2010, at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, she was immediately intubated and transported to Children's Memorial Hospital, now Lurie Children's, in Chicago.
Her first open-heart surgery was performed when she was just 3 days old, a palliative procedure that wouldn't fix her defect but would make it compatible with life.
As she was being extubated about a week later, Breanna went into cardiac arrest, requiring doctors to open her up again. All her organs took a hit from that traumatic experience, her parents said, but her heart miraculously "sprung back to life."
For six months, Breanna remained in the hospital while her parents rotated their daily visits and relatives looked after Caleb, who was 3 at the time. That routine became grueling, the Ruuds said, and they finally decided it was time to take their daughter home.
The only way to do that was to give her a tracheotomy and keep her hooked up to a ventilator -- and doctors weren't sure whether that would harm her or save her life.
Beating the odds
On a Tuesday after school, a few months before her 10th birthday, Breanna twirls around her living room almost instinctively as her 4-year-old sister, Jillian, follows close behind.
With her pacemaker, Breanna can't play contact sports or do anything as strenuous as gymnastics, she explains. But she does take dance classes -- tap and ballet -- and she just started violin lessons this past year.
Watching her lively, vivacious daughter now, Ashley Ruud says it's hard to believe there was a time when she couldn't eat through her mouth or breathe on her own or ride in the back seat of a car without someone next to her.
That was life for the Ruud family when they first brought Breanna home, full of worry and uncertainty. But as she grew over time, she repeatedly beat the odds.
Her third major surgery took place after her first birthday. About a year later, the tracheotomy tube that helped her breathe was removed, and she started talking and eating solid foods right away.
Breanna's fourth surgery was the most important, albeit the most risky, in allowing her to move forward with a somewhat normal life, her parents said. It was during that procedure that she received a pacemaker to regulate her heartbeat.
Other parts of her body have been affected by her defect, Jason Ruud says, including her liver function and brain development. She's at risk of developing additional side effects as she gets older, he says, and it's possible she'll eventually need a heart transplant.
But although she often has to sit out of gym class, Breanna's condition hasn't stopped her from traveling with her family, or playing outside with her friends, or going on low-impact rides at the amusement park.
"It's definitely changed the way we live our lives," her dad said, "but we just adjust."
"We have the philosophy that her life is a big question mark," Ashley Ruud said. "We don't know what the future holds. There are no guarantees."
Giving back
Breanna's team of health care workers has become like a second family to the Ruuds.
They've cared for Breanna in her weakest moments, cheered on her recovery and supported her family through the ups and downs. One night nurse even asked Breanna to be the flower girl in her wedding.
So whenever she walks into a six-month checkup with her cardiologist, her mom said, those doctors and nurses are always thrilled to see how far she's come.
"I think she really defies what they thought was going to happen," Ashley Ruud said. "To see what she can do now is just amazing."
Though every case is different, she said, the success of Breanna's medical journey so far has been used to help other pediatric heart patients. As a mom who's been through it, Ruud has volunteered to support and talk with parents who are navigating similar experiences.
"I want to give them that little bit of hope that we were missing," she said.
Breanna has done her part to raise awareness for the cause, too, primarily among her peers and teachers at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles.
In honor of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week this past February, she made a presentation to the PTO, sent out flyers and collected about 600 coloring books, plus Crayons, for kids with conditions like hers. It gets boring sitting in a hospital bed all day, she says.
Every morning that week, her principal read a heart-related fact over the loudspeaker -- did you know a newborn's heart is the size of a walnut? -- and Breanna answered a plethora of questions from her classmates, many of whom were previously unaware of her condition.
"I've been there, and I know what it feels like," she said, "so I wanted to give something back."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--Elgin Butera manager, wife on ventilators due to COVID-19

The manager of a Butera Market in Elgin and his wife have been placed on ventilators while fighting COVID-19 , and their relatives say they are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community .
Emilio , 50 , and Elizabeth Cuahquentzi , who turns 42 Tuesday , live in Rockford , where their children Paola , 20 , and Josue , 23 , have been in self-isolation .
`` We just wanted to help and we could n't be near them , '' Paola Cuahquentzi said .
Elizabeth Cuahquentzi was opening her eyes and responding to instructions Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the biggest improvement in the last four or five days , '' said her sister Sandra Ortiz of Elgin , who is in charge of calling the nurses every day for updates .
Emilio Cuahquentzi is making slower progress , requiring dialysis and more help from the ventilator , she said The family includes another sister , Diana Ortiz , and their parents , also in Elgin .
Not being able to see the couple while they are in hospital has been agonizing , but it 's been touching to get so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family said .
Emilio Cuahquentzi , who immigrated from Mexico , has worked at the Butera at Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin since it opened in late 2014 .
The couple , who will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next year , met when they both worked at the Butera store at Clock Tower Plaza in Elgin .
Elizabeth Cuahquentzi now works part-time as a cashier at Blain 's Farm and Fleet in Rockford .
The couple have a loving relationship , their daughter said .
`` My mom likes to tease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quiet type , '' she said .
A GoFundMe to pay for medical expenses and future bills had raised $ 6,725 by Saturday afternoon .
Paola said she 's grateful that Butera has been paying her father 's weekly salary while he 's in the hospital .
Butera 's corporate office declined to comment on specific employees , saying , `` We wish a speedy and full recovery for anyone sick with COVID19 . ''
Blain 's Farm & Fleet said Elizabeth Cuahquentzi had been on a voluntary leave of absence since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to learn that she subsequently became ill. Our hearts go out to her and her family , '' spokeswoman Suzy Ginsburg said .
Elizabeth had high blood pressure and her husband was healthy before getting sick with the new coronavirus , the family said .
Paola Cuahquentzi said her mother got a cough in mid-March and was diagnosed with acute bronchitis .
Her father started getting sick with chills and fever around April 5 , and her mother got the same symptoms a few days later .
Her mother tested positive April 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her mother was hospitalized April 15 and her father three days later , both at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford , she said .
The ordeal has been rough on the family , which exhorted people to take the disease seriously .
`` Seeing someone gasping for air ... `` Sandra Ortiz said .
`` I do n't wish that on anyone . ''

Elgin Butera manager, wife on ventilators due to COVID-19
Emilio and Elizbeth Cuahquentzi are on ventilators due to COVID-19 at a hospital in Rockford. He is the manager of Butera Market at Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin. They are with their children Paola, 20, and Josue, 23. Photo courtesy of Cuahquentzi family
Emilio and Elizbeth Cuahquentzi are on ventilators due to COVID-19 at a hospital in Rockford. He is the manager of Butera at Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin. Photo courtesy of Cuahquentzi family
The manager of a Butera Market in Elgin and his wife have been placed on ventilators while fighting COVID-19, and their relatives say they are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community.
Emilio, 50, and Elizabeth Cuahquentzi, who turns 42 Tuesday, live in Rockford, where their children Paola, 20, and Josue, 23, have been in self-isolation.
"We just wanted to help and we couldn't be near them," Paola Cuahquentzi said.
Elizabeth Cuahquentzi was opening her eyes and responding to instructions Saturday, her family said. "Today was the biggest improvement in the last four or five days," said her sister Sandra Ortiz of Elgin, who is in charge of calling the nurses every day for updates.
Emilio Cuahquentzi is making slower progress, requiring dialysis and more help from the ventilator, she said
The family includes another sister, Diana Ortiz, and their parents, also in Elgin. Not being able to see the couple while they are in hospital has been agonizing, but it's been touching to get so many calls and messages of well-wishes, the family said.
Emilio Cuahquentzi, who immigrated from Mexico, has worked at the Butera at Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin since it opened in late 2014. The couple, who will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next year, met when they both worked at the Butera store at Clock Tower Plaza in Elgin. Elizabeth Cuahquentzi now works part-time as a cashier at Blain's Farm and Fleet in Rockford.
The couple have a loving relationship, their daughter said. "My mom likes to tease my dad, my dad is more the quiet type," she said.
A GoFundMe to pay for medical expenses and future bills had raised $6,725 by Saturday afternoon. Paola said she's grateful that Butera has been paying her father's weekly salary while he's in the hospital.
Butera's corporate office declined to comment on specific employees, saying, "We wish a speedy and full recovery for anyone sick with COVID19."
Blain's Farm & Fleet said Elizabeth Cuahquentzi had been on a voluntary leave of absence since April 3. "We were saddened to learn that she subsequently became ill. Our hearts go out to her and her family," spokeswoman Suzy Ginsburg said.
Elizabeth had high blood pressure and her husband was healthy before getting sick with the new coronavirus, the family said.
Paola Cuahquentzi said her mother got a cough in mid-March and was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. Her father started getting sick with chills and fever around April 5, and her mother got the same symptoms a few days later. Her mother tested positive April 11 while her father tested positive April 13. Her mother was hospitalized April 15 and her father three days later, both at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, she said.
The ordeal has been rough on the family, which exhorted people to take the disease seriously. "Seeing someone gasping for air ... " Sandra Ortiz said. "I don't wish that on anyone."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--Lab medical director explains how COVID-19 testing works

Lab technologists are working around the clock in the Edward-Elmhurst Health system , which is one of 12 sites across the state running tests for the COVID‐19 virus .
The labs have ramped up capabilities since testing began March 22 and now can run a total of 650 tests each day , said Dr. Alvaro Candel , chairman and medical director of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Elmhurst Hospital .
The Daily Herald talked with Candel to better understand molecular testing , as the process of detecting the virus is called , and how it works for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the conversation .
Q : Who can be tested now through Edward‐Elmhurst Health ?
A : Only individuals who are symptomatic , meaning those who have a fever , cough or shortness of breath , and have a doctor 's order for the test .
Doctors in the emergency departments at both hospitals determine whether patients need to be tested .
Drive-through testing at the Edward‐Elmhurst Health corporate center is conducted by appointment only .
A : A specimen is collected with either a nasal swab or a nasopharyngeal swab .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inserted into both sides of the nose .
You have to twirl the swab at least five times in each side of the nose .
A nasopharyngeal swab is a long thin swab that collects specimen from the back of the nasal passage .
It takes around 20 seconds to get a good specimen .
It is critical to get a good specimen because if not , that increases the false‐negative rate on these tests .
A : The labs use three different testing platforms -- one that takes roughly five hours to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time , and two designed to analyze one specimen at a time and provide results within 15 to 45 minutes .
Once a specimen is collected , lab technologists mix it with test reagents and place it into one of the testing instruments .
When the reagents interact with the specimen , technologists are able to determine whether the sample has viral RNA that indicates the presence of the COVID‐19 virus .
Q : How are patients notified of test results ?
A : Patients who drive up to the corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their results through our call center , typically within 24 to 48 hours .
Patients tested in the emergency department typically are notified within one hour of providing the specimen .
The quicker testing platforms are used when clinical need requires an immediate determination of whether a patient has the virus , such as in the emergency department , so medical professionals know if the patient needs to be admitted into the hospital and/or placed in isolation .
A : One reason for testing being limited is there are not enough nasopharyngeal swabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nasal passage , near the throat .
There are also limitations on viral transport media , a liquid that is used to contain specimens collected by nasopharyngeal swabs and deactivate the COVID‐19 virus without destroying the viral RNA .
But specifically for Edward‐Elmhurst Health , the main limiting factor is test reagents , which are the materials used to conduct the test .
Once the lab gets a swab with a specimen , a lab technologist mixes it with reagents and loads it into a testing instrument .
The availability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 650 tests a day .
Q : What is antibody testing and when will it begin at Edward‐Elmhurst Health ?
A : Antibody testing , also referred to as serological testing , is used to detect antibodies against the COVID‐19 virus in a patient 's blood .
Antibodies are developed in response to an infection , so you test for them to see if the patient has been exposed to the virus .
The presence of antibodies means that the patient has developed an immune response to the virus .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't yet know if this immune response will protect against re-infection .

Lab medical director explains how COVID-19 testing works
Lab technologists are working around the clock in the Edward-Elmhurst Health system, which is one of 12 sites across the state running tests for the COVID‐19 virus.
The labs have ramped up capabilities since testing began March 22 and now can run a total of 650 tests each day, said Dr. Alvaro Candel, chairman and medical director of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Elmhurst Hospital.
The Daily Herald talked with Candel to better understand molecular testing, as the process of detecting the virus is called, and how it works for patients. Here is an edited version of the conversation.
Q: Who can be tested now through Edward‐Elmhurst Health?
A: Only individuals who are symptomatic, meaning those who have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, and have a doctor's order for the test. Doctors in the emergency departments at both hospitals determine whether patients need to be tested. Drive-through testing at the Edward‐Elmhurst Health corporate center is conducted by appointment only.
Q: How are tests performed?
A: A specimen is collected with either a nasal swab or a nasopharyngeal swab. A nasal swab similar to a Q‐tip is inserted into both sides of the nose. You have to twirl the swab at least five times in each side of the nose. A nasopharyngeal swab is a long thin swab that collects specimen from the back of the nasal passage. It takes around 20 seconds to get a good specimen. It is critical to get a good specimen because if not, that increases the false‐negative rate on these tests.
Q: How are specimens analyzed?
A: The labs use three different testing platforms -- one that takes roughly five hours to run batches of up to 94 specimens at a time, and two designed to analyze one specimen at a time and provide results within 15 to 45 minutes. Once a specimen is collected, lab technologists mix it with test reagents and place it into one of the testing instruments. When the reagents interact with the specimen, technologists are able to determine whether the sample has viral RNA that indicates the presence of the COVID‐19 virus.
Q: How are patients notified of test results?
A: Patients who drive up to the corporate center testing facility are notified directly of their results through our call center, typically within 24 to 48 hours. Patients tested in the emergency department typically are notified within one hour of providing the specimen. The quicker testing platforms are used when clinical need requires an immediate determination of whether a patient has the virus, such as in the emergency department, so medical professionals know if the patient needs to be admitted into the hospital and/or placed in isolation.
Q: Why is testing capability limited?
A: One reason for testing being limited is there are not enough nasopharyngeal swabs, which gather specimens from the back of the nasal passage, near the throat. There are also limitations on viral transport media, a liquid that is used to contain specimens collected by nasopharyngeal swabs and deactivate the COVID‐19 virus without destroying the viral RNA. But specifically for Edward‐Elmhurst Health, the main limiting factor is test reagents, which are the materials used to conduct the test. Once the lab gets a swab with a specimen, a lab technologist mixes it with reagents and loads it into a testing instrument. The availability of test reagents is what's limiting us to 650 tests a day.
Q: What is antibody testing and when will it begin at Edward‐Elmhurst Health?
A: Antibody testing, also referred to as serological testing, is used to detect antibodies against the COVID‐19 virus in a patient's blood. Antibodies are developed in response to an infection, so you test for them to see if the patient has been exposed to the virus. The presence of antibodies means that the patient has developed an immune response to the virus. In the case of the COVID-19 virus, we don't yet know if this immune response will protect against re-infection.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--'I still get emotional,' Arlington Heights honor guard commander says of graveside honors

Often seen at the front of parades and patriotic ceremonies , the Arlington Heights-based Merle Guild American Legion Post 208 Color Guard also has the rare distinction of being one of the few in the state certified by the Department of Defense to render military funeral honors .
Gene Fehringer has participated in seemingly countless graveside ceremonies as a member of the unit for 22 years , including the last 16 as its commander .
He runs a tight ship with the 15-member guard , holding monthly drills at the Legion post to practice formations , and making sure his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) look sharp '' in their uniforms for all the services they attend .
`` My big thing with the guys -- if we 're doing an honor at a gravesite -- and I say , 'Fire ! '
I wan na hear those rifles go off at the same time , '' Fehringer said of the seven riflemen who fire three times for a 21-gun salute .
All of the honor guard 's activities are on hold for now , including the graveside honors , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 101st annual Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade on May 25 , until organizers last week decided to cancel it .
The guard was doing two or three funerals a month for veterans in Arlington Heights and neighboring towns until the state-ordered shutdown in March .
`` That 'll all resume when we get through this , '' Fehringer said .
`` We do want to honor these veterans when they pass , when we can . ''
Local funeral home directors have Fehringer on their speed dial , contacting him if the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honors .
Fehringer then puts out a call to his guys .
Most are in the 70s and retired , and have more availability to attend the daytime funerals these days .
A decade ago , many of the vets were still working , and they could often only show up at evening wakes .
He hopes to attract new , younger veterans to keep the honor guard going .
`` It 's just a matter of time .
Our guys are old , '' said Fehringer , 78 , who served in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're not going to continue to be able to do this .
We need new people and we do n't have them . ''
`` We 're one of the only honor guards around that does this anymore , '' he added .
`` But we 're proud and happy to do it . ''
Greg Padovani , a member of the honor guard usually charged with presenting the folded American flag to family members , called Fehringer the `` driving force '' behind the group .
The graveside services are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to honor any veteran of any branch of service .
`` It 's one of the more profound things that touches so many people , '' said Padovani , who is also chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights and a village trustee .
Each ceremony includes the 21-gun salute , a bugler playing `` Taps , '' and folding and presentation of the American flag to the family .
Oftentimes , members of the guard do n't know the veteran they 're honoring , but sometimes , Fehringer says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us . ''
`` I see some tears in some of the guys ' eyes once in a while , '' he said .
`` As long as I 've been doing it , I still get emotional .
It 's a big deal . ''

'I still get emotional,' Arlington Heights honor guard commander says of graveside honors
Often seen at the front of parades and patriotic ceremonies, the Arlington Heights-based Merle Guild American Legion Post 208 Color Guard also has the rare distinction of being one of the few in the state certified by the Department of Defense to render military funeral honors.
Gene Fehringer has participated in seemingly countless graveside ceremonies as a member of the unit for 22 years, including the last 16 as its commander. He runs a tight ship with the 15-member guard, holding monthly drills at the Legion post to practice formations, and making sure his men are "dressed well (and) look sharp" in their uniforms for all the services they attend.
"My big thing with the guys -- if we're doing an honor at a gravesite -- and I say, 'Fire!' I wanna hear those rifles go off at the same time," Fehringer said of the seven riflemen who fire three times for a 21-gun salute.
All of the honor guard's activities are on hold for now, including the graveside honors, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The guard was to have helped lead off the 101st annual Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade on May 25, until organizers last week decided to cancel it.
The guard was doing two or three funerals a month for veterans in Arlington Heights and neighboring towns until the state-ordered shutdown in March.
"That'll all resume when we get through this," Fehringer said. "We do want to honor these veterans when they pass, when we can."
Local funeral home directors have Fehringer on their speed dial, contacting him if the family of a deceased veteran requests the military honors. Fehringer then puts out a call to his guys. Most are in the 70s and retired, and have more availability to attend the daytime funerals these days. A decade ago, many of the vets were still working, and they could often only show up at evening wakes.
He hopes to attract new, younger veterans to keep the honor guard going.
"It's just a matter of time. Our guys are old," said Fehringer, 78, who served in the Army from 1962 to 1965. "We're not going to continue to be able to do this. We need new people and we don't have them."
"We're one of the only honor guards around that does this anymore," he added. "But we're proud and happy to do it."
Greg Padovani, a member of the honor guard usually charged with presenting the folded American flag to family members, called Fehringer the "driving force" behind the group. The graveside services are free for veterans' families, and available to honor any veteran of any branch of service.
"It's one of the more profound things that touches so many people," said Padovani, who is also chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights and a village trustee.
Each ceremony includes the 21-gun salute, a bugler playing "Taps," and folding and presentation of the American flag to the family. Oftentimes, members of the guard don't know the veteran they're honoring, but sometimes, Fehringer says, the moment "still gets to us."
"I see some tears in some of the guys' eyes once in a while," he said. "As long as I've been doing it, I still get emotional. It's a big deal."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--One dead after fiery, single-vehicle crash in Wheeling

An unidentified person was killed early Saturday morning in a fiery one-car crash on North Wolf Road at Wolf Court @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Police said the crash occurred about 12:30 a.m. when a vehicle traveling northbound @ @ @ @ @ Picardy Place struck and crossed the raised concrete median .
The vehicle entered the southbound @ @ @ @ @ , and struck a parked unoccupied vehicle and tree located in the 600 block of @ @ @ @ @ some point after the impact , the vehicle ignited and became fully engulfed in flames @ @ @ @ @ extinguished the fire .
A single occupant was located in the left front seat .
@ @ @ @ @ scene and later transported to the Cook County Medical examiner and pronounced dead , police @ @ @ @ @ injured and the investigation is ongoing .

One dead after fiery, single-vehicle crash in Wheeling
An unidentified person was killed early Saturday morning in a fiery one-car crash on North Wolf Road at Wolf Court in Wheeling, police said Saturday.
Police said the crash occurred about 12:30 a.m. when a vehicle traveling northbound on Wolf Road north of Picardy Place struck and crossed the raised concrete median. The vehicle entered the southbound lanes, left the road, and struck a parked unoccupied vehicle and tree located in the 600 block of North Wolf Road.
At some point after the impact, the vehicle ignited and became fully engulfed in flames. The Wheeling Fire Department extinguished the fire. A single occupant was located in the left front seat. The occupant was unresponsive on scene and later transported to the Cook County Medical examiner and pronounced dead, police said.
Nobody else was injured and the investigation is ongoing.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-04-25--How churches adapt services, meet new needs during pandemic

While churches might be closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic , in many ways they have never been more important .
From delivering food to those in need to reaching out to members otherwise socially isolated to new ways of worshipping , leaders are finding innovative ideas to meet their congregation and community needs .
At Chapelstreet Church which has three locations in Geneva , Sunday services are streamed live .
Lead pastor Jeff Frazier gives his weekly sermon while a worship team sings in their otherwise empty building .
`` We are literally building the plane as we fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are reinventing ways of doing ministry . ''
So far it 's working well .
Before churches were closed , Frazier said Chapelstreet 's attendance averaged about 2,500 at its three locations for all their weekend services .
The number watching online has grown by 50 percent to 80 percent .
While it 's been adjustment going from preaching in front of a crowded sanctuary to an empty room -- `` it 's a complete 180 , that was whiplash and very strange , '' Frazier said -- it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing .
`` You are still preaching to real people who have real needs and the Gospel still has power even if they are not in the room , '' Frazier said .
`` The message of God still needs to go out . ''
Erik Holm , the pastor at Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Grayslake , also is giving his sermons online .
His church is doing their worship service a little differently , as various members of the choir and congregation send in videos of themselves singing hymns .
Those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holm 's live message to create a service they broadcast on Facebook live and their YouTube channel .
`` We put that all together to create a service , trying to be creative , '' Holm said .
`` It feels a lot like our late night talk show hosts .
They are live sort of , but now they record different clips .
Feels a little like that . ''
Holm also said the response to the online services has been good , up a little from the 200-225 attendees they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been so long since we 've been together I think for many people it 's a helpful connection that there 's people I see I know , '' Holm said of the online service .
`` The in-person experience that normally is worship in the Christian tradition has vastly changed now . ''
At Willow Creek in South Barrington , communications director Liz Schauer said the approximately 18,000 viewing their service online is almost exactly the number who had been attending in person at their locations .
`` It 's been difficult not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Schauer said .
`` Our programming , production and worship teams have put in a significant amount of work to produce services for our online audience , recording from their homes .
It 's been a unique experience .
We are a large church but we 're trying to make things personal by calling our congregants , having digital small groups available .
There are such unique needs during this time and obviously loneliness is a big factor . ''
Chapelstreet also has staff calling to check in with members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 viewers a week .
Church leaders are seeing good come from these trying times .
`` We are learning some things that will serve us well not just in the present crisis but the future , '' Frazier said .
`` I see so many people in our church family and community who are taking seriously the call to love their neighbor .
I do get a sense there is good things happening . ''
Holm agreed ; his members are holding a food drive , making masks and checking in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care center is delivering groceries to thousands of families in need -- as is the Shepherd 's Heart Ministry at Chapelstreet .
`` People want to do something meaningful and helpful and that 's encouraging to see , '' Holm said .

How churches adapt services, meet new needs during pandemic
From left to right, Andrew Griffiths, Tom Ward, Becky Chennault and Jeff Frazier during a new Wednesday Night Live midweek family event Chapelstreet Church has started with games, music and devotion. Courtesy of Chapelstreet church
Lead pastor Jeff Frazier prays during Chapelstreet Church's online Sunday service. Like other churches in the area closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapelstreet is finding new ways to do ministry with their doors closed. Courtesy of Chapelstreet church
While churches might be closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in many ways they have never been more important.
From delivering food to those in need to reaching out to members otherwise socially isolated to new ways of worshipping, leaders are finding innovative ideas to meet their congregation and community needs.
At Chapelstreet Church which has three locations in Geneva, Sunday services are streamed live. Lead pastor Jeff Frazier gives his weekly sermon while a worship team sings in their otherwise empty building.
"We are literally building the plane as we fly it right now," Frazier said. "We are reinventing ways of doing ministry."
So far it's working well. Before churches were closed, Frazier said Chapelstreet's attendance averaged about 2,500 at its three locations for all their weekend services.
The number watching online has grown by 50 percent to 80 percent.
While it's been adjustment going from preaching in front of a crowded sanctuary to an empty room -- "it's a complete 180, that was whiplash and very strange," Frazier said -- it's encouraging to know so many people are viewing.
"You are still preaching to real people who have real needs and the Gospel still has power even if they are not in the room," Frazier said. "The message of God still needs to go out."
Erik Holm, the pastor at Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, also is giving his sermons online.
His church is doing their worship service a little differently, as various members of the choir and congregation send in videos of themselves singing hymns. Those are added with other members reading scripture to Holm's live message to create a service they broadcast on Facebook live and their YouTube channel.
"We put that all together to create a service, trying to be creative," Holm said. "It feels a lot like our late night talk show hosts. They are live sort of, but now they record different clips. Feels a little like that."
Holm also said the response to the online services has been good, up a little from the 200-225 attendees they were averaging in person.
"It's been so long since we've been together I think for many people it's a helpful connection that there's people I see I know," Holm said of the online service. "The in-person experience that normally is worship in the Christian tradition has vastly changed now."
At Willow Creek in South Barrington, communications director Liz Schauer said the approximately 18,000 viewing their service online is almost exactly the number who had been attending in person at their locations.
"It's been difficult not to have the community aspect of church," Schauer said. "Our programming, production and worship teams have put in a significant amount of work to produce services for our online audience, recording from their homes. It's been a unique experience. We are a large church but we're trying to make things personal by calling our congregants, having digital small groups available. There are such unique needs during this time and obviously loneliness is a big factor."
Chapelstreet also has staff calling to check in with members. A Wednesday Night Live program is reaching 1,000 viewers a week.
Church leaders are seeing good come from these trying times.
"We are learning some things that will serve us well not just in the present crisis but the future," Frazier said. "I see so many people in our church family and community who are taking seriously the call to love their neighbor. I do get a sense there is good things happening."
Holm agreed; his members are holding a food drive, making masks and checking in on neighbors. Schauer said Willow Creek's care center is delivering groceries to thousands of families in need -- as is the Shepherd's Heart Ministry at Chapelstreet.
"People want to do something meaningful and helpful and that's encouraging to see," Holm said.