dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-04--Barrington officials: New rule for gas on trains has 'quite acute' potential for catastrophe

A new player , liquefied natural gas , has joined the list of hazardous materials cruising through Illinois by train -- a move the federal government says is safe but raises fears of out-of-control fires and explosions for some suburbs .
This summer , the U.S. Department of Transportation authorized railroads to haul liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) across the country .
Prior to approval , more than 460 entities commented -- mostly critically -- on the plan , including Barrington , which is crisscrossed by the Union Pacific and Canadian National railroads .
The potential for a catastrophe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials stated .
`` An uncontrolled LNG release involving fire stemming from a derailment scenario must burn itself out as there is no practical way to extinguish it . ''
Federal officials are confident that upgraded DOT-113 tank cars with double shells and thick carbon steel can safely contain any spills .
New requirements , such as remote monitoring of tank car pressure , will `` provide for the safe transportation of LNG by rail to more parts of the country where this energy source is needed , '' U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Illinois ' Kwame Raoul , have asked a federal appeals court to declare the regulation illegal .
The policy permitting trains with 80 to 100 cars , each holding up to 30,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas , was rushed through without safeguards like speed limits , and `` puts our residents and communities at risk , '' Raoul stated .
Liquefied natural gas mostly consists of methane that is chilled until it liquefies so it can be transported .
But the gas can easily revert to an odorless , colorless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tank car is breached , Barrington officials warn .
`` It 's highly flammable and it 's scary in communities like Barrington with so many homes right near the tracks , '' Mayor Karen Darch said .
Previously , liquefied natural gas was mainly delivered in trucks , but energy companies could obtain special federal permits to transport it by rail .
In April 2019 , President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expand domestic energy production and update regulations that included the liquefied natural gas rule .
Without action , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national energy market will be stifled , '' Trump said .
Numerous safety advocates warned liquefied natural gas is more volatile than other liquefied gases carried on trains -- burning hotter and with a higher propensity to ignite .
Federal regulators countered that specialized DOT-113 tank cars carrying liquefied gases have a 40-year safety record that includes `` no train-accident related fatalities or serious injuries in over 100,000 shipments . ''
The metro region had a close call June 30 , 2017 , when 20 out of 115 freight cars derailed in Plainfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crude oil into a commercial area near Route 59 but no injuries or explosions occurred .
That is something the nearby Naperville Fire Department constantly trains for , Chief Mark Puknaitis said .
`` We have plans for all those situations and we have resources to combat them '' ranging from a portable foam generator to drones to ongoing communication with freight railroads , Puknaitis explained .
`` I can tell you on any given day what is flowing through our community . ''
Got an opinion or comment ?
Drop an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should know Want to be a part of Lake Shore Drive 's future ?
IDOT is seeking input on five final plans to rebuild LSD between Grand and Hollywood avenues .
To learn more , visit nlsdinput.org .
Expect delays on I-55 near Midway Airport as IDOT begins repairs to the bridge over the Belt Railroad Co. starting Monday .
Lane and shoulder closures are expected from Cicero Avenue to Pulaski Road through this week .

Barrington officials: New rule for gas on trains has 'quite acute' potential for catastrophe
A new player, liquefied natural gas, has joined the list of hazardous materials cruising through Illinois by train -- a move the federal government says is safe but raises fears of out-of-control fires and explosions for some suburbs.
This summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation authorized railroads to haul liquefied natural gas (LNG) across the country.
Prior to approval, more than 460 entities commented -- mostly critically -- on the plan, including Barrington, which is crisscrossed by the Union Pacific and Canadian National railroads.
The potential for a catastrophe "is quite acute," village officials stated. "An uncontrolled LNG release involving fire stemming from a derailment scenario must burn itself out as there is no practical way to extinguish it."
Federal officials are confident that upgraded DOT-113 tank cars with double shells and thick carbon steel can safely contain any spills.
New requirements, such as remote monitoring of tank car pressure, will "provide for the safe transportation of LNG by rail to more parts of the country where this energy source is needed," U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stated.
Fifteen state attorney generals, including Illinois' Kwame Raoul, have asked a federal appeals court to declare the regulation illegal.
The policy permitting trains with 80 to 100 cars, each holding up to 30,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas, was rushed through without safeguards like speed limits, and "puts our residents and communities at risk," Raoul stated.
Liquefied natural gas mostly consists of methane that is chilled until it liquefies so it can be transported. But the gas can easily revert to an odorless, colorless vapor that's hard to detect if a tank car is breached, Barrington officials warn.
"It's highly flammable and it's scary in communities like Barrington with so many homes right near the tracks," Mayor Karen Darch said.
Previously, liquefied natural gas was mainly delivered in trucks, but energy companies could obtain special federal permits to transport it by rail.
In April 2019, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expand domestic energy production and update regulations that included the liquefied natural gas rule.
Without action, "energy costs will rise and the national energy market will be stifled," Trump said.
Numerous safety advocates warned liquefied natural gas is more volatile than other liquefied gases carried on trains -- burning hotter and with a higher propensity to ignite.
Federal regulators countered that specialized DOT-113 tank cars carrying liquefied gases have a 40-year safety record that includes "no train-accident related fatalities or serious injuries in over 100,000 shipments."
The metro region had a close call June 30, 2017, when 20 out of 115 freight cars derailed in Plainfield. Three railcars leaked about 40,000 gallons of crude oil into a commercial area near Route 59 but no injuries or explosions occurred.
That is something the nearby Naperville Fire Department constantly trains for, Chief Mark Puknaitis said.
"We have plans for all those situations and we have resources to combat them" ranging from a portable foam generator to drones to ongoing communication with freight railroads, Puknaitis explained. "I can tell you on any given day what is flowing through our community."
Got an opinion or comment? Drop an email to mpyke@dailyherald.com.
You should know
Want to be a part of Lake Shore Drive's future? IDOT is seeking input on five final plans to rebuild LSD between Grand and Hollywood avenues. To learn more, visit nlsdinput.org.
Gridlock alert
Expect delays on I-55 near Midway Airport as IDOT begins repairs to the bridge over the Belt Railroad Co. starting Monday. Lane and shoulder closures are expected from Cicero Avenue to Pulaski Road through this week.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-04--Shuttered LGBTQ bar in Elk Grove Village to face the wrecking ball

What once was a destination for the suburban LGBTQ community -- a long-standing bar on Higgins Road -- will soon become a 1.5-acre grass lot primed for future development by Elk Grove Village .
Fencing surrounds the shuttered Phoenix Bar & Nightclub at 1932 E. Higgins Road in preparation for its scheduled demolition the week of Oct. 12 .
It 'll mark the final chapter for the nightclub , originally known as Hunters before it was rebranded as Phoenix .
It closed abruptly last November after 37 years in business .
Years ago , the location was home to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elk Grove Village closed on the property this summer after paying $ 1.35 million to its most recent owner , Sam Cecola , the Barrington businessman who is owner of the Admiral Theatre strip club in Chicago .
Mayor Craig Johnson said Cecola and his business partners had plans to renovate the bar after acquiring it in 2018 , but they never pursued those plans .
After the bar closed last year , Cecola tried selling to a neighboring property owner , but the deal fell through , Johnson said .
His representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their interest in the property , and they struck a deal .
In deciding to close the bar , the previous owner cited numerous issues with the building and code violations that needed to be fixed , Johnson said .
At the same time , village officials have been eyeing redevelopment as part of their vision for more commercial growth in and around the massive village industrial park .
`` We have no plans at this time for it , '' Johnson said of the Phoenix site .
`` We 're just making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grass it over and wait and see what comes along . ''
The village is paying Chicago-based Green Demolition Contractors $ 91,500 to tear down the old building .
Officials also hired McHenry-based HR Green for $ 56,000 to handle engineering and management of the demolition and site restoration .
Meanwhile , Johnson and other village officials are still battling local developer Mario Gullo in court as part of an annexation dispute involving many of his nearby properties on Higgins Road .
In June , when Elk Grove officials inked the contract for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walberg called the village `` a bully who will stop at nothing to get its way , '' as village officials previously tried to forcibly annex the Phoenix and other sites until Gullo sued .
Village officials have maintained they were just trying to clean up their borders .
Johnson also has tried to clear up misconceptions that the village closed the Phoenix club .
`` We had nothing against the people that were patronizing the location , '' Johnson said .
`` If we owned it and it was still operational , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... ( Cecola ) made the decision to close it , not us . ''

Shuttered LGBTQ bar in Elk Grove Village to face the wrecking ball
What once was a destination for the suburban LGBTQ community -- a long-standing bar on Higgins Road -- will soon become a 1.5-acre grass lot primed for future development by Elk Grove Village.
Fencing surrounds the shuttered Phoenix Bar & Nightclub at 1932 E. Higgins Road in preparation for its scheduled demolition the week of Oct. 12.
It'll mark the final chapter for the nightclub, originally known as Hunters before it was rebranded as Phoenix. It closed abruptly last November after 37 years in business. Years ago, the location was home to a Beef 'N' Barrel restaurant.
Elk Grove Village closed on the property this summer after paying $1.35 million to its most recent owner, Sam Cecola, the Barrington businessman who is owner of the Admiral Theatre strip club in Chicago.
Mayor Craig Johnson said Cecola and his business partners had plans to renovate the bar after acquiring it in 2018, but they never pursued those plans.
After the bar closed last year, Cecola tried selling to a neighboring property owner, but the deal fell through, Johnson said. His representatives reached out to village officials to gauge their interest in the property, and they struck a deal.
In deciding to close the bar, the previous owner cited numerous issues with the building and code violations that needed to be fixed, Johnson said.
At the same time, village officials have been eyeing redevelopment as part of their vision for more commercial growth in and around the massive village industrial park.
"We have no plans at this time for it," Johnson said of the Phoenix site. "We're just making it a green field. We'll grass it over and wait and see what comes along."
The village is paying Chicago-based Green Demolition Contractors $91,500 to tear down the old building. Officials also hired McHenry-based HR Green for $56,000 to handle engineering and management of the demolition and site restoration.
Meanwhile, Johnson and other village officials are still battling local developer Mario Gullo in court as part of an annexation dispute involving many of his nearby properties on Higgins Road.
In June, when Elk Grove officials inked the contract for the Phoenix bar, Gullo attorney Kim Walberg called the village "a bully who will stop at nothing to get its way," as village officials previously tried to forcibly annex the Phoenix and other sites until Gullo sued.
Village officials have maintained they were just trying to clean up their borders.
Johnson also has tried to clear up misconceptions that the village closed the Phoenix club.
"We had nothing against the people that were patronizing the location," Johnson said.
"If we owned it and it was still operational, it would have still been operational. ... (Cecola) made the decision to close it, not us."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-04--Cascade Drive-In will make case to reopen before West Chicago panel

Reviving a drive-in movie theater with a long history in West Chicago is n't as simple as flipping on the projector .
The Cascade Drive-In publicly announced plans for a comeback last month , generating the kind of enthusiasm that transported audiences back to the theater 's heyday when hundreds of cars pulled up for a double feature under the stars .
The original hope was to reopen the shuttered `` ozoner '' under the same operator this fall , but Russell Whitaker , an attorney for the land owner , said that timeline is no longer realistic .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May or June , and this has been dragged out , and it 's taken longer than we expected , '' Whitaker said .
The property currently is zoned for residential development .
The Cascade 's reopening hinges on a request to amend the city 's zoning code to allow drive-in theaters as a special use in the corresponding residential district .
Plan commissioners will consider the proposed revision during a virtual meeting Tuesday night .
But city staffers want to see the 28-acre property rezoned from `` estate residential '' to commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redevelopment plan for the property right now , '' Whitaker said .
`` And so we do n't think it makes sense to up-zone the property at this time .
If we were proposing a redevelopment , then we would obviously talk to the city about rezoning .
Until that happens , we think the rezoning conversation is not right . ''
The Cascade closed in 2019 after a nearly 60-year run , at that time leaving only one other drive-in theater in the region .
Jeff Kohlberg operated it for 30 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to renew the lease in late 2018 .
In 2003 , the drive-in site at North Avenue and Prince Crossing Road was part of 58 acres of land forcibly annexed into West Chicago by the city council .
Properties brought into West Chicago by forced annexation are zoned by default under the city 's most restrictive residential classification .
`` West Chicago created this problem in 2003 when they forcibly annexed the property , '' Whitaker said .
`` That was 40 years after Cascade started operating , and Cascade operated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district without issue for 15 years . ''
Tom Dabareiner , who became the city 's community development director two years ago , said it 's `` not a very standard approach '' to open up residential land for business use .
`` We 're supportive of the use as a drive-in , '' Dabareiner said .
`` We just would like it to be in a commercial district , in a business district , because we could end up setting a precedent , and that would mean that we would have trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a business use in a residential district . ''
Local drive-in fans now have to make the trek to the McHenry Outdoor Theater , the last suburban survivor in a dying breed .
Less than a dozen drive-in screens were still operational in Illinois as of October 2019 , according to the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association .
Many went dark to make way for redevelopment .
`` It 's an expensive location to develop , '' Dabareiner said of the Cascade site .
`` And housing is usually not dense enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to profit to help pay for the utilities to the site . ''
Outdoor showings , meanwhile , are enjoying a resurgence during the pandemic as movie lovers in search of a socially distant night out flock to pop-up drive-ins .
The West Chicago city council will get the final say on whether the Cascade will flicker back to life .
The city has received more than 200 letters of support for the theater 's reopening , Whitaker said .
`` It 's probably next year before we 're able to open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the city is not approved there is no Cascade , '' he said .
`` The property will remain shuttered . ''

Cascade Drive-In will make case to reopen before West Chicago panel
Reviving a drive-in movie theater with a long history in West Chicago isn't as simple as flipping on the projector.
The Cascade Drive-In publicly announced plans for a comeback last month, generating the kind of enthusiasm that transported audiences back to the theater's heyday when hundreds of cars pulled up for a double feature under the stars.
The original hope was to reopen the shuttered "ozoner" under the same operator this fall, but Russell Whitaker, an attorney for the land owner, said that timeline is no longer realistic.
"We started conversations with West Chicago in May or June, and this has been dragged out, and it's taken longer than we expected," Whitaker said.
The property currently is zoned for residential development. The Cascade's reopening hinges on a request to amend the city's zoning code to allow drive-in theaters as a special use in the corresponding residential district.
Plan commissioners will consider the proposed revision during a virtual meeting Tuesday night. But city staffers want to see the 28-acre property rezoned from "estate residential" to commercial.
"We don't have a redevelopment plan for the property right now," Whitaker said. "And so we don't think it makes sense to up-zone the property at this time. If we were proposing a redevelopment, then we would obviously talk to the city about rezoning. Until that happens, we think the rezoning conversation is not right."
The Cascade closed in 2019 after a nearly 60-year run, at that time leaving only one other drive-in theater in the region. Jeff Kohlberg operated it for 30 years, until the property's previous owner declined to renew the lease in late 2018.
In 2003, the drive-in site at North Avenue and Prince Crossing Road was part of 58 acres of land forcibly annexed into West Chicago by the city council. Properties brought into West Chicago by forced annexation are zoned by default under the city's most restrictive residential classification.
"West Chicago created this problem in 2003 when they forcibly annexed the property," Whitaker said. "That was 40 years after Cascade started operating, and Cascade operated in the city's (estate residential) district without issue for 15 years."
Tom Dabareiner, who became the city's community development director two years ago, said it's "not a very standard approach" to open up residential land for business use.
"We're supportive of the use as a drive-in," Dabareiner said.
"We just would like it to be in a commercial district, in a business district, because we could end up setting a precedent, and that would mean that we would have trouble saying no to anybody who's requesting a business use in a residential district."
Local drive-in fans now have to make the trek to the McHenry Outdoor Theater, the last suburban survivor in a dying breed. Less than a dozen drive-in screens were still operational in Illinois as of October 2019, according to the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association. Many went dark to make way for redevelopment.
"It's an expensive location to develop," Dabareiner said of the Cascade site. "And housing is usually not dense enough to support what you would need to make to profit to help pay for the utilities to the site."
Outdoor showings, meanwhile, are enjoying a resurgence during the pandemic as movie lovers in search of a socially distant night out flock to pop-up drive-ins.
The West Chicago city council will get the final say on whether the Cascade will flicker back to life. The city has received more than 200 letters of support for the theater's reopening, Whitaker said.
"It's probably next year before we're able to open, but if the request that we have before the city is not approved there is no Cascade," he said. "The property will remain shuttered."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-04--Should Vernon Hills give tax inventive for Hawthorn Mall plan? Public gets its say

Some key details -- such as the amount of tax incentive to be provided -- are still to be determined , but a milestone will be reached Tuesday in the long and deliberate process to reinvent Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills .
A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at village hall , 290 Evergreen Drive , as the final requirement before the village board decides whether to designate most of the mall property as a tax increment financing district .
That vote could come later this month .
Village officials agree the aging mall , a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgraded .
A TIF district is the mechanism that would allow a proposed $ 250 million makeover to proceed .
A TIF district is a sometimes-controversial development incentive in which property tax disbursements to schools , libraries and other local governments are frozen at current levels .
Any additional tax revenue generated by rising property values goes into a special fund to pay for improvements within the district .
On Tuesday , Kane , McKenna and Associates Inc. , the village 's consultant in the TIF process , will give a brief overview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area eligible for the designation .
That will be followed by public comment .
No decision will be made Tuesday , but both the village and a community group have disseminated information in advance of the public hearing , including links to studies , meeting videos and other details that brought it to this point .
`` This truly is an opportunity to learn more and ask more ( questions ) and express your opinion , '' said Karl Borchers , a village resident and founding member of Residents Supporting a Successful Redevelopment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than 800 members .
Borchers said the group is not affiliated with anyone promoting or opposing the mall redevelopment , but is a way for informed residents to share what has been learned with neighbors .
`` We 're not against the TIF , '' he said .
`` It 's more of an educational effort . ''
`` Part of it is being mindful of how that will impact the rest of the community and help us understand what 's the same and what 's different , '' Borchers added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Village Manager Mark Fleischhauer , mfleischhauer @ vhills.org , by 4 p.m. today .
Dallas-based Centennial Real Estate bought the mall as a long-term investment and over the past two years has outlined a vision to reinvigorate the property .
The proposal , which includes hundreds of housing units , a grocery store , restaurants , elaborate public gathering spaces and other potential uses will require financial assistance , Centennial has emphasized .
The TIF designation would affect several taxing bodies , including Hawthorn Elementary School District 73 .
School officials had initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TIF designation at the public hearing .
Representatives from the local taxing bodies met in late August as a Joint Review Board and recommended the TIF district , with District 73 and Lake County voting against .
The meeting is on the village 's YouTube channel .
Hawthorn is considered the centerpiece of the village 's large commercial base , but like many other retail centers has been in decline .
Two of the four anchor stores have closed and about 45 % of the 1.27 million-square-foot mall is either vacant or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TIF study .
Fleischhauer said Tuesday 's hearing will only involve the establishment of the TIF district .
`` It has nothing to do with the financial details , '' he said .
Those elements are being negotiated and eventually will be outlined in a redevelopment agreement with Centennial .
`` We 're not even close on that , '' Fleischhauer said .

Should Vernon Hills give tax incentive for Hawthorn Mall plan? Public gets its say
Some key details -- such as the amount of tax incentive to be provided -- are still to be determined, but a milestone will be reached Tuesday in the long and deliberate process to reinvent Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills.
A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive, as the final requirement before the village board decides whether to designate most of the mall property as a tax increment financing district. That vote could come later this month.
Village officials agree the aging mall, a key sales tax generator, needs to be upgraded. A TIF district is the mechanism that would allow a proposed $250 million makeover to proceed.
A TIF district is a sometimes-controversial development incentive in which property tax disbursements to schools, libraries and other local governments are frozen at current levels. Any additional tax revenue generated by rising property values goes into a special fund to pay for improvements within the district.
On Tuesday, Kane, McKenna and Associates Inc., the village's consultant in the TIF process, will give a brief overview of the factors that make the 63-acre area eligible for the designation. That will be followed by public comment.
No decision will be made Tuesday, but both the village and a community group have disseminated information in advance of the public hearing, including links to studies, meeting videos and other details that brought it to this point.
"This truly is an opportunity to learn more and ask more (questions) and express your opinion," said Karl Borchers, a village resident and founding member of Residents Supporting a Successful Redevelopment of Hawthorn Mall, a Facebook group with more than 800 members.
Borchers said the group is not affiliated with anyone promoting or opposing the mall redevelopment, but is a way for informed residents to share what has been learned with neighbors.
"We're not against the TIF," he said. "It's more of an educational effort."
"Part of it is being mindful of how that will impact the rest of the community and help us understand what's the same and what's different," Borchers added.
Comments also can be sent to Village Manager Mark Fleischhauer, mfleischhauer@vhills.org, by 4 p.m. today.
Dallas-based Centennial Real Estate bought the mall as a long-term investment and over the past two years has outlined a vision to reinvigorate the property.
The proposal, which includes hundreds of housing units, a grocery store, restaurants, elaborate public gathering spaces and other potential uses will require financial assistance, Centennial has emphasized.
The TIF designation would affect several taxing bodies, including Hawthorn Elementary School District 73. School officials had initial concerns but now are expected to support the TIF designation at the public hearing.
Representatives from the local taxing bodies met in late August as a Joint Review Board and recommended the TIF district, with District 73 and Lake County voting against.
The meeting is on the village's YouTube channel.
Hawthorn is considered the centerpiece of the village's large commercial base, but like many other retail centers has been in decline. Two of the four anchor stores have closed and about 45% of the 1.27 million-square-foot mall is either vacant or subject to short-term leases, according to the TIF study.
Fleischhauer said Tuesday's hearing will only involve the establishment of the TIF district.
"It has nothing to do with the financial details," he said.
Those elements are being negotiated and eventually will be outlined in a redevelopment agreement with Centennial.
"We're not even close on that," Fleischhauer said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Feder: Home at last, anchorman Ray Cortopassi debuts tonight on 'Chicago's Very Own'

Growing up in south suburban Dolton , Ray Cortopassi fondly remembers another Ray -- the legendary children 's show performer Ray Rayner -- who was a fixture on WGN-Channel 9 for 20 years .
Tonight begins the era of a new Ray at `` Chicago 's Very Own '' as Cortopassi debuts alongside Micah Materre as co-anchor of the station 's 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts .
Cortopassi , 53 , joins the Nexstar Media Group flagship station after a 26-year professional trek from Chicago to Traverse City , Michigan , to Las Vegas to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an anchor and reporter for ABC , NBC and Fox affiliates ) .
Now the journey brings him back home where he graduated from Columbia College Chicago and launched his career as a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown and a reporter and broadcast editor for City News Bureau of Chicago .
At WGN he replaces Joe Donlon , who held the job for two years before he was named co-anchor `` News Nation , '' Nexstar 's primetime newscast on WGN America .
Get the full report , and more Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @

Feder: Home at last, anchorman Ray Cortopassi debuts tonight on 'Chicago's Very Own'
Growing up in south suburban Dolton, Ray Cortopassi fondly remembers another Ray -- the legendary children's show performer Ray Rayner -- who was a fixture on WGN-Channel 9 for 20 years.
Tonight begins the era of a new Ray at "Chicago's Very Own" as Cortopassi debuts alongside Micah Materre as co-anchor of the station's 5, 6, 9 and 10 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts.
Cortopassi, 53, joins the Nexstar Media Group flagship station after a 26-year professional trek from Chicago to Traverse City, Michigan, to Las Vegas to Indianapolis (where he spent two decades as an anchor and reporter for ABC, NBC and Fox affiliates).
Now the journey brings him back home where he graduated from Columbia College Chicago and launched his career as a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown and a reporter and broadcast editor for City News Bureau of Chicago.
At WGN he replaces Joe Donlon, who held the job for two years before he was named co-anchor "News Nation," Nexstar's primetime newscast on WGN America.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--The Latest: Kvitova reaches 1st French Open QF since 2012

PARIS -- The Latest from the French Open ( all times local ) : Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the French Open quarterfinals for the first time in eight years by beating Zhang Shuai 6-2 , 6-4 .
The seventh-seeded Czech player lost her only semifinal match at Roland Garros in 2012 .
Zhang had a medical timeout while trailing 5-2 in the first set .
Kvitova sat waiting wrapped in a pink coat to combat the chilly conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier .
She then did some leg exercises to keep warm .
The 30-year-old Kvitova will next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat Paula Badosa 7-5 , 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at a major tournament for the first time .
There will still be crowds for the final week of French Open after Paris police decided not to reduce the limit of 1,000 spectators per day .
Paris police chief Didier Lallement said bars in Paris will close for two weeks from Tuesday as part of new measures to slow coronavirus infections .
But he maintained the current limit of 1,000 spectators at sports events in Paris and specifically noted the clay-court tournament at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a relief to players .
Many have said how much they appreciate having spectators even in much smaller numbers than normal .

The Latest: Kenin in French Open quarterfinals for 1st time
Russia's Andrey Rublev celebrates winning his fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
Spain's Paula Badosa gets medical assistance in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Germany's Laura Siegemund at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
Germany's Laura Siegemund serves against Spain's Paula Badosa in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
Three spectators watch a fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. There will still be small crowds at Roland Garros for the final week of French Open, after the Paris police chief decided Monday not to further reduce the limit of 1,000 spectators per day, as part of new measures to slow coronavirus infections in the French capital. Associated Press
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates winning her fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against China's Zhang Shuai in two sets 6-2, 6-4, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
Serbia's Novak Djokovic wears a face mask with the national flag as he enters the court for his fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia's Karen Khachanov at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
Sofia Kenin of the U.S. plays a shot against France's Fiona Ferro in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Associated Press
PARIS -- The Latest from the French Open (all times local):
___
8:30 p.m.
Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin turned things around at the French Open after a poor opening set to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the first time.
The No. 4-seeded Kenin beat the 49th-ranked Fiona Ferro 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 at Court Philippe Chatrier. Ferro was the last French man or woman still around in singles.
Chair umpire Marijana Veljovic warned Kenin's father, Alexander, for coaching, which is not allowed during Grand Slam matches. Alexander Kenin had changed seats during the match to be right next to Ferro's coach, Emmanuel Planque, who was closer to the court.
Kenin upset Serena Williams at last year's French Open en route to making it to the fourth round. But until now, the 21-year-old American had never been to the quarterfinals at any clay-court tournament.
She won her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park at the start of this season and now is 14-1 at major tournaments in 2020.
Kenin won't find out who her next opponent is until Tuesday. That's because the fourth-round match between another American, Danielle Collins, and 30th-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia was rained out Monday and delayed a day.
___
6:20 p.m.
Novak Djokovic reached the French Open quarterfinals for the 11th consecutive year, extending his own Open-era record at the tournament.
The top-seeded Djokovic faced his toughest challenge yet this year at Roland Garros but still won rather easily against No. 15 seed Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 at Court Philippe Chatrier, taking the last four games.
The stadium's new $55 million retractable roof was shut because of a heavy downpour.
Djokovic has won all 12 sets he's played in Paris this year and dropped a total of only 25 games so far. He lost five games in each of his first three matches.
This victory puts Djokovic in his 47th Grand Slam quarterfinal, second only to Roger Federer's 57.
Djokovic is seeking a second French Open championship and 18th major trophy overall. Among men, only Federer, with 20, and Rafael Nadal, with 19, have more.
Djokovic will face No. 17 seed Pablo Carreño Busta or qualifier Daniel Altmaier next. The rain prevented their fourth-round match from starting when it was supposed to at open-air Court Suzanne Lenglen.
___
3:25 p.m.
Andrey Rublev reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Marton Fucsovics 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
The 13th-seeded Russian saved three set points serving at 5-4 down and 0-40 in the fourth set.
He won on his second match point when the unseeded Fucsovics put a forehand into the net after Rublev had hit a volley at the net.
The two-time U.S. Open quarterfinalist Rublev had never been beyond the first round at Roland Garros.
He next faces fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.
___
12:55 p.m.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the French Open quarterfinals for the first time in eight years by beating Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-4.
The seventh-seeded Czech player lost her only semifinal match at Roland Garros in 2012.
Zhang had a medical timeout while trailing 5-2 in the first set.
Kvitova sat waiting wrapped in a pink coat to combat the chilly conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier. She then did some leg exercises to keep warm.
The 30-year-old Kvitova will next face Laura Siegemund. The unseeded German beat Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at a major tournament for the first time.
___
12:20 p.m.
There will still be crowds for the final week of French Open after Paris police decided not to reduce the limit of 1,000 spectators per day.
Paris police chief Didier Lallement said bars in Paris will close for two weeks from Tuesday as part of new measures to slow coronavirus infections.
But he maintained the current limit of 1,000 spectators at sports events in Paris and specifically noted the clay-court tournament at Roland Garros.
The decision will come as a relief to players.
Many have said how much they appreciate having spectators even in much smaller numbers than normal.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--President Trump back at White House to recover from COVID-19

BETHESDA , Md .
-- Stepping gingerly , President Donald Trump walked out the military hospital Monday night where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for COVID-19 , immediately igniting a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans .
Back at the White House , he climbed the South Portico steps , removed his mask and declared , `` I feel good . ''
He gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter from the portico terrace , where aides had arranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , the president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a waiting SUV that carried him to Marine One for the short helicopter flight back to the White House .
Trump 's doctor , Navy Cdr .
Sean Conley , said the president would not be fully `` out of the woods '' for another week but that Trump had met or exceeded standards for discharge from the hospital .
Trump is expected to continue his recovery at the White House , where the reach of the outbreak that has infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still being uncovered .
Still Trump , who remains contagious , indicated he wo n't be kept from campaigning for long , tweeting before leaving the hospital , `` Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon !
!
! ''
Trump made a point of sounding confident earlier .
He tweeted , `` I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M .
Feeling really good !
Do n't be afraid of Covid .
Do n't let it dominate your life .
...
I feel better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' However , that message alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president 's own illness had not caused him to rethink his often-cavalier attitude toward the disease , which has also infected the first lady and several White House aides , including new cases revealed on Monday .
`` We have to be realistic in this : COVID is a complete threat to the American population , '' said Dr. David Nace of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , an expert on infections in older adults .
`` Most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , '' with an in-house medical unit and access to experimental treatments , Nace added .
`` It 's an unconscionable message , '' agreed Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine .
`` I would go so far as to say that it may precipitate or worsen spread . ''
There was political pushback to Trump 's attitude toward the virus , as well .
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told the Houston Chronicle editorial board that Trump had `` let his guard down '' in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving beyond the virus and had created `` confusion '' about how to stay safe .
Conley said that because of Trump 's unusual level of treatment so early after discovery of his illness he was in `` uncharted territory . ''
But the doctor also was upbeat at an afternoon briefing and said the president could resume his normal schedule once `` there is no evidence of live virus still present . ''
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should isolate for at least -- 10 days .
Trump 's expected discharge raised new questions about how the administration was going to protect other officials from a disease that remains rampant in the president 's body .
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had tested positive for the virus Monday morning and was entering quarantine .
Both Nace and Khan expressed fear Trump wo n't properly stay isolated at the White House -- and that he has n't learned his lesson about wearing a mask .
`` We know he hates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be restricted , we know he 's unpredictable , '' Nace said .
`` The rest of the American people are held accountable to a 10-day isolation period . ''
There were also lingering questions about potential long term effects to the president -- and even when he first came down with the virus Conley repeatedly declined to share results of medical scans of Trump 's lungs , saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information because Trump did not waive doctor-patient confidentiality on the subject .
COVID-19 has been known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some patients .
Conley also declined to share the date of Trump 's most recent negative test for the virus -- a critical point for contact tracing and understanding where Trump was in the course of the disease .
Trump 's nonchalant message about not fearing the virus comes as his own administration has encouraged Americans to be very careful and take precautions to avoid contracting and spreading the disease as cases continue to spike across the country .
For more than eight months , Trump 's efforts to play down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propping up the economy ahead of the election have drawn bipartisan criticism .
Only a day earlier , Trump suggested he had finally grasped the true nature of the virus , saying in a video , `` I get it . ''
But then on Sunday afternoon , Trump briefly ventured out of the hospital while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade -- an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus .
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick .
Trump 's experience with the disease has been dramatically different from most Americans , who do not have access to the same kind of monitoring and care .
While most must cope with their symptoms -- and fear of whether they 'll take a turn for the worse -- at home and alone , Trump has been staying in the presidential suite of one of the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experimental drugs not readily available to the public .
He returns to the White House where there is a team of doctors on call with 24-hour monitoring .
Trump was leaving the hospital after receiving a fourth dose of the antiviral drug remdesivir Monday evening , Conley said .
He will receive the fifth and final dose Tuesday at the White House .
Less than one month before Election Day , Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness and to press his campaign effort across the country .
Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Trump announced he would soon leave the hospital .
The vice president boarded Air Force Two to fly to Salt Lake City , where he is to face off against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday .
Joe Biden 's campaign , meanwhile , said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday .
The results came five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump .
McEnany , who announced Monday that she had contracted the virus , spoke briefly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask , but said that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts .
Even before Trump 's motorcade outing on Sunday , some Secret Service agents had expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House , but there is n't much they can do , according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press .
This close to the election , thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive .
Trump 's aggressive course of treatment included the steroid dexamethasone and the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus .
Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir , a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients .
The drugs work in different ways -- the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus , and remdesivir curbs the virus ' ability to multiply .

President Trump back at White House to recover from COVID-19
President Donald Trump adjusts his suit as he stands on the balcony outside of the Blue Room as returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump stands on the balcony outside of the Blue Room as returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump stands on the balcony outside of the Blue Room as returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump puts his face mask into his pocket as he stands on the balcony outside of the Blue Room as returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump talks as he stands on the balcony outside of the Blue Room as returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump gives thumbs up as he returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Trump announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 2. Associated press
President Donald Trump gestures as he returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Associated press
President Donald Trump, standing on the Blue Room Balcony, watches Marine One fly off after arriving back at the White House, Monday evening, Oct. 5, 2020 in Washington, after being treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Associated press
President Donald Trump waves as he returns to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. Trump announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 2. Associated press
BETHESDA, Md. -- Stepping gingerly, President Donald Trump walked out the military hospital Monday night where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for COVID-19, immediately igniting a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans.
Back at the White House, he climbed the South Portico steps, removed his mask and declared, "I feel good." He gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter from the portico terrace, where aides had arranged American flags for the occasion.
Minutes earlier, the president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a waiting SUV that carried him to Marine One for the short helicopter flight back to the White House.
Trump's doctor, Navy Cdr. Sean Conley, said the president would not be fully "out of the woods" for another week but that Trump had met or exceeded standards for discharge from the hospital. Trump is expected to continue his recovery at the White House, where the reach of the outbreak that has infected the highest levels of the U.S. government is still being uncovered.
Still Trump, who remains contagious, indicated he won't be kept from campaigning for long, tweeting before leaving the hospital, "Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!"
Trump made a point of sounding confident earlier. He tweeted, "I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life. ... I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"
However, that message alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president's own illness had not caused him to rethink his often-cavalier attitude toward the disease, which has also infected the first lady and several White House aides, including new cases revealed on Monday.
"We have to be realistic in this: COVID is a complete threat to the American population," said Dr. David Nace of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an expert on infections in older adults.
"Most of the people aren't so lucky as the president," with an in-house medical unit and access to experimental treatments, Nace added.
"It's an unconscionable message," agreed Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "I would go so far as to say that it may precipitate or worsen spread."
There was political pushback to Trump's attitude toward the virus, as well.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told the Houston Chronicle editorial board that Trump had "let his guard down" in his effort to show that the country was moving beyond the virus and had created "confusion" about how to stay safe.
Conley said that because of Trump's unusual level of treatment so early after discovery of his illness he was in "uncharted territory." But the doctor also was upbeat at an afternoon briefing and said the president could resume his normal schedule once "there is no evidence of live virus still present."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many -- and should isolate for at least -- 10 days.
Trump's expected discharge raised new questions about how the administration was going to protect other officials from a disease that remains rampant in the president's body. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had tested positive for the virus Monday morning and was entering quarantine.
Both Nace and Khan expressed fear Trump won't properly stay isolated at the White House -- and that he hasn't learned his lesson about wearing a mask.
"We know he hates the mask, we know he hates to be restricted, we know he's unpredictable," Nace said. "The rest of the American people are held accountable to a 10-day isolation period."
There were also lingering questions about potential long term effects to the president -- and even when he first came down with the virus
Conley repeatedly declined to share results of medical scans of Trump's lungs, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information because Trump did not waive doctor-patient confidentiality on the subject. COVID-19 has been known to cause significant damage to the lungs of some patients. Conley also declined to share the date of Trump's most recent negative test for the virus -- a critical point for contact tracing and understanding where Trump was in the course of the disease.
Trump's nonchalant message about not fearing the virus comes as his own administration has encouraged Americans to be very careful and take precautions to avoid contracting and spreading the disease as cases continue to spike across the country. For more than eight months, Trump's efforts to play down the threat of the virus in hopes of propping up the economy ahead of the election have drawn bipartisan criticism.
Only a day earlier, Trump suggested he had finally grasped the true nature of the virus, saying in a video, "I get it." But then on Sunday afternoon, Trump briefly ventured out of the hospital while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade -- an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus.
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where doctors revealed that his blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick.
Trump's experience with the disease has been dramatically different from most Americans, who do not have access to the same kind of monitoring and care. While most must cope with their symptoms -- and fear of whether they'll take a turn for the worse -- at home and alone, Trump has been staying in the presidential suite of one of the nation's best hospitals and has been given experimental drugs not readily available to the public. He returns to the White House where there is a team of doctors on call with 24-hour monitoring.
Trump was leaving the hospital after receiving a fourth dose of the antiviral drug remdesivir Monday evening, Conley said. He will receive the fifth and final dose Tuesday at the White House.
Less than one month before Election Day, Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness and to press his campaign effort across the country.
Vice President Mike Pence returned to the campaign trail moments after Trump announced he would soon leave the hospital. The vice president boarded Air Force Two to fly to Salt Lake City, where he is to face off against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday.
Joe Biden's campaign, meanwhile, said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday. The results came five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump.
McEnany, who announced Monday that she had contracted the virus, spoke briefly with reporters on Sunday evening without wearing a mask, but said that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.
Even before Trump's motorcade outing on Sunday, some Secret Service agents had expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House, but there isn't much they can do, according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press. This close to the election, thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive.
Trump's aggressive course of treatment included the steroid dexamethasone and the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus. Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients. The drugs work in different ways -- the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus, and remdesivir curbs the virus' ability to multiply.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--St. Viator halts in-person classes, athletics after 'higher than acceptable' COVID-19 rate

Six weeks after starting the school year in person , St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights closed its doors Monday and switched to remote learning because of a `` higher than acceptable '' COVID-19 incidence rate within the school community , officials said .
New positive COVID-19 test cases among those in the school were reported over the weekend and during the overnight hours Monday , reaching `` our threshold for keeping our students and faculty safe , '' school President Brian Liedlich and Principal Karen Love wrote in a letter to parents .
Officials plan to resume classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but said conditions will dictate that decision .
For now , all classes are remote , and students will be expected to follow their block schedule via Zoom video conferencing .
All extracurricular activities , including athletic practices and games , are suspended .
`` While we had experienced only a few isolated instances since returning to school on Aug. 24 , in the past few days the number of reports exceeded what we feel allows us to provide a safe environment for our faculty , staff and students , '' Liedlich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are well-prepared to continue with a robust eLearning experience and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the school once we are certain that the threat of spread has been sufficiently reduced . ''
School spokesman Jim Mitchell did not say whether the positive COVID-19 tests came from students or faculty members .
All results were reported to the school , and all who enter the building have been required to complete a daily wellness form and have their temperatures taken , he said .
The school does not administer COVID-19 tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to report to the school nurse any student who tests positive or exhibits symptoms over the next 14 days .
Other COVID-19 test results are pending , Mitchell said .
Most of St. Viator 's 837 students chose the school 's in-person learning option , with a few choosing remote , when the academic year began Aug. 24 .

St. Viator halts in-person classes, athletics after 'higher than acceptable' COVID-19 rate
Six weeks after starting the school year in person, St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights closed its doors Monday and switched to remote learning because of a "higher than acceptable" COVID-19 incidence rate within the school community, officials said.
New positive COVID-19 test cases among those in the school were reported over the weekend and during the overnight hours Monday, reaching "our threshold for keeping our students and faculty safe," school President Brian Liedlich and Principal Karen Love wrote in a letter to parents.
Officials plan to resume classes in two weeks, on Oct. 19, but said conditions will dictate that decision.
For now, all classes are remote, and students will be expected to follow their block schedule via Zoom video conferencing. All extracurricular activities, including athletic practices and games, are suspended.
"While we had experienced only a few isolated instances since returning to school on Aug. 24, in the past few days the number of reports exceeded what we feel allows us to provide a safe environment for our faculty, staff and students," Liedlich said in a statement. "We are well-prepared to continue with a robust eLearning experience and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the school once we are certain that the threat of spread has been sufficiently reduced."
School spokesman Jim Mitchell did not say whether the positive COVID-19 tests came from students or faculty members. All results were reported to the school, and all who enter the building have been required to complete a daily wellness form and have their temperatures taken, he said.
The school does not administer COVID-19 tests, Mitchell said, but officials asked parents to continue to report to the school nurse any student who tests positive or exhibits symptoms over the next 14 days.
Other COVID-19 test results are pending, Mitchell said.
Most of St. Viator's 837 students chose the school's in-person learning option, with a few choosing remote, when the academic year began Aug. 24.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Regal Cinemas' nationwide closures another financial blow to suburbs

Delays with the release of big-budget Hollywood films -- the latest is the James Bond franchise 's `` No Time to Die '' postponed until April -- could be the death knell for suburban cinema houses and result in more lost revenue that further strains communities .
Regal Entertainment Group , the nation 's second-largest cinema chain , announced Monday it temporarily will close 536 theaters nationwide Thursday after reopening in August , according to news reports .
That includes Regal cinemas in Crystal Lake , Lake Zurich , Lincolnshire , Round Lake Beach , and Warrenville .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Lincolnshire Village Manager Brad Burke said of the anticipated loss of $ 200,000 in admission , sales and food and beverage tax revenues from the theater 's closure .
`` This news obviously will be taken into consideration as we put together our budget for 2021 . ''
COVID-19 pandemic-related business shutdowns and revenue losses are expected to create a $ 3 million shortfall this fiscal year , Burke said .
The 20-theater Regal Cinema and IMAX is part of the Citypark at Lincolnshire development on the southwest corner of Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is home to unique boutiques , a variety of restaurants , miniature golf , ceramic painting and outdoor summer concerts .
Movie ticket sales alone typically generate up to $ 175,000 in yearly revenues for the village , Burke said .
Lincolnshire relies heavily on hotel , food and beverage , sales and entertainment taxes to fund operations .
Since the pandemic hit , officials have curbed expenses , including imposing a hiring freeze , not filling vacancies , delaying certain capital projects , and spending only on essential services , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Burke said .
He said he hopes Hollywood starts releasing new movies soon so shuttered theaters can reopen in his and other communities , `` especially now that people are able to go and attend . ''
`` People in general are looking for things to do .
It 's a great amenity to have in town , '' Burke said .
Regal Cinemas has n't made any statements regarding when its theaters would reopen .
Shares in Cineworld Group Plc , the parent company that owns 663 Regal , Cineworld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and U.K. , fell roughly 58 % after Monday 's announcement about closing venues in both countries , affecting 45,000 employees .
Shares in AMC Entertainment also fell 10 % after Cineworld 's news .
AMC Theatres is the world 's largest cinema operator .
It lost $ 561 million last quarter due to the pandemic , according to news reports .

Regal Cinemas' nationwide closures another financial blow to suburbs
Delays with the release of big-budget Hollywood films -- the latest is the James Bond franchise's "No Time to Die" postponed until April -- could be the death knell for suburban cinema houses and result in more lost revenue that further strains communities.
Regal Entertainment Group, the nation's second-largest cinema chain, announced Monday it temporarily will close 536 theaters nationwide Thursday after reopening in August, according to news reports. That includes Regal cinemas in Crystal Lake, Lake Zurich, Lincolnshire, Round Lake Beach, and Warrenville.
"This does have a big impact on us," Lincolnshire Village Manager Brad Burke said of the anticipated loss of $200,000 in admission, sales and food and beverage tax revenues from the theater's closure. "This news obviously will be taken into consideration as we put together our budget for 2021."
COVID-19 pandemic-related business shutdowns and revenue losses are expected to create a $3 million shortfall this fiscal year, Burke said.
The 20-theater Regal Cinema and IMAX is part of the Citypark at Lincolnshire development on the southwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Aptakisic Road. It also is home to unique boutiques, a variety of restaurants, miniature golf, ceramic painting and outdoor summer concerts.
Movie ticket sales alone typically generate up to $175,000 in yearly revenues for the village, Burke said.
Lincolnshire relies heavily on hotel, food and beverage, sales and entertainment taxes to fund operations. Since the pandemic hit, officials have curbed expenses, including imposing a hiring freeze, not filling vacancies, delaying certain capital projects, and spending only on essential services, he said.
Village board policy requires maintaining 75% of operating expenses in reserve.
"That provides an additional cushion," Burke said.
He said he hopes Hollywood starts releasing new movies soon so shuttered theaters can reopen in his and other communities, "especially now that people are able to go and attend."
"People in general are looking for things to do. It's a great amenity to have in town," Burke said.
Regal Cinemas hasn't made any statements regarding when its theaters would reopen.
Shares in Cineworld Group Plc, the parent company that owns 663 Regal, Cineworld and Picturehouse movie theaters in the U.S. and U.K., fell roughly 58% after Monday's announcement about closing venues in both countries, affecting 45,000 employees.
Shares in AMC Entertainment also fell 10% after Cineworld's news. AMC Theatres is the world's largest cinema operator. It lost $561 million last quarter due to the pandemic, according to news reports.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Residents report flags, political signs damaged or stolen in Palatine

There have been five police reports of flags and political signs -- two from the same property -- damaged or stolen since mid-September in Palatine .
All but one had a conservative bent , and all were located on properties in the northeast side of the village .
Police do n't believe all the incidents are connected , Sgt .
Bruce Morris said .
Officers recovered video showing one of the thefts but the image quality is not clear enough .
`` Unfortunately this is something that happens every election cycle , '' he said .
The first report was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1200 block of North Rohlwing Road who said someone broke a flagpole with a Donald Trump flag attached to his garage .
The flag was left on the driveway , and the damage was estimated at $ 300 .
A resident on the 800 block of North Auburn Woods Drive reported that three signs for Republican candidates in the Nov. 3 election were stolen Sept. 20 .
The same resident reported two additional signs stolen from the property Sept. 27 , one supporting Republican candidates and one sign opposing the Fair Tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block of Aldridge Avenue reported the theft Sept. 26 of two political signs asking to `` vote Republican '' and `` defund the Left . ''
The resident 's security camera showed a woman taking the signs but the video was not very clear , a police report says .
Resident Mike Colby reported Sept. 27 that two days earlier someone tore down a flag mount with a `` thin red flag '' attached to the house .
Colby said he bought a new mount and rehung the flag , which expresses support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works as a firefighter/paramedic in Detroit , said he believes someone mistook his flag for a `` thin blue line '' flag expressing support for police .
`` The Republicans have adopted , to a certain degree , the 'blue line ' flag .
My guess somebody saw ( my ) flag and it was dark ... and mistook it , '' he said .
Colby said he retired from working in law enforcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and considers himself `` bipartisan and left of center . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political signs , no matter their political stance .
`` It 's not what we are about , '' he said .
`` We 're a country where , OK , we do n't have to like each other , but respect each other . ''

Residents report flags, political signs damaged or stolen in Palatine
Editor's note: this story was updated to say the reports came from several areas in the village.
There have been five police reports of flags and political signs -- two from the same property -- damaged or stolen since mid-September in Palatine.
All but one had a conservative bent. The reports came from several areas in the village.
Police don't believe all the incidents are connected, Sgt. Bruce Morris said. Officers recovered video showing one of the thefts but the image quality is not clear enough.
"Unfortunately this is something that happens every election cycle," he said.
The first report was made Sept. 14 by a resident on the 1200 block of North Rohlwing Road who said someone broke a flagpole with a Donald Trump flag attached to his garage. The flag was left on the driveway, and the damage was estimated at $300.
A resident on the 800 block of North Auburn Woods Drive reported that three signs for Republican candidates in the Nov. 3 election were stolen Sept. 20. The same resident reported two additional signs stolen from the property Sept. 27, one supporting Republican candidates and one sign opposing the Fair Tax amendment.
A resident in the 0-100 block of Aldridge Avenue reported the theft Sept. 26 of two political signs asking to "vote Republican" and "defund the Left." The resident's security camera showed a woman taking the signs but the video was not very clear, a police report says.
Resident Mike Colby reported Sept. 27 that two days earlier someone tore down a flag mount with a "thin red flag" attached to the house. Colby said he bought a new mount and rehung the flag, which expresses support for firefighters.
Colby, whose son works as a firefighter/paramedic in Detroit, said he believes someone mistook his flag for a "thin blue line" flag expressing support for police.
"The Republicans have adopted, to a certain degree, the 'blue line' flag. My guess somebody saw (my) flag and it was dark ... and mistook it," he said.
Colby said he retired from working in law enforcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and considers himself "bipartisan and left of center." He condemned anyone who tears down flags or political signs, no matter their political stance.
"It's not what we are about," he said. "We're a country where, OK, we don't have to like each other, but respect each other."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--State of the Cubs: Epstein focused on improving dismal offense

Theo Epstein delivered his State of the Cubs Monday , and one message was to slam the breaks on the theory he might leave before his contract expires next season .
In fact , he did n't rule out staying beyond next season , even though he 's said in the past that team executives tend to have a 10-year shelf life , no matter how successful .
`` I 'm not going to run away from those feelings , but I also am as invested in the Chicago Cubs as our leader in baseball operations today as I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , '' he said .
`` I woke up this morning thinking about how we can improve for next year and position ourselves for long-term success .
My expectation is that I 'll be here . ''
Epstein said he 'll meet with Chairman Tom Ricketts soon to discuss the team , a meeting that happens every year .
There are plenty of issues to address , such as how much money there is to spend , how to score some runs in the playoffs and what happens to four core players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Javy Baez and Kyle Schwarber -- set to hit free-agency after next season .
Epstein said he 's already texted with pitcher Jon Lester and may discuss ways to bring him back next year .
But he also acknowledged the Cubs will be in the market for starting pitchers , with Tyler Chatwood and Jose Quintana hitting free agency .
Here 's some of what Epstein had to say about these topics : Is this the end of the line for the nucleus of players left from the World Series team ?
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't think we 're in a position to definitively state that this is an end , '' he said .
`` At the same time , I talked about being accountable and owning it .
We ca n't continue to run the exact same offense , the exact same group of guys out there and expect better results . ''
Epstein pointed out the three position players who led the Cubs in WAR -- Ian Happ , Jason Heyward and Willson Contreras -- are all under contract for two more seasons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all relatively young , with Rizzo the senior member at 30 .
`` I think the best way to approach this is acknowledging we 're at a period of real transition , '' Epstein said .
`` Some of these guys are going to be parts of the solution and the next productive Cubs offense and there 's also going to be contributions from guys who are not in the organization right now . ''
Why could n't these guys score more against Miami ?
`` We were getting beat in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not something that had really happened in the past , '' he said .
`` To me , when really good hitters are getting beat in the strike zone by fastballs , it means they 're off .
`` They do n't have their rhythm , they do n't have their timing .
They 're caught in between .
They do n't have their confidence .
They 're not locked in with their approach . ''
The final inning of the season was a good example .
Trailing 2-0 , Heyward led off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baez , David Bote and Jason Kipnis all struck out to end the inning , game and season .
Baez had a particularly rough season , striking out in one-third of his plate appearances and finishing with an on-base percentage of .238 .
`` I think the pressure of making the adjustment , getting out of the slump , knowing there were just 60 games to play with , wore heavy on a lot of guys , '' Epstein said .
`` It 's still real , we have to own it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being on the fastball , owning the strike zone and being a much more difficult at bat . ''
What will happen during the offseason ?
The expectation is there will be no winter meetings , so Epstein will have to rely on the old-fashioned method of picking up the phone and talking to other teams about trades .
Bryant , Rizzo , Baez and Schwarber are coming off bad years , so their trade value figures to be lower than it would have been a year or two ago .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro sports , it 's not clear how many teams will be OK with adding salary .
`` We have a lot going for us as an organization going forward and a lot of chips to bring to the table this offseason , '' Epstein said .
`` We have two of the best starting pitchers in the game ( Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks ) , on good contracts .
`` Certain fundamentals are true of this market that have been true for decades .
One of those is a one-year deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valuable thing .
That 's to our benefit both with what we can do in constructing the 2021 team and also potentially to our benefit in the trade market .
`` Is it possible to thread the needle and improve in 2021 while also setting ourselves up for the long-term future ?
I think it is . ''

State of the Cubs: Epstein focused on improving dismal offense
Cubs President Theo Epstein said Monday he has every intention to right the ship in time for the 2021 season. Associated Press
Theo Epstein delivered his State of the Cubs Monday, and one message was to slam the breaks on the theory he might leave before his contract expires next season.
In fact, he didn't rule out staying beyond next season, even though he's said in the past that team executives tend to have a 10-year shelf life, no matter how successful.
"I'm not going to run away from those feelings, but I also am as invested in the Chicago Cubs as our leader in baseball operations today as I was at any point in the last nine years," he said. "I woke up this morning thinking about how we can improve for next year and position ourselves for long-term success. My expectation is that I'll be here."
Epstein said he'll meet with Chairman Tom Ricketts soon to discuss the team, a meeting that happens every year.
There are plenty of issues to address, such as how much money there is to spend, how to score some runs in the playoffs and what happens to four core players -- Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javy Baez and Kyle Schwarber -- set to hit free-agency after next season.
Epstein said he's already texted with pitcher Jon Lester and may discuss ways to bring him back next year. But he also acknowledged the Cubs will be in the market for starting pitchers, with Tyler Chatwood and Jose Quintana hitting free agency.
Here's some of what Epstein had to say about these topics:
Is this the end of the line for the nucleus of players left from the World Series team?
"Because of all the unknowns, I don't think we're in a position to definitively state that this is an end," he said. "At the same time, I talked about being accountable and owning it. We can't continue to run the exact same offense, the exact same group of guys out there and expect better results."
Epstein pointed out the three position players who led the Cubs in WAR -- Ian Happ, Jason Heyward and Willson Contreras -- are all under contract for two more seasons, and how the impending position free agents are all relatively young, with Rizzo the senior member at 30.
"I think the best way to approach this is acknowledging we're at a period of real transition," Epstein said. "Some of these guys are going to be parts of the solution and the next productive Cubs offense and there's also going to be contributions from guys who are not in the organization right now."
Why couldn't these guys score more against Miami?
"We were getting beat in the strike zone by fastballs and that's not something that had really happened in the past," he said. "To me, when really good hitters are getting beat in the strike zone by fastballs, it means they're off.
"They don't have their rhythm, they don't have their timing. They're caught in between. They don't have their confidence. They're not locked in with their approach."
The final inning of the season was a good example. Trailing 2-0, Heyward led off the ninth with a double, then Baez, David Bote and Jason Kipnis all struck out to end the inning, game and season.
Baez had a particularly rough season, striking out in one-third of his plate appearances and finishing with an on-base percentage of .238.
"I think the pressure of making the adjustment, getting out of the slump, knowing there were just 60 games to play with, wore heavy on a lot of guys," Epstein said. "It's still real, we have to own it. We have to reclaim that offensive foundation of being on the fastball, owning the strike zone and being a much more difficult at bat."
What will happen during the offseason?
The expectation is there will be no winter meetings, so Epstein will have to rely on the old-fashioned method of picking up the phone and talking to other teams about trades.
Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Schwarber are coming off bad years, so their trade value figures to be lower than it would have been a year or two ago. And with substantial loss of revenue in all pro sports, it's not clear how many teams will be OK with adding salary.
"We have a lot going for us as an organization going forward and a lot of chips to bring to the table this offseason," Epstein said. "We have two of the best starting pitchers in the game (Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks), on good contracts.
"Certain fundamentals are true of this market that have been true for decades. One of those is a one-year deal for a really talented player is a valuable thing. That's to our benefit both with what we can do in constructing the 2021 team and also potentially to our benefit in the trade market.
"Is it possible to thread the needle and improve in 2021 while also setting ourselves up for the long-term future? I think it is."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--No more free rides on Union Pacific

No more free rides on Union Pacific

Metra Union Pacific riders should be prepared to show tickets or passes at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago this week after months of absent fare collection .
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a contract dispute with Metra , Union Pacific Railroad conductors stopped collecting fares on the UP North , Northwest and West line trains .
But UP employees screened by plexiglass will verify fares at Ogilvie as passengers leave or enter train platforms , railroad officials announced .
Riders are encouraged to use the Ventra app to show ticket status .
`` What we know about COVID-19 continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our employees and commuters to put their health and safety first , '' UP General Superintendent of Commuter Operations Benita Gibson said .
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the strategy `` does not fulfill UP 's obligation to collect all fares on its trains .
It does not call for the resumption of ticket sales and ticket validation by conductors ; it does not even call for conductors to resume walking through the passenger cars . ''
Union Pacific is seeking to extricate itself from operating Metra trains , but the commuter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in place .
The dispute has ended up in federal court .
Metra and its partners UP and BNSF suspended collecting fares during Illinois ' stay-at-home order in mid-March .
But in June , BNSF and Metra conductors resumed collecting fares and walking cars while UP abstained .
The shift by Union Pacific still `` not only results in a loss of revenue to the Metra system , but also results in the erosion of customer safety and security , '' Gillis said .
Typically , Metra trains have two or three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders said its conductors are on hand when passengers board and exit trains , to operate doors and help riders with disabilities .
They contend Metra police should handle safety issues .
Two UP ticket takers agents have died during the pandemic , officials said , but would not specify if that was because of COVID-19 .
`` The American Public Transportation Association recently acknowledged that managing proximity between riders and operators is key to protecting both from COVID-19 exposure , '' UP Chief Medical Officer Laura Gillis stated .

No more free rides on Metra Union Pacific lines
Union Pacific conductors are not collecting fares on Metra trains but employees will verify tickets at Ogilvie Transportation Center. Daily Herald File Photo
Metra Union Pacific riders should be prepared to show tickets or passes at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago this week after months of absent fare collection.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a contract dispute with Metra, Union Pacific Railroad conductors stopped collecting fares on the UP North, Northwest and West line trains.
But UP employees screened by plexiglass will verify fares at Ogilvie as passengers leave or enter train platforms, railroad officials announced. Riders are encouraged to use the Ventra app to show ticket status.
"What we know about COVID-19 continues to change, and we have a responsibility to our employees and commuters to put their health and safety first," UP General Superintendent of Commuter Operations Benita Gibson said.
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the strategy "does not fulfill UP's obligation to collect all fares on its trains. It does not call for the resumption of ticket sales and ticket validation by conductors; it does not even call for conductors to resume walking through the passenger cars."
Union Pacific is seeking to extricate itself from operating Metra trains, but the commuter railroad contends federal law requires UP to stay in place. The dispute has ended up in federal court.
Metra and its partners UP and BNSF suspended collecting fares during Illinois' stay-at-home order in mid-March. But in June, BNSF and Metra conductors resumed collecting fares and walking cars while UP abstained.
UP's actions cost Metra about $1 million a month.
The shift by Union Pacific still "not only results in a loss of revenue to the Metra system, but also results in the erosion of customer safety and security," Gillis said.
Typically, Metra trains have two or three conductors at rush hour.
Union Pacific leaders said its conductors are on hand when passengers board and exit trains, to operate doors and help riders with disabilities. They contend Metra police should handle safety issues.
Two UP ticket takers agents have died during the pandemic, officials said, but would not specify if that was because of COVID-19.
"The American Public Transportation Association recently acknowledged that managing proximity between riders and operators is key to protecting both from COVID-19 exposure," UP Chief Medical Officer Laura Gillis stated.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Cascade Drive-In will make case to reopen before West Chicago panel


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Coronavirus can now spread more than 6 feet, new CDC guidance says

NEW YORK -- The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air , especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces .
But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense .
However , several experts faulted the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance .
They said the virus can spread more easily than the CDC seems to be indicating , and suggested that the public should wear masks even in prolonged outdoor gatherings when they are more than 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling through the air and there is no bright line .
You 're not safe beyond 6 feet .
You ca n't take your mask off at 6 feet , '' said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health .
For months , the CDC has said that the virus spreads mainly through small airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea , saying that 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller particles called aerosols that spread over a wider area .
In the update posted on its website , the agency again acknowledged recent research showing people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after an infected person left an area .
CDC officials called those `` limited , uncommon circumstances . ''
In those cases , spread occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces where people were doing activities that caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CDC officials said .
People can protect themselves by staying at least 6 feet away from others , wearing a mask , washing their hands , cleaning touched surfaces and staying home when sick Last month , the CDC ignited controversy among experts when it quietly posted an update that seemed to suggest the agency 's position had changed , and then within days took it down again .
The short-lived post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet , and officials emphasized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne .
Federal health officials later said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed .
They said there was no major change in the agency 's position , but they would finalize a post to clarify the CDC 's thinking .
That 's what was posted Monday .
A small group of researchers -- including Milton -- on Monday published a letter in the journal Science that called for clearer public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air .
They said health officials need to use clearer language in talking about the size of airborne particles and droplets that can spread the disease , and be more straightforward about the role that viruses in small aerosols can play in infecting people .
Masks and good ventilation are crucial indoors .
But they can be important outdoors too , said Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 's Department of Science Education .
The AP is @ @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus can now spread more than 6 feet, new CDC guidance says
In the update posted on the CDC website, the agency again acknowledged recent research showing people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after an infected person left an area. Associated Press File Photo
NEW YORK -- The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense.
However, several experts faulted the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. They said the virus can spread more easily than the CDC seems to be indicating, and suggested that the public should wear masks even in prolonged outdoor gatherings when they are more than 6 feet apart.
The virus "is traveling through the air and there is no bright line. You're not safe beyond 6 feet. You can't take your mask off at 6 feet," said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
For months, the CDC has said that the virus spreads mainly through small airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea, saying that 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not wearing masks.
In interviews, CDC officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller particles called aerosols that spread over a wider area.
In the update posted on its website, the agency again acknowledged recent research showing people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after an infected person left an area. CDC officials called those "limited, uncommon circumstances."
In those cases, spread occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces where people were doing activities that caused heavier breathing, like singing or exercise, CDC officials said.
People can protect themselves by staying at least 6 feet away from others, wearing a mask, washing their hands, cleaning touched surfaces and staying home when sick
Last month, the CDC ignited controversy among experts when it quietly posted an update that seemed to suggest the agency's position had changed, and then within days took it down again.
The short-lived post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet, and officials emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation. It also added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne.
Federal health officials later said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed. They said there was no major change in the agency's position, but they would finalize a post to clarify the CDC's thinking. That's what was posted Monday.
A small group of researchers -- including Milton -- on Monday published a letter in the journal Science that called for clearer public health guidance about how coronavirus spreads in the air.
They said health officials need to use clearer language in talking about the size of airborne particles and droplets that can spread the disease, and be more straightforward about the role that viruses in small aerosols can play in infecting people.
Masks and good ventilation are crucial indoors. But they can be important outdoors too, said Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Should Vernon Hills give tax incentive for Hawthorn Mall plan? Public gets its say


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Aurora man faces DUI charge after crashing into Bartlett pond

An Aurora man who crashed into a retention pond in Bartlett early Sunday has been charged with driving under the @ @ @ @ @ for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident , authorities said .
Officers responded @ @ @ @ @ crash at the intersection of Schick Road and Woodland Hills in Bartlett about 4:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ had been driving a 2011 GMC vehicle west on Schick Road when it went off @ @ @ @ @ retention pond west of Woodland Hills Parkway .
Walker and his 26-year-old female passenger were @ @ @ @ @ in Winfield with nonlife-threatening injuries , police said .
Walker was released on a $ @ @ @ @ @ a court date of Nov. 3 at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton .

Aurora man faces DUI charge after crashing into Bartlett pond
An Aurora man who crashed into a retention pond in Bartlett early Sunday has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, authorities said.
Bartlett police arrested 27-year-old Juan Walker of Aurora.
Officers responded to a call of a crash at the intersection of Schick Road and Woodland Hills in Bartlett about 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Investigators allege Walker had been driving a 2011 GMC vehicle west on Schick Road when it went off the roadway and into the retention pond west of Woodland Hills Parkway.
Walker and his 26-year-old female passenger were taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield with nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.
Walker was released on a $3,000 individual bond and assigned a court date of Nov. 3 at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-10-05--Feder: With Walt Flakus hosting middays, Rock 95.5 rolls out talent lineup

Walt Flakus , well-known to Chicago rock radio listeners for his years at The Loop and Cumulus Media alternative rock @ @ @ @ @ to host middays on WCHI 95.5-FM , iHeartMedia 's new rock station , Robert Feder @ @ @ @ @ Chicago native who most recently worked at KNDD in Seattle , will be heard from @ @ @ @ @ weekdays as part of the new talent lineup unveiled today at Rock 95.5 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ station that 's right in my wheelhouse , '' said Flakus , who 'll double @ @ @ @ @ James Howard .
`` I could n't be more excited to come home to Chicago @ @ @ @ @ '' As previously reported , Angi Taylor shifted from morning co-host on iHeartMedia Top 40 @ @ @ @ @ on Rock 95.5 .
Joining Taylor 's show as executive producer and on-air contributor is @ @ @ @ @ recently was a content creator and contributor to Brian Hadad 's morning show on 101.1 @ @ @ @ @ report , and more Chicago media news , at robertfeder.com .

Feder: With Walt Flakus hosting middays, Rock 95.5 rolls out talent lineup
Walt Flakus, well-known to Chicago rock radio listeners for his years at The Loop and Cumulus Media alternative rock WKQX 101.1-FM, has returned to host middays on WCHI 95.5-FM, iHeartMedia's new rock station, Robert Feder writes.
Flakus, a Chicago native who most recently worked at KNDD in Seattle, will be heard from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays as part of the new talent lineup unveiled today at Rock 95.5.
"Rock 95.5 is a radio station that's right in my wheelhouse," said Flakus, who'll double as assistant program director under James Howard. "I couldn't be more excited to come home to Chicago and bring the rock."
As previously reported, Angi Taylor shifted from morning co-host on iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC 103.5-FM to morning host on Rock 95.5. Joining Taylor's show as executive producer and on-air contributor is Abe Kanan, who most recently was a content creator and contributor to Brian Hadad's morning show on 101.1 WKQX.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.