chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Zoning Committee to vote on Pilsen landmark district in early December, aldermen say

As community advocates continue to push back against a proposal to turn the Pilsen neighborhood into a landmark district , Ald .
Tom Tunney ( 44th ) said the Zoning Committee he chairs is now slated to cast a crucial vote on the long-delayed plan in early December .
The news came Sunday after protesters disrupted the brunch rush at Tunney ’ s Ann Sather restaurant in Lake View .
As activists in a passing car caravan blared their horns , others stormed the kitchen where Tunney was working and raised concerns the proposed ordinance would lead to further gentrification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ [ Tunney is ] very upset right now , ” Moises Moreno , an organizer with Pilsen Alliance , told reporters after disrupting the brunch service .
“ He should be — because he ’ s messing with the wrong community.
” Tunney later told the Sun-Times a vote has been set for the Dec. 1 Zoning Committee meeting .
And while he acknowledged the “ neighborhood will probably win out , ” Tunney warned that rejecting the plan would leave its historic buildings open for demolition .
Meanwhile , Ald .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his constituents and continued to oppose the proposed ordinance , which initially sought to create a landmark district covering nearly 900 buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries .
“ It would absolutely mean more displacement [ and ] higher costs .
It will certainly accelerate a process that the people have been concerned about , ” said Sigcho-Lopez , adding that at least 10,000 primarily Latino residents have been pushed out of Pilsen over the last decade .
On Thursday , WBEZ reported Chicago ’ s planning commissioner , Maurice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would protect 465 buildings in the neighborhood .
Sigho-Lopez scoffed at that proposal as he continued pushing a separate ordinance that would create a “ demolition-free ” zone covering the same area as the proposed historic landmark district plus the site of St. Adalbert ’ s Church .
The lengthy battle over Pilsen ’ s landmark designation was extended in May , when Sigcho-Lopez and other members of the City Council voted unanimously on a six-month delay to accommodate the needs of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development .
Given the Landmarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an ordinance is set to take effect in January if it ’ s not voted on .
However , Sigcho-Lopes claimed Tunney and Mayor Lori Lightfoot “ unilaterally decided to vote on this extension ” instead of allowing a vote ahead of the initial deadline in May .
“ It is disingenuous for them to keep repeating that I voted in favor of the ordinance [ when ] their procedural maneuvers left me no choice , ” he said .
Lightfoot ’ s office did n't respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear about the timeline .
“ We had three ... Zoom meetings , and I told the aldermen that subsequent to the three meetings , we would be on the next Zoning Committee , ” he said .
But for Kyle Frayn , a Pilsen resident who attended Sunday ’ s protest , the drawn-out process serves as an example of “ the city machine politics trampling the community ’ s interests and needs .
”

As community advocates continue to push back against a proposal to turn the Pilsen neighborhood into a landmark district, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said the Zoning Committee he chairs is now slated to cast a crucial vote on the long-delayed plan in early December.
The news came Sunday after protesters disrupted the brunch rush at Tunney’s Ann Sather restaurant in Lake View. As activists in a passing car caravan blared their horns, others stormed the kitchen where Tunney was working and raised concerns the proposed ordinance would lead to further gentrification and added costs for building owners.
“[Tunney is] very upset right now,” Moises Moreno, an organizer with Pilsen Alliance, told reporters after disrupting the brunch service. “He should be — because he’s messing with the wrong community.”
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Tunney later told the Sun-Times a vote has been set for the Dec. 1 Zoning Committee meeting. And while he acknowledged the “neighborhood will probably win out,” Tunney warned that rejecting the plan would leave its historic buildings open for demolition.
Meanwhile, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) sided with his constituents and continued to oppose the proposed ordinance, which initially sought to create a landmark district covering nearly 900 buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“It would absolutely mean more displacement [and] higher costs. It will certainly accelerate a process that the people have been concerned about,” said Sigcho-Lopez, adding that at least 10,000 primarily Latino residents have been pushed out of Pilsen over the last decade.
On Thursday, WBEZ reported Chicago’s planning commissioner, Maurice Cox, pitched a new option that would protect 465 buildings in the neighborhood. Sigho-Lopez scoffed at that proposal as he continued pushing a separate ordinance that would create a “demolition-free” zone covering the same area as the proposed historic landmark district plus the site of St. Adalbert’s Church.
The lengthy battle over Pilsen’s landmark designation was extended in May, when Sigcho-Lopez and other members of the City Council voted unanimously on a six-month delay to accommodate the needs of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Given the Landmarks Commission already approved the plan last May, an ordinance is set to take effect in January if it’s not voted on.
However, Sigcho-Lopes claimed Tunney and Mayor Lori Lightfoot “unilaterally decided to vote on this extension” instead of allowing a vote ahead of the initial deadline in May.
“It is disingenuous for them to keep repeating that I voted in favor of the ordinance [when] their procedural maneuvers left me no choice,” he said.
Lightfoot’s office didn't respond to a request for comment, but Tunney said he was abundantly clear about the timeline.
“We had three ... Zoom meetings, and I told the aldermen that subsequent to the three meetings, we would be on the next Zoning Committee,” he said.
But for Kyle Frayn, a Pilsen resident who attended Sunday’s protest, the drawn-out process serves as an example of “the city machine politics trampling the community’s interests and needs.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Illinois 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate stays above 6% (LIVE UPDATES)

Illinois health officials on Sunday announced 4,062 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 24 virus-related deaths .
The new infections found among the latest batch of 72,097 tests processed statewide in the last day keeps Illinois ’ seven-day positivity rate at 6.1 % — a troubling sign that the state is heading in the wrong direction in its fight against the coronavirus as that number , which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading , hadn ’ t topped 6 % in over four months .
Sunday marked the 12th day this month Illinois had a 3,000-plus caseload and comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarming , record-breaking batch of 6,161 new infections .
With case counts surging — about 21.6 % of the state ’ s 374,254 total cases were recorded this month — Illinois is starting to latch down with tighter restrictions to try to halt the rise in COVID-19 cases .
Public health officials on Friday said half of the state ’ s 102 counties have hit their designated coronavirus “ warning level.
” As a result , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker has imposed indoor dining bans at bars and restaurants in four of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of Chicago ’ s south and west suburbs .
Other regions are facing possible business restrictions within the next week as some are on pace to rise to the 8 % positivity threshold .
2:04 p.m. Nearly half U.S. states see highest daily COVID-19 numbers in October as Trump continues to downplay pandemic Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state ’ s refusal to mandate face masks .
The South Salt Lake City , Utah , woman can ’ t work at her special education job due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also a special ed teacher , recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son , who has asthma .
“ I feel forgotten , ” Paur said .
“ We ’ re living in a world we no longer fit in .
We did everything right .
We went to college , we got jobs , we tried to give back to our community , and now our community is not giving back to us .
And I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barnstorms the swing states , often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds , the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden , citing health experts , warned will be a “ dark winter ” of disease and death .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on Sunday that “ we ’ re not going to control the pandemic.
” Asked why , he said it ’ s “ because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.
” Vice President Mike Pence will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday .
About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October , and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday .
1:51 p.m. Pence to keep up travel despite contact with infected aide WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite his exposure to a top aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House said Saturday .
Pence himself tested negative , his office said .
Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria , the vice president is considered a “ close contact ” of his chief of staff , Marc Short , but will not quarantine , said spokesman Devin O ’ Malley .
O ’ Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “ in consultation with the White House Medical Unit ” and “ in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.
” Those guidelines require that essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people .
O ’ Malley said Pence and his wife , Karen , both tested negative on Saturday “ and remain in good health.
” 12:36 p.m. Trump ’ s top aide : ‘ we ’ re not going to control the pandemic ’ WASHINGTON — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more , less than a week before Election Day , as it scorches the nation and the president ’ s top aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control the pandemic.
” Officials on Sunday scoffed at the notion of dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests from several aides to Vice President Mike Pence , who leads the White House coronavirus task force .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , pressed to explain why the pandemic can not be reined in , said , “ Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.
” He told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that the government was focused on getting effective therapeutics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested negative on Sunday , according to his office , planned an afternoon rally in North Carolina , while the president was scheduled to be in New Hampshire and Maine .
Democrat Joe Biden attended church in the morning and planned to participate in a virtual get-out-the-vote concert at night .
His running mate , Kamala Harris , told reporters in Michigan that Pence should follow federal health guidelines .
“ We ’ re doing it , I think that we have modeled the right and good behavior , and they should take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator , who had paused in-person campaigning for several days earlier this month after an aide and member of the campaign ’ s flight crew test positive .
The Bears put cornerback Michael Joseph on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday , but there is no fear of him spreading the coronavirus — he hasn ’ t been inside Halas Hall since the team put him on injured reserve Aug. 31 .
Since then , Joseph has been under the care of the Bears ’ medical staff remotely .
Joseph spent parts of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year before being promoted to the active roster for the last two games of 2019 .
He did not play a snap in either .
10:13 a.m. 11 more chief judge ’ s employees , 3 more juvenile detention residents test positive for COVID-19 Eleven more employees in the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County have tested positive for the coronavirus , along with three residents of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center .
The positive test results have all come in since Monday , according to a statement from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees who tested positive include a sitting judge who works in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse , 2650 S. California Ave. , and six JTDC employees .
The other employees who tested positive work at the Adult Probation Department in the Skokie Courthouse , the Juvenile Probation Department at the JTDC and the Adult Probation Office at the Criminal Court Administration building , the judge ’ s office said .
7:35 a.m .
Confirmed coronavirus infections are continuing to soar in many parts of the U.S. and Europe Confirmed coronavirus infections continued to soar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Europe .
In some cases , so did anger over the restrictions governments put in place to try to stem the tide .
Oklahoma , Illinois , New Mexico and Michigan were among states announcing new record highs in daily confirmed cases Saturday , a day after a nationwide daily record of more than 83,000 reported infections , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun , Michigan ’ s chief medical executive , said it ’ s “ now more important than ever that people take this seriously.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped the old record by more than 1,300 .
7:15 a.m .
Colleges scramble to help students adjust to COVID-19 restrictions It ’ s a major life milestone , the first time many U.S. teens have ever been on their own .
Even in normal times , freshman year in college can be a jumbled mix of anticipation , uncertainty and emotional highs and lows .
In these hardly normal times , when the quintessential college experience exists only in catalogs , freshmen are being challenged like never before .
Amid pandemic restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , colleges are scrambling to help them adjust .
But many are struggling .
6 a.m. Illinois shatters daily coronavirus case record again with 6,161 new infections Illinois coronavirus resurgence took another severe , record-breaking step up Saturday as public health officials announced 6,161 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus statewide .
The stunning case count — which smashed Illinois ’ previous daily record by more than 1,200 cases , set just two days earlier — was confirmed among 83,517 tests .
That means 7.4 % of the latest tests submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came back positive , the highest proportion of infections confirmed in a single day since the beginning of June .
And it sent the statewide average seven-day testing positivity rate up half a percentage point to 6.1 % .
That number , which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading , hadn ’ t topped 6 % in over four months .
• 18-year-old University of Dayton student from La Grange dies of COVID-19 .
• Public health officials on Friday warned that half of all counties in Illinois have reached a warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people tested positive for COVID-19 statewide .
7:55 a.m .
The simple math of ‘ excess mortality ’ — this pandemic kills Just how deadly is COVID-19 ?
The answer to that question should guide every decision our nation makes as to how to keep ourselves and others safe , yet it has proven maddeningly difficult to nail down and agree upon .
In part , the problem has been one of science .
Estimated mortality rates from COVID-19 have been revised , up and down , as scientists and health professionals have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better medical treatments .
The problem has also been one of politics .
From the very beginning , there has been desire by many political leaders , mostly on the right and most obviously President Trump , to downplay the deadliness of the virus .
They have found it more expedient to denigrate the science of the disease than to take the bold measures required — actions derided by anti-government conservatives and libertarians — to slow and contain the spread of the disease .
The basic argument made by those who seek to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people killed by the virus are quite old and already quite sick and on the verge of death anyway .
And if a younger person who has the virus were to jump out of a plane and his parachute failed to open , the skeptics joke , some liberal doctor would record the cause of death as COVID-19 .
Given this disagreement and doubt , it ’ s important to stress that there is , in fact , an emerging gold standard for measuring the deadliness of COVID-19 — something researchers call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sturdy standard , according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control , the virus actually is more deadly than most news reports would suggest .
That ’ s a profoundly important message , from what traditionally has been one of our nation ’ s most trusted research institutions , at a time when rates of COVID-19 are surging again in the United States , including in Illinois .

The Latest
A man undergoes a coronavirus test in Salt Lake City. Rick Bowmer/AP Photo (file photo)
Illinois health officials on Sunday announced 4,062 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 24 virus-related deaths.
The new infections found among the latest batch of 72,097 tests processed statewide in the last day keeps Illinois’ seven-day positivity rate at 6.1% — a troubling sign that the state is heading in the wrong direction in its fight against the coronavirus as that number, which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, hadn’t topped 6% in over four months.
Sunday marked the 12th day this month Illinois had a 3,000-plus caseload and comes one day after the state announced an alarming, record-breaking batch of 6,161 new infections.
With case counts surging — about 21.6% of the state’s 374,254 total cases were recorded this month — Illinois is starting to latch down with tighter restrictions to try to halt the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Public health officials on Friday said half of the state’s 102 counties have hit their designated coronavirus “warning level.” As a result, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has imposed indoor dining bans at bars and restaurants in four of the state’s 11 regions, including many of Chicago’s south and west suburbs. Other regions are facing possible business restrictions within the next week as some are on pace to rise to the 8% positivity threshold.
Read the full story here.
News
2:04 p.m. Nearly half U.S. states see highest daily COVID-19 numbers in October as Trump continues to downplay pandemic
Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state’s refusal to mandate face masks.
The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. Her husband, also a special ed teacher, recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son, who has asthma.
“I feel forgotten,” Paur said. “We’re living in a world we no longer fit in. We did everything right. We went to college, we got jobs, we tried to give back to our community, and now our community is not giving back to us. And I’m very scared.”
As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states, often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds, the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden, citing health experts, warned will be a “dark winter” of disease and death.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on Sunday that “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Asked why, he said it’s “because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.”
Vice President Mike Pence will continue campaigning despite his chief of staff testing positive for COVID-19. His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday.
About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October, and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday.
Read the full story here.
1:51 p.m. Pence to keep up travel despite contact with infected aide
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite his exposure to a top aide who tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said Saturday.
Pence himself tested negative, his office said. Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, the vice president is considered a “close contact” of his chief of staff, Marc Short, but will not quarantine, said spokesman Devin O’Malley.
O’Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit” and “in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.” Those guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people.
O’Malley said Pence and his wife, Karen, both tested negative on Saturday “and remain in good health.”
Read the full story here.
12:36 p.m. Trump’s top aide: ‘we’re not going to control the pandemic’
WASHINGTON — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more, less than a week before Election Day, as it scorches the nation and the president’s top aide says “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Officials on Sunday scoffed at the notion of dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests from several aides to Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, pressed to explain why the pandemic cannot be reined in, said, “Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.” He told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the government was focused on getting effective therapeutics and vaccines to market.
Pence, who tested negative on Sunday, according to his office, planned an afternoon rally in North Carolina, while the president was scheduled to be in New Hampshire and Maine. Democrat Joe Biden attended church in the morning and planned to participate in a virtual get-out-the-vote concert at night. His running mate, Kamala Harris, told reporters in Michigan that Pence should follow federal health guidelines.
“We’re doing it, I think that we have modeled the right and good behavior, and they should take our lead,” said the California senator, who had paused in-person campaigning for several days earlier this month after an aide and member of the campaign’s flight crew test positive.
Read the full story here.
10:52 a.m. Bears put CB Michael Joseph on reserve/COVID-19 list
The Bears put cornerback Michael Joseph on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, but there is no fear of him spreading the coronavirus — he hasn’t been inside Halas Hall since the team put him on injured reserve Aug. 31.
Since then, Joseph has been under the care of the Bears’ medical staff remotely.
Joseph spent parts of the last two seasons on the Bears practice squad last year before being promoted to the active roster for the last two games of 2019. He did not play a snap in either.
Read the full story here.
10:13 a.m. 11 more chief judge’s employees, 3 more juvenile detention residents test positive for COVID-19
Eleven more employees in the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County have tested positive for the coronavirus, along with three residents of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The positive test results have all come in since Monday, according to a statement from the chief judge’s office. The employees who tested positive include a sitting judge who works in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave., and six JTDC employees.
The other employees who tested positive work at the Adult Probation Department in the Skokie Courthouse, the Juvenile Probation Department at the JTDC and the Adult Probation Office at the Criminal Court Administration building, the judge’s office said.
7:35 a.m. Confirmed coronavirus infections are continuing to soar in many parts of the U.S. and Europe
Confirmed coronavirus infections continued to soar Saturday in many parts of the U.S. and Europe. In some cases, so did anger over the restrictions governments put in place to try to stem the tide.
Oklahoma, Illinois, New Mexico and Michigan were among states announcing new record highs in daily confirmed cases Saturday, a day after a nationwide daily record of more than 83,000 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said it’s “now more important than ever that people take this seriously.” The 3,338 new COVID-19 cases in her state topped the old record by more than 1,300.
Read the full story here.
7:15 a.m. Colleges scramble to help students adjust to COVID-19 restrictions
It’s a major life milestone, the first time many U.S. teens have ever been on their own. Even in normal times, freshman year in college can be a jumbled mix of anticipation, uncertainty and emotional highs and lows.
In these hardly normal times, when the quintessential college experience exists only in catalogs, freshmen are being challenged like never before.
Amid pandemic restrictions aimed at keeping students safe and healthy, colleges are scrambling to help them adjust. But many are struggling.
Read the full story here.
Illinois coronavirus resurgence took another severe, record-breaking step up Saturday as public health officials announced 6,161 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus statewide.
The stunning case count — which smashed Illinois’ previous daily record by more than 1,200 cases, set just two days earlier — was confirmed among 83,517 tests.
That means 7.4% of the latest tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health came back positive, the highest proportion of infections confirmed in a single day since the beginning of June.
And it sent the statewide average seven-day testing positivity rate up half a percentage point to 6.1%. That number, which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, hadn’t topped 6% in over four months.
Read the full story here.
New Cases
18-year-old University of Dayton student from La Grange dies of COVID-19.
Bears put CB Michael Joseph on reserve/COVID-19 list.
Public health officials on Friday warned that half of all counties in Illinois have reached a warning level for the coronavirus as 3,874 more people tested positive for COVID-19 statewide.
Analysis & Commentary
7:55 a.m. The simple math of ‘excess mortality’ — this pandemic kills
Just how deadly is COVID-19?
The answer to that question should guide every decision our nation makes as to how to keep ourselves and others safe, yet it has proven maddeningly difficult to nail down and agree upon.
In part, the problem has been one of science. Estimated mortality rates from COVID-19 have been revised, up and down, as scientists and health professionals have collected and analyzed new data and devised better medical treatments.
The problem has also been one of politics. From the very beginning, there has been desire by many political leaders, mostly on the right and most obviously President Trump, to downplay the deadliness of the virus. They have found it more expedient to denigrate the science of the disease than to take the bold measures required — actions derided by anti-government conservatives and libertarians — to slow and contain the spread of the disease.
The basic argument made by those who seek to minimize the dangers of COVID-19 is that most people killed by the virus are quite old and already quite sick and on the verge of death anyway. And if a younger person who has the virus were to jump out of a plane and his parachute failed to open, the skeptics joke, some liberal doctor would record the cause of death as COVID-19.
Given this disagreement and doubt, it’s important to stress that there is, in fact, an emerging gold standard for measuring the deadliness of COVID-19 — something researchers call “excess deaths.” And by that sturdy standard, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, the virus actually is more deadly than most news reports would suggest.
That’s a profoundly important message, from what traditionally has been one of our nation’s most trusted research institutions, at a time when rates of COVID-19 are surging again in the United States, including in Illinois.
Read the full editorial here.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Illinois announces 4,062 new COVID-19 infections, another 24 deaths

Illinois health officials on Sunday announced 4,062 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 24 virus-related deaths .
The new infections found among the latest batch of 72,097 tests processed statewide in the last day keeps Illinois ’ seven-day positivity rate at 6.1 % — a troubling sign the state is heading in the wrong direction in its fight against the coronavirus as that number , which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading , hadn ’ t topped 6 % in over four months .
Sunday marked the 12th day this month Illinois had a 3,000-plus caseload and comes one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , record-breaking batch of 6,161 new infections .
With case counts surging — about 21.6 % of the state ’ s 374,254 total cases were recorded this month — Illinois is starting to latch down with tighter restrictions to try to halt the rise in COVID-19 cases .
Public health officials on Friday said half of the state ’ s 102 counties have hit their designated coronavirus “ warning level.
” As a result , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker has imposed indoor dining bans at bars and restaurants in four of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago ’ s south and west suburbs .
Other regions are facing possible business restrictions within the next week , as some are on pace to rise to the 8 % positivity threshold .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot also reimposed restrictions on bars , restaurants and non-essential businesses in Chicago .
As of Friday , all non-essential city businesses have a 10 p.m. curfew , and indoor service is prohibited at drinking establishments that don ’ t have food licenses .
Half of Sunday ’ s fatalities , which brought the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in Cook County and included a Cook County man in his 20s .
The recovery rate for Illinois coronavirus patients is 97 % .
Most who contract it show mild or no symptoms .
As of Saturday night , 2,605 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 , with 565 of those patients in intensive care units and 214 on ventilators , officials said .

Illinois health officials on Sunday announced 4,062 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 24 virus-related deaths.
The new infections found among the latest batch of 72,097 tests processed statewide in the last day keeps Illinois’ seven-day positivity rate at 6.1% — a troubling sign the state is heading in the wrong direction in its fight against the coronavirus as that number, which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, hadn’t topped 6% in over four months.
Sunday marked the 12th day this month Illinois had a 3,000-plus caseload and comes one day after the state announced an alarming, record-breaking batch of 6,161 new infections.
With case counts surging — about 21.6% of the state’s 374,254 total cases were recorded this month — Illinois is starting to latch down with tighter restrictions to try to halt the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Public health officials on Friday said half of the state’s 102 counties have hit their designated coronavirus “warning level.” As a result, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has imposed indoor dining bans at bars and restaurants in four of the state’s 11 regions, including many of Chicago’s south and west suburbs. Other regions are facing possible business restrictions within the next week, as some are on pace to rise to the 8% positivity threshold.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot also reimposed restrictions on bars, restaurants and non-essential businesses in Chicago. As of Friday, all non-essential city businesses have a 10 p.m. curfew, and indoor service is prohibited at drinking establishments that don’t have food licenses.
Half of Sunday’s fatalities, which brought the state’s death toll to 9,505, were reported in Cook County and included a Cook County man in his 20s.
The recovery rate for Illinois coronavirus patients is 97%. Most who contract it show mild or no symptoms.
As of Saturday night, 2,605 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19, with 565 of those patients in intensive care units and 214 on ventilators, officials said.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Nearly half U.S. states see highest daily COVID-19 numbers in October as Trump continues to downplay

Nearly half U.S. states see highest daily COVID-19 numbers in October as Trump continues to downplay pandemic

Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state ’ s refusal to mandate face masks .
The South Salt Lake City , Utah , woman can ’ t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease .
Her husband , also a special ed teacher , recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son , who has asthma .
“ I feel forgotten , ” Paur said .
“ We ’ re living in a world we no longer fit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to college , we got jobs , we tried to give back to our community , and now our community is not giving back to us .
And I ’ m very scared.
” As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states , often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds , the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden , citing health experts , warned will be a “ dark winter ” of disease and death .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to control the pandemic.
” Asked why , he said it ’ s “ because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.
” Vice President Mike Pence will continue campaigning despite his chief of staff testing positive for COVID-19 .
His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday .
About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October , and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University shows that 83,718 new cases were reported Saturday , just shy of the 83,757 infections reported Friday .
Before that , the most cases reported in the United States on a single day had been 77,362 , on July 16 .
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington , which federal health officials have used as a source for their pandemic projections , currently forecasts that the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could exceed 318,000 by Jan. 1 .
As of Sunday , there were nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 224,906 deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .
At least seven states — Alaska , Colorado , Illinois , Michigan , New Mexico , Ohio and Oklahoma — saw record high infection levels Saturday .
And some Northeastern states hit hard in the spring are seeing numbers bounce back ; New Jersey ’ s toll of 1,909 new infections Saturday was the most it had seen in a day since early May .
The virus also is surging in the Mountain West , especially Idaho and Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new data suggest that 1 in 24 residents has contracted the coronavirus , said Dr. Joshua Kern , vice president of medical affairs at St. Luke ’ s Magic Valley Medical Center .
Amid a crush of new cases , the hospital brought in nurses from Boise , scaled back elective surgery and , as of Friday , stopped admitting pediatric patients .
“ It ’ s gotten kind of out of hand , ” Kern told The Associated Press .
“ We ’ ve had something like a third of our total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last two to three weeks .
There are a lot of parts of the state suffering under the same burden.
” Kern said Twin Falls had been lulled into complacency after months of relatively low numbers , adding “ going back to school was the signal to our communities that we can get back to normal.
” “ It ’ s like the community said , ‘ Oh , good .
It ’ s over .
We can party again , ’ and we saw the virus increase , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coffee shop to get pastries for our group , and it was closed because of COVID .
And we knew that the week before , they had been in there unmasked.
” Mark Chidichimo , a retired FBI agent , said his sister , brother-in-law , brother , nephew and 92-year-old father in Idaho have all been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last three weeks .
Chidichimo , who lives in New Jersey , had nothing but praise for St. Luke ’ s in Twin Falls , but said his brother was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d be sent to Seattle , more than 600 miles away .
“ Hey , Idaho .
This is coming from someone who has been there , done that : You really want to avoid this if you can , ” he said .
“ It ’ s going to be really bad , and I pray to God that none of my family members have to be hospitalized .
Because if they do , I don ’ t know if they ’ ll survive.
” After months of improvement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown or ramping up restrictions again amid a spike in infections .
Italy imposed at least a month of new restrictions across the country on Sunday , insisting that people outdoors wear masks , shutting down gyms , pools and movie theaters , and putting an early curfew on cafes and restaurants .
German Health Minister Jens Spahn , who tested positive Wednesday , pleaded with citizens to wear masks as the virus spikes across the country and hospital ICUs are filling up again .
“ Please continue to help and don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( coronavirus ) , ” he said .
“ It is serious.
” In New Mexico , which reported record numbers of additional COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent days , more than 350 doctors , nurses and other health care professionals signed a letter imploring residents to stay home as much as possible , wear masks and limit large gatherings to help prevent another wave of “ lonely deaths.
” “ Please help health care professionals help you , ” said the letter , posted on the state Department of Health ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
Help us ensure that we have the resources to treat the sick and care for the dying.
” On Saturday , New Mexico officials reported 875 new cases and five additional deaths , increasing the state ’ s totals to 41,040 cases and 965 deaths .
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to 264 , up from a record 229 on Friday , which topped the previous high of 223 from mid-May .
Paur , whose brother and his girlfriend both recently tested positive for the virus , is worried about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to know that our lives are on the line , ” the Utah woman said .
“ We ’ re running out of money really fast .
”

Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state’s refusal to mandate face masks.
The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. Her husband, also a special ed teacher, recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son, who has asthma.
“I feel forgotten,” Paur said. “We’re living in a world we no longer fit in. We did everything right. We went to college, we got jobs, we tried to give back to our community, and now our community is not giving back to us. And I’m very scared.”
As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states, often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds, the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden, citing health experts, warned will be a “dark winter” of disease and death.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN on Sunday that “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Asked why, he said it’s “because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.”
Vice President Mike Pence will continue campaigning despite his chief of staff testing positive for COVID-19. His office said Pence and his wife both tested negative for the virus Sunday.
About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily infection numbers so far at some point in October, and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that 83,718 new cases were reported Saturday, just shy of the 83,757 infections reported Friday. Before that, the most cases reported in the United States on a single day had been 77,362, on July 16.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, which federal health officials have used as a source for their pandemic projections, currently forecasts that the U.S. COVID-19 death toll could exceed 318,000 by Jan. 1.
As of Sunday, there were nearly 8.6 million confirmed infections in the U.S., with 224,906 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
At least seven states — Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Oklahoma — saw record high infection levels Saturday. And some Northeastern states hit hard in the spring are seeing numbers bounce back; New Jersey’s toll of 1,909 new infections Saturday was the most it had seen in a day since early May.
The virus also is surging in the Mountain West, especially Idaho and Utah.
In Twin Falls, Idaho, new data suggest that 1 in 24 residents has contracted the coronavirus, said Dr. Joshua Kern, vice president of medical affairs at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. Amid a crush of new cases, the hospital brought in nurses from Boise, scaled back elective surgery and, as of Friday, stopped admitting pediatric patients.
“It’s gotten kind of out of hand,” Kern told The Associated Press. “We’ve had something like a third of our total COVID cases in our community in the last two to three weeks. There are a lot of parts of the state suffering under the same burden.”
Kern said Twin Falls had been lulled into complacency after months of relatively low numbers, adding “going back to school was the signal to our communities that we can get back to normal.”
“It’s like the community said, ‘Oh, good. It’s over. We can party again,’ and we saw the virus increase,” he said. “This week, we went to the coffee shop to get pastries for our group, and it was closed because of COVID. And we knew that the week before, they had been in there unmasked.”
Mark Chidichimo, a retired FBI agent, said his sister, brother-in-law, brother, nephew and 92-year-old father in Idaho have all been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last three weeks.
Chidichimo, who lives in New Jersey, had nothing but praise for St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, but said his brother was told that if he needed hospitalization, he’d be sent to Seattle, more than 600 miles away.
“Hey, Idaho. This is coming from someone who has been there, done that: You really want to avoid this if you can,” he said. “It’s going to be really bad, and I pray to God that none of my family members have to be hospitalized. Because if they do, I don’t know if they’ll survive.”
After months of improvement, parts of Europe are going back into lockdown or ramping up restrictions again amid a spike in infections. Italy imposed at least a month of new restrictions across the country on Sunday, insisting that people outdoors wear masks, shutting down gyms, pools and movie theaters, and putting an early curfew on cafes and restaurants.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who tested positive Wednesday, pleaded with citizens to wear masks as the virus spikes across the country and hospital ICUs are filling up again.
“Please continue to help and don’t listen to those who play down (coronavirus),” he said. “It is serious.”
In New Mexico, which reported record numbers of additional COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent days, more than 350 doctors, nurses and other health care professionals signed a letter imploring residents to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and limit large gatherings to help prevent another wave of “lonely deaths.”
“Please help health care professionals help you,” said the letter, posted on the state Department of Health’s website. “Help us protect you. Help us ensure that we have the resources to treat the sick and care for the dying.”
On Saturday, New Mexico officials reported 875 new cases and five additional deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 41,040 cases and 965 deaths. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to 264, up from a record 229 on Friday, which topped the previous high of 223 from mid-May.
Paur, whose brother and his girlfriend both recently tested positive for the virus, is worried about them, and herself.
“People need to know that our lives are on the line,” the Utah woman said. “We’re running out of money really fast.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Homeowner fatally shoots burglar in Marquette Park: police

A homeowner shot and killed a suspected burglar Sunday in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side , according to Chicago @ @ @ @ @ , the man , believed to be in his 40s , was shot by the @ @ @ @ @ the 7100 block of South Mozart Street , police said .
The Cook County medical @ @ @ @ @ not yet commented on the death .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

A 67-year-old woman shot and killed a man allegedly stealing items from her garage Sunday morning in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side.
The homeowner got a call from her neighbor, alerting her that someone was breaking into her garage in the 7100 block of South Mozart Street, according to Chicago police spokeswoman Sally Bown.
The woman told investigators she went outside with a gun and found the man exiting a side door of the garage, holding some of her belongings, Bown said. She shot him in the chest.
Authorities responded to her home at 11:15 a.m. and found the man lying unresponsive on the ground, Bown said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man was identified as Lamont Fleming, 58, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
The homeowner complained of trouble breathing and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, Bown said. A police report did not mention if she is a licensed gun owner.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--West Rogers Park man arrested in connection with hit-and-run in South Loop bus stop

A 29-year-old West Rogers Park man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run that injured a woman in September @ @ @ @ @ stop in the South Loop .
Allen Espino is facing a felony count of leaving @ @ @ @ @ resulting in injury , Chicago police said .
Sept. 15 , a red pickup truck @ @ @ @ @ about 11:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of South Michigan Avenue , Chicago police said @ @ @ @ @ , was hit by the truck and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with injuries to @ @ @ @ @ .
She was in serious condition .
Espino , the man allegedly driving the truck @ @ @ @ @ , police said .

A 29-year-old West Rogers Park man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run that injured a woman in September while sitting at a bus stop in the South Loop.
Allen Espino is facing a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury, Chicago police said.
Sept. 15, a red pickup truck plowed into the bus stop about 11:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of South Michigan Avenue, Chicago police said.
The woman, 61, was hit by the truck and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with injuries to her legs, police said.
Espino, the man allegedly driving the truck continued south on Michigan Avenue, police said.
He appeared in bond court Saturday.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Trump’s top aide: ‘we’re not going to control the pandemic’

WASHINGTON — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more , less than a week before Election Day , as it scorches the nation and the president ’ s top aide says “ we ’ re not going to control the pandemic.
” Officials on Sunday scoffed at the notion of dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests from several aides to Vice President Mike Pence , who leads the White House coronavirus task force .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , pressed to explain why the pandemic can not be reined in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contagious virus just like the flu.
” He told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that the government was focused on getting effective therapeutics and vaccines to market .
Pence , who tested negative on Sunday , according to his office , planned an afternoon rally in North Carolina , while the president was scheduled to be in New Hampshire and Maine .
Democrat Joe Biden attended church in the morning and planned to participate in a virtual get-out-the-vote concert at night .
His running mate , Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should follow federal health guidelines .
“ We ’ re doing it , I think that we have modeled the right and good behavior , and they should take our lead , ” said the California senator , who had paused in-person campaigning for several days earlier this month after an aide and member of the campaign ’ s flight crew test positive .
The White House said none of the staff traveling with Trump on Sunday had been in close contact with any individuals in the vice president ’ s office who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a daily record Friday for new confirmed coronavirus infections and nearly matched it Saturday with 83,178 , data published by Johns Hopkins University shows .
Close to 8.6 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began , and about 225,000 have died ; both totals are the world ’ s highest .
“ If Pence did not self-quarantine it would violate every core public health principle his own task force recommends , ” said Lawrence Gostin , a public health expert at Georgetown University school of law .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another for all the rest of us.
” Entering the final full week before the Nov. 3 election , it ’ s clear the Trump team remains committed to full-throttle campaigning .
Trump himself has resumed a hectic schedule since recovering from his own recent coronavirus case .
Pence has trips set to Minnesota on Monday and North Carolina again on Tuesday .
Despite the rising virus numbers , the White House says the U.S. economy needs to fully reopen and it has tried to counter Biden ’ s criticism that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst U.S. public health crisis in more than a century .
“ What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors , whether it ’ s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don ’ t die from this , ” Meadows said .
“ But to suggest that we ’ re going to actually quarantine all of America , lock down our economy .
... Joe Biden is saying that.
” Biden has said he would only shut down the country if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said that if elected he would make the case for why a national mask mandate might be necessary and would go to the governors to help increase Americans ’ mask-wearing .
Pence ’ s office says there are no plans to curtail campaigning .
In addition to chief of staff Marc Short , who tested positive Saturday , a “ couple ” other aides also have also contracted the disease , Meadows said .
Meadows said Pence will wear a mask — “ because the doctors have advised him to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he gives a speech .
Even with Pence ’ s latest negative test , symptoms , including fever , cough and fatigue , may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Some asymptomatic individuals test positive two to three days before developing symptoms .
The White House says Pence was considered in “ close contact ” with Short under CDC guidelines .
The guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people .
After consulting with the White House Medical Unit , Pence intended to maintain his schedule “ in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel , ” said Devin O ’ Malley , a Pence spokesman .
Meadows sidestepped questions about whether Pence ’ s campaigning fit into the spirit of the CDC ’ s guidelines for essential work .
“ He ’ s not just campaigning , he ’ s working , ” Meadows said .
Trump assured supporters packed shoulder to shoulder at Saturday rallies that “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and he mocked Biden for raising alarms about the pandemic .
The candidates have demonstrated remarkably different attitudes about what they see as safe behavior in the homestretch of a campaign that , as with all aspects of American life , has been upended by the pandemic .
“ We don ’ t want to become superspreaders , ” Biden told supporters at a “ drive-in ” rally Saturday in Bucks County , Pennsylvania , picking up a term that has been used to describe the Rose Garden event in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court nominee .
More than two dozen people linked to the White House have contracted COVID-19 since that gathering , as have campaign aides .
Trump spent more than three days hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Medical Center after becoming stricken .
In Lumberton , North Carolina , Trump had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he called Biden “ an inspiring guy ” for raising alarm about the pandemic .
Trump emerged from his own illness with even greater certitude that the nation has gone too far with efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out repeatedly that children should be in school and healthy Americans should get back to normal life with limited restrictions .
“ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic .
We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines , therapeutics and other mitigation areas , ” Meadows said on CNN , adding that it is a contagious virus like the flu .
He added : “ We are making efforts to contain it .
”

WASHINGTON — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more, less than a week before Election Day, as it scorches the nation and the president’s top aide says “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Officials on Sunday scoffed at the notion of dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests from several aides to Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, pressed to explain why the pandemic cannot be reined in, said, “Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.” He told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the government was focused on getting effective therapeutics and vaccines to market.
Pence, who tested negative on Sunday, according to his office, planned an afternoon rally in North Carolina, while the president was scheduled to be in New Hampshire and Maine. Democrat Joe Biden attended church in the morning and planned to participate in a virtual get-out-the-vote concert at night. His running mate, Kamala Harris, told reporters in Michigan that Pence should follow federal health guidelines.
“We’re doing it, I think that we have modeled the right and good behavior, and they should take our lead,” said the California senator, who had paused in-person campaigning for several days earlier this month after an aide and member of the campaign’s flight crew test positive.
The White House said none of the staff traveling with Trump on Sunday had been in close contact with any individuals in the vice president’s office who had tested positive.
The U.S. set a daily record Friday for new confirmed coronavirus infections and nearly matched it Saturday with 83,178, data published by Johns Hopkins University shows. Close to 8.6 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and about 225,000 have died; both totals are the world’s highest.
“If Pence did not self-quarantine it would violate every core public health principle his own task force recommends,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University school of law. “It’s one standard for the vice president and another for all the rest of us.”
Entering the final full week before the Nov. 3 election, it’s clear the Trump team remains committed to full-throttle campaigning. Trump himself has resumed a hectic schedule since recovering from his own recent coronavirus case. Pence has trips set to Minnesota on Monday and North Carolina again on Tuesday.
Despite the rising virus numbers, the White House says the U.S. economy needs to fully reopen and it has tried to counter Biden’s criticism that Trump is not doing enough to contain the worst U.S. public health crisis in more than a century.
“What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it’s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don’t die from this,” Meadows said. “But to suggest that we’re going to actually quarantine all of America, lock down our economy. ... Joe Biden is saying that.”
Biden has said he would only shut down the country if that is what government scientists advise. He has said that if elected he would make the case for why a national mask mandate might be necessary and would go to the governors to help increase Americans’ mask-wearing.
Pence’s office says there are no plans to curtail campaigning. In addition to chief of staff Marc Short, who tested positive Saturday, a “couple” other aides also have also contracted the disease, Meadows said.
Meadows said Pence will wear a mask — “because the doctors have advised him to do that” — but take it off when he gives a speech.
Even with Pence’s latest negative test, symptoms, including fever, cough and fatigue, may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some asymptomatic individuals test positive two to three days before developing symptoms.
The White House says Pence was considered in “close contact” with Short under CDC guidelines. The guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people.
After consulting with the White House Medical Unit, Pence intended to maintain his schedule “in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel,” said Devin O’Malley, a Pence spokesman.
Meadows sidestepped questions about whether Pence’s campaigning fit into the spirit of the CDC’s guidelines for essential work. “He’s not just campaigning, he’s working,” Meadows said.
Trump assured supporters packed shoulder to shoulder at Saturday rallies that “we’re rounding the turn” on the coronavirus and he mocked Biden for raising alarms about the pandemic.
The candidates have demonstrated remarkably different attitudes about what they see as safe behavior in the homestretch of a campaign that, as with all aspects of American life, has been upended by the pandemic.
“We don’t want to become superspreaders,” Biden told supporters at a “drive-in” rally Saturday in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, picking up a term that has been used to describe the Rose Garden event in late September in which Trump announced his latest Supreme Court nominee. More than two dozen people linked to the White House have contracted COVID-19 since that gathering, as have campaign aides. Trump spent more than three days hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Medical Center after becoming stricken.
In Lumberton, North Carolina, Trump had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he called Biden “an inspiring guy” for raising alarm about the pandemic.
Trump emerged from his own illness with even greater certitude that the nation has gone too far with efforts to stem the virus, and has spoken out repeatedly that children should be in school and healthy Americans should get back to normal life with limited restrictions.
“We’re not going to control the pandemic. We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas,” Meadows said on CNN, adding that it is a contagious virus like the flu. He added: “We are making efforts to contain it.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-26--Dear Abby: Jealous beau says I shouldn’t have any guys as friends

DEAR ABBY : I need your help .
I ’ ve been dating a guy for a while now , and our relationship is good EXCEPT for his extreme jealousy .
I told him at the beginning of our relationship that I have guy friends , and he was OK with that .
Well , I thought he was .
It feels like he ’ s trying to control me .
I have let friends go because he would assume the worst .
He doesn ’ t want me to have any male friends , but I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people I care about to make him happy .
He always suspects that I ’ m cheating .
He looks through my phone .
He doesn ’ t want me to delete any of my messages .
It ’ s like he wants to find something to prove himself right .
— LOST GIRL IN THE SOUTH DEAR LOST GIRL : This “ guy ’ s ” jealousy is not rooted in love for you .
It is a symptom of his own insecurity and not something you can fix for him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from your life , and he would still look for signs that you are cheating .
Your relationship is very unhealthy , both for him and for you .
Men like this become increasingly controlling and then move on to become abusers .
Please end the relationship before he harms you emotionally or physically .
DEAR ABBY : I am unsure how to handle a co-worker who is constantly on their cellphone ( hidden between their legs ) during their four-hour work shift .
I have reminded them to leave their phone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time not checking it or texting during work hours .
We have spoken several times about this unacceptable behavior , which improves for two days and then reverts back to using their cellphone as usual .
Is this generational acceptable behavior that I am missing ?
I ’ m in my mid-50s , and I can live without texting friends and family while I ’ m supposed to be working , but they seem to need to have their phone in their hands all the time .
The manager ignores this behavior , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can pursue .
Please help .
— PEEVED IN PENNSYLVANIA DEAR PEEVED : Is there a policy in your employee handbook that forbids the use of cellphones during business hours ?
If there isn ’ t , this may be the reason your manager is ignoring your co-worker ’ s behavior .
Because your manager refuses to discourage what the person is doing , you have no choice but to ignore it and concentrate on your own tasks at hand .
I only hope that your jobs aren ’ t collaborative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABBY : I live in a triplex .
I ’ m on the second floor , and my son and his wife and three children live on the ground floor .
Every Sunday , I have a family dinner with my sons , their children , etc .
My daughter-in-law does not come unless her best friend , who is my other daughter-in-law , comes .
So three times out of four , her children come with her husband for dinner but not her .
I think it sends a bad message to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
— INCOMPLETE IN CANADA DEAR INCOMPLETE : First you ask this daughter-in-law why she does this .
Does she feel she needs a buffer ?
Then tell her — and your son — what you wrote to me .
After that , if nothing changes , drop the subject .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I need your help. I’ve been dating a guy for a while now, and our relationship is good EXCEPT for his extreme jealousy. I told him at the beginning of our relationship that I have guy friends, and he was OK with that. Well, I thought he was. It feels like he’s trying to control me. I have let friends go because he would assume the worst.
He doesn’t want me to have any male friends, but I don’t think I should have to give up people I care about to make him happy. He always suspects that I’m cheating. He looks through my phone. He doesn’t want me to delete any of my messages. It’s like he wants to find something to prove himself right. — LOST GIRL IN THE SOUTH
DEAR LOST GIRL: This “guy’s” jealousy is not rooted in love for you. It is a symptom of his own insecurity and not something you can fix for him. You could delete every single male friend from your life, and he would still look for signs that you are cheating.
Your relationship is very unhealthy, both for him and for you. Men like this become increasingly controlling and then move on to become abusers. Please end the relationship before he harms you emotionally or physically.
DEAR ABBY: I am unsure how to handle a co-worker who is constantly on their cellphone (hidden between their legs) during their four-hour work shift. I have reminded them to leave their phone in their car since they have a hard time not checking it or texting during work hours. We have spoken several times about this unacceptable behavior, which improves for two days and then reverts back to using their cellphone as usual.
Is this generational acceptable behavior that I am missing? I’m in my mid-50s, and I can live without texting friends and family while I’m supposed to be working, but they seem to need to have their phone in their hands all the time. The manager ignores this behavior, so that’s not an avenue I can pursue. Please help. — PEEVED IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR PEEVED: Is there a policy in your employee handbook that forbids the use of cellphones during business hours? If there isn’t, this may be the reason your manager is ignoring your co-worker’s behavior. Because your manager refuses to discourage what the person is doing, you have no choice but to ignore it and concentrate on your own tasks at hand. I only hope that your jobs aren’t collaborative, which would impede your productivity.
DEAR ABBY: I live in a triplex. I’m on the second floor, and my son and his wife and three children live on the ground floor. Every Sunday, I have a family dinner with my sons, their children, etc. My daughter-in-law does not come unless her best friend, who is my other daughter-in-law, comes. So three times out of four, her children come with her husband for dinner but not her. I think it sends a bad message to the kids. What do I do? — INCOMPLETE IN CANADA
DEAR INCOMPLETE: First you ask this daughter-in-law why she does this. Does she feel she needs a buffer? Then tell her — and your son — what you wrote to me. After that, if nothing changes, drop the subject.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-26--24 shot, 6 fatally, in Chicago weekend gun violence

Six people were killed and 18 others injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend .
In the weekend ’ s last fatal shooting Sunday evening , a man was found with a gunshot wound to the head on the West Side .
The 25-year-old was found under train tracks about 7:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of South St. Louis Avenue , Chicago police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
Earlier , a suspected burglar was killed by a homeowner in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side .
About 11:15 a.m. , the man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot dead by the homeowner during a burglary in the 7100 block of South Mozart Street , police said .
Saturday night , a man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
Daryl Hampton , 31 , was sitting in a vehicle about 10:10 p.m. in the 900 block of North Lawndale Avenue when someone approached in a gray-colored vehicle and fired shots , officials said .
Hampton was struck in the chest and leg , and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man was shot to death in Fuller Park on the South Side .
About 8:24 p.m. , 30-year-old Shamar Rice was arguing with someone in the 100 block of West Swann Street when a fight broke out and the other person pulled out a gun and fired shots , officials said .
Rice was struck in the leg and pronounced dead at the scene .
A suspect was taken into custody .
Hours earlier , a 32-year-old man was killed in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Roseland on the Far South Side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 4:30 p.m. in the 11400 block of South Calumet Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired shots , officials said .
McKinney was struck in the back of the head and multiple times throughout his body .
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he died .
Earlier , another man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:15 a.m. found Roberto Morales Galindo , 47 , facedown bleeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block of North Harding Avenue , officials said .
He was taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
In non-fatal attacks , two people were shot at a home in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:35 a.m. found a 21-year-old woman lying next to the entrance of a home in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue , police said .
The woman had been shot multiple times and was taken to Mt .
Sinai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man showed up to the hospital later with a gunshot wound to his thigh , saying he had been shot at the same location , police said .
He was in good condition and refused to answer any more questions about the shooting .
Saturday morning , two people were wounded in a shooting on the South Side .
Officers responded about 11:40 a.m. to the 1100 block of East 87th Street and found a male with gunshot wounds to his chest and lower back , police said .
He was taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His condition was not immediately known .
Later , another male showed up at Trinity Hospital with a gunshot wound from the same incident , police said .
His condition was stabilized .
About 7:50 p.m. , a 28-year-old man was in a home in the 7900 block of South Saginaw Avenue when someone walked up to him and fired shots , striking him in the ear and leg , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
At least 13 other people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Last weekend , 33 people were shot , seven of them fatally , in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Seven people were killed and 16 others injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.
In the weekend’s last fatal shooting Sunday evening, a man was found with a gunshot wound to the head on the West Side. The 25-year-old was found under train tracks about 7:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of South St. Louis Avenue, Chicago police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Over an hour earlier, a man was killed in a shooting in Brainerd on the South Side. The 64-year-old was talking to someone he knew about 6:15 p.m. in a car in the 9000 block of South Laflin Street when shots were fired, police said.
Lawrence McNeal was struck in the face and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was later pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Earlier, a suspected burglar was killed by a homeowner in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side. About 11:15 a.m., the man, believed to be in his 40s, was shot dead by the homeowner during a burglary in the 7100 block of South Mozart Street, police said.
Saturday night, a man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side. Daryl Hampton, 31, was sitting in a vehicle about 10:10 p.m. in the 900 block of North Lawndale Avenue when someone approached in a gray-colored vehicle and fired shots, officials said. Hampton was struck in the chest and leg, and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Earlier Saturday, a man was shot to death in Fuller Park on the South Side. About 8:24 p.m., 30-year-old Shamar Rice was arguing with someone in the 100 block of West Swann Street when a fight broke out and the other person pulled out a gun and fired shots, officials said. Rice was struck in the leg and pronounced dead at the scene. A suspect was taken into custody but later released without charges.
Hours earlier, a 32-year-old man was killed in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Roseland on the Far South Side. Deshawn McKinney was sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the 11400 block of South Calumet Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired shots, officials said. McKinney was struck in the back of the head and multiple times throughout his body. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.
Earlier Saturday, another man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:15 a.m. found Roberto Morales Galindo, 47, facedown bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of North Harding Avenue, officials said. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In non-fatal attacks, two people were shot at a home in East Garfield Park on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:35 a.m. found a 21-year-old woman lying next to the entrance of a home in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue, police said. The woman had been shot multiple times and was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
A 27-year-old man showed up to the hospital later with a gunshot wound to his thigh, saying he had been shot at the same location, police said. He was in good condition and refused to answer any more questions about the shooting.
Saturday morning, two people were wounded in a shooting on the South Side. Officers responded about 11:40 a.m. to the 1100 block of East 87th Street and found a male with gunshot wounds to his chest and lower back, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical center. His condition was not immediately known. Later, another male showed up at Trinity Hospital with a gunshot wound from the same incident, police said. His condition was stabilized.
The weekend’s earliest reported shooting left a man wounded Friday evening in South Chicago. About 7:50 p.m., a 28-year-old man was in a home in the 7900 block of South Saginaw Avenue when someone walked up to him and fired shots, striking him in the ear and leg, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
At least 11 other people were wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, 33 people were shot, seven of them fatally, in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-26--Looking back at the Chicago teachers strike a year (and a pandemic) later: Was it worth it?

Jesse Sharkey stood in a soggy West Side field last October , a couple feet to the right of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren , smiling as he listened to the then-Democratic presidential candidate rally his union five days into a grueling strike .
“ I ’ m here to stand with Chicago teachers .
I ’ m here to stand with Chicago nurses .
I ’ m here to stand with Chicago ’ s librarians , ” Warren shouted to the crowd of a few hundred .
The high-profile appearance was a needed morale boost after , a day earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship with Mayor Lori Lightfoot had hit an all-time low .
The mayor had sent a letter to union leaders urging them to end their strike and return to work , claiming “ there is no more money ” left to offer .
That led union boss Sharkey to say his hopes were “ dashed ” for a quick resolution to the work stoppage .
Fast forward a year later to the day , and the union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the school system Thursday with the two sides facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same disdain for one another .
A rollercoaster strike that featured personal attacks but ended with a historic contract should have seen both the union and district move toward a productive relationship .
Yet with a deadly pandemic that requires more cooperation than ever , the memories of a bruising contract fight have lingered , hindering any agreement over a potential school reopening even as districts and unions across the country have resolved their differences .
So was the 11-day strike , the CTU ’ s longest in three decades , worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes , widely hailed as major victories for public education in Chicago , still stand up a year and one public health emergency later ?
“ The current contract they have , probably more so than previous ones , is a better platform to work from under a public health crisis , ” said Bob Bruno , a labor professor at the University of Illinois who has studied CPS-CTU negotiations for years .
“ A contract that adds staff , that addresses class sizes is consistent with operating under these emergency conditions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the contract calls for the presence of school nurses — so , that is more health professionals in the building — is consistent with operating under COVID .
The fact that the contract calls for the hiring of more social workers is consistent with the emotional strain that families and kids and even teachers are likely to experience.
” Those staffing additions were among the union ’ s loudest demands and most cherished victories .
And while both the CTU and mayor said they were necessary supports , neither could have imagined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses and social workers all the more necessary .
The contract called for immediate positions dedicated to serving homeless students as well as a nurse and social worker in every school by summer 2023 — a date that now feels a long way out given the circumstances .
To kick off the yearly additions leading up to then , the district this year hired 44 social workers , 55 school nurses , 62 special education case managers , 21 school psychologists , 32 therapists and 19 workers to serve the needs of homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge has met the requirements in the contract and has left CPS with 471 social workers and 391 school nurses , numbers CPS said haven ’ t been seen since at least 2007 , when the district had thousands more students .
Even so , there are 66 social worker positions and 37 nursing openings that haven ’ t been filled .
CPS did not make any officials available for an interview for this story .
Spokesman James Gherardi said in an emailed statement that dramatically increasing staffing levels will take time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made significant progress ” in hiring and is “ committed to investing in the staffing and supports our students need to access a high quality education.
” The union still values the agreement reached last fall and doesn ’ t have regrets about the strike .
CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates , however , said the pandemic has proven what she knew back then : The contract alone was never going to undo decades of underfunding in schools and didn ’ t go far enough to more quickly fix these problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administrators at the Chicago Public Schools — told us that our collective bargaining agreement was not the place to advocate for ” the common good , Davis Gates said in an interview .
“ Now that we ’ re in a pandemic we see very clearly … that the students who need the most in this moment are the students who already needed the most .
“ It doesn ’ t feel good that we were right about this , ” Davis Gates added .
“ It does provide support and affirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are on the right side of justice , that we are on the right side of equity.
” While the union says it doesn ’ t hold a grudge and is willing to move forward , lingering hostilities have clearly prevented any agreement of how to proceed with schooling during the pandemic .
The situation is so bad the union has threatened another strike over the district ’ s attempt to bring any students back even on a limited basis , saying CPS didn ’ t have proper safety precautions in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of continuing to “ obstruct and mislead the public ” about planning needed for a return to in-person learning and so has moved forward with its plans without union approval .
The mayor , meanwhile , still feels deep wounds from the strike and refuses to look at the contract agreement as a victory , leaving neither side viewing the other as a partner , Bruno said .
“ I think the strike leaves a triggering effect , ” he said .
“ It is the dominant cause of this antagonism .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as a threat to her leadership and authority .
And so I ’ m sure it looms incredibly large in the way in which she views CTU.
” Still , Bruno said , CTU and CPS have shown in the past they can come to major agreements , like last fall , even when they don ’ t see eye to eye .
That ’ s why he sees the new collective bargaining agreement and its protections on staffing and class sizes , even if they don ’ t go far enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago ’ s schools than the broken relationship .
Eventually , they ’ ll agree how and when to reopen schools , he said .
On her end , the mayor hasn ’ t done much to dispel the notion she holds a grudge .
A month after the strike , Lightfoot said she expects the CTU and its allies to “ have a continual drumbeat of complaints throughout my term … until they support and announce a candidate in opposition to me in the next election.
” Earlier this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy to engage with anyone ” who has a genuine interest in helping the city ’ s children , but then , without saying it outright , suggested she believes the CTU has an alternate agenda .

Jesse Sharkey stood in a soggy West Side field last October, a couple feet to the right of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, smiling as he listened to the then-Democratic presidential candidate rally his union five days into a grueling strike.
“I’m here to stand with Chicago teachers. I’m here to stand with Chicago nurses. I’m here to stand with Chicago’s librarians,” Warren shouted to the crowd of a few hundred.
The high-profile appearance was a needed morale boost after, a day earlier, the Chicago Teachers Union’s relationship with Mayor Lori Lightfoot had hit an all-time low. The mayor had sent a letter to union leaders urging them to end their strike and return to work, claiming “there is no more money” left to offer. That led union boss Sharkey to say his hopes were “dashed” for a quick resolution to the work stoppage.
Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joins striking Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73 members for a speech on the picket line outside Oscar DePriest Elementary School on the West Side, Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Fast forward a year later to the day, and the union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the school system Thursday with the two sides facing new, unprecedented challenges — while holding the same disdain for one another.
A rollercoaster strike that featured personal attacks but ended with a historic contract should have seen both the union and district move toward a productive relationship. Yet with a deadly pandemic that requires more cooperation than ever, the memories of a bruising contract fight have lingered, hindering any agreement over a potential school reopening even as districts and unions across the country have resolved their differences.
Analysis bug Analysis
So was the 11-day strike, the CTU’s longest in three decades, worth the damaged relationship? Do the contract changes, widely hailed as major victories for public education in Chicago, still stand up a year and one public health emergency later?
“The current contract they have, probably more so than previous ones, is a better platform to work from under a public health crisis,” said Bob Bruno, a labor professor at the University of Illinois who has studied CPS-CTU negotiations for years.
“A contract that adds staff, that addresses class sizes is consistent with operating under these emergency conditions,” Bruno said. “The fact that the contract calls for the presence of school nurses — so, that is more health professionals in the building — is consistent with operating under COVID. The fact that the contract calls for the hiring of more social workers is consistent with the emotional strain that families and kids and even teachers are likely to experience.”
Those staffing additions were among the union’s loudest demands and most cherished victories. And while both the CTU and mayor said they were necessary supports, neither could have imagined a pandemic was coming that would make nurses and social workers all the more necessary.
The contract called for immediate positions dedicated to serving homeless students as well as a nurse and social worker in every school by summer 2023 — a date that now feels a long way out given the circumstances.
To kick off the yearly additions leading up to then, the district this year hired 44 social workers, 55 school nurses, 62 special education case managers, 21 school psychologists, 32 therapists and 19 workers to serve the needs of homeless students, officials said.
That hiring surge has met the requirements in the contract and has left CPS with 471 social workers and 391 school nurses, numbers CPS said haven’t been seen since at least 2007, when the district had thousands more students. Even so, there are 66 social worker positions and 37 nursing openings that haven’t been filled.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
CPS did not make any officials available for an interview for this story.
Spokesman James Gherardi said in an emailed statement that dramatically increasing staffing levels will take time, but since the agreement the district “has made significant progress” in hiring and is “committed to investing in the staffing and supports our students need to access a high quality education.”
The union still values the agreement reached last fall and doesn’t have regrets about the strike. CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, however, said the pandemic has proven what she knew back then: The contract alone was never going to undo decades of underfunding in schools and didn’t go far enough to more quickly fix these problems.
“Everyone — the mayor, the administrators at the Chicago Public Schools — told us that our collective bargaining agreement was not the place to advocate for” the common good, Davis Gates said in an interview. “Now that we’re in a pandemic we see very clearly … that the students who need the most in this moment are the students who already needed the most.
“It doesn’t feel good that we were right about this,” Davis Gates added. “It does provide support and affirmation to our members and our allies that we are on the right side of justice, that we are on the right side of equity.”
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
While the union says it doesn’t hold a grudge and is willing to move forward, lingering hostilities have clearly prevented any agreement of how to proceed with schooling during the pandemic.
The situation is so bad the union has threatened another strike over the district’s attempt to bring any students back even on a limited basis, saying CPS didn’t have proper safety precautions in place. And CPS has accused the CTU of continuing to “obstruct and mislead the public” about planning needed for a return to in-person learning and so has moved forward with its plans without union approval.
The mayor, meanwhile, still feels deep wounds from the strike and refuses to look at the contract agreement as a victory, leaving neither side viewing the other as a partner, Bruno said.
“I think the strike leaves a triggering effect,” he said. “It is the dominant cause of this antagonism. The mayor took this very personally and saw it as a threat to her leadership and authority. And so I’m sure it looms incredibly large in the way in which she views CTU.”
Still, Bruno said, CTU and CPS have shown in the past they can come to major agreements, like last fall, even when they don’t see eye to eye. That’s why he sees the new collective bargaining agreement and its protections on staffing and class sizes, even if they don’t go far enough, proving more pivotal for the future of Chicago’s schools than the broken relationship. Eventually, they’ll agree how and when to reopen schools, he said.
On her end, the mayor hasn’t done much to dispel the notion she holds a grudge. A month after the strike, Lightfoot said she expects the CTU and its allies to “have a continual drumbeat of complaints throughout my term … until they support and announce a candidate in opposition to me in the next election.”
Earlier this week, Lightfoot said she’d be “happy to engage with anyone” who has a genuine interest in helping the city’s children, but then, without saying it outright, suggested she believes the CTU has an alternate agenda.
Contributing: Fran Spielman


chicagosun-times--2020-10-26--Longtime friends Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas collaborate on DIY album

Like a lot of Black folks amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest , longtime friends/collaborators Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas often spend time ruminating about their place in the world , and what they can do to contribute .
Their impetus was hearing about President Donald Trump ’ s announcement to hold a rally on June 19 in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
June 19 is known — and historically unknown — to many African Americans as Juneteenth , a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Africans .
“ I remember when I was driving from Chicago to L.A. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing that [ Tulsa rally announcement ] in May , and I thought that ’ s the most insidious thing I ’ ve ever heard in my life , ” said Thomas .
“ And then it was like : ‘ I could say that to a lot of people , and they ’ re going to be like : ‘ What ’ s Juneteenth ?
’ ” Thomas and Newsome got to work on the album , “ Material Flats , ” which launched Oct. 9 .
It ’ s the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s record label Fine Alpinist Records .
Newsome , who now lives in California , says the album content is timely due to aforementioned events .
“ When [ Thomas ] showed up to the compound where we recorded everything — my little home studio way out in the desert — I had a handful of demos of various things I wanted to write about that were somewhat topical and somewhat timeless , ” said Newsome , who sang and played keys on the album .
“ And one day she just said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a song called Juneteenth.
’ ” Thomas , a Humboldt Park resident who grew up in Kenosha , Wisconsin , said the album ’ s “ DIY ” creative process fell in line from there on .
“ Yeah , it fell together like everything else in this project .
She [ Newsome ] said : ‘ Yes , ’ and then we just did it , ” said Thomas , who sang vocals on the album .
“ There wasn ’ t really a lot of second guessing ; it seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ album ’ s standout tracks outside of “ Juneteenth 2020 ” is “ White Balloon , ” which hits home for Newsome .
“ I ’ ve lived in a rural area all my life except for the 14 years I lived in Chicago , ” said Newsome .
“ It can feel very freeing and you ’ re in touch with nature .
… And at the same time , as a Black person in the middle of one of the most intense summers for racial violence and racial awakening nationwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit nuts and say : ‘ Well , if these white supremacists come rolling down the road , how many seconds do I have before I can sprint up that trail behind my house , get into the woods where I know they won ’ t find me ?
’ ” The women met doing storefront theater work and were ready to step out of the shadows of the backup singing gigs ( Jon Langford , The Waco Brothers , and several Bloodshot Records artists ) they ’ ve had over the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have backed up and supported so many dudes , lovely dudes — no shade to them , ” said Newsome , who lived in Lincoln Park and Ukrainian Village and performed at Second City during her time in the city .
“ But we have stood behind and beside so many men that this was a chance to call attention to that for me.
” The duo remains mindful when it comes to representation in their careers .
Newsome , whose acting chops are seen on Netflix ’ s “ Space Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series “ Star Trek : Lower Decks ” and “ The Twilight Zone , ” says she ’ s aware that young Black girls who see her on TV — wearing box braids — may give the arts a try when seeing someone who looks like them .
“ The braids were my idea , ” said Newsome .
“ Acting is kind of a silly , frivolous career in a lot of ways , and if you can seize the moments where you can in any way help make it meaningful for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty.
” Newsome also reveled in soaking up game from her “ Space Force ” co-star , award-winning actor John Malkovich .
“ To work side by side with him and have him showing me his different scented markers for his script because he ’ s an absolute delightful maniac , ” said Newsome .
“ And now we ’ re friends .
He texts me K-Pop videos — he ’ s the sweetest , weirdest man.
” Regardless of where Newsome ’ s career has taken her , she looks back fondly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend the city from anyone sitting in the cheap seats .
“ If anyone hasn ’ t lived in Chicago for at least two years , I don ’ t really want to hear your opinion about it because in two years , you need to get a full year ’ s worth of weather — no two years are alike , ” Newsome said .
“ It ’ s f -- -ing beautiful , ” Thomas said of Chicago .
“ There ’ s a lot of beauty here that the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend two years in the city , never ever discover .
”

Like a lot of Black folks amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, longtime friends/collaborators Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas often spend time ruminating about their place in the world, and what they can do to contribute.
Their impetus was hearing about President Donald Trump’s announcement to hold a rally on June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
June 19 is known — and historically unknown — to many African Americans as Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Africans.
“I remember when I was driving from Chicago to L.A. to go Tawny’s house, and hearing that [Tulsa rally announcement] in May, and I thought that’s the most insidious thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Thomas. “And then it was like: ‘I could say that to a lot of people, and they’re going to be like: ‘What’s Juneteenth?’ ”
Thomas and Newsome got to work on the album, “Material Flats,” which launched Oct. 9. It’s the “debut-ish’ album launched by Newsome’s record label Fine Alpinist Records.
Newsome, who now lives in California, says the album content is timely due to aforementioned events.
“When [Thomas] showed up to the compound where we recorded everything — my little home studio way out in the desert — I had a handful of demos of various things I wanted to write about that were somewhat topical and somewhat timeless,” said Newsome, who sang and played keys on the album. “And one day she just said: ‘Well, we have to do a song called Juneteenth.’ ”
Thomas, a Humboldt Park resident who grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said the album’s “DIY” creative process fell in line from there on.
“Yeah, it fell together like everything else in this project. She [Newsome] said: ‘Yes,’ and then we just did it,” said Thomas, who sang vocals on the album. “There wasn’t really a lot of second guessing; it seemed organic and obvious.”
One of the album’s standout tracks outside of “Juneteenth 2020” is “White Balloon,” which hits home for Newsome.
“I’ve lived in a rural area all my life except for the 14 years I lived in Chicago,” said Newsome. “It can feel very freeing and you’re in touch with nature. … And at the same time, as a Black person in the middle of one of the most intense summers for racial violence and racial awakening nationwide, your brain starts to go a little bit nuts and say: ‘Well, if these white supremacists come rolling down the road, how many seconds do I have before I can sprint up that trail behind my house, get into the woods where I know they won’t find me?’ ”
The women met doing storefront theater work and were ready to step out of the shadows of the backup singing gigs (Jon Langford, The Waco Brothers, and several Bloodshot Records artists) they’ve had over the years on the Chicago music scene.
Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas’ debut album “Material Flats.” Bethany Thomas and Nate Urbansky
“We have backed up and supported so many dudes, lovely dudes — no shade to them,” said Newsome, who lived in Lincoln Park and Ukrainian Village and performed at Second City during her time in the city. “But we have stood behind and beside so many men that this was a chance to call attention to that for me.”
The duo remains mindful when it comes to representation in their careers.
Newsome, whose acting chops are seen on Netflix’s “Space Force,” and the CBS All Access series “Star Trek: Lower Decks” and “The Twilight Zone,” says she’s aware that young Black girls who see her on TV — wearing box braids — may give the arts a try when seeing someone who looks like them.
“The braids were my idea,” said Newsome. “Acting is kind of a silly, frivolous career in a lot of ways, and if you can seize the moments where you can in any way help make it meaningful for other people, it’s your duty.”
Newsome also reveled in soaking up game from her “Space Force” co-star, award-winning actor John Malkovich.
“To work side by side with him and have him showing me his different scented markers for his script because he’s an absolute delightful maniac,” said Newsome. “And now we’re friends. He texts me K-Pop videos — he’s the sweetest, weirdest man.”
Regardless of where Newsome’s career has taken her, she looks back fondly on her Chicago years — she will defend the city from anyone sitting in the cheap seats.
“If anyone hasn’t lived in Chicago for at least two years, I don’t really want to hear your opinion about it because in two years, you need to get a full year’s worth of weather — no two years are alike,” Newsome said.
Thomas echoed Newsome’s sentiments.
“It’s f---ing beautiful,” Thomas said of Chicago. “There’s a lot of beauty here that the majority of people, even if you do spend two years in the city, never ever discover.”