chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Illinois’ coronavirus testing positivity rate rises for 13th consecutive day (LIVE UPDATES)

3,629 more Illinois coronavirus cases as positivity rate rises again Illinois ’ coronavirus testing positivity rate inched up for a 13th consecutive day Saturday as 3,629 more residents tested positive for COVID-19 .
That ’ s almost a thousand fewer cases than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 announced by public health officials a day earlier , but it ’ s still the state ’ s fourth highest count of the pandemic .
Experts warn Illinois is on the brink of a severe coronavirus flareup rivaling its initial peak of the pandemic in May , as cases also soar to record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has logged almost 47,000 cases so far in October , more than double its figure for the entire month of June .
While hefty case numbers don ’ t tell the full story , the latest cases were confirmed among 77,489 tests , raising the statewide seven-day average testing positivity rate once again to 5.2 % .
That number indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading , and it ’ s as high as it ’ s been since early June , shooting up nearly two full percentage points since Oct. 4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of COVID-19 : rising cases , rising positivity , all across the nation — not just Illinois , ” Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said Friday .
6:45 p.m. Indiana governor attacked from both sides over coronavirus actions Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he ’ s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months .
The two challengers to Holcomb ’ s reelection bid split on whether he ’ s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he ’ s trampled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order early in the outbreak and the mask mandate first issued in July .
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he ’ s built leading the Republican-dominated state government without a well-known election foe .
4:30 p.m .
US resorts adapt to new normal of skiing amid coronavirus pandemic Roughly seven months after the coronavirus cut the ski season short at the height of spring break , resorts across the United States and Canada are slowly picking up the pieces and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter .
While many of the details are still being worked out , resort leaders are asking guests to curb their expectations and to embrace a new normal while skiing and snowboarding amid a pandemic .
That could mean wearing masks , standing 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) apart in lift lines ( about the length of a typical ski ) , no dine-in service , riding lifts only with your group and no large gatherings for an apres drink .
1:45 p.m. Pritzker to extend eviction moratorium another 30 days : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
J.B. Pritzker said Friday he plans to extend the state ’ s moratorium on evictions another month .
Pritzker said adjustments made to the order are still being worked out , and the Friday announcement served purely as a heads-up that the extension was coming .
“ Suffice to say though , there won ’ t be any major news , but we are looking at how we might make adjustments , ” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference .
“ Remember , nothing really has changed in terms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy , its effect on people ’ s jobs and their ability , or inability , to pay their rent or mortgage.
” More details on the October extension of the moratorium will be rolled out along with the executive order , Pritzker said .
Pointing to the number of people out of work , housing advocates and others have called for the governor to cancel rent and mortgage payments and lift the ban on rent control out of fear that too many will become homeless after the pandemic .
But a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago said Friday that the governor ’ s decision jeopardizes their ability to maintain their buildings .
Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here .
11:50 a.m. Trump demonstrates new determination to minimize threat of COVID-19 WASHINGTON — Gone are the days when President Donald Trump held forth daily at the White House podium flanked by members of his coronavirus task force .
And the days when Vice President Mike Pence and other task force officials would head to Trump ’ s office to brief him immediately after their meetings .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump last met with the task force .
In the week since he emerged from coronavirus isolation , Trump has demonstrated new determination to minimize the threat of the virus that has killed more than 215,000 Americans and complicated his chances of winning another four years in the White House .
“ The light at the end of the tunnel is near .
We are rounding the turn , ” Trump told supporters Friday at an event in Fort Myers , Florida , one of many moments during a week of campaigning when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus threat .
“ Don ’ t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and pessimists.
” In word and action , he is pushing an optimistic outlook even as coronavirus infections are spiking in Europe and public health officials are raising alarm that the infection rate in the U.S. is climbing toward a new peak .
In the past week he has spread misinformation about the virus , undercut the nation ’ s leading infectious disease expert and kept up his practice of shunning mask use .
The effort to diminish the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to frame the race for the White House as a referendum on Trump ’ s handling of the worst U.S. public health crisis in over a century .
9:47 a.m. Doctors in rural Midwest struggle as COVID-19 overwhelms communities with limited resources WESSINGTON SPRINGS , S.D .
— Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn ’ t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August .
But over the last two weeks , its rate of new cases per person soared to one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All of a sudden it hit , and as it does , it just exploded , ” said Dr. Tom Dean , one of just three doctors who work in the county .
As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains , the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus .
Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm communities with limited medical resources .
And many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections .
Dean took to writing a column in the local weekly newspaper , the True Dakotan , to offer his guidance .
In recent weeks , he ’ s watched as one in roughly every 37 people in his county has tested positive for the virus .
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived , killing his father .
The community ’ s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate .
7:45 a.m. Illinois sees record positive cases for the second day in a row Illinois suffered a second straight record-shattering day with 4,554 new coronavirus cases reported Friday , a third of the state has reached a COVID-19 “ warning level , ” and testing positivity rates are darting up across the board .
“ I am deeply concerned .
Let me be clear : We are in a new wave here , ” Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hasn ’ t noticed this , turn on the television .
We ’ re in a new wave of COVID-19 — rising cases , rising positivity , all across the nation.
” Indiana and Wisconsin have joined Illinois in logging their highest new case counts of the entire pandemic on successive days , as the Midwest has become a focal point of the United States ’ latest coronavirus flareup .
This state ’ s latest gargantuan caseload was reported among a record-high 87,759 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise the state ’ s seven-day average testing positivity rate over the 5 % mark for the first time since early June , when the state was easing down from its initial peak of the COVID-19 crisis .
• Florida coach Dan Mullen tests positive for COVID-19 , will self-isolate with his family .
• Illinois suffered a second straight record-shattering day with 4,554 new coronavirus cases reported Friday • Fred Dean , fearsome pass rusher in 49ers ’ dynasty , dies at 68 after being hospitalized with the coronavirus .
• First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , now negative .
• Alabama coach NIck Saban tests positive for COVID-19 , but says he doesn ’ t have symptoms .
7:48 a.m. You don ’ t need a sleeping bag to survive early voting lines , but a campstool — and a scarf — might come in handy It took me two hours and seven minutes to early vote this week at Truman College in Uptown , only five minutes of which involved actually filling out the ballot .
The rest of the time was spent waiting outdoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a glacial pace , followed by a shorter wait indoors .
Yes , this is why I should have taken the advice to vote by mail , but I wasn ’ t ready to do that , and only my wife gets to say , ‘ I told you so , ’ because she really did tell me so , and the rest of you were just thinking it .
In my defense , I ’ m hardly alone .
At numerous early voting sites across the city on Wednesday , voters experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded early voting in all 50 wards coincided with warm , sunny fall weather .
If you ’ re going to vote in person in 2020 , you ’ re going to need to bring your patience , your mask , some comfortable shoes and probably your mobile phone to keep you entertained .
And , oh yes , appropriate outerwear because you ’ re going to be waiting outdoors .
The pandemic requires election officials to limit the number of people inside a polling place .
In certain extreme circumstances , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming in handy .

On Saturday, the statewide seven-day average testing positivity rate rose once again to 5.2%. That number indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, and it’s as high as it’s been since early June, shooting up nearly two full percentage points since Oct. 4.
Here’s what happened in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
9 p.m. 3,629 more Illinois coronavirus cases as positivity rate rises again
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Illinois’ coronavirus testing positivity rate inched up for a 13th consecutive day Saturday as 3,629 more residents tested positive for COVID-19.
That’s almost a thousand fewer cases than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 announced by public health officials a day earlier, but it’s still the state’s fourth highest count of the pandemic.
Experts warn Illinois is on the brink of a severe coronavirus flareup rivaling its initial peak of the pandemic in May, as cases also soar to record highs in neighboring Midwest states. Illinois has logged almost 47,000 cases so far in October, more than double its figure for the entire month of June.
While hefty case numbers don’t tell the full story, the latest cases were confirmed among 77,489 tests, raising the statewide seven-day average testing positivity rate once again to 5.2%.
That number indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, and it’s as high as it’s been since early June, shooting up nearly two full percentage points since Oct. 4.
“We’re in a new wave of COVID-19: rising cases, rising positivity, all across the nation — not just Illinois,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday.
Read the full story here.
6:45 p.m. Indiana governor attacked from both sides over coronavirus actions
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he’s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months.
The two challengers to Holcomb’s reelection bid split on whether he’s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he’s trampled people’s rights with the statewide stay-at-home order early in the outbreak and the mask mandate first issued in July.
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he’s built leading the Republican-dominated state government without a well-known election foe.
Read the complete story here.
4:30 p.m. US resorts adapt to new normal of skiing amid coronavirus pandemic
Helmet, goggles, skis? Check. Hand sanitizer, face covering, reservation? Check.
Roughly seven months after the coronavirus cut the ski season short at the height of spring break, resorts across the United States and Canada are slowly picking up the pieces and figuring out how to safely reopen this winter. While many of the details are still being worked out, resort leaders are asking guests to curb their expectations and to embrace a new normal while skiing and snowboarding amid a pandemic.
That could mean wearing masks, standing 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart in lift lines (about the length of a typical ski), no dine-in service, riding lifts only with your group and no large gatherings for an apres drink.
Read the full story here.
1:45 p.m. Pritzker to extend eviction moratorium another 30 days: ‘Nothing really has changed’
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday he plans to extend the state’s moratorium on evictions another month.
Pritzker said adjustments made to the order are still being worked out, and the Friday announcement served purely as a heads-up that the extension was coming.
“Suffice to say though, there won’t be any major news, but we are looking at how we might make adjustments,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference. “Remember, nothing really has changed in terms of the effect of COVID-19 and its effect on the economy, its effect on people’s jobs and their ability, or inability, to pay their rent or mortgage.”
More details on the October extension of the moratorium will be rolled out along with the executive order, Pritzker said.
Pointing to the number of people out of work, housing advocates and others have called for the governor to cancel rent and mortgage payments and lift the ban on rent control out of fear that too many will become homeless after the pandemic.
But a group of landlords and building owners in Chicago said Friday that the governor’s decision jeopardizes their ability to maintain their buildings.
Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here.
11:50 a.m. Trump demonstrates new determination to minimize threat of COVID-19
WASHINGTON — Gone are the days when President Donald Trump held forth daily at the White House podium flanked by members of his coronavirus task force. And the days when Vice President Mike Pence and other task force officials would head to Trump’s office to brief him immediately after their meetings.
The White House won’t say when Trump last met with the task force.
In the week since he emerged from coronavirus isolation, Trump has demonstrated new determination to minimize the threat of the virus that has killed more than 215,000 Americans and complicated his chances of winning another four years in the White House.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is near. We are rounding the turn,” Trump told supporters Friday at an event in Fort Myers, Florida, one of many moments during a week of campaigning when the president tried to play down the virus threat. “Don’t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and pessimists.”
In word and action, he is pushing an optimistic outlook even as coronavirus infections are spiking in Europe and public health officials are raising alarm that the infection rate in the U.S. is climbing toward a new peak.
In the past week he has spread misinformation about the virus, undercut the nation’s leading infectious disease expert and kept up his practice of shunning mask use. The effort to diminish the virus has gone into overdrive as Democrats try to frame the race for the White House as a referendum on Trump’s handling of the worst U.S. public health crisis in over a century.
Read the full story here.
9:47 a.m. Doctors in rural Midwest struggle as COVID-19 overwhelms communities with limited resources
WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. — Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn’t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August. But over the last two weeks, its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation.
“All of a sudden it hit, and as it does, it just exploded,” said Dr. Tom Dean, one of just three doctors who work in the county.
As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains, the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus. Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm communities with limited medical resources. And many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines and a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections.
Dean took to writing a column in the local weekly newspaper, the True Dakotan, to offer his guidance. In recent weeks, he’s watched as one in roughly every 37 people in his county has tested positive for the virus.
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived, killing his father. The community’s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in cities, but they have propelled the county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate.
Read the full story here.
7:45 a.m. Illinois sees record positive cases for the second day in a row
Illinois suffered a second straight record-shattering day with 4,554 new coronavirus cases reported Friday, a third of the state has reached a COVID-19 “warning level,” and testing positivity rates are darting up across the board.
“I am deeply concerned. Let me be clear: We are in a new wave here,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “Anybody that hasn’t noticed this, turn on the television. We’re in a new wave of COVID-19 — rising cases, rising positivity, all across the nation.”
Indiana and Wisconsin have joined Illinois in logging their highest new case counts of the entire pandemic on successive days, as the Midwest has become a focal point of the United States’ latest coronavirus flareup.
This state’s latest gargantuan caseload was reported among a record-high 87,759 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health — but it was still enough to raise the state’s seven-day average testing positivity rate over the 5% mark for the first time since early June, when the state was easing down from its initial peak of the COVID-19 crisis.
Mitchell Armentrout has the full report.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:48 a.m. You don’t need a sleeping bag to survive early voting lines, but a campstool — and a scarf — might come in handy
It took me two hours and seven minutes to early vote this week at Truman College in Uptown, only five minutes of which involved actually filling out the ballot.
The rest of the time was spent waiting outdoors in a long line that moved at a glacial pace, followed by a shorter wait indoors.
Yes, this is why I should have taken the advice to vote by mail, but I wasn’t ready to do that, and only my wife gets to say, ‘I told you so,’ because she really did tell me so, and the rest of you were just thinking it.
In my defense, I’m hardly alone.
At numerous early voting sites across the city on Wednesday, voters experienced similar delays as the first day of expanded early voting in all 50 wards coincided with warm, sunny fall weather.
If you’re going to vote in person in 2020, you’re going to need to bring your patience, your mask, some comfortable shoes and probably your mobile phone to keep you entertained.
And, oh yes, appropriate outerwear because you’re going to be waiting outdoors. The pandemic requires election officials to limit the number of people inside a polling place.
In certain extreme circumstances, I could even see a campstool and snacks coming in handy.
Read Mark Brown’s full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Indiana governor attacked from both sides over coronavirus actions

INDIANAPOLIS — Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he ’ s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months .
The two challengers to Holcomb ’ s reelection bid split on whether he ’ s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he ’ s trampled people ’ s rights with the statewide stay-at-home order early in the outbreak and the mask mandate first issued in July .
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he ’ s built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-known election foe .
While Indiana has seen recent sharp increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new infections , Holcomb ’ s message has gone between chastising those who resist wearing masks and touting his actions .
When asked recently what he would have done differently in responding to the pandemic , Holcomb replied : “ I don ’ t say this arrogantly , but not too much.
” “ Our economy is open .
So , it ’ s really balancing the lives and the livelihoods , ” Holcomb told WXIN-TV .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holcomb deciding which businesses were nonessential and forced to close during the early weeks of the pandemic , which many maintain shut down many small businesses while large national retailers stayed open and busy with customers .
Rainwater is appealing to those voters with a message that “ all Hoosiers are essential ” as he flatly opposes the mask requirement and pledges to undo Holcomb ’ s executive orders .
Myers , a physician and former state health commissioner , maintains Holcomb should reinstate capacity limits in bars and restaurants and lower the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached levels last reached in May — heading into the influenza season .
Myers said the mask mandate should be altered so that violators could face fines as a way for spurring “ hardheaded Hoosiers ” resisting their use into understanding their importance .
“ Instead of swift action , we ’ re seeing a governor frozen in the intensifying spotlight choosing the politically convenient path of doing nothing , ” Myers said .
“ It is clear to me that Indiana is now losing the battle against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrees from Stanford and Harvard , is the first Black person to be a major party nominee for Indiana governor .
He ’ s talked about his experiences having a gun pulled on him while growing up in Indianapolis and facing racial discrimination as a medical student .
Myers says he would use experiences to tackle issues of racial injustice and police reform .
He gained prominence as Indiana ’ s state health commissioner in the 1980s by advocating for teenage AIDS patient Ryan White ’ s right to attend a public school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his illness .
Myers later held string of corporate health care executive positions across the country .
Myers faults Holcomb and the Republican-dominated Legislature for inaction on many fronts , leaving Indiana near the bottom national rankings in health and education .
“ I want people to know that there ’ s fairness and diversity and inclusion , ” Myers said .
Holcomb maintains Indiana ’ s economy is strong and bouncing back quickly , pointing to the state ’ s 3 % unemployment rate before coronavirus shutdowns started in March and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 17.5 % to 6.4 % for August .
Holcomb also argues that Indiana will recover from the economic downturn better than other state governments because of the $ 2.3 billion in cash reserves built up over several years .
“ We had a very attractive economic architecture in January , February going into the pandemic — that ’ s still there , ” Holcomb said .
Holcomb has been able to far overshadow Myers and Rainwater across the state thanks to the $ 12.5 million his campaign has raised .
Some labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holcomb and none has given Myers large contributions .
That ’ s been among of the troubles Myers has faced in raising about $ 1.2 million , including some $ 300,000 he ’ s loaned to the campaign , and leaving him unable to air TV and radio commercials and rely , instead , on social media .
Recent Libertarian governor candidates have topped out at 4 % of the vote in the 2012 election , but discontent with Holcomb ’ s coronavirus orders could boost Rainwater higher .
Rainwater , a 57-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 seriously but argues state officials should have been better prepared for the outbreak .
“ Hollywood has been making movies about global pandemics and zombie apocalypse for decades , ” Rainwater said .
“ How did we have no idea how to prepare our citizens to make the right choices and right decisions on their own ?
Why did we feel the need to react by mandate ?
” Rainwater ’ s platform includes calling for elimination of the state ’ s individual income tax , which is expected to bring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 % , of the current year ’ s state budget , second only to sales tax revenue .
Rainwater argues Florida and eight other states function without individual income taxes and that economic growth and elimination of waste and abuse in state spending will make up for the revenue loss .
Some Republicans and economists have scoffed at his stance , saying it isn ’ t realistic .
Through it all , Holcomb keeps talking up what he calls the state ’ s success from the past 16 years of Republican governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape when we get to the other side of this , ” he said .

INDIANAPOLIS — Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he’s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months.
The two challengers to Holcomb’s reelection bid split on whether he’s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he’s trampled people’s rights with the statewide stay-at-home order early in the outbreak and the mask mandate first issued in July.
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he’s built leading the Republican-dominated state government without a well-known election foe.
While Indiana has seen recent sharp increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new infections, Holcomb’s message has gone between chastising those who resist wearing masks and touting his actions.
When asked recently what he would have done differently in responding to the pandemic, Holcomb replied: “I don’t say this arrogantly, but not too much.”
“Our economy is open. So, it’s really balancing the lives and the livelihoods,” Holcomb told WXIN-TV.
Some conservatives around the state are angry with Holcomb deciding which businesses were nonessential and forced to close during the early weeks of the pandemic, which many maintain shut down many small businesses while large national retailers stayed open and busy with customers.
Rainwater is appealing to those voters with a message that “all Hoosiers are essential” as he flatly opposes the mask requirement and pledges to undo Holcomb’s executive orders.
Myers, a physician and former state health commissioner, maintains Holcomb should reinstate capacity limits in bars and restaurants and lower the maximum crowd sizes — especially as Indiana’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached levels last reached in May — heading into the influenza season.
Myers said the mask mandate should be altered so that violators could face fines as a way for spurring “hardheaded Hoosiers” resisting their use into understanding their importance.
“Instead of swift action, we’re seeing a governor frozen in the intensifying spotlight choosing the politically convenient path of doing nothing,” Myers said. “It is clear to me that Indiana is now losing the battle against COVID-19.”
Myers, a 66-year-old with degrees from Stanford and Harvard, is the first Black person to be a major party nominee for Indiana governor. He’s talked about his experiences having a gun pulled on him while growing up in Indianapolis and facing racial discrimination as a medical student.
Myers says he would use experiences to tackle issues of racial injustice and police reform. He gained prominence as Indiana’s state health commissioner in the 1980s by advocating for teenage AIDS patient Ryan White’s right to attend a public school that sought to keep him out due to his illness. Myers later held string of corporate health care executive positions across the country.
Myers faults Holcomb and the Republican-dominated Legislature for inaction on many fronts, leaving Indiana near the bottom national rankings in health and education.
“I want people to know that there’s fairness and diversity and inclusion,” Myers said.
Holcomb maintains Indiana’s economy is strong and bouncing back quickly, pointing to the state’s 3% unemployment rate before coronavirus shutdowns started in March and how it has dropped from a high of 17.5% to 6.4% for August.
Holcomb also argues that Indiana will recover from the economic downturn better than other state governments because of the $2.3 billion in cash reserves built up over several years.
“We had a very attractive economic architecture in January, February going into the pandemic — that’s still there,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb has been able to far overshadow Myers and Rainwater across the state thanks to the $12.5 million his campaign has raised.
Some labor unions that typically back Democrats have endorsed Holcomb and none has given Myers large contributions. That’s been among of the troubles Myers has faced in raising about $1.2 million, including some $300,000 he’s loaned to the campaign, and leaving him unable to air TV and radio commercials and rely, instead, on social media.
Recent Libertarian governor candidates have topped out at 4% of the vote in the 2012 election, but discontent with Holcomb’s coronavirus orders could boost Rainwater higher.
Rainwater, a 57-year-old information technology manager, said he takes COVID-19 seriously but argues state officials should have been better prepared for the outbreak.
“Hollywood has been making movies about global pandemics and zombie apocalypse for decades,” Rainwater said. “How did we have no idea how to prepare our citizens to make the right choices and right decisions on their own? Why did we feel the need to react by mandate?”
Rainwater’s platform includes calling for elimination of the state’s individual income tax, which is expected to bring in nearly $6.4 billion, or about 40%, of the current year’s state budget, second only to sales tax revenue.
Rainwater argues Florida and eight other states function without individual income taxes and that economic growth and elimination of waste and abuse in state spending will make up for the revenue loss. Some Republicans and economists have scoffed at his stance, saying it isn’t realistic.
Through it all, Holcomb keeps talking up what he calls the state’s success from the past 16 years of Republican governors.
“We’re in good shape when we get to the other side of this,” he said.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--3 injured, including Chicago cop, in crash with police vehicle in Roseland

A vehicle crashed into a police car Saturday in Roseland , leaving three people injured , including a Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ , the unmarked squad car was traveling west with its sirens activated on 111th Street @ @ @ @ @ into it in the intersection at Michigan Avenue , according to Chicago police .
An @ @ @ @ @ was taken to a local hospital , while a 23-year-old man and 24-year-old woman in @ @ @ @ @ Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment , police said .
None of their @ @ @ @ @ .
The man , who was driving the Chevrolet , was cited for driving on @ @ @ @ @ to yield to an emergency vehicle , police said .

A vehicle crashed into a police car Saturday in Roseland, leaving three people injured, including a Chicago police officer.
About 4:25 p.m., the unmarked squad car was traveling west with its sirens activated on 111th Street when a southbound Chevrolet slammed into it in the intersection at Michigan Avenue, according to Chicago police.
An officer in the squad car was taken to a local hospital, while a 23-year-old man and 24-year-old woman in the Chevrolet were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, police said. None of their injuries appear to be life-threatening.
The man, who was driving the Chevrolet, was cited for driving on an expired license and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, police said.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Nick Cannon, G Herbo tackle food insecurity through Feed Your City Challenge in West Pullman

As a successful record label owner , Tony Draper has always felt fulfilled by his work .
But that feeling reached new heights when he co-created the Feed Your City Challenge , which is touring the U.S. to bring groceries to those in need , the Suave House Records founder said .
“ I sold 10 million records , but I didn ’ t get the feeling I get now , ” Draper said Saturday when the Challenge made its ninth stop nationally on the Far South Side .
The giveaway — which will feed 7,000 people with about 95,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Challenge co-founder and NBA veteran Ricky Davis , music producer No I.D.
, rapper G Herbo and others showed up to hand-deliver the groceries to a line of cars that stretched blocks from the Pullman Community Center , 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave .
The center has had mass giveaways before , but nothing as large as the Feed Your City Challenge , according to the center ’ s general manager Kristin Curtis .
“ During Covid , people were hit so hard in our community — just financially and by losing jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping them with fresh produce and quality food shows them we ’ re here .
I feel like this is a great equalizer.
” Curtis said she also wants people to leave feeling respected .
“ I want them to go away feeling they ’ re special and that ordinary , everyday people still matter , ” she said .
The one-day program also aims to bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity in America — a major barrier to children ’ s health .
“ Something so simple as a kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can save a lot of drama , ” said Jabari Parker , who grew up in the city and previously played for the Chicago Bulls .
“ Because that ’ s where a lot of tension comes from .
People are really just starving , ” said Parker , now signed to the Sacramento Kings .
Comedian Nick Cannon , who also attended , said that the Challenge was just one way to help address inequality in the community .
“ There ’ s a lot of challenges in 2020 , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ re coming to feed the community ... but [ also ] to say , ‘ You can ’ t lead the people until you feed the people , ’ ” Cannon said .
Food isn ’ t the only thing Draper said he hopes the Challenge brings people in the community .
“ I ’ m providing a joyful experience .
I want you to be happy to come out and see your people treat you with respect , ” Draper said .

As a successful record label owner, Tony Draper has always felt fulfilled by his work.
But that feeling reached new heights when he co-created the Feed Your City Challenge, which is touring the U.S. to bring groceries to those in need, the Suave House Records founder said.
“I sold 10 million records, but I didn’t get the feeling I get now,” Draper said Saturday when the Challenge made its ninth stop nationally on the Far South Side.
The giveaway — which will feed 7,000 people with about 95,000 pounds of food — was also star-studded.
Challenge co-founder and NBA veteran Ricky Davis, music producer No I.D., rapper G Herbo and others showed up to hand-deliver the groceries to a line of cars that stretched blocks from the Pullman Community Center, 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave.
The center has had mass giveaways before, but nothing as large as the Feed Your City Challenge, according to the center’s general manager Kristin Curtis.
Rapper G Herbo distributes groceries Saturday to community members during the Feed Your City Challenge in Pullman. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
“During Covid, people were hit so hard in our community — just financially and by losing jobs,” Curtis said. “And helping them with fresh produce and quality food shows them we’re here. I feel like this is a great equalizer.”
Curtis said she also wants people to leave feeling respected.
“I want them to go away feeling they’re special and that ordinary, everyday people still matter,” she said.
The one-day program also aims to bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity in America — a major barrier to children’s health.
“Something so simple as a kid going home with food in his belly can save a lot of drama,” said Jabari Parker, who grew up in the city and previously played for the Chicago Bulls.
“Because that’s where a lot of tension comes from. People are really just starving,” said Parker, now signed to the Sacramento Kings.
Former Chicago Bull Jabari Parker, now with the Sacramento Kings, signs a ball during the Feed Your City Challenge on Saturday in Pullman. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Comedian Nick Cannon, who also attended, said that the Challenge was just one way to help address inequality in the community.
“There’s a lot of challenges in 2020, and we’re taking responsibility for our own, and we’re coming to feed the community ... but [also] to say, ‘You can’t lead the people until you feed the people,’” Cannon said.
Food isn’t the only thing Draper said he hopes the Challenge brings people in the community.
“I’m providing a joyful experience. I want you to be happy to come out and see your people treat you with respect,” Draper said.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--18 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago so far this weekend

Five people have been killed and 13 others have been injured in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening .
The latest fatal attack left a man dead Saturday afternoon in Lawndale on the West Side .
The 30-year-old was outside about 3:45 p.m. when a group of people walked up to him in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue and opened fire , striking him in the neck and chest , Chicago police said .
He was taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
On Saturday morning , a woman was killed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Humboldt Park on the West Side .
They were in a vehicle at 4:19 a.m. in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue when a black Chevrolet approached and someone inside started shooting , according to Chicago police .
The woman , 22 , was shot in the right leg and buttocks and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she died , police said .
A 23-year-old man was hit in the right forearm and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
Two people were shot , one fatally , earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side .
Aaron Campbell , 30 , and a 26-year-old woman were in a parked vehicle shortly after midnight in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue when two males approached and fired multiple shots , according to police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
Campbell was shot nine times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died , officials said .
The woman was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the buttocks .
Another man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Northwest Side .
Ramon Flores Jr. , 42 , went outside to smoke about 11:50 p.m. in the 6700 block of West Belmont Avenue when two males approached and began shooting at him , authorities said .
Flores , who lived in Orlando , Florida , was shot in the back and taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood , where he died .
About an hour earlier , one teenager was fatally shot and another injured in Lawndale on the West Side .
Officers found the two boys shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard , police said .
One boy , about 15 years old , suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The other boy , 15 , was shot in the right leg and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
In non-fatal shootings , three men were wounded Saturday afternoon in Calumet Heights on the South Side .
Someone in a vehicle fired shots at the trio about 3:20 p.m. in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chicago police said .
A 27-year-old man was struck several times in the body and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was in critical condition , police said .
Another man , 40 , was taken to the same hospital in serious condition with a gunshot wound to his back .
A third man , who is in his 30s , was struck multiple times in the body and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , police said .
He was also in serious condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot while driving in Bucktown on the North Side .
He was riding in a vehicle about 12:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of West Diversey Avenue when he heard gunshots and realized he was hit , according to Chicago police .
He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the buttocks , police said .
The weekend ’ s first reported shooting left a man wounded in Austin on the West Side .
A 22-year-old man was shot in the groin about 6:06 p.m. in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
He was taken in stable condition to Mount Sinai Hospital .
Five more people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday .
On Thursday , 13 people were shot throughout the city , two of them fatally .
Last weekend saw five people killed and 48 others wounded by gun violence in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Seven people were killed and 26 others were injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.
One teenager is among the dead, while three other teens were wounded between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend saw five people killed and 48 others wounded in citywide gun violence.
Sunday
The latest fatal attack left a man dead and four others wounded Sunday afternoon inside an East Garfield Park home on the West Side. About 5:40 p.m., someone walked into the home in the 200 block of North Sacramento Boulevard, pulled out a gun and fired shots at the people inside before fleeing, Chicago police said.
Dantrel Johnson, 27, was struck in the leg and arm and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. A 32-year-old man who was shot in the buttocks was in serious condition at the same hospital, along with a 37-year-old man who was in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot. Two more men, 25 and 27, were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. The younger man was shot in the leg, while the older man was struck in the arm, body and back.
A woman was killed Sunday morning in Englewood on the South Side. A male suspect followed 26-year-old Rodjzae Funches-Heard to a vehicle after an argument and fired shots at her about 4:20 a.m. in the 7500 block of South Emerald Avenue, officials said. She was hit in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Saturday
Another man was shot to death Saturday afternoon in Lawndale on the West Side. Kent Mitchell, 42, was outside shortly after 3 p.m. in the 1500 block of South MIllard Avenue when a group of people walked up and opened fire, striking him in the neck and chest, authorities said. Mitchell, who lives in Rogers Park, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On Saturday morning, a woman was killed and a man injured in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side. They were in a vehicle at 4:19 a.m. in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue when a black Chevrolet approached and someone inside started shooting, according to police. Tynaz Shorter, 22, was shot in the right leg and buttocks and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died, officials said. A 23-year-old man was hit in the right forearm and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
Two people were shot, one fatally, earlier Saturday morning in Chatham on the South Side. Aaron Campbell, 30, and a 26-year-old woman were in a parked vehicle shortly after midnight in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue when two males approached and fired multiple shots, authorities said. Campbell was shot nine times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died. The woman was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the buttocks.
Friday
Another man was fatally shot late Friday night in Dunning on the Northwest Side. Ramon Flores Jr., 42, went outside to smoke about 11:50 p.m. in the 6700 block of West Belmont Avenue when two males approached and began shooting at him, officials said. Flores, who lived in Orlando, Florida, was shot in the back and taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he died.
About an hour earlier, a teenager was fatally shot and another injured in Lawndale on the West Side. Officers found the two boys shot in a stairway about 10:50 p.m. Friday in the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard, police said. Antwon Winters, 14, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other boy, 15, was shot in the right leg and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
Teens wounded
A teenage girl was among two people wounded in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Grand Crossing on the South Side. The girl was with another female about 5:15 p.m. in the 7500 block of South Dorchester Avenue when shots were fired from somewhere, striking both of them, police said. The other female, whose age is not known, was struck in the head and back, and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. The 17-year-old was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the knee.
Saturday morning, a 17-year-old boy was shot while driving in Bucktown on the North Side. He was riding in a vehicle about 12:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of West Diversey Avenue when he heard gunshots and realized he was hit, according to Chicago police. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the buttocks, police said.
Sixteen more people were wounded in citywide shootings over the weekend.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Ian Book’s TD run helps No. 4 Notre Dame hold off Louisville

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
— When it came time to deliver , Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book stopped beating himself up and kept the No .
4 Fighting Irish unbeaten .
“ I ’ m definitely hard on myself , but my job at the end of the day is to get the ‘ W ’ , ” said Book , whose 13-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter together with Kyren Williams ’ 127 rushing yards helped Notre Dame hold off the Cardinals 12-7 on Saturday .
Williams ran 25 times and had his third 100-yard game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4-0 , 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference ) won their 22nd straight at Notre Dame Stadium .
It came against an inspired Louisville 3-4 defense that spent most of the afternoon on the field .
Notre Dame controlled the clock for 36:15 including a game-ending 14-play drive that burned the final 7:55 .
“ When the game is on the line , you can count on Ian Book to come up and make big plays for us , ” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said .
“ The preparation was outstanding , their mindset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re a top-five team , you ’ re going to get the opposition ’ s best game , period.
” Book completed 11 of 19 for 106 yards and ran 12 times for 47 yards .
“ I felt like I was able to pick myself up and get the energy going , ” he said .
The loss was the fourth straight for the Cardinals ( 1-4 , 0-4 ) , who got 118 yards passing and 49 rushing from Malik Cunningham .
Javian Hawkins , the nation ’ s No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was limited to 51 yards on 15 carries .
“ I told our guys in our locker room that I was proud of them , ” Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said .
“ We were in this game and had an opportunity at the end to get a victory .
The guys went out there and competed today.
” The Irish outgained the Cardinals 338-219 and controlled the clock for 21:57 of the first half , running 45 plays and gaining 212 yards to Louisville ’ s 23 plays for 90 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6-0 halftime lead on Jonathan Doerer ’ s field goals of 32 and 30 yards .
The Cardinals opened the second half with an 83-yard touchdown drive , including a 29-yard pass to a wide-open Hawkins at the Irish one .
Cunningham followed with a 1-yard TD pass to Marshon Ford to make it 7-6 .
Cunningham completed 16 of 19 passes and also left for a brief time with cramps but returned .
“ They didn ’ t let us get over the top today so we had to take what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Not turning the ball over was something we harped on all week .
But the chances we got we have to execute them a little better.
” The Cardinals tried an onside kick after their touchdown but were penalized for an illegal block .
After the re-kick , Book drove the Irish 56 yards in eight plays , going the final 13 yards on a cross-field scramble on a third-and-8 , escaping the tackle of Chandler Jones and getting into the end zone to put the Irish up 12-7 .
A 2-point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12-7 going into the final quarter .
Louisville : The Cardinals , who entered the game with a turnover margin of minus-2 and having allowed 14 sacks , moved the ball when they were able to get it from the Irish .
With the Irish defensive attention on Hawkins , Cunningham shouldered most of the Louisville offense .
The Cardinals finished with no turnovers and no sacks .
“ When you don ’ t even run 50 plays it ’ s hard to get into any rhythm throwing the ball , ” Satterfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball 45 plays and we threw it 22 .
We ’ ve got to do a much better job running the ball.
” Notre Dame : The Irish marched up and down the field on three of their four first-half drives , totaling 42 plays and 219 yards and taking 20 minutes off the clock .
On their third drive just before half , holder Jay Bramblett came up 2 yards short on a faked field-goal attempt at the Louisville 6 .
“ I don ’ t even know if aesthetically we looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We controlled the line of scrimmage , we controlled the time of possession , we had I think one or two penalties , we didn ’ t turn the football over .
I ’ ve coached a lot of games over 30 years , ( and ) I don ’ t know if I ’ ve been in one quite like this .
I ’ ve been in a 12-7 game when it was a stinker and you ’ re like , eww , but this game was a little different.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been Book ’ s 12-yard completion to freshman tight end Michael Mayer , who stiff-armed linebacker C.J .
Avery and then leaped over cornerback Kei ’ Trel Clark to give the Irish a first down at the Louisville 14 , much to the delight of the announced crowd of 10,182 .
Louisville ’ s defense came in allowing 475.0 yards a game and 270.7 yards on the ground .
Notre Dame finished with 338 total yards and 232 on the ground .
Linebacker Monty Montgomery led the Cardinals with 13 tackles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re much better , much more developed , much more precise with everything we ’ ve been working on , ” Montgomery said .
“ We ’ re going to keep getting better each week.
” A week after rushing for a season-high 353 yards in a 42-26 victory over Florida State , No .
4 Notre Dame could take a short tumble after its lowest scoring output of the season .
Notre Dame : Irish on road for first time at Pittsburgh on Saturday .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When it came time to deliver, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book stopped beating himself up and kept the No. 4 Fighting Irish unbeaten.
“I’m definitely hard on myself, but my job at the end of the day is to get the ‘W’,” said Book, whose 13-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter together with Kyren Williams’ 127 rushing yards helped Notre Dame hold off the Cardinals 12-7 on Saturday.
Williams ran 25 times and had his third 100-yard game of the season as the Irish (4-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their 22nd straight at Notre Dame Stadium.
It came against an inspired Louisville 3-4 defense that spent most of the afternoon on the field. Notre Dame controlled the clock for 36:15 including a game-ending 14-play drive that burned the final 7:55.
“When the game is on the line, you can count on Ian Book to come up and make big plays for us,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “The preparation was outstanding, their mindset was great, but when you’re a top-five team, you’re going to get the opposition’s best game, period.”
Book completed 11 of 19 for 106 yards and ran 12 times for 47 yards.
“I felt like I was able to pick myself up and get the energy going,” he said.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Cardinals (1-4, 0-4), who got 118 yards passing and 49 rushing from Malik Cunningham. Javian Hawkins, the nation’s No. 3 rusher coming into the game, was limited to 51 yards on 15 carries.
“I told our guys in our locker room that I was proud of them,” Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said. “We were in this game and had an opportunity at the end to get a victory. The guys went out there and competed today.”
The Irish outgained the Cardinals 338-219 and controlled the clock for 21:57 of the first half, running 45 plays and gaining 212 yards to Louisville’s 23 plays for 90. But all that got Notre Dame was a 6-0 halftime lead on Jonathan Doerer’s field goals of 32 and 30 yards.
The Cardinals opened the second half with an 83-yard touchdown drive, including a 29-yard pass to a wide-open Hawkins at the Irish one. Cunningham followed with a 1-yard TD pass to Marshon Ford to make it 7-6.
Cunningham completed 16 of 19 passes and also left for a brief time with cramps but returned.
“They didn’t let us get over the top today so we had to take what we had underneath,” Cunningham said. “Not turning the ball over was something we harped on all week. But the chances we got we have to execute them a little better.”
The Cardinals tried an onside kick after their touchdown but were penalized for an illegal block. After the re-kick, Book drove the Irish 56 yards in eight plays, going the final 13 yards on a cross-field scramble on a third-and-8, escaping the tackle of Chandler Jones and getting into the end zone to put the Irish up 12-7. A 2-point conversion pass failed but Notre Dame led 12-7 going into the final quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Louisville: The Cardinals, who entered the game with a turnover margin of minus-2 and having allowed 14 sacks, moved the ball when they were able to get it from the Irish. With the Irish defensive attention on Hawkins, Cunningham shouldered most of the Louisville offense. The Cardinals finished with no turnovers and no sacks.
“When you don’t even run 50 plays it’s hard to get into any rhythm throwing the ball,” Satterfield said. “We only had the ball 45 plays and we threw it 22. We’ve got to do a much better job running the ball.”
Notre Dame: The Irish marched up and down the field on three of their four first-half drives, totaling 42 plays and 219 yards and taking 20 minutes off the clock. On their third drive just before half, holder Jay Bramblett came up 2 yards short on a faked field-goal attempt at the Louisville 6.
“I don’t even know if aesthetically we looked bad,” Kelly said. “We controlled the line of scrimmage, we controlled the time of possession, we had I think one or two penalties, we didn’t turn the football over. I’ve coached a lot of games over 30 years, (and) I don’t know if I’ve been in one quite like this. I’ve been in a 12-7 game when it was a stinker and you’re like, eww, but this game was a little different.”
MY, OH, MAYER
The best play of the first half may have been Book’s 12-yard completion to freshman tight end Michael Mayer, who stiff-armed linebacker C.J. Avery and then leaped over cornerback Kei’Trel Clark to give the Irish a first down at the Louisville 14, much to the delight of the announced crowd of 10,182.
DEFENSE IMPRESSES
Louisville’s defense came in allowing 475.0 yards a game and 270.7 yards on the ground. Notre Dame finished with 338 total yards and 232 on the ground.
Linebacker Monty Montgomery led the Cardinals with 13 tackles and had a pair of sacks.
“We’re much better, much more developed, much more precise with everything we’ve been working on,” Montgomery said. “We’re going to keep getting better each week.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
A week after rushing for a season-high 353 yards in a 42-26 victory over Florida State, No. 4 Notre Dame could take a short tumble after its lowest scoring output of the season.
UP NEXT
Louisville: Cardinals home to play Florida State Saturday.
Notre Dame: Irish on road for first time at Pittsburgh on Saturday.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-18--Chicago outdoors: White squirrel, Lake Michigan muskrat, Indiana sandhill cranes, big fish

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors .
Adam Bolt , at the urging of Andrew Richert , sent a photo of a white squirrel at George W. Dunne National Golf Club in Oak Forest .
For some reason , there has been a spurt of white squirrels on the far South/Southwest Side and near south/southwest suburbs .
WOTW , the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors , runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday .
Submit nominations by message on Facebook ( Dale Bowman ) , on Twitter ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BowmanOutside ) or email ( BowmanOutside @ gmail.com ) .
“ While I was canoeing [ last week ] on Lake Michigan off Rogers Park , I saw what I think might be a muskrat swimming along the shore just north of Leone Beach .
I followed it along the shore for 10-15 minutes up to around Howard Beach .
I last saw a muskrat in the lake about five years ago.
” Larry A : I am always curious why a muskrat would go to Lake Michigan when there are lagoons and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count Tuesday ( second of the fall ) at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area , southeast of Valparaiso , Ind .
Click here for the latest update on the sandhill count at Jasper-Pulaski .
“ It ’ s truly amazing the trophy fish that lake produces with the amount of pressure it receives .
A testament to all those that help make it such.
” Ken “ Husker ” O ’ Malley , on Chase Rockstead catching a record walleye from Shabbona Lake , most intensely fished lake in Illinois and a lake @ @ @ @ @

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Adam Bolt, at the urging of Andrew Richert, sent a photo of a white squirrel at George W. Dunne National Golf Club in Oak Forest. For some reason, there has been a spurt of white squirrels on the far South/Southwest Side and near south/southwest suburbs.
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
Oct. 24-25: Joliet, (815) 935-2700
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Today, Oct. 18: Final day, youth waterfowl hunt, central zone
Monday, Oct. 19: North zone white-fronted goose (specklebelly) hunting opens
Tuesday, Oct.. 20: Over-the-counter firearm deer permits go on sale
Saturday, Oct. 24: Central zone duck and Canada goose open . . .. Fall shotgun turkey opens
DALE’S MAILBAG
“While I was canoeing [last week] on Lake Michigan off Rogers Park, I saw what I think might be a muskrat swimming along the shore just north of Leone Beach. I followed it along the shore for 10-15 minutes up to around Howard Beach. I last saw a muskrat in the lake about five years ago.” Larry
A: I am always curious why a muskrat would go to Lake Michigan when there are lagoons and ponds nearby.
BIG NUMBER
3,790: Sandhill crane count Tuesday (second of the fall) at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, southeast of Valparaiso, Ind. Click here for the latest update on the sandhill count at Jasper-Pulaski.
LAST WORD
“It’s truly amazing the trophy fish that lake produces with the amount of pressure it receives. A testament to all those that help make it such.”
Ken “Husker” O’Malley, on Chase Rockstead catching a record walleye from Shabbona Lake, most intensely fished lake in Illinois and a lake receiving much volunteer assistance.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-18--Dear Abby: My husband won’t return his mom’s calls, so she makes me the go-between

DEAR ABBY : My husband and I have been together since we were 21 , and he has always had a distant relationship with his parents .
I encouraged him during the first few years of our marriage to call them and visit .
I stopped doing that after his mom and I had some choice words .
If he wants a relationship with them , that is up to him .
The problem is , when she tries to call and text with typically no response from him , she reaches out to me .
We have two daughters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing with her how they are doing .
What I object to is her occasionally asking me to pass on messages to my husband .
I ’ m a working mom of two , and I don ’ t have time to be anyone else ’ s secretary .
The icing on the cake came when she informed me that the family dog they ’ d had for 15 years passed away and asked me to tell him .
I told her what time he could be reached , but instead of taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ended up telling him .
It wasn ’ t my responsibility to do that , and I ’ m irritated with myself that I can ’ t be frank about how she and his dad need to contact their son .
Any suggestions would be helpful .
— FINDING A BACKBONE IN PENNSYLVANIA DEAR FINDING : It may take courage , but the next time your mother-in-law tries to make you her messenger , tell her that what she ’ s asking makes you uncomfortable and that she needs to convey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her son or emailing .
If , after that , she says she can ’ t get through to him , point out that you no longer want to be in the middle .
Period .
And let your husband know what you ’ ve done .
Will this endear you to her ?
Definitely not .
But the individuals who need to heal the relationship between your husband ’ s parents and their son are the three of them , not you .
DEAR ABBY : My parents met when they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised four boys and had an incredible marriage .
When Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s , they carried on as best they could with Dad providing her care .
Sadly , Dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer , so they moved in with me , and I quit working to care for them .
Dad died three months later .
Obviously , Mom was devastated in addition to being confused about why Dad was no longer there .
Mom and I often took walks through my neighborhood , and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the pretty flowers in the yard and how she and Dad enjoyed planting flowers every year .
No matter how agitated or upset she was , seeing that neighbor ’ s yard would cheer her up and bring back fond memories for her .
Mom died a few years later .
I wrote a note to the person who lived at the property — whom I never had met — telling her how much joy her flowers had brought to Mom and thanking her for making my mother ’ s final days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now to share that even in the darkest times , a little beauty can make a world of difference .
— GRATEFUL SON IN ARIZONA DEAR GRATEFUL SON : What you have written is true .
Music can have the same effect on patients with Alzheimer ’ s disease .
My mother had Alzheimer ’ s for many years , and my brother and I provided her with music from her era — Pearl Bailey , the Andrews Sisters , etc .
— to help her pass the time .
Toward the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her brought her back to me for a precious moment , and it , too , made a world of difference .
Thank you for your letter and for taking me on my own trip down memory lane .
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 everything you need to know about wedding planning , order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Wedding Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together since we were 21, and he has always had a distant relationship with his parents. I encouraged him during the first few years of our marriage to call them and visit. I stopped doing that after his mom and I had some choice words.
If he wants a relationship with them, that is up to him. The problem is, when she tries to call and text with typically no response from him, she reaches out to me. We have two daughters, so I don’t mind sharing with her how they are doing. What I object to is her occasionally asking me to pass on messages to my husband. I’m a working mom of two, and I don’t have time to be anyone else’s secretary.
The icing on the cake came when she informed me that the family dog they’d had for 15 years passed away and asked me to tell him. I told her what time he could be reached, but instead of taking my suggestion, she asked me again. I ended up telling him.
It wasn’t my responsibility to do that, and I’m irritated with myself that I can’t be frank about how she and his dad need to contact their son. Any suggestions would be helpful. — FINDING A BACKBONE IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR FINDING: It may take courage, but the next time your mother-in-law tries to make you her messenger, tell her that what she’s asking makes you uncomfortable and that she needs to convey the information herself — by either texting her son or emailing. If, after that, she says she can’t get through to him, point out that you no longer want to be in the middle. Period. And let your husband know what you’ve done.
Will this endear you to her? Definitely not. But the individuals who need to heal the relationship between your husband’s parents and their son are the three of them, not you.
DEAR ABBY: My parents met when they were 14. They married at 18, raised four boys and had an incredible marriage. When Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they carried on as best they could with Dad providing her care. Sadly, Dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, so they moved in with me, and I quit working to care for them. Dad died three months later. Obviously, Mom was devastated in addition to being confused about why Dad was no longer there.
Mom and I often took walks through my neighborhood, and at one house in particular she would comment on the pretty flowers in the yard and how she and Dad enjoyed planting flowers every year. No matter how agitated or upset she was, seeing that neighbor’s yard would cheer her up and bring back fond memories for her. Mom died a few years later.
I wrote a note to the person who lived at the property — whom I never had met — telling her how much joy her flowers had brought to Mom and thanking her for making my mother’s final days brighter. Abby, I am writing now to share that even in the darkest times, a little beauty can make a world of difference. — GRATEFUL SON IN ARIZONA
DEAR GRATEFUL SON: What you have written is true. Music can have the same effect on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. My mother had Alzheimer’s for many years, and my brother and I provided her with music from her era — Pearl Bailey, the Andrews Sisters, etc. — to help her pass the time. Toward the end, singing a song from her youth to her brought her back to me for a precious moment, and it, too, made a world of difference. Thank you for your letter and for taking me on my own trip down memory lane.
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 everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-10-18--Man charged with trying to meet teen boy though dating app

An Uptown man is accused of trying to solicit sex from someone he thought was a teenage boy last week on the North Side .
Matthew Baldwin , 51 , faces one count of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse , two counts of indecent solicitation of a minor , one count of traveling to meet a minor and one count of grooming a minor , all felonies , according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff ’ s office .
On Sept. 10 , Baldwin contacted an undercover investigator with the sheriff ’ s Special Victims Unit who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dating app , authorities said .
They continued to talk through another chat app for several more weeks .
Baldwin allegedly “ sent explicit messages describing sexual activity he wished to engage in ” and suggested that they meet , the sheriff ’ s office said .
He also agreed not to tell the “ boy ’ s ” mother about the meeting .
The undercover officer arranged to meet Baldwin near his North Side home Oct. 14 and took him into custody when he arrived , according to the sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his arrest that he thought he was going to be meeting the 15-year-old for sex .
Baldwin ’ s bail was set at $ 150,000 during a hearing Friday , authorities said .
He was released on electronic monitoring after posting bond and is due back in court Nov. 4 .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

An Uptown man is accused of trying to solicit sex from someone he thought was a teenage boy last week on the North Side.
Matthew Baldwin, 51, faces one count of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse, two counts of indecent solicitation of a minor, one count of traveling to meet a minor and one count of grooming a minor, all felonies, according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff’s office.
On Sept. 10, Baldwin contacted an undercover investigator with the sheriff’s Special Victims Unit who was posing as a 15-year-old boy on a dating app, authorities said. They continued to talk through another chat app for several more weeks.
Baldwin allegedly “sent explicit messages describing sexual activity he wished to engage in” and suggested that they meet, the sheriff’s office said. He also agreed not to tell the “boy’s” mother about the meeting.
The undercover officer arranged to meet Baldwin near his North Side home Oct. 14 and took him into custody when he arrived, according to the sheriff’s office. Baldwin allegedly told investigators after his arrest that he thought he was going to be meeting the 15-year-old for sex.
Baldwin’s bail was set at $150,000 during a hearing Friday, authorities said. He was released on electronic monitoring after posting bond and is due back in court Nov. 4.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-18--14-year-old among 5 fatally shot in Chicago so far this weekend

Five people have been killed and 18 others have been injured in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening .
One teenager is among the dead , while three other teens were wounded .
The latest fatal attack left a man dead Saturday afternoon in Lawndale on the West Side .
The 30-year-old was outside about 3:45 p.m. when a group of people walked up to him in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue and opened fire , striking him in the neck and chest , Chicago police said .
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a woman was killed and a man injured in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
They were in a vehicle at 4:19 a.m. in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue when a black Chevrolet approached and someone inside started shooting , according to police .
Tynaz Shorter , 22 , was shot in the right leg and buttocks and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she died , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
A 23-year-old man was hit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in good condition .
Two people were shot , one fatally , earlier Saturday morning in Chatham on the South Side .
Aaron Campbell , 30 , and a 26-year-old woman were in a parked vehicle shortly after midnight in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue when two males approached and fired multiple shots , authorities said .
Campbell was shot nine times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died .
The woman was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a gunshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fatally shot late Friday night in Dunning on the Northwest Side .
Ramon Flores Jr. , 42 , went outside to smoke about 11:50 p.m. in the 6700 block of West Belmont Avenue when two males approached and began shooting at him , officials said .
Flores , who lived in Orlando , Florida , was shot in the back and taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood , where he died .
About an hour earlier , one teenager was fatally shot and another injured in Lawndale on the West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in a stairway about 10:50 p.m. Friday in the 3600 block of West Douglas Boulevard , police said .
Antwon Winters , 14 , suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The other boy , 15 , was shot in the right leg and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
In nonfatal shootings , a teenage girl was among two people wounded Saturday afternoon in Grand Crossing on the South Side .
The girl was with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7500 block of South Dorchester Avenue when shots were fired from somewhere , striking both of them , police said .
The other female , whose age is not known , was struck in the head and back , and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition .
The 17-year-old was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the knee .
Earlier in the afternoon , three men were wounded in a shooting in Calumet Heights on the South Side .
Someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 3:20 p.m. in the 1900 block of East 95th Street , police said .
A 27-year-old man was struck several times in the body and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition .
Another man , 40 , was taken to the same hospital in serious condition with a gunshot wound to his back .
A third man , who is in his 30s , was struck multiple times in the body and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition .
Saturday morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bucktown on the North Side .
He was riding in a vehicle about 12:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of West Diversey Avenue when he heard gunshots and realized he was hit , according to Chicago police .
He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the buttocks , police said .
The weekend ’ s first reported shooting left a man wounded in Austin on the West Side .
A 22-year-old man was shot in the groin about 6:06 p.m. in the 5100 block of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was taken in stable condition to Mount Sinai Hospital .
Eight more people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday .
Last weekend saw five people killed and 48 others wounded by gun violence in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Man fatally shot in West Pullman

Man fatally shot in West Pullman

A man was shot to death Thursday in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
He was involved an @ @ @ @ @ he knew about 6:30 p.m. in the 11700 block of South Indiana Avenue when the @ @ @ @ @ and fired shots , Chicago police said .
Sherrod Taylor , 24 , was struck @ @ @ @ @ , and taken to Roseland Community Hospital , where he died , according to the @ @ @ @ @ s office .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides @

A man was shot to death Thursday in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
He was involved in an argument with a person he knew about 6:30 p.m. in the 11700 block of South Indiana Avenue when the person pulled out a gun and fired shots, Chicago police said.
Sherrod Taylor, 24, was struck in the head and shoulder, and taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he died, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Area Two detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Horoscope for Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020

Horoscope for Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 4:30 p.m. Chicago time .
The Moon is in Scorpio .
This is a tough day dealing with bosses , parents , teachers and the police .
They will harsh your buzz because you feel you have to toe the line .
Be reassured that this is a brief influence right now .
That light at the end of the tunnel is not a train !
Rules and restrictions from foreign countries or from far away might affect your health , your job and what you want to do .
( Might feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this is a temporary restriction .
Even a hurricane doesn ’ t last a day .
Difficulties with your kids and romantic relationships are likely .
You might not have the funding or support to do what you want to do , and this is depressing .
This is just a temporary situation .
Relax .
Courage .
Be patient today !
It ’ s tough dealing with family and partners .
You feel your hands are tied or that the weight of the world is on your shoulders .
( Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Song of the Volga Boatman ” ? )
This is a temporary restriction — relax .
Today might seem restrictive to you because you want to break free from your rut , but you can ’ t .
Certain barriers and serious responsibilities are holding you back .
Make changes where you can , and accept what you can not change .
This is a temporary restriction .
Some days it ’ s easy to be positive , and other days , negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy can bury us .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things are tough and we feel down , it ’ s temporary .
Life will change .
It always does .
Ironically , the only constant is change .
Responsibilities that you feel with home and family or dealing with an authority figure are building up .
Today you feel overwhelmed !
Hey — relax !
This is a temporary dark cloud on your horizon .
This crunchy period will pass ( especially if you drink a lot of water . )
You feel like you have the weight of the world on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your mindset is overwhelmed by responsibilities and possibilities .
At another time , you would not feel like this .
It ’ s amazing what a difference there is between a positive mind and a worried mind !
Courage !
Money worries might get you down .
Or you might be worried about taking care of something that you own .
Someone might have turned off the tap ?
Or it ’ s that feeling that there ’ s too much month left at the end of the money .
Scarlett O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another day.
” This is a challenging day with authority figures .
You feel forced to say or do something you don ’ t want to do .
Your hands are tied .
Perhaps others have power over you and you must accept this .
Remember : At the end of the game , the king and the pawn go back in the same box .
You might feel frustrated with social media , politics , religion , racial issues and matters connected with foreign powers .
You feel helpless .
And with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know intellectually that this is a temporary setback .
Don ’ t worry .
Restrictions pertaining to debt , shared property , inheritances and also the responsibilities that you have for others make you feel like something is holding you back from going out there and being yourself .
Self-gratification conflicts with duty .
But this will change for the better .
It will .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actor Joe Morton ( 1947 ) shares your birthday .
Others appreciate your intellect and thoughtfulness .
You are dedicated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an exciting year of change and new opportunities !
You will encounter adventure and stimulating situations .
If possible , explore opportunities to travel and expand your world through learning .
Welcome change !
Let your personal freedom be your goal this year .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 4:30 p.m. Chicago time. The Moon is in Scorpio.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a tough day dealing with bosses, parents, teachers and the police. They will harsh your buzz because you feel you have to toe the line. Be reassured that this is a brief influence right now. That light at the end of the tunnel is not a train!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Rules and restrictions from foreign countries or from far away might affect your health, your job and what you want to do. (Might feel depressing.) The thing to remember is this is a temporary restriction. Even a hurricane doesn’t last a day.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Difficulties with your kids and romantic relationships are likely. You might not have the funding or support to do what you want to do, and this is depressing. This is just a temporary situation. Relax. Courage.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Be patient today! It’s tough dealing with family and partners. You feel your hands are tied or that the weight of the world is on your shoulders. (Do you know the words to the “Song of the Volga Boatman”?) This is a temporary restriction — relax.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today might seem restrictive to you because you want to break free from your rut, but you can’t. Certain barriers and serious responsibilities are holding you back. Make changes where you can, and accept what you cannot change. This is a temporary restriction.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Some days it’s easy to be positive, and other days, negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy can bury us. The important thing to know is that when things are tough and we feel down, it’s temporary. Life will change. It always does. Ironically, the only constant is change.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Responsibilities that you feel with home and family or dealing with an authority figure are building up. Today you feel overwhelmed! Hey — relax! This is a temporary dark cloud on your horizon. This crunchy period will pass (especially if you drink a lot of water.)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. But this is because your mindset is overwhelmed by responsibilities and possibilities. At another time, you would not feel like this. It’s amazing what a difference there is between a positive mind and a worried mind! Courage!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Money worries might get you down. Or you might be worried about taking care of something that you own. Someone might have turned off the tap? Or it’s that feeling that there’s too much month left at the end of the money. Scarlett O’Hara was right, “Tomorrow is another day.”
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a challenging day with authority figures. You feel forced to say or do something you don’t want to do. Your hands are tied. Perhaps others have power over you and you must accept this. Remember: At the end of the game, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You might feel frustrated with social media, politics, religion, racial issues and matters connected with foreign powers. You feel helpless. And with that feeling there is discouragement. Yet, you know intellectually that this is a temporary setback. Don’t worry.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Restrictions pertaining to debt, shared property, inheritances and also the responsibilities that you have for others make you feel like something is holding you back from going out there and being yourself. Self-gratification conflicts with duty. But this will change for the better. It will.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Joe Morton (1947) shares your birthday. Others appreciate your intellect and thoughtfulness. You are dedicated and loyal to your loved ones. This is an exciting year of change and new opportunities! You will encounter adventure and stimulating situations. If possible, explore opportunities to travel and expand your world through learning. Welcome change! Let your personal freedom be your goal this year.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--Arozarena, Rays top Astros in Game 7, reach World Series

SAN DIEGO — Remarkable rookie Randy Arozarena homered again , 36-year-old Charlie Morton was brilliant against his former team and the Tampa Bay Rays reached the World Series for the second time , silencing the Houston Astros 4-2 Saturday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series .
The Rays will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in the World Series in Arlington , Texas , starting Tuesday night .
Game 7 of the NLCS is Sunday night .
Tampa Bay ’ s only other World Series appearance was in 2008 , when it lost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led the AL with a 40-20 record in the pandemic-shortened season .
Known for their pitching and defense , they also introduced the concept of the starter and sometimes deploy a four-man outfield .
Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak and prevented the Astros from matching the 2004 Boston Red Sox , the only major league team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series .
The Rays also kept the Astros from becoming the first team to win a pennant with a losing regular-season record ( 29-31 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first season since its sign-stealing scandal was revealed .
The Astros were viewed by many fans as villains for their role in the cheating scandal en route to the 2017 title against the Dodgers .
Mike Zunino homered and drove in two runs for the Rays , who avoided the ignominy of joining the 2004 New York Yankees , who took a 3-0 lead in the ALCS and lost four straight to the Red Sox .
Boston went on to win its first World Series in 86 seasons .
Arozarena , relatively unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record with his seventh homer of the postseason .
His 21 hits are one shy Derek Jeter ’ s 1996 rookie postseason record .
Nicknamed “ The Cuban Rocket , ” the 25-year-old Arozarena drove a 1-1 sinker from Lance McCullers Jr. to right-center field at Petco Park with one out in the first for a two-run homer .
Manuel Margot , who played with the San Diego Padres from late in the 2016 season until being traded to Tampa Bay in the offseason , was aboard after getting hit with a pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 , signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016 and made his big league debut last year .
Traded to Tampa Bay in the offseason , he tested positive for COVID-19 before summer camp and didn ’ t make his 2020 debut until Aug. 30 .
Until he started showing his October power , Arozarena was best known for a gaffe he committed while with the St. Louis Cardinals last postseason .
After the Cardinals beat Atlanta in the NL Division Series , he posted manager Mike Schildt ’ s profane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realizing it would get a negative reaction .
Morton held the Astros to two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out six and walking one .
He retired 14 straight batters until walking Martin Maldonado with one out in the sixth .
George Springer forced Maldonado and took third on José Altuve ’ s two-out infield single , and manager Kevin Cash pulled Morton after just 66 pitches .
Nick Anderson came on and retired Michael Brantley .
Morton is the first major leaguer to earn the victory in four winner-take-all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 World Series and Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees when he was with Houston .
He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent before the 2019 season and won the wild card game at Oakland last year .
The Rays were then eliminated by the Astros in the ALDS .
The Astros broke through against the Rays ’ bullpen in the eighth .
Carlos Correa hit a two-run single off Pete Fairbanks before the reliever struck out Alex Bregman on a 100 mph fastball .
Fairbanks worked around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close it .
McCullers Jr. lasted only 3 2/3 innings .
He allowed three runs and four hits , struck out seven and walked one .
Morton and McCullers became the first pair to pitch in the same winner-take-all postseason game as teammates and later start against each other in a winner-take-all game .
In the decisive Game 7 of the 2017 World Series , McCullers started and went 2 1/3 scoreless innings while Morton pitched the final four innings for the victory .
Zunino hit a solo shot into the second deck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the second and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth .
On Friday night , he snapped his bat over his knee in frustration after striking out on three pitches .
Arozarena is only one homer away from matching the major league record of eight homers in any single postseason .
Barry Bonds set the mark for San Francisco in 2002 , and it was tied by Houston ’ s Carlos Beltran in 2004 and Texas ’ Nelson Cruz in 2011 .
Arozarena is only the ninth player ever to homer seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them occurring since 1995 in the wild card era .
Rays : Three-time Gold Glove Award-winning CF Kevin Kiermaier was back in the lineup .
He missed three starts after being hit with a pitch on the left hand in Game 3 .

SAN DIEGO — Remarkable rookie Randy Arozarena homered again, 36-year-old Charlie Morton was brilliant against his former team and the Tampa Bay Rays reached the World Series for the second time, silencing the Houston Astros 4-2 Saturday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.
The Rays will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves in the World Series in Arlington, Texas, starting Tuesday night. Game 7 of the NLCS is Sunday night.
Tampa Bay’s only other World Series appearance was in 2008, when it lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The innovative Rays led the AL with a 40-20 record in the pandemic-shortened season. Known for their pitching and defense, they also introduced the concept of the starter and sometimes deploy a four-man outfield.
Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak and prevented the Astros from matching the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the only major league team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series.
The Rays also kept the Astros from becoming the first team to win a pennant with a losing regular-season record (29-31).
The loss ended Houston’s first season since its sign-stealing scandal was revealed. The Astros were viewed by many fans as villains for their role in the cheating scandal en route to the 2017 title against the Dodgers.
Mike Zunino homered and drove in two runs for the Rays, who avoided the ignominy of joining the 2004 New York Yankees, who took a 3-0 lead in the ALCS and lost four straight to the Red Sox. Boston went on to win its first World Series in 86 seasons.
Arozarena, relatively unknown before these playoffs, set a rookie record with his seventh homer of the postseason. His 21 hits are one shy Derek Jeter’s 1996 rookie postseason record.
Nicknamed “The Cuban Rocket,” the 25-year-old Arozarena drove a 1-1 sinker from Lance McCullers Jr. to right-center field at Petco Park with one out in the first for a two-run homer.
Manuel Margot, who played with the San Diego Padres from late in the 2016 season until being traded to Tampa Bay in the offseason, was aboard after getting hit with a pitch.
Arozarena defected from Cuba to Mexico in 2015, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016 and made his big league debut last year. Traded to Tampa Bay in the offseason, he tested positive for COVID-19 before summer camp and didn’t make his 2020 debut until Aug. 30.
Until he started showing his October power, Arozarena was best known for a gaffe he committed while with the St. Louis Cardinals last postseason. After the Cardinals beat Atlanta in the NL Division Series, he posted manager Mike Schildt’s profane clubhouse rant to social media, not realizing it would get a negative reaction.
Morton held the Astros to two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out six and walking one. He retired 14 straight batters until walking Martin Maldonado with one out in the sixth. George Springer forced Maldonado and took third on José Altuve’s two-out infield single, and manager Kevin Cash pulled Morton after just 66 pitches. Nick Anderson came on and retired Michael Brantley.
Morton is the first major leaguer to earn the victory in four winner-take-all games, including Game 7 of the 2017 World Series and Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees when he was with Houston. He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent before the 2019 season and won the wild card game at Oakland last year. The Rays were then eliminated by the Astros in the ALDS.
The Astros broke through against the Rays’ bullpen in the eighth. Carlos Correa hit a two-run single off Pete Fairbanks before the reliever struck out Alex Bregman on a 100 mph fastball.
Fairbanks worked around a one-out single in the ninth to close it.
McCullers Jr. lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and four hits, struck out seven and walked one.
Morton and McCullers became the first pair to pitch in the same winner-take-all postseason game as teammates and later start against each other in a winner-take-all game. In the decisive Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, McCullers started and went 2 1/3 scoreless innings while Morton pitched the final four innings for the victory.
Zunino hit a solo shot into the second deck in left off McCullers with one out in the second and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth. On Friday night, he snapped his bat over his knee in frustration after striking out on three pitches.
HOMER RECORD
Arozarena is only one homer away from matching the major league record of eight homers in any single postseason. Barry Bonds set the mark for San Francisco in 2002, and it was tied by Houston’s Carlos Beltran in 2004 and Texas’ Nelson Cruz in 2011. Arozarena is only the ninth player ever to homer seven times in a single postseason, all of them occurring since 1995 in the wild card era.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: Three-time Gold Glove Award-winning CF Kevin Kiermaier was back in the lineup. He missed three starts after being hit with a pitch on the left hand in Game 3.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-17--1 dead, 1 seriously injured after SUV drives off I-290, hits other vehicle in Elmhurst

A 23-year-old man died Friday after driving his SUV off Interstate 290 and hitting another vehicle in west suburban Elmhurst @ @ @ @ @ Wauconda , was driving west about 1:10 p.m. when , for an unknown reason , @ @ @ @ @ the I-290 overpass and landed on Grand Avenue , where he crashed into a Ford @ @ @ @ @ .
Giannini was pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
The Ford ’ @ @ @ @ @ Addison man , was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries .

A 23-year-old man died Friday after driving his SUV off Interstate 290 and hitting another vehicle in west suburban Elmhurst.
Jack Giannini, of Wauconda, was driving west about 1:10 p.m. when, for an unknown reason, he drove his Jeep off the I-290 overpass and landed on Grand Avenue, where he crashed into a Ford, Illinois State Police said.
Giannini was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Ford’s driver, a 58-year-old Addison man, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Illinois State Police are investigating the crash.