chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--‘Spinster’: Chelsea Peretti widens her range in a sly comedy/drama

Perhaps my favorite throwaway line in any movie this year comes in “ Spinster ” when Chelsea Peretti ’ s Gaby is returning home after adopting a rescue pup and says to her next-door neighbor in deadpan fashion : “ This is my new used dog.
” Peretti , the talented writer and actor best known for role as the rapier-witted Gina Linetti on “ Brooklyn Nine-Nine , ” is in her comfort lane in Andrea Dorfman ’ s “ Spinster , ” a sly and low-key comedy/drama about a 39-year-old underachiever who shields her personal and professional insecurities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberately off-putting behavior .
If you come out of the box commenting on everyone else ’ s lives and telling them what THEIR problems are , they ’ ll be so off-balance they won ’ t be able to critique you , right ?
Recently dumped and unhappy with her job as a caterer , Gaby is drifting through life with a giant chip on her shoulder , in part because of an unhappy childhood and in part because , well , that ’ s just Gaby .
But hey , Gaby is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She remains close with her best friend Amanda ( Susan Kent ) even though they have less and less in common , what with Amanda being a married mother and Gaby being on her own .
( When Gaby drops in unannounced and finds Amanda is having an all-couples dinner party , it ’ s only a matter of time before she butts heads with a thick-skulled married guy who prattles on about how selfish it is for a woman to go through life without committing to a relationship and giving birth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close with her niece , Willow ( Charlie Boyle ) , a kindred free spirit and fellow social outcast .
And let ’ s not forget , she ’ s the recent and quite proud owner of a new used dog !
On the romantic front , things are less promising .
In a hilarious montage of Tinder dates gone wrong , we never see the guys — it ’ s just Gaby ’ s reactions , which range from the bored to the confused to borderline terrified .
At one point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to return just long enough to scoop up her goblet of wine .
When Gaby finally does click with a great guy in rather corny fashion , even that movie-cliché of a meet-cute takes an unexpected turn .
“ Spinster ” isn ’ t a particularly visually arresting film , nor is it bursting with memorable and colorful supporting players .
It ’ s simply an effective vehicle for Chelsea Peretti to expand upon her smart/cynical persona to include some genuine heart and likability as well .

Perhaps my favorite throwaway line in any movie this year comes in “Spinster” when Chelsea Peretti’s Gaby is returning home after adopting a rescue pup and says to her next-door neighbor in deadpan fashion: “This is my new used dog.”
Too great.
Peretti, the talented writer and actor best known for role as the rapier-witted Gina Linetti on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” is in her comfort lane in Andrea Dorfman’s “Spinster,” a sly and low-key comedy/drama about a 39-year-old underachiever who shields her personal and professional insecurities in an armor of insults and putdowns and deliberately off-putting behavior. If you come out of the box commenting on everyone else’s lives and telling them what THEIR problems are, they’ll be so off-balance they won’t be able to critique you, right?
‘Spinster’
Untitled Vertical Entertainment presents a film directed by Andrea Dorfman and written by Jennifer Deyell. No MPAA rating. Running time: 120 minutes. Available Friday on demand.
Recently dumped and unhappy with her job as a caterer, Gaby is drifting through life with a giant chip on her shoulder, in part because of an unhappy childhood and in part because, well, that’s just Gaby.
But hey, Gaby is TRYING to step up her social game. She remains close with her best friend Amanda (Susan Kent) even though they have less and less in common, what with Amanda being a married mother and Gaby being on her own. (When Gaby drops in unannounced and finds Amanda is having an all-couples dinner party, it’s only a matter of time before she butts heads with a thick-skulled married guy who prattles on about how selfish it is for a woman to go through life without committing to a relationship and giving birth.) She’s recently become close with her niece, Adele (Nadia Tonen), a kindred free spirit and fellow social outcast. And let’s not forget, she’s the recent and quite proud owner of a new used dog!
On the romantic front, things are less promising. In a hilarious montage of Tinder dates gone wrong, we never see the guys — it’s just Gaby’s reactions, which range from the bored to the confused to borderline terrified. At one point, she just gets up and leaves — only to return just long enough to scoop up her goblet of wine. When Gaby finally does click with a great guy in rather corny fashion, even that movie-cliché of a meet-cute takes an unexpected turn.
“Spinster” isn’t a particularly visually arresting film, nor is it bursting with memorable and colorful supporting players. It’s simply an effective vehicle for Chelsea Peretti to expand upon her smart/cynical persona to include some genuine heart and likability as well.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--Dear Abby: I’d rather skip husband’s family events than see his nasty brother

DEAR ABBY : I married “ Darius ” two years ago .
I have had problems with my brother-in-law ever since Darius and I first began dating five years ago .
From my husband ’ s perspective , his parents have always favored his younger brother , “ Adonis.
” “ Anything goes ” is their attitude where he is concerned .
Adonis takes things without asking , lies and constantly makes disrespectful comments toward us .
He was never reprimanded as a child , and now that he ’ s an adult ( 24 ) , the sniping continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed up unannounced at my home and insulted a guest who was visiting at the time .
( She also doesn ’ t care for him . )
I asked him to leave to avoid making waves with her .
I think Adonis owes me an apology , but he refuses to give me a sincere one .
My father-in-law thinks I should just “ get over it ” and says I am being ridiculous because I no longer want to attend family events if Adonis is present .
Mostly the reason is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior while he ’ s drinking and making constant “ jokes ” about me .
I feel bad for my husband because we have missed out on seeing family members and enjoying ourselves at events because I don ’ t want to create a scene .
Darius supports the way I feel , but says he can ’ t demand an apology from his brother .
I feel if I back down now , Adonis ’ behavior will continue for the rest of my life .
I don ’ t think I should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I resolve this issue ?
— FAMILY PROBLEM IN NEW JERSEY DEAR FAMILY PROBLEM : I ’ m glad you wrote .
Adonis is getting away with this because your in-laws are enabling it .
Your husband should straighten his spine and inform his “ little ” brother he drinks too much , and he wants the sniping stopped .
Your father-in-law is a mile off base .
It isn ’ t ridiculous to want to avoid verbal abuse from a drunk , and he , too , should have a talk with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are right to keep your distance .
Nobody likes pain , and your brother-in-law appears unwilling to stop being a large one in a southern portion of your anatomy .
DEAR ABBY : I am a 32-year-old woman , engaged to a wonderful man .
We were supposed to start trying to get pregnant , but because of the virus , we decided to put it off .
I know we are making the right choice .
I had already started a journal/planner and was so excited .
But now I feel myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucky enough to still be working , so I ’ m not just sitting around dwelling on it .
But when I canceled my prenatal vitamin subscription the other day , it hit me like a ton of bricks .
I know we are lucky to not have bigger woes than this right now , but I ’ m heartbroken .
Any advice would be appreciated .
— HOLDING OFF ON MOTHERHOOD DEAR HOLDING OFF : I am sorry for your heartache .
I know this is painful .
It ’ s important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside .
Talk with your fiance about them and share with close friends and family .
Pour your feelings into the journal you started .
Your road to motherhood may be longer than you initially thought , but it ’ s going to be an interesting journey .
I hope you will take comfort in the knowledge that postponing your pregnancy was a decision you and your fiance made for the right reasons and didn ’ t take lightly .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets : “ Abby ’ s Favorite Recipes ” and “ More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 16 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Cookbooklet Set , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ )

DEAR ABBY: I married “Darius” two years ago. I have had problems with my brother-in-law ever since Darius and I first began dating five years ago.
From my husband’s perspective, his parents have always favored his younger brother, “Adonis.” “Anything goes” is their attitude where he is concerned. Adonis takes things without asking, lies and constantly makes disrespectful comments toward us. He was never reprimanded as a child, and now that he’s an adult (24), the sniping continues.
A few months ago, he showed up unannounced at my home and insulted a guest who was visiting at the time. (She also doesn’t care for him.) I asked him to leave to avoid making waves with her.
I think Adonis owes me an apology, but he refuses to give me a sincere one. My father-in-law thinks I should just “get over it” and says I am being ridiculous because I no longer want to attend family events if Adonis is present. Mostly the reason is I no longer want to tolerate his behavior while he’s drinking and making constant “jokes” about me.
I feel bad for my husband because we have missed out on seeing family members and enjoying ourselves at events because I don’t want to create a scene. Darius supports the way I feel, but says he can’t demand an apology from his brother. I feel if I back down now, Adonis’ behavior will continue for the rest of my life. I don’t think I should be treated this way. How should I resolve this issue? — FAMILY PROBLEM IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR FAMILY PROBLEM: I’m glad you wrote. Adonis is getting away with this because your in-laws are enabling it. Your husband should straighten his spine and inform his “little” brother he drinks too much, and he wants the sniping stopped. Your father-in-law is a mile off base. It isn’t ridiculous to want to avoid verbal abuse from a drunk, and he, too, should have a talk with Adonis. Until that happens, you are right to keep your distance. Nobody likes pain, and your brother-in-law appears unwilling to stop being a large one in a southern portion of your anatomy.
DEAR ABBY: I am a 32-year-old woman, engaged to a wonderful man. We were supposed to start trying to get pregnant, but because of the virus, we decided to put it off. I know we are making the right choice.
I had already started a journal/planner and was so excited. But now I feel myself slipping into depression. We are both lucky enough to still be working, so I’m not just sitting around dwelling on it. But when I canceled my prenatal vitamin subscription the other day, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I know we are lucky to not have bigger woes than this right now, but I’m heartbroken. Any advice would be appreciated. — HOLDING OFF ON MOTHERHOOD
DEAR HOLDING OFF: I am sorry for your heartache. I know this is painful. It’s important that you not hold these sad feelings inside. Talk with your fiance about them and share with close friends and family. Pour your feelings into the journal you started.
Your road to motherhood may be longer than you initially thought, but it’s going to be an interesting journey. I hope you will take comfort in the knowledge that postponing your pregnancy was a decision you and your fiance made for the right reasons and didn’t take lightly.
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.
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--CPD’s overtime budget jumps to $47.1 million in June while murders, shootings skyrocket

The Chicago Police Department spent more than $ 47.1 million on overtime in June as murders and shootings skyrocketed and demonstrations after the death of George Floyd devolved into looting and mayhem .
June overtime costs , released to the Chicago Sun-Times in response to a Freedom of Information request , nearly doubled the $ 24.1 million spent during the same period a year ago .
It means CPD has spent $ 84.3 million and nearly used up its overtime budget for 2020 during the first six months of the year .
Under pressure from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million last year , Police Supt .
David Brown ordered all overtime to be approved by deputy chiefs and above .
It was one of his first official moves as superintendent .
Memorial Day weekend turned into a bloodbath with 10 people killed and 39 others shot and wounded .
When it was over , Ald .
Chris Taliaferro ( 29th ) , chairman of the City Council ’ s Committee on Public Safety , complained Brown had failed his first major test as superintendent because he was more concerned with cutting overtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were “ hundreds ” fewer officers on the street when there should have been at least as many as last year , maybe more , to “ saturate ” South and West side police districts plagued by gang and gun violence .
Four days later , demonstrations over Floyd ’ s death turned ugly , prompting Lightfoot to invoke a 9 p.m. curfew .
The next day , police officers ’ days off were canceled .
Bridges were raised , sealing off downtown with downtown expressway ramp closures enforced by the National Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread into South and West side neighborhoods .
The overtime edict was out the window ; police officers were required to work 12-hour days for weeks on end .
The June figure covers the last two weeks of May and the first two weeks of June .
That means overtime in the July report , covering the last two weeks of June and the July Fourth weekend , could be even worse .
“ Normally , we have a higher overtime for Memorial Day .
And that level continued with the George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another week of protests and with the looting and everything that was going on , ” Budget Director Susie Park told the Sun-Times .
“ This is something that we could not control .
… New York ’ s overtime for that period was quadruple , I think .
A lot of other cities during the protests that happened probably had similar police overtime costs.
” The stay-at-home shutdown triggered by the coronavirus has blown a $ 700 million hole in Lightfoot ’ s precariously balanced , 2020 budget .
Park refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month of June would exacerbate that budget struggles .
She would only say city budget officials would “ do the best we can for the rest of the year ” to control the more routine forms of police overtime .
She noted overtime spending during the month of May was $ 4.3 million , less than half of what it was during the same period a year ago .
“ If we pull out the protest costs [ and just focus on ] the day-to-day stuff , this is really what Superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were … all hands on deck .
They pulled everybody they needed to operationally for that period of time , ” Park said .
“ What we ’ re gon na focus on is just on the day-to-day and how that gets managed .
... Not for these emergency situations where it is out of my control for sure .
These are operational decisions that the superintendent has to make .
But , on a day-to-day , that ’ s what we ’ re gon na focus on .
On a normal day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy chiefs and above approving it ?
That ’ s where we will continue to work for the rest of the year.
” Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara called the $ 47.1 million in overtime spending for the month of June a recipe for officer burnout .
“ You had three weeks of canceled days off .
You ’ re paying a lot of people a lot of money .
They ’ re gon na do it again on Labor Day .
Yet again , cancel both days off .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people don ’ t want , ” Catanzara said .
“ And they want to talk about officer wellness ?
Who the hell can have any sane family life when you can ’ t even have a holiday off after 30 years on this job ?
” Catanzara said the saddest part of the overtime spending is that Chicago has little to show for it .
On May 30 , six people were killed .
Over a 24-hour period on May 31 , 18 more people were killed .
It was Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 years .
“ You ’ re not enforcing any laws .
All you ’ re doing is putting bodies out there , ” he said .
Catanzara predicted a wave of police retirements fueled by anti-police sentiment and abuse and demands to defund police departments in Chicago and across the nation .
“ We ’ re averaging about 100 now a month .
… It ’ s coming .
People are constantly asking , calling the lodge about what their options are and how to go about handling it .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pros and cons of retiring — sooner , rather than later , ” he said .

The Chicago Police Department spent more than $47.1 million on overtime in June as murders and shootings skyrocketed and demonstrations after the death of George Floyd devolved into looting and mayhem.
June overtime costs, released to the Chicago Sun-Times in response to a Freedom of Information request, nearly doubled the $24.1 million spent during the same period a year ago.
It means CPD has spent $84.3 million and nearly used up its overtime budget for 2020 during the first six months of the year.
Under pressure from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reduce police overtime that ballooned to $139.5 million last year, Police Supt. David Brown ordered all overtime to be approved by deputy chiefs and above. It was one of his first official moves as superintendent.
Memorial Day weekend turned into a bloodbath with 10 people killed and 39 others shot and wounded.
When it was over, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, complained Brown had failed his first major test as superintendent because he was more concerned with cutting overtime than fighting violence.
Taliaferro claimed there were “hundreds” fewer officers on the street when there should have been at least as many as last year, maybe more, to “saturate” South and West side police districts plagued by gang and gun violence.
Four days later, demonstrations over Floyd’s death turned ugly, prompting Lightfoot to invoke a 9 p.m. curfew.
The next day, police officers’ days off were canceled. Bridges were raised, sealing off downtown with downtown expressway ramp closures enforced by the National Guard. That prompted looting and mayhem to spread into South and West side neighborhoods.
The overtime edict was out the window; police officers were required to work 12-hour days for weeks on end.
The June figure covers the last two weeks of May and the first two weeks of June. That means overtime in the July report, covering the last two weeks of June and the July Fourth weekend, could be even worse.
“Normally, we have a higher overtime for Memorial Day. And that level continued with the George Floyd protests and then the following week with another week of protests and with the looting and everything that was going on,” Budget Director Susie Park told the Sun-Times.
“This is something that we could not control. … New York’s overtime for that period was quadruple, I think. A lot of other cities during the protests that happened probably had similar police overtime costs.”
The stay-at-home shutdown triggered by the coronavirus has blown a $700 million hole in Lightfoot’s precariously balanced, 2020 budget.
Park refused to say whether the sky-high police overtime for the month of June would exacerbate that budget struggles.
She would only say city budget officials would “do the best we can for the rest of the year” to control the more routine forms of police overtime. She noted overtime spending during the month of May was $4.3 million, less than half of what it was during the same period a year ago.
“If we pull out the protest costs [and just focus on] the day-to-day stuff, this is really what Superintendent Brown was focused on. The protests were … all hands on deck. They pulled everybody they needed to operationally for that period of time,” Park said.
“What we’re gonna focus on is just on the day-to-day and how that gets managed. ... Not for these emergency situations where it is out of my control for sure. These are operational decisions that the superintendent has to make. But, on a day-to-day, that’s what we’re gonna focus on. On a normal day, where is overtime? Are the deputy chiefs and above approving it? That’s where we will continue to work for the rest of the year.”
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara called the $47.1 million in overtime spending for the month of June a recipe for officer burnout.
“You had three weeks of canceled days off. You’re paying a lot of people a lot of money. They’re gonna do it again on Labor Day. Yet again, cancel both days off. This profession has turned into a job that most people don’t want,” Catanzara said.
“And they want to talk about officer wellness? Who the hell can have any sane family life when you can’t even have a holiday off after 30 years on this job?”
Catanzara said the saddest part of the overtime spending is that Chicago has little to show for it.
On May 30, six people were killed. Over a 24-hour period on May 31, 18 more people were killed. It was Chicago’s deadliest day in at least 30 years.
“You’re not enforcing any laws. All you’re doing is putting bodies out there,” he said.
Catanzara predicted a wave of police retirements fueled by anti-police sentiment and abuse and demands to defund police departments in Chicago and across the nation.
“We’re averaging about 100 now a month. … It’s coming. People are constantly asking, calling the lodge about what their options are and how to go about handling it. They’re more concerned than ever about weighing the pros and cons of retiring — sooner, rather than later,” he said.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--To our readers: A change in entertainment coverage reflects our changing times

Given the changes the coronavirus continues to make in how we spend our free time , we ’ ve determined that the WeekendPlus section no longer makes sense to produce for our Thursday print editions .
This change takes effect today .
There simply aren ’ t enough live music , theater , dance and other cultural happenings to keep the section as robust as we ’ d like , so we ’ re taking the pages that had been devoted to WeekendPlus and shifting them to other days of the week for now .
This change won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll read by our Richard Roeper , one of the nation ’ s marquee movie and TV columnists , and we ’ re reinventing our WeekendPlus “ One minute movie critic ” into an online collection of Roeper reviews at suntimes.com/movie-reviews .
We ’ ll continue to run “ The mix ” column in Thursday ’ s regular entertainment section to prep you for events — virtual or otherwise — for the weekend ahead .
And while reviews “ From the Ebert archive ” won ’ t be running at a weekly cadence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebert ’ s timeless writings when they can shed light on the cultural events of the moment .
Finally , rest assured advice and horoscope fans : Dear Abby ’ s column and Georgia Nicols ’ horoscopes will continue to run as usual .
Please email customerservice @ suntimes.com if you have any questions , and thank you for supporting the Sun-Times .

Given the changes the coronavirus continues to make in how we spend our free time, we’ve determined that the WeekendPlus section no longer makes sense to produce for our Thursday print editions. This change takes effect today.
There simply aren’t enough live music, theater, dance and other cultural happenings to keep the section as robust as we’d like, so we’re taking the pages that had been devoted to WeekendPlus and shifting them to other days of the week for now.
This change won’t decrease the number of columns you’ll read by our Richard Roeper, one of the nation’s marquee movie and TV columnists, and we’re reinventing our WeekendPlus “One minute movie critic” into an online collection of Roeper reviews at suntimes.com/movie-reviews.
We’ll continue to run “The mix” column in Thursday’s regular entertainment section to prep you for events — virtual or otherwise — for the weekend ahead. And while reviews “From the Ebert archive” won’t be running at a weekly cadence, we intend to continue showcasing Roger Ebert’s timeless writings when they can shed light on the cultural events of the moment.
Finally, rest assured advice and horoscope fans: Dear Abby’s column and Georgia Nicols’ horoscopes will continue to run as usual.
Please email customerservice@suntimes.com if you have any questions, and thank you for supporting the Sun-Times.
Chris Fusco
Executive Editor


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--16 shot Wednesday in Chicago

16 shot Wednesday in Chicago

The day ’ s most recent reported shooting wounded four people , including an 8-year-old boy , in Lawndale on the West Side .
They were standing on the sidewalk about 10:10 p.m. in the 700 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a black SUV unleashed gunfire , Chicago police said .
The boy was struck in his legs and taken to a hospital in fair condition , police said .
Two men , both 26 years old , were also in fair condition at a hospital with gunshot wounds to the leg and arm respectively , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital in fair condition .
About 30 minutes prior a 14-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting in Roseland on the South Side .
He was walking on the sidewalk with a group of people about 9:41 p.m in the first block of East 102nd Street when someone in a vehicle opened fire , police said .
The teen was struck in the leg and taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in good condition , police said .
A man was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was standing on the sidewalk about 9:22 p.m. in the 800 block of East 79th Street when someone opened fire , police said .
The 28-year-old was struck in the abdomen and left arm , police said .
He took himself to Jackson Park Hospital , where he was listed in serious condition .
A man died after being shot at and a woman was wounded in a drive-by in Gresham on the South Side .
About 9:15 p.m. the 33-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were at a gas station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block of South Halsted Street , when someone inside a passing dark-colored minivan fired shots at them , police said .
The man ran into the gas station and collapsed inside the business , police said .
Officers found him unresponsive with a minor cut on his right shoulder , police said .
He was not struck by gunfire .
He was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition , but later died , police said .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not released his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upper right thigh and taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn for treatment , police said .
She is in good condition .
Are Two detectives are investigating .
Just before then on the West Side , three men were shot in Humboldt Park .
They were in an apartment about 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of North St. Louis Avenue when a 28-year-old man they knew walked in and opened fire , Chicago police said .
A 75-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and taken to Stroger Hospital in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , 28 , was shot in the hip and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
The third man , 35 , was hospitalized in good condition with a gunshot wound to the arm , police said .
The alleged gunman was taken into custody , police said .
A man is in critical condition after a double shooting in Albany Park on the Northwest Side .
About 7:30 p.m. , the 63-year-old and another man , 45 , were in the 3700 block of West Lawrence Avenue when someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older man was struck in the chest and arm , police said .
He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition .
The other man was shot in the leg and taken to St. Francis Hospital in fair condition , police said .
A person is in custody following a shooting in the South Loop that critically wounded someone .
A male victim was shot while arguing with the gunman about 1:15 p.m. in the 1100 block of South Clinton Street , near Roosevelt , according to Chicago police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gunshot wound to his back and torso , police said .
Police have not released his age .
The alleged gunman was arrested .
No charges have been filed .
Wednesday afternoon a man was critically wounded in a shooting in Gresham on the South Side .
The 29-year-old was sitting on a porch at 12:07 p.m. in the 8800 block of South Lowe Avenue when a gray vehicle pulled up , according to police .
The driver pointed a handgun out the window and fired shots before driving north on Lowe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit in the upper back and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition , police said .
A 72-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting on the border of the South Shore and Grand Crossing neighborhoods .
He was shot in his back about 3 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Stony Island Avenue , according to police .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition , Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said .
Additional details were not immediately available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting wounded a 45-year-old man Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side .
He was walking in the 6900 block of South Artesian Avenue at 7:10 a.m. when someone fired shots , police said .
Shot in the back , he was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where his condition stabilized , police said .
A vehicle in the area was found damaged by gunfire .
No arrest has been made .
One person was killed , and nine others wounded Tuesday in Chicago .
Read more on crime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A man was killed and 16 other people, including an 8-year-old boy, were injured by gunfire Wednesday across Chicago.
The man was fatally shot and a woman was injured Wednesday night outside a gas station in Gresham on the South Side.
They were outside a gas station in the 8200 block of South Halsted Street about 9:15 p.m. when someone inside a passing dark-colored minivan fired shots, Chicago police said.
Markive Mack, 33, ran into the gas station and collapsed inside, authorities said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died of a gunshot wound to his arm, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide. Police initially said he was not struck by gunfire.
The woman, 28, was grazed in the upper thigh and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition, police said.
The day’s most recent reported shooting wounded four people, including an 8-year-old boy, in Lawndale on the West Side.
They were standing on the sidewalk about 10:10 p.m. in the 700 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a black SUV unleashed gunfire, police said. The boy was struck in his legs and taken to a hospital in fair condition.
Two men, both 26 years old, were also in fair condition at a hospital with gunshot wounds to the leg and arm respectively, police said. A third man, 36, was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital in fair condition.
About 30 minutes prior a 14-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting in Roseland on the South Side.
He was walking on the sidewalk with a group of people about 9:41 p.m in the first block of East 102nd Street when someone in a vehicle opened fire, police said. The teen was struck in the leg and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
A man was shot in Grand Crossing on the South Side.
He was standing on the sidewalk about 9:22 p.m. in the 800 block of East 79th Street when someone opened fire, police said. The 28-year-old was struck in the abdomen and left arm. He took himself to Jackson Park Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.
About 20 minutes earlier on the West Side, three men were shot in Humboldt Park.
They were in an apartment about 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of North St. Louis Avenue when a 28-year-old man they knew walked in and opened fire, police said. A 75-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition. Another man, 28, was shot in the hip and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition. The third man, 35, was hospitalized in good condition with a gunshot wound to the arm.
The alleged gunman was taken into custody, police said.
A man is in critical condition after a double shooting in Albany Park on the Northwest Side.
About 7:30 p.m., the 63-year-old and another man, 45, were in the 3700 block of West Lawrence Avenue when someone opened fire, police said. The older man was struck in the chest and arm. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition. The other man was shot in the leg and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in fair condition.
A person is in custody following a shooting in the South Loop that critically wounded someone Wednesday afternoon.
A male victim was shot while arguing with the gunman about 1:15 p.m. in the 1100 block of South Clinton Street, near Roosevelt, according to police. He was taken to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to his back and torso. Police have not released his age.
The alleged gunman was arrested. No charges have been filed.
About an hour before that, a man was critically wounded in a shooting in Gresham on the South Side.
The 29-year-old was sitting on a porch at 12:07 p.m. in the 8800 block of South Lowe Avenue when a gray vehicle pulled up, according to police. The driver pointed a handgun out the window and fired shots before driving north on Lowe. The man was hit in the upper back and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
A 72-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting on the border of the South Shore and Grand Crossing neighborhoods.
He was shot in his back about 3 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Stony Island Avenue, according to police.
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said.
Additional details were not immediately available.
The day’s first reported shooting wounded a 45-year-old man Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.
He was walking in the 6900 block of South Artesian Avenue at 7:10 a.m. when someone fired shots, police said. Shot in the back, he was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition stabilized. A vehicle in the area was found damaged by gunfire.
No arrest has been made.
One person was killed, and nine others wounded Tuesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--Blackhawks score twice in final minutes to stun Oilers, win Game 3

In the middle of an empty arena , isolated away from their families , lodging in the locker room of their opponents and playing hockey well past midnight Central Time on Wednesday , the Blackhawks were six minutes away from a Friday night date with elimination .
And then , against all odds , they flipped the script .
Two goals in the final six minutes ultimately lifted the Hawks to a stirring 4-3 win over the Oilers in Game 3 , pushing them within one win of advancing .
“ When you win a game like that , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , ” coach Jeremy Colliton said .
“ Look , we just believe in ourselves , ” forward Matthew Highmore added .
“ We knew [ if ] you get enough chances , eventually they ’ re going to go in for us .
We just kept digging and playing our game.
” Highmore , whose earlier committed two turnovers that led directly to Oilers goals , tipped a Slater Koekkoek point shot past Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen to tie the game with 5:48 to play .
It was his first career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who not long before had hit the inside of the post on a juicy rebound when the Hawks trailed 3-2 , had a Connor Murphy point shot deflect off an Oilers defenseman and then his knee to win it with 1:16 left .
“ It ’ s definitely frustrating when you get chances like I did late in the game , ” Toews said .
“ But you ’ ve got no choice .
You ’ re down a goal .
Keep putting the pressure on ... [ and ] keep pressing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ na come for you.
” The common theme in both goals : Hawks defensemen getting point shots through traffic , and Hawks forwards getting tips or causing havoc around Koskinen .
The same was true for the Hawks ’ first goal of the game , when Olli Maatta extended his unlikely point streak to three consecutive games with a long deflected goal .
“ [ We ’ re ] getting pucks through , and it feels like every time we get it to the net , our forwards are in good position , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting tips , ” Maatta said .
“ It makes it tough for them.
” Maatta ’ s goal represented the first time the Hawks scored first in the series , and the Hawks produced a solid first period overall , taking a 2-1 lead into the intermission after a late Toews tally during a 5-on-3 .
But in the second period , the Hawks ’ power play squandered a number of opportunities gift-wrapped by the undisciplined Oilers , and Leon Draisaitl ( two goals ) and Connor McDavid ( one goal ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawks down heading into the third .
After Toews ’ hit the post early in the final frame — the Hawks ’ fifth shot to hit the post and rattle out — it situation looked dire for the Hawks .
In the end , it only looked that way on the outside .
“ We were playing well , so the message to the guys was , ‘ This is adversity , but we ’ ve just got to stick with it , ” Colliton said .
“ Believe in what we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves time to come back.
” The Hawks were the official home team Wednesday .
That meant dressing in what is usually the Oilers locker room at Rogers Place , listening to recordings of Jim Cornelison ’ s United Center anthem renditions and making use of the last change at stoppages .
Colliton used that tactical advantage to deploy the new line of Kirby Dach centering Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat very frequently .
Dach played more than 23 minutes — a huge endorsement for the rookie .
Corey Crawford also scraped off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking generally more poised and stable than in Games 1 and 2 .
The Hawks now have the opportunity to close out the series in Game 4 on Friday at 5:45 p.m. CT. “ We ’ ve had some experience in the past knowing how to play , how to prepare for those big games , ” Toews said .
“ It ’ s [ about ] having that killer instinct but knowing that every game in this series has gotten tougher .
It ’ s going to be the toughest game coming @ @ @

In the middle of an empty arena, isolated away from their families, lodging in the locker room of their opponents and playing hockey well past midnight Central Time on Wednesday, the Blackhawks were six minutes away from a Friday night date with elimination.
And then, against all odds, they flipped the script.
Two goals in the final six minutes ultimately lifted the Hawks to a stirring 4-3 win over the Oilers in Game 3, pushing them within one win of advancing.
“When you win a game like that, it’s kind of why you do this,” coach Jeremy Colliton said.
“Look, we just believe in ourselves,” forward Matthew Highmore added. “We knew [if] you get enough chances, eventually they’re going to go in for us. We just kept digging and playing our game.”
Highmore, whose earlier committed two turnovers that led directly to Oilers goals, tipped a Slater Koekkoek point shot past Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen to tie the game with 5:48 to play. It was his first career playoff goal.
Then Jonathan Toews, who not long before had hit the inside of the post on a juicy rebound when the Hawks trailed 3-2, had a Connor Murphy point shot deflect off an Oilers defenseman and then his knee to win it with 1:16 left.
“It’s definitely frustrating when you get chances like I did late in the game,” Toews said. “But you’ve got no choice. You’re down a goal. Keep putting the pressure on...[and] keep pressing, and you know it’s gonna come for you.”
The common theme in both goals: Hawks defensemen getting point shots through traffic, and Hawks forwards getting tips or causing havoc around Koskinen.
The same was true for the Hawks’ first goal of the game, when Olli Maatta extended his unlikely point streak to three consecutive games with a long deflected goal.
“[We’re] getting pucks through, and it feels like every time we get it to the net, our forwards are in good position, battling for them, getting rebounds, getting tips,” Maatta said. “It makes it tough for them.”
Jonathan Toews and Connor Murphy embrace after scoring the winning goal Wednesday. Getty
Maatta’s goal represented the first time the Hawks scored first in the series, and the Hawks produced a solid first period overall, taking a 2-1 lead into the intermission after a late Toews tally during a 5-on-3.
But in the second period, the Hawks’ power play squandered a number of opportunities gift-wrapped by the undisciplined Oilers, and Leon Draisaitl (two goals) and Connor McDavid (one goal) inflicted their usual damage to put the Hawks down heading into the third.
After Toews’ hit the post early in the final frame — the Hawks’ fifth shot to hit the post and rattle out — it situation looked dire for the Hawks.
In the end, it only looked that way on the outside.
“We were playing well, so the message to the guys was, ‘This is adversity, but we’ve just got to stick with it,” Colliton said. “Believe in what we’re doing. Be patient to give ourselves time to come back.”
“And I thought we did that.”
The Hawks were the official home team Wednesday. That meant dressing in what is usually the Oilers locker room at Rogers Place, listening to recordings of Jim Cornelison’s United Center anthem renditions and making use of the last change at stoppages.
Colliton used that tactical advantage to deploy the new line of Kirby Dach centering Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat very frequently. Dach played more than 23 minutes — a huge endorsement for the rookie.
Corey Crawford also scraped off some rust, making 25 saves and looking generally more poised and stable than in Games 1 and 2.
The Hawks now have the opportunity to close out the series in Game 4 on Friday at 5:45 p.m. CT.
“We’ve had some experience in the past knowing how to play, how to prepare for those big games,” Toews said. “It’s [about] having that killer instinct but knowing that every game in this series has gotten tougher. It’s going to be the toughest game coming up.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--Chicago’s first jury trial of pandemic ends with guilty verdict — and praise from jurors   (LIVE UPD

Chicago’s first jury trial of pandemic ends with guilty verdict — and praise from jurors   (LIVE UPDATES)

Chicago ’ s first jury trial of pandemic ends with guilty verdict — and praise from jurors Chicago ’ s first jury trial since the start of the coronavirus pandemic ended Thursday when federal jurors , clad in face masks , convicted an Ottawa man of threatening an FBI task force officer and others .
That trial played out amid the “ new normal ” that also includes hand sanitizer and constant social distancing , though .
So after the trial ended , a few jurors offered their own verdict on the new safety protocols for jury trials at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like they were extremely thorough , ” Elizabeth Reihl said .
“ I think they walked through the juror experience from the very beginning — from where you park .
I can tell that they looked through the full process and did every checkpoint.
” Under the new jury trial plan at Dirksen , jurors have been spread out beyond the traditional jury box , and they ’ ve been allowed to take breaks and deliberate in a separate courtroom .
Public seating has been limited , and witnesses have been asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony ends .
Jurors have also been given plastic bags filled with supplies .
Read the full story by Jon Seidel here .
7:20 p.m. ‘ Chivalry will come back ’ : Pandemic could shift dating trends away from hook-up culture Ofmar Ofrozan spent a Friday night in mid-March at Nighthawk , a bar in Albany Park , with a woman he met on Tinder .
The pair connected over a common love of sports , holding nothing but a vague awareness of the novel coronavirus that would soon shutter bars and restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an elbow bump , said Ofrozan , 30 , of Avondale , decidedly safer than a hug or kiss .
Ofrozan hasn ’ t seen her since .
“ We only went on one date , ” Ofrozan said .
“ Is it really worth the time and effort to continue pen pal-ing when we only met once ?
” Many single Chicagoans took a hiatus from dating when the pandemic hit in mid-March , anticipating a return to the status quo in a matter of weeks .
Weeks turned into months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how people meet and date .
Video calls on Bumble are up 70 % , and people are having longer messaging conversations on Tinder , according to representatives from each app .
Read the full story by Clare Proctor here .
Major League Baseball is cracking down on coronavirus safety protocols , mandating that players and staff wear face coverings at all times , including in the dugouts and bullpens , except for players on the field of play .
The league sent a memo to teams Wednesday outlining changes to its 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals led to 21 postponements in the first two weeks of a shortened 60-game season .
The memo , obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday night , says that repeated or flagrant violators of the protocols could be banned from participating in the 2020 season and postseason .
That includes those who don ’ t wear face coverings while watching from the dugout .
Although such measures were suggested in MLB ’ s operations manual before Wednesday , some players have continued to not wear face masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protocols in other ways during games .
Days after the Chicago Teachers Union threatened to strike over concerns about returning to schools during the coronavirus pandemic , the unions representing workers at the City Colleges of Chicago are trying a similar tactic .
“ It ’ s certainly a good indication that when an administration or district comes up against reality , in this case [ Chicago Public Schools ] made the right decision .
We ’ re wanting the City Colleges to do the same thing , ” said Tony Johnston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union , which represents a total of about 1,900 faculty members , student advisors and other employees across the seven City Colleges .
Another 500 or so clerical staff could also potentially go on strike if the workers ’ demands aren ’ t met .
Although classes don ’ t begin until Aug. 24 — and most of them are being taught online in the fall — some employees returned to work Monday , including student advisors .
Read the full story by Stefano Esposito here , 3:50 p.m. Virginia the first state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple , Google RICHMOND , Va. — Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus , becoming the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google .
But hopes for a nationwide app that can work seamlessly across state borders remain unrealized , and there are no known federal plans to create one .
State officials say their new app won ’ t work as well outside Virginia , at least until a group of coordinating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and running and other states join in .
Virginia ’ s free Covidwise app is available in Apple and Android app stores as of Wednesday .
State officials , who repeatedly emphasized its privacy-protection features , announced the launch of a statewide public information campaign encouraging people to download and use it .
he Trump administration on Thursday rescinded its warnings to Americans against all international travel because of the coronavirus pandemic , saying conditions no longer warrant a blanket worldwide alert .
The State Department lifted its level-four health advisory for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to country-specific warnings .
That move came shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its COVID-19 travel advisory information .
The CDC lifted “ do not travel ” warnings for about 20 locations but advised staying away from the vast majority of the world .
“ With health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others , the department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice in order to give travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
2 p.m. Illinois ’ average daily COVID-19 caseload more than doubled over past month as ‘ virus continues to ravage people of all ages ’ Public health officials on Thursday announced Illinois ’ largest coronavirus caseload in over 10 weeks , with 1,953 more people testing positive for COVID-19 across the state .
The latest jump comes a week after Illinois logged 1,941 cases , which had been the highest since more than 2,500 cases were reported May 24 when the state was coming down from its initial pandemic peak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ valley in mid-June , a deluge of outbreaks among young people have fueled a steady COVID-19 rise that has the state on the verge of a full-blown resurgence , according to Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike .
“ If we don ’ t take further steps to reduce the spread of the virus , our numbers will continue to go up , and we will be right back where we were just a few months ago , ” Ezike said Wednesday .
“ Anyone who thinks that wearing a mask or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — you are just wrong .
Both of those incredibly simple actions have been shown to slow the spread of the virus and decrease the number of cases.
” Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here .
11:30 a.m .
Beaches , parking lots still closed as lakefront restaurants reopen Chicagoans will soon be able to enjoy a chilled beverage and delicious meal at their favorite beachfront restaurants .
It ’ s welcome news for Reggie ’ s on the Beach , one of at least five beachfront eateries that have announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time this summer .
But the beaches themselves remain closed , as do lakefront parking lots , which Reggie ’ s on the Beach ’ s owner Robby Glick said he fears might deter some customers from coming .
“ Our parking lots aren ’ t going to be open , so it ’ s going to be a challenge for people to get here , but I think we ’ ll still do good , ” he said .
“ I think people will still find a way and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ ll be worth the trek.
” Reggie ’ s is offering a shuttle service from its South Loop location to the beach to help ease the burden on some Chicagoans .
He also said people can ride their bikes on the Lakeshore Trail or park in the lot on the west side of Lake Shore Drive and then walk to the beach .
We already lost half the season , so it ’ s better than nothing , ” Glick said .
“ And we ’ re just grateful that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open.
” Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here .
10:29 a.m. Chicago Catholic schools will stick with in-person learning as CPS goes online for the fall As Chicago Public Schools change course for this fall , announcing Wednesday that the school year will begin with remote learning , the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools said it ’ s moving forward with its plan to return to the classroom next month .
In an email to families , Catholic Schools superintendent Jim Rigg said the archdiocese is committed to starting the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s “ in the best interests of children and our mission.
” Rigg called in-person learning “ essential ” for students to grow not only intellectually and emotionally but also in their faith .
Under the archdiocese ’ s current reopening plan , which was designed with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chicago Department of Public Health along with other state health officials and infectious disease experts , everyone over the age of 2 inside the school will have to wear masks .
Students will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at school .
Those exams will include a temperature check and a series of questions .
The archdiocese is also adopting a “ cohort ” model for the upcoming school year .
Students and staff will be grouped by their homeroom class and will remain with those same classmates throughout the day .
Read the full story here for more information .
8:21 a.m. Coronavirus ‘ rages on ’ in Illinois , prompting Pritzker to warn locals to take action — or the state ‘ will be forced to step in ’ Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois , marking the third-highest daily caseload in two months and the 15th straight day the state has reported 1,000 or more cases .
Over the last four weeks , Illinois has had 23 days with four-digit caseloads — following a full month without hitting that level .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 30 more people suffering from COVID-19 have died , just the second time the state has tallied 30 or more deaths in almost a month .
Experts predict a spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grim result of Illinois ’ steady increase in cases since late June and an uptick in hospitalizations over the last two weeks .
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here .
• Health officials on Wednesday announced another 1,759 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois , marking the third-highest daily caseload in two months and the 15th straight day the state has reported 1,000 or more cases .
• Marlins resume season and win with 18 new players .
• Gov .
J.B. Pritzker reported coronavirus testing positivity rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last week in the Metro East and southern Illinois regions , including an 8 % rate in Jackson County .
In Chicago , the seven-day positivity rate was at 4.9 % , and 5.8 % in suburban Cook County .
• The number of confirmed infections in the U.S. has topped 4.7 million , with new cases running at over 60,000 a day .
While that ’ s down from a peak of well over 70,000 in the second half of July , cases are rising in 26 states , many in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are climbing in 35 states Albert G. Spalding was a fine specimen of a man : 6-foot-1 with dark hair and a thick mustache .
He was also a heck of a pitcher : 47 wins , 12 losses for the Chicago White Stockings in 1876 .
That ’ s a lot of games .
Most teams only had one pitcher .
Unsurprisingly , Spalding ’ s hands were beat up with “ severe bruises.
” So Spalding noticed that Boston first baseman , Charles C. Waite .
wore something on his hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skin tone because he was “ ashamed to wear it ” and hoped fans wouldn ’ t notice .
Men were aghast at the idea of protective equipment .
In his 1911 book on baseball , Spalding notes the first catcher ’ s mask was ridiculed as “ babyish ” and “ cowardly.
” Spurning personal protective equipment didn ’ t begin with COVID-19 .
When you look at the history of PPE , the current uproar over wearing cotton face masks is simple to understand : it ’ s a guy thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steinberg here .
8:20 p.m. Vote with your face ?
Masks one more thing voters will get to decide on Election Day Chicago election officials plan to “ strongly encourage ” but will not require voters to wear face masks to their polling places this fall .
They say their decision was made in accordance with current COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health — neither of which mandate the use of face coverings for voting .
Election officials in suburban Cook , DuPage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awaiting updated guidance from the state before finalizing their own face mask policies .
But a statement Wednesday from Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s office gave no indication he will recommend any further restrictions before early voting begins in October .
“ Under the Governor ’ s executive order , face coverings are required any time a person is unable to maintain social distance of six feet .
The administration encourages local election officials to plan for and ensure as much social distancing as possible during the voting process and also encourages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they use a face covering , ” said press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh .
Please note the operative word is “ encourages ” — same as in Chicago election officials ’ plans .
It ’ s the strength of that encouragement that could lead to problems .
Read the full column by Mark Brown here .

The numbers of coronavirus cases continued to rise on Thursday. Public health officials announced Illinois’ largest coronavirus caseload in over 10 weeks, with 1,953 more people testing positive for COVID-19 across the state. The latest jump comes a week after Illinois logged 1,941 cases, which had been the highest since more than 2,500 cases were reported May 24 when the state was coming down from its initial pandemic peak.
The fallout from various school closings continued with college students dealing with beginning their college experience at home. Loyola University Chicago announced the dorms would be closed during the fall semester.
And Chicago’s first jury trial of pandemic ends with guilty verdict.
Here’s what we learned today in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
9 p.m. ‘Devastated’ Chicago college students opt to stay home after last-minute shifts to all online classes, strict COVID-19 restrictions
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Eli Stone, of Lake View, was ready for the “normal college experience” and set to start his freshman year this fall at Brandeis University outside Boston.
But when Brandeis released its reopening plans, Stone, 18, said he couldn’t imagine finding new friends or developing new relationships when he was living in a single dorm and taking all his classes online. So earlier this summer, he deferred his enrollment for at least a semester.
“If I was going this year, I’d really only have three years of a college experience because I don’t think spring will be normal,” either, Stone said. “Starting college during a pandemic would have been really hard for me.”
Faced with almost completely online schedules and strict COVID-19 protocol, students across Chicago who realize they won’t enjoy the traditional college campus experience are choosing to live at home or defer their education altogether. Some students’ plans have literally been upended in the past several days as many universities announced fewer and fewer — if any — in-person classes and strict rules for living in the dorms or even being on campus.
Read the full story by Clare Proctor here.
8:30 p.m. Loyola University Chicago closes all dorms for fall semester due to COVID-19
No Loyola University Chicago students will live in on-campus housing this fall, the university announced Thursday.
Citing COVID-19 health conditions and future uncertainty, the university announced the decision to close all residence halls for the upcoming semester, according to an email sent to the school community. The school had previously planned to put all on-campus students in single dorm rooms, with some living in the nearby Hampton Inn to allow for social distancing.
“We simply cannot put our on-campus residential students in harm’s way and risk further disruption to them and their families if they needed to move home mid-semester because of an outbreak in one of our residence halls or as a result of the state and city reverting back to Phase 3,” Thursday’s email read.
Read the full story by Clare Proctor here.
8 p.m. After recovering from coronavirus, Placido Domingo vows to clear name from sexual misconduct allegations
SALZBURG, Austria — Placido Domingo is back in Europe to receive a lifetime achievement award after a bout with the coronavirus, vowing in an interview with a top Italian daily newspaper to clear his name from allegations of sexual misconduct.
The opera legend’s appearance Thursday to accept the award from the Austria Music Theater will be his first in public since recovering from the virus at his home in Acapulco, Mexico. Domingo, 79, told La Repubblica that his illness made him ‘’no longer afraid to speak out’’ about the allegations reported by The Associated Press that virtually ended his performance career in both the United States and his native Spain.
‘’When I knew that I had COVID, I promised myself that if I came out alive, I would fight to clear my name,’’ Domingo said. ‘’I never abused anyone. I will repeat that as long as I live. ‘’
In AP stories last year, multiple women accused Domingo of sexual harassment and abusing his power while he held management positions at LA Opera and Washington National Opera, with dozens of people saying his behavior was an open secret in the opera world. Most of the women spoke on condition of anonymity.
Read the full story here.
7:20 p.m. ‘Chivalry will come back’: Pandemic could shift dating trends away from hook-up culture
Ofmar Ofrozan spent a Friday night in mid-March at Nighthawk, a bar in Albany Park, with a woman he met on Tinder. The pair connected over a common love of sports, holding nothing but a vague awareness of the novel coronavirus that would soon shutter bars and restaurants for months.
The date concluded with an elbow bump, said Ofrozan, 30, of Avondale, decidedly safer than a hug or kiss.
Ofrozan hasn’t seen her since.
“We only went on one date,” Ofrozan said. “Is it really worth the time and effort to continue pen pal-ing when we only met once?”
Many single Chicagoans took a hiatus from dating when the pandemic hit in mid-March, anticipating a return to the status quo in a matter of weeks. Weeks turned into months, shifting what’s considered normal in how people meet and date. Video calls on Bumble are up 70%, and people are having longer messaging conversations on Tinder, according to representatives from each app.
Read the full story by Clare Proctor here.
6:45 p.m. Chicago’s first jury trial of pandemic ends with guilty verdict — and praise from jurors
Chicago’s first jury trial since the start of the coronavirus pandemic ended Thursday when federal jurors, clad in face masks, convicted an Ottawa man of threatening an FBI task force officer and others.
That trial played out amid the “new normal” that also includes hand sanitizer and constant social distancing, though. So after the trial ended, a few jurors offered their own verdict on the new safety protocols for jury trials at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.
“I felt like they were extremely thorough,” Elizabeth Reihl said. “I think they walked through the juror experience from the very beginning — from where you park. I can tell that they looked through the full process and did every checkpoint.”
Under the new jury trial plan at Dirksen, jurors have been spread out beyond the traditional jury box, and they’ve been allowed to take breaks and deliberate in a separate courtroom. Public seating has been limited, and witnesses have been asked to wipe down the witness stand when their testimony ends. Jurors have also been given plastic bags filled with supplies.
Read the full story by Jon Seidel here.
5:45 p.m. MLB tightens coronavirus protocols, including requiring masks in dugouts
Major League Baseball is cracking down on coronavirus safety protocols, mandating that players and staff wear face coverings at all times, including in the dugouts and bullpens, except for players on the field of play.
The league sent a memo to teams Wednesday outlining changes to its 2020 operations manual after outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals led to 21 postponements in the first two weeks of a shortened 60-game season.
The memo, obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday night, says that repeated or flagrant violators of the protocols could be banned from participating in the 2020 season and postseason.
That includes those who don’t wear face coverings while watching from the dugout. Although such measures were suggested in MLB’s operations manual before Wednesday, some players have continued to not wear face masks, offer high fives, spit and violate the protocols in other ways during games.
Read the full story here.
5 p.m. City Colleges considering strike over coronavirus concerns
Days after the Chicago Teachers Union threatened to strike over concerns about returning to schools during the coronavirus pandemic, the unions representing workers at the City Colleges of Chicago are trying a similar tactic.
“It’s certainly a good indication that when an administration or district comes up against reality, in this case [Chicago Public Schools] made the right decision. We’re wanting the City Colleges to do the same thing,” said Tony Johnston, president of Cook County College Teachers Union, which represents a total of about 1,900 faculty members, student advisors and other employees across the seven City Colleges.
Another 500 or so clerical staff could also potentially go on strike if the workers’ demands aren’t met. Although classes don’t begin until Aug. 24 — and most of them are being taught online in the fall — some employees returned to work Monday, including student advisors.
Read the full story by Stefano Esposito here,
3:50 p.m. Virginia the first state to roll out COVID-19 pandemic app from Apple, Google
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus, becoming the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google.
But hopes for a nationwide app that can work seamlessly across state borders remain unrealized, and there are no known federal plans to create one. State officials say their new app won’t work as well outside Virginia, at least until a group of coordinating public health agencies gets a national server up and running and other states join in.
Virginia’s free Covidwise app is available in Apple and Android app stores as of Wednesday. State officials, who repeatedly emphasized its privacy-protection features, announced the launch of a statewide public information campaign encouraging people to download and use it.
Read the full story here
3:05 p.m. US rescinds global ‘do not travel’ coronavirus warning
he Trump administration on Thursday rescinded its warnings to Americans against all international travel because of the coronavirus pandemic, saying conditions no longer warrant a blanket worldwide alert.
The State Department lifted its level-four health advisory for the entire world in order to return to country-specific warnings. That move came shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its COVID-19 travel advisory information. The CDC lifted “do not travel” warnings for about 20 locations but advised staying away from the vast majority of the world.
“With health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others, the department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice in order to give travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions,” the State Department said in a statement.
Read the full story here.
2 p.m. Illinois’ average daily COVID-19 caseload more than doubled over past month as ‘virus continues to ravage people of all ages’
Public health officials on Thursday announced Illinois’ largest coronavirus caseload in over 10 weeks, with 1,953 more people testing positive for COVID-19 across the state.
The latest jump comes a week after Illinois logged 1,941 cases, which had been the highest since more than 2,500 cases were reported May 24 when the state was coming down from its initial pandemic peak.
But since Illinois cases fell to a valley in mid-June, a deluge of outbreaks among young people have fueled a steady COVID-19 rise that has the state on the verge of a full-blown resurgence, according to Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.
“If we don’t take further steps to reduce the spread of the virus, our numbers will continue to go up, and we will be right back where we were just a few months ago,” Ezike said Wednesday. “Anyone who thinks that wearing a mask or keeping their distance doesn’t help — you are just wrong. Both of those incredibly simple actions have been shown to slow the spread of the virus and decrease the number of cases.”
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
11:30 a.m. Beaches, parking lots still closed as lakefront restaurants reopen
Chicagoans will soon be able to enjoy a chilled beverage and delicious meal at their favorite beachfront restaurants. It’s welcome news for Reggie’s on the Beach, one of at least five beachfront eateries that have announced plans to open their doors for the first time this summer.
But the beaches themselves remain closed, as do lakefront parking lots, which Reggie’s on the Beach’s owner Robby Glick said he fears might deter some customers from coming.
“Our parking lots aren’t going to be open, so it’s going to be a challenge for people to get here, but I think we’ll still do good,” he said. “I think people will still find a way and it is really beautiful at our spot, so it’ll be worth the trek.”
Reggie’s is offering a shuttle service from its South Loop location to the beach to help ease the burden on some Chicagoans. He also said people can ride their bikes on the Lakeshore Trail or park in the lot on the west side of Lake Shore Drive and then walk to the beach.
We already lost half the season, so it’s better than nothing,” Glick said. “And we’re just grateful that they listened to us and are letting us open.”
Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here.
10:29 a.m. Chicago Catholic schools will stick with in-person learning as CPS goes online for the fall
As Chicago Public Schools change course for this fall, announcing Wednesday that the school year will begin with remote learning, the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools said it’s moving forward with its plan to return to the classroom next month.
In an email to families, Catholic Schools superintendent Jim Rigg said the archdiocese is committed to starting the school year with full-time in-person learning, saying it’s “in the best interests of children and our mission.”
Rigg called in-person learning “essential” for students to grow not only intellectually and emotionally but also in their faith.
Under the archdiocese’s current reopening plan, which was designed with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chicago Department of Public Health along with other state health officials and infectious disease experts, everyone over the age of 2 inside the school will have to wear masks. Students will undergo daily wellness checks when they arrive at school. Those exams will include a temperature check and a series of questions.
The archdiocese is also adopting a “cohort” model for the upcoming school year. Students and staff will be grouped by their homeroom class and will remain with those same classmates throughout the day.
Read the full story here for more information.
8:21 a.m. Coronavirus ‘rages on’ in Illinois, prompting Pritzker to warn locals to take action — or the state ‘will be forced to step in’
Health officials on Wednesday announced another 1,759 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois, marking the third-highest daily caseload in two months and the 15th straight day the state has reported 1,000 or more cases.
Over the last four weeks, Illinois has had 23 days with four-digit caseloads — following a full month without hitting that level.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 30 more people suffering from COVID-19 have died, just the second time the state has tallied 30 or more deaths in almost a month.
Experts predict a spike in deaths during the next few weeks, the grim result of Illinois’ steady increase in cases since late June and an uptick in hospitalizations over the last two weeks.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
1:45 p.m. Men have long shunned protective gear
Albert G. Spalding was a fine specimen of a man: 6-foot-1 with dark hair and a thick mustache. He was also a heck of a pitcher: 47 wins, 12 losses for the Chicago White Stockings in 1876.
That’s a lot of games. Most teams only had one pitcher. Unsurprisingly, Spalding’s hands were beat up with “severe bruises.”
So Spalding noticed that Boston first baseman, Charles C. Waite. wore something on his hand — a leather glove that matched his skin tone because he was “ashamed to wear it” and hoped fans wouldn’t notice. Men were aghast at the idea of protective equipment. In his 1911 book on baseball, Spalding notes the first catcher’s mask was ridiculed as “babyish” and “cowardly.”
Spurning personal protective equipment didn’t begin with COVID-19. When you look at the history of PPE, the current uproar over wearing cotton face masks is simple to understand: it’s a guy thing.
8:20 p.m. Vote with your face? Masks one more thing voters will get to decide on Election Day
Chicago election officials plan to “strongly encourage” but will not require voters to wear face masks to their polling places this fall.
They say their decision was made in accordance with current COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health — neither of which mandate the use of face coverings for voting.
Election officials in suburban Cook, DuPage and Lake counties told me they are awaiting updated guidance from the state before finalizing their own face mask policies.
But a statement Wednesday from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office gave no indication he will recommend any further restrictions before early voting begins in October.
“Under the Governor’s executive order, face coverings are required any time a person is unable to maintain social distance of six feet. The administration encourages local election officials to plan for and ensure as much social distancing as possible during the voting process and also encourages those voting on election day to ensure they use a face covering,” said press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh.
Please note the operative word is “encourages” — same as in Chicago election officials’ plans.
It’s the strength of that encouragement that could lead to problems.
Read the full column by Mark Brown here.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--How will Kanye West affect the presidential race? Will he really hurt Joe Biden?

WASHINGTON — Kanye West ’ s unlikely White House bid is getting help qualifying for presidential ballots in key states from Republicans around the country , fueling suspicions he ’ s being pushed to run by allies of President Donald Trump hoping to siphon support away from Joe Biden .
The rapper qualified for Colorado ’ s presidential ballot on Thursday , after the Secretary of State ’ s office verified that nine electors he submitted are all registered to vote in that state .
One of those was Matthew Zielinski , is a former Republican congressional candidate who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party in suburban Denver .
Zielinski tweeted that he believed in “ fair ballot access ” but declined further comment .
A similar pattern has played out in in Wisconsin , Ohio , Vermont and Arkansas , where lawyers or activists with GOP ties have been involved in securing the star ’ s place on the ballot .
The successful effort in battleground states Wisconsin and Ohio in particular raised red flags for Democrats , who are braced for a close race and anxious about any third-party candidate drawing voters .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying , “ We have no knowledge of what Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.
” Speaking to reporters at the White House , Trump said , “ I like Kanye very much ” but added : “ I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot .
I ’ m not involved.
” West himself has hinted he may be in the race to detract from Biden .
When an interviewer from Forbes suggested as much in a text message Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not denying it.
” The Biden campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday .
Still , the former vice president enjoyed strong support among African American voters during the Democratic primary and is counting on topping Trump by wide margins with them , as well as young voters , in November .
Having West , who is Black and a hip-hop icon , on the ballot could be a ploy to hurt Biden with both sets of voters .
A third-party candidate with name recognition as high as West could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin in 2016 , there were 36,460 write-in votes for president — exceeding Trump ’ s statewide margin of victory of 22,748 , said David Jackson , a political science professor at Bowling Green State University whose research focuses on the links between young people ’ s entertainment and political preferences .
But African Americans tend not to vote for candidates solely because they are Black , while West ’ s status with Americans age 18 to 29 is actually more unfavorable than favorable , Jackson said .
That means Republicans working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to peel many of their target voters away from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee .
“ It proves that people from the opposite party really know nothing about the appeal of the other party , ” Jackson said .
It ’ s also possible West could actually draw support away from Trump , since he ’ s been an outspoken supporter of the president in the past .
The Republicans involved include Lane Ruhland , a lawyer with longstanding ties to the Wisconsin Republican Party , who was captured on video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf to the election board there .
The Ohio attorney who filed a ballot access form on West ’ s behalf in that state , Matthew Aumann , an associate at a Columbus law firm that has been paid thousands of dollars in legal consulting fees by the state House and Senate Republican campaign committees , campaign finance records show .
West ’ s ballot paperwork in Arkansas lists as a point of contact Gregg Keller , the former executive director of the American Conservative Union .
In Vermont , Charles H. Wilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention .
West , meanwhile , missed qualifying for New Jersey ’ s ballot and also failed to file in South Carolina — despite holding a recent rally there where he railed against Harriet Tubman and sounded far from someone seriously preparing to seek the presidency .
West has yet to make enough ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning the 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch the White House .
That makes him ineligible for the part of the race where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in debates , according to rules set by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates .
West has nonetheless insisted that his bid is serious .
But his wife , Kim Kardashian , has noted that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and asked the public show him compassion .
“ Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions , ” Kardashian posted on her Instagram Live feed .

WASHINGTON — Kanye West’s unlikely White House bid is getting help qualifying for presidential ballots in key states from Republicans around the country, fueling suspicions he’s being pushed to run by allies of President Donald Trump hoping to siphon support away from Joe Biden.
The rapper qualified for Colorado’s presidential ballot on Thursday, after the Secretary of State’s office verified that nine electors he submitted are all registered to vote in that state. One of those was Matthew Zielinski, is a former Republican congressional candidate who served as an officer with a county Republican Party in suburban Denver.
Zielinski tweeted that he believed in “fair ballot access” but declined further comment.
A similar pattern has played out in in Wisconsin, Ohio, Vermont and Arkansas, where lawyers or activists with GOP ties have been involved in securing the star’s place on the ballot. The successful effort in battleground states Wisconsin and Ohio in particular raised red flags for Democrats, who are braced for a close race and anxious about any third-party candidate drawing voters.
Trump’s reelection campaign has denied involvement, with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying, “We have no knowledge of what Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I like Kanye very much” but added: “I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot. I’m not involved.”
West himself has hinted he may be in the race to detract from Biden. When an interviewer from Forbes suggested as much in a text message Thursday, West responded, “I’m not denying it.”
The Biden campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday. Still, the former vice president enjoyed strong support among African American voters during the Democratic primary and is counting on topping Trump by wide margins with them, as well as young voters, in November. Having West, who is Black and a hip-hop icon, on the ballot could be a ploy to hurt Biden with both sets of voters.
A third-party candidate with name recognition as high as West could undoubtedly influence a close election. In Wisconsin in 2016, there were 36,460 write-in votes for president — exceeding Trump’s statewide margin of victory of 22,748, said David Jackson, a political science professor at Bowling Green State University whose research focuses on the links between young people’s entertainment and political preferences.
But African Americans tend not to vote for candidates solely because they are Black, while West’s status with Americans age 18 to 29 is actually more unfavorable than favorable, Jackson said. That means Republicans working to ensure he competes with Biden may not be able to peel many of their target voters away from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
“It proves that people from the opposite party really know nothing about the appeal of the other party,” Jackson said.
It’s also possible West could actually draw support away from Trump, since he’s been an outspoken supporter of the president in the past.
The Republicans involved include Lane Ruhland, a lawyer with longstanding ties to the Wisconsin Republican Party, who was captured on video dropping off signatures on West’s behalf to the election board there. The Ohio attorney who filed a ballot access form on West’s behalf in that state, Matthew Aumann, an associate at a Columbus law firm that has been paid thousands of dollars in legal consulting fees by the state House and Senate Republican campaign committees, campaign finance records show.
West’s ballot paperwork in Arkansas lists as a point of contact Gregg Keller, the former executive director of the American Conservative Union. In Vermont, Charles H. Wilton is a West elector despite previously being chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
West, meanwhile, missed qualifying for New Jersey’s ballot and also failed to file in South Carolina — despite holding a recent rally there where he railed against Harriet Tubman and sounded far from someone seriously preparing to seek the presidency.
West has yet to make enough ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning the 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch the White House. That makes him ineligible for the part of the race where he might have the most visible effect, participating in debates, according to rules set by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.
West has nonetheless insisted that his bid is serious. But his wife, Kim Kardashian, has noted that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and asked the public show him compassion.
“Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions,” Kardashian posted on her Instagram Live feed.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--Seniors hopeful safety ordinance will lead to better quality of life amid pandemic

Crystal McGee , like others , was initially skeptical about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic .
But then McGee , 73 , learned that at least 11 residents in the West Point Plaza on the Near West Side — the senior building that she calls home — had fallen sick with COVID-19 .
McGee and the tenants organization in the building ramped up their efforts to designate floor captains to conduct daily wellness checks .
“ Once we announced that there were people in the building with it , then the other tenants started cooperating ” with the wellness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months into the pandemic , McGee and other seniors in Chicago are reviewing the senior safety ordinance that was passed by the City Council in late July and went into effect this week .
The “ senior safety ordinance ” tasks building owners and managers with conducting similar wellness checks that the tenants association in McGee ’ s building was already doing .
The goal is to establish safety protocols for senior buildings during public health emergencies , including wellness checks at least twice weekly , requiring staff to help residents with medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimen and restricting access to the building .
The ordinance was introduced in April by Ald .
Maria Hadden ( 49th ) .
Leslie Perkins , the chief of staff for Hadden , said attorneys with the Jane Addams Senior Caucus and the Shriver Center had to work with the city to make sure the ordinance would be enforceable .
For now , Perkins said seniors are encouraged to call their aldermanic office to report violations , though Hadden ’ s office would eventually like to also see reporting done through the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been living in a lot of fear and anxiety these past several months so it ’ s nice to have something that we can point them to , ” Perkins said .
Marsha Cole , 67 , is a member of the Jane Addams caucus , a Chicago-based advocacy group that works on senior issues like housing , and she was among those who spent four months drafting and pushing for the ordinance .
Now Cole is among those working with Chicago officials to sign off on posters that will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new measure .
The seniors are also pushing for interpreters to be available to speak to any senior citizen during the wellness check who doesn ’ t speak English .
“ ( Building owners ) are going to have to take responsibility of calling their tenants , not just collecting the rent , ” Cole said .
Despite moving from Rogers Park to Evanston , Cole said she is committed to ensuring the safety measures are put in place .
She would like to see similar measures be adopted in Evanston and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of Chicago .
Cole said she is in the process of forming a committee that will check the enforcement of the ordinance across the city .
The measure requires buildings to maintain a record of the wellness checks and cleanings .
The city could impose fines ranging from $ 100 to $ 500 for violations .
“ Because we stuck together and there is power in numbers , we were able to make ( the ordinance ) pass , we are not going to pass it and walk away , ” Cole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow up.
” In Chicago , more than 13,800 residents who are 60 years and older have tested positive for COVID-19 , according to data from the city ’ s Department of Public Health .
Seniors 70 and older make up 58 % of COVID-19-related deaths in Chicago , according to the most current data provided by the city .
Debra Miller , 68 , lives in an Edgewater Beach building where at least one death is tied to COVID-19 , according to data from the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her husband only received three wellness checks that she didn ’ t think were satisfactory and described them as curt .
She is also a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus .
“ We are very hopeful that ( the ordinance ) will enhance the lives of seniors in the senior buildings because they will know that they are safe , ” Miller said .
“ We are going to make sure that seniors know that this has been passed and they can go ahead and let us know as an organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the tenants organization in her building got the idea for wellness checks before the pandemic .
A resident on her floor had been found dead in January , and residents believe he had been dead for about six days , McGee said .
“ We were having this smell and we just didn ’ t know what it was , ” McGee said .
“ It was horrible .
Come to find out he had been in his apartment six days dead .
Nobody had come to check on him.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s doors that would help them keep track of who has answered and who hasn ’ t answered their door .
If no one has been able to reach the person within three days , the organization flags the unit to management , McGee said .
The group initially didn ’ t get a lot of participation from residents who didn ’ t want to open their doors or use the tags indicating they were OK. After they went to management with concerns about residents they hadn ’ t heard from , McGee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the building .
McGee and others hadn ’ t know people had tested positive , but she soon spread the word to other residents .
Even though her building is considered independent living for seniors , she says seniors like her shouldn ’ t be ignored .
“ When you are a senior you are put in a box and told to be quiet , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not right for us to be ignored.
” Elvia Malagón ’ s reporting on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust .

Crystal McGee, like others, was initially skeptical about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.
But then McGee, 73, learned that at least 11 residents in the West Point Plaza on the Near West Side — the senior building that she calls home — had fallen sick with COVID-19. McGee and the tenants organization in the building ramped up their efforts to designate floor captains to conduct daily wellness checks.
“Once we announced that there were people in the building with it, then the other tenants started cooperating” with the wellness checks, McGee said.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Now five months into the pandemic, McGee and other seniors in Chicago are reviewing the senior safety ordinance that was passed by the City Council in late July and recently went into effect. The “senior safety ordinance” tasks building owners and managers with conducting similar wellness checks that the tenants association in McGee’s building was already doing.
The goal is to establish safety protocols for senior buildings during public health emergencies, including wellness checks at least twice weekly, requiring staff to help residents with medication and food delivery, implementing a cleaning regimen and restricting access to the building.
The ordinance was introduced in April by Ald. Maria Hadden (49th). Leslie Perkins, the chief of staff for Hadden, said attorneys with the Jane Addams Senior Caucus and the Shriver Center had to work with the city to make sure the ordinance would be enforceable. For now, Perkins said seniors are encouraged to call their aldermanic office to report violations, though Hadden’s office would eventually like to also see reporting done through the city’s 311 system.
“They’ve been living in a lot of fear and anxiety these past several months so it’s nice to have something that we can point them to,” Perkins said.
Marsha Cole, 67, is a member of the Jane Addams caucus, a Chicago-based advocacy group that works on senior issues like housing, and she was among those who spent four months drafting and pushing for the ordinance.
Now Cole is among those working with Chicago officials to sign off on posters that will be placed inside buildings informing residents about the new measure. The seniors are also pushing for interpreters to be available to speak to any senior citizen during the wellness check who doesn’t speak English.
“(Building owners) are going to have to take responsibility of calling their tenants, not just collecting the rent,” Cole said.
Despite moving from Rogers Park to Evanston, Cole said she is committed to ensuring the safety measures are put in place. She would like to see similar measures be adopted in Evanston and in suburban Cook County to protect seniors living outside of Chicago.
Cole said she is in the process of forming a committee that will check the enforcement of the ordinance across the city. The measure requires buildings to maintain a record of the wellness checks and cleanings. The city could impose fines ranging from $100 to $500 for violations.
“Because we stuck together and there is power in numbers, we were able to make (the ordinance) pass, we are not going to pass it and walk away,” Cole said. “We are going to follow up.”
In Chicago, more than 14,100 residents who are 60 years and older have tested positive for COVID-19, according to data from the city’s Department of Public Health. Seniors 70 and older make up 58% of COVID-19-related deaths in Chicago, according to the most current data provided by the city.
Debra Miller, 68, lives in an Edgewater Beach building where at least one death is tied to COVID-19, according to data from the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
During the pandemic, she and her husband only received three wellness checks that she didn’t think were satisfactory and described them as curt. She is also a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus.
“We are very hopeful that (the ordinance) will enhance the lives of seniors in the senior buildings because they will know that they are safe,” Miller said. “We are going to make sure that seniors know that this has been passed and they can go ahead and let us know as an organization when it’s not.”
McGee said the tenants organization in her building got the idea for wellness checks before the pandemic. A resident on her floor had been found dead in January, and residents believe he had been dead for about six days, McGee said.
“We were having this smell and we just didn’t know what it was,” McGee said. “It was horrible. Come to find out he had been in his apartment six days dead. Nobody had come to check on him.”
Crystal McGee, 73, shows a tag that she puts on her doorknob to indicate to building management that she does not need a wellness check at her home in the West Point Plaza Apartments, 300 S. Damen Ave., on the Near West Side, Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 6, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The floor captains put tags on people’s doors that would help them keep track of who has answered and who hasn’t answered their door. If no one has been able to reach the person within three days, the organization flags the unit to management, McGee said.
The group initially didn’t get a lot of participation from residents who didn’t want to open their doors or use the tags indicating they were OK. After they went to management with concerns about residents they hadn’t heard from, McGee said she learned there had been 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the building. McGee and others hadn’t known people had tested positive, but she soon spread the word to other residents.
Even though her building is considered independent living for seniors, she says seniors like her shouldn’t be ignored.
“When you are a senior you are put in a box and told to be quiet,” she said. “It’s not right for us to be ignored.”
Elvia Malagón’s reporting on social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-06--Bears hope to minimize pain of Eddie Goldman absence

When Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers learned that standout nose tackle Eddie Goldman was opting out of the 2020 season , he didn ’ t flinch .
“ We had a great conversation afterwards , ” Rodgers said .
“ I want to keep him involved in some way .
Eddie is still a part of this team and we ’ re gon na constantly be communicating with him all the time .
He ’ s a big part of what we ’ ve been able to accomplish over the years and I understand — I understand where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-time Pro Bowl alternate , and safety Jordan Lucas remained the two Bears players to sit out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic as the opt-out deadline passed Thursday .
Goldman ’ s absence will leave a void in the Bears ’ defense , but the Bears defensive line depth under Rodgers figures to help alleviate the pain .
Bilal Nichols , Abdullah Anderson and John Jenkins previously have worked at nose tackle in practice , and Brent Urban is working there now , Rodgers said .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do some things that Eddie does just as well .
They just haven ’ t done it at that position in the middle for five years , ” Rodgers said .
“ Through experience you learn .
Eddie didn ’ t just arrive in his first year and have all that ability .
He learned how to play the game.
” “ Luckily we ’ ve got good depth , ” Pagano said .
“ We ’ re gon na miss Eddie , but like coach [ Matt Nagy ] said , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So we support him a thousand percent .
We all get it .
”

When Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers learned last week that star nose tackle Eddie Goldman was opting out of the 2020 season, he didn’t flinch.
“We had a great conversation afterwards,” Rodgers said. “I want to keep him involved in some way. Eddie is still a part of this team, and we’re gonna constantly be communicating with him all the time. He’s a big part of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years, and I understand where he’s coming from.”
Goldman and safety Jordan Lucas remain the only two Bears to opt out because of the coronavirus pandemic after the opt-out deadline passed Thursday.
Goldman’s absence will leave a void in the defense, but the line depth under Rodgers figures to help alleviate the pain. Bilal Nichols, Abdullah Anderson and John Jenkins previously have worked at nose tackle in practice, and Brent Urban is working there now, Rodgers said.
“There are some guys on our team that do some things that Eddie does just as well — they just haven’t done it at that position in the middle for five years,” Rodgers said. “Through experience, you learn. Eddie didn’t just arrive in his first year and have all that ability. He learned how to play the game.”
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano likewise supported Goldman’s decision.
“Luckily, we’ve got good depth,” Pagano said. “We’re gonna miss Eddie, but like coach [Matt Nagy] said, [we] totally respect and understand his decision. So we support him a thousand percent. We all get it.”