chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--33 more die in Illinois from coronavirus as total cases surpass 30,000  (LIVE UPDATES)

Illinois health officials announced another 33 deaths and 1,197 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday , bringing the total number of cases in the state to 30,357 .
In total , 1,290 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois since the pandemic first hit .
The virus has now been reported in 93 of the state ’ s 102 counties .
Illinois also ran at least 5,914 COVID-19 tests on Saturday , officials said .
In all , more than 142,000 have been tested for the virus .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker also announced that an airlift of PPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
The protective equipment will be taken to state warehouses , where they ’ ll be inspected before being shipped out to first responders and health care professionals , Pritzker said .
“ That ’ s the landscape we ’ re operating in , ” Pritzker said .
“ Competing with other states , countries and even the federal government for supplies.
” Read the full report from Jake Wittich here .
The coronavirus pandemic has turned a light on long accepted inequities like the segregation that has created pockets of poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and West sides , requiring nothing short of a “ Marshall Plan ” to redress them , according to a leading public health expert .
“ Many Americans are shocked by the data emerging from multiple cities showing the disproportionate over-representation of African Americans — and in some cities Latinos as well — in terms of COVID-19 mortality , ” lauded social scientist David R. Williams of Harvard University said Wednesday in a teleconference by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation , the country ’ s largest public health philanthropy .
“ The striking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fault of individuals , families and communities that are experiencing them .
Instead , they reflect longstanding policies that have created pervasive social and economic inequalities in the United States , ” Williams said .
On Sunday , the U.S. surpassed 750,000 coronavirus cases ; topping 40,000 deaths .
“ The coronavirus is a call to action .
It gives us a chance to make a commitment to do better than we have done in the past .
Call it a ‘ Marshall Plan ’ for disadvantaged communities.
” Racial disparities in COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois and Chicago .
The alarm then sounded nationwide .
By Sunday , Illinois had just over 30,000 cases , and 1290 deaths .
While only 15 % of the population , African Americans represent about 40 % of those deaths .
For weeks , Chicago ’ s downtown federal high-rise jail appeared to be keeping the coronavirus at bay .
Only a handful of staff members at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on West Van Buren had tested positive for the coronavirus since the outbreak began , according to official numbers .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus — until Tuesday .
Now , for the first time , the coronavirus appears to be spreading among the MCC ’ s more than 600 inmates .
Though the number of confirmed cases there remains low , the virus has been known to spread rapidly , and numbers tracked by the Chicago Sun-Times have risen quickly .
The numbers were gathered from court filings by prosecutors and local defense attorneys , as well as from an MCC union official .
Those on-the-ground sources have largely been in agreement , and they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Bureau of Prisons .
For example , MCC union leader Kevin Lasley said 12 inmates and 14 staff members had tested positive for the virus as of Friday afternoon .
Around the same time , the BOP said 10 inmates and 11 staff members had tested positive .
It didn ’ t report Lasley ’ s numbers until Sunday .
By then , prosecutors said the number of staff cases had risen to 15 .
3:44 p.m. Pritzker ‘ frustrated ’ by numbers of COVID-19 cases , deaths in Illinois nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which the coronavirus has spread through Illinois ’ nursing homes , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s office released new figures Sunday showing that 1,860 residents and staff members at long-term care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19 , and 286 of them have died .
Deaths tied to nursing homes across 21 counties now account for just under one-fourth of Illinois ’ 1,290 fatalities related to COVID-19 .
The state ’ s first attempt at disclosing the toll was flawed , and a landing page launched this weekend to detail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities was briefly taken down on Sunday .
When a revamped page went live hours later , the listed numbers didn ’ t match the figures that were initially reported .
“ There was a definitional error in yesterday ’ s data which led to some cases being counted twice , ” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said .
Those living in nursing homes are at a higher risk of infection and can experience more severe symptoms because many have pre-existing medical conditions .
Some of the largest clusters of COVID-19 cases across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other long-term care facilities , including a nursing home in Joliet where more than 20 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported .
Read the full report from Sun-Times reporter Tom Schuba here .
2:07 p.m. Northern Illinois mayors ask governor to allow reopening Five northern Illinois mayors have asked Gov .
J.B. Pritzker for the authority to reopen businesses next month , urging local control over restrictions and “ common sense modifications ” to a statewide stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic .
Pritzker has said he ’ s continually evaluating an extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as other states have done .
The Winnebago County leaders — of communities ranging in population from roughly 1,300 to 23,000 people — said in a Friday letter to Pritzker that thousands of employees , including in the restaurant , fitness and salon industries are being unnecessarily harmed because they ’ re not considered essential workers , according to the Rockford Register Star .
They said the need for financial aid has exceeded resources .
The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement as early as Sunday on an aid package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost a small-business loan program that has run out of money and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing .
With small-business owners reeling during a coronavirus outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek .
“ I think we ’ re very close to a deal today .
I ’ m hopeful that we can get that done , ” he said .
Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $ 300 billion , according to Mnuchin .
The program has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans .
That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help .
An additional $ 50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans .
About $ 75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals , for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
About $ 25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing , something states have said was urgently needed .
The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats .
But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out , Mnuchin said .
12:05 p.m .
These Chicagoans know what it ’ s like to face coronavirus and survive They were among the unwilling pioneers of a disease that has sickened thousands in Illinois alone .
Stricken in the early days of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , they knew they might experience little more than a sore throat and fever — or end up in a hospital on a ventilator or die .
“ Oh , brother , you better believe I was scared , ” one survivor said .
“ I didn ’ t know what was going on .
It was like I was in a daze.
” But now , they know what it ’ s like to have faced COVID-19 and emerged .
They are survivors .
Sun-Times reporter Stefano Esposito shares some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school student ’ s death likely due to coronavirus : superintendent A northwest suburban high school student in District 214 has died , likely of COVID-19 , and at least one other student is in the ICU due to the virus , Superintendent David Schuler announced Saturday .
The student died last week “ likely due to complications related to COVID-19 , ” Schuler wrote in an update to families .
“ While we may be seeing a plateau in confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in Illinois , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaves me with an incredibly heavy heart , ” the statement continues .
“ We will continue to move forward to see the sunrise again one day ; however , this week in our District is marked by pain and sadness .
My family ’ s thoughts and prayers are with these families and all members of our District ’ s school community during this global pandemic.
” Read the full report from Sun-Times ’ reporter Carly Behm here .
The University of Illinois has allowed medical students to graduate early as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Graduates could start their residency programs early , the Chicago Tribune reported .
“ When we saw the way the pandemic was affecting the nation , we asked how we could provide physicians to the workforce as quickly as possible , ” said Dr. Mark Rosenblatt , executive dean of the college .
“ And when you look at the type of students we have and why they went to med school in the first place , it ’ s to help people.
” Earlier this month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the College of Medicine on a Zoom call .
He and a cohort of the 191 graduates pledged to dedicate their lives to the service of humanity .
“ I ’ ve never felt so validated in my decision to become a physician , ” Vedak said .
8:15 a.m. Rev .
Jesse Jackson pens 2nd letter to Trump urging coronavirus testing for all incarcerated people The Rev .
Jesse Jackson joined other black pastors and leaders as part of a national coalition Saturday to pen an open letter to President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people for COVID-19 that are incarcerated in the country during the pandemic , and asking the president to consider releasing people arrested on nonviolent offenses as they await trial .
“ In prison , there are too many people in proximity to each other who do not have the option of social distancing and there are literally millions of persons incarcerated who were arrested , but not convicted , who are languishing in prison awaiting trial , ” Jackson wrote in the letter .
The coalition , led by the Rev .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dallas , said the actions were aimed at reducing the country ’ s prison population to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
“ They are a captive audience and should not be devoured by the virus should someone in prison have it and spread it , ” Jackson says in the letter .
Read the full story from Sun-Times ’ reporter Jake Wittich here .
7:22 a.m. ICYMI : Celebrities offer hope , thank coronavirus front-line workers in COVID-19 event Lady Gaga urged people weathering the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the pain , while Stevie Wonder encouraged viewers to lean on one another as the superstars kicked off Saturday ’ s all-star event aimed at fighting the coronavirus and celebrating health care workers on the front lines .
The two-hour TV special “ One World : Together At Home , ” curated by Gaga , was the second part of an eight-hour event supporting the World Health Organization alongside advocacy organization Global Citizen .
“ I care so much about the medical workers that are putting their lives at risk for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nat King Cole ’ s version of the song “ Smile.
” Wonder performed “ Lean On Me ” by Bill Withers — who died on March 30 — while playing piano .
He told viewers : “ During hardships like this we have to lean on each other for help.
” Paul McCartney sang the Beatles ’ “ Lady Madonna ” and talked about the work his mother did as a nurse , while photos of health care workers were shown on the screen .
Get the full recap of Saturday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday announced another 125 deaths due to COVID-19 in Illinois , matching the highest number of deaths attributed to the virus in a single day .
The state also recorded another 1,585 cases of the coronavirus , bringing the statewide total to 29,160 confirmed cases and 1,259 deaths since the outbreak hit the state .
• During the 2020 WNBA draft , Sky center Stefanie Dolson revealed on ESPN that her family tested positive for the coronavirus last month .
• A man and three women who live at a Lincoln Park nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , a spokesman for the facility said Friday .
5 p.m. Lightfoot ’ s stern coronavirus message to stay home is exactly what city needs She may not be someone you ’ d invite for a drink , even in these lonely pandemic times .
Like her predecessor , Lightfoot brings a tough , take-no-prisoners style .
Unlike her predecessor , she doesn ’ t pretend to be soft and fuzzy .
She is pushing her citywide order with a stern , steely , unrelenting message : “ Stay home .
Save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the doctor ordered , an antidote for the COVID-19 pandemic .
Since Lightfoot was elected a year ago , she has repeatedly shown she does not play .
10:50 a.m. Senate President Don Harmon ’ s foolish pitch to Washington can only hurt Illinois For weeks now , this editorial page has beat the drum for at least one more big federal stimulus package to help all states — red ones and blue ones — recover from the coronavirus pandemic .
It ’ s a no-brainer .
The economy of every state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a virus that has rocked the world .
Congress and President Donald Trump must step up with more money .
That said , we ’ re a newspaper .
We ’ re not the political leaders who have to sit down at the negotiating table and hammer out the details , including whether states hardest hit by COVID-19 should get more financial aid than other states .
Our role has been to encourage Democrats and Republicans to work together to do what ’ s best , understanding that the politics are delicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Illinois Senate , Don Harmon — who has been in that job all of three months — doesn ’ t quite get that .
Last week , he made a politically deaf , even foolish , pitch to Washington that can only hurt our state ’ s chances of securing additional COVID-19 relief funds .
In a letter to the members of Congress from Illinois , Harmon , D-Oak Park , outlined a request for another $ 41 billion in COVID-19-related stimulus aid for the state .
Harmon and his fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid to be sent directly to cities and towns , which makes sense .
They want more money for hospitals , which would be good .
And they want more money to help the unemployed , which we also agree is necessary .
But here ’ s the foolish part .
Harmon has proposed that about a quarter of the new money for Illinois , $ 10 billion , be used to bail out our state government ’ s cash-strapped retirement systems — a problem not even remotely related to COVID-19 .
7:08 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they must get the equipment to stay safe from coronavirus During this very difficult period , it is so very important to properly equip and protect our health care professionals who are in the vanguard of our struggle against the coronavirus .
Nurses are putting their lives on the line to save lives .
But alarmingly , they do not all have adequate protective equipment .
They are getting exposed , getting sick and being quarantined .
Many nurses have died .
More than 200 doctors and nurses across the globe have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing our health care workers at the worst possible time .
We can ’ t expect our nurses to work without the proper equipment in a job that is already stressful because of understaffing , high rates of workplace injury and other occupational hazards .
The situation in long-term care and correctional facilities is especially grave .
Read Sunday ’ s Letters to the Editor here .

The Latest
Illinois reports 33 more COVID-19 deaths as case total surpasses 30K
Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times file photo
Illinois health officials announced another 33 deaths and 1,197 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 30,357.
In total, 1,290 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois since the pandemic first hit. The virus has now been reported in 93 of the state’s 102 counties.
Illinois also ran at least 5,914 COVID-19 tests on Saturday, officials said. In all, more than 142,000 have been tested for the virus.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker also announced that an airlift of PPE is scheduled to arrive in Illinois on Monday.
The protective equipment will be taken to state warehouses, where they’ll be inspected before being shipped out to first responders and health care professionals, Pritzker said.
“That’s the landscape we’re operating in,” Pritzker said. “Competing with other states, countries and even the federal government for supplies.”
Read the full report from Jake Wittich here.
News
7:10 p.m. Public health expert: ‘Marshall Plan’ needed to redress coronavirus race disparities
The coronavirus pandemic has turned a light on long accepted inequities like the segregation that has created pockets of poverty and violence on Chicago’s South and West sides, requiring nothing short of a “Marshall Plan” to redress them, according to a leading public health expert.
“Many Americans are shocked by the data emerging from multiple cities showing the disproportionate over-representation of African Americans — and in some cities Latinos as well — in terms of COVID-19 mortality,” lauded social scientist David R. Williams of Harvard University said Wednesday in a teleconference by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the country’s largest public health philanthropy.
“The striking disparities we are seeing are not the fault of individuals, families and communities that are experiencing them. Instead, they reflect longstanding policies that have created pervasive social and economic inequalities in the United States,” Williams said. On Sunday, the U.S. surpassed 750,000 coronavirus cases; topping 40,000 deaths.
“The coronavirus is a call to action. It gives us a chance to make a commitment to do better than we have done in the past. Call it a ‘Marshall Plan’ for disadvantaged communities.”
Racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality were first highlighted by officials in Illinois and Chicago. The alarm then sounded nationwide.
By Sunday, Illinois had just over 30,000 cases, and 1290 deaths. While only 15% of the population, African Americans represent about 40% of those deaths.
Read the full story from columnist Maudlyne Ihejirika.
6:15 p.m. Coronavirus cases rising at Chicago’s federal high-rise jail
For weeks, Chicago’s downtown federal high-rise jail appeared to be keeping the coronavirus at bay.
Only a handful of staff members at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on West Van Buren had tested positive for the coronavirus since the outbreak began, according to official numbers. And no reports emerged of detainees with the virus — until Tuesday.
Now, for the first time, the coronavirus appears to be spreading among the MCC’s more than 600 inmates. Though the number of confirmed cases there remains low, the virus has been known to spread rapidly, and numbers tracked by the Chicago Sun-Times have risen quickly.
The numbers were gathered from court filings by prosecutors and local defense attorneys, as well as from an MCC union official. Those on-the-ground sources have largely been in agreement, and they have reported higher numbers of positive cases than the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
For example, MCC union leader Kevin Lasley said 12 inmates and 14 staff members had tested positive for the virus as of Friday afternoon. Around the same time, the BOP said 10 inmates and 11 staff members had tested positive. It didn’t report Lasley’s numbers until Sunday. By then, prosecutors said the number of staff cases had risen to 15.
Read the full story from reporter Jon Seidel.
3:44 p.m. Pritzker ‘frustrated’ by numbers of COVID-19 cases, deaths in Illinois nursing homes
Facing pressure to disclose the extent to which the coronavirus has spread through Illinois’ nursing homes, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office released new figures Sunday showing that 1,860 residents and staff members at long-term care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, and 286 of them have died.
Deaths tied to nursing homes across 21 counties now account for just under one-fourth of Illinois’ 1,290 fatalities related to COVID-19.
The state’s first attempt at disclosing the toll was flawed, and a landing page launched this weekend to detail the cases and death totals at long-term care facilities was briefly taken down on Sunday. When a revamped page went live hours later, the listed numbers didn’t match the figures that were initially reported.
“There was a definitional error in yesterday’s data which led to some cases being counted twice,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said.
Those living in nursing homes are at a higher risk of infection and can experience more severe symptoms because many have pre-existing medical conditions. Some of the largest clusters of COVID-19 cases across the country have happened at retirement communities and other long-term care facilities, including a nursing home in Joliet where more than 20 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported.
Read the full report from Sun-Times reporter Tom Schuba here.
2:07 p.m. Northern Illinois mayors ask governor to allow reopening
Five northern Illinois mayors have asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for the authority to reopen businesses next month, urging local control over restrictions and “common sense modifications” to a statewide stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pritzker has said he’s continually evaluating an extension of the order, which expires April 30, as other states have done.
The Winnebago County leaders — of communities ranging in population from roughly 1,300 to 23,000 people — said in a Friday letter to Pritzker that thousands of employees, including in the restaurant, fitness and salon industries are being unnecessarily harmed because they’re not considered essential workers, according to the Rockford Register Star. They said the need for financial aid has exceeded resources.
Read the full report here.
1:21 p.m. Evolving aid package offers billions for hospitals, testing
The Trump administration and Congress are nearing an agreement as early as Sunday on an aid package of up to $450 billion to boost a small-business loan program that has run out of money and add funds for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.
With small-business owners reeling during a coronavirus outbreak that has shuttered much economic activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was hopeful of a deal that could pass Congress quickly and get the Small Business Administration program back up by midweek.
“I think we’re very close to a deal today. I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” he said.
Under the proposed deal, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses would get roughly $300 billion, according to Mnuchin. The program has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and reached its appropriations limit last Thursday after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. That left thousands of small businesses in limbo as they sought help. An additional $50 billion in the evolving deal would go for disaster loans.
About $75 billion would go to U.S. hospitals, for those straining under a ballooning coronavirus caseload as well as those struggling to stay financially afloat after suspending elective surgeries during the pandemic. About $25 billion would be added for COVID-19 testing, something states have said was urgently needed. The money for hospitals and testing were priorities sought by congressional Democrats.
But additional aid to state and local governments would be left out, Mnuchin said.
Read the full report here.
12:05 p.m. These Chicagoans know what it’s like to face coronavirus and survive
Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
They were among the unwilling pioneers of a disease that has sickened thousands in Illinois alone.
Stricken in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic’s spread through the United States, they knew they might experience little more than a sore throat and fever — or end up in a hospital on a ventilator or die.
“Oh, brother, you better believe I was scared,” one survivor said. “I didn’t know what was going on. It was like I was in a daze.”
But now, they know what it’s like to have faced COVID-19 and emerged. They are survivors. Sun-Times reporter Stefano Esposito shares some of their stories.
11:45 a.m. Suburban high school student’s death likely due to coronavirus: superintendent
A northwest suburban high school student in District 214 has died, likely of COVID-19, and at least one other student is in the ICU due to the virus, Superintendent David Schuler announced Saturday.
The student died last week “likely due to complications related to COVID-19,” Schuler wrote in an update to families.
“While we may be seeing a plateau in confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in Illinois, this is a dark week in District 214 that leaves me with an incredibly heavy heart,” the statement continues.
“We will continue to move forward to see the sunrise again one day; however, this week in our District is marked by pain and sadness. My family’s thoughts and prayers are with these families and all members of our District’s school community during this global pandemic.”
Read the full report from Sun-Times’ reporter Carly Behm here.
9:26 a.m. Medical students in Illinois graduate early amid coronavirus pandemic
The University of Illinois has allowed medical students to graduate early as the pressing need for healthcare workers has increased amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Graduates could start their residency programs early, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“When we saw the way the pandemic was affecting the nation, we asked how we could provide physicians to the workforce as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, executive dean of the college. “And when you look at the type of students we have and why they went to med school in the first place, it’s to help people.”
Earlier this month, Shivam Vedak marked his early graduation from the College of Medicine on a Zoom call. He and a cohort of the 191 graduates pledged to dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.
“I’ve never felt so validated in my decision to become a physician,” Vedak said.
Read the full story here.
8:15 a.m. Rev. Jesse Jackson pens 2nd letter to Trump urging coronavirus testing for all incarcerated people
The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined other black pastors and leaders as part of a national coalition Saturday to pen an open letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to test all 2.2 million people for COVID-19 that are incarcerated in the country during the pandemic, and asking the president to consider releasing people arrested on nonviolent offenses as they await trial.
“In prison, there are too many people in proximity to each other who do not have the option of social distancing and there are literally millions of persons incarcerated who were arrested, but not convicted, who are languishing in prison awaiting trial,” Jackson wrote in the letter.
The coalition, led by the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes II, senior pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dallas, said the actions were aimed at reducing the country’s prison population to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“They are a captive audience and should not be devoured by the virus should someone in prison have it and spread it,” Jackson says in the letter.
Read the full story from Sun-Times’ reporter Jake Wittich here.
7:22 a.m. ICYMI: Celebrities offer hope, thank coronavirus front-line workers in COVID-19 event
Lady Gaga urged people weathering the coronavirus pandemic to find a way to smile through the pain, while Stevie Wonder encouraged viewers to lean on one another as the superstars kicked off Saturday’s all-star event aimed at fighting the coronavirus and celebrating health care workers on the front lines.
The two-hour TV special “One World: Together At Home,” curated by Gaga, was the second part of an eight-hour event supporting the World Health Organization alongside advocacy organization Global Citizen.
“I care so much about the medical workers that are putting their lives at risk for us,” said Gaga, who performed Nat King Cole’s version of the song “Smile.”
Wonder performed “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers — who died on March 30 — while playing piano. He told viewers: “During hardships like this we have to lean on each other for help.”
Paul McCartney sang the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” and talked about the work his mother did as a nurse, while photos of health care workers were shown on the screen.
Get the full recap of Saturday’s event here.
New Cases
Officials on Saturday announced another 125 deaths due to COVID-19 in Illinois, matching the highest number of deaths attributed to the virus in a single day. The state also recorded another 1,585 cases of the coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 29,160 confirmed cases and 1,259 deaths since the outbreak hit the state.
During the 2020 WNBA draft, Sky center Stefanie Dolson revealed on ESPN that her family tested positive for the coronavirus last month.
A man and three women who live at a Lincoln Park nursing home died this week after contracting the coronavirus, a spokesman for the facility said Friday.
Analysis & Commentary
5 p.m. Lightfoot’s stern coronavirus message to stay home is exactly what city needs
Grumpy. Gruff. Stern. Steely. Unrelenting.
All these adjectives aptly describe Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
She may not be someone you’d invite for a drink, even in these lonely pandemic times.
That’s a very good thing.
Like her predecessor, Lightfoot brings a tough, take-no-prisoners style. Unlike her predecessor, she doesn’t pretend to be soft and fuzzy.
She is pushing her citywide order with a stern, steely, unrelenting message: “Stay home. Save lives.”
This grumpy messenger is just what the doctor ordered, an antidote for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since Lightfoot was elected a year ago, she has repeatedly shown she does not play.
Read the full column from Laura Washington.
10:50 a.m. Senate President Don Harmon’s foolish pitch to Washington can only hurt Illinois
For weeks now, this editorial page has beat the drum for at least one more big federal stimulus package to help all states — red ones and blue ones — recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s a no-brainer. The economy of every state, including Illinois, has been devastated by a virus that has rocked the world. Congress and President Donald Trump must step up with more money.
That said, we’re a newspaper. We’re not the political leaders who have to sit down at the negotiating table and hammer out the details, including whether states hardest hit by COVID-19 should get more financial aid than other states. Our role has been to encourage Democrats and Republicans to work together to do what’s best, understanding that the politics are delicate and difficult.
Apparently, the president of the Illinois Senate, Don Harmon — who has been in that job all of three months — doesn’t quite get that. Last week, he made a politically deaf, even foolish, pitch to Washington that can only hurt our state’s chances of securing additional COVID-19 relief funds.
In a letter to the members of Congress from Illinois, Harmon, D-Oak Park, outlined a request for another $41 billion in COVID-19-related stimulus aid for the state. Harmon and his fellow state Senate Democrats said they want more aid to be sent directly to cities and towns, which makes sense. They want more money for hospitals, which would be good. And they want more money to help the unemployed, which we also agree is necessary.
But here’s the foolish part. Harmon has proposed that about a quarter of the new money for Illinois, $10 billion, be used to bail out our state government’s cash-strapped retirement systems — a problem not even remotely related to COVID-19.
Read the full Sun-Times’ editorial here.
7:08 a.m. Nurses are our lifeline, and they must get the equipment to stay safe from coronavirus
During this very difficult period, it is so very important to properly equip and protect our health care professionals who are in the vanguard of our struggle against the coronavirus.
Nurses are putting their lives on the line to save lives. But alarmingly, they do not all have adequate protective equipment. They are getting exposed, getting sick and being quarantined. Many nurses have died.
More than 200 doctors and nurses across the globe have been lost to this pandemic.
We are losing our health care workers at the worst possible time. We can’t expect our nurses to work without the proper equipment in a job that is already stressful because of understaffing, high rates of workplace injury and other occupational hazards.
The situation in long-term care and correctional facilities is especially grave.
Read Sunday’s Letters to the Editor here.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Diversity will take a big hit in MLB Draft

The Major League Baseball Draft is coming , but no one knows the date or whether there even will be a central site .
The draft no longer will be 40 rounds , and it might be slashed to as few as five — an 87.5 % reduction in players .
Scouts are permitted to talk with prospective draft picks by phone , text or Zoom , but they can ’ t even bump into them at the local burger carry-out .
They can study video , even going back to their Little League days , but anything filmed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new rules during the unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic , preparing for a draft like no other .
It ’ s widely considered to be a deep and strong amateur draft , one that has had teams salivating for years .
But with draft limits in place and signing-bonus restrictions embedded , there is a growing fear MLB is endangering its future .
‘ ‘ I ’ ll tell you what ’ s going to happen : You ’ re going to crush the dreams of kids playing baseball , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American woman who has represented baseball players since 2004 .
‘ ‘ The opportunity is lost now .
You had kids excited about what was supposed to be a pivotal moment in their life — getting drafted — and now that ’ s gone .
‘ ‘ And you know who that hurts the most ?
All of the kids who play in underserved communities , especially black and Latino players.
’ ’ MLB negotiated in its agreement with the players ’ union the option of limiting the draft to five rounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there might be a dearth of minority players entering the draft .
A year ago , there were only 17 African American and seven Latino high school players drafted in the first five rounds and only 12 from Division I colleges .
If the draft is limited to five rounds and undrafted players can sign for no more than $ 20,000 , where do those kids go ?
There were 72 African American and Latino kids from Division I schools drafted after the fifth round a year ago .
Such players suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college is an option , but what if you can ’ t afford it ?
What are your chances of landing one of the 11.7 baseball scholarships per school stipulated by the NCAA ?
( Football Bowl Subdivision schools are permitted 95 scholarships . )
‘ ‘ My biggest fear with the draft is that you now go back to the trend , ’ ’ Murray said .
‘ ‘ You ’ re going back to families that had the money to send their kids to college or the kids with two-parent households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their son to all of the showcase events .
‘ ‘ A large number of kids in underserved , unrepresented communities aren ’ t going to be afforded the same opportunity .
Where is that door for them to walk through ?
Where is the pathway to play ?
They ’ re going to be left behind , and that ’ s just wrong.
’ ’ With the decline of African American players to only 7.7 % on Opening Day rosters and injured lists in 2019 , MLB consciously has tried to reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in urban academies , RBI programs , showcase events and diversity and fellowship programs .
But with the draft wiping out about 1,000 players who normally would be selected , MLB is jeopardizing all of the inroads it has made in the inner-city communities .
The MLB landscape is filled with veteran African American and Latino players — including Albert Pujols ( 13th round , 1999 ) and Lorenzo Cain ( 17th round , 2004 ) — who were late-round draft picks .
Under the new system , however , they might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draft is limited to five rounds , what is going to happen to all of those players ?
‘ ‘ We are hopeful that those kids will still sign , even if they ’ re not drafted , ’ ’ said Tony Clark , the executive director of the MLB Players Association .
‘ ‘ But there are concerns that young minority kids aren ’ t going to be provided the same opportunity as others , especially in a climate [ in which ] we ’ ve seen so many changes.
’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope the draft , which must be conducted between June 10 and July 20 , is at least 10 rounds .
The extra five rounds would cost teams only about $ 1 million , and it would add 150 more players into the draft .
‘ ‘ If your intended goal is to increase diversity , then why are we taking away their opportunity ?
’ ’ Murray said .
‘ ‘ What are we doing here ?
We ’ re depleting the talent pool .
’ ’

The Major League Baseball Draft is coming, but no one knows the date or whether there even will be a central site.
The draft no longer will be 40 rounds, and it might be slashed to as few as five — an 87.5% reduction in players.
Scouts are permitted to talk with prospective draft picks by phone, text or Zoom, but they can’t even bump into them at the local burger carry-out.
They can study video, even going back to their Little League days, but anything filmed after March 27 is prohibited.
These are the new rules during the unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic, preparing for a draft like no other.
It’s widely considered to be a deep and strong amateur draft, one that has had teams salivating for years. But with draft limits in place and signing-bonus restrictions embedded, there is a growing fear MLB is endangering its future.
‘‘I’ll tell you what’s going to happen: You’re going to crush the dreams of kids playing baseball,’’ said agent Lonnie Murray, an African American woman who has represented baseball players since 2004. ‘‘The opportunity is lost now. You had kids excited about what was supposed to be a pivotal moment in their life — getting drafted — and now that’s gone.
‘‘And you know who that hurts the most? All of the kids who play in underserved communities, especially black and Latino players.’’
MLB negotiated in its agreement with the players’ union the option of limiting the draft to five rounds. If that’s the case, there might be a dearth of minority players entering the draft.
A year ago, there were only 17 African American and seven Latino high school players drafted in the first five rounds and only 12 from Division I colleges. If the draft is limited to five rounds and undrafted players can sign for no more than $20,000, where do those kids go? There were 72 African American and Latino kids from Division I schools drafted after the fifth round a year ago. Such players suddenly could disappear this year.
Sure, college is an option, but what if you can’t afford it? What are your chances of landing one of the 11.7 baseball scholarships per school stipulated by the NCAA? (Football Bowl Subdivision schools are permitted 95 scholarships.)
‘‘My biggest fear with the draft is that you now go back to the trend,’’ Murray said. ‘‘You’re going back to families that had the money to send their kids to college or the kids with two-parent households that are able to afford to send their son to all of the showcase events.
‘‘A large number of kids in underserved, unrepresented communities aren’t going to be afforded the same opportunity. Where is that door for them to walk through? Where is the pathway to play? They’re going to be left behind, and that’s just wrong.’’
With the decline of African American players to only 7.7% on Opening Day rosters and injured lists in 2019, MLB consciously has tried to reverse the trend. It has spent millions in urban academies, RBI programs, showcase events and diversity and fellowship programs.
But with the draft wiping out about 1,000 players who normally would be selected, MLB is jeopardizing all of the inroads it has made in the inner-city communities.
The MLB landscape is filled with veteran African American and Latino players — including Albert Pujols (13th round, 1999) and Lorenzo Cain (17th round, 2004) — who were late-round draft picks. Under the new system, however, they might not have gotten a chance.
If the draft is limited to five rounds, what is going to happen to all of those players?
‘‘We are hopeful that those kids will still sign, even if they’re not drafted,’’ said Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLB Players Association. ‘‘But there are concerns that young minority kids aren’t going to be provided the same opportunity as others, especially in a climate [in which] we’ve seen so many changes.’’
Major-league scouting departments still are holding out hope the draft, which must be conducted between June 10 and July 20, is at least 10 rounds. The extra five rounds would cost teams only about $1 million, and it would add 150 more players into the draft.
‘‘If your intended goal is to increase diversity, then why are we taking away their opportunity?’’ Murray said. ‘‘What are we doing here? We’re depleting the talent pool.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--How COVID-19 is transforming our lives: What will change when the lockdown ends

Until we have a COVID-19 vaccine and massive infection and antibody testing , I ’ m not sitting knee to knee in a movie theater , ballpark , concert or house of worship .
Or eating in a crowded restaurant .
Or shaking hands .
Or using your pen .
Or dealing with paper money and coins .
Maybe one day I ’ ll be telling stories about living through this COVID-19 health and economic disaster .
I ’ ll be like my mother , of blessed memory , recalling how she grew up during the Great Depression .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corner of 16th Street and Wabash Avenue to help the family survive .
My grandfather , a Russian/Polish immigrant running a newsstand , did not read English .
My mom told him the headlines .
Just as the Depression shaped the generation living through it , our reality is things will never go back to how they were .
COVID-19 is changing how we live , learn , work and communicate .
On Sunday , more than a dozen Sweet family cousins scattered in 10 states got together on Zoom , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time .
It was wonderful to be with everyone .
This never would have happened pre-COVID-19 .
The coronavirus outbreak transformations are already happening with changes to come as plans loom to ease government-imposed lockdowns : Evolving : Mandated wearing of masks and gloves at events , stores and workplaces , with enforcement of new rules still to be determined .
A new mask industry is taking root .
People are scared and want to feel safe .
Retail and restaurant customers will want to be served by masked and gloved staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks threw a spotlight on first responders — the police , firefighters and paramedics .
Frontline COVID-19 workers are getting deserved newfound respect because they are risking their lives to help us .
The COVID-19 first responders are our superstar health care providers , grocery store , mass transit and hotel workers .
Add to this list everyone I did not mention who has to come in contact with people and are part of the essential workforce .
Prediction : Front-line workers will have potential more bargaining power when it comes to raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FaceTime , et al factors : The quarantines have vaulted Zoom and other teleconferencing platforms from a business niche to everyday personal and professional life .
Zoom and similar services have unleashed demands to be connected with people no matter where they are , and that will outlive the pandemic .
Business travel will decline because Zoom can provide good enough face-to-face conversations and people will not want to go to in-person meetings .
Seniors introduced to Zoom family dinners and play dates with grandchildren will be hooked .
Marketing appeals and simpler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Remote working : The lockdowns have demonstrated that , for many , remote working is a viable way of running a business .
This means an employer may need less physical space for the office — which will reconfigure the commercial real estate markets .
Social distancing : It may not stay at six-feet , but it will be something .
There are developing new cultural and societal norms about physical closeness .
One day we may be wearing buttons flashing our temperatures , needed to get into stores or meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trend to cram a lot of people into a small space — whether in the workplace , restaurants or sports stadiums .
There ’ s going to be a big need to build in more protection .
Seriously , are people going to want to sit around crowded tables when they get back to the office ?
Sports arenas will remove seats so fans are spaced out .
Restaurants will add more distance between tables to lure worried customers — cutting into revenues .
Hand-washing stations in the dining section will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitary for wait staff and customers to frequently washup and not have to run to the bathroom .
Installing plastic shields at grocery counters is already happening .
Some kind of barriers between work stations and restaurant tables will be needed .
People may not want to reuse menus .
Schools will also face design challenges , from revamping classroom layouts to figuring out gym class .
Curbside pick-up : Now that they are getting the hang of it , people may demand a continuation of ordering online and picking up supplies even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are consulting with doctors over FaceTime or other video calling alternatives .
This will stick for minor issues .
Access to health care : Massive joblessness means people lost health insurance .
Democrats will use health care access as a mega issue heading into November .
Ending dependence on foreign medical suppliers : The scramble for masks , ventilators and personal protection equipment — known as PPE — revealed the crippling dependence the U.S. has on China and other foreign suppliers .
There will be a push for made-in-the-USA products , sparking new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government subsidies are necessary and equipment is more costly .
Can ’ t wait for us to get to the other side .
Even if I won ’ t be getting in an elevator with you .

Until we have a COVID-19 vaccine and massive infection and antibody testing, I’m not sitting knee to knee in a movie theater, ballpark, concert or house of worship.
Or eating in a crowded restaurant. Or shaking hands. Or using your pen. Or dealing with paper money and coins.
Maybe one day I’ll be telling stories about living through this COVID-19 health and economic disaster. I’ll be like my mother, of blessed memory, recalling how she grew up during the Great Depression.
As a kid she was selling newspapers at the corner of 16th Street and Wabash Avenue to help the family survive. My grandfather, a Russian/Polish immigrant running a newsstand, did not read English. My mom told him the headlines.
Just as the Depression shaped the generation living through it, our reality is things will never go back to how they were. COVID-19 is changing how we live, learn, work and communicate.
On Sunday, more than a dozen Sweet family cousins scattered in 10 states got together on Zoom, with two cousins meeting each other for the first time. It was wonderful to be with everyone. This never would have happened pre-COVID-19.
The coronavirus outbreak transformations are already happening with changes to come as plans loom to ease government-imposed lockdowns:
Kaput: Handshaking.
Sky’s the limit: Handwashing.
Evolving: Mandated wearing of masks and gloves at events, stores and workplaces, with enforcement of new rules still to be determined. A new mask industry is taking root. People are scared and want to feel safe. Retail and restaurant customers will want to be served by masked and gloved staff.
Beloved new heroes:The 9/11 attacks threw a spotlight on first responders — the police, firefighters and paramedics. Frontline COVID-19 workers are getting deserved newfound respect because they are risking their lives to help us. The COVID-19 first responders are our superstar health care providers, grocery store, mass transit and hotel workers. Add to this list everyone I did not mention who has to come in contact with people and are part of the essential workforce.
Prediction: Front-line workers will have potentially more bargaining power when it comes to raising the minimum wage.
The Zoom, FaceTime, et al factors: The quarantines have vaulted Zoom and other teleconferencing platforms from a business niche to everyday personal and professional life. Zoom and similar services have unleashed demands to be connected with people no matter where they are, and that will outlive the pandemic. Business travel will decline because Zoom can provide good enough face-to-face conversations and people will not want to go to in-person meetings.
Seniors introduced to Zoom family dinners and play dates with grandchildren will be hooked. Marketing appeals and simpler and cheaper devices will be developed for them.
Remote working: The lockdowns have demonstrated that, for many, remote working is a viable way of running a business. This means an employer may need less physical space for the office — which will reconfigure the commercial real estate markets.
Social distancing: It may not stay at six-feet, but it will be something. There are developing new cultural and societal norms about physical closeness. One day we may be wearing buttons flashing our temperatures, needed to get into stores or meetings.
Redesigns: There’s been a trend to cram a lot of people into a small space — whether in the workplace, restaurants or sports stadiums. There’s going to be a big need to build in more protection. Seriously, are people going to want to sit around crowded tables when they get back to the office? Sports arenas will remove seats so fans are spaced out.
Restaurants will add more distance between tables to lure worried customers — cutting into revenues. Hand-washing stations in the dining section will be installed to make it easier and more sanitary for wait staff and customers to frequently washup and not have to run to the bathroom.
Installing plastic shields at grocery counters is already happening. Some kind of barriers between work stations and restaurant tables will be needed. People may not want to reuse menus.
Schools will also face design challenges, from revamping classroom layouts to figuring out gym class.
Curbside pick-up: Now that they are getting the hang of it, people may demand a continuation of ordering online and picking up supplies even when restrictions ease.
Telehealth: People are consulting with doctors over FaceTime or other video calling alternatives. This will stick for minor issues.
Access to health care: Massive joblessness means people lost health insurance. Democrats will use health care access as a mega issue heading into November.
Ending dependence on foreign medical suppliers: The scramble for masks, ventilators and personal protection equipment — known as PPE — revealed the crippling dependence the U.S. has on China and other foreign suppliers. There will be a push for made-in-the-USA products, sparking new manufacturing in the U.S., even if government subsidies are necessary and equipment is more costly.
Can’t wait for us to get to the other side. Even if I won’t be getting in an elevator with you.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Man posing as cop kills 13 in shooting spree in Canada

TORONTO — A man wearing a police uniform went on a shooting rampage as he drove around the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Sunday , killing 13 people , including a police officer .
Officials said the suspected shooter was also dead .
Several of the dead were found inside and outside one home in the small , rural town of Portapique , about 60 miles ( 100 kilometers ) north of Halifax late Saturday .
Police began advising residents of the town — already on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic — to lock their doors and stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area were set on fire as well .
Police identified the man believed to be the shooter as Gabriel Wortman , 51 , who was thought to live part-time in Portapique .
Authorities said he disguised himself as a police officer in uniform at one point and made his car look like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police cruiser .
Wortman was arrested by the RCMP at a gas station in Enfield , just outside Halifax .
Police later announced that he had died .
“ This is one of the most senseless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s history , ” said Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil .
He said it was an additional “ heavy burden ” amid efforts to contain the new coronavirus .
RCMP spokesman Daniel Brien confirmed that 13 people had been killed as had the shooter .
He said he could not rule out that the death toll could still rise .
Already , that makes it one of the worst shootings in Canadian history .
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada .
The country overhauled its gun-control laws after the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal ’ s Ecole Polytechnique college .
It is now illegal to possess an unregistered handgun or any kind of rapid-fire weapon .
Canada also requires training , a personal risk assessment , two references , spousal notification and criminal record checks to purchase a weapon .
“ We believe it to be one person who is responsible for all the killings and that he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what appears to be several homicides , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police have not provided a motive for the attack , but Leather said many of the victims did not know the shooter .
“ That fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act , ” Leather said .
Leather said they would investigate whether the attack had anything to do with the coronavirus pandemic but no link has been found thus far .
The dead officer was identified as Constable Heidi Stevenson , a mother of two and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another officer was also injured .
Leather said at point there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police .
There were half a dozen police vehicles at the scene of a gas station where the suspect was shot .
Yellow police tape surrounded the gas pumps , and a large silver-colored SUV was being investigated .
Police said earlier Sunday the suspect was driving a car that looked like a police vehicle and was wearing a police uniform , but later said he was “ believed to be driving a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he is not an RCMP employee or officer .
Cpl .
Lisa Croteau , a spokeswoman with the provincial force , said police received a call about “ a person with firearms ” at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday and the investigation “ evolved into an active shooting investigation.
” “ My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation , ” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said .
Christine Mills , a resident of the area , said it had been a frightening night for the small town , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the morning , helicopters flew overhead searching for the suspect .
“ It ’ s nerve-wracking because you don ’ t know if somebody has lost their mind and is going to beat in your front door , ” she said .
Tom Taggart , a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester , said the quiet community has been shaken .
“ This is just an absolutely wonderful , peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable , ” Taggart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Bass River .
A Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist — a person who makes dentures — in the city of Dartmouth , near Halifax , according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia website .
A suspect photo issued by the RCMP appears to be of the same person seen in video footage being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014 .
Mills also said that Wortman was known locally as someone who divided his time between a residence in Halifax and a residence in Portapique .
Taggart said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but spoke to him a few times when he telephoned about municipal issues .

TORONTO — A man wearing a police uniform went on a shooting rampage as he drove around the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Sunday, killing 13 people, including a police officer. Officials said the suspected shooter was also dead.
Several of the dead were found inside and outside one home in the small, rural town of Portapique, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Halifax late Saturday. Police began advising residents of the town — already on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic — to lock their doors and stay in their basements. Several homes in the area were set on fire as well.
Police identified the man believed to be the shooter as Gabriel Wortman, 51, who was thought to live part-time in Portapique. Authorities said he disguised himself as a police officer in uniform at one point and made his car look like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police cruiser.
Wortman was arrested by the RCMP at a gas station in Enfield, just outside Halifax. Police later announced that he had died.
“This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history,” said Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil. He said it was an additional “heavy burden” amid efforts to contain the new coronavirus.
RCMP spokesman Daniel Brien confirmed that 13 people had been killed as had the shooter. He said he could not rule out that the death toll could still rise. Already, that makes it one of the worst shootings in Canadian history.
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada. The country overhauled its gun-control laws after the country’s worst mass shooting in 1989, when gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique college. It is now illegal to possess an unregistered handgun or any kind of rapid-fire weapon. Canada also requires training, a personal risk assessment, two references, spousal notification and criminal record checks to purchase a weapon.
“We believe it to be one person who is responsible for all the killings and that he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what appears to be several homicides,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said.
Police have not provided a motive for the attack, but Leather said many of the victims did not know the shooter.
“That fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act,” Leather said.
Leather said they would investigate whether the attack had anything to do with the coronavirus pandemic but no link has been found thus far.
The dead officer was identified as Constable Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and a 23-year veteran of the force. Another officer was also injured.
Leather said at point there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police. There were half a dozen police vehicles at the scene of a gas station where the suspect was shot. Yellow police tape surrounded the gas pumps, and a large silver-colored SUV was being investigated.
Police said earlier Sunday the suspect was driving a car that looked like a police vehicle and was wearing a police uniform, but later said he was “believed to be driving a small, silver Chevrolet SUV.” They said he is not an RCMP employee or officer.
Cpl. Lisa Croteau, a spokeswoman with the provincial force, said police received a call about “a person with firearms” at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday and the investigation “evolved into an active shooting investigation.”
“My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Christine Mills, a resident of the area, said it had been a frightening night for the small town, with armed officers patrolling the streets. In the morning, helicopters flew overhead searching for the suspect. “It’s nerve-wracking because you don’t know if somebody has lost their mind and is going to beat in your front door,” she said.
Tom Taggart, a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken.
“This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable,” Taggart said by phone from his home in nearby Bass River.
A Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist — a person who makes dentures — in the city of Dartmouth, near Halifax, according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia website. A suspect photo issued by the RCMP appears to be of the same person seen in video footage being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014.
Mills also said that Wortman was known locally as someone who divided his time between a residence in Halifax and a residence in Portapique.
Taggart said he didn’t know Wortman well, but spoke to him a few times when he telephoned about municipal issues.
Taggart described knowing Wortman’s “lovely big home” on Portapique Beach Road.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Public health expert: ‘Marshall Plan’ needed to redress coronavirus race disparities

The coronavirus pandemic has turned a light on long accepted inequities like the segregation that has created pockets of poverty and violence on Chicago ’ s South and West sides , requiring nothing short of a “ Marshall Plan ” to redress them , according to a leading public health expert .
“ Many Americans are shocked by the data emerging from multiple cities showing the disproportionate over-representation of African Americans — and in some cities Latinos as well — in terms of COVID-19 mortality , ” lauded social scientist David R. Williams of Harvard University said Wednesday in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country ’ s largest public health philanthropy .
“ The striking disparities we are seeing are not the fault of individuals , families and communities that are experiencing them .
Instead , they reflect longstanding policies that have created pervasive social and economic inequalities in the United States , ” Williams said .
On Sunday , the U.S. surpassed 750,000 coronavirus cases ; topping 40,000 deaths .
“ The coronavirus is a call to action .
It gives us a chance to make a commitment to do better than we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ‘ Marshall Plan ’ for disadvantaged communities.
” Racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality were first highlighted by officials in Illinois and Chicago .
The alarm then sounded nationwide .
By Sunday , Illinois had just over 30,000 cases , and 1290 deaths .
While only 15 % of the population , African Americans represent about 40 % of those deaths .
“ Most Americans are unaware these disparities exist , and coronavirus is highlighting them , ” said Williams , one of the world ’ s most cited public health experts who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation ’ s Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health .
“ Minority workers are over-represented among essential workers in transit , in service , in grocery stores , in maintenance and so forth .
Lower levels of socioeconomic status mean blacks and other minorities are more likely to continue to work outside the home when shelter-in-place directives are given .
And in poor neighborhoods , social distancing is not a viable option when residing in high-density , often multi-generational housing units.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 13 % of the U.S. population — represented 33 % of COVID-19 hospitalizations .
In several states , they are dying from the virus at a rate more than twice their population .
“ Racial inequities actually exist not only for COVID-19 but for almost every disease .
And we know access to testing and treatment is a problem , ” Williams said , citing a 2003 report by the National Academy of Medicine , which found people of color receive lower-quality health care than whites , even when insurance , income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparable .
But Williams singled out Chicago ’ s entrenched segregation — “ a powerful driver of inequality in American society ” — as wielding a major impact on health outcomes .
“ These inequities that have long-term effects on lifelong health are created early in life , at the neighborhood level , ” Williams said , citing a January report by Brandeis University , the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 , ranking nearly every U.S. neighborhood by 29 indicators .
The report found race a predictor of whether a child lives near good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playgrounds , and living-wage jobs .
Low opportunity neighborhoods were linked to lower life expectancy and lower economic mobility .
In the Chicago metropolitan area , 81 % of African American children and 61 % of Latino children were living in low , or very low , opportunity neighborhoods — vs. 12 % of white children .
Conversely , 64 % of white children live in high , or very high , opportunity areas — vs. 9 % of African American and 18 % of Latino children .
Numerous other studies have documented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvard economists David Cutler and Edward Glaeser ’ s 1997 ” Are Ghettos Good or Bad ?
” “ They showed in a national sample of blacks and whites , that if we could erase residential segregation overnight , we would completely eliminate black-white differences in income , education and unemployment , and reduce black-white differences in single motherhood by two-thirds , ” Williams noted .
So addressing racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths ultimately means eradicating the segregation , disinvestment and economic stagnation that have left communities of color vulnerable to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the majority of persons on Social Security will be white .
For every person on Social Security , there will be only two people paying into the Social Security system — one of those two will be black or Latino .
Those kids are in kindergarten today , ” he said .
“ This is in all of our best interests .
It ’ s really about creating opportunities for all Americans .
There is high quality scientific evidence of the kinds of strategies we could implement that would reduce and eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create the political will to do it .
”

The coronavirus pandemic has turned a light on long accepted inequities like the segregation that has created pockets of poverty and violence on Chicago’s South and West sides, requiring nothing short of a “Marshall Plan” to redress them, according to a leading public health expert.
“Many Americans are shocked by the data emerging from multiple cities showing the disproportionate over-representation of African Americans — and in some cities Latinos as well — in terms of COVID-19 mortality,” lauded social scientist David R. Williams of Harvard University said Wednesday in a teleconference by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the country’s largest public health philanthropy.
“The striking disparities we are seeing are not the fault of individuals, families and communities that are experiencing them. Instead, they reflect longstanding policies that have created pervasive social and economic inequalities in the United States,” Williams said. On Sunday, the U.S. surpassed 750,000 coronavirus cases, topping 40,000 deaths.
“The coronavirus is a call to action. It gives us a chance to make a commitment to do better than we have done in the past. Call it a ‘Marshall Plan’ for disadvantaged communities.”
Racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality were first highlighted by officials in Illinois and Chicago. The alarm then sounded nationwide.
By Sunday, Illinois had just over 30,000 cases, and 1290 deaths. While only 15% of the population, African Americans represent about 40% of those deaths.
David R. Williams, professor of public health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences Provided
“Most Americans are unaware these disparities exist, and coronavirus is highlighting them,” said Williams, one of the world’s most cited public health experts who has served as a member of the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health.
“Minority workers are over-represented among essential workers in transit, in service, in grocery stores, in maintenance and so forth. Lower levels of socioeconomic status mean blacks and other minorities are more likely to continue to work outside the home when shelter-in-place directives are given. And in poor neighborhoods, social distancing is not a viable option when residing in high-density, often multi-generational housing units.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s early demographic snapshot found African Americans — 13% of the U.S. population — represented 33% of COVID-19 hospitalizations. In several states, they are dying from the virus at a rate more than twice their population.
“Racial inequities actually exist not only for COVID-19 but for almost every disease. And we know access to testing and treatment is a problem,” Williams said, citing a 2003 report by the National Academy of Medicine, which found people of color receive lower-quality health care than whites, even when insurance, income, age and severity of conditions are comparable.
But Williams singled out Chicago’s entrenched segregation — “a powerful driver of inequality in American society” — as wielding a major impact on health outcomes.
“These inequities that have long-term effects on lifelong health are created early in life, at the neighborhood level,” Williams said, citing a January report by Brandeis University, the Child Opportunity Index 2.0, ranking nearly every U.S. neighborhood by 29 indicators.
The report found race a predictor of whether a child lives near good schools, healthy foods, parks and playgrounds, and living-wage jobs. Low opportunity neighborhoods were linked to lower life expectancy and lower economic mobility.
In the Chicago metropolitan area, 81% of African American children and 61% of Latino children were living in low, or very low, opportunity neighborhoods — vs. 12% of white children. Conversely, 64% of white children live in high, or very high, opportunity areas — vs. 9% of African American and 18% of Latino children.
Numerous other studies have documented segregation’s detrimental impact, including Harvard economists David Cutler and Edward Glaeser’s 1997 ”Are Ghettos Good or Bad?”
“They showed in a national sample of blacks and whites, that if we could erase residential segregation overnight, we would completely eliminate black-white differences in income, education and unemployment, and reduce black-white differences in single motherhood by two-thirds,” Williams noted.
So addressing racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths ultimately means eradicating the segregation, disinvestment and economic stagnation that have left communities of color vulnerable to the pandemic, he said.
“In 2060, the majority of persons on Social Security will be white. For every person on Social Security, there will be only two people paying into the Social Security system — one of those two will be black or Latino. Those kids are in kindergarten today,” he said.
“This is in all of our best interests. It’s really about creating opportunities for all Americans. There is high quality scientific evidence of the kinds of strategies we could implement that would reduce and eliminate these disparities. We just need to create the political will to do it.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Teen boy among 2 wounded in Garfield Park shooting

A man and teenage boy were shot Sunday near the Golden Dome field house in Garfield Park on the West @ @ @ @ @ shot about 4:55 p.m. in the 100 block of North Central Park Avenue , Chicago @ @ @ @ @ , 17 , was struck in the abdomen and taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the ankle and taken to Norwegian American Hospital , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ .
About an hour earlier , another 17-year-old boy was shot in nearby West Garfield @ @

A man and teenage boy were shot Sunday near the Golden Dome field house in Garfield Park on the West Side.
The pair were shot about 4:55 p.m. in the 100 block of North Central Park Avenue, Chicago police said.
The boy, 17, was struck in the abdomen and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, while the 22-year-old man was shot in the ankle and taken to Norwegian American Hospital, police said. Both were in good condition.
About an hour earlier, another 17-year-old boy was shot in nearby West Garfield Park.
Area North detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Teen boy shot in West Garfield Park

Teen boy shot in West Garfield Park

The 17-year-old was in a vehicle about 3:55 p.m. when another vehicle pulled up on Van Buren Street and someone @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The boy was struck in the face and taken to Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ , police said .

A teenage boy was shot Sunday in West Garfield Park.
The 17-year-old was in a vehicle about 3:55 p.m. when another vehicle pulled up on Van Buren Street and someone inside fired shots, Chicago police said.
The boy was struck in the face and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said.
Area North detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-19--Man, 42, killed in Chicago Heights shooting

A 42-year-old man died days after he was shot last week in south suburban Chicago Heights .
Jermaine Fleming was @ @ @ @ @ 14 in the 200 block of East 14th Street , according to the Cook County @ @ @ @ @ .
He was pronounced dead just before noon two days later at the University of @ @ @ @ @ , who lived in South Chicago Heights , died of a gunshot wound to the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said .
His death was ruled a homicide .

A 42-year-old man died days after he was shot last week in south suburban Chicago Heights.
Jermaine Fleming was shot about 1:53 p.m. April 14 in the 200 block of East 14th Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead just before noon two days later at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Fleming, who lived in South Chicago Heights, died of a gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.
Chicago Heights police didn’t immediately respond to a request for details.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-20--Dear Abby: Man with dementia says inappropriate things while out and about

DEAR ABBY : During the past year , my wonderful father-in-law was widowed and became unable to live alone .
He lives with us now and is part of our daily life .
However , he has dementia .
He is still quite social and verbal .
If you met him , you might not realize that his short-term memory rarely functions or that the filters this well-educated and proper man once had no longer work 24/7 .
Recently , he has started ogling women and making comments about their physical attributes when we go grocery shopping or take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confuse the women ’ s roles in our household ( me , my daughter , daughter-in-law and niece ) , which has become even more awkward .
My daughter confided that he made a sexual comment about me .
( I ’ m a middle-aged , no-nonsense kind of woman . )
How does one approach such a situation ?
We don ’ t want someone slapping him — or worse .
I can say , “ That ’ s not appropriate , ” then deflect or laugh it off at home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said 20 minutes later , but how do we make the best of these circumstances without diminishing his outside social experiences ?
Moving him to a senior living community is not an option at this point for financial reasons .
— CAREGIVER WITH A PROBLEM DEAR CAREGIVER : It ’ s time for you to contact the Alzheimer ’ s Association .
It offers guidance for caregivers like you .
Changes in behavior caused by Alzheimer ’ s and other dementias are challenging .
It ’ s important to remember that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain and not something the person is doing purposely .
If inappropriate behavior occurs in public , be consistent and kind , but firmly remind the person that the behavior is not OK .
It may help to distract the person from the immediate situation by directing their attention elsewhere or giving them something else to do .
Caregivers can create “ business cards ” stating briefly , “ My companion has dementia .
Please be understanding.
” Caregivers would give these to hosts and hostesses when entering restaurants , or discreetly hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deteriorate because the companion exhibits unusual behavior or lack of a verbal filter .
Be transparent with family and friends about the person with the disease .
When they understand what ’ s causing these behaviors and that the individual needs their help and compassion , they tend to be less reactive or judgmental .
The Alzheimer ’ s Association may be reached online ( alz.org ) or via the toll-free helpline ( 800-272-3900 ) .
Please don ’ t wait .
DEAR ABBY : I ’ m a teen living with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are religious and don ’ t approve of my sexuality ( I am bisexual ) , and my peers harshly stereotype my beliefs .
I feel rejected by both worlds , and I ’ m trying to make it until I ’ m 18 so I can leave the situation .
Lately , things have taken a turn for the worse .
Both sides won ’ t accept me until I am completely Christian or completely not Christian .
Is there any advice you can give me ?
— TEEN IN TURMOIL DEAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You are a teenager .
There are better days ahead for you .
Your current circumstances may be unpleasant , but they won ’ t last forever .
If living your truth will result in your being shunned , do whatever you must to survive for now .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For everything you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order “ How to Have a Lovely Wedding.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Wedding Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: During the past year, my wonderful father-in-law was widowed and became unable to live alone. He lives with us now and is part of our daily life. However, he has dementia. He is still quite social and verbal. If you met him, you might not realize that his short-term memory rarely functions or that the filters this well-educated and proper man once had no longer work 24/7.
Recently, he has started ogling women and making comments about their physical attributes when we go grocery shopping or take a walk. He is also starting to confuse the women’s roles in our household (me, my daughter, daughter-in-law and niece), which has become even more awkward. My daughter confided that he made a sexual comment about me. (I’m a middle-aged, no-nonsense kind of woman.)
How does one approach such a situation? We don’t want someone slapping him — or worse. I can say, “That’s not appropriate,” then deflect or laugh it off at home, knowing he won’t remember what he said 20 minutes later, but how do we make the best of these circumstances without diminishing his outside social experiences? Moving him to a senior living community is not an option at this point for financial reasons. — CAREGIVER WITH A PROBLEM
DEAR CAREGIVER: It’s time for you to contact the Alzheimer’s Association. It offers guidance for caregivers like you. Changes in behavior caused by Alzheimer’s and other dementias are challenging. It’s important to remember that these behaviors are the result of a damaged brain and not something the person is doing purposely.
If inappropriate behavior occurs in public, be consistent and kind, but firmly remind the person that the behavior is not OK. It may help to distract the person from the immediate situation by directing their attention elsewhere or giving them something else to do.
Caregivers can create “business cards” stating briefly, “My companion has dementia. Please be understanding.” Caregivers would give these to hosts and hostesses when entering restaurants, or discreetly hand them to salespeople if situations start to deteriorate because the companion exhibits unusual behavior or lack of a verbal filter.
Be transparent with family and friends about the person with the disease. When they understand what’s causing these behaviors and that the individual needs their help and compassion, they tend to be less reactive or judgmental. The Alzheimer’s Association may be reached online (alz.org) or via the toll-free helpline (800-272-3900). Please don’t wait.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a teen living with a foot in each world. My parents are religious and don’t approve of my sexuality (I am bisexual), and my peers harshly stereotype my beliefs. I feel rejected by both worlds, and I’m trying to make it until I’m 18 so I can leave the situation.
Lately, things have taken a turn for the worse. Both sides won’t accept me until I am completely Christian or completely not Christian. Is there any advice you can give me? — TEEN IN TURMOIL
DEAR TEEN IN TURMOIL: Just this. You are a teenager. There are better days ahead for you. Your current circumstances may be unpleasant, but they won’t last forever. If living your truth will result in your being shunned, do whatever you must to survive for now.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-04-20--Second- and third-wave layoffs coming from COVID-19

There ’ s an odd thing about the way our virus behaves .
It works on the economy the same way it works on people .
It starts out in isolated settings , but with such power and an ability to migrate that it quickly spreads its devastation .
It ’ s tough to eradicate , and fighting it calls for us to fight our own natures .
Social distancing is hard to us , and so is accepting curbs on our livelihoods and freedom .
Just as the health experts talk about the chances of second- and third-wave infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there a prospect of second and third waves of damage from its related job losses .
On the economic front , I ’ m thinking of forthcoming layoffs among white collar and then government workers .
Taken together , they could set back a fiscal recovery for some time .
Carl Tannenbaum , chief economist at Northern Trust , noticed the similarities on the health and economic effects , writing recently , “ At the outset of the outbreak , some of us thought the impact would be confined to China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended up being a colossal miscalculation .
The medical and economic consequences of the pandemic have consistently exceeded our expectations .
The recession we recently entered could be deeper and more lasting that anyone suspected.
” The jobs impact first hit in the hotels , airlines , bars and restaurants .
It spread to department stores , boutiques , fitness clubs , movie theaters .
Then on to some manufacturers , or at least those whose products were not deemed essential for the crisis .
The logistics business is starting to feel it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then come all the service industries and consultants that draw income from what ’ s shuttered .
The publication Law360 has chronicled law firms such as Chicago-based Schiff Hardin that are reducing salaries and making other cuts .
Technology companies that for a long time seemed to levitate on their own economic rules are crashing to earth .
Software provider Toast , which serves the restaurant business , is cutting 1,300 people , or half of its work force .
Chicago-based Groupon , deprived of its base of small merchants , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Economist Amy Crews Cutts , who runs her own firm , staked out the edge of extreme pessimism by telling The Wall Street Journal she expects it ’ ll take labor markets five and a half years before they shed the pandemic ’ s effects .
In fairness , other economists believe the private sector was in such a happy mood that it ’ ll snap right back to hiring once the virus is under control .
Balance the negative with the determined sunny siders and you get , what — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2022 ?
Meanwhile , the implications for state and local government compound .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker touched on the subject last week when he said he ’ s ordered state agencies to stop discretionary spending and hiring .
It ’ s the easy first step , with the tough calls coming later .
Remember a few years ago , when schools and social service agencies asked an unsympathetic Republican governor for more scraps ?
It ’ ll happen again with Democrats in charge .
Demands for help from Springfield won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state has to do something to help the retail sector stand up again , ” said Rob Karr , president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association .
With retail sales the second biggest source of state revenue , lawmakers have a direct interest in the assistance , he said .
Karr called for “ some type of sales tax deferment , ” as well as a measure to break up property tax payments into three or four annual installments , instead of the current two .
His comments foreshadow the pressure Springfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At my invitation , Karr tackled the big issue to come : the referendum in the fall asking voters to approve a graduated state income tax .
Karr said higher taxes on the wealthy will penalize business owners and entrepreneurs , “ the very sector that is being pounded right now.
” Others will argue that graduated rates benefiting low-wage earners will benefit those really being “ pounded.
” It ’ s a well-endowed fight that will be waged on the airwaves and in your mailbox starting soon .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight a virus , but she can ’ t avoid the accumulated costs much longer .
Like Pritzker , she must confront the explosive issue of public sector layoffs , not to mention the pension debt , or risk tax increases that could further damage the economy .
Pestilence is a terrible foe .
So is the math of income and outgo .

There’s an odd thing about the way our virus behaves. It works on the economy the same way it works on people.
It starts out in isolated settings, but with such power and an ability to migrate that it quickly spreads its devastation. It’s tough to eradicate, and fighting it calls for us to fight our own natures. Social distancing is hard to us, and so is accepting curbs on our livelihoods and freedom.
Just as the health experts talk about the chances of second- and third-wave infections from COVID-19, so, too, is there a prospect of second and third waves of damage from its related job losses.
On the economic front, I’m thinking of forthcoming layoffs among white collar and then government workers. Taken together, they could set back a fiscal recovery for some time.
Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist at Northern Trust, noticed the similarities on the health and economic effects, writing recently, “At the outset of the outbreak, some of us thought the impact would be confined to China, and to its manufacturing sector. That ended up being a colossal miscalculation. The medical and economic consequences of the pandemic have consistently exceeded our expectations. The recession we recently entered could be deeper and more lasting that anyone suspected.”
Chicago Enterprise bug Chicago Enterprise
The jobs impact first hit in the hotels, airlines, bars and restaurants. It spread to department stores, boutiques, fitness clubs, movie theaters. Then on to some manufacturers, or at least those whose products were not deemed essential for the crisis. The logistics business is starting to feel it because each shutdown takes out a customer. Then come all the service industries and consultants that draw income from what’s shuttered.
The publication Law360 has chronicled law firms such as Chicago-based Schiff Hardin that are reducing salaries and making other cuts. Technology companies that for a long time seemed to levitate on their own economic rules are crashing to earth. Software provider Toast, which serves the restaurant business, is cutting 1,300 people, or half of its work force. Chicago-based Groupon, deprived of its base of small merchants, is shedding 2,800 people via layoff or furlough.
Economist Amy Crews Cutts, who runs her own firm, staked out the edge of extreme pessimism by telling The Wall Street Journal she expects it’ll take labor markets five and a half years before they shed the pandemic’s effects.
In fairness, other economists believe the private sector was in such a happy mood that it’ll snap right back to hiring once the virus is under control. Balance the negative with the determined sunny siders and you get, what — a recession that lasts into late 2021 or early 2022?
A locked retail door in Chicago. AP
Meanwhile, the implications for state and local government compound. Gov. J.B. Pritzker touched on the subject last week when he said he’s ordered state agencies to stop discretionary spending and hiring.
It’s the easy first step, with the tough calls coming later. Remember a few years ago, when schools and social service agencies asked an unsympathetic Republican governor for more scraps? It’ll happen again with Democrats in charge.
Demands for help from Springfield won’t abate with the virus. “The state has to do something to help the retail sector stand up again,” said Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. With retail sales the second biggest source of state revenue, lawmakers have a direct interest in the assistance, he said.
Karr called for “some type of sales tax deferment,” as well as a measure to break up property tax payments into three or four annual installments, instead of the current two. His comments foreshadow the pressure Springfield will face to help businesses recover.
At my invitation, Karr tackled the big issue to come: the referendum in the fall asking voters to approve a graduated state income tax. Karr said higher taxes on the wealthy will penalize business owners and entrepreneurs, “the very sector that is being pounded right now.”
Others will argue that graduated rates benefiting low-wage earners will benefit those really being “pounded.” It’s a well-endowed fight that will be waged on the airwaves and in your mailbox starting soon.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has rightly emphasized the city’s efforts to fight a virus, but she can’t avoid the accumulated costs much longer. Like Pritzker, she must confront the explosive issue of public sector layoffs, not to mention the pension debt, or risk tax increases that could further damage the economy.
Pestilence is a terrible foe. So is the math of income and outgo.