chicagosun-times--2020-10-19--Second surge in coronavirus cases prompts stern message from Lightfoot: ‘This is a warning sign’ (LI

Second surge in coronavirus cases prompts stern message from Lightfoot: ‘This is a warning sign’ (LIVE UPDATES)

Lightfoot warns COVID restrictions could be tightened again : ‘ This is a call to action ’ With over 500 cases being reported daily — the highest since the tail end of the first wave of cases earlier this year — the mayor on Monday declared : “ Make no mistake : We are in the second surge.
” That means the potential for reimposing Phase 3 restrictions .
Among other things , that would end indoor dining at restaurants and reduce the size of social gatherings to 10 people or less .
“ This is a warning sign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference .
“ This is a call to action .
... We don ’ t want to see us have to go back to the kind of restrictive measures we say in March , April and May .
But , if we have to , we will , .
” Read the full story from Fran Spielman here .
6:11 p.m. Purdue coach Jeff Brohm will miss opener against Iowa after 2nd positive COVID-19 test Purdue coach Jeff Brohm started feeling abnormally fatigued late last week .
By Saturday , the symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had contracted the virus and would not be on the sideline for Saturday ’ s season-opener at home against Iowa .
Instead , offensive coordinator Brian Brohm will replace his older brother and will continue calling plays .
“ It ’ s not going to be very fun and it ’ s bad timing , ” Jeff Brohm said on his weekly Zoom call .
“ You work all year long for a season , it ’ s an abbreviated season , I ’ d like to be there , be with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think one person makes the team whether it ’ s a coach or a player .
I think our team will respond and play well.
” Brohm isn ’ t the first coach facing this predicament .
MADISON , Wis. — A Wisconsin judge on Monday reimposed an order from Gov .
Tony Evers ’ administration limiting the number of people who can gather in bars , restaurants and other indoor venues to 25 % of capacity .
The capacity limits order was issued Oct. 6 by Andrea Palm , secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face of surging coronavirus cases in Wisconsin .
A judge blocked the order on Oct. 14 after it was challenged by the Tavern League of Wisconsin , which argued it amounted to a “ de facto closure ” order for the bars and restaurants it represents .
But Barron County Judge James Babler on Monday put the capacity limits back into effect .
He declined a request from the Tavern League to keep the capacity limit order on hold while the lawsuit is pending and declined to stay his ruling while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
“ This critically important ruling will help us prevent the spread of this virus by restoring limits on public gatherings , ” Evers said in a statement , while encouraging people to stay at home , limit gatherings and wear a mask when in public .
Wisconsin last week set new daily records for positive coronavirus cases , deaths and hospitalizations .
To date , the state has more than 173,000 positive cases and 1,600 deaths .
Raising Chicago ’ s nickel-a-gallon tax on gasoline to 8 cents and imposing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cost the owner of a home valued at $ 250,000 an extra $ 56-a-year .
Eliminating 1,000 vacant city jobs , 450 of them police officers , and laying off up to 500 city employees , but delaying the pink slips until March to give the new Congress a chance to ride to the rescue .
Refinancing $ 500 million in city debt and raiding Chicago ’ s $ 900 million in reserves , but only by $ 30 million to avoid another drop in Chicago ’ s already shaky bond rating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax-increment-financing surplus to generate a $ 189 million windfall for the Chicago Public Schools , but snatching back $ 55 million of that money by shifting pension and crossing guard costs from the city to CPS .
Requiring thousands of city employees that don ’ t belong to union to take five unpaid furlough days .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wasn ’ t kidding when she talked about the “ impossible choices ” she would need to make to balance what she calls Chicago ’ s “ pandemic budget.
” A property tax increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and furlough days were “ second-to-last.
” Yet she is resorting to both those options to plug the gap without federal help .
Read the full story from Fran Spielman here .
11:46 a.m .
If someone votes early but dies before Election Day will their vote count ?
ATLANTA — At 90 years old and living through a global pandemic , Hannah Carson knows time may be short .
She wasted no time returning her absentee ballot for this year ’ s election .
As soon as it arrived at her senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sent it back to her local election office in Charlotte , North Carolina .
If something were to happen and she doesn ’ t make it to Election Day , Carson said she hopes her ballot will remain valid .
“ I should think I should count , given all the years I have been here , ” she said .
In North Carolina , a ballot cast by someone who subsequently dies can be set aside if a challenge is filed before Election Day with the county board of elections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone votes early but dies before Election Day are especially pressing this year , amid a coronavirus outbreak that has been especially perilous for older Americans .
People 85 years and older represent nearly one in three deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. As an election looms , the odds against older people who contract the virus are on the minds of the elderly and their family members .
Seventeen states prohibit counting ballots cast by someone who subsequently dies before the election , but 10 states specifically allow it .
The law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , according to research by the National Conference of State Legislatures .
10:43 a.m. Has Indiana been too passive or too aggressive in coronavirus containment efforts ?
Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he ’ s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months .
The two challengers to Holcomb ’ s reelection bid split on whether he ’ s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he ’ s trampled people ’ s rights with the statewide stay-at-home order early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first issued in July .
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he ’ s built leading the Republican-dominated state government without a well-known election foe .
While Indiana has seen recent sharp increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new infections , Holcomb ’ s message has gone between chastising those who resist wearing masks and touting his actions .
10:22 a.m .
Lawmakers pen letter to Lightfoot , CPS asking for remote learning improvements , stronger safety measures before return to classes A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools asking for improvements to remote learning and stronger safety measures at schools before a return to in-person classes .
The letter — signed by a group of 15 Chicago aldermen from across the city , 26 state legislators , including Rep. LaShawn Ford ( D-8th ) and Rep. Kam Buckner ( D-26th ) , and Cook County commissioners Brandon Johnson , Dennis Deer and Alma Anaya — comes days after CPS announced plans to phase students back to in-person learning next month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
Other students may start returning as soon as January .
“ So far the Mayor and CPS have been tight-lipped on the specifics of how they plan to return to in-person instruction , cutting students , parents , Aldermen and other elected officials , and our labor partners out of this very necessary planning process , ” Ald .
Byron Sigcho-Lopez ( 25th ) , who signed the letter , said in a statement .
“ We should be working together to find the best solutions to create safe learning environments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group claims that spotty internet connections have impaired students ’ learning and that seven hours of screen time per day is harmful to students .
“ We implore you to revamp the screen schedule and increase opportunities for non-screen learning and physical activity , ” the letter reads .
“ Other cities have made the shift , and we think the same should be done here.
” 7:48 a.m. 4,245 new COVID-19 cases reported in Illinois as positivity rate continues climbing Illinois health officials Sunday reported 4,245 new cases of COVID-19 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its climb for the 14th consecutive day .
That is only 309 cases fewer than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 cases announced Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health .
The state has now reported a daily caseload of more than 4,000 in three of the last four days .
The latest cases were confirmed among 79,296 tests , raising the positivity rate , which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading , to 5.3 % from 5.2 % the previous day .
Public health officials Sunday also attributed 22 more deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 9,214 since the pandemic began .
Health experts have warned Illinois is approaching a new peak that could be severe if people don ’ t adhere to recommended guidelines .
On Sunday , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker accused “ Trump allies in our state ” of contributing to the spike in Illinois COVID-19 infections by encouraging people to flout the rules in an interview on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” Illinois public health officials on Sunday attributed 22 more deaths to the coronavirus , for a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state reported 4,245 new cases of COVID-19 at the weekend ’ s close as the state ’ s positivity rate continued its climb for the 14th consecutive day .
That is only 309 cases fewer than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 cases announced Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health .
8:20 a.m. Pandemic vs. ambition : how one company is adjusting plans for growth West Monroe sees a scenario in which its office usage increases rather than decreases .
Many of its experts used to work on the road at clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to be pretty light days at the office .
Fridays were busiest as people were back home and checked in with one another , ” Hulsebosch said .
“ We have to do things a little differently .
Clients are realizing we can still deliver value and be remote .
They ’ re also realizing that it ’ s nice not to have to pay our peoples ’ expenses.
” The new office opens officially Monday and has adopted some of the design elements now common .
Workstations have been thinned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep people from bumping into each other , and hand sanitizer is everywhere .
Beyond that , Hulsebosch said , is a greater use of technology to keep teams coordinated and to manage who comes back to the office and when .
“ We ’ re seeing that the technology we used pre-COVID , telecommunications , video conferencing , was poor .
What we ’ ve discovered is that with Zoom and other tools for remote collaboration , the experience has been great .
It ’ s meeting the organization ’ s needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially office , partially remote , ” he said .
Read the full column from David Roeder here .

A fresh round of coronavirus restrictions may be in the future for Chicago.
Here’s what you need to about the coronavirus pandemic in Chicago and around Illinois.
News
8:56 p.m. Lightfoot warns COVID restrictions could be tightened again: ‘This is a call to action’
A “second surge” in coronavirus cases in Chicago has Mayor Lori Lightfoot warning she will not hesitate to impose the tougher restrictions that were in place earlier this year. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
With over 500 cases being reported daily — the highest since the tail end of the first wave of cases earlier this year — the mayor on Monday declared: “Make no mistake: We are in the second surge.”
That means the potential for reimposing Phase 3 restrictions. Among other things, that would end indoor dining at restaurants and reduce the size of social gatherings to 10 people or less.
“This is a warning sign,” Lightfoot said at a City Hall news conference. “This is a call to action. ... We don’t want to see us have to go back to the kind of restrictive measures we say in March, April and May. But, if we have to, we will,.”
Read the full story from Fran Spielman here.
6:11 p.m. Purdue coach Jeff Brohm will miss opener against Iowa after 2nd positive COVID-19 test
Purdue coach Jeff Brohm started feeling abnormally fatigued late last week. By Saturday, the symptoms worsened.
Two positive COVID-19 tests Sunday confirmed what Brohm suspected.
On Monday, Brohm announced he had contracted the virus and would not be on the sideline for Saturday’s season-opener at home against Iowa. Instead, offensive coordinator Brian Brohm will replace his older brother and will continue calling plays.
“It’s not going to be very fun and it’s bad timing,” Jeff Brohm said on his weekly Zoom call. “You work all year long for a season, it’s an abbreviated season, I’d like to be there, be with the team. But I don’t think one person makes the team whether it’s a coach or a player. I think our team will respond and play well.”
Brohm isn’t the first coach facing this predicament.
Read the full report here.
3:26 p.m. Wisconsin judge reimposes order limiting indoor venues to 25% capacity
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge on Monday reimposed an order from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration limiting the number of people who can gather in bars, restaurants and other indoor venues to 25% of capacity.
The capacity limits order was issued Oct. 6 by Andrea Palm, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, in the face of surging coronavirus cases in Wisconsin. A judge blocked the order on Oct. 14 after it was challenged by the Tavern League of Wisconsin, which argued it amounted to a “de facto closure” order for the bars and restaurants it represents.
But Barron County Judge James Babler on Monday put the capacity limits back into effect. He declined a request from the Tavern League to keep the capacity limit order on hold while the lawsuit is pending and declined to stay his ruling while the Tavern League and others appeal his decision.
“This critically important ruling will help us prevent the spread of this virus by restoring limits on public gatherings,” Evers said in a statement, while encouraging people to stay at home, limit gatherings and wear a mask when in public.
Wisconsin last week set new daily records for positive coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations. To date, the state has more than 173,000 positive cases and 1,600 deaths.
Read the full story here.
2:49 p.m. Lightfoot’s ‘pandemic’ budget: 500 layoffs, $94 million property tax hike
Raising Chicago’s nickel-a-gallon tax on gasoline to 8 cents and imposing a $94 million property tax increase that will cost the owner of a home valued at $250,000 an extra $56-a-year.
Eliminating 1,000 vacant city jobs, 450 of them police officers, and laying off up to 500 city employees, but delaying the pink slips until March to give the new Congress a chance to ride to the rescue.
Refinancing $500 million in city debt and raiding Chicago’s $900 million in reserves, but only by $30 million to avoid another drop in Chicago’s already shaky bond rating.
Declaring a record $350 million tax-increment-financing surplus to generate a $189 million windfall for the Chicago Public Schools, but snatching back $55 million of that money by shifting pension and crossing guard costs from the city to CPS.
Requiring thousands of city employees that don’t belong to union to take five unpaid furlough days.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wasn’t kidding when she talked about the “impossible choices” she would need to make to balance what she calls Chicago’s “pandemic budget.”
A property tax increase was her “last resort.” Layoffs and furlough days were “second-to-last.” Yet she is resorting to both those options to plug the gap without federal help.
Read the full story from Fran Spielman here.
11:46 a.m. If someone votes early but dies before Election Day will their vote count?
ATLANTA — At 90 years old and living through a global pandemic, Hannah Carson knows time may be short. She wasted no time returning her absentee ballot for this year’s election.
As soon as it arrived at her senior living community, she filled it out and sent it back to her local election office in Charlotte, North Carolina. If something were to happen and she doesn’t make it to Election Day, Carson said she hopes her ballot will remain valid.
“I should think I should count, given all the years I have been here,” she said.
In North Carolina, a ballot cast by someone who subsequently dies can be set aside if a challenge is filed before Election Day with the county board of elections.
Questions over whether ballots will count if someone votes early but dies before Election Day are especially pressing this year, amid a coronavirus outbreak that has been especially perilous for older Americans. People 85 years and older represent nearly one in three deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. As an election looms, the odds against older people who contract the virus are on the minds of the elderly and their family members.
Seventeen states prohibit counting ballots cast by someone who subsequently dies before the election, but 10 states specifically allow it. The law is silent in the rest of the country, according to research by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Read the full story here.
10:43 a.m. Has Indiana been too passive or too aggressive in coronavirus containment efforts?
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb hears lots of criticism over how he’s led Indiana during the coronavirus pandemic over the past seven months.
The two challengers to Holcomb’s reelection bid split on whether he’s been too passive in attacking the virus spread or that he’s trampled people’s rights with the statewide stay-at-home order early in the outbreak and the mask mandate first issued in July.
Holcomb has huge campaign fundraising and organization advantages over Democrat Woody Myers and Libertarian Donald Rainwater that he’s built leading the Republican-dominated state government without a well-known election foe.
While Indiana has seen recent sharp increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new infections, Holcomb’s message has gone between chastising those who resist wearing masks and touting his actions.
Read the full report here.
10:22 a.m. Lawmakers pen letter to Lightfoot, CPS asking for remote learning improvements, stronger safety measures before return to classes
A group of elected officials has written an open letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools asking for improvements to remote learning and stronger safety measures at schools before a return to in-person classes.
The letter — signed by a group of 15 Chicago aldermen from across the city, 26 state legislators, including Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-8th) and Rep. Kam Buckner (D-26th), and Cook County commissioners Brandon Johnson, Dennis Deer and Alma Anaya — comes days after CPS announced plans to phase students back to in-person learning next month, starting with preschoolers and some special education students. Other students may start returning as soon as January.
“So far the Mayor and CPS have been tight-lipped on the specifics of how they plan to return to in-person instruction, cutting students, parents, Aldermen and other elected officials, and our labor partners out of this very necessary planning process,” Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), who signed the letter, said in a statement. “We should be working together to find the best solutions to create safe learning environments for students, teachers and staff.”
The group claims that spotty internet connections have impaired students’ learning and that seven hours of screen time per day is harmful to students.
“We implore you to revamp the screen schedule and increase opportunities for non-screen learning and physical activity,” the letter reads. “Other cities have made the shift, and we think the same should be done here.”
Read the full story here.
7:48 a.m. 4,245 new COVID-19 cases reported in Illinois as positivity rate continues climbing
Illinois health officials Sunday reported 4,245 new cases of COVID-19 as the state’s positivity rate continued its climb for the 14th consecutive day.
That is only 309 cases fewer than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 cases announced Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The state has now reported a daily caseload of more than 4,000 in three of the last four days. The latest cases were confirmed among 79,296 tests, raising the positivity rate, which indicates how rapidly the virus is spreading, to 5.3% from 5.2% the previous day.
Public health officials Sunday also attributed 22 more deaths to the coronavirus, for a total of 9,214 since the pandemic began.
Health experts have warned Illinois is approaching a new peak that could be severe if people don’t adhere to recommended guidelines.
On Sunday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker accused “Trump allies in our state” of contributing to the spike in Illinois COVID-19 infections by encouraging people to flout the rules in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Read the full story here.
New cases
Illinois public health officials on Sunday attributed 22 more deaths to the coronavirus, for a total of 9,214 since the pandemic began.
The state reported 4,245 new cases of COVID-19 at the weekend’s close as the state’s positivity rate continued its climb for the 14th consecutive day.
That is only 309 cases fewer than the record-breaking tally of 4,554 cases announced Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Analysis & Commentary
8:20 a.m. Pandemic vs. ambition: how one company is adjusting plans for growth
West Monroe sees a scenario in which its office usage increases rather than decreases. Many of its experts used to work on the road at clients’ sites. “Monday through Thursday used to be pretty light days at the office. Fridays were busiest as people were back home and checked in with one another,” Hulsebosch said.
“We have to do things a little differently. Clients are realizing we can still deliver value and be remote. They’re also realizing that it’s nice not to have to pay our peoples’ expenses.”
The new office opens officially Monday and has adopted some of the design elements now common. Workstations have been thinned out, corridors marked as one-way routes to keep people from bumping into each other, and hand sanitizer is everywhere. Beyond that, Hulsebosch said, is a greater use of technology to keep teams coordinated and to manage who comes back to the office and when.
“We’re seeing that the technology we used pre-COVID, telecommunications, video conferencing, was poor. What we’ve discovered is that with Zoom and other tools for remote collaboration, the experience has been great. It’s meeting the organization’s needs better compared to work that’s partially office, partially remote,” he said.
Read the full column from David Roeder here.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-19--Denying pre-trial detainees the right to vote must stop

In this critical election , Americans are breaking all records for early voting and voting by mail .
Yet , over 700,000 Americans have the right to vote but many are denied that right not only in this election , but in every election .
An average of 746,000 Americans are held in local jails .
Most of whom have not yet been convicted of a crime or are held only for minor offenses .
Many of these voters are jailed simply because they are poor and can not make bail .
Yet in many jails , they are denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are confused about their eligibility , or because they have no timely access to registration and absentee ballots , or because they have no access to the voter ID information that many states now require .
This form of voter suppression is a social injustice and a civic indignity .
Not surprisingly , it disproportionately impacts African Americans , Latinos and the poor .
It is part of what Michelle Alexander has called “ the new Jim Crow , ” the use of mass incarceration to strip minorities of their right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Eligible but Excluded : A Guide to Removing the Barriers to Jail Voting , ” has been released by Prison Policy Institute and the Rainbow Push Coalition , which I lead .
It details the eligibility of prisoners under various state laws , the obstacles they face to exercise their right to vote , and what activists , state and local officials and prison and election officials can do to rectify that right .
Even now , two weeks from the election , prompt action could empower many to vote .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country are particularly hard for prisoners to surmount .
Separate registration forms and dates can foreclose voting for those held in jails during required early registration dates .
Voter ID laws hit prisoners who are often stripped of their ID papers when incarcerated and find that jail IDs are not accepted by election officials .
“ For Cause ” absentee laws too often do not include incarceration as a cause for justifying voting by mail .
Jail mail and internet are too often slow or unavailable .
Jail churning — most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ periods of time — means that many will find themselves in different addresses for registration or for voting .
State and local laws reforms are essential .
Same-day or automatic voter registration is invaluable not only for prisoners but for most Americans .
State law could designate jails a formal voter registration agency under the Motor Voter Law , as Rhode Island has done .
Election officials could designate jails an official polling station , with voting booths and computers available on site .
Activists and agencies like the Public Defender Services could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote operations targeted at jails .
In Illinois , Gov .
JB Pritzker and Lt Gov .
Juliana Stratton have passed legislation that sets the standard for reform .
It requires county jails and election officials to create a process that allows eligible detainees to cast a ballot .
It designates Cook County Jail — one of the largest county jails in the country — as a temporary polling place so detainees can vote in person .
It mandates providing a voter registration application and notification of their voting rights to every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reforms that should spread across the country .
The right to vote is the defining right of a democracy .
American history has been marked by the struggle to extend that right — to those who weren ’ t landowners , to women , to those old enough to be drafted .
The civil rights movement , led by Dr. Martin Luther King , understood that the right to vote was essential to the struggle for equal justice for all .
The massive turnout expected in this election will lay bare all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still have authority over voting — have conspired to make voting difficult , particularly for working people who can ’ t afford to take time from work , or poor people who find the various obstacles difficult to overcome .
Facilitating voting — the fundamental right in a democracy — should not be partisan .
Sadly , it has become that as those fearful of the majority seek ways to suppress the vote , to undermine the election results , to sow fear and confusion .
It is long past time for national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That reform effort should include the hundreds of thousands held temporarily in jails who still have the right to vote .

In this critical election, Americans are breaking all records for early voting and voting by mail. Yet, over 700,000 Americans have the right to vote but many are denied that right not only in this election, but in every election.
An average of 746,000 Americans are held in local jails. Most of whom have not yet been convicted of a crime or are held only for minor offenses.
Many of these voters are jailed simply because they are poor and cannot make bail. Yet in many jails, they are denied the right to vote — either because officials are confused about their eligibility, or because they have no timely access to registration and absentee ballots, or because they have no access to the voter ID information that many states now require.
This form of voter suppression is a social injustice and a civic indignity.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Not surprisingly, it disproportionately impacts African Americans, Latinos and the poor. It is part of what Michelle Alexander has called “the new Jim Crow,” the use of mass incarceration to strip minorities of their right to vote.
A new report, entitled “Eligible but Excluded: A Guide to Removing the Barriers to Jail Voting,” has been released by Prison Policy Initiative and the Rainbow Push Coalition, which I lead.
It details the eligibility of prisoners under various state laws, the obstacles they face to exercise their right to vote, and what activists, state and local officials and prison and election officials can do to rectify that right.
Even now, two weeks from the election, prompt action could empower many to vote. The obstacles erected to make voting difficult in this country are particularly hard for prisoners to surmount.
Separate registration forms and dates can foreclose voting for those held in jails during required early registration dates. Voter ID laws hit prisoners who are often stripped of their ID papers when incarcerated and find that jail IDs are not accepted by election officials.
“For Cause” absentee laws too often do not include incarceration as a cause for justifying voting by mail. Jail mail and internet are too often slow or unavailable. Jail churning — most of those in jails are there for short periods of time — means that many will find themselves in different addresses for registration or for voting.
State and local laws reforms are essential. Same-day or automatic voter registration is invaluable not only for prisoners but for most Americans. State law could designate jails a formal voter registration agency under the Motor Voter Law, as Rhode Island has done. Election officials could designate jails an official polling station, with voting booths and computers available on site.
Activists and agencies like the Public Defender Services could run voter registration and get out of the vote operations targeted at jails. In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt Gov. Juliana Stratton have passed legislation that sets the standard for reform. It requires county jails and election officials to create a process that allows eligible detainees to cast a ballot. It designates Cook County Jail — one of the largest county jails in the country — as a temporary polling place so detainees can vote in person.
It mandates providing a voter registration application and notification of their voting rights to every eligible detainee leaving a jail. These are reforms that should spread across the country.
The right to vote is the defining right of a democracy. American history has been marked by the struggle to extend that right — to those who weren’t landowners, to women, to those old enough to be drafted. The civil rights movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, understood that the right to vote was essential to the struggle for equal justice for all.
The massive turnout expected in this election will lay bare all of the ways that states — which still have authority over voting — have conspired to make voting difficult, particularly for working people who can’t afford to take time from work, or poor people who find the various obstacles difficult to overcome.
Facilitating voting — the fundamental right in a democracy — should not be partisan. Sadly, it has become that as those fearful of the majority seek ways to suppress the vote, to undermine the election results, to sow fear and confusion.
It is long past time for national reforms to ensure the right to vote. That reform effort should include the hundreds of thousands held temporarily in jails who still have the right to vote.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-19--It’s time for IHSA, Pritzker to work together

It appears we have another developing mess on our hands .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov .
J.B. Pritzker both warned of a second COVID-19 wave at press conferences on Monday .
The state ’ s latest testing numbers have destroyed the positive momentum that recently built up behind starting winter high school sports on time .
Basketball teams are currently scheduled to begin practices on Nov. 16 .
Games are scheduled to begin on Nov. 30 , but that can ’ t happen unless Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health move medium-risk sports to Level 3 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never announced exactly how that happens , never said which statistics matter the most in making the decision .
But with numbers increasing all over the state it is very unlikely that metric has been achieved .
So the subject line on the IHSA ’ s email to media on Monday was interesting : “ IHSA Board Eyes October 28 for Winter Sports Announcement ” The key word is “ eyes.
” That doesn ’ t sound definitive .
Craig Anderson , the IHSA Executive Director , said he expects a response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for winter sport plans , including any accommodations and postseason plans , by October 26.
” The IHSA has scheduled a special board meeting on Oct. 28 to discuss the recommendations that they are hoping to receive on Oct. 26 .
Don ’ t hold your breath waiting for any of those dates to turn out as expected .
Sources say communication between the governor ’ s office , the IDPH and the IHSA is still lousy .
That was a major issue this summer when fall sports plans were debated .
Remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
“ We understand that student-athletes , coaches , parents , officials , and fans are anxious to learn more details about the plans for IHSA winter sports , ” Anderson said .
“ We feel like we are making positive strides in our discussions with the IDPH to be allowed to conduct winter sports as scheduled .
We believe we have a plan to do so safely and want to provide IDPH with ample time to review the winter sports plans , and supportive data , we have provided them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise move on July 29 .
It happened literally while the IHSA was conducting a board meeting .
It ’ s been 83 days and the state government and the IHSA are still not on the same page , not hashing this out together .
It ’ s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the IHSA would ignore the governor or anyone from the IDPH .
What motivation would they have to do that ?
The IHSA is desperate to get sports started again , basically in any form .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication issues .
It ’ s the side that is also making the final decision .
That ’ s troubling and it isn ’ t helpful to anyone in the state .
Whatever your opinion is , whether you think high school sports should be happening or not , we need Pritzker ’ s people and the IHSA to work together to make these plans and decisions .
That ’ s the only sane way through this difficult time .

It appears we have another developing mess on our hands with local high school sports.
At news conferences Monday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker both warned of a new wave of coronavirus infections. And the state’s latest testing numbers have destroyed recent positive momentum around starting winter sports on time.
Basketball teams are scheduled to begin practices Nov. 16, with games scheduled to begin Nov. 30. But that can’t happen unless Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health move “medium-risk” sports such as basketball to Level 3 under the IDPH’s pandemic guidelines for youth sports.
The IDPH has never announced exactly how that happens, nor said which statistics matter most in making such decisions. But with coronavirus numbers increasing all over the state, it’s unlikely the metric has been achieved.
The subject line of an Illinois High School Association email to reporters on Monday was “IHSA Board Eyes October 28 for Winter Sports Announcement.” The key word is “eyes,” which doesn’t sound definitive. IHSA executive director Craig Anderson said he expects a response from the IDPH “with final recommendations for winter sport plans, including any accommodations and postseason plans, by Oct. 26.” The IHSA has scheduled a special board meeting Oct. 28 to discuss those recommendations.
Don’t hold your breath on those dates. Sources say communication between the governor’s office, the IDPH and the IHSA is still lousy. That was a major issue this past summer, when fall sports plans were debated. Pritzker blindsided the IHSA with youth sports restrictions in a surprise move July 29 — literally while the IHSA was conducting a board meeting. It has been 83 days, and the state government and the IHSA are still not on the same page.
“We understand that student-athletes, coaches, parents, officials and fans are anxious to learn more details about the plans for IHSA winter sports,” Anderson said. “We feel like we are making positive strides in our discussions with the IDPH to be allowed to conduct winter sports as scheduled. We believe we have a plan to do so safely and want to provide IDPH with ample time to review the winter sports plans, and supportive data, we have provided them.”
It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the IHSA ignores the governor or anyone from the IDPH. What motivation would they have to do that? The IHSA is desperate to get sports started again in any form. It’s clear which side is having the communication issues — the side that’s also making the final decision.
That’s troubling, and it isn’t helpful to anyone. Whatever your opinion is, whether you think high school sports should be happening or not, we need Pritzker’s people and the IHSA to work together to make these plans and decisions. That’s the only sane way through this difficult time.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-19--Jeffrey Toobin takes CNN leave after Zoom incident

NEW YORK — Author-commentator Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended by the New Yorker and is stepping away from his job as CNN ’ s senior legal analyst pending what the cable network is calling a “ personal matter.
” Vice reported earlier Monday that Toobin had exposed his penis during a Zoom meeting with staffers of the New Yorker and WNYC radio .
Toobin confirmed the report , telling Vice he had believed he was off-camera .
In a statement Monday afternoon , the New Yorker said Toobin had been “ suspended while we investigate the matter.
” It declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement that “ Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue , which we have granted.
” The 60-year-old Toobin has been a New Yorker writer for more than 20 years and joined CNN in 2002 .
He is the author of several books , most recently “ True Crimes and Misdemeanors : The Investigation of Donald Trump , ” published in August .
His other works include “ The Run of His Life : The People v. O. J. Simpson ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Supreme Court .
”

NEW YORK — Author-commentator Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended by the New Yorker and is stepping away from his job as CNN’s senior legal analyst pending what the cable network is calling a “personal matter.”
Vice reported earlier Monday that Toobin had exposed his penis during a Zoom meeting with staffers of the New Yorker and WNYC radio. Toobin confirmed the report, telling Vice he had believed he was off-camera.
In a statement Monday afternoon, the New Yorker said Toobin had been “suspended while we investigate the matter.” It declined further comment. A CNN spokesperson said in a statement that “Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted.”
The 60-year-old Toobin has been a New Yorker writer for more than 20 years and joined CNN in 2002. He is the author of several books, most recently “True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump,” published in August. His other works include “The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson” and “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Dear Abby: Careless son-in-law always forgets to close doors, boxes, bottles

DEAR ABBY : My son-in-law “ Kirk ” has issues with closing doors , kitchen cabinets and refrigerator doors .
Three times my daughter has had to throw out food because it spoiled .
He doesn ’ t close cereal boxes , bags of candy or chips , either .
My husband and I tolerated Kirk ’ s behavior until a recent visit to our home .
He again left the door to our garage open , where our inside cat could have escaped .
He was rough when opening our recliner , and he also didn ’ t turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seltzer bottle , but I know better than to shake the bottle before checking the cap because I once spilled orange juice everywhere after he failed to tighten the cap .
My daughter says she has known Kirk for 15 years , and he isn ’ t going to change .
She says he doesn ’ t focus on the task at hand but is thinking about something else .
I suppose she has given up and continually goes behind him to fasten things .
My husband and I feel he doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaves this way .
After my daughter spoke to Kirk after his last visit , she has brought our granddaughter over twice , but he stayed home .
I feel like both of them think we are making much ado about nothing .
— OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE IN VIRGINIA DEAR OPEN-AND-SHUT : Has your daughter or son-in-law actually said that to you ?
You were not wrong to speak up , and it ’ s not much ado about nothing .
It is consideration for the property of others .
You should have drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immature and inconsiderate son-in-law left the garage door open .
( Was he stoned during those visits ?
Distracted by his cellphone ? )
Address the matter directly with your son-in-law , and consider seeing them at their house instead of yours .
DEAR ABBY : My mom insists on giving my oldest child , “ Jim , ” less money than the other grandchildren because he ’ s my stepson .
Jim is 19 , and I am the only mother he has ever known since he was 2 1/2 .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Jim is part of the family .
I realized what she was doing only last Christmas , when she gave Jimmy $ 100 and the other 12 grandkids $ 500 each .
( This included my two younger children . )
When I asked her why , she couldn ’ t give me a straight answer .
I have always regarded Jim as my own and thought she felt the same way .
Now I ’ m no longer sure she ’ s going to leave him an inheritance when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crummy about the entire situation .
— LOST IN THE SOUTH DEAR LOST : I don ’ t blame you for feeling crummy because this is a sad situation .
Unfortunately , in some — not all — families this happens .
Bear in mind the money your mother is gifting is hers to do with as she wishes , and there is nothing you can do to force her to behave more charitably toward Jim .
However , you and your husband might consider equalizing it in your own estate plans when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you already talked with an attorney about wills , advance directives , etc.
?
If you haven ’ t , now may be the time to discuss the subject .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets : “ Abby ’ s Favorite Recipes ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 . )

DEAR ABBY: My son-in-law “Kirk” has issues with closing doors, kitchen cabinets and refrigerator doors. Three times my daughter has had to throw out food because it spoiled. He doesn’t close cereal boxes, bags of candy or chips, either.
My husband and I tolerated Kirk’s behavior until a recent visit to our home. He again left the door to our garage open, where our inside cat could have escaped. He was rough when opening our recliner, and he also didn’t turn the cap all the way down on the seltzer bottle, but I know better than to shake the bottle before checking the cap because I once spilled orange juice everywhere after he failed to tighten the cap.
My daughter says she has known Kirk for 15 years, and he isn’t going to change. She says he doesn’t focus on the task at hand but is thinking about something else. I suppose she has given up and continually goes behind him to fasten things.
My husband and I feel he doesn’t respect our home when he behaves this way. After my daughter spoke to Kirk after his last visit, she has brought our granddaughter over twice, but he stayed home. I feel like both of them think we are making much ado about nothing. — OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE IN VIRGINIA
DEAR OPEN-AND-SHUT: Has your daughter or son-in-law actually said that to you? You were not wrong to speak up, and it’s not much ado about nothing. It is consideration for the property of others. You should have drawn the line after the first time your immature and inconsiderate son-in-law left the garage door open. (Was he stoned during those visits? Distracted by his cellphone?) Address the matter directly with your son-in-law, and consider seeing them at their house instead of yours.
DEAR ABBY: My mom insists on giving my oldest child, “Jim,” less money than the other grandchildren because he’s my stepson. Jim is 19, and I am the only mother he has ever known since he was 2 1/2. I’m still married to his father, and Jim is part of the family.
I realized what she was doing only last Christmas, when she gave Jimmy $100 and the other 12 grandkids $500 each. (This included my two younger children.) When I asked her why, she couldn’t give me a straight answer. I have always regarded Jim as my own and thought she felt the same way. Now I’m no longer sure she’s going to leave him an inheritance when she’s gone, and I feel crummy about the entire situation. — LOST IN THE SOUTH
DEAR LOST: I don’t blame you for feeling crummy because this is a sad situation. Unfortunately, in some — not all — families this happens. Bear in mind the money your mother is gifting is hers to do with as she wishes, and there is nothing you can do to force her to behave more charitably toward Jim. However, you and your husband might consider equalizing it in your own estate plans when the time comes. Have the two of you already talked with an attorney about wills, advance directives, etc.? If you haven’t, now may be the time to discuss the subject.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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--2020-10-20--‘537 Votes’: How the Supreme Court and irate people in Miami picked a president

The 2000 presidential election made for one wild and crazy night , with George W. Bush and Al Gore locked in a contest so tight Gore called Bush to concede — and then called him again to take it back , amidst the uncertainty surrounding the outcome in Florida .
Even after Bush was declared the victor , the fight to recount the ballots in Florida went all the way to the Supreme Court , and it wasn ’ t until Dec. 13 , 2000 , that Gore officially conceded .
It was madness .
Tens of millions of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now eligible to vote .
Most are too young to remember that election — and for those newer voters as well as those who bore witness to the birth of the hanging chad , the new HBO documentary “ 537 Votes ” couldn ’ t be a more timely and insightful look at the confluence of events that led to arguably the craziest and most infuriating election in American history .
Director Billy Corben ( “ Cocaine Cowboys , ” “ Screwball ” ) aims his camera at Miami-Dade County , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does a brilliant job of laying out the facts , providing invaluable background on late 20th century politics in the county — and adding some dark comedic touches .
Corben recognizes this is serious business , but it ’ s also something of a non-fiction heist movie and a character study of some fascinating figures , including a onetime golden boy with a seemingly unlimited future who self-destructed .
With “ Everybody Dance Now ” by C+C Music Factory and then “ I ’ m Too Sexy ” by Right Said Fred setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plunges us back in time to the go-go 1990s , the 2000 election and the stark contrasts between the policy-wonk , nearly robotic Al Gore and the folksy , loosey-goosey George W. Bush .
In the home stretch , they were virtually tied in the polls , and it became clear Florida , and in particular Florida ’ s Hispanic population in Miami-Dade County , could very well swing the election .
Enter one Alex Penelas , the young , handsome , charismatic , popular Cuban-American executive mayor of Miami-Dade County .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says one veteran political operative .
We we take a detour of sorts into the story of Elián González , the 5-year-old boy who was found in the waters off Miami on Thanksgiving 1999 , having survived while his mother and other loved ones died .
With Elián ’ s biological father in communist Cuba demanding the return of his son and his relatives in Miami vowing to fight to keep him in the States , the battle over Elián raged into the next year .
Penelas made a stunning statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lend resources , [ including ] police officers , to assist the federal government in any way , shape or form.
” Later that year , during the recount , Penelas literally disappeared from the public eye and was reportedly negotiating with Republicans for his own political survival rather than ensuring the ballot validation process went smoothly .
That was the end of Alex Penelas .
This detour isn ’ t really a detour after all , as “ 537 Votes ” makes the convincing case Hispanic resentment over the Clinton-Gore administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to a sizable “ revenge vote ” against Gore .
Next thing you know , we ’ re hearing about “ butterfly ballots ” and “ hanging chads , ” with hand recounts taking place in three Miami counties ( including , most importantly , Miami-Dade ) and Bush filing a lawsuit to stop the recount , and it just got more bizarre from there .
Director Corben expertly weaves together talking-head interviews with reporters and political operatives ( including , yes , Roger Stone ) , with archival TV news footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to chronicle every step , including the surreal moment when “ protesters ” ( who actually were paid Republican operatives ) stormed to the very doors of the recount room in Miami-Dade , demanding the process be shut down .
It was shut down .
Cut to David Letterman doing his late-night monologue , saying , “ By the way , Florida : do us a favor , stay out of the next election , ” and Jon Stewart pointing out Gore won the popular election by a margin of 539,947 votes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Fernand Amandi lamenting , “ The election was lost in many different places , but it was stolen in Miami.
” However we got there , George W. Bush won Florida by just those 537 votes .
It ’ s impossible to know what the world would have been like had Gore won — but it ’ s also impossible to say it wouldn ’ t have been a very different place .

The 2000 presidential election made for one wild and crazy night, with George W. Bush and Al Gore locked in a contest so tight Gore called Bush to concede — and then called him again to take it back, amidst the uncertainty surrounding the outcome in Florida. Even after Bush was declared the victor, the fight to recount the ballots in Florida went all the way to the Supreme Court, and it wasn’t until Dec. 13, 2000, that Gore officially conceded. It was madness.
Tens of millions of Americans have come of age since 2000 and are now eligible to vote. Most are too young to remember that election — and for those newer voters as well as those who bore witness to the birth of the hanging chad, the new HBO documentary “537 Votes” couldn’t be a more timely and insightful look at the confluence of events that led to arguably the craziest and most infuriating election in American history.
‘537 Votes’
Untitled HBO presents a documentary directed by Billy Corben. No MPAA rating. Running time: 109 minutes. Premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday on HBO, and available Thursday on HBO’s streaming platforms.
Director Billy Corben (“Cocaine Cowboys,” “Screwball”) aims his camera at Miami-Dade County, the white-hot center of the recount, and does a brilliant job of laying out the facts, providing invaluable background on late 20th century politics in the county — and adding some dark comedic touches. Corben recognizes this is serious business, but it’s also something of a non-fiction heist movie and a character study of some fascinating figures, including a onetime golden boy with a seemingly unlimited future who self-destructed.
With “Everybody Dance Now” by C+C Music Factory and then “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred setting the tone, “537 Votes” plunges us back in time to the go-go 1990s, the 2000 election and the stark contrasts between the policy-wonk, nearly robotic Al Gore and the folksy, loosey-goosey George W. Bush. In the home stretch, they were virtually tied in the polls, and it became clear Florida, and in particular Florida’s Hispanic population in Miami-Dade County, could very well swing the election.
Strangers reach out to touch 6-year-old Elián González as he stays at the Miami home of relatives on Jan. 9, 2000. Alan Diaz/AP
Enter one Alex Penelas, the young, handsome, charismatic, popular Cuban-American executive mayor of Miami-Dade County. “The sky was the limit for him,” says one veteran political operative. We take a detour of sorts into the story of Elián González, the 5-year-old boy who was found in the waters off Miami on Thanksgiving 1999, having survived while his mother and other loved ones died. With Elián’s biological father in communist Cuba demanding the return of his son and his relatives in Miami vowing to fight to keep him in the States, the battle over Elián raged into the next year. Penelas made a stunning statement, saying, “We will not lend resources, [including] police officers, to assist the federal government in any way, shape or form.” Later that year, during the recount, Penelas literally disappeared from the public eye and was reportedly negotiating with Republicans for his own political survival rather than ensuring the ballot validation process went smoothly. That was the end of Alex Penelas.
This detour isn’t really a detour after all, as “537 Votes” makes the convincing case Hispanic resentment over the Clinton-Gore administration’s handling of Elián’s case led to a sizable “revenge vote” against Gore. Next thing you know, we’re hearing about “butterfly ballots” and “hanging chads,” with hand recounts taking place in three Miami counties (including, most importantly, Miami-Dade) and Bush filing a lawsuit to stop the recount, and it just got more bizarre from there.
Director Corben expertly weaves together talking-head interviews with reporters and political operatives (including, yes, Roger Stone), with archival TV news footage and some clever use of graphics, to chronicle every step, including the surreal moment when “protesters” (who actually were paid Republican operatives) stormed to the very doors of the recount room in Miami-Dade, demanding the process be shut down. It was shut down.
Cut to David Letterman doing his late-night monologue, saying, “By the way, Florida: Do us a favor, stay out of the next election,” and Jon Stewart pointing out Gore won the popular election by a margin of 539,947 votes, and Democratic political strategist and pollster Fernand Amandi lamenting, “The election was lost in many different places, but it was stolen in Miami.”
However we got there, George W. Bush won Florida by just those 537 votes. It’s impossible to know what the world would have been like had Gore won — but it’s also impossible to say it wouldn’t have been a very different place.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Foxx quietly starts expunging 1,200 pot convictions after COVID-19 delays

After months of delays prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak , Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx quietly started expunging 1,200 additional cannabis convictions .
Starting Oct. 6 , Foxx ’ s office began expunging roughly 300 minor pot convictions each week , according to spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic .
Foxx ’ s push to wipe clean pot-related records comes as she ’ s locked in a contentious re-election fight with Republican Pat O ’ Brien , a former Cook County judge who ’ s outraising the incumbent .
“ Felony convictions can follow people long after their time has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid , ” Foxx said in a statement .
“ As we work to reform the criminal justice system and develop remedies to systemic barriers , I am proud that justice continues to be served in Cook County , for one , by vacating these low-level cannabis convictions to help move individuals and communities forward.
” Gov .
J.B. Prtizker and fellow Democrats pushed recreational cannabis legalization as a conduit for change and a means to create diversity in the state ’ s cannabis industry , which is overwhelmingly controlled by white-owned firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation , including the provisions to expunge convictions for possessing 30 grams or less , has largely been put on hold amid the coronavirus shutdowns .
Foxx previously motioned last year to vacate just over 1,000 similar convictions .
Now , her office is clearing additional cannabis convictions that stretch from Jan. 1 , 2012 , to Dec. 31 , 2019 , the day before recreational weed was legalized .
Individuals with eligible convictions don ’ t have to take any action to set the process in motion and will simply receive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Cook County saying their record has been cleared .
Peter Contos , who hosts expungement events as the advocacy coordinator of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition , lauded Foxx ’ s latest effort as he raised other concerns about how the process is playing out in Cook County .
Contos noted that individuals currently petitioning for expungment are facing lengthy wait times because there aren ’ t enough judges to review cases .
Contos added that the clerk ’ s office has also failed to provide resources for the public to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has a considerable impact on someone ’ s belief in the process.
” “ Frankly , for the second-largest county in the country , it ’ s unacceptable that we don ’ t have transparency and we don ’ t have a more expedient process , ” he said .
Despite those issues , the state ’ s attorney ’ s office “ will continue to vacate cannabis convictions through the end of the year and then plans to continue into next year by vacating convictions that occurred between 2000 and 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those plans for next year ultimately hinge on Foxx besting O ’ Brien , a former prosecutor who has campaigned on a law-and-order platform that counters her social justice agenda .
His spokesman didn ’ t respond to a request for comment .
Meanwhile , Foxx continued to tout the expungement program as a tool for reform .
“ As prosecutors , we need to own the role ‘ the system ’ has played on the failed war on drugs , causing disproportionate harm to Black and brown communities who were convicted of @ @ @ @ @

After months of delays prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx quietly started expunging 1,200 additional cannabis convictions.
Starting Oct. 6, Foxx’s office began expunging roughly 300 minor pot convictions each week, according to spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic. Foxx’s push to wipe clean pot-related records comes as she’s locked in a contentious re-election fight with Republican Pat O’Brien, a former Cook County judge who’s outraising the incumbent.
“Felony convictions can follow people long after their time has been served and their debt has been paid,” Foxx said in a statement. “As we work to reform the criminal justice system and develop remedies to systemic barriers, I am proud that justice continues to be served in Cook County, for one, by vacating these low-level cannabis convictions to help move individuals and communities forward.”
Gov. J.B. Prtizker and fellow Democrats pushed recreational cannabis legalization as a conduit for change and a means to create diversity in the state’s cannabis industry, which is overwhelmingly controlled by white-owned firms. But the implementation of the watershed legislation, including the provisions to expunge convictions for possessing 30 grams or less, has largely been put on hold amid the coronavirus shutdowns.
Foxx previously motioned last year to vacate just over 1,000 similar convictions. Now, her office is clearing additional cannabis convictions that stretch from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2019, the day before recreational weed was legalized.
Individuals with eligible convictions don’t have to take any action to set the process in motion and will simply receive a notice from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County saying their record has been cleared.
Peter Contos, who hosts expungement events as the advocacy coordinator of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition, lauded Foxx’s latest effort as he raised other concerns about how the process is playing out in Cook County.
Contos noted that individuals currently petitioning for expungment are facing lengthy wait times because there aren’t enough judges to review cases. Contos added that the clerk’s office has also failed to provide resources for the public to track those cases, which he said “has a considerable impact on someone’s belief in the process.”
“Frankly, for the second-largest county in the country, it’s unacceptable that we don’t have transparency and we don’t have a more expedient process,” he said.
Despite those issues, the state’s attorney’s office “will continue to vacate cannabis convictions through the end of the year and then plans to continue into next year by vacating convictions that occurred between 2000 and 2012,” according to a statement.
Those plans for next year ultimately hinge on Foxx besting O’Brien, a former prosecutor who has campaigned on a law-and-order platform that counters her social justice agenda. His spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Foxx continued to tout the expungement program as a tool for reform.
“As prosecutors, we need to own the role ‘the system’ has played on the failed war on drugs, causing disproportionate harm to Black and brown communities who were convicted of low-level cannabis offenses.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--5 shot, 1 fatally, Monday in Chicago

5 shot, 1 fatally, Monday in Chicago

Five people were shot , one of them fatally , Monday in Chicago .
In the day ’ s only reported fatal shooting a 36-year-old man was killed at a South Side gas station , according to police .
He was in the 7000 block of South State Street , when a gunman came up at 12:50 p.m. and fired shots , striking him in the chest and groin , Chicago police said in a statement .
A BP gas station is located in that block .
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-fatal shootings , a 34-year-old man was shot in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side .
About 11:50 p.m. he was walking in the 2700 block of West 66th Street , when someone walked up to him and fired shots , police said .
He was struck in the abdomen and back and taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital where he is in fair condition , police said .
A man was wounded in a shooting in West Garfield Park .
The 33-year-old was on the sidewalk about 8:20 p.m. in the 4000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled up in a vehicle and opened fire , police said .
The man was struck in the chest and leg , police said .
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition .
About an hour and a half prior , a 23-year-old man was shot in the hand in Bronzeville on the South Side .
He was walking about 7 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Forrestville Avenue when another man approached him and demanded his belongings , police said .
The man handed over some change and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who then fired shots , according to police .
The 23-year-old was struck in the right hand and took himself to Provident Hospital where he was listed in fair condition .
The day ’ s first reported shooting wounded a man in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side .
The 41-year-old was walking into an apartment building about 3:37 p.m. in the 6200 block of South Albany Avenue when someone fired shots at him from a vehicle , police said .
The man was struck in the leg and taken to the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
Seven people were killed and 26 others were injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Five people were shot, one of them fatally, Monday in Chicago.
In the day’s only reported fatal shooting a 36-year-old man was killed at a South Side gas station, according to police.
He was in the 7000 block of South State Street, when a gunman came up at 12:50 p.m. and fired shots, striking him in the chest and groin, Chicago police said in a statement.
A BP gas station is located in that block.
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, police said.
In non-fatal shootings, a 34-year-old man was shot in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side.
About 11:50 p.m. he was walking in the 2700 block of West 66th Street, when someone walked up to him and fired shots, police said.
He was struck in the abdomen and back and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he is in fair condition, police said.
A man was wounded in a shooting in West Garfield Park.
The 33-year-old was on the sidewalk about 8:20 p.m. in the 4000 block of West Gladys Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and opened fire, police said.
The man was struck in the chest and leg, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.
About an hour and a half prior, a 23-year-old man was shot in the hand in Bronzeville on the South Side.
He was walking about 7 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Forrestville Avenue when another man approached him and demanded his belongings, police said.
The man handed over some change and then attempted to disarm the robber, who then fired shots, according to police. The 23-year-old was struck in the right hand and took himself to Provident Hospital where he was listed in fair condition.
The day’s first reported shooting wounded a man in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.
The 41-year-old was walking into an apartment building about 3:37 p.m. in the 6200 block of South Albany Avenue when someone fired shots at him from a vehicle, police said.
The man was struck in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, police said.
Seven people were killed and 26 others were injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Menu planner: Your budget and your palate will like cheesy lentils and rice

Heat oven to 375 degrees .
Cook lentils and rice .
In a large bowl , combine lentils , rice , broth , tomatoes and green chilies , garlic , chili powder , cumin , oregano , salt , pepper and half the cheese .
Mix well and spoon into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray .
Top with remaining cheese .
Cover with nonstick foil ; bake 40 minutes or until bubbly .
Let stand 5 minutes ; garnish with cilantro and sour cream before serving .
Cook noodles according to directions ; drain .
Microwave broccoli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 minutes or until tender .
In a small skillet , heat oil on medium-high and add walnuts ; cook 1 minute .
In a large bowl , combine cooked noodles and cooked broccoli .
Add walnut-oil mixture to broccoli mixture ; toss to mix .
Add lemon zest , lemon juice , orange juice , and salt and pepper to taste ; toss again .
Serve immediately .
Per serving : 161 calories , 5 grams protein , 7 grams fat ( 37 % calories from fat ) , 0.7 gram saturated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cholesterol , 26 milligrams sodium , 3 grams fiber .
Cook pasta according to directions ; drain and rinse .
In a large bowl , combine cooked pasta and all remaining ingredients ; toss to mix .
Cover and chill until serving time .
Serve it with grilled chili-cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread .
Drain 1 ( 4-ounce ) can whole green chilies .
Put 1 chili between 2 slices ( any ) cheese on whole-grain bread .
Coat both sides of bread with cooking spray and grill in skillet until cheese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickles .
Mix 1 ( 16-ounce ) can fat-free refried beans , 1/2 cup mild salsa and 1/4 teaspoon chili powder in a small saucepan .
Heat on medium about 5 minutes or until warm .
Spread about 1/4 cup mixture along center of each of 8 ( 8- to 10-inch ) whole-grain flour tortillas .
Top with shredded lettuce and 1 tablespoon shredded Monterey Jack cheese .
Fold over sides and ends and serve with additional salsa .
Place 2 pounds boneless , skinless chicken breast halves ( flattened to an even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cooking spray ) of broiler pan .
Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat about 6 minutes or until lightly browned , turning once .
Meanwhile , mix together 1/2 teaspoon lime zest ( green part only ) , 1 tablespoon canola oil , 2 cloves minced garlic , 1 teaspoon dried thyme , 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt .
Brush both sides of chicken with glaze .
Broil 5 to 15 minutes more , until chicken is tender or internal temperature reaches 165 degrees , brushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Cheesy lentils and rice
Makes about 10 cups
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Standing time: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2 cups uncooked brown lentils
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 cup unsalted chicken broth
2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, with liquid
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese, divided
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Reduced-fat sour cream for garnish
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook lentils and rice. In a large bowl, combine lentils, rice, broth, tomatoes and green chilies, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and half the cheese. Mix well and spoon into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with remaining cheese. Cover with nonstick foil; bake 40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes; garnish with cilantro and sour cream before serving.
Per serving: 319 calories, 19 grams protein, 8 grams fat (23% calories from fat), 5 grams saturated fat, 45 grams carbohydrate, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 616 milligrams sodium, 8 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 3.
Broccoli-walnut noodles
Makes 8 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes, plus noodles
INGREDIENTS
6 ounces wide or medium curly no-yolk noodles
1 pound fresh bite-size broccoli florets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 orange
Coarse salt and pepper to taste
Cook noodles according to directions; drain. Microwave broccoli on high (100% power) 4 minutes or until tender. In a small skillet, heat oil on medium-high and add walnuts; cook 1 minute. In a large bowl, combine cooked noodles and cooked broccoli. Add walnut-oil mixture to broccoli mixture; toss to mix. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, orange juice, and salt and pepper to taste; toss again. Serve immediately.
Per serving: 161 calories, 5 grams protein, 7 grams fat (37% calories from fat), 0.7 gram saturated fat, 21 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 26 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 1.5.
Savory bean and pasta salad
Makes 5 servings
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: for the pasta
INGREDIENTS
6 ounces medium shell or penne pasta
2 (15-ounce) cans three-bean salad, lightly drained
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup provolone cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 ounces)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Cook pasta according to directions; drain and rinse. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta and all remaining ingredients; toss to mix. Cover and chill until serving time.
Per serving: 310 calories, 13 grams protein, 6 grams fat (16% calories from fat), 2.8 grams saturated fat, 54 grams carbohydrate, 12 milligrams cholesterol, 811 milligrams sodium, 6 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 3.5.
Lentil soup
Serve it with grilled chili-cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread. Drain 1 (4-ounce) can whole green chilies. Put 1 chili between 2 slices (any) cheese on whole-grain bread. Coat both sides of bread with cooking spray and grill in skillet until cheese melts. Slice diagonally and serve with pickles.
Beany roll-ups
Mix 1 (16-ounce) can fat-free refried beans, 1/2 cup mild salsa and 1/4 teaspoon chili powder in a small saucepan. Heat on medium about 5 minutes or until warm. Spread about 1/4 cup mixture along center of each of 8 (8- to 10-inch) whole-grain flour tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce and 1 tablespoon shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Fold over sides and ends and serve with additional salsa.
Pepper-lime chicken
Place 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (flattened to an even thickness) on unheated rack (coated with cooking spray) of broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat about 6 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Meanwhile, mix together 1/2 teaspoon lime zest (green part only), 1 tablespoon canola oil, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt. Brush both sides of chicken with glaze. Broil 5 to 15 minutes more, until chicken is tender or internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, brushing often during the last 5 minutes.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Matt Nagy: Flag on Jaylon Johnson was a ‘close one’

Bears coach Matt Nagy was diplomatic Monday when asked about the 33-yard pass interference flag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson that gave the Panthers the ball at the 1 early in the fourth quarter during Sunday ’ s 23-16 win .
Johnson , the rookie from Utah , and receiver D.J .
Moore got their arms locked up down the left sideline .
“ I thought , again , it ’ s a close one , ” Nagy said .
“ They have a tough decision , the refs do .
It ’ s hard , it ’ s not easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is I try to flip it so , ‘ OK , if I was coaching on the other side , what would I think ?
’ When you do that , it makes it a lot easier .
It ’ s part of the game.
” Nagy — who didn ’ t understand the personal foul called on cornerback Kyle Fuller for his bone-jarring hit , either — called Sunday “ one of those games ” where “ it felt like we had a few things that went against us , not intentionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scored on the next play but could get no closer .

Bears coach Matt Nagy was diplomatic Monday when asked about the 33-yard pass interference flag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson that gave the Panthers the ball at the 1 early in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s 23-16 win.
Johnson, the rookie from Utah, and receiver D.J. Moore got their arms locked up down the left sideline.
“I thought, again, it’s a close one,” Nagy said. “They have a tough decision, the refs do. It’s hard, it’s not easy. What I always try to do is I try to flip it so, ‘OK, if I was coaching on the other side, what would I think?’ When you do that, it makes it a lot easier. It’s part of the game.”
Nagy — who didn’t understand the personal foul called on cornerback Kyle Fuller for his bone-jarring hit, either — called Sunday “one of those games” where “it felt like we had a few things that went against us, not intentionally or anything like that.”
The Panthers scored on the next play but could get no closer.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Two women killed, man injured, in car crash in Logan Square: police

Two women were killed and a man injured in a car crash Monday in Logan Square on the Northwest Side @ @ @ @ @ .
About 10:20 p.m. , a 55-year-old driver of a Toyota SUV was driving on @ @ @ @ @ into a Ford Focus in the 2600 block of West Fullerton Avenue , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead , police said .
Her @ @ @ @ @ , was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where she also died .
The driver @ @ @ @ @ 33-year-old man , was also taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center and is in fair @ @ @ @ @

A mother and daughter died in a car crash Monday in Logan Square on the Northwest Side, according to police.
A 55-year-old female driver of a Toyota SUV and a 33-year-old male driver of a Ford Focus crashed about 10:20 p.m. in the 2600 block of West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago police said.
The woman was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. Her passenger, a 71-year-old woman, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she also died.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the 55-year-old woman as Patricia Mallqui of Belmont Heights, and a verified GoFundMe set up by their family identified the older woman as Mallqui’s mother, Trinidad Juarez.
The driver of the Focus was also taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in fair condition.
Autopsies found they both died of multiple injuries and ruled their deaths accidental, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Chicago police’s Major Accidents Unit are investigating the crash.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-19--UChicago, Northwestern earn top marks in 2021 best global universities rankings

The University of Chicago and Northwestern University made the grade this year , according to U.S. News and World Report @ @ @ @ @ information company released its 2021 rankings of the best global universities late Monday , and @ @ @ @ @ schools cracked the top 10 , UChicago came in at 15 , followed closely by @ @ @ @ @ far below , the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana placed at 60 , and the @ @ @ @ @ came in at 212 .
Using data from Clarivate , U.S News and World Report @ @ @ @ @ “ global and regional reputation and academic research performance ” to compile its rankings , @ @ @ @ @ release .
The full list of rankings can be found here .
2021 U.S. News @ @ @ @ @

The University of Chicago and Northwestern University made the grade this year, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The digital news and information company released its 2021 rankings of the best global universities late Monday, and while no Chicago- or Illinois-based schools cracked the top 10, UChicago came in at 15, followed closely by Northwestern at 24.
Not far below, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana placed at 60, and the school’s Chicago campus came in at 212.
Using data from Clarivate, U.S News and World Report analyzed each university’s “global and regional reputation and academic research performance” to compile its rankings, according to a company press release.
The full list of rankings can be found here.
2021 U.S. News Best Global Universities - Overall


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Stripped of citizenship in Myanmar, Rohingya immigrants find new home in Chicago — and a chance to v

Stripped of citizenship in Myanmar, Rohingya immigrants find new home in Chicago — and a chance to vote for the first time

On Tuesday , Abdul Jabbar Amanullah completed a long journey that he said he could never envision as a Rohingya child growing up in Myanmar — at the ballot box as an American voter .
That ’ s because in 1982 , a few years before Amanullah was born , Myanmar stripped the Muslim-minority Rohingya of citizenship , rendering them effectively citizens of nowhere .
They also were stripped of their right to vote , work , education and health care .
Growing up in that atmosphere — the United Nations describes the Rohingya as among the most persecuted people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal was to escape .
In neighboring Malaysia , he fared poorly , getting arrested 10 times after entering illegally .
But his fortunes changed in 2012 , when , with the help from the U.N. , Amanullah , 35 , legally moved to Chicago , now home to about 2,000 Rohingya , making the city home to the largest Rohingya population in the United States .
Shortly after , Amanullah began working at the Rohingya Cultural Center , 2740 W. Devon Ave. , in the West Ridge neighborhood , where he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , Amanullah became a U.S. citizen , paving the way for Tuesday , when he voted for the first time in his life .
Before voting , however , Amanullah drove about a dozen other Rohingya community members in a van to the polling station at Warren Park , so all of them could vote for the first time , including his wife , Rehana Ahmed , whom he married two years ago in Chicago .
After waiting in line for nearly an hour , the group came out smiling and proudly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many struggled to put their feelings into words .
“ I ’ m not sure it ’ s hit them yet .
This is huge .
They worked so hard for this , ” said Susan Chestnut , who teaches citizenship classes at the cultural center , as she held back tears .
“ Usually as a teacher , I plant seeds but don ’ t get to see them blossom , but this I got to see .
And this election is so important , it ’ s really about their life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to come here.
” Chestnut added that the Rohingya community members are aware of the positions of the candidates and tend to prefer Joe Biden over President Donald Trump .
After casting his vote and walking out of the polling place , Amanullah said “ I ’ m so excited and proud of this country .
I feel like I have a future now.
” His feelings were echoed by 46-year-old Bibi Sabura , who voted for the first time after becoming an American citizen in June .
Nasir Zakaria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-time voter , said he felt being able to vote confirmed his status as a citizen .
Zakaria said that “ no matter who wins , we will say congratulations to that person.
” The first-time Rohingya voters were also met outside the polling station by a group of Rohingya community members who aren ’ t citizens yet but came to support them .
Among those people were 35-year-old Imran Mohammad , who said he was excited for his fellow Rohingya .
“ It ’ s truly amazing to see everyone vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back home , ” Mohammad said .

On Tuesday, Abdul Jabbar Amanullah completed a long journey that he said he could never envision as a Rohingya child growing up in Myanmar — at the ballot box as an American voter.
That’s because in 1982, a few years before Amanullah was born, Myanmar stripped the Muslim-minority Rohingya of citizenship, rendering them effectively citizens of nowhere. They also were stripped of their right to vote, work, education and health care.
Growing up in that atmosphere — the United Nations describes the Rohingya as among the most persecuted people in the world — Amanullah’s goal was to escape. In neighboring Malaysia, he fared poorly, getting arrested 10 times after entering illegally.
But his fortunes changed in 2012, when, with the help from the U.N., Amanullah, 35, legally moved to Chicago, now home to about 2,000 Rohingya, making the city home to the largest Rohingya population in the United States.
Shortly after, Amanullah began working at the Rohingya Cultural Center, 2740 W. Devon Ave., in West Ridge, where he is now a senior case manager. In 2018, Amanullah became a U.S. citizen, paving the way for Tuesday, when he voted for the first time in his life.
Before voting, Amanullah drove about a dozen other Rohingya community members in a van to the polling station at Warren Park, so all of them could vote for the first time, including his wife, Rehana Ahmed, whom he married two years ago in Chicago.
After waiting in line for nearly an hour, the group came out smiling and proudly displaying “I voted” stickers. Many struggled to put their feelings into words.
Nasir Zakaria, director of Rohingya Culture Center, in a brown coat, stands outside the Warren Park Field House, an early voting site, after voting in the West Rogers Park neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
“I’m not sure it’s hit them yet. This is huge. They worked so hard for this,” said Susan Chestnut, who teaches citizenship classes at the cultural center, as she held back tears.
“Usually as a teacher, I plant seeds but don’t get to see them blossom, but this I got to see. And this election is so important, it’s really about their life. It can impact their family from being able to come here.”
Chestnut added that the Rohingya community members are aware of the positions of the candidates and tend to prefer Joe Biden over President Donald Trump.
After casting his vote and walking out of the polling place, Amanullah said “I’m so excited and proud of this country. I feel like I have a future now.”
His feelings were echoed by 46-year-old Bibi Sabura, who voted for the first time after becoming an American citizen in June.
“This is amazing,” Sabura said.
Nasir Zakaria, director of the Rohingya Cultural Center and first-time voter, said he felt being able to vote confirmed his status as a citizen.
Zakaria said that “no matter who wins, we will say congratulations to that person.”
The first-time Rohingya voters were also met outside the polling station by a group of Rohingya community members who aren’t citizens yet but came to support them. Among those people were 35-year-old Imran Mohammad, who said he was excited for his fellow Rohingya.
“It’s truly amazing to see everyone vote. We didn’t have that opportunity back home,” Mohammad said.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-20--Chilly dinner: Indoor dining nixed in south, west suburbs as COVID-19 numbers rise — and temperature

Chilly dinner: Indoor dining nixed in south, west suburbs as COVID-19 numbers rise — and temperatures drop

Indoor service is being taken off the menu for bars and restaurants across many of Chicago ’ s south and western suburbs as COVID-19 testing positivity rates shoot up statewide .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday announced his public health team ’ s latest restrictions on establishments in Will , Kankakee , Kane and DuPage Counties beginning Friday — and warned such “ mitigations ” could be on tap for even more of the metro area if the coronavirus keeps surging past levels not seen in Illinois since mid-May .
“ There is no easy fix for the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our public health , but we can and we will manage through this , ” the Democratic governor said during the first of his rebooted daily coronavirus briefings .
Pritzker had put that practice on hold since the end of May , when infection rates were falling from the initial peak of the pandemic and Illinois was entering its third reopening phase .
“ We are seeing a national surge of cases that is affecting every state around us in a dramatic way , and in Illinois we are seeing the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Pritzker said .
Key among those numbers is the seven-day average testing positivity rate , which experts use to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading .
The positivity rate in the Will-Kankakee region is up to 8.6 % , while Kane and DuPage have soared to 9 % .
Tuesday marked a third consecutive day for each region over the 8 % threshold set by Pritzker ’ s health team that triggers state mitigations .
Will and Kankakee counties were previously slapped with an indoor service ban in late August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month as the positivity rate sank as low as 5.2 % .
Now , as the state faces what Pritzker has called a “ new wave ” of surging coronavirus cases , hospitalizations and deaths , business restrictions will be in place across four of the state ’ s 11 regions by the end of the week — and other regions are flirting with a state intervention as well .
According to state metrics , Chicago is up to 6.7 % positivity , suburban Cook is at 7.1 % , and Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
The northwest corner of the state that includes Rockford was hit with mitigations earlier this month as it has climbed to 11.8 % positivity .
Restrictions go into effect Thursday in the southern tip of the state , which is at 9.1 % positivity .
And they arrive in the suburbs as the changing season puts a damper on outdoor dining for the already-decimated hospitality industry .
High temperatures in the Chicago area are barely expected to break 50 degrees this weekend .
Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support will mean devastation for restaurants in Illinois — causing many to shutter for good.
” “ If our restaurants have any hope of making it through the winter , especially given potential rollbacks , they need government support , now , ” Toia said , urging passage of a federal bill that calls for $ 120 billion in industry relief .
Pritzker said establishments in regions facing mitigation “ will receive priority consideration ” as the state doles out $ 220 million in “ business interruption grants.
” “ This isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It ’ s because all the studies that have been done about bars and restaurants show that these are significant spreading locations , and we want to stop the spread .
We want to slow the spread as best we can.
” The average statewide testing positivity rate climbed to 5.5 % with the latest 3,714 new cases of the disease confirmed among 59,077 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
That ’ s as high as it ’ s been since early June , and up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Public health officials also announced the virus has claimed 41 more lives , raising the state ’ s death toll to 9,277 .
More than 350,000 people have contracted the virus among almost 6.9 million tests administered since March .
Cases have skyrocketed in Illinois and its neighboring states over the last few weeks as the Midwest has become a focal point of the United States ’ latest coronavirus resurgence .
As of Monday night , 2,261 Illinoisans were hospitalized with the virus , the state ’ s most concurrent COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five states to the city ’ s emergency travel order , which now requires residents and travelers to self-quarantine for two weeks after arriving from any of 30 states or Puerto Rico , including all of Illinois ’ bordering states .
But Illinois itself meets the city ’ s criteria to be included on the quarantine list .
On average , Illinois has added about 29 cases per 100,000 residents over the last week , nearly double the threshold rate set by Lightfoot ’ s health team .
The city has issued warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people flouting the travel quarantine order .
Essential workers are exempt .

Indoor service is being taken off the menu for bars and restaurants across many of Chicago’s south and western suburbs as COVID-19 testing positivity rates shoot up statewide.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday announced his public health team’s latest restrictions on establishments in Will, Kankakee, Kane and DuPage Counties beginning Friday — and warned such “mitigations” could be on tap for even more of the metro area if the coronavirus keeps surging past levels not seen in Illinois since mid-May.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
“There is no easy fix for the effects of this virus on our economy and on our public health, but we can and we will manage through this,” the Democratic governor said during the first of his rebooted daily coronavirus briefings. Pritzker had put that practice on hold since the end of May, when infection rates were falling from the initial peak of the pandemic and Illinois was entering its third reopening phase.
“We are seeing a national surge of cases that is affecting every state around us in a dramatic way, and in Illinois we are seeing the numbers go up literally all across the state,” Pritzker said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker answers questions during a news conference in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood in July. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file
Key among those numbers is the seven-day average testing positivity rate, which experts use to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading.
The positivity rate in the Will-Kankakee region is up to 8.6%, while Kane and DuPage have soared to 9%. Tuesday marked a third consecutive day for each region over the 8% threshold set by Pritzker’s health team that triggers state mitigations.
Will and Kankakee counties were previously slapped with an indoor service ban in late August, but the region was restored within a month as the positivity rate sank as low as 5.2%.
Now, as the state faces what Pritzker has called a “new wave” of surging coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths, business restrictions will be in place across four of the state’s 11 regions by the end of the week — and other regions are flirting with a state intervention as well. According to state metrics, Chicago is up to 6.7% positivity, suburban Cook is at 7.1%, and Lake and McHenry counties are up to 7.5%.
The northwest corner of the state that includes Rockford was hit with mitigations earlier this month as it has climbed to 11.8% positivity. Restrictions go into effect Thursday in the southern tip of the state, which is at 9.1% positivity.
And they arrive in the suburbs as the changing season puts a damper on outdoor dining for the already-decimated hospitality industry. High temperatures in the Chicago area are barely expected to break 50 degrees this weekend.
Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia said “moving backwards in phasing without any financial support will mean devastation for restaurants in Illinois — causing many to shutter for good.”
People eat in a greenhouse structure at Duck Duck Goat restaurant on Fulton Market in Chicago on Sunday. Nam Y. Huh/AP file
“If our restaurants have any hope of making it through the winter, especially given potential rollbacks, they need government support, now,” Toia said, urging passage of a federal bill that calls for $120 billion in industry relief.
Pritzker said establishments in regions facing mitigation “will receive priority consideration” as the state doles out $220 million in “business interruption grants.”
Inside dining was the norm Tuesday evening at Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken in Naperville’s city center. Rich Hein/Sun-Times
“This isn’t about punishing anybody,” Pritzker said. “It’s because all the studies that have been done about bars and restaurants show that these are significant spreading locations, and we want to stop the spread. We want to slow the spread as best we can.”
The average statewide testing positivity rate climbed to 5.5% with the latest 3,714 new cases of the disease confirmed among 59,077 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That’s as high as it’s been since early June, and up from just 3.3% on Oct. 4.
Graph not displaying properly? Click here.
Public health officials also announced the virus has claimed 41 more lives, raising the state’s death toll to 9,277. More than 350,000 people have contracted the virus among almost 6.9 million tests administered since March.
Cases have skyrocketed in Illinois and its neighboring states over the last few weeks as the Midwest has become a focal point of the United States’ latest coronavirus resurgence. As of Monday night, 2,261 Illinoisans were hospitalized with the virus, the state’s most concurrent COVID-19 patients since mid-June.
Chicago health officials added five states to the city’s emergency travel order, which now requires residents and travelers to self-quarantine for two weeks after arriving from any of 30 states or Puerto Rico, including all of Illinois’ bordering states.
But Illinois itself meets the city’s criteria to be included on the quarantine list. On average, Illinois has added about 29 cases per 100,000 residents over the last week, nearly double the threshold rate set by Lightfoot’s health team.
The city has issued warnings, but not yet any fines, to people flouting the travel quarantine order. Essential workers are exempt.