chicagosun-times--2020-07-02--How many students are arrested at Chicago schools? CPS tells City Council it doesn’t know

The debate over police officers working in public schools landed in the virtual chambers of Chicago ’ s City Council Thursday at a joint committee hearing that featured defense from police and schools officials and testimony from a city watchdog who in the past has offered scathing criticism of the school resource officer program .
The online subject matter hearing came one week after Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s handpicked school board narrowly defeated a plan to yank Chicago police officers out of public schools , instead keeping the decision — for at least another month or two — largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of elected parents , teachers and community members at most of the 73 schools that have officers .
Though the hearing was pegged as an information-gathering session on the role of police in schools , CPS and CPD officials didn ’ t have answers to several key questions : How many students are arrested at school every year ?
How many schools with officers have active Local School Councils ?
How many officers have been removed from schools because of misconduct complaints ?
How many complaints have resulted in lawsuits ?
Officials initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what exactly the $ 33 million pays for in a contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department — though they later said it covers salary and benefits for the officers .
Education Committee Chairman Michael Scott Jr. ( 24th ) and Public Safety Committee Chairman Chris Taliaferro ( 29th ) , who are both against a blanket removal of cops from schools , said in the lead-up to the joint committee hearing that they hoped to highlight changes made in the school police program to correct “ deficiencies ” identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2018 audit of the program .
In a follow-up report last summer , Ferguson accused the Police Department of ignoring four of his five recommendations .
“ If there was a sense of urgency , this would have been done by now , ” the inspector general said then .
Ferguson in his testimony Thursday credited CPS and CPD for making an improved effort the past school year but said the program is still a work in progress .
The inspector general accused CPD of using its federal consent decree that mandates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drag its feet on necessary changes because the consent decree allows for a slower timeline and longer deadlines for change .
He said the consent decree is a “ floor for needed CPD reforms , but that it should not be treated as a ceiling , in terms of either substance or schedule.
” Ferguson also took a shot at Lightfoot ’ s stance that the decision on school police should be kicked down to members of Local School Councils , saying “ the choice to limit community representation on this issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insufficient ” by national standards .
“ This tendency to give short shrift to quality community engagement is a broader issue for CPD and municipal government generally , ” Ferguson said .
“ The tightly controlled and orchestrated community dialogue exercises that have become the norm exclude and alienate many concerned and engaged constituents and community members.
” Jadine Chou , CPS ’ chief of safety and security , said the district will take into consideration concerns about the school cops program and will offer more guidance to the LSCs which will vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers .
But Chou said “ significant improvements ” have been made to the program , and that she ’ s heard from parents , students and teachers who have said it ’ s “ moving in the right direction , and in some cases it ’ s superb.
” Chou and CPD Deputy Supt .
Barbara West , the third official testifying at the hearing , pointed to policy changes that include school resource officers no longer being allowed to intervene in student discipline , officers needing at least three years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a school and cops being required to undergo school-specific training .
All that is part of an August 2019 agreement — and further outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in the winter — between the CPD and CPS that expires next month .
Students , activists and progressive aldermen have said that reform hasn ’ t gone far enough .
Ald .
Sophia King ( 4th ) said at a press conference held by the council ’ s Progressive Caucus ahead of the hearing that “ the choices that are before us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing between an officer or nobody else , so of course they ’ ll choose the cop .
Asked by King whether schools that remove their officers would keep the money used to pay for them , Chou confirmed that “ CPS is not going to trade in those funds for other resources.
” And when Chou said CPS doesn ’ t track school arrests — acknowledging “ that ’ s definitely something we have to do a better job of understanding ” — Ald .
Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez ( 33rd ) said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data that is missing .
”

The debate over police officers working in public schools landed in the virtual chambers of Chicago’s City Council Thursday at a joint committee hearing that featured defense from police and schools officials and testimony from a city watchdog who in the past has offered scathing criticism of the school resource officer program.
The online subject matter hearing came one week after Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s handpicked school board narrowly defeated a plan to yank Chicago police officers out of public schools, instead keeping the decision — for at least another month or two — largely in the hands of a select group of elected parents, teachers and community members at most of the 73 schools that have officers.
Though the hearing was pegged as an information-gathering session on the role of police in schools, CPS and CPD officials didn’t have answers to several key questions: How many students are arrested at school every year? How many schools with officers have active Local School Councils? How many officers have been removed from schools because of misconduct complaints? How many complaints have resulted in lawsuits?
Officials initially even said they didn’t know what exactly the $33 million pays for in a contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department — though they later said it covers salary and benefits for the officers.
Education Committee Chairman Michael Scott Jr. (24th) and Public Safety Committee Chairman Chris Taliaferro (29th), who are both against a blanket removal of cops from schools, said in the lead-up to the joint committee hearing that they hoped to highlight changes made in the school police program to correct “deficiencies” identified by city Inspector General Joe Ferguson in a 2018 audit of the program.
In a follow-up report last summer, Ferguson accused the Police Department of ignoring four of his five recommendations. “If there was a sense of urgency, this would have been done by now,” the inspector general said then.
A police officer walks by as Essence Gatheright, 16, writes “Fund our schools” at a protest outside Chicago Board of Education President Miguel del Valle’s home on June 24, 2020. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Ferguson in his testimony Thursday credited CPS and CPD for making an improved effort the past school year but said the program is still a work in progress.
The inspector general accused CPD of using its federal consent decree that mandates department-wide reform “as a shield” to drag its feet on necessary changes because the consent decree allows for a slower timeline and longer deadlines for change. He said the consent decree is a “floor for needed CPD reforms, but that it should not be treated as a ceiling, in terms of either substance or schedule.”
Ferguson also took a shot at Lightfoot’s stance that the decision on school police should be kicked down to members of Local School Councils, saying “the choice to limit community representation on this issue to Local School Councils” is “insufficient” by national standards.
“This tendency to give short shrift to quality community engagement is a broader issue for CPD and municipal government generally,” Ferguson said. “The tightly controlled and orchestrated community dialogue exercises that have become the norm exclude and alienate many concerned and engaged constituents and community members.”
Jadine Chou, CPS’ chief of safety and security, said the district will take into consideration concerns about the school cops program and will offer more guidance to the LSCs which will vote again this fall whether to keep their officers.
But Chou said “significant improvements” have been made to the program, and that she’s heard from parents, students and teachers who have said it’s “moving in the right direction, and in some cases it’s superb.”
Chou and CPD Deputy Supt. Barbara West, the third official testifying at the hearing, pointed to policy changes that include school resource officers no longer being allowed to intervene in student discipline, officers needing at least three years of experience on the force to work in a school and cops being required to undergo school-specific training.
All that is part of an August 2019 agreement — and further outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in the winter — between the CPD and CPS that expires next month.
Students, activists and progressive aldermen have said that reform hasn’t gone far enough.
Ald. Sophia King (4th) said at a press conference held by the council’s Progressive Caucus ahead of the hearing that “the choices that are before us are false choices” because schools are choosing between an officer or nobody else, so of course they’ll choose the cop. Asked by King whether schools that remove their officers would keep the money used to pay for them, Chou confirmed that “CPS is not going to trade in those funds for other resources.”
And when Chou said CPS doesn’t track school arrests — acknowledging “that’s definitely something we have to do a better job of understanding” — Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) said “this seems like a lot of critical data that is missing.”
Contributing: Fran Spielman


chicagosun-times--2020-07-02--Chicago could be ‘bubble’ for eight teams left out of restart

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was counting on the NBA to do the right thing and throw the eight teams left out of the Orlando restart “ bubble ’ ’ a lifeline .
That finally might have come Thursday .
ESPN reported that the league was set to sign off on a second “ bubble ’ ’ in Chicago for those eight teams , and a league source confirmed that to be the case .
“ I ’ m confident because I think eight teams is a huge part of our league , and I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support those teams as well as they can , ’ ’ Karnisovas said in early June .
“ The proposed structure of some practices and some scrimmages that we would like to see this summer , I think it ’ s not too much to ask.
’ ’ Karnisovas didn ’ t seem focused on the details of what the league could give the teams , only that it would give them something .
Having a layoff from mid-March , when the coronavirus shut down the NBA , until possibly December is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rebuilding team like the Bulls .
Meanwhile , the other 22 teams get to compete , practice and recruit .
“ Again , I think we will get support from the league based on that , ’ ’ Karnisovas said .
While the details for the “ Chicago Eight ’ ’ are being discussed , the league is targeting to hold the “ bubble ” in September , possibly at Wintrust Arena .
When Chicago hosted the All-Star Game in February , many of the activities were held at that arena .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel and the league just executed security plans for the players about four months ago , there ’ s a solid base to add the coronavirus protocols .
Ideally , the “ bubble ” would take on an almost-Summer League feel .
Teams could have a camp in their home markets to get in shape , then play a tournament in Chicago .
What could help the Chicago “ bubble ’ ’ move forward is timing .
If the NBA likes how Orlando is working out and it ’ s able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the playoffs without many setbacks , the other eight teams could be allowed to proceed .
That ’ s all Karnisovas was asking for when he said the Bulls were disappointed in being left out .
“ We wanted to play because we thought we need to bring the sports back for our fans during this emotional time , ’ ’ Karnisovas said .
“ At the end of the day , we have to compromise and do what is best for our league .
The organization [ must ] be creative and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop our players once we were left out .
“ I know it was a very hard decision for [ commissioner ] Adam [ Silver ] to make .
That ’ s the direction of the league .
That was decided in a vote , and we ’ ll stick to that .
’ ’

Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas was counting on the NBA to do the right thing and throw the eight teams left out of the Orlando restart “bubble’’ a lifeline.
That finally might have come Thursday.
ESPN reported that the league was set to sign off on a second “bubble’’ in Chicago for those eight teams, with a league source confirming the news.
“I’m confident because I think eight teams is a huge part of our league, and I think the league’s interest is to support those teams as well as they can,’’ Karnisovas said in early June. “The proposed structure of some practices and some scrimmages that we would like to see this summer, I think it’s not too much to ask.’’
Karnisovas didn’t seem focused on the details of what the league could give the teams, only that it would give them something.
Having a layoff from mid-March, when the coronavirus shut down the NBA, until possibly December is a huge disadvantage, especially for a young, rebuilding team like the Bulls. Meanwhile, the other 22 teams get to compete, practice and recruit.
“Again, I think we will get support from the league based on that,’’ Karnisovas said.
While the details for the “Chicago Eight’’ are being discussed, the league is targeting to hold the “bubble” in September, possibly at Wintrust Arena.
When Chicago hosted the All-Star Game at the United Center in February, most of the activities were held at Wintrust. Considering it’s connected to a hotel, the location would be a solid base to add coronavirus protocols.
Ideally, the “bubble” would take on a summer-league like feel. Teams could hold a mini-training camp in their home markets to get in shape, then play a tournament in Chicago.
What could help the Chicago “bubble’’ move forward is timing. If the NBA likes how things are progressing in Orlando and it’s able to get through the shortened regular season and start the playoffs without many setbacks, the excluded eight teams might be allowed to proceed.
That’s all Karnisovas was asking for when he said the Bulls were disappointed in being left out.
“We wanted to play because we thought we need to bring the sports back for our fans during this emotional time,’’ Karnisovas said. “At the end of the day, we have to compromise and do what is best for our league. The organization [must] be creative and perhaps discover new opportunities to support and develop our players once we were left out.
“I know it was a very hard decision for [commissioner] Adam [Silver] to make. That’s the direction of the league. That was decided in a vote, and we’ll stick to that.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-07-02--These grilling tips will help ensure a delicious and safe summer barbecue season

Barbecue season might look a little different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic , but the risk of food poisoning hasn ’ t changed .
According to the Hearth , Patio & Barbecue Association ’ s biennial consumer survey , the Fourth of July is the most popular grilling day , with 68 % planning to barbecue .
Dealing with raw meat can be tricky , and cooking it improperly can be deadly .
“ Cooking food thoroughly and handling it correctly is critically important , ” Carmen Rottenberg , a former administrator with the USDA ’ s Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA TODAY .
“ The food produced is not sterile .
... People want to cook raw food and prepare it at home .
If you prepare it at home , you have to know there are some risks associated with it.
” When grilling raw meat , there are multiple steps you can take to avoid getting food poisoning , especially with E. coli , which can cause dehydration , bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps three to four days after exposure — and potentially kidney failure in children under 5 years old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ This summer may look different than most , and you can protect your family from foodborne illness and other illnesses during your summer celebrations by avoiding large gatherings , practicing social distancing , and washing your hands regularly , ” Dr. Mindy Brashears , the U.S. Department of Agriculture ’ s Under Secretary for Food Safety , said in a news release .
Cook meats to a safe temperature .
Use a food thermometer to check that your burgers or steaks have been cooked to a temperature that will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. coli .
Ground beef and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160°F ( 70˚C ) .
Steaks and roasts should be cooked to at least 145°F ( 62.6˚C ) and allow to rest for three minutes after removal from the grill .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a chart showing the safe cooking temperatures for foods .
Marinated no-no .
Don ’ t reuse marinades that have been used with raw meat .
For kabobs , keep meat and vegetables separate .
Put peppers , onions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cook faster than the meat , and you don ’ t want your meat undercooked .
Don ’ t use the same plates or utensils .
Whatever dish you bring the meats to the grill on should not be used to take them up , unless it ’ s cleaned thoroughly .
That ’ s because bacteria from the raw meat can spread to the cooked meat .
Have a clean plate or platter and clean utensils to take up food .
Practice cleanliness .
You should wash your hands after preparing meats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting boards and utensils after they are used on raw meats .
Beyond meat .
Keep chilled certain salads or desserts that were served cold .
After being served , cold dishes should not stay outside for more than two hours — and just one hour if it is warmer than 90 degrees outside .
Beyond that , toss it .
Special attention needed .
Some are more likely to succumb to food poisoning from E. coli ; children and newborns , pregnant women , the elderly , and those with weak immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Barbecue season might look a little different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the risk of food poisoning hasn’t changed.
According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association’s biennial consumer survey, the Fourth of July is the most popular grilling day, with 68% planning to barbecue.
Dealing with raw meat can be tricky, and cooking it improperly can be deadly.
“Cooking food thoroughly and handling it correctly is critically important,” Carmen Rottenberg, a former administrator with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, previously told USA TODAY. “The food produced is not sterile. ... People want to cook raw food and prepare it at home. If you prepare it at home, you have to know there are some risks associated with it.”
When grilling raw meat, there are multiple steps you can take to avoid getting food poisoning, especially with E. coli, which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps three to four days after exposure — and potentially kidney failure in children under 5 years old and in older adults, the CDC says.
“This summer may look different than most, and you can protect your family from foodborne illness and other illnesses during your summer celebrations by avoiding large gatherings, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands regularly,” Dr. Mindy Brashears, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Food Safety, said in a news release.
Grilling safety tips for your cookout
Cook meats to a safe temperature.Use a food thermometer to check that your burgers or steaks have been cooked to a temperature that will help prevent foodborne illnesses from bacteria such as E. coli. Ground beef and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160°F (70˚C). Steaks and roasts should be cooked to at least 145°F (62.6˚C) and allow to rest for three minutes after removal from the grill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a chart showing the safe cooking temperatures for foods.
Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160°F (70˚C). stock.adobe.com
Marinated no-no. Don’t reuse marinades that have been used with raw meat.
For kabobs, keep meat and vegetables separate. Put peppers, onions and carrots on separate sticks because veggies cook faster than the meat, and you don’t want your meat undercooked.
Don’t use the same plates or utensils.Whatever dish you bring the meats to the grill on should not be used to take them up, unless it’s cleaned thoroughly. That’s because bacteria from the raw meat can spread to the cooked meat. Have a clean plate or platter and clean utensils to take up food.
Practice cleanliness. You should wash your hands after preparing meats. Also wash your kitchen counter, cutting boards and utensils after they are used on raw meats.
Beyond meat. Keep chilled certain salads or desserts that were served cold. After being served, cold dishes should not stay outside for more than two hours — and just one hour if it is warmer than 90 degrees outside. Beyond that, toss it.
Special attention needed. Some are more likely to succumb to food poisoning from E. coli; children and newborns, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems are among those more susceptible.
After being served, cold dishes such as potato salad should not stay outside for more than two hours — and just one hour if it is warmer than 90 degrees outside. stock.adobe.com
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-07-02--Alabama college students going to ‘COVID parties’ to see who gets sick first, officials say

TUSCALOOSA , Ala. – As coronavirus cases around the U.S. continue to rise , authorities in one Alabama county may have identified a possible source for their increase .
Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Chief Randy Smith said Tuesday that city officials were able to confirm incidents of students knowingly diagnosed with COVID-19 still choosing to attend parties and gatherings within the city and county .
“ We thought that was kind of a rumor at first , ” said Smith , who is heading the city of Tuscaloosa ’ s Incident Command team in response to the coronavirus .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did the doctors ’ offices help confirm it , but the state confirmed they also had the same information.
” Smith did not specify how many students knowingly went to such parties or which university or school they attended .
Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry told ABC News that students have been organizing “ COVID parties ” at which they intentionally infect each other .
“ They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID .
Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot .
It makes no sense , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re intentionally doing it.
” McKinstry told ABC News that officials want to prevent such parties , but the task is challenging because the students are blatantly disregarding guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ When you ’ re dealing with the mind frame of people who are intentionally doing stuff like that and they ’ re spreading it intentionally , how can you truly fight something that people are constantly trying to promote ?
” McKinstry said .
In Alabama , 38,442 cases of coronavirus have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks – and 947 patients with the illness have died .
Across the United States , more than 2.6 million people are known to have been infected and more than 128,000 people have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
On Wednesday , the number of new cases in a day topped 50,000 nationally for the first time .
While young adults generally are at a lower risk for complications from severe disease from the virus , public health officials have warned they could be more likely to be spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms .
Severe complications are also still possible for young people .
Young people have also faced sharp scrutiny as videos and photos on social media show groups ignoring social distancing guidelines at pool parties , the beach or bars .
A USA TODAY analysis published last week found that people under 45 made up 42 % of cases before Memorial Day weekend but 55 % of cases reported since then .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading infectious disease expert , pleaded with people under 40 to take social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first public meeting of the White House Task Force on COVID-19 in months .
“ If you get infected , you will infect someone else , who clearly will infect someone else , ” he said .
“ Then , ultimately , you will infect someone who is vulnerable – that may be somebody ’ s grandmother , grandfather , uncle who ’ s on chemotherapy , aunt who ’ s on radiation , or a child who has leukemia .
”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – As coronavirus cases around the U.S. continue to rise, authorities in one Alabama county may have identified a possible source for their increase.
Infected college students.
Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Chief Randy Smith said Tuesday that city officials were able to confirm incidents of students knowingly diagnosed with COVID-19 still choosing to attend parties and gatherings within the city and county.
“We thought that was kind of a rumor at first,” said Smith, who is heading the city of Tuscaloosa’s Incident Command team in response to the coronavirus. “We did some additional research. Not only did the doctors’ offices help confirm it, but the state confirmed they also had the same information.”
Smith did not specify how many students knowingly went to such parties or which university or school they attended.
Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry told ABC News that students have been organizing “COVID parties” at which they intentionally infect each other.
“They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense,” McKinstry told the network. “They’re intentionally doing it.”
McKinstry told ABC News that officials want to prevent such parties, but the task is challenging because the students are blatantly disregarding guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“When you’re dealing with the mind frame of people who are intentionally doing stuff like that and they’re spreading it intentionally, how can you truly fight something that people are constantly trying to promote?” McKinstry said.
In Alabama, 38,442 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed – 10,696 within the past two weeks – and 947 patients with the illness have died.
Across the United States, more than 2.6 million people are known to have been infected and more than 128,000 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. On Wednesday, the number of new cases in a day topped 50,000 nationally for the first time.
While young adults generally are at a lower risk for complications from severe disease from the virus, public health officials have warned they could be more likely to be spreading the virus unknowingly with no or mild symptoms. Severe complications are also still possible for young people.
Young people have also faced sharp scrutiny as videos and photos on social media show groups ignoring social distancing guidelines at pool parties, the beach or bars.
A USA TODAY analysis published last week found that people under 45 made up 42% of cases before Memorial Day weekend but 55% of cases reported since then.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, pleaded with people under 40 to take social distancing guidelines more seriously at the the first public meeting of the White House Task Force on COVID-19 in months.
“If you get infected, you will infect someone else, who clearly will infect someone else,” he said. “Then, ultimately, you will infect someone who is vulnerable – that may be somebody’s grandmother, grandfather, uncle who’s on chemotherapy, aunt who’s on radiation, or a child who has leukemia.”
Contributing: Karen Weintraub, Jayme Fraser, Matt Wynn and Dan Keemahill
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-07-02--Confirmed coronavirus cases are rising in 40 of 50 states — including Illinois

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases per day in the U.S. climbed to an all-time high of more than 50,000 on Thursday , with the infection curve rising in 40 of the 50 states in a reversal that has largely spared only the Northeast .
An alarming 36 states are seeing an increase in the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus .
“ What we ’ ve seen is a very disturbing week , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious-disease expert , said in a livestream with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major retreat that illustrated how dire things have become in Texas , Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott ordered the wearing of masks across most of the state after refusing until recently to let even local governments impose such rules .
The surge has been blamed in part on Americans not covering their faces or following other social distancing rules as states lifted their lockdowns over the past few weeks .
Fauci warned that if people don ’ t start complying , “ we ’ re going to be in some serious difficulty.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
That represents a doubling of the daily total over the past month and is higher even than what the country witnessed during the most lethal phase of the crisis in April and May , when the New York metropolitan area was easily the worst hot spot in the U.S. All but 10 states are showing an upswing in newly reported cases over the past 14 days , according to data compiled by the volunteer COVID Tracking Project .
The outbreaks are most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which together with California have reclosed or otherwise clamped back down on bars , restaurants and movie theaters over the past week or so .
Nebraska and South Dakota were the only states outside the Northeast with a downward trend in cases .
While some of the increases may be explained by expanded testing , other indicators are grim , too , including hospitalizations and positive test rates .
Over the past two weeks , the percentage of positive tests has doubled in Georgia , Kansas , Montana , Michigan , Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ohio .
In Nevada , it has tripled .
In Idaho , it is five times higher .
In Texas , where new cases in the past two weeks have swelled from about 2,400 a day to almost 8,100 on Wednesday , the positive rate ballooned from 8 % to 14.5 % .
In Arizona , it has gone from 5.7 % to 10.3 % .
Abbott , who in May began one of the most aggressive reopening schedules of any governor , ordered the wearing of masks in all counties with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a video posted on Twitter that the state ’ s lower infection rate and case counts after his stay-home order in April might have led some to think the “ coast was clear.
” But the number of people hospitalized in Texas because of COVID-19 has tripled since late May , after businesses began reopening .
“ We are now at a point where the virus is spreading so fast , there is little margin for error , ” Abbott said .
“ I know that wearing a face covering is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I also know that wearing a face covering will help us to keep Texas open for business .
And it will help Texans earn the paycheck they need.
” The surge comes as Americans head into a Fourth of July holiday that health officials warn could add fuel to the outbreak by drawing big crowds .
Many municipalities have canceled fireworks displays .
Beaches up and down California and Florida have been closed .
Florida reported more than 10,000 new confirmed cases for the first time Thursday .
That is six times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a month ago .
The state also reported 67 deaths for the second time in a week and 325 new hospitalizations , one of the biggest 24-hour jumps in Florida yet .
Georgia likewise saw its biggest single-day increase yet , nearly 3,500 cases .
“ I ’ m discouraged because we didn ’ t act fast enough to shut things down , and we could have done a much better job getting a handle on the virus , ” said Megan Archer , a 39-year-old woman from West Palm Beach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a county parks department during the outbreak .
Meanwhile , the government reported that U.S. unemployment fell to 11.1 % in June as the economy added a solid 4.8 million jobs .
But that figure may be outdated : The data was collected during the second week of June , before many states began to backtrack on restarting their economies .
Several Northeastern states have seen new infections slow down significantly , including New York , Massachusetts , Connecticut , Rhode Island and New Jersey , which allowed its Atlantic City casinos to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , drinking or eating .
Pennsylvania , an outlier among Northeastern states , reported its highest one-day total of new cases since May , with more than 830 , more than one-quarter of them in Pittsburgh ’ s Allegheny County , which will impose a one-week shutdown of bars and restaurants and all gatherings of more than 25 people starting Friday .
Other states , like Colorado , a major summer destination where increases in infections have been less dramatic , are keeping a close eye on their neighbors .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re well aware of what ’ s going on around us and we ’ re very anxious , ” said Dr. Michelle Barron , medical director of infection prevention and control at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital .
“ The next couple of weeks are critical.
” President Donald Trump on Wednesday seemed confident the virus would soon subside , telling Fox Business : “ I think that , at some point , that ’ s going to sort of just disappear , I hope.
” The U.S. has reported at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 128,000 dead , the highest toll in the world .
Globally there have been 10.7 million confirmed cases and over 517,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins ’ count .
The true toll is believed to be significantly higher , in part because of limited testing and mild cases that have been missed .
Other countries are also reporting an upswing in cases .
“ We have now entered a new and treacherous phase in the life cycle of this pandemic , ” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned in a broadcast to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8,100 new infections , a one-day record , and has the biggest caseload on the continent .
India , the world ’ s second-most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people , has reported nearly 100,000 new cases in the past four days alone .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases per day in the U.S. climbed to an all-time high of more than 50,000 on Thursday, with the infection curve rising in 40 of the 50 states in a reversal that has largely spared only the Northeast.
An alarming 36 states are seeing an increase in the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus.
“What we’ve seen is a very disturbing week,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, said in a livestream with the American Medical Association.
In a major retreat that illustrated how dire things have become in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the wearing of masks across most of the state after refusing until recently to let even local governments impose such rules.
The surge has been blamed in part on Americans not covering their faces or following other social distancing rules as states lifted their lockdowns over the past few weeks. Fauci warned that if people don’t start complying, “we’re going to be in some serious difficulty.”
The U.S. recorded 50,700 new confirmed cases, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. That represents a doubling of the daily total over the past month and is higher even than what the country witnessed during the most lethal phase of the crisis in April and May, when the New York metropolitan area was easily the worst hot spot in the U.S.
All but 10 states are showing an upswing in newly reported cases over the past 14 days, according to data compiled by the volunteer COVID Tracking Project. The outbreaks are most severe in Arizona, Texas and Florida, which together with California have reclosed or otherwise clamped back down on bars, restaurants and movie theaters over the past week or so.
Nebraska and South Dakota were the only states outside the Northeast with a downward trend in cases.
While some of the increases may be explained by expanded testing, other indicators are grim, too, including hospitalizations and positive test rates. Over the past two weeks, the percentage of positive tests has doubled in Georgia, Kansas, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina and Ohio. In Nevada, it has tripled. In Idaho, it is five times higher.
In Texas, where new cases in the past two weeks have swelled from about 2,400 a day to almost 8,100 on Wednesday, the positive rate ballooned from 8% to 14.5%. In Arizona, it has gone from 5.7% to 10.3%.
Abbott, who in May began one of the most aggressive reopening schedules of any governor, ordered the wearing of masks in all counties with at least 20 COVID-19 cases.
Abbott said in a video posted on Twitter that the state’s lower infection rate and case counts after his stay-home order in April might have led some to think the “coast was clear.”
But the number of people hospitalized in Texas because of COVID-19 has tripled since late May, after businesses began reopening.
“We are now at a point where the virus is spreading so fast, there is little margin for error,” Abbott said. “I know that wearing a face covering is not the convenient thing to do, but I also know that wearing a face covering will help us to keep Texas open for business. And it will help Texans earn the paycheck they need.”
The surge comes as Americans head into a Fourth of July holiday that health officials warn could add fuel to the outbreak by drawing big crowds. Many municipalities have canceled fireworks displays. Beaches up and down California and Florida have been closed.
Florida reported more than 10,000 new confirmed cases for the first time Thursday. That is six times higher than the daily count of less than a month ago. The state also reported 67 deaths for the second time in a week and 325 new hospitalizations, one of the biggest 24-hour jumps in Florida yet. Georgia likewise saw its biggest single-day increase yet, nearly 3,500 cases.
“I’m discouraged because we didn’t act fast enough to shut things down, and we could have done a much better job getting a handle on the virus,” said Megan Archer, a 39-year-old woman from West Palm Beach, Florida, who lost her job with a county parks department during the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the government reported that U.S. unemployment fell to 11.1% in June as the economy added a solid 4.8 million jobs. But that figure may be outdated: The data was collected during the second week of June, before many states began to backtrack on restarting their economies.
Several Northeastern states have seen new infections slow down significantly, including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey, which allowed its Atlantic City casinos to reopen Thursday, though with no smoking, drinking or eating.
Pennsylvania, an outlier among Northeastern states, reported its highest one-day total of new cases since May, with more than 830, more than one-quarter of them in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County, which will impose a one-week shutdown of bars and restaurants and all gatherings of more than 25 people starting Friday.
Other states, like Colorado, a major summer destination where increases in infections have been less dramatic, are keeping a close eye on their neighbors.
“I’ve been watching that map. … We’re well aware of what’s going on around us and we’re very anxious,” said Dr. Michelle Barron, medical director of infection prevention and control at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. “The next couple of weeks are critical.”
President Donald Trump on Wednesday seemed confident the virus would soon subside, telling Fox Business: “I think that, at some point, that’s going to sort of just disappear, I hope.”
The U.S. has reported at least 2.7 million cases and more than 128,000 dead, the highest toll in the world. Globally there have been 10.7 million confirmed cases and over 517,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins’ count. The true toll is believed to be significantly higher, in part because of limited testing and mild cases that have been missed.
Other countries are also reporting an upswing in cases.
“We have now entered a new and treacherous phase in the life cycle of this pandemic,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned in a broadcast to the nation, which recorded more than 8,100 new infections, a one-day record, and has the biggest caseload on the continent.
India, the world’s second-most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people, has reported nearly 100,000 new cases in the past four days alone.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-03--Dear Abby: I ran back inside after my neighbor’s weird, lewd outburst

DEAR ABBY : I ’ m a 60-year-old woman .
My house is on a corner lot .
Just about every time I walk outside , a male neighbor of mine stares at me .
He looks like a hobo .
I felt bad for him , so when he came to the edge of his yard , I asked him from my deck how he was doing because of the quarantine .
He responded by telling me to wear a dress because he wants to have sex with me !
I was stunned and went back into the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that crazy .
Besides ignoring him , what if anything should I do ?
— SHOCKED NEIGHBOR IN CONNECTICUT DEAR NEIGHBOR : Because this was a one-time occurrence , it ’ s possible your neighbor may have been “ under the influence , ” or has mental health challenges or a touch of dementia .
From now on , ignore him , avoid him and warn the other women in the neighborhood about what happened .
If I were one of them , I would like to know .
Other than that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do unless his behavior escalates and he becomes a nuisance .
In that case , you may want to go online to the National Sex Offender Registry just to make sure your neighbor is not a registered sex offender .
Then it will be time to file a police report .
DEAR ABBY : When seeing a therapist is not an option , I have found writing to be helpful .
A cheap spiral-bound school notebook works great .
The idea is to write at least one full page every day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , “ I don ’ t want to write , ” but I fill that page anyway , so that the commitment is met .
However , other days I find I can pour my heart out , unload the things that are hurting me , express my anger , resentments , disappointments and longings .
Sometimes , while I ’ m waiting for the thoughts to come , an insight or solution will present itself .
Because I ’ m afraid of my thoughts being found and read by someone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s written .
Names can be disguised .
The simple act of getting those thoughts out of my head and onto paper helps to relieve stress tremendously .
Just thought I ’ d share this with you .
— WRITING IT DOWN IN THE EAST DEAR WRITING : Writing or journaling is a very effective way to organize one ’ s thoughts and purge negative emotions .
I ’ m glad you suggested it because I think it may help some of my readers .
Thank you !
DEAR ABBY : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are grocery shopping and we get to the checkout , they ’ ll ask for candy or chips .
If I tell them no , it ’ s usually because they have already had a treat , it ’ s too close to a meal or perhaps because they have misbehaved .
What do I do when the person behind me offers to buy it for them ?
I know they assume I refused because I don ’ t have the money , and they are trying to be helpful .
Saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” just upsets the child when he or she knows someone wanted to buy them a treat .
Any ideas ?
— NO MEANS NO IN GEORGIA DEAR NO MEANS NO : Instead of just saying , “ No , thank you , ” to the person making the offer , explain the reason for your refusal as you have explained it to me .
That way , the well-meaning stranger understands that you are not short of funds , and your nieces and nephews hear the reason as well .
Dear Abby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To order “ How to Write Letters for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 60-year-old woman. My house is on a corner lot. Just about every time I walk outside, a male neighbor of mine stares at me. He looks like a hobo.
I felt bad for him, so when he came to the edge of his yard, I asked him from my deck how he was doing because of the quarantine. He responded by telling me to wear a dress because he wants to have sex with me! I was stunned and went back into the house. I didn’t know he was that crazy. Besides ignoring him, what if anything should I do? — SHOCKED NEIGHBOR IN CONNECTICUT
DEAR NEIGHBOR: Because this was a one-time occurrence, it’s possible your neighbor may have been “under the influence,” or has mental health challenges or a touch of dementia. From now on, ignore him, avoid him and warn the other women in the neighborhood about what happened. If I were one of them, I would like to know.
Other than that, there’s not much you can do unless his behavior escalates and he becomes a nuisance. In that case, you may want to go online to the National Sex Offender Registry just to make sure your neighbor is not a registered sex offender. Then it will be time to file a police report.
DEAR ABBY: When seeing a therapist is not an option, I have found writing to be helpful. A cheap spiral-bound school notebook works great. The idea is to write at least one full page every day.
Some days, all I can say is, “I don’t want to write,” but I fill that page anyway, so that the commitment is met. However, other days I find I can pour my heart out, unload the things that are hurting me, express my anger, resentments, disappointments and longings. Sometimes, while I’m waiting for the thoughts to come, an insight or solution will present itself.
Because I’m afraid of my thoughts being found and read by someone else, I destroy each page after it’s written. Names can be disguised. The simple act of getting those thoughts out of my head and onto paper helps to relieve stress tremendously. Just thought I’d share this with you. — WRITING IT DOWN IN THE EAST
DEAR WRITING: Writing or journaling is a very effective way to organize one’s thoughts and purge negative emotions. I’m glad you suggested it because I think it may help some of my readers. Thank you!
DEAR ABBY: I babysit my nieces and nephews. While we are grocery shopping and we get to the checkout, they’ll ask for candy or chips. If I tell them no, it’s usually because they have already had a treat, it’s too close to a meal or perhaps because they have misbehaved.
What do I do when the person behind me offers to buy it for them? I know they assume I refused because I don’t have the money, and they are trying to be helpful. Saying, “No, thank you,” just upsets the child when he or she knows someone wanted to buy them a treat. Any ideas? — NO MEANS NO IN GEORGIA
DEAR NO MEANS NO: Instead of just saying, “No, thank you,” to the person making the offer, explain the reason for your refusal as you have explained it to me. That way, the well-meaning stranger understands that you are not short of funds, and your nieces and nephews hear the reason as well.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-03--Wild West competition for face masks has eased; Illinois stockpiling PPE for a second wave

If Illinois experiences a resurgence of COVID-19 later this year , as many expect , state officials say they should be much better prepared from the standpoint of having the necessary medical supplies this time around .
Deputy Gov .
Christian Mitchell said the state has stockpiled tens of millions of face masks and other personal protective equipment — gowns , gloves and shields — in anticipation of a possible second wave .
“ I feel we are pretty well-positioned at this point , ” said Mitchell , who found himself in the eye of the storm in early spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on PPE procurement .
Back then — just three months ago , though Mitchell said it feels like three years — I told you about the Wild West world of emergency PPE procurement in which governments competed for equipment to respond to the pandemic .
Not only were states and cities vying with each other , they also were up against our federal government and foreign nations to locate and purchase face masks and other supplies .
Officials ended up bidding up prices as they fought over scarce inventory , much of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own complications because of the Trump administration ’ s antagonistic relationship with the Chinese .
Special flights had to be arranged to bring in materials .
It got so crazy at one point that an Illinois state comptroller ’ s employee drove a $ 3.5 million check from Springfield to a McDonald ’ s restaurant in Dwight to hand it off to a Chicago area moving company owner to beat a deadline to close the deal on an order of face masks from China .
“ The dust has settled , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifted his family ’ s beauty-supply business into medical supplies during the early days of COVID-19 and later landed two state contracts for PPE .
The need for supplies remains .
But the urgency has eased , according to Park , whose Alicia International Inc. used its Chinese relationships to make the switch .
Now that the chaos has subsided , government agencies are back to demanding Dun & Bradstreet numbers from bidders instead of taking chances on anyone with a good pitch , Park said .
According to Mitchell , many members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker in the early weeks of the pandemic have been returned to their jobs in the state agencies from which they were pulled .
The declining number of coronavirus cases in Illinois has allowed state officials to plan for future needs , he said .
Officials studied the rate at which they were using protective equipment at the height of their caseload to project what the state would need “ if we got that bad again , ” said Mitchell , a former state legislator from Chicago .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply.
” Mitchell said the state is trying to be in a position to have a longer lead time on supply purchases instead of needing everything yesterday .
The emergence of domestic suppliers has made products cheaper and created a more reliable supply chain , he said .
It also has alleviated some of the shipping problems , he said .
Now that there ’ s less of a rush , materials can be brought over on ships that take weeks instead of relying on air freight to get them in days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now of fending for themselves rather than having to look to government for PPE .
Still , one PPE item remains a “ struggle ” to obtain , according to Mitchell .
That ’ s N95 masks , also known as respirators , which medical personnel need .
“ Everyone is looking for them , ” he said .
The Pritzker administration has promised to provide 2.5 million masks to allow schoolchildren and teachers to return to the classroom this fall .
Mitchell said the plan is to supply each student and teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can be washed .
Park is expecting plenty of contract opportunities before school reopens .
Kids will have a hard time keeping the masks clean , he said , and they ’ ll forget to bring them to school .
Anyone remember the good old days when we didn ’ t even know what PPE meant ?

If Illinois experiences a resurgence of COVID-19 later this year, as many expect, state officials say they should be much better prepared from the standpoint of having the necessary medical supplies this time around.
Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell said the state has stockpiled tens of millions of face masks and other personal protective equipment — gowns, gloves and shields — in anticipation of a possible second wave.
“I feel we are pretty well-positioned at this point,” said Mitchell, who found himself in the eye of the storm in early spring as the governor’s point man on PPE procurement.
Back then — just three months ago, though Mitchell said it feels like three years — I told you about the Wild West world of emergency PPE procurement in which governments competed for equipment to respond to the pandemic.
Not only were states and cities vying with each other, they also were up against our federal government and foreign nations to locate and purchase face masks and other supplies.
Officials ended up bidding up prices as they fought over scarce inventory, much of it located in China, which posed its own complications because of the Trump administration’s antagonistic relationship with the Chinese. Special flights had to be arranged to bring in materials.
It got so crazy at one point that an Illinois state comptroller’s employee drove a $3.5 million check from Springfield to a McDonald’s restaurant in Dwight to hand it off to a Chicago area moving company owner to beat a deadline to close the deal on an order of face masks from China.
“The dust has settled,” said Arnold Park, a Chicago lawyer who shifted his family’s beauty-supply business into medical supplies during the early days of COVID-19 and later landed two state contracts for PPE.
The need for supplies remains. But the urgency has eased, according to Park, whose Alicia International Inc. used its Chinese relationships to make the switch.
Now that the chaos has subsided, government agencies are back to demanding Dun & Bradstreet numbers from bidders instead of taking chances on anyone with a good pitch, Park said.
According to Mitchell, many members of an emergency procurement task force assembled by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the early weeks of the pandemic have been returned to their jobs in the state agencies from which they were pulled.
Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, whose troops were being told back in the spring that agents of foreign governments were in China with cash to make PPE purchases directly from factories in the Wild West competition for supplies. Rich Hein / Sun-Times
The declining number of coronavirus cases in Illinois has allowed state officials to plan for future needs, he said.
Officials studied the rate at which they were using protective equipment at the height of their caseload to project what the state would need “if we got that bad again,” said Mitchell, a former state legislator from Chicago. “The goal is to have a 60-day supply.”
Mitchell said the state is trying to be in a position to have a longer lead time on supply purchases instead of needing everything yesterday.
The emergence of domestic suppliers has made products cheaper and created a more reliable supply chain, he said. It also has alleviated some of the shipping problems, he said. Now that there’s less of a rush, materials can be brought over on ships that take weeks instead of relying on air freight to get them in days.
Another improvement: Hospitals are more capable now of fending for themselves rather than having to look to government for PPE.
Still, one PPE item remains a “struggle” to obtain, according to Mitchell. That’s N95 masks, also known as respirators, which medical personnel need.
“Everyone is looking for them,” he said.
The Pritzker administration has promised to provide 2.5 million masks to allow schoolchildren and teachers to return to the classroom this fall. Mitchell said the plan is to supply each student and teacher with one or two reusable cloth masks that can be washed.
Park is expecting plenty of contract opportunities before school reopens. Kids will have a hard time keeping the masks clean, he said, and they’ll forget to bring them to school.
Anyone remember the good old days when we didn’t even know what PPE meant?


chicagosun-times--2020-07-03--As car insurers touted COVID-19 refunds, 1 company’s filings show ‘coronavirus windfall’

This spring , when COVID-19 began spreading and the country largely shut down , many auto insurers boasted about the money they were giving back to consumers .
The refunds to those who insured with them typically were about 15 % to 20 % of a monthly premium and were for two months .
In TV commercials , car insurance companies said it was the right thing to do during a difficult time .
But how much of a sacrifice were they really making ?
Consumer advocates don ’ t think it was enough , given that people weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and accident claims that had to be paid out — were sharply down .
Insurers don ’ t want to talk about how much they ’ ve still profited during the coronavirus pandemic .
But government filings made by one of them , Progressive , indicate they might still have come out ahead despite the givebacks thanks to the steep plunge in traffic that began in mid-March .
In a filing with the Michigan Department of Insurance — which was one of three states that ordered insurers to make refunds — Progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims in March compared to a year earlier .
It also said claims were down 31.9 % this year in March compared to February .
Progressive didn ’ t supply data for April — the month that most automobile insurance companies saw their biggest drop in claims .
After expenses , the company ’ s own actuary indicated that a 22.8 % refund was warranted .
But Progressive instead chose to refund consumers 20 % for April and May , calling it “ our best estimate of all associated effects.
” At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income for April and May of $ 1.3 billion .
That ’ s more than double the $ 566.3 million net income it reported for April and May last year , according to the insurer ’ s news releases .
Its companywide “ loss ratios ” plunged in April and May compared to those same months in 2019 — again signaling more money coming in than going out .
Insurance industry groups say the refund calculations took into account bad debt , accident severity and other costs .
Still , Douglas Heller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America , an advocacy group , calls Progressive ’ s profits “ beyond extraordinary.
” Other automobile insurers reported accident claims dropping 60 % or more this spring in their Michigan filings .
Even figuring in higher costs associated with the pandemic — for instance , with more people out of work , more were unable to pay their premiums — the insurance companies still are likely to have come out ahead even after giving refunds , according to Heller .
“ The givebacks have been relatively meager compared to the change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who calls it a “ coronavirus windfall ” for insurers .
The consumer federation estimates the springtime refunds from car insurers should have been closer to 30 % .
And it ’ s urging that refunds be continued this summer as many Americans are still working from home , driving less — and getting into fewer accidents that insurers have to pay claims for .
The organization and another not-for-profit advocacy group , the Center for Economic Justice , sent letters to each state ’ s insurance department on June 25 , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey and Michigan are the only states that ordered auto insurers to refund money for April and May .
California recently extended that to cover June “ and any period after June as conditions warrant.
” Illinois and most other states did not mandate refunds , choosing only to encourage some relief for consumers .
The insurance industry says figuring out the right amount to give back , while keeping enough money to pay future claims , is trickier than it appears .
When they collected premiums months earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic was about to strike .
And no one knows what fall or winter will bring .
Bob Passmore , vice president at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association , says “ insurance is perhaps the only product where you do not know the final cost of providing it until much later.
” Passmore says that , though accident claims are down , people are driving faster on emptier roadways , and that ’ s leading to more severe — and costlier — crashes .
The industry saw other unexpected costs .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep policies active during the shutdowns even if policyholders couldn ’ t pay .
Insurers also were buying equipment so employees could work from home .
And there ’ s concern the pandemic could affect global auto parts supplies , leading to higher costs for repairs .
Traffic plummeted nationwide beginning in mid-March , when many states ordered schools and businesses to close .
In the Chicago area , traffic fell about 37 % from normal levels in March , 43 % in April , 22 % in May and 12 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm INRIX .
The Michigan refund filings reveal how much the shutdowns lowered accident claims .
For instance , Allstate told Michigan regulators its accident frequency dropped 25 % in March and 60 % in April .
The company did not respond to a Sun-Times request for May and June figures , though in its Michigan filing it estimated a 40 % decrease in May .
After factoring in its costs , Allstate offered a 15 % refund to its car insurance customers in April and May and later extended that to June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company said the giveback reflected “ our best insights and techniques to estimate the expected value of future costs.
” Two smaller companies — Selective Insurance and Electric Insurance — reported even larger drops in claims .
Selective saw a 67 % drop by early April , and Electric reported a 73 % decrease .
Both gave refunds of 15 % .
Unlike rate filings , which are based on years of data , the coronavirus refunds were calculated quickly , using less precise numbers .
For example , in its Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit on customers ’ six-month renewals by saying that “ given the uncertainties , 15 % is a number that would likely average out ” over six months and be fair .
Geico didn ’ t respond to requests for comment .
State Farm told Michigan its average daily claims in April dropped 50 % below normal .
After factoring in its costs , the company decided to refund customers an average of 30 % in Michigan and 27.5 % in Illinois for premiums from March 20 through May 31 , appearing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also has announced future rate cuts , including a 13.7 % cut in Illinois .
“ As driving behaviors continue to evolve , we are monitoring and responding accordingly , ” State Farm spokesman Chris Pilcic said .
Michigan insurance director Anita G. Fox said her department will review all of the refunds this month and determine whether consumers deserve more .
“ We ’ re going to be looking at that , ” Fox said .
“ We ’ re also looking at whether it should be more sustained.
” Fox said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number that they pick out of the air.
” Policyholders whose driving has changed substantially should talk to their insurer about additional discounts — or shop around , Fox said .

This spring, when COVID-19 began spreading and the country largely shut down, many auto insurers boasted about the money they were giving back to consumers.
The refunds to those who insured with them typically were about 15% to 20% of a monthly premium and were for two months.
In TV commercials, car insurance companies said it was the right thing to do during a difficult time.
But how much of a sacrifice were they really making? Consumer advocates don’t think it was enough, given that people weren’t driving as much, so accidents — and accident claims that had to be paid out — were sharply down.
Insurers don’t want to talk about how much they’ve still profited during the coronavirus pandemic. But government filings made by one of them, Progressive, indicate they might still have come out ahead despite the givebacks thanks to the steep plunge in traffic that began in mid-March.
In a filing with the Michigan Department of Insurance — which was one of three states that ordered insurers to make refunds — Progressive reported a 28.7% drop in accident claims in March compared to a year earlier. It also said claims were down 31.9% this year in March compared to February.
Progressive didn’t supply data for April — the month that most automobile insurance companies saw their biggest drop in claims.
After expenses, the company’s own actuary indicated that a 22.8% refund was warranted.
But Progressive instead chose to refund consumers 20% for April and May, calling it “our best estimate of all associated effects.”
At the same time, Progressive was reporting net income for April and May of $1.3 billion. That’s more than double the $566.3 million net income it reported for April and May last year, according to the insurer’s news releases.
Its companywide “loss ratios” plunged in April and May compared to those same months in 2019 — again signaling more money coming in than going out.
Progressive didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Insurance industry groups say the refund calculations took into account bad debt, accident severity and other costs.
Still, Douglas Heller, an insurance expert for the Consumer Federation of America, an advocacy group, calls Progressive’s profits “beyond extraordinary.”
Other automobile insurers reported accident claims dropping 60% or more this spring in their Michigan filings.
Even figuring in higher costs associated with the pandemic — for instance, with more people out of work, more were unable to pay their premiums — the insurance companies still are likely to have come out ahead even after giving refunds, according to Heller.
“The givebacks have been relatively meager compared to the change in risk,” says Heller, who calls it a “coronavirus windfall” for insurers.
The consumer federation estimates the springtime refunds from car insurers should have been closer to 30%. And it’s urging that refunds be continued this summer as many Americans are still working from home, driving less — and getting into fewer accidents that insurers have to pay claims for.
The organization and another not-for-profit advocacy group, the Center for Economic Justice, sent letters to each state’s insurance department on June 25, asking for more relief for policyholders.
California, New Jersey and Michigan are the only states that ordered auto insurers to refund money for April and May. California recently extended that to cover June “and any period after June as conditions warrant.”
Illinois and most other states did not mandate refunds, choosing only to encourage some relief for consumers.
The insurance industry says figuring out the right amount to give back, while keeping enough money to pay future claims, is trickier than it appears. When they collected premiums months earlier, the companies didn’t know a once-in-a-century pandemic was about to strike. And no one knows what fall or winter will bring.
Bob Passmore, vice president at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, says “insurance is perhaps the only product where you do not know the final cost of providing it until much later.”
Passmore says that, though accident claims are down, people are driving faster on emptier roadways, and that’s leading to more severe — and costlier — crashes.
The industry saw other unexpected costs. In some states, insurers were required to keep policies active during the shutdowns even if policyholders couldn’t pay.
Insurers also were buying equipment so employees could work from home. And there’s concern the pandemic could affect global auto parts supplies, leading to higher costs for repairs.
Traffic plummeted nationwide beginning in mid-March, when many states ordered schools and businesses to close.
In the Chicago area, traffic fell about 37% from normal levels in March, 43% in April, 22% in May and 12% in June, according to data and analytics firm INRIX.
A customer pumps gas at a station in Uptown. Many people are still working from home and commuting less due to COVID-19. Pat Nabong / Sun-Times
The Michigan refund filings reveal how much the shutdowns lowered accident claims.
For instance, Allstate told Michigan regulators its accident frequency dropped 25% in March and 60% in April. The company did not respond to a Sun-Times request for May and June figures, though in its Michigan filing it estimated a 40% decrease in May.
After factoring in its costs, Allstate offered a 15% refund to its car insurance customers in April and May and later extended that to June. In its statement to regulators, the company said the giveback reflected “our best insights and techniques to estimate the expected value of future costs.”
Two smaller companies — Selective Insurance and Electric Insurance — reported even larger drops in claims. Selective saw a 67% drop by early April, and Electric reported a 73% decrease. Both gave refunds of 15%.
Unlike rate filings, which are based on years of data, the coronavirus refunds were calculated quickly, using less precise numbers.
For example, in its Michigan filing Geico justified giving a 15% credit on customers’ six-month renewals by saying that “given the uncertainties, 15% is a number that would likely average out” over six months and be fair. Geico didn’t respond to requests for comment.
State Farm told Michigan its average daily claims in April dropped 50% below normal. After factoring in its costs, the company decided to refund customers an average of 30% in Michigan and 27.5% in Illinois for premiums from March 20 through May 31, appearing on July’s bills. State Farm also has announced future rate cuts, including a 13.7% cut in Illinois.
“As driving behaviors continue to evolve, we are monitoring and responding accordingly,” State Farm spokesman Chris Pilcic said.
Michigan insurance director Anita G. Fox said her department will review all of the refunds this month and determine whether consumers deserve more. “We’re going to be looking at that,” Fox said. “We’re also looking at whether it should be more sustained.”
Fox said each refund should be “not just a number that they pick out of the air.”
Policyholders whose driving has changed substantially should talk to their insurer about additional discounts — or shop around, Fox said.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-03--Southwest Side man quickly deported to Mexico while awaiting DACA decision

On a rainy Sunday in early June , Jesus Alberto Lopez Gutierrez — “ Beto ” to his friends — took out the grill at his uncle ’ s house in West Elsdon to cook his family carne asada .
Lopez Gutierrez had been living in the basement unit with his parents and siblings since immigrating from Mexico in 2005 .
The pandemic largely put an end to big family gatherings , but neither rain nor coronavirus could stop his aunts , grandparents , uncles , cousins , nieces and nephews from showing up .
They wanted to say goodbye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lopez Gutierrez was released on bail from immigration detention after being stopped for speeding .
But after an appellate court upheld a deportation order in May , the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency told him to show up June 9 at their field office in Iowa .
“ I had a feeling that Sunday might be the last time I saw my family , ” says Lopez Gutierrez , 25 .
He was right .
The day after his Iowa check-in , ICE put him on a plane back to his native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago to Mexico that quickly .
“ It typically takes two to three weeks to be removed from the Chicago area , ” says Diana Rashid , a supervising attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago .
“ I can ’ t think of a case where it happened in less than a week.
” Lopez Gutierrez ’ s lawyers think the quick deportation was in retaliation for him suing ICE after the agency blocked his request to be released from detention last year so he could apply for deportation relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arrivals policy under which he appeared to qualify .
An ICE spokesman won ’ t discuss that , saying the agency arrested and deported Lopez Gutierrez because his deportation appeal fell through .
Immigration officials still haven ’ t issued a final ruling on Lopez Gutierrez ’ s DACA application .
But they said days before he was deported that they intended to deny it based on three nonviolent traffic violations — which his lawyers say wouldn ’ t allow his deportation under the agency ’ s policies .
A spokesman for U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agency that oversees DACA , won ’ t comment on individual applications .
A week ago , the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration ’ s plan to dismantle DACA .
The nation ’ s high court found that the government offered no compelling legal basis for ending the policy former President Barack Obama instituted to protect those brought to the United States as children who want to stay and be able to legally go to school and work .
But the administration already had essentially made DACA useless for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants who potentially qualify for DACA but , as was the case with Lopez Gutierrez , are not currently protected by the policy and could be deported even though this is the only country many have known as home .
“ As a mother , you see your kids as being almost perfect , ” says Lourdes Gutierrez , Lopez Gutierrez ’ s mother .
“ But if only people knew how goodhearted my son is , maybe they wouldn ’ t have taken him away.
” The youngest of three children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Mexican state of Jalisco .
His family came to Chicago and settled on the Southwest Side when he was 10 , after his father Miguel Lopez was laid off from his job at a brewery in Guadalajara .
“ The plan was to come for three years and save up , but it ’ s almost been 15 , and we ’ re still here , ” Lopez says .
Lopez Gutierrez graduated from Solorio Academy High School in 2014 and started working construction jobs soon after .
“ He just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maturity and curiosity that made him someone others gravitated to , ” says Jacob Caplan , his teacher for advanced placement psychology at Solorio .
As a graduation present , Lopez Gutierrez bought himself a white snake .
He named it Yogi , after the cartoon bear .
“ Snakes strangle their food , ” he says , “ like a bear hug , you know ?
” Lopez Gutierrez ’ s mom says Yogi symbolized her son ’ s reverence for nature .
“ During the holidays in Jalisco when he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the forests or the beach , and he would love every minute of it , ” she says .
It was Lopez Gutierrez ’ s love for the outdoors that put him on ICE ’ s radar .
In May 2019 , a police officer in Iowa pulled him and his friends over for speeding on their way back from a camping trip in Colorado .
The officer searched the car and reported finding a small amount of marijuana .
All three initially were charged , but the charges were soon dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four different detention centers across the Midwest .
“ I was being punished , ” he says , “ but I never hurt anyone.
” While in detention , Lopez Gutierrez applied for DACA , which grants a two-year reprieve from deportation for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children before 2007 .
He had applied for and gotten DACA protection in 2013 but didn ’ t renew it when it expired in 2015 .
“ Living in Chicago , I never interacted with Immigration , ” he says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities refused to process Lopez Gutierrez ’ s new DACA application because he was in detention .
When he petitioned ICE to release him so he could apply , the agency didn ’ t act until , in December , he sued ICE in federal court , saying the agency had violated federal procedural law by ignoring his request .
By then , his older brother Miguel Lopez , 27 , an artist and member of Organized Communities Against Deportations , an activist group in Chicago , had led protests calling for Lopez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , an immigration court judge granted Lopez Gutierrez a $ 25,000 bail .
His family and his brother ’ s activist group were able to raise the money in two days and had him back home by the beginning of March .
For the first few weeks home , Lopez Gutierrez says he rarely left his bedroom .
He ’ d often lose his appetite .
Even walking to the corner store was tough .
He felt depressed .
“ After being locked up for so long , you forget what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
His parents noticed how their youngest son was struggling but were grateful to have him home after worrying about him when he was in detention .
“ There was never a time in the day I wouldn ’ t think about him , ” Lourdes Gonzalez says .
“ I would feel bad lying down in my bed , knowing he couldn ’ t do the same.
” Miguel Lopez also had taken his son ’ s absence hard .
Lopez , a laundry worker at a downtown hotel who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the coronavirus pandemic , always liked to listen to music around the house — but not when his son was gone .
“ I didn ’ t put on any music until finally he was back with us , ” he says .
Lopez Gutierrez says he started to feel like himself a month after being back home .
He started coming out of his room more and opening up about his time in detention .
As the pandemic spread , he delivered groceries to his grandmother ’ s doorstep .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of things again , ” he says .
But ICE wasn ’ t done with him .
In April , the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld his deportation order .
Soon after , ICE told him to come to its field office in Cedar Rapids , Iowa , for an in-person check-in June 9 .
Hoping to save his parents from having to make tough decisions if he was deported , Lopez Gutierrez started giving away some of his possessions — including Yogi .
At first , he had a hard time finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week before his ICE check-in , a friend agreed to take it .
“ I just asked that he send pictures from time to time , ” Lopez Gutierrez says .
His lawyers hoped his DACA application would be approved before his meeting with ICE .
But June 8 , a day before driving to Iowa , Lopez Gutierrez got a letter from U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services .
“ You have been convicted of three or more non-significant misdemeanors , ” the letter said citing two reckless driving convictions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving with an open container in April 2019 .
“ Accordingly , USCIS intends to deny your request.
” But ICE moved more quickly to deport him .
“ After he was detained , his family weren ’ t able to reach him , and we weren ’ t getting answers from the government , ” says Hanan Van Dril , a supervising attorney with Beyond Legal Aid .
“ It was only through our contact in the Mexican consulate that we were able to confirm he had been deported .
We didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane until after he was on board.
” Van Dril plans to appeal the DACA denial and keep arguing Lopez Gutierrez ’ s case against ICE in federal court , hoping somehow to get Lopez Gutierrez back to Chicago .
“ We won ’ t stop fighting until a judge tells us we don ’ t have a case , ” she says .
Lopez Gutierrez is now in his hometown of Jalisco — where , like in Chicago , he lives in an uncle ’ s house .
“ The three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in detention [ helped ] me grow and adapt , ” he says .
“ It changed my perspective on life .
Now , I enjoy every day for what it is.
” “ I want to take this chance and become a small business owner and create something new , ” he says .
In Chicago , his parents have an empty nest again .
Though ICE separated the family , his father says : “ No one can take away the three months we had our son back .
It shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re organized.
” Carlos Ballesteros is a reporter for Injustice Watch , a nonpartisan , not-for-profit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research to expose institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality .

On a rainy Sunday in early June, Jesus Alberto Lopez Gutierrez — “Beto” to his friends — took out the grill at his uncle’s house in West Elsdon to cook his family carne asada.
Lopez Gutierrez had been living in the basement unit with his parents and siblings since immigrating from Mexico in 2005. The pandemic largely put an end to big family gatherings, but neither rain nor coronavirus could stop his aunts, grandparents, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews from showing up.
They wanted to say goodbye.
It had been three months since Lopez Gutierrez was released on bail from immigration detention after being stopped for speeding. But after an appellate court upheld a deportation order in May, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency told him to show up June 9 at their field office in Iowa.
“I had a feeling that Sunday might be the last time I saw my family,” says Lopez Gutierrez, 25.
He was right. The day after his Iowa check-in, ICE put him on a plane back to his native Mexico.
ICE rarely deports anyone from Chicago to Mexico that quickly.
“It typically takes two to three weeks to be removed from the Chicago area,” says Diana Rashid, a supervising attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago. “I can’t think of a case where it happened in less than a week.”
Lopez Gutierrez’s lawyers think the quick deportation was in retaliation for him suing ICE after the agency blocked his request to be released from detention last year so he could apply for deportation relief under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy under which he appeared to qualify.
An ICE spokesman won’t discuss that, saying the agency arrested and deported Lopez Gutierrez because his deportation appeal fell through.
Immigration officials still haven’t issued a final ruling on Lopez Gutierrez’s DACA application. But they said days before he was deported that they intended to deny it based on three nonviolent traffic violations — which his lawyers say wouldn’t allow his deportation under the agency’s policies.
A spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that oversees DACA, won’t comment on individual applications.
A week ago, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle DACA. The nation’s high court found that the government offered no compelling legal basis for ending the policy former President Barack Obama instituted to protect those brought to the United States as children who want to stay and be able to legally go to school and work.
But the administration already had essentially made DACA useless for many of the estimated 680,000 young, undocumented immigrants who potentially qualify for DACA but, as was the case with Lopez Gutierrez, are not currently protected by the policy and could be deported even though this is the only country many have known as home.
“As a mother, you see your kids as being almost perfect,” says Lourdes Gutierrez, Lopez Gutierrez’s mother. “But if only people knew how goodhearted my son is, maybe they wouldn’t have taken him away.”
The youngest of three children in his family, Lopez Gutierrez was born in the Mexican state of Jalisco. His family came to Chicago and settled on the Southwest Side when he was 10, after his father Miguel Lopez was laid off from his job at a brewery in Guadalajara.
“The plan was to come for three years and save up, but it’s almost been 15, and we’re still here,” Lopez says.
Jesus Alberto “Beto” Lopez Gutierrez (top right) with his sister Mariela Lopez and nieces and nephews before he was deported. Family photo
Lopez Gutierrez graduated from Solorio Academy High School in 2014 and started working construction jobs soon after.
“He just had this perfect mixture of humor, maturity and curiosity that made him someone others gravitated to,” says Jacob Caplan, his teacher for advanced placement psychology at Solorio.
As a graduation present, Lopez Gutierrez bought himself a white snake. He named it Yogi, after the cartoon bear.
“Snakes strangle their food,” he says, “like a bear hug, you know?”
Lopez Gutierrez’s mom says Yogi symbolized her son’s reverence for nature.
“During the holidays in Jalisco when he was a little kid, we would go to the forests or the beach, and he would love every minute of it,” she says.
It was Lopez Gutierrez’s love for the outdoors that put him on ICE’s radar. In May 2019, a police officer in Iowa pulled him and his friends over for speeding on their way back from a camping trip in Colorado. The officer searched the car and reported finding a small amount of marijuana. All three initially were charged, but the charges were soon dropped.
Lopez Gutierrez spent nine months in four different detention centers across the Midwest. “I was being punished,” he says, “but I never hurt anyone.”
Jesus Alberto Lopez Gutierrez with his mother Lourdes Gutierrez. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
While in detention, Lopez Gutierrez applied for DACA, which grants a two-year reprieve from deportation for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children before 2007. He had applied for and gotten DACA protection in 2013 but didn’t renew it when it expired in 2015.
“Living in Chicago, I never interacted with Immigration,” he says. “I thought I was safe.”
Immigration authorities refused to process Lopez Gutierrez’s new DACA application because he was in detention. When he petitioned ICE to release him so he could apply, the agency didn’t act until, in December, he sued ICE in federal court, saying the agency had violated federal procedural law by ignoring his request.
By then, his older brother Miguel Lopez, 27, an artist and member of Organized Communities Against Deportations, an activist group in Chicago, had led protests calling for Lopez Gutierrez’s release.
Miguel Lopez calling last Dec. 16 for the release of his brother Jesus Alberto Lopez Gutierrez from ICE detention. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
In late February, an immigration court judge granted Lopez Gutierrez a $25,000 bail. His family and his brother’s activist group were able to raise the money in two days and had him back home by the beginning of March.
For the first few weeks home, Lopez Gutierrez says he rarely left his bedroom. He’d often lose his appetite. Even walking to the corner store was tough. He felt depressed.
“After being locked up for so long, you forget what it feels like to be free,” he says.
His parents noticed how their youngest son was struggling but were grateful to have him home after worrying about him when he was in detention.
“There was never a time in the day I wouldn’t think about him,” Lourdes Gonzalez says. “I would feel bad lying down in my bed, knowing he couldn’t do the same.”
Miguel Lopez also had taken his son’s absence hard. Lopez, a laundry worker at a downtown hotel who’s now out of a job because of the coronavirus pandemic, always liked to listen to music around the house — but not when his son was gone. “I didn’t put on any music until finally he was back with us,” he says.
Lopez Gutierrez says he started to feel like himself a month after being back home. He started coming out of his room more and opening up about his time in detention. As the pandemic spread, he delivered groceries to his grandmother’s doorstep. “I was finally getting the hang of things again,” he says.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
But ICE wasn’t done with him. In April, the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld his deportation order. Soon after, ICE told him to come to its field office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for an in-person check-in June 9.
Hoping to save his parents from having to make tough decisions if he was deported, Lopez Gutierrez started giving away some of his possessions — including Yogi. At first, he had a hard time finding someone to adopt the snake. About a week before his ICE check-in, a friend agreed to take it.
“I just asked that he send pictures from time to time,” Lopez Gutierrez says.
His lawyers hoped his DACA application would be approved before his meeting with ICE.
But June 8, a day before driving to Iowa, Lopez Gutierrez got a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“You have been convicted of three or more non-significant misdemeanors,” the letter said citing two reckless driving convictions for speeding in 2015 and a citation for driving with an open container in April 2019. “Accordingly, USCIS intends to deny your request.”
The agency gave Lopez Gutierrez 33 days to appeal.
But ICE moved more quickly to deport him.
Hanan Van Dril, a supervising attorney with Beyond Legal Aid. Beyond Legal Aid
“After he was detained, his family weren’t able to reach him, and we weren’t getting answers from the government,” says Hanan Van Dril, a supervising attorney with Beyond Legal Aid. “It was only through our contact in the Mexican consulate that we were able to confirm he had been deported. We didn’t even know he was on the plane until after he was on board.”
Van Dril plans to appeal the DACA denial and keep arguing Lopez Gutierrez’s case against ICE in federal court, hoping somehow to get Lopez Gutierrez back to Chicago.
“We won’t stop fighting until a judge tells us we don’t have a case,” she says.
Lopez Gutierrez is now in his hometown of Jalisco — where, like in Chicago, he lives in an uncle’s house.
“The three months I had back home after being in detention [helped] me grow and adapt,” he says. “It changed my perspective on life. Now, I enjoy every day for what it is.”
Lopez Gutierrez wants to open a plant nursery.
“I want to take this chance and become a small business owner and create something new,” he says.
In Chicago, his parents have an empty nest again.
Though ICE separated the family, his father says: “No one can take away the three months we had our son back. It shows what communities can do once they’re organized.”
Carlos Ballesteros is a reporter for Injustice Watch, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit journalism organization that conducts in-depth research to expose institutional failures that obstruct justice and equality.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-03--15 shot, 3 killed Thursday in Chicago

15 shot, 3 killed Thursday in Chicago

Fifteen people were shot , three of them fatally , Thursday in Chicago .
The day ’ s latest reported shooting left one man dead and another injured in Austin on the West Side .
They were standing outside about 11:15 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Huron Street when a male walked up and fired shots , according to Chicago police .
A 39-year-old was hit in the chest , neck and face and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The other man , 36 , was shot in both arms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Earlier in the evening , a man was shot to death in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
The man , 27 , was walking about 9:30 p.m. in the 4100 block of West 27th Street when two males got out of a dark-colored car and shot at him , police said .
He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he died .
The day ’ s first fatal attack left a man dead in Burnside on the South Side .
He was struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 800 block of East 87th Place , Chicago police said .
The man , who remains unidentified , was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he later died , police said .
No arrests have been made .
In nonfatal shootings , two people were wounded in Scottsdale on the Southwest Side .
They were traveling in a vehicle about 10:30 p.m. in the 4300 block of West 79th Street when they heard shots and felt pain , police said .
A woman , 27 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition .
A 27-year-old man was grazed in the shoulder and refused medical attention .
A woman was shot about two hours earlier on the Far South Side .
She was riding in a vehicle about 8:36 p.m. in the 600 block of East 133rd Street when someone in a passing black sedan opened fire , police said .
The 31-year-old was struck in the arm and driven to Roseland Community Hospital , where she was listed in good condition .
Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avondale on the Northwest Side .
The 21-year-old was in the street when shots rang out about 2:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of North Central Park Avenue , according to police .
He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition .
They were outside a house arguing with a man who took out a gun and fired shots , police said .
The shooting happened about 9 a.m. in the 7600 block of South Clyde Avenue .
A woman , 26 , was shot in her leg , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot on his side , while another man , 58 , was shot in his buttocks .
They were all taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where their conditions stabilized .
About 15 minutes earlier , a 21-year-old man was shot in Englewood on the South Side .
He was shot four times while outside on a porch about 8:45 a.m. in the 6500 block of South Green Street , police said .
He was hospitalized in critical condition with gunshot wounds to his chest , face , buttocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded in a drive-by Thursday morning in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
He was walking about 7:50 a.m. in the 1300 block of North Springfield Avenue when three gunmen in a passing gray SUV opened fire , police said .
The man was shot in his forearm and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where his condition was stabilized .
Earlier in the morning , another man was shot in Little Village .
The 29-year-old was a passenger in a car about 7 a.m. in the 3300 block of West Cermak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a street corner , police said .
Struck in the bicep , he was initially dropped off at home , but later took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment .
The day ’ s first reported shooting left a man hurt in Austin on the West Side .
About 12:15 a.m. , he was standing on the sidewalk in the 4800 block of West Iowa Street when someone approached him wearing a ski mask and opened fire , police said .
He was struck in the right leg and right arm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
One person was killed and 12 more were wounded Wednesday in citywide shootings .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Fifteen people were shot, three of them fatally, Thursday in Chicago.
The day’s latest reported shooting left one man dead and another injured in Austin on the West Side.
They were standing outside about 11:15 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Huron Street when a male walked up and fired shots, according to Chicago police.
Corey Gilmore, 39, was hit in the chest, neck and face and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The other man, 36, was shot in both arms and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
Earlier in the evening, a man was shot to death in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
Noe J. Mondragon-Jimenez, 27, was walking about 9:30 p.m. in the 4100 block of West 27th Street when two males got out of a dark-colored car and shot at him, authorities said. He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died.
The day’s first fatal attack left a man dead in Burnside on the South Side.
He was struck by gunfire multiple times about 3:20 p.m. in the 800 block of East 87th Place, Chicago police said.
The man, who remains unidentified, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died, police said. No arrests have been made.
In nonfatal shootings, two people were wounded in Scottsdale on the Southwest Side.
They were traveling in a vehicle about 10:30 p.m. in the 4300 block of West 79th Street when they heard shots and felt pain, police said. A woman, 27, was struck multiple times in her arms and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition. A 27-year-old man was grazed in the shoulder and refused medical attention.
A woman was shot about two hours earlier on the Far South Side.
She was riding in a vehicle about 8:36 p.m. in the 600 block of East 133rd Street when someone in a passing black sedan opened fire, police said. The 31-year-old was struck in the arm and driven to Roseland Community Hospital, where she was listed in good condition.
Thursday afternoon, a man was shot in Avondale on the Northwest Side.
The 21-year-old was in the street when shots rang out about 2:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of North Central Park Avenue, according to police. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition.
A domestic-related shooting Thursday morning left three people wounded in South Shore.
They were outside a house arguing with a man who took out a gun and fired shots, police said. The shooting happened about 9 a.m. in the 7600 block of South Clyde Avenue.
A woman, 26, was shot in her leg, police said. A man, 22, was shot on his side, while another man, 58, was shot in his buttocks. They were all taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where their conditions stabilized.
About 15 minutes earlier, a 21-year-old man was shot in Englewood on the South Side.
He was shot four times while outside on a porch about 8:45 a.m. in the 6500 block of South Green Street, police said. He was hospitalized in critical condition with gunshot wounds to his chest, face, buttocks and wrist.
A 40-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by Thursday morning in Humboldt Park on the West Side.
He was walking about 7:50 a.m. in the 1300 block of North Springfield Avenue when three gunmen in a passing gray SUV opened fire, police said. The man was shot in his forearm and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
Earlier in the morning, another man was shot in Little Village.
The 29-year-old was a passenger in a car about 7 a.m. in the 3300 block of West Cermak Road when someone shot at him from a street corner, police said. Struck in the bicep, he was initially dropped off at home, but later took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment.
The day’s first reported shooting left a man hurt in Austin on the West Side.
About 12:15 a.m., he was standing on the sidewalk in the 4800 block of West Iowa Street when someone approached him wearing a ski mask and opened fire, police said. He was struck in the right leg and right arm, and rushed to Stroger Hospital in fair condition.
One person was killed and 12 more were wounded Wednesday in citywide shootings.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.