chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Pritzker’s expanded mask rules survive committee vote (LIVE UPDATES)

Pritzker wins mask face-off : Enforcement rule for businesses survives challenge as state reports 1,549 more COVID-19 cases Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s expanded masking enforcement rules for businesses survived a challenge in Springfield Tuesday as health officials announced another 1,549 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois .
The new rules announced by the Democratic governor ’ s office last week give local authorities leeway to fine businesses up to $ 2,500 , or hit them with a misdemeanor charge , if they don ’ t enforce Pritzker ’ s statewide face covering mandate or social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted to suspend the rules they complain offer “ extraordinary discretion , ” two votes shy of wiping Pritzker ’ s rules off the books .
The governor said his edict will “ provide multiple opportunities for compliance before any penalty is issued and will help ensure that the minority of people who refuse to act responsibly won ’ t take our state backward .
“ These rules will ensure that there is a commonsense way to enforce public health guidelines with an emphasis on education first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial progress in our fight against COVID-19 , ” Pritzker said in a statement .
Travelers returning to Chicago from Iowa , Kansas and Utah will no longer be ordered to quarantine for two weeks under an upcoming update to the Department of Public Health ’ s coronavirus quarantine list .
The changes , which go into effect Friday , will leave 20 states and territories on the city ’ s order : Alabama , Arkansas , Arizona , California , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Louisiana , Mississippi , Missouri , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Dakota , Oklahoma , Puerto Rico , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , and Wisconsin .
A state is put on the quarantine list if its daily COVID-19 case load rate is higher than 15 per 100,000 .
Nebraska and Wisconsin have posted numbers below that threshold in recent days and could be removed from the list next week if that continues , according to health officials .
Travelers returning from any state on the quarantine list must isolate for 14 days from the last point of contact in the identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take note that Illinois has been added to the quarantine lists in New York , New Jersey and Connecticut .
It took six months for the world to reach 10 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
It took just over six weeks for that number to double .
The worldwide count of known COVID-19 infections climbed past 20 million on Monday , with more than half of them from just three countries : the U.S. , India and Brazil , according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
The average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. has declined in recent weeks but is still running high at over 54,000 , versus almost 59,000 in India and nearly 44,000 in Brazil .
The severe and sustained crisis in the U.S. — over 5 million cases and 163,000 deaths , easily the highest totals of any country — has dismayed and surprised many around the world , given the nation ’ s vaunted scientific ingenuity and the head start it had over Europe and Asia to prepare .
South Africa , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , Argentina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of the top 10 countries contributing the most new cases to the global tally since July 22 , according to an Associated Press analysis of Johns Hopkins data through Monday .
The Big Ten will not play football in the fall with “ the possibility of competition in the spring ” due to health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic .
the conference said Tuesday .
After a dramatic few days full of meetings among coaches , athletics directors and university presidents , the stunning decision marks a potential tipping point for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward , ” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement .
“ As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee , it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine , a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people .
President Vladimir Putin announced the Health Ministry ’ s approval and said one of his two adult daughters already was inoculated .
He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the coronavirus , although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness .
“ I know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity , ” Putin said .
“ We must be grateful to those who made that first step very important for our country and the entire world.
” However , scientists in Russia and other countries sounded an alarm , saying that rushing to offer the vaccine before final-stage testing could backfire .
What ’ s called a Phase 3 trial — which involves tens of thousands of people and can take months — is the only way to prove if an experimental vaccine is safe and really works .
11:15 a.m. State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their posts across the country : report Vilified , threatened with violence and in some cases burned out , dozens of state and local public health officials around the country have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak , a testament to how politically combustible masks , lockdowns and infection data have become .
The latest departure came Sunday , when California ’ s public health director , Dr. Sonia Angell , quit without explanation following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting virus test results — information that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses and schools .
Last week , New York City ’ s health commissioner was replaced after months of tension with the Police Department and City Hall .
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press finds at least 48 state and local health leaders have resigned , retired or been fired since April across 23 states .
The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN began tracking departures in June .
As of Monday , confirmed infections in the United States stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topping 163,000 , the highest in the world .
The departures of so many top leaders around the country make a bad situation worse , at a time when the U.S. needs good public health leadership the most , said Lori Tremmel Freeman , CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials .
Read the full report from Kaiser Health News service and the Associated Press .
10:42 a.m. Navy Pier could be shut down , says private operator facing $ 20 million loss Navy Pier Inc. said Monday it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and plans to decide by month ’ s end whether to close the popular tourist attraction whose business has been devastated by the coronavirus .
But Payal Patel , a spokeswoman for the private operator of the government-owned pier , said the company “ is not going out of business .
Navy Pier is not going bankrupt .
They ’ re looking at full closure , partial closure.
” Patel said the not-for-profit company has no plans to walk away from the pier , which it began leasing in 2011 under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Exposition Authority , whose board is appointed by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot .
The coronavirus shutdown orders closed the pier from March 17 until June 10 , but the usual crowds have yet to return since it reopened .
Many restaurants and vendors are open .
But popular attractions including the Ferris wheel , the Chicago Children ’ s Museum and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater remain closed .
Patel said all are receiving rent relief — another hit to the pier ’ s revenues , which topped $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full report from Tim Novak here .
7:24 a.m. Illinois sees only one new COVID-19 death , but daily caseload again tops 1,000 State health officials on Monday announced 1,319 new coronavirus cases and one additional death .
It ’ s the 20th straight day of four-digit daily caseloads , but only the second day since late March with just one additional fatality , a woman in her 90s from downstate Cumberland County .
The daily case count has mostly fluctuated between 1,000 and 2,000 in the last four weeks — an uptick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and early July when daily case counts were mostly in the hundreds .
The daily count rose over 2,000 in Illinois for two consecutive days on Friday and Saturday .
But the last time Illinois recorded only a single additional COVID-19 death was on July 26 .
• State health officials on Monday announced 1,319 new coronavirus cases and one additional death .
• Trini Lopez , a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of “ Lemon Tree ” and “ If I Had a Hammer ” in the 1960s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19 .
He was 83 .
• The Big Ten is on the verge of not playing football this fall , three people with knowledge of the decision confirmed to the Detroit Free Press .
• Cubs plan workouts to stay sharp with weekend series postponed due to COVID-19 .
• Newly reopened schools in Mississippi , Indiana and Georgia have already reported infections just days into the academic year .
8:29 a.m. Americans pay price as Trump fails to lead Donald Trump ’ s ignorance and incompetence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now his failure of leadership will add to the misery of millions of Americans force onto unemployment , the hunger of children at risk , the homelessness of families facing eviction .
At a time when bold action is imperative , the president offers posturing and gestures .
Having failed to produce a deal on a much needed rescue program , he issues a showtime executive order and series of memoranda that will do more to foster confusion than to aid those in distress .
“ The Lord and the Founding Fathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and divided government , ” White House economic adviser Peter Navarro said on NBC News on Sunday .
But don ’ t blame the Lord for the absence of leadership .
A forceful leader would have convened the leaders of the House and Senate in his office and forced an agreement before letting them go home .
By all accounts , they were close enough to get a deal .
Democratic leaders Pelosi and Schumer had offered a compromise in the middle between the bill the House passed that would cost about $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader Mitch McConnell cobbled together that would cost $ 1 trillion and that he couldn ’ t get his own caucus to support .
No bill could pass without Democratic votes in the House and the Senate , yet Trump ’ s representatives wouldn ’ t even go halfway .
Read the full column from Jesse Jackson here .

Travelers returning to Chicago from Iowa, Kansas and Utah will no longer be ordered to quarantine for two weeks under an upcoming update to the Department of Public Health’s coronavirus quarantine list.
Here’s what else happened today as the fight against the coronavirus pandemic continued in Chicago and around Illinois.
News
8:58 p.m. Pritzker wins mask face-off: Enforcement rule for businesses survives challenge as state reports 1,549 more COVID-19 cases
Gov. J.B. Pritzker adjusts his face mask after a press conference in the Lawndale Plaza parking lot on the West Side. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s expanded masking enforcement rules for businesses survived a challenge in Springfield Tuesday as health officials announced another 1,549 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois.
The new rules announced by the Democratic governor’s office last week give local authorities leeway to fine businesses up to $2,500, or hit them with a misdemeanor charge, if they don’t enforce Pritzker’s statewide face covering mandate or social distancing guidelines.
Six state lawmakers on the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted to suspend the rules they complain offer “extraordinary discretion,” two votes shy of wiping Pritzker’s rules off the books.
The governor said his edict will “provide multiple opportunities for compliance before any penalty is issued and will help ensure that the minority of people who refuse to act responsibly won’t take our state backward.
“These rules will ensure that there is a commonsense way to enforce public health guidelines with an emphasis on education first so that Illinois can continue to make substantial progress in our fight against COVID-19,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Read the full story here.
5 p.m Iowa, Kansas, Utah removed from Chicago’s COVID-19 quarantine list
Travelers returning to Chicago from Iowa, Kansas and Utah will no longer be ordered to quarantine for two weeks under an upcoming update to the Department of Public Health’s coronavirus quarantine list.
The changes, which go into effect Friday, will leave 20 states and territories on the city’s order: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
A state is put on the quarantine list if its daily COVID-19 case load rate is higher than 15 per 100,000. Nebraska and Wisconsin have posted numbers below that threshold in recent days and could be removed from the list next week if that continues, according to health officials.
Travelers returning from any state on the quarantine list must isolate for 14 days from the last point of contact in the identified state.
Chicagoans heading east should also take note that Illinois has been added to the quarantine lists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
— Satchel Price
3:12 p.m. Global COVID-19 cases top 20 million, doubling over last 6 weeks
It took six months for the world to reach 10 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus. It took just over six weeks for that number to double.
The worldwide count of known COVID-19 infections climbed past 20 million on Monday, with more than half of them from just three countries: the U.S., India and Brazil, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
The average number of new cases per day in the U.S. has declined in recent weeks but is still running high at over 54,000, versus almost 59,000 in India and nearly 44,000 in Brazil.
The severe and sustained crisis in the U.S. — over 5 million cases and 163,000 deaths, easily the highest totals of any country — has dismayed and surprised many around the world, given the nation’s vaunted scientific ingenuity and the head start it had over Europe and Asia to prepare.
South Africa, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Russia and the Philippines round out the list of the top 10 countries contributing the most new cases to the global tally since July 22, according to an Associated Press analysis of Johns Hopkins data through Monday.
Read the full story here.
2:45 p.m. Big Ten cancels football season due to pandemic
The Big Ten will not play football in the fall with “the possibility of competition in the spring” due to health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. the conference said Tuesday.
After a dramatic few days full of meetings among coaches, athletics directors and university presidents, the stunning decision marks a potential tipping point for the Bowl Subdivision to play a season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement.
“As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall.”
Read the full story here.
12:07 p.m. Russia approves 1st coronavirus vaccine, but scientists uneasy
MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.
President Vladimir Putin announced the Health Ministry’s approval and said one of his two adult daughters already was inoculated. He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the coronavirus, although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness.
“I know it has proven efficient and forms a stable immunity,” Putin said. “We must be grateful to those who made that first step very important for our country and the entire world.”
However, scientists in Russia and other countries sounded an alarm, saying that rushing to offer the vaccine before final-stage testing could backfire. What’s called a Phase 3 trial — which involves tens of thousands of people and can take months — is the only way to prove if an experimental vaccine is safe and really works.
Read the full story here.
11:15 a.m. State and local public health officials are fleeing their posts across the country: report
Vilified, threatened with violence and in some cases burned out, dozens of state and local public health officials around the country have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak, a testament to how politically combustible masks, lockdowns and infection data have become.
The latest departure came Sunday, when California’s public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell, quit without explanation following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting virus test results — information that was used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools.
Last week, New York City’s health commissioner was replaced after months of tension with the Police Department and City Hall.
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press finds at least 48 state and local health leaders have resigned, retired or been fired since April across 23 states. The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN began tracking departures in June.
As of Monday, confirmed infections in the United States stood at over 5 million, with deaths topping 163,000, the highest in the world.
The departures of so many top leaders around the country make a bad situation worse, at a time when the U.S. needs good public health leadership the most, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
Read the full report from Kaiser Health News service and the Associated Press.
10:42 a.m. Navy Pier could be shut down, says private operator facing $20 million loss
Navy Pier Inc. said Monday it expects to lose $20 million this year and plans to decide by month’s end whether to close the popular tourist attraction whose business has been devastated by the coronavirus.
But Payal Patel, a spokeswoman for the private operator of the government-owned pier, said the company “is not going out of business. Navy Pier is not going bankrupt. They’re looking at full closure, partial closure.”
Patel said the not-for-profit company has no plans to walk away from the pier, which it began leasing in 2011 under a $1-a-year lease from the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, whose board is appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
The coronavirus shutdown orders closed the pier from March 17 until June 10, but the usual crowds have yet to return since it reopened. Many restaurants and vendors are open. But popular attractions including the Ferris wheel, the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater remain closed.
Patel said all are receiving rent relief — another hit to the pier’s revenues, which topped $60 million last year.
7:24 a.m. Illinois sees only one new COVID-19 death, but daily caseload again tops 1,000
State health officials on Monday announced 1,319 new coronavirus cases and one additional death.
It’s the 20th straight day of four-digit daily caseloads, but only the second day since late March with just one additional fatality, a woman in her 90s from downstate Cumberland County.
The daily case count has mostly fluctuated between 1,000 and 2,000 in the last four weeks — an uptick from a string of days in June and early July when daily case counts were mostly in the hundreds.
The daily count rose over 2,000 in Illinois for two consecutive days on Friday and Saturday.
But the last time Illinois recorded only a single additional COVID-19 death was on July 26.
Reporter Mitch Dudek has the full story.
New Cases
Analysis & Commentary
8:29 a.m. Americans pay price as Trump fails to lead
Donald Trump’s ignorance and incompetence have cost American lives in the pandemic. Now his failure of leadership will add to the misery of millions of Americans force onto unemployment, the hunger of children at risk, the homelessness of families facing eviction. At a time when bold action is imperative, the president offers posturing and gestures. Having failed to produce a deal on a much needed rescue program, he issues a showtime executive order and series of memoranda that will do more to foster confusion than to aid those in distress.
“The Lord and the Founding Fathers created executive orders because of partisan bickering and divided government,” White House economic adviser Peter Navarro said on NBC News on Sunday. But don’t blame the Lord for the absence of leadership.
A forceful leader would have convened the leaders of the House and Senate in his office and forced an agreement before letting them go home.
By all accounts, they were close enough to get a deal. Democratic leaders Pelosi and Schumer had offered a compromise in the middle between the bill the House passed that would cost about $3.4 trillion and the bill Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell cobbled together that would cost $1 trillion and that he couldn’t get his own caucus to support. No bill could pass without Democratic votes in the House and the Senate, yet Trump’s representatives wouldn’t even go halfway.
Read the full column from Jesse Jackson here.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Wake up, White Sox? Dallas Keuchel isn’t the only one noting problems with effort so far

Dallas Keuchel wasn ’ t just on to something when he ripped teammates ’ energy and focus levels Monday in Detroit after the White Sox ’ fifth loss in their last six games .
The veteran lefty and former Cy Young winner and World Series champion was dead on target with a no-bull bullseye .
Keuchel called the Sox “ flat , ” said they were “ going through the motions , ” suggested they ’ d taken “ a night off ” and drew a distinction between “ professional at-bats ” and whatever the heck the Sox were doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that six-game stretch .
“ If you love baseball , ” he said , “ show up to the park every day and make sure that you ’ re ready to go.
” A good one , hopefully .
Sox teammates had no problem with being taken to task , according to a pair of veterans .
Manager Rick Renteria wasn ’ t crazy about Keuchel taking his criticism public — “ that ’ s not my style , ” he admitted — but an important thing to know is that Keuchel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Everybody has the right to speak their mind when they wish to , ” Renteria said .
More important : Tim Anderson — who was back Tuesday after a stint on the injured list — and James McCann threw their support behind Keuchel ’ s words .
That ’ s one AL batting champion and one All-Star catcher , for the record .
“ I agree with everything Keuchel said , ” were McCann ’ s first words in a video conference with reporters .
“ Somebody had to say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it [ was ] the right time for him to say it .
The guys get it , and it ’ s OK.
It ’ s OK. ” Anderson agreed that a match needed to be lit under certain Sox players .
McCann said Keuchel ’ s criticism “ couldn ’ t have come from a better guy or at a better time.
” So , yeah , we ’ ve got that covered — Keuchel ’ s in-house rep is strong .
But what about the larger issue ?
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone in baseball calls this shortened regular season , why aren ’ t Sox players — the young , inexperienced , enormously talented core , in particular — going as hard as they can ?
Why aren ’ t they grinding out more quality at-bats , showing more discipline with the strike zone , taking better advantage of their strengths ?
It ’ s not like this is an emergency with these Sox , not yet , but it could be the death of them if they aren ’ t careful .
Come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like an emergency .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re having fun right now , ” Anderson said .
There ’ s no denying rookie Luis Robert ’ s rare ability even when he ’ s at the eye of a strikeout storm .
There ’ s little doubt Eloy Jimenez will hit himself to an All-Star game , maybe several of them , even if he occasionally appears to be in a lower gear .
To watch Yoan Moncada is to marvel at his collection of tools and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but is it too easy sometimes ?
Danny Mendick isn ’ t going to hit the Sox out of this mess .
No offense to Danny Mendick , of course .
The young studs have some answering to do .
Yes , I know the Sox have had a bunch of early injuries , but that ’ s no excuse for all the things Keuchel described .
No excuse at all , I tell you !
Did I mention I ’ m playing through a hangnail as I type this column ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and nationwide — latched on to one sentence in the Big Ten ’ s announcement Tuesday that it was postponing all fall sports due to the ongoing pandemic : “ The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports , including the possibility of competition in the spring.
” Spring football ?
All right , then .
Maybe the other Power 5 leagues will decide fall football is a no-go and move things to the spring , too ?
Maybe there will be a playoff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this thing has legs after all ?
Hey , why not ?
I ’ ll tell you why not .
But first , consider these words from Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren : “ The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made.
” People : There ’ s no way anybody is convincing me players should , can — or will — play two football seasons with only two or three months ’ respite in between them .
Presumably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include some forms of offseason conditioning and preseason camp .
Where ’ s the recovery time ?
What about all those players who require surgeries ?
What about those who ’ ve sustained concussions ?
What about those who desperately need time to buckle down in their majors ?
How many will opt out then ?
How many will be more determined than ever to unionize ?
And all that is assuming the pandemic is under control .
I ’ m sure it will be .
That ’ s why they call me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in SEC country , the only thing fans love more than their pickup trucks is commissioner Greg Sankey .
That ’ s because Sankey is publicly holding out hope for a fall season .
I don ’ t think most Midwestern fans quite comprehend how much more Southern folks care about their college football .
The Big Ten calling things off is major news and disappointing to all .
The SEC doing it would be apocalyptic .
• Kyle Hendricks starting Wednesday for the Cubs in Cleveland reminds me of my favorite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Series : the over-the-top tension in the ballpark , as if no one inside it — or watching from afar — could possibly have found any room whatsoever to care about anything else .
Nearly four years later , can you even begin to imagine feeling that wholeheartedly and single-mindedly about anything ?
I can ’ t .
But then , I do have that hangnail .

Dallas Keuchel wasn’t just on to something when he ripped teammates’ energy and focus levels Monday in Detroit after the White Sox’ fifth loss in their last six games.
The veteran lefty, a 2015 Cy Young winner and 2017 World Series champion, was dead on target with a no-bull bull’s-eye.
Keuchel called the Sox “flat,” said they were “going through the motions,” suggested they’d taken “a night off” and drew a distinction between “professional at-bats” and whatever the heck the Sox were doing while scoring a total of 11 runs in that six-game stretch.
“If you love baseball,” he said, “show up to the park every day and make sure that you’re ready to go.”
Oof. That’s going to leave a mark.
A good one, hopefully. Sox teammates had no problem with being taken to task, according to a pair of veterans. Manager Rick Renteria wasn’t crazy about Keuchel taking his criticism public — “that’s not my style,” he admitted — but an important thing to know is that Keuchel aired it out inside the clubhouse first.
“Everybody has the right to speak their mind when they wish to,” Renteria said.
More important: Tim Anderson — who was back Tuesday after a stint on the injured list — and James McCann threw their support behind Keuchel’s words. That’s one batting champion and one All-Star catcher, for the record.
“I agree with everything Keuchel said,” were McCann’s first words in a video conference with reporters.
“Somebody had to say it,” Anderson said. “So I think it [was] the right time for him to say it. The guys get it, and it’s OK. It’s OK.”
Anderson agreed that a match needed to be lit under certain Sox players. McCann said Keuchel’s criticism “couldn’t have come from a better guy or at a better time.”
So, yeah, we’ve got that covered — Keuchel’s in-house rep is strong.
But what about the larger issue? In a 60-game “sprint,” as everyone in baseball calls this shortened regular season, why aren’t Sox players — the young, inexperienced, enormously talented core, in particular — going as hard as they can? Why aren’t they grinding out more quality at-bats, showing more discipline with the strike zone, taking better advantage of their strengths?
It’s not like this is an emergency with these Sox, not yet, but it could be the death of them if they aren’t careful. Wait, that sounds like an emergency after all.
“I don’t think we’re having fun right now,” Anderson said.
Not good.
There’s no denying rookie Luis Robert’s rare ability even when he’s at the eye of a strikeout storm. There’s little doubt Eloy Jimenez will hit himself to an All-Star Game, maybe several of them, even if he occasionally appears to be in a lower gear. To watch Yoan Moncada is to marvel at his collection of tools and the ease with which he plays the game — but is it too easy sometimes?
Danny Mendick isn’t going to hit the Sox out of this mess. No offense to Danny Mendick, of course.
The young studs have some answering to do.
JUST SAYIN’
Yes, I know the Sox have had a bunch of early injuries, but that’s no excuse for all the things Keuchel described. No excuse at all, I tell you!
Did I mention I’m playing through a hangnail as I type this column?
† College football fans across the Midwest — and nationwide — latched on to one sentence in the Big Ten’s announcement Tuesday that it was postponing all fall sports because of the ongoing pandemic:
“The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports, including the possibility of competition in the spring.”
Spring football? All right, then. Maybe the other Power Five leagues will decide fall football is a no-go and move things to the spring, too? Maybe there will be a playoff and bowl games and excitement galore? Maybe this thing has legs after all? Hey, why not?
I’ll tell you why not. But first, consider these words from Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren:
“The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made.”
People: There’s no way anybody is convincing me players should, can or will play two football seasons with only two or three months’ respite in between them. Presumably, that “respite” would have to include some forms of offseason conditioning and preseason camp. Where’s the recovery time? What about all those players who require surgeries? What about those who’ve suffered concussions? What about those who desperately need time to buckle down in their majors?
How many will opt out then? How many will be more determined than ever to unionize?
And all that is assuming the pandemic is under control. I’m sure it will be. That’s why they call me Mr. Bright Side.
† Meanwhile, in SEC country, the only thing fans love more than their pickup trucks is commissioner Greg Sankey. That’s because Sankey is publicly holding out hope for a fall season.
I don’t think most Midwestern fans quite comprehend how much more Southern folks care about their college football. The Big Ten calling things off is major news and disappointing to all. The SEC doing it would be apocalyptic.
† Kyle Hendricks starting Wednesday for the Cubs in Cleveland reminds me of my favorite part of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series: the over-the-top tension in the ballpark, as if no one inside it — or watching from afar — could possibly have found any room whatsoever to care about anything else.
Nearly four years later, can you even begin to imagine feeling that wholeheartedly and single-mindedly about anything?
I can’t. But then, I do have that hangnail.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Feds say R. Kelly controlled bank account with $1.2M despite claiming lack of funds

Federal prosecutors say a bank account controlled by R & B singer R. Kelly received at least $ 1.2 million last year and was created shortly after the singer was charged with sex crimes in Cook County Circuit Court .
They also say Kelly opened the bank account in the name of a nominee , and , in recorded jail calls , the singer appears to have directed people to contact that person “ to receive payments indirectly from Kelly.
” That , in part , is what prosecutors say investigators were looking into when they unexpectedly wound up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly in federal court in Brooklyn .
Kelly ’ s defense team accused the feds last month of an “ unreasonable , intimidating , and harassing fishing expedition into the records of Mr. Kelly ’ s current counsel.
” They did so after discovering federal prosecutors had obtained bank records from Kelly ’ s attorneys and a law firm that once represented Kelly , records show .
Kelly is accused in federal court in Chicago of child pornography and obstruction of justice , while a separate federal indictment in Brooklyn accuses him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to trial in both districts this fall , it is unclear whether either case will go forward .
Prosecutors in Chicago sought Monday to delay the trial here .
Meanwhile , Kelly has spent more than a year in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago , and he has for months argued he should be set free amid the coronavirus pandemic .
His lawyers are now challenging his detention in the 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
In making their argument that he should go free , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singer does not have the money needed to flee .
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Krull wrote in a court filing Tuesday that bank records obtained by government investigators refute that notion .
Krull wrote that Kelly last year opened a bank account in the name of an individual who also incorporated a business called SomeBrotherLuv LLC in March 2019 .
The next month , she said Kelly assigned his music royalties to the company , and Kelly ’ s royalties began to flow into its account .
“ It does not appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assigning his rights to the royalty payments , ” Krull wrote .
Investigators subpoenaed records for the account , she wrote , to determine how the money was being used .
Specifically , investigators wanted to know if the money was being used for bribes , or if the money was being diverted to help Kelly avoid financial penalties .
That account received at least $ 1.2 million in 2019 , Krull wrote .
When investigators sought more records to help them trace payments from the account to unidentified recipients , they discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly .
A prior filing from Kelly ’ s legal team shows an attorney representing Kelly received $ 2,500 from SomeBrotherLuv in May 2019 for representation in a civil case .

Federal prosecutors say a bank account controlled by R&B singer R. Kelly received at least $1.2 million last year and was created shortly after the singer was charged with sex crimes in Cook County Circuit Court.
They also say Kelly opened the bank account in the name of a nominee, and, in recorded jail calls, the singer appears to have directed people to contact that person “to receive payments indirectly from Kelly.”
That, in part, is what prosecutors say investigators were looking into when they unexpectedly wound up with bank records belonging to an attorney representing Kelly in federal court in Brooklyn. Kelly’s defense team accused the feds last month of an “unreasonable, intimidating, and harassing fishing expedition into the records of Mr. Kelly’s current counsel.”
They did so after discovering federal prosecutors had obtained bank records from Kelly’s attorneys and a law firm that once represented Kelly, records show.
Kelly is accused in federal court in Chicago of child pornography and obstruction of justice, while a separate federal indictment in Brooklyn accuses him of racketeering. Though Kelly is set to go to trial in both districts this fall, it is unclear whether either case will go forward. Prosecutors in Chicago sought Monday to delay the trial here.
Meanwhile, Kelly has spent more than a year in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, and he has for months argued he should be set free amid the coronavirus pandemic. His lawyers are now challenging his detention in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In making their argument that he should go free, Kelly’s lawyers have said the singer does not have the money needed to flee. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Krull wrote in a court filing Tuesday that bank records obtained by government investigators refute that notion.
Krull wrote that Kelly last year opened a bank account in the name of an individual who also incorporated a business called SomeBrotherLuv LLC in March 2019. The next month, she said Kelly assigned his music royalties to the company, and Kelly’s royalties began to flow into its account.
“It does not appear that Kelly received consideration in return for assigning his rights to the royalty payments,” Krull wrote.
Investigators subpoenaed records for the account, she wrote, to determine how the money was being used. Specifically, investigators wanted to know if the money was being used for bribes, or if the money was being diverted to help Kelly avoid financial penalties.
That account received at least $1.2 million in 2019, Krull wrote. When investigators sought more records to help them trace payments from the account to unidentified recipients, they discovered that one recipient was an attorney for Kelly.
A prior filing from Kelly’s legal team shows an attorney representing Kelly received $2,500 from SomeBrotherLuv in May 2019 for representation in a civil case.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Lightfoot acknowledges residents, businesses justifiably ‘fearful’ after second round of looting

Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged Tuesday that Chicago residents and businesses are justifiably “ fearful ” after a second round of looting she likened to “ organized crime ” and said she ’ s been “ non-stop on the phone ” to offer “ concrete solutions ” that reassure them .
Even before the second round of looting the ravaged giant swaths of downtown , River North and Lincoln Park , Lightfoot was simultaneously grappling with violent crime , civil unrest and a coronavirus pandemic that has caused unprecedented hardship and blown a $ 700 million hole in her 2020 budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave organized teams of looters the excuse to replay Chicago ’ s nightmare , it raised legitimate questions about whether businesses that survived the stay at home shutdown and sustained heavy losses during Round One of the looting would have the stomach to rebuild yet again .
Lightfoot understands their fears about being protected if and when it happens again .
That ’ s why she ’ s been burning the phone and Zoom lines reassuring them that , as she put it , “ We are going to see our way through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to do that , the mayor said , is to build the strongest possible cases against the looters and offer “ concrete solutions ” to protect residents and business owners who are concerned about the city ’ s ability to protect them if and when it happens again , as Black Lives Matters has warned that it will .
“ People are fearful .
They are afraid .
And it ’ s up to us as leaders to offer concrete solutions and a path forward .
And that ’ s what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the mayor said .
Lightfoot says she ’ s spent much of the last two days “ literally non-stop ” on the phone and on Zoom conferences with residents , business owners and CEOs “ with an interest in the downtown area because they live there , they work there or they shop there.
” Access to downtown was restricted again Tuesday night .
Starting at 9 p.m. , the city planned to raise bridges , shut down parts of Lake Shore Drive and close expressway ramps .
With such measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she ’ s also been on the phone reassuring neighborhood businesses that city trucks would be used to protect their local commercial corridors .
“ I want to make sure that , one , I ’ m listening and I ’ m hearing the raw emotions of people who are afraid and want concrete solutions and that I ’ m reaching out and offering very specific , concrete solutions , ” she said .
“ Part of the reason that I ’ ve emphasized that we are gon na not spare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for looting ... to justice is because I understand that people were just starting to recover .
They were just starting to get their footing.
” Lightfoot said this has been a “ helluva year ” for small business owners .
Many are neighborhood businesses hiring local residents and have been in the same family for generations .
“ We can ’ t allow criminals to tarnish their legacy , their businesses , but more importantly their hope .
I ’ m not gon na let that happen .
And we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not opportunistic and spontaneous when you already have U-Haul vans and cargo vans and you come equipped with precision tools to break into stores , to break into safes , to haul off cash registers and when you are coming with arms to fight off the police .
...
While there absolutely was a layer of opportunistic individuals , this was also organized crime .
And we are going to break these crews and these rings and we are gon na bring them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owe the residents of this city .
Period.
” On a conference call with City Hall reporters , Lightfoot and Police Supt .
David Brown acknowledged the police shooting in Englewood that helped trigger the downtown looting would have been more easily justified by police body cam video .
The lack of video allowed erroneous rumors to spread on social media that Chicago police had shot an unarmed 15-year-old .
The man who was shot was 20-year-old Latrell Allen .
He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder for shooting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Lightfoot about two weeks ago “ there was an issue with the number of body cameras .
And that does directly stem from the terms of the [ police ] contract ... previously negotiated by the prior [ Emanuel ] administration which , as we now know , is highly , highly problematic and we are aggressively working to renegotiate , ” the mayor said .
“ We can ’ t have people who are out on the street who are interfacing with the public on a regular basis that don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that Brown has “ initiated efforts now to make sure that we have body cameras in every team that ’ s out there engaging with members of the public.
” Brown said he ’ s “ scrubbing the inventory of body cams so that we can redistribute a contingent of body cams to some of these teams that were created from officers who were at one time in plainclothes and now are in the neighborhoods patrolling them.
” Lightfoot and Brown have both accused the state ’ s attorney ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Round One .
On Tuesday , the mayor said there is “ natural tension ” between prosecutors and police , but she hopes to build a “ healthy ” working relationship .
That ’ s even though the mayor claimed there has been an “ evolution ” in the state ’ s attorney ’ s standards for prosecuting cases as a felony and that the Chicago Police Department is trying to “ adapt to those standards .
”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged Tuesday that Chicago residents and businesses are justifiably “fearful” after a second round of looting she likened to “organized crime” and said she’s been “non-stop on the phone” to offer “concrete solutions” that reassure them.
Even before the second round of looting that ravaged giant swaths of downtown, River North and Lincoln Park, Lightfoot was simultaneously grappling with violent crime, civil unrest and a coronavirus pandemic that has caused unprecedented hardship and blown a $700 million hole in her 2020 budget.
When a police shooting in Englewood gave organized teams of looters the excuse to replay Chicago’s nightmare, it raised legitimate questions about whether businesses that survived the stay at home shutdown and sustained heavy losses during Round 1 of the looting would have the stomach to rebuild yet again.
Lightfoot understands their fears about being protected if and when it happens again. That’s why she’s been burning the phone and Zoom lines reassuring them that, as she put it, “We are going to see our way through this challenging confluence of events.”
The way to do that, the mayor said, is to build the strongest possible cases against the looters and offer “concrete solutions” to protect residents and business owners who are concerned about the city’s ability to protect them if and when it happens again, as Black Lives Matter has warned that it will.
“People are fearful. They are afraid. And it’s up to us as leaders to offer concrete solutions and a path forward. And that’s what we’re gonna continue to do,” the mayor said.
Lightfoot says she’s spent much of the last two days “literally non-stop” on the phone and on Zoom conferences with residents, business owners and CEOs “with an interest in the downtown area because they live there, they work there or they shop there.”
Access to downtown was restricted again Tuesday night. Starting at 9 p.m., the city planned to raise bridges, shut down parts of Lake Shore Drive and close expressway ramps.
With such measures in place for the “foreseeable future,” she’s also been on the phone reassuring neighborhood businesses that city trucks would be used to protect their local commercial corridors.
“I want to make sure that, one, I’m listening and I’m hearing the raw emotions of people who are afraid and want concrete solutions and that I’m reaching out and offering very specific, concrete solutions,” she said.
“Part of the reason that I’ve emphasized that we are gonna not spare any expense to bring those who are responsible for looting ... to justice is because I understand that people were just starting to recover. They were just starting to get their footing.”
Lightfoot said this has been a “helluva year” for small business owners. Many are neighborhood businesses hiring local residents and have been in the same family for generations.
“We can’t allow criminals to tarnish their legacy, their businesses, but more importantly their hope. I’m not gonna let that happen. And we are going hard at the people who are responsible,” she said.
The Dior store at Rush and Walton streets was among the high-end boutiques looted early Monday. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
“It’s not opportunistic and spontaneous when you already have U-Haul vans and cargo vans and you come equipped with precision tools to break into stores, to break into safes, to haul off cash registers and when you are coming with arms to fight off the police. ... While there absolutely was a layer of opportunistic individuals, this was also organized crime. And we are going to break these crews and these rings and we are gonna bring them to justice. That is what we owe the residents of this city. Period.”
On a conference call with City Hall reporters, Lightfoot and Police Supt. David Brown acknowledged the police shooting in Englewood that helped trigger the downtown looting would have been more easily justified by police bodycam video.
The lack of video allowed erroneous rumors to spread on social media that Chicago police had shot an unarmed 15-year-old. The man who was shot was 20-year-old Latrell Allen. He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder for shooting at officers before they shot him.
Brown told Lightfoot about two weeks ago “there was an issue with the number of body cameras. And that does directly stem from the terms of the [police] contract ... previously negotiated by the prior [Emanuel] administration which, as we now know, is highly, highly problematic and we are aggressively working to renegotiate,” the mayor said.
“We can’t have people who are out on the street who are interfacing with the public on a regular basis that don’t have body cameras,” Lightfoot said, adding that Brown has “initiated efforts now to make sure that we have body cameras in every team that’s out there engaging with members of the public.”
Brown said he’s “scrubbing the inventory of body cams so that we can redistribute a contingent of body cams to some of these teams that were created from officers who were at one time in plainclothes and now are in the neighborhoods patrolling them.”
Lightfoot and Brown have both accused the state’s attorney’s office of going easy on looters during Round 1.
On Tuesday, the mayor said there is “natural tension” between prosecutors and police, but she hopes to build a “healthy” working relationship. That’s even though the mayor claimed there has been an “evolution” in the state’s attorney’s standards for prosecuting cases as a felony and that the Chicago Police Department is trying to “adapt to those standards.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Singer Trini Lopez, 83, dies of COVID-19 complications

RIO RANCHO , N.M. — Trini Lopez , a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of “ Lemon Tree ” and “ If I Had a Hammer ” in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood , died Tuesday .
He was 83 .
Filmmaker P. David Ebersole , who just finished shooting a documentary on Lopez with Todd Hughes , confirmed that Lopez died from complications of COVID-19 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs , California .
Mentored by Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra , Lopez became an international star while performing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singers such as Ritchie Valens , Lopez rejected advice to change his name and openly embraced his Mexican American heritage despite warnings it would hurt his career .
“ I insisted on keeping my name Lopez , ” he told The Dallas Morning News in 2017 .
“ I ’ m proud to be a Lopez .
I ’ m proud to be a Mexicano.
” Sinatra signed Lopez to his Reprise Records label after seeing him perform at a West Hollywood nightclub .
They became friends and were spotted together regularly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springs , California .
Lopez also appeared in the film classic “ The Dirty Dozen ” and the comedy “ The Phynx.
” Born Trinidad Lopez III to immigrants from Guanajuato , Mexico , Lopez grew up in Dallas ’ poor , Little Mexico neighborhood .
The family ’ s dire economic situation forced Lopez to drop out of high school and work .
His life changed after his father bought him a $ 12 black Gibson acoustic guitar from a pawn shop .
His father taught him how to play the instrument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform at Dallas nightclubs that didn ’ t allow Mexican American patrons .
Buddy Holly saw Lopez at a small nightclub in Wichita Falls , Texas , and introduced him to Norman Petty , his record producer in Clovis , New Mexico .
Holly died in a plane crash six months later , and Lopez briefly replaced him as lead singer of The Crickets .
Lopez moved to Southern California and got a regular gig at P.J.
’ s Night Club in West Hollywood .
Sinatra saw him perform and offered him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reprise , where Lopez got his first major hit in 1963 with “ If I Had a Hammer , ” which had been a Grammy winner a year earlier for Peter , Paul & Mary .
Lopez ’ s version went to No .
1 in nearly 40 countries .
He later helped develop a string of original Gibson Trini Lopez signature guitars from 1964 to 1971 .
Ebersole and Hughes recently finished shooting a documentary on Lopez called “ My Name is Lopez .
”

RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Trini Lopez, a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer” in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood, died Tuesday. He was 83.
Filmmaker P. David Ebersole, who just finished shooting a documentary on Lopez with Todd Hughes, confirmed that Lopez died from complications of COVID-19 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California.
Mentored by Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra, Lopez became an international star while performing in English and Spanish. Unlike Mexican American singers such as Ritchie Valens, Lopez rejected advice to change his name and openly embraced his Mexican American heritage despite warnings it would hurt his career.
“I insisted on keeping my name Lopez,” he told The Dallas Morning News in 2017. “I’m proud to be a Lopez. I’m proud to be a Mexicano.”
Sinatra signed Lopez to his Reprise Records label after seeing him perform at a West Hollywood nightclub. They became friends and were spotted together regularly in social circles in Las Vegas and Palm Springs, California.
Lopez also appeared in the film classic “The Dirty Dozen” and the comedy “The Phynx.”
Born Trinidad Lopez III to immigrants from Guanajuato, Mexico, Lopez grew up in Dallas’ poor, Little Mexico neighborhood. The family’s dire economic situation forced Lopez to drop out of high school and work.
His life changed after his father bought him a $12 black Gibson acoustic guitar from a pawn shop. His father taught him how to play the instrument, which led the young Lopez to perform at Dallas nightclubs that didn’t allow Mexican American patrons.
Buddy Holly saw Lopez at a small nightclub in Wichita Falls, Texas, and introduced him to Norman Petty, his record producer in Clovis, New Mexico. Holly died in a plane crash six months later, and Lopez briefly replaced him as lead singer of The Crickets.
Lopez moved to Southern California and got a regular gig at P.J.’s Night Club in West Hollywood. Sinatra saw him perform and offered him a contract with his new record label, Reprise, where Lopez got his first major hit in 1963 with “If I Had a Hammer,” which had been a Grammy winner a year earlier for Peter, Paul & Mary. Lopez’s version went to No. 1 in nearly 40 countries.
He later helped develop a string of original Gibson Trini Lopez signature guitars from 1964 to 1971.
Ebersole and Hughes recently finished shooting a documentary on Lopez called “My Name is Lopez.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--City limits Loop access for 2nd night after looting

In an effort to prevent another night of looting downtown , Chicago will limit access to the Loop starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday by raising bridges , shutting down parts of Lake Shore Drive and closing expressway ramps .
The restrictions , which last until 6 a.m. Wednesday , are not a curfew , according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communication , but instead an “ all-hands-on-deck ” response to civil unrest early Monday following the police shooting of a man in Englewood .
Monday night , downtown restriction were in effect an hour earlier at 8 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect : LaSalle , Harrison , Ida B .
Wells , Lake Shore Drive , Columbus , Kinzie and Grand ; • CTA rail service will not stop downtown from Fullerton to 47th Street , and trains east of Halsted Street ; • Bus service remains open , but may be affected by bridge closures ; • Divvy service will be shut down between North , Ashland and Cermak .
“ Access points , ” manned by Chicago police , are for residents and workers , located at : The city also announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be stationed in commercial corridors , including in surrounding neighborhoods , as a deterrent .

In an effort to prevent another night of looting downtown, Chicago will limit access to the Loop starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday by raising bridges, shutting down parts of Lake Shore Drive and closing expressway ramps.
The restrictions, which last until 6 a.m. Wednesday, are not a curfew, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communication, but instead an “all-hands-on-deck” response to civil unrest early Monday following the police shooting of a man in Englewood.
Monday night, downtown restrictions were in effect an hour earlier at 8 p.m.
The restrictions include:
Lake Shore Drive closed between Fullerton Avenue and I-55;
All downtown bridges will be raised expect: LaSalle, Harrison, Ida B. Wells, Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, Kinzie and Grand;
CTA rail service will not stop downtown from Fullerton to 47th Street, and trains east of Halsted Street;
Bus service remains open, but may be affected by bridge closures;
Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressway ramps closed from Cermak to Division;
Northbound Stevenson Expressway ramp to northbound Lake Shore Drive closed;
Eastbound Eisenhower Expressway closed at Ida B. Wells Drive;
Divvy service will be shut down between North, Ashland and Cermak.
“Access points,” manned by Chicago police, are for residents and workers, located at:
Harrison Street
Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street
Roosevelt Road and Canal Street
Kinzie Street and Halsted Street
LaSalle Street
The city also announced that more than 100 municipal trucks will be stationed in commercial corridors, including in surrounding neighborhoods, as a deterrent.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--Historic Pilgrim Baptist Church damaged by windstorm

It didn ’ t take long for Cynthia Jones to find out how badly Pilgrim Baptist Church had been damaged when winds of nearly 100 mph tore through the city Monday afternoon .
By 4:15 p.m. , Jones , chair of the church ’ s board of trustees , had gotten calls from plenty of neighbors .
“ Any time you have any kind of damage , you ’ re concerned , ” Jones said Tuesday .
“ I have faith in God it ’ s for a reason.
” Tuesday afternoon , heaps of bricks rested in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the church , at 3301 S. Indiana Ave. in Douglas .
Now , only two walls remain intact — the north and west walls , made of limestone and braced by metal beams .
The building has been a shell since January 2006 , when it was gutted by fire .
Since 2017 , the church has been fundraising for a plan to build the National Museum of Gospel Music .
The project was to be completed this fall but already had been delayed to 2022 , Jones said .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson — founder and CEO of Chicago-based Central City Productions and the “ visionary ” behind the museum project — called the collapse a “ godsend.
” “ This forces the urgency , ” Jackson said .
“ This has been a blessing for the project that says that we need to get started , ” adding that he still thinks the museum can open in September 2022 .
The state has allocated $ 2.1 million to the museum , but Jackson said the church has yet to receive the money .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute about $ 10 million total to the project , now estimated to cost $ 48 million , Jackson said .
Monday ’ s destruction could expedite state and city action , he said .
Others worry the wall ’ s collapse could upend the project .
Ward Miller , executive director of Preservation Chicago , a nonprofit advocacy organization , said though he “ loves the idea of a gospel museum , ” operating and maintaining a museum is expensive .
Still , he would welcome “ anything ” to preserve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venue , a community center or a fieldhouse .
“ It ’ s still an important component to save , ” Miller said .
“ It has a lot of significance to the nation and to the world , culturally in music and , of course , architecturally.
” Built in 1890 and designed by famous architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan , the building originally operated as a synagogue before the church purchased the property in 1922 .
Thomas A. Dorsey , considered the “ father of gospel music ” was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many consider to be the music style ’ s birthplace .
Since the fire , the church congregation , community groups and gospel performers have proposed myriad plans to preserve the building ’ s history , eventually landing on the National Museum of Gospel Music in 2017 .
Jones , who ’ s in her 70s , said she ’ s attended the church since she was baptized there at age 7 .
The church now meets across the street at 3300 S. Indiana Ave. Monday ’ s destruction is a “ hiccup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of devastation ” of the 2006 fire .
Jones is “ confident ” there will be a museum , she said — it ’ s only a matter of time .
She anticipates Monday ’ s damage could delay the project a year .
“ We ’ re very positive that ’ s going to come to fruition , ” she said .
“ It should be here .
Where else would it be besides Chicago ?
”

It didn’t take long for Cynthia Jones to find out how badly Pilgrim Baptist Church had been damaged when winds of nearly 100 mph tore through the city Monday afternoon.
By 4:15 p.m., Jones, chair of the church’s board of trustees, had gotten calls from plenty of neighbors.
“Any time you have any kind of damage, you’re concerned,” Jones said Tuesday. “I have faith in God it’s for a reason.”
Tuesday afternoon, heaps of bricks rested in front of what used to be the south wall of the church, at 3301 S. Indiana Ave. in Douglas.
High winds that swept through the Chicago area Monday left a tragic mark at the vacant limestone shell of Pilgrim Baptist Church. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Now, only two walls remain intact — the north and west walls, made of limestone and braced by metal beams.
The building has been a shell since January 2006, when it was gutted by fire.
Since 2017, the church has been fundraising for a plan to build the National Museum of Gospel Music. The project was to be completed this fall but already had been delayed to 2022, Jones said.
Pilgrim Baptist Church was gutted by fire on Jan. 6, 2006. Associated Press
Instead of halting plans for the museum, Don Jackson — founder and CEO of Chicago-based Central City Productions and the “visionary” behind the museum project — called the collapse a “godsend.”
“This forces the urgency,” Jackson said. “This has been a blessing for the project that says that we need to get started,” adding that he still thinks the museum can open in September 2022.
The state has allocated $2.1 million to the museum, but Jackson said the church has yet to receive the money. He expects the state and city each will contribute about $10 million total to the project, now estimated to cost $48 million, Jackson said. Monday’s destruction could expedite state and city action, he said.
A chunk of the south wall at Pilgrim Baptist Church, which was damaged in Monday’s windstorm. Clare Proctor/Sun-Times
Others worry the wall’s collapse could upend the project.
Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, a nonprofit advocacy organization, said though he “loves the idea of a gospel museum,” operating and maintaining a museum is expensive. Still, he would welcome “anything” to preserve the space, such as an open-air concert venue, a community center or a fieldhouse.
“It’s still an important component to save,” Miller said. “It has a lot of significance to the nation and to the world, culturally in music and, of course, architecturally.”
Bracing supports the remaining limestone walls of the shell of Pilgrim Baptist Church, 3301 S. Indiana Ave. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Built in 1890 and designed by famous architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, the building originally operated as a synagogue before the church purchased the property in 1922. Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the “father of gospel music” was a choir director at the church, which many consider to be the music style’s birthplace.
Since the fire, the church congregation, community groups and gospel performers have proposed myriad plans to preserve the building’s history, eventually landing on the National Museum of Gospel Music in 2017.
Cynthia Jones, chair of the Pilgrim Baptist Church board of trustees, has been a member of the church since she was seven. Now in her 70s, Jones said the wall’s collapse Monday is a “hiccup” in comparison to the “day and night of devastation” in the 2006 fire. Clare Proctor/Sun-Times
Jones, who’s in her 70s, said she’s attended the church since she was baptized there at age 7. The church now meets across the street at 3300 S. Indiana Ave. Monday’s destruction is a “hiccup” compared to the “day and night of devastation” of the 2006 fire.
Jones is “confident” there will be a museum, she said — it’s only a matter of time. She anticipates Monday’s damage could delay the project a year.
“We’re very positive that’s going to come to fruition,” she said. “It should be here. Where else would it be besides Chicago?”
Rendering of the proposed National Museum of Gospel Music. Provided by Wight & Company


chicagosun-times--2020-08-11--New Weed Street pot shop looted in 2nd burglary in 2 weeks; Highland Park dispensary also hit

Weed Street seemed like a perfect place for a pot shop .
But since Windy City Cannabis opened in Goose Island in late June , burglars have targeted the store twice — including during the looting wave early Monday that tore through downtown and the Near North Side .
Weed stores that largely only accept cash have become attractive targets since the drug was legalized for recreational use at the start of the year .
Roughly a day after Windy City was hit , another dispensary in Highland Park was also burglarized .
Officers responded about 1 a.m. Monday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and learned the suspects had broken into the shop through a glass patio door , according to Chicago police .
The burglars made off in a vehicle with store merchandise and several computers .
Windy City CEO Steve Weisman said no cash or cannabis was taken , though the store sustained some damage .
Weisman , who also runs four suburban dispensaries , said he isn ’ t deterred by the break-in at his latest location , which comes just over two weeks after police arrested two people attempting to get into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a recent target , we continue to believe in the city of Chicago , ” he said in a statement .
“ We support the efforts for social justice and racial equity taking place in Chicago and across the country , and advocate for peaceful activism.
” As businesses in the area were ransacked late Sunday and early Monday , burglars tried six times to gain entry to the NuEra dispensary at 1308 W. North , according to spokesman Jonah Rapino .
The efforts all proved unsuccessful .
But early Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road in Highland Park was also struck , according to owner Andy Hunt .
“ The vault was secured and no product was taken .
More important , nobody was in the building at the time of the crime so nobody was hurt , ” said Hunt , who declined to provide additional details .
Kevin Sabet , president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana , a group that staunchly opposed the legalization push in Illinois , said the string of dispensary burglaries doesn ’ t surprise him .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Sabet .
“ The interesting part is that burglars mostly want the product , not the cash .
It ’ s not so dissimilar from jewelry store burglaries .
Marijuana is a valuable commodity on the underground market , especially so in legal states.
” Though Illinois dispensaries are required to keep pot products stored in a vault , at least one of the four stores targeted during another spate of looting earlier this summer had inventory stolen .
And while many of the affected dispensaries were targeted during that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also fell victim to a daring heist just days after weed was fully legalized statewide .
Early Jan. 6 , the suspect used a key card to gain entry into MOCA at 2847 W. Fullerton , according to police .
After creeping inside , the burglar got into a secure vault and used a torch to break into a safe and snatch the estimated $ 200,000 in cash .
At some point before slipping out , the thief even deactivated the store ’ s camera system .
No arrests have been reported .

Weed Street seemed like a perfect place for a pot shop.
But since Windy City Cannabis opened in Goose Island in late June, burglars have targeted the store twice — including during the looting wave early Monday that tore through downtown and the Near North Side.
Weed stores that largely only accept cash have become attractive targets since the drug was legalized for recreational use at the start of the year. Roughly a day after Windy City was hit, another dispensary in Highland Park was also burglarized.
Officers responded about 1 a.m. Monday to Windy City, 923 W. Weed, and learned the suspects had broken into the shop through a glass patio door, according to Chicago police. The burglars made off in a vehicle with store merchandise and several computers.
The windows of Windy City Cannabis, 923 W. Weed St., were boarded up after the dispensary was burglarized early Monday. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Windy City CEO Steve Weisman said no cash or cannabis was taken, though the store sustained some damage. Weisman, who also runs four suburban dispensaries, said he isn’t deterred by the break-in at his latest location, which comes just over two weeks after police arrested two people attempting to get into the shop.
“While our store has been a recent target, we continue to believe in the city of Chicago,” he said in a statement. “We support the efforts for social justice and racial equity taking place in Chicago and across the country, and advocate for peaceful activism.”
As businesses in the area were ransacked late Sunday and early Monday, burglars tried six times to gain entry to the NuEra dispensary at 1308 W. North, according to spokesman Jonah Rapino. The efforts all proved unsuccessful.
But early Tuesday, the Elevele dispensary at 1460 Old Skokie Road in Highland Park was also struck, according to owner Andy Hunt.
“The vault was secured and no product was taken. More important, nobody was in the building at the time of the crime so nobody was hurt,” said Hunt, who declined to provide additional details.
The Elevele cannabis dispensary in Highland Park was burglarized early Tuesday. Facebook
Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a group that staunchly opposed the legalization push in Illinois, said the string of dispensary burglaries doesn’t surprise him.
“We’ve seen this across many legal states,” said Sabet. “The interesting part is that burglars mostly want the product, not the cash. It’s not so dissimilar from jewelry store burglaries. Marijuana is a valuable commodity on the underground market, especially so in legal states.”
Though Illinois dispensaries are required to keep pot products stored in a vault, at least one of the four stores targeted during another spate of looting earlier this summer had inventory stolen.
And while many of the affected dispensaries were targeted during that unrest, a Logan Square pot store also fell victim to a daring heist just days after weed was fully legalized statewide.
Early Jan. 6, the suspect used a key card to gain entry into MOCA at 2847 W. Fullerton, according to police. After creeping inside, the burglar got into a secure vault and used a torch to break into a safe and snatch the estimated $200,000 in cash. At some point before slipping out, the thief even deactivated the store’s camera system.
No arrests have been reported.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-12--Pandemic parody of ‘Goodnight Moon’ children’s book is coming in October

A popular online spoof of the children ’ s favorite “ Goodnight Moon , ” reworked for the age of the coronavirus and widespread working from home , will be coming out In Octoberl .
“ Good Morning Zoom , ” written by Lindsay Rechler and illustrated by June Park , is scheduled for Oct. 6 , according to publisher Penguin Random House ’ s Philomel Books imprint .
Currently self-published , “ Good Morning Zoom ” ( $ 14.99 ) takes Margaret Wise Brown ’ s beloved bedtime story for young kids and turns it into a narrative about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other familiar parts of life during the pandemic .
Rechler is a banking executive and mother of two who lives in Manhattan .
Park is a graphic designer and illustrator who lives in Brooklyn .
According to the publisher , the net author proceeds will be donated to coronavirus relief charities .
“ COVID-19 is a difficult topic , especially for young children , ” Rechler said .
“ I wanted to tell my children a relatable story — a story that would help them become familiar with their new everyday lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon what was happening in the outside world .
I thought a lot about the contrast between quarantining safely inside versus what was happening outside my window .
”

A popular online spoof of the children’s favorite “Goodnight Moon,” reworked for the age of the coronavirus and widespread working from home, will be coming out In Octoberl.
“Good Morning Zoom,” written by Lindsay Rechler and illustrated by June Park, is scheduled for Oct. 6, according to publisher Penguin Random House’s Philomel Books imprint.
Currently self-published, “Good Morning Zoom” ($14.99) takes Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved bedtime story for young kids and turns it into a narrative about Zoom, bread baking, home schooling and other familiar parts of life during the pandemic.
Rechler is a banking executive and mother of two who lives in Manhattan. Park is a graphic designer and illustrator who lives in Brooklyn.
According to the publisher, the net author proceeds will be donated to coronavirus relief charities.
“COVID-19 is a difficult topic, especially for young children,” Rechler said. “I wanted to tell my children a relatable story — a story that would help them become familiar with their new everyday lives and, within that story, touch upon what was happening in the outside world. I thought a lot about the contrast between quarantining safely inside versus what was happening outside my window.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-12--Dear Abby: Veterans’ groups fall for my father’s lies about seeing combat

DEAR ABBY : My father is 87 and has stage 4 cancer .
For years he has lied about being a hospital corpsman in the Navy during the Korean War .
My parents live in a retirement community , and he talks about being in the war while wearing a Navy baseball cap .
Dad was in the Naval Reserve ( that we know of ) but never saw combat .
Veterans ’ groups are always bringing him quilts , food , etc .
My mom is horrified and doesn ’ t know what to say when he goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shrapnel while pulling a fellow naval guy out of a burning building .
He will pass away soon , and the veterans ’ groups will be giving Mom a flag he doesn ’ t deserve .
Mom doesn ’ t know what to do .
Should we just ignore the antics or say something ?
Please help .
— UNCERTAIN IN FLORIDA DEAR UNCERTAIN : What your father has been doing is called “ stolen valor ” or “ stolen honor , ” and it is seriously frowned upon by people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of fraud .
However , anyone who has served in the military and been honorably discharged is entitled to be given a flag when he or she is buried .
It will be folded and presented to your mother .
As to the gifts he is receiving from the veterans ’ groups , suggest that because your father is now so close to the end , they be given to other vets who can use them .
DEAR ABBY : My husband and I are in our 60s and have a swimming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit .
Our issue is that our granddaughter wears a bathing suit that shows her bum .
It isn ’ t a thong , but close to it .
She ’ s 16 and starting her junior year of high school this year .
It makes my husband and me uncomfortable , and we have told my daughter as much .
Is this one of those situations where we either accept it or don ’ t allow her to swim with such a suit ?
I love my granddaughter and will put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel if that is where the line is drawn , but it is hard for us to understand .
When she brings her friends , they dress the same way .
What do you advise ?
— UNCOMFORTABLE GRANDPARENTS DEAR GRANDPARENTS : Because you and your spouse are uncomfortable with the amount of exposure your granddaughter and her friends display when they come to swim , you have the right to tell them to wear something less revealing .
It ’ s your pool , and the bottom line is it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be prepared , however , for your granddaughter to not want to use your pool as often in the future .
DEAR ABBY : I ’ ve been dating a very sweet girl for the last four months , and I ’ m starting to have serious feelings for her .
My children really like her , but she sat me down the other night and told me she ’ s transgender .
I ’ m crushed , and I don ’ t know what to do .
This blows my mind ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care a lot about this person , and I just want to cry .
— CRUSHED IN THE SOUTH DEAR CRUSHED : You say you are starting to have serious feelings for this girl , who is not only sweet , but also HONEST .
If you are worried what others might think if they find out she wasn ’ t assigned female at birth , then she ’ s not the girl for you .
Because she has laid all her cards on the table , take this as an opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her about what challenges might lie ahead for the both of you if this romance progresses .
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 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My father is 87 and has stage 4 cancer. For years he has lied about being a hospital corpsman in the Navy during the Korean War. My parents live in a retirement community, and he talks about being in the war while wearing a Navy baseball cap. Dad was in the Naval Reserve (that we know of) but never saw combat.
Veterans’ groups are always bringing him quilts, food, etc. My mom is horrified and doesn’t know what to say when he goes on a rant about having been hit by shrapnel while pulling a fellow naval guy out of a burning building. He will pass away soon, and the veterans’ groups will be giving Mom a flag he doesn’t deserve. Mom doesn’t know what to do. Should we just ignore the antics or say something? Please help. — UNCERTAIN IN FLORIDA
DEAR UNCERTAIN: What your father has been doing is called “stolen valor” or “stolen honor,” and it is seriously frowned upon by people who have actually earned it. It is a form of fraud. However, anyone who has served in the military and been honorably discharged is entitled to be given a flag when he or she is buried. It will be folded and presented to your mother.
As to the gifts he is receiving from the veterans’ groups, suggest that because your father is now so close to the end, they be given to other vets who can use them.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are in our 60s and have a swimming pool that our kids and grandkids like to visit. Our issue is that our granddaughter wears a bathing suit that shows her bum. It isn’t a thong, but close to it.
She’s 16 and starting her junior year of high school this year. It makes my husband and me uncomfortable, and we have told my daughter as much. Is this one of those situations where we either accept it or don’t allow her to swim with such a suit?
I love my granddaughter and will put up with the way it makes us feel if that is where the line is drawn, but it is hard for us to understand. When she brings her friends, they dress the same way. What do you advise? — UNCOMFORTABLE GRANDPARENTS
DEAR GRANDPARENTS: Because you and your spouse are uncomfortable with the amount of exposure your granddaughter and her friends display when they come to swim, you have the right to tell them to wear something less revealing. It’s your pool, and the bottom line is it’s your privilege to set the rules. Be prepared, however, for your granddaughter to not want to use your pool as often in the future.
DEAR ABBY: I’ve been dating a very sweet girl for the last four months, and I’m starting to have serious feelings for her. My children really like her, but she sat me down the other night and told me she’s transgender. I’m crushed, and I don’t know what to do. This blows my mind; please give me any guidance. I care a lot about this person, and I just want to cry. — CRUSHED IN THE SOUTH
DEAR CRUSHED: You say you are starting to have serious feelings for this girl, who is not only sweet, but also HONEST. If you are worried what others might think if they find out she wasn’t assigned female at birth, then she’s not the girl for you. Because she has laid all her cards on the table, take this as an opportunity to have a series of frank conversations with her about what challenges might lie ahead for the both of you if this romance progresses.
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.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-08-12--Boy, 14, wounded in drive-by on the Near West Side

A 14-year-old boy was wounded Wednesday in a drive-by on the Near West Side .
About 3:30 a.m. the boy @ @ @ @ @ block of West Roosevelt Road , when someone inside a passing red-colored Nissan fired shots @ @ @ @ @ said .
He was struck in the right leg multiple times and taken to Stroger @ @ @ @ @ said .
He is in good condition .

A 14-year-old boy was wounded Wednesday in a drive-by on the Near West Side.
About 3:30 a.m. the boy was walking in the 1400 block of West Roosevelt Road, when someone inside a passing red-colored Nissan fired shots at him, Chicago police said.
He was struck in the right leg multiple times and taken to Stroger Hospital for treatment, police said. He is in good condition.
Area Three detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-12--Chicago crayfish: Invasives and natives, options and possibilities, unabridged Q&A with Kevin Irons

My column Saturday about an ongoing study of crayfish , especially invasive red swamp crayfish , by the Keller Lab at Loyola University drew much interest .
So I reached Kevin Irons , the assistant fisheries chief for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources , who specializes in invasives .
Here is the unabridged version of the Q & A .
Even if you captured red swamp crayfish yourself , it is illegal to transport them live or use them as live bait , right ?
‘ ‘ Correct .
They are not an approved aquatic life , so possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see in the fishing regs that any wild-caught live or dead bait can only be used in the waters where caught .
Baitfishing rules are on pages 4-5 in the fishing regulations.
” Would it be legal to transport and use them as bait if they were dead ?
‘ ‘ No , it is only appropriate to use live or dead wild-caught bait in waters where captured .
The regs ( see crayfish regs below ) do allow four species of crayfish to be used live in waters where captured.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crayfish boil , if they killed them right away ?
“ Yes , I saw some comments and cringed a bit , however .
As you know the water/sediment quality in the topic of the story might be questionable .
Yes you can eat them , I would not likely eat them due to other advisories for aquatic life from the water where captured e.g .
signs posted along waterway , so , I guess it depends where they are caught .
I would have little problem eating crayfish ( moderate frequency/quantities ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do if they capture a red swamp crayfish ?
‘ ‘ Certainly , I recommend eating them out of appropriate water .
Like all of our aquatic life , I would suggest dispatching and placing on ice immediately to protect quality .
These are quality bait and can be used in the water where captured but not transported .
‘ ‘ If an angler does not want to harvest the crayfish , several photos from top , bottom and sides can be taken and sent to dnr.ans @ illinois.gov , or you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either method .
.
.
provide contacts so we can [ follow up ] .
While we prefer nuisance/invasive species are removed , it is permitted to immediately return such to the waters where caught .
Many prefer not to kill/harm any species , and this is OK. ‘ ‘ Crayfish are available for bait at local bait stores .
They follow regulations and sell bait that is appropriate for selling in Illinois under appropriate screenings and permits .
Also , they sell some crayfish DEAD to prevent spread or introduction of crayfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can keep our waters great !
’ ’ Considering red swamp crayfish are distinctive , I doubt people reporting they caught them from odd waters are misidentifying them .
Are more around than we realize ?
‘ ‘ We are looking into that with [ Loyola professor Reuben Keller ] and others .
Red swamp crayfish are native to Illinois , native in those waters in extreme southern Illinois .
Crayfish , in general , are highly invasive outside their native ranges , so transport of any live wild bait , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Certainly less work is done on crayfish than fisheries in the state , so it would not surprise me to see them pop up in various locations due to movement from these satellite populations or other bait/food introductions .
“ Historically bait , science classes , pet stores , and sacks for crawfish boil were made up of red swamp crayfish but we are limiting these imports much more now due to our heightened awareness of the harm they can do .
Clearly , reaching out to those dealers on Illinois regulations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – TRANSPORT ZERO .
Populations start up with a ‘ free-Willy ’ event from these or escapees ( unintentional ) .
As I said , we all need to be working toward the same goal .
“ Red swamps are invasive around the country and world .
You can see the drainages in the US where native and individals ( minimum ) have been found : https : //nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx ?
speciesID=217 What should people do if they catch or capture what they suspect is an invasive in an unusual area ?
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but if a strange known or unknown critter is caught , I recommend taking photos with your cellphone from many angles ( top , bottom , sides , head ) .
[ Then email dnr.ans @ illinois.gov or call ( 217 ) 785-8772 .
Provide a name and contact . ]
We have so many species in Illinois—more than 115 fish species in our large rivers alone , many times it may be a case of mistaken identity .
We have identified species this way and followed up with our biologists .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Speaking of online resources , the best basic guide for local crayfish is “ Common Crayfishes of the Chicago Region.
” Here are the crayfish rules from page 6 of the fishing regulations : It is a violation of state law to import , possess , sell or use as bait LIVE Rusty Crayfish .
The Rusty Crayfish may be distinguished by a dark rusty spot on both sides of the carapace ( body ) and a rusty-red band followed by a dark stripe on the large pincers ( claws ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eggs of various fishes , which negatively affects fish reproduction .
DEAD Rusty Crayfish may be used as bait .
Any species of crayfish not found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species List are illegal to import , possess , sell or use as bait LIVE within the State of Illinois .
DEAD crayfish of any species , excluding endangered or threatened species , may be used as bait .
Endangered or threatened species may NOT be taken for use as bait , LIVE or DEAD .
The following crayfish species shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Illinois using legal sized cast nets , shad scoops , and minnow seines , provided that they are not sold or bartered : White River Crayfish Procambarus acutus , Papershell Crayfish Orconectes immunis , Northern Crayfish Orconectes virilis , Devil Crayfish Cambarus diogenes .
Crayfish may be collected with traps of metal screen or hardware cloth , plastic , or nylon mesh or netting .
Such traps may not be more than 24 inches in width or diameter or more than 36 inches in length nor use a mesh of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aperture may not exceed 1 1/2 inches in diameter .
If unattended , such devices must be tagged with the name , mailing address and phone number of the person operating the device .
Crayfish collected in such devices may only be used on the waters where collected , may only be taken for personal use , and may not be sold or bartered .
Collected crayfish may NOT be transported between water bodies LIVE or DEAD .
The Illinois Conservation Foundation finally released the free app Outdoor Illinois .
Get it where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , go to https : //chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/11/21363344/outdoor-illinois-app-brings-illinois-screaming-21st-century-2020 The Blackhawk Field Archers ’ 28th annual Traditional-Only Shoot is this weekend in Rockton .
Contact David Lee at ( 708 ) 476-0305 .
Is Indians pitcher Zach Plesac , a Sox fan as a youth , considered a native or an invasive ?
( Or just a dumbass ? )

My column Saturday about an ongoing study of crayfish, especially invasive red swamp crayfish, by the Keller Lab at Loyola University drew much interest. So I reached Kevin Irons, the assistant fisheries chief for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who specializes in invasives.
Here is the unabridged version of the Q&A.
Even if you captured red swamp crayfish yourself, it is illegal to transport them live or use them as live bait, right?
‘‘Correct. They are not an approved aquatic life, so possession and transportation is not permitted. You can see in the fishing regs that any wild-caught live or dead bait can only be used in the waters where caught. Baitfishing rules are on pages 4-5 in the fishing regulations.”
Would it be legal to transport and use them as bait if they were dead?
‘‘No, it is only appropriate to use live or dead wild-caught bait in waters where captured. The regs (see crayfish regs below) do allow four species of crayfish to be used live in waters where captured.’’
Could people trap them for a crayfish boil, if they killed them right away?
“Yes, I saw some comments and cringed a bit, however. As you know the water/sediment quality in the topic of the story might be questionable. Yes you can eat them, I would not likely eat them due to other advisories for aquatic life from the water where captured e.g. signs posted along waterway, so, I guess it depends where they are caught. I would have little problem eating crayfish (moderate frequency/quantities) from Lake Michigan.”
What should people do if they capture a red swamp crayfish?
‘‘Certainly, I recommend eating them out of appropriate water. Like all of our aquatic life, I would suggest dispatching and placing on ice immediately to protect quality. These are quality bait and can be used in the water where captured but not transported.
‘‘If an angler does not want to harvest the crayfish, several photos from top, bottom and sides can be taken and sent to dnr.ans@illinois.gov, or you can call (217) 785-8772. With either method . . . provide contacts so we can [follow up]. While we prefer nuisance/invasive species are removed, it is permitted to immediately return such to the waters where caught. Many prefer not to kill/harm any species, and this is OK.
‘‘Crayfish are available for bait at local bait stores. They follow regulations and sell bait that is appropriate for selling in Illinois under appropriate screenings and permits. Also, they sell some crayfish DEAD to prevent spread or introduction of crayfish species. Again, by working together, we can keep our waters great!’’
Considering red swamp crayfish are distinctive, I doubt people reporting they caught them from odd waters are misidentifying them. Are more around than we realize?
‘‘We are looking into that with [Loyola professor Reuben Keller] and others. Red swamp crayfish are native to Illinois, native in those waters in extreme southern Illinois. Crayfish, in general, are highly invasive outside their native ranges, so transport of any live wild bait, including crayfish, is not allowed. Certainly less work is done on crayfish than fisheries in the state, so it would not surprise me to see them pop up in various locations due to movement from these satellite populations or other bait/food introductions.
“Historically bait, science classes, pet stores, and sacks for crawfish boil were made up of red swamp crayfish but we are limiting these imports much more now due to our heightened awareness of the harm they can do. Clearly, reaching out to those dealers on Illinois regulations, so they too can BE A HERO – TRANSPORT ZERO. Populations start up with a ‘free-Willy’ event from these or escapees (unintentional). As I said, we all need to be working toward the same goal.
“Red swamps are invasive around the country and world. You can see the drainages in the US where native and individals (minimum) have been found: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=217
What should people do if they catch or capture what they suspect is an invasive in an unusual area?
“There are many online resources these days, but if a strange known or unknown critter is caught, I recommend taking photos with your cellphone from many angles (top, bottom, sides, head). [Then email dnr.ans@illinois.gov or call (217) 785-8772. Provide a name and contact.] We have so many species in Illinois—more than 115 fish species in our large rivers alone, many times it may be a case of mistaken identity. We have identified species this way and followed up with our biologists. The mores eyes out there the better!”
Speaking of online resources, the best basic guide for local crayfish is “Common Crayfishes of the Chicago Region.”
Crayfish regs
Here are the crayfish rules from page 6 of the fishing regulations:
CRAYFISH It is a violation of state law to import, possess, sell or use as bait LIVE Rusty Crayfish. The Rusty Crayfish may be distinguished by a dark rusty spot on both sides of the carapace (body) and a rusty-red band followed by a dark stripe on the large pincers (claws). Rusty Crayfish destroy aquatic vegetation and eat the eggs of various fishes, which negatively affects fish reproduction. DEAD Rusty Crayfish may be used as bait. Any species of crayfish not found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species List are illegal to import, possess, sell or use as bait LIVE within the State of Illinois. DEAD crayfish of any species, excluding endangered or threatened species, may be used as bait. Endangered or threatened species may NOT be taken for use as bait, LIVE or DEAD. The following crayfish species shall be allowed for use as LIVE bait in Illinois using legal sized cast nets, shad scoops, and minnow seines, provided that they are not sold or bartered: White River Crayfish Procambarus acutus, Papershell Crayfish Orconectes immunis, Northern Crayfish Orconectes virilis, Devil Crayfish Cambarus diogenes. Crayfish may be collected with traps of metal screen or hardware cloth, plastic, or nylon mesh or netting. Such traps may not be more than 24 inches in width or diameter or more than 36 inches in length nor use a mesh of more than 1/2 inch bar measurement. Each entrance aperture may not exceed 1 1/2 inches in diameter. If unattended, such devices must be tagged with the name,mailing address and phone number of the person operating the device. Crayfish collected in such devices may only be used on the waters where collected, may only be taken for personal use, and may not be sold or bartered. Collected crayfish may NOT be transported between water bodies LIVE or DEAD.
App
The Illinois Conservation Foundation finally released the free app Outdoor Illinois. Get it where you get your apps. For more, go to https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/11/21363344/outdoor-illinois-app-brings-illinois-screaming-21st-century-2020
Archery
The Blackhawk Field Archers’ 28th annual Traditional-Only Shoot is this weekend in Rockton. Contact David Lee at (708) 476-0305.
Stray cast
Is Indians pitcher Zach Plesac, a Sox fan as a youth, considered a native or an invasive? (Or just a dumbass?)