chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--‘The Rental’: Friends’ road trip takes a creepy, compelling turn

We rarely see “ behind the scenes ” footage of mysterious masked killers in the movies .
Does Michael Myers from “ Halloween ” spend a lot of downtime lifting weights and practicing parkour moves so he can fall from second-story windows and quickly dust himself off and disappear ?
Does Jason from “ Friday the 13th ” watch “ Forged in Fire ” and grunt his opinions about the blacksmiths making swords and hatchets and knives ?
Does Leatherface from “ The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ” go shopping for spare parts when the chainsaw breaks down ?
Without spoiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stylish , wickedly funny and legit scary “ The Rental , ” suffice to say there ’ s a fantastic sequence involving a certain villain ’ s rituals , and it ’ s one of the reasons why this is one of my favorite horror movies of the year .
Co-written by Franco and the prolific and gifted Chicago filmmaker Joe Swanberg ( “ Win It All , ” “ Digging for Fire , ” “ Happy Christmas ” ) , this is a dark and brutal cautionary tale that traffics in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does so in consistently clever and entertaining fashion .
( This marks the feature directorial debut for Franco , the actor from films such as “ The Disaster Artist ” and “ Neighbors ” and little bro to James .
It ’ s a smashing rookie effort . )
“ The Rental ” is the fifth movie in the last couple of months ( after “ Relic , ” “ Four Kids and It , ” “ You Should Have Left ” and “ Becky ” ) about a small group of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a remote location , where things start going sideways even before they ’ ve unpacked their bags and figured out the locations of the light switches .
In this case , it ’ s two couples : a startup entrepreneur named Charlie ( Dan Stevens ) and his smart , level-headed wife Michelle ( Alison Brie ) , and Charlie ’ s hot-tempered younger brother Josh ( Jeremy Allen White ) , an ex-con who is trying to turn his life around and can ’ t believe he ’ s entered into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vand ) , who is Dan ’ s business partner and closest friend , and is clearly out of Josh ’ s league .
Why , it ’ s almost as if Mina is with Josh just so she can spend even more time with Charlie , cough-cough .
To celebrate a big breakthrough Charlie and Mina have made at their company , Charlie goes online and rents an amazing house on the Oregon coast for the weekend .
Road trip !
Even though the Brit Dan Stevens ( doing a fine job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accent ) and the Brooklyn-born Jeremy Allen White ( best known for playing “ Lip ” on the Chicago-set “ Shameless ” ) look nothing like brothers , they do an excellent job of establishing the complicated sibling dynamic , with Josh getting the trip off on the wrong foot by bringing along his French bulldog , Reggie , even though the rules clearly state no pets allowed .
We get the feeling Charlie is in a constant state of aggravation around his brother but is always around to clean up after him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
When the group arrives at the gorgeously appointed , cliffside house , they ’ re met by the rough-hewn , pickup-driving , blunt-speaking Taylor ( Toby Huss in a great supporting performance ) , who manages the property for his brother and almost immediately makes the foursome uncomfortable with his barely concealed racism toward Mina ( who is of Middle Eastern descent ) and his combative conversational tone .
What a creep !
And he has keys to the place , uh-oh .
Cinematographer Christian Spenger delivers appropriately ominous visuals of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-angle , tension-building shots of a mysterious locked room underneath the main house , and a number of voyeuristic angles that indicate someone is eavesdropping on the proceedings from a distance .
Despite the interaction with the unsettling Taylor , the group is excited about spending quality time together and getting effed up on drinks and drugs , and going on an ambitious hike — but with one possible exception , these are not the nicest or most trustworthy people in the world , and the deceptions and betrayals get more shocking ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend segues from dreamy getaway to nightmarish get-me-out-of-here .
All four leads are terrific , but the versatile Alison Brie is the standout as the chipper and upbeat Michelle , who is seemingly the least complicated character but becomes fantastically forthright when she ’ s high — and understandably nasty when she discovers some devastating information about her loving husband .
“ The Rental ” would have worked purely as a compelling character study about four dysfunctional adults unraveling over the course of a long weekend — but when the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings , the transition to horror film is brilliant and wacky and pretty darn great .

We rarely see “behind the scenes” footage of mysterious masked killers in the movies. Does Michael Myers from “Halloween” spend a lot of downtime lifting weights and practicing parkour moves so he can fall from second-story windows and quickly dust himself off and disappear? Does Jason from “Friday the 13th” watch “Forged in Fire” and grunt his opinions about the blacksmiths making swords and hatchets and knives? Does Leatherface from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” go shopping for spare parts when the chainsaw breaks down?
Without spoiling any particulars of Dave Franco’s stylish, wickedly funny and legit scary “The Rental,” suffice to say there’s a fantastic sequence involving a certain villain’s rituals, and it’s one of the reasons why this is one of my favorite horror movies of the year. Co-written by Franco and the prolific and gifted Chicago filmmaker Joe Swanberg (“Win It All,” “Digging for Fire,” “Happy Christmas”), this is a dark and brutal cautionary tale that traffics in any number of familiar scary-movie touchstones, but does so in consistently clever and entertaining fashion. (This marks the feature directorial debut for Franco, the actor from films such as “The Disaster Artist” and “Neighbors” and little bro to James. It’s a smashing rookie effort.)
‘The Rental’
Untitled IFC Films presents a film directed by Dave Franco and written by Franco and Joe Swanberg. Rated R (for violence, language throughout, drug use and some sexuality). Running time: 88 minutes. Opens Friday at the Music Box Theatre, iPic Bolingbrook and iPic South Barrington, and on demand.
“The Rental” is the fifth movie in the last couple of months (after “Relic,” “Four Kids and It,” “You Should Have Left” and “Becky”) about a small group of people who have gathered in a large dwelling in a remote location, where things start going sideways even before they’ve unpacked their bags and figured out the locations of the light switches. In this case, it’s two couples: a startup entrepreneur named Charlie (Dan Stevens) and his smart, level-headed wife Michelle (Alison Brie), and Charlie’s hot-tempered younger brother Josh (Jeremy Allen White), an ex-con who is trying to turn his life around and can’t believe he’s entered into a serious relationship with Mina (Sheila Vand), who is Dan’s business partner and closest friend, and is clearly out of Josh’s league. Why, it’s almost as if Mina is with Josh just so she can spend even more time with Charlie, cough-cough.
To celebrate a big breakthrough Charlie and Mina have made at their company, Charlie goes online and rents an amazing house on the Oregon coast for the weekend. Road trip! Even though the Brit Dan Stevens (doing a fine job of masking his “Downton Abbey” accent) and the Brooklyn-born Jeremy Allen White (best known for playing “Lip” on the Chicago-set “Shameless”) look nothing like brothers, they do an excellent job of establishing the complicated sibling dynamic, with Josh getting the trip off on the wrong foot by bringing along his French bulldog, Reggie, even though the rules clearly state no pets allowed. We get the feeling Charlie is in a constant state of aggravation around his brother but is always around to clean up after him because that’s what big brothers do.
When the group arrives at the gorgeously appointed, cliffside house, they’re met by the rough-hewn, pickup-driving, blunt-speaking Taylor (Toby Huss in a great supporting performance), who manages the property for his brother and almost immediately makes the foursome uncomfortable with his barely concealed racism toward Mina (who is of Middle Eastern descent) and his combative conversational tone. What a creep! And he has keys to the place, uh-oh.
Michelle (Alison Brie) learns some devastating information about her husband (Dan Stevens) during the group getaway in “The Rental.” IFC Photos
Cinematographer Christian Spenger delivers appropriately ominous visuals of the fog swirling around the property; low-angle, tension-building shots of a mysterious locked room underneath the main house, and a number of voyeuristic angles that indicate someone is eavesdropping on the proceedings from a distance. Despite the interaction with the unsettling Taylor, the group is excited about spending quality time together and getting effed up on drinks and drugs, and going on an ambitious hike — but with one possible exception, these are not the nicest or most trustworthy people in the world, and the deceptions and betrayals get more shocking (and have more dire consequences) as the weekend segues from dreamy getaway to nightmarish get-me-out-of-here.
All four leads are terrific, but the versatile Alison Brie is the standout as the chipper and upbeat Michelle, who is seemingly the least complicated character but becomes fantastically forthright when she’s high — and understandably nasty when she discovers some devastating information about her loving husband.
“The Rental” would have worked purely as a compelling character study about four dysfunctional adults unraveling over the course of a long weekend — but when the presence of a homicidal maniac is introduced to the proceedings, the transition to horror film is brilliant and wacky and pretty darn great.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Chicago in crisis, one bloody day after another

One city .
Two months ’ time .
1,130 shootings , 212 of them fatal .
That ’ s nearly 19 people shot a day , on average , with at least three of them killed .
Mostly on the South and West Sides .
Let it sink in .
This is 61 days in Chicago — May 22 , when an uptick in violence began , through July 21 .
If Chicago ’ s violence continues at this pace , it will be unfathomable .
The county morgue fills up .
Children lie in coffins .
And our city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake of the civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd and the economic toll of the coronavirus .
Who will invest if the violence has no end ?
We appreciate that President Donald Trump , for all his bashing rhetoric , finally appears to have gotten on the same page with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other big-city leaders in his deploying of an initiative called Operation Legend to help end the summer bloodshed .
Earlier this week , our worry was that Operation Legend might be nothing more than a replay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Homeland Security in Portland , Oregon .
Federal agents dressed like soldiers at war have swept people off the street — without cause or charge — in unmarked cars .
But , best we can tell , John Lausch , the U.S. attorney in Chicago , has been instrumental in pushing the Trump administration to come to its senses , drop the thug tactics , and devise a plan to send an extra 200 or more federal agents to our city to work hand-in-hand with local police .
Not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but to use their expertise to help solve crimes .
If Operation Legend truly is about partnering with the Chicago police , and not just another heavy-handed Trump campaign stunt , more power to it .
Time will tell .
It is reassuring , on that score , that Lausch will supervise the federal resources in Chicago .
Because there ’ s no denying the crisis in our city .
These numbers , compiled for us by Sun-Times Wire Reporter David Struett , tell the story , with weekend days in bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nine people shot , three fatally

One city. Two months’ time. 1,130 shootings, 212 of them fatal.
That’s nearly 19 people shot a day, on average, with at least three of them killed. Mostly on the South and West Sides.
Let it sink in. This is 61 days in Chicago — May 22, when an uptick in violence began, through July 21.
If Chicago’s violence continues at this pace, it will be unfathomable. The county morgue fills up. Children lie in coffins. And our city faces a daunting rebuilding job in the wake of the civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd and the economic toll of the coronavirus.
Who will invest if the violence has no end?
Editorials bug Editorials
We appreciate that President Donald Trump, for all his bashing rhetoric, finally appears to have gotten on the same page with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other big-city leaders in his deploying of an initiative called Operation Legend to help end the summer bloodshed.
Earlier this week, our worry was that Operation Legend might be nothing more than a replay of the anti-civil-liberties outrage being pursued by the Department of Homeland Security in Portland, Oregon. Federal agents dressed like soldiers at war have swept people off the street — without cause or charge — in unmarked cars.
But, best we can tell, John Lausch, the U.S. attorney in Chicago, has been instrumental in pushing the Trump administration to come to its senses, drop the thug tactics, and devise a plan to send an extra 200 or more federal agents to our city to work hand-in-hand with local police. Not to patrol the streets, as in Portland, but to use their expertise to help solve crimes.
If Operation Legend truly is about partnering with the Chicago police, and not just another heavy-handed Trump campaign stunt, more power to it. Time will tell. It is reassuring, on that score, that Lausch will supervise the federal resources in Chicago.
Because there’s no denying the crisis in our city. These numbers, compiled for us by Sun-Times Wire Reporter David Struett, tell the story, with weekend days in bold face:
Tuesday, July 21: 23 people shot, four fatally
Monday, July 20: 25 people shot, three fatally
Sunday, July 19: 22 people shot, five fatally
Saturday, July 18: 28 people shot, three fatally
Friday, July 17: 31 people shot, two fatally
Thursday, July 16: 17 people shot, four fatally
Wednesday, July 15: 11 people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, July 14: 14 people shot, two fatally
Monday, July 13: 15 people shot, three fatally
Sunday, July 12: 27 people shot, four fatally
Saturday, July 11: 27 people shot, six fatally
Friday, July 10: 17 people shot, five fatally
Thursday, July 9: Nine people shot, two fatally
Wednesday July 8: Nine people shot, three fatally
Tuesday, July 7: 11 people shot, two fatally
Monday, July 6: 19 people shot, four fatally
Sunday, July 5: 32 people shot, three fatally
Saturday, July 4: 37 people shot, 12 fatally
Friday, July 3: 12 people shot, one fatally
Thursday, July 2: 15 people shot, three fatally
Wednesday, July 1: 15 people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, June 30: 19 people shot, three fatally
Monday, June 29: Six people shot, three fatally
Sunday, June 28: 32 people shot, eight fatally
Saturday, June 27: 28 people shot, ten fatally
Friday, June 26: Seven people shot, one fatally
Thursday, June 25: 14 people shot, two fatally
Wednesday, June 24: 17 people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, June 23: 16 people shot, one fatally
Monday, June 22: 44 people shot, six fatally
Sunday, June 21: 27 people shot, four fatally
Saturday, June 20: 35 people shot, nine fatally
Friday, June 19: 27 people shot, four fatally
Thursday, June 18: 21 people shot, four fatally
Wednesday, June 17: Six people shot, one fatally
Tuesday, June 16: 10 people shot, one fatally
Monday, June 15: 18 people shot, five fatally
Sunday, June 14: 13 people shot, one fatally
Saturday, June 13: 13 people shot, one fatally
Friday, June 12: 18 people shot, none fatally
Thursday, June 11: 10 people shot, two fatally
Wednesday, June 10: Eight people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, June 9: Nine people shot, two fatally
Monday, June 8: Nine people shot, two fatally
Sunday, June 7: 17 people shot, four fatally
Saturday June 6: 15 people shot, one fatally
Friday, June 5: 10 people shot, none fatally
Thursday, June 4: 16 people shot, three fatally
Wednesday, June 3: 18 people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, June 2: 29 people shot, three fatally
Monday, June 1: 22 people shot, three fatally
Sunday, May 31: 50 people shot, 16 fatally
Saturday, May 30: 18 people shot, seven fatally
Friday, May 29: 15 people shot, three fatally
Thursday, May 28: 11 people shot, two fatally
Wednesday, May 27: 11 people shot, two fatally
Tuesday, May 26: 20 people shot, four fatally
Monday, May 25: 19 people shot, one fatally
Sunday, May 24: 10 people shot, three fatally
Saturday, May 23: 17 people shot, five fatally
Friday, May 22: Nine people shot, three fatally
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--Dear Abby: Video of dirty jokes almost ruins our new relationship

DEAR ABBY : A casual friend sent me a video of a comic doing a very lewd and vulgar routine .
I was offended by it and forwarded it to my girlfriend to find out what she thought about it .
She got very upset and told me I was being disrespectful to her by even passing it on to her .
I should add that we met online and have been talking on the phone with each other for only a month during this shelter-in-place time .
This incident nearly ended our new relationship .
Was I wrong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should I do now to save what I think is the most wonderful relationship I have ever had in my life ?
— NO LAUGHING MATTER DEAR NO LAUGHING : Before sending the video , you should have warned your new girlfriend that it was vulgar and asked if she wanted to see it , which would have given her the opportunity to refuse .
What you should do now is apologize for having offended her and tell her how much you value your relationship with her .
Then cross your fingers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABBY : My wife had some health issues over the last four years and gained 40 pounds .
She keeps saying she wants to lose the weight , but doesn ’ t do anything about it .
Her blood pressure is high , so she needs to do it .
When I try to bring it up , she gets mad and always mentions the health issues .
But those issues are now totally behind her .
What can I do or say to get her going again ?
— FULL OF CONCERN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your wife you don ’ t mean to come across as a nag , but you are worried because of her blood pressure issue .
She is far from the only person who procrastinates when faced with changing one ’ s lifestyle .
Many folks are overindulging now because of the challenge of social isolation .
Something that might benefit you both would be to encourage her to get out and start walking with you on a regular basis .
And drop the subject of weight for now .
Take it up again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she may be less defensive .
DEAR ABBY : My college-age daughter , “ Dahlia , ” refuses to take seriously the social distancing necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 , even though her college , like many others , has closed .
She says it ’ s all overblown , even though her father and I are older and she has a pregnant sister at home .
Dahlia is young , and she thinks she ’ s invincible .
I think my daughter is selfish for not caring about anyone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
— FOLLOWING THE RULES IN WEST VIRGINIA DEAR FOLLOWING : Many people still are having trouble accepting the fact that we are all at risk because of an invisible and silent “ enemy , ” COVID-19 .
Because you are unable to get through to Dahlia , assert yourself as the adult in the household and establish some rules to protect yourself , your husband , your pregnant daughter and your unborn grandchild .
First among them : Dahlia must follow the government guidelines regarding social distancing , handwashing , etc .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person , order “ How to Be Popular.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Popularity Booklet , P.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: A casual friend sent me a video of a comic doing a very lewd and vulgar routine. I was offended by it and forwarded it to my girlfriend to find out what she thought about it. She got very upset and told me I was being disrespectful to her by even passing it on to her. I should add that we met online and have been talking on the phone with each other for only a month during this shelter-in-place time.
This incident nearly ended our new relationship. Was I wrong to send her the video? And what should I do now to save what I think is the most wonderful relationship I have ever had in my life? — NO LAUGHING MATTER
DEAR NO LAUGHING: Before sending the video, you should have warned your new girlfriend that it was vulgar and asked if she wanted to see it, which would have given her the opportunity to refuse. What you should do now is apologize for having offended her and tell her how much you value your relationship with her. Then cross your fingers that she still feels the same.
DEAR ABBY: My wife had some health issues over the last four years and gained 40 pounds. She keeps saying she wants to lose the weight, but doesn’t do anything about it. Her blood pressure is high, so she needs to do it. When I try to bring it up, she gets mad and always mentions the health issues. But those issues are now totally behind her. What can I do or say to get her going again? — FULL OF CONCERN IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR FULL: Tell your wife you don’t mean to come across as a nag, but you are worried because of her blood pressure issue. She is far from the only person who procrastinates when faced with changing one’s lifestyle.
Many folks are overindulging now because of the challenge of social isolation. Something that might benefit you both would be to encourage her to get out and start walking with you on a regular basis. And drop the subject of weight for now. Take it up again once your lives begin to normalize and she may be less defensive.
DEAR ABBY: My college-age daughter, “Dahlia,” refuses to take seriously the social distancing necessary to control the spread of COVID-19, even though her college, like many others, has closed. She says it’s all overblown, even though her father and I are older and she has a pregnant sister at home.
Dahlia is young, and she thinks she’s invincible. I think my daughter is selfish for not caring about anyone else. What can I say to her? — FOLLOWING THE RULES IN WEST VIRGINIA
DEAR FOLLOWING: Many people still are having trouble accepting the fact that we are all at risk because of an invisible and silent “enemy,” COVID-19. Because you are unable to get through to Dahlia, assert yourself as the adult in the household and establish some rules to protect yourself, your husband, your pregnant daughter and your unborn grandchild. First among them: Dahlia must follow the government guidelines regarding social distancing, handwashing, etc. or find another place to live.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--Challenging times require all hands on deck

When I decided last year to drastically scale back my duties as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times , I was convinced the time was right .
After all , I had reached the biblical promise of 70 years , an age that , as a cancer survivor , I thought I would not see .
And having spent 29 of those years writing about everything from bloodshed in our streets to racial injustices in society and political corruption in government , it seemed the right time to sit on the sidelines and cheer on others pursuing the cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ voice for the voiceless.
” I had just started on my bucket list ( having taken a long-awaited trip to Cuba ) when the coronavirus pandemic shut down my dreams of exotic travel .
Stuck at home , my plans to take up line dancing and to play with clay in a pottery class also got put on hold .
But as the Good Book teaches , there is a season for everything : “ …A time to break down .
And a time to build up ; A time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the book of Ecclesiastes points out .
During the past year , I have written my column sporadically .
Next month that will change .
In this “ all hands on deck moment ” and at the request of the Sun-Times , I have agreed to return to the newsroom to add my voice to the many voices addressing the issues that make this the most challenging time most of us will endure in our lifetime .
Think about it .
We are confronted with a worldwide pandemic that has killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most of them Black and Brown — highlighting long-standing racial inequities in our health care system .
At the same time , we are witnessing the resurgence in blatant “ Jim Crow ” racism — to the point that a white police officer could calmly and publicly snuff out the life of George Floyd in Minneapolis during an arrest — igniting days of violent protests nationwide .
And as if that were not enough turmoil , many of us are wrestling with how to feel when # BlackLivesMatter has emerged as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of people of all races across the country — and still , just a few days ago , 15 Black people are injured in a shootout outside of a funeral home in our city , and few people are willing to say a word .
Who do we dare blame when Black children as young as 3 years old are killed in gun battles waged by fathers , while a band of carjackers that include preadolescence children , are robbing mothers at gunpoint ?
As City Hall tries to tackle these ills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crop of journalists to sort out fact from fiction .
For instance , how would brick and mortar investments in neighborhoods that were abandoned by Black and Brown folks fleeing the violence save other young lives ?
Or for that matter , how are white allies supposed to make sense of the conundrum of black-on-black violence in the face of the Black Lives Matter movement ?
Make no mistake ; we are at a crossroads .
The decisions our leaders make today , the causes that we champion , the work that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down ” the racial barriers of our past to “ build up ” a new inclusive city for our children and grandchildren .
To do that , all voices must be heard .
For the Sun-Times , this work starts at home .
Besides returning to a twice weekly column that focuses on race issues and other challenges the city and our nation faces , I will serve as a liaison between management and journalists , using my institutional knowledge of the city and of the newsroom to help ensure that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to racial inclusion and equity .
For much of this past year , though pressured to do otherwise , I have mostly kept my silence .
But in these unprecedented times , we are all being called upon to walk in our calling like never before .
“ To everything there is a season.
” Now is not the time to be silenced .

Timing is everything.
When I decided last year to drastically scale back my duties as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, I was convinced the time was right.
After all, I had reached the biblical promise of 70 years, an age that, as a cancer survivor, I thought I would not see.
And having spent 29 of those years writing about everything from bloodshed in our streets to racial injustices in society and political corruption in government, it seemed the right time to sit on the sidelines and cheer on others pursuing the cause of journalism, that is, to be a “voice for the voiceless.”
I had just started on my bucket list (having taken a long-awaited trip to Cuba) when the coronavirus pandemic shut down my dreams of exotic travel.
Stuck at home, my plans to take up line dancing and to play with clay in a pottery class also got put on hold.
But as the Good Book teaches, there is a season for everything:
“…A time to break down. And a time to build up;
A time to keep silence and a time to speak,” the book of Ecclesiastes points out.
During the past year, I have written my column sporadically.
Next month that will change.
In this “all hands on deck moment” and at the request of the Sun-Times, I have agreed to return to the newsroom to add my voice to the many voices addressing the issues that make this the most challenging time most of us will endure in our lifetime.
Think about it.
We are confronted with a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 144,000 people in this country, most of them Black and Brown — highlighting long-standing racial inequities in our health care system.
At the same time, we are witnessing the resurgence in blatant “Jim Crow” racism — to the point that a white police officer could calmly and publicly snuff out the life of George Floyd in Minneapolis during an arrest — igniting days of violent protests nationwide.
And as if that were not enough turmoil, many of us are wrestling with how to feel when #BlackLivesMatter has emerged as the new civil rights mantra — bringing together thousands of people of all races across the country — and still, just a few days ago, 15 Black people are injured in a shootout outside of a funeral home in our city, and few people are willing to say a word.
Who do we dare blame when Black children as young as 3 years old are killed in gun battles waged by fathers, while a band of carjackers that include preadolescence children, are robbing mothers at gunpoint?
As City Hall tries to tackle these ills, it is up to a new crop of journalists to sort out fact from fiction.
For instance, how would brick and mortar investments in neighborhoods that were abandoned by Black and Brown folks fleeing the violence save other young lives?
Or for that matter, how are white allies supposed to make sense of the conundrum of black-on-black violence in the face of the Black Lives Matter movement?
Make no mistake; we are at a crossroads.
The decisions our leaders make today, the causes that we champion, the work that we set our hands to must “break down” the racial barriers of our past to “build up” a new inclusive city for our children and grandchildren.
To do that, all voices must be heard.
For the Sun-Times, this work starts at home.
Besides returning to a twice weekly column that focuses on race issues and other challenges the city and our nation faces, I will serve as a liaison between management and journalists, using my institutional knowledge of the city and of the newsroom to help ensure that we are practicing what we preach when it comes to racial inclusion and equity.
For much of this past year, though pressured to do otherwise, I have mostly kept my silence.
But in these unprecedented times, we are all being called upon to walk in our calling like never before.
“To everything there is a season.”
Now is not the time to be silenced.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--Online discussion to focus on violence activist Tamar Manasseh and documentary about her

Chicago anti-gun violence activist Tamar Manasseh will participate in an online discussion Thursday on a documentary focusing on her work .
“ They Ain ’ t Ready For Me ” follows Manasseh , founder of Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing , and her work against violence focusing on the South Side .
After a mother was shot and killed in 2015 , Manasseh sat every day at the site of the crime , the normally violent corner of 75th Street and Stewart Avenue .
She created a growing group of mothers and men who brought children and barbecued , and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence on the block .
The documentary also explores Manasseh ’ s faith as a Black Jew , which she highlights as a driving force behind her anti-violence activism .
“ This film is not just about me as a black woman or a mother , ” Manasseh told the Sun-Times in January .
“ It ’ s also about me as a rabbinical student and how I use my brand of Judaism to fix the world.
” The discussion will be held online from 7 to 8 p.m. by the JCC Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous free online screenings of the film held from July 19 to 21 .
Along with Manasseh , conversation participants include the documentary ’ s director , Brad Rothschild ; executive producer Reuben Cannon , and past President/CEO of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Wendy DuBoe .
It will be moderated by CBS Chicago reporter Jim Williams .
Go here to register for the discussion .

Chicago anti-gun violence activist Tamar Manasseh will participate in an online discussion Thursday on a documentary focusing on her work.
“They Ain’t Ready For Me” follows Manasseh, founder of Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing, and her work against violence focusing on the South Side.
After a mother was shot and killed in 2015, Manasseh sat every day at the site of the crime, the normally violent corner of 75th Street and Stewart Avenue. She created a growing group of mothers and men who brought children and barbecued, and their daily efforts led to a decrease in violence on the block.
The documentary also explores Manasseh’s faith as a Black Jew, which she highlights as a driving force behind her anti-violence activism.
“This film is not just about me as a Black woman or a mother,” Manasseh told the Sun-Times in January. “It’s also about me as a rabbinical student and how I use my brand of Judaism to fix the world.”
The discussion will be held online from 7 to 8 p.m. by the JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival. It follows following previous free online screenings of the film held from July 19 to 21.
Along with Manasseh, conversation participants include the documentary’s director, Brad Rothschild; executive producer Reuben Cannon, and past President/CEO of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Wendy DuBoe. It will be moderated by CBS Chicago reporter Jim Williams.
Go here to register for the discussion.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--‘Yes, God, Yes’ a sweeter, gentler kind of teen sex comedy

For all its sharp barbs at Catholic school hypocrisy and its frank depictions of masturbation and teenage hook-ups , “ Yes , God , Yes ” somehow retains a breezy and upbeat and even sweet disposition , thanks to the light touch of writer-director Karen Maine and an absolutely winning performance by “ Stranger Things ” star Natalia Dyer as a 16-year-old schoolgirl who is simultaneously exploring her sexuality while combatting nasty gossip about her performing a certain activity with a classmate who has a girlfriend .
I can ’ t even describe the term for this particular act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d rather not . )
Suffice to say Dyer ’ s Alice not only didn ’ t perform it , she has no idea what it even means , which makes it all the more hilarious every time she repeats the phrase to the amusement of others .
In less nuanced hands , “ Yes , God , Yes ” could have been like one of those leering teenage sex comedies from the 1980s , but Maine ’ s semi-autobiographical tale strikes just the right notes over its 74-minute running time — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some , this Roman Catholic found it to be hilarious and engaging .
Sure , much of the humor is over the top , but there are essential truths ringing throughout .
“ Yes , God , Yes ” is set in the Midwest in the early 2000s , at a Catholic high school where the hipster , youngish priest Father Murphy ( Timothy Simons from “ Veep ” ) connects with the students on their own terms while reminding them the purpose of sex is to procreate , that one must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and masturbation is a sin because it means you ’ re having sex with yourself , and you can ’ t get yourself pregnant , right ?
With period-piece songs such as Christina Aguilera ’ s “ Genie in a Bottle ” and Collective Soul ’ s “ Shine ” popping on the soundtrack , Alice has begun to explore her sexuality .
She plays the steam-the-car-windows scene from “ Titanic ” over and over on VHS , and she logs onto an AOL Chat Room where a couple sends her provocative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alice discovers the joys of masturbation , much to her surprise .
( The scene is not graphic , and is played mostly for gentle laughs , as Dyer ’ s facial expressions capture the mixture of wonder and excitement and maybe a little fear Alice is experiencing . )
Meanwhile , someone has started a rumor about Alice hooking up with the handsome and dopey and jerky Wade ( Parker Wierling ) .
Alice is labeled a “ slut , ” and even her best friend Laura ( Francesca Reale , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to doubt her .
At a weekend retreat , Alice discovers Father Murphy isn ’ t as righteous as he claims to be and certain classmates who are preaching celibacy aren ’ t practicing what they preach .
At one point , Alice literally runs away from the camp , and winds up in a bar where she meets a lesbian and lapsed Catholic ( Susan Blackwell in a scene-stealing cameo ) , who does a better job of mentoring the girl in five minutes than her teachers have done over the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment we know Alice doesn ’ t have an easy road ahead , but she ’ s bright and kind and good , and she ’ ll find the path that suits her best .
She deserves to be happy .

For all its sharp barbs at Catholic school hypocrisy and its frank depictions of masturbation and teenage hook-ups, “Yes, God, Yes” somehow retains a breezy and upbeat and even sweet disposition, thanks to the light touch of writer-director Karen Maine and an absolutely winning performance by “Stranger Things” star Natalia Dyer as a 16-year-old schoolgirl who is simultaneously exploring her sexuality while combatting nasty gossip about her performing a certain activity with a classmate who has a girlfriend.
I can’t even describe the term for this particular act. (Or should I say, I’d rather not.) Suffice to say Dyer’s Alice not only didn’t perform it, she has no idea what it even means, which makes it all the more hilarious every time she repeats the phrase to the amusement of others.
‘Yes, God, Yes’
Untitled Vertical Entertainment presents a film written and directed by Karen Maine. Rated R (for sexual content and some nudity). Running time: 78 minutes. Available for streaming starting Friday at www.facets.org.
In less nuanced hands, “Yes, God, Yes” could have been like one of those leering teenage sex comedies from the 1980s, but Maine’s semi-autobiographical tale strikes just the right notes over its 74-minute running time — and while the material may be objectionable to some, this Roman Catholic found it to be hilarious and engaging. Sure, much of the humor is over the top, but there are essential truths ringing throughout.
“Yes, God, Yes” is set in the Midwest in the early 2000s, at a Catholic high school where the hipster, youngish priest Father Murphy (Timothy Simons from “Veep”) connects with the students on their own terms while reminding them the purpose of sex is to procreate, that one must wait until after marriage to have sex — and masturbation is a sin because it means you’re having sex with yourself, and you can’t get yourself pregnant, right?
With period-piece songs such as Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” and Collective Soul’s “Shine” popping on the soundtrack, Alice has begun to explore her sexuality. She plays the steam-the-car-windows scene from “Titanic” over and over on VHS, and she logs onto an AOL Chat Room where a couple sends her provocative photos. This is the moment when Alice discovers the joys of masturbation, much to her surprise. (The scene is not graphic, and is played mostly for gentle laughs, as Dyer’s facial expressions capture the mixture of wonder and excitement and maybe a little fear Alice is experiencing.)
Meanwhile, someone has started a rumor about Alice hooking up with the handsome and dopey and jerky Wade (Parker Wierling). Alice is labeled a “slut,” and even her best friend Laura (Francesca Reale, also of “Stranger Things”) begins to doubt her. At a weekend retreat, Alice discovers Father Murphy isn’t as righteous as he claims to be and certain classmates who are preaching celibacy aren’t practicing what they preach. At one point, Alice literally runs away from the camp, and winds up in a bar where she meets a lesbian and lapsed Catholic (Susan Blackwell in a scene-stealing cameo), who does a better job of mentoring the girl in five minutes than her teachers have done over the entire semester. It’s in that moment we know Alice doesn’t have an easy road ahead, but she’s bright and kind and good, and she’ll find the path that suits her best. She deserves to be happy.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--3 killed, 7 wounded Wednesday in Chicago shootings

Ten people were shot and three killed Wednesday in Chicago .
The day ’ s latest reported shooting left a man dead in Woodlawn on the South Side .
The 33-year-old was in a parked vehicle about 11:50 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 67th Street when someone fired shots , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the groin and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died .
Wednesday afternoon , a man was killed in a drive-by in Cragin .
The man , 25 , was standing on the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of West School Street when someone fired shots from a passing light-colored vehicle , police said .
He was shot in the leg and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center , where he died .
Another drive-by left a man dead in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
About 12:10 a.m. , the 28-year-old had just got out of his vehicle in the 200 block of East 121st Place when someone in a passing gray vehicle fired shots at him , police said .
He was struck multiple times in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was rushed to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he died .
A 3-year-old girl was seriously wounded after being shot in her head early Wednesday while riding in her family ’ s car in South Shore .
They were driving in the 2400 block of East 74th Street about 12:45 a.m. when two gunmen standing on a corner fired shots in their direction , police said .
The girl was shot in the head and suffered scratches on her eye from broken glass .
The parents stopped their vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove them to Jackson Park Hospital , police said .
The girl was transported to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in serious condition .
It is unclear who was the intended target of the shooting , police said .
In other non-fatal shootings , a man was critically wounded in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side .
He was sitting in a vehicle about 10 p.m. in the 2600 block of West 58th Street when someone approached his vehicle from behind and opened fire , police said .
The 21-year-old was struck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition .
Two men were shot earlier Wednesday evening in Englewood on the South Side .
They were on the sidewalk about 8:33 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Elizabeth Street when they heard shots and felt pain , police said .
Both men , 31 and 41 years old , were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the leg .
Wednesday morning , a 50-year-old man was grazed by a stray bullet in his home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was sitting inside his home in the 4600 block of North Beacon Street about 2:20 a.m. when he was grazed by a bullet on his back , police said .
He was taken to Memorial Hospital in fair condition .
The man was uncooperative with officers and would not give further details on the shooting , police said .
About 40 minutes earlier , a 26-year-old man was shot while driving in Chatham on the South Side .
He was driving about 1:40 a.m. in the 800 block of East 82nd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the street , police said .
He was grazed by a bullet on his hip and elbow , and was treated at the scene .
Before that , a man was shot in West Garfield Park on the West Side .
The 21-year-old was walking about 1:05 a.m. in the 300 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue when he heard shots ring out , police said .
The man was struck in the leg and foot , police said .
He told officers he didn ’ t see the shooter or know where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove the man to Loretto Hospital , police said .
He was transferred to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
Twenty-three people were shot , four of them fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
Fifteen of those people were wounded in a single incident outside a funeral home in Gresham .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Ten people were shot and three killed Wednesday in Chicago.
The day’s latest reported shooting left a man dead in Woodlawn on the South Side.
The 33-year-old was in a parked vehicle about 11:50 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 67th Street when someone fired shots, Chicago police said. The man was struck in the groin and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died.
Wednesday afternoon, a man was killed in a drive-by in Cragin.
The man, 25, was standing on the street about 2:10 p.m. in the 5500 block of West School Street when someone fired shots from a passing light-colored vehicle, police said. He was shot in the leg and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died.
Another drive-by left a man dead in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
About 12:10 a.m., the 28-year-old had just got out of his vehicle in the 200 block of East 121st Place when someone in a passing gray vehicle fired shots at him, police said.
He was struck multiple times in the chest and torso, police said. He was rushed to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.
A 3-year-old girl was seriously wounded after being shot in her head early Wednesday while riding in her family’s car in South Shore.
They were driving in the 2400 block of East 74th Street about 12:45 a.m. when two gunmen standing on a corner fired shots in their direction, police said. The girl was shot in the head and suffered scratches on her eye from broken glass.
The parents stopped their vehicle and flagged down a stranger, who drove them to Jackson Park Hospital, police said. The girl was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in serious condition.
It is unclear who was the intended target of the shooting, police said.
In other non-fatal shootings, a man was critically wounded in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.
He was sitting in a vehicle about 10 p.m. in the 2600 block of West 58th Street when someone approached his vehicle from behind and opened fire, police said. The 21-year-old was struck in the back and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.
Two men were shot earlier Wednesday evening in Englewood on the South Side.
They were on the sidewalk about 8:33 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Elizabeth Street when they heard shots and felt pain, police said. Both men, 31 and 41 years old, were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Wednesday morning, a 50-year-old man was grazed by a stray bullet in his home in Sheridan Park on the Northwest Side.
He was sitting inside his home in the 4600 block of North Beacon Street about 2:20 a.m. when he was grazed by a bullet on his back, police said. He was taken to Memorial Hospital in fair condition.
The man was uncooperative with officers and would not give further details on the shooting, police said.
About 40 minutes earlier, a 26-year-old man was shot while driving in Chatham on the South Side.
He was driving about 1:40 a.m. in the 800 block of East 82nd Street when someone fired shots at him from the street, police said. He was grazed by a bullet on his hip and elbow, and was treated at the scene.
Before that, a man was shot in West Garfield Park on the West Side.
The 21-year-old was walking about 1:05 a.m. in the 300 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue when he heard shots ring out, police said.
The man was struck in the leg and foot, police said. He told officers he didn’t see the shooter or know where the shots came from.
An acquaintance drove the man to Loretto Hospital, police said. He was transferred to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
Twenty-three people were shot, four of them fatally, Tuesday in Chicago. Fifteen of those people were wounded in a single incident outside a funeral home in Gresham.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--Man killed in Woodlawn shooting

Man killed in Woodlawn shooting

A man was shot to death Wednesday in Woodlawn on the South Side .
The 33-year-old was in a parked @ @ @ @ @ the 1400 block of East 67th Street when someone fired shots , Chicago police said @ @ @ @ @ in the groin and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he @ @ @ @ @ The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified him as being Kenneth Scott .
@ @ @ @ @ .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was shot to death Wednesday in Woodlawn on the South Side.
The 33-year-old was in a parked vehicle about 11:50 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 67th Street when someone fired shots, Chicago police said.
The man was struck in the groin and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as being Kenneth Scott. He lived in South Shore.
Area One detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--6-month-old girl died of child abuse in Hazel Crest: autopsy

A 6-month-old girl died Tuesday from child abuse in south suburban Hazel Crest , according to an autopsy .
Nyla @ @ @ @ @ 2000 block of 170th Street about 6:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead half an hour @ @ @ @ @ , the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
Autopsy results released Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ injuries from child abuse and ruled her death a homicide , the medical examiner ’ @ @ @ @ @ Crest police did not immediately respond to a request for details .

A 6-month-old girl died Tuesday from child abuse in south suburban Hazel Crest, according to an autopsy.
Nyla Hollis suffered injuries in the 2000 block of 170th Street about 6:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead half an hour later at South Suburban Hospital, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Autopsy results released Wednesday found she died of multiple injuries from child abuse and ruled her death a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said.
Hazel Crest police did not immediately respond to a request for details.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Lightfoot defends calling FOP president a ‘clown,’ ‘cartoon character’ and ‘total fraud’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday defended sending several insulting text messages to Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara , saying she doesn ’ t “ take back one word that I said.
” In a heated text exchange , obtained by WGN , Lightfoot called Catanzara a “ cartoon character , ” “ clown ” and “ total fraud ” after the recently appointed FOP president sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Saturday , pleading for federal help in combating the city ’ s gun violence .
Lightfoot said she believes her characterization of Catanzara is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Catanzara of sending the letters in a “ craven political move.
” “ In the middle of everything that ’ s going on in a craven political move , this man waved his hand to President Trump and invited him to bring federal troops into our city , federal troops into our city , a la Portland , ” Lightfoot said during a news conference .
“ How is that responsible ?
How does that make sense ?
What he should be doing is focusing on the things that [ are ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter , Catanzara didn ’ t specifically ask for “ troops ” or mention Portland , but he did call Lightfoot a “ complete failure ” who is unable to maintain law and order .
Lightfoot said she ’ s tried to engage with Catanzara in a “ constructive way ” but hasn ’ t had much luck .
“ He refuses to do so because he ’ s more interested in trying to make himself a political figure rather than to be a leader , ” Lightfoot said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I said .
”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday defended sending several insulting text messages to Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, saying she doesn’t “take back one word that I said.”
In a heated text exchange, obtained by WGN, Lightfoot called Catanzara a “cartoon character,” “clown” and “total fraud” after the recently appointed FOP president sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Saturday, pleading for federal help in combating the city’s gun violence.
Lightfoot said she believes her characterization of Catanzara is “100% accurate.” She also accused Catanzara of sending the letters in a “craven political move.”
“In the middle of everything that’s going on, in a craven political move, this man waved his hand to President Trump and invited him to bring federal troops into our city, federal troops into our city, a la Portland,” Lightfoot said during a news conference. “How is that responsible? How does that make sense? What he should be doing is focusing on the things that [are] actually important to his members.”
In the letter, Catanzara didn’t specifically ask for “troops” or mention Portland, but he did call Lightfoot a “complete failure” who is unable to maintain law and order.
Lightfoot said she’s tried to engage with Catanzara in a “constructive way” but hasn’t had much luck.
“He refuses to do so because he’s more interested in trying to make himself a political figure rather than to be a leader,” Lightfoot said. “I don’t take back one word that I said.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Kim Kardashian West speaks out about Kanye’s mental health issues

Kim Kardashian West is speaking out on the importance of caring for those with mental illnesses amid her husband Kanye West ’ s public struggle with bipolar disorder .
West , 43 , sent a barrage of worrisome tweets Monday and Tuesday nights after openly weeping over the weekend at his rambling first presidential campaign rally in South Carolina .
“ I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions , ” Kardashian West wrote in a lengthy Instagram statement Wednesday .
“ He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the pressures of being an artist and a black man , who experienced the painful loss of his mother , and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder .
Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions.
” The “ Keeping Up With the Kardashians ” star , 39 , said she decided to speak out “ because of the stigma and misconceptions about mental health , ” despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his Monday tweet storm , West suggested he was at his Wyoming ranch and resisting intervention efforts by his wife Kim Kardashian , her family and medical professionals .
“ Kim was trying to fly to Wyoming with a doctor to lock me up like on the movie Get Out because I cried about saving my daughters life yesterday , ” West tweeted Monday , before deleting it .
In other now-deleted tweets , he said he had been trying to get a divorce and accused the Kardashian family and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lock me up.
” Reflecting on the “ incredibly complicated and painful ” nature of living with or loving someone who lives with mental illness , his wife reminded followers that the family of an adult is “ powerless ” to help unless the person willingly engages “ in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try.
” “ Living with bi-polar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas , no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of his genius and as we have all witnessed , many of his big dreams have come true.
” Kardashian West asked that “ the media and public ” give the family grace , compassion and empathy ” to get through their difficult time and thanked those who reached out and expressed concern .
West elicited worries about his mental health after Sunday ’ s rally to support his announced presidential campaign in North Charleston , South Carolina .
Wearing a flak jacket that read “ Security , ” West shouted without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal statements about his wife and family .
During a discussion on abortion , West veered into his private life with Kardashian , explaining that they considered terminating their first pregnancy .
He emotionally said that Kardashian ended up fighting to keep the unborn child , and gave birth to daughter North in 2013 .
“ So even if my wife were to divorce me after this speech , she brought North into the world , even when I didn ’ t want to , ” West told the crowd .
“ She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sobbing talking about his own mother , Donda West , who made the same choice when she was pregnant .
“ My dad wanted to abort me .
My mom saved my life .
There would have been no Kanye West , because my dad was too busy.
” “ I almost killed my daughter , ” he shouted shamefully , not hiding his tears .
West was hospitalized in November 2016 for a “ psychiatric emergency ” after police were called to his house by his personal doctor .
The remaining dates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He opened up about his mental health struggles and being placed in involuntary psychiatric hold during a 2019 interview with David Letterman .
Saying he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years earlier , West explained what it was like to have a manic episode .
“ You feel everyone wants to kill you , you pretty much don ’ t trust anyone , and they have this moment where they handcuff you , they drug you , they put you on the bed , and they separate you from everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also reflected on the importance of taking his medication : “ If you don ’ t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state , you have a potential to ramp up and it can take you to a point where you can even end up in the hospital.
” West told Forbes in a 2019 interview that his bipolar disorder was his “ superpower ” that unlocked his imagination and discussed the stigma of mental illness .
“ ‘ Crazy ’ is a word that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a lot of people that have been called that ‘ C ’ word that have ended up on this ( magazine ’ s ) cover .
”

Kim Kardashian West is speaking out on the importance of caring for those with mental illnesses amid her husband Kanye West’s public struggle with bipolar disorder.
West, 43, sent a barrage of worrisome tweets Monday and Tuesday nights after openly weeping over the weekend at his rambling first presidential campaign rally in South Carolina.
“I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions,” Kardashian West wrote in a lengthy Instagram statement Wednesday. “He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of the pressures of being an artist and a black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother, and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bi-polar disorder. Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions.”
The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star, 39, said she decided to speak out “because of the stigma and misconceptions about mental health,” despite the Kardashians usually staying tight-lipped about family issues.
In his Monday tweet storm, West suggested he was at his Wyoming ranch and resisting intervention efforts by his wife Kim Kardashian, her family and medical professionals.
“Kim was trying to fly to Wyoming with a doctor to lock me up like on the movie Get Out because I cried about saving my daughters life yesterday,” West tweeted Monday, before deleting it. In other now-deleted tweets, he said he had been trying to get a divorce and accused the Kardashian family and his mother-in-law Kris Jenner of trying “to lock me up.”
Reflecting on the “incredibly complicated and painful” nature of living with or loving someone who lives with mental illness, his wife reminded followers that the family of an adult is “powerless” to help unless the person willingly engages “in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try.”
“Living with bi-polar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some,” Kardashian West wrote. ”That is part of his genius and as we have all witnessed, many of his big dreams have come true.”
Kardashian West asked that “the media and public” give the family grace, compassion and empathy” to get through their difficult time and thanked those who reached out and expressed concern.
West elicited worries about his mental health after Sunday’s rally to support his announced presidential campaign in North Charleston, South Carolina. Wearing a flak jacket that read “Security,” West shouted without a microphone, cried and offered deeply personal statements about his wife and family.
During a discussion on abortion, West veered into his private life with Kardashian, explaining that they considered terminating their first pregnancy. He emotionally said that Kardashian ended up fighting to keep the unborn child, and gave birth to daughter North in 2013.
“So even if my wife were to divorce me after this speech, she brought North into the world, even when I didn’t want to,” West told the crowd. “She protected that child.”
During a discussion on abortion this past weekend in a South Carolina campaign rally, Kanye West veered into his private life with his wife, explaining that they considered terminating her first pregnancy. He emotionally said that Kardashian ended up fighting to keep the unborn child, and gave birth to daughter North (pictured with Kanye) in 2013. Getty
West broke down sobbing talking about his own mother, Donda West, who made the same choice when she was pregnant. “My dad wanted to abort me. My mom saved my life. There would have been no Kanye West, because my dad was too busy.”
“I almost killed my daughter,” he shouted shamefully, not hiding his tears.
West was hospitalized in November 2016 for a “psychiatric emergency” after police were called to his house by his personal doctor. The remaining dates on his Saint Pablo tour were canceled.
He opened up about his mental health struggles and being placed in involuntary psychiatric hold during a 2019 interview with David Letterman. Saying he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years earlier, West explained what it was like to have a manic episode.
“You feel everyone wants to kill you, you pretty much don’t trust anyone, and they have this moment where they handcuff you, they drug you, they put you on the bed, and they separate you from everyone you know,” he said.
He also reflected on the importance of taking his medication: “If you don’t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state, you have a potential to ramp up and it can take you to a point where you can even end up in the hospital.”
West told Forbes in a 2019 interview that his bipolar disorder was his “superpower” that unlocked his imagination and discussed the stigma of mental illness. “ ‘Crazy’ is a word that’s not gonna be used loosely in the future,” he said. “There’s a lot of people that have been called that ‘C’ word that have ended up on this (magazine’s) cover.”
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-07-23--Unemployed Chicago residents will see benefits shrink by $600 a week without pandemic relief package

Unemployed Chicago residents will see benefits shrink by $600 a week without pandemic relief package (LIVE UPDATES)

Unemployed Chicago residents will see benefits shrink by $ 600 a week without pandemic relief package For more than 10 years , it seemed like Gerardo Reyes never took a break from his job at a small printing press in Chicago unless it was for a holiday .
Even with news about the increasing cases of COVID-19 in Illinois , he thought his job was secure and the business would stay afloat like it did during the 2007 recession .
But it ’ s now been 18 weeks since Reyes was laid off from Rohner Press after it temporarily closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among thousands of people in Illinois who could see their weekly unemployment benefits shrink unless Congress extends the COVID-19 federal pandemic-related unemployment compensation that has given workers an extra $ 600 a week of unemployment insurance — part of the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act that was signed into law March 27 .
Read the full story by Elvia Malagón here .
7 p.m. Trump cancels portion of Republican National Convention in Jacksonville due to Florida COVID-19 surge President Donald Trump , confronting the reality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday cancelled the Jacksonville part of the Republican National Convention in August , where he had envisioned crowds cheering him on to a second term .
The official convention business - where Trump formally gets the nomination - will be in Charlotte , N.C. Trump ’ s announcement was a surprise , with convention planners getting no advance notice from the party ’ s Committee on Arrangements .
Read the full story by Lynn Sweet here .
SPRINGFIELD — Residents in six central and southern Illinois counties , including the state capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s restrictions on social interaction prompted by the coronavirus pandemic .
The actions taken in Bond , Clay , Clinton , Edgar , Richland and Sangamon counties seek court orders declaring there is no public health emergency as defined by Pritzker ’ s Public Health Department .
Springfield , the state capital , is in Sangamon County .
Plaintiffs in each case seek injunctions against the disaster declaration Pritzker ’ s using to justify restrictions on public interaction to limit transmission of the virus .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus — mostly in Chicago and Cook County .
5:30 p.m. Greenhouse Theater Center ’ s general manager resigns in protest over live show ’ s opening during pandemic Derek Rienzi Van Tassel , the general manager of the Greenhouse Theater Center , has resigned his post in protest over what he calls the “ foolish and dangerous ” decision by the company to open a live theater show this weekend .
The production , a remount of “ Judy & Liza , Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Concert — A Tribute ” starring Nancy Hays ( as Judy Garland ) and Alexa Castelvecchi ( as Liza Minnelli ) , is slated to run July 24-August 9 at the theater , 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue .
Via Facebook on Thursday , Rienzi Van Tassel made public his July 18 decision to exit the job , calling out the owners of the Greenhouse Theater Center : “ William Spatz and Wendy Spatz are not friends of the Chicago Theater Community .
Their decision to reopen The Greenhouse with a show this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in the epicenter of the virus , Lincoln Park , and they have not thoroughly addressed their safety precautions .
Reopening right now in the middle of this pandemic will only spread the virus further , cause another lockdown , and put more theater artists out of work .
This is unacceptable.
” Read the full story by Miriam Di Nunzio and Catey Sullivan here .
3:15 p.m. Could Pepcid cure COVID-19 ?
Trump admin thought it was worth $ 21M to study , but heartburn remedy fizzled As the coronavirus began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two well-respected American doctors identified a possible but seemingly unlikely remedy : Pepcid , the heartburn medication found on drugstore shelves everywhere .
There were no published data or studies to suggest that famotidine , the active ingredient in Pepcid , would be effective against the novel coronavirus .
And in early April , when government scientists learned of a proposal to spend millions in federal research funding to study Pepcid , they found it laughable , according to interviews , a whistleblower complaint and internal government records obtained by The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration from granting a $ 21 million emergency contract to researchers trying it out on ailing patients .
The Food and Drug Administration gave the clinical trial speedy approval even as a top agency official worried that the proposed daily injections of high doses of famotidine for already sick patients pushed safety “ to the limits , ” internal government emails show .
Illinois ’ gradual rise in coronavirus cases took another step up Thursday as health officials announced another 1,624 people have tested positive , the state ’ s highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases were confirmed among the latest batch of 39,706 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health , raising the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.4 % — nearly a full percentage point higher than it was two weeks ago .
The latest tally — the biggest number of new cases Illinois has seen in a single day since May 25 — was announced a day after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker sounded the alarm on the state ’ s steady increase in coronavirus cases over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois ’ daily caseloads measured in four digits only twice , but it ’ s already happened 10 times with over a week left in July .
The state is averaging about 1,032 new cases daily so far this month .
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here .
11 a.m. Theater audience must be masked for duration of show at reopening playhouse With Phase Four of Illinois ’ coronavirus recovery plan allowing for indoor gatherings of 50 or less , Lincoln Park ’ s Greenhouse Theater Center will re-open its doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For audiences , attending the show works like this : All tickets much be purchased in advance and all attendees must wear masks the entire time they ’ re in the theater ( including during the show ) .
There will be no ticket or concession sales inside the theater .
There will be no programs or ushers .
Ticket holders will give their name to the sole box office attendant ( shielded by plexiglass ) on arrival , and will then be escorted by the house manager directly to their seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before showtime .
Every other row in the theater will be left empty , and each ticket holder will be at least six feet away from other audience members and at least 15 feet away from the actors singing on stage , according to Greenhouse Theater Center owners William and Wendy Spatz .
The 25-foot-wide stage will allow the actors to remain at least 15 feet away from each other while singing .
The box office rep is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the theater and the lobby before every performance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew will clean the dressing rooms .
The house manager is responsible for enforcing mask and social distancing compliance before , during and after the show , Spatz said .
If audience members fail to comply , “ there ’ s a simple solution .
We call the police , ” he said .
“ Or , if someone in the audience takes off their mask off during the show and the house manager sees it ?
We ’ ll stop the show.
” Read the full story from Catey Sullivan here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker has been promising since April that he would step up efforts to track people potentially exposed to coronavirus patients .
The practice , which involves tracking down people who were in contact with those who test positive , is regarded by health officials as key to limiting the virus ’ spread and instrumental in saving lives .
“ Contact tracing allows us to break the chain of transmission to prevent large outbreaks and , ultimately save lives , ” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , contact tracing typically involves : • Interviewing people with COVID-19 to identify everyone they had close contact with during the time they may have been infectious • Monitoring contacts for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 • Connecting contacts with services they might need during the self-quarantine period Pritzker is pledging more than $ 150 million to public health departments outside Cook County to help them bolster their contact tracing efforts .
Another $ 60 million will be given to nine community organizations , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking efforts , state public health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said .
The community organizations will contract with local groups to help reach “ hard to reach ” populations , including various ethnic groups , the homeless , migrant workers and others “ leery of talking ” with the government , Arnold said .
Read more about state funding for contact tracing here .
8:41 a.m .
US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $ 2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is developing , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday .
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement , Azar said .
“ Now those would , of course , have to be safe and effective ” and approved by the Food and Drug Administration , Azar said during an appearance on Fox News .
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly .
It is the latest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine companies .
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program , under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously .
The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021 .
• Carlos Rosas , the friendly manager of popular fish shack Calumet Fisheries , has died of the coronavirus .
He was 41 .
• The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed an additional 1,598 cases of the virus statewide on Wednesday , the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June .
• The U.S. tally of infections hit 3.9 million Wednesday , with new cases surging .
3:15 p.m. Support your favorite restaurants — so long as they ’ re abiding by the rules on masks The next time you go into a restaurant , take a good look around .
Peek in the kitchen if you can .
Are all workers wearing masks ?
They should be , unless they always are six feet away from others .
But anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows a six-foot rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks imperative .
Four times in the last month , when my husband and I picked up take-out meals at various restaurants in Des Plaines , a northwest suburb a stone ’ s throw from O ’ Hare Airport , workers in crowded kitchens wore no facial coverings .
Some servers also weren ’ t wearing them .
Like a lot of you , I think it ’ s important to support local businesses during this pandemic .
I don ’ t want to see restaurants shut down and livelihoods go down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marlen Garcia here .
8:14 a.m .
Challenging times require all hands on deck I had just started on my bucket list ( having taken a long-awaited trip to Cuba ) when the coronavirus pandemic shut down my dreams of exotic travel .
Stuck at home , my plans to take up line dancing and to play with clay in a pottery class also got put on hold .
But as the Good Book teaches , there is a season for everything : “ …A time to break down .
And a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep silence and a time to speak , ” the book of Ecclesiastes points out .
Think about it .
We are confronted with a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 144,000 people in this country , most of them Black and Brown — highlighting long-standing racial inequities in our health care system .
At the same time , we are witnessing the resurgence in blatant “ Jim Crow ” racism — to the point that a white police officer could calmly and publicly snuff out the life of George Floyd in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violent protests nationwide .
Now is not the time to be silenced .

The midsummer trend of increasing coronavirus cases continued in Illinois. Thursday recorded the biggest number of new cases Illinois has seen in a single day since May 25 — 1,624. Another troubling sign is the statewide testing positivity rate, which has increased to 3.4% — nearly a full percentage point higher than it was two weeks ago.
Also, with just over a week remaining in July, thousand of unemployed people in the state — and nation — anxiously await the status of the $600 per week of unemployment insurance from the federal government, which is due to expire at the end of the month. Congress is debating its extension now, but have yet to make a deal.
After much resistance, President Donald Trump announced that he’s canceling the portion of the Republican National Convention that was to be held in Jacksonville, Florida because of a surge in coronavirus cases.
Here’s what we learned today in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
9 p.m. Unemployed Chicago residents will see benefits shrink by $600 a week without pandemic relief package
Gerardo Reyes, 42, poses for a portrait outside his home in Little Village, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
For more than 10 years, it seemed like Gerardo Reyes never took a break from his job at a small printing press in Chicago unless it was for a holiday.
Even with news about the increasing cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, he thought his job was secure and the business would stay afloat like it did during the 2007 recession. But it’s now been 18 weeks since Reyes was laid off from Rohner Press after it temporarily closed because of the pandemic.
He is among thousands of people in Illinois who could see their weekly unemployment benefits shrink unless Congress extends the COVID-19 federal pandemic-related unemployment compensation that has given workers an extra $600 a week of unemployment insurance — part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law March 27.
Read the full story by Elvia Malagón here.
8:40 p.m. Skyrocketing cases prove summer, heat are no barrier to COVID-19
Any hopes that summer’s high temperatures might slow the spread of the coronavirus were smashed in June and July by skyrocketing cases across the country, especially in some of the warmest states.
Colin Carlson wasn’t a bit surprised that summer heat failed to curb the virus that causes COVID-19, which has claimed more than 140,000 lives in the U.S. That notion, no matter how many times it was repeated, was never supported by science, said Carlson, an assistant research professor at Georgetown University who studies the relationship between climate change and infectious disease.
The optimistic, though inaccurate forecast was among several persistent misconceptions about heat and light, and other issues related to the spread of the virus, that leave epidemiologists like Carlson increasingly frustrated. They see and hear mixed messages and miscommunications all the time, whether it’s in social media, their circle of friends and family, hastily assembled research papers or the White House.
Read the full story here.
8:05 p.m. Illinois bar exam delayed again, will be held remotely in October due to coronavirus concerns
The state’s bar exam will be delayed for a second time and held remotely in early October because of health concerns over the “once-in-a-generation” coronavirus pandemic, the Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday,
The exam, which is held twice a year, was first delayed in July and pushed to Sept. 9 and 10. The exam will now be held online between Oct. 5 and 6.
The higher court reached its decision after its “close and frequent contact” with the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, which was “monitoring the ever-evolving science and guidelines as the nation, state, and local authorities navigate this once-in-a-generation pandemic.”
Previously, the board had advocated to hold the exam in-person and released safety protocols for test-takers, including mandated mask wearing and social distancing.
Read the full story by Matthew Hendrickson here.
7 p.m. Trump cancels portion of Republican National Convention in Jacksonville due to Florida COVID-19 surge
President Donald Trump, confronting the reality of a COVID-19 pandemic surge in Florida, on Thursday cancelled the Jacksonville part of the Republican National Convention in August, where he had envisioned crowds cheering him on to a second term.
The official convention business - where Trump formally gets the nomination - will be in Charlotte, N.C.
Trump’s announcement was a surprise, with convention planners getting no advance notice from the party’s Committee on Arrangements.
Read the full story by Lynn Sweet here.
6:15 p.m. 6 downstate counties sue over Illinois COVID-19 restrictions
Residents in six central and southern Illinois counties, including the state capital’s home, filed lawsuits Thursday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s restrictions on social interaction prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The actions taken in Bond, Clay, Clinton, Edgar, Richland and Sangamon counties seek court orders declaring there is no public health emergency as defined by Pritzker’s Public Health Department. Springfield, the state capital, is in Sangamon County.
Plaintiffs in each case seek injunctions against the disaster declaration Pritzker’s using to justify restrictions on public interaction to limit transmission of the virus. The state has reported 7,367 deaths among 167,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus — mostly in Chicago and Cook County.
Read the full story here.
5:30 p.m. Greenhouse Theater Center’s general manager resigns in protest over live show’s opening during pandemic
Derek Rienzi Van Tassel, the general manager of the Greenhouse Theater Center, has resigned his post in protest over what he calls the “foolish and dangerous” decision by the company to open a live theater show this weekend.
The production, a remount of “Judy & Liza, Once in a Lifetime: The London Palladium Concert — A Tribute” starring Nancy Hays (as Judy Garland) and Alexa Castelvecchi (as Liza Minnelli), is slated to run July 24-August 9 at the theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Via Facebook on Thursday, Rienzi Van Tassel made public his July 18 decision to exit the job, calling out the owners of the Greenhouse Theater Center: “William Spatz and Wendy Spatz are not friends of the Chicago Theater Community. Their decision to reopen The Greenhouse with a show this weekend is foolish and dangerous. The theater is in the epicenter of the virus, Lincoln Park, and they have not thoroughly addressed their safety precautions. Reopening right now in the middle of this pandemic will only spread the virus further, cause another lockdown, and put more theater artists out of work. This is unacceptable.”
Read the full story by Miriam Di Nunzio and Catey Sullivan here.
3:15 p.m. Could Pepcid cure COVID-19? Trump admin thought it was worth $21M to study, but heartburn remedy fizzled
As the coronavirus began its deadly march through the world, two well-respected American doctors identified a possible but seemingly unlikely remedy: Pepcid, the heartburn medication found on drugstore shelves everywhere.
There were no published data or studies to suggest that famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid, would be effective against the novel coronavirus.
And in early April, when government scientists learned of a proposal to spend millions in federal research funding to study Pepcid, they found it laughable, according to interviews, a whistleblower complaint and internal government records obtained by The Associated Press.
But that didn’t stop the Trump administration from granting a $21 million emergency contract to researchers trying it out on ailing patients. The Food and Drug Administration gave the clinical trial speedy approval even as a top agency official worried that the proposed daily injections of high doses of famotidine for already sick patients pushed safety “to the limits,” internal government emails show.
Read the full story here.
2 p.m. Illinois sees 1,624 new COVID-19 infections, biggest daily caseload since Memorial Day
Illinois’ gradual rise in coronavirus cases took another step up Thursday as health officials announced another 1,624 people have tested positive, the state’s highest daily caseload in two months.
The new cases were confirmed among the latest batch of 39,706 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health, raising the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.4% — nearly a full percentage point higher than it was two weeks ago.
The latest tally — the biggest number of new cases Illinois has seen in a single day since May 25 — was announced a day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker sounded the alarm on the state’s steady increase in coronavirus cases over the last few weeks.
In June, Illinois’ daily caseloads measured in four digits only twice, but it’s already happened 10 times with over a week left in July. The state is averaging about 1,032 new cases daily so far this month.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
11 a.m. Theater audience must be masked for duration of show at reopening playhouse
With Phase Four of Illinois’ coronavirus recovery plan allowing for indoor gatherings of 50 or less, Lincoln Park’s Greenhouse Theater Center will re-open its doors Friday with a live, two-woman musical.
For audiences, attending the show works like this: All tickets much be purchased in advance and all attendees must wear masks the entire time they’re in the theater (including during the show). There will be no ticket or concession sales inside the theater. There will be no programs or ushers. Ticket holders will give their name to the sole box office attendant (shielded by plexiglass) on arrival, and will then be escorted by the house manager directly to their seats. The box office will open 45 minutes before showtime.
Every other row in the theater will be left empty, and each ticket holder will be at least six feet away from other audience members and at least 15 feet away from the actors singing on stage, according to Greenhouse Theater Center owners William and Wendy Spatz. The 25-foot-wide stage will allow the actors to remain at least 15 feet away from each other while singing.
The box office rep is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the theater and the lobby before every performance, William Spatz said. A separate cleaning crew will clean the dressing rooms.
The house manager is responsible for enforcing mask and social distancing compliance before, during and after the show, Spatz said. If audience members fail to comply, “there’s a simple solution. We call the police,” he said. “Or, if someone in the audience takes off their mask off during the show and the house manager sees it? We’ll stop the show.”
Read the full story from Catey Sullivan here.
10:23 a.m. How does contact tracing work?
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been promisingsince April that he would step up efforts to track people potentially exposed to coronavirus patients. The practice, which involves tracking down people who were in contact with those who test positive, is regarded by health officials as key to limiting the virus’ spread and instrumental in saving lives.
“Contact tracing allows us to break the chain of transmission to prevent large outbreaks and, ultimately save lives,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contact tracing typically involves:
Interviewing people with COVID-19 to identify everyone they had close contact with during the time they may have been infectious
Notifying contacts of their potential exposure
Referring contacts for testing
Monitoring contacts for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Connecting contacts with services they might need during the self-quarantine period
Pritzker is pledging more than $150 million to public health departments outside Cook County to help them bolster their contact tracing efforts. Another $60 million will be given to nine community organizations, also outside Cook, that will coordinate regional tracking efforts, state public health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.
The community organizations will contract with local groups to help reach “hard to reach” populations, including various ethnic groups, the homeless, migrant workers and others “leery of talking” with the government, Arnold said.
Read more about state funding for contact tracing here.
8:41 a.m. US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses
The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is developing, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday.
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement, Azar said.
“Now those would, of course, have to be safe and effective” and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Azar said during an appearance on Fox News.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly. It is the latest in a series of similar agreements with other vaccine companies.
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously. The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021.
Read the full report here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
3:15 p.m. Support your favorite restaurants — so long as they’re abiding by the rules on masks
The next time you go into a restaurant, take a good look around. Peek in the kitchen if you can.
Are all workers wearing masks? They should be, unless they always are six feet away from others. But anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows a six-foot rule is tough to maintain, which makes masks imperative.
Four times in the last month, when my husband and I picked up take-out meals at various restaurants in Des Plaines, a northwest suburb a stone’s throw from O’Hare Airport, workers in crowded kitchens wore no facial coverings. Some servers also weren’t wearing them.
Like a lot of you, I think it’s important to support local businesses during this pandemic. I don’t want to see restaurants shut down and livelihoods go down the drain.
Read the full column by Marlen Garcia here.
8:14 a.m. Challenging times require all hands on deck
I had just started on my bucket list (having taken a long-awaited trip to Cuba) when the coronavirus pandemic shut down my dreams of exotic travel.
Stuck at home, my plans to take up line dancing and to play with clay in a pottery class also got put on hold.
But as the Good Book teaches, there is a season for everything:
“…A time to break down. And a time to build up;
A time to keep silence and a time to speak,” the book of Ecclesiastes points out.
Think about it.
We are confronted with a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 144,000 people in this country, most of them Black and Brown — highlighting long-standing racial inequities in our health care system.
At the same time, we are witnessing the resurgence in blatant “Jim Crow” racism — to the point that a white police officer could calmly and publicly snuff out the life of George Floyd in Minneapolis during an arrest — igniting days of violent protests nationwide.
Now is not the time to be silenced.
Read Mary Mitchell’s full column here.