chicagosun-times--2020-04-21--Cook County Jail detainees charged with attempted murder for alleged attack on corrections officers

Two Cook County Jail detainees allegedly involved in an attack that left a corrections officer hospitalized and two others injured last week are facing attempted murder charges .
A grand jury Tuesday handed up the indictments against Dante Jeffries and Sharelle Sims for their alleged involvement in the April 14 attack inside the jail ’ s maximum security wing .
In addition to attempted murder , Jeffries and Sims are also facing aggravated kidnapping , aggravated battery and possession of contraband charges , according to the state ’ s attorney ’ s office .
Jeffries and Sims will be arraigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had let Jeffries out of his cell around 3:40 a.m. that morning to get a cup of water .
When Jeffries returned from getting the drink , he allegedly attacked the officer from behind and dragged him into his cell .
The officer fought his way back out of the cell , only to have Jeffries knock him down and choke him unconscious , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Jeffries took the unconscious officer ’ s keys and handed them to his cellmate , Sims , who began unlocking the cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office said .
A second officer ran through the tier and gave aid to the fallen officer , and a third officer confronted Jeffries , who allegedly knocked the third officer down with a punch to the face , then punched the officer who was stooped over the first officer .
Jeffries may have used a bar of soap , in a sock wrapped around his wrist , during the attack , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Video shows another officer , a sergeant armed with a Taser , ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been let out by Sims , back into their cells as more than a dozen corrections officers stormed into the tier .
Jeffries , 30 , had been in custody since July 2017 for allegedly shooting a Chicago police officer after an armed robbery on the South Side , the sheriff ’ s office said .
He has previous convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon , domestic violence , and drug possession .
Sims , 23 , has been in custody since August 2019 , facing a gun charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habitual criminal .
He has prior convictions for armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon .

Two Cook County Jail detainees allegedly involved in an attack that left a corrections officer hospitalized and two others injured last week are facing attempted murder charges.
A grand jury Tuesday handed up the indictments against Dante Jeffries and Sharelle Sims for their alleged involvement in the April 14 attack inside the jail’s maximum security wing .
In addition to attempted murder, Jeffries and Sims are also facing aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and possession of contraband charges, according to the state’s attorney’s office. Jeffries and Sims will be arraigned on May 5.
A jail officer had let Jeffries out of his cell around 3:40 a.m. that morning to get a cup of water. When Jeffries returned from getting the drink, he allegedly attacked the officer from behind and dragged him into his cell. The officer fought his way back out of the cell, only to have Jeffries knock him down and choke him unconscious, the sheriff’s office said.
Dante Jeffries Cook County sheriff’s office
Jeffries took the unconscious officer’s keys and handed them to his cellmate, Sims, who began unlocking the cells of other detainees, the sheriff’s office said. A second officer ran through the tier and gave aid to the fallen officer, and a third officer confronted Jeffries, who allegedly knocked the third officer down with a punch to the face, then punched the officer who was stooped over the first officer. Jeffries may have used a bar of soap, in a sock wrapped around his wrist, during the attack, the sheriff’s office said.
Video shows another officer, a sergeant armed with a Taser, ordering Jeffries, Sims and a third detainee who had been let out by Sims, back into their cells as more than a dozen corrections officers stormed into the tier.
Sharelle Sims Cook County sheriff’s office
Jeffries, 30, had been in custody since July 2017 for allegedly shooting a Chicago police officer after an armed robbery on the South Side, the sheriff’s office said. He has previous convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, domestic violence, and drug possession.
Sims, 23, has been in custody since August 2019, facing a gun charge and a charge of being an armed habitual criminal. He has prior convictions for armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Dear Abby: Since brain injury, friend dresses oddly and says suggestive things

DEAR ABBY : “ Stella ” and I have been close friends for 25 years .
Two years ago , she was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury .
She has since recovered and returned to work .
Stella ’ s personality has changed a lot since the accident .
Her language and clothing are inappropriate .
At 65 years old , she ’ s wearing miniskirts , spike heels , over-the-knee lace-up boots , halter tops , etc .
She says suggestive things to my boyfriend in front of me .
He no longer wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stella ’ s friends have distanced themselves , and her husband has moved out of their home .
I remember how close we once were , and I don ’ t want to end the friendship , but I don ’ t think I can tolerate being around her .
How can I help her and keep my sanity ?
— TOO MUCH CHANGE IN TEXAS DEAR TOO MUCH : Be gentle with Stella because her change may be beyond her control .
Help her by trying to talk frankly with her .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have changed since the accident , and that some of her actions have made people so uneasy they have distanced themselves .
Tell her that her comments to your boyfriend made him uncomfortable , and you need them to stop .
I can ’ t predict how she will react , but you may get through to her .
If not , she may end her friendship with you , and you can retain your sanity .
DEAR ABBY : My significant other , “ Bob , ” and I have been together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The past 10 years of our relationship have not been so good in the bedroom .
Bob has ED and refuses to see a professional about it .
He is well aware of how unfair it is to me because my sex drive is still in full swing .
Would it be wrong to tell him that since he doesn ’ t want to seek help for his problem , I am going to find a “ friend with benefits ” ?
I have reached the point where I want to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his problem , our relationship would improve , and I would be willing to stay .
— DEPRIVED IN OHIO DEAR DEPRIVED : Bob may be so embarrassed about his ED problem that he ’ s afraid to have a frank talk with a doctor about it .
It ’ s a shame because in many cases there is help for it .
Because you have reached the end of your tether , discuss your feelings with him as openly as you have with me .
If you do , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he should have done a decade ago .
DEAR ABBY : My mother-in-law passed away a year ago .
Since then , my husband and his sister have been letting my father-in-law stay with each of us on different nights .
He ’ s with us every Friday and Tuesday and with my husband ’ s sister Thursday , Saturday and Sunday .
My father-in-law is healthy and capable of doing everything for himself .
I am getting SO tired of this arrangement !
It is cramping my life in a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — RUINING MY LIFE IN THE SOUTH DEAR RUINING : Start making plans for yourself on Friday and Tuesday nights so you will feel less encroached-upon .
And introduce your father-in-law to some ladies his age — providing he is willing .
( Men in his demographic are a hot commodity , and I ’ m betting that he will be willing . )
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) to : Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: “Stella” and I have been close friends for 25 years. Two years ago, she was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. She has since recovered and returned to work.
Stella’s personality has changed a lot since the accident. Her language and clothing are inappropriate. At 65 years old, she’s wearing miniskirts, spike heels, over-the-knee lace-up boots, halter tops, etc. She says suggestive things to my boyfriend in front of me. He no longer wants to be around her. Most of Stella’s friends have distanced themselves, and her husband has moved out of their home.
I remember how close we once were, and I don’t want to end the friendship, but I don’t think I can tolerate being around her. How can I help her and keep my sanity? — TOO MUCH CHANGE IN TEXAS
DEAR TOO MUCH: Be gentle with Stella because her change may be beyond her control. Help her by trying to talk frankly with her. Explain how much her personality and image have changed since the accident, and that some of her actions have made people so uneasy they have distanced themselves. Tell her that her comments to your boyfriend made him uncomfortable, and you need them to stop.
I can’t predict how she will react, but you may get through to her. If not, she may end her friendship with you, and you can retain your sanity.
DEAR ABBY: My significant other, “Bob,” and I have been together for 30 years (never married). The past 10 years of our relationship have not been so good in the bedroom.
Bob has ED and refuses to see a professional about it. He is well aware of how unfair it is to me because my sex drive is still in full swing. Would it be wrong to tell him that since he doesn’t want to seek help for his problem, I am going to find a “friend with benefits”?
I have reached the point where I want to leave him. If he would get help for his problem, our relationship would improve, and I would be willing to stay. — DEPRIVED IN OHIO
DEAR DEPRIVED: Bob may be so embarrassed about his ED problem that he’s afraid to have a frank talk with a doctor about it. It’s a shame because in many cases there is help for it.
Because you have reached the end of your tether, discuss your feelings with him as openly as you have with me. If you do, it may jolt him into doing something for himself that he should have done a decade ago.
DEAR ABBY: My mother-in-law passed away a year ago. Since then, my husband and his sister have been letting my father-in-law stay with each of us on different nights. He’s with us every Friday and Tuesday and with my husband’s sister Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
My father-in-law is healthy and capable of doing everything for himself. I am getting SO tired of this arrangement! It is cramping my life in a big way. What do I do? — RUINING MY LIFE IN THE SOUTH
DEAR RUINING: Start making plans for yourself on Friday and Tuesday nights so you will feel less encroached-upon. And introduce your father-in-law to some ladies his age — providing he is willing. (Men in his demographic are a hot commodity, and I’m betting that he will be willing.)
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Big bass: Michael Quigley catches and releases a giant personal-best largemouth

If you only get one bite , do it Michael Quigley ’ s way .
Catch and release a 9.7-pound largemouth bass , as he did Saturday on High Rise Lake at Giant Goose Ranch near Canton , Illinois .
‘ ‘ Was the only bite we got that morning , ’ ’ he messaged .
‘ ‘ He hit on a black/blue Warrior Jig , made by Jonn Graham , with a black Yamamoto Kreature bait trailer .
I knew it was a good fish when he hit , as he stripped about 10 feet of line immediately when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very well and was hooked very well .
‘ ‘ My jaw dropped when he came to the surface .
We took a few pics , weighed it , called a few of my friends that were at the ranch to see it and released it.
’ ’ Giant Goose Ranch is the kind of place where those things happen .
In 2013 , Herman Brothers Lake and Land Management bought the collection of reclaimed pits and turned it into what it justly advertises as ‘ ‘ the Midwest ’ s Premier Fishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Property !
’ ’ Thanks to Eric Stark , a fishing instructor and the coach of Glenbard North ’ s bass-fishing team , for the heads up on Quigley ’ s catch .
I once ice-fished with Quigley at Giant Goose with the father-son duo of Bruce and Bobby Bergren and Capt .
Ralph Steiger .
Quigley , not to be confused with the powerful North Side congressman , grew up in Lockport .
He has lived for decades along the Kankakee River in Wilmington .
For an idea about how rare 10-pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former outdoors writer for the Journal Star in Peoria and now the publisher of Heartland Outdoors magazine , kept an unofficial list of legitimate 10-pound largemouth in the state .
When I asked Quigley if he had caught one bigger , he replied : ‘ ‘ No , that is my biggest bass .
Best before that was an 8-pounder I caught at Mazonia [ State Fish and Wildlife Area ] .
’ ’ The Illinois High School Association ’ s board of directors announced the cancellation of all tournaments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bass fishing .
Morel finds are as far north as Carroll , Winnebago and Kane counties , according to the progression map Sunday for Illinois Morel Mushrooms ’ Facebook group .
.
.
.
I ’ m thinking Wednesday will be my first day to spot a ruby-throated hummingbird .
As of Sunday , the progression map at hummingbirdcentral.com showed an Illinois sighting as far north as Zion .
Alex Jones is to Dr. Anthony Fauci what Dale Hamm is to Robert Caplinger .

If you only get one bite, do it Michael Quigley’s way. Catch and release a 9.7-pound largemouth bass, as he did Saturday on High Rise Lake at Giant Goose Ranch near Canton, Illinois.
‘‘Was the only bite we got that morning,’’ he messaged. ‘‘He hit on a black/blue Warrior Jig, made by Jonn Graham, with a black Yamamoto Kreature bait trailer. I knew it was a good fish when he hit, as he stripped about 10 feet of line immediately when I set the hook. He fought very well and was hooked very well.
‘‘My jaw dropped when he came to the surface. We took a few pics, weighed it, called a few of my friends that were at the ranch to see it and released it.’’
Scale photo of Michael Quigley’s big bass. Provided
Giant Goose Ranch is the kind of place where those things happen. In 2013, Herman Brothers Lake and Land Management bought the collection of reclaimed pits and turned it into what it justly advertises as ‘‘the Midwest’s Premier Fishing, Hunting, Camping and Family Recreation Property!’’
Thanks to Eric Stark, a fishing instructor and the coach of Glenbard North’s bass-fishing team, for the heads up on Quigley’s catch.
I once ice-fished with Quigley at Giant Goose with the father-son duo of Bruce and Bobby Bergren and Capt. Ralph Steiger. Quigley, not to be confused with the powerful North Side congressman, grew up in Lockport. He has lived for decades along the Kankakee River in Wilmington.
For an idea about how rare 10-pound largemouth are in Illinois, Jeff Lampe, a former outdoors writer for the Journal Star in Peoria and now the publisher of Heartland Outdoors magazine, kept an unofficial list of legitimate 10-pound largemouth in the state.
When I asked Quigley if he had caught one bigger, he replied: ‘‘No, that is my biggest bass. Best before that was an 8-pounder I caught at Mazonia [State Fish and Wildlife Area].’’
IHSA update
The Illinois High School Association’s board of directors announced the cancellation of all tournaments for spring sports and activities, including for bass fishing.
Wild things
Morel finds are as far north as Carroll, Winnebago and Kane counties, according to the progression map Sunday for Illinois Morel Mushrooms’ Facebook group. . . . I’m thinking Wednesday will be my first day to spot a ruby-throated hummingbird. As of Sunday, the progression map at hummingbirdcentral.com showed an Illinois sighting as far north as Zion.
Stray cast
Alex Jones is to Dr. Anthony Fauci what Dale Hamm is to Robert Caplinger.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Girl, 16, missing from Portage Park located

A 16-year-old girl who was reported missing from Portage Park on the Northwest Side has been located .
Ivonne Gomez @ @ @ @ @ in the 3900 block of North Meade Avenue , according to a missing persons alert @ @ @ @ @ is frequently seen in Arcadia Terrace .
Police cancelled the alert about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ located .

A 16-year-old girl who was reported missing from Portage Park on the Northwest Side has been located.
Ivonne Gomez was last seen April 6 in the 3900 block of North Meade Avenue, according to a missing persons alert from Chicago police. She is frequently seen in Arcadia Terrace.
Police cancelled the alert about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying Gomez had been located.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Bears GM Ryan Pace ready for work-from-home NFL draft

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has seven screens set up in the dining room of his Lake Bluff home , about 5 feet from his kitchen .
Two computers have college video downloaded onto them .
There ’ s a tablet for his reports and another for the 100 or so video chats he ’ s logged with potential picks for the NFL draft , which starts Thursday night .
None of them were any match for the vacuum cleaner .
Pace ’ s wife Stephanie hit Pace ’ s power cord while doing housework a few days ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ basement earlier this month during the Bears ’ draft prep , he could tell when his 10-year-old daughter Cardyn was on her iPad — his video chat with a prospect would lag .
The Bears ’ IT department helped fix the problem , running a cord from his router down a flight of stairs and into the main-level dining room .
“ So , ” Pace said , “ hopefully nobody trips over the cord or unplugs anything with the vacuum again .
We should be in a good spot.
” At 43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Screentime Generation than most GMs .
Like many Americans , he already has awkward work-from-home stories .
Whether they end up being funny or disastrous depends on how the NFL ’ s virtual draft goes .
The world will find out during the first round tonight .
Barring a dramatic trade , Pace won ’ t get to use his technology for the first time until Friday , when the Bears have two picks .
Since the NFL decided March 16 to cancel its Las Vegas extravaganza because of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a level playing field during the draft , process , said Peter O ’ Reilly , the NFL ’ s executive vice president of club business and league events .
The league shut down all team facilities and ruled everyone must draft from their homes .
The NFL will put computer cameras on all GMs and coaches during the draft , to make sure they stay put .
GMs will stay in contact with members of their virtual war room .
The Bears ’ will include coach Matt Nagy , player personnel bosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scouting director Mark Sadowski , football administration director Joey Laine , scouts and position coaches .
O ’ Reilly said the act of submitting a draft pick will be familiar .
GMs will , via conference call , Microsoft Teams message or email , will send their picks to NFL vice president of player personnel Ken Fiore at his home in Garden City , N.Y. Once Fiore confirms that the player is available , he ’ ll send the pick to commissioner Roger Goodell , who will announce the first-round selections from Bronxville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a mock draft Monday to test technology .
While there were reports of early glitches , Pace said it went smoothly .
His work-from-home setup has , too — the Bears might even use some of the video chat technology in the future .
“ It ’ s been better and quicker and easier than I expected , ” Pace said .
The draft won ’ t be the same , though .
While Pace said the Bears haven ’ t scratched more players than usual from their draft list because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with medical staff will affect where players are drafted .
With in-person offseason activities suspended indefinitely , the Bears will put a greater emphasis on a prospect ’ s football intelligence .
They ’ ve checked in with teams about trades ; Pace has direct lines to each GM on his dining-room phone .
With most pro days canceled , players who weren ’ t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine are at a disadvantage .
And the scramble to sign college free agents after the draft will be more hair-on-fire than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , Dallas and Nashville , the NFL worried about the weather ’ s impact on its outdoor draft festival .
This year , it ’ s watching weather reports in every NFL city , praying a power outage isn ’ t caused by a storm .
Or , you know , a vacuum cleaner .
“ There will be a lot of fun stories to tell when this is all said and done , ” Pace said .

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has nine screens set up in the dining room of his Lake Bluff home, about five feet from his kitchen. Four computer monitors, two stacked on top of two, allow him to watch college video. There’s a tablet for his reports and another for the 100 or so video chats he has logged with potential picks for the NFL Draft, which starts Thursday night. Three more laptops clog his circular black wooden table. A television sits on a side table along the wall to his right.
None of them was any match for the vacuum cleaner.
Pace’s wife, Stephanie, hit Pace’s power cord while doing housework a few days ago.
“Every screen goes black,” Pace said Tuesday.
When Pace was stationed down in his basement earlier this month during the Bears’ draft prep, he could tell when his 10-year-old daughter, Cardyn, was on her iPad — his video chat with a prospect would lag.
The Bears’ IT department helped fix the problem, running a cord from his router down a flight of stairs and into the main-level dining room.
“So,” Pace said, “hopefully nobody trips over the cord or unplugs anything with the vacuum again. We should be in a good spot.”
At 43, Pace is closer in age to the Screen-time Generation than most GMs. But, like many Americans, he still has awkward work-from-home stories. Whether they end up being funny or disastrous depends on how the NFL’s virtual draft goes.
The world will find out during the first round Thursday. Because of social-distancing concerns in the wake of the coronavirus, all NFL officials are drafting from home. They cannot gather — each GM will be connected to his lieutenants, and to other teams, electronically.
Barring a dramatic trade, Pace won’t get to use that technology for the first time until Friday, when the Bears have two picks.
Since the NFL decided March 16 to cancel its Las Vegas extravaganza, teams have pushed the league to ensure a level playing field during the draft process, said Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president of club business and league events.
The NFL shut down all team facilities indefinitely and ruled everyone must draft from their homes. The NFL will place computer cameras on all GMs and coaches during the draft to make sure they stay put. For the times Pace is put on TV, his dining room features a lighting rig and a navy backdrop with the Bears’ logo and team sponsors emblazoned on it.
Last year, Pace test-drove the Bears’ sparkling new draft room, which doubled in size after the Halas Hall renovations and featured wall-length video boards wired into the team’s scouting database.
This year, he’ll stay in contact with his virtual war room — which includes coach Matt Nagy, player personnel director Josh Lucas, assistant personnel director Champ Kelly, college scouting director Mark Sadowski, football administration director Joey Laine, scouts and position coaches — from the dining room.
O’Reilly said the act of submitting a draft pick will be familiar. Via conference call, Microsoft Teams message or email, GMs will send their picks to NFL vice president of player personnel Ken Fiore at his home in Garden City, New York. Once Fiore confirms that the player is available, he’ll send the pick to commissioner Roger Goodell, who will announce the first-round selections from his Bronxville, New York, basement.
The NFL has invited 58 prospects to train computer cameras on themselves during the draft. Each was mailed 32 caps, one from each team, to pick from when his name gets announced.
The NFL held a mock draft Monday to test technology. While there were reports of early glitches, Pace said it went smoothly. His work-from-home setup has, too — the Bears might even use some of the video-chat technology in the future.
“It’s been better and quicker and easier than I expected,” Pace said.
The draft won’t be the same as in previous years, though.
While Pace said the Bears haven’t scratched more players than usual from their draft list because of injuries, the lack of in-person meetings with medical staff will affect where players are selected.
With in-person offseason activities suspended indefinitely, the Bears will put a greater emphasis on a prospect’s football intelligence. They’ve had to glean that mostly from computer screens. After meeting with players at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, the Bears hosted only eight prospects at Halas Hall before the coronavirus shutdown.
They’ve checked in with teams about trades. Pace has direct lines to each GM on his dining-room phone.
With most pro days canceled, players who weren’t invited to the combine are at a disadvantage. And the scramble to sign college free agents after the draft will be more hair-on-fire than ever.
When the draft was held in Chicago, Dallas and Nashville, the NFL worried about the weather’s impact on its outdoor draft festival. This year, it’s watching weather reports in every NFL city, praying a power outage isn’t caused by a storm.
Or, you know, a vacuum cleaner.
“There will be a lot of fun stories to tell when this is all said and done,” Pace said.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--9 shot, 2 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

9 shot, 2 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

Nine people were shot , two of them fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
The day ’ s latest fatal shooting claimed the life of a 27-year-old man in South Deering on the South Side .
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert about 10:35 p.m. found the man unresponsive in an alley in the 10600 block of South Calhoun Avenue , Chicago police said .
He had multiple gunshot wounds to his head and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died , police said .
Two brothers were shot Tuesday morning in Austin on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them dead .
The attack happened about 11:50 a.m. in the 5800 block of West Iowa Street , according to police .
A gunman exited a car and shot at them before driving off .
One man , 29 , was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
The other , 54 , was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to his hand and groin in serious condition .
A law enforcement source said the men were brothers .
In non-fatal shootings , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Side .
The man , 22 , was walking about 10:15 p.m. in the 300 block of West Pershing Road when two males approached and asked what gang he was in , police said .
The 22-year-old ran and the males opened fire , grazing him on the arm .
The man took himself to the University of Chicago Medical Center , police said .
He has since been released .
About fifteen minutes prior , a man was shot in Jeffrey Manor on the South Side .
The man , 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 10 pm .
in the 9900 block of South Oglesby Avenue when someone shot him in the ankle , police said .
He took himself to St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond , Indiana , where he was in good condition .
The man told officers he did not see the shooter or know where the shots came from , police said .
A man was wounded in a shooting in Fernwood on the South Side .
About 6:40 p.m. , the 19-year-old was in the 10100 block of South LaSalle Street when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire , police said .
The man ran home with a gunshot wound to the calf , police said .
He was taken to Roseland Community Hospital in good condition .
Hours earlier , a 19-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Edgewater Beach on the North Side .
He was on a sidewalk about 4:10 p.m. in the 6000 block of North Winthrop Avenue when someone in a white sedan opened fire , police said .
The man was struck five times throughout his body taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition , police said .
The suspected shooter was described as a male wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt .
A 28-year-old man was shot in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
The shooting happened about 8:50 a.m. in the 700 block of North Trumbull Avenue , police said .
He was taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital with gunshots in both legs , and listed in good condition .
In the day ’ s first reported shooting , a 41-year-old man was wounded in Englewood on the South Side .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the leg in the 7200 block of South Green Street , police said .
He told officers he did not see a shooter and does not know where the shot came from .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and is in good condition , police said .
Monday nine people were shot and three of them killed citywide .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Nine people were shot, two of them fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.
The day’s latest fatal shooting claimed the life of a 27-year-old man in South Deering on the South Side.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert about 10:35 p.m. found the man unresponsive in an alley in the 10600 block of South Calhoun Avenue, Chicago police said.
He had multiple gunshot wounds to his head and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, police said.
Two brothers were shot Tuesday morning in Austin on the West Side, leaving one of them dead.
The attack happened about 11:50 a.m. in the 5800 block of West Iowa Street, according to police. A gunman exited a car and shot at them before driving off.
One man, 29, was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The other, 54, was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to his hand and groin in serious condition.
A law enforcement source said the men were brothers.
In non-fatal shootings, a man was grazed in Wentworth Gardens on the South Side.
The man, 22, was walking about 10:15 p.m. in the 300 block of West Pershing Road when two males approached and asked what gang he was in, police said. The 22-year-old ran and the males opened fire, grazing him on the arm.
The man took himself to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. He has since been released.
About fifteen minutes prior, a man was shot in Jeffrey Manor on the South Side.
The man, 18, was getting out of a vehicle about 10 pm. in the 9900 block of South Oglesby Avenue when someone shot him in the ankle, police said. He took himself to St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond, Indiana, where he was in good condition.
The man told officers he did not see the shooter or know where the shots came from, police said.
A man was wounded in a shooting in Fernwood on the South Side.
About 6:40 p.m., the 19-year-old was in the 10100 block of South LaSalle Street when someone in a passing gold-colored vehicle opened fire, police said.
The man ran home with a gunshot wound to the calf, police said. He was taken to Roseland Community Hospital in good condition.
Hours earlier, a 19-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Edgewater Beach on the North Side.
He was on a sidewalk about 4:10 p.m. in the 6000 block of North Winthrop Avenue when someone in a white sedan opened fire, police said.
The man was struck five times throughout his body taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition, police said. The suspected shooter was described as a male wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt.
A 28-year-old man was shot in East Garfield Park on the West Side.
The shooting happened about 8:50 a.m. in the 700 block of North Trumbull Avenue, police said. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital with gunshots in both legs, and listed in good condition.
In the day’s first reported shooting, a 41-year-old man was wounded in Englewood on the South Side.
He was driving about 12:20 a.m. when he was shot in the leg in the 7200 block of South Green Street, police said. He told officers he did not see a shooter and does not know where the shot came from.
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and is in good condition, police said.
Monday nine people were shot and three of them killed citywide.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Pregnant woman becomes first Lake County Jail inmate to test positive for COVID-19

A pregnant woman became the first detainee at the Lake County Jail to test positive for the coronavirus , officials announced Tuesday .
The woman , who is in her 30s , was booked into the jail about 10:30 a.m. April 16 , but taken to Vista East Medical Center hours later because she was pregnant and “ appeared lethargic , ” the Lake County sheriff ’ s office said .
She was diagnosed with a “ non-COVID-19 medical issue ” and taken back to the jail that evening .
The next day , however , the woman was tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal , with symptoms that resembled COVID-19 , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Her test results came back positive Tuesday morning .
The woman is housed in the medical unit , away from the jail ’ s general population , the sheriff ’ s office said .
So far , no other inmates or correction staff have tested positive .
The woman is being held on $ 250,000 bond for charges including obstruction of justice , possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear on warrants of felony retail theft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office said .
The sheriff ’ s office said measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus at the jail have been “ overall successful , ” including segregating inmates with symptoms and providing them masks , using electronic bond hearings , providing PPE to all staff and keeping new inmates out of the general population for two weeks .

A pregnant woman became the first detainee at the Lake County Jail to test positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Tuesday.
The woman, who is in her 30s, was booked into the jail about 10:30 a.m. April 16, but taken to Vista East Medical Center hours later because she was pregnant and “appeared lethargic,” the Lake County sheriff’s office said. She was diagnosed with a “non-COVID-19 medical issue” and taken back to the jail that evening.
The next day, however, the woman was tested for COVID-19 because she was going through withdrawal, with symptoms that resembled COVID-19, the sheriff’s office said. Her test results came back positive Tuesday morning.
The woman is housed in the medical unit, away from the jail’s general population, the sheriff’s office said. So far, no other inmates or correction staff have tested positive.
The woman is being held on $250,000 bond for charges including obstruction of justice, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear on warrants of felony retail theft and felony theft, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office said measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus at the jail have been “overall successful,” including segregating inmates with symptoms and providing them masks, using electronic bond hearings, providing PPE to all staff and keeping new inmates out of the general population for two weeks.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-21--Armed robberies reported in Albany Park

Armed robberies reported in Albany Park

Police are warning residents of three armed robberies reported in recent weeks in Albany Park on the Northwest Side .
@ @ @ @ @ suspects displayed a handgun before demanding property , Chicago police said .
A robbery occurred @ @ @ @ @ in the 4400 block of North Pulaski Road , police said .
Another happened at @ @ @ @ @ the 3600 block of West Wilson Avenue .
The third robbery occurred at 12:54 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ block of West Cullom Avenue , police said .
One of the suspects was described @ @ @ @ @ standing 5 feet to 5-foot-4 and weighing between 110 and 130 pounds , police said @ @ @ @ @ as a male between 17 and 21 years old standing 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-7 .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ call Area North detectives at 312-744-8263 .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

Police are warning residents of three armed robberies reported in recent weeks in Albany Park on the Northwest Side.
In each case, the suspects displayed a handgun before demanding property, Chicago police said.
A robbery occurred at 6 p.m. April 11 in the 4400 block of North Pulaski Road, police said. Another happened at 5:50 p.m. April 14 in the 3600 block of West Wilson Avenue.
The third robbery occurred at 12:54 a.m. April 16 in the 2900 block of West Cullom Avenue, police said.
One of the suspects was described as 12 to 15-year-old boy standing 5 feet to 5-foot-4 and weighing between 110 and 130 pounds, police said. The other was described as a male between 17 and 21 years old standing 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-7.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area North detectives at 312-744-8263.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-21--Horoscope for Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Horoscope for Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Aries into Taurus .
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert because you ’ re focused on money .
However , your big message today is the new moon , which urges you to make resolutions about how to better handle your money and possessions .
Ideas ?
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert .
Nevertheless , today ’ s new moon in Taurus is your best opportunity for the whole year to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ask yourself how you can improve your appearance .
( Maybe put on your pants ? )
You continue to play things low-key while the sun is hiding in your chart .
Interaction with younger people is likely .
Fortunately , Venus in your sign make you charming and diplomatic .
Check the moon alert .
This is a good day to think about your inner world and spiritual values .
Heed the restrictions of the moon alert .
However , your big message today is the new moon that urges you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations with friends and groups .
( Ironically , in tough times , there are more opportunities to be a “ good friend ” . )
You are high visibility and lookin ’ good !
Everyone ’ s impressed .
Heed the restrictions of the moon alert today , but know that the new moon is the only new moon all year that takes place at the top of your chart .
This makes it the perfect time to think about your life direction .
Where are you headed ?
Pay attention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the good news is that today ’ s new moon wants you to ask yourself what further education or training you could get to enrich your world or improve your job ?
Think about this .
( You love learning .
You ’ re a fact junkie . )
Because you might be focused on insurance issues , taxes and debt today , heed the warning of the moon alert .
Later , the new moon urges you to tidy loose details and improve things with shared property , insurance issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do something .
The moon alert today will create fuzziness and shortages related to your job .
However , today ’ s new moon is the only new moon opposite your sign all year .
This is your chance to think how to improve your closest relationships and partnerships .
( Starts with you . )
Today we have a moon alert , and then a new moon .
This particular new moon offers you a chance to make resolutions about how to improve your health , your job and get better organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pet .
This is a creative day !
It ’ s easy to think outside of the box because of the moon alert .
( During the moon alert don ’ t agree to anything important in a family discussion . )
Afterward , give yourself credit for your creative talents .
You rock !
You are talkative today and keen to reach out to others ; however , during the moon alert agree to nothing important .
Don ’ t volunteer for anything .
Later , today ’ s new moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to improve things at home or within the family .
Ideas ?
Do not shop ( except for food or gas ) during the moon alert today .
Later , the new moon offers you an opportunity to observe your own style of communicating with others .
( Can ’ t learn anything if you ’ re talking . )
If Your Birthday Is Today Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan ( 1966 ) shares your birthday .
You are eccentric and unique .
You live by your own set of rules .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will be popular and enjoy warm friendships .
This year you will be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the happiness and beauty around you in a daily way .
It might be time for an important choice .
Choose wisely .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Aries into Taurus.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert because you’re focused on money. However, your big message today is the new moon, which urges you to make resolutions about how to better handle your money and possessions. Ideas?
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert. Nevertheless, today’s new moon in Taurus is your best opportunity for the whole year to take a realistic look in the mirror and ask yourself how you can improve your appearance. (Maybe put on your pants?)
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You continue to play things low-key while the sun is hiding in your chart. Interaction with younger people is likely. Fortunately, Venus in your sign make you charming and diplomatic. Check the moon alert. This is a good day to think about your inner world and spiritual values.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Heed the restrictions of the moon alert. However, your big message today is the new moon that urges you to think how you can improve your relations with friends and groups. (Ironically, in tough times, there are more opportunities to be a “good friend”.)
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You are high visibility and lookin’ good! Everyone’s impressed. Heed the restrictions of the moon alert today, but know that the new moon is the only new moon all year that takes place at the top of your chart. This makes it the perfect time to think about your life direction. Where are you headed?
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Pay attention to the restrictions of the moon alert. However, the good news is that today’s new moon wants you to ask yourself what further education or training you could get to enrich your world or improve your job? Think about this. (You love learning. You’re a fact junkie.)
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Because you might be focused on insurance issues, taxes and debt today, heed the warning of the moon alert. Later, the new moon urges you to tidy loose details and improve things with shared property, insurance issues, taxes, debt or inheritances. Do something.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
The moon alert today will create fuzziness and shortages related to your job. However, today’s new moon is the only new moon opposite your sign all year. This is your chance to think how to improve your closest relationships and partnerships. (Starts with you.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today we have a moon alert, and then a new moon. This particular new moon offers you a chance to make resolutions about how to improve your health, your job and get better organized. Getting better organized includes dealing with a pet.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a creative day! It’s easy to think outside of the box because of the moon alert. (During the moon alert don’t agree to anything important in a family discussion.) Afterward, give yourself credit for your creative talents. You rock!
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You are talkative today and keen to reach out to others; however, during the moon alert agree to nothing important. Don’t volunteer for anything. Later, today’s new moon is your best chance to think about how to improve things at home or within the family. Ideas?
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Do not shop (except for food or gas) during the moon alert today. Later, the new moon offers you an opportunity to observe your own style of communicating with others. (Can’t learn anything if you’re talking.)
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan (1966) shares your birthday. You are eccentric and unique. You live by your own set of rules. You have a fun-loving year ahead, where you will be popular and enjoy warm friendships. This year you will be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the happiness and beauty around you in a daily way. It might be time for an important choice. Choose wisely.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-21--People makes history with Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, granddaughter on anniversary cover

LOS ANGELES — Three generations will grace the cover of People magazine ’ s 30th anniversary “ Beauty Issue.
” @ @ @ @ @ Kate Hudson and granddaughter Rani Rose Fujikawa will appear on the cover of the issue @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
It ’ s the first time three generations will be the cover feature @ @ @ @ @ the “ Beauty Issue.
” The cover story touches on several topics , including Hawn @ @ @ @ @ choices to parenting .
Hawn and Hudson talked about their family ’ s unbreakable bond @ @ @ @ @ prompted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Hawn , 74 , said she has been getting @ @ @ @ @ partner of 37 years , Kurt Russell with “ meditation , nurturing , loving kindness @ @ @ @ @ and staying safe inside.
” Hudson , 41 , has been home with musician Danny @ @ @ @ @ her sons Ryder and Bing , who are from previous relationships .
She said watching @ @ @ @ @ with Russell , 69 , inspires her .

LOS ANGELES — Three generations will grace the cover of People magazine’s 30th anniversary “Beauty Issue.”
Goldie Hawn, her daughter Kate Hudson and granddaughter Rani Rose Fujikawa will appear on the cover of the issue, which will be released Friday. It’s the first time three generations will be the cover feature in the 30-year history of the “Beauty Issue.”
The cover story touches on several topics, including Hawn and Hudson’s style choices to parenting.
The 30th anniversary cover of People magazine’s “Beauty Issue” features three generations of the Goldie Hawn family. People.com
Hawn and Hudson talked about their family’s unbreakable bond, even during the lockdown prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Hawn, 74, said she has been getting through the crisis with her partner of 37 years, Kurt Russell with “meditation, nurturing, loving kindness for all in my heart and staying safe inside.”
Hudson, 41, has been home with musician Danny Fujikawa, Rani Rose and her sons Ryder and Bing, who are from previous relationships. She said watching her mother’s relationship with Russell, 69, inspires her.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Trump Tower residents notified of associate diagnosed with COVID-19  (LIVE UPDATES)

An associate at the Trump International Hotel and Tower has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of COVID-19 .
Residents of the 98-floor tower received an email from Christine Blevins , the building ’ s director of residences , on Wednesday afternoon alerting them of the news .
The associate has not been in the building for nine days and did not come in close contact with any residents , Blevins said in the email .
7:27 p.m. CPS buys 16,000 more computers than planned to help bridge digital divide , but says some devices won ’ t arrive till @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students still need computers five weeks after in-person classes shut down because of the coronavirus , leaving one in seven kids unable to access online educational materials as the second week of remote learning forges ahead .
Efforts have been underway for weeks to bridge that technological divide , but the process has been a slow churn .
CPS officials said at a virtual Board of Education meeting Wednesday that almost 55,000 devices had been handed out by the middle of this week , with another 6,400 given out at charter schools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPS has estimated 115,000 students need a computer , and likely a similar amount need access to the internet .
Almost all the devices distributed so far were among 65,000 that were already in schools and are expected to be handed out over the next week .
Chicago police announced Wednesday nine more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of confirmed cases in the department to 374 .
Of the cases , 356 are officers and 18 are civilian employees , police said .
A total of 376 employees have reported positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical section has yet two confirm two of those cases , police said .
Read the full story by the Chicago Sun-Times wires .
5:28 p.m. More than 2,000 new coronavirus cases in Illinois ; 98 deaths More than 2,500 health care workers have tested positive for the coronavirus in Illinois so far , including eight who have died since the pandemic began , officials said Wednesday .
Those front-line workers account for about 7 % of the statewide COVID-19 case tally , which stands at 35,108 .
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers after announcing 2,049 newly confirmed cases across the state — the highest increase Illinois has seen in a day , but one that followed the most tests administered in a day .
The state on Tuesday ran 9,349 tests , close to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s goal of running 10,000 tests a day , and has run more than 164,000 tests overall .
Officials also said another 98 people have died of the virus , raising the state ’ s death toll to 1,565 .
Ezike said that of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive , “ potentially ” eight have died .
Those figures are submitted to the state by hospitals and include anyone working in a health care establishment , from nurses and therapists to front desk staffers .
“ It may not be complete .
It ’ s what we have , ” Ezike said .
5:20 p.m. 70 % of residents at South Shore senior home test positive for COVID-19 More than 100 residents of a South Shore senior home have tested positive for COVID-19 , and at least one resident has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois are tied to senior facilities .
Test results show that 111 residents — or 70 % — have contracted the disease at Symphony South Shore senior home , 2425 E. 71st St. , according to an emailed statement from Symphony Care Network spokeswoman Natalie Bauer Luce .
Symphony operates seven other senior residences in Cook County , including Symphony of Bronzeville , which has reported five deaths from the coronavirus , according to state data .
Overall , 30 Symphony residents have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two employees , Symphony CEO David Hartman said in a letter sent Wednesday to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker .
4:50 p.m. South Shore grocery requiring face masks for all who enter There ’ s a new layer of health safety in place at a South Shore grocery store .
As of Wednesday morning , Local Market Foods , 2101 E. 71st St. , required everyone — customers and staff — to wear some form of facial covering before entering the store .
Eddie Roque , the store ’ s general manager , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from customers themselves .
“ The safer the better , ” said Roque , who said his store is the first in the city to require such a measure .
“ The customers are the ones more pushing for it , ” he added .
“ Customers are the ones who asked us to sell masks weeks ago.
” Roque said the store and its 150-person staff hadn ’ t had to turn away any mask-less customers as of Wednesday afternoon , though some had forgotten their face coverings in their vehicles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shield their nose and mouth , they were referred to the front of the store where face coverings are offered for sale .
For $ 23.99 , customers can buy a five-pack of N95 respirator masks .
In recent weeks , the store has started offering disposable gloves to shoppers , as well .
3:49 p.m. No refunds for Chicago Marathon runners who skip the race Organizers of the Chicago Marathon confirmed earlier today that they plan to still host the 26.2 mile run in October .
But for registered runners who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spokeswoman Alex Sawyer said event coordinators are “ exploring options to be as accommodating to runners as possible.
” Sawyer confirmed that the marathon is not currently refunding entrance fees for registered runners .
When asked if that policy may change as the race nears , Sawyer said organizers “ can ’ t speak to specifics at this time.
” The Chicago Pride Fest will be postponed until Labor Day weekend because of coronavirus concerns , making it the latest summertime activity impacted by the pandemic .
The festival organizer , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ hopeful ” that pushing the fest later in the summer will still allow for people to enjoy the festivities but “ everything remains to be seen at this point , ” said spokesperson Jen Gordon .
The festival , which was planned for June 20-21 , will now convene on Sept. 5-6 .
No official decision has been announced on the Chicago Pride Parade , which typically is held after the festival , but parade organizer Tim Frye told the Windy City Times “ Unless something astonishing happens , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on for June 28.
” 3:15 p.m. Could social distancing be a boost for drive-in movie theaters ?
In the 1978 movie “ Grease , ” Stockard Channing ’ s character , Rizzo , is at a drive-in when she confides to a friend that she ’ s pregnant , before adding , “ Hey Marty , you ain ’ t gon na tell nobody about this , right ?
” The gossip spreads instantly , leaping from one parked car to another .
There will be little opportunity for gossip of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June — when at least three of the few drive-in movies theaters that remain in Illinois tentatively plan to open for the season .
“ It ’ s just a whole different thing .
We used to allow pets .
We won ’ t do that .
We used to allow people to grill .
We won ’ t do that , ” said Michael Harroun , who has owned the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in in Gibson City , about 120 miles south of downtown Chicago , for the past 31 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased — and there ’ s no guarantee they will be — Harroun plans to open up for business May 1 , but at a greatly reduced capacity , doubling the typical amount of space between cars .
Cook County sheriff ’ s correctional officers are suing the county and Sheriff Tom Dart to be paid for the time they spend cleaning up after their shifts at the Cook County Jail due to the coronavirus .
The 11 officers filed suit Tuesday in federal court in Chicago , asking for at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities ” since March 9 — the date Gov .
J.B. Pritzker declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The officers want to be paid for up to 30 minutes they spend after every shift sanitizing themselves and their personal protective equipment .
The cleanups are an “ expected job function , ” according to the lawsuit .
A sheriff ’ s correctional officer and six detainees at the Cook County Jail have died of COVID-19 related illnesses , and hundreds of sheriff ’ s employees and detainees have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full story from Frank Main here .
2:20 p.m. Aldermen , mayor introduce flurry of legislation in response to pandemic From mandatory face masks and hand-sanitizing stations to a cap on restaurant delivery services , Chicago aldermen on Wednesday introduced an avalanche of legislation to protect and assist residents impacted by the coronavirus .
They were joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot , who proposed using $ 3 million from the city ’ s Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund to provide grants and no-interest loans of up to $ 75,000 for 40 city-subsidized properties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city hopes federal coronavirus stimulus funds will reimburse the affordable housing fund .
Lightfoot also proposed empowering Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee to grant economic relief to authorize reduced or deferred rent and other breaks to struggling concessionaires at O ’ Hare and Midway airports while offering loans and grants to disadvantaged business enterprises at the airports .
The torrent of aldermanic legislation is intended to slow community spread of the coronavirus and assist Chicagoans struggling to pay their bills because of the economic shutdown caused by the statewide stay-at-home order .
11:42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still on A day after one of their main European counterparts announced it was calling off a race slated for September , organizers of the Chicago Marathon on Wednesday reiterated they are still planning to host the 26.2 mile run in October .
“ Based on the information available to us today , we are continuing preparations for the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon , ” Chicago Marathon spokeswoman Alex Sawyer said in an email .
On Tuesday , the Berlin Marathon — scheduled for Sept. 27 — was canceled following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 5,000 people through Oct. 24 .
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled for October 11 .
Chicago ’ s is one of six major world marathons — races that draw the world ’ s best runners .
Other city ’ s on the elite hosting list are Boston , London , Berlin , Tokyo and New York .
The Boston and London marathons , normally held in the spring , have been postponed to September and October .
The fate of the remaining races depends on the rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers said they are closely monitoring developments .
In years past Chicago ’ s marathon has drawn more than 44,000 runners , including many international runners , and about one million spectators .
10:57 p.m. Air pollution plummets worldwide as more nations shelter in place When people stay home , Earth becomes cleaner and wilder .
“ It is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet , ” says conservation scientist Stuart Pimm of Duke University .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see how much better it can be.
” Researchers are tracking dramatic drops in traditional air pollutants , such as nitrogen dioxide , smog and tiny particles .
These types of pollution kill up to 7 million people a year worldwide , according to Health Effects Institute president Dan Greenbaum .
The air from Boston to Washington is its cleanest since a NASA satellite started measuring nitrogen dioxide , in 2005 , says NASA atmospheric scientist Barry Lefer .
Largely caused by burning of fossil fuels , this pollution is short-lived , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the previous five years , March air pollution is down 46 % in Paris , 35 % in Bengaluru , India , 38 % in Sydney , 29 % in Los Angeles , 26 % in Rio de Janeiro and 9 % in Durban , South Africa , NASA measurements show .
“ We ’ re getting a glimpse of what might happen if we start switching to non-polluting cars , ” 9:32 a.m. Where can you get tested for COVID-19 ?
We ’ re tracking all the available testing sites throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help you easily find a location to get tested , understand the requirements for obtaining a test , and get in touch to arrange for testing .
Click here for more testing resources .
8:06 a.m. Mole de Mayo goes digital for 2020 Mole de Mayo , one of the city ’ s kickoff summer events , is postponing its traditional outdoor festival until next year .
Instead , organizers want people to buy specialty mole dishes from Pilsen restaurants then watch and interact with livestreamed performances May 22-24 .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to enjoy the Mole de Mayo experience that we have come to know , ” the organizer , Economic Strategies Development Corp. , said in a news release .
“ While keeping within the social distancing measures that are in place , we continue our mission of assisting our food vendors , merchants , and the artist community .
We plan to utilize the original festival dates as a platform to help those who rely financially on festivals , ” said Alex Esparza , ESDC executive director .
The mole cook‐off event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to 100,000 people during the three-day weekend .
The names of participating restaurants and online programming details will be announced soon .
7:18 a.m. Illinois still short of COVID-19 testing goal More than three weeks after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said the state needed to process 10,000 coronavirus tests each day to get ahead of the outbreak gripping Illinois , average daily testing numbers are still 40 percent short of that goal .
While Pritzker and the federal government say the state now has the machines needed to conduct thousands of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to actually process those tests has limited how many can actually be completed , officials say .
What ’ s more , some national projections adjusted for Illinois ’ population suggest the state may need to process roughly 15,000 to 900,000 tests a day to be able to confidently chart the next steps toward returning to normal .
Some experts say more tests are needed to screen individuals without symptoms who could unwittingly spread the disease and check people who are considered high-risk multiple times .
“ We will never , ever get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do massive amounts of testing of those people at highest risk for COVID-19 , ” said Dr. Howard Ehrman , a former deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health .
“ If Pritzker takes us out of the stay-at-home order before enough testing is done , either partially or completely , then thousands of more people will get infected and die.
” Read the full story from Tom Schuba here .
6:46 a.m. Would you volunteer to be infected with COVID-19 to help develop a vaccine ?
If you are young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be infected with COVID-19 to help quickly develop a vaccine ?
With the pandemic sweeping the globe , it ’ s a reasonable question to be asking .
A group of 35 lawmakers , led by Reps. Bill Foster , D-Ill. , and Donna Shalala , D-Fla. , are urging the Food and Drug Administration to take more risks — including infecting humans — to shrink the time it takes to develop and approve a vaccine .
“ We are trying to give the FDA political cover to be somewhat more aggressive on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would under normal circumstances , ” Foster told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday .
The “ typical ” approval time for vaccines of normal diseases is 18 months to several years .
Foster told me testing a COVID-19 vaccine using infected humans could cut that time to two or three months .
Foster , a physicist , and Shalala , who served as Health and Human Services Secretary under former President Bill Clinton , laid out the case for rethinking the risk/benefit ratio involved in COVID-19 human drug testing in a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Hahn .
• Officials on Tuesday said another 119 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois .
In all , 1,468 people have died from the outbreak .
There were also 1,551 new cases reported , bringing the state ’ s total of patients testing positive to 33,059 .
• Chicago police announced Tuesday 50 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of confirmed cases in the department to 365 .
• Another employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Two more inmates at Cook County Jail who tested positive for COVID-19 have died , the sheriff ’ s office announced Monday .
5:35 p.m .
The Lost Chicago Summer of 2020 : Tough decisions , but necessary ones Summertime is a month away , but it feels like we ’ re saying goodbye before it even arrives .
Illinois ’ coronavirus shutdown likely will keep most of us inside at least until June , and many of those big summer bashes for which Chicago is celebrated won ’ t be coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Music Festival , Blues Fest and the Chicago House Music Conference & Festival — major annual May events that draw big crowds and signal the start of summer — already have been scrubbed because of COVID-19 fears .
Chicago ’ s Memorial Day Parade scheduled for May 23 has been cancelled .
Pride Fest , which was set for June 20 and 21 , has been postponed until Sept. 5 and 6 .
The Chicago Pride Parade hasn ’ t been cancelled yet , but organizer Tim Frye hinted at the possibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something astonishing happens , I think it ’ s unlikely we ’ ll be on for June 28.
” Tough decisions , but necessary ones .
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board .
1:47 p.m.
Here ’ s hoping my family and I won ’ t look like a depressed and hangry Brady Bunch this Ramadan Chicago police officers would often come knocking at the door , telling us to keep it down whenever our family and friends gathered at someone ’ s cramped North Side apartment in the 1970s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lively , I ’ m guessing , and equally offensive to ticked-off neighbors who weren ’ t accustomed to the smell of fried South Asian comfort food wafting through the building as the adults broke their fast at sundown .
At the end of the holy month of Ramadan , we continued to draw attention as we rode down Lake Shore Drive toward McCormick Place for Eid-ul-Fitr — my dad behind the wheel in his three-piece suit and karakul hat , the rest of us in gold-fringed brocade and other formal wear from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Place has been transformed into a medical facility to treat those afflicted with COVID-19 , and Muslims here and around the world are bracing to start Ramadan at the end of this week locked inside .
Read more from Rummana Hussain here .
President Donald Trump ’ s announced plan to suspend immigration is anything but an honest response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
It is political opportunism at its worst .
It is Trump 101 — “ the wall ” — all over again .
It is ugly xenophobia .
We doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gullible will be taken in .
The coronavirus continues to spread across the country because of person-to-person contact among Americans , not because of an influx of diseased immigrants .
Travel in and out of our country has largely dried up anyway , as a result of earlier restrictions imposed by the United States and many other countries .
But Trump has always wanted to shut down immigration , making exceptions for those who are wealthy , non-Muslim , highly skilled or his wife .
He and his thuggish adviser on immigration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their chance .
It thrills his political base .
6:55 a.m .
These Chicago hotel workers are now on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic In normal times , nobody takes a job as a hotel cook or housekeeper expecting to end up on the front lines of safeguarding the public .
For employees at a handful of Chicago hotels , the coronavirus pandemic has put them in exactly that situation , and they deserve a tip of the hat .
These are workers like Jose Gonzalez , 27 , a cook at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Avenue that usually caters to tourists .
Under an emergency city contract , the hotel now houses individuals who are mildly ill with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to it .
Instead of cooking pub food for guests in the hotel ’ s two bars , Gonzalez now helps prepare three square meals a day for patients needing quarantine or isolation who can not just stay home .
Some of the hotel ’ s current guests are homeless people .

Illinois officials confirmed 2,049 new coronavirus cases across the state — the highest increase Illinois has seen in a day, but one that followed the most tests administered in a single day.
The state on Tuesday ran 9,349 tests, close to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s goal of running 10,000 tests a day.
As the fight against the coronavirus pandemic continued, here’s what happened in Chicago and around Illinois.
News
8:56 p.m. Trump Tower residents notified of associate diagnosed with COVID-19
Rich Hein/Sun-Times file photo
An associate at the Trump International Hotel and Tower has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Residents of the 98-floor tower received an email from Christine Blevins, the building’s director of residences, on Wednesday afternoon alerting them of the news.
The associate has not been in the building for nine days and did not come in close contact with any residents, Blevins said in the email.
Read the full story by Ben Pope.
8:18 p.m. Republicans chafe at Pritzker’s stay-at-home rules — demand loosening with lengthening
SPRINGFIELD — With businesses closed, people out of work and many residents postponing needed medical procedures, Illinois Republicans on Wednesday called for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to ease his stay-at-home order, which is set to expire April 30.
“The safe opening, or reopening, of our state economy is the important work that now faces us,” state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said during a news conference on Zoom. “And we believe that there should be allowances made for businesses to reopen, as long as they can do so safely.”
The governor is expected to extend his order again this week, but this time statehouse Republicans want changes, calling for state parks to reopen, hospitals to start performing elective procedures and some businesses to reopen.
At his regular daily briefing Wednesday in Chicago, Pritzker said the stay-at-home order could be amended based on new information that has come in. He cited experts’ belief that wearing masks and having fewer people in a confined space helps slow the spread.
Reporter Neal Earley had the full story.
7:27 p.m. CPS buys 16,000 more computers than planned to help bridge digital divide, but says some devices won’t arrive till May
More than 50,000 Chicago Public Schools students still need computers five weeks after in-person classes shut down because of the coronavirus, leaving one in seven kids unable to access online educational materials as the second week of remote learning forges ahead.
Efforts have been underway for weeks to bridge that technological divide, but the process has been a slow churn.
CPS officials said at a virtual Board of Education meeting Wednesday that almost 55,000 devices had been handed out by the middle of this week, with another 6,400 given out at charter schools. That leaves a wide gap, as CPS has estimated 115,000 students need a computer, and likely a similar amount need access to the internet.
Almost all the devices distributed so far were among 65,000 that were already in schools and are expected to be handed out over the next week.
Reporter Nader Issa has the full story.
6:38 p.m. 9 more Chicago Police Department employees test positive for COVID-19
Chicago police announced Wednesday nine more cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the department to 374.
Of the cases, 356 are officers and 18 are civilian employees, police said.
A total of 376 employees have reported positive test results but the department’s medical section has yet two confirm two of those cases, police said.
Read the full story by the Chicago Sun-Times wires.
5:28 p.m. More than 2,000 new coronavirus cases in Illinois; 98 deaths
More than 2,500 health care workers have tested positive for the coronavirus in Illinois so far, including eight who have died since the pandemic began, officials said Wednesday.
Those front-line workers account for about 7% of the statewide COVID-19 case tally, which stands at 35,108.
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike outlined the situation facing health care workers after announcing 2,049 newly confirmed cases across the state — the highest increase Illinois has seen in a day, but one that followed the most tests administered in a day.
The state on Tuesday ran 9,349 tests, close to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s goal of running 10,000 tests a day, and has run more than 164,000 tests overall.
Officials also said another 98 people have died of the virus, raising the state’s death toll to 1,565.
Ezike said that of the 2,500-plus health care workers who have tested positive, “potentially” eight have died.
Those figures are submitted to the state by hospitals and include anyone working in a health care establishment, from nurses and therapists to front desk staffers.
“It may not be complete. It’s what we have,” Ezike said.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Sfondeles.
5:20 p.m. 70% of residents at South Shore senior home test positive for COVID-19
More than 100 residents of a South Shore senior home have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least one resident has died, just days after state health officials said a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois are tied to senior facilities.
Test results show that 111 residents — or 70% — have contracted the disease at Symphony South Shore senior home, 2425 E. 71st St., according to an emailed statement from Symphony Care Network spokeswoman Natalie Bauer Luce.
Symphony operates seven other senior residences in Cook County, including Symphony of Bronzeville, which has reported five deaths from the coronavirus, according to state data.
Overall, 30 Symphony residents have died from the coronavirus, as well as two employees, Symphony CEO David Hartman said in a letter sent Wednesday to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Read the full story from reporter David Struett.
4:50 p.m. South Shore grocery requiring face masks for all who enter
There’s a new layer of health safety in place at a South Shore grocery store.
As of Wednesday morning, Local Market Foods, 2101 E. 71st St., required everyone — customers and staff — to wear some form of facial covering before entering the store.
Eddie Roque, the store’s general manager, said the decision was made based on requests from customers themselves.
“The safer the better,” said Roque, who said his store is the first in the city to require such a measure.
“The customers are the ones more pushing for it,” he added. “Customers are the ones who asked us to sell masks weeks ago.”
Roque said the store and its 150-person staff hadn’t had to turn away any mask-less customers as of Wednesday afternoon, though some had forgotten their face coverings in their vehicles. If they didn’t have anything to shield their nose and mouth, they were referred to the front of the store where face coverings are offered for sale.
For $23.99, customers can buy a five-pack of N95 respirator masks. In recent weeks, the store has started offering disposable gloves to shoppers, as well.
Read the full story from reporter Sam Charles.
3:49 p.m. No refunds for Chicago Marathon runners who skip the race
Organizers of the Chicago Marathon confirmed earlier today that they plan to still host the 26.2 mile run in October. But for registered runners who may be considering sitting this one out, spokeswoman Alex Sawyer said event coordinators are “exploring options to be as accommodating to runners as possible.”
Sawyer confirmed that the marathon is not currently refunding entrance fees for registered runners. When asked if that policy may change as the race nears, Sawyer said organizers “can’t speak to specifics at this time.”
— Mitch Dudek
3:35 p.m. Chicago Pride Fest postponed until Labor Day Weekend, June parade unlikely
The Chicago Pride Fest will be postponed until Labor Day weekend because of coronavirus concerns, making it the latest summertime activity impacted by the pandemic.
The festival organizer, the Northalsted Business Alliance, said the group is “hopeful” that pushing the fest later in the summer will still allow for people to enjoy the festivities but “everything remains to be seen at this point,” said spokesperson Jen Gordon.
The festival, which was planned for June 20-21, will now convene on Sept. 5-6.
No official decision has been announced on the Chicago Pride Parade, which typically is held after the festival, but parade organizer Tim Frye told the Windy City Times “Unless something astonishing happens, I think it’s unlikely we’ll be on for June 28.”
Read the full story from reporter Rachel Hinton.
3:15 p.m. Could social distancing be a boost for drive-in movie theaters?
In the 1978 movie “Grease,” Stockard Channing’s character, Rizzo, is at a drive-in when she confides to a friend that she’s pregnant, before adding, “Hey Marty, you ain’t gonna tell nobody about this, right?”
The gossip spreads instantly, leaping from one parked car to another.
There will be little opportunity for gossip of any sort come May — or perhaps early June — when at least three of the few drive-in movies theaters that remain in Illinois tentatively plan to open for the season.
“It’s just a whole different thing. We used to allow pets. We won’t do that. We used to allow people to grill. We won’t do that,” said Michael Harroun, who has owned the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in in Gibson City, about 120 miles south of downtown Chicago, for the past 31 years.
If Illinois’ shelter-in-place restrictions are eased — and there’s no guarantee they will be — Harroun plans to open up for business May 1, but at a greatly reduced capacity, doubling the typical amount of space between cars.
Read the full story from reporter Stefano Esposito.
2:35 p.m. County jail staff sue over pay for added daily sanitizing work
Cook County sheriff’s correctional officers are suing the county and Sheriff Tom Dart to be paid for the time they spend cleaning up after their shifts at the Cook County Jail due to the coronavirus.
The 11 officers filed suit Tuesday in federal court in Chicago, asking for at least one work week of compensation for “sanitation activities” since March 9 — the date Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The officers want to be paid for up to 30 minutes they spend after every shift sanitizing themselves and their personal protective equipment. The cleanups are an “expected job function,” according to the lawsuit.
A sheriff’s correctional officer and six detainees at the Cook County Jail have died of COVID-19 related illnesses, and hundreds of sheriff’s employees and detainees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Read the full story from Frank Main here.
2:20 p.m. Aldermen, mayor introduce flurry of legislation in response to pandemic
From mandatory face masks and hand-sanitizing stations to a cap on restaurant delivery services, Chicago aldermen on Wednesday introduced an avalanche of legislation to protect and assist residents impacted by the coronavirus.
They were joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who proposed using $3 million from the city’s Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund to provide grants and no-interest loans of up to $75,000 for 40 city-subsidized properties containing a total of 3,400 units.
The city hopes federal coronavirus stimulus funds will reimburse the affordable housing fund.
Lightfoot also proposed empowering Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee to grant economic relief to authorize reduced or deferred rent and other breaks to struggling concessionaires at O’Hare and Midway airports while offering loans and grants to disadvantaged business enterprises at the airports.
The torrent of aldermanic legislation is intended to slow community spread of the coronavirus and assist Chicagoans struggling to pay their bills because of the economic shutdown caused by the statewide stay-at-home order.
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman.
11:42 a.m. Chicago Marathon officials say October race is still on
A day after one of their main European counterparts announced it was calling off a race slated for September, organizers of the Chicago Marathon on Wednesday reiterated they are still planning to host the 26.2 mile run in October.
“Based on the information available to us today, we are continuing preparations for the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” Chicago Marathon spokeswoman Alex Sawyer said in an email.
On Tuesday, the Berlin Marathon — scheduled for Sept. 27 — was canceled following a government order banning all events of more than 5,000 people through Oct. 24.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled for October 11.
Chicago’s is one of six major world marathons — races that draw the world’s best runners. Other city’s on the elite hosting list are Boston, London, Berlin, Tokyo and New York.
The Boston and London marathons, normally held in the spring, have been postponed to September and October.
The fate of the remaining races depends on the rate of the spread of the virus. Chicago organizers said they are closely monitoring developments.
In years past Chicago’s marathon has drawn more than 44,000 runners, including many international runners, and about one million spectators.
— Mitch Dudek
10:57 p.m. Air pollution plummets worldwide as more nations shelter in place
When people stay home, Earth becomes cleaner and wilder.
“It is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet,” says conservation scientist Stuart Pimm of Duke University. “This is giving us an opportunity to magically see how much better it can be.”
Researchers are tracking dramatic drops in traditional air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, smog and tiny particles. These types of pollution kill up to 7 million people a year worldwide, according to Health Effects Institute president Dan Greenbaum.
The air from Boston to Washington is its cleanest since a NASA satellite started measuring nitrogen dioxide,in 2005, says NASA atmospheric scientist Barry Lefer. Largely caused by burning of fossil fuels, this pollution is short-lived, so the air gets cleaner quickly.
Compared to the previous five years, March air pollution is down 46% in Paris, 35% in Bengaluru, India, 38% in Sydney, 29% in Los Angeles, 26% in Rio de Janeiro and 9% in Durban, South Africa, NASA measurements show.
“We’re getting a glimpse of what might happen if we start switching to non-polluting cars,”
Read the full story here.
9:32 a.m. Where can you get tested for COVID-19?
We’re tracking all the available testing sites throughout the greater Chicago area. Our map can help you easily find a location to get tested, understand the requirements for obtaining a test, and get in touch to arrange for testing.
Click here for more testing resources.
8:06 a.m. Mole de Mayo goes digital for 2020
Mole de Mayo, one of the city’s kickoff summer events, is postponing its traditional outdoor festival until next year. Instead, organizers want people to buy specialty mole dishes from Pilsen restaurants then watch and interact with livestreamed performances May 22-24.
“This way we can all connect in some way to enjoy the Mole de Mayo experience that we have come to know,” the organizer, Economic Strategies Development Corp., said in a news release.
“While keeping within the social distancing measures that are in place, we continue our mission of assisting our food vendors, merchants, and the artist community. We plan to utilize the original festival dates as a platform to help those who rely financially on festivals,” said Alex Esparza, ESDC executive director.
The mole cook‐off event celebrating Latino culture and Mexican cuisine draws close to 100,000 people during the three-day weekend.
The names of participating restaurants and online programming details will be announced soon.
— Bill Ruminski
7:18 a.m. Illinois still short of COVID-19 testing goal
More than three weeks after Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state needed to process 10,000 coronavirus tests each day to get ahead of the outbreak gripping Illinois, average daily testing numbers are still 40 percent short of that goal.
While Pritzker and the federal government say the state now has the machines needed to conduct thousands of more tests, a shortage in necessary supplies to actually process those tests has limited how many can actually be completed, officials say.
What’s more, some national projections adjusted for Illinois’ population suggest the state may need to process roughly 15,000 to 900,000 tests a day to be able to confidently chart the next steps toward returning to normal. Some experts say more tests are needed to screen individuals without symptoms who could unwittingly spread the disease and check people who are considered high-risk multiple times.
“We will never, ever get out of the stay-at-home order unless we do massive amounts of testing of those people at highest risk for COVID-19,” said Dr. Howard Ehrman, a former deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. “If Pritzker takes us out of the stay-at-home order before enough testing is done, either partially or completely, then thousands of more people will get infected and die.”
Read the full story from Tom Schuba here.
6:46 a.m. Would you volunteer to be infected with COVID-19 to help develop a vaccine?
If you are young and healthy, would you volunteer to be infected with COVID-19 to help quickly develop a vaccine? With the pandemic sweeping the globe, it’s a reasonable question to be asking.
A group of 35 lawmakers, led by Reps. Bill Foster, D-Ill., and Donna Shalala, D-Fla., are urging the Food and Drug Administration to take more risks — including infecting humans — to shrink the time it takes to develop and approve a vaccine.
“We are trying to give the FDA political cover to be somewhat more aggressive on the rapid rollout of vaccines than they would under normal circumstances,” Foster told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.
The “typical” approval time for vaccines of normal diseases is 18 months to several years. Foster told me testing a COVID-19 vaccine using infected humans could cut that time to two or three months.
Foster, a physicist, and Shalala, who served as Health and Human Services Secretary under former President Bill Clinton, laid out the case for rethinking the risk/benefit ratio involved in COVID-19 human drug testing in a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.
Reporter Lynn Sweet has the full story.
New Cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:52 p.m. President Trump stands on the side of wrong — again
It didn’t take long before the mantra “We’re all in this together” turned into chants of “Let my people go.”
And we shouldn’t be surprised that President Trump is gleefully singing along with the “Let my people go” crowd.
After all, it’s not the first time the president has stood with the wrong group. Sadly, it won’t be the last.
In 2017, Trump gave some serious love to white supremacists who rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia, waving flags and tiki torches.
Although there’s no disputing the fact that white supremacists spread racial hatred, Trump argued that there were “some very fine people on both sides.”
Now, in the midst of a pandemic that has so far killed more than 47,000 people in the U.S., Trump is egging on the people who are violating stay-at-home orders — orders that have likely saved thousands of lives.
It boggles the mind.
Read Mary Mitchell’s full column here.
5:35 p.m. The Lost Chicago Summer of 2020: Tough decisions, but necessary ones
Summertime is a month away, but it feels like we’re saying goodbye before it even arrives.
Illinois’ coronavirus shutdown likely will keep most of us inside at least until June, and many of those big summer bashes for which Chicago is celebrated won’t be coming back even then.
The Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Blues Fest and the Chicago House Music Conference & Festival — major annual May events that draw big crowds and signal the start of summer — already have been scrubbed because of COVID-19 fears.
Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade scheduled for May 23 has been cancelled. Pride Fest, which was set for June 20 and 21, has been postponed until Sept. 5 and 6. The Chicago Pride Parade hasn’t been cancelled yet, but organizer Tim Frye hinted at the possibility, telling Windy City Times, “Unless something astonishing happens, I think it’s unlikely we’ll be on for June 28.”
Tough decisions, but necessary ones.
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board.
1:47 p.m. Here’s hoping my family and I won’t look like a depressed and hangry Brady Bunch this Ramadan
Chicago police officers would often come knocking at the door, telling us to keep it down whenever our family and friends gathered at someone’s cramped North Side apartment in the 1970s.
Our Ramadan parties were just as lively, I’m guessing, and equally offensive to ticked-off neighbors who weren’t accustomed to the smell of fried South Asian comfort food wafting through the building as the adults broke their fast at sundown.
At the end of the holy month of Ramadan, we continued to draw attention as we rode down Lake Shore Drive toward McCormick Place for Eid-ul-Fitr — my dad behind the wheel in his three-piece suit and karakul hat, the rest of us in gold-fringed brocade and other formal wear from India or Sears.
Today, McCormick Place has been transformed into a medical facility to treat those afflicted with COVID-19, and Muslims here and around the world are bracing to start Ramadan at the end of this week locked inside.
9:32 a.m. Trump’s feeble plan to beat COVID-19? Scapegoat immigrants
President Donald Trump’s announced plan to suspend immigration is anything but an honest response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is political opportunism at its worst. It is Trump 101 — “the wall” — all over again. It is ugly xenophobia.
We doubt it will work. Only the hopelessly gullible will be taken in.
The coronavirus continues to spread across the country because of person-to-person contact among Americans, not because of an influx of diseased immigrants. Travel in and out of our country has largely dried up anyway, as a result of earlier restrictions imposed by the United States and many other countries.
But Trump has always wanted to shut down immigration, making exceptions for those who are wealthy, non-Muslim, highly skilled or his wife. He and his thuggish adviser on immigration, Stephen Miller, see the pandemic as their chance. It thrills his political base.
Read the full editorial here.
6:55 a.m. These Chicago hotel workers are now on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic
In normal times, nobody takes a job as a hotel cook or housekeeper expecting to end up on the front lines of safeguarding the public.
For employees at a handful of Chicago hotels, the coronavirus pandemic has put them in exactly that situation, and they deserve a tip of the hat.
These are workers like Jose Gonzalez, 27, a cook at Hotel 166, a boutique hotel off Michigan Avenue that usually caters to tourists. Under an emergency city contract, the hotel now houses individuals who are mildly ill with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to it.
Instead of cooking pub food for guests in the hotel’s two bars, Gonzalez now helps prepare three square meals a day for patients needing quarantine or isolation who cannot just stay home. Some of the hotel’s current guests are homeless people.
Read more from columnist Mark Brown.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-22--Republicans chafe at Pritzker’s stay-at-home rules — demand loosening with lengthening

SPRINGFIELD — With businesses closed , people out of work and many residents postponing needed medical procedures , Illinois Republicans on Wednesday called for Gov .
J.B. Pritzker to ease his stay-at-home order , which is set to expire April 30 .
“ The safe opening , or reopening , of our state economy is the important work that now faces us , ” state Rep. Ryan Spain , R-Peoria , said during a news conference on Zoom .
“ And we believe that there should be allowances made for businesses to reopen , as long as they can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extend his order again this week , but this time statehouse Republicans want changes , calling for state parks to reopen , hospitals to start performing elective procedures and some businesses to reopen .
At his regular daily briefing Wednesday in Chicago , Pritzker said the stay-at-home order could be amended based on new information that has come in .
He cited experts ’ belief that wearing masks and having fewer people in a confined space helps slow the spread .
“ We are all looking at that , ” the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
With many states saying they plan to ease social distancing restrictions starting next week , Pritzker is being pressured by some to do the same in Illinois .
House Republicans called for a staggered easing of restrictions that would allow for some businesses to reopen , while following social distancing guidelines .
Those new social-distancing measures for businesses could require businesses to have all their employees wear masks and to place stricter occupancy limits on brick and mortar stores , Republican lawmakers said during their online news conference .
Spain said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order for some businesses such as car dealerships , golf courses , barbershops , hair salons and clothing stores .
State Rep. Tony McCombie , R-Savanna , said she wants the state to end its recommendation that hospitals forgo elective procedures .
Anticipating a surge of COVID-19 patients , hospitals around the state canceled outpatient care and elective procedures .
While patients have filled hospital beds in Chicago , in some parts of Downstate Illinois , hospitals are seeing fewer patients than normal .
The cancellation of elective procedures has hurt hospitals financially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed medical examines such as mammograms and colonoscopies .
“ Let me be clear , we are not saying hospitals and health care facilities should resume — all of them — should resume normal operations on midnight May 1 , ” McCombie said .
But some hospitals should begin to start doing elective procedures again , she said .
And some should “ slowly return to normal operations.
” Illinois was among the first states to shut down its state parks , to the dismay of many Downstate residents .
State Rep. Dave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly hurt southern Illinois – for no good reason .
“ Campsites are a great place to do social distancing because they ’ re remote , ” Severin said .
“ Hiking trails , they ’ re remote .
Horse and ATV trails , they ’ re definitely remote .
So there ’ s activities that can be enjoyed by Illinoisans while maintaining the social distancing.
” The governor has kept his cards close to his vest about any extensions or changes to his stay-at-home order .
While Pritzker did say that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines , he also said it is unlikely the state ’ s economy will return to normal until there is more testing , the ability to trace positive cases and more personal protective equipment for medical workers .
“ Well , I think I foreshadowed for everybody , and I think it ’ s widely understood that the things you need in order to open the economy are things that we don ’ t quite yet have in place — nor does any state , ” Pritzker said .

SPRINGFIELD — With businesses closed, people out of work and many residents postponing needed medical procedures, Illinois Republicans on Wednesday called for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to ease his stay-at-home order, which is set to expire April 30.
“The safe opening, or reopening, of our state economy is the important work that now faces us,” state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said during a news conference on Zoom. “And we believe that there should be allowances made for businesses to reopen, as long as they can do so safely.”
The governor is expected to extend his order again this week, but this time statehouse Republicans want changes, calling for state parks to reopen, hospitals to start performing elective procedures and some businesses to reopen.
At his regular daily briefing Wednesday in Chicago, Pritzker said the stay-at-home order could be amended based on new information that has come in. He cited experts’ belief that wearing masks and having fewer people in a confined space helps slow the spread.
“We are all looking at that,” the governor said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives his daily update on the coronavirus situation on April 13, 2020. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file
But Republicans want more than that.
With many states saying they plan to ease social distancing restrictions starting next week, Pritzker is being pressured by some to do the same in Illinois. House Republicans called for a staggered easing of restrictions that would allow for some businesses to reopen, while following social distancing guidelines.
Those new social-distancing measures for businesses could require businesses to have all their employees wear masks and to place stricter occupancy limits on brick and mortar stores, Republican lawmakers said during their online news conference.
Spain said he wants exemptions from Pritzer’s order for some businesses such as car dealerships, golf courses, barbershops, hair salons and clothing stores.
State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said she wants the state to end its recommendation that hospitals forgo elective procedures.
Anticipating a surge of COVID-19 patients, hospitals around the state canceled outpatient care and elective procedures. While patients have filled hospital beds in Chicago, in some parts of Downstate Illinois, hospitals are seeing fewer patients than normal. The cancellation of elective procedures has hurt hospitals financially and has caused many residents to delay needed medical exams such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna File screen image
“Let me be clear, we are not saying hospitals and health care facilities should resume — all of them — should resume normal operations on midnight May 1,” McCombie said.
But some hospitals should begin to start doing elective procedures again, she said. And some should “slowly return to normal operations.”
Illinois was among the first states to shut down its state parks, to the dismay of many Downstate residents.
State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, said that has particularly hurt southern Illinois – for no good reason.
“Campsites are a great place to do social distancing because they’re remote,” Severin said. “Hiking trails, they’re remote. Horse and ATV trails, they’re definitely remote. So there’s activities that can be enjoyed by Illinoisans while maintaining the social distancing.”
State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton. Screen image
The governor has kept his cards close to his vest about any extensions or changes to his stay-at-home order.
While Pritzker did say that “tweaks” could be coming to his guidelines, he also said it is unlikely the state’s economy will return to normal until there is more testing, the ability to trace positive cases and more personal protective equipment for medical workers.
“Well, I think I foreshadowed for everybody, and I think it’s widely understood that the things you need in order to open the economy are things that we don’t quite yet have in place — nor does any state,” Pritzker said.