chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--How Chicago’s ‘Dread Head Cowboy’ became an agent of change

Across Chicago , people hear Woodlawn native Adam Hollingsworth approaching before they see him — or rather , they hear the clip-clop of his horse Prince ’ s hooves on the asphalt .
Thanks to his impromptu visits on horseback to neighborhoods all over the city , and the social media attention they generate , the 33-year-old former boxer is better known to many as the “ Dread Head Cowboy.
” Hollingsworth , who bought his first horse in 2016 and now owns three — Prince , Bella and Unity , who live at his uncle ’ s ranch in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it therapeutic to be around horses .
He wanted to spread that message to kids and adults in communities across Chicago , may of whom , he says , have never seen a horse in person before .
But when he saddled up Bella on Saturday , May 30 , it wasn ’ t for another simple meet-and-greet — it was to join a planned protest in the Loop over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Hollingsworth was shaken when he saw the video of Floyd crying out that he couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That could have been him , he thought , or someone he cared about .
“ That was my brother .
That was my mother .
That was my sister .
That was me down there .
That could have been me , ” he said .
Watching the video , “ it hurt.
” The lifelong Chicagoan has had his own run-ins with police in the past .
At 19 , he was charged with gun possession by a Chicago officer that he says knew the weapon wasn ’ t his .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ times by police while riding his horses in the city , and was ticketed once .
( A judge later tossed the ticket . )
Still , Hollingsworth said he has a positive relationship with many police officers who he encounters on his frequent rides around the city .
“ We have a lot of good cops , ” he said .
“ We have a lot , even though we see a lot of people giving them hell , and they do the best they can in that situation.
” When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent as looters raided storefronts and clashed with police , Hollingsworth said his first instinct was to leave .
“ I ’ m not out here for looting and rioting , ” he said .
“ I ’ m out here trying to bring positive back.
” But he soon realized he could use his visibility to help — both at the scene , and online , where he had been streaming the unfolding events on Facebook Live .
“ I know for a fact I saved a lot of people from getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me following me everywhere I was going , ” he said .
After hearing gunshots , Hollingsworth found a man who had been shot in an alley , and tracked down a police officer to get the man some help .
The view from above That day , Hollingsworth says , something clicked .
He knew he stood out amid the chaos in his cowboy hat , riding Bella through the Loop , and that his reputation as a community-builder lent credence to his peacekeeping efforts at a time when tensions were high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and looting , rumors of rising racial tensions among Latinos and African Americans in Little Village stirred conflict in the neighborhood .
Residents , including some gang members , tried to guard local businesses against looting , and there were reports of African Americans being targeted while walking in the neighborhood .
Having ridden Prince in Little Village before , Hollingsworth said he received messages from Latino friends and strangers on June 2 asking him to come and show his followers what was really happening .
“ When I was in my car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was scared , ” said Hollingsworth , who now lives in Englewood .
“ But as I put on my vest , my cowboy hat and my cowboy boots , I started to feel more relaxed.
” As he and Prince settled into their ride , Hollingsworth led them off 26th Street and down side streets , all while streaming on Facebook Live .
People stopped to say hello and snap photos , and one woman even put out a bowl of water for Prince .
“ Theres nothing but love here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all think it is , ” Hollingsworth told his viewers over and over again .
The next day , Latino and African American residents held a march supporting solidarity between their communities , and some cited Hollingsworth ’ s videos as having helped quell the fear online .
Now when Hollingsworth passes cops on his horses , they tell him that they ’ re fans .
People have told him that he ’ s making a difference — and he ’ s not done yet .
Hollingsworth continues to peacefully protest , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , and he ’ s trying to raise $ 50,000 on GoFundMe to continue visiting Chicago neighborhoods and other Midwestern cities .
The funds will be used for gas , food for his horses , cleaning supplies , trailer maintenance and other expenses related to the upkeep of the horses , and Hollingsworth hopes to keep inspiring inner city kids on his tour .
“ I feel like I have a lot of people looking up to me and watching , ” Hollingsworth said .
“ I don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @

Across Chicago, people hear Woodlawn native Adam Hollingsworth before they see him — or rather, they hear the clip-clop of his horse Prince’s hooves on the asphalt.
Thanks to his impromptu visits on horseback to neighborhoods all over the city, and the social media attention they generate, the 33-year-old former boxer is better known to many as the “Dread Head Cowboy.”
Hollingsworth bought his first horse in 2016 and now owns three — Prince, Bella and Unity, who live at his uncle’s ranch in Crete. He’s always found it therapeutic to be around horses and wanted to spread that message to kids and adults in communities across Chicago, many of whom, he says, have never seen a horse in person before.
But when he saddled up Bella on Saturday, May 30, it wasn’t for another simple meet and greet — it was to join a planned protest in the Loop over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Calm amid chaos
Hollingsworth was shaken when he saw the video of Floyd crying out that he couldn’t breathe during his arrest. That could have been him, he thought, or someone he cared about.
“That was my brother. That was my mother. That was my sister. That was me down there. That could have been me,” he said. Watching the video, “it hurt.”
The lifelong Chicagoan has had his own run-ins with police in the past. Last year, he says he was stopped by police seven times — and ticketed once — while riding his horses in the city. (A judge later tossed the ticket, Hollingsworth said.)
Adam Hollingsworth, 33, otherwise known as “The Dread Head Cowboy,” rides his horse Prince in the Loop, Tuesday afternoon, June 16, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Still, Hollingsworth said he has a positive relationship with many police officers he encounters on his frequent rides. “We have a lot of good cops,” he said. “We have a lot, even though we see a lot of people giving them hell, and they do the best they can in that situation.”
When the initially peaceful Loop protest May 30 turned violent as looters raided storefronts and clashed with police, Hollingsworth said his first instinct was to leave.
“I’m not out here for looting and rioting,” he said. “I’m out here trying to bring positive back.”
But he soon realized he could use his visibility to help — both at the scene and online, where he had been streaming the unfolding events on Facebook Live.
“I know for a fact I saved a lot of people from getting hurt that day because they were behind me following me everywhere I was going,” he said.
After hearing gunshots, Hollingsworth found a man who had been shot in an alley and tracked down a police officer to get the man some help.
The view from above
That day, Hollingsworth says, something clicked. He knew he stood out amid the chaos in his cowboy hat, riding Bella through the Loop, and that his reputation as a community-builder lent credence to his peacekeeping efforts at a time when tensions were high.
In the days following the protest and looting, rumors of rising racial tensions among Latinos and African Americans in Little Village stirred conflict in the neighborhood. Residents, including some gang members, tried to guard local businesses against looting, and there were reports of African Americans being targeted while walking in the neighborhood.
Having ridden Prince in Little Village before, Hollingsworth said he received messages from Latino friends and strangers on June 2 asking him to come and show his followers what was really happening.
“When I was in my car on the way over there, I was scared,” said Hollingsworth, who lives in Englewood. “But as I put on my vest, my cowboy hat and my cowboy boots, I started to feel more relaxed.”
As he and Prince settled into their ride, Hollingsworth led them off 26th Street and down side streets, all while streaming on Facebook Live. People stopped to say hello and snap photos, and one woman even put out a bowl of water for Prince.
“Theres nothing but love here. It’s not what y’all think it is,” Hollingsworth told his viewers over and over again.
The next day, Latino and African American residents held a march supporting solidarity between their communities, and some cited Hollingsworth’s videos as having helped quell the fear online.
Hero on horseback
Now when Hollingsworth passes cops on his horses, they tell him they’re fans. People have told him he’s making a difference — and he’s not done yet.
Hollingsworth continues to peacefully protest, most recently at President Trump’s Oklahoma rally, and he’s trying to raise $50,000 on GoFundMe to continue visiting Chicago neighborhoods and other Midwestern cities. The funds will be used for gas, food for his horses, cleaning supplies, trailer maintenance and other expenses related to the upkeep of the horses, and Hollingsworth hopes to keep inspiring inner-city kids on his tour.
“I feel like I have a lot of people looking up to me and watching,” Hollingsworth said. “I don’t want to let anybody down.”
Adam Hollingsworth, 33, otherwise known as “The Dread Head Cowboy,” rides his horse Prince in the Loop, Tuesday afternoon, June 16, 2020. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Dear Abby: I go to boyfriend’s family events, and so does his wife

DEAR ABBY : I have been in a six-year relationship .
About two years into it , I found out that “ Wayne ” was separated , but not divorced , from his wife of 20 years .
The fact that they are separated is not the issue .
They live together and do things as a married couple .
The wife and I have met each other several times , and I have gone to his children ’ s graduation parties and family weddings .
He has told me every year that this is the year he will file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happened .
I don ’ t know why he is holding on because I do not believe they are intimate .
Their children are adults , so there is nothing keeping them together .
He tells me he can ’ t live without me , but his actions have proven otherwise .
Do you think they are in an open marriage ?
Is there any hope for our future together ?
— WASTING TIME IN MASSACHUSETTS DEAR WASTING TIME : Not at the rate you are going .
I suspect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and filed for divorce may be financial .
He and his wife may also like things just the way they are because they can maintain their social life , he ’ s comfortable at home and he has you to sleep with , which may be a relief to her .
You have my sympathy , but I think you have invested enough time .
What ’ s going on is unfair to you .
This romance was based on dishonesty on his part , and you deserve more than you have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started dating again after ending a very difficult marriage .
To say I am guarding my heart for fear of getting hurt would be an understatement .
I have met someone that I can see having a future with , but some things concern me .
He has been hospitalized for mental health reasons in the past .
He ’ s constantly saying , “ I ’ m sorry I ’ m so screwed up ” or remarking about being “ crazy.
” He mentions his depression almost daily , and he hates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ messed up in the head.
” He just can ’ t seem to move past his issues .
I feel like he doesn ’ t want to move forward and start living his life again .
I have lived with depression for most of my life , but it doesn ’ t define who I am .
If I don ’ t respond to his calls or messages right away , he gets hurt and assumes I ’ m mad at him .
My question is , am I being overly cautious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , or should I take a step back ?
I would like to see a future with him , but I ’ m not sure he is ready to see any kind of a future with anyone .
— GUARDED HEART DEAR GUARDED HEART : You are not being overly cautious .
You are asking yourself intelligent , insightful questions about someone who appears not as far along on the path to mental wellness as you are .
Is this man still being treated for his issues ?
If not , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licensed mental health professional not only about his depression , but also his glaring lack of self-esteem .
From your description , I would have to say he needs a friend now more than a romance , so take plenty of time if you proceed in this relationship .
If he makes progress , see where things lead .
If not , then in light of your own history , it might be better for you to find someone who is stronger .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
What teens need to know about sex , drugs , AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “ What Every Teen Should Know.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Teen Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a six-year relationship. About two years into it, I found out that “Wayne” was separated, but not divorced, from his wife of 20 years. The fact that they are separated is not the issue. They live together and do things as a married couple. The wife and I have met each other several times, and I have gone to his children’s graduation parties and family weddings.
He has told me every year that this is the year he will file for divorce, but it still hasn’t happened. I don’t know why he is holding on because I do not believe they are intimate. Their children are adults, so there is nothing keeping them together. He tells me he can’t live without me, but his actions have proven otherwise.
Do you think they are in an open marriage? Is there any hope for our future together? — WASTING TIME IN MASSACHUSETTS
DEAR WASTING TIME: Not at the rate you are going. I suspect the reason Wayne hasn’t followed through and filed for divorce may be financial. He and his wife may also like things just the way they are because they can maintain their social life, he’s comfortable at home and he has you to sleep with, which may be a relief to her.
You have my sympathy, but I think you have invested enough time. What’s going on is unfair to you. This romance was based on dishonesty on his part, and you deserve more than you have been getting.
DEAR ABBY: I recently started dating again after ending a very difficult marriage. To say I am guarding my heart for fear of getting hurt would be an understatement.
I have met someone that I can see having a future with, but some things concern me. He has been hospitalized for mental health reasons in the past. He’s constantly saying, “I’m sorry I’m so screwed up” or remarking about being “crazy.” He mentions his depression almost daily, and he hates being, as he puts it, “messed up in the head.” He just can’t seem to move past his issues.
I feel like he doesn’t want to move forward and start living his life again. I have lived with depression for most of my life, but it doesn’t define who I am. If I don’t respond to his calls or messages right away, he gets hurt and assumes I’m mad at him.
My question is, am I being overly cautious based on not wanting to get hurt again, or should I take a step back? I would like to see a future with him, but I’m not sure he is ready to see any kind of a future with anyone. — GUARDED HEART
DEAR GUARDED HEART: You are not being overly cautious. You are asking yourself intelligent, insightful questions about someone who appears not as far along on the path to mental wellness as you are. Is this man still being treated for his issues? If not, he should be encouraged to talk with a licensed mental health professional not only about his depression, but also his glaring lack of self-esteem.
From your description, I would have to say he needs a friend now more than a romance, so take plenty of time if you proceed in this relationship. If he makes progress, see where things lead. If not, then in light of your own history, it might be better for you to find someone who is stronger.
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.
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Nearly 60% in Chicago seeking early prison release under Trump’s First Step Act go free

The American Civil Liberties Union and President Donald Trump don ’ t agree on a lot .
But in 2018 , Trump signed a law called the First Step Act that had the backing of a broad range of supporters including the ACLU , Republicans and Democrats and Kanye West , who had lobbied the president during a White House visit .
The law gives prisoners convicted of federal crimes a chance get their time behind bars shortened and lets elderly and sick inmates seek compassionate releases .
In Chicago , hundreds of prisoners , including some of the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the law to try to get out of prison .
And their odds of getting out are good , a Chicago Sun-Times examination of 200 of those cases has found .
Judges here have approved nearly 60 % of the requests they ’ ve ruled on , court records show , often over the objections of prosecutors .
They so far have granted sentence reductions in 75 of the 200 cases .
Forty-five requests were denied .
The rest are awaiting a ruling .
Five men serving life sentences have been sprung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1998 in a sensational drug case against the Gangster Disciples , a notorious Chicago street gang .
Yates , 51 , wasn ’ t expecting a break .
“ I was kind of skeptical , ” says Yates , who benefited from a provision of the First Step Act that involves crack cocaine .
In 2010 , Congress reduced the huge disparity in punishments between crack and powdered cocaine .
In the 1980s and 1990s , African Americans had been hit the hardest by the harsher sentences for crack .
The First Step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before 2010 to ask for their prison terms to be recalculated because of the sentencing disparity .
In April , over prosecution objections , U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo cut Yates ’ life sentence to time served .
“ To sit in the yard and take in the fresh air , I don ’ t really know how to put words on it , ” says Yates , now back home in Chicago .
Three of his co-defendants also won their freedom under the First Step Act .
And Larry Hoover , co-founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has a hearing set for next month on whether he ’ ll get a break on his life sentence .
Yates says he was an “ idiot ” to have testified in his own defense .
In one colorful exchange , prosecutors asked Yates about a ledger seized at his home .
Yates testified that the numbers in it didn ’ t refer to quantities of drugs .
He said they were the numbers of laps his underlings ran around a track to keep in shape .
Yates says he avoided trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs and gambling and violating jailhouse rules , staying away from the drama.
” He says he studied Arabic and taught inmates to use computer software and is thinking about going back to school to finish a degree in electronics .
“ It ’ s a second chance , ” he says .
Ron Safer , a defense lawyer who was a federal prosecutor on the Hoover case , says he ’ s OK with Yates getting out .
For Yates , Safer says , “ Time served is not exactly a slap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 years .
That ’ s a heavy sentence.
” Yates was among nearly 40 members of his Chicago street gang sentenced to life or given long prison terms .
“ I certainly have thought in recent weeks about , you know , the role that we played in mass incarceration , ” Safer says .
“ If I were in charge of the Gangster Disciples investigation — and if it were today — I would still prosecute those same people , but I would advocate for a significantly shorter sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those people.
” With one exception : Hoover , the 69-year-old former gang leader .
Safer thinks he should be kept in prison .
“ He was the unquestioned leader of a gang that was responsible for a murder rate that , you know , was over double the unacceptable murder rate we have today , ” Safer says .
“ He was the acknowledged top leader of a gang that sold in excess of $ 100 million of drugs.
” Colleen K. Connell , executive director of the ACLU of Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Step Act is “ resulting in relief for a number of people sentenced to inordinately long terms in prison .
That was why so many people — from a variety of political backgrounds — came together to move the legislation.
” Connell says Black and Hispanic inmates will “ benefit significantly ” from the part of the law allowing a reconsideration of sentences .
“ We must break our national over-reliance on long , harsh sentences and focus on shorter sentences combined with real rehabilitative services that will reduce prison populations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she says .
According to the U.S .
Sentencing Commission , the First Step Act led to sentence reductions for nearly 2,400 inmates nationwide through the end of 2019 : 2,172 African Americans , 100 Hispanics , 87 whites and 18 people of other races .
In the federal court district for Northern Illinois , 64 convicted prisoners saw their sentences cut under the law during that period , putting the courts in Chicago among the top 10 in the country for sentence reductions .
Other busy court systems — including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of Columbia — had fewer than 20 reductions .
The federal judges in Chicago who have handled the largest number of First Step Act requests have been likely to approve them .
They include : • Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer , who approved 13 requests and denied four .
• Bucklo , who approved 10 and denied five .
• Judge Harry Leinenweber , who approved 10 and denied three .
In arguing against sentence reductions in crack cocaine cases , prosecutors have tried to steer judges toward the “ actual conduct ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Danny Mitchell , 43 , was caught in 2006 in a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives sting , selling crack to an undercover agent .
When he pleaded guilty , Mitchell admitted that his crime involved at least 50 grams of crack .
But U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning agreed with evidence prosecutors presented at his 2009 sentencing that Mitchell ’ s crime involved a great deal more cocaine : 291 grams .
And , based on that amount , she gave Mitchell 27 years .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the First Step Act , his case now reassigned to Leinenweber .
Prosecutors argued the judge should rely on their evidence of 291 grams of crack , which would mean Mitchell wasn ’ t covered by the First Step Act .
But Leinenweber said he had to rely on the 50 grams that Mitchell , in pleading guilty , admitted his crime involved .
Based on that , the judge agreed that Mitchell qualified under the law and set him free on March 9 .
Leinenweber , who has overturned four of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990s in the Hoover case , seemed fed up with the prosecution in Mitchell ’ s case .
“ The government lodges an argument it has made ad nauseam in other First Step Act cases before this court , ” Leinenweber wrote in rejecting it .
Other judges also have criticized the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Chicago for pushing the same reading of the First Step Act .
“ As far as this court ’ s research can determine , every judge in this district who has ruled on the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall wrote in an order last year that freed a 49-year-old man serving an 18-year drug sentence .
And U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly wrote that prosecutors had a “ tortured and unnatural reading of the statutory language.
” Prosecutors haven ’ t opposed every request for a new and shorter sentence made under the First Step Act .
They ’ ve agreed with 25 of them and neither opposed nor agreed with 56 other requests .
The list of inmates who are seeking to cut their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes some of the biggest criminal names in Chicago .
Among them : • Joseph Miedzianowski , 67 , a former Chicago cop prosecutors called the most corrupt police in the city ’ s history , who was convicted of running a Miami-to-Chicago drug-trafficking operation .
In 2003 , he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of distributing crack , supplying ammunition to gang members and revealing the identities of undercover cops to his criminal partners .
Federal authorities said Miedzianowski also threatened to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edward Lee “ Pacman ” Jackson Jr. , 49 , a high-ranking Conservative Vice Lords gang member who , as a Chicago police officer , was charged with robbing drug dealers with other cops .
The FBI arrested Jackson and the others in an investigation called Operation Broken Star , and Jackson was sentenced in 2001 to 115 years in prison .
U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras said the sentence he was imposing was “ unbelievably tough ” because the crimes were “ unbelievably terrible.
” • Marvel Thompson , 51 , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Disciples after the gang ’ s “ king , ” Jerome “ Shorty ” Freeman , went to prison .
The gang pulled in millions of dollars from drug sales and mortgage fraud , according to the FBI , which arrested Thompson in 2004 .
His crews had avoided arrest , prosecutors said , by tuning in to a Christian radio frequency that Thompson pirated so he could alert them to police activity .
A top aide , Donnell Jehan , dated then-Ald .
Arenda Troutman ( 20th ) , who went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison .
Prosecutors are fighting Thompson ’ s release , saying in a court filing that “ he perpetuated a cycle of violence and lawlessness in his community.
” Prosecutors haven ’ t responded to the requests by Miedzianowski and Jackson .
Other infamous criminals have used the same law to win compassionate releases : • Glenn Lewellen , 64 , a former Chicago cop convicted of participating in home invasions and robbing drug dealers , cited heart problems and obesity and , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewellen ’ s medical conditions and his age put him at serious risk if he contracts COVID-19 , ” Gottschall ruled May 22 .
“ Lewellen has changed .
He presents a very low risk to the public.
” The crooked ex-cop had served nearly nine years of an 18-year sentence — “ a long time by any measure , ” the judge wrote , rejecting prosecutors ’ efforts to keep him in prison .
Joseph Lopez , one of Lewellen ’ s lawyers , says the mandatory sentences of old were “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say the least.
” Noting that some judges have said they regret handing down decadeslong sentences , Lopez says the First Step Act “ gives the judges an opportunity to even it up a little bit.
” Compassionate-release requests are being handled “ a lot quicker than ever before , ” Lopez says .
In the past , he says he “ had guys come out in pine boxes.
” • Lopez also recently won a compassionate release for Mario Rainone , 65 .
Leinenweber freed the onetime Chicago Outfit enforcer from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bailey , 90 , a conman convicted of racketeering for defrauding Brach ’ s Candy heiress Helen Vorhees Brach by selling horses to her at inflated prices .
He once described Brach as the “ goose that laid the golden egg.
” Bailey wasn ’ t convicted of killing Brach , though , during his sentencing , the judge agreed with prosecutors that a preponderance of evidence showed he conspired to kill her to keep her from going to the police .
Brach disappeared in 1977 .
Seven years later , a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never was found .
In 1994 , Bailey was sentenced to 30 years in prison , which was seen as tantamount to life in prison .
Turns out it wasn ’ t .
He received a compassionate release in July 2019 , despite prosecutors ’ objections , after arguing to get out because of his age and declining health .
Another infamous criminal , Paul Schiro , 83 , is waiting to see whether he will get out because of age and medical problems that he says make him vulnerable in prison to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the Chicago Outfit and jewel thief and charged him in 2007 in the landmark Operation Family Secrets case that targeted the mob in Chicago .
A federal judge found that Schiro conducted surveillance during a mob killing in 1986 and sentenced him to 20 years in prison for racketeering .
Schiro is scheduled to be freed in 2024 .
Another compassionate-release case involved Daniel Glick , convicted of stealing more than $ 5 million from investors , including two elderly women in nursing homes .
In 2018 , Glick was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison .
He was supposed to get out in 2029 .
Suffering from terminal cancer with a prognosis of just days to live , Glick , 67 , sought a compassionate release .
He also had COVID-19 , though he wasn ’ t showing any symptoms .
Prosecutors agreed that Glick had “ extraordinary and compelling reasons ” for a compassionate release but urged U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman to consider whether he might spread the coronavirus if he were freed .
On May 20 , Glick ’ s lawyer filed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , the same day , Gettleman ordered his release .
On May 24 , Glick was released from a federal prison in North Carolina and sent to a hospice .
“ The prison worked hard to move him , ” his lawyer Robert Fisher says .
“ They realized how sick he was.
” Glick ’ s children weren ’ t allowed to visit him when he got out of prison because he was being quarantined .
So they said goodbye via Zoom .
They were on Zoom with him when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a good example ” of the First Step Act working as it ’ s supposed to .
“ It got done .
”

The American Civil Liberties Union and President Donald Trump don’t agree on a lot. But in 2018, Trump signed a law called the First Step Act that had the backing of a broad range of supporters including the ACLU, Republicans and Democrats and Kanye West, who had lobbied the president during a White House visit.
The law gives prisoners convicted of federal crimes a chance to get their time behind bars shortened and lets elderly and sick inmates seek compassionate releases.
In Chicago, hundreds of prisoners, including some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, are using the law to try to get out of prison. And their odds of getting out are good, a Chicago Sun-Times examination of 200 of those cases has found.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Judges here have approved more than 60% of the requests they’ve ruled on, court records show, often over the objections of prosecutors. They so far have granted sentence reductions in 75 of the 200 cases. Forty-five requests were denied. The rest are awaiting a ruling.
Frank Main / Sun-Times
Five men serving life sentences have been sprung, including James Yates, convicted in 1998 in a sensational drug case against the Gangster Disciples, a notorious Chicago street gang.
Yates, 51, wasn’t expecting a break. “I was kind of skeptical,” says Yates, who benefited from a provision of the First Step Act that involves crack cocaine.
In 2010, Congress reduced the huge disparity in punishments between crack and powdered cocaine. In the 1980s and 1990s, African Americans had been hit the hardest by the harsher sentences for crack. The First Step Act allows people convicted of crack offenses before 2010 to ask for their prison terms to be recalculated because of the sentencing disparity.
In April, over prosecution objections, U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo cut Yates’ life sentence to time served.
“To sit in the yard and take in the fresh air, I don’t really know how to put words on it,” says Yates, now back home in Chicago.
Three of his co-defendants also won their freedom under the First Step Act.
And Larry Hoover, co-founder and former chairman of the Gangster Disciples, has a hearing set for next month on whether he’ll get a break on his life sentence.
Gangster Disciples leader Larry Hoover (center) with top gang lieutenant Gregory Shell (left) and gang associate Keith McCain. U.S. District Court, Atlanta
Yates says he was an “idiot” to have testified in his own defense. In one colorful exchange, prosecutors asked Yates about a ledger seized at his home. Yates testified that the numbers in it didn’t refer to quantities of drugs. He said they were the numbers of laps his underlings ran around a track to keep in shape.
The jury didn’t buy it.
Yates says he avoided trouble in prison, “staying away from drugs and gambling and violating jailhouse rules, staying away from the drama.”
He says he studied Arabic and taught inmates to use computer software and is thinking about going back to school to finish a degree in electronics.
“It’s a second chance,” he says.
Ron Safer, a defense lawyer who was a federal prosecutor on the Hoover case, says he’s OK with Yates getting out. For Yates, Safer says, “Time served is not exactly a slap on the wrist. It’s more than 20 years. That’s a heavy sentence.”
Yates was among nearly 40 members of his Chicago street gang sentenced to life or given long prison terms.
“I certainly have thought in recent weeks about, you know, the role that we played in mass incarceration,” Safer says. “If I were in charge of the Gangster Disciples investigation — and if it were today — I would still prosecute those same people, but I would advocate for a significantly shorter sentence for some, if not most, of those people.”
With one exception: Hoover, the 69-year-old former gang leader. Safer thinks he should be kept in prison.
“He was the unquestioned leader of a gang that was responsible for a murder rate that, you know, was over double the unacceptable murder rate we have today,” Safer says. “He was the acknowledged top leader of a gang that sold in excess of $100 million of drugs.”
Former federal prosecutor Ron Safer in 2018 during a trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Sun-Times files
Colleen K. Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois, says she’s pleased the First Step Act is “resulting in relief for a number of people sentenced to inordinately long terms in prison. That was why so many people — from a variety of political backgrounds — came together to move the legislation.”
Connell says Black and Hispanic inmates will “benefit significantly” from the part of the law allowing a reconsideration of sentences.
“We must break our national over-reliance on long, harsh sentences and focus on shorter sentences combined with real rehabilitative services that will reduce prison populations and make our neighborhoods stronger and safer,” she says.
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the First Step Act led to sentence reductions for nearly 2,400 inmates nationwide through the end of 2019: 2,172 African Americans, 100 Hispanics, 87 whites and 18 people of other races.
In the federal court district for Northern Illinois, 64 convicted prisoners saw their sentences cut under the law during that period, putting the courts in Chicago among the top 10 in the country for sentence reductions. Other busy court systems — including the Southern District of New York and the District of Columbia — had fewer than 20 reductions.
The federal judges in Chicago who have handled the largest number of First Step Act requests have been likely to approve them. They include:
Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, who approved 13 requests and denied four.
Bucklo, who approved 10 and denied five.
Judge Harry Leinenweber, who approved 10 and denied three.
In arguing against sentence reductions in crack cocaine cases, prosecutors have tried to steer judges toward the “actual conduct” of a defendant.
In one case, Danny Mitchell, 43, was caught in 2006 in a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sting, selling crack to an undercover agent. When he pleaded guilty, Mitchell admitted that his crime involved at least 50 grams of crack.
But U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning agreed with evidence prosecutors presented at his 2009 sentencing that Mitchell’s crime involved a great deal more cocaine: 291 grams. And, based on that amount, she gave Mitchell 27 years.
Last November, Mitchell asked to be freed under the First Step Act, his case now reassigned to Leinenweber.
Prosecutors argued the judge should rely on their evidence of 291 grams of crack, which would mean Mitchell wasn’t covered by the First Step Act.
But Leinenweber said he had to rely on the 50 grams that Mitchell, in pleading guilty, admitted his crime involved. Based on that, the judge agreed that Mitchell qualified under the law and set him free on March 9.
Leinenweber, who has overturned four of the lengthy sentences he gave in the 1990s in the Hoover case, seemed fed up with the prosecution in Mitchell’s case.
“The government lodges an argument it has made ad nauseam in other First Step Act cases before this court,” Leinenweber wrote in rejecting it.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber on the bench in 2013. AP illustration
Other judges also have criticized the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago for pushing the same reading of the First Step Act.
“As far as this court’s research can determine, every judge in this district who has ruled on the issue has rejected the government’s position,” U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall wrote in an order last year that freed a 49-year-old man serving an 18-year drug sentence.
And U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly wrote that prosecutors had a “tortured and unnatural reading of the statutory language.”
The U.S. attorney’s office won’t comment.
Frank Main / Sun-Times
Prosecutors haven’t opposed every request for a new and shorter sentence made under the First Step Act. They’ve agreed with 25 of them and neither opposed nor agreed with 56 other requests.
The list of inmates who are seeking to cut their drug sentences under the First Step Act includes some of the biggest criminal names in Chicago. Among them:
Joseph Miedzianowski, 67, a former Chicago cop prosecutors called the most corrupt police in the city’s history, who was convicted of running a Miami-to-Chicago drug-trafficking operation. In 2003, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of distributing crack, supplying ammunition to gang members and revealing the identities of undercover cops to his criminal partners. Federal authorities said Miedzianowski also threatened to have lead prosecutor Brian Netols killed.
Joseph Miedzianowski. Chicago Police Department
Edward Lee “Pacman” Jackson Jr., 49, a high-ranking Conservative Vice Lords gang member who, as a Chicago police officer, was charged with robbing drug dealers with other cops. The FBI arrested Jackson and the others in an investigation called Operation Broken Star, and Jackson was sentenced in 2001 to 115 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras said the sentence he was imposing was “unbelievably tough” because the crimes were “unbelievably terrible.”
Marvel Thompson, 51, who became the de facto leader of the Black Disciples after the gang’s “king,” Jerome “Shorty” Freeman, went to prison. The gang pulled in millions of dollars from drug sales and mortgage fraud, according to the FBI, which arrested Thompson in 2004. His crews had avoided arrest, prosecutors said, by tuning in to a Christian radio frequency that Thompson pirated so he could alert them to police activity. A top aide, Donnell Jehan, dated then-Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th), who went to prison for taking bribes. Thompson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Marvel Thompson. Cook County sheriff’s office
Related CPD fears revenge killings after Black Disciples gang leader is gunned down
Prosecutors are fighting Thompson’s release, saying in a court filing that “he perpetuated a cycle of violence and lawlessness in his community.”
Prosecutors haven’t responded to the requests by Miedzianowski and Jackson.
Glenn Lewellen covers his face as he leaves the Dirksen Federal Building in 2011. Sun-Times file
Other infamous criminals have used the same law to win compassionate releases:
Glenn Lewellen, 64, a former Chicago cop convicted of participating in home invasions and robbing drug dealers, cited heart problems and obesity and, as a result, went free.
“Lewellen’s medical conditions and his age put him at serious risk if he contracts COVID-19,” Gottschall ruled May 22. “Lewellen has changed. He presents a very low risk to the public.”
The crooked ex-cop had served nearly nine years of an 18-year sentence — “a long time by any measure,” the judge wrote, rejecting prosecutors’ efforts to keep him in prison.
Joseph Lopez, one of Lewellen’s lawyers, says the mandatory sentences of old were “very excessive” and “draconian, to say the least.”
Noting that some judges have said they regret handing down decadeslong sentences, Lopez says the First Step Act “gives the judges an opportunity to even it up a little bit.”
Compassionate-release requests are being handled “a lot quicker than ever before,” Lopez says. In the past, he says he “had guys come out in pine boxes.”
Lopez also recently won a compassionate release for Mario Rainone, 65. Leinenweber freed the onetime Chicago Outfit enforcer from prison eight years early.
Richard Bailey was sentenced to 30 years in prison for defrauding Brach’s Candy heiress Helen Vorhees Brach but has been freed under the First Step Act. Sun-Times file
Richard Bailey, 90, a conman convicted of racketeering for defrauding Brach’s Candy heiress Helen Vorhees Brach by selling horses to her at inflated prices. He once described Brach as the “goose that laid the golden egg.”
Bailey wasn’t convicted of killing Brach, though, during his sentencing, the judge agreed with prosecutors that a preponderance of evidence showed he conspired to kill her to keep her from going to the police.
Brach disappeared in 1977. Seven years later, a judge declared her dead, though her body never was found.
In 1994, Bailey was sentenced to 30 years in prison, which was seen as tantamount to life in prison.
Turns out it wasn’t. He received a compassionate release in July 2019, despite prosecutors’ objections, after arguing to get out because of his age and declining health.
Another infamous criminal, Paul Schiro, 83, is waiting to see whether he will get out because of age and medical problems that he says make him vulnerable in prison to the coronavirus.
Prosecutors described Schiro as a member of the Chicago Outfit and jewel thief and charged him in 2007 in the landmark Operation Family Secrets case that targeted the mob in Chicago.
Paul Schiro. U.S. attorney’s office
A federal judge found that Schiro conducted surveillance during a mob killing in 1986 and sentenced him to 20 years in prison for racketeering. Schiro is scheduled to be freed in 2024.
Another compassionate-release case involved Daniel Glick, convicted of stealing more than $5 million from investors, including two elderly women in nursing homes. In 2018, Glick was sentenced to more than a dozen years in prison. He was supposed to get out in 2029.
Suffering from terminal cancer with a prognosis of just days to live, Glick, 67, sought a compassionate release. He also had COVID-19, though he wasn’t showing any symptoms.
Prosecutors agreed that Glick had “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for a compassionate release but urged U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman to consider whether he might spread the coronavirus if he were freed.
On May 20, Glick’s lawyer filed his request. Prosecutors responded May 22, and, the same day, Gettleman ordered his release.
On May 24, Glick was released from a federal prison in North Carolina and sent to a hospice.
“The prison worked hard to move him,” his lawyer Robert Fisher says. “They realized how sick he was.”
Glick’s children weren’t allowed to visit him when he got out of prison because he was being quarantined. So they said goodbye via Zoom. They were on Zoom with him when he died May 25.
Fisher calls this “a good example” of the First Step Act working as it’s supposed to. “It got done.”


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--2 killed, 12 wounded Thursday in Chicago shootings

Fourteen people were shot , two of them fatally , Thursday in Chicago .
The latest fatal attack left a man dead in Gresham on the South Side .
The 23-year-old was inside a vehicle about 7:10 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Morgan Street when someone approached and opened fire , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the head and shoulder .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
The other fatal shooting happened in Humboldt Park on the West Side , where a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a robbery .
The man , 18 , exchanged gunfire with another person during an attempted robbery about 11:25 a.m. in the 3400 block of West Augusta Boulevard , police said .
Shot in the chest , the man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The alleged shooter is being questioned by Area Four detectives , police said .
A 12-year-old girl was injured in a shooting early Thursday in West Englewood on the South Side .
The girl was playing with friends on the sidewalk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when someone in a white-colored SUV started shooting , police said .
She was grazed in the lower back and taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in good condition .
It was unclear who the intended target was .
The day ’ s latest reported shooting left a man wounded in Austin on the West Side .
The 31-year-old was walking about 9:50 p.m. when he saw three males in a vehicle in the 100 block of North Long Avenue , police said .
Someone fired shots and struck the man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park , where he was in good condition .
Earlier in the evening , three people were shot near a funeral repast in Grand Crossing .
About 7:50 p.m. , a dark-colored Chevrolet Malibu drove by the group in the 900 block of East 79th Street , stopped and someone inside opened fire , police said .
The trio were attending a repast in the area .
A 26-year-old woman was shot in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was struck in the hand and taken to Jackson Park Hospital .
Another woman , 36 , was grazed on the thigh and taken to the same hospital , where both were in good condition .
A man was shot 15 minutes prior in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
The 34-year-old was outside about 6:55 p.m. in the 200 block of East 121st Place when two males approached and one of them opened fire , police said .
The man was struck in the thighs and taken to Christ Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Less than an hour before that , a man was shot in Morgan Park on the South Side .
The man , 20 , was standing near a home about 6:05 p.m. in the 1400 block of West 109th Place when someone fired shots from a four-door vehicle , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the back and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition .
About 4 p.m. , the 38-year-old was in the 100 block of North Talman Avenue when someone fired shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The man took himself to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was listed in good condition .
Earlier in the afternoon , two men were wounded in a drive-by in Lawndale on the West Side .
They were in a parking lot about 2:20 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Roosevelt Road when a dark-colored car pulled up and someone inside fired shots , police said .
One man , 23 , was shot in the lower back and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was taken to the same hospital in fair condition with a gunshot wound to his arm .
Two other men were wounded in separate shootings earlier Thursday in Austin .
In the later shooting , a 26-year-old was walking home about 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Mayfield Avenue when he saw three people playing with a handgun , according to police .
The man saw the gun fall to the ground and it went off , hitting him in the left knee .
He went to West Suburban Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was listed in good condition .
He was driving about 4:05 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Pine Avenue when a vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire , police said .
He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition .
On Wednesday , 17 people were shot in Chicago , one of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Fourteen people were shot, two of them fatally, Thursday in Chicago.
The latest fatal attack left a man dead in Gresham on the South Side.
The 23-year-old was inside a vehicle about 7:10 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Morgan Street when someone approached and opened fire, Chicago police said. The man was struck in the head and shoulder. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The other fatal shooting happened in Humboldt Park on the West Side, where a man was killed while trying to carry out a robbery.
The man, 18, exchanged gunfire with another person during an attempted robbery about 11:25 a.m. in the 3400 block of West Augusta Boulevard, police said. Shot in the chest, the man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The alleged shooter is being questioned by Area Four detectives, police said.
A 12-year-old girl was injured in a shooting early Thursday in West Englewood on the South Side.
The girl was playing with friends on the sidewalk about 1:15 a.m. on South Wolcott Avenue when someone in a white-colored SUV started shooting, police said. She was grazed in the lower back and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition. It was unclear who the intended target was.
The day’s latest reported shooting left a man wounded in Austin on the West Side.
The 31-year-old was walking about 9:50 p.m. when he saw three males in a vehicle in the 100 block of North Long Avenue, police said. Someone fired shots and struck the man in the thigh. He took himself to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where he was in good condition.
Earlier in the evening, three people were shot near a funeral repast in Grand Crossing.
About 7:50 p.m., a dark-colored Chevrolet Malibu drove by the group in the 900 block of East 79th Street, stopped and someone inside opened fire, police said. The trio were attending a repast in the area.
A 26-year-old woman was shot in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said. A 45-year-old man was struck in the hand and taken to Jackson Park Hospital. Another woman, 36, was grazed on the thigh and taken to the same hospital, where both were in good condition.
A man was shot 15 minutes prior in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
The 34-year-old was outside about 6:55 p.m. in the 200 block of East 121st Place when two males approached and one of them opened fire, police said. The man was struck in the thighs and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition.
Less than an hour before that, a man was shot in Morgan Park on the South Side.
The man, 20, was standing near a home about 6:05 p.m. in the 1400 block of West 109th Place when someone fired shots from a four-door vehicle, Chicago police said. The man was struck in the back and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition.
A man was shot Thursday afternoon in West Town.
About 4 p.m., the 38-year-old was in the 100 block of North Talman Avenue when someone fired shots, striking him in the knee, police said. The man took himself to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition.
Earlier in the afternoon, two men were wounded in a drive-by in Lawndale on the West Side.
They were in a parking lot about 2:20 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Roosevelt Road when a dark-colored car pulled up and someone inside fired shots, police said. One man, 23, was shot in the lower back and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition. The other man, 47, was taken to the same hospital in fair condition with a gunshot wound to his arm.
Two other men were wounded in separate shootings earlier Thursday in Austin.
In the later shooting, a 26-year-old was walking home about 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Mayfield Avenue when he saw three people playing with a handgun, according to police. The man saw the gun fall to the ground and it went off, hitting him in the left knee. He went to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park on his own and was listed in good condition.
The earlier shooting left a man critically wounded after a drive-by.
He was driving about 4:05 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Pine Avenue when a vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire, police said. He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
On Wednesday, 17 people were shot in Chicago, one of them fatally.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Woman missing from Edgewater

Woman missing from Edgewater

Police are looking for a woman reported missing since Monday from Edgewater on the North Side .
Risharda Bond , @ @ @ @ @ in the 5800 block of North Sheridan Road , according to a missing person alert @ @ @ @ @ is a 5-foot-8 , 150-pound woman with brown eyes and black har , police said @ @ @ @ @ a silver 2011 Chevrolet Malibu with a Wisconsin license plate of ABC9031 .
Anyone with @ @ @ @ @ the Area Three Special Victims Unit at 312-744-8266 .

Pvt. Travis King entered the North while on a civilian tour of a Korean border village July 18, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Layoffs, tax hikes possible as Cook County braces for one-two punch of budget holes for this year an

Layoffs, tax hikes possible as Cook County braces for one-two punch of budget holes for this year and the next

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday “ everything is on the table ” as county officials brace for a budget gap the COVID-19 crisis has stretched to nearly $ 281 million for the rest of the fiscal year and possibly as much as $ 409 million for next year .
That could mean new taxes , furloughs and layoffs .
Seventy positions have already been cut , and about 35 people laid off at the county ’ s health system over the past week , Andrea Gibson , Cook County Health ’ s interim chief business officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest budget gap we ’ ve seen in almost a decade , so we ’ re going to be looking at holdbacks , we ’ re going to be looking at delaying purchases , renegotiating contracts with our vendors , a variety of strategies to meet the challenge that we face , ” Preckwinkle said .
How many workers will ultimately need to be laid off is still “ to be determined , ” the board president said .
County officials laid out their preliminary budgets for the rest of the 2020 fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , painting a grim fiscal picture for the county ’ s pocketbook in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
The 2020 shortfall is composed of two parts .
One is the general fund , which covers offices controlled by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart , Chief Judge Timothy Evans , Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx and others .
The other part is the health enterprise fund , which covers the county ’ s health apparatus .
The county projected a $ 219.7 million gap between its finances and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shortfall of $ 61 million , officials said .
In 2021 , officials project those deficits will balloon to $ 222 million for the general fund and $ 187 million for the health fund .
The county has already implemented some corrective steps , such as reducing some contracts and administrative positions in the health system , using federal emergency dollars and taking back 6.5 % of funding to some departments and other elected officials ’ offices , in a move called a holdback , to address the current budget gap .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Board of Commissioners Monday obtained by the Sun-Times , Annette Guzman , the county ’ s budget director , urged the various departments in the county to submit their preliminary budgets by July 24 and to use the time until then “ to formulate a leaner and responsible budget that reduces costs , improves efficiencies , and prioritizes the required core functions of your office.
” As dire as the projections are , Ammar Rizki , the county ’ s chief financial officer , said they are based on a “ middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the unique things for this year and next year is that we just don ’ t know how the pandemic is going to play out , ” Rizki said .
“ As we look at next year ’ s projections specifically , there are three sets of projections that we ’ ve looked at : a worst case , a middle of the road case and a more optimistic case.
” A potential second wave of COVID-19 later this year could also affect the county ’ s fiscal health as officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” between the county ’ s finances and the services it offers , Rizki said .
Every month that the economy is in “ a suspended state like it is right now , ” the county could see another $ 25 to $ 30 million tacked onto its budget gap .
Overtime expenses , as well as the purchasing of supplies to address the virus , have driven up the county ’ s expenditures , while dramatic decreases in the county ’ s sales , amusement , county use and hotel accommodation taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoming revenue .
An increase in managed care claims and professional services , as well as an increase in salaries and wages due to internal hiring and overtime , is largely driving the 2020 gap on the Cook County Health side .
The county has received $ 127 million in one-time federal aid through the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , and saw an increase of $ 141 million in revenue thanks to auto enrollments in its CountyCare program .
The expected shortfall is an increase from April projections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have worked to lobby the federal government to pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions , or HEROES , Act , which passed the U.S. House in May .
Preckwinkle says that bill would help governments such as the county that have lost revenue .
“ All of us desperately need help with lost revenue , and the federal government can provide that just as they provided support through the CARES Act , and we ’ re hopeful that some action will be taken this summer , ” Preckwinkle said .

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday “everything is on the table” as county officials brace for a budget gap the COVID-19 crisis has stretched to nearly $281 million for the rest of the fiscal year and possibly as much as $409 million for next year.
That could mean new taxes, furloughs and layoffs. Seventy positions have already been cut, and about 35 people laid off at the county’s health system over the past week, Andrea Gibson, Cook County Health’s interim chief business officer, said Thursday.
“This is the largest budget gap we’ve seen in almost a decade, so we’re going to be looking at holdbacks, we’re going to be looking at delaying purchases, renegotiating contracts with our vendors, a variety of strategies to meet the challenge that we face,” Preckwinkle said.
How many workers will ultimately need to be laid off is still “to be determined,” the board president said.
County officials laid out their preliminary budgets for the rest of the 2020 fiscal year and projections for 2021 on Thursday, painting a grim fiscal picture for the county’s pocketbook in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 shortfall is composed of two parts. One is the general fund, which covers offices controlled by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and others. The other part is the health enterprise fund, which covers the county’s health apparatus.
The county projected a $219.7 million gap between its finances and its adopted budget, and the health fund a shortfall of $61 million, officials said.
In 2021, officials project those deficits will balloon to $222 million for the general fund and $187 million for the health fund.
The county has already implemented some corrective steps, such as reducing some contracts and administrative positions in the health system, using federal emergency dollars and taking back 6.5% of funding to some departments and other elected officials’ offices, in a move called a holdback, to address the current budget gap.
In a memo to the county’s Board of Commissioners Monday obtained by the Sun-Times, Annette Guzman, the county’s budget director, urged the various departments in the county to submit their preliminary budgets by July 24 and to use the time until then “to formulate a leaner and responsible budget that reduces costs, improves efficiencies, and prioritizes the required core functions of your office.”
As dire as the projections are, Ammar Rizki, the county’s chief financial officer, said they are based on a “middle of the road” scenario.
“One of the unique things for this year and next year is that we just don’t know how the pandemic is going to play out,” Rizki said. “As we look at next year’s projections specifically, there are three sets of projections that we’ve looked at: a worst case, a middle of the road case and a more optimistic case.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and chief financial officer Ammar M. Rizki meet with the Sun-Times Editorial Board in 2019. Rich Hein/Sun-Times file
A potential second wave of COVID-19 later this year could also affect the county’s fiscal health as officials work on finding a “delicate balance” between the county’s finances and the services it offers, Rizki said. Every month that the economy is in “a suspended state like it is right now,” the county could see another $25 to $30 million tacked onto its budget gap.
Overtime expenses, as well as the purchasing of supplies to address the virus, have driven up the county’s expenditures, while dramatic decreases in the county’s sales, amusement, county use and hotel accommodation taxes have driven down the county’s incoming revenue.
An increase in managed care claims and professional services, as well as an increase in salaries and wages due to internal hiring and overtime, is largely driving the 2020 gap on the Cook County Health side.
The county has received $127 million in one-time federal aid through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and saw an increase of $141 million in revenue thanks to auto enrollments in its CountyCare program.
The expected shortfall is an increase from April projections.
Since then, Preckwinkle and others have worked to lobby the federal government to pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act, which passed the U.S. House in May. Preckwinkle says that bill would help governments such as the county that have lost revenue.
“All of us desperately need help with lost revenue, and the federal government can provide that just as they provided support through the CARES Act, and we’re hopeful that some action will be taken this summer,” Preckwinkle said.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-25--Costco food sample giveaways return — behind plexiglass

Costco has started to bring back its legendary free samples to some clubs , but it ’ s no longer the free food smorgasbord it once was .
Samples are now packaged items and kept behind plexiglass shields , according to Bloomberg , which reported Thursday that sampling has returned to as many as 30 Costco locations .
The retailer suspended its popular samples in its wholesale clubs in early March amid the spread of the coronavirus .
It was one of the first programs to be cut as the threat of COVID-19 grew .
Club Demonstration Services , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years , says on its website that clubs in 16 unidentified states are in the first phase of the return , which began June 16 .
“ Starting slowly will allow Costco and us to make sure we are taking the right steps to engage members safely , while maintaining the proper controls around the demo cart , ” Don Dohanyos , the company ’ s president , said in a June 4 post .
” We will take the lessons learned in our early demos to improve our overall processes while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials did not respond to a request for comment on the sampling and which clubs have added samples back .
During Costco ’ s quarterly earnings call in May , CFO Richard Galanti said the samples would start rolling out in June .
“ It ’ s not going to be where you go and just pick up an open sample with your fingers , ” Galanti said .
While samples are coming back , Costco has stopped selling its half sheet cakes at all U.S. clubs , the company confirmed , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have no immediate plans to bring back.
” “ We are focusing on our smaller 10-inch White and 10-inch Chocolate Cakes that seem to be resonating with our members , ” the company said in a statement .
Costco announced the change in late May in a Facebook post promoting the round cakes .
Many begged Costco to reconsider the change and said the sheet cakes froze well .
“ Please bring back the sheet cakes , even if just for preorder .
The round are not large enough for larger families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Facebook post .
” Our grocery store cakes are good , but not Costco good .
”

Costco has started to bring back its legendary free samples to some clubs, but it’s no longer the free food smorgasbord it once was.
Samples are now packaged items and kept behind plexiglass shields, according to Bloomberg, which reported Thursday that sampling has returned to as many as 30 Costco locations.
The retailer suspended its popular samples in its wholesale clubs in early March amid the spread of the coronavirus. It was one of the first programs to be cut as the threat of COVID-19 grew.
Club Demonstration Services, a vendor that has handled sampling for Costco for years, says on its website that clubs in 16 unidentified states are in the first phase of the return, which began June 16.
“Starting slowly will allow Costco and us to make sure we are taking the right steps to engage members safely, while maintaining the proper controls around the demo cart,” Don Dohanyos, the company’s president, said in a June 4 post. ”We will take the lessons learned in our early demos to improve our overall processes while we prepare for future rollouts.”
Costco officials did not respond to a request for comment on the sampling and which clubs have added samples back.
During Costco’s quarterly earnings call in May, CFO Richard Galanti said the samples would start rolling out in June.
“It’s not going to be where you go and just pick up an open sample with your fingers,” Galanti said.
While samples are coming back, Costco has stopped selling its half sheet cakes at all U.S. clubs, the company confirmed, noting, “as of right now, we have no immediate plans to bring back.”
“We are focusing on our smaller 10-inch White and 10-inch Chocolate Cakes that seem to be resonating with our members,” the company said in a statement.
Costco announced the change in late May in a Facebook post promoting the round cakes.
Many begged Costco to reconsider the change and said the sheet cakes froze well.
“Please bring back the sheet cakes, even if just for preorder. The round are not large enough for larger families,” one member wrote on Costco’s Facebook post. ”Our grocery store cakes are good, but not Costco good.”


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Raindrops, reps and relief on first day of Illinois’ Phase 4 reopening (LIVE UPDATES)

Raindrops , reps and relief on first day of Illinois ’ Phase 4 reopening That ’ s all Elaine Sakellariou felt as she seated her first customers in three months Friday morning at George ’ s Gyros , 3445 S. Halsted St. “ It just brings back life to this place , ” said Sakellariou , who owns the restaurant her father opened more than 40 year ago .
She ’ d been able to get through the heart of the coronavirus pandemic with gift card sales and takeout orders from loyal customers , but Illinois ’ Phase 4 reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bridgeport joint — or any of the thousands of other restaurants across the state that are now allowed to seat customers inside at 25 % capacity .
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout and Mitch Dudek here .
5:40 p.m. Illinois loses another 39 to COVID-19 as state advances to next phase of reopening As the state moved into Phase 4 of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan — and a number of states see upticks in coronavirus cases — public health officials on Friday said another 39 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another 857 newly confirmed cases were also reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health .
In total , the state has seen 140,291 positive cases .
The preliminary seven-day positivity rate is at 3 % .
That ’ s a metric being used to monitor any major increases in cases .
Friday also marked the second day Illinois saw more than 30,000 test results .
The state has performed nearly 1.5 million tests since the pandemic began .
The additional deaths and infections are on par with numbers from Thursday , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the most on any day since June 6 , but still far short of the numbers reported during the peak month of May .
Read the full story by Tina Sfondeles here .
4:24 p.m. Coronavirus task force holds briefing — but not with Trump , not at White House WASHINGTON — There was no presidential appearance and no White House backdrop Friday when the government ’ s coronavirus task force briefed the public for the first since April — in keeping with an administration effort to show it ’ s paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not on a wartime footing that should keep the country from reopening the economy .
The briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services was held as the number of confirmed new coronavirus infections per day in the U.S. soared to an all-time high of 40,000 — higher even than during the deadliest stretch in April and May .
In light of the new surge , task force briefers chose their words carefully to update the public about COVID-19 , which has become both a public health and political issue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delicate line to walk .
He acknowledged a surge in new cases across the South and West , while backing the president ’ s desire to get the economy up and running without mentioning that it will also help the prospects for reelection .
Read the full story by The Associated Press here .
2:55 p.m. Florida ’ s new COVID-19 cases reported Friday more than double Illinois ’ highest single-day total While greatly expanded testing probably accounts for some of the increase , experts say other measures indicate the virus is making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the percentage of tests that are coming back positive have also have been rising over the past few weeks in parts of the country , mostly in the South and West .
On Friday , Florida ’ s health department reported a record 8,942 new infections identified over the course of 24 hours , according to the Tampa Bay Times .
That more than doubles Illinois ’ highest single-day case total of 4,014 reported by the state health department on May 12 .
Other states that set single-day case records this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas and Oklahoma .
In the past few weeks , the nation ’ s daily death toll has actually dropped markedly even as cases climbed , a phenomenon that may reflect the advent of treatments , better efforts to prevent infections at nursing homes , and a rising proportion of cases among younger adults , who are more likely than their elders to survive a bout with COVID-19 .
Meanwhile , Illinois has seen cases steadily decreasing and entered Phase 4 of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan Friday .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s current “ trajectory of success ” reverses , he ’ s not afraid to return to more restrictions .
“ I ’ m not afraid to protect the people of Illinois by moving a region back to an earlier phase if we see a surge , ” Pritzker said at a Chicago news conference .
“ Ours will not be one of the states that takes no action in response to a return to the peak.
” 2:05 p.m. University of Chicago to assist with COVID-19 vaccine study University of Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming government-funded study of an experimental vaccine for COVID-19 .
The vaccine research is being led locally by University of Illinois at Chicago , part of a nationwide 30,000-patient study .
In Chicago , researchers hope to test at least 1,000 people .
Dr. David Pitrak , chief of infectious diseases and global health at University of Chicago Department of Medicine , said the Hyde Park researchers will test about half of the people in the local study .
UIC previously said Hyde Park was one of the areas where it hopes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of the study is to recruit heavily in both African-American and Latino communities in Chicago as those populations have been disproportionately affected by the virus , said Dr. Richard Novak , who is heading the clinical trial at UIC .
Read the story by Brett Chase here for more .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott shut down bars in Texas again on Friday and scaled back restaurant dining , the most dramatic reversals yet as confirmed coronavirus cases surge .
Abbott also ordered rafting and tubing outfitters on Texas ’ popular rivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people or more must be approved by local governments .
The abrupt actions reflect how Texas is now scrambling to contain an outbreak less than two months after an aggressive reopening that was one of the fastest in the U.S. “ At this time , it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities , including Texans congregating in bars , ” Abbott said .
“ The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars might reopen again .
11:35 a.m. 16 NBA players test positive for coronavirus as season restart approaches The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association say 16 players tested positive for coronavirus in the first wave of mandatory tests done in preparation for the restart of the season .
Those 16 players were part of a pool of 302 tested on Tuesday .
Tests are continuing for all 22 teams that will be participating in the restart at the Disney campus near Orlando , Florida , next month .
The player names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Malcolm Brogdon of Indiana and Sacramento teammates Jabari Parker and Alex Len have publicly acknowledged they have recently positive .
That was a 5.3 % rate of positive tests leaguewide .
The league did not announce results of testing on staffers and other members of team travel parties , all of whom are also part of the mandatory testing program .
9:55 a.m .
Layoffs , tax hikes possible as Cook County braces for one-two punch of budget holes for this year and the next Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as county officials brace for a budget gap the COVID-19 crisis has stretched to nearly $ 281 million for the rest of the fiscal year and possibly as much as $ 409 million for next year .
That could mean new taxes , furloughs and layoffs .
Seventy positions have already been cut , and about 35 people laid off at the county ’ s health system over the past week , Andrea Gibson , Cook County Health ’ s interim chief business officer , said Thursday .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in almost a decade , so we ’ re going to be looking at holdbacks , we ’ re going to be looking at delaying purchases , renegotiating contracts with our vendors , a variety of strategies to meet the challenge that we face , ” Preckwinkle said .
How many workers will ultimately need to be laid off is still “ to be determined , ” the board president said .
County officials laid out their preliminary budgets for the rest of the 2020 fiscal year and projections for 2021 on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s pocketbook in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here .
8:12 a.m. Illinois ready to step forward into Phase 4 , but Pritzker unfazed about tugging it back if COVID-19 cases surge With all regions of the state set to advance to Phase 4 of reopening on Friday , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker vowed that while Illinois has seen a “ trajectory of success , ” he ’ s not afraid to return to more restrictions should COVID-19 cases see a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not afraid to protect the people of Illinois by moving a region back to an earlier phase if we see a surge , ” Pritzker said at a Chicago news conference .
“ Ours will not be one of the states that takes no action in response to a return to the peak.
” Asked whether that could mean reinstating a stay-at-home order , the governor said , “ I ’ m not afraid to move us backward to the things that we ’ ve done in the past.
” He also cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more space for hospital beds — as Texas has done — as another option for the state should cases go up .
Pritzker ’ s warning came as his public health department announced another 894 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41 additional deaths – more evidence of the state ’ s improving situation , although the daily case number is the highest in nearly three weeks .
Read the full story by Tina Sfondeles here .
• The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association say 16 players tested positive for coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in preparation for the restart of the season .
• U.S. officials believe as many as 20 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus , suggesting millions had the virus and never knew it , according to new CDC studies of blood samples collected nationwide .
• In Arizona , 23 percent of coronavirus tests conducted over the last seven days have been positive , nearly triple the national average , and a record 415 patients were on ventilators .
• Mississippi saw its daily count of new cases reach new highs twice this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reveals he has tested positive for coronavirus 8:40 a.m. ‘ I ’ ll have the Post-Pandemic Special please ’ What began as a practical necessity for travelers — the stagecoach stops for the night , the innkeeper carves off some mutton and draws a mug of ale — now has assumed magnified importance , ingrained in our lives .
Chicago , and Illinois , opening restaurants Friday for indoor dining should be a milestone in our civic recovery from COVID-19 .
V-E Day , Victory in Eating .
Instead it seems more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least to me .
Which is surprising .
You ’ d think Restaurant Boy would be in a sprinter ’ s crouch , napkin tied around my neck like a bib , knife and fork in each hand , waiting for the gun to spring out of the blocks .

The first day of Phase 4 of the reopening was greeted with excitement for many Chicagoans. Restaurants, health clubs, pools, bowling alleys, skating rinks and movie theaters all opened up again.
There was a slight bump in the numbers of deaths and infections, but are still on par with numbers from Thursday, when that day’s 894 new cases was the most on any day since June 6, but still far short of the numbers reported during the peak month of May.
Here’s what happened in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago and around the state.
News
8 p.m. Raindrops, reps and relief on first day of Illinois’ Phase 4 reopening
George’s Gyros owner Elaine Sakellariou (with mask) pictured with staff on Friday, the first day of Illinois’ Phase 4 reopening. | Mitchell Armentrout/Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout/Sun-Times
Relief.
That’s all Elaine Sakellariou felt as she seated her first customers in three months Friday morning at George’s Gyros, 3445 S. Halsted St.
“It just brings back life to this place,” said Sakellariou, who owns the restaurant her father opened more than 40 year ago.
She’d been able to get through the heart of the coronavirus pandemic with gift card sales and takeout orders from loyal customers, but Illinois’ Phase 4 reopening couldn’t come soon enough for the Bridgeport joint — or any of the thousands of other restaurants across the state that are now allowed to seat customers inside at 25% capacity.
“It’s a good thing I saved,” Sakellariou said.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout and Mitch Dudek here.
5:40 p.m. Illinois loses another 39 to COVID-19 as state advances to next phase of reopening
As the state moved into Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan — and a number of states see upticks in coronavirus cases — public health officials on Friday said another 39 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois.
Another 857 newly confirmed cases were also reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In total, the state has seen 140,291 positive cases. The preliminary seven-day positivity rate is at 3%. That’s a metric being used to monitor any major increases in cases.
Friday also marked the second day Illinois saw more than 30,000 test results. The state has performed nearly 1.5 million tests since the pandemic began.
The additional deaths and infections are on par with numbers from Thursday, when that day’s 894 new cases was the most on any day since June 6, but still far short of the numbers reported during the peak month of May.
Read the full story by Tina Sfondeles here.
4:24 p.m. Coronavirus task force holds briefing — but not with Trump, not at White House
WASHINGTON — There was no presidential appearance and no White House backdrop Friday when the government’s coronavirus task force briefed the public for the first since April — in keeping with an administration effort to show it’s paying attention to the latest spike in cases but not on a wartime footing that should keep the country from reopening the economy.
The briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services was held as the number of confirmed new coronavirus infections per day in the U.S. soared to an all-time high of 40,000 — higher even than during the deadliest stretch in April and May. In light of the new surge, task force briefers chose their words carefully to update the public about COVID-19, which has become both a public health and political issue.
Vice President Mike Pence had the most delicate line to walk. He acknowledged a surge in new cases across the South and West, while backing the president’s desire to get the economy up and running without mentioning that it will also help the prospects for reelection.
Read the full story by The Associated Press here.
2:55 p.m. Florida’s new COVID-19 cases reported Friday more than double Illinois’ highest single-day total
While greatly expanded testing probably accounts for some of the increase, experts say other measures indicate the virus is making a comeback. Daily deaths, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests that are coming back positive have also have been rising over the past few weeks in parts of the country, mostly in the South and West.
On Friday, Florida’s health department reported a record 8,942 new infections identified over the course of 24 hours, according to the Tampa Bay Times. That more than doubles Illinois’ highest single-day case total of 4,014 reported by the state health department on May 12.
Other states that set single-day case records this week include Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma.
In the past few weeks, the nation’s daily death toll has actually dropped markedly even as cases climbed, a phenomenon that may reflect the advent of treatments, better efforts to prevent infections at nursing homes, and a rising proportion of cases among younger adults, who are more likely than their elders to survive a bout with COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Illinois has seen cases steadily decreasing and entered Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan Friday. But Pritzker asserted Thursday that if the state’s current “trajectory of success” reverses, he’s not afraid to return to more restrictions.
“I’m not afraid to protect the people of Illinois by moving a region back to an earlier phase if we see a surge,” Pritzker said at a Chicago news conference. “Ours will not be one of the states that takes no action in response to a return to the peak.”
Read the full national report here.
2:05 p.m. University of Chicago to assist with COVID-19 vaccine study
University of Chicago researchers will help test people in an upcoming government-funded study of an experimental vaccine for COVID-19.
The vaccine research is being led locally by University of Illinois at Chicago, part of a nationwide 30,000-patient study. In Chicago, researchers hope to test at least 1,000 people.
Dr. David Pitrak, chief of infectious diseases and global health at University of Chicago Department of Medicine, said the Hyde Park researchers will test about half of the people in the local study.
UIC previously said Hyde Park was one of the areas where it hopes to draw volunteers for the research. A goal of the study is to recruit heavily in both African-American and Latino communities in Chicago as those populations have been disproportionately affected by the virus, said Dr. Richard Novak, who is heading the clinical trial at UIC.
Read the story by Brett Chase here for more.
1:16 p.m. Texas shuts down bars, tubing as coronavirus cases surge
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott shut down bars in Texas again on Friday and scaled back restaurant dining, the most dramatic reversals yet as confirmed coronavirus cases surge.
Abbott also ordered rafting and tubing outfitters on Texas’ popular rivers to close and said outdoor gatherings of 100 people or more must be approved by local governments. The abrupt actions reflect how Texas is now scrambling to contain an outbreak less than two months after an aggressive reopening that was one of the fastest in the U.S.
“At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said. “The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health.”
He did not say when bars might reopen again.
Read the full story here.
11:35 a.m. 16 NBA players test positive for coronavirus as season restart approaches
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association say 16 players tested positive for coronavirus in the first wave of mandatory tests done in preparation for the restart of the season.
Those 16 players were part of a pool of 302 tested on Tuesday. Tests are continuing for all 22 teams that will be participating in the restart at the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida, next month. The player names were not disclosed; some, such as Malcolm Brogdon of Indiana and Sacramento teammates Jabari Parker and Alex Len have publicly acknowledged they have recently positive.
That was a 5.3% rate of positive tests leaguewide. The league did not announce results of testing on staffers and other members of team travel parties, all of whom are also part of the mandatory testing program.
Read the full story here.
9:55 a.m. Layoffs, tax hikes possible as Cook County braces for one-two punch of budget holes for this year and the next
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday “everything is on the table” as county officials brace for a budget gap the COVID-19 crisis has stretched to nearly $281 million for the rest of the fiscal year and possibly as much as $409 million for next year.
That could mean new taxes, furloughs and layoffs. Seventy positions have already been cut, and about 35 people laid off at the county’s health system over the past week, Andrea Gibson, Cook County Health’s interim chief business officer, said Thursday.
“This is the largest budget gap we’ve seen in almost a decade, so we’re going to be looking at holdbacks, we’re going to be looking at delaying purchases, renegotiating contracts with our vendors, a variety of strategies to meet the challenge that we face,” Preckwinkle said.
How many workers will ultimately need to be laid off is still “to be determined,” the board president said.
County officials laid out their preliminary budgets for the rest of the 2020 fiscal year and projections for 2021 on Thursday, painting a grim fiscal picture for the county’s pocketbook in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here.
8:12 a.m. Illinois ready to step forward into Phase 4, but Pritzker unfazed about tugging it back if COVID-19 cases surge
With all regions of the state set to advance to Phase 4 of reopening on Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed that while Illinois has seen a “trajectory of success,” he’s not afraid to return to more restrictions should COVID-19 cases see a drastic uptick.
“I’m not afraid to protect the people of Illinois by moving a region back to an earlier phase if we see a surge,” Pritzker said at a Chicago news conference. “Ours will not be one of the states that takes no action in response to a return to the peak.”
Asked whether that could mean reinstating a stay-at-home order, the governor said, “I’m not afraid to move us backward to the things that we’ve done in the past.” He also cited once again prohibiting elective surgeries to make more space for hospital beds — as Texas has done — as another option for the state should cases go up.
Pritzker’s warning came as his public health department announced another 894 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41 additional deaths – more evidence of the state’s improving situation, although the daily case number is the highest in nearly three weeks.
Read the full story by Tina Sfondeles here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
8:40 a.m. ‘I’ll have the Post-Pandemic Special please’
What began as a practical necessity for travelers — the stagecoach stops for the night, the innkeeper carves off some mutton and draws a mug of ale — now has assumed magnified importance, ingrained in our lives.
Chicago, and Illinois, opening restaurants Friday for indoor dining should be a milestone in our civic recovery from COVID-19. V-E Day, Victory in Eating.
Instead it seems more like a dilemma, almost a trap.
At least to me. Which is surprising. You’d think Restaurant Boy would be in a sprinter’s crouch, napkin tied around my neck like a bib, knife and fork in each hand, waiting for the gun to spring out of the blocks.
But I’m not.
Read Neil Steinberg’s full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-26--Man shot by concealed-carry holder charged in Little Village shootout

A man is accused of firing shots at a concealed-carry holder who returned fire Wednesday in Little Village on the @ @ @ @ @ , 23 , was charged with seven felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm @ @ @ @ @ He allegedly approached a 24-year-old man about 9:15 p.m. in the yard of a home @ @ @ @ @ South Kedvale Avenue and unleashed gunfire , police said .
The 24-year-old , who is @ @ @ @ @ returned fire , striking Cornejo multiple times , police said .
Cornejo was taken to @ @ @ @ @ condition , police said .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ @ @ @

A man is accused of firing shots at a concealed-carry holder who returned fire Wednesday in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
Fernando Cornejo, 23, was charged with seven felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, Chicago police said.
He allegedly approached a 24-year-old man about 9:15 p.m. in the yard of a home in the 2400 block of South Kedvale Avenue and unleashed gunfire, police said.
The 24-year-old, who is a concealed-carry license holder, returned fire, striking Cornejo multiple times, police said.
Cornejo was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.