chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Latest coronavirus news for May 24, 2020: Live updates

Here ’ s what you can expect when you take a fitness class , get a haircut or go out to eat under Phase 3 of Pritzker ’ s reopening plan Gov .
J.B. Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers , manufacturers , barbershops , salons , health and fitness centers , and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “ Restore Illinois ” plan .
In addition to social distancing , wearing masks and hand-washing , Phase 3 of Pritzker ’ s plan includes some specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salons and day camps : • Youth sports activities are limited to drills , practices and lessons that involve no contact between kids and allow for six feet of social distancing to be maintained .
• Fitness classes are limited to one on one training , outdoor classes with a maximum of 10 participants and no contact between attendees .
• Personal care services , like those you get at hair salons , barbershops , nail salons , spas , massage parlors , waxing centers and tattoo parlors , can only be performed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing face masks .
• Massages and body treatments , like masks and scrubs , are limited to 30 minutes or less .
• Camps can only take place during the day ; overnight camps are not allowed .
• Restaurants and bars can be open for outdoor dining only and limited to parties of six people or fewer .
Read the full story for more on the Phase 3 guidelines here .
6:21 p.m .
Facing fines and threat of closure , churches continue to hold services : ‘ There is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two Chicago churches continued to hold services Sunday after city officials fined each of them last week for violating Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s current stay-at-home order by hosting more than 10 people and later ordered the houses of worship to stop holding gatherings or face more severe penalties .
Dr. Allison Arwady , the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health , sent letters Saturday to Metro Praise International Church in Belmont Cragin , Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Albany Park and Philadelphia Romanian Church in Ravenswood warning that future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ declared a public health nuisance ” and potentially closed .
While all three churches were fined $ 500 last week for holding services and are now subject to additional penalties , Metro Praise and Elis Romanian remained defiant and welcomed worshippers Sunday .
A statement on Philadelphia Romanian ’ s Facebook page said in-person services had been suspended until May 31 , though a choir , band and multiple speakers appeared in an online mass .
Cristian Ionescu , pastor of Elim Romanian , said he worries that the “ summary abatement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could lead to his church being demolished “ without due process.
” “ There is not going to be a stand down from our part .
It ’ s only the city that escalates , ” Ionescu told reporters after hosting upwards of 100 people in church Sunday .
“ When they threaten us with such extreme measures , what else is left ?
” Though Chicago ’ s municipal code allows discretion in determining what form of abatement is necessary , a spokesman for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process .
However , additional legal action could be taken “ to protect the health of our residents , ” he said .
4:30 p.m. We know how to help control COVID-19 ’ s spread once we leave home ; we just have to do it As Chicago and other big cities make plans for emerging from pandemic-induced cocooning , we face a simple decision : We can give up a measure of personal choice and get the coronavirus under control reasonably quickly .
Or we can refuse to make common-sense accommodations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Much of the developed world has chosen the first option .
The United States is quite capable of choosing the second .
Ed Zotti has spent the past few weeks speaking with business leaders , government officials , medical experts and technologists about what it ’ ll take to put the pandemic behind us .
Here are his six takeaways : • There ’ s no consensus on how to proceed .
But there ’ s strong interest in developing a coordinated approach .
• The federal government is never going to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution will have to be regional .
The private sector will be the major driver .
• Decision-makers are aware of what needs to be done , based on what has worked in Asia .
The five tools , as one business person put it , are social distancing , personal protective equipment , testing , taking temperatures and contact tracing .
• Of the five , the first four at best will reduce risk .
Contact tracing — tracking down and treating as many people as possible who ’ ve crossed paths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven way to end a pandemic short of the vaccine that we don ’ t yet have .
• Given how easily COVID-19 spreads , effective large-scale contact tracing will require technology .
Older solutions , such as the neighborhood-alert system used in South Korea , involve a risk of privacy loss .
That ’ s less of a problem with newer technology .
The sticking point is that participation has to be mandatory for contact tracing to work .
• Some will bitterly resist the compulsory aspect , even if it means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a building or ride a bus .
Getting buy-in will take a long , fraught public conversation .
We know what to do .
We just need to suck it up and do it , Zotti writes .
3:00 p.m. 67 more Illinois coronavirus deaths announced as state inches toward Phase 3 Another 67 Illinois residents have died of COVID-19 , state officials announced Sunday , increasing the state ’ s pandemic death toll to 4,856 .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also processed 25,674 new tests and identified 2,508 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case count — although many have recovered — to 110,304 .
That represents a 9.7 % statewide test positivity rate , lowering the state ’ s rolling seven-day positivity rate to 12 % .
The rate in the Northeast Region — which includes Cook County — was 15 % on Sunday .
The new numbers were disclosed shortly after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced new specific guidelines for businesses and activities planning to reopen when the state progresses to the third phase of the “ Restore Illinois ” plan in the coming days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pope here .
1:45 p.m. Chicago clergy on seeking God in the age of COVID : ‘ The church has left the building ’ As Chicago wrestles along with the rest of America about how best to reopen , clergy of diverse faiths across the city and suburbs say the reopening debate has turned a spotlight on the changing face of religion in the era of COVID-19 .
That new face , etched by forced technological pivots , will affect how America worships long after congregants return en masse to the church edifice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the church is not the building but people who gather in it , so this has been a challenge for the membership to grow up and now live the faith , ” said the Rev .
Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Auburn Gresham .
“ It has also pushed churches to think outside the box about how we are supporting members while being disconnected physically.
” That ’ s only the start of the challenges .
12:57 p.m .
Governor releases guidelines for more Illinois businesses to reopen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines Sunday for retailers , manufacturers , barbershops , salons , health and fitness centers , and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “ Restore Illinois ” plan .
In announcing the guidelines for the third of the state ’ s five-phase plan , Pritzker said his administration had consulted with over 200 people representing small businesses , major companies , local park districts , hospitals , elected officials and labor leaders , among others .
The governor stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
1 priority will continue to be the health and safety of Illinois residents and workers , and he urged Illinois residents to continue to take precautions .
“ You can ’ t build a strong economy if people aren ’ t comfortable being a part of it , ” Pritzker said , adding that wearing a mask “ is likely the most important thing we can do for our public health.
” “ I want to be very clear : The virus is still out there , and the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the new state budget lawmakers approved early Sunday morning includes more than $ 900 million to expand the state ’ s contact tracing efforts and $ 800 million in “ stability payments ” to nursing homes , federally qualified health care centers and others on the frontlines of treating people with COVID-19 .
“ This funding will help them keep their businesses running on the other side of this pandemic , ” Pritzker said .
The Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in the U.S. meant big crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about people disregarding the coronavirus social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans .
Sheriff ’ s deputies and beach patrols tried to make sure people kept their distance from others as they soaked up the rays on the sand and at parks and other recreation sites around the country .
In the Tampa area along Florida ’ s Gulf Coast , the crowds were so big that authorities took the extraordinary step of closing parking lots because they were full .
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beaches to ensure people didn ’ t get too close .
On the Sunday talk shows , Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force , said she was “ very concerned ” about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend .
“ We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical .
And if you can ’ t social distance and you ’ re outside , you must wear a mask , ” she said on ABC ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks , a vacation hot spot popular with Chicagoans , over the weekend .
One video showed a crammed pool where vacationers lounged close together without masks , St. Louis station KMOV-TV reported .
It started when a handful of organizations got together to discuss the effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on youth sports .
The small conversation quickly turned into 600-some groups .
Then it cruised past 1,000 on its way to 3,000 organizations and individuals signing on for the PLAY Sports Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports world to push for federal help with the coronavirus crisis .
“ The momentum keeps growing , ” said Terri Lakowski , the CEO of Active Policy Solutions , a lobbying firm that lists sports , health and youth development among its specialties .
“ There ’ s just this huge community out there of youth sports providers who are hurting and want to work together for a solution.
” The leaders of the coalition are trumpeting the importance of youth sports and sounding the alarm about the future of their organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fate of providers in low-income communities is of particular concern .
9:09 a.m. ICYMI : NBA says it ’ s talking with Disney about resuming season amid COVID-19 pandemic The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company on a single-site scenario for a resumption of play in Central Florida in late July , the clearest sign yet that the league believes the season can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The National Basketball Players Association is also part of the talks with Disney , the league said Saturday .
Games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World of Sports Complex , a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando .
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “ exploratory , ” and that the Disney site would be used for practices and housing as well .
“ Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all involved , and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place , ” Bass said .
LOUISVILLE , Ill. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in downstate Clay County on Friday ticked off the many ways he found Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s stay-at-home order had devolved into “ insanity ” and become “ completely devoid of anything approaching common sense.
” Clay County Judge Michael McHaney complained that recently legalized pot shops had been deemed essential over generations-old family businesses .
People had been led to believe they could avoid COVID-19 at Walmart but not at church .
And to top it off , McHaney complained that Pritzker ’ s family members had traveled between Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , contrary to Pritzker ’ s own stay-at-home order .
The judge said , “ when laws do not apply to those who make them , people are not being governed , they are being ruled.
” Read reporter Jon Seidel ’ s full story and transcript of the judge ’ s ruling .
• Another 67 Illinois residents have died of COVID-19 , state officials announced Sunday , increasing the state ’ s pandemic death toll to 4,856 .
• Saturday , a nother 75 people in Illinois died of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll to 4,790 .
• Basketball Hall of Famer , Knicks legend and Georgetown basketball coach Patrick Ewing has tested positive for COVID-19 .
• Hecky Powell , rib king and Evanston icon , has died at 71 after being exposed to the coronavirus .
• Chicago police announced Friday five more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of cases in the department to 538 .
7:10 a.m .
I have learned to wear a mask against the pandemic called racism We wear the mask that grins and lies , It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Paul Laurence Dunbar I was born in a pandemic , shaped in the waters of strife , separated from my mother ’ s life-yielding placenta , thrust into a world infected by hate .
I am black and male .
Born in the USA .
I wear the mask .
I can not leave home without it .
This is a matter of survival .
I have learned to wear the mask .
Not the one that fits over my nose and mouth snugly and held at my ears .
The mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am .
The mask that makes my male blackness less threatening , more palatable .
That projects a veiled image of me .
The pandemic called coronavirus is not my first dance .
It will not be my last .
I am well- acquainted with the pandemic that is racism .
With that unique strand of race-based hate in this land of the pilgrim ’ s pride , stricken since 1619 by the indelible curse called slavery .
A resistant virus , it was bathed more than 400 years ago in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stamps 21st century racism ’ s DNA .

The latest
Under Phase 3 of Pritzker’s reopening plan, restaurants and bars will be open for outdoor dining. Annie Costabile/Sun-Times
Gov. J.B. Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers, manufacturers, barbershops, salons, health and fitness centers, and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “Restore Illinois” plan.
In addition to social distancing, wearing masks and hand-washing, Phase 3 of Pritzker’s plan includes some specific guidelines for places like gyms, hair salons and day camps:
Youth sports activities are limited to drills, practices and lessons that involve no contact between kids and allow for six feet of social distancing to be maintained.
Fitness classes are limited to one on one training, outdoor classes with a maximum of 10 participants and no contact between attendees.
Personal care services, like those you get at hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, waxing centers and tattoo parlors, can only be performed while the customer and employee are both wearing face masks.
Massages and body treatments, like masks and scrubs, are limited to 30 minutes or less.
Camps can only take place during the day; overnight camps are not allowed.
Restaurants and bars can be open for outdoor dining only and limited to parties of six people or fewer.
Read the full story for more on the Phase 3 guidelines here.
News
6:21 p.m. Facing fines and threat of closure, churches continue to hold services: ‘There is not going to be a stand down’
Two Chicago churches continued to hold services Sunday after city officials fined each of them last week for violating Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s current stay-at-home order by hosting more than 10 people and later ordered the houses of worship to stop holding gatherings or face more severe penalties.
Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, sent letters Saturday to Metro Praise International Church in Belmont Cragin, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Albany Park and Philadelphia Romanian Church in Ravenswood warning that future violations could result in a church being “declared a public health nuisance” and potentially closed.
While all three churches were fined $500 last week for holding services and are now subject to additional penalties, Metro Praise and Elis Romanian remained defiant and welcomed worshippers Sunday. A statement on Philadelphia Romanian’s Facebook page said in-person services had been suspended until May 31, though a choir, band and multiple speakers appeared in an online mass.
Cristian Ionescu, pastor of Elim Romanian, said he worries that the “summary abatement” threatened in Arwady’s letter could lead to his church being demolished “without due process.”
“There is not going to be a stand down from our part. It’s only the city that escalates,” Ionescu told reporters after hosting upwards of 100 people in church Sunday. “When they threaten us with such extreme measures, what else is left?”
Though Chicago’s municipal code allows discretion in determining what form of abatement is necessary, a spokesman for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city doesn’t intend to demolish churches without due process. However, additional legal action could be taken “to protect the health of our residents,” he said.
Read the full story from Tom Schuba.
4:30 p.m. We know how to help control COVID-19’s spread once we leave home; we just have to do it
As Chicago and other big cities make plans for emerging from pandemic-induced cocooning, we face a simple decision: We can give up a measure of personal choice and get the coronavirus under control reasonably quickly. Or we can refuse to make common-sense accommodations and then face recurring outbreaks for years.
Much of the developed world has chosen the first option. The United States is quite capable of choosing the second.
Ed Zotti has spent the past few weeks speaking with business leaders, government officials, medical experts and technologists about what it’ll take to put the pandemic behind us. Here are his six takeaways:
There’s no consensus on how to proceed. But there’s strong interest in developing a coordinated approach.
The federal government is never going to come up with a national scheme. Any solution will have to be regional. The private sector will be the major driver.
Decision-makers are aware of what needs to be done, based on what has worked in Asia. The five tools, as one business person put it, are social distancing, personal protective equipment, testing, taking temperatures and contact tracing.
Of the five, the first four at best will reduce risk. Contact tracing — tracking down and treating as many people as possible who’ve crossed paths with someone infected — is the one proven way to end a pandemic short of the vaccine that we don’t yet have.
Given how easily COVID-19 spreads, effective large-scale contact tracing will require technology. Older solutions, such as the neighborhood-alert system used in South Korea, involve a risk of privacy loss. That’s less of a problem with newer technology. The sticking point is that participation has to be mandatory for contact tracing to work.
Some will bitterly resist the compulsory aspect, even if it means just using an ID card to enter a building or ride a bus. Getting buy-in will take a long, fraught public conversation.
We know what to do. We just need to suck it up and do it, Zotti writes.
Read his full column here.
3:00 p.m. 67 more Illinois coronavirus deaths announced as state inches toward Phase 3
Another 67 Illinois residents have died of COVID-19, state officials announced Sunday, increasing the state’s pandemic death toll to 4,856.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also processed 25,674 new tests and identified 2,508 new cases, bringing the state’s total case count — although many have recovered — to 110,304.
That represents a 9.7% statewide test positivity rate, lowering the state’s rolling seven-day positivity rate to 12%. The rate in the Northeast Region — which includes Cook County — was 15% on Sunday.
The new numbers were disclosed shortly after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new specific guidelines for businesses and activities planning to reopen when the state progresses to the third phase of the “Restore Illinois” plan in the coming days.
Read the full report from Ben Pope here.
1:45 p.m. Chicago clergy on seeking God in the age of COVID: ‘The church has left the building’
As Chicago wrestles along with the rest of America about how best to reopen, clergy of diverse faiths across the city and suburbs say the reopening debate has turned a spotlight on the changing face of religion in the era of COVID-19.
That new face, etched by forced technological pivots, will affect how America worships long after congregants return en masse to the church edifice.
“We’ve always taught that the church is not the building but people who gather in it, so this has been a challenge for the membership to grow up and now live the faith,” said the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Auburn Gresham. “It has also pushed churches to think outside the box about how we are supporting members while being disconnected physically.”
That’s only the start of the challenges.
Reporter Maudlyne Ihejirika has the full story.
12:57 p.m. Governor releases guidelines for more Illinois businesses to reopen in coming days
Gov. J.B. Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers, manufacturers, barbershops, salons, health and fitness centers, and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “Restore Illinois” plan.
In announcing the guidelines for the third of the state’s five-phase plan, Pritzker said his administration had consulted with over 200 people representing small businesses, major companies, local park districts, hospitals, elected officials and labor leaders, among others.
The governor stressed that as more businesses reopen, the No. 1 priority will continue to be the health and safety of Illinois residents and workers, and he urged Illinois residents to continue to take precautions.
“You can’t build a strong economy if people aren’t comfortable being a part of it,” Pritzker said, adding that wearing a mask “is likely the most important thing we can do for our public health.”
“I want to be very clear: The virus is still out there, and the vast majority of people are not immune.”
He noted that the new state budget lawmakers approved early Sunday morning includes more than $900 million to expand the state’s contact tracing efforts and $800 million in “stability payments” to nursing homes, federally qualified health care centers and others on the frontlines of treating people with COVID-19.
“This funding will help them keep their businesses running on the other side of this pandemic,” Pritzker said.
Read the full story here.
12:34 p.m. Memorial Day weekend draws crowds — and triggers warnings
The Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in the U.S. meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from experts Sunday about people disregarding the coronavirus social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans.
Sheriff’s deputies and beach patrols tried to make sure people kept their distance from others as they soaked up the rays on the sand and at parks and other recreation sites around the country.
In the Tampa area along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the crowds were so big that authorities took the extraordinary step of closing parking lots because they were full. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said about 300 deputies were patrolling the beaches to ensure people didn’t get too close.
On the Sunday talk shows, Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was “very concerned” about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend.
“We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask,” she said on ABC’s “This Week.”
In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, a vacation hot spot popular with Chicagoans, over the weekend. One video showed a crammed pool where vacationers lounged close together without masks, St. Louis station KMOV-TV reported.
No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks😳 #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u — Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020
Read the full story here.
10:53 a.m. Youth sports coalition seeks federal aid due to COVID-19
It started when a handful of organizations got together to discuss the effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on youth sports.
The small conversation quickly turned into 600-some groups. Then it cruised past 1,000 on its way to 3,000 organizations and individuals signing on for the PLAY Sports Coalition — a united effort by the youth sports world to push for federal help with the coronavirus crisis.
“The momentum keeps growing,” said Terri Lakowski, the CEO of Active Policy Solutions, a lobbying firm that lists sports, health and youth development among its specialties. “There’s just this huge community out there of youth sports providers who are hurting and want to work together for a solution.”
The leaders of the coalition are trumpeting the importance of youth sports and sounding the alarm about the future of their organizations in correspondence with legislators in Washington. The fate of providers in low-income communities is of particular concern.
Read the full story here.
9:09 a.m. ICYMI: NBA says it’s talking with Disney about resuming season amid COVID-19 pandemic
The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company on a single-site scenario for a resumption of play in Central Florida in late July, the clearest sign yet that the league believes the season can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Basketball Players Association is also part of the talks with Disney, the league said Saturday. Games would be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “exploratory,” and that the Disney site would be used for practices and housing as well.
“Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all involved, and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place,” Bass said.
Read the full report here.
7:10 a.m. Downstate judge blasts Pritzker’s stay-at-home-order: Full transcript
LOUISVILLE, Ill. — Point by point, the judge in downstate Clay County on Friday ticked off the many ways he found Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order had devolved into “insanity” and become “completely devoid of anything approaching common sense.”
Clay County Judge Michael McHaney complained that recently legalized pot shops had been deemed essential over generations-old family businesses. People had been led to believe they could avoid COVID-19 at Walmart but not at church.
And to top it off, McHaney complained that Pritzker’s family members had traveled between Illinois and Florida and Wisconsin during the coronavirus pandemic, contrary to Pritzker’s own stay-at-home order. The judge said, “when laws do not apply to those who make them, people are not being governed, they are being ruled.”
“Americans don’t get ruled,” McHaney said.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:10 a.m. I have learned to wear a mask against the pandemic called racism
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes — Paul Laurence Dunbar
I was born in a pandemic, shaped in the waters of strife, separated from my mother’s life-yielding placenta, thrust into a world infected by hate.
I am black and male. Born in the USA. I wear the mask. I cannot leave home without it. This is a matter of survival.
I have learned to wear the mask. Not the one that fits over my nose and mouth snugly and held at my ears. The mask that pretends that I am not who I am. The mask that makes my male blackness less threatening, more palatable. That projects a veiled image of me.
The pandemic called coronavirus is not my first dance. It will not be my last. I am well- acquainted with the pandemic that is racism. With that unique strand of race-based hate in this land of the pilgrim’s pride, stricken since 1619 by the indelible curse called slavery. A resistant virus, it was bathed more than 400 years ago in the ancestral African blood of the Middle Passage and stamps 21st century racism’s DNA.
Read John W. Fountain’s full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Here’s what you can expect when you take a fitness class, get a haircut or go out to eat under Phase

Here’s what you can expect when you take a fitness class, get a haircut or go out to eat under Phase 3 of Pritzker’s reopening plan

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers , manufacturers , barbershops , salons , health and fitness centers , and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “ Restore Illinois ” plan .
In addition to social distancing , wearing masks and hand-washing , Phase 3 of Pritzker ’ s plan includes some specific guidelines for places like gyms , hair salons and day camps : • Youth sports activities are limited to drills , practices and lessons that involve no contact between kids and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be maintained .
• Fitness classes are limited to one on one training , outdoor classes with a maximum of 10 participants and no contact between attendees .
• Personal care services , like those you get at hair salons , barbershops , nail salons , spas , massage parlors , waxing centers and tattoo parlors , can only be performed while the customer and employee are both wearing face masks .
• Massages and body treatments , like masks and scrubs , are limited to 30 minutes or less .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day ; overnight camps are not allowed .
• Restaurants and bars can be open for outdoor dining only and limited to parties of six people or fewer .
The governor stressed that as more businesses reopen , the top priority will continue to be the health and safety of Illinois residents and workers , and he urged Illinois residents to continue to take precautions .
Guidelines for Phase 3 as well as toolkits for businesses can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website .
The governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to return to work in Phase 3 .

Gov. J.B. Pritzker released guidelines Sunday for retailers, manufacturers, barbershops, salons, health and fitness centers, and other businesses that will be allowed to reopen in coming days as the state enters the next phase of its “Restore Illinois” plan.
In addition to social distancing, wearing masks and hand-washing, Phase 3 of Pritzker’s plan includes some specific guidelines for places like gyms, hair salons and day camps:
Youth sports activities are limited to drills, practices and lessons that involve no contact between kids and allow for six feet of social distancing to be maintained.
Fitness classes are limited to one on one training, outdoor classes with a maximum of 10 participants and no contact between attendees.
Personal care services, like those you get at hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, waxing centers and tattoo parlors, can only be performed while the customer and employee are both wearing face masks.
Massages and body treatments, like masks and scrubs, are limited to 30 minutes or less.
Camps can only take place during the day; overnight camps are not allowed.
Restaurants and bars can be open for outdoor dining only and limited to parties of six people or fewer.
The governor stressed that as more businesses reopen, the top priority will continue to be the health and safety of Illinois residents and workers, and he urged Illinois residents to continue to take precautions.
Guidelines for Phase 3 as well as toolkits for businesses can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website. The governor’s office estimates about 700,000 Illinois residents will be able to return to work in Phase 3.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Facing fines and threat of closure, churches continue to hold services: ‘There is not going to be a

Facing fines and threat of closure, churches continue to hold services: ‘There is not going to be a stand down’

Two Chicago churches continued to hold services Sunday after city officials fined each of them last week for violating Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s current stay-at-home order by hosting more than 10 people and later ordered the houses of worship to stop holding gatherings or face more severe penalties .
Dr. Allison Arwady , the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health , sent letters Saturday to Metro Praise International Church in Belmont Cragin , Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Albany Park and Philadelphia Romanian Church in Ravenswood warning that future violations could result in a church being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potentially closed .
While all three churches were fined $ 500 last week for holding services and are now subject to additional penalties , Metro Praise and Elim Romanian remained defiant and welcomed worshippers Sunday .
A statement on Philadelphia Romanian ’ s Facebook page said in-person services had been suspended until May 31 , though a choir , band and multiple speakers appeared in an online mass .
Cristian Ionescu , pastor of Elim Romanian , said he worries that the “ summary abatement ” threatened in Arwady ’ s letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ without due process.
” “ There is not going to be a stand down from our part .
It ’ s only the city that escalates , ” Ionescu told reporters after hosting upwards of 100 people in church Sunday .
“ When they threaten us with such extreme measures , what else is left ?
” Though Chicago ’ s municipal code allows discretion in determining what form of abatement is necessary , a spokesman for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city “ doesn ’ t intend to demolish churches without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the violations of the stay-at-home order.
” However , additional legal action could be taken “ to protect the health of our residents , ” he said .
The battle over whether to reopen churches escalated Friday when President Donald Trump deemed all places of worship “ essential ” and called on state leaders to allow services .
Pritzker later noted that Illinois would “ continue to operate on the basis of science and data , ” while Lightfoot slammed Trump ’ s remarks and said they fell in line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s made .
Joseph Wyrostek , pastor of Metro Praise , said he and other leaders are “ deeply upset that our governor and mayor would not concede that they have overstepped their bounds with our constitutional rights.
” Wyrostek ’ s church on Sunday invited philanthropist and businessman Willie Wilson , who has drawn Pritzker ’ s ire for publicly supporting pastors seeking to reopen and paid the fines for all three churches that were recently cited .
During the service , Wilson pledged to pay up to $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Illinois that face similar citations and gave Wysrostek a $ 5,000 check “ to pay whatever fines that he needs to pay.
” “ Yeah , give me a fine , ” goaded Wilson , who has donated millions of masks during the coronavirus crisis as he stages a long shot bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin .
“ I ’ d rather take mankind ’ s fine than take Jesus ’ fine.
” In the wake of Trump ’ s declaration , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ scaling up operations.
” Those recommendations were released just days after the CDC issued a report detailing how two symptomatic people spread COVID-19 at a series of church events in early March in Arkansas .
Thirty-five of the 92 attendees at the event were later diagnosed with coronavirus , and 26 related cases were identified during contact tracing efforts , the CDC said .
All told , four people died .
In addition to noting that Chicago ’ s COVID-19 fatalities include three faith leaders and “ many more congregants ” linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Arkansas .
Brian Gibson , a megachurch pastor with locations in Kentucky and Texas , claimed the CDC report is “ total propaganda ” after speaking Sunday at Elim Pentecostal .
“ It ’ s an agenda .
It ’ s governors who do not like our message , do not like our voice , ” said Gibson , who has started the Peaceably Gather movement to reopen houses of worship .
“ It ’ s not just about the freedom of religion , it ’ s about the freedom of speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposing viewpoint button.
” First Liberty Institute , a Texas-based nonprofit with ties to Trump that ’ s offering legal support to Gibson ’ s movement , has been characterized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an “ anti-LGBT and anti-choice group.
” Pressed on the fact that the report in question was issued by Trump ’ s administration , Gibson claimed “ the CDC has an agenda as well.
” “ That agenda , with the CDC , I believe it ’ s controlling the American people .
I believe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next election cycle .
”

Two Chicago churches continued to hold services Sunday after city officials fined each of them last week for violating Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s current stay-at-home order by hosting more than 10 people and later ordered the houses of worship to stop holding gatherings or face more severe penalties.
Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, sent letters Saturday to Metro Praise International Church in Belmont Cragin, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Albany Park and Philadelphia Romanian Church in Ravenswood warning that future violations could result in a church being “declared a public health nuisance” and potentially closed.
While all three churches were fined $500 last week for holding services and are now subject to additional penalties, Metro Praise and Elim Romanian remained defiant and welcomed worshippers Sunday. A statement on Philadelphia Romanian’s Facebook page said in-person services had been suspended until May 31, though a choir, band and multiple speakers appeared in an online mass.
Cristian Ionescu, pastor of Elim Romanian, said he worries that the “summary abatement” threatened in Arwady’s letter could lead to his church being demolished “without due process.”
Cristian Ionescu, senior pastor of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, speaks at a news conference with Pastor Brian Gibson of Peaceably Gather after a service on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
“There is not going to be a stand down from our part. It’s only the city that escalates,” Ionescu told reporters after hosting upwards of 100 people in church Sunday. “When they threaten us with such extreme measures, what else is left?”
Though Chicago’s municipal code allows discretion in determining what form of abatement is necessary, a spokesman for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city “doesn’t intend to demolish churches without due process or in any fashion in response to the violations of the stay-at-home order.” However, additional legal action could be taken “to protect the health of our residents,” he said.
The battle over whether to reopen churches escalated Friday when President Donald Trump deemed all places of worship “essential” and called on state leaders to allow services. Pritzker later noted that Illinois would “continue to operate on the basis of science and data,” while Lightfoot slammed Trump’s remarks and said they fell in line with other “dangerous and foolish” statements he’s made.
Joseph Wyrostek, pastor of Metro Praise, said he and other leaders are “deeply upset that our governor and mayor would not concede that they have overstepped their bounds with our constitutional rights.”
A member of Metro Praise International stands by the door of the church as a service take place on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Wyrostek’s church on Sunday invited philanthropist and businessman Willie Wilson, who has drawn Pritzker’s ire for publicly supporting pastors seeking to reopen and paid the fines for all three churches that were recently cited. During the service, Wilson pledged to pay up to $1 million to cover fines for all churches in Illinois that face similar citations and gave Wysrostek a $5,000 check “to pay whatever fines that he needs to pay.”
“Yeah, give me a fine,” goaded Wilson, who has donated millions of masks during the coronavirus crisis as he stages a long shot bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. “I’d rather take mankind’s fine than take Jesus’ fine.”
In the wake of Trump’s declaration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued new guidance for communities of faith that are “scaling up operations.” Those recommendations were released just days after the CDC issued a report detailing how two symptomatic people spread COVID-19 at a series of church events in early March in Arkansas.
Thirty-five of the 92 attendees at the event were later diagnosed with coronavirus, and 26 related cases were identified during contact tracing efforts, the CDC said. All told, four people died.
In addition to noting that Chicago’s COVID-19 fatalities include three faith leaders and “many more congregants” linked to outbreaks, Arwady referenced the transmissions in Arkansas. Brian Gibson, a megachurch pastor with locations in Kentucky and Texas, claimed the CDC report is “total propaganda” after speaking Sunday at Elim Pentecostal.
Pastor Brian Gibson, founder of Peaceably Gather, expresses his support for Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
“It’s an agenda. It’s governors who do not like our message, do not like our voice,” said Gibson, who has started the Peaceably Gather movement to reopen houses of worship. “It’s not just about the freedom of religion, it’s about the freedom of speech. They want a turn off our opposing viewpoint button.”
First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based nonprofit with ties to Trump that’s offering legal support to Gibson’s movement, has been characterized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an “anti-LGBT and anti-choice group.” Pressed on the fact that the report in question was issued by Trump’s administration, Gibson claimed “the CDC has an agenda as well.”
“That agenda, with the CDC, I believe it’s controlling the American people. I believe it’s keeping America quiet until the next election cycle.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Simeon’s Cameron James commits to Minnesota

The Public League ’ s top-ranked junior has joined the parade of local talent heading north .
Simeon lineman Cameron James became the latest area player to join Minnesota ’ s highly regarded recruiting class on Sunday when he announced his commitment on Twitter .
James is ranked 12th among Illinois juniors and 44th nationally among offensive tackles in the 247Sports.com composite rankings .
Minnesota ’ s 2021 class , which is ranked No .
8 nationally by Rivals , now includes six players in the 247Sports top 25 for the state : No .
2 Antioch quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mar ’ Keise Irving , No .
6 Naperville Central quarterback Sam Jackson , James , No .
17 Providence tight end Jameson Geers and No .
23 Antioch receiver Dino Kaliakmanis .
The local angle was less important to James than his impression of Gophers coach PJ Fleck and his staff .
What did James like ?
“ How they ’ ve communicated , how they actually cared , ” he said .
“ I like how they proved themselves to be somebody to look up to.
” Because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit Minnesota ’ s campus .
But he liked what he saw in a couple of virtual tours .
Minnesota is getting a player with exceptional mobility and athleticism , according to Simeon coach Dante Culbreath .
“ He was going to play tight end for us last year [ until another player left the program ] , ” Culbreath said .
Simeon has been known for producing exceptional linemen , and James “ ranks right up there with them all , ” Culbreath added .
“ He ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 6-8 , 285 [ or ] 290 pounds and he can do a back flip at that size.
” Because of his size , James always played above his age group in youth football .
That continued when he got to Simeon and was practicing against upperclassmen as a freshman .
“ It helped me get my anger up , ” James said .
He first realized he could play at the Power Five level about a year ago .
“ Summer going into my junior season , end of my sophomore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started developing my skills and started taking everything seriously , ” James said .

The Public League’s top-ranked junior has joined the parade of local talent heading north.
Simeon lineman Cameron James became the latest area player to join Minnesota’s highly regarded recruiting class on Sunday when he announced his commitment on Twitter.
James is ranked 12th among Illinois juniors and 44th nationally among offensive tackles in the 247Sports.com composite rankings.
Minnesota’s 2021 class, which is ranked No. 8 nationally by Rivals, now includes six players in the 247Sports top 25 for the state: No. 2 Antioch quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, No. 5 Hillcrest running back Mar’Keise Irving, No. 6 Naperville Central quarterback Sam Jackson, James, No. 17 Providence tight end Jameson Geers and No. 23 Antioch receiver Dino Kaliakmanis.
The local angle was less important to James than his impression of Gophers coach PJ Fleck and his staff.
What did James like?
“How they’ve communicated, how they actually cared,” he said. “I like how they proved themselves to be somebody to look up to.”
Because of the coronavirus lockdown, James wasn’t able to visit Minnesota’s campus. But he liked what he saw in a couple of virtual tours.
Minnesota is getting a player with exceptional mobility and athleticism, according to Simeon coach Dante Culbreath.
“He was going to play tight end for us last year [until another player left the program],” Culbreath said.
Simeon has been known for producing exceptional linemen, and James “ranks right up there with them all,” Culbreath added. “He’s going to be the one with all the intangibles — 6-8, 285 [or] 290 pounds and he can do a back flip at that size.”
#Respectmydecision Thanks to all the coaches that reached out to me💯💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/NywyNskuv8 — Cameron James (@Cameronjames87) May 24, 2020
Because of his size, James always played above his age group in youth football. That continued when he got to Simeon and was practicing against upperclassmen as a freshman.
“It helped me get my anger up,” James said.
He first realized he could play at the Power Five level about a year ago.
“Summer going into my junior season, end of my sophomore year — that’s when I started developing my skills and started taking everything seriously,” James said.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Cyclist dies days after being hit by vehicle in South Loop

A cyclist who was hit by a vehicle Wednesday in the South Loop died from his injuries Saturday .
Andrew @ @ @ @ @ about 7:25 a.m. Saturday , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ Gold Coast .
Peterson was biking east about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday when he was struck @ @ @ @ @ he crossed an intersection in the 600 block of West Taylor Street , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ said Peterson died of injuries related to the collision , according to the medical examiner @ @ @ @ @ death was ruled an accident .
The Volkswagen ’ s driver , a 27-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ to reduce his speed , police said .

A cyclist who was hit by a vehicle Wednesday in the South Loop died from his injuries Saturday.
Andrew Peterson, 37, died about 7:25 a.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in the Gold Coast.
Peterson was biking east about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a northbound Volkswagen as he crossed an intersection in the 600 block of West Taylor Street, Chicago police said.
An autopsy Sunday said Peterson died of injuries related to the collision, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled an accident.
The Volkswagen’s driver, a 27-year-old man, was cited for failing to reduce his speed, police said.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Dear Abby: Man puts family at risk by often forgetting to lock doors

DEAR ABBY : My husband has a bad habit of forgetting to lock up our house at night when he ’ s the last one to come to bed .
On nine occasions I have gone downstairs after he ’ s in bed or awakened in the morning to find our sliding patio door or a garage door unlocked .
I can not understand why this isn ’ t a priority for him .
If I ’ m the last one to come up for the night , I make sure each door is locked , lights are off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minute .
We live in a suburb , and while our neighborhood is relatively safe and quiet , I ’ m not naive .
I realize anything can happen anywhere .
We have two large dogs , but I have no idea how they ’ d react to an intruder .
Frankly , I don ’ t want to find out the hard way .
The most frustrating thing about this is , when I try to talk to him about it the next day , he blows it off and says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , or he makes a joke about it .
I ’ ve tried many different approaches , from being calm and sweet to solutions-focused : “ How can I help you remember ?
” Recently , likely because I ’ m 37 weeks pregnant with our second child , I lost it and chewed him out after I waddled out of bed to go downstairs and found our sliding door unlocked .
Needless to say , it didn ’ t work very well .
I ’ m at my wits ’ end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just the two of us , but now we ’ re about to have two kids under 2 , and I get furious thinking he could be putting all of us in danger .
He has taken no responsibility or steps toward fixing this .
I have now reached the conclusion that when I ’ m home , I must be the one who assumes the responsibility of ensuring our home is secure before we go to bed .
But what if I fall asleep early or if I have to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address this with him ?
— LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS DEAR LOSING : You have already addressed this with your husband .
That he is so careless about the safety of his wife and children is shocking .
He appears to be very immature .
Because he seems incapable of assuming any responsibility for locking up , you are going to have to do it .
There are high-tech ways to remotely lock doors from afar , and you should explore that option .
Also , for your own peace of mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other experienced dog person enter your home through the unlocked door while you and your husband are upstairs because , while the dogs might not attack a stranger , they might alert you to the presence of an intruder .
I suggest this because many years ago my very tame German shepherd did exactly that .
DEAR ABBY : Due to the coronavirus epidemic , handshaking is no longer being practiced .
I have never been a fan of handshaking anyway .
In the future , it may be acceptable to forgo handshaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to avoid it without seeming unfriendly or germophobic ?
— RESISTING IN MINNESOTA DEAR RESISTING : Try doing what I do .
I place both palms together in front of my chest as though praying , smile and greet the person .
No one has been offended by it , and it ’ s a common way people greet each other in India .
DEAR READERS : Along with the millions of Americans who are observing this Memorial Day , I add my prayer of thanks for those courageous men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country .
May they rest in peace .
— ABBY Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person , order “ How to Be Popular.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popularity Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My husband has a bad habit of forgetting to lock up our house at night when he’s the last one to come to bed. On nine occasions I have gone downstairs after he’s in bed or awakened in the morning to find our sliding patio door or a garage door unlocked.
I cannot understand why this isn’t a priority for him. If I’m the last one to come up for the night, I make sure each door is locked, lights are off, etc. It takes me less than a minute. We live in a suburb, and while our neighborhood is relatively safe and quiet, I’m not naive. I realize anything can happen anywhere.
We have two large dogs, but I have no idea how they’d react to an intruder. Frankly, I don’t want to find out the hard way. The most frustrating thing about this is, when I try to talk to him about it the next day, he blows it off and says our dogs would never let anyone get far, or he makes a joke about it. I’ve tried many different approaches, from being calm and sweet to solutions-focused: “How can I help you remember?”
Recently, likely because I’m 37 weeks pregnant with our second child, I lost it and chewed him out after I waddled out of bed to go downstairs and found our sliding door unlocked. Needless to say, it didn’t work very well.
I’m at my wits’ end. It was one thing when it was just the two of us, but now we’re about to have two kids under 2, and I get furious thinking he could be putting all of us in danger. He has taken no responsibility or steps toward fixing this.
I have now reached the conclusion that when I’m home, I must be the one who assumes the responsibility of ensuring our home is secure before we go to bed. But what if I fall asleep early or if I have to travel for work? Any ideas on how to address this with him? — LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS
DEAR LOSING: You have already addressed this with your husband. That he is so careless about the safety of his wife and children is shocking. He appears to be very immature.
Because he seems incapable of assuming any responsibility for locking up, you are going to have to do it. There are high-tech ways to remotely lock doors from afar, and you should explore that option.
Also, for your own peace of mind, have a professional dog trainer or other experienced dog person enter your home through the unlocked door while you and your husband are upstairs because, while the dogs might not attack a stranger, they might alert you to the presence of an intruder. I suggest this because many years ago my very tame German shepherd did exactly that.
DEAR ABBY: Due to the coronavirus epidemic, handshaking is no longer being practiced. I have never been a fan of handshaking anyway. In the future, it may be acceptable to forgo handshaking altogether. What will be the best way to avoid it without seeming unfriendly or germophobic? — RESISTING IN MINNESOTA
DEAR RESISTING: Try doing what I do. I place both palms together in front of my chest as though praying, smile and greet the person. No one has been offended by it, and it’s a common way people greet each other in India.
DEAR READERS: Along with the millions of Americans who are observing this Memorial Day, I add my prayer of thanks for those courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. May they rest in peace. — ABBY
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Fox delays Chicago-made series ‘neXt’ to avoid being ‘lost in the shuffle’

The creator of “ neXt , ” the sci-fi thriller series that wrapped up production earlier this year in Chicago , says Fox made the right call in moving its premiere to fall .
The series , which focuses on the emergence of a rogue artificial intelligence , will premiere sometime in September , according to showrunner Manny Coto .
“ neXt ” stars John Slattery ( “ Mad Men ” ) as the tech pioneer who created the titular A.I .
and Fernanda Andrade ( “ The Devil Inside ” ) as a federal agent who teams up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a wild ride , and it is a thriller that doesn ’ t let you go once it gets going , from the start to the end , ” Coto said .
The series was shot largely at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side and was scheduled to premiere in May before being pushed back to the fall .
Coto said the network made the move in order to better showcase and promote “ neXt ” without the distractions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a feeling that to just kind of throw it out in May , with all that ’ s happening , it would just get lost in the shuffle , ” Coto said .
“ And I think nobody wanted that to happen , honestly .
Now , there could be other reasons , but that ’ s what we talked about , and it feels like that ’ s the right choice.
” Coto credits the Chicago crew and production staff with making the show special and said he hopes to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neXt ” gets renewed for a second season .
“ They just did a fantastic job , ” he said .
“ It just gets better and better .
I ’ m anxious for people to see it .
I hope they like it .
I really am so proud of it.
” “ neXt ” will join Southern Gothic soap “ Filthy Rich ” as new series premiering on Fox this fall , in addition to new seasons of “ The Masked Singer , ” “ The Simpsons , ” “ Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Harts , ” “ MasterChef Junior ” and “ Family Guy , ” according to the network .

The creator of “neXt,” the sci-fi thriller series that wrapped up production earlier this year in Chicago, says Fox made the right call in moving its premiere to fall.
The series, which focuses on the emergence of a rogue artificial intelligence, will premiere sometime in September, according to showrunner Manny Coto.
“neXt” stars John Slattery (“Mad Men”) as the tech pioneer who created the titular A.I. and Fernanda Andrade (“The Devil Inside”) as a federal agent who teams up with him to try to contain the threat.
“It’s a wild ride, and it is a thriller that doesn’t let you go once it gets going, from the start to the end,” Coto said.
The series was shot largely at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side and was scheduled to premiere in May before being pushed back to the fall.
Coto said the network made the move in order to better showcase and promote “neXt” without the distractions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think there was a little bit of a feeling that to just kind of throw it out in May, with all that’s happening, it would just get lost in the shuffle,” Coto said. “And I think nobody wanted that to happen, honestly. Now, there could be other reasons, but that’s what we talked about, and it feels like that’s the right choice.”
Coto credits the Chicago crew and production staff with making the show special and said he hopes to bring production back to the city if “neXt” gets renewed for a second season.
“They just did a fantastic job,” he said. “It just gets better and better. I’m anxious for people to see it. I hope they like it. I really am so proud of it.”
“neXt” will join Southern Gothic soap “Filthy Rich” as new series premiering on Fox this fall, in addition to new seasons of “The Masked Singer,” “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Bless the Harts,” “MasterChef Junior” and “Family Guy,” according to the network.
“neXt” will air Monday nights on Fox.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Nonprofit landlord adds to holdings while keeping rents low

In these hyper-partisan days , it ’ s easy to draw lines in the sand .
One that gets drawn , especially in a time of suffering and people being unable to make ends meet , is this : Tenants are good , landlords are bad .
There are plenty of examples of abusive landlords without compassion or an ability to manage their property .
With evictions on hold because of the pandemic , the city ’ s Housing Department has been getting complaints about landlords who have illegally locked out tenants .
But landlords — the good ones — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own bills to pay .
Times can be hard for those with good intentions .
That includes nonprofit landlords who try to provide housing for groups most in need of it .
So it ’ s worth noting positive developments last week on the housing front , starting with two pieces of news involving the national group Preservation of Affordable Housing , which has been active in Chicago since 2009 and now has about 1,900 units in the city .
The Chicago Housing Authority last week approved subsidies that will help POAH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors in Rogers Park .
The group is acquiring Levy House at 1221 W. Sherwin Ave. from the Council for Jewish Elderly .
Many in the community were concerned that Levy House , close to Lake Michigan , would become market-rate housing .
Bill Eager , senior vice president for POAH ’ s Midwest region , said the sale was for $ 8.1 million .
He said keeping rents affordable wouldn ’ t be possible without the CHA ’ s involvement .
The agency has provided vouchers to subsidize rents for tenants who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan of up to $ 3 million .
Eager said the money will allow POAH to rehab the property .
Because of the subsidies , the owner collects more money , but tenants ’ out-of-pocket cost should be about the same , less in some cases , he said .
The CHA originally wanted to buy the building itself but had second thoughts , Eager said .
He called its funding decision “ exemplary , ” saying that without it , “ we wouldn ’ t be in this position.
” In another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources to allow it to proceed with renovations at the 91-year-old South Chicago YMCA , 3039 E. 91st St. , which includes 101 units for senior housing .
It was a hub of local life , but its recreational space has been closed since 2017 .
Along with the community group Claretian Associates , POAH acquired the property last year for $ 10.8 million during the YMCA ’ s divestiture of sites that include housing .
The project has qualified for a $ 1 million loan from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Department of Housing .
It also gets low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds , and it ’ s supported by federal Section 8 rental subsidies .
Such a patchwork of money is necessary to keep rents affordable .
With the funding , POAH and Claretian Associates can guarantee affordability for 40 years .
Eager said the planned $ 11 million in improvements include a transformation of the recreational space into a 40,000-square-foot community center for health screenings , employment and housing services , counseling , a gym and other activities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new offices for Claretian .
Eager said exterior work can start soon and apartment renovations should begin in 2021 , with the process incorporating safety concerns raised by the pandemic .
He said some tenants may have to be briefly relocated to a hospitality suite or to a hotel for a short-term stay .
He said he ’ s looking for financial help that would allow a reopening of the YMCA ’ s pool .
Canopy Architecture and the general contractor Skender are involved in the job .
There ’ s something else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the City Council approved Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s plan for $ 3 million in grants and low-interest loans for 40 affordable-housing projects that together account for 3,400 units .
The money can be used to cover lost rent or costs attributable to COVID-19 .
Ald .
Ray Lopez ( 15th ) called it a developer bailout , but it also stabilizes low-income housing that could fail in the economic crisis .
Eager said POAH ’ s rent collections are down 10 % to 15 % .
Even before evictions were halted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to talking with tenants in trouble and working out deferred payments when necessary , he said .
The city , he said , is trying to be flexible with its help for landlords committed to affordable housing .
“ They ’ re trying to keep people housed without hurting landlords who also have bills to pay , ” he said .
“ I really hope one of the things that comes out of this is the broad realization of the need for decent affordable housing .
”

In these hyper-partisan days, it’s easy to draw lines in the sand. One that gets drawn, especially in a time of suffering and people being unable to make ends meet, is this: Tenants are good, landlords are bad.
There are plenty of examples of abusive landlords without compassion or an ability to manage their property. With evictions on hold because of the pandemic, the city’s Housing Department has been getting complaints about landlords who have illegally locked out tenants.
But landlords — the good ones — have problems, too, starting with their own bills to pay. Times can be hard for those with good intentions. That includes nonprofit landlords who try to provide housing for groups most in need of it.
So it’s worth noting positive developments last week on the housing front, starting with two pieces of news involving the national group Preservation of Affordable Housing, which has been active in Chicago since 2009 and now has about 1,900 units in the city.
Chicago Enterprise bug Chicago Enterprise
The Chicago Housing Authority last week approved subsidies that will help POAH acquire and preserve 56 apartments for low-income seniors in Rogers Park. The group is acquiring Levy House at 1221 W. Sherwin Ave. from the Council for Jewish Elderly. Many in the community were concerned that Levy House, close to Lake Michigan, would become market-rate housing.
Bill Eager, senior vice president for POAH’s Midwest region, said the sale was for $8.1 million. He said keeping rents affordable wouldn’t be possible without the CHA’s involvement. The agency has provided vouchers to subsidize rents for tenants who are CHA-eligible, as well as a loan of up to $3 million.
Eager said the money will allow POAH to rehab the property. Because of the subsidies, the owner collects more money, but tenants’ out-of-pocket cost should be about the same, less in some cases, he said.
The CHA originally wanted to buy the building itself but had second thoughts, Eager said. He called its funding decision “exemplary,” saying that without it, “we wouldn’t be in this position.”
Levy House at 1221 W. Sherwin Ave. Preservation of Affordable Housing
In another deal, POAH has locked in funding sources to allow it to proceed with renovations at the 91-year-old South Chicago YMCA, 3039 E. 91st St., which includes 101 units for senior housing. It was a hub of local life, but its recreational space has been closed since 2017. Along with the community group Claretian Associates, POAH acquired the property last year for $10.8 million during the YMCA’s divestiture of sites that include housing.
The project has qualified for a $1 million loan from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and a $4.65 million loan from the Chicago Department of Housing. It also gets low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and it’s supported by federal Section 8 rental subsidies. Such a patchwork of money is necessary to keep rents affordable.
With the funding, POAH and Claretian Associates can guarantee affordability for 40 years. Eager said the planned $11 million in improvements include a transformation of the recreational space into a 40,000-square-foot community center for health screenings, employment and housing services, counseling, a gym and other activities. The center also will serve as the new offices for Claretian.
Eager said exterior work can start soon and apartment renovations should begin in 2021, with the process incorporating safety concerns raised by the pandemic. He said some tenants may have to be briefly relocated to a hospitality suite or to a hotel for a short-term stay. He said he’s looking for financial help that would allow a reopening of the YMCA’s pool. Canopy Architecture and the general contractor Skender are involved in the job.
Bill Eager Preservation of Affordable Housing
There’s something else on the housing beat. Last week, the City Council approved Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan for $3 million in grants and low-interest loans for 40 affordable-housing projects that together account for 3,400 units. The money can be used to cover lost rent or costs attributable to COVID-19. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) called it a developer bailout, but it also stabilizes low-income housing that could fail in the economic crisis.
Eager said POAH’s rent collections are down 10% to 15%. Even before evictions were halted, POAH agreed to stop them and committed to talking with tenants in trouble and working out deferred payments when necessary, he said.
The city, he said, is trying to be flexible with its help for landlords committed to affordable housing. “They’re trying to keep people housed without hurting landlords who also have bills to pay,” he said.
“I really hope one of the things that comes out of this is the broad realization of the need for decent affordable housing.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Woman hurt in Chatham crash, car fire

Woman hurt in Chatham crash, car fire

A woman was hospitalized after crashing a car Monday in Chatham on the South Side .
She was driving a @ @ @ @ @ a.m. in the 500 block of East 87th Street when the car hit a light @ @ @ @ @ Chicago police said .
The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital in good condition @ @ @ @

A woman was hospitalized after crashing a car Monday in Chatham on the South Side.
She was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu about 1:45 a.m. in the 500 block of East 87th Street when the car hit a light pole and caught fire, Chicago police said.
The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital in good condition, police said.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Man arrested after attempted ATM burglary at Loop bank

A 19-year-old man is in custody after allegedly trying to break into an ATM Monday in the Loop .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ at a bank just before 1 a.m. in the first block of North Dearborn Street @ @ @ @ @ , Chicago police said .
He had tried using tools to break into the ATM @ @ @ @ @ how he got into the bank , police said .
Read more on crime , @ @ @ @ @ s homicides .

A 19-year-old man is in custody after allegedly trying to break into an ATM Monday in the Loop.
Officers responded to a burglar alarm at a bank just before 1 a.m. in the first block of North Dearborn Street and found the man inside, Chicago police said. He had tried using tools to break into the ATM.
It’s unknown how he got into the bank, police said.
Area Three detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Man found dead in Lawndale fire

Man found dead in Lawndale fire

A man was found dead in a burning home Monday in Lawndale on the West Side .
The 35-year-old was @ @ @ @ @ about 12:37 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Fillmore , Chicago police said .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s office identified him as Vernell Maurice Cleveland .
He lived in Lawndale .
@ @ @ @ @ home were able to escape the blaze uninjured , police said .
The cause of @ @ @ @ @ .

A man was found dead in a burning home Monday in Lawndale on the West Side.
The 35-year-old was found dead in the basement about 12:37 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Fillmore, Chicago police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Vernell Maurice Cleveland. He lived in Lawndale.
Five other people in the home were able to escape the blaze uninjured, police said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Chicago Fire Department is investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Man missing since March from West Rogers Park

Police are looking for a man who has been missing since March from West Rogers Park on the North Side @ @ @ @ @ , was last seen March 7 and is missing from the 2200 block of West @ @ @ @ @ a missing person alert from Chicago police .
Penn is a 5-foot-10 , 185-pound man @ @ @ @ @ eyes , police said He has a tattoo of a compass on his back .
@ @ @ @ @ black 2009 Nissan Altima with a red interior and a license plate of HBJ59 , @ @ @ @ @ information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8266 .

Police are looking for a man who has been missing since March from West Rogers Park on the North Side.
Matthew Penn, 62, was last seen March 7 and is missing from the 2200 block of West Rosemont Avenue, according to a missing person alert from Chicago police.
Penn is a 5-foot-10, 185-pound man with brown hair and hazel eyes, police said He has a tattoo of a compass on his back.
He may be driving a black 2009 Nissan Altima with a red interior and a license plate of HBJ59, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8266.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--2 Chicago cops hurt dispersing crowd in Englewood

Two Chicago police officers were injured while trying to disperse a crowd Sunday in Englewood on the South Side .
@ @ @ @ @ gathering about 9:42 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ a male holding a gun , and a chase ensued .
He was taken into @ @ @ @ @ .
Shots were fired in the area , and a second male was taken into @ @ @ @ @ No one was hit by gunfire and a gun was recovered .
During the incident @ @ @ @ @ injuries and were taken to hospitals in good condition , police said .
Three more @ @ @ @ @ for disorderly conduct , police said .
Area One detectives are investigating .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s homicides .

Two Chicago police officers were injured while trying to disperse a crowd Sunday in Englewood on the South Side.
They were responding to the gathering about 9:42 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue, Chicago police said. One officer noticed a male holding a gun, and a chase ensued. He was taken into custody a short time later.
Shots were fired in the area, and a second male was taken into custody, police said. No one was hit by gunfire and a gun was recovered.
During the incident, two officers suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospitals in good condition, police said.
Three more people were taken into custody for disorderly conduct, police said. Area One detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-24--Minooka man charged with grabbing WGN reporter

A man who allegedly grabbed a WGN reporter during a live broadcast Saturday evening is now facing charges .
Eric @ @ @ @ @ charged with battery and disorderly conduct , Shorewood police said .
About 10 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ the area of Seil Road and River Road , Farina grabbed her by the shoulders @ @ @ @ @ and disturbing statement , ” police said .
Farina was arrested at his home in @ @ @ @ @ said .
He allegedly confessed to the crime and was released on $ 2,500 recognizance @ @

A man who allegedly grabbed a WGN reporter during a live broadcast Saturday evening is now facing charges.
Eric Farina, 20, was charged with battery and disorderly conduct, Shorewood police said.
About 10 p.m., as the reporter broadcast from the area of Seil Road and River Road, Farina grabbed her by the shoulders and shouted a “profane and disturbing statement,” police said.
Farina was arrested at his home in Minooka early Sunday, police said. He allegedly confessed to the crime and was released on $2,500 recognizance bond.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--On Memorial Day, Rep. Lauren Underwood visits graves at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

At 6 a.m. on Monday , Memorial Day , the day the nation remembers military members who died while serving our country , Rep. Lauren Underwood , D-Ill. , left her Naperville apartment to drive south , some 40 miles , to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood .
Memorial Day is the first federal holiday we observed while struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and for many , the traditions we used to do on this day can ’ t be done anymore , at least for now .
In 2019 , Underwood — who represents the sprawling 14th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west , north and south of Chicago — spoke at Memorial Day gatherings in Woodstock and Wauconda .
Group observances are off the table in 2020 .
Underwood , a member of the House Committee on Veterans ’ Affairs , came up with another way to mark Memorial Day and honor the sacrifice of service members .
Her office asked 14th District residents to let them know if they could not make it to a cemetery because of any COVID-19 related reason .
Underwood or her staff would stand in and pay their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Underwood visited 12 graves of people at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Monday , and then headed to Mt .
Calvary Cemetery in Kankakee to stop by one more .
The names of the deceased were “ submitted by residents of the 14th who were either essential workers or at high risk , or even sick themselves , ” Underwood told me .
Usually thousands of members of the public are at the Lincoln cemetery to attend a wreath-laying ceremony .
Underwood said this year , in order to keep everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was closed to the public .
At each gravesite , a masked Underwood left a red rose or either a carnation or a baby ’ s breath .
She purchased the flowers on Saturday , at the Jewel in Oswego .
She stuck a U.S. flag in the ground and said a prayer for healing , asking , she told me , for blessings for the impacted families who could not make the visit themselves , and for them to find “ comfort ... and give them strength.
” Pulling off the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties , Underwood also participated in a Memorial Day event in Aurora via Zoom , which has become the crucial group communication app during these pandemic months .
Underwood said she offered her gratitude and thanks “ particularly to the Gold Star families — how much we are grateful to them for their sacrifice.
” Except for trips back to Washington , Underwood spends her COVID-19 days alone in her apartment , leaving about once a week for groceries and for a short visit to her parents .
Her mother , in Underwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about coronavirus spread , that she follows her around when she visits with a can of Lysol .
Being by herself so much means , Underwood said , “ I look forward to every video conference meeting that I have because I miss interacting with other people.
” The days sort of melt together , said Underwood .
Memorial Day — the holiday kicking off the start of summer , usually also marked by festive cookouts and travel — was “ a little bit odd because it feels like almost any other day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an important day , ” said Underwood .
Underwood is on a VA panel that oversees the national cemeteries .
Memorial Day is a good time for an update on a change of status of a historic — and little noticed — military cemetery in Lake County , between Highwood and Lake Forest .
Last December , the Department of the Army transferred Fort Sheridan to the Veterans Affairs Administration , making it a National Cemetery .
The cemetery , opened in 1889 , was maintained by the Army after Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1887 , closed in 1993 .
Civil War vets and German POWs from World War II are among those buried at Fort Sheridan .
Most of the old , architecturally stunning Fort Sheridan officers ’ quarters were converted to private homes .
Portions of Fort Sheridan ’ s remaining open lands have walking paths with dazzling views of Lake Michigan and lakefront access , all overseen by the Lake County Forest Preserves and open to the public .

At 6 a.m. Monday, Memorial Day, the day the nation remembers military members who died while serving our country, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., left her Naperville apartment to drive south, some 40 miles, to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
Memorial Day was the first federal holiday we observed while struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, and for many, the traditions we used to do on this day couldn’t be done.
In 2019, Underwood — who represents the sprawling 14th Congressional District, suburban and exurban turf west, north and south of Chicago — spoke at Memorial Day gatherings in Woodstock and Wauconda. Group observances are off the table in 2020.
Underwood, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, came up with another way to mark Memorial Day and honor the sacrifice of service members.
Her office asked 14th District residents to let them know if they could not make it to a cemetery because of any COVID-19 related reason.
Underwood or her staff would stand in and pay their respects for them.
That’s why Underwood visited 12 graves of people at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, then headed to Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kankakee to stop by one more.
The names of the deceased were “submitted by residents of the 14th who were either essential workers or at high risk, or even sick themselves,” Underwood told me.
Usually thousands of members of the public are at the Lincoln cemetery to attend a wreath-laying ceremony. Underwood said this year, in order to keep everyone safe, the ceremony took place but was closed to the public.
At each gravesite, a masked Underwood left a red rose or either a carnation or a baby’s breath. She purchased the flowers Saturday at the Jewel in Oswego.
She stuck a U.S. flag in the ground and said a prayer for healing, asking, she told me, for blessings for the impacted families who could not make the visit themselves, and for them to find “comfort ... and give them strength.”
Pulling off the road near the border of Kankakee and Will counties, Underwood also participated in a Memorial Day event in Aurora via Zoom, which has become the crucial group communication app during these pandemic months.
Underwood said she offered her gratitude and thanks “particularly to the Gold Star families — how much we are grateful to them for their sacrifice.”
Except for trips back to Washington, Underwood spends her COVID-19 days alone in her apartment, leaving about once a week for groceries and for a short visit to her parents. Her mother, in Underwood’s telling, is so strict about coronavirus spread that she follows her around when she visits with a can of Lysol.
Being by herself so much means, Underwood said, “I look forward to every video conference meeting that I have because I miss interacting with other people.”
The days sort of melt together, said Underwood.
Memorial Day — the holiday kicking off the start of summer, usually also marked by festive cookouts and travel — was “a little bit odd because it feels like almost any other day during COVID-19, except we know it’s an important day,” Underwood said.
Underwood is on a VA panel that oversees the national cemeteries.
Memorial Day Fort Sheridan update
Memorial Day is a good time for an update on a change of status of a historic — and little noticed — military cemetery in Lake County, between Highwood and Lake Forest.
Last December, the Department of the Army transferred Fort Sheridan to the Veterans Affairs Administration, making it a National Cemetery.
The cemetery, opened in 1889, was maintained by the Army after Fort Sheridan, an Army post starting in 1887, closed in 1993.
Civil War vets and German POWs from World War II are among those buried at Fort Sheridan.
Most of the old, architecturally stunning Fort Sheridan officers’ quarters were converted to private homes. Portions of Fort Sheridan’s remaining open lands have walking paths with dazzling views of Lake Michigan and lakefront access, all overseen by the Lake County Forest Preserves and open to the public.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Reopen Illinois protesters rally again, days before Pritzker’s next reopening phase

Just days before businesses in Illinois will incrementally begin reopening , hundreds of protesters gathered in Grant Park on Memorial Day to hear speakers rail against the statewide stay-at-home order that has brought the economy to a screeching halt in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 .
Some demonstrators hoisted signs that promoted conspiracy theories and many chose not to wear face coverings , flouting measures recommended by health experts to contain the deadly disease as they pressed closely together to hear the speakers yell into a megaphone .
The rally , which overshadowed a similar event outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately shut down by Chicago police officers enforcing Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s order .
For hours , the crowd was whipped into a frenzy by a cast of Republican firebrands that included Darren Bailey , a state representative from downstate Xenia who ’ s locked in a court battle over Pritzker ’ s order ; and Stephen Moore , a writer and television pundit who advised President Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential bid .
Bailey , who was ejected from the Illinois House last week for refusing to wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s loudest critic of Pritzker ’ s order .
He had a simple message that was met with rousing applause : “ Enough is enough.
” Like other speakers at the rally , Bailey took shots at Chicago and its Democratic leaders from a makeshift bully pulpit adjacent to Buckingham Fountain .
“ I love Chicago .
It ’ s part of Illinois .
But sometimes , when you raise a wayward child , you have to discipline that child , ” Bailey said .
“ You say , ‘ No more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore , who was nominated by Trump to serve as governor of the Federal Reserve after co-authoring a book touting the president ’ s economic policies , took it a step further and called for recalls of both Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot , likening them to “ the virus.
” “ They are destroying our city and they are destroying our state , ” said Moore , a native of the affluent North Shore , who decried emergency government spending that addresses the toll of the public health crisis .
After hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end to the event .
“ While we worked to ensure the First Amendment rights of those participating in today ’ s march , the organizers and participants were not practicing social distancing or abiding by the public safety guidelines outlined in the stay-at-home order , ” police said in a statement .
“ Therefore , for the health and safety of the residents involved in the rally , the Chicago Police Department issued a dispersal of the crowd and ordered the organizers to shut down the event.
” Once that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began directing their vitriol toward the officers tasked with enforcing the very rules they were protesting .
“ Hell no , we won ’ t go , ” much of the crowd shouted at the officers before ultimately taking off without incident .
No arrests were made and no citations were issued , police said .
Most “ non-essential ” businesses will resume limited operations with precautions in place when the stay-at-home order expires Friday .

Just days before businesses in Illinois will incrementally begin reopening, hundreds of protesters gathered in Grant Park on Memorial Day to hear speakers rail against the statewide stay-at-home order that has brought the economy to a screeching halt in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Some demonstrators hoisted signs that promoted conspiracy theories and many chose not to wear face coverings, flouting measures recommended by health experts to contain the deadly disease as they pressed closely together to hear the speakers yell into a megaphone.
The rally, which overshadowed a similar event outside the Thompson Center on Monday, was ultimately shut down by Chicago police officers enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, shakes hands and speaks to supporters at a Reopen Illinois rally at Buckingham Fountain on Monday. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
For hours, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy by a cast of Republican firebrands that included Darren Bailey, a state representative from downstate Xenia who’s locked in a court battle over Pritzker’s order; and Stephen Moore, a writer and television pundit who advised President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential bid.
Bailey, who was ejected from the Illinois House last week for refusing to wear a mask, has emerged as the Legislature’s loudest critic of Pritzker’s order.
He had a simple message that was met with rousing applause: “Enough is enough.” Like other speakers at the rally, Bailey took shots at Chicago and its Democratic leaders from a makeshift bully pulpit adjacent to Buckingham Fountain.
“I love Chicago. It’s part of Illinois. But sometimes, when you raise a wayward child, you have to discipline that child,” Bailey said. “You say, ‘No more, and not from us.’ ”
Moore, who was nominated by Trump to serve as governor of the Federal Reserve after co-authoring a book touting the president’s economic policies, took it a step further and called for recalls of both Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, likening them to “the virus.”
“They are destroying our city and they are destroying our state,” said Moore, a native of the affluent North Shore, who decried emergency government spending that addresses the toll of the public health crisis.
Chicago police bicycle officers create a barricade with their bikes near Buckingham Fountain during a Reopen Illinois rally on Monday. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
After hours of incendiary commentary, Chicago police put an end to the event.
“While we worked to ensure the First Amendment rights of those participating in today’s march, the organizers and participants were not practicing social distancing or abiding by the public safety guidelines outlined in the stay-at-home order,” police said in a statement. “Therefore, for the health and safety of the residents involved in the rally, the Chicago Police Department issued a dispersal of the crowd and ordered the organizers to shut down the event.”
Once that was made clear to the crowd, they began directing their vitriol toward the officers tasked with enforcing the very rules they were protesting.
“Hell no, we won’t go,” much of the crowd shouted at the officers before ultimately taking off without incident.
No arrests were made and no citations were issued, police said.
Most “non-essential” businesses will resume limited operations with precautions in place when the stay-at-home order expires Friday.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-25--Chicago cop struck by car during Woodlawn traffic stop

A Chicago police officer was hurt after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop Monday in Woodlawn on @ @ @ @ @ female officer tried to grab documentation from a female driver about 2:20 p.m. in the @ @ @ @ @ Avenue when the driver sped off and struck the officer , Chicago police said .
@ @ @ @ @ hospital in good condition with non-life threatening injuries , police said .
No arrests have @ @ @

A Chicago police officer was hurt after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop Monday in Woodlawn on the South Side.
The female officer tried to grab documentation from a female driver about 2:20 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Vernon Avenue when the driver sped off and struck the officer, Chicago police said.
She was taken to a hospital in good condition with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
No arrests have been reported.