chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--Public health officials announce COVID-19 claimed 192 more lives, spread to 10,959 people (LIVE UPDA

Public health officials announce COVID-19 claimed 192 more lives, spread to 10,959 people (LIVE UPDATES)

Illinois enters deadliest stretch of coronavirus pandemic so far with 192 more fatalities Illinois has fallen into its deadliest stretch of the coronavirus pandemic so far as public health officials on Thursday announced COVID-19 has claimed 192 more lives while spreading to another 10,959 people .
The latest daily death toll is second only to the all-time high 238 coronavirus deaths reported Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health .
While the figures from both Wednesday and Thursday included deaths delayed in reporting from the long Thanksgiving weekend , the state has averaged 124 deaths a day since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretch of the first coronavirus wave in the spring , during which the state was losing an average of 117 residents to COVID-19 every day .
More than 3,000 Illinois deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus in the last month alone , almost double the state ’ s death toll over the entire summer .
5:16 p.m .
Wedding reception at north suburban hotel under investigation for possible violations of COVID-19 rules A north suburban hotel apologized Thursday after it hosted a wedding reception that triggered a Cook County health department investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last evening , the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook hosted a family wedding with approximately 150 people in attendance .
While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state ’ s latest mitigation measures , we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests , employees , and the Chicagoland community , ” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the hospitality industry and our family-owned business .
However , our hope to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not outweigh health and safety.
” Allgauer-Cir said the hotel will follow health officials ’ recommendations on contact tracing and testing .
The Cook County Department of Public Health has requested the guest list for the reception , spokesman Don Bolger said .
4:40 p.m. CPS will reopen next month even if only a fraction of students opt in — and most teachers will be required to return , CEO says Chicago Public Schools will reopen in January even if only a small fraction of students opt to return to classrooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she warned that teachers without pre-existing conditions who simply “ don ’ t show up ” to school buildings will be fired .
What ’ s more , schools officials are so convinced that reopening schools is safe , they ’ re now working on a plan to bring back at least some high schools during the second semester , Jackson said in an interview with the Sun-Times .
The district had expected to keep older students home while elementary schools return Feb. 1 and special education programs come back next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wants an in-person option .
There is no threshold that we have to meet , ” Jackson said , adding : “ If 15 % of the kids ... decide that they ’ re gon na return at any given school , we will educate that 15 % in-person .
“ We believe that number will gradually grow over time as people become more confident in our plan.
” SACRAMENTO , Calif. — California will likely order most of its businesses to close or limit capacity in the coming days , Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new rules triggered when fewer than 15 % of beds are available in intensive care units for regional hospital networks .
Newsom said four of the state ’ s five regions — excluding the San Francisco Bay Area — will meet that threshold within a day or two .
When they do , the state will order the closure of all hair salons and barbershops , bars , breweries and distilleries , casinos and indoor and outdoor playgrounds.
, Restaurants would be limited to take-out and delivery only , while retailers must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % capacity during the busy holiday shopping season .
Once triggered , regions would have 48 hours to implement the rules , which must stay in effect at least three weeks .
“ The bottom line is if we don ’ t act now our hospital system will be overwhelmed , ” Newsom said .
No magic trick will solve the dire cash shortage of one of the city ’ s last magic shops .
Magic Inc. has been around for nearly 100 years and is known internationally as a mecca for accomplished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of Magic , 1838 W. Lawrence Ave. , hope an online fundraising drive will save the business .
“ We have to re-up with our landlord and , how shall I say delicately , they ’ re not playing ball , ” said Sandy Marshall , who owns the shop .
“ We kind of hope we can stay there , but time will tell.
” Marshall began an online fundraising drive over the weekend seeking $ 50,000 .
As of Thursday morning , donations totaled $ 9,313 .
Marshall , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the store ’ s previous location at 5082 N. Lincoln Ave. , said the magic shop is beloved for a number of reasons .
2:53 p.m. 1 more employee at chief judge ’ s office , juvenile detention center resident test positive for COVID-19 Another employee in the Cook County chief judge ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 , along with one more resident at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center .
The employee is an adult probation officer who works at the juvenile center , Mary Wisniewski , spokeswoman for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The juvenile was recently admitted to the detention center .
The judge ’ s office has informed anyone who may have come into contact with the people who recently tested positive , Wisniewski said .
1:16 p.m. What parts of pandemic broadcasting might remain post-pandemic ?
If sports television networks have learned anything from broadcasting during a pandemic , it ’ s that nothing is impossible .
Need to call a hockey game played in Edmonton from studios in the States ?
It can be done .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even need to be in the same state .
Need to call a baseball game in Pittsburgh from a ballpark in Chicago ?
Viewers couldn ’ t tell much of a difference , if at all .
Networks discovered they weren ’ t tethered to the stadium or production truck to produce a game .
Many jobs that were carried out on site were done elsewhere .
“ It ’ s actually a lot less onerous than we realized to do things via remote , ” said Mike McCarthy , Marquee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We probably identified 12 key television positions , whether it ’ s within the studio or live , that could be done from home .
We had graphics being produced by someone in their home and airing through our studio .
If you had told me last year we were going to try that , I would say that ’ s crazy.
” 1:13 p.m .
Number of Americans hospitalized exceeded 100,000 , over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day The U.S. recorded over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the number of Americans hospitalized with the virus has eclipsed 100,000 for the first time and new cases are topping 200,000 a day , according to figures released Thursday .
The three benchmarks altogether showed a country slipping deeper into crisis , with perhaps the worst yet to come , in part because of the delayed effects from Thanksgiving , when millions of Americans disregarded warnings to stay home and celebrate only with members of their household .
Across the U.S. , the surge has swamped hospitals with patients and left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and burned out .
“ The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times .
I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation , ” Dr. Robert Redfield , head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said Wednesday .
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman has always considered himself an optimist .
But even the purest of optimists sound a tad weary of this pandemic-riddled year .
“ I ’ m doing… good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as enthusiasm as he can muster during a recent interviews .
“ I mean , I miss traveling , especially internationally .
[ Pauses ] I try my best to think about the benefits of this time rather than what I am missing.
” One of those benefits is his “ Comfort & Joy at Home 2020 ” virtual tour , a live event running through Dec. 23 that gives fans the chance to enjoy Brickman ’ s beloved holiday show from the comfort of their homes while , at the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging times .
“ I wanted to give back to the theaters that were always so supportive of me , ” says Brickman , who will donate a portion of the proceeds of his Dec. 4 show to North Central College ’ s Fine & Performing Arts Department .
“ I also wanted to create something that simulated the tour that we would normally be going on , rather than do a national livestream somewhat passively , which wouldn ’ t have any community quality to it.
” 9:08 a.m. Lightfoot plans $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Congress to ride to the rescue Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s administration is planning $ 450 million in short-term borrowing — for less than a year , at an interest rate of 1.95 % — to buy time for Congress to ride to the rescue of pandemic-ravaged cities .
The $ 12.8 billion budget narrowly approved by the City Council last week includes plans to refinance $ 1.7 billion in general obligation and sales tax securitization bonds and claim $ 949 million in savings in the first two years .
That would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago to the days of “ scoop-and-toss ” borrowing that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel ended ( though not nearly fast enough for Wall Street rating agencies ) .
Lightfoot also plans to borrow against future revenue from the sale of recreational and medical marijuana to avert the need for 350 layoffs and issue $ 1.54 billion in general obligation bonds to bankroll the first two years of her five-year capital plan .
8:25 a.m. 238 more Illinois coronavirus deaths , most ever reported by state throughout pandemic Illinois public health officials attributed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the highest daily number of viral fatalities reported by the state throughout nine months of the pandemic .
That figure , which shatters the previous high of 191 deaths on May 13 , includes some death that occurred over the long Thanksgiving weekend .
The Illinois Department of Public Health previously logged a total of 362 coronavirus deaths from the holiday through Sunday .
A total of 1,634 lives have been lost to COVID-19 during the past two weeks , an average of about 117 per day .
That ’ s almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago .
Seventy-one of the latest victims were from Cook County .
Another 56 lived in the collar counties .
• Illinois public health officials reported the highest single-day death toll attributed to the coronavirus in the state Wednesday , with 238 deaths , shattering the previous high of 191 deaths on May 13 .
In the week since Thanksgiving , COVID-19 has claimed an average of 116 lives per day .
• A judge and 12 more employees at the Cook County chief judge ’ s office have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported Tuesday .
These 13 additional cases bring the total number of employees infected with COVID-19 to 180 since the start of the pandemic , the judge ’ s office said .
11:57 a.m .
Controlling community spread of COVID-19 is essential to protecting nursing home residents In a recent Sun-Times article by Frank Main and Caroline Hurley , an attorney who stands to profit from this pandemic accused the nursing home industry of being unprepared to deal with the coronavirus .
It ’ s true that at the beginning of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and to everyone else — what steps needed to be taken to keep coronavirus out and treat those who contracted the disease .
Along with the confusion and guidance that evolved daily , our nursing home residents and staff were immediately at risk due to the very nature of our high-touch care , congregate settings and medically fragile population .
Thanks to our dedicated staff members and an ongoing partnership with public health officials , tremendous progress has been made .
In fact , between July and the latest surge in mid-October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 3 percent of all new cases in Illinois .
We regularly test residents and staff , screen employees daily , don PPE and keep residents distanced from each other and the outside world .
And yet even those measures are not enough to prevent asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic essential workers from unknowingly introducing the virus in our long-term care facilities .
It has long been a fashionable and celebrated pastime in Republican circles to mock Hollywood celebrities for their elitist , superficial and often silly proclivities , their inability to relate to average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t apply to them .
Hollywood is in fact a reviled category of people for many on the right — unless , of course , one shows up at your national convention to speak to an empty chair , or is Angelina Jolie ’ s estranged dad , or Chachi .
Otherwise , though , to many conservatives , celebrities are bad and evil and out of touch .
They don ’ t have any business telling “ Real America ” what to do , and they possess few valuable life skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do have made two celebrity types , Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump , perfectly acceptable candidates for president . )
Celebrities , according to the Fox News wing of the party , should keep their politics to themselves .
They should shut up and sing , or shut up and dribble , or shut up and post strange videos about fried fish from their lavish bathrooms , in Madonna ’ s case .
Unless , that is , their politics are supportive of President Trump , in which case , welcome to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rock , James Woods and Antonio Sabato Jr. — what are your thoughts on China ’ s trade policies , election fraud and pulling troops out of Afghanistan ?
Ignoring these inconvenient holes in the Republicans ’ argument against celebrity , they do occasionally stumble into a point .
Whether it ’ s stuff like the college admissions scandal , or well-known climate hypocrise , or the entertainment industry ’ s protection of powerful predators , it ’ s not a stretch to say that Hollywood , like anywhere else , is filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the current public health crisis , however , much of Hollywood has been fairly responsible about following COVID-19 protocols and precautions .
Los Angeles has endured several lockdowns , movie and television production has halted , and many celebs have helped encourage others to stay home and stay safe — albeit in occasionally cringe-worthy ways .
9:10 a.m. A national pandemic plan — finally — comes to the rescue first of health care workers and the elderly An advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Tuesday in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get behind : CDC Director Robert Redfield is expected to approve the recommendations by the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices .
States will have the final say on who gets a vaccine first , once a vaccine is approved and the federal government begins shipments .
But , for once , they ’ re getting sound guidance from Washington .
Our country sorely needs a national strategy , based on science , to rein in this pandemic .
With these recommendations , we might finally have the beginnings of one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the disease — a safe , highly effective vaccine — is within reach .
Read the full column from the CST Editorial Board here .

Another 10,959 people tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, and deaths attributed to the virus remain high.
Here’s what you need to know in coronavirus-related news.
News
8:55 p.m. Illinois enters deadliest stretch of coronavirus pandemic so far with 192 more fatalities
Rush University Medical Center staff see patients in the Brennan Pavilion, the hospital’s main lobby, which was transformed into a low-acuity treatment area during the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday afternoon, Nov. 19, 2020 Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Illinois has fallen into its deadliest stretch of the coronavirus pandemic so far as public health officials on Thursday announced COVID-19 has claimed 192 more lives while spreading to another 10,959 people.
The latest daily death toll is second only to the all-time high 238 coronavirus deaths reported Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
While the figures from both Wednesday and Thursday included deaths delayed in reporting from the long Thanksgiving weekend, the state has averaged 124 deaths a day since the holiday.
That tops the worst seven-day stretch of the first coronavirus wave in the spring, during which the state was losing an average of 117 residents to COVID-19 every day.
More than 3,000 Illinois deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus in the last month alone, almost double the state’s death toll over the entire summer.
Read the full story here.
7:58 p.m. Biden to call for 100 days of mask-wearing to curb COVID-19 spread
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden said Thursday that he will ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president, stopping just short of the nationwide mandate he’s pushed before to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The move marks a notable shift from President Donald Trump, whose own skepticism of mask-wearing has contributed to a politicization of the issue. That’s made many people reticent to embrace a practice that public health experts say is one of the easiest ways to manage the pandemic, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans.
The president-elect has frequently emphasized mask-wearing as a “patriotic duty” and during the campaign floated the idea of instituting a nationwide mask mandate, which he later acknowledged would be beyond the ability of the president to enforce.
Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Biden said he would make the request of Americans on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
Read the full report here.
5:16 p.m. Wedding reception at north suburban hotel under investigation for possible violations of COVID-19 rules
A north suburban hotel apologized Thursday after it hosted a wedding reception that triggered a Cook County health department investigation for violations of COVID-19 restrictions.
“Last evening, the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook hosted a family wedding with approximately 150 people in attendance. While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state’s latest mitigation measures, we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests, employees, and the Chicagoland community,” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon.
“The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the hospitality industry and our family-owned business. However, our hope to keep the hotel afloat and employees working should not outweigh health and safety.”
Allgauer-Cir said the hotel will follow health officials’ recommendations on contact tracing and testing.
The Cook County Department of Public Health has requested the guest list for the reception, spokesman Don Bolger said.
Read the full story here.
4:40 p.m. CPS will reopen next month even if only a fraction of students opt in — and most teachers will be required to return, CEO says
Chicago Public Schools will reopen in January even if only a small fraction of students opt to return to classrooms, schools CEO Janice Jackson said Thursday, and she warned that teachers without pre-existing conditions who simply “don’t show up” to school buildings will be fired.
What’s more, schools officials are so convinced that reopening schools is safe, they’re now working on a plan to bring back at least some high schools during the second semester, Jackson said in an interview with the Sun-Times. The district had expected to keep older students home while elementary schools return Feb. 1 and special education programs come back next month.
“We will educate any student who wants an in-person option. There is no threshold that we have to meet,” Jackson said, adding: “If 15% of the kids ... decide that they’re gonna return at any given school, we will educate that 15% in-person.
“We believe that number will gradually grow over time as people become more confident in our plan.”
Read the full story here.
3:30 p.m. California governor: Most of state nears stay-home order
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will likely order most of its businesses to close or limit capacity in the coming days, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, part of new rules triggered when fewer than 15% of beds are available in intensive care units for regional hospital networks.
Newsom said four of the state’s five regions — excluding the San Francisco Bay Area — will meet that threshold within a day or two.
When they do, the state will order the closure of all hair salons and barbershops, bars, breweries and distilleries, casinos and indoor and outdoor playgrounds.,
Restaurants would be limited to take-out and delivery only, while retailers must limit customers inside their stories to 20% capacity during the busy holiday shopping season.
Once triggered, regions would have 48 hours to implement the rules, which must stay in effect at least three weeks.
“The bottom line is if we don’t act now our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said.
Read the full story here.
3:00 p.m. North Side magic shop hopes online fundraiser does the trick
No magic trick will solve the dire cash shortage of one of the city’s last magic shops.
Magic Inc. has been around for nearly 100 years and is known internationally as a mecca for accomplished and aspiring prestidigitators.
The owners and staff of Magic, 1838 W. Lawrence Ave., hope an online fundraising drive will save the business.
“We have to re-up with our landlord and, how shall I say delicately, they’re not playing ball,” said Sandy Marshall, who owns the shop. “We kind of hope we can stay there, but time will tell.”
Marshall began an online fundraising drive over the weekend seeking $50,000. As of Thursday morning, donations totaled $9,313.
Marshall, who spent part of his childhood living above the store’s previous location at 5082 N. Lincoln Ave., said the magic shop is beloved for a number of reasons.
Read the full story here.
2:53 p.m. 1 more employee at chief judge’s office, juvenile detention center resident test positive for COVID-19
Another employee in the Cook County chief judge’s office has tested positive for COVID-19, along with one more resident at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The employee is an adult probation officer who works at the juvenile center, Mary Wisniewski, spokeswoman for the chief judge’s office, said in a statement. The juvenile was recently admitted to the detention center.
The judge’s office has informed anyone who may have come into contact with the people who recently tested positive, Wisniewski said.
Read the full story here.
1:16 p.m. What parts of pandemic broadcasting might remain post-pandemic?
If sports television networks have learned anything from broadcasting during a pandemic, it’s that nothing is impossible.
Need to call a hockey game played in Edmonton from studios in the States? It can be done. In fact, the play-by-play voice and analyst don’t even need to be in the same state.
Need to call a baseball game in Pittsburgh from a ballpark in Chicago? Viewers couldn’t tell much of a difference, if at all.
Networks discovered they weren’t tethered to the stadium or production truck to produce a game. Many jobs that were carried out on site were done elsewhere.
“It’s actually a lot less onerous than we realized to do things via remote,” said Mike McCarthy, Marquee Sports Network’s general manager. “We probably identified 12 key television positions, whether it’s within the studio or live, that could be done from home. We had graphics being produced by someone in their home and airing through our studio. If you had told me last year we were going to try that, I would say that’s crazy.”
Read the full story here.
1:13 p.m. Number of Americans hospitalized exceeded 100,000, over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day
Rush University Medical Center staff see patients in the Brennan Pavilion, the hospital’s main lobby, which was transformed into a low-acuity treatment area during the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday afternoon, Nov. 19, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The U.S. recorded over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, obliterating the record set last spring, while the number of Americans hospitalized with the virus has eclipsed 100,000 for the first time and new cases are topping 200,000 a day, according to figures released Thursday.
The three benchmarks altogether showed a country slipping deeper into crisis, with perhaps the worst yet to come, in part because of the delayed effects from Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans disregarded warnings to stay home and celebrate only with members of their household.
Across the U.S., the surge has swamped hospitals with patients and left nurses and other health care workers shorthanded and burned out.
“The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation,” Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday.
Read the full story here.
11:56 a.m. Jim Brickman holiday concerts transformed into virtual interactive events
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman has always considered himself an optimist. But even the purest of optimists sound a tad weary of this pandemic-riddled year.
“I’m doing… good,” Brickman says with as much as enthusiasm as he can muster during a recent interviews. “I mean, I miss traveling, especially internationally. [Pauses] I try my best to think about the benefits of this time rather than what I am missing.”
One of those benefits is his “Comfort & Joy at Home 2020” virtual tour, a live event running through Dec. 23 that gives fans the chance to enjoy Brickman’s beloved holiday show from the comfort of their homes while, at the same time, supporting their local venues during these challenging times.
“I wanted to give back to the theaters that were always so supportive of me,” says Brickman, who will donate a portion of the proceeds of his Dec. 4 show to North Central College’s Fine & Performing Arts Department. “I also wanted to create something that simulated the tour that we would normally be going on, rather than do a national livestream somewhat passively, which wouldn’t have any community quality to it.”
Read the full story here.
9:08 a.m. Lightfoot plans $450M in short-term borrowing to buy time for Congress to ride to the rescue
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration is planning $450 million in short-term borrowing — for less than a year, at an interest rate of 1.95% — to buy time for Congress to ride to the rescue of pandemic-ravaged cities.
The $12.8 billion budget narrowly approved by the City Council last week includes plans to refinance $1.7 billion in general obligation and sales tax securitization bonds and claim $949 million in savings in the first two years.
That would extend the debt eight years and return Chicago to the days of “scoop-and-toss” borrowing that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel ended (though not nearly fast enough for Wall Street rating agencies).
Lightfoot also plans to borrow against future revenue from the sale of recreational and medical marijuana to avert the need for 350 layoffs and issue $1.54 billion in general obligation bonds to bankroll the first two years of her five-year capital plan.
Reporter Fran Spielman has the full story.
8:25 a.m. 238 more Illinois coronavirus deaths, most ever reported by state throughout pandemic
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Illinois public health officials attributed an additional 238 deaths to the coronavirus Wednesday, the highest daily number of viral fatalities reported by the state throughout nine months of the pandemic.
That figure, which shatters the previous high of 191 deaths on May 13, includes some death that occurred over the long Thanksgiving weekend. The Illinois Department of Public Health previously logged a total of 362 coronavirus deaths from the holiday through Sunday.
A total of 1,634 lives have been lost to COVID-19 during the past two weeks, an average of about 117 per day. That’s almost five times the rate compared to two months ago.
Seventy-one of the latest victims were from Cook County. Another 56 lived in the collar counties.
Read the full story here.
New Cases
Illinois public health officials reported the highest single-day death toll attributed to the coronavirus in the state Wednesday, with 238 deaths, shattering the previous high of 191 deaths on May 13. In the week since Thanksgiving, COVID-19 has claimed an average of 116 lives per day.
A judge and 12 more employees at the Cook County chief judge’s office have tested positive for COVID-19, the judge’s office reported Tuesday. These 13 additional cases bring the total number of employees infected with COVID-19 to 180 since the start of the pandemic, the judge’s office said.
Analysis & Commentary
11:57 a.m. Controlling community spread of COVID-19 is essential to protecting nursing home residents
In a recent Sun-Times article by Frank Main and Caroline Hurley, an attorney who stands to profit from this pandemic accused the nursing home industry of being unprepared to deal with the coronavirus.
It’s true that at the beginning of the pandemic, it was unclear to nursing homes — and to everyone else — what steps needed to be taken to keep coronavirus out and treat those who contracted the disease. Along with the confusion and guidance that evolved daily, our nursing home residents and staff were immediately at risk due to the very nature of our high-touch care, congregate settings and medically fragile population.
Thanks to our dedicated staff members and an ongoing partnership with public health officials, tremendous progress has been made. In fact, between July and the latest surge in mid-October, nursing homes steadily represented just 2 to 3 percent of all new cases in Illinois.
We regularly test residents and staff, screen employees daily, don PPE and keep residents distanced from each other and the outside world. And yet even those measures are not enough to prevent asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic essential workers from unknowingly introducing the virus in our long-term care facilities.
9:15 a.m. Celebrities, stop partying like arrogant buffoons
It has long been a fashionable and celebrated pastime in Republican circles to mock Hollywood celebrities for their elitist, superficial and often silly proclivities, their inability to relate to average Americans and the belief that rules don’t apply to them.
Hollywood is in fact a reviled category of people for many on the right — unless, of course, one shows up at your national convention to speak to an empty chair, or is Angelina Jolie’s estranged dad, or Chachi. Otherwise, though, to many conservatives, celebrities are bad and evil and out of touch.
They don’t have any business telling “Real America” what to do, and they possess few valuable life skills. (Incidentally, the reviled skills they do have made two celebrity types, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, perfectly acceptable candidates for president.)
Celebrities, according to the Fox News wing of the party, should keep their politics to themselves. They should shut up and sing, or shut up and dribble, or shut up and post strange videos about fried fish from their lavish bathrooms, in Madonna’s case.
Unless, that is, their politics are supportive of President Trump, in which case, welcome to the program, Kirstie Alley, Kid Rock, James Woods and Antonio Sabato Jr. — what are your thoughts on China’s trade policies, election fraud and pulling troops out of Afghanistan?
Ignoring these inconvenient holes in the Republicans’ argument against celebrity, they do occasionally stumble into a point. Whether it’s stuff like the college admissions scandal, or well-known climate hypocrise, or the entertainment industry’s protection of powerful predators, it’s not a stretch to say that Hollywood, like anywhere else, is filled with imperfect and questionable moral authorities.
During the current public health crisis, however, much of Hollywood has been fairly responsible about following COVID-19 protocols and precautions. Los Angeles has endured several lockdowns, movie and television production has halted, and many celebs have helped encourage others to stay home and stay safe — albeit in occasionally cringe-worthy ways.
Read the full column here.
9:10 a.m. A national pandemic plan — finally — comes to the rescue first of health care workers and the elderly
An advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Tuesday in favor of a policy every American should be able to get behind:
Giving front-line health care workers and nursing home residents top priority for a COVID-19 vaccine.
CDC Director Robert Redfield is expected to approve the recommendations by the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices. States will have the final say on who gets a vaccine first, once a vaccine is approved and the federal government begins shipments. But, for once, they’re getting sound guidance from Washington.
Our country sorely needs a national strategy, based on science, to rein in this pandemic. With these recommendations, we might finally have the beginnings of one, just as the single most powerful tool against the disease — a safe, highly effective vaccine — is within reach.
Read the full column from the CST Editorial Board here.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--John Garrido Sr., longtime Chicago cop, dead of COVID-19 after 61 days in a hospital

Officer John Garrido Sr. used to call himself “ one of dese ‘ dese , dem and dose ’ guys.
” “ He couldn ’ t pronounce the number three for the life of him , ” said his son John Garrido Jr. , a Chicago police lieutenant .
“ It was one , two , ‘ tree.
’ ’ ’ A drive-thru wake is planned Sunday for the Bridgeport native , 76 , who died Nov. 25 of complications from the coronavirus after 61 days hospitalized at AMITA Health Resurrection Medical Center .
The virus was “ like playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As soon as one medical problem eased , another popped up .
Friends followed Mr. Garrido ’ s story through his son ’ s Facebook updates .
His family is asking people to wear colorful clothing to the wake for the longtime Chicago cop , whose closet was resplendent with tie-dyed and “ Tweety Bird yellow ” clothing .
“ He had more wardrobe changes than Cher , ” his son said .
Working undercover in narcotics for much of his 36-year career , “ He was a chameleon , ” his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a bushy beard or flowing mustache .
And he ’ d dye his hair or change it from long to short .
He met one of his four ex-wives at the hair salon where he bought wigs for his disguises .
Mr. Garrido was divorced when he died , according to his son , who said : “ He was out there looking for my future ex-stepmom .
He never let an opportunity go by to flirt.
” He said his father grew up near 25th and Wallace , the son of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tequisquiapan in the Mexican state of Querétaro .
His mother Augustina was from Tepatitlán de Morelos , Jalisco .
After grade school at St. Anthony of Padua at 28th and Wallace , he went on to De La Salle Institute .
Mr. Garrido decided to transfer to Kelly High School after a “ dust-up ” with another De La Salle student — Richard M. Daley , the future mayor , according to an oral history he shared with Memoir for Me , which produces keepsake memory books .
After high school , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division , his son said .
He went to work for the Chicago Police Department in 1968 as the city was racked by anti-war protests and unrest following the assassination of the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. “ It was unreal .
Madison [ Street ] was on fire , ” Mr. Garrido once said in an interview with TV producer Jessica Smedick .
Over the years , “ He ’ d been shot at , thrown down stairs , stabbed , ” his son said .
Between his military and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me when he walked in a room , ‘ I ID anything that could be used as a weapon — from a pen on a table to a cookie jar , ’ ” his son said .
“ He made sure there was always something he could get to.
” In addition to his son John Jr. , who beside being a cop also has run for alderman and other posts , Mr. Garrido is survived by his son Joe , daughters Jennifer Maul , Melissa Morales and Brianna and Emily Garrido , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Almaraz and Rosie Alvarez , brother Tony Garrido and one grandchild .
The drive-thru visitation is planned for 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Malec & Sons Funeral Home , 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave. Mr. Garrido ’ s closed casket will be under an outdoor awning on the north side of the building .
Guests are asked to remain in their vehicles .
Burial will be Monday at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles .
In 2014 , Mr. Garrido was part of a canine rescue operation that stretched over three countries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Pedro , Belize , John Garrido Jr. and his wife Anna encountered an ailing , abandoned Doberman .
Once they got home , they couldn ’ t stop thinking about the dog they called Pedro .
High summer temperatures were then limiting air transport of pets , so the couple — who run the Garrido Stray Rescue Organization — planned to drive Pedro back to Chicago .
Mr. Garrido and his son flew to Cancun , where they met local animal rescuers .
They rented a car and drove south to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reunited Pedro with John Garrido Jr. “ We took Pedro from there and made our journey back , ” driving through Mexico accompanied by two of the animal rescuers , his son said .
Mr. Garrido , who was fluent in Spanish , helped navigate road checkpoints .
“ He was the co-pilot.
” Once they arrived at the Texas border , Anna Garrido and a friend met her husband and father-in-law , and they all drove back to Chicago .
Pedro is now 9 years old and in good health .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son said , “ no matter what .
”

Officer John Garrido Sr. used to call himself “one of dese ‘dese, dem and dose’ guys.”
“He couldn’t pronounce the number three for the life of him,” said his son John Garrido Jr., a Chicago police lieutenant. “It was one, two, ‘tree.’ ’’
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
A drive-thru wake is planned Sunday for the Bridgeport native, 76, who died Nov. 25 of complications from the coronavirus after 61 days hospitalized at AMITA Health Resurrection Medical Center.
The virus was “like playing whack-a-mole,” said his son. As soon as one medical problem eased, another popped up. Friends followed Mr. Garrido’s story through his son’s Facebook updates.
John Garrido Sr. and his son John Garrido Jr., both members of the Chicago Police Department. Provided
His family is asking people to wear colorful clothing to the wake for the longtime Chicago cop, whose closet was resplendent with tie-dyed and “Tweety Bird yellow” clothing.
“He had more wardrobe changes than Cher,” his son said.
Working undercover in narcotics for much of his 36-year career, “He was a chameleon,” his son said.
Sometimes, he’d have a bushy beard or flowing mustache. And he’d dye his hair or change it from long to short.
John Garrido Sr. wearing one of the hairpieces he used for his undercover work. Provided
He met one of his four ex-wives at the hair salon where he bought wigs for his disguises.
Mr. Garrido was divorced when he died, according to his son, who said: “He was out there looking for my future ex-stepmom. He never let an opportunity go by to flirt.”
He said his father grew up near 25th and Wallace, the son of Juan Garrido, a meatpacking worker from Tequisquiapan in the Mexican state of Querétaro. His mother Augustina was from Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco.
After grade school at St. Anthony of Padua at 28th and Wallace, he went on to De La Salle Institute. Mr. Garrido decided to transfer to Kelly High School after a “dust-up” with another De La Salle student — Richard M. Daley, the future mayor, according to an oral history he shared with Memoir for Me, which produces keepsake memory books.
After high school, he was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, his son said.
John Garrido Sr. served in the 101st Airborne Division. Provided
He went to work for the Chicago Police Department in 1968 as the city was racked by anti-war protests and unrest following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“It was unreal. Madison [Street] was on fire,” Mr. Garrido once said in an interview with TV producer Jessica Smedick.
Over the years, “He’d been shot at, thrown down stairs, stabbed,” his son said.
John Garrido Sr. liked flashy clothes. Provided
Between his military and police training, “He would always tell me when he walked in a room, ‘I ID anything that could be used as a weapon — from a pen on a table to a cookie jar,’ ” his son said. “He made sure there was always something he could get to.”
In addition to his son John Jr., who beside being a cop also has run for alderman and other posts, Mr. Garrido is survived by his son Joe, daughters Jennifer Maul, Melissa Morales and Brianna and Emily Garrido, sisters Gloria Rivera, Aurora Herrera, Rose Almaraz and Rosie Alvarez, brother Tony Garrido and one grandchild.
The drive-thru visitation is planned for 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave. Mr. Garrido’s closed casket will be under an outdoor awning on the north side of the building. Guests are asked to remain in their vehicles. Burial will be Monday at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles.
In 2014, Mr. Garrido was part of a canine rescue operation that stretched over three countries and thousands of miles. During a vacation in San Pedro, Belize, John Garrido Jr. and his wife Anna encountered an ailing, abandoned Doberman. Once they got home, they couldn’t stop thinking about the dog they called Pedro.
High summer temperatures were then limiting air transport of pets, so the couple — who run the Garrido Stray Rescue Organization — planned to drive Pedro back to Chicago. Mr. Garrido and his son flew to Cancun, where they met local animal rescuers. They rented a car and drove south to the Mexico-Belize border, where other rescuers reunited Pedro with John Garrido Jr.
“We took Pedro from there and made our journey back,” driving through Mexico accompanied by two of the animal rescuers, his son said. Mr. Garrido, who was fluent in Spanish, helped navigate road checkpoints. “He was the co-pilot.”
The Garrridos as they crossed the Mexican border into the United States with rescue dog Pedro. Provided
Once they arrived at the Texas border, Anna Garrido and a friend met her husband and father-in-law, and they all drove back to Chicago. Pedro is now 9 years old and in good health.
“Dad was just always there,” his son said, “no matter what.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--No offense: Bears defenders on board with Matt Nagy

When Bears coach Matt Nagy poked his head in the defensive meeting room Wednesday as he does each week , he made a point to “ clear the air ” about his public criticism of the defense following the 41-25 loss to the Packers on Sunday .
But safety Tashaun Gipson wondered what all the fuss was about .
“ Coach Nagy being the stand-up guy he is wanted people to understand ‘ in no way , shape or form was I pointing the finger at anybody.
’ He just wanted to clear the air for any confusion , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that probably didn ’ t need to be said , because guys probably didn ’ t even take offense to it .
Nobody brought it up when we walked into the building .
Nobody was saying anything .
There weren ’ t any personal text messages , at least not to me .
“ He didn ’ t have to do it , honestly , but he did it and moved on .
It happened .
Right now , we ’ re focused on Detroit.
” Nagy ’ s critique of the defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from critics outside of Halas Hall , because it came across as bad form from a head coach whose offense has been propped up by that very defense for nearly three seasons .
The Packers drove 75 , 60 and 75 yards for touchdowns on their first three drives to put the Bears in an early 20-3 hole they never recovered from .
The Packers rushed for 182 yards and passed for 211 in amassing 383 total yards against a Bears defense that came in ranked ninth in the NFL in total defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride was hurt more than anything Nagy said .
“ Give Aaron Rodgers a lot of credit , ” Gipson said , “ but no quarterback , no offense in the National Football League should be able to have their way and impose their will like they did on us in front of a national audience .
Whatever coach Nagy said , it probably was [ blown ] out of proportion .
He holds these guys accountable .
When you see the guys we have on defense , those things should not happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the chin and took it for what it was .
We needed to hear that .
I think guys are understanding that , ‘ Hey , we ’ ve got to play better no matter the circumstances .
It ’ s not a he ’ s-calling-out-the-defense thing .
It ’ s one of those things where he expects us to play better and it was flat-out embarrassing on our behalf.
” Nagy said Wednesday he had “ zero concern ” that his comments damaged the tight bond he has in his locker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defense to make sure .
“ It was really good .
It was really healthy , ” Nagy said .
“ I appreciate how hard they ’ ve been working and for us as a team .
I thought it was pretty good.
” Safety Eddie Jackson said he used Nagy ’ s criticism of the defense as motivation .
“ Coach Nagy ’ s not the type of person [ who ’ s ] going to bash somebody , throw somebody under the bus , ” Jackson said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense to it .
We hold ourselves to a high standard … and so does coach .
He sees that .
So when he says something like that we take it as motivation — we ’ ve got to get back on track and fix what needs to be fixed.
” From Khalil Mack on down , the Bears ’ defensive players were just as critical as Nagy was .
They know how bad it looked .
“ It ’ s tough , especially against a team like Green Bay , ” Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means .
We know what it means to Chicago .
We know what it means to the organization .
So for us to go out there and play the type of game we did , it was embarrassing .
“ So we ’ re feeding off that .
We know the type of team , the type of players we have — especially on the defensive side of the ball .
We know what we need to do this week — in practice and Sunday when the game comes .
”

When coach Matt Nagy poked his head in the defensive meeting room Wednesday, as he does each week, he made a point to ‘‘clear the air’’ about his public criticism of the defense after the Bears’ 41-25 loss to the Packers on Sunday night.
But safety Tashaun Gipson wondered what all the fuss was about.
‘‘Coach Nagy, being the stand-up guy he is, wanted people to understand ‘in no way, shape or form was I pointing the finger at anybody,’ ’’ Gipson said. ‘‘He just wanted to clear the air for any confusion. It was something that probably didn’t need to be said because guys probably didn’t even take offense to it. Nobody brought it up when we walked into the building. Nobody was saying anything. There weren’t any personal text messages, at least not to me.
‘‘It was just kind of a situation where he didn’t have to do it, honestly, but he did it and moved on. It happened. Right now, we’re focused on Detroit.’’
Nagy’s critique of the defense after the blowout loss drew a rebuke from critics outside of Halas Hall because it came across as bad form from a coach whose offense has been propped up by that very defense for nearly three seasons.
The Packers drove 75, 60 and 75 yards for touchdowns on their first three drives to put the Bears in an early 20-3 hole they never recovered from. The Packers rushed for 182 yards and passed for 211 in amassing 383 yards against a Bears unit that came in ranked ninth in the NFL in total defense and sixth in points allowed.
The defense’s pride was hurt, and it had little to do with anything Nagy said.
‘‘Give Aaron Rodgers a lot of credit,’’ Gipson said, ‘‘but no quarterback, no offense in the National Football League should be able to have their way and impose their will like they did on us in front of a national audience. Whatever coach Nagy said, it probably was [blown] out of proportion. He holds these guys accountable. When you see the guys we have on defense, those things should not happen.
‘‘I think everybody took it on the chin and took it for what it was. We needed to hear that. I think guys are understanding that, ‘Hey, we’ve got to play better no matter the circumstances.’ It’s not a he’s-calling-out-the-defense thing. It’s one of those things where he expects us to play better, and it was flat-out embarrassing on our behalf.’’
Nagy said Wednesday he had “zero concern” that his comments damaged the tight bond he has in his locker room. He addressed the situation with the defensive players to make sure.
‘‘It was really good,’’ Nagy said. ‘‘It was really healthy. I appreciate how hard they’ve been working. I thought it was pretty good.’’
Safety Eddie Jackson said he used Nagy’s criticism of the defense as motivation.
‘‘Coach Nagy’s not the type of person [who’s] going to bash somebody, throw somebody under the bus,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘I don’t feel like anyone took offense to it. We hold ourselves to a high standard . . . and so does Coach. He sees that. So when he says something like that, we take it as motivation. We’ve got to get back on track and fix what needs to be fixed.’’
From Khalil Mack on down, the Bears’ defensive players were just as critical as Nagy was. They know how bad it looked.
‘‘It’s tough, especially against a team like Green Bay,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘We know what it means. We know what it means to Chicago . . . what it means to the organization. So for us to go out there and play the type of game we did, it was embarrassing.
‘‘So we’re feeding off that. We know the type of team, the type of players we have, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We know what we need to do this week — in practice and Sunday when the game comes.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--150-person wedding reception at suburban hotel under investigation for violating COVID-19 rules

A north suburban hotel apologized Thursday after it hosted a wedding reception that triggered a Cook County health department investigation for violations of COVID-19 restrictions .
“ Last evening , the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook hosted a family wedding with approximately 150 people in attendance .
While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state ’ s latest mitigation measures , we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests , employees , and the Chicagoland community , ” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospitality industry and our family-owned business .
However , our hope to keep the hotel afloat and employees working should not outweigh health and safety.
” Allgauer-Cir said the hotel will follow health officials ’ recommendations on contact tracing and testing .
The Cook County Department of Public Health has requested the guest list for the reception , spokesman Don Bolger said .
The hotel is in Prospect Heights , which issued the venue a written warning .
City administrator Joe Wade said Thursday the hotel ’ s general manager told him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the party to socially distance and wear masks .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker described the event as “ very irresponsible.
” “ This is very concerning to all of us at a moment when we have rampant COVID-19 throughout Illinois , ” Pritzker said during his daily COVID-19 media briefing Thursday .
“ Here we have people who , in a concentrated fashion , have the ability now to go spread it to everywhere that they return to .
“ I ’ m deeply worried for them and for the communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their families and so on .
I hope that each of them will isolate and get a test.
” Pritzker said it would be up to local authorities to mete out punishment .
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association said the event was “ unacceptable and does not reflect the careful efforts the hotel industry as a whole has taken since the onset of the pandemic to protect guests , employees and our communities.
” “ The hotel industry is committed to working with policymakers and public health officials to ensure this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and CEO Michael Jacobson said in a statement .

A north suburban hotel apologized Thursday after it hosted a wedding reception that triggered a Cook County health department investigation for violations of COVID-19 restrictions.
“Last evening, the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook hosted a family wedding with approximately 150 people in attendance. While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state’s latest mitigation measures, we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests, employees, and the Chicagoland community,” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon.
“The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the hospitality industry and our family-owned business. However, our hope to keep the hotel afloat and employees working should not outweigh health and safety.”
Allgauer-Cir said the hotel will follow health officials’ recommendations on contact tracing and testing.
The Cook County Department of Public Health has requested the guest list for the reception, spokesman Don Bolger said.
The hotel is in Prospect Heights, which issued the venue a written warning. City administrator Joe Wade said Thursday the hotel’s general manager told him at least one hotel employee had urged members of the party to socially distance and wear masks.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker described the event as “very irresponsible.”
“This is very concerning to all of us at a moment when we have rampant COVID-19 throughout Illinois,” Pritzker said during his daily COVID-19 media briefing Thursday. “Here we have people who, in a concentrated fashion, have the ability now to go spread it to everywhere that they return to.
“I’m deeply worried for them and for the communities that they’ve returned to, for their families and so on. I hope that each of them will isolate and get a test.”
Pritzker said it would be up to local authorities to mete out punishment.
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association said the event was “unacceptable and does not reflect the careful efforts the hotel industry as a whole has taken since the onset of the pandemic to protect guests, employees and our communities.”
“The hotel industry is committed to working with policymakers and public health officials to ensure this situation is not repeated,” association president and CEO Michael Jacobson said in a statement.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--Dear Abby: Woman upset that sister’s engagement disrupts their tradition

DEAR ABBY : I woke up crying this morning .
The holidays are fast approaching , and many of them I spent with my younger sister “ Leyla ” and her family .
It has been a tradition because our parents are no longer living , and my sisters live on the mainland .
Leyla ’ s fiance doesn ’ t care for me , so last year ’ s celebration wasn ’ t very fun , although I did enjoy my family .
Her fiance and I have never had an argument nor have I ever said anything negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wants Leyla to himself .
I was gone for the holidays in 2018 because I was caring for our elderly father .
I hadn ’ t been to their home for almost two years before that .
During that time he had my sister all to himself .
The last time I visited he wasn ’ t nice to me .
It didn ’ t feel good .
Now , with this upcoming holiday season , I know I won ’ t be invited to join them , which makes me sad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My sister doesn ’ t deal with life like I do .
I am very family-oriented , and I would never let a man come between us .
It breaks my heart knowing I won ’ t be a part of their lives this year for the holidays .
I ’ m 65 , and Leyla is 61 .
We shouldn ’ t be dealing with this kind of thing in our lives .
What should I do ?
— SAD ISLAND LADY DEAR SAD : Discuss this with Leyla and find out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
Many families are distancing not because of personality conflicts but because of COVID .
It may be possible to see your sister via Zoom or outside her home if you arrange to stay elsewhere .
If that isn ’ t possible , make plans with friends and/or other relatives .
Many people will be celebrating Christmas and New Year ’ s differently this year .
You will not be alone in that .
DEAR ABBY : My 16-year-old son passed away unexpectedly a month ago .
Because he was short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullied during middle and high school .
After a minor argument with my husband and me , he contacted a neighborhood kid who sold him powerful painkillers .
This was , to my knowledge , the first time he did this , and I don ’ t think he realized how devastating the effects could be .
( We had previously discussed the dangers of prescription drugs , but it seems this was an impulsive decision . )
My husband and 19-year-old daughter are reeling from this tragedy , and we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know if you have any advice on how to grieve .
I ’ m feeling so lost and still in shock , and I have appreciated reading your advice over the years .
— STILL IN SHOCK IN COLORADO DEAR STILL : Please accept my deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of your beloved son .
The circumstances of his death make it even more difficult to understand and cope .
Fortunately , there is help and support for families who have lost a sibling or a child .
The Compassionate Friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my column .
Founded 50 years ago in England and incorporated in the United States in 1978 , it exists to provide friendship , understanding and hope to parents who are going through the natural grieving process .
To find a chapter near you , contact them online at compassionatefriends.org or by calling ( 877 ) 969-0010 .
Please don ’ t wait .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To order “ How to Write Letters for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I woke up crying this morning. The holidays are fast approaching, and many of them I spent with my younger sister “Leyla” and her family. It has been a tradition because our parents are no longer living, and my sisters live on the mainland.
Leyla’s fiance doesn’t care for me, so last year’s celebration wasn’t very fun, although I did enjoy my family. Her fiance and I have never had an argument nor have I ever said anything negative to him. He’s insecure and wants Leyla to himself.
I was gone for the holidays in 2018 because I was caring for our elderly father. I hadn’t been to their home for almost two years before that. During that time he had my sister all to himself. The last time I visited he wasn’t nice to me. It didn’t feel good.
Now, with this upcoming holiday season, I know I won’t be invited to join them, which makes me sad and mad at the same time. My sister doesn’t deal with life like I do. I am very family-oriented, and I would never let a man come between us. It breaks my heart knowing I won’t be a part of their lives this year for the holidays. I’m 65, and Leyla is 61. We shouldn’t be dealing with this kind of thing in our lives. What should I do? — SAD ISLAND LADY
DEAR SAD: Discuss this with Leyla and find out whether you will be invited to visit this year. Many families are distancing not because of personality conflicts but because of COVID. It may be possible to see your sister via Zoom or outside her home if you arrange to stay elsewhere.
If that isn’t possible, make plans with friends and/or other relatives. Many people will be celebrating Christmas and New Year’s differently this year. You will not be alone in that.
DEAR ABBY: My 16-year-old son passed away unexpectedly a month ago. Because he was short for his age, he had been bullied during middle and high school. After a minor argument with my husband and me, he contacted a neighborhood kid who sold him powerful painkillers. This was, to my knowledge, the first time he did this, and I don’t think he realized how devastating the effects could be. (We had previously discussed the dangers of prescription drugs, but it seems this was an impulsive decision.)
My husband and 19-year-old daughter are reeling from this tragedy, and we’re all in therapy now. I need to know if you have any advice on how to grieve. I’m feeling so lost and still in shock, and I have appreciated reading your advice over the years. — STILL IN SHOCK IN COLORADO
DEAR STILL: Please accept my deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of your beloved son. The circumstances of his death make it even more difficult to understand and cope. Fortunately, there is help and support for families who have lost a sibling or a child.
The Compassionate Friends is a group I have mentioned before in my column. Founded 50 years ago in England and incorporated in the United States in 1978, it exists to provide friendship, understanding and hope to parents who are going through the natural grieving process. To find a chapter near you, contact them online at compassionatefriends.org or by calling (877) 969-0010. Please don’t wait.
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.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--How Britain’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout will work

LONDON — Now that British regulators have become the first to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany ’ s BioNTech for emergency use , how will that country implement what potentially will be its biggest-ever immunization program ?
Here ’ s a look at what ’ s known about Britain ’ s vaccination plan : HOW MUCH VACCINE DOES THE U.K. HAVE ?
Not enough .
The United Kingdom has put in orders for 40 million doses , which can inoculate 20 million people , as each person gets two doses 21 days apart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 53 million or so people eligible for shots .
The U.K. plans to immunize only those 16 or older .
WHEN WILL THE ROLLOUT BEGIN ?
The plan is to start a phased rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine early next week from centers including 50 “ hospital hubs ” in England .
Around 800,000 doses are slated to arrive from Belgium in the coming days .
The aim is for the bulk of the first deliveries to be used on the most “ at-risk ” groups — nursing home residents and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The National Health Service will take the lead in the rollout of the vaccine , which eventually will expand to pharmacies and specially built vaccination centers .
HOW WILL THE ROLLOUT WORK ?
Because the vaccine must be stored and transported at about minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit , there are clear logistical issues .
Fortunately , the vaccine is stable at normal refrigerator temperatures , between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit , for a few days .
That means it can be stored locally ahead of being administered .
Another complication arises from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be divided at the moment , making it impossible to deliver vaccines to individual care homes .
Simon Stevens , chief executive of NHS England , said he hoped authorities will approve a safe way of splitting up the dose packs so the jabs can get to care homes this month in the “ first tranche of priorities.
” HOW LONG WILL THE VACCINATION EFFORT TAKE ?
Months .
The British government aims to have the most vulnerable sections of the population vaccinated by April .
Because the U.K. won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it will need other ones .
Two candidates are being assessed .
The one from American biotechnology company Moderna had similar efficacy rates as Pfizer/BioNTech ’ s .
Another vaccine , from the University of Oxford and British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca , had a lower efficacy rate but is the cheapest .
The U.K. has bought 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine .
If approved , it is widely expected to be used on people who are not in the vulnerable groups listed in the first phase of Britain ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine will be voluntary , but the government and public health bodies are urging everyone to get it .
There will be no specific precautions required for anyone who has already had COVID-19 , and there will be no mandatory testing for the virus .
WHO WILL BE VACCINATED FIRST ?
The most vulnerable .
The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization , which advises the British government , said those most at risk of dying from COVID-19 should lead the priority list .
So elderly people in nursing homes and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by people over 80 and front-line health workers .
AND THEN WHO ’ S NEXT ?
Everyone 75 and older should be vaccinated next , according to the Joint Committee , followed by those 70 and over and people deemed to be clinically “ extremely vulnerable.
” During the first phase of the program , Britain has created nine separate groups down to those 50 and above .
Overall , it hopes that between 90-99 % of people most at risk of dying from COVID 19 will be immunized during the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HARD-HIT GROUPS ?
As the rollout gathers steam , the JCVI is also advising local NHS providers , public health teams and community leaders to keep an eye out for any potential health inequalities linked to ethnicity , deprivation or access to health care .
Studies have shown a disproportionate number of people from poorer households and from ethnic minorities have died during Britain ’ s coronavirus outbreak .
The U.K. has seen nearly 60,000 virus-related deaths , Europe ’ s highest death toll in the pandemic .
HOW LONG BEFORE IMMUNITY KICKS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the vaccine trials , which involved more than 40,000 people around the world , show a similar immune response , irrespective of age , race or country the volunteers lived in .
Partial immunity occurs after the first dose , but British regulators expect people to become immune about seven days after the second dose .
It isn ’ t yet clear how long that immunity lasts .
The U.K. will set up a monitoring program for things such as side-effects , which are expected to be modest , lasting a day @ @ @

LONDON — Now that British regulators have become the first to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech for emergency use, how will that country implement what potentially will be its biggest-ever immunization program? Here’s a look at what’s known about Britain’s vaccination plan:
How much vaccine does the U.K. have?
Not enough. The United Kingdom has put in orders for 40 million doses, which can inoculate 20 million people, as each person gets two doses 21 days apart.
Other vaccines will be needed for all the 53 million or so people eligible for shots. The U.K. plans to immunize only those 16 or older.
When will the rollout begin?
The plan is to start a phased rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine early next week from centers including 50 “hospital hubs” in England.
Around 800,000 doses are slated to arrive from Belgium in the coming days. The aim is for the bulk of the first deliveries to be used on the most “at-risk” groups — nursing home residents and their caregivers as well as people over 80.
The National Health Service will take the lead in the rollout of the vaccine, which eventually will expand to pharmacies and specially built vaccination centers.
How will the rollout work?
Because the vaccine must be stored and transported at about minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit, there are clear logistical issues. Fortunately, the vaccine is stable at normal refrigerator temperatures, between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit, for a few days. That means it can be stored locally ahead of being administered.
Another complication arises from doses coming in packs of 975 that cannot be divided at the moment, making it impossible to deliver vaccines to individual care homes. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said he hoped authorities will approve a safe way of splitting up the dose packs so the jabs can get to care homes this month in the “first tranche of priorities.”
How long will the vaccination effort take?
Months. The British government aims to have the most vulnerable sections of the population vaccinated by April.
Because the U.K. won’t have enough of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, it will need other ones. Two candidates are being assessed. The one from American biotechnology company Moderna had similar efficacy rates as Pfizer/BioNTech’s. Another vaccine, from the University of Oxford and British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, had a lower efficacy rate but is the cheapest.
The U.K. has bought 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine. If approved, it is widely expected to be used on people who are not in the vulnerable groups listed in the first phase of Britain’s immunization program.
Will the U.K. make vaccines compulsory?
No. Taking the vaccine will be voluntary, but the government and public health bodies are urging everyone to get it. There will be no specific precautions required for anyone who has already had COVID-19, and there will be no mandatory testing for the virus.
Who will be vaccinated first?
The most vulnerable. The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, which advises the British government, said those most at risk of dying from COVID-19 should lead the priority list. So elderly people in nursing homes and their caregivers will be the first priority, followed by people over 80 and front-line health workers.
And then who’s next?
Everyone 75 and older should be vaccinated next, according to the Joint Committee, followed by those 70 and over and people deemed to be clinically “extremely vulnerable.”
During the first phase of the program, Britain has created nine separate groups down to those 50 and above. Overall, it hopes that between 90-99% of people most at risk of dying from COVID 19 will be immunized during the first phase.
What about access for other hard-hit groups?
As the rollout gathers steam, the JCVI is also advising local NHS providers, public health teams and community leaders to keep an eye out for any potential health inequalities linked to ethnicity, deprivation or access to health care. Studies have shown a disproportionate number of people from poorer households and from ethnic minorities have died during Britain’s coronavirus outbreak. The U.K. has seen nearly 60,000 virus-related deaths, Europe’s highest death toll in the pandemic.
How long before immunity kicks in?
Within a month. Data from the vaccine trials, which involved more than 40,000 people around the world, show a similar immune response, irrespective of age, race or country the volunteers lived in. Partial immunity occurs after the first dose, but British regulators expect people to become immune about seven days after the second dose. It isn’t yet clear how long that immunity lasts.
What’s the long-term plan?
The U.K. will set up a monitoring program for things such as side-effects, which are expected to be modest, lasting a day or so.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--‘Elyse’: Anthony Hopkins lends his grace to wife’s awful movie

You ’ ll hear the warning bells signifying a Category 5 Pretentiousness Alert right from the start of the ponderous and stiff psychological drama “ Elyse , ” and it ’ s not a false alarm .
With a jazzy , saxophone-heavy score pounding away , we see a beautiful blond woman who looks to be in her 40s descending the staircase of an imposing and tastefully appointed home and then wandering out the front door .
Everything is in black and white , save for a few touches of red — roses in a vase , a child ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the director had seen “ Schindler ’ s List ” and said , “ I ’ ll do that too !
” We hear the woman in voice-over , speaking in a monotone : “ People would rather live in homes , regardless of its grayness.
” Cue the angelic , echo-chamber sounds of a woman singing , “ La la la la la la … ” as the woman says in voiceover : “ If we walk far enough , says Dorothy , we shall sometime come to someplace.
” That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L. Frank Baum and “ The Wizard of Oz , ” another movie that played with black and white and color .
So begins the arduous slog through “ Elyse , ” a poorly shot , badly acted , ludicrously implausible film directed and co-written by Stella Hopkins , whose husband Anthony Hopkins appears in a supporting role as a therapist and lends his grace and professionalism to an otherwise amateurish effort .
Lisa Pepper gives a flat and off-putting performance as the title character , who is suffering from depression and violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her husband Steven ( Aaron Tucker , bland and forgettable ) , her meddling monster of a mother ( Fran Tucker , overacting as if she ’ s in a bad production of a Tennessee Williams play ) , the nanny Julia ( Julieta Ortiz ) and the nanny ’ s daughter , Carmen ( Tara Arroyave ) .
At times it ’ s not clear if what we ’ re seeing is reality or a fantasy in Elyse ’ s mind .
Either way , we ’ re subjected to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party meltdown scene — and the admittedly intriguing but strange interactions between Elyse and Dr. Phillip Lewis ( Hopkins ) , who sits in the corner of the room , lit like he ’ s in an Orson Welles film , and banters with Elyse , who in their first session wears an ultra-tight mini-skirt , a white blouse and an untied bow tie , as if she just got off her shift at a swanky steakhouse .
Wiping away a tear , Elyse says , “ I hate crying , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s stupid.
” “ Who told you that crying is stupid ?
” asks the good doctor .
“ My mother .
That ’ s a beautiful tie .
I love that color , burgundy red .
Did your wife pick that out for you ?
” “ Elyse ” goes from dull and unfocused to flying right off the rails in the second half of the film , which switches to color ( just like “ The Wizard of Oz ” ! )
, as Elyse is rendered catatonic by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses of meds and electroconvulsive shock therapy treatments .
This presents an opportunity to introduce a French American male nurse ( Anthony Apel ) , who takes quite the interest in Elyse and seems to be falling in love with her .
Finally , mercifully , we reach the laughably bogus conclusion , with an epilogue that feels forced and rings absolutely false .
At least “ Elyse ” is consistent to the very end .

You’ll hear the warning bells signifying a Category 5 Pretentiousness Alert right from the start of the ponderous and stiff psychological drama “Elyse,” and it’s not a false alarm.
With a jazzy, saxophone-heavy score pounding away, we see a beautiful blond woman who looks to be in her 40s descending the staircase of an imposing and tastefully appointed home and then wandering out the front door. Everything is in black and white, save for a few touches of red — roses in a vase, a child’s bicycle out front — as if the director had seen “Schindler’s List” and said, “I’ll do that too!”
‘Elyse’
Untitled Gravitas Ventures presents a film directed by Stella Hopkins and written by Hopkins and Audrey Arkins. Running time: 95 minutes. Available now on demand.
We hear the woman in voice-over, speaking in a monotone: “People would rather live in homes, regardless of its grayness.” Cue the angelic, echo-chamber sounds of a woman singing, “La la la la la la …” as the woman says in voiceover: “If we walk far enough, says Dorothy, we shall sometime come to someplace.”
That’s right: She’s quoting L. Frank Baum and “The Wizard of Oz,” another movie that played with black and white and color.
So begins the arduous slog through “Elyse,” a poorly shot, badly acted, ludicrously implausible film directed and co-written by Stella Hopkins, whose husband Anthony Hopkins appears in a supporting role as a therapist and lends his grace and professionalism to an otherwise amateurish effort. Lisa Pepper gives a flat and off-putting performance as the title character, who is suffering from depression and violent mood swings, much to the consternation of her husband Steven (Aaron Tucker, bland and forgettable), her meddling monster of a mother (Fran Tucker, overacting as if she’s in a bad production of a Tennessee Williams play), the nanny Julia (Julieta Ortiz) and the nanny’s daughter, Carmen (Tara Arroyave).
At times it’s not clear if what we’re seeing is reality or a fantasy in Elyse’s mind. Either way, we’re subjected to a bizarre musical number and an overplayed dinner party meltdown scene — and the admittedly intriguing but strange interactions between Elyse and Dr. Phillip Lewis (Hopkins), who sits in the corner of the room, lit like he’s in an Orson Welles film, and banters with Elyse, who in their first session wears an ultra-tight mini-skirt, a white blouse and an untied bow tie, as if she just got off her shift at a swanky steakhouse.
Wiping away a tear, Elyse says, “I hate crying, it’s so silly to cry. It’s stupid.”
“Who told you that crying is stupid?” asks the good doctor.
“My mother. That’s a beautiful tie. I love that color, burgundy red. Did your wife pick that out for you?”
Wait. What now?
“Elyse” goes from dull and unfocused to flying right off the rails in the second half of the film, which switches to color (just like “The Wizard of Oz”!), as Elyse is rendered catatonic by a tragedy and is hospitalized and given heavy doses of meds and electroconvulsive shock therapy treatments. This presents an opportunity to introduce a French American male nurse (Anthony Apel), who takes quite the interest in Elyse and seems to be falling in love with her. Finally, mercifully, we reach the laughably bogus conclusion, with an epilogue that feels forced and rings absolutely false. At least “Elyse” is consistent to the very end.
Consistently awful.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--5 shot, 2 killed, Thursday in Chicago

5 shot, 2 killed, Thursday in Chicago

Two people were killed , including a 16-year-old girl , and three others injured in shootings Thursday across Chicago .
The teenage girl was in an alley about 7:10 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Kedzie Avenue when someone opened fire , striking her in the head , Chicago police said .
She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she died , according to police .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified her as Lizzette Mata .
Hours earlier , a retired Chicago firefighter was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with would-be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Side .
Dwain Williams , 65 , had left a popcorn shop , Lets Get Poppin ’ , at 11758 S. Western Ave. , and walked to his vehicle when a dark-colored sedan pulled up and four men got out , authorities said .
There was an exchange of gunfire , and Williams , who lived in the Longwood Manor neighborhood , was shot in the abdomen , authorities said .
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he was pronounced dead .
In non-fatal shootings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Noble Square on the North Side .
He was stopped at a red light about 11:35 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Division Street when someone in a silver SUV fired shots , police said .
He suffered a gunshot wound to the right leg and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
A 24-year-old man was shot in the Ford City neighborhood on the Southwest Side .
He was traveling in a vehicle about 11:20 p.m. in the 7600 block of South Pulaski Road when someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to Christ Hospital in fair condition , according to police .
Early Thursday morning a 42-year-old man was shot in Chatham on the South Side .
About 1:10 a.m. , he was pulling into a garage in the 8600 block of South Indiana Avenue , when two men walked up to him and fired shots , police said .
He was struck in the right ankle and brought to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatally Wednesday in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Two people were killed, including a 16-year-old girl, and three others injured in shootings Thursday across Chicago.
The teenage girl was in an alley about 7:10 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Kedzie Avenue when someone opened fire, striking her in the head, Chicago police said. Lizzette Mata was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Hours earlier, a retired Chicago firefighter was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with would-be carjackers in Morgan Park on the Far South Side. Dwain Williams, 65, had left a popcorn shop, Lets Get Poppin’, at 11758 S. Western Ave., and walked to his vehicle when a dark-colored sedan pulled up and four men got out, authorities said.
There was an exchange of gunfire, and Williams, who lived in the Longwood Manor neighborhood, was shot in the abdomen, authorities said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
In non-fatal shootings, a 32-year-old man was shot Thursday night in Noble Square on the North Side. He was stopped at a red light about 11:35 p.m. in the 1300 block of West Division Street when someone in a silver SUV fired shots, police said. He suffered a gunshot wound to the right leg and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.
A 24-year-old man was shot in the Ford City neighborhood on the Southwest Side. He was traveling in a vehicle about 11:20 p.m. in the 7600 block of South Pulaski Road when someone in a silver SUV fired shots, police said. He suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to Christ Hospital in fair condition, according to police.
Early Thursday morning a 42-year-old man was shot in Chatham on the South Side. About 1:10 a.m., he was pulling into a garage in the 8600 block of South Indiana Avenue, when two men walked up to him and fired shots, police said. He was struck in the right ankle and brought to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.
Nine people were shot, two fatally, Wednesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--Four people charged in Lincoln Park armed robbery

Four people face charges for an armed robbery Tuesday in Lincoln Park on the North Side , Chicago police said .
Officers followed the pings of a stolen cellphone and arrested the group within 30 minutes of the alleged robbery , according to police .
About 8:55 p.m. , two gunmen approached two 18-year-old men in the 2600 block of North Greenview Avenue , demanded their belongings and ran off , police said .
Within minutes , one of the 18-year-old men was able to ping the location of his stolen phone and officers found a vehicle that matched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western Avenue , Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli said in an email .
Officers pulled the driver over and inside the vehicle found a gun , a replica gun , the victims ’ property and miscellaneous credit and gift cards under various names , Bartoli said .
The four people inside the vehicle were placed under arrest .
Darvea McClay , 18 , was charged with three felony counts of armed robbery , one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Nov. 20 armed robbery of a 26-year-old man in the 5000 block of North Rockwell Street , according to police .
Daijah Brown , 19 , and Brittany Polk , 22 , were each charged with two felony counts of armed robbery , police said .
A 17-year-old boy was also charged with two felony counts of armed robbery and one charge for possession of a pellet gun , police said .
The four people are expected to appear in bond court Friday .

Four people face charges for an armed robbery Tuesday in Lincoln Park on the North Side, Chicago police said.
Officers followed the pings of a stolen cellphone and arrested the group within 30 minutes of the alleged robbery, according to police.
About 8:55 p.m., two gunmen approached two 18-year-old men in the 2600 block of North Greenview Avenue, demanded their belongings and ran off, police said.
Within minutes, one of the 18-year-old men was able to ping the location of his stolen phone and officers found a vehicle that matched the pings near the 2600 block of North Western Avenue, Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli said in an email.
Officers pulled the driver over and inside the vehicle found a gun, a replica gun, the victims’ property and miscellaneous credit and gift cards under various names, Bartoli said. The four people inside the vehicle were placed under arrest.
Darvea McClay, 18, was charged with three felony counts of armed robbery, one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine, police said.
McClay was also allegedly involved in the Nov. 20 armed robbery of a 26-year-old man in the 5000 block of North Rockwell Street, according to police.
Daijah Brown, 19, and Brittany Polk, 22, were each charged with two felony counts of armed robbery, police said.
A 17-year-old boy was also charged with two felony counts of armed robbery and one charge for possession of a pellet gun, police said.
The four people are expected to appear in bond court Friday.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--Three people injured in Austin crash

Three people injured in Austin crash

Three people were injured in a vehicle crash early Friday in Austin on the West Side .
About 12:20 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ driving southbound in the 500 block of South Central Avenue at a high rate of @ @ @ @ @ and crashed into a pole , Chicago police said .
A woman sitting in the @ @ @ @ @ Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition , police said .
A 19-year-old man , also @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle , was taken to Stroger Hospital , while another 19-year-old man , riding @ @ @ @ @ transported to Mount Sinai Hospital , police said .
Both men were listed in good @ @ @ @ @ was not injured and refused medical assistance .
No other injuries were reported and citations @ @ @

Three people were injured in a vehicle crash early Friday in Austin on the West Side.
About 12:20 a.m., a 22-year-old man was driving southbound in the 500 block of South Central Avenue at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed into a pole, Chicago police said.
A woman sitting in the rear seat was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, police said.
A 19-year-old man, also in the rear seat of the vehicle, was taken to Stroger Hospital, while another 19-year-old man, riding in the front, was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.
Both men were listed in good condition.
The 22-year-old driver was not injured and refused medical assistance.
No other injuries were reported and citations are pending.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--Len Kasper leaving Cubs’ TV booth for White Sox’ radio booth

If any of the players remaining from the Cubs ’ World Series championship core left the team , it wouldn @ @ @ @ @ as this departure .
A source confirmed that Cubs TV voice Len Kasper is leaving @ @ @ @ @ spot in the White Sox ’ radio booth .
Kasper , who has been with @ @ @ @ @ , will join analyst Darrin Jackson on the Sox ’ new home , ESPN 1000 @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , Fox Sports ’ Chris Myers will replace Kasper next to analyst Jim Deshaies @ @ @ @ @ on Marquee Sports Network .
Andy Masur worked with Jackson last season in what amounted @ @ @ @ @ replaced longtime Sox voice Ed Farmer , who died April 1 .
Kasper ’ s @ @ @ @ @ will be announced Friday morning on ESPN 1000 .

If any of the players remaining from the Cubs’ World Series championship core left the team, it wouldn’t be as stunning as this departure.
Cubs TV voice Len Kasper is leaving to fill the vacant play-by-play spot in the White Sox’ radio booth. Kasper, who has been with the Cubs for 16 years, will join analyst Darrin Jackson on the Sox’ new home, ESPN 1000.
Related Len Kasper says leaving Cubs for White Sox is about longtime desire to call baseball on radio
According to NBC Sports Chicago, Fox Sports’ Chris Myers will replace Kasper next to analyst Jim Deshaies in the Cubs’ booth on Marquee Sports Network.
Andy Masur worked with Jackson last season in what amounted to a tryout. Masur replaced longtime Sox voice Ed Farmer, who died April 1.
Kasper’s arrival on the South Side was announced Friday morning on ESPN 1000.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--60-year-old man stabbed, critically wounded during argument in Park Manor

A 60-year-old man is in critical condition Thursday after being stabbed during an argument in Park Manor on the South @ @ @ @ @ stabbed in the abdomen by someone he knew about 8:45 p.m. after an argument inside @ @ @ @ @ block of South Calumet Avenue , Chicago police said .
The man was taken to @ @ @ @ @ Center in critical condition , police said .

A 60-year-old man is in critical condition Thursday after being stabbed during an argument in Park Manor on the South Side.
The man was stabbed in the abdomen by someone he knew about 8:45 p.m. after an argument inside an apartment in the 7000 block of South Calumet Avenue, Chicago police said.
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said.
Area One detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--Horoscope for Friday, Dec. 4, 2020

Horoscope for Friday, Dec. 4, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 4 to 7:15 a.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Cancer into Leo .
This is a lovely , fun-loving day because the moon is in your fellow fire sign making you want to seek out pleasure , fun conversations , playful activities with children , romance , and artistic diversions .
Enjoy your day !
Even though it ’ s Friday , you might want to cocoon at home or crash early because you long for the privacy and comfort of the familiar surroundings of your home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pamper yourself .
Your focus on partners and close friends is still strong ; however , today you feel a shift in the air .
You want a little more action .
You want to pick up the pace .
You want to change of scenery and maybe a short trip ?
Avoid boring people .
It ’ s Friday and many people want to party and so do you .
However , you ’ re also prepared to work and earn money .
You might also want to spend money because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into one of your money houses .
( For 48 hours . )
Get busy !
Today the moon is in your sign ( for the next two days ) .
This will boost your good fortune and make you a little bit luckier , which is why you can ask for what you want or go after what you want because the odds are pretty good that you will succeed .
Even though it ’ s Friday , you feel low-key .
You ’ re happy to keep a low profile or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you will enjoy chatting to others , perhaps online .
You will also enjoy your surroundings .
Nevertheless , you want to retire from the busyness of everything around you .
This is a good day to talk about your hopes and dreams for the future with a friend to see whether or not they are viable .
You will enjoy any discussion because you have a strong need to communicate to others today .
You might also attract money to you .
( We like . )
You are a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that today , personal details about your private life seem to be apparent to others .
People might be talking about you .
Keep this in mind in case you have to do some damage control .
You feel good today because the moon is in your fellow fire sign , and it is also going through your “ home ” in your chart .
This triggers feelings within you that make want to travel and do whatever you can to get a change of scenery .
You want stimulation and adventure !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , you really want things to be low key .
No fanfare , please .
Discussions about shared property , banking matters and inheritances might take place .
You might relax with an artistic , creative friend .
Today and tomorrow , the moon will be opposite your sign , which means you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others .
Yes , this involves an element of compromise and accommodation .
But who is better at this than you ?
You are the networker extraordinaire of the zodiac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ please you to feel that you ’ re getting better organized and running your life more efficiently .
Ideally , you want to also do something so that you feel you ’ re improving your health .
These are all good things .
If Your Birthday Is Today Rapper , songwriter , businessman Jay-Z ( 1969 ) shares your birthday .
You are intelligent with strong beliefs .
However , you also respect the beliefs of others , and you love a good debate .
This year you will start to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About time !
Focus on building solid foundations now and for the future .
Work with purpose .
Physical exercise will be important , which is why you will enjoy physical activities and sports .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 4 to 7:15 a.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Cancer into Leo.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a lovely, fun-loving day because the moon is in your fellow fire sign making you want to seek out pleasure, fun conversations, playful activities with children, romance, and artistic diversions. Enjoy your day!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Even though it’s Friday, you might want to cocoon at home or crash early because you long for the privacy and comfort of the familiar surroundings of your home. Order in “take out.” Relax and pamper yourself.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Your focus on partners and close friends is still strong; however, today you feel a shift in the air. You want a little more action. You want to pick up the pace. You want to change of scenery and maybe a short trip? Avoid boring people.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
It’s Friday and many people want to party and so do you. However, you’re also prepared to work and earn money. You might also want to spend money because today, the moon has just moved into one of your money houses. (For 48 hours.) Get busy!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today the moon is in your sign (for the next two days). This will boost your good fortune and make you a little bit luckier, which is why you can ask for what you want or go after what you want because the odds are pretty good that you will succeed.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Even though it’s Friday, you feel low-key. You’re happy to keep a low profile or hide at home. Because of Venus, you will enjoy chatting to others, perhaps online. You will also enjoy your surroundings. Nevertheless, you want to retire from the busyness of everything around you.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This is a good day to talk about your hopes and dreams for the future with a friend to see whether or not they are viable. You will enjoy any discussion because you have a strong need to communicate to others today. You might also attract money to you. (We like.)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You are a private person. Therefore, you should know that today, personal details about your private life seem to be apparent to others. People might be talking about you. Keep this in mind in case you have to do some damage control.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You feel good today because the moon is in your fellow fire sign, and it is also going through your “home” in your chart. This triggers feelings within you that make want to travel and do whatever you can to get a change of scenery. You want stimulation and adventure! Good luck.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Although you feel friendly today, you really want things to be low key. No fanfare, please. Discussions about shared property, banking matters and inheritances might take place. You might relax with an artistic, creative friend.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today and tomorrow, the moon will be opposite your sign, which means you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. Yes, this involves an element of compromise and accommodation. But who is better at this than you? You are the networker extraordinaire of the zodiac!
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Whatever you do, it will please you to feel that you’re getting better organized and running your life more efficiently. Ideally, you want to also do something so that you feel you’re improving your health. These are all good things.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Rapper, songwriter, businessman Jay-Z (1969) shares your birthday. You are intelligent with strong beliefs. However, you also respect the beliefs of others, and you love a good debate. This year you will start to see the benefit of all your hard work. About time! Focus on building solid foundations now and for the future. Work with purpose. Physical exercise will be important, which is why you will enjoy physical activities and sports.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-03--2 toddlers among 4 injured in Austin crash

Two toddlers were hurt and a woman was critically injured in a crash Thursday in Austin on the West Side @ @ @ @ @ north about 8:35 p.m. when he lost control of his red SUV in the 800 @ @ @ @ @ , striking a gate and a concrete barrier , Chicago police said .
A 4-year-old @ @ @ @ @ the back seat were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ was seat was in critical condition at the same hospital .
The driver was also @ @ @ @ @ he was in fair condition , police said .
Chicago fire officials initially said all @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Citations are pending against the driver , police said .

Two toddlers were hurt and a woman was critically injured in a crash Thursday in Austin on the West Side.
A man was driving north about 8:35 p.m. when he lost control of his red SUV in the 800 block of North Cicero Avenue, striking a gate and a concrete barrier, Chicago police said.
A 4-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl in the back seat were taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said. A woman in the passenger was seat was in critical condition at the same hospital.
The driver was also hospitalized at Stroger, where he was in fair condition, police said.
Chicago fire officials initially said all four people were in serious-to-critical condition.
Citations are pending against the driver, police said.