chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Low-rated nursing homes in Cook County fare worst in COVID-19 deaths (LIVE UPDATES)

The worst rated nursing homes in Cook County have the highest concentration of deaths from the coronavirus — and some have failed inspections during the pandemic , a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found .
The newspaper studied about 120 longterm-care facilities listed by the state as having at least one resident who came down with the disease or died .
About 28 % of the deaths from COVID-19 complications have happened in nursing homes with the lowest federal rating and only 6 % in the facilities with the highest rating .
That disparity shows the state should focus testing and inspections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Read the full story by Frank Main , Lauren FitzPatrick and Caroline Hurley here .
Travelers aboard Delta Air Lines are about to have fewer options when it comes to airports in major metro areas .
Delta announced Friday that it is cutting service at 10 U.S. airports serving cities including New York , Los Angeles and Chicago as part of a previously announced 85 % overall reduction in its service schedule .
In each case , Delta says the airports where it is temporarily pulling service are relatively close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use as an alternative .
So in New York , Delta ’ s Westchester County Airport service will cease , but flyers can still get to LaGuardia .
Flights will stop at Stewart International , but John F. Kennedy International is the close-by option .
No longer can Delta customers use Hollywood Burbank Airport and Long Beach in Southern California , but Los Angeles International flights will continue .
And Chicago Midway is out , but Chicago O ’ Hare remains in .
The changes take effect Wednesday and will stay until September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutbacks as an attempt to reduce its employees ’ possible exposure to the coronavirus .
5:47 p.m. No ‘ serious red flags ’ found in state inspection of Cicero nursing home hit by coronavirus A Cook County judge Friday denied a request to transfer patients from a west suburban nursing home where nine residents and one worker died from complications related to coronavirus .
But although a court-ordered inspection by state health officials uncovered no “ red flags ” at City View MultiCare Center , Judge Alison Conlon said she remained worried about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed Cicero ’ s public health department to make two unannounced visits at the facility within the next 28 days .
“ I see a visit as an outgrowth , and a limited outgrowth of the powers to regulate the public health , safety and welfare that the town director of public health already has , ” Conlon said in her ruling .
Read the full report from Matthew Hendrickson here .
A century of racist attacks detailed in the new PBS documentary series “ Asian Americans ” might have felt like ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But through the lens of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in China and is now hitting the U.S. , being painted as a foreign enemy has become all too familiar .
Hundreds of Asian Americans have reported verbal and physical assaults since the nation ’ s first infections surfaced in January .
Even in cities with large Asian communities , people have hurled century-old slurs like “ Chinaman.
” Daniel Dae Kim , a Korean American actor known for TV ’ s “ Lost ” and “ Hawaii Five-0 , ” faced racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Instagram in March .
Kim , who narrates the documentary with actress Tamlyn Tomita , has recovered and feels “ back to 100 % .
” “ It ’ s been very eye-opening to see how much prejudice still exists in America and how deep seated it seems to be .
But it ’ s part of the price one pays for speaking out , even against something as seemingly universal as injustice , ” Kim said in an email to The Associated Press .
Learn more about the five-episode series , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , here .
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence ’ s press secretary has the coronavirus , the White House said Friday , making her the second person who works at the White House complex known to test positive for the virus this week .
President Donald Trump , who publicly identified the affected Pence aide , said he was “ not worried ” about the virus spreading in the White House .
Nonetheless , officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex .
Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent contact with Pence but not with the president .
She is married to Stephen Miller , a top Trump adviser .
The White House had no immediate comment on whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working out of the White House .
3:01 p.m. Lightfoot eyeing ‘ range of revenue-generating options ’ to recover money lost to coronavirus Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday she ’ s looking at a “ range of potential revenue-generating options ” to cover declining revenues and rising costs tied to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ straightforward and very transparent ” with Chicagoans if and when she concluded tax increases were needed to plug the giant hole in her 2020 budget caused by the stay-at-home shutdown of the city ’ s economy .
“ We ’ re looking at a range of potential revenue-generating options .
Look , the reality is , I don ’ t think there ’ s any city budget across the country that is not gon na have to look at one-time measures to put yourself back on track , ” the mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid those in this administration .
But , the truth is , we ’ re probably gon na have to look at those as well given the magnitude of the challenge that we ’ re facing — not only to make sure that we ’ re steady for 2020 but looking to 2021 and beyond.
” Lightfoot said increasing property taxes is “ always the last choice , ” even though it is the most reliable source of revenue .
But it is “ particularly the last choice in this environment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the Great Depression.
” Read the full report from Fran Spielman here .
2:33 p.m. 130 more Illinois coronavirus deaths as state hits new high for testing Officials on Friday said another 130 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois as the state reached a milestone of receiving more than 20,000 tests results in a single day .
The more testing , the more information health officials have to understand where the virus is spreading , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In total , 3,241 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois , and with 2,887 new cases reported , the state has seen 73,760 people test positive overall .
The state received 20,671 tests results on Thursday , which is the largest number the state has received in a day .
Test results still vary from 24 hours to about four days depending on the lab , Pritzker ’ s office said .
The virus has spread to an additional county — downstate Pope County — and is now in 98 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lightfoot on Friday unveiled a “ framework ” to gradually re-open the Chicago economy and talked about the possibility of re-opening portions of the lakefront and allowing shaggy-haired Chicagoans to return to their barbershops and hair salons .
With Chicago now stuck in Phase 2 , Lightfoot was asked what Phase 3 might look like when the city meets the strict “ epidemiological ” markers she has established to move on to that next step .
Might she consider re-opening the iconic gathering places she closed because Chicagoans could not be trusted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of its parks and beaches , the 606 Trail , the Chicago Riverwalk and neighborhood playgrounds ?
“ When I made the hard decision—but , I believe , the appropriate decision—to close down the lakefront—it ’ s because we talked , we talked , we talked and people ignored it .
Now , the weather is even nicer .
The lakefront is beautiful .
It ’ s an incredible attraction .
We can ’ t go back to where we were , ” the mayor said .
“ People have been sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even having segmented hours for particular types of activities .
I think those are really interesting ideas .
So , we ’ re gon na having more conversations with our parks department , but also with the local aldermen who touch the lakefront and figure out a plan that makes sense.
” Lightfoot was criticized for getting a haircut at a time when salons and barber shops were closed .
She responded by saying she ’ s doing interviews on national and international TV and needed to maintain her public appearance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether those “ one-on-one , appointment-only ” businesses would be allowed to open in Phase 3 for those Chicagoans whose hair has been growing wild during the stay-at-home order and all of the women who desperately need to have their roots done .
The definition also applies to accountants and attorneys .
“ They ’ re gon na have to have a very tight plan to make sure that they protect their workers and they protect their customers .
But , I can see some of those settings being appropriate in phase 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lightfoot said .
Getting there won ’ t be easy .
Read the full report from Fran Spielman here .
1:30 p.m. Artists honor first responders with murals in Medical District Artist Dwight White II has seen a nurse who lives in his University Village apartment building coming and going recently at late hours .
He ’ s talked to her from opposite sides of the elevator , pleasantries mostly , but never got her name .
She has no idea she ’ s the inspiration for a mural White just painted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dogs , 1000 S. Leavitt St. , in which she ’ s dressed like Captain America .
“ She sparked my inspiration , medical workers are kind of the glue holding the world together right now , ” said White , 26 .
The artwork is part of Murals for Medical Relief , a campaign that ’ s tapping local artists to paint murals on buildings near the Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side honoring medical workers and first responders .
The campaign ’ s website — muralsformedicalrelief.com — has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Click here to read the full story and see more murals in the Medical District .
12:48 p.m. NASCAR cancels next month ’ s event at Chicagoland Speedway as part of revised schedule Though NASCAR got the green light to return to action this month amid the coronavirus pandemic , there won ’ t be racing at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet anytime soon .
As part of the revised NASCAR schedule , Chicagoland ’ s NASCAR Cup Series weekend , which were originally scheduled for June 18-21 , has been moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 , NASCAR announced Friday .
“ The difficult decision to realign our race events was a combination of where we fell on the schedule , proximity to NASCAR ’ s teams and the safety and well-being of our community and larger NASCAR industry , ” Chicagoland president Scott Paddock said in a statement Friday .
“ We will miss the roar of the engines at Chicagoland Speedway this season , but we will be rooting for and supporting our NASCAR colleagues at Darlington Raceway as competition returns on Sunday , May 17.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenney here .
11:28 a.m. Economy vs. epidemiology ?
Pritzker gears reopening to science and saving lives – but business leaders call plan ‘ misguided ’ Gov .
J.B. Pritzker says he ’ s saving lives with his plan to gradually reopen parts of the Illinois economy , but business leaders say it ’ s costing the livelihoods of more than a million residents left jobless by the coronavirus shutdown .
As state officials announced another unprecedented flood of claims for unemployment benefits Thursday , the Illinois Chamber of Commerce slammed Pritzker ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Illinois Department of Employment Security processed more claims during the first month of the pandemic than it did during all of last year — and that number nearly doubled in the second month of the crisis , Pritzker said .
But the state Chamber of Commerce says Illinois ’ staggering jobless figure “ reaffirms the inadequacy ” of the plan Pritzker released earlier this week , which splits the state into four regions and allows each to slowly reopen along a five-phase plan by meeting certain medical benchmarks .
Read the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10:00 a.m .
Churches target Pritzker ’ s Restore Illinois plan in new federal court challenge Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s battle against the coronavirus faces a new religious challenge in federal court , this time from churches in Chicago and Niles opposing his Restore Illinois plan and insisting on the right to worship with extensive social distancing guidelines in place .
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in Niles asked for a temporary restraining order Friday .
Just last week , a church west of Rockford launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved on to the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
But the latest lawsuit points to Pritzker ’ s Restore Illinois plan — unveiled just this week — and the two churches laid out proposed social distancing guidelines they would implement if allowed to move forward .
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church has a 40,000-square-foot campus with 750 seats in its main auditorium and 550 seats in overflow rooms , according to the lawsuit .
Logos Baptist Ministries has a 36,000-square-foot campus with 425 seats in its main auditorium and an overflow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
8:09 a.m. Chicago-area singer has been trapped on a cruise ship for 2 months For the first 22 years of her life , Julia Lindsey had never seen the sea .
Now , it ’ s all she sees — day after day after day — from her cabin aboard the Celebrity Infinity cruise ship .
Stuck onboard , she ’ s only been able to gaze out first at ever-elusive Miami and now at the Bahamas .
“ I ’ m very , very frustrated , ” says Lindsey , 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who grew up in Poplar Grove , about 75 miles northwest of downtown Chicago .
She ’ s been trapped for nearly two months .
Maybe you heard in March that people were stranded on cruise ships at American ports because of coronavirus concerns .
Many eventually were able to disembark .
Not Lindsey , who ’ s among an estimated 100,000 crew members still stuck on cruise ships in or near American waters by the COVID-19 pandemic .
They ’ re caught in a dispute between cruise lines and the U.S. Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can disembark only if company executives accept responsibility for making sure that process follows CDC guidelines .
The cruise lines have refused , though Michael Bayley , chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises , which owns the Celebrity Infinity , has told employees the company now will agree so its workers finally can go home .
Reporter Stefano Esposito has more of her story here .
7:14 a.m. Child stricken with mysterious illness linked to COVID-19 being treated at Chicago area hospital A child is now being treated at a Chicago area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be related to COVID-19 .
The syndrome presents symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome , including rash , persistent fever , vomiting , diarrhea , red eyes , swollen lymph nodes and abdominal problems .
The Chicago area case was confirmed at Advocate Children ’ s Hospital , though it ’ s unclear whether the child is being treated at the Oak Lawn or Park Ridge campus .
“ This appears to be a very complex complication of COVID-19 , ” said Dr. Frank Belmonte , the hospital ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently learning new things about this virus every day .
This is the first indication that children may be more negatively impacted than we first expected.
” The mysterious sickness was first identified in children in Europe and is now beginning to crop up in the United States , according to a statement from Advocate , which noted that the illness has affected “ children as young as two and well into the teens.
” Read the full story from Tom Schuba here .
6:28 a.m. Groups demand better pay , protections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred protesters in their cars and on their bikes convened downtown Thursday afternoon to demand more protective equipment and hazard pay for front-line workers throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
Protesters also called on elected officials to tailor relief efforts for majority black and Latino areas of the city as those neighborhoods have suffered the greatest job losses and highest COVID-19 infections during the pandemic .
“ Black and brown communities have been disinvested for years in Chicago — this isn ’ t news to anyone — but these neighborhoods during the pandemic are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to business as usual isn ’ t going to cut it , ” said Candis Castillo , a board member of United Working Families , a political organization that organized Thursday ’ s protest with dozens of community groups that came together as the Right to Recovery Coalition .
The coalition is calling for broader policy changes across the board , including universal health care , a pause on immigration raids and deportations , 20 days paid emergency leave , free grocery and medicine deliveries for seniors and people with disabilities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic subsides .
• The Cook County medical examiner confirmed 99 more deaths related to the COVID-19 outbreak .
• The office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Friday an employee and a detainee at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19 .
• 7 more COVID-19 cases were reported in Chicago Police Department .
• Two people are dead among 85 workers at CPS schools who have tested positive for COVID-19 , officials say .
• Another employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall total to 22 .
• Sheriff ’ s Deputy Richard O ’ Brien , a long-time veteran of the Cook County sheriff ’ s office died Sunday of complications due to the coronavirus .
5:05 p.m .
If you reopen for business early and somebody dies , don ’ t expect your insurance company to bail you out Gov .
J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly said he ’ s delegating enforcement of his stay-at-home order to local governments .
That stance has frustrated some folks who want him to get tougher with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk making martyrs out of them if he did crack down hard ) .
And the governor ’ s position seems to have emboldened some local officials to defy the governor ’ s executive order and open up their economies on their own .
But when local governments refuse to enforce the governor ’ s order , it appears that trial lawyers might step in and insurance companies might take a walk .
A growing number of Downstate sheriffs , state ’ s attorneys and other officials have declared they won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .
The Woodford County state ’ s attorney has said he won ’ t prosecute violators , as has the White County state ’ s attorney .
Johnson County ’ s sheriff is one of several who ’ ve said he also wouldn ’ t arrest anyone for violating the order .
East Peoria ’ s mayor has gone beyond even that , officially allowing the “ opening ” of several businesses in his city on May 1 that were ordered closed by the governor ’ s executive order , including hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreational facilities .
On May 15 , bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity , and churches and theaters also will be allowed to reopen on that date .
But the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association has a message for those renegade municipalities and businesses preparing to throw open their doors : Watch out for lawsuits .
Read the full column from Rich Miller here .
12:12 p.m.
Mother ’ s Day in the age of coronavirus : With social distancing , can she feel the love ?
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was making my almost daily call to my 93-year-old mother who I haven ’ t seen in six weeks — not because I ’ m a bad daughter , but because of COVID-19 .
Before the pandemic , I ’ d spent most weekends with her .
I was at her place the March 21 weekend the shelter-in-place order took effect .
Surprised the outbreak had come to this , we stayed together longer than usual .
I left her home on March 24 .
Since then , I haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her smile that melts stress ; not kissed those furrows on her forehead that are filled with stories .
Her age and underlying conditions increasing her coronavirus risk , Mom ’ s on lockdown , her caregiver furloughed .
No visitors allowed , not even her seven kids — except the one bringing weekly groceries , and another cooking weekly meals Mom can grab out of the freezer .
Now her children are staring down Mother ’ s Day , wondering how you mark a holiday that acknowledges so much love and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m .
Essential workers include those who clean our wastewater to protect our environment during pandemic Have you thought about what happens to your water once it goes down the your drain or after you flush your toilet ?
In most of Cook County , it ends up at one of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and its water treatment plants .
These reclamation plants are run by dedicated professionals : plant operators , engineers , pipefitters , laborers , machinists and so many others .
These front-line workers are backed by many more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our wastewater is cleaned and our environment is protected .
MWRD essential staff , like other essential workers , come in and perform their duties despite the risk of exposure to COVID-19 .
Contact with other workers and the water reclamation process increases their odds of contracting the virus .
While MWRD takes many precautions to reduce these risks for staff , the threat remains while they perform their responsibilities .
The next time you wash your hands , flush your toilet or have a glass of water , take a moment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect our water , our communities and the environment .
Read more letters to the editor here .

On Friday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled her five-step plan to reopen Chicago. Her plan offers a “framework” to gradually re-open the Chicago economy. Chicago is currently in Phase 2. She talked about the plan with the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. She also discussed revenue-generating ideas that would help the city recover economically.
Here’s what happened in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago and around the state.
News
8:55 p.m. Nonprofits distribute thousands of pounds of food, PPE in Bronzeville
Volunteers with SaveMoneySaveLife and Social Change pack boxes of food to distribute to members of the community outside Bronzeville Academy Charter School on the South Side during the coronavirus pandemic, Friday afternoon, May 8, 2020. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Representatives from community groups, advocacy organizations and churches gathered in Bronzeville Friday afternoon to collect their share of thousands of pounds of food and personal protective equipment intended to ease the burden for those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s no question that the amount of pain that this virus has caused is incredible, but at the same time we have to recognize that a lot of the pain that’s being caused is because of a lack of information, because of a lack of access to resources,” said Todd Belcore, executive director of the nonprofit Social Change, one of the groups organizing the distribution.
“We have to respond to that and we also have to respond to the fact that people are terrified,” he added. “Not just terrified by the prospect of getting the virus but also terrified by the fact that they won’t have food to eat.”
Read the full story by Sam Charles here.
7:20 p.m. Low-rated nursing homes in Cook County fare worst in COVID-19 deaths
The worst rated nursing homes in Cook County have the highest concentration of deaths from the coronavirus — and some have failed inspections during the pandemic, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found.
The newspaper studied about 120 longterm-care facilities listed by the state as having at least one resident who came down with the disease or died.
About 28% of the deaths from COVID-19 complications have happened in nursing homes with the lowest federal rating and only 6% in the facilities with the highest rating.
That disparity shows the state should focus testing and inspections in poorly rated nursing homes, experts said.
Read the full story by Frank Main, Lauren FitzPatrick and Caroline Hurley here.
6:44 p.m. Delta, citing health concerns, drops service to 10 US airports, including Midway
Travelers aboard Delta Air Lines are about to have fewer options when it comes to airports in major metro areas.
Delta announced Friday that it is cutting service at 10 U.S. airports serving cities including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as part of a previously announced 85% overall reduction in its service schedule.
In each case, Delta says the airports where it is temporarily pulling service are relatively close to other, larger airports that travelers can use as an alternative.
So in New York, Delta’s Westchester County Airport service will cease, but flyers can still get to LaGuardia. Flights will stop at Stewart International, but John F. Kennedy International is the close-by option.
No longer can Delta customers use Hollywood Burbank Airport and Long Beach in Southern California, but Los Angeles International flights will continue. And Chicago Midway is out, but Chicago O’Hare remains in.
The changes take effect Wednesday and will stay until September, the airline said, portraying the cutbacks as an attempt to reduce its employees’ possible exposure to the coronavirus.
Read the full report here.
5:47 p.m. No ‘serious red flags’ found in state inspection of Cicero nursing home hit by coronavirus
A Cook County judge Friday denied a request to transfer patients from a west suburban nursing home where nine residents and one worker died from complications related to coronavirus.
But although a court-ordered inspection by state health officials uncovered no “red flags” at City View MultiCare Center, Judge Alison Conlon said she remained worried about the 200-plus confirmed COVID-19 cases there and allowed Cicero’s public health department to make two unannounced visits at the facility within the next 28 days.
“I see a visit as an outgrowth, and a limited outgrowth of the powers to regulate the public health, safety and welfare that the town director of public health already has,” Conlon said in her ruling.
Read the full report from Matthew Hendrickson here.
5:25 p.m. ‘Asian Americans’ PBS documentary explores prejudice and perseverance amid coronavirus
A century of racist attacks detailed in the new PBS documentary series “Asian Americans” might have felt like ancient history just a few months ago.
But through the lens of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in China and is now hitting the U.S., being painted as a foreign enemy has become all too familiar. Hundreds of Asian Americans have reported verbal and physical assaults since the nation’s first infections surfaced in January. Even in cities with large Asian communities, people have hurled century-old slurs like “Chinaman.”
Daniel Dae Kim, a Korean American actor known for TV’s “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-0,” faced racist trolling when he shared his COVID-19 diagnosis on Instagram in March. Kim, who narrates the documentary with actress Tamlyn Tomita, has recovered and feels “back to 100%.”
“It’s been very eye-opening to see how much prejudice still exists in America and how deep seated it seems to be. But it’s part of the price one pays for speaking out, even against something as seemingly universal as injustice,” Kim said in an email to The Associated Press.
Learn more about the five-episode series, which is airing between Monday and Tuesday, here.
4:03 p.m. VP Pence’s spokesperson tests positive for coronavirus
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary has the coronavirus, the White House said Friday, making her the second person who works at the White House complex known to test positive for the virus this week.
President Donald Trump, who publicly identified the affected Pence aide, said he was “not worried” about the virus spreading in the White House. Nonetheless, officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex.
Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller, who tested positive Friday, had been in recent contact with Pence but not with the president. She is married to Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser. The White House had no immediate comment on whether Stephen Miller had been tested or if he was still working out of the White House.
Read the full report here.
3:01 p.m. Lightfoot eyeing ‘range of revenue-generating options’ to recover money lost to coronavirus
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday she’s looking at a “range of potential revenue-generating options” to cover declining revenues and rising costs tied to the coronavirus.
Last month, Lightfoot vowed to be “straightforward and very transparent” with Chicagoans if and when she concluded tax increases were needed to plug the giant hole in her 2020 budget caused by the stay-at-home shutdown of the city’s economy.
On Friday, the tough talk began.
“We’re looking at a range of potential revenue-generating options. Look, the reality is, I don’t think there’s any city budget across the country that is not gonna have to look at one-time measures to put yourself back on track,” the mayor said.
“We’d like to avoid those in this administration. But, the truth is, we’re probably gonna have to look at those as well given the magnitude of the challenge that we’re facing — not only to make sure that we’re steady for 2020 but looking to 2021 and beyond.”
Lightfoot said increasing property taxes is “always the last choice,” even though it is the most reliable source of revenue. But it is “particularly the last choice in this environment, when people are really, really suffering and unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the Great Depression.”
Read the full report from Fran Spielman here.
2:33 p.m. 130 more Illinois coronavirus deaths as state hits new high for testing
Officials on Friday said another 130 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois as the state reached a milestone of receiving more than 20,000 tests results in a single day.
The more testing, the more information health officials have to understand where the virus is spreading, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike have said.
In total, 3,241 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois, and with 2,887 new cases reported, the state has seen 73,760 people test positive overall.
The state received 20,671 tests results on Thursday, which is the largest number the state has received in a day. Test results still vary from 24 hours to about four days depending on the lab, Pritzker’s office said.
The virus has spread to an additional county — downstate Pope County — and is now in 98 of Illinois’ 102 counties.
Reporter Tina Sfondeles has the full story.
1:30 p.m. Here’s how Mayor Lori Lightfoot hopes to reopen Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday unveiled a “framework” to gradually re-open the Chicago economy and talked about the possibility of re-opening portions of the lakefront and allowing shaggy-haired Chicagoans to return to their barbershops and hair salons.
With Chicago now stuck in Phase 2, Lightfoot was asked what Phase 3 might look like when the city meets the strict “epidemiological” markers she has established to move on to that next step.
Might she consider re-opening the iconic gathering places she closed because Chicagoans could not be trusted to maintain social distance: the lakefront and all of its parks and beaches, the 606 Trail, the Chicago Riverwalk and neighborhood playgrounds?
“When I made the hard decision—but, I believe, the appropriate decision—to close down the lakefront—it’s because we talked, we talked, we talked and people ignored it. Now, the weather is even nicer. The lakefront is beautiful. It’s an incredible attraction. We can’t go back to where we were,” the mayor said.
“People have been sending me….really interesting suggestions about a phased re-opening. Even having segmented hours for particular types of activities. I think those are really interesting ideas. So, we’re gonna having more conversations with our parks department, but also with the local aldermen who touch the lakefront and figure out a plan that makes sense.”
Lightfoot was criticized for getting a haircut at a time when salons and barber shops were closed. She responded by saying she’s doing interviews on national and international TV and needed to maintain her public appearance.
On Friday, the mayor was asked whether those “one-on-one, appointment-only” businesses would be allowed to open in Phase 3 for those Chicagoans whose hair has been growing wild during the stay-at-home order and all of the women who desperately need to have their roots done. The definition also applies to accountants and attorneys.
“They’re gonna have to have a very tight plan to make sure that they protect their workers and they protect their customers. But, I can see some of those settings being appropriate in phase 3, once we get there,” Lightfoot said.
Getting there won’t be easy.
Read the full report from Fran Spielman here.
1:30 p.m. Artists honor first responders with murals in Medical District
Artist Dwight White II painted a mural on the side of Lulu’s Hot Dogs, 1000 S. Leavitt St. Brian Rich/Sun-Times
Artist Dwight White II has seen a nurse who lives in his University Village apartment building coming and going recently at late hours.
He’s talked to her from opposite sides of the elevator, pleasantries mostly, but never got her name.
She has no idea she’s the inspiration for a mural White just painted on the side of Lulu’s Hot Dogs, 1000 S. Leavitt St., in which she’s dressed like Captain America.
“She sparked my inspiration, medical workers are kind of the glue holding the world together right now,” said White, 26.
The artwork is part of Murals for Medical Relief, a campaign that’s tapping local artists to paint murals on buildings near the Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side honoring medical workers and first responders. The campaign’s website — muralsformedicalrelief.com — has a map showing where each mural is located.
Click here to read the full story and see more murals in the Medical District.
12:48 p.m. NASCAR cancels next month’s event at Chicagoland Speedway as part of revised schedule
Though NASCAR got the green light to return to action this month amid the coronavirus pandemic, there won’t be racing at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet anytime soon.
As part of the revised NASCAR schedule, Chicagoland’s NASCAR Cup Series weekend, which were originally scheduled for June 18-21, has been moved to Darlington Raceway on May 17 and May 19, NASCAR announced Friday.
“The difficult decision to realign our race events was a combination of where we fell on the schedule, proximity to NASCAR’s teams and the safety and well-being of our community and larger NASCAR industry,” Chicagoland president Scott Paddock said in a statement Friday. “We will miss the roar of the engines at Chicagoland Speedway this season, but we will be rooting for and supporting our NASCAR colleagues at Darlington Raceway as competition returns on Sunday, May 17.”
Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here.
11:28 a.m. Economy vs. epidemiology? Pritzker gears reopening to science and saving lives – but business leaders call plan ‘misguided’
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s saving lives with his plan to gradually reopen parts of the Illinois economy, but business leaders say it’s costing the livelihoods of more than a million residents left jobless by the coronavirus shutdown.
As state officials announced another unprecedented flood of claims for unemployment benefits Thursday, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce slammed Pritzker’s phased reopening plan as “misguided.”
The Illinois Department of Employment Security processed more claims during the first month of the pandemic than it did during all of last year — and that number nearly doubled in the second month of the crisis, Pritzker said.
But the state Chamber of Commerce says Illinois’ staggering jobless figure “reaffirms the inadequacy” of the plan Pritzker released earlier this week, which splits the state into four regions and allows each to slowly reopen along a five-phase plan by meeting certain medical benchmarks.
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.
10 a.m. Churches target Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan in new federal court challenge
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s battle against the coronavirus faces a new religious challenge in federal court, this time from churches in Chicago and Niles opposing his Restore Illinois plan and insisting on the right to worship with extensive social distancing guidelines in place.
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries in Niles asked for a temporary restraining order Friday. Just last week, a church west of Rockford launched a similar but unsuccessful challenge that has moved on to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
But the latest lawsuit points to Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan — unveiled just this week — and the two churches laid out proposed social distancing guidelines they would implement if allowed to move forward.
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church has a 40,000-square-foot campus with 750 seats in its main auditorium and 550 seats in overflow rooms, according to the lawsuit. Logos Baptist Ministries has a 36,000-square-foot campus with 425 seats in its main auditorium and an overflow room with 100 seats, it said.
Read the full story here.
8:09 a.m. Chicago-area singer has been trapped on a cruise ship for 2 months
For the first 22 years of her life, Julia Lindsey had never seen the sea.
Now, it’s all she sees — day after day after day — from her cabin aboard the Celebrity Infinity cruise ship. Stuck onboard, she’s only been able to gaze out first at ever-elusive Miami and now at the Bahamas.
“I’m very, very frustrated,” says Lindsey, 24, a singer working on the ship who grew up in Poplar Grove, about 75 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
She’s been trapped for nearly two months.
Maybe you heard in March that people were stranded on cruise ships at American ports because of coronavirus concerns. Many eventually were able to disembark.
Not Lindsey, who’s among an estimated 100,000 crew members still stuck on cruise ships in or near American waters by the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re caught in a dispute between cruise lines and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They can disembark only if company executives accept responsibility for making sure that process follows CDC guidelines. The cruise lines have refused, though Michael Bayley, chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises, which owns the Celebrity Infinity, has told employees the company now will agree so its workers finally can go home.
Reporter Stefano Esposito has more of her story here.
7:14 a.m. Child stricken with mysterious illness linked to COVID-19 being treated at Chicago area hospital
A child is now being treated at a Chicago area hospital for a mysterious illness that could be related to COVID-19.
The syndrome presents symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome, including rash, persistent fever, vomiting, diarrhea, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes and abdominal problems. The Chicago area case was confirmed at Advocate Children’s Hospital, though it’s unclear whether the child is being treated at the Oak Lawn or Park Ridge campus.
“This appears to be a very complex complication of COVID-19,” said Dr. Frank Belmonte, the hospital’s chief medical officer. “We are currently learning new things about this virus every day. This is the first indication that children may be more negatively impacted than we first expected.”
The mysterious sickness was first identified in children in Europe and is now beginning to crop up in the United States, according to a statement from Advocate, which noted that the illness has affected “children as young as two and well into the teens.”
Read the full story from Tom Schuba here.
6:28 a.m. Groups demand better pay, protections for front-line workers during pandemic
More than one hundred protesters in their cars and on their bikes convened downtown Thursday afternoon to demand more protective equipment and hazard pay for front-line workers throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters also called on elected officials to tailor relief efforts for majority black and Latino areas of the city as those neighborhoods have suffered the greatest job losses and highest COVID-19 infections during the pandemic.
“Black and brown communities have been disinvested for years in Chicago — this isn’t news to anyone — but these neighborhoods during the pandemic are the hardest hit, and going back to business as usual isn’t going to cut it,” said Candis Castillo, a board member of United Working Families, a political organization that organized Thursday’s protest with dozens of community groups that came together as the Right to Recovery Coalition.
The coalition is calling for broader policy changes across the board, including universal health care, a pause on immigration raids and deportations, 20 days paid emergency leave, free grocery and medicine deliveries for seniors and people with disabilities, and a rent and mortgage moratorium until the pandemic subsides.
Reporter Carlos Ballesteros has the full story.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
5:05 p.m. If you reopen for business early and somebody dies, don’t expect your insurance company to bail you out
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly said he’s delegating enforcement of his stay-at-home order to local governments.
That stance has frustrated some folks who want him to get tougher with violators (although he’d undoubtedly risk making martyrs out of them if he did crack down hard). And the governor’s position seems to have emboldened some local officials to defy the governor’s executive order and open up their economies on their own.
But when local governments refuse to enforce the governor’s order, it appears that trial lawyers might step in and insurance companies might take a walk.
A growing number of Downstate sheriffs, state’s attorneys and other officials have declared they won’t be enforcing the governor’s stay-at-home order. The Woodford County state’s attorney has said he won’t prosecute violators, as has the White County state’s attorney. Johnson County’s sheriff is one of several who’ve said he also wouldn’t arrest anyone for violating the order.
East Peoria’s mayor has gone beyond even that, officially allowing the “opening” of several businesses in his city on May 1 that were ordered closed by the governor’s executive order, including hair salons, spas, gyms and indoor recreational facilities. On May 15, bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity, and churches and theaters also will be allowed to reopen on that date.
But the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association has a message for those renegade municipalities and businesses preparing to throw open their doors: Watch out for lawsuits.
Read the full column from Rich Miller here.
12:12 p.m. Mother’s Day in the age of coronavirus: With social distancing, can she feel the love?
“Hi Mom, whatcha doin?”
Two days before Mother’s Day, I was making my almost daily call to my 93-year-old mother who I haven’t seen in six weeks — not because I’m a bad daughter, but because of COVID-19.
Before the pandemic, I’d spent most weekends with her.
I was at her place the March 21 weekend the shelter-in-place order took effect. Surprised the outbreak had come to this, we stayed together longer than usual.
I left her home on March 24. Since then, I haven’t seen those eyes that see through me, her smile that melts stress; not kissed those furrows on her forehead that are filled with stories.
Her age and underlying conditions increasing her coronavirus risk, Mom’s on lockdown, her caregiver furloughed. No visitors allowed, not even her seven kids — except the one bringing weekly groceries, and another cooking weekly meals Mom can grab out of the freezer.
Now her children are staring down Mother’s Day, wondering how you mark a holiday that acknowledges so much love and sacrifice from a social distance.
Check out Maudlyne Ihejirika’s full column here.
6:07 a.m. Essential workers include those who clean our wastewater to protect our environment during pandemic
Have you thought about what happens to your water once it goes down the your drain or after you flush your toilet? In most of Cook County, it ends up at one of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and its water treatment plants.
These reclamation plants are run by dedicated professionals: plant operators, engineers, pipefitters, laborers, machinists and so many others. These front-line workers are backed by many more support staff who continue to ensure that our wastewater is cleaned and our environment is protected.
MWRD essential staff, like other essential workers, come in and perform their duties despite the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Contact with other workers and the water reclamation process increases their odds of contracting the virus. While MWRD takes many precautions to reduce these risks for staff, the threat remains while they perform their responsibilities.
The next time you wash your hands, flush your toilet or have a glass of water, take a moment to remember the MWRD staff who are working to protect our water, our communities and the environment.
Read more letters to the editor here.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--3 more Chicago Police Department employees test positive for COVID-19

Chicago police announced Friday three more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of cases in the department to 490 @ @ @ @ @ , 466 are officers and 24 are civilian employees , police said .
A total @ @ @ @ @ positive test results but the department ’ s medical section has yet to confirm one @ @ @ @ @ said .
The department announced the death of a third officer from complications of the @ @ @ @ @ Illinois Health officials Friday announced 130 more COVID-19 deaths , raising the toll in the @ @ @ @ @ far , the state has seen 73,760 people test positive overall .

Chicago police announced Friday three more cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in the department to 490.
Of the confirmed cases, 466 are officers and 24 are civilian employees, police said.
A total of 491 employees have reported positive test results but the department’s medical section has yet to confirm one of those cases, police said.
The department announced the death of a third officer from complications of the coronavirus on April 17.
Illinois Health officials Friday announced 130 more COVID-19 deaths, raising the toll in the state to 3,241. So far, the state has seen 73,760 people test positive overall.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--2020 Gerber baby is California’s Magnolia Earl

This year ’ s Gerber baby has been chosen !
Gerber ’ s 10th Annual Photo Search winner is Magnolia Earl , who will represent the brand as this year ’ s spokesbaby .
The soon-to-be one-year-old Magnolia , from Ross , California ( her birthday is Saturday ) , was chosen among 327,000 contestants who submitted their photos , videos and stories through Gerber ’ s contest website .
Magnolia and her family were rewarded a $ 25,000 cash prize , $ 1,000 in Gerber Childrenswear , $ 1,000 from Walmart and phones with a year of free unlimited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Magnolia is the first Gerber baby who was adopted , becoming the company ’ s latest groundbreaking spokesbaby in recent years .
“ At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity , Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together : our desire to love and be loved , our need to find belonging , and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology , ” said Bill Partyka , president and CEO of Gerber .
The contest , launched in 2010 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years from parents who see their babies in Gerber ’ s iconic baby logo , which features the original Gerber baby , Ann Turner Cook .

This year’s Gerber baby has been chosen!
Gerber’s 10th Annual Photo Search winner is Magnolia Earl, who will represent the brand as this year’s spokesbaby.
The soon-to-be one-year-old Magnolia, from Ross, California (her birthday is Saturday), was chosen among 327,000 contestants who submitted their photos, videos and stories through Gerber’s contest website.
Magnolia and her family were rewarded a $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 in Gerber Childrenswear, $1,000 from Walmart and phones with a year of free unlimited service from Verizon.
The company said Magnolia is the first Gerber baby who was adopted, becoming the company’s latest groundbreaking spokesbaby in recent years.
“At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology,” said Bill Partyka, president and CEO of Gerber.
The contest, launched in 2010, was inspired by the many photos received over the years from parents who see their babies in Gerber’s iconic baby logo, which features the original Gerber baby, Ann Turner Cook.
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Low-rated nursing homes in Cook County fare worst in COVID-19 deaths

The worst rated nursing homes in Cook County have the highest concentration of deaths from the coronavirus — and some have failed inspections during the pandemic , a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found .
The newspaper studied about 120 longterm-care facilities listed by the state as having at least one resident who came down with the disease or died .
About 28 % of the deaths from COVID-19 complications have happened in nursing homes with the lowest federal rating and only 6 % in the facilities with the highest rating .
That disparity shows the state should focus testing and inspections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson said residents of poorly rated nursing homes should be transferred to field hospitals , like the one at McCormick Place , that have been built during the pandemic but haven ’ t been fully needed .
“ Move people into temporary locations until we get a real good handle over this disease , ” said Johnson , a Democrat from the West Side .
“ In this immediate crisis , I ’ m proposing using those facilities and transforming them into spaces so social distancing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control ] guidelines can be maintained.
” The state should form a commission to study long-term improvements to nursing homes , he said .
As of Friday , 1,553 COVID-19 deaths in Illinois were tied to nursing homes — nearly half of the 3,241 deaths in the state from the disease , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
Nursing homes have captured the public ’ s attention in Illinois and nationally because of the large clusters of coronavirus cases appearing in many of them .
Last month , Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing at nursing homes , including those that don ’ t report any cases .
He pledged to focus on nursing homes in minority communities , which have been hardest hit by the virus .
But the state hasn ’ t released details on testing in nursing homes , and the governor ’ s office didn ’ t reply to an email Friday asking for information about how that testing is being carried out .
As the death toll rises in nursing homes , they ’ ve become a target of labor unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SEIU Healthcare Illinois , a union with 10,000 workers in nursing homes — threatened to strike over wages but reached a tentative agreement Thursday with a proposed contract that includes a pay increase of $ 2 an hour for workers during the pandemic .
In Cicero , where nine coronavirus-related deaths have been reported at the City View Multi-Care Center , officials in the western suburb have sued the nursing home and state , saying they didn ’ t do enough to contain the disease .
City View Multi-Care is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become cauldrons of the coronavirus in Cook County .
The newspaper examined 122 nursing homes that have reported coronavirus cases or deaths and have received a quality rating from Medicare , which oversees and inspects them .
They have a combined average daily population of about 18,000 people .
Medicare gives one star to the worst-ranked nursing homes and five stars to the best .
The one-star nursing homes had 28 % of all the coronavirus deaths and the two-star facilities had 30 % of them .
In contrast , the five-star facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Measured a different way — the rates of deaths for the average daily populations of the nursing homes — the one- and two-star homes both had rates of nearly 5 % , while the rate for the five-star homes was about 3 % .
Tamara Konetzka , a professor and health economist in the Department of Public Health Services at the University of Chicago , says she has completed a similar study that looked at reported coronavirus cases and deaths at nursing homes in 11 states , including Illinois .
She also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes in Cook County .
Of all the places she evaluated , the disparity was the greatest in Cook County .
“ It ’ s actually pretty dramatic .
.
.
a meaningful magnitude of difference , ” she says .
“ So in Cook County , we see this relationship between the star rating and the probability of having a case .
But on average , across the states , there is a small relationship.
” Konetzka says she also found that nursing homes with larger minority populations were more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She says public-health officials need to focus their attention on the lowest-rated nursing homes in Cook County .
“ I think they ’ re just less equipped than a five-star facility to put things in motion to protect their residents , ” Konetzka says .
“ It ’ s not like the other nursing homes probably don ’ t need help .
But you know , we have to prioritize , ” she says .
“ In terms of focusing resources , it ’ s got to be about testing and separation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or limiting traffic between a COVID wing and a non-COVID area of the facility.
” Johnson points to one of those low-rated nursing homes — Westchester Health and Rehabilitation — as a place that needs intervention .
The one-star facility had 47 reported coronavirus cases and 12 deaths — about 14 % of its average population of residents .
“ This one really jumped out , ” Johnson says , adding that he had asked the governor to order a state inspection of the facility .
On Wednesday , Johnson held a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight its problems .
Afterward , a spokeswoman for the facility released a statement saying workers ’ health was being evaluated after each shift , visits were being restricted to limit the spread of the virus and personal protective equipment was being provided .
Other low-rated nursing homes in Cook County have been found to have continuing problems during the pandemic .
For instance , during a COVID-19 focused inspection on April 14 , Medicare and Medicaid inspectors found the one-star Bridgeview Health Care Center failed “ to follow practices to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment and proper handling of clean and soiled linen.
” That nursing home has seen at least a dozen residents die of complications from the coronavirus , about 10 % of its average daily population of 125 people .
Bridgeview ’ s administrator declined an interview request but in an email said nine staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Lynnette Jones , a cook at the nursing home , said she and other staffers have been given masks .
She has no contact with residents , who no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have meals sent up on carts .
Still , as the mother of a daughter with asthma , she ’ s nervous .
And she doesn ’ t know how many staffers have the virus .
“ Hopefully they ’ re trying to do the right thing for us .
But it ’ s scary going home to my daughter , ” she said .

The worst rated nursing homes in Cook County have the highest concentration of deaths from the coronavirus — and some have failed inspections during the pandemic, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found.
The newspaper studied about 120 longterm-care facilities listed by the state as having at least one resident who came down with the disease or died.
About 28% of the deaths from COVID-19 complications have happened in nursing homes with the lowest federal rating and only 6% in the facilities with the highest rating.
That disparity shows the state should focus testing and inspections in poorly rated nursing homes, experts said.
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson Rich Hein/Sun-Times file photo
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson said residents of poorly rated nursing homes should be transferred to field hospitals, like the one at McCormick Place, that have been built during the pandemic but haven’t been fully needed.
“Move people into temporary locations until we get a real good handle over this disease,” said Johnson, a Democrat from the West Side. “In this immediate crisis, I’m proposing using those facilities and transforming them into spaces so social distancing as well as other [U.S. Centers for Disease Control] guidelines can be maintained.”
The state should form a commission to study long-term improvements to nursing homes, he said.
As of Friday, 1,553 COVID-19 deaths in Illinois were tied to nursing homes — nearly half of the 3,241 deaths in the state from the disease, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Nursing homes have captured the public’s attention in Illinois and nationally because of the large clusters of coronavirus cases appearing in many of them.
Last month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed to step up testing at nursing homes, including those that don’t report any cases. He pledged to focus on nursing homes in minority communities, which have been hardest hit by the virus.
But the state hasn’t released details on testing in nursing homes, and the governor’s office didn’t reply to an email Friday asking for information about how that testing is being carried out.
As the death toll rises in nursing homes, they’ve become a target of labor unrest and lawsuits in recent weeks in Illinois.
SEIU Healthcare Illinois, a union with 10,000 workers in nursing homes — threatened to strike over wages but reached a tentative agreement Thursday with a proposed contract that includes a pay increase of $2 an hour for workers during the pandemic.
In Cicero, where nine coronavirus-related deaths have been reported at the City View Multi-Care Center, officials in the west suburb have sued the nursing home and state, saying they didn’t do enough to contain the disease.
City View Multi-Care is one of many poorly rated nursing homes that have become cauldrons of the coronavirus in Cook County.
A Sun-Times investigation has found that coronavirus deaths in nursing homes in Cook County are concentrated in low-rated facilities. The federal Medicare program rates nursing homes from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest mark. Caroline Hurley and Frank Main / Sun-Times
The newspaper examined 122 nursing homes that have reported coronavirus cases or deaths and have received a quality rating from Medicare, which oversees and inspects them.
They have a combined average daily population of about 18,000 people.
Medicare gives one star to the worst-ranked nursing homes and five stars to the best.
The one-star nursing homes had 28% of all the coronavirus deaths and the two-star facilities had 30% of them.
In contrast, the five-star facilities had 6% of the deaths.
Measured a different way — the rates of deaths for the average daily populations of the nursing homes — the one- and two-star homes both had rates of nearly 5%, while the rate for the five-star homes was about 3%.
Tamara Konetzka, a professor and health economist in the Department of Public Health Services at the University of Chicago, says she has completed a similar study that looked at reported coronavirus cases and deaths at nursing homes in 11 states, including Illinois.
She also found higher death rates in the lower-ranked nursing homes in Cook County. Of all the places she evaluated, the disparity was the greatest in Cook County.
“It’s actually pretty dramatic . . . a meaningful magnitude of difference,” she says. “So in Cook County, we see this relationship between the star rating and the probability of having a case. But on average, across the states, there is a small relationship.”
Konetzka says she also found that nursing homes with larger minority populations were more likely to have a death or a reported case.
She says public-health officials need to focus their attention on the lowest-rated nursing homes in Cook County.
“I think they’re just less equipped than a five-star facility to put things in motion to protect their residents,” Konetzka says.
“It’s not like the other nursing homes probably don’t need help. But you know, we have to prioritize,” she says. “In terms of focusing resources, it’s got to be about testing and separation, whether that means moving patients elsewhere or limiting traffic between a COVID wing and a non-COVID area of the facility.”
Health economist Tamara Konetzka. University of Chicago
Johnson points to one of those low-rated nursing homes — Westchester Health and Rehabilitation — as a place that needs intervention. The one-star facility had 47 reported coronavirus cases and 12 deaths — about 14% of its average population of residents.
“This one really jumped out,” Johnson says, adding that he had asked the governor to order a state inspection of the facility.
On Wednesday, Johnson held a news conference outside the Westchester nursing home to highlight its problems.
Afterward, a spokeswoman for the facility released a statement saying workers’ health was being evaluated after each shift, visits were being restricted to limit the spread of the virus and personal protective equipment was being provided.
Other low-rated nursing homes in Cook County have been found to have continuing problems during the pandemic.
For instance, during a COVID-19 focused inspection on April 14, Medicare and Medicaid inspectors found the one-star Bridgeview Health Care Center failed “to follow practices to contain the spread of COVID-19 by proper use of personal protective equipment and proper handling of clean and soiled linen.” Inspectors found no harm so far but a potential for “more than minimal harm.”
That nursing home has seen at least a dozen residents die of complications from the coronavirus — about 10% of its average daily population of 125 people.
Bridgeview’s administrator declined an interview request, saying by email that nine staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Lynnette Jones, a cook at the nursing home, said she and other staffers have been given masks. She said she has no contact with residents, who no longer dine together in the dining room and have meals sent up on carts.
Still, as the mother of a daughter with asthma, she said she’s nervous. And she doesn’t know how many staffers have the virus.
“Hopefully, they’re trying to do the right thing for us,” Jones said. “But it’s scary going home to my daughter.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Nonprofits distribute thousands of pounds of food, PPE in Bronzeville

Representatives from community groups , advocacy organizations and churches gathered in Bronzeville Friday afternoon to collect their share of thousands of pounds of food and personal protective equipment intended to ease the burden for those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ There ’ s no question that the amount of pain that this virus has caused is incredible , but at the same time we have to recognize that a lot of the pain that ’ s being caused is because of a lack of information , because of a lack of access to resources , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit Social Change , one of the groups organizing the distribution .
“ We have to respond to that and we also have to respond to the fact that people are terrified , ” he added .
“ Not just terrified by the prospect of getting the virus but also terrified by the fact that they won ’ t have food to eat.
” The giveaway was in the parking lot of Bronzeville Charter Academy at 49th and Cottage Grove .
As the afternoon progressed , stacks of boxes containing frozen turkey sausage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pancakes kept shrinking .
Belcore — quick to remind people to stay six feet away from each other — said Social Change partnered with other organizations to avoid attracting large groups of random individuals , but also to ensure the food and PPE reached as many people as possible .
Belcore said organizers planned to give away as much of the 10,000 pounds of food as they could Friday , though any leftovers were already spoken for and would be delivered in the coming days .
Laundi Keepseagle , the executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapper and South Side native Vic Mensa that also was involved in Friday ’ s giveaway , said the group has been building and delivering thousands of PPE kits in recent weeks .
“ This is what we do , ” she said .
“ This is what we ’ re here for .
”

Representatives from community groups, advocacy organizations and churches gathered in Bronzeville Friday afternoon to collect their share of thousands of pounds of food and personal protective equipment intended to ease the burden for those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s no question that the amount of pain that this virus has caused is incredible, but at the same time we have to recognize that a lot of the pain that’s being caused is because of a lack of information, because of a lack of access to resources,” said Todd Belcore, executive director of the nonprofit Social Change, one of the groups organizing the distribution.
“We have to respond to that and we also have to respond to the fact that people are terrified,” he added. “Not just terrified by the prospect of getting the virus but also terrified by the fact that they won’t have food to eat.”
The giveaway was in the parking lot of Bronzeville Academy Charter School at 49th and Cottage Grove. As the afternoon progressed, stacks of boxes containing frozen turkey sausage, plant-based chicken nuggets, breakfast sandwiches and pancakes kept shrinking.
Volunteers with SaveMoneySaveLife and Social Change pack boxes of food to distribute to members of the community outside Bronzeville Academy Charter School on the South Side Friday afternoon. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Belcore — quick to remind people to stay six feet away from each other — said Social Change partnered with other organizations to avoid attracting large groups of random individuals, but also to ensure the food and PPE reached as many people as possible.
Belcore said organizers planned to give away as much of the 10,000 pounds of food as they could Friday, though any leftovers were already spoken for and would be delivered in the coming days.
Laundi Keepseagle, the executive director of SaveMoneySaveLife, the nonprofit founded by rapper and South Side native Vic Mensa that also was involved in Friday’s giveaway, said the group has been building and delivering thousands of PPE kits in recent weeks.
“This is what we do,” she said. “This is what we’re here for.”
Todd Belcore, executive director of the nonprofit Social Change, loads boxes of food into a waiting minivan outside Bronzeville Academy Charter School on the South Side Friday afternoon. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Delta, citing health concerns, drops service to 10 US airports, including Midway

Travelers aboard Delta Air Lines are about to have fewer options when it comes to airports in major metro areas .
Delta announced Friday that it is cutting service at 10 U.S. airports serving cities including New York , Los Angeles and Chicago as part of a previously announced 85 % overall reduction in its service schedule .
In each case , Delta says the airports where it is temporarily pulling service are relatively close to other , larger airports that travelers can use as an alternative .
So in New York , Delta ’ s Westchester County Airport service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to LaGuardia .
Flights will stop at Stewart International , but John F. Kennedy International is the close-by option .
No longer can Delta customers use Hollywood Burbank Airport and Long Beach in Southern California , but Los Angeles International flights will continue .
And Chicago Midway is out , but Chicago O ’ Hare remains in .
The changes take effect Wednesday and will stay until September , the airline said , portraying the cutbacks as an attempt to reduce its employees ’ possible exposure to the coronavirus .
“ By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can allow more of our people to stay home in accordance with local health guidelines , ” said Senior Vice President Sandy Gordon in a statement .
Air traffic overall has been dreadful , given stay-at-home orders and fear of the coronavirus that has brought the travel business to a near standstill .
Earlier this week , Nicholas Calio , CEO of Airlines for America , the airline industry ’ s most prominent lobbying group , told a Senate committee that the average domestic flight recently had 17 passengers aboard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , Delta has announced it reducing its domestic flying by 80 % and international flights by 90 % .
Delta is waiving change fees through Sept. 30 , 2022 for customers who had flights canceled through this September and had booked before April 17 .
Other airports being dropped by Delta include T.F .
Green International and Manchester-Boston Regional , while the nearby Logan International in Boston will still have service .
Oakland will no longer have service , with San Francisco International as the alternative .
And Delta will no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to Norfolk International in Virginia ; or Akron-Canton , though flyers can still go to Cleveland Hopkins in Ohio .

Travelers aboard Delta Air Lines are about to have fewer options when it comes to airports in major metro areas.
Delta announced Friday that it is cutting service at 10 U.S. airports serving cities including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as part of a previously announced 85% overall reduction in its service schedule.
In each case, Delta says the airports where it is temporarily pulling service are relatively close to other, larger airports that travelers can use as an alternative.
So in New York, Delta’s Westchester County Airport service will cease, but flyers can still get to LaGuardia. Flights will stop at Stewart International, but John F. Kennedy International is the close-by option.
No longer can Delta customers use Hollywood Burbank Airport and Long Beach in Southern California, but Los Angeles International flights will continue. And Chicago Midway is out, but Chicago O’Hare remains in.
The changes take effect Wednesday and will stay until September, the airline said, portraying the cutbacks as an attempt to reduce its employees’ possible exposure to the coronavirus.
“By consolidating operations while customer traffic is low, we can allow more of our people to stay home in accordance with local health guidelines,” said Senior Vice President Sandy Gordon in a statement.
Air traffic overall has been dreadful, given stay-at-home orders and fear of the coronavirus that has brought the travel business to a near standstill. Earlier this week, Nicholas Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, the airline industry’s most prominent lobbying group, told a Senate committee that the average domestic flight recently had 17 passengers aboard. International flights averaged 29 passengers.
During the pandemic, Delta has announced it reducing its domestic flying by 80% and international flights by 90%. Delta is waiving change fees through Sept. 30, 2022 for customers who had flights canceled through this September and had booked before April 17.
Other airports being dropped by Delta include T.F. Green International and Manchester-Boston Regional, while the nearby Logan International in Boston will still have service. Oakland will no longer have service, with San Francisco International as the alternative.
And Delta will no longer fly to Newport News/Williamsburg International, close to Norfolk International in Virginia; or Akron-Canton, though flyers can still go to Cleveland Hopkins in Ohio.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--New info in murder of Shaun Gayle’s girlfriend makes uncomfortable topic even worse

Back in March , just before the coronavirus lockdown , I visited the office of MSI Detective Services on West Fullerton Avenue .
I went to meet with investigator Steve LaPino and MSI president Perry Myers .
LaPino is what is known , in common parlance , as a private eye .
Myers runs the private detective company his father , Stan , started in 1959 .
Downstairs was the spy shop Myers owns , and before I went up to the office , I studied the multitudinous ways a person can snoop on someone else .
We were meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double homicide in Deerfield 13 years ago , a murder case that was as tragic as it was repugnant .
Rhoni Reuter , seven months pregnant , was gunned down in her condominium by an intruder who was eventually judged to be slight , 5-foot jealous lover Marni Yang .
Whom did Yang feel jilted by ?
According to the prosecutors , former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle .
The old case was sordid , but it seemed complete .
Gayle had a host of girlfriends at the time — 16 or 17 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Yang was one .
As was Reuter .
So Yang became furious when she discovered the betrayal , and she killed the rival .
So the story went .
Yang was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two life terms and has been in the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln , Illinois , ever since .
But LaPino wanted me to know that a Lake County judge had just ruled that Yang ’ s newly assembled defense team could have access to evidence they feel would prove that Yang , formerly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuter and her unborn child back in 2007 .
A lot of new evidence had come from LaPino and Myers and their snooping .
They had looked at videotapes , listened to voicemails and police recordings , called people , compared data and found a lot of inconsistencies , lack of evidence , unchecked leads and unasked questions in the case .
Some of what they found was disturbing .
None of Yang ’ s fingerprints was at the scene ?
She seemingly answered a land-line call at her home at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot had to have come from someone much taller than Yang ?
On and on .
Then there was the issue of the notoriously inept and devious Lake County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office .
This was the crew that had sought to put a man named Juan Rivera behind bars for life , only for his murder conviction to be overturned after 20 years in prison .
In the Rivera case , Lake County investigators had been accused of planting blood on the defendant ’ s shoe .
I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me greatly , as I ’ m sure they do most of us .
But finding the culprit — the real culprit , not a scapegoat — soothes us , helps us move on .
It ’ s possible Marni Yang didn ’ t shoot Rhoni Reuter .
The problem then , if she didn ’ t do it , was who did ?
Hence my reluctance to dig into the case .
I have always liked him .
I haven ’ t seen him in quite awhile , but back in 1994 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sports Illustrated , a nice one in which he is reading one of several children ’ s books he had written to a classroom of enthralled kids .
He was sitting on the floor with them , in shorts , a T-shirt and sandals .
The books all had morals to them , which Gayle would explain at the end .
“ I know football fans want Rambo and heads getting cut off , ” Gayle told me .
“ But that ’ s not why I play .
I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gayle was one of the stars of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears .
It was he who picked up Sean Landeta ’ s whiffed punt in the NFC divisional playoff game against the Giants and ran it in for a key touchdown .
Normal-sized , handsome , well-spoken , exceedingly gracious — Gayle had it all .
I didn ’ t want to think about this murder from years ago .
I still don ’ t .
I hope LaPino and crew are all wrong .
Way wrong .
Gayle lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ English football coverage .
I wonder what he ’ s thinking .
I really do .
CORRECTION : An earlier version of this column reported that wrongfully convicted Jerry Hobbs spent time in prison when , in fact , Hobbs had been in jail — not prison — for five years .
Also , the death investigation of Fox Lake police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was led by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force , not the Lake County state ’ s attorney ’ s office .
These references have been removed from @ @ @ @ @ @

Back in March, just before the coronavirus lockdown, I visited the office of MSI Detective Services on West Fullerton Avenue.
I went to meet with investigator Steve LaPino and MSI president Perry Myers. LaPino is what is known, in common parlance, as a private eye. Myers runs the private detective company his father, Stan, started in 1959.
Downstairs was the spy shop Myers owns, and before I went up to the office, I studied the multitudinous ways a person can snoop on someone else.
We were meeting because LaPino had contacted me about the double homicide in Deerfield 13 years ago, a murder case that was as tragic as it was repugnant.
Rhoni Reuter, seven months pregnant, was gunned down in her condominium by an intruder who was eventually judged to be slight, 5-foot jealous lover Marni Yang. Whom did Yang feel jilted by? According to the prosecutors, former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle.
The old case was sordid, but it seemed complete. Gayle had a host of girlfriends at the time — 16 or 17 of them, according to one report — and Yang was one. As was Reuter. So Yang became furious when she discovered the betrayal, and she killed the rival. So the story went.
Yang was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two life terms and has been in the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois, ever since.
But LaPino wanted me to know that a Lake County judge had just ruled that Yang’s newly assembled defense team could have access to evidence they feel would prove that Yang, formerly a real-estate agent, could not have killed Reuter and her unborn child back in 2007.
A lot of new evidence had come from LaPino and Myers and their snooping. They had looked at videotapes, listened to voicemails and police recordings, called people, compared data and found a lot of inconsistencies, lack of evidence, unchecked leads and unasked questions in the case.
Some of what they found was disturbing.
None of Yang’s fingerprints was at the scene? She seemingly answered a land-line call at her home at the same time the murder occurred? The first shot had to have come from someone much taller than Yang? On and on.
Then there was the issue of the notoriously inept and devious Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. This was the crew that had sought to put a man named Juan Rivera behind bars for life, only for his murder conviction to be overturned after 20 years in prison. In the Rivera case, Lake County investigators had been accused of planting blood on the defendant’s shoe.
I was troubled by this. Vicious crimes disturb me greatly, as I’m sure they do most of us. But finding the culprit — the real culprit, not a scapegoat — soothes us, helps us move on.
It’s possible Marni Yang didn’t shoot Rhoni Reuter. The problem then, if she didn’t do it, was who did?
Hence my reluctance to dig into the case.
Because I know Shaun Gayle.
I have always liked him. I haven’t seen him in quite awhile, but back in 1994, I wrote a story about him for Sports Illustrated, a nice one in which he is reading one of several children’s books he had written to a classroom of enthralled kids. He was sitting on the floor with them, in shorts, a T-shirt and sandals. The books all had morals to them, which Gayle would explain at the end.
“I know football fans want Rambo and heads getting cut off,” Gayle told me. “But that’s not why I play. I want to be seen as outside the stereotype.”
Gayle was one of the stars of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears. It was he who picked up Sean Landeta’s whiffed punt in the NFC divisional playoff game against the Giants and ran it in for a key touchdown.
Normal-sized, handsome, well-spoken, exceedingly gracious — Gayle had it all.
I didn’t want to think about this murder from years ago. I still don’t. I hope LaPino and crew are all wrong. Way wrong.
Gayle lives in London now, doing TV work for English football coverage.
I wonder what he’s thinking. I really do.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this column reported that wrongfully convicted Jerry Hobbs spent time in prison when, in fact, Hobbs had been in jail — not prison — for five years. Also, the death investigation of Fox Lake police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was led by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, not the Lake County state’s attorney’s office. These references have been removed from this version of the column.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Employee, detainee at Cook County juvenile detention center test positive for COVID-19

The office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Friday an employee and a detainee at the Juvenile Temporary @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
The positive test result for the newly admitted detainee , who was released @ @ @ @ @ in after he was no longer in custody , Office of the Chief Judge of @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The juvenile and the juvenile ’ s parents were notified of the @ @ @ @ @ directions on how to care for the juvenile , ” Milhizer said .
The employee @ @ @ @ @ the detention center May 1 , Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ total , six detainees and 10 employees at the detention center have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ No positive tests have been reported in the general population of the detention center .
@ @ @ @ @ judge ’ s office employees have contracted the virus , Milhizer said .

The office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Friday an employee and a detainee at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19.
The positive test result for the newly admitted detainee, who was released within 24 hours, came in after he was no longer in custody, Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County spokesperson Pat Milhizer said.
“The juvenile and the juvenile’s parents were notified of the test result and were provided directions on how to care for the juvenile,” Milhizer said.
The employee last reported for work at the detention center May 1, Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County spokesperson Pat Milhizer said.
In total, six detainees and 10 employees at the detention center have tested positive for COVID-19, Milhizer said. No positive tests have been reported in the general population of the detention center.
A total of 25 chief judge’s office employees have contracted the virus, Milhizer said.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-08--Details of the five-phase plan to reopen Chicago

The city on Friday outlined the rules for each phase of their reopening plan .
Limit contact with others , with goal of rapidly slowing spread of COVID-19 .
• Essential workers go to work ; others work from home • Physically distance from anyone you don ’ t live with , especially vulnerable friends and family Guard against unsafe interactions ; goal is to continue flattening the curve while safely being outside .
• Essential workers go to work ; others work from home • Stay home as much as possible • Physically distance from anyone you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and family Strict physical distancing .
Some businesses opening ; goal is to begin to reopen Chicago safely .
• Non-essential workers begin to return to work in a phased way • Select businesses , non-profits , city entities open with appropriate protections for workers and customers • When meeting others , physically distance and wear face coverings .
• Stay home if feeling ill or after contact with someone with COVID-19 • Get tested if you have symptoms • Get tested if you have symptoms or think you have had COVID-19 • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place • Set up screenings and tests at work or with your family • Sign up for a vaccine on the COVID Coach web portal

The city on Friday outlined the rules for each phase of their reopening plan.
PHASE ONE: STRICT STAY-AT-HOME
Limit contact with others, with goal of rapidly slowing spread of COVID-19.
• Essential workers go to work; others work from home
• Stay home except for essential activities
• Physically distance from anyone you don’t live with, especially vulnerable friends and family
PHASE TWO: STAY-AT-HOME
Guard against unsafe interactions; goal is to continue flattening the curve while safely being outside.
• Essential workers go to work; others work from home
• Stay home as much as possible
• Wear a face covering outside the home
• Physically distance from anyone you don’t live with, especially vulnerable friends and family
PHASE THREE: CAUTIOUSLY REOPEN
Strict physical distancing. Some businesses opening; goal is to begin to reopen Chicago safely.
• Non-essential workers begin to return to work in a phased way
• Select businesses, non-profits, city entities open with appropriate protections for workers and customers
• When meeting others, physically distance and wear face coverings.
• Non-business, social gatherings of fewer than 10 allowed
• Limited reopening of public amenities
• Stay home if feeling ill or after contact with someone with COVID-19
• Physically distance from vulnerable people
• Get tested if you have symptoms
PHASE FOUR: GRADUALLY RESUME
Staggered reopening continues while ensuring residents’ safety.
• Additional business, capacity restrictions lifted with safeguards
• Additional public amenities open
• Continue physical distancing, wearing face coverings
• Vulnerable residents still allowed to shelter
• Get tested if you have symptoms or think you have had COVID-19
PHASE FIVE: PROTECT
Continue protecting vulnerable populations to maintain safety until coronavirus contained.
• All businesses open
• Non-vulnerable individuals can resume working
• Most activities resume with health safety in place
• Some events can resume
• Set up screenings and tests at work or with your family
• Sign up for a vaccine on the COVID Coach web portal


chicagosun-times--2020-05-09--Dear Abby: Older sisters’ bullying of me started in childhood, continues in retirement

DEAR ABBY : My older sister bullied me from the time our parents divorced .
I was in elementary school , and she was in middle school .
We are now adults and retired .
Her form of bullying now is to exclude me .
It started with announcing to me that I was adopted and progressed to saying in front of me , “ Let ’ s have a family reunion ” and not inviting me .
When our father died , she was his executor .
She showed the will to my sisters , but would not allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was in the will as an equal .
She told the attorney I was a granddaughter , which I caught and corrected .
When I told my oldest sister my feelings were hurt , she accused me of being jealous and blocked me on social media .
It ’ s hard to disengage because I have no other family , but I keep busy in other social circles .
I was unable to have kids , and the one child I adopted is busy working in another state , so it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I tried for years to be nice and to contribute as much as possible .
I know I have done nothing wrong .
I have searched my soul to see why I deserve this treatment .
I don ’ t !
Should I just let go of my family since at least two of my three sisters seem to want to let go of me ?
— LEFT OUT IN FLORIDA DEAR LEFT OUT : Yes , you should .
Disengaging from the emotionally abusive sisters who treat you cruelly would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the one who is open to it .
I have advised more than once in this column that sometimes it ’ s necessary to create a family of one ’ s own if circumstances prevent a normal relationship with a person ’ s birth family .
You and your husband should continue branching out socially .
I predict that once you move in that direction , you will be far happier than you are today .
DEAR ABBY : My daughter unexpectedly died very recently .
A “ friend ” called today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , food , pet food , etc ) .
Then she asked me the most unnerving question : “ Do you have ‘ June ’ with you ?
” I was floored .
So many thoughts came rushing at me at once .
June was disabled since birth .
She went to live in a group home nine years ago .
The friend knew I brought her home for weekends .
After I didn ’ t speak for several minutes , she asked in an annoyed tone , “ Well , did you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( As if having her ashes with me was a comfort ?
It isn ’ t ! )
Abby , I didn ’ t know what to say .
Her question slammed me against the wall .
I mumbled a response , said I had to go and hung up .
I ’ m trying to make myself believe she meant nothing but concern , but I can ’ t seem to make myself believe that the words she used weren ’ t purposely cruel .
My warm feelings for her have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m still gasping .
Your thoughts ?
— GRIEVING MOTHER DEAR GRIEVING MOTHER : Let ’ s give the woman a perfect 10 on the insensitivity meter .
She was tactless , but she may not have meant to be unkind .
My thought is that you handled the situation as well as you could since her question left you understandably flat-footed .
However , I would have answered her differently .
I would have responded , “ Why do you ask ?
” and let her explain herself .
Dear Abby is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person , order “ How to Be Popular.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Popularity Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My older sister bullied me from the time our parents divorced. I was in elementary school, and she was in middle school. We are now adults and retired. Her form of bullying now is to exclude me. It started with announcing to me that I was adopted and progressed to saying in front of me, “Let’s have a family reunion” and not inviting me.
When our father died, she was his executor. She showed the will to my sisters, but would not allow me to see it. Yes, I was in the will as an equal. She told the attorney I was a granddaughter, which I caught and corrected.
When I told my oldest sister my feelings were hurt, she accused me of being jealous and blocked me on social media. It’s hard to disengage because I have no other family, but I keep busy in other social circles. I was unable to have kids, and the one child I adopted is busy working in another state, so it’s just my husband and me now.
I tried for years to be nice and to contribute as much as possible. I know I have done nothing wrong. I have searched my soul to see why I deserve this treatment. I don’t! Should I just let go of my family since at least two of my three sisters seem to want to let go of me? — LEFT OUT IN FLORIDA
DEAR LEFT OUT: Yes, you should. Disengaging from the emotionally abusive sisters who treat you cruelly would be healthy for you. Maintain a relationship with the one who is open to it.
I have advised more than once in this column that sometimes it’s necessary to create a family of one’s own if circumstances prevent a normal relationship with a person’s birth family. You and your husband should continue branching out socially. I predict that once you move in that direction, you will be far happier than you are today.
DEAR ABBY: My daughter unexpectedly died very recently. A “friend” called today asking how I was doing (quarantine, food, pet food, etc). Then she asked me the most unnerving question: “Do you have ‘June’ with you?” I was floored. So many thoughts came rushing at me at once. June was disabled since birth. She went to live in a group home nine years ago. The friend knew I brought her home for weekends.
After I didn’t speak for several minutes, she asked in an annoyed tone, “Well, did you go get her ashes or not?” (As if having her ashes with me was a comfort? It isn’t!) Abby, I didn’t know what to say. Her question slammed me against the wall. I mumbled a response, said I had to go and hung up.
I’m trying to make myself believe she meant nothing but concern, but I can’t seem to make myself believe that the words she used weren’t purposely cruel. My warm feelings for her have changed to something ugly. I’m still gasping. Your thoughts? — GRIEVING MOTHER
DEAR GRIEVING MOTHER: Let’s give the woman a perfect 10 on the insensitivity meter. She was tactless, but she may not have meant to be unkind. My thought is that you handled the situation as well as you could since her question left you understandably flat-footed. However, I would have answered her differently. I would have responded, “Why do you ask?” and let her explain herself.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-05-09--Firefighter hurt, residents displaced in Naperville house fire

Several people were displaced and a firefighter was injured after a fire broke out Saturday at a west suburban Naperville @ @ @ @ @ at 1:25 a.m. for reports of the fire at the two-story home in the 1700 @ @ @ @ @ according to a statement from the Naperville Fire Department .
Crews found the fire in @ @ @ @ @ with smoke coming from the chimney and roof line , the fire department said .
@ @ @ @ @ control in about an hour .
Two adults and two children who were home at @ @ @ @ @ made it outside on their own , according to the fire department .
They weren @ @ @ @ @ the home was rendered uninhabitable .
One firefighter suffered minor injuries at the scene , @ @ @ @ @ Investigators learned there was a fire in the home ’ s fireplace on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ the blaze in the attic remains under investigation , the fire department said .

Several people were displaced and a firefighter was injured after a fire broke out Saturday at a west suburban Naperville home.
Authorities were called at 1:25 a.m. for reports of the fire at the two-story home in the 1700 block of Baybrook Lane, according to a statement from the Naperville Fire Department.
Crews found the fire in the walls of the attic with smoke coming from the chimney and roof line, the fire department said. The blaze was brought under control in about an hour.
Two adults and two children who were home at the time of the fire made it outside on their own, according to the fire department. They weren’t hurt, but the home was rendered uninhabitable.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries at the scene, the fire department said.
Investigators learned there was a fire in the home’s fireplace on Friday evening, but the cause of the blaze in the attic remains under investigation, the fire department said.