chicagosun-times--2020-04-29--Lane closures planned on Kennedy Expressway for removal of Montrose bridge

The outbound Kennedy Expressway will be reduced to a single lane this weekend as construction crews continue work on the Montrose Avenue bridge on the Northwest Side .
Outbound traffic will be funneled to one express lane at 7 p.m. Friday approaching Diversey Avenue , the Illinois Department of Transportation said .
Vehicles will continue onto the outbound Edens Expressway and won ’ t be able to exit until Foster Avenue , as the Edens exit ramp to Wilson Avenue will also be closed .
IDOT is removing the southern portion of the Montrose Avenue bridge over the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first of which has already been completed .
Work will begin on the northern part of the bridge after the southern part has been reconstructed , to allow for continued access to the Montrose Blue Line stop .
The outbound Kennedy ramp to Montrose Avenue will close at noon Friday , IDOT said .
At 7 p.m. , several entrance ramps will also close , including those at Armitage , Fullerton/Western , California , Kimball , Addison and Irving Park .
Outbound exit ramps that will be closed include those at Diversey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pulaski/Irving Park , Kostner and Montrose .
The expressway will return to normal operations at 5 a.m. Monday , IDOT said .
The work at Montrose Avenue is meant to improve the bridge and approaching pavement , as well as install lighting under the bridge and at the Blue Line station , IDOT said .
Traffic on Montrose Avenue will be rerouted by way of Cicero Avenue , Irving Park Road and Pulaski Road .
The project is expected to be completed in December , IDOT said .

The outbound Kennedy Expressway will be reduced to a single lane this weekend as construction crews continue work on the Montrose Avenue bridge on the Northwest Side.
Outbound traffic will be funneled to one express lane at 7 p.m. Friday approaching Diversey Avenue, the Illinois Department of Transportation said. Vehicles will continue onto the outbound Edens Expressway and won’t be able to exit until Foster Avenue, as the Edens exit ramp to Wilson Avenue will also be closed.
IDOT is removing the southern portion of the Montrose Avenue bridge over the course of three weekends, the department said, the first of which has already been completed. Work will begin on the northern part of the bridge after the southern part has been reconstructed, to allow for continued access to the Montrose Blue Line stop.
The outbound Kennedy ramp to Montrose Avenue will close at noon Friday, IDOT said. At 7 p.m., several entrance ramps will also close, including those at Armitage, Fullerton/Western, California, Kimball, Addison and Irving Park.
Outbound exit ramps that will be closed include those at Diversey, Kedzie/Belmont, Kimball, Addison, Pulaski/Irving Park, Kostner and Montrose.
The expressway will return to normal operations at 5 a.m. Monday, IDOT said.
The work at Montrose Avenue is meant to improve the bridge and approaching pavement, as well as install lighting under the bridge and at the Blue Line station, IDOT said. Traffic on Montrose Avenue will be rerouted by way of Cicero Avenue, Irving Park Road and Pulaski Road.
The project is expected to be completed in December, IDOT said.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--How Gov. Pritzker could slow the spread of COVID-19 at Cook County Jail

As efforts continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 at Cook County Jail by reducing the inmate population , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker could help the effort with the stroke of a pen .
Pritzker should lift an executive order that now prevents 120 convicted detainees at the jail from being transferred to state prisons .
The governor announced last week he was extending the executive order through the month of May , along with other statewide stay-at-home measures imposed in response to the coronavirus crisis .
Transferring the 120 inmates would provide some relief to Cook County Jail as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus that has infected 800 detainees and guards .
One corrections officer and six detainees have died from the coronavirus so far .
State corrections officials should resume its duty of taking its prisoners from Cook County and other jails .
Meanwhile , a team that includes Cook County prosecutors , public defenders , representatives from the chief judge ’ s office and jail officials have reduced the number of jail detainees from 5,600 at the start of the pandemic to just under 4,000 now .
Action by the governor now would further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail ’ s population .
Preventing transfers from county jails to the state ’ s prison system made good sense when the measure was enacted March 26 .
Bringing in new inmates — each a potential coronavirus carrier — just as prison officials were learning how to get a handle on the virus and take action against it could have further endangered the lives and health of both inmates and corrections officers .
“ Governor Pritzker ’ s sensible decision ... is critical to protect the health and well-being of those detained in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners ’ rights advocates , including the Illinois ACLU and the Uptown People ’ s Law Center , said at the time .
“ This temporary measure permits IDOC to protect its present population , and be assured of sufficient supplies and tests to protect staff , the prisoners and the communities which house the prisoners.
” But the Illinois Sheriffs ’ Association says the order has only made the fight against the coronavirus that much harder at county jails .
“ In terms of being able to reduce the count they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has had that opportunity , ” the association ’ s executive director Jim Kaitschuk said at the time Pritzker first ordered the freeze on transfers .
“ And there are some that are full today , and this is just going to make the problems that they have in their jails that much worse.
” Since that time , state prison officials have made headway in improving sanitation , screening and treatment .
And in a major move to reduce the spread of infection and improve social distancing behind prison walls , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates since March , mainly through sentence commutations and early releases .
We fully appreciate that the state Department of Corrections needed that time to size up the virus and take action .
COVID-19 has struck hard at Cook County Jail , but it also is spreading like wildfire at state prisons — and apparently federal prisons — across the country .
Almost 80 percent of the inmates at Ohio ’ s Marion Correctional Institution have tested positive for the coronavirus .
And 70 % of the 2,700 federal prison system inmates tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraction of the 150,000 inmates who should be tested — have been found to have the bug .
In Illinois , only 155 of the state ’ s 39,000 inmates have contracted the virus so far , according to the Illinois Department of Corrections .
But that ’ s a number that ’ s bound to rise as testing continues .
Given its newly freed-up prison space , the state Department of Corrections should resume its duty of accepting prisoners from Cook and other county jails .
Pritzker needs only to give the @ @

As efforts continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 at Cook County Jail by reducing the inmate population, Gov. J.B. Pritzker could help the effort with the stroke of a pen.
Pritzker should lift an executive order that now prevents 120 convicted detainees at the jail from being transferred to state prisons. The governor announced last week he was extending the executive order through the month of May, along with other statewide stay-at-home measures imposed in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Transferring the 120 inmates would provide some relief to Cook County Jail as it fights a pitch battle against a virus that has infected 800 detainees and guards. One corrections officer and six detainees have died from the coronavirus so far.
State corrections officials should resume its duty of taking its prisoners from Cook County and other jails.
Meanwhile, a team that includes Cook County prosecutors, public defenders, representatives from the chief judge’s office and jail officials have reduced the number of jail detainees from 5,600 at the start of the pandemic to just under 4,000 now. Action by the governor now would further that difficult but necessary reduction in the jail’s population.
‘Sensible decision’ to halt transfers
Preventing transfers from county jails to the state’s prison system made good sense when the measure was enacted March 26. Bringing in new inmates — each a potential coronavirus carrier — just as prison officials were learning how to get a handle on the virus and take action against it could have further endangered the lives and health of both inmates and corrections officers.
Editorials bug Editorials
“Governor Pritzker’s sensible decision ... is critical to protect the health and well-being of those detained in Illinois prisons,” a group of prisoners’ rights advocates, including the Illinois ACLU and the Uptown People’s Law Center, said at the time. “This temporary measure permits IDOC to protect its present population, and be assured of sufficient supplies and tests to protect staff, the prisoners and the communities which house the prisoners.”
But the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association says the order has only made the fight against the coronavirus that much harder at county jails.
“In terms of being able to reduce the count they have in their facilities, not every jail has had that opportunity,” the association’s executive director Jim Kaitschuk said at the time Pritzker first ordered the freeze on transfers. “And there are some that are full today, and this is just going to make the problems that they have in their jails that much worse.”
Transfers should resume
Since that time, state prison officials have made headway in improving sanitation, screening and treatment. And in a major move to reduce the spread of infection and improve social distancing behind prison walls, the Illinois Department of Corrections has freed 4,000 inmates since March, mainly through sentence commutations and early releases.
Coronavirus Data The numbers that tell the story: Our coronavirus data tracking On our Coronavirus Data page, you’ll find a collection of graphs, charts and maps tracing the spread of the virus, tracking test results and plotting the impact on individual counties. Check back daily for updated totals.
We fully appreciate that the state Department of Corrections needed that time to size up the virus and take action. COVID-19 has struck hard at Cook County Jail, but it also is spreading like wildfire at state prisons — and apparently federal prisons — across the country.
Almost 80 percent of the inmates at Ohio’s Marion Correctional Institution have tested positive for the coronavirus. And 70% of the 2,700 federal prison system inmates tested for the virus so far — a fraction of the 150,000 inmates who should be tested — have been found to have the bug.
In Illinois, only 155 of the state’s 39,000 inmates have contracted the virus so far, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. But that’s a number that’s bound to rise as testing continues.
Given its newly freed-up prison space, the state Department of Corrections should resume its duty of accepting prisoners from Cook and other county jails.
Pritzker needs only to give the word.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--Can houses of worship conduct in-person services under Pritzker’s extended stay-at-home order? (LIVE

Can houses of worship conduct in-person services under Pritzker’s extended stay-at-home order? (LIVE UPDATES)

Can houses of worship conduct in-person services under Pritzker ’ s extended stay-at-home order ?
In addition to suits filed by Republican lawmakers , a church in northern Illinois on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the statewide restrictions .
The Beloved Church of Lena wants an immediate injunction that would allow it to conduct worship services .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker executive order did not specifically mention houses of worship , but it did restrict gatherings of 10 people or more , under CDC guidelines .
Pritzker noted most faith leaders are conducting online church services .
Regarding churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their doors Sunday , the governor urged leaders to put the health and safety of congregants first .
“ We ’ re still climbing this ladder of hospitalizations and ICU beds being filled , and until we get to the other side , even according to President Trump ’ s plan , we really can ’ t begin to open up until we have 14 days of down cycle of those numbers , ” Pritzker said .
Check in with reporter Tina Sfondeles for more updates from Pritzker ’ s daily press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million masks and distribute them to needy Chicagoans Chicagoans will be “ living with masks for the duration ” — maybe even until there ’ s a coronavirus vaccine , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday , promising to purchase a million facemasks and distribute them to aldermen and their constituents .
“ I don ’ t believe in issuing mandates and not giving people the tools to be compliant .
So as a city , we will be stepping up and making sure that our residents have the kind of face-coverings that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves when they go outside of their home and can ’ t safely social distance — for example , at grocery stores , ” the mayor said .
Starting Friday , Illinois residents will be required to wear a face covering or a mask whenever they are in public places where they can not maintain a six-foot social distance .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s revised stay-at-home order requires face coverings in stores and other indoor public places .
It applies to “ all individuals over the age of two who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or mask .
The revised order applies through the month of May .
But Lightfoot said she expects the mask mandate to continue for months after that .
6:42 p.m. With 65 new free testing sites added , Illinois has run nearly 100K coronavirus tests in past week Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that 177 public sites are now offering free coronavirus testing across the state , with 65 new locations added since Pritzker reported last week that Illinois had reached the elusive goal of processing 10,000 tests in a single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Illinois has run 96,551 total tests and hasn ’ t once dipped below that daily benchmark .
The tests conducted over the past seven days account for more than 35 % of the tests the state has conducted since reporting began in early March .
With his modified stay-at-home taking effect on Friday , Pritzker made it clear that testing for the deadly virus is “ vital to our efforts to reduce social restrictions , get our economy going and to protect our residents.
” The Latino community in Illinois has surpassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and could have the greatest number of patients among all races and ethnic groups within days .
As of Thursday , the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 12,276 cases where the patient is white , 11,848 among Latinos , and 11,353 in the black community .
Last week , on April 22 , there were about 7,800 patients who were white , 5,800 who identified as Latino and 8,100 who were African American .
The dramatic rise in cases among Latinos is reflective of better testing capabilities and greater awareness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are raising concerns about the state ’ s reach among Latino communities in their efforts to contain the pandemic .
5:13 p.m. Pritzker urged by five GOP congressmen to ‘ safely reopen ’ low-risk regions The five Illinois Republican House members Thursday urged Democratic Gov .
J .
B. Pritzker to reopen low-risk Illinois counties with few or no coronavirus-related deaths in order for the state “ to strategically and safely reopen its economy.
” The congressmen pushed the regional approach after Pritzker last week extended a stay-a-home order to May 30 even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of activities and businesses on Friday .
The lawmakers — Reps. Darin LaHood , Adam Kinzinger ; John Shimkus ; Rodney Davis and Mike Bost — and Pritzker avoided acrimonious exchanges as the state navigates pandemic reopening policy .
The congressmen said in a statement , “ Illinois is a diverse state and the coronavirus has impacted communities in different ways .
As we work to start the phased reopening here at home , we can not do so with a blanket , one-size-fits-all plan.
” Pritzker , asked about the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said , “ I don ’ t disagree with them that different areas of the state require different rules during this time , and that ’ s why we made some changes in this new executive order that goes into effect tomorrow.
” Read the full story from Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet here .
4:30 p.m. 141 more coronavirus deaths — second-highest daily toll — with Pritzker poised to extend stay-at-home order As Gov .
J.B. Pritzker prepares to sign an extended stay-at-home executive order , officials on Thursday said another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois , marking the second highest daily death toll the state has seen during the pandemic .
The latest deaths raised the Illinois total to 2,355 .
Another 2,563 new cases were also reported , bringing the state ’ s total to 52,918 cases .
The virus also spread to an additional county — downstate Brown County — and has now been confirmed in 97 of 102 counties .
With nearly 270,000 tests performed , Pritzker ’ s office said Illinois is ranked seventh in the nation for total number of tests performed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also 20th among all tests completed per capita , and fifth in all states in terms of average completed tests over the last week .
The Chicago Fire Department commander who owns the Galewood townhome where a weekend house party was held said Thursday she was “ blindsided ” by her son ’ s decision to host the crowded party and would never have allowed it during a pandemic .
Paramedic commander Christine Matthews said the unauthorized party was hosted by her 26-year-old son , who doesn ’ t live with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ townhome “ for emergencies.
” “ I didn ’ t learn about the party until the police showed up the next day and told me , ” Matthews wrote in an email to the Sun-Times .
“ I went to apologize to my neighbors and I saw the video .
...
I was completely blindsided .
I would never condone this behavior .
I am a paramedic .
I have had people die from this !
!
!
” she wrote .
“ I would never allow 200 people in my brand new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable .
My Ring doorbell was removed .
I ’ m not speaking to son .
And he is sorry for his actions now.
” 3:20 p.m. Lightfoot dances on TikTok to announce citywide graduation ceremony — online , with Oprah Mayor Lori Lightfoot got her dancing shoes on Thursday morning to announce Chicago ’ s first-ever , virtual citywide high school commencement celebration hosted by Oprah Winfrey .
With Chicago Public Schools closed for in-person classes through the end of the school year , the city ’ s 25,000 public high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools — are missing out on rite of passage events like prom and graduation .
So Lightfoot partnered with Citadel , the financial services company owned by billionaire Ken Griffin , to put on a party for all those 12th graders at public , charter and all private schools across the city .
“ We are thrilled and honored to have the one-and-only Oprah Winfrey joining us for this incredible moment with Chicago ’ s high school seniors , ” Lightfoot said in a news release .
“ While we can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly that we need to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our many high school seniors in Chicago.
” 2:30 p.m. Northern Illinois church sues Pritzker in federal court over his stay-at-home order A church in northwestern Illinois has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s statewide restrictions amid the coronavirus , seeking an immediate injunction that would allow it to conduct worship services .
The lawsuit was filed by the Thomas More Society on behalf of The Beloved Church of Lena and its pastor , Stephen Cassell .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ department delivered a cease-and-desist notice to Cassell on March 31 .
The complaint says the church , which is about 40 miles west of Rockford , intends to “ reopen and hold public worship services this Sunday.
” It goes on to say church leaders “ fear arrest and prosecution if they do so , without immediate relief from this court.
” “ Plaintiffs believe that , in these dark times , Illinoisans need the Spirit of Almighty God , but Pritzker ’ s orders have left them to settle for the lesser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s liquor stores , ” the complaint states .
The complaint also cites lawsuits filed by state Reps. Darren Bailey and John Cabello , even borrowing some legal arguments from Cabello ’ s lawsuit .
The nation ’ s top infectious diseases expert says he expects the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to quickly approve a new experimental drug that showed promising signs in treating patients with COVID-19 .
Anthony Fauci tells NBC ’ s “ Today ” show Thursday that he anticipates the go-ahead for the emergency use of Remdesivir to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke with FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Wednesday , and while Hahn had yet to make a final decision , “ I would project that we ’ re going to be seeing that reasonably soon.
” The drug was shown in a major study to shorten recovery time of hospitalized patients .
11:29 a.m. Medical examiner confirms 65 more COVID-19 deaths in Cook County , raising total to 1,668 The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office on Thursday confirmed another 65 deaths connected to the COVID-19 outbreak .
The newly confirmed fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,668 , the medical examiner ’ s office said .
Cook County makes up about 75 % of the 2,215 deaths in Illinois .
On Wednesday , state health officials announced 2,253 new cases of the coronavirus in Illinois .
The state has now seen 50,355 people test positive for the virus .
In response to demands from Chicagoans who have seen their jobs and paychecks disappear during the pandemic — and the looming threat of a rent strike — Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday introduced a “ Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing groups , landlord associations and lenders , is an unprecedented commitment to show “ flexibility and restraint ” to prevent the pandemic from triggering a wave of foreclosures .
Participating landlords have agreed to offer tenants grace periods with terms that “ avoid repayment at the end of the deferral period.
” They also promised to waive late fees for missed payments and allow renters who miss payments to amortize those payments over time .
Lenders who signed the pledge — including Bank of America , BMO Harris , Northern Trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fifth Third — have agreed to suspend foreclosure filings until May 31 and stop reporting late payments to credit reporting agencies .
They have also offered to waive late fees for missed payments and defer payments with terms that “ avoid immediate repayment at the end of the deferral period.
” Read more about the “ Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge ” here .
Social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic have canceled myriad traditions and events this year , to the extent that the Sun-Times editorial board dubbed this season “ The Lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerts and festivals , large-scale annual sporting events have been postponed , including the Masters Tournament scheduled for April , and the 146th annual Kentucky Derby , which had been scheduled for May 2 .
To pay tribute to the annual event , which is being rescheduled in September , Kentucky musician Ben Sollee performed the song “ My Old Kentucky Home ” on the empty tracks at Churchill Downs .
The video was released by Woodford Reserve , a distillery company based in Versailles , Kentucky , which is hosting a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally scheduled start time for the “ greatest two minutes in sports.
” 6:36 a.m. Rolling out contact tracing in Illinois a daunting task , but essential , expert says Roughly a quarter of the coronavirus tests conducted at the Howard Brown Health clinic in Hyde Park have been coming back positive , amounting to about 20 new confirmed cases a day .
The initial diagnosis is just the start of the staff ’ s work , though .
What comes next is the arduous task of tracking down every person that patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health practice known commonly as contact tracing .
Though local and state officials have said that process is key to slowing the pandemic and reopening the state , a large-scale initiative hasn ’ t been announced to address the daunting task of tracking down every person who has come into contact with the growing number of COVID-19 patients .
On Wednesday , 2,253 new cases were reported across Illinois as the total number of cases eclipsed 50,000 .
6:14 a.m. Remdesivir proves effective against coronavirus in major study : ‘ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UIC researcher says Promising results from a major study into an experimental drug used to treat the new coronavirus should give people a sense of relief that “ we ’ ve got a drug that works , ” a physician at University of Illinois at Chicago Health who participated in the study says .
“ They ’ re really good results , ” Dr. Richard Novak , chief of infectious disease at UIC , told the Sun-Times Wednesday of the drug made by Gilead Sciences , called remdesivir .
He added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some people a sense of relief who are concerned about getting sick.
” Remdesivir is the first drug to show such promising results against the virus , which has killed more than 218,000 people since it emerged late last year in China .
Having a treatment could have a profound effect on the global pandemic , especially because health officials say any vaccine is likely a year or more away .
Get the full story from reporters Matthew Hendrickson and Rachel Hinton .
• The CTA announced the death of a fourth employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CTA ’ s technology department for over 20 years .
• Chicago police announced Tuesday seven more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of cases in the department to 421 .
• Eighteen employees at a Tootsie Roll manufacturing plant in Chicago have tested positive for COVID-19 since the end of March .
• Officials on Wednesday said another 92 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois , as the case count in the state has reached more than 50,000 .
• Officials also reported 2,219 newly confirmed cases , raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those were the latest numbers as the state received 14,561 test results Monday .
• Chicago police announced Monday 21 more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of confirmed cases in the department to 414 .
12:10 p.m. Trump ’ s incompetent crowd shows who the real nonessential workers are One of the few good things that ’ s happened during the coronavirus pandemic is that we ’ ve learned how many capable governors and mayors there are across America , of both political parties , who have stepped in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s ignorance and impulsivity .
If the man had a particle of honor , or of shame , he would resign and spare a wounded and grieving nation the degrading spectacle that his re-election campaign is certain to be .
But he has none , so he won ’ t .
Instead , he goes on television ( almost ) every afternoon to boast and bitch about his enemies , imagined and real .
My personal favorite was the time he blamed Barack Obama for the lack of coronavirus test kits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist until late 2019 , three years into the Trump regime .
“ No , I don ’ t take responsibility at all , ” he said .
6:37 a.m. COVID-19 lawsuits a symptom of a pre-existing condition in Illinois — and the nation Somehow , I ’ ve found myself on the email distribution list for a conservative , pro-Trump news service , which , it turns out , offers handy insight into how the other half of the country thinks without my having to endure the pain of watching FOX News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top story on their website has been one with which we are very familiar in Illinois even if we might not recognize the particular spin : “ Judge Stands Up Against Dem Gov , Excoriates Stay At Home Order.
” The facts of the story are pretty much what you could find in the Chicago Sun-Times or any other mainstream news organization ’ s coverage of the downstate judge ’ s ruling that Gov .
J .
B. Pritzker exceeded his authority by extending his emergency stay-at-home orders beyond 30 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the point of view that Pritzker ’ s orders were “ obviously ” illegal and that state Rep. Darren Bailey and Clay County Circuit Judge Michael McHaney are heroic figures for standing up to him in defense of the Constitution and personal freedom .
Read the rest of Mark Brown ’ s column here .

With an extended stay-at-home executive order set to take effect, officials on Thursday said another 141 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois, marking the second highest daily death toll the state has seen during the pandemic.
Here’s what else happened as the state of Illinois continued to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
News
9:30 p.m. Businesses ready to open as some state COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
Myeisha Campbell one of the owners of House of Melanin restocks the shelves with an assortment of haircare products, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Oak Park, Ill. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Chicago-area business owners are preparing to open their doors Friday, hoping to recoup some of the money they lost after being shut down for more than six weeks because of the state’s stay-at-home order.
Changes to the order taking effect Friday will grant some non-essential businesses the ability to begin serving customers again inside brick-and-mortar stores starting Friday.
But the ease in restrictions is far from a return to normalcy.
Businesses with permission to reopeninclude beauty supply stores, gardening centers, pet grooming and golf courses, as well as some state parks. Many of these must put in place new safety measures, including restricted hours and constant sanitizing, Some will have to add new services, such as curbside pickup.
Reporter Manny Ramos has the full story.
8:02 p.m. Can houses of worship conduct in-person services under Pritzker’s extended stay-at-home order?
Google Maps
In addition to suits filed by Republican lawmakers, a church in northern Illinois on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the statewide restrictions. The Beloved Church of Lena wants an immediate injunction that would allow it to conduct worship services.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker executive order did not specifically mention houses of worship, but it did restrict gatherings of 10 people or more, under CDC guidelines.
Pritzker noted most faith leaders are conducting online church services. Regarding churches who have said they’ll open their doors Sunday, the governor urged leaders to put the health and safety of congregants first.
“We’re still climbing this ladder of hospitalizations and ICU beds being filled, and until we get to the other side, even according to President Trump’s plan, we really can’t begin to open up until we have 14 days of down cycle of those numbers,” Pritzker said.
Check in with reporter Tina Sfondeles for more updates from Pritzker’s daily press conference.
7:14 p.m. Lightfoot vows to purchase a million masks and distribute them to needy Chicagoans
The lions wear face masks outside the The Art Institute of Chicago during the coronavirus pandemic. Brian Rich/Sun-Times
Chicagoans will be “living with masks for the duration” — maybe even until there’s a coronavirus vaccine, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday, promising to purchase a million facemasks and distribute them to aldermen and their constituents.
“I don’t believe in issuing mandates and not giving people the tools to be compliant. So as a city, we will be stepping up and making sure that our residents have the kind of face-coverings that they need to be able to protect themselves when they go outside of their home and can’t safely social distance — for example, at grocery stores,” the mayor said.
Starting Friday, Illinois residents will be required to wear a face covering or a mask whenever they are in public places where they cannot maintain a six-foot social distance. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s revised stay-at-home order requires face coverings in stores and other indoor public places. It applies to “all individuals over the age of two who are able to medically tolerate” a face-covering or mask.
The revised order applies through the month of May. But Lightfoot said she expects the mask mandate to continue for months after that.
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman.
6:42 p.m. With 65 new free testing sites added, Illinois has run nearly 100K coronavirus tests in past week
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that 177 public sites are now offering free coronavirus testing across the state, with 65 new locations added since Pritzker reported last week that Illinois had reached the elusive goal of processing 10,000 tests in a single day.
Since hitting that mark last Friday, Illinois has run 96,551 total tests and hasn’t once dipped below that daily benchmark. The tests conducted over the past seven days account for more than 35% of the tests the state has conducted since reporting began in early March.
With his modified stay-at-home taking effect on Friday, Pritzker made it clear that testing for the deadly virus is “vital to our efforts to reduce social restrictions, get our economy going and to protect our residents.”
Reporter Tom Schuba has the full story.
6:09 p.m. Illinois Latinos surpass African Americans in coronavirus cases
The Latino community in Illinois has surpassed African Americans in confirmed cases of the coronavirus and could have the greatest number of patients among all races and ethnic groups within days.
As of Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 12,276 cases where the patient is white, 11,848 among Latinos, and 11,353 in the black community.
Last week, on April 22, there were about 7,800 patients who were white, 5,800 who identified as Latino and 8,100 who were African American.
The dramatic rise in cases among Latinos is reflective of better testing capabilities and greater awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, but public health experts are raising concerns about the state’s reach among Latino communities in their efforts to contain the pandemic.
Reporter Carlos Ballesteros has the full story.
5:13 p.m. Pritzker urged by five GOP congressmen to ‘safely reopen’ low-risk regions
The five Illinois Republican House members Thursday urged Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker to reopen low-risk Illinois counties with few or no coronavirus-related deaths in order for the state “to strategically and safely reopen its economy.”
The congressmen pushed the regional approach after Pritzker last week extended a stay-a-home order to May 30 even as restrictions will be lifted on a variety of activities and businesses on Friday.
The lawmakers — Reps. Darin LaHood, Adam Kinzinger; John Shimkus; Rodney Davis and Mike Bost — and Pritzker avoided acrimonious exchanges as the state navigates pandemic reopening policy.
The congressmen said in a statement, “Illinois is a diverse state and the coronavirus has impacted communities in different ways. As we work to start the phased reopening here at home, we cannot do so with a blanket, one-size-fits-all plan.”
Pritzker, asked about the GOP lawmakers’ concerns during his Thursday briefing, said, “I don’t disagree with them that different areas of the state require different rules during this time, and that’s why we made some changes in this new executive order that goes into effect tomorrow.”
Read the full story from Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet here.
4:30 p.m. 141 more coronavirus deaths — second-highest daily toll — with Pritzker poised to extend stay-at-home order
As Gov. J.B. Pritzker prepares to sign an extended stay-at-home executive order, officials on Thursday said another 141 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois, marking the second highest daily death toll the state has seen during the pandemic.
The latest deaths raised the Illinois total to 2,355. Another 2,563 new cases were also reported, bringing the state’s total to 52,918 cases. The virus also spread to an additional county — downstate Brown County — and has now been confirmed in 97 of 102 counties.
The state received 13,200 tests results back on Wednesday.
With nearly 270,000 tests performed, Pritzker’s office said Illinois is ranked seventh in the nation for total number of tests performed as of April 26. The state is also 20th among all tests completed per capita, and fifth in all states in terms of average completed tests over the last week.
Read the full story here.
3:52 p.m. CFD commander ‘blindsided’ by son’s crowded party
The Chicago Fire Department commander who owns the Galewood townhome where a weekend house party was held said Thursday she was “blindsided” by her son’s decision to host the crowded party and would never have allowed it during a pandemic.
Paramedic commander Christine Matthews said the unauthorized party was hosted by her 26-year-old son, who doesn’t live with her, but has a key to her townhome “for emergencies.”
“I didn’t learn about the party until the police showed up the next day and told me,” Matthews wrote in an email to the Sun-Times.
“I went to apologize to my neighbors and I saw the video. ... I was completely blindsided. I would never condone this behavior. I am a paramedic. I have had people die from this!!!” she wrote.
“I would never allow 200 people in my brand new townhouse. It’s appalling and unacceptable. My Ring doorbell was removed. I’m not speaking to son. And he is sorry for his actions now.”
Read the full story here.
3:20 p.m. Lightfoot dances on TikTok to announce citywide graduation ceremony — online, with Oprah
Mayor Lori Lightfoot dances on TikTok.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot got her dancing shoes on Thursday morning to announce Chicago’s first-ever, virtual citywide high school commencement celebration hosted by Oprah Winfrey.
With Chicago Public Schools closed for in-person classes through the end of the school year, the city’s 25,000 public high school seniors — and thousands more at private schools — are missing out on rite of passage events like prom and graduation.
So Lightfoot partnered with Citadel, the financial services company owned by billionaire Ken Griffin, to put on a party for all those 12th graders at public, charter and all private schools across the city.
“We are thrilled and honored to have the one-and-only Oprah Winfrey joining us for this incredible moment with Chicago’s high school seniors,” Lightfoot said in a news release. “While we can’t recreate these in-person memories, I feel strongly that we need to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our many high school seniors in Chicago.”
Read the full story here.
2:30 p.m. Northern Illinois church sues Pritzker in federal court over his stay-at-home order
A church in northwestern Illinois has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide restrictions amid the coronavirus, seeking an immediate injunction that would allow it to conduct worship services.
The lawsuit was filed by the Thomas More Society on behalf of The Beloved Church of Lena and its pastor, Stephen Cassell. It alleges that the Stephenson County health department delivered a cease-and-desist notice to Cassell on March 31.
The complaint says the church, which is about 40 miles west of Rockford, intends to “reopen and hold public worship services this Sunday.” It goes on to say church leaders “fear arrest and prosecution if they do so, without immediate relief from this court.”
“Plaintiffs believe that, in these dark times, Illinoisans need the Spirit of Almighty God, but Pritzker’s orders have left them to settle for the lesser spirits dispensed out of the state’s liquor stores,” the complaint states.
The complaint also cites lawsuits filed by state Reps. Darren Bailey and John Cabello, even borrowing some legal arguments from Cabello’s lawsuit.
Read the full story here.
12:45 p.m. Fauci expects quick approval of new virus drug
The nation’s top infectious diseases expert says he expects the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to quickly approve a new experimental drug that showed promising signs in treating patients with COVID-19.
Anthony Fauci tells NBC’s “Today” show Thursday that he anticipates the go-ahead for the emergency use of Remdesivir to happen “really quickly.”
He says he spoke with FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Wednesday, and while Hahn had yet to make a final decision, “I would project that we’re going to be seeing that reasonably soon.” The drug was shown in a major study to shorten recovery time of hospitalized patients.
Read the full story here.
11:29 a.m. Medical examiner confirms 65 more COVID-19 deaths in Cook County, raising total to 1,668
The Cook County medical examiner’s office on Thursday confirmed another 65 deaths connected to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The newly confirmed fatalities bring the county’s toll to 1,668, the medical examiner’s office said.
Cook County makes up about 75% of the 2,215 deaths in Illinois. On Wednesday, state health officials announced 2,253 new cases of the coronavirus in Illinois.
The state has now seen 50,355 people test positive for the virus.
Read the full story here.
9:10 a.m. Landlords, banks sign non-binding ‘solidarity’ agreement to offer rent grace periods, suspend foreclosure filings
In response to demands from Chicagoans who have seen their jobs and paychecks disappear during the pandemic — and the looming threat of a rent strike — Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday introduced a “Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge.”
The non-binding agreement, signed by residential housing groups, landlord associations and lenders, is an unprecedented commitment to show “flexibility and restraint” to prevent the pandemic from triggering a wave of foreclosures.
Participating landlords have agreed to offer tenants grace periods with terms that “avoid repayment at the end of the deferral period.” They also promised to waive late fees for missed payments and allow renters who miss payments to amortize those payments over time.
Lenders who signed the pledge — including Bank of America, BMO Harris, Northern Trust, US Bank, PNC, Wintrust and Fifth Third — have agreed to suspend foreclosure filings until May 31 and stop reporting late payments to credit reporting agencies.
They have also offered to waive late fees for missed payments and defer payments with terms that “avoid immediate repayment at the end of the deferral period.”
Read more about the “Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge” here.
8:17 a.m. Cellist Ben Sollee delivers musical tribute to postponed Kentucky Derby
Social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic have canceled myriad traditions and events this year, to the extent that the Sun-Times editorial board dubbed this season “The Lost Summer of 2020.”
In addition to concerts and festivals, large-scale annual sporting events have been postponed, including the Masters Tournament scheduled for April, and the 146th annual Kentucky Derby, which had been scheduled for May 2.
To pay tribute to the annual event, which is being rescheduled in September, Kentucky musician Ben Sollee performed the song “My Old Kentucky Home” on the empty tracks at Churchill Downs.
The video was released by Woodford Reserve, a distillery company based in Versailles, Kentucky, which is hosting a virtual toast on YouTube Saturday to commemorate the originally scheduled start time for the “greatest two minutes in sports.”
6:36 a.m. Rolling out contact tracing in Illinois a daunting task, but essential, expert says
Roughly a quarter of the coronavirus tests conducted at the Howard Brown Health clinic in Hyde Park have been coming back positive, amounting to about 20 new confirmed cases a day.
The initial diagnosis is just the start of the staff’s work, though. What comes next is the arduous task of tracking down every person that patient may have encountered, a time-tested public health practice known commonly as contact tracing.
Though local and state officials have said that process is key to slowing the pandemic and reopening the state, a large-scale initiative hasn’t been announced to address the daunting task of tracking down every person who has come into contact with the growing number of COVID-19 patients. On Wednesday, 2,253 new cases were reported across Illinois as the total number of cases eclipsed 50,000.
Reporter Tom Schuba has the full story.
6:14 a.m. Remdesivir proves effective against coronavirus in major study: ‘We’ve got a drug that works,’ UIC researcher says
Promising results from a major study into an experimental drug used to treat the new coronavirus should give people a sense of relief that “we’ve got a drug that works,” a physician at University of Illinois at Chicago Health who participated in the study says.
“They’re really good results,” Dr. Richard Novak, chief of infectious disease at UIC, told the Sun-Times Wednesday of the drug made by Gilead Sciences, called remdesivir.
He added: “That’s great and should give some people a sense of relief who are concerned about getting sick.”
Remdesivir is the first drug to show such promising results against the virus, which has killed more than 218,000 people since it emerged late last year in China. Having a treatment could have a profound effect on the global pandemic, especially because health officials say any vaccine is likely a year or more away.
Get the full story from reporters Matthew Hendrickson and Rachel Hinton.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
12:10 p.m. Trump’s incompetent crowd shows who the real nonessential workers are
One of the few good things that’s happened during the coronavirus pandemic is that we’ve learned how many capable governors and mayors there are across America, of both political parties, who have stepped in to mitigate the terrible harm caused by Boss Trump’s ignorance and impulsivity.
If the man had a particle of honor, or of shame, he would resign and spare a wounded and grieving nation the degrading spectacle that his re-election campaign is certain to be. But he has none, so he won’t.
Instead, he goes on television (almost) every afternoon to boast and bitch about his enemies, imagined and real. My personal favorite was the time he blamed Barack Obama for the lack of coronavirus test kits — a disease that didn’t exist until late 2019, three years into the Trump regime.
“No, I don’t take responsibility at all,” he said.
No kidding.
Read the full column from Gene Lyons.
6:37 a.m. COVID-19 lawsuits a symptom of a pre-existing condition in Illinois — and the nation
Somehow, I’ve found myself on the email distribution list for a conservative, pro-Trump news service, which, it turns out, offers handy insight into how the other half of the country thinks without my having to endure the pain of watching FOX News.
For the past 24 hours, the top story on their website has been one with which we are very familiar in Illinois even if we might not recognize the particular spin: “Judge Stands Up Against Dem Gov, Excoriates Stay At Home Order.”
The facts of the story are pretty much what you could find in the Chicago Sun-Times or any other mainstream news organization’s coverage of the downstate judge’s ruling that Gov. J. B. Pritzker exceeded his authority by extending his emergency stay-at-home orders beyond 30 days.
The difference is those facts are related from the point of view that Pritzker’s orders were “obviously” illegal and that state Rep. Darren Bailey and Clay County Circuit Judge Michael McHaney are heroic figures for standing up to him in defense of the Constitution and personal freedom.
Read the rest of Mark Brown’s column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--Chicago’s McCormick Foundation donates $1 million to Obama Foundation as pandemic creates fundraisin

Chicago’s McCormick Foundation donates $1 million to Obama Foundation as pandemic creates fundraising challenges

The Obama Foundation reported on Thursday 10 new donors of $ 10,000 and above in the first quarter of 2020 , with the foundation , going forward , having to figure out how to lure major contributors in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic .
To compare : Looking at new donors over $ 10,000 in 2019 , there were 24 in the first quarter ; 21 in the second quarter ; 11 in the third quarter ; and 27 in the fourth quarter , according to the foundation .
The foundation landed three new million-dollar-plus donors in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , February and March .
They are : *The Chicago based Robert R. McCormick Foundation .
A McCormick spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times the organization pledged a $ 1 million gift over five years with $ 200,000 given in March .
Former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle are familiar with the McCormick Foundation .
In May 2017 , they personally donated $ 1 million to One Summer Chicago , a McCormick Foundation fund , for ex-Mayor Rahm Emanuel ’ s summer youth employment program .
*The Rattner Family Foundation .
Steven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Obama administration .
*The Spiegel Family Fund .
Snapchat ’ s Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Snap Inc .
The Obama Foundation only discloses the general range of donations each quarter — not the specific amounts — and posts the names of givers on its website with no other identifying information for the public .
Obama Foundation chair Marty Nesbitt declines to improve this non-consumer friendly system , which gets more cumbersome each quarter .
The Obama Foundation operates domestic and international programs .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama Presidential Center , a four-building complex proposed for Jackson Park , with a museum to be housed in a tower structure .
Construction has been pushed back through the years because planners did not anticipate the time it takes to conduct a federal review of the project .
The federal review is mandated because Jackson Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and because federal grants funded some park improvements .

The Obama Foundation reported on Thursday 10 new donors of $10,000 and above in the first quarter of 2020, with the foundation, going forward, having to figure out how to lure major contributors in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To compare: Looking at new donors over $10,000 in 2019, there were 24 in the first quarter; 21 in the second quarter; 11 in the third quarter; and 27 in the fourth quarter, according to the foundation.
The foundation landed three new million-dollar-plus donors in the first quarter of 2020, taking in January, February and March. They are:
*The Chicago based Robert R. McCormick Foundation. A McCormick spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times the organization pledged a $1 million gift over five years with $200,000 given in March.
Former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle are familiar with the McCormick Foundation. In May 2017, they personally donated $1 million to One Summer Chicago, a McCormick Foundation fund, for ex-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s summer youth employment program.
*The Rattner Family Foundation. Steven Rattner, an MSNBC contributor, served in the Obama administration.
*The Spiegel Family Fund. Snapchat’s Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Snap Inc.
The Obama Foundation only discloses the general range of donations each quarter — not the specific amounts — and posts the names of givers on its website with no other identifying information for the public. Obama Foundation chair Marty Nesbitt declines to improve this non-consumer friendly system, which gets more cumbersome each quarter.
The Obama Foundation operates domestic and international programs. There is no date set for groundbreaking to build the Obama Presidential Center, a four-building complex proposed for Jackson Park, with a museum to be housed in a tower structure. Construction has been pushed back through the years because planners did not anticipate the time it takes to conduct a federal review of the project.
The federal review is mandated because Jackson Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and because federal grants funded some park improvements.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--Chicago’s Rebecca Drysdale named new ‘Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon’ head writer

A veteran of Second City and the Chicago improv universe has been tapped as the new head writer of NBC ’ s “ The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
” The network on Thursday confirmed the hire of Rebecca Drysdale , who is new to the Fallon show but earlier wrote for “ Key & Peele ” and the “ All That ” reboot .
Deadline reports she ’ s been on the job since April 13 at “ Tonight , ” which is shooting at Fallon ’ s home during the coronavirus quarantine .
The Akron , Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City e.t.c .
in the early 2000s .
She made a national splash in 2005 with an edgy one-woman show at a high-profile comedy festival in Aspen , Colorado , which earned her an award as the fest ’ s Breakout Performer .
Drysdale was circumspect about the opportunities that followed , telling the Sun-Times then , “ The last thing I wan na do is be another person who puts out sucky things into the world.
” By then she was already tight with Jordan Peele , first her friend at Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acclaimed Chicago sketch duo called Two White Guys .
For her work on his show “ Key & Peele , ” she shared a Peabody Award and three Emmy nominations .
Drysdale also has written for FX ’ s “ Baskets ” and HBO ’ s “ High Maintenance.
” As an actor , she has appeared on “ Arrested Development , ” “ Orange Is the New Black ” and “ 30 Rock.
” Openly gay , she drew attention for the “ Vogue ” -esque ( and verbally racy ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ It Gets Better ” campaign for LGBTQ teens : Meanwhile , another woman from Chicago improv , Ariel Dumas , is one of the two head writers ( with Jay Katsir ) for a “ Tonight Show ” rival , “ Late Night With Stephen Colbert .
”

A veteran of Second City and the Chicago improv universe has been tapped as the new head writer of NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.”
The network on Thursday confirmed the hire of Rebecca Drysdale, who is new to the Fallon show but earlier wrote for “Key & Peele” and the “All That” reboot.
Deadline reports she’s been on the job since April 13 at “Tonight,” which is shooting at Fallon’s home during the coronavirus quarantine.
The Akron, Ohio, native wrote and performed shows at Second City e.t.c. in the early 2000s. She made a national splash in 2005 with an edgy one-woman show at a high-profile comedy festival in Aspen, Colorado, which earned her an award as the fest’s Breakout Performer.
Drysdale was circumspect about the opportunities that followed, telling the Sun-Times then, “The last thing I wanna do is be another person who puts out sucky things into the world.”
Rebecca Drysdale (left) performs in the 2004 Second City e.t.c. revue “Show Title Deemed Indecent by the FCC,” with Sam Albert (from left), Matt Craig, Jennifer Bills, Frank Caeti and Peter Grosz Michael Brosilow
By then she was already tight with Jordan Peele, first her friend at Sarah Lawrence College and later her partner in an acclaimed Chicago sketch duo called Two White Guys. For her work on his show “Key & Peele,” she shared a Peabody Award and three Emmy nominations.
Drysdale also has written for FX’s “Baskets” and HBO’s “High Maintenance.” As an actor, she has appeared on “Arrested Development,” “Orange Is the New Black” and “30 Rock.”
Openly gay, she drew attention for the “Vogue”-esque (and verbally racy) music video she made for Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign for LGBTQ teens:
Meanwhile, another woman from Chicago improv, Ariel Dumas, is one of the two head writers (with Jay Katsir) for a “Tonight Show” rival, “Late Night With Stephen Colbert.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--The house doesn’t always win: Casinos already lost $100 million as COVID-19 keeps them shut ‘until f

The house doesn’t always win: Casinos already lost $100 million as COVID-19 keeps them shut ‘until further notice’

Illinois casinos , already in the midst of an unprecedented shutdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , will remain closed “ until further notice ” as Gov .
J.B. Pritzker doubles down on his stay-at-home order through May .
More than 36,000 video gambling terminals across the state will also stay dark indefinitely “ to prevent the further spread of the novel COVID-19 virus and protect public health and safety , ” Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said in an order issued Thursday .
All Illinois gambling operations have been suspended since March 16 .
The industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s first riverboat casino set sail in 1991 .
“ The Gaming Board will continue to review current public health guidance and conditions to determine when and under what conditions statewide video gaming and casino gambling can safely resume , ” Fruchter said .
Fruchter ’ s latest order marks the third extension of the gaming shutdown , while Pritzker ’ s modified stay-at-home order — which allows some previously shuttered businesses to resume limited operations — is poised to last until May 30 , though it faces a trio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
Illinois Casino Gaming Association executive director Tom Swoik said casino operators are hopeful they ’ ll be able to start laying odds again June 1 .
Swoik estimated Illinois ’ 10 casinos have lost about $ 100 million during the first six weeks they ’ ve been out of business , while more than 5,000 employees are out of work .
And it won ’ t be easy to turn things around whenever games are back on .
“ It ’ ll take several months to see people feeling comfortable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be very , very cautious , ” Swoik said .
Casinos across the country are considering new sanitization criteria in the age of COVID-19 .
That could include sneeze guards between spaced-out slot machines , limiting table games to two or three players — and not allowing them to touch cards , Swoik said .
Chips would have to be continually sanitized .
Illinois casinos raked in nearly $ 115 million in April 2019 , while gamblers lost almost $ 145 million at video slots that month , Gaming Board records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion industry to a halt , the pandemic has thrown a wrench into a massive statewide gambling expansion signed into law last summer by Pritzker , designed to help fund his signature $ 45 billion capital plan for statewide construction projects .
Regulators were evaluating applications to open five new casinos .
They ’ d also rolled out legal sports betting just two days before the NBA suspended its season , prompting other major leagues to follow suit— and a week before the casinos were forced to shut their doors .

Illinois casinos, already in the midst of an unprecedented shutdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, will remain closed “until further notice” as Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubles down on his stay-at-home order through May.
More than 36,000 video gambling terminals across the state will also stay dark indefinitely “to prevent the further spread of the novel COVID-19 virus and protect public health and safety,” Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said in an order issued Thursday.
All Illinois gambling operations have been suspended since March 16. The industry had never faced an extended shutdown since the state’s first riverboat casino set sail in 1991.
“The Gaming Board will continue to review current public health guidance and conditions to determine when and under what conditions statewide video gaming and casino gambling can safely resume,” Fruchter said.
Fruchter’s latest order marks the third extension of the gaming shutdown, while Pritzker’s modified stay-at-home order — which allows some previously shuttered businesses to resume limited operations — is poised to last until May 30, though it faces a trio of legal challenges originating outside the Chicago area.
Illinois Casino Gaming Association executive director Tom Swoik said casino operators are hopeful they’ll be able to start laying odds again June 1.
Swoik estimated Illinois’ 10 casinos have lost about $100 million during the first six weeks they’ve been out of business, while more than 5,000 employees are out of work. And it won’t be easy to turn things around whenever games are back on.
Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Ill. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times files
“It’ll take several months to see people feeling comfortable to start going back. Everyone’s going to be very, very cautious,” Swoik said.
Casinos across the country are considering new sanitization criteria in the age of COVID-19. That could include sneeze guards between spaced-out slot machines, limiting table games to two or three players — and not allowing them to touch cards, Swoik said. Chips would have to be continually sanitized.
Illinois casinos raked in nearly $115 million in April 2019, while gamblers lost almost $145 million at video slots that month, Gaming Board records show.
Besides bringing a $3 billion industry to a halt, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into a massive statewide gambling expansion signed into law last summer by Pritzker, designed to help fund his signature $45 billion capital plan for statewide construction projects.
Regulators were evaluating applications to open five new casinos. They’d also rolled out legal sports betting just two days before the NBA suspended its season, prompting other major leagues to follow suit— and a week before the casinos were forced to shut their doors.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--With 65 new free testing sites added, Illinois has run nearly 100K coronavirus tests in past week

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that 177 public sites are now offering free coronavirus testing across the state , with 65 new locations added since Pritzker reported last week that Illinois had reached the elusive goal of processing 10,000 tests in a single day .
Since hitting that mark last Friday , Illinois has run 96,551 total tests and hasn ’ t once dipped below that daily benchmark .
The tests conducted over the past seven days account for more than 35 % of the tests the state has conducted since reporting began in early March .
With his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pritzker made it clear that testing for the deadly virus is “ vital to our efforts to reduce social restrictions , get our economy going and to protect our residents.
” A drive-thru site at Norwegian American Hospital in Humboldt Park is among the new testing locations that have recently opened in minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 .
Jose Sanchez , the hospital ’ s president and CEO , announced Thursday that over 80 % of those tested since the site opened Tuesday have been Latino or African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s daily press briefing , Sanchez said the new testing site helps “ address the serious health inequities we have seen in our community.
” The Sun-Times reported Thursday that the Latino community in Illinois has surpassed African Americans in confirmed cases of the coronavirus and could have the greatest number of patients among all races and ethnic groups within days .
“ It is critical that we identify the individuals that have COVID-19 early so we can provide interventions and prevent the spread of virus in our underserved communities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to run “ hundreds ” of COVID-19 tests by the end of the week .
In addition to the substantial increase in community testing sites like Norwegian , Pritzker announced that new drive-thru sites operated by the state will open next week in Waukegan and East St. Louis .
Once those get up-and-running , Pritzker set a goal of collecting a total of 3,000 daily swabs at those seven sites .
While Pritzker said the state has taken considerable steps to address the shortage of supplies needed to run tests — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House to obtain hundreds of thousands of swabs and vials of the solution needed to transport them — he made it clear that the country “ just doesn ’ t produce enough of these raw materials to meet the medical need.
” “ Our procurement teams have been hard at work competing for those raw materials against every nation and every state in the open market , ” Pritzker said .
“ And so far , we ’ re succeeding .
”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that 177 public sites are now offering free coronavirus testing across the state, with 65 new locations added since Pritzker reported last week that Illinois had reached the elusive goal of processing 10,000 tests in a single day.
Since hitting that mark last Friday, Illinois has run 96,551 total tests and hasn’t once dipped below that daily benchmark. The tests conducted over the past seven days account for more than 35% of the tests the state has conducted since reporting began in early March.
With his modified stay-at-home taking effect on Friday, Pritzker made it clear that testing for the deadly virus is “vital to our efforts to reduce social restrictions, get our economy going and to protect our residents.”
A drive-thru site at Norwegian American Hospital in Humboldt Park is among the new testing locations that have recently opened in minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Jose Sanchez, the hospital’s president and CEO, announced Thursday that over 80% of those tested since the site opened Tuesday have been Latino or African American.
Speaking to reporters at the governor’s daily press briefing, Sanchez said the new testing site helps “address the serious health inequities we have seen in our community.” The Sun-Times reported Thursday that the Latino community in Illinois has surpassed African Americans in confirmed cases of the coronavirus and could have the greatest number of patients among all races and ethnic groups within days.
“It is critical that we identify the individuals that have COVID-19 early so we can provide interventions and prevent the spread of virus in our underserved communities,” added Sanchez, who said the hospital is expected to run “hundreds” of COVID-19 tests by the end of the week.
In addition to the substantial increase in community testing sites like Norwegian, Pritzker announced that new drive-thru sites operated by the state will open next week in Waukegan and East St. Louis. Once those get up-and-running, Pritzker set a goal of collecting a total of 3,000 daily swabs at those seven sites.
As more tests have been processed, a lower rate have started to come back positive. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike attributed that decrease to the state’s expanded criteria for testing, which had initially been limited to those considered at high risk of contracting the disease.
Casting a wider net is vital for getting a better sense of the true rate of infection. In South Korea, a country of 51 million that acted swiftly to institute an aggressive testing system, the positivity rate has hovered around 3%. Meanwhile, the rate of positive tests in Illinois has fallen to around 20%.
“We will have that lower positivity rate, but be grateful for the ones that we identify,” Ezike said.
While Pritzker said the state has taken considerable steps to address the shortage of supplies needed to run tests — including striking a deal with the White House to obtain hundreds of thousands of swabs and vials of the solution needed to transport them — he made it clear that the country “just doesn’t produce enough of these raw materials to meet the medical need.”
“Our procurement teams have been hard at work competing for those raw materials against every nation and every state in the open market,” Pritzker said. “And so far, we’re succeeding.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--Aviation turmoil threatens O’Hare improvements

Chicago ’ s “ Taj Mahal ” of an O ’ Hare Airport expansion project will be delayed and could be dramatically scaled back because airlines decimated by the coronavirus can ’ t afford their share of the $ 8.7 billion worth of improvements , according to travel industry analysts .
The “ survival mode ” airlines are in was evident in the losses reported Thursday by United and American Airlines , O ’ Hare ’ s two largest carriers .
American reported a loss of $ 2.24 billion for the first quarter , which registered just the early effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chicago-based United said it lost $ 1.7 billion in the first quarter .
Industry-wide , revenue has fallen about 95 % from last April , American Chairman Doug Parker said on a call with analysts .
“ And while no one has a perfect crystal ball , I think we all expect that recovery will be slow and demand for air travel will be suppressed for quite some time , ” he said .
To aviation experts , that translates into perhaps two to five years before demand returns to pre-pandemic levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvements at O ’ Hare .
But they said the project , dubbed O ’ Hare 21 , should continue in some fashion because eventually the airport will need more gates .
Henry Harteveldt , a travel industry analyst for San Francisco-based Atmosphere Research Group , said the O ’ Hare work needs to be scaled back , delayed , and possibly completed “ in stages.
” He also said the city may have to renegotiate airline use and lease agreements —with higher terminal rents and landing fees baked in — that bankrolled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue and passenger facility charge bonds authorized by the City Council to get the project started .
“ This isn ’ t the time to build a Taj Mahal .
… If any airline reaches even half the level of passengers and half the level of revenue that it had before the pandemic by the end of this year , it would be a miracle , ” Harteveldt said .
“ Taj Mahal ” is a term some in the industry have used to describe the city ’ s plans regarding Terminal 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow United and American to combine domestic and international flights in the same place .
City officials take issue with that description .
Mark Ahasic , president of Ahasic Aviation Advisors , also said design modifications are likely .
“ It won ’ t be over-the-top Taj Mahal style , ” he said .
Ahasic also said delays and revisions are nothing new in long-term airport projects and that demand for slots at O ’ Hare is intense .
He was an executive at JetBlue Airways during and after the 9-11 attacks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the discount carrier to get a single gate at O ’ Hare .
City officials said O ’ Hare 21 ’ s design isn ’ t lavish , but an attempt to address overdue needs .
Matt McGrath , deputy commissioner at the city ’ s Aviation Department , said in a statement , “ The Terminal Area Plan , the centerpiece of the capital program , is still in the planning and design phase and is continuing .
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic , CDA worked continuously to evaluate and prioritize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term needs , maximize its competitive position , and evaluate the timing of investments within the broader economic landscape .
We plan to move forward with these important investments to secure O ’ Hare ’ s future in a fiscally sustainable and responsible manner.
” Harteveldt said there is “ no question ” that new facilities are needed at O ’ Hare .
Parts of the airport — including Terminal 2 — “ date back to the original opening in the 1960s.
” But he argued that the new terminal “ may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised the city and major airlines to “ sit down with the architect and the contractors and re-think ” the entire project .
Consider holding off for “ at least a year or two , ” then building it in stages , so they ’ re not “ over-building ” at a time when airlines finances are weak .
And , above all , find a way to “ re-think the rent or lease obligations ” to recognize the “ much weaker financial condition ” the airlines will be in “ for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harteveldt said .
“ If the city proceeds with this without consulting with the airlines , it ’ s very possible the airlines will simply say , ‘ We ’ re reneging on this new terminal .
We can ’ t afford it .
Forecasts say we no longer need it .
And we don ’ t support it , ’ ” Harteveldt said .
To William Swelbar , analyst at Delta Airport Consultants , O ’ Hare ’ s principal issue is the lack of capacity and the likelihood that , post-pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer for cleaning .
“ O ’ Hare has needed gates for so long , and now it won ’ t be able to use them as efficiently , ” he said .
Regarding industry demand , Swelbar said , “ The overarching issue is if it ’ s business travel or leisure travel that returns first .
We know United and American in the business traffic .
That ’ s their model.
” The city hired a team led by renowned architect Jeanne Gang to design the new Terminal 2 .
Sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paving the way for airlines to get out of the agreement .
But some experts said the city and airlines could revise their agreement without hardball negotiations , “ Airlines are particularly protective of their large hubs , ” said Seth Lehman , senior director at Fitch Ratings , which analyzes O ’ Hare bonds .
“ Chicago is one of the strongest markets and carriers don ’ t want to give up gate access.
” About $ 2 billion in bonds to support the project , half the authorized total , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Hare 21 would expand gate capacity by 25 % , add capacity for security screenings and speed baggage handling .
Now those goals are colliding with an industry in turmoil , with data from security screenings showing passenger traffic is down 95 % from a year ago .
The trade group Airlines for America reports that more than 3,000 aircraft , about 75 % of the fleet , are idle .
American has said it has applied for $ 4.75 billion in loans from the Treasury Department .
That should keep it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United said it has applied for up to $ 9.5 billion in grants or loans , secured by warrants for stock to be issued to the Treasury Department .
The two carriers also said they are reducing their cash burn rates .
American said it plans to get it down to $ 50 million a day in the second quarter from $ 70 million , and United said it expects a similar reduction to $ 40 million to $ 45 million .
The $ 8.7 billion O ’ Hare expansion was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accomplishments .
In a game of musical gates , it would assure Delta Airlines breathing room by shifting its operations from Terminal 2 to the new Terminal 5 , where its so-called SkyTeam alliance partners already are located .
Over time , there ’ ll be a new parking garage , an adjacent hotel and roadway improvements — though none of those projects have been designed or approved by the airlines that pay the bills .
The project still has a targeted completion by 2028 and would make O ’ Hare the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” with domestic airlines and their international carrier partners all in the same terminal .
At one point , American accused Emanuel of favoring its archrival by awarding hometown United five additional gates .
American was alone among airlines in objecting to a new lease agreement — threatening legal action that could have grounded the project .
O ’ Hare ’ s second-largest carrier signed on , only after the city made a hazy promise to speed construction of three common-use gates that favor American .

Chicago’s “Taj Mahal” of an O’Hare Airport expansion project will be delayed and could be dramatically scaled back because airlines decimated by the coronavirus can’t afford their share of the $8.7 billion worth of improvements, according to travel industry analysts.
The “survival mode” airlines are in was evident in the losses reported Thursday by United and American Airlines, O’Hare’s two largest carriers. American reported a loss of $2.24 billion for the first quarter, which registered just the early effects of the pandemic on domestic air travel. Chicago-based United said it lost $1.7 billion in the first quarter.
Industry-wide, revenue has fallen about 95% from last April, American Chairman Doug Parker said on a call with analysts. “And while no one has a perfect crystal ball, I think we all expect that recovery will be slow and demand for air travel will be suppressed for quite some time,” he said.
To aviation experts, that translates into perhaps two to five years before demand returns to pre-pandemic levels and airport revenues can again support ambitious improvements at O’Hare. But they said the project, dubbed O’Hare 21, should continue in some fashion because eventually the airport will need more gates.
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst for San Francisco-based Atmosphere Research Group, said the O’Hare work needs to be scaled back, delayed, and possibly completed “in stages.” He also said the city may have to renegotiate airline use and lease agreements —with higher terminal rents and landing fees baked in — that bankrolled the $4 billion in general airport revenue and passenger facility charge bonds authorized by the City Council to get the project started.
“This isn’t the time to build a Taj Mahal. … If any airline reaches even half the level of passengers and half the level of revenue that it had before the pandemic by the end of this year, it would be a miracle,” Harteveldt said.
“Taj Mahal” is a term some in the industry have used to describe the city’s plans regarding Terminal 2, which would be greatly enlarged to allow United and American to combine domestic and international flights in the same place. City officials take issue with that description.
Mark Ahasic, president of Ahasic Aviation Advisors, also said design modifications are likely. “It won’t be over-the-top Taj Mahal style,” he said. Ahasic also said delays and revisions are nothing new in long-term airport projects and that demand for slots at O’Hare is intense.
He was an executive at JetBlue Airways during and after the 9-11 attacks. Ahasic said it took nearly six years for the discount carrier to get a single gate at O’Hare.
City officials said O’Hare 21’s design isn’t lavish, but an attempt to address overdue needs. Matt McGrath, deputy commissioner at the city’s Aviation Department, said in a statement, “The Terminal Area Plan, the centerpiece of the capital program, is still in the planning and design phase and is continuing. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, CDA worked continuously to evaluate and prioritize O’Hare’s near- and long-term needs, maximize its competitive position, and evaluate the timing of investments within the broader economic landscape. We plan to move forward with these important investments to secure O’Hare’s future in a fiscally sustainable and responsible manner.”
Harteveldt said there is “no question” that new facilities are needed at O’Hare. Parts of the airport — including Terminal 2 —“date back to the original opening in the 1960s.” But he argued that the new terminal “may not be needed for several years.”
He advised the city and major airlines to “sit down with the architect and the contractors and re-think” the entire project. Consider holding off for “at least a year or two,” then building it in stages, so they’re not “over-building” at a time when airlines finances are weak.
And, above all, find a way to “re-think the rent or lease obligations” to recognize the “much weaker financial condition” the airlines will be in “for the next two-to-three years at least,” Harteveldt said.
“If the city proceeds with this without consulting with the airlines, it’s very possible the airlines will simply say, ‘We’re reneging on this new terminal. We can’t afford it. Forecasts say we no longer need it. And we don’t support it,’” Harteveldt said.
To William Swelbar, analyst at Delta Airport Consultants, O’Hare’s principal issue is the lack of capacity and the likelihood that, post-pandemic, aircraft will be at the gates longer for cleaning. “O’Hare has needed gates for so long, and now it won’t be able to use them as efficiently,” he said.
Regarding industry demand, Swelbar said, “The overarching issue is if it’s business travel or leisure travel that returns first. We know United and American in the business traffic. That’s their model.”
The city hired a team led by renowned architect Jeanne Gang to design the new Terminal 2. Sources described the Gang-designed terminal as over-budget, paving the way for airlines to get out of the agreement.
But some experts said the city and airlines could revise their agreement without hardball negotiations, “Airlines are particularly protective of their large hubs,” said Seth Lehman, senior director at Fitch Ratings, which analyzes O’Hare bonds. “Chicago is one of the strongest markets and carriers don’t want to give up gate access.”
About $2 billion in bonds to support the project, half the authorized total, have been sold. At completion, O’Hare 21 would expand gate capacity by 25%, add capacity for security screenings and speed baggage handling.
Now those goals are colliding with an industry in turmoil, with data from security screenings showing passenger traffic is down 95% from a year ago. The trade group Airlines for America reports that more than 3,000 aircraft, about 50% of the fleet, are idle.
American has said it has applied for $4.75 billion in loans from the Treasury Department. That should keep it flying and avoiding layoffs through October. United said it has applied for up to $9.5 billion in grants or loans, secured by warrants for stock to be issued to the Treasury Department.
The two carriers also said they are reducing their cash burn rates. American said it plans to get it down to $50 million a day in the second quarter from $70 million, and United said it expects a similar reduction to $40 million to $45 million.
American Airlines planes sit idle on a closed taxiway at Pittsburgh International Airport on March 31. AP
The $8.7 billion O’Hare expansion was one of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proudest accomplishments.
In a game of musical gates, it would assure Delta Airlines breathing room by shifting its operations from Terminal 2 to the new Terminal 5, where its so-called SkyTeam alliance partners already are located.
Over time, there’ll be a new parking garage, an adjacent hotel and roadway improvements — though none of those projects have been designed or approved by the airlines that pay the bills.
The project still has a targeted completion by 2028 and would make O’Hare the nation’s first “global alliance hub,” with domestic airlines and their international carrier partners all in the same terminal.
At one point, American accused Emanuel of favoring its archrival by awarding hometown United five additional gates.
American was alone among airlines in objecting to a new lease agreement — threatening legal action that could have grounded the project. O’Hare’s second-largest carrier signed on, only after the city made a hazy promise to speed construction of three common-use gates that favor American.
Contributing: AP


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--6 more cases of COVID-19 in Chicago Police Department

Chicago police announced Thursday six more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the number of cases in the department to 436 @ @ @ @ @ , 415 are officers and 21 are civilian employees , police said .
A total @ @ @ @ @ positive test results but the department ’ s medical section has yet to confirm four @ @ @ @ @ said .
The department announced the death of a third officer from complications of the @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , Illinois health officials said another 141 people died from the virus , @ @ @ @ @ toll to 2,355 .
The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state is @ @ @ @

Chicago police announced Thursday six more cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in the department to 436.
Of the confirmed cases, 415 are officers and 21 are civilian employees, police said.
A total of 439 employees have reported positive test results but the department’s medical section has yet to confirm four of those cases, police said.
The department announced the death of a third officer from complications of the coronavirus on April 17.
On Thursday, Illinois health officials said another 141 people died from the virus, raising the state’s toll to 2,355. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state is now at 52,918.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-30--Hundreds refuse to pay UChicago as tuition strike takes off, organizers say: ‘This isn’t a bluff’

As hundreds of students refuse to make payments to the University of Chicago , organizers say they hope the tuition strike will convince the school ’ s leadership to come to the bargaining table .
Students with UChicago for Fair Tuition demanded earlier this month that the university cut tuition by 50 % and eliminate student fees for as long as the coronavirus pandemic continued , citing changing financial situations for students due to skyrocketing unemployment .
About 1,900 students signed a petition asking the university to cut tuition and 950 said they planned to withhold their money this past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the group said .
Julia Attie , an organizer of the strike , said she has received confirmation from about 200 students that withheld payments .
Students who withhold payment could be subject to a late fee , which organizers said they were trying to cover through more than $ 2,000 in donations raised by the group .
Students who continue to strike could also miss graduation , the students say .
Attie , who plans to graduate with a bachelor ’ s degree in June , hopes it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t had any conversations [ with school officials ] yet , but we ’ re hoping that when they see this isn ’ t a bluff it will bring them to the table , ” Attie said .
Laurel Chen , a graduate student studying social work , said she ’ s prepared to strike as long as necessary , even if it could affect her own graduation this year .
“ Tuition is an essential source of funding for the University ’ s ongoing operations , including support for financial aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a university spokesman said in an emailed statement .
“ Reducing tuition for students regardless of their financial means would require substantial cutbacks in operations , which would hinder the University ’ s ability to provide all of its current educational offerings and to fulfill its core research and education mission.
” The spokesman did not respond to a question about consequences for students who do not pay , but said : “ For students or families whose ability to make payments has been affected by COVID-19 , the University has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a payment extension .
Otherwise , the University policy on timely payments remains the same.
” Chen , though , said the group has heard from students who say they have struggled to get additional aid from the university and said she ’ s also concerned about international students , who are not eligible .
Even students who are able to afford this semester ’ s tuition , she said , some said they may not be able to return in the fall due to family job losses .
“ Our goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the university , ” Chen said .
“ We want them to address the concerns of thousands of students who have signed out petition and spoken with us .
From the switch to remote education this semester , having to leave campus suddenly and the continued bleak economic forecast , “ a lot of students are really struggling , ” she said .

As hundreds of students refuse to make payments to the University of Chicago, organizers say they hope the tuition strike will convince the school’s leadership to come to the bargaining table.
Students with UChicago for Fair Tuition demanded earlier this month that the university cut tuition by 50% and eliminate student fees for as long as the coronavirus pandemic continued, citing changing financial situations for students due to skyrocketing unemployment.
About 1,900 students signed a petition asking the university to cut tuition and 950 said they planned to withhold their money this past Wednesday when spring semester payments were due, the group said.
Julia Attie, an organizer of the strike, said she has received confirmation from about 200 students that withheld payments.
Students who withhold payment could be subject to a late fee, which organizers said they were trying to cover through more than $2,000 in donations raised by the group. Students who continue to strike could also miss graduation, the students say.
Attie, who plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in June, hopes it doesn’t come to that.
“We haven’t had any conversations [with school officials] yet, but we’re hoping that when they see this isn’t a bluff it will bring them to the table,” Attie said.
Laurel Chen, a graduate student studying social work, said she’s prepared to strike as long as necessary, even if it could affect her own graduation this year.
“Tuition is an essential source of funding for the University’s ongoing operations, including support for financial aid as well as faculty and staff salaries,” a university spokesman said in an emailed statement. “Reducing tuition for students regardless of their financial means would require substantial cutbacks in operations, which would hinder the University’s ability to provide all of its current educational offerings and to fulfill its core research and education mission.”
The spokesman did not respond to a question about consequences for students who do not pay, but said: “For students or families whose ability to make payments has been affected by COVID-19, the University has provided a Financial Hardship Form to apply for a payment extension. Otherwise, the University policy on timely payments remains the same.”
Chen, though, said the group has heard from students who say they have struggled to get additional aid from the university and said she’s also concerned about international students, who are not eligible. Even students who are able to afford this semester’s tuition, she said, some said they may not be able to return in the fall due to family job losses.
“Our goal is to come to an equitable solution with the university,” Chen said. “We want them to address the concerns of thousands of students who have signed our petition and spoken with us.
From the switch to remote education this semester, having to leave campus suddenly and the continued bleak economic forecast, “a lot of students are really struggling,” she said.