chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Really big Chinook: The chase for the Illinois record nears the final goal

Any fish story that begins with ‘ ‘ The fish was so big you couldn ’ t hold it out ’ ’ is headed the right way .
Around 4:30 a.m. Friday , Brad Reineking of Fox River Grove launched out of Waukegan with Wisconsin brothers Dan and Ben Keifer .
They set up in 100 feet , then trolled between 100 and 150 .
By 6:30 a.m. , they had caught a 22-pound Chinook and several coho out of Reineking ’ s 19 1/2-foot Alumacraft .
About 6:45 a.m. , Reineking put a Stinger Killer Dolphin spoon on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many kings on this last fall , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ I was looking at the board on the 10-color line .
It bobbed twice and went down.
’ ’ Dan Keifer took the rod and began reeling .
The others quickly cleared lines .
‘ ‘ It didn ’ t take that long to get it in , maybe 15 minutes , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ We didn ’ t realize how big it was until we had it in the net.
’ ’ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coho on it , which Reineking netted after Keifer ’ s king .
‘ ‘ When I got [ the king ] into the net , I had to hand the net to my buddy , and he was struggling so hard to get it into the boat I had to help , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ I had never seen one that big.
’ ’ The biggest one he had in his boat before was a 26.7-pound king caught four years ago at Sturgeon Bay by his son Nick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ king became even more evident when in the boat , where it weighed 35.27 pounds .
‘ ‘ The 22-pounder looked small compared to it , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ It is amazing what 10 , 12 pounds does .
I didn ’ t bring my big cooler , so we had to put it in the live well.
’ ’ Marge Landeen caught the Illinois-record Chinook ( 37 pounds ) on Aug. 7 , 1976 , in Lake County waters .
On June 24 , I did a column @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinook records — which have stood since the 1970s — being broken .
‘ ‘ [ Keifer ’ s ] biggest salmon [ before ] was 12 pounds , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ Ironically , for me , I have never broken 20 pounds.
’ ’ You could say Reineking puts the king in others .
They only fished until about 8:30 , adding a couple of more coho and a 17-pound king before they pulled lines .
Back at the launch that early , no one was around .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ besides the three of us and Jim [ Nelligan ] , ’ ’ Reineking said .
‘ ‘ I wish more people could have seen a fish of that magnitude.
’ ’ They took the fish to the Salmon Shop in Palatine , where Nelligan has been in business for 42 years .
‘ ‘ It ’ s a big fish , ” said Nelligan , who will do the taxidermy work .
‘ ‘ I charged them for 43 inches , but if you pinch the tail , it was probably about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ‘ ‘ We all got multiple big kings , many over 20 pounds , probably three or four per boat , ’ ’ emailed Capt .
Scott Wolfe , who gave the heads up on Keifer ’ s big king .
‘ ‘ The staging kings are in and really active.
’ ’ ‘ ‘ Big fish are showing up , Dale , huge fish , ’ ’ Nelligan said .
‘ ‘ Nice to see the fish coming back.
’ ’ After reflection this weekend , Reineking texted : ‘ ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the record be broken ?
’ I hope so , as I will still be trying.
’ ’ Protocols are out for the opening days of dove hunting at public sites .
No final call yet on how waterfowl hunting will work at public sites .
I was waiting to hear of nighthawks at Chicago baseball games , then remembered no one is in the stands .
Deciding Monday whether to watch Michelle Obama ’ s speech or the Sox ’ homer barrage was like choosing between an Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant workshop or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for returning Chinook .

Any fish story that begins with ‘‘The fish was so big you couldn’t hold it out’’ is headed the right way.
Around 4:30 a.m. Friday, Brad Reineking of Fox River Grove launched out of Waukegan with Wisconsin brothers Dan and Ben Keifer.
They set up in 100 feet, then trolled between 100 and 150. By 6:30 a.m., they had caught a 22-pound Chinook and several coho out of Reineking’s 19 1/2-foot Alumacraft.
About 6:45 a.m., Reineking put a Stinger Killer Dolphin spoon on a 10-color line.
‘‘I caught so many kings on this last fall,’’ Reineking said. ‘‘I was looking at the board on the 10-color line. It bobbed twice and went down.’’
Dan Keifer took the rod and began reeling. The others quickly cleared lines.
‘‘It didn’t take that long to get it in, maybe 15 minutes,’’ Reineking said. ‘‘We didn’t realize how big it was until we had it in the net.’’
While clearing lines, another rod had a coho on it, which Reineking netted after Keifer’s king.
‘‘When I got [the king] into the net, I had to hand the net to my buddy, and he was struggling so hard to get it into the boat I had to help,’’ Reineking said. ‘‘I had never seen one that big.’’
The biggest one he had in his boat before was a 26.7-pound king caught four years ago at Sturgeon Bay by his son Nick.
The size of Keifer’s king became even more evident when in the boat, where it weighed 35.27 pounds.
‘‘The 22-pounder looked small compared to it,’’ Reineking said. ‘‘It is amazing what 10, 12 pounds does. I didn’t bring my big cooler, so we had to put it in the live well.’’
Marge Landeen caught the Illinois-record Chinook (37 pounds) on Aug. 7, 1976, in Lake County waters. On June 24, I did a column on the possibility of Illinois coho and Chinook records — which have stood since the 1970s — being broken.
‘‘[Keifer’s] biggest salmon [before] was 12 pounds,’’ Reineking said. ‘‘Ironically, for me, I have never broken 20 pounds.’’
You could say Reineking puts the king in others.
They only fished until about 8:30, adding a couple of more coho and a 17-pound king before they pulled lines.
Back at the launch that early, no one was around.
‘‘So nobody saw the fish besides the three of us and Jim [Nelligan],’’ Reineking said. ‘‘I wish more people could have seen a fish of that magnitude.’’
They took the fish to the Salmon Shop in Palatine, where Nelligan has been in business for 42 years.
‘‘It’s a big fish,” said Nelligan, who will do the taxidermy work. ‘‘I charged them for 43 inches, but if you pinch the tail, it was probably about 47 inches. A beautiful salmon.’’
Friday was a day for beautiful fish.
‘‘We all got multiple big kings, many over 20 pounds, probably three or four per boat,’’ emailed Capt. Scott Wolfe, who gave the heads up on Keifer’s big king. ‘‘The staging kings are in and really active.’’
‘‘Big fish are showing up, Dale, huge fish,’’ Nelligan said. ‘‘Nice to see the fish coming back.’’
After reflection this weekend, Reineking texted: ‘‘Thinking about your question, ‘Will the record be broken?’ I hope so, as I will still be trying.’’
Brad Reineking gives a comparison between a 22-pound and a 35-pound-plus Chinook. Provided
Illinois hunting
Protocols are out for the opening days of dove hunting at public sites. No final call yet on how waterfowl hunting will work at public sites.
Wild things
I was waiting to hear of nighthawks at Chicago baseball games, then remembered no one is in the stands.
Stray cast
Deciding Monday whether to watch Michelle Obama’s speech or the Sox’ homer barrage was like choosing between an Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant workshop or casting glow K.O. Wobblers at night for returning Chinook.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Dear Abby: How can I help my husband after his mother disavows him?

DEAR ABBY : My husband ’ s mother recently told him he no longer matters to her because he is an atheist .
His mother is supposedly a Christian , but she rarely acts like one .
It has left my husband devastated and feeling more lonely than ever .
I can ’ t find the right words to comfort him when he ’ s going through something I haven ’ t got a clue about .
How do I empathize with him to let him know he did nothing wrong and that he never deserved to have those words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It infuriates me , but I don ’ t think it would be right for me to step in and talk to her directly .
How do you deal with a narcissist who constantly plays the victim even after all the support you ’ ve given to her , financially and emotionally ?
— SUPPORTIVE WIFE IN ALABAMA DEAR WIFE : I ’ m glad you asked .
Explain to your husband that by emotionally abusing him this way , his mother is attempting to control him .
What she said is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotionally dependent on her as you have described , he may need counseling to get past this .
The way to deal with her emotional blackmail is to distance yourselves from her financially and emotionally , because she is manipulative and toxic .
DEAR ABBY : When I was a little girl , my mother died of breast cancer .
I always suspected that I might have the gene , too .
To make matters worse , my dad got skin cancer a couple of years ago , meaning my risk of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents having it .
I ’ m turning 18 in a couple of months , and I want to get tested to see what my risk is , but I ’ m terrified .
I sometimes feel a stabbing pain in my chest and think I feel a lump .
I ’ m not sure if I ’ m imagining it due to my stress and fear or if it ’ s true .
I don ’ t want to tell my dad until after my appointment , which I plan on doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should do ?
Should I tell him ?
— AFRAID IN FLORIDA DEAR AFRAID : Try to calm yourself .
The lump you felt may not be what you fear , but a cyst .
Breast cancer in teen girls is rare , but cysts are quite common .
( It might also be nothing . )
That said , because of your family history , you should be checked by a doctor .
I don ’ t believe in keeping secrets of this nature .
If you would like emotional support when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gene , your father — or a female relative — would be a logical choice to go with you .
Please give it some thought .
DEAR ABBY : I have a medical alert service dog .
People at the store won ’ t leave him alone to do his job , and I don ’ t know what to do .
I don ’ t want to be rude to these people , but my life depends on his alerting .
Each time I must shop for groceries , I am very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IN PENNSYLVANIA DEAR NO PETTING : You are a nice person .
Too nice , in fact .
When someone attempts to distract your service animal , TELL the person emphatically to stop immediately because he is on duty , working to ensure your safety , and being distracted could cost you your life .
It is the truth .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90069 .
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets : “ Abby ’ s Favorite Recipes ” and “ More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 16 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Cookbooklet Set , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s mother recently told him he no longer matters to her because he is an atheist. His mother is supposedly a Christian, but she rarely acts like one. It has left my husband devastated and feeling more lonely than ever.
I can’t find the right words to comfort him when he’s going through something I haven’t got a clue about. How do I empathize with him to let him know he did nothing wrong and that he never deserved to have those words thrown at him by his own mother?
It infuriates me, but I don’t think it would be right for me to step in and talk to her directly. How do you deal with a narcissist who constantly plays the victim even after all the support you’ve given to her, financially and emotionally? — SUPPORTIVE WIFE IN ALABAMA
DEAR WIFE: I’m glad you asked. Explain to your husband that by emotionally abusing him this way, his mother is attempting to control him. What she said is despicable, and if he is as emotionally dependent on her as you have described, he may need counseling to get past this. The way to deal with her emotional blackmail is to distance yourselves from her financially and emotionally, because she is manipulative and toxic.
DEAR ABBY: When I was a little girl, my mother died of breast cancer. I always suspected that I might have the gene, too. To make matters worse, my dad got skin cancer a couple of years ago, meaning my risk of getting cancer is higher because of both my parents having it.
I’m turning 18 in a couple of months, and I want to get tested to see what my risk is, but I’m terrified. I sometimes feel a stabbing pain in my chest and think I feel a lump. I’m not sure if I’m imagining it due to my stress and fear or if it’s true. I don’t want to tell my dad until after my appointment, which I plan on doing alone. What do you think I should do? Should I tell him? — AFRAID IN FLORIDA
DEAR AFRAID: Try to calm yourself. The lump you felt may not be what you fear, but a cyst. Breast cancer in teen girls is rare, but cysts are quite common. (It might also be nothing.) That said, because of your family history, you should be checked by a doctor.
I don’t believe in keeping secrets of this nature. If you would like emotional support when you get the test for the BRCA gene, your father — or a female relative — would be a logical choice to go with you. Please give it some thought.
DEAR ABBY: I have a medical alert service dog. People at the store won’t leave him alone to do his job, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be rude to these people, but my life depends on his alerting. Each time I must shop for groceries, I am very afraid. Advice? — NO PETTING IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR NO PETTING: You are a nice person. Too nice, in fact. When someone attempts to distract your service animal, TELL the person emphatically to stop immediately because he is on duty, working to ensure your safety, and being distracted could cost you your life. It is the truth.
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.
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--David Arquette says documentary captures a time of ‘beating myself up’

In 1996 , David Arquette was on the cover of the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue , alongside other rising stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio , Matthew McConaughey , Will Smith and Benicio Del Toro .
Within five years , Arquette had become more of a novelty celebrity than a respected actor — known for his marriage to Courteney Cox , playing the goofball Sheriff Dwight “ Dewey ” Riley in the “ Scream ” movies , some very public bouts with alcoholism and taking an Andy Kaufman-esque deep dive into the world of professional wrestling , even briefly holding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two decades later , with Arquette embarking on a quixotic journey at the age of 48 to return to wrestling in the strange belief it will resuscitate his dormant acting career .
It ’ s all chronicled in the documentary “ You Can not Kill David Arquette , ” premiering Wednesday at the ChiTown Movies drive-in ( with a live Zoom Q & A with the actor ) and opening Aug. 28 on demand .
“ It ’ s a revealing and vulnerable documentary and I let people into my life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation .
“ It captured my life at this point where a lot of things were coming to a head .
I had this pattern of beating myself up for years .
… I was doing stuff that could kill me … but I feel better now , like I figured a lot of stuff out.
” The film posits Arquette ’ s wrestling career in the early 2000s was the primary cause of his fall from Hollywood grace , but Arquette ( now appearing in the grisly social-media satire “ Spree ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors .
“ A lot of [ it had to do ] with personal behavior choices and not being as selective in picking roles as some people are .
I don ’ t want to blame wrestling or ‘ Scream.
’ … There ’ s also getting your picture taken outside of [ nightclubs ] after entertaining [ people ] all night , being on TMZ .
… Plus , to give Hollywood its props , it ’ s a brutal business and they will get you , they will attack you.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Virginia and in Mexico and eventually in Los Angeles , wrestling in front of tiny crowds and getting slammed and pummeled and sustaining injuries including two broken ribs .
Were there moments when he realized this was madness and he should put a stop to it ?
“ There were moments like that , ” he said .
“ There is an element to training for wrestling … that gets you prepared to take punishment to your body on a weekly basis .
But I was determined to complete the goal I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a really great support group .
My wife , Christina , has put up with so much and dealt with so much.
” Also appearing in the film : Arquette ’ s ex-wife , Courteney Cox ; Christina and David ’ s two young children , Charlie and Augustus ; as well as Arquette ’ s daughter with Courteney Cox , 16-year-old Coco , who at first is mortified by footage of her dad getting tossed about the ring like a rag doll but is later ringside at a major match , flipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cox says she was embarrassed by David ’ s obsession when they were married , but 10 years after the divorce , she and David remain close .
“ With a lot of divorces and custody battles , people tend to go to war with each other , ” said Arquette .
“ And though it might satisfy your ego , the anger that ’ s left over is really destructive , so we ’ ve always treated each other with respect.
” In the doc , Courteney says : “ We met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hated each other on ‘ Scream 2 , ’ we got married on ‘ Scream 3 , ’ we got divorced on ‘ Scream 4.
’ ” Now it appears there will be a “ Scream 5 , ” with Arquette and Cox reprising their roles .
“ ‘ Scream 5 ’ is happening , ” said Arquette .
“ Courteney and I have signed up , we ’ re waiting to see if they can get Neve [ Campbell ] , as she ’ s really the heart and soul of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be really difficult without [ the late ] Wes Craven , but there ’ s a really great group of filmmakers who were inspired by Wes .
… It ’ s a great team.
” The most harrowing moment in “ You Can not Kill David Arquette ” comes when Arquette is injured in a hardcore “ death match ” when a shard of glass opens a huge gash in his neck and blood comes gushing out .
Skepticism about whether the wrestling injury is real is erased as Arquette ’ s longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accompanies him to the emergency room .
“ Luke lived at our house when he got cast in ‘ 90210 , ’ ” said Arquette .
“ I had lost a gig at Fox , it was a show called ‘ The Outsiders ’ [ an adaption of the novel and movie of the same name ] .
And I came home to find Luke ’ s pilot , ‘ Beverly Hills 90210 , ’ got picked up and was replacing us and he went on this rocket ship to stardom .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and celebrity his whole career was really cool .
He never took it seriously as far as believing he was some super-special being and getting carried away with it.
” Perry ’ s son , Jack , 23 , is a professional wrestler who also appears in the documentary .
“ Jack is such a talented wrestler and the kid is just a movie star , ” said Arquette .
“ He never drank or smoke , he ’ s got such a good head on his shoulders .
He dealt with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noble , strong way .
It was very admirable to watch .
”

In 1996, David Arquette was on the cover of the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue, alongside other rising stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Will Smith and Benicio Del Toro.
Within five years, Arquette had become more of a novelty celebrity than a respected actor — known for his marriage to Courteney Cox, playing the goofball Sheriff Dwight “Dewey” Riley in the “Scream” movies, some very public bouts with alcoholism and taking an Andy Kaufman-esque deep dive into the world of professional wrestling, even briefly holding the WCW title in 2000.
Cut to nearly two decades later, with Arquette embarking on a quixotic journey at the age of 48 to return to wrestling in the strange belief it will resuscitate his dormant acting career. It’s all chronicled in the documentary “You Cannot Kill David Arquette,” premiering Wednesday at the ChiTown Movies drive-in (with a live Zoom Q&A with the actor) and opening Aug. 28 on demand.
Untitled ‘You Cannot Kill David Arquette’ Chicago premiere • 8:15 p.m. Wednesday • ChiTown Movies, 2343 S. Throop Street • Tickets, $33 per car • www.facebook.com/elevatedfilmschicago/
“It’s a revealing and vulnerable documentary and I let people into my life,” said Arquette in a recent phone conversation. “It captured my life at this point where a lot of things were coming to a head. I had this pattern of beating myself up for years. … I was doing stuff that could kill me … but I feel better now, like I figured a lot of stuff out.”
The film posits Arquette’s wrestling career in the early 2000s was the primary cause of his fall from Hollywood grace, but Arquette (now appearing in the grisly social-media satire “Spree”) said it was a myriad of factors.
“A lot of [it had to do] with personal behavior choices and not being as selective in picking roles as some people are. I don’t want to blame wrestling or ‘Scream.’ … There’s also getting your picture taken outside of [nightclubs] after entertaining [people] all night, being on TMZ. … Plus, to give Hollywood its props, it’s a brutal business and they will get you, they will attack you.”
The documentary follows Arquette as he trains in Virginia and in Mexico and eventually in Los Angeles, wrestling in front of tiny crowds and getting slammed and pummeled and sustaining injuries including two broken ribs. Were there moments when he realized this was madness and he should put a stop to it?
“There were moments like that,” he said. “There is an element to training for wrestling … that gets you prepared to take punishment to your body on a weekly basis. But I was determined to complete the goal I set out for myself. I had a really great support group. My wife, Christina, has put up with so much and dealt with so much.”
In “You Cannot Kill David Arquette,” the actor says his return to wrestling forced him to be ready for nonstop punishment to his body. Super LTD.
Also appearing in the film: Arquette’s ex-wife, Courteney Cox; Christina and David’s two young children, Charlie and Augustus; as well as Arquette’s daughter with Courteney Cox, 16-year-old Coco, who at first is mortified by footage of her dad getting tossed about the ring like a rag doll but is later ringside at a major match, flipping off the villain and cheering wildly. Cox says she was embarrassed by David’s obsession when they were married, but 10 years after the divorce, she and David remain close.
“With a lot of divorces and custody battles, people tend to go to war with each other,” said Arquette. “And though it might satisfy your ego, the anger that’s left over is really destructive, so we’ve always treated each other with respect.”
In the doc, Courteney says: “We met on ‘Scream 1’, we hated each other on ‘Scream 2,’ we got married on ‘Scream 3,’ we got divorced on ‘Scream 4.’ ” Now it appears there will be a “Scream 5,” with Arquette and Cox reprising their roles.
“ ‘Scream 5’ is happening,” said Arquette. “Courteney and I have signed up, we’re waiting to see if they can get Neve [Campbell], as she’s really the heart and soul of the project. It’s going to be really difficult without [the late] Wes Craven, but there’s a really great group of filmmakers who were inspired by Wes. … It’s a great team.”
The most harrowing moment in “You Cannot Kill David Arquette” comes when Arquette is injured in a hardcore “death match” when a shard of glass opens a huge gash in his neck and blood comes gushing out. Skepticism about whether the wrestling injury is real is erased as Arquette’s longtime friend, the late Luke Perry, accompanies him to the emergency room.
“Luke lived at our house when he got cast in ‘90210,’ ” said Arquette. “I had lost a gig at Fox, it was a show called ‘The Outsiders’ [an adaption of the novel and movie of the same name]. And I came home to find Luke’s pilot, ‘Beverly Hills 90210,’ got picked up and was replacing us and he went on this rocket ship to stardom. ... But the way he dealt with fame and celebrity his whole career was really cool. He never took it seriously as far as believing he was some super-special being and getting carried away with it.”
Perry’s son, Jack, 23, is a professional wrestler who also appears in the documentary. “Jack is such a talented wrestler and the kid is just a movie star,” said Arquette. “He never drank or smoke, he’s got such a good head on his shoulders. He dealt with the loss of his father in such a noble, strong way. It was very admirable to watch.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Video visits, drive-up services, mobile apps: The new normal of seeing a doctor

Bringing her 14-year-old son , Alessandro , into Chicago for doctor ’ s visits has been a heavy burden on Ramona Gonzalez .
As a baby , Alessandro ’ s brain was deprived of oxygen and , as a result , he needs a ventilator to breathe , a feeding tube to eat , he ’ s deaf and blind .
In recent years , Gonzalez has had to bring her son from Matteson to La Rabida Children ’ s Hospital on the South Side , which specializes in caring for medically complex chronically ill children .
Sometimes , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with his medical supplies and equipment .
But over the past few months , Alessandro was able to see six doctors from La Rabida in three exams conducted over video .
It was a godsend for Gonzalez during a pandemic she feared would endanger her son ’ s life .
“ It was really good , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t want to risk him getting any disease.
” One of the many things the pandemic has changed is the way people see their doctors .
Almost overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits , a trend that ’ s expected to last .
“ We went from doing zero telehealth … to within a week , we were doing 80 % telehealth , ” said La Rabida Chief Medical Officer David Soglin .
“ Over time , we ’ ll find the right balance .
For some of these complex kids , maybe we do two personal and two telehealth visits a year .
We ’ re still learning.
” Insurers largely didn ’ t cover telehealth visits until March as the pandemic forced new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J.B. Pritzker called for an expansion .
Around the same time , the federal agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid and private insurers agreed to reimburse doctors for such visits as they would for office appointments , something they weren ’ t willing to do in the past .
Doctors interviewed say telemedicine will expand as long as insurers pay .
Multiple bills in Congress encourage it .
In a statement , Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois , the dominant private insurer in Chicago , said it views “ telehealth as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will remain a part of our health care landscape.
” Proponents say telehealth creates opportunities for doctors and patients to stay in contact more frequently .
Federal health officials cite telehealth as a tool to help prevent heart attacks , strokes and other conditions .
Still , doctors stress that video and phone exams have their limitations and patients are often asked to come in for personal visits to avoid potential mistakes .
Medical errors already lead to tens of thousands of U.S. deaths a year , research shows .
Many visits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , can only be done in person .
Advocates for children with a broad array of special health needs point to limitations as some intense therapies can not be done virtually .
And immunizations and early care require in-office exams .
“ It works for some .
It doesn ’ t work for others , ” said Faye Manaster , a project director in Mokena with The Arc of Illinois Family to Family Health Information Center .
In addition to phone calls , as doctors and hospitals across Chicago worked to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent months , they began offering video , or even drive-up options .
On Wednesdays , every patient seen by Dr. Sachin Shah is over video or by phone .
With the help of a medical assistant , patients are prepped much like they would be for a visit to the office , though they are reporting their own weight , blood pressure , pulse or additional information .
Patients get a checklist in advance .
Prior to March , Shah , a primary care doctor and associate professor at University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
But the pandemic and the resulting stay-home orders changed all that .
Now he ’ s telling a patient on a video screen to “ push on your belly ” and “ show me where you have discomfort.
” For patients who do go to the doctor , they ’ re asked to come alone so not to crowd the waiting room .
If a person is more than 10 minutes early , that patient has to wait in the car .
Visitors are encouraged to use a mobile app to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of OpenTable for health care , Shah said .
University of Chicago and other hospitals are experimenting with curbside services , including blood draws for lab work and potentially vaccinations .
Drive-up shots may be key to handling flu season while doctors and hospitals brace for another wave of coronavirus cases .
“ Medical providers have been ready to do this for some time , ” Shah said , referring to virtual visits .
Doctors at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County had to make the switch to telehealth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through early June done over the phone or video , said Dr. Claudia Fegan , chief medical officer of Cook County Health .
“ Medicine was trying for years to get to telehealth and this dramatically accelerated it , ” Fegan said of the pandemic .
The vast majority of those using telehealth were largely on government insurance plans or uninsured , mirroring the Cook County Health system ’ s overall patient profile , Fegan said .
In addition to Stroger , the system includes 17 health clinics , Provident Hospital and Cermak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainees .
The initial response from patients seen at Cook County was encouraging , Fegan said .
While many patients don ’ t have personal computers or laptops , many have phones with video , she said .
“ More people have smartphones than computers , ” Fegan said .
“ That ’ s their way to access.
” In all , more than 85,000 telehealth visits took place at Cook County Health , according to health system figures .
At University of Chicago , the number of video and phone visits this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1,000 doctors , nurse practitioners , social workers and other providers .
Advocate Aurora Health , the state ’ s largest health system with 10 Illinois hospitals and 350 health centers , has logged 325,000 telehealth visits this year , spokesman Mike Riopell said .
At Rush University Medical Center , video exams have been expanded to include thousands of urgent care consultations , almost 11,000 since March .
One big hope is telehealth can encourage more people to seek treatment early , theoretically keeping them out of the emergency rooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine doctor and associate chief medical informatics officer at Rush University Medical Center .
“ This is a good opportunity for preventative care , ” she said .
“ Preventative care is also important for keeping emergency rooms from becoming overwhelmed.
” Brett Chase ’ s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust .

Bringing her 14-year-old son, Alessandro, into Chicago for doctor’s visits has been a heavy burden on Ramona Gonzalez.
As a baby, Alessandro’s brain was deprived of oxygen and, as a result, he needs a ventilator to breathe, a feeding tube to eat, he’s deaf and blind. In recent years, Gonzalez has had to bring her son from Matteson to La Rabida Children’s Hospital on the South Side, which specializes in caring for medically complex chronically ill children. Sometimes, she has to load him in an ambulance along with his medical supplies and equipment.
“It’s a lot,” she said.
But over the past few months, Alessandro was able to see six doctors from La Rabida in three exams conducted over video. It was a godsend for Gonzalez during a pandemic she feared would endanger her son’s life.
“It was really good,” she said. “I don’t want to risk him getting any disease.”
One of the many things the pandemic has changed is the way people see their doctors. Almost overnight, patients began switching to so-called telehealth visits, a trend that’s expected to last.
“We went from doing zero telehealth … to within a week, we were doing 80% telehealth,” said La Rabida Chief Medical Officer David Soglin. “Over time, we’ll find the right balance. For some of these complex kids, maybe we do two personal and two telehealth visits a year. We’re still learning.”
Insurers largely didn’t cover telehealth visits until March as the pandemic forced new practices. In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for an expansion. Around the same time, the federal agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid and private insurers agreed to reimburse doctors for such visits as they would for office appointments, something they weren’t willing to do in the past. Doctors interviewed say telemedicine will expand as long as insurers pay. Multiple bills in Congress encourage it.
In a statement, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the dominant private insurer in Chicago, said it views “telehealth as a mode of delivering health care that will remain a part of our health care landscape.”
More frequent contact
Proponents say telehealth creates opportunities for doctors and patients to stay in contact more frequently. Federal health officials cite telehealth as a tool to help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other conditions.
Still, doctors stress that video and phone exams have their limitations and patients are often asked to come in for personal visits to avoid potential mistakes. Medical errors already lead to tens of thousands of U.S. deaths a year, research shows.
Many visits to specialists, such as gynecologists or ophthalmologists, can only be done in person.
Advocates for children with a broad array of special health needs point to limitations as some intense therapies cannot be done virtually. And immunizations and early care require in-office exams.
“It works for some. It doesn’t work for others,” said Faye Manaster, a project director in Mokena with The Arc of Illinois Family to Family Health Information Center.
In addition to phone calls, as doctors and hospitals across Chicago worked to reduce the number of people coming in for appointments in recent months, they began offering video, or even drive-up options.
On Wednesdays, every patient seen by Dr. Sachin Shah is over video or by phone.
With the help of a medical assistant, patients are prepped much like they would be for a visit to the office, though they are reporting their own weight, blood pressure, pulse or additional information. Patients get a checklist in advance.
Prior to March, Shah, a primary care doctor and associate professor at University of Chicago, saw his patients in the office. But the pandemic and the resulting stay-home orders changed all that.
Now he’s telling a patient on a video screen to “push on your belly” and “show me where you have discomfort.”
Dr. Sachin Shah is doing video and phone visits for his patients at University of Chicago Hospital in Hyde Park. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
In-person changes
For patients who do go to the doctor, they’re asked to come alone so not to crowd the waiting room. If a person is more than 10 minutes early, that patient has to wait in the car. Visitors are encouraged to use a mobile app to make appointments and check in, a sort of OpenTable for health care, Shah said.
University of Chicago and other hospitals are experimenting with curbside services, including blood draws for lab work and potentially vaccinations. Drive-up shots may be key to handling flu season while doctors and hospitals brace for another wave of coronavirus cases.
“Medical providers have been ready to do this for some time,” Shah said, referring to virtual visits.
Doctors at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County had to make the switch to telehealth, with the majority of visits from April through early June done over the phone or video, said Dr. Claudia Fegan, chief medical officer of Cook County Health.
“Medicine was trying for years to get to telehealth and this dramatically accelerated it,” Fegan said of the pandemic.
The vast majority of those using telehealth were largely on government insurance plans or uninsured, mirroring the Cook County Health system’s overall patient profile, Fegan said. In addition to Stroger, the system includes 17 health clinics, Provident Hospital and Cermak Health Services, which treats county jail detainees.
The initial response from patients seen at Cook County was encouraging, Fegan said. While many patients don’t have personal computers or laptops, many have phones with video, she said.
“More people have smartphones than computers,” Fegan said. “That’s their way to access.”
In all, more than 85,000 telehealth visits took place at Cook County Health, according to health system figures.
At University of Chicago, the number of video and phone visits this year is around 90,000, conducted by about 1,000 doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers and other providers.
Advocate Health Care, the state’s largest health system with 10 Illinois hospitals and 350 health centers, has logged 325,000 telehealth visits this year, spokesman Mike Riopell said.
At Rush University Medical Center, video exams have been expanded to include thousands of urgent care consultations, almost 11,000 since March.
One big hope is telehealth can encourage more people to seek treatment early, theoretically keeping them out of the emergency rooms, said Dr. Meeta Shah, an emergency medicine doctor and associate chief medical informatics officer at Rush University Medical Center.
“This is a good opportunity for preventative care,” she said. “Preventative care is also important for keeping emergency rooms from becoming overwhelmed.”
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Empty Soldier Field will ‘definitely be different without fans’

One day after the Bears said they won ’ t have fans at Soldier Field for the foreseeable future , Bears coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that health and safety should be paramount .
“ Across the league , you are seeing there are different things going on and different rules that teams are implementing , ” he said .
“ For now , that happens to be where we ’ re at .
I trust in everybody that is making the decisions , … and just we ’ ll see where it ends up.
” The NFL does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states might allow their stadiums to open at partial capacity .
Others won ’ t .
“ It will definitely be different without fans , without the noise , without everything , ” quarterback Nick Foles said .
“ I don ’ t really know what to expect , but I do know that everyone will have to deal with it [ in the same game ] .
… So the team that overcomes adversity the best is usually the one that ’ s successful.
” Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson , who plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know who he ’ ll toss the ball to this season .
“ That ’ s going to be the hardest thing for me , ” he said .
“ That ’ s going to hurt me .
I ’ m going to have to throw it out there , no matter who ’ s out there .
Somebody ’ s going to have to go get it .
”

One day after the Bears said they won’t have fans at Soldier Field for the foreseeable future, Bears coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that health and safety should be paramount.
“Across the league, you are seeing there are different things going on and different rules that teams are implementing,” he said. “For now, that happens to be where we’re at. I trust in everybody that is making the decisions … and just we’ll see where it ends up.”
The NFL does not have a uniform fan rule, meaning some states might allow their stadiums to open at partial capacity. Others won’t.
Related Bears announce no fans at Soldier Field for start of 2020 season
“It will definitely be different without fans, without the noise, without everything,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I do know that everyone will have to deal with it [in the same game]. … So the team that overcomes adversity the best is usually the one that’s successful.”
Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who plays catch with fans before games, doesn’t know who he’ll toss the ball to this season.
“That’s going to be the hardest thing for me,” he said. “That’s going to hurt me. I’m going to have to throw it out there, no matter who’s out there. Somebody’s going to have to go get it.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Police search for car wanted in West Garfield Park hit-and-run

Chicago police released surveillance images Wednesday of a car wanted in connection with a hit-and-run that left a man critically @ @ @ @ @ Garfield Park .
The white , four-door sedan hit the man Saturday evening in the @ @ @ @ @ Street , Chicago police said .
The man was hospitalized in critical condition , while @ @ @ @ @ The car may have front-end damage , police said .
Anyone with information is asked @ @ @ @ @ Investigation Unit at 312-745-4521 .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ @ @ @

Chicago police released surveillance images Wednesday of a car wanted in connection with a hit-and-run that left a man critically injured last weekend in West Garfield Park.
The white, four-door sedan hit the man Saturday evening in the 4400 block of West Lake Street, Chicago police said. The man was hospitalized in critical condition, while the car fled west.
The car may have front-end damage, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Accidents Investigation Unit at 312-745-4521.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--15 shot, 1 killed Tuesday in Chicago

15 shot, 1 killed Tuesday in Chicago

Fifteen people were shot Tuesday in Chicago , including a man who was killed in Washington Heights on the South Side .
Officers found the 42-year-old unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his head about 2:30 p.m. in the 9300 block of South Halsted Street , Chicago police said .
He died at the scene .
A 16-year-old boy was among two people shot in West Garfield Park on the West Side .
He and a 23-year-old man were on the sidewalk about 5:40 p.m. in the 3900 block of West Gladys Avenue when someone in a vehicle fired shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck in the groin and taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in critical condition , police said .
The man was hit in the thigh and listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital .
In the day ’ s latest reported shooting , a woman was grazed during an argument in Woodlawn on the South Side .
The woman , 23 , got into an argument with a male about 11:50 p.m. while she visited a relative in the 6100 block of South Kimbark Avenue , police said .
The male pulled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman on the leg , police said .
She refused medical attention .
A man was shot just over an hour earlier in South Chicago .
The 41-year-old was walking about 10:40 p.m. in the 9100 block of South Houston Avenue when he heard shots and a bullet struck him in the hand , police said .
The man was dropped off two hours later at the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was in good condition .
About 35 minutes before that , two men were shot in Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The men , 31 and 34 , were standing outside about 10:05 p.m. in the 4400 block of South Wood Street when someone in a vehicle fired shots , striking them both , police said .
Both men were driven to Stroger Hospital by an acquaintance , police said .
The younger man was in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the arm and shoulder .
The 34-year-old was in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the chest and back .
A 25-year-old man was wounded earlier Tuesday evening when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Side .
He was on the sidewalk about 7:55 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue when someone got out of a vehicle and fired shots , police said .
The man was struck in the foot and taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in good condition .
Less than an hour before that , a 27-year-old man was shot in West Englewood on the South Side .
He was shot in the leg and hand about 7 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Claremont Avenue , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people fired shots at him , and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
A man was shot earlier in the evening in Parkway Gardens on the South Side .
He was on the sidewalk about 6:07 p.m. in the 6400 block of South King Drive when he heard shots and felt pain , police said .
The 27-year-old was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the knee .
Tuesday afternoon , a 32-year-old man was wounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Side .
He was crossing the street about 3:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of West 71st Street when he heard gunfire and felt pain , police said .
The man was struck in the foot and taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition .
A man was shot during an attempted robbery Tuesday morning in Washington Park on the South Side .
He was inside a vehicle about 7:35 a.m. in the first block of East 60th Street when someone got in , pulled out a gun and ordered him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the thigh , and he took himself to St. Bernard Hospital , police said .
He was treated and released .
About an hour earlier , a man was shot in Austin on the West Side .
The 22-year-old had gotten into his vehicle about 6:35 a.m. in the 300 block of North Pine Avenue when someone fired shots in his direction , police said .
The man was struck in the shoulder , chest , leg and arm , police said .
He was taken to Stroger Hospital , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the morning , another man was shot after two people tried to rob him of his vehicle in Austin .
The two males approached the 29-year-old about 4:45 a.m. as he sat in his vehicle in the 5200 block of West Madison Street , police said .
One pulled out a gun , and both tried to get into the vehicle .
The man sped away and the would-be carjackers opened fire , striking the man in the side , leg and arm , police said .
He drove himself to Loretto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition and transferred to Stroger Hospital , police said .
He also told officers he knew one of the shooters .
The day ’ s first reported shooting left another man wounded in South Chicago .
Someone shot the 29-year-old in the arm about 1 a.m. in the 7900 block of South Escanaba Avenue , Chicago police said .
The man was dropped off at Holy Trinity Hospital in good condition .
On Monday , 21 people were shot and two killed in citywide gun violence .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Fifteen people were shot Tuesday in Chicago, including a man who was killed in Washington Heights on the South Side.
Officers found the 42-year-old unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his head about 2:30 p.m. in the 9300 block of South Halsted Street, Chicago police said. He died at the scene.
A 16-year-old boy was among two people shot in West Garfield Park on the West Side.
He and a 23-year-old man were on the sidewalk about 5:40 p.m. in the 3900 block of West Gladys Avenue when someone in a vehicle fired shots, police said.
The teen was struck in the groin and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. The man was hit in the thigh and listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital.
In the day’s latest reported shooting, a woman was grazed during an argument in Woodlawn on the South Side.
The woman, 23, got into an argument with a male about 11:50 p.m. while she visited a relative in the 6100 block of South Kimbark Avenue, police said.
The male pulled out a gun and opened fire, grazing the woman on the leg, police said. She refused medical attention.
A man was shot just over an hour earlier in South Chicago.
The 41-year-old was walking about 10:40 p.m. in the 9100 block of South Houston Avenue when he heard shots and a bullet struck him in the hand, police said. The man was dropped off two hours later at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was in good condition.
About 35 minutes before that, two men were shot in Back of the Yards on the South Side.
The men, 31 and 34, were standing outside about 10:05 p.m. in the 4400 block of South Wood Street when someone in a vehicle fired shots, striking them both, police said.
Both men were driven to Stroger Hospital by an acquaintance, police said. The younger man was in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the arm and shoulder. The 34-year-old was in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the chest and back.
A 25-year-old man was wounded earlier Tuesday evening when he was shot in Garfield Park on the West Side.
He was on the sidewalk about 7:55 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue when someone got out of a vehicle and fired shots, police said. The man was struck in the foot and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition.
Less than an hour before that, a 27-year-old man was shot in West Englewood on the South Side.
He was shot in the leg and hand about 7 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Claremont Avenue, police said. He was standing outside when two people fired shots at him, and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
A man was shot earlier in the evening in Parkway Gardens on the South Side.
He was on the sidewalk about 6:07 p.m. in the 6400 block of South King Drive when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. The 27-year-old was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the knee.
Tuesday afternoon, a 32-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side.
He was crossing the street about 3:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of West 71st Street when he heard gunfire and felt pain, police said. The man was struck in the foot and taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition.
A man was shot during an attempted robbery Tuesday morning in Washington Park on the South Side.
He was inside a vehicle about 7:35 a.m. in the first block of East 60th Street when someone got in, pulled out a gun and ordered him out, police said.
The man was shot in the thigh, and he took himself to St. Bernard Hospital, police said. He was treated and released.
About an hour earlier, a man was shot in Austin on the West Side.
The 22-year-old had gotten into his vehicle about 6:35 a.m. in the 300 block of North Pine Avenue when someone fired shots in his direction, police said.
The man was struck in the shoulder, chest, leg and arm, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
Earlier in the morning, another man was shot after two people tried to rob him of his vehicle in Austin.
The two males approached the 29-year-old about 4:45 a.m. as he sat in his vehicle in the 5200 block of West Madison Street, police said. One pulled out a gun, and both tried to get into the vehicle.
The man sped away and the would-be carjackers opened fire, striking the man in the side, leg and arm, police said. He drove himself to Loretto Hospital.
The man was in serious condition and transferred to Stroger Hospital, police said. He also told officers he knew one of the shooters.
The day’s first reported shooting left another man wounded in South Chicago.
Someone shot the 29-year-old in the arm about 1 a.m. in the 7900 block of South Escanaba Avenue, Chicago police said. The man was dropped off at Holy Trinity Hospital in good condition.
On Monday, 21 people were shot and two killed in citywide gun violence.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--DNC Night 2 takeaways: Jill Biden shines, Bill Clinton attacks, ‘better’ roll call

Sustaining energy through four days of a political convention is never easy .
It ’ s even more challenging during this , the first virtual convention .
On the second night of the Democratic National Convention , party leaders tried to blend its past with its future .
We ’ re streaming all four nights of events here , from Monday , Aug. 17 through Thursday , Aug. 20 .
Joe Biden , who was formally nominated Tuesday night in a virtual roll call of states , doesn ’ t shy away from the obvious : He ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrates its racial and ethnic diversity and gets a majority of its votes from women .
He has at times offered himself as a bridge to bring together that coalition , calling himself a “ transitional figure ” for the party and the country .
Democrats tried to put that on vivid display , an ideological arc that spanned the New Democrat centrism of former President Bill Clinton to the new century progressive movement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez , who was born in 1989 , the year after Biden ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that their party tolerates differences in ways that the Republican Party led by President Donald Trump does not .
The Democrats honored Clinton , and former president Jimmy Carter , along with the party ’ s nominee in 2004 , former Secretary of State John Kerry .
Cindy McCain , whose husband , John , was the Republican nominee in 2008 , appeared in a video praising Biden .
Former President George W. Bush , the only living GOP ex-president , and Sen. Mitt Romney , the party ’ s nominee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican convention next week .
In a 17-person keynote address that was part relay , part reminder of the party ’ s blended constituencies , followed by a roll call of the states , the ethnic and racial contrast with Republicans is obvious .
For Democrats , that was the point .
Donald Trump ’ s journey to the presidency began with then-President Barack Obama mocking the reality TV star relentlessly during the White House correspondents ’ dinner in 2011 — a brutal ribbing that propelled the notoriously sensitive mogul toward his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making jokes now .
During the first two days of the Democratic National Convention , the party ’ s luminaries — and even some Republicans — have grimly warned the public that he represents a fundamental danger to democracy .
“ He treats our country like it ’ s his family business , ” warned former Assistant Attorney General Sally Yates .
“ America , Donald Trump has quit on you , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said .
“ He won ’ t defend our country , he doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only person he ’ s interested in defending is himself , ” said former Secretary of State John Kerry .
Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton also devoted chunks of their speeches to warning that the president is a fundamental threat to the country .
Usually conventions feature stinging put-downs of the rival standard-bearer and the occasional lacerating speech .
But the 2020 Democratic convention is notable for the consistency of dire warnings about the other party ’ s leader .
Conventions usually follow a standard ritual .
But it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
Biden ’ s campaign used the moment not to anoint a single emerging party star , but rather 17 of them , reflecting the diversity of race , age , geography and identity .
It was a stunt for sure , with selfies , ring lights and tightly scripted hits on Trump .
But it also seemed effective to make the point , that Biden wants to provide a gateway for young leaders .
“ A new generation of leaders is rising up , ” said Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden for supporting marriage equality earlier than many older politicians .
Kenyatta and 15 other speakers led up to Stacey Abrams , the 46-year-old Georgian who in 2018 narrowly missed becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state .
Abrams also was among the 11 women that Biden interviewed as finalists for his running mate .
The keynote was bookended by a lineup of the Democratic old guard , led by Kerry and two former presidents , Clinton and Carter .
Biden has made clear he ’ s casting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first night was mostly showcasing ideological diversity .
The keynote and the rest of Tuesday showcased what Biden hopes is generational diversity in his coalition .
As much as any segment , the roll call to nominate Joe Biden officially highlighted the difference between a traditional convention and a virtual one .
And this change seemed to represent an improvement .
Rather than hopscotch across a convention floor , the roll call hopscotched across the country and overseas , with delegates celebrating their home states and territories and making plenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had those placards with the delegation names . )
Alabama ’ s votes were cast from the Edmund Pettus Bridge , site of the 1965 voting rights marches and Bloody Sunday .
Utah highlighted its statewide mail voting and 80 % voter turnout .
Iowa ’ s presentation , set in a cornfield , noted the state ’ s recent storm devastation .
Pennsylvania cast its votes in front of Biden ’ s boyhood home in Scranton .
The ending featured a live shot of Biden , with his family , thanking delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Awkward in spots , but a more engaging approach than the usual .
Clinton , brief for once , hammers Trump Bill Clinton has now spoken at 11 Democratic national conventions .
But he ’ s never had a more tentative grasp on the party , or a tighter window , than he had Tuesday .
That Clinton was speaking at all was mildly surprising given how his sexual dalliances appear to some in the post-MeToo era .
But the notoriously prolix president — whose 2012 speech for Barack Obama ran nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes during the tight , all-online convention .
And he wasted no time scorching the man who defeated his wife in the 2016 election .
“ If you want a president who spends his day watching hours of TV or zapping people on social media , he ’ s your man , ” Clinton said of Trump in his prerecorded speech .
He slammed Trump for making the Oval Office “ the storm center ” rather than “ the command center ” during the pandemic , and for the nation ’ s dismal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once , Clinton showed that less was more .
Speaking from a classroom at Brandywine High School in Wilmington , Delaware , where she once taught , Jill Biden juggled several jobs Monday : tell her own story , humanize her husband and validate him as a would-be president .
And it came with a big spotlight .
“ I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe , he will do for your family what he did for ours — bring us together and make us whole , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
Jill Biden talked of her own career as an educator — she continued to teach college full-time as the vice president ’ s wife .
And she told of how she struggled after the Bidens ’ son Beau died during Joe Biden ’ s second term as vice president .
“ I wondered if I would ever smile and feel joy again , ” she said , but she noted that her husband “ went back to work ” amid his own grief .
Jill Biden may not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the screen Monday .
She won ’ t run for president herself , like Hillary Clinton .
But she ’ s proven herself a skilled , adept defender of her husband .
On this night , she also let Americans take a measure of her .

Sustaining energy through four days of a political convention is never easy. It’s even more challenging during this, the first virtual convention. On the second night of the Democratic National Convention, party leaders tried to blend its past with its future.
We’re streaming all four nights of events here, from Monday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 20.
Key takeaways from night two:
Democrats display big tent
Joe Biden, who was formally nominated Tuesday night in a virtual roll call of states, doesn’t shy away from the obvious: He’s a 77-year-old white man leading a party that celebrates its racial and ethnic diversity and gets a majority of its votes from women.
He has at times offered himself as a bridge to bring together that coalition, calling himself a “transitional figure” for the party and the country.
Democrats tried to put that on vivid display, an ideological arc that spanned the New Democrat centrism of former President Bill Clinton to the new century progressive movement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who was born in 1989, the year after Biden’s first presidential run.
Democrats were trying to show that their party tolerates differences in ways that the Republican Party led by President Donald Trump does not. The Democrats honored Clinton, and former president Jimmy Carter, along with the party’s nominee in 2004, former Secretary of State John Kerry. Cindy McCain, whose husband, John, was the Republican nominee in 2008, appeared in a video praising Biden.
Former President George W. Bush, the only living GOP ex-president, and Sen. Mitt Romney, the party’s nominee in 2012, will not be part of the Republican convention next week.
In a 17-person keynote address that was part relay, part reminder of the party’s blended constituencies, followed by a roll call of the states, the ethnic and racial contrast with Republicans is obvious. For Democrats, that was the point.
Punches landed, not pulled
Donald Trump’s journey to the presidency began with then-President Barack Obama mocking the reality TV star relentlessly during the White House correspondents’ dinner in 2011 — a brutal ribbing that propelled the notoriously sensitive mogul toward his 2016 run.
But nobody’s making jokes now. During the first two days of the Democratic National Convention, the party’s luminaries — and even some Republicans — have grimly warned the public that he represents a fundamental danger to democracy.
“He treats our country like it’s his family business,” warned former Assistant Attorney General Sally Yates. “America, Donald Trump has quit on you,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “He won’t defend our country, he doesn’t know how to defend our troops. The only person he’s interested in defending is himself,” said former Secretary of State John Kerry.
Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton also devoted chunks of their speeches to warning that the president is a fundamental threat to the country.
Usually conventions feature stinging put-downs of the rival standard-bearer and the occasional lacerating speech. But the 2020 Democratic convention is notable for the consistency of dire warnings about the other party’s leader.
Keynote by committee
Conventions usually follow a standard ritual. But it’s not surprising that a virtual convention would change that.
Biden’s campaign used the moment not to anoint a single emerging party star, but rather 17 of them, reflecting the diversity of race, age, geography and identity.
It was a stunt for sure, with selfies, ring lights and tightly scripted hits on Trump. But it also seemed effective to make the point, that Biden wants to provide a gateway for young leaders.
“A new generation of leaders is rising up,” said Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, an openly gay lawmaker who praised Biden for supporting marriage equality earlier than many older politicians.
Kenyatta and 15 other speakers led up to Stacey Abrams, the 46-year-old Georgian who in 2018 narrowly missed becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state. Abrams also was among the 11 women that Biden interviewed as finalists for his running mate.
The keynote was bookended by a lineup of the Democratic old guard, led by Kerry and two former presidents, Clinton and Carter.
Biden has made clear he’s casting a wide net in November. The convention’s first night was mostly showcasing ideological diversity. The keynote and the rest of Tuesday showcased what Biden hopes is generational diversity in his coalition.
Roll call: different, better
As much as any segment, the roll call to nominate Joe Biden officially highlighted the difference between a traditional convention and a virtual one. And this change seemed to represent an improvement.
Rather than hopscotch across a convention floor, the roll call hopscotched across the country and overseas, with delegates celebrating their home states and territories and making plenty of pitches for Biden. (They still had those placards with the delegation names.)
Alabama’s votes were cast from the Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of the 1965 voting rights marches and Bloody Sunday. Utah highlighted its statewide mail voting and 80% voter turnout. Iowa’s presentation, set in a cornfield, noted the state’s recent storm devastation. Pennsylvania cast its votes in front of Biden’s boyhood home in Scranton.
The ending featured a live shot of Biden, with his family, thanking delegates “from the bottom of my heart.” Awkward in spots, but a more engaging approach than the usual.
Clinton, brief for once, hammers Trump
Bill Clinton has now spoken at 11 Democratic national conventions. But he’s never had a more tentative grasp on the party, or a tighter window, than he had Tuesday.
That Clinton was speaking at all was mildly surprising given how his sexual dalliances appear to some in the post-MeToo era. But the notoriously prolix president — whose 2012 speech for Barack Obama ran nearly 50 minutes — was kept to five minutes during the tight, all-online convention. And he wasted no time scorching the man who defeated his wife in the 2016 election.
“If you want a president who spends his day watching hours of TV or zapping people on social media, he’s your man,” Clinton said of Trump in his prerecorded speech. He slammed Trump for making the Oval Office “the storm center” rather than “the command center” during the pandemic, and for the nation’s dismal track record fighting the disease.
For once, Clinton showed that less was more.
Jill Biden’s audition
Speaking from a classroom at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware, where she once taught, Jill Biden juggled several jobs Monday: tell her own story, humanize her husband and validate him as a would-be president.
And it came with a big spotlight.
“I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours — bring us together and make us whole,” she said. “His faith is unshakable,” she added.
Jill Biden talked of her own career as an educator — she continued to teach college full-time as the vice president’s wife. And she told of how she struggled after the Bidens’ son Beau died during Joe Biden’s second term as vice president. “I wondered if I would ever smile and feel joy again,” she said, but she noted that her husband “went back to work” amid his own grief.
Jill Biden may not have the presence that Michelle Obama brought to the screen Monday. She won’t run for president herself, like Hillary Clinton. But she’s proven herself a skilled, adept defender of her husband.
On this night, she also let Americans take a measure of her.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Blackhawks eliminated from playoffs after Game 5 loss to Golden Knights

After the Blackhawks ’ 4-3 season-ending loss late Tuesday night , after the handshake line with the Golden Knights , after the rest of the Hawks left the ice for good , Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane exchanged a quick fist bump .
Toews put his arm around Kane for a brief moment .
Then the Hawks ’ two leaders went down the tunnel for the final time in the 2019-20 season .
The Hawks were thoroughly outplayed over the past week by the top-seeded Golden Knights , who won the series 4-1 and eliminated the Hawks with Tuesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a result any of the Hawks enjoyed .
It also wasn ’ t a result any of them could argue was undeserved .
But a sense of positivity and growth nonetheless permeated through Toews , Kane , Duncan Keith and coach Jeremy Colliton ’ s postgame press conference , the team ’ s last in this strange yet strangely effective Edmonton , Alberta , bubble setting .
“ If things had gone the way they were supposed to , before this entire situation , we wouldn ’ t have had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Toews said .
“ So it was a great opportunity for us to come in and play some meaningful hockey , and a lot of guys stepped up the plate and showed what they can do.
” “ I just like that we never gave up .
That ’ s been kind of our motto all year , ” Kane added .
“ Just feels weird to be done , you know ?
Tough to be done with the season.
” Game 5 started on a great note for the underdog Hawks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up by fantastic plays by Brandon Saad and Connor Murphy , respectively — scoring the first period to open a short-lived 2-0 lead .
Kane , too , finally broke his snakebitten postseason streak with a ruthless 1-on-1 goal against Robin Lehner , which temporarily gave the Hawks a 3-2 edge in the second period .
Kane admitted after the game he still felt disappointed by his overall production .
“ [ It ] definitely would ’ ve been nice to produce a little bit more , especially when our depth guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ [ I had a ] couple bad breaks .
I hit four or five posts throughout the postseason .
Would ’ ve been nice to get a bounce , maybe get some momentum going that way.
” The Knights fought back after each Hawks strike , and went ahead for good on Alex Tuch ’ s powerful net drive with 18:26 left in the third period .
While the Hawks played the Knights more evenly Tuesday than in Sunday ’ s miraculous Game 4 win , Vegas still finished with 68-52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vegas generated more scoring chances in all five games .
“ We just couldn ’ t quite find the consistency throughout games to get a couple more wins on the board , ” Colliton said .
“ [ I ] can ’ t fault the work ethic and the commitment our team had throughout the playoffs.
” Colliton ’ s decision to scratch Alex Nylander and play depth forward John Quenneville in his place was curious from the start , and looked even more indefensible when Quenneville was out-shot 10-3 during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Colliton said he turned to Quenneville for his physicality and thought he “ did well.
” With goalie Corey Crawford pulled for an extra attacker , the Hawks finally generated some looks in the final 20 seconds , but their best chance — a Keith blast — was blocked before reaching Lehner .
The Hawks finished the playoffs with a 4-5 record .
Their stirring qualifying-round series win over the Oilers was , on paper , cancelled out by this dominant Knights team , which will now enjoy some rest before their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of the Hawks ’ playoff run — for the team ’ s rookies and veterans alike — was anything but cancelled out , though .
“ It was definitely good for us to get back to the playoffs and play some meaningful games , ” Toews said .
“ For guys that haven ’ t been here before , and even for the guys who have.
” “ It was just good to see us take that next step in that team game , to play the way we needed to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against an elite team in Vegas , the top seed , ” Colliton said .
“ We were right with them in most of the games here .
It was just nice to see us improve and take that step .
”

After the Blackhawks’ 4-3 season-ending loss late Tuesday night, after the handshake line with the Golden Knights, after the rest of the Hawks left the ice for good, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane exchanged a quick fist bump.
Toews put his arm around Kane for a brief moment. Then the Hawks’ two leaders went down the tunnel for the final time in the 2019-20 season.
The Hawks were thoroughly outplayed over the past week by the top-seeded Golden Knights, who won the series 4-1 and eliminated the Hawks with Tuesday’s Game 5 victory.
It wasn’t a result any of the Hawks enjoyed. It also wasn’t a result any of them could argue was undeserved.
But a sense of positivity and growth nonetheless permeated through Toews, Kane, Duncan Keith and coach Jeremy Colliton’s postgame press conference, the team’s last in this strange yet strangely effective Edmonton, Alberta, bubble setting.
“If things had gone the way they were supposed to, before this entire situation, we wouldn’t have had a chance to play in the playoffs,” Toews said. “So it was a great opportunity for us to come in and play some meaningful hockey, and a lot of guys stepped up the plate and showed what they can do.”
“I just like that we never gave up. That’s been kind of our motto all year,” Kane added. “Just feels weird to be done, you know? Tough to be done with the season.”
The Blackhawks and Golden Knights exchange handshakes after the five-game series. Getty
Game 5 started on a great note for the underdog Hawks, with Toews and Alex DeBrincat — set up by fantastic plays by Brandon Saad and Connor Murphy, respectively — scoring the first period to open a short-lived 2-0 lead.
Kane, too, finally broke his snakebitten postseason streak with a ruthless 1-on-1 goal against Robin Lehner, which temporarily gave the Hawks a 3-2 edge in the second period. Kane admitted after the game he still felt disappointed by his overall production.
“[It] definitely would’ve been nice to produce a little bit more, especially when our depth guys played so well,” Kane said. “[I had a] couple bad breaks. I hit four or five posts throughout the postseason. Would’ve been nice to get a bounce, maybe get some momentum going that way.”
The Knights fought back after each Hawks strike, and went ahead for good on Alex Tuch’s powerful net drive with 18:26 left in the third period.
While the Hawks played the Knights more evenly Tuesday than in Sunday’s miraculous Game 4 win, Vegas still finished with 68-52 shot attempt and 34-25 scoring chance advantages. Vegas generated more scoring chances in all five games.
“We just couldn’t quite find the consistency throughout games to get a couple more wins on the board,” Colliton said. “[I] can’t fault the work ethic and the commitment our team had throughout the playoffs.”
Patrick Kane scores through Robin Lehner’s legs to temporary give the Blackhawks a lead Tuesday. AP Photos
Colliton’s decision to scratch Alex Nylander and play depth forward John Quenneville in his place was curious from the start, and looked even more indefensible when Quenneville was out-shot 10-3 during his nearly 14 minutes of ice time. But Colliton said he turned to Quenneville for his physicality and thought he “did well.”
With goalie Corey Crawford pulled for an extra attacker, the Hawks finally generated some looks in the final 20 seconds, but their best chance — a Keith blast — was blocked before reaching Lehner.
The Hawks finished the playoffs with a 4-5 record. Their stirring qualifying-round series win over the Oilers was, on paper, cancelled out by this dominant Knights team, which will now enjoy some rest before their second-round opponent is determined.
The beneficial experience of the Hawks’ playoff run — for the team’s rookies and veterans alike — was anything but cancelled out, though.
“It was definitely good for us to get back to the playoffs and play some meaningful games,” Toews said. “For guys that haven’t been here before, and even for the guys who have.”
“It was just good to see us take that next step in that team game, to play the way we needed to play to win a playoff series and compete against an elite team in Vegas, the top seed,” Colliton said. “We were right with them in most of the games here. It was just nice to see us improve and take that step.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-19--Illinois sets nearly 3-month high with 2,295 new COVID-19 cases (LIVE UPDATES)

Troubling signs in state ’ s latest COVID-19 report : Yet another 2,000-plus caseload , rising testing positivity rate , younger deaths Illinois ’ coronavirus climb took another dangerous step up Wednesday as health officials announced an additional 2,295 Illinoisans have contracted COVID-19 , the latest nearly three-month high for the state .
The newest cases were confirmed among a record-high 50,299 tests reported to the state , but they were still enough to raise Illinois ’ testing positivity rate over the last week to 4.4 % , the number experts look to to gauge how quickly the virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 % last month .
Daily caseloads have surpassed 2,000 on four occasions so far in August , each marking a new high for the state since May 24 .
The state tallied 2,508 new cases that day , toward the end of the state ’ s initial pandemic peak .
Cases bottomed out in mid-June as the state reported an average of about 643 new cases per day between June 8-21 .
The state ’ s daily case rate is now almost triple that figure over the last two weeks , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases per day from Aug. 6 through Wednesday .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s health team has sounded warning calls on Illinois ’ steady case over the last month .
The Democratic governor was scheduled a COVID-19 briefing for 2 p.m. Wednesday .
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here .
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart Wednesday urged Gov .
J.B. Pritzker to extend the state ’ s evictions moratorium past the expiration date this weekend as residents await funding assistance that is still being doled out .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Judge Timothy Evans , Dart warned that not extending the moratorium past Saturday would put as many as 250,000 households in the county at risk of eviction .
Evicting residents during the COVID-19 pandemic , Dart wrote , would force them to go to homeless shelters or the homes of friends and families , increasing the risk of exposure in the community .
“ Like you , I have been tremendously concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , not just on the health and safety of residents , but on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dart wrote .
“ The evictions moratorium set to expire on August 22nd has been a critical component of ensuring economic stability along with government efforts to aid both tenants and property owners.
” A truck driver ’ s services facility in South Holland will be closed until Sept. 1 after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus .
Employees of the commercial driver ’ s license facility at 41 W. 162nd St. will self-quarantine for two weeks while the building undergoes cleaning , according to Secretary of State Jesse White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged to visit nearby facilities which in West Chicago , 1280 Powis Rd.
, and Bradley , 1111 Blatt Blvd .
In mid-March , all Illinois driver facilities were closed to fight the spread of coronavirus while White ’ s office extended expiration dates for driver ’ s licenses and stickers until Nov. 1 .
They reopened in early June with social distancing measures and online preregistration to shorten wait times , but several Chicago-area locations have temporarily closed again after employees tested positive for COVID-19 .
3:40 p.m. Lightfoot blames recruit negligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academy Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday blamed recruit negligence for the coronavirus outbreak that shut down the Chicago Fire Department academy and denied that testing for promotions now going on at McCormick Place poses a similar threat .
The fire academy was closed for a deep cleaning , halting in-person training , after 46 instructors and firefighter candidates tested positive for the coronavirus .
Lightfoot said “ a lot of precautions were put in place at the academy ” to ensure training could continue safely during the pandemic .
Recruits were “ admonished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do when they left the academy ” to stay safe and return the next day without endangering themselves , their families and their colleagues .
“ Unfortunately , my understanding is that didn ’ t happen .
And that was a significant problem .
… People didn ’ t pay attention .
They didn ’ t listen .
They didn ’ t follow precautions .
They were engaged in lots of activities after hours that put them and their colleagues at risk .
I hope we don ’ t see a repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] the facts , ” the mayor said .
2 p.m. Northwestern undergrads to take at-home COVID-19 test before returning to campus Northwestern University announced Wednesday its three-step COVID-19 testing plan for undergraduate students returning to campus for Fall 2020 .
Northwestern students will have to complete an at-home nasal swab test and receive a negative result before regaining access to campus buildings , according to an email from the university Wednesday .
The university will also require testing upon arrival to Evanston , as well as ongoing testing of on- and off-campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps still to come .
Students will order a test kit from Picture Genetics and receive it within two or three days .
After self-administering the nasal swab , students must ship the sample back by Aug. 27 .
The results , which will be shared with Northwestern , should arrive two to four days after shipping the sample .
Students won ’ t be charged for the sample kit .
The COVID-19 testing kits can ’ t be sent to international students or people under age 18 , so those students will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the testing process , according to the email .
1:35 p.m. How COVID-19 has changed even the most routine doctor ’ s visit Bringing her 14-year-old son , Alessandro , into Chicago for doctor ’ s visits has been a heavy burden on Ramona Gonzalez .
As a baby , Alessandro ’ s brain was deprived of oxygen and , as a result , he needs a ventilator to breathe , a feeding tube to eat , he ’ s deaf and blind .
In recent years , Gonzalez has had to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Children ’ s Hospital on the South Side , which specializes in caring for medically complex chronically ill children .
Sometimes , she has to load him in an ambulance along with his medical supplies and equipment .
But over the past few months , Alessandro was able to see six doctors from La Rabida in three exams conducted over video .
It was a godsend for Gonzalez during a pandemic she feared would endanger her son ’ s life .
“ It was really good , ” she said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting any disease.
” Read the full report from Brett Chase here .
12:45 p.m. Bulls , other non-playoff teams can train in individual bubbles LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. — The Bulls and other teams that didn ’ t get invited to Walt Disney World now have instructions on how they can get back to basketball — in their own bubbles .
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association finalized an agreement Tuesday that allows the Bulls and the other seven teams that didn ’ t qualify for the restart to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next month .
Much like the 22 teams that resumed play after the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic , teams will need to have all players and staff remaining in a campus environment in which everyone will be tested daily for the virus .
A two-phase system will be used for the program that will run from Sept. 14-Oct. 6 , which will have players “ residing in a campus-like environment under controlled conditions.
” 10:54 a.m .
Empty Soldier Field will ‘ definitely be different without fans ’ One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have fans at Soldier Field for the foreseeable future , Bears coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that health and safety should be paramount .
“ Across the league , you are seeing there are different things going on and different rules that teams are implementing , ” he said .
“ For now , that happens to be where we ’ re at .
I trust in everybody that is making the decisions … and just we ’ ll see where it ends up.
” The NFL does not have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might allow their stadiums to open at partial capacity .
Others won ’ t .
8:44 a.m. Lightfoot warns of layoffs and furloughs without revenue replacement money from Congress Saddled with a shortfall that ’ s $ 700 million and growing , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday she will have no choice but to order employee “ layoffs and furloughs ” without another round of stimulus money to replace revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic .
Lightfoot has said repeatedly that raising property taxes is her last resort and layoffs and furloughs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous rounds of furloughs demoralizing to city workers .
But , during a panel discussion Tuesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund , the mayor said she ’ s running out of options to avoid that painful choice .
“ If we don ’ t get [ revenue replacement ] help from the federal government , we have nothing but bad choices , including looking at layoffs and looking at furloughs , ” Lightfoot said .
“ This is not the time for government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
We need to make sure that we do everything that we can — that we ’ re prudent fiduciaries of taxpayer dollars .
But the last thing that we should be doing is putting people into the unemployment ranks because we can ’ t get help from the federal government for this once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis.
” Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman here .
• Illinois ’ coronavirus testing positivity rate inched up again Tuesday with the latest 1,740 cases confirmed statewide .
Those new cases were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.1 % of them — the highest positivity rate for a single day in Illinois in more than 10 weeks .
8:17 a.m. COVID-19 makes clear the need for private and public investment in local water systems It costs money to make the infrastructure investments needed to ensure people have clean , safe and healthy water .
So , it makes sense that water rates are increasing — both for municipally run systems and for those run by water companies — as necessary investments from upgrading treatment plants to replacing aging water mains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support clean drinking water , there are significant , valid concerns around water affordability .
One driver of rates are wholesale water costs .
For example , the cost of Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago , which water companies pass through in rates without any markup , has more than doubled over the past decade .
Concerns about affordability have led some municipalities to delay necessary investments for years or even decades .
Deferring necessary investment keeps rates low but the resulting failing water systems deliver unsafe water and @ @ @ @ @ @

Illinois’ coronavirus climb took another dangerous step up Wednesday as health officials announced an additional 2,295 Illinoisans have contracted COVID-19, the latest nearly three-month high for the state.
Here’s what else happened in and around Chicago and Illinois as the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
News
8:58 p.m. Troubling signs in state’s latest COVID-19 report: Yet another 2,000-plus caseload, rising testing positivity rate, younger deaths
A nurse helps a coronavirus patient at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at El Centro Regional Medical Center in Imperial County, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images (file photo)
Illinois’ coronavirus climb took another dangerous step up Wednesday as health officials announced an additional 2,295 Illinoisans have contracted COVID-19, the latest nearly three-month high for the state.
The newest cases were confirmed among a record-high 50,299 tests reported to the state, but they were still enough to raise Illinois’ testing positivity rate over the last week to 4.4%, the number experts look to to gauge how quickly the virus is spreading. It had been down to 2.5% last month.
Daily caseloads have surpassed 2,000 on four occasions so far in August, each marking a new high for the state since May 24. The state tallied 2,508 new cases that day, toward the end of the state’s initial pandemic peak.
Cases bottomed out in mid-June as the state reported an average of about 643 new cases per day between June 8-21.
The state’s daily case rate is now almost triple that figure over the last two weeks, as Illinois has reported an average of 1,816 new cases per day from Aug. 6 through Wednesday.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s health team has sounded warning calls on Illinois’ steady case over the last month. The Democratic governor was scheduled a COVID-19 briefing for 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here.
7:28 p.m. Eviction risk of 250K Cook County homes if state doesn’t extend moratorium, Sheriff Dart warns
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart Wednesday urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to extend the state’s evictions moratorium past the expiration date this weekend as residents await funding assistance that is still being doled out.
In a letter to Pritzker and Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Dart warned that not extending the moratorium past Saturday would put as many as 250,000 households in the county at risk of eviction.
Evicting residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dart wrote, would force them to go to homeless shelters or the homes of friends and families, increasing the risk of exposure in the community.
“Like you, I have been tremendously concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, not just on the health and safety of residents, but on the economic future of the entire community,” Dart wrote. “The evictions moratorium set to expire on August 22nd has been a critical component of ensuring economic stability along with government efforts to aid both tenants and property owners.”
Reporter David Struett has the full story.
4:40 p.m. South Holland CDL facility closed after worker contracts COVID-19
A truck driver’s services facility in South Holland will be closed until Sept. 1 after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
Employees of the commercial driver’s license facility at 41 W. 162nd St. will self-quarantine for two weeks while the building undergoes cleaning, according to Secretary of State Jesse White’s office.
CDL drivers are encouraged to visit nearby facilities which in West Chicago, 1280 Powis Rd., and Bradley, 1111 Blatt Blvd.
In mid-March, all Illinois driver facilities were closed to fight the spread of coronavirus while White’s office extended expiration dates for driver’s licenses and stickers until Nov. 1.
They reopened in early June with social distancing measures and online preregistration to shorten wait times, but several Chicago-area locations have temporarily closed again after employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Read the full story here.
3:40 p.m. Lightfoot blames recruit negligence for COVID-19 outbreak that shut down fire academy
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday blamed recruit negligence for the coronavirus outbreak that shut down the Chicago Fire Department academy and denied that testing for promotions now going on at McCormick Place poses a similar threat.
The fire academy was closed for a deep cleaning, halting in-person training, after 46 instructors and firefighter candidates tested positive for the coronavirus.
Lightfoot said “a lot of precautions were put in place at the academy” to ensure training could continue safely during the pandemic. Recruits were “admonished over and over again what they needed to do when they left the academy” to stay safe and return the next day without endangering themselves, their families and their colleagues.
“Unfortunately, my understanding is that didn’t happen. And that was a significant problem. … People didn’t pay attention. They didn’t listen. They didn’t follow precautions. They were engaged in lots of activities after hours that put them and their colleagues at risk. I hope we don’t see a repeat of that. But [those are] the facts,” the mayor said.
Read the full story here.
2 p.m. Northwestern undergrads to take at-home COVID-19 test before returning to campus
Northwestern University announced Wednesday its three-step COVID-19 testing plan for undergraduate students returning to campus for Fall 2020.
Northwestern students will have to complete an at-home nasal swab test and receive a negative result before regaining access to campus buildings, according to an email from the university Wednesday. The university will also require testing upon arrival to Evanston, as well as ongoing testing of on- and off-campus students, with more details on those steps still to come.
Students will order a test kit from Picture Genetics and receive it within two or three days. After self-administering the nasal swab, students must ship the sample back by Aug. 27. The results, which will be shared with Northwestern, should arrive two to four days after shipping the sample. Students won’t be charged for the sample kit.
The COVID-19 testing kits can’t be sent to international students or people under age 18, so those students will be exempt from the first step of the testing process, according to the email.
Read the full story here.
1:35 p.m. How COVID-19 has changed even the most routine doctor’s visit
Bringing her 14-year-old son, Alessandro, into Chicago for doctor’s visits has been a heavy burden on Ramona Gonzalez.
As a baby, Alessandro’s brain was deprived of oxygen and, as a result, he needs a ventilator to breathe, a feeding tube to eat, he’s deaf and blind. In recent years, Gonzalez has had to bring her son from Matteson to La Rabida Children’s Hospital on the South Side, which specializes in caring for medically complex chronically ill children. Sometimes, she has to load him in an ambulance along with his medical supplies and equipment.
“It’s a lot,” she said.
But over the past few months, Alessandro was able to see six doctors from La Rabida in three exams conducted over video. It was a godsend for Gonzalez during a pandemic she feared would endanger her son’s life.
“It was really good,” she said. “I don’t want to risk him getting any disease.”
Read the full report from Brett Chase here.
12:45 p.m. Bulls, other non-playoff teams can train in individual bubbles
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Bulls and other teams that didn’t get invited to Walt Disney World now have instructions on how they can get back to basketball — in their own bubbles.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association finalized an agreement Tuesday that allows the Bulls and the other seven teams that didn’t qualify for the restart to have voluntary group workouts in their facilities beginning next month.
Much like the 22 teams that resumed play after the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, teams will need to have all players and staff remaining in a campus environment in which everyone will be tested daily for the virus.
A two-phase system will be used for the program that will run from Sept. 14-Oct. 6, which will have players “residing in a campus-like environment under controlled conditions.”
Read the full story here.
10:54 a.m. Empty Soldier Field will ‘definitely be different without fans’
One day after the Bears said they won’t have fans at Soldier Field for the foreseeable future, Bears coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that health and safety should be paramount.
“Across the league, you are seeing there are different things going on and different rules that teams are implementing,” he said. “For now, that happens to be where we’re at. I trust in everybody that is making the decisions … and just we’ll see where it ends up.”
The NFL does not have a uniform fan rule, meaning some states might allow their stadiums to open at partial capacity. Others won’t.
Read the full story here.
8:44 a.m. Lightfoot warns of layoffs and furloughs without revenue replacement money from Congress
Saddled with a shortfall that’s $700 million and growing, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday she will have no choice but to order employee “layoffs and furloughs” without another round of stimulus money to replace revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lightfoot has said repeatedly that raising property taxes is her last resort and layoffs and furloughs are next to last. She has called previous rounds of furloughs demoralizing to city workers.
But, during a panel discussion Tuesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the mayor said she’s running out of options to avoid that painful choice.
“If we don’t get [revenue replacement] help from the federal government, we have nothing but bad choices, including looking at layoffs and looking at furloughs,” Lightfoot said.
“This is not the time for government to be putting people into an uncertain economy. We need to make sure that we do everything that we can — that we’re prudent fiduciaries of taxpayer dollars. But the last thing that we should be doing is putting people into the unemployment ranks because we can’t get help from the federal government for this once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis.”
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman here.
New Cases
Illinois’ coronavirus testing positivity rate inched up again Tuesday with the latest 1,740 cases confirmed statewide. Those new cases were diagnosed among 34,175 tests, or about 5.1% of them — the highest positivity rate for a single day in Illinois in more than 10 weeks.
Analysis & Commentary
8:17 a.m. COVID-19 makes clear the need for private and public investment in local water systems
It costs money to make the infrastructure investments needed to ensure people have clean, safe and healthy water. So, it makes sense that water rates are increasing — both for municipally run systems and for those run by water companies — as necessary investments from upgrading treatment plants to replacing aging water mains are made.
As rates increase to support clean drinking water, there are significant, valid concerns around water affordability. One driver of rates are wholesale water costs. For example, the cost of Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago, which water companies pass through in rates without any markup, has more than doubled over the past decade.
Concerns about affordability have led some municipalities to delay necessary investments for years or even decades. Deferring necessary investment keeps rates low but the resulting failing water systems deliver unsafe water and put public health in jeopardy.
Read the full guest column here.