chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’: The daily ordeal of being a teenage girl in a teenage body

The teenage girls at the center of “ Never Rarely Sometimes Always ” don ’ t have the luxury of being carefree .
Granted , things are a little complicated at the moment we enter their lives : 17-year-old Autumn ( newcomer Sidney Flanigan ) is pregnant and doesn ’ t want to be anymore .
But you get the sense that neither Autumn nor her cousin Skylar ( Talia Ryder , also a newcomer ) have been able to relax , fully , for quite some time , but definitely not since puberty hit .
The world of writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an uneasy one for a girl .
We meet Autumn at a school talent show .
Everyone else is performing goofy , fun acts in groups , but she stands on the stage alone with her voice and her guitar and sings a song of heartache and loneliness .
A boy in the audience yells out “ slut.
” It ’ s shocking but also not and Autumn merely continues with her song .
She doesn ’ t have many choices in the moment , but “ ignore and move on ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coping .
Over the course of the film there is quite literally not a single man who isn ’ t a threat to the girls in some way , whether through overt harassment , general hostility , or the even that gray area where the interaction might qualify as socially acceptable but still leaves someone feeling uncomfortable .
This is , of course , a little overly simplistic , but it serves the film well in showing the daily discomfort of merely existing publicly in the body of a teenage girl .
Add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact of life in a rural Pennsylvania town where abortion isn ’ t an option and you start to get a sense of why neither Autumn nor Skylar have much reason to smile .
Not that anyone asks them to ; that would be too cheap a shot for a film this thoughtful .
Autumn attempts to get help near home , but realizes eventually that the women in her town are not exactly supportive of her decision .
And so in order to have a choice she and Skylar board a bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get any easier .
The first clinic they try won ’ t terminate past a certain point in the pregnancy .
The next option won ’ t be open until the following day and Autumn and Skyler , not having enough money to spend on a hotel , are only able to wander the cold , wet and uninviting city until morning .
It would be reductive to think of “ Never Rarely Sometimes Always ” as simply an abortion drama .
This is a film about class and gender and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes the smallest moments come alive with humanity .
Rarely has a filmmaker ever given so much care to show the everyday awkwardness and subtle humiliations of being a woman , from the minor things ( like adjusting a bra strap ) to the major .
The girls navigate subways , bureaucracies and even karaoke rooms and bowling alleys with the fortitude of warriors .
Both Flanigan and Ryder should have Hollywood clamoring for them after this film .
This is an easy film to get swept up in , but there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in its mastery and it ’ s the one that the title is derived from .
Autumn doesn ’ t have the luxury of letting her guard down for most of the movie , but in this scene a warm and serious woman at the clinic asks Autumn a series of questions that you sense she has never even dared ask herself .
Her face fills the frame , masking the emotion until she can ’ t contain it anymore .
It ’ s cathartic and devastating to see her finally get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never Rarely Sometimes Always ” isn ’ t a flashy movie , but that ’ s part of its unnerving power .
With her empathetic camera and transcendent storytelling , Hittman elevates their story — so ordinary-seeming on the page — to a great lyrical odyssey .

The teenage girls at the center of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” don’t have the luxury of being carefree. Granted, things are a little complicated at the moment we enter their lives: 17-year-old Autumn (newcomer Sidney Flanigan) is pregnant and doesn’t want to be anymore. But you get the sense that neither Autumn nor her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder, also a newcomer) have been able to relax, fully, for quite some time, but definitely not since puberty hit.
The world of writer and director Eliza Hittman’s film is an uneasy one for a girl. We meet Autumn at a school talent show. Everyone else is performing goofy, fun acts in groups, but she stands on the stage alone with her voice and her guitar and sings a song of heartache and loneliness. A boy in the audience yells out “slut.” It’s shocking but also not and Autumn merely continues with her song. She doesn’t have many choices in the moment, but “ignore and move on” seems to be her default mode of coping.
‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’
Untitled Focus Features presents a film written and directed by Eliza Hittman. Rated PG-13 (for disturbing/mature thematic content, language, some sexual references and teen drinking). Running time: 101 minutes. Available Friday on demand.
Over the course of the film there is quite literally not a single man who isn’t a threat to the girls in some way, whether through overt harassment, general hostility, or the even that gray area where the interaction might qualify as socially acceptable but still leaves someone feeling uncomfortable.
This is, of course, a little overly simplistic, but it serves the film well in showing the daily discomfort of merely existing publicly in the body of a teenage girl. Add to that an unwanted pregnancy and the fact of life in a rural Pennsylvania town where abortion isn’t an option and you start to get a sense of why neither Autumn nor Skylar have much reason to smile. Not that anyone asks them to; that would be too cheap a shot for a film this thoughtful.
Autumn attempts to get help near home, but realizes eventually that the women in her town are not exactly supportive of her decision. And so in order to have a choice she and Skylar board a bus to New York, where things don’t get any easier. The first clinic they try won’t terminate past a certain point in the pregnancy. The next option won’t be open until the following day and Autumn and Skyler, not having enough money to spend on a hotel, are only able to wander the cold, wet and uninviting city until morning.
Talia Ryder co-stars in “Never Rarely Sometimes Never” as Autumn’s cousin Skylar. Focus Features
It would be reductive to think of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” as simply an abortion drama. This is a film about class and gender and femaleness and youth and unwanted attention that makes the smallest moments come alive with humanity. Rarely has a filmmaker ever given so much care to show the everyday awkwardness and subtle humiliations of being a woman, from the minor things (like adjusting a bra strap) to the major. The girls navigate subways, bureaucracies and even karaoke rooms and bowling alleys with the fortitude of warriors. Both Flanigan and Ryder should have Hollywood clamoring for them after this film.
This is an easy film to get swept up in, but there is one scene that stands above all the others in its mastery and it’s the one that the title is derived from. Autumn doesn’t have the luxury of letting her guard down for most of the movie, but in this scene a warm and serious woman at the clinic asks Autumn a series of questions that you sense she has never even dared ask herself. Her face fills the frame, masking the emotion until she can’t contain it anymore. It’s cathartic and devastating to see her finally get the attention she actually needs.
“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” isn’t a flashy movie, but that’s part of its unnerving power. With her empathetic camera and transcendent storytelling, Hittman elevates their story — so ordinary-seeming on the page — to a great lyrical odyssey.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--Aurora extends emergency declaration to May 15

The City of Aurora announced Wednesday they would be extending the west suburb ’ s emergency declaration through May 15 to battle the spread of COVID-19 .
The emergency declaration includes closures of City Hall and all other city properties , including parks , playgrounds , museums , the golf course and the zoo , Aurora officials said .
However , the declaration may be “ withdrawn earlier if the emergency no longer exists.
” “ We continue to work together to preserve the public health , safety and welfare of our community , ” Mayor Richard C. Irvin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am asking us to double down on our decisions to stay at home and practice social distancing if we need to go outside for essential services .
Thank you to everyone for doing their part , especially to those on the front lines battling this virus daily.
” Mayor Irvin and Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman are among the Aurora residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Both continue to work from their homes .
Aurora saw its first coronavirus death March 23 , when a 90-year-old man died two days @ @ @ @

The City of Aurora announced Wednesday they would be extending the west suburb’s emergency declaration through May 15 to battle the spread of COVID-19.
The emergency declaration includes closures of City Hall and all other city properties, including parks, playgrounds, museums, the golf course and the zoo, Aurora officials said. However, the declaration may be “withdrawn earlier if the emergency no longer exists.”
“We continue to work together to preserve the public health, safety and welfare of our community,” Mayor Richard C. Irvin said. “As a community, I am asking us to double down on our decisions to stay at home and practice social distancing if we need to go outside for essential services. Thank you to everyone for doing their part, especially to those on the front lines battling this virus daily.”
Mayor Irvin and Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman are among the Aurora residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Both continue to work from their homes.
Aurora saw its first coronavirus death March 23, when a 90-year-old man died two days after being diagnosed.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--12th employee contracts COVID-19 at Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office

One more employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 , raising @ @ @ @ @ office to 12 .
The person who tested positive is now self-quarantining at home , @ @ @ @ @ , spokesperson for the clerk ’ s office .
The person worked in the traffic @ @ @ @ @ of the Daley Center and last reported to work March 20 , Strong-Shaw said .
@ @ @ @ @ coronavirus in the clerk ’ s office were reported March 25 .
Illinois health officials @ @ @ @ @ cases of the coronavirus , raising the state ’ s case total to 5,994 .
@ @ @ @ @ toll is now 99 people .

One more employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk’s office has tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total cases in the office to 12.
The person who tested positive is now self-quarantining at home, according to Jalyne R. Strong-Shaw, spokesperson for the clerk’s office.
The person worked in the traffic division on the lower level of the Daley Center and last reported to work March 20, Strong-Shaw said.
The first cases of the coronavirus in the clerk’s office were reported March 25.
Illinois health officials on Tuesday announced 937 new cases of the coronavirus, raising the state’s case total to 5,994. The state’s death toll is now 99 people.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-01--Horoscope for Thursday, April 2, 2020

Horoscope for Thursday, April 2, 2020

Avoid shopping or important decisions from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Chicago time .
After that the moon moves from Cancer into Leo .
Dealing with your kids is challenging .
( I have child-proofed the house , but they keep getting in . )
Best recourse is to be patient .
Goethe ’ s advice for working with kids was , “ Criticism does much but encouragement does more.
” This is a poor day to go head-to-head with parents , bosses and authority figures , especially later in the day .
If you do so , you will face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the result .
Who needs this ?
Not you .
Avoid controversial discussions about politics , religion and racial issues because they will escalate into something nasty .
This is because people are looking for a fight .
( You need this like a fish needs a bicycle . )
Stay chill .
Disputes about money will arise .
Could be about financial matters or negotiations or a debt ?
It could pertain to insurance disputes , inheritances or perhaps “ responsibilities.
” Whatever the case , this is a bummer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moon is in your sign ; however , it is also at odds with both fiery Mars and stern Saturn .
Yikes !
This can promote accidents .
It can also promote arguments and impulsive actions that you might regret .
It can stir up problems at home as well .
( Time to send out for dark chocolate . )
Be patient with co-workers , customers and supervisors at work today because it ’ s easy to get into an argument .
( As you well know , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to get something off your chest . )
The best way to handle these dark feelings is to do nothing .
Nada .
Be patient with friends .
Likewise , be patient with members of groups and organizations with whom you might be dealing with today .
Anger and resentment might arise .
You might feel isolated and cut off from others .
Whatever the case this is a temporary dark cloud on your horizons .
Relax .
This will be a challenging day at home and dealing with family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be said that people will regret .
Someone might feel left out or unloved .
You get the picture .
It ain ’ t pretty .
Be patient and forgiving — family is forever .
It ’ s easy to fall into negative thinking today , which in turn , can promote sullen conversations , arguments and difficulty dealing with siblings , relatives and neighbors .
It ’ s a tough day dealing with others because people are defensive and critical .
Yikes !
Money squabbles are likely .
Disputes about negotiations or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or you might encounter obstacles and difficulties dealing with people about earnings ?
Don ’ t ask people for money today — that ’ s for sure .
Today the moon is opposite your sign , as well as opposite fiery Mars and Saturn in your sign .
This is a serious standoff .
( Real John Wayne stuff . )
Don ’ t do anything to make matters worse .
Don ’ t try to win because that isn ’ t going to work either .
Sit this one out , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or discouraged with matters related to work , or your health or even your pet .
Life seems hard today .
Things are not flowing easily .
It ’ s tough to get cooperation from others , and any way , do they really care ?
You feel like chopped liver .
( Hey , with madeira wine , it ’ s not so bad . )
Relax .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actor Jesse Plemons ( 1988 ) shares your birthday .
You have lots of energy and will power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality that makes you a natural leader .
It ’ s time to identify goals because you ’ re entering a year of exciting new beginnings !
What do you want for yourself in the next several years ?
Be pro-active about going after what you want .
This year you will be physically energetic !

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or important decisions from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Chicago time. After that the moon moves from Cancer into Leo.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Dealing with your kids is challenging. (I have child-proofed the house, but they keep getting in.) Best recourse is to be patient. Goethe’s advice for working with kids was, “Criticism does much but encouragement does more.”
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This is a poor day to go head-to-head with parents, bosses and authority figures, especially later in the day. If you do so, you will face loss or regrets because angry confrontations will be the result. Who needs this? Not you.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Avoid controversial discussions about politics, religion and racial issues because they will escalate into something nasty. This is because people are looking for a fight. (You need this like a fish needs a bicycle.) Stay chill.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Disputes about money will arise. Could be about financial matters or negotiations or a debt? It could pertain to insurance disputes, inheritances or perhaps “responsibilities.” Whatever the case, this is a bummer. Avoid these discussions if possible.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today the moon is in your sign; however, it is also at odds with both fiery Mars and stern Saturn. Yikes! This can promote accidents. It can also promote arguments and impulsive actions that you might regret. It can stir up problems at home as well. (Time to send out for dark chocolate.)
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Be patient with co-workers, customers and supervisors at work today because it’s easy to get into an argument. (As you well know, it’s impossible to keep your shirt on when you need to get something off your chest.) The best way to handle these dark feelings is to do nothing. Nada.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Be patient with friends. Likewise, be patient with members of groups and organizations with whom you might be dealing with today. Anger and resentment might arise. You might feel isolated and cut off from others. Whatever the case this is a temporary dark cloud on your horizons. Relax.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
This will be a challenging day at home and dealing with family members because arguments might arise. Things might be said that people will regret. Someone might feel left out or unloved. You get the picture. It ain’t pretty. Be patient and forgiving — family is forever.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
It’s easy to fall into negative thinking today, which in turn, can promote sullen conversations, arguments and difficulty dealing with siblings, relatives and neighbors. It’s a tough day dealing with others because people are defensive and critical. Yikes!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Money squabbles are likely. Disputes about negotiations or property and possessions can easily arise. Or you might encounter obstacles and difficulties dealing with people about earnings? Don’t ask people for money today — that’s for sure.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today the moon is opposite your sign, as well as opposite fiery Mars and Saturn in your sign. This is a serious standoff. (Real John Wayne stuff.) Don’t do anything to make matters worse. Don’t try to win because that isn’t going to work either. Sit this one out, if you can.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
You might feel depressed or discouraged with matters related to work, or your health or even your pet. Life seems hard today. Things are not flowing easily. It’s tough to get cooperation from others, and any way, do they really care? You feel like chopped liver. (Hey, with madeira wine, it’s not so bad.) Relax.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Jesse Plemons (1988) shares your birthday. You have lots of energy and will power. You have a “take charge” quality that makes you a natural leader. It’s time to identify goals because you’re entering a year of exciting new beginnings! What do you want for yourself in the next several years? Be pro-active about going after what you want. This year you will be physically energetic!


chicagosun-times--2020-04-01--62 cases of coronavirus found in 11 Lake County nursing homes

Eleven nursing homes in north suburban Lake County have been found to have multiple cases of COVID-19 , health officials @ @ @ @ @ has at least two confirmed cases of the coronavirus , health officials said .
A @ @ @ @ @ spread among the 11 nursing homes , with four of them resulting in death .
@ @ @ @ @ Lake Zurich , Zion and Waukegan , according to Lake County spokesman Christopher Covelli .
@ @ @ @ @ in Gurnee , Wauconda , Lincolnshire , Vernon Hills and Highland Park .

Eleven nursing homes in north suburban Lake County have been found to have multiple cases of COVID-19, health officials announced Wednesday.
Each facility has at least two confirmed cases of the coronavirus, health officials said. A total of 62 cases have spread among the 11 nursing homes, with four of them resulting in death.
Two sites each are in Lake Zurich, Zion and Waukegan, according to Lake County spokesman Christopher Covelli. The other five facilities are in Gurnee, Wauconda, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills and Highland Park.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-01--Chicago’s eerily quiet morning rush

Chicago’s eerily quiet morning rush

From the roof of City Hall , the near-silence of Chicago ’ s downtown streets is deafening .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ , the only sound is rumbling “ L ” trains .
As Illinoisans have entered @ @ @ @ @ .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic , the Loop is @ @ @ @ @

From the roof of City Hall, the near-silence of Chicago’s downtown streets is deafening.
Instead of car horns and people talking, the only sound is rumbling “L” trains.
As Illinoisans have entered the second week of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic, the Loop is now quieter than ever.
Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians and minimal traffic could be seen in the Loop, looking north on North Clark Street from the roof of City Hall during what should have been the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Wide roads, but no cars using them, looking south on North LaSalle Street from the roof of City Hall during the Wednesday morning commute that wasn’t, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
It might have been the greatest April 1 prank of all time—a city without its residents. But the shelter-in-place order was all too serious, looking north on North LaSalle Street from the roof of City Hall during the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians and minimal traffic could be seen in the Loop from the roof of City Hall during the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The virus-emptied view south on North LaSalle Street from the roof of City Hall looked like an architect’s model, with a few buses thrown in for scale, during the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The mail goes through, for now, as demonstrated by this United States Postal Service semi by the Thompson Center, viewed from the roof of City Hall, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The post office, an independent government agency, has said it might go out of business without a bailout. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
But did he wonder what it is? A man has Daley Plaza to himself as he walks past the Picasso on Wednesday morning, April 1, 2020. The iconic sculpture was intended by the artist to be a woman. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
With what should be the concert season arriving along with warmer weather, a glimpse of Pritzker Pavilion’s Gehry bandshell that may—or may not—host concerts this summer, looking east on West Washington Street from the roof of City Hall on Wednesday morning, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
A morning crowd of one on North LaSalle Street, viewed from the top of City Hall, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
‘L’ trains rattled around the Loop, but were largely empty Wednesday morning, here looking north on North LaSalle Street from the roof of City Hall. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, only one out of four office spaces at 120 W. Washington St. is occupied Wednesday morning, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
A pedestrian walks alone in the crosswalk on North LaSalle Street at West Randolph Street in the Loop, as seen from the roof of City Hall during the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians and minimal traffic could be seen in the Loop, looking east on West Randolph Street from the roof of City Hall during the Wednesday morning commute, April 1, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Contributing: Neil Steinberg


chicagosun-times--2020-04-01--Social Security recipients can get $1,200 COVID-19 payments without filing taxes; Treasury lifts roa

Social Security recipients can get $1,200 COVID-19 payments without filing taxes; Treasury lifts roadblock

The Treasury Department , in a switch , lifted a roadblock on Wednesday night , clearing the way for individuals who live off of Social Security — and do not file federal income tax returns — to be eligible for the $ 1,200 payments being disbursed to the COVID-19 rescue legislation .
“ Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action , and will receive their payment directly to their bank account , ” Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
The payments were included in the $ 2.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , designed to rescue an economy wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic .
Under the stimulus bill , payments of up to $ 1,200 would go to eligible U.S. taxpayers who filed 2018 and 2019 tax returns However , there are those who live off their Social Security or railroad retirement payments – many senior citizens with no outside income – who are not required to file a federal income tax return .
The IRS earlier this week said non-filers would have to file a basic income tax form to trigger the stimulus benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRS by Wednesday reversed itself .
A spokesman for Rep. Brad Schneider , D-Ill. , a member of the House Ways and Means Committee Social Security subcommittee , said he had been working “ to push back on this unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle.
” The Treasury department said in the statement that “ recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check , just as they would normally receive their benefits .
”

The Treasury Department, in a switch, lifted a roadblock on Wednesday night, clearing the way for individuals who live off of Social Security — and do not file federal income tax returns — to be eligible for the $1,200 payments being disbursed to the COVID-19 rescue legislation.
“Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account,” Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
The payments were included in the $2.2 trillion legislation signed into law last week, designed to rescue an economy wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the stimulus bill, payments of up to $1,200 would go to eligible U.S. taxpayers who filed 2018 and 2019 tax returns
However, there are those who live off their Social Security or railroad retirement payments – many senior citizens with no outside income – who are not required to file a federal income tax return.
The IRS earlier this week said non-filers would have to file a basic income tax form to trigger the stimulus benefits.
Enough concerns were raised that the IRS by Wednesday reversed itself.
A spokesman for Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., a member of the House Ways and Means Committee Social Security subcommittee, said he had been working “to push back on this unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle.”
The Treasury department said in the statement that “recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--First federal relief payments to go out within 2 weeks (LIVE UPDATES)

When to expect your $ 1,200 stimulus check U.S. Treasury Sec .
Steve Mnuchin said Thursday emergency payments of up to $ 1,200 for eligible taxpayers should be out the door within two weeks but will take longer if people are not signed up to get direct payments .
“ This money does people no good if shows up in four months , ” he said .
Every American will be getting their money “ quickly , ” Mnuchin added , vowing to deliver on his promise .
“ Quickly is a matter of weeks , not months.
” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act — known as the CARES Act — that was signed last Friday .
Earlier in the day , Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee released a timeline from the IRS aiming for all the payments — either direct deposit or via checks — to be out the door by the first week of May , according to a memo from the committee .
For most people , the payments will be automatically sent .
According to the committee memo , direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of April 13 .
The IRS will use direct deposit information from people who used it for their 2018 or 2019 tax returns .
During the week of May 4 , the IRS will begin issuing paper checks to individuals .
Read the full story on when to expect your federal relief check from Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet .
6:06 p.m .
Retired cop is making face shields to help his brothers , sisters in blue A retired cop is making face shields to help protect his former colleagues in the Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mattozzi came up with the idea last week and started making the shields Saturday .
He ’ s made more than 400 so far .
“ You see , in addition to being a cop all my life , I ’ m also a sailor , and you have to fix things on a boat , and this requires learning how to sew .
So I took a class and bought a machine , ” said Mattozzi , 54 , who lives on the Near North Side .
5:20 p.m. 16 more die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday said another 16 people have died from the coronavirus , with another 715 new cases being reported .
The latest numbers were lower than the record-high 42 deaths recorded a day earlier , but even though the new case count was lower , the Illinois Department of Public Health has warned that the state has not yet seen the peak impact of the pandemic .
In total , 157 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois .
The 715 new cases bring the state to 7,695 confirmed cases , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties , health officials said .
Twelve of the latest deaths were in Cook County , including a man in his 30s and a man and woman in their 40s , officials said .
Among the deaths was a narcotics officer in the Chicago Police Department , marking the first fatal COVID-19 case to hit a nearly 14,000-person department with more than 60 confirmed cases .
Interim CPD Supt .
Charlie Beck identified the officer as Marco DiFranco .
To put an end to groups that continue to play basketball at parks the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used zip ties to affix a piece of wood over basketball hoops .
The maneuver sabotaged attempts to play , that is , until people cut them off and continued to play .
So on Thursday , park district workers began removing the rims from backboards to ensure no one would be playing basketball .
A park district spokesman said Thursday in an emailed statement : “ Throughout the week , Park officials have observed large gatherings of people using basketball courts at Lincoln Park and other locations despite park security efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate and health guidance , both requiring that residents do not gather in groups to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 .
“ The mechanisms put in place to discourage use were vandalized at several parks .
As a result , the District made the decision to remove the basketball rims at parks closed under the Governor ’ s executive order to ensure residents comply with the State ’ s mandate and abstain from non-essential activities .
“ The Chicago Park District Security and the Chicago Police Department will continue to patrol the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure while the order is in effect.
” The Chicago Police Department announced Thursday that 12 more employees have tested positive for the coronavirus .
There are now 76 total cases of the disease in the department , police said .
Of the total , 74 are police officers and two are civilian members .
The announcement comes the same day officials confirmed the death of an officer due to COVID-19 , the first in the nearly 14,000-person department .
4:15 p.m. APB for PPE : County seeks donations of masks , gloves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are asking businesses to donate any unused face shields , goggles , gloves or other personal protective equipment so it can be given to those on the front lines battling the coronavirus pandemic .
The donation program for unused protective equipment for first responders and healthcare workers will be overseen by the county ’ s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security .
They will accept unused personal protective equipment , or PPE , according to a news release .
“ We want to ensure that those in our community who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the COVID-19 pandemic have the protection they need to safely do their work , ” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said .
“ During this nationwide shortage of PPE , we are facilitating the collection and distribution of this urgently needed equipment.
” Read the full story from reporter Rachel Hinton here .
3:10 p.m. Coworkers of City Colleges worker who died from coronavirus weren ’ t warned after possible exposure , union says Chicago City College officials didn ’ t alert the coworkers of a Wright College employee who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after they may have been exposed to the virus , according to unions representing college employees .
The unions said City Colleges has also not released a safety plan for employees , provided them with a list of essential employees who are still required to report to work at the buildings nor consistently provided personal protective equipment to those workers .
Carmelita Cristobal , 71 , died Tuesday at Resurrection Medical Center on the Northwest Side of acute respiratory distress syndrome brought on by a COVID-19 infection , with cardiovascular disease and diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
In a video-streamed announcement Thursday afternoon , Tony Johnston , president of the Cook County College Teaches Union Local 1600 , said Cristobal was sent home from work after potentially interacting with other employees on March 16 .
Looking to show their support for the medical professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis , Father Michael Pfleger and volunteers from St. Sabina Church delivered hundreds of meals to local community hospitals in Chicago on Thursday .
“ We called all the hospitals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call , so we ’ re bringing 150 boxed lunches to the four hospitals today for their emergency room and intensive care employees so that they can get a free lunch on us and know we ’ re grateful and thankful , ” Pfleger told the Sun-Times while delivering food at Mercy Hospital .
Healthcare workers at Saint Bernard Hospital , Jackson Park Hospital , and Roseland Hospital also each received 150 meals from Jason ’ s Deli as part of an idea hatched from conversations with Mercy Hospital nurse Delois Willis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been under-appreciated , ” Father Pfleger said .
“ I think now at this time when so many people are getting sick , so many people are frightened , so many people are afraid to even go out , they ’ re coming to work every day .
“ ... they ’ re really choosing to take a risk because this is what they do .
This is their passion , this is their purpose .
They want to keep doing it in times like this when they ’ re most needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re just grateful for them all across the country for what they ’ re doing right now.
” 1:35 p.m .
First-time jobless claims up 56 % in Illinois from prior week Initial unemployment claims in Illinois filed the week of March 28 rose 56 % from the previous week , reflecting massive layoffs from the economic shutdown due to the coronavirus .
The Illinois Department of Employment Security counted 178,421 initial claims for jobless benefits for the last full week in March , compared with 114,114 for the week ending March 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 950 % from the week of March 14 .
In the same end-of-March week last year , there were just 9,230 first-time claims .
The officer ’ s death is the first in the nearly 14,000-person department , which has seen more than 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
“ His sacrifice underscores the threats that are faced by public safety employees who are not , by nature of their profession , allowed to shelter in place , shelter at home , ” Beck said at a City Hall news conference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lightfoot and Kevin Graham , president of the Fraternal Order of Police .
Sources said the 50-year-old officer has been with the CPD since 1998 and was assigned to the Narcotics Division based out of the CPD ’ s Homan Square facility .
Beck said the deceased officer leaves behind two children , ages 7 and 10 , and has a brother who is also a CPD officer .
The deceased officer ’ s family , as well as his brother , are all in quarantine , Beck said .
Fran Spielman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12:08 p.m. YMCA to reopen as emergency childcare option for healthcare workers and first responders The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced that it will be reopening two of its facilities to provide emergency childcare for essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Y will reopen its Irving Park location and the Buehler YMCA in Palatine as childcare centers .
The facilities will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for first responders and healthcare workers to drop off their children .
One day of childcare at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will cover the cost of breakfast , lunch , dinner and snacks for the child , as well as paying staff .
The program will allow for some furloughed YMCA staff to return to work .
In order to keep facilities clean and safe , the Y says it will be taking precautionary measures such as taking the temperature of every person entering their buildings , limiting groups to no more than 10 people per room , and deep cleaning each site nightly .
Families interested in this service are encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will be conducted on a first-come , first-serve basis .
For more information , visit the YMCA website .
11:40 a.m. University of Illinois and Loyola University will conduct all Summer 2020 courses remotely The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University announced that they will conduct all Summer 2020 classes online in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Loyola made the announcement in an email to students and staff on March 30 , while U. of I. alerted students and staff on Thursday .
In an message to the university community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know that this decision about summer courses may generate additional questions about summer research , programs , travel , housing , events , remote work protocols , etc .
We are not ready to make those decisions at this time , but as soon as we are ready , you will be notified.
” 11:17 a.m .
The Democratic National Convention has been delayed from June to August On Thursday morning the Democratic National Convention Committee announced that the party ’ s national convention will be postponed to the week of August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Milwaukee .
In a statement posted online , Joe Solmonese , CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee , said , “ In our current climate of uncertainty , we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so that we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention.
” The Second City , Chicago ’ s 60-year-old warhorse of improv and sketch comedy , is dipping into live streaming theater this week while its theaters are closed .
The first performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday , and viewers are invite to watch on Zoom for free by registering here .
Darel Jevens has more on the virtual performance here .
9:24 a.m. Civil rights attorneys launch legal challenge to free prisoners at risk of coronavirus Civil rights attorneys launched a coordinated legal challenge Thursday to demand the swift release of Illinois prisoners most vulnerable to the coronavirus , and accusing Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and other state leaders of putting the general public at risk .
The effort includes a proposed class-action lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naming Pritzker and Rob Jeffreys , director of the Illinois Department of Corrections , as defendants .
Ten IDOC prisoners are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit .
“ To effectively prevent the continued spread of the COVID-19 infection in prison communities , the state must take urgent steps to release , furlough , or transfer to home detention all that qualify under the law , and particularly those who are elderly and medically vulnerable , ” the lawsuit states .
Reporter Jon Seidel has the full story here .
8:44 a.m. A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits last week as layoffs mount More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus .
The stunning report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world .
The figure for last week is much higher than the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous week .
The surging layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April .
The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 % this month , above the previous record of 10.8 % set during a deep recession in 1982 .
Read more about the latest unemployment numbers here .
6:55 a.m. Treasury Dept .
reverses course : Social Security recipients won ’ t need to file taxes for COVID-19 stimulus checks The Treasury Department , in a switch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearing the way for individuals who live off of Social Security — and do not file federal income tax returns — to be eligible for the $ 1,200 payments being disbursed to the COVID-19 rescue legislation .
Those who live off their Social Security or railroad retirement payments – many senior citizens with no outside income – are not required to file a federal income tax return .
The IRS earlier this week said non-filers would have to file a basic income tax form to trigger the stimulus benefits .
Enough concerns were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself .
6:21 a.m.
Here ’ s where CPS families can still get free food Chicago families will be able to pick up free food for their kids as long as city schools are closed due to the coronavirus — but the number of schools where meals are available will soon be cut in half .
Chicago Public Schools said Wednesday it would consolidate its food distribution effort , which has already provided 2.8 million meals , to focus on the schools that have seen the most demand .
Starting Monday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lunchroom workers will hand out food at 136 schools from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Thursday .
Staff will be given the day off for Good Friday .
Reporter Nader Issa has more .
Read his full report and check out the full list of grab-and-go-meal sites .
• A Chicago police officer has reportedly died of COVID-19 , the first in the nearly 14,000-person department , which has seen more than 60 confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
• Ali Wentworth , wife of GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. , the patriarch of a New Orleans musical clan that includes famed performer sons Wynton and Branford , has died after battling pneumonia brought on by the new coronavirus , one of his sons said late Wednesday .
• One more employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 , raising the total cases in the office to 12 .
• Musician Adam Schlesinger , a co-founder of the group Fountains of Wayne and an Emmy winner for his contributions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” has died as a result of coronavirus complications .
• A somber Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday that the first city employee has died from the coronavirus .
She did not identify the employee or the department where the victim worked .
• Archbishop Lucius Hall , founder and pastor of First Church of Love and Faith and a leader in gospel circles , died Thursday after contracting coronavirus .
He was 87 .
1:15 p.m. Release undocumented immigrants who pose no danger before deadly coronavirus sweeps through detention centers There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asylum seekers in detention who don ’ t belong in jails or jail-like facilities that are spread across our country .
They are not criminals .
More than ever , with the coronavirus sweeping across the country , there is an urgent need for their release .
Fifty-four percent of immigrants in detention who had criminal convictions were categorized last year as Level 3 offenders , according to Syracuse University ’ s TRAC research center .
Their “ crimes ” were low level offenses , such as illegal entry to the U.S. or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set free .
Their so-called crimes didn ’ t warrant detainment and deportation in the first place .
10:55 a.m .
Hero worship , stars ’ COVID-19 tests , Tommy John surgery and our role in all of it One constant during the pandemic has been celebrities ’ access to COVID-19 testing when regular people with symptoms haven ’ t been able to dry cough their way to a test .
The Chicago Sun-Times ran a story Wednesday about a poor guy who had serious symptoms for 15 days and still couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At one point , he had to console a crying doctor overwhelmed by the situation at a hospital .
Yet every day , we hear of entire teams being tested after one of their athletes contracts the coronavirus .
Baseball players are still getting their Tommy John surgery even as elective surgeries in many places have been banned .
Why is it that famous people and professional athletes seem to be receiving preferential treatment ?
Read Rick Morrissey ’ s full column to find out his take .
6:34 a.m. We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erode our civil liberties Which comes first during a pandemic : personal liberty or public health ?
As Sam Charles and Frank Main reported in Wednesday ’ s Chicago Sun-Times , a debate over that very question played out this week on the West Side , where police officers on Tuesday were assigned to check the IDs of everyone , including local residents , who entered blocks known for gang gatherings .
Exactly why did the cops do this ?
Because the city feared that the open-air drug markets run by gangs — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like on street corners — could become even stronger magnets for gun violence amid Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s stay-at-home order — while simultaneously becoming hot spots for the spread of COVID-19 .
This ill-advised policing tactic perfectly illustrates the kind of threats to our civil liberties that crop up whenever our nation is struggling with a crisis .
We saw it after the 9-11 attacks .
We ’ re seeing it now during the coronavirus pandemic .
Read more from the Sun-Times Editorial Board .

A record 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs continue at companies across the country. In Illinois, first-time jobless claims were up 56% from the prior week.
But around Chicago and the state, spots of good emerged as people rose up to help those in need. Here’s what went down today as the state and its residents continued the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
News
8:54 p.m. CPS teachers on parade: 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school (yes, some are)
Teachers and staff at Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood Thursday afternoon, waving to families and children in the Southwest Side community. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
With Chicago schools closed because of the coronavirus, teachers are trying their best to bring their lessons home to students — and educators at a Southwest Side school took that a step further this week.
A few dozen teachers at Dore Elementary drove through the Clearing neighborhood Thursday afternoon in a 30-car caravan, led by a Chicago police escort, honking their horns and waving to kids as they passed by families’ homes.
With music blaring from teachers’ cars that were painted with messages for their students, more than a dozen families on a single block waved back at their educators.
Maureen O’Hara, a fourth grade teacher who helped organize the effort, said parents and students were thrilled when they heard their teachers were coming by to say hello.
Reporter Nader Issa has the full story with photos by Ashlee Rezin Garcia.
8:17 p.m. Chief judge’s office employee working at juvenile detention center tests positive for coronavirus
The Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Thursday two more confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including another of its employees.
The employee works at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and last reported for work March 27, the chief judge’s office said in a statement. It’s the seventh employee of the chief judge’s office to test positive for the virus.
The employee worked an overnight shift when juvenile residents were in their single-occupancy bedrooms and had no contact with the juveniles, officials said. However, the employee had contact with 14 staff members during the shift.
Officials said no staff members or juvenile residents at the detention center currently have COVID-19 symptoms.
Read more from Sun-Times reporters here.
7:34 p.m. Rapid coronavirus testing starting in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that Illinois was set to receive 15 machines that process rapid COVID-19 tests developed by North Chicago-based Abbott Labs.
During his daily press briefing, Pritzker said the first shipment was expected later Thursday, adding that representatives from the medical supply firm assured him that its home state “is a priority for them.”
“We expect to have machines online very shortly,” Pritzker said.
Abbott’s groundbreaking coronavirus test can deliver positive results in just five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. As he touted the advancement as “a game changer,” Pritzker noted that existing tests take about four to six hours to process results.
Reporter Tom Schuba has more on Abbott’s new tests.
7:06 p.m. When to expect your $1,200 stimulus check
US Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin speaks while US president Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin said Thursday emergency payments of up to $1,200 for eligible taxpayers should be out the door within two weeks but will take longer if people are not signed up to get direct payments.
“This money does people no good if shows up in four months,” he said. Every American will be getting their money “quickly,” Mnuchin added, vowing to deliver on his promise. “Quickly is a matter of weeks, not months.”.
The money is in the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — known as the CARES Act — that was signed last Friday.
Earlier in the day, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee released a timeline from the IRS aiming for all the payments — either direct deposit or via checks — to be out the door by the first week of May, according to a memo from the committee.
For most people, the payments will be automatically sent.
According to the committee memo, direct deposits payments will go out the week of April 13. The IRS will use direct deposit information from people who used it for their 2018 or 2019 tax returns.
During the week of May 4, the IRS will begin issuing paper checks to individuals.
Read the full story on when to expect your federal relief check from Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet.
6:39 p.m. Trump admin moves toward promoting broader use of face masks
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many, if not almost all, Americans wear face coverings when leaving home, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, would apply at least to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.
Read the full story from The Associated Press here.
6:06 p.m. Retired cop is making face shields to help his brothers, sisters in blue
A retired cop is making face shields to help protect his former colleagues in the Chicago Police Department from the coronavirus.
Mark Mattozzi came up with the idea last week and started making the shields Saturday. He’s made more than 400 so far.
“You see, in addition to being a cop all my life, I’m also a sailor, and you have to fix things on a boat, and this requires learning how to sew. So I took a class and bought a machine,” said Mattozzi, 54, who lives on the Near North Side.
Reporter Mitch Dudek has the full story.
5:20 p.m. 16 more die in Illinois from COVID-19
Illinois health officials on Thursday said another 16 people have died from the coronavirus, with another 715 new cases being reported.
The latest numbers were lower than the record-high 42 deaths recorded a day earlier, but even though the new case count was lower, the Illinois Department of Public Health has warned that the state has not yet seen the peak impact of the pandemic.
In total, 157 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois. The 715 new cases bring the state to 7,695 confirmed cases, with the virus now reported in 61 of 102 counties, health officials said.
Twelve of the latest deaths were in Cook County, including a man in his 30s and a man and woman in their 40s, officials said.
Among the deaths was a narcotics officer in the Chicago Police Department, marking the first fatal COVID-19 case to hit a nearly 14,000-person department with more than 60 confirmed cases. Interim CPD Supt. Charlie Beck identified the officer as Marco DiFranco.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Sfondeles.
5:12 p.m. City workers remove basketball rims after zip ties didn’t stop players
To put an end to groups that continue to play basketball at parks the city closed, Chicago Park District workers used zip ties to affix a piece of wood over basketball hoops. The maneuver sabotaged attempts to play, that is, until people cut them off and continued to play.
So on Thursday, park district workers began removing the rims from backboards to ensure no one would be playing basketball. A park district spokesman said Thursday in an emailed statement:
“Throughout the week, Park officials have observed large gatherings of people using basketball courts at Lincoln Park and other locations despite park security efforts to disperse use violating the state’s mandate and health guidance, both requiring that residents do not gather in groups to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
“The mechanisms put in place to discourage use were vandalized at several parks. As a result, the District made the decision to remove the basketball rims at parks closed under the Governor’s executive order to ensure residents comply with the State’s mandate and abstain from non-essential activities.
“The Chicago Park District Security and the Chicago Police Department will continue to patrol the lakefront and disband people who violate the closure while the order is in effect.”
— Mitch Dudek
4:46 p.m. 12 more CPD employees test positive for COVID-19
The Chicago Police Department announced Thursday that 12 more employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
There are now 76 total cases of the disease in the department, police said. Of the total, 74 are police officers and two are civilian members.
The announcement comes the same day officials confirmed the death of an officer due to COVID-19, the first in the nearly 14,000-person department.
Read the full story.
4:15 p.m. APB for PPE: County seeks donations of masks, gloves, other personal protective equipment
Cook County officials are asking businesses to donate any unused face shields, goggles, gloves or other personal protective equipment so it can be given to those on the front lines battling the coronavirus pandemic.
The donation program for unused protective equipment for first responders and healthcare workers will be overseen by the county’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security.
They will accept unused personal protective equipment, or PPE, according to a news release.
“We want to ensure that those in our community who are on the front lines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic have the protection they need to safely do their work,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. “During this nationwide shortage of PPE, we are facilitating the collection and distribution of this urgently needed equipment.”
Read the full story from reporter Rachel Hinton here.
3:10 p.m. Coworkers of City Colleges worker who died from coronavirus weren’t warned after possible exposure, union says
Chicago City College officials didn’t alert the coworkers of a Wright College employee who died this week of complications from the coronavirus after they may have been exposed to the virus, according to unions representing college employees.
The unions said City Colleges has also not released a safety plan for employees, provided them with a list of essential employees who are still required to report to work at the buildings nor consistently provided personal protective equipment to those workers.
Carmelita Cristobal, 71, died Tuesday at Resurrection Medical Center on the Northwest Side of acute respiratory distress syndrome brought on by a COVID-19 infection, with cardiovascular disease and diabetes as contributing factors, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In a video-streamed announcement Thursday afternoon, Tony Johnston, president of the Cook County College Teaches Union Local 1600, said Cristobal was sent home from work after potentially interacting with other employees on March 16.
Read the full story from reporter Matthew Hendrickson.
2:30 p.m. Father Pfleger, volunteers deliver meals to ICU workers at community hospitals
Looking to show their support for the medical professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, Father Michael Pfleger and volunteers from St. Sabina Church delivered hundreds of meals to local community hospitals in Chicago on Thursday.
“We called all the hospitals and they were all so grateful to get the call, so we’re bringing 150 boxed lunches to the four hospitals today for their emergency room and intensive care employees so that they can get a free lunch on us and know we’re grateful and thankful,” Pfleger told the Sun-Times while delivering food at Mercy Hospital.
Healthcare workers at Saint Bernard Hospital, Jackson Park Hospital, and Roseland Hospital also each received 150 meals from Jason’s Deli as part of an idea hatched from conversations with Mercy Hospital nurse Delois Willis.
Meals are delivered from Father Michael Pfleger and St. Sabina Church to Mercy Hospital. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
“Health care workers really always have been under-appreciated,” Father Pfleger said. “I think now at this time when so many people are getting sick, so many people are frightened, so many people are afraid to even go out, they’re coming to work every day.
“... they’re really choosing to take a risk because this is what they do. This is their passion, this is their purpose. They want to keep doing it in times like this when they’re most needed by the community.
“We’re just grateful for them all across the country for what they’re doing right now.”
— Satchel Price with reporting from Ashlee Rezin Garcia
1:35 p.m. First-time jobless claims up 56% in Illinois from prior week
Initial unemployment claims in Illinois filed the week of March 28 rose 56% from the previous week, reflecting massive layoffs from the economic shutdown due to the coronavirus.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security counted 178,421 initial claims for jobless benefits for the last full week in March, compared with 114,114 for the week ending March 21. In turn, that number was up 950% from the week of March 14.
In the same end-of-March week last year, there were just 9,230 first-time claims.
Read the full story from reporter David Roeder.
12:35 p.m. Chicago police officer dies from coronavirus
A Chicago police officer died from the coronavirus early Thursday.
The officer’s death is the first in the nearly 14,000-person department, which has seen more than 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Interim CPD Supt. Charlie Beck identified the officer as Marco DiFranco.
“His sacrifice underscores the threats that are faced by public safety employees who are not, by nature of their profession, allowed to shelter in place, shelter at home,” Beck said at a City Hall news conference, where was joined by the Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Sources said the 50-year-old officer has been with the CPD since 1998 and was assigned to the Narcotics Division based out of the CPD’s Homan Square facility.
Beck said the deceased officer leaves behind two children, ages 7 and 10, and has a brother who is also a CPD officer. The deceased officer’s family, as well as his brother, are all in quarantine, Beck said.
Fran Spielman and Sam Charles have the full report.
12:08 p.m. YMCA to reopen as emergency childcare option for healthcare workers and first responders
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced that it will be reopening two of its facilities to provide emergency childcare for essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Y will reopen its Irving Park location and the Buehler YMCA in Palatine as childcare centers. The facilities will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for first responders and healthcare workers to drop off their children.
One day of childcare at the Y will cost $60 per child, which will cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the child, as well as paying staff. The program will allow for some furloughed YMCA staff to return to work.
In order to keep facilities clean and safe, the Y says it will be taking precautionary measures such as taking the temperature of every person entering their buildings, limiting groups to no more than 10 people per room, and deep cleaning each site nightly.
Families interested in this service are encouraged to register ahead of time, as it will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, visit the YMCA website.
— Caroline Hurley
11:40 a.m. University of Illinois and Loyola University will conduct all Summer 2020 courses remotely
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University announced that they will conduct all Summer 2020 classes online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Loyola made the announcement in an email to students and staff on March 30, while U. of I. alerted students and staff on Thursday.
In an message to the university community, U. of I. said, “We know that this decision about summer courses may generate additional questions about summer research, programs, travel, housing, events, remote work protocols, etc. We are not ready to make those decisions at this time, but as soon as we are ready, you will be notified.”
— Caroline Hurley
11:17 a.m. The Democratic National Convention has been delayed from June to August
On Thursday morning the Democratic National Convention Committee announced that the party’s national convention will be postponed to the week of August 17. It will still be held in Milwaukee.
In a statement posted online, Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee, said, “In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so that we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention.”
In light of the unprecedented health crisis facing our country, the 2020 Democratic National Convention will now be held the week of August 17 in Milwaukee, providing our team more time to determine the most appropriate structure for this historic event.https://t.co/DybjUJuUUA — 2020 #DemConvention 🇺🇸 (@DemConvention) April 2, 2020
Read more here.
11:05 a.m. Second City plans livestream improv show starring housebound duos
The Second City, Chicago’s 60-year-old warhorse of improv and sketch comedy, is dipping into live streaming theater this week while its theaters are closed.
The first performance of “Improv House Party” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, and viewers are invite to watch on Zoom for free by registering here.
Darel Jevens has more on the virtual performance here.
9:24 a.m. Civil rights attorneys launch legal challenge to free prisoners at risk of coronavirus
Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Ill. File photo. AP file
Civil rights attorneys launched a coordinated legal challenge Thursday to demand the swift release of Illinois prisoners most vulnerable to the coronavirus, and accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other state leaders of putting the general public at risk.
The effort includes a proposed class-action lawsuit filed Thursday morning in federal court, naming Pritzker and Rob Jeffreys, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, as defendants. Ten IDOC prisoners are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
“To effectively prevent the continued spread of the COVID-19 infection in prison communities, the state must take urgent steps to release, furlough, or transfer to home detention all that qualify under the law, and particularly those who are elderly and medically vulnerable,” the lawsuit states.
Reporter Jon Seidel has the full story here.
8:44 a.m. A record 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs mount
More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus.
The stunning report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world.
The figure for last week is much higher than the previous record of 3.3 million reported for the previous week. The surging layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15% this month, above the previous record of 10.8% set during a deep recession in 1982.
Read more about the latest unemployment numbers here.
6:55 a.m. Treasury Dept. reverses course: Social Security recipients won’t need to file taxes for COVID-19 stimulus checks
The Treasury Department, in a switch, lifted a roadblock on Wednesday night, clearing the way for individuals who live off of Social Security — and do not file federal income tax returns — to be eligible for the $1,200 payments being disbursed to the COVID-19 rescue legislation.
Those who live off their Social Security or railroad retirement payments – many senior citizens with no outside income – are not required to file a federal income tax return.
The IRS earlier this week said non-filers would have to file a basic income tax form to trigger the stimulus benefits.
Enough concerns were raised that the IRS by Wednesday reversed itself.
Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet has more details.
6:21 a.m. Here’s where CPS families can still get free food
Chicago families will be able to pick up free food for their kids as long as city schools are closed due to the coronavirus — but the number of schools where meals are available will soon be cut in half.
Chicago Public Schools said Wednesday it would consolidate its food distribution effort, which has already provided 2.8 million meals, to focus on the schools that have seen the most demand.
Starting Monday, the first day of CPS’ spring break, lunchroom workers will hand out food at 136 schools from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Thursday. Staff will be given the day off for Good Friday.
Reporter Nader Issa has more. Read his full report and check out the full list of grab-and-go-meal sites.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
8: 17 p.m. Every state — including 12 slackers — must join the fight to beat COVID-19
As of Thursday afternoon, 12 governors still had not issued the statewide stay-at-home orders that are the best defense against the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
We have to wonder how many more of their residents must catch the virus, and how many more must die, before these 12 state chief executives wake up. We have to wonder whether they understand that they are endangering every American. A pandemic respects no state lines.
There is not a moment to spare. The toll of the virus is mounting by the day. More than 225,000 Americans — and more than 1 million people worldwide — have contracted COVID-19. More than 5,000 Americans, including 157 in Illinois, have died.
And the worst by far — possibly up to 240,000 American deaths — is yet to come.
Yet these 12 governors have ignored the advice of the best public health experts. They have refused to shut down daily activity as fully and widely as possible.
Read the full remarks from the Sun-Times Editorial Board here.
6:39 p.m. We stumble in the dark, led by a narcissist who understands nothing
Faced with the greatest public health threat in a century, we are stumbling in the dark. Each day’s death toll is treated as a shock, rather than what it ought to be — a fire bell in the night.
Only on April 1, for example, did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issue a stay-at-home order. As recently as March 28 — even as refrigerator trucks were parking outside New York hospitals to serve as overflow morgues — many of Florida’s beaches were packed. Responding to criticism, DeSantis said he was taking cues from the White House. “If any of those task force folks tell me that we should do X, Y or Z,” he said, “of course, we’re going to consider it.”
President Donald Trump initially praised DeSantis for this, calling him “a great governor who knows exactly what he’s doing,” but apparently thought better of it later and encouraged DeSantis to issue the stay-at-home order.
Not to pick on DeSantis too much, but he is emblematic of the scattershot approach that is failing so badly to meet this crisis. As recently as March 31, he said it was up to “locals” to enforce public health guidelines.
Read Mona Charen’s full column here.
1:15 p.m. Release undocumented immigrants who pose no danger before deadly coronavirus sweeps through detention centers
There are tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in detention who don’t belong in jails or jail-like facilities that are spread across our country.
They are not criminals.
More than ever, with the coronavirus sweeping across the country, there is an urgent need for their release.
Fifty-four percent of immigrants in detention who had criminal convictions were categorized last year as Level 3 offenders, according to Syracuse University’s TRAC research center. Their “crimes” were low level offenses, such as illegal entry to the U.S. or traffic-related violations.
Those people should be set free. Their so-called crimes didn’t warrant detainment and deportation in the first place.
Read Marlen Garcia’s full commentary here.
10:55 a.m. Hero worship, stars’ COVID-19 tests, Tommy John surgery and our role in all of it
One constant during the pandemic has been celebrities’ access to COVID-19 testing when regular people with symptoms haven’t been able to dry cough their way to a test. The Chicago Sun-Times ran a story Wednesday about a poor guy who had serious symptoms for 15 days and still couldn’t get tested for the virus. At one point, he had to console a crying doctor overwhelmed by the situation at a hospital.
Yet every day, we hear of entire teams being tested after one of their athletes contracts the coronavirus.
Baseball players are still getting their Tommy John surgery even as elective surgeries in many places have been banned.
Why is it that famous people and professional athletes seem to be receiving preferential treatment?
Read Rick Morrissey’s full column to find out his take.
6:34 a.m. We can’t allow fear to go viral and erode our civil liberties
Which comes first during a pandemic: personal liberty or public health?
As Sam Charles and Frank Main reported in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times, a debate over that very question played out this week on the West Side, where police officers on Tuesday were assigned to check the IDs of everyone, including local residents, who entered blocks known for gang gatherings.
Exactly why did the cops do this?
Because the city feared that the open-air drug markets run by gangs — those selling heroin, cocaine and the like on street corners — could become even stronger magnets for gun violence amid Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order — while simultaneously becoming hot spots for the spread of COVID-19.
This ill-advised policing tactic perfectly illustrates the kind of threats to our civil liberties that crop up whenever our nation is struggling with a crisis. We saw it after the 9-11 attacks. We’re seeing it now during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more from the Sun-Times Editorial Board.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--CPS teachers on parade: 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school (yes, some are)

CPS teachers on parade : 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school ( yes , some are ) Share All sharing options for : CPS teachers on parade : 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school ( yes , some are ) With Chicago schools closed because of the coronavirus , teachers are trying their best to bring their lessons home to students — and educators at a Southwest Side school took that a step further this week .
A few dozen teachers at Dore Elementary drove through the Clearing neighborhood Thursday afternoon in a 30-car caravan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honking their horns and waving to kids as they passed by families ’ homes .
With music blaring from teachers ’ cars that were painted with messages for their students , more than a dozen families on a single block waved back at their educators .
Maureen O ’ Hara , a fourth grade teacher who helped organize the effort , said parents and students were thrilled when they heard their teachers were coming by to say hello .
She said it was important for students who were missing their school and feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their teachers .
“ We want the kids to know that everything ’ s going to be OK and that we ’ re all in this together and give them some sort of hope that , even though we ’ re not in the classroom with them , we ’ re still here for them , ” O ’ Hara said .
“ They ’ re just so sad .
They miss their friends , they miss all of us and the routine.
” Tai Basurto , the principal at Dore , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us to demonstrate our love for our students.
” “ We are really missing one another , and this is one effort to demonstrate that we are here , that we are committed to our school community , and that when it is safe , we will be together again , ” Basurto said .
O ’ Hara wrote her classroom number on her car so her students knew when she drove by , and O ’ Hara ’ s own kids helped decorate her car with streamers .
“ The parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Hara said .
“ They know the kids need something positive like this to give them a little bit of hope .
”

With Chicago schools closed because of the coronavirus, teachers are trying their best to bring their lessons home to students — and educators at a Southwest Side school took that a step further this week.
A few dozen teachers at Dore Elementary drove through the Clearing neighborhood Thursday afternoon in a 30-car caravan, led by a Chicago police escort, honking their horns and waving to kids as they passed by families’ homes.
With music blaring from teachers’ cars that were painted with messages for their students, more than a dozen families on a single block waved back at their educators.
A family reacts as teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to people on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, all buildings in Chicago Public Schools are closed until April 30. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 1 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 2 of 15 Families and children wave from their Southwest Side homes as teachers and staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 3 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 4 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, families and children wave from their Southwest Side homes as teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 5 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 6 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to neighborhood families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 7 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 8 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 9 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 10 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, families and children wave from their Southwest Side homes as teachers and staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 11 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, families and children wave from their Southwest Side homes as teachers and staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 12 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, families and children wave from their Southwest Side homes as teachers and staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 13 of 15 A dog wearing a John C. Dore Elementary School shirt looks out the window as the school’s teachers and staff parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, all buildings in Chicago Public Schools are closed until April 30. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 14 of 15 While the school building is closed amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers and other staff at John C. Dore Elementary School parade around the neighborhood waving to families and children on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times 15 of 15
Maureen O’Hara, a fourth grade teacher who helped organize the effort, said parents and students were thrilled when they heard their teachers were coming by to say hello.
She said it was important for students who were missing their school and feeling isolated to still have that connection to their teachers.
“We want the kids to know that everything’s going to be OK and that we’re all in this together and give them some sort of hope that, even though we’re not in the classroom with them, we’re still here for them,” O’Hara said. “They’re just so sad. They miss their friends, they miss all of us and the routine.”
Tai Basurto, the principal at Dore, said the parade was a “safe way for us to demonstrate our love for our students.”
“We are really missing one another, and this is one effort to demonstrate that we are here, that we are committed to our school community, and that when it is safe, we will be together again,” Basurto said.
O’Hara wrote her classroom number on her car so her students knew when she drove by, and O’Hara’s own kids helped decorate her car with streamers.
“The parents were all really excited,” O’Hara said. “They know the kids need something positive like this to give them a little bit of hope.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--Seniors seek nurses, social workers for their buildings to prevent spread of coronavirus

A group of seniors citizens released a set of demands Thursday that they say would better protect them from the coronavirus in their senior apartment buildings .
The demands were presented in a virtual news conference summoned by the Jane Addams Senior Caucus , an activist group with members in several of the 169 senior buildings in the city , including those owned by the Chicago Housing Authority .
The caucus wants all public and private senior buildings across the city bring in nurses and social workers to perform routine wellness checks and to screen visitors for symptoms of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas in their buildings like mailboxes , elevators and laundry machines disinfected at least three times a day .
“ As a resident of a CHA senior building managed by The Habitat Company , I am here to tell you that we are basically on our own , ” said 77-year-old caucus member Linda Armitage .
“ We need more than letters and signs to make sure vulnerable senior citizens remain healthy while confined to their apartments.
” Those “ letters and signs ” were put up by the by the CHA in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CHA said it has translated those signs into 13 languages and has has conducted thousands of wellbeing checks on senior residents .
Armitage said she received one of those wellbeing checks last week over the phone .
“ But [ the ] call was very perfunctory , ” she said .
The person on the other line , a resident coordinator with the CHA , asked if Armitage felt ill , and “ I answered I was fine , thanks .
She responded , ‘ Oh , good , goodbye.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unconscionable neglect by CHA , its management companies and the city of Chicago , ” Armitage said .
“ There have been no attempts to find out if transportation is needed to go to the doctor or to buy food or to pick up prescriptions .
There are no lists of area food banks or stores with senior hours.
” A representative for The Habitat Company could not be reached for comment .
The CHA said its employees have already told building staff to clean high-touch surface areas three times a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49th ) said there is no coordinated effort among all senior buildings to provide a baseline of support for their residents during a pandemic .
“ I ’ ve been in contact with several [ management ] companies , and while they have been responsive , many of them don ’ t have public health emergency policies .
They have no plan in place other than what the [ Center for Disease Control and Prevention ] has put out , ” she said .
“ That ’ s where we need to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan that we can push that outlines what needs to be done.
” Hadden said she will soon introduce an ordinance that would require senior buildings to implement some of the demands presented by the caucus .
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for April 22 .
Nearly 7,700 Illinois residents have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Thursday .
Of the 157 who have died from the virus , 85 % are age 60 and older , according to health officials .
Carlos Ballesteros is a corps member of Report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago ’ s South Side and West Side

A group of seniors citizens released a set of demands Thursday that they say would better protect them from the coronavirus in their senior apartment buildings.
The demands were presented in a virtual news conference summoned by the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, an activist group with members in several of the 169 senior buildings in the city, including those owned by the Chicago Housing Authority.
The caucus wants all public and private senior buildings across the city bring in nurses and social workers to perform routine wellness checks and to screen visitors for symptoms of COVID-19. Seniors also want all high-touch surface areas in their buildings like mailboxes, elevators and laundry machines disinfected at least three times a day.
“As a resident of a CHA senior building managed by The Habitat Company, I am here to tell you that we are basically on our own,” said 77-year-old caucus member Linda Armitage. “We need more than letters and signs to make sure vulnerable senior citizens remain healthy while confined to their apartments.”
Those “letters and signs” were put up by the by the CHA in mid-March to warn residents about the coronavirus. The CHA said it has translated those signs into 13 languages and has has conducted thousands of wellbeing checks on senior residents.
Armitage said she received one of those wellbeing checks last week over the phone. “But [the] call was very perfunctory,” she said. The person on the other line, a resident coordinator with the CHA, asked if Armitage felt ill, and “I answered I was fine, thanks. She responded, ‘Oh, good, goodbye.’”
“The lack of concern ... is unconscionable neglect by CHA, its management companies and the city of Chicago,” Armitage said. “There have been no attempts to find out if transportation is needed to go to the doctor or to buy food or to pick up prescriptions. There are no lists of area food banks or stores with senior hours.”
The Habitat Co. said it has “implemented a number of precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19” across its portfolio, such as sanitizing high-touch areas and minimizing the number of guests at each building.
The CHA said its employees have already told building staff to clean high-touch surface areas three times a day, but Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said there is no coordinated effort among all senior buildings to provide a baseline of support for their residents during a pandemic.
“I’ve been in contact with several [management] companies, and while they have been responsive, many of them don’t have public health emergency policies. They have no plan in place other than what the [Center for Disease Control and Prevention] has put out,” she said.
“That’s where we need to step up as a city and have a plan that we can push that outlines what needs to be done.”
Hadden said she will soon introduce an ordinance that would require senior buildings to implement some of the demands presented by the caucus. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for April 22.
Nearly 7,700 Illinois residents have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Thursday. Of the 157 who have died from the virus, 85% are age 60 and older, according to health officials.
Carlos Ballesteros is a corps member of Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago’s South Side and West Side
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include The Habitat Co.’s response.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--Retired cop is making face shields to help his brothers, sisters in blue

A retired cop is making face shields to help protect his former colleagues in the Chicago Police Department from the coronavirus .
Mark Mattozzi came up with the idea last week and started making the shields Saturday .
He ’ s made more than 400 so far .
“ You see , in addition to being a cop all my life , I ’ m also a sailor , and you have to fix things on a boat , and this requires learning how to sew .
So I took a class and bought a machine , ” said Mattozzi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Near North Side .
“ I can make one in under a minute , ” he said .
“ I ’ ll make them until my fingers fall off.
” The shields are meant to be worn when interacting with the public to help prevent the spread of coronavirus , he said .
“ They ’ re simple , practical and tactical , ” said Matttozzi , whose first batch went to officers at the Town Hall District station just east of Wrigley Field .
“ The guys love having them.
” Mattozzi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies and hopes his efforts inspire others to pitch in , too .
“ I want to help out my brothers in blue .
I love the Chicago Police Department , ” said Mattozzi , who was devastated Thursday to learn his longtime friend , active duty police officer Marco DiFranco , died after contracting the coronavirus .
“ I was in tears .
I ’ m devastated .
This is a war we ’ re at , this is my way of fighting a war .
And I want to help prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to others .
”

A retired cop is making face shields to help protect his former colleagues in the Chicago Police Department from the coronavirus.
Mark Mattozzi came up with the idea last week and started making the shields Saturday. He’s made more than 400 so far.
“You see, in addition to being a cop all my life, I’m also a sailor, and you have to fix things on a boat, and this requires learning how to sew. So I took a class and bought a machine,” said Mattozzi, 54, who lives on the Near North Side.
“I can make one in under a minute,” he said. “I’ll make them until my fingers fall off.”
The shields are meant to be worn when interacting with the public to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, he said.
“They’re simple, practical and tactical,” said Matttozzi, whose first batch went to officers at the Town Hall District station just east of Wrigley Field. “The guys love having them.”
Mattozzi has spent a few hundred dollars on supplies and hopes his efforts inspire others to pitch in, too.
“I want to help out my brothers in blue. I love the Chicago Police Department,” said Mattozzi, who was devastated Thursday to learn his longtime friend, active duty police officer Marco DiFranco, died after contracting the coronavirus.
“I was in tears. I’m devastated. This is a war we’re at, this is my way of fighting a war. And I want to help prevent what happened to my friend from happening to others.”


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--Archbishop Lucius Hall, 87, dies after contracting coronavirus; well-known in church, gospel circles

A well-known South Side pastor has died after contracting the coronavirus .
Archbishop Lucius Hall , founder and pastor of First Church of Love and Faith and a leader in gospel circles , died Thursday at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center , according to Roland Chapman , an associate minister at the church at 2140 W. 79th St .
He was 87 .
Chapman , who said he was the archbishop ’ s designated power of attorney , said doctors told him , “ It was heart failure , and the coronavirus did have a play in it.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held March 15 , according to Chapman .
Born in Chicago , the future pastor attended Burke grade school and DuSable High School , where he knew famed band director Capt .
Walter Dyett , who taught music legends including Bo Diddley , Nat “ King ” Cole , Dorothy Donegan , Von Freeman and Dinah Washington .
His formative years were spent at First Church of Deliverance , 4315 S. Wabash Ave .
He sang with the choir there and was featured on the recordings of “ Beatitudes ” and “ Keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At 15 , he became a church announcer whose voice was heard on broadcasts that went out across the United States and Canada , according to Chapman , who said , “ He had a voice and a style that many announcers try to emulate.
” Archbishop Hall–who founded his church in 1980–hosted the gospel program “ Rock of Ages ” on WCIU-Channel 26 in the 1960s and 1970s , Chapman said .
And he led Sunday radio services on WVON-AM .
The archbishop also helped organize gospel extravaganzas featuring traditional artists including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singers and Rev .
Milton Brunson .
“ It was the event of the year for black people at that time , ” Chapman said .
Recently , the archbishop told the Sun-Times he marveled at hearing a new voice brought to Chicago in the early 1960s by Rev .
C.L .
Franklin of Detroit : his daughter , the future superstar Aretha Franklin .
“ Aretha was a young little girl then , and she was singing ‘ Amazing Grace , ’ ” the archbishop recalled .
He sometimes acted as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago ’ s Gospel Music Festival alongside gospel legends like Albertina Walker .
And he was a president of the Religious Radio Announcers Conference of Chicago and a vice-president of the Broadcast Ministers Alliance television ministry , according to his biography .
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed him to the influential Human Resources Board , a city panel where government employees could appeal to keep their jobs after they got into trouble .
He served there for about 21 years , Chapman said .
The archbishop made headlines in 1997 when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the ceiling of the church fellowship hall .
“ He lunged at me , and I was in fear of my life , ” he said at the time .
“ He still lunged at me after being shot .
Then , he sat down on the floor .
I grabbed a big stick we use for protection because I didn ’ t want to shoot him any more.
” “ I ’ m God ’ s man , but I want to be around , ” he told the Sun-Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that evening when they started hearing odd noises coming from the venting system .
“ Five or 10 minutes later , this body came crashing through the ceiling , ” Chapman said .
“ I went and grabbed his gun and gave it to him .
I think he kicked him a little bit , ” too .

A well-known South Side pastor has died after contracting the coronavirus.
Archbishop Lucius Hall, founder and pastor of First Church of Love and Faith and a leader in gospel circles, died Thursday at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, according to Roland Chapman, an associate minister at the church at 2140 W. 79th St. He was 87.
Chapman, who said he was the archbishop’s designated power of attorney, said doctors told him, “It was heart failure, and the coronavirus did have a play in it.”
The church’s most recent service was held March 15, according to Chapman.
Archbishop Lucius Hall. Provided
“I cannot find the words. So deeply touched by his passing,” Rev. Jesse Jackson said on Facebook.
Born in Chicago, the future pastor attended Burke grade school and DuSable High School, where he knew famed band director Capt. Walter Dyett, who taught music legends including Bo Diddley, Nat “King” Cole, Dorothy Donegan, Von Freeman and Dinah Washington.
His formative years were spent at First Church of Deliverance, 4315 S. Wabash Ave. He sang with the choir there and was featured on the recordings of “Beatitudes” and “Keep A Goin,’ ” Chapman said.
At 15, he became a church announcer on broadcasts that went out across the United States and Canada, according to Chapman. “He had a voice and a style that many announcers try to emulate,” he said.
Archbishop Hall – who founded his church in 1980 – hosted the gospel program “Rock of Ages” on WCIU-Channel 26 in the 1960s, Chapman said. And he led Sunday radio services on WVON-AM.
The archbishop also helped organize gospel extravaganzas featuring traditional artists including the Barrett Sisters, The Treadwell Community Singers and Rev. Milton Brunson.
“It was the event of the year for black people at that time,” Chapman said.
Recently, the archbishop told the Sun-Times he marveled at hearing a new voice brought to Chicago in the early 1960s by Rev. C.L. Franklin of Detroit: his daughter, the future superstar Aretha Franklin.
“Aretha was a young little girl then, and she was singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ ” he recalled.
He sometimes acted as a master of ceremonies and did introductions at Chicago’s Gospel Music Festival alongside legends like Albertina Walker. And he was a vice president of the Broadcast Ministers Alliance television ministry, according to his biography.
Pam Morris-Walton worked with him on BMA cable programming. “Archbishop Lucius Hall had a caring heart,” said the longtime WVON gospel radio host. “He didn’t mind helping whoever it was. He was there for you and he was a kind-hearted man ... he’d always say ‘God will take care of you.’ ”
The archbishop was always accessible, patient and generous, said Sharon Roberts, whose father, Bishop Isaiah L. Roberts, presided over the funeral of Emmett Till in 1955 at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ at 40th and State. “I could call on him. I could go to his office. I could talk to him,” Roberts said.
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed him to the influential Human Resources Board, a city panel where government employees could appeal to keep their jobs after they got into trouble. He served there for about 21 years, Chapman said.
A former Army military police officer, the archbishop made headlines in 1997 when he shot a burglary suspect who apparently eeled his way through the ventilation system before crashing through the ceiling of the church fellowship hall.
“He lunged at me, and I was in fear of my life,” he said at the time. “He still lunged at me after being shot. Then, he sat down on the floor. I grabbed a big stick we use for protection because I didn’t want to shoot him any more.”
“I’m God’s man, but I want to be around,” Archbishop Hall told the Sun-Times.
The suspect – who ended up in fair condition with a chest wound – was charged with burglary.
Funeral arrangements are pending.