chicagosun-times--2020-07-13--Horoscope for Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Horoscope for Tuesday, July 14, 2020

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions .
The moon is in Taurus .
You will have no trouble asserting yourself because you feel cocky and confident .
You are pleased about something .
This is definitely a time of family conversations as well as home repairs — perhaps your pride is about something that you have done ?
The moon is in your sign and you are in a positive mood !
It ’ s wonderful to be in a great mood ; however , be careful about overextending yourself .
Don ’ t promise more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to something that is a bit over the top .
This is a happy day !
One of the things you feel happy about is your financial situation .
Be careful because you might be tempted to spend too much money on something because you ’ re confident that you can .
Note : Life is a fast-changing landscape — be prudent .
You will enjoy schmoozing with partners , close friends and members of the general public because you ’ re in a great mood !
It ’ s one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and happy to see each other .
Caution against an element of excess .
You are pleased with yourself , which is why you ’ re happy to talk to others or , by contrast , you are also happy to hide somewhere and enjoy your privacy .
It ’ s your call .
Admittedly , both Mars and Venus want you to socialize , while your sun wants privacy .
This is a popular day !
Enjoy interacting with friends and groups .
In fact , any collection of people will bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be hanging out with younger people at this time .
You also make a great impression on bosses , parents and VIPs .
This is a winning day !
Do I detect a little swagger in your stride ?
It ’ s possible because today you feel confident , friendly and happy to be alive !
You ’ re ready to take a leadership role if necessary whether within the family or your professional world .
Don ’ t make promises you can ’ t keep .
Travel plans as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law and medicine look exciting today !
The sky is the limit !
Your confidence might also tempt you to try to persuade other people to agree with you about politics or racial topics .
Don ’ t even go there .
Keep things light .
If you are discussing inheritances , insurance disputes or anything to do a shared property today , you feel warm-hearted and generous .
This is a good thing ; but on the other hand , you don ’ t want to give away the farm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ You will enjoy talking to those who are closest to you today because everyone is upbeat and friendly !
Someone is happy to see you , and vice a versa , you ’ re happy to see them .
Matters related to your job are positive .
Admittedly , chaos at home still rules .
( Gulp . )
This is a strong happy day for you because you feel vigorous and energized !
This is why you will accomplish a lot at work or with any tasks that you set for yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s easy to overestimate your abilities today or to overestimate a situation .
Be aware of this potential pitfall .
This is a fabulous day to schmooze with others .
Enjoy parties , vacations , the arts , picnics , barbecues and fun times with kids !
Sports events will also appeal .
Romance is promising .
Yes , you have it all !
( As it should be . )
If Your Birthday Is Today Writer , actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge ( 1985 ) shares your birthday .
You are independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will learn something that sets you in a new direction , which could be crucial for your success next year .
It ’ s a time of learning and perhaps teaching as well .
Explore meditation , yoga or any discipline that helps you get a better understanding of who you are .
Invest in your future self .

Moon Alert
There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Taurus.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
You will have no trouble asserting yourself because you feel cocky and confident. You are pleased about something. This is definitely a time of family conversations as well as home repairs — perhaps your pride is about something that you have done?
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
The moon is in your sign and you are in a positive mood! It’s wonderful to be in a great mood; however, be careful about overextending yourself. Don’t promise more than you can deliver. Don’t agree to something that is a bit over the top.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This is a happy day! One of the things you feel happy about is your financial situation. Be careful because you might be tempted to spend too much money on something because you’re confident that you can. Note: Life is a fast-changing landscape — be prudent.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You will enjoy schmoozing with partners, close friends and members of the general public because you’re in a great mood! It’s one of those backslapping days where everybody is upbeat and happy to see each other. Caution against an element of excess.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You are pleased with yourself, which is why you’re happy to talk to others or, by contrast, you are also happy to hide somewhere and enjoy your privacy. It’s your call. Admittedly, both Mars and Venus want you to socialize, while your sun wants privacy.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This is a popular day! Enjoy interacting with friends and groups. In fact, any collection of people will bring a smile to your face. You might be hanging out with younger people at this time. You also make a great impression on bosses, parents and VIPs. This is a winning day!
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Do I detect a little swagger in your stride? It’s possible because today you feel confident, friendly and happy to be alive! You’re ready to take a leadership role if necessary whether within the family or your professional world. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Travel plans as well as opportunities in publishing, the media, the law and medicine look exciting today! The sky is the limit! Your confidence might also tempt you to try to persuade other people to agree with you about politics or racial topics. Don’t even go there. Keep things light.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
If you are discussing inheritances, insurance disputes or anything to do a shared property today, you feel warm-hearted and generous. This is a good thing; but on the other hand, you don’t want to give away the farm. Protect your own self-interests, too.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You will enjoy talking to those who are closest to you today because everyone is upbeat and friendly! Someone is happy to see you, and vice a versa, you’re happy to see them. Matters related to your job are positive. Admittedly, chaos at home still rules. (Gulp.)
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
This is a strong happy day for you because you feel vigorous and energized! This is why you will accomplish a lot at work or with any tasks that you set for yourself today. A word of caution: It’s easy to overestimate your abilities today or to overestimate a situation. Be aware of this potential pitfall.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is a fabulous day to schmooze with others. Enjoy parties, vacations, the arts, picnics, barbecues and fun times with kids! Sports events will also appeal. Romance is promising. Yes, you have it all! (As it should be.)
If Your Birthday Is Today
Writer, actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge (1985) shares your birthday. You are independent and realistic about life. This year you will learn something that sets you in a new direction, which could be crucial for your success next year. It’s a time of learning and perhaps teaching as well. Explore meditation, yoga or any discipline that helps you get a better understanding of who you are. Invest in your future self.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-13--St. Louis-area lawyer sues IHSA over return-to-play plan

The Illinois High School Association may have to defend its return-to-play plan in court .
Attorney Thomas DeVore filed a preliminary injunction against the IHSA and Hillsboro School District Monday on behalf of his two children that attend Hillsboro High School , which is in the St. Louis area .
DeVore previously sued Governor J.B. Pritzker ’ s adminstration over the stay-at-home rules enforced earlier this spring .
The lawsuit claims the IHSA ’ s plan , which involves masks and social distancing , will cause “ immediate and irreparable harm ” to the rights of student-athletes .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal product of collusion between state agencies , [ IHSA Executive Director Craig ] Anderson and the IHSA.
” The lawsuit contains an email exchange between Pritzker ’ s administration and the IHSA in which student-athletes wearing masks is discussed .
“ We are aware of the lawsuit and do not plan on commenting on ongoing litigation at this time , ” Anderson said in a statement .
“ All of our efforts remain focused on working with the top medical professionals in the state to try and provide the safest framework possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IHSA sports and activities in 2020-21 .
”

The Illinois High School Association may have to defend its return-to-play plan in court.
Attorney Thomas DeVore filed a preliminary injunction against the IHSA and Hillsboro School District Monday on behalf of his two children that attend Hillsboro High School, which is in the St. Louis area.
DeVore previously sued Governor J.B. Pritzker’s adminstration over the stay-at-home rules enforced earlier this spring.
The lawsuit claims the IHSA’s plan, which involves masks and social distancing, will cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the rights of student-athletes. It also alleges that the rules are “the illegal product of collusion between state agencies, [IHSA Executive Director Craig] Anderson and the IHSA.”
The lawsuit contains an email exchange between Pritzker’s administration and the IHSA in which student-athletes wearing masks is discussed.
“We are aware of the lawsuit and do not plan on commenting on ongoing litigation at this time,” Anderson said in a statement. “All of our efforts remain focused on working with the top medical professionals in the state to try and provide the safest framework possible for the return of our students to IHSA sports and activities in 2020-21.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-13--Kim Foxx challenger sets up site to field complaints about Foxx

Three days after Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx announced an online form to field allegations of police misconduct , her Republican challenger called the move a “ stunt ” and announced he created a website of his own to field allegations of misconduct against Foxx .
Former Circuit Court Judge Pat O ’ Brien announced Sunday his campaign set up an “ online hotline ” for Cook County residents to report complaints about Foxx .
O ’ Brien called Foxx ’ s effort to gather reports of police misconduct in Cook County disingenuous and unnecessary because other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints .
“ As murders and gun violence soar in one of the bloodiest summers in Chicago , Ms. Foxx has set her sights on police officers , the men and women who provide our first line of defense from crime and violence , ” O ’ Brien said in a statement .
Reached by phone , O ’ Brien said Foxx ’ s effort — a form that can be filled out and submitted on the state ’ s attorney ’ s website — was a stunt , but his website was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stunt at all , it ’ s a way for us to gather more information to put in front of voters to help decide whether they want to return her for another four years in office , ” he said .
Foxx campaign spokeswoman Alex Sims said “ we don ’ t have any comment.
” O ’ Brien ’ s website — www.foxxfails.com — allows for complaints pertaining to “ negligence , misconduct or malpractice that occurred in Cook County only.
” Complaints will be reviewed by former Cook County prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency , such as the state ’ s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission , which investigates attorney misconduct , O ’ Brien said .
Relevant complaints will be posted to social media to “ ensure transparency , ” O ’ Brien said .
About 30 messages had been received through the website as of Monday evening , O ’ Brien said .
Several contained “ verbal graffiti ” aimed at Foxx .
Others were were from victims or relatives of victims complaining that “ cases were not handled properly or charges they thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Brien said .
The election is slated for Nov. 3 .

Three days after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced an online form to field allegations of police misconduct, her Republican challenger called the move a “stunt” and announced he created a website of his own to field allegations of misconduct against Foxx.
Former Circuit Court Judge Pat O’Brien announced Sunday his campaign set up an “online hotline” for Cook County residents to report complaints about Foxx.
O’Brien called Foxx’s effort to gather reports of police misconduct in Cook County disingenuous and unnecessary because other agencies are already tasked with investigating such complaints.
“As murders and gun violence soar in one of the bloodiest summers in Chicago, Ms. Foxx has set her sights on police officers, the men and women who provide our first line of defense from crime and violence,” O’Brien said in a statement.
Reached by phone, O’Brien said Foxx’s effort — a form that can be filled out and submitted on the state’s attorney’s website — was a stunt, but his website was not.
“This isn’t a stunt at all, it’s a way for us to gather more information to put in front of voters to help decide whether they want to return her for another four years in office,” he said.
Foxx campaign spokeswoman Alex Sims said “we don’t have any comment.”
O’Brien’s website — www.foxxfails.com — allows for complaints pertaining to “negligence, misconduct or malpractice that occurred in Cook County only.”
Complaints will be reviewed by former Cook County prosecutors and could be referred to an investigative agency, such as the state’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which investigates attorney misconduct, O’Brien said.
Relevant complaints will be posted to social media to “ensure transparency,” O’Brien said.
About 30 messages had been received through the website as of Monday evening, O’Brien said. Several contained “verbal graffiti” aimed at Foxx. Others were were from victims or relatives of victims complaining that “cases were not handled properly or charges they thought were appropriate weren’t approved,” O’Brien said.
The election is slated for Nov. 3.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Chicago synagogues prepare for virtual High Holy Days

Synagogues across the city are making plans to virtually host the High Holy Days online as coronavirus continues to limit in-person gatherings .
The decision to host the religious ceremonies online wasn ’ t an easy one , but synagogue leaders cite Pikuach Nefesh — a Jewish principle that places people ’ s safety over Jewish law or customs — as the reason for moving away from welcoming people in person .
“ With the pandemic thriving , the congregation ’ s leadership does not see how a synagogue can seriously consider bringing people into their facilities for the High @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Central Synagogue of Chicago .
“ Social distancing and masks can not alone eliminate all of the risks in a synagogue environment.
” Illinois has had 155,506 positive coronavirus cases and 7,128 deaths since the virus ’ outbreak .
The High Holy Days , or High Holidays , are a spiritual celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement , respectively .
Rosh Hashanah is Sept. 18 through 20 and Yom Kippur is Sept. 27 through 28 .
Chicago Sinai Congregation told its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Days gatherings were unlikely .
“ There would be absolutely no way we could get thousands of people in doors safely , ” said Rabbi Seth Limmer .
“ Since then we have been working for a way to bring a meaningful experience online.
” For months the Chicago Sinai Congregation , at 15 W. Delaware Place , has been rehearsing and planning a Zoom-style event celebrating the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement .
Putting it together has been more more work than in previous years , Limmer said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year that will be helpful going forward , ” Limmer said .
“ We are focused on what ’ s essential about the High Holidays and then how can we make sure that people can celebrate it meaningfully.
” “ This will be a richer experience than in years past.
” Still , Limmer said , if a vaccine were discovered and able to be administered the day before the High Holy Days , Chicago Sinai Congregation would change course and meet in person .
Rabbi Craig Marantz of Emanuel Congregation , 5959 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on having virtual services for the holidays , but that hasn ’ t been easy coordinate .
“ It ’ s really tricky to bring people together to even prerecord some of our services , ” Marantz said .
“ If we bring people together for singing , for example , we risk spreading the virus .
So it ’ s difficult to get people in the same room for the choir so they can do their part.
” Yet , there is still an opportunity to do something unique and memorable with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re just trying to make this pandemic matter in terms of being creative , being innovative and thinking outside of the box , ” Marantz said .
“ We want to make sure that people know they matter to us and that they continue to know there is a place for them in our virtual village.
” Temple Sholom , 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive , also will host virtual services for the holidays , and Rabbi Shoshanah Conover said they are thinking of ways to create moments that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fun of a service is not just what happens in the pulpit but in the seats where people can whisper to each other , where they catch up ; it ’ s beautiful and celebratory , ” Conover said .
“ We want to make sure that isn ’ t lost in these days , so we are trying to make sure to reach those elements .
”

Some synagogues across the city are making plans to virtually host the High Holy Days online as coronavirus continues to limit in-person gatherings.
Several Reform Jewish synagogues across the city have decided virtual services would be a safer choice for the religious holiday than in-person gatherings.
The decision to host the religious ceremonies online wasn’t an easy one, but synagogue leaders cite Pikuach Nefesh — a Jewish principle that places people’s safety over Jewish law or customs — as the reason for moving away from welcoming people in person.
“With the pandemic thriving, the congregation’s leadership does not see how a synagogue can seriously consider bringing people into their facilities for the High Holidays,” said Marvin Weinstein, president of Central Synagogue of Chicago. “Social distancing and masks cannot alone eliminate all of the risks in a synagogue environment.”
Illinois has had 155,506 positive coronavirus cases and 7,128 deaths since the virus’ outbreak.
The High Holy Days, or High Holidays, are a spiritual celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, respectively. Rosh Hashanah is from sunset Sept. 18 through 20 and Yom Kippur is from sunset Sept. 27 through 28.
Chicago Sinai Congregation, a Reform Temple, told its members in May that in-person High Holy Days gatherings were unlikely.
“There would be absolutely no way we could get thousands of people in doors safely,” said Rabbi Seth Limmer. “Since then we have been working for a way to bring a meaningful experience online.”
For months the Chicago Sinai Congregation, at 15 W. Delaware Place, has been rehearsing and planning a Zoom-style event celebrating the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement. Putting it together has been more more work than in previous years, Limmer said.
“We learned a lot from this year that will be helpful going forward,” Limmer said. “We are focused on what’s essential about the High Holidays and then how can we make sure that people can celebrate it meaningfully.”
“This will be a richer experience than in years past.”
Still, Limmer said, if a vaccine were discovered and able to be administered the day before the High Holy Days, Chicago Sinai Congregation would change course and meet in person.
Rabbi Craig Marantz of Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Rd., said they plan on having virtual services for the holidays, but that hasn’t been easy coordinate.
“It’s really tricky to bring people together to even prerecord some of our services,” Marantz said. “If we bring people together for singing, for example, we risk spreading the virus. So it’s difficult to get people in the same room for the choir so they can do their part.”
Yet, there is still an opportunity to do something unique and memorable with the High Holy Days, Marantz said.
“We’re just trying to make this pandemic matter in terms of being creative, being innovative and thinking outside of the box,” Marantz said. “We want to make sure that people know they matter to us and that they continue to know there is a place for them in our virtual village.”
Temple Sholom, 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive, also will host virtual services for the holidays, and Rabbi Shoshanah Conover said they are thinking of ways to create moments that usually happen in person.
“Part of the fun of a service is not just what happens in the pulpit but in the seats where people can whisper to each other, where they catch up; it’s beautiful and celebratory,” Conover said. “We want to make sure that isn’t lost in these days, so we are trying to make sure to reach those elements.”
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago’s South and West sides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--First coronavirus vaccine tested in US set to begin final testing (LIVE UPDATES)

First COVID-19 vaccine tested in US poised for final testing The first COVID-19 vaccine tested in the U.S. revved up people ’ s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped , researchers reported Tuesday — as the shots are poised to begin key final testing .
“ No matter how you slice this , this is good news , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the U.S. government ’ s top infectious disease expert , told The Associated Press .
The experimental vaccine , developed by Fauci ’ s colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 27 : A 30,000-person study to prove if the shots really are strong enough to protect against the coronavirus .
But Tuesday , researchers reported anxiously awaited findings from the first 45 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves back in March .
Sure enough , the vaccine provided a hoped-for immune boost .
Those early volunteers developed what are called neutralizing antibodies in their bloodstream — molecules key to blocking infection — at levels comparable to those found in people who survived COVID-19 , the research team reported in the New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an essential building block that is needed to move forward with the trials that could actually determine whether the vaccine does protect against infection , ” said Dr. Lisa Jackson of the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle , who led the study .
Read the Associated Press ’ full report here .
7:26 p.m .
Here are the states named in Chicago ’ s emergency travel order Planning a COVID-safe getaway from Chicago ?
Better avoid these 17 states .
Chicagoans returning from any one of the 17 states shown in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine for 14 days , according to a city emergency travel order .
Check out the graphic and read the full story here .
Another 25 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois , as health officials on Tuesday announced an additional 707 people have contracted the virus .
That raised the state ’ s coronavirus death toll to 7,128 and the overall case tally to 155,506 .
And following Illinois ’ first three-day stretch since a peak month of May with daily case counts over 1,000 , Tuesday marked a return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a week with fewer than 800 cases .
The new cases were confirmed among the latest batch of 28,446 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health , good for a positivity rate of just under 2.5 % .
More than 2 million tests have been administered over the last four months .
The state ’ s rolling positivity rate over the last week is 3 % , a number that has crept up from just 2 % in mid-June .
The positivity rate was over 17 % at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mid-May .
4:35 p.m. Schools get $ 50 million more in emergency funding to help close ‘ digital divide ’ Public schools across the state will receive an additional $ 50 million from the governor ’ s emergency education relief fund , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday .
The money will go toward closing the digital divide and training educators and families to assist students in using technology .
It also will help launch a student care department within the State Board of Education , equipping school districts to support students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3 billion governor ’ s emergency education relief fund was established as part of the coronavirus stimulus bill .
U.S. Department of Education granted the money to governors to support schools during an emergency .
Illinois was allotted about $ 108.5 million from that $ 3 billion and has one year to award the funds ; unspent money will be returned to the federal government .
2:28 p.m. A third scourge quietly stalks Cook County — officials see doubling of ‘ needless , preventable ’ opioid deaths In the clutches of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , Cook County is also on track to double the number of opioid overdose deaths it saw last year , officials said Tuesday , “ sounding the alarm ” on yet another crisis .
Last year the Cook County Medical Examiner ’ s Office handled 605 opioid overdose deaths between January 1 and July 13 .
This year that number is 773 , though that only tells part of the story , Dr. Ponni Arunkumar said .
“ We also have 580 pending cases , ” the medical examiner said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] to 80 % of those cases will wind up being ruled as opioid overdose deaths .
This means that there are 400 to 465 more opioid deaths thus far this year .
Realistically , just six and a half months into 2020 , we already have more than 1,200 opioid-related deaths.
” Those who have died are “ overwhelmingly people of color , ” Arunkumar said .
Of the 773 deaths so far this year , 63 % have been Black or Latino .
Many are also 45 years old or older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 55- to 64-year-olds are the two age groups that are most likely to “ succumb to an opioid overdose death , ” Arunkumar said .
Read the full story from reporter Rachel Hinton here .
Chicagoans returning from trips to Iowa , and any Hawkeye visitors to the city , will soon have to hunker down for two weeks under Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s quarantine order for travelers from coronavirus hot spots .
Illinois ’ neighbor to the west was added to the city ’ s travel quarantine list Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spike in those states .
Fifteen other states with infection rates greater than 15 cases per 100,000 residents remain on Chicago ’ s mandated quarantine list that first went into effect July 6 : Alabama , Arkansas , Arizona , California , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , Nevada , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas and Utah .
The order goes into effect Friday for travelers from Oklahoma and Iowa , which is the first border state added to Chicago ’ s list .
Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to city figures , with an infection rate sitting between 10 and 15 cases per 100,000 residents .
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here .
12:55 p.m. Health and Human Services Secretary visits Chicago Tuesday to study Rush , Haymarket handling of COVID-19 Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is in Chicago on Tuesday to tour the Rush University Medical Center and the Haymarket Center , with a focus on learning how the institutions are handling the COVID-19 pandemic .
Azar is at Rush to see how the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing its ICU and testing capacity , ” an HHS spokesman said .
A Rush spokesman said the visit will include “ a tour and a discussion around the Rush response to COVID-19 , the Tower ’ s capabilities and how we ’ re adapting moving forward.
” At Haymarket , Azar is interested in how substance abuse treatment impacted addiction treatment and “ new challenges to expanding access to treatment.
” A Haymarket Center spokesman said the center “ treats on average more than 12,000 individuals with substance use disorders in inpatient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman said “ Azar will tour several of Haymarket ’ s programs , including a residential program for postpartum women and their children and the family-centered program for fathers – both of which include parenting classes in addition to recovery skills – as well as the Transforming Women ’ s Lives program , which assists women who have experienced trauma and have a dependence on opiates and/or alcohol.
” 11:49 a.m. Ban on Friday night games at Wrigley Field to be lifted for pandemic-shortened season Mayor Lori Lightfoot and local Ald .
Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loosen restrictions on the number of Friday and Saturday night games at Wrigley Field during this pandemic-shortened , 60-game season to minimize the health risk to players .
The one-year exception to the night game ordinance is on the agenda for Thursday ’ s meeting of the City Council ’ s License Committee .
It would pave the way for the Cubs to play 11 weekend night games — six on Fridays and five on Saturdays .
All but one of those weekend night games would start at 7:15 p.m. ; the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts at 6:10 p.m .
The current night game ordinance limits Saturday night games to two-per-season prohibits any Friday night games .
The restrictions were tailor-made to prevent baseball crowds from overwhelming the already-congested neighborhood on weekends .
“ You were trying to help the theaters and restaurants .
When there ’ s a night activity at Wrigley , people don ’ t come into the neighborhood unless they ’ re engaging in Major League Baseball , ” Tunney said Tuesday .
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permit parking requirements won ’ t kick in until Aug. 1 — a two-week extension meant to allow motorists extra time to come into compliance .
The extension also comes as the city tries to keep up with a surge in city sticker and parking permit demand , Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s office said Tuesday .
City stickers can be purchased online or by visiting any of the Office of the City Clerk locations , Department of Finance payment centers or at neighborhood currency exchanges .
Additionally , expired vehicle registration enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Illinois Secretary of State vehicle registration extension date .
The issuance of compliance tickets has been suspended since March 18 , when the city began sheltering in place , to provide relief to residents experiencing increased financial pressure during the pandemic .
10:15 a.m. ‘ Hybrid ’ is the new buzzword in higher education Gov .
J.B. Pritzker gave permission for colleges and universities to reopen this fall if they follow state guidelines that include mandatory face masks , social distancing and monitoring students ’ symptoms .
Beyond those basic guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans , with precautions ranging from removing doors in office buildings to testing every student living on campus .
Most college campuses plan at least some face-to-face classes , with many courses at least partially or completely online .
“ Hybrid ” has become a new buzzword in higher education , said Illinois State University President Larry Dietz .
The term describes classes meeting both face-to-face and online .
But how many classes will meet in-person or online at each campus remains in flux .
The Trump Administration ’ s new rule that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country if they ’ re taking only online classes could lead to more traditional classes .
However , some schools have said they could roll back in-person course offerings if the pandemic worsens .
Already , Loyola University announced Monday that it was scaling back reopening plans and said most classes will be online unless they require face-to-face interaction , such as for lab work or research .
8:12 a.m. Chicago businesses cited for violating COVID-19 guidelines last weekend Several Chicago businesses received citations from the city ’ s Business Affairs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 reopening guidelines .
The BACP says it conducted 47 investigations across the city last weekend to ensure restaurants and bars were following rules meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
Six different businesses received a total of 12 citations .
“ While most businesses are taking the necessary precautions to keep their customers and employees safe , the City will continue to hold the bad actors accountable , ” a statement read .
One bar – Wise Owl Drinkery & Cookhouse , located at 324 S. Racine – so egregiously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdown .
The city says the bar was cited for “ being over capacity , failure to maintain social distancing , patrons not wearing face coverings and patrons not seated.
” In the last 10 days , the city has received 1,276 complaints over reopening guideline violations , issued 85 warnings , cited 25 businesses and ordered the immediate closure of two businesses , according to BACP .
• South Side pastor Bishop Larry Trotter has tested positive for the coronavirus , a spokesman for the religious leader said Tuesday .
• Ald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago ’ s second-most-senior alderman , tested positive for the coronavirus last month .
It was not known whether she remains hospitalized or is recuperating at home .
• Illinois health officials announced 883 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and six additional deaths .
It ’ s the third day this month with a daily fatality count that rivals the single-digit tallies not previously seen since late March .
8:23 a.m .
Deeply concerned about the coronavirus , can Cubs ’ Yu Darvish embrace the ace within him ?
Things never are easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On one hand , Darvish , 33 , isn ’ t even halfway into his contract .
He encountered elbow and triceps trouble early on as a Cub , which could ’ ve happened to anybody .
Now , the coronavirus has stolen his chance to build off an encouraging 2019 second half with the sort of complete , elite season the Cubs envisioned when they chose to move forward with him rather than Jake Arrieta .
It ’ s too soon to give up on him .
On the other , Darvish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If all goes reasonably well for him in a 60-game season , how many will he have when he does hit the halfway point of his contract ?
A dozen ?
Imagine if Theo Epstein , Tom Ricketts or the average fan on a barstool would ’ ve heard that number before the start of the 2018 season .
Anyone would ’ ve been horrified .
And now , a player who said back in Mesa , Ariz. , in early March that he was seriously worried about the potential spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spring start days later because he felt ill and went to a local hospital for tests and treatment , has to lead a pitching staff at a time like this ?
“ Definitely , I still have concerns , ” he said Sunday , through a translator , in a video conference with reporters .

Another 25 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois, as health officials on Tuesday announced an additional 707 people have contracted the virus.
That raised the state’s coronavirus death toll to 7,128 and the overall case tally to 155,506.
Tuesday marked a return to relatively low numbers — the first day in a week with fewer than 800 cases. But the fight against the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over yet.
Here’s what happened in the city and around the state as that fight continued.
News
9:01 p.m. First COVID-19 vaccine tested in US poised for final testing
A Brazilian researcher works on another potential vaccine in progress in that nation. Douglas Magno/AFP via Getty Images (file photo)
The first COVID-19 vaccine tested in the U.S. revved up people’s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped, researchers reported Tuesday — as the shots are poised to begin key final testing.
“No matter how you slice this, this is good news,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, told The Associated Press.
The experimental vaccine, developed by Fauci’s colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., will start its most important step around July 27: A 30,000-person study to prove if the shots really are strong enough to protect against the coronavirus.
But Tuesday, researchers reported anxiously awaited findings from the first 45 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves back in March. Sure enough, the vaccine provided a hoped-for immune boost.
Those early volunteers developed what are called neutralizing antibodies in their bloodstream — molecules key to blocking infection — at levels comparable to those found in people who survived COVID-19, the research team reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“This is an essential building block that is needed to move forward with the trials that could actually determine whether the vaccine does protect against infection,” said Dr. Lisa Jackson of the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle, who led the study.
Read the Associated Press’ full report here.
7:26 p.m. Here are the states named in Chicago’s emergency travel order
Planning a COVID-safe getaway from Chicago? Better avoid these 17 states.
Chicagoans returning from any one of the 17 states shown in the graphic above will be required to quarantine for 14 days, according to a city emergency travel order.
Check out the graphic and read the full story here.
4:41 p.m. 707 new Illinois coronavirus cases, 25 more deaths
Another 25 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois, as health officials on Tuesday announced an additional 707 people have contracted the virus.
That raised the state’s coronavirus death toll to 7,128 and the overall case tally to 155,506.
And following Illinois’ first three-day stretch since a peak month of May with daily case counts over 1,000, Tuesday marked a return to relatively low numbers — the first day in a week with fewer than 800 cases.
The new cases were confirmed among the latest batch of 28,446 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health, good for a positivity rate of just under 2.5%. More than 2 million tests have been administered over the last four months.
The state’s rolling positivity rate over the last week is 3%, a number that has crept up from just 2% in mid-June. The positivity rate was over 17% at the state’s height of the pandemic in mid-May.
Read the full story here.
4:35 p.m. Schools get $50 million more in emergency funding to help close ‘digital divide’
Public schools across the state will receive an additional $50 million from the governor’s emergency education relief fund, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday.
The money will go toward closing the digital divide and training educators and families to assist students in using technology.
It also will help launch a student care department within the State Board of Education, equipping school districts to support students who’ve experienced trauma.
The $3 billion governor’s emergency education relief fund was established as part of the coronavirus stimulus bill. U.S. Department of Education granted the money to governors to support schools during an emergency. Illinois was allotted about $108.5 million from that $3 billion and has one year to award the funds; unspent money will be returned to the federal government.
Read the full story here.
2:28 p.m. A third scourge quietly stalks Cook County — officials see doubling of ‘needless, preventable’ opioid deaths
In the clutches of a deadly pandemic and a rise in street violence, Cook County is also on track to double the number of opioid overdose deaths it saw last year, officials said Tuesday, “sounding the alarm” on yet another crisis.
Last year the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office handled 605 opioid overdose deaths between January 1 and July 13. This year that number is 773, though that only tells part of the story, Dr. Ponni Arunkumar said.
“We also have 580 pending cases,” the medical examiner said. “We know that traditionally 70[%] to 80% of those cases will wind up being ruled as opioid overdose deaths. This means that there are 400 to 465 more opioid deaths thus far this year. Realistically, just six and a half months into 2020, we already have more than 1,200 opioid-related deaths.”
Those who have died are “overwhelmingly people of color,” Arunkumar said. Of the 773 deaths so far this year, 63% have been Black or Latino. Many are also 45 years old or older — 45- to 55-year-olds, as well as 55- to 64-year-olds are the two age groups that are most likely to “succumb to an opioid overdose death,” Arunkumar said.
Read the full story from reporter Rachel Hinton here.
1:45 p.m. Iowa, Oklahoma added to Chicago’s travel quarantine list due to COVID-19 outbreaks
Chicagoans returning from trips to Iowa, and any Hawkeye visitors to the city, will soon have to hunker down for two weeks under Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s quarantine order for travelers from coronavirus hot spots.
Illinois’ neighbor to the west was added to the city’s travel quarantine list Tuesday, along with Oklahoma, as COVID-19 cases spike in those states.
Fifteen other states with infection rates greater than 15 cases per 100,000 residents remain on Chicago’s mandated quarantine list that first went into effect July 6: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
The order goes into effect Friday for travelers from Oklahoma and Iowa, which is the first border state added to Chicago’s list. Wisconsin is in the next tier, according to city figures, with an infection rate sitting between 10 and 15 cases per 100,000 residents.
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here.
12:55 p.m. Health and Human Services Secretary visits Chicago Tuesday to study Rush, Haymarket handling of COVID-19
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is in Chicago on Tuesday to tour the Rush University Medical Center and the Haymarket Center, with a focus on learning how the institutions are handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Azar is at Rush to see how the medical operation “adapted to the pandemic, increasing its ICU and testing capacity,” an HHS spokesman said.
A Rush spokesman said the visit will include “a tour and a discussion around the Rush response to COVID-19, the Tower’s capabilities and how we’re adapting moving forward.”
At Haymarket, Azar is interested in how substance abuse treatment impacted addiction treatment and “new challenges to expanding access to treatment.”
A Haymarket Center spokesman said the center “treats on average more than 12,000 individuals with substance use disorders in inpatient and outpatient programs each year.”
The spokesman said “Azar will tour several of Haymarket’s programs, including a residential program for postpartum women and their children and the family-centered program for fathers – both of which include parenting classes in addition to recovery skills – as well as the Transforming Women’s Lives program, which assists women who have experienced trauma and have a dependence on opiates and/or alcohol.”
— Lynn Sweet
11:49 a.m. Ban on Friday night games at Wrigley Field to be lifted for pandemic-shortened season
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) have agreed to loosen restrictions on the number of Friday and Saturday night games at Wrigley Field during this pandemic-shortened, 60-game season to minimize the health risk to players.
The one-year exception to the night game ordinance is on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the City Council’s License Committee.
It would pave the way for the Cubs to play 11 weekend night games — six on Fridays and five on Saturdays. All but one of those weekend night games would start at 7:15 p.m.; the home opener on Friday, July 24, starts at 6:10 p.m.
The current night game ordinance limits Saturday night games to two-per-season prohibits any Friday night games.
The restrictions were tailor-made to prevent baseball crowds from overwhelming the already-congested neighborhood on weekends.
“You were trying to help the theaters and restaurants. When there’s a night activity at Wrigley, people don’t come into the neighborhood unless they’re engaging in Major League Baseball,” Tunney said Tuesday.
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman here.
11:15 a.m. City delays city sticker, parking permit enforcement for 2 weeks
Enforcement of city sticker and residential permit parking requirements won’t kick in until Aug. 1 — a two-week extension meant to allow motorists extra time to come into compliance.
The extension also comes as the city tries to keep up with a surge in city sticker and parking permit demand, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office said Tuesday.
City stickers can be purchased online or by visiting any of the Office of the City Clerk locations, Department of Finance payment centers or at neighborhood currency exchanges.
Additionally, expired vehicle registration enforcement will begin in November to align with the Illinois Secretary of State vehicle registration extension date.
The issuance of compliance tickets has been suspended since March 18, when the city began sheltering in place, to provide relief to residents experiencing increased financial pressure during the pandemic.
Read the full story here.
10:15 a.m. ‘Hybrid’ is the new buzzword in higher education
Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave permission for colleges and universities to reopen this fall if they follow state guidelines that include mandatory face masks, social distancing and monitoring students’ symptoms.
Beyond those basic guidelines, individual schools are developing their own reopening plans, with precautions ranging from removing doors in office buildings to testing every student living on campus.
Most college campuses plan at least some face-to-face classes, with many courses at least partially or completely online.
“Hybrid” has become a new buzzword in higher education, said Illinois State University President Larry Dietz. The term describes classes meeting both face-to-face and online.
But how many classes will meet in-person or online at each campus remains in flux. The Trump Administration’s new rule that international students can’t stay in the country if they’re taking only online classes could lead to more traditional classes. However, some schools have said they could roll back in-person course offerings if the pandemic worsens.
Already, Loyola University announced Monday that it was scaling back reopening plans and said most classes will be online unless they require face-to-face interaction, such as for lab work or research.
Read Clare Proctor’s full report here.
8:12 a.m. Chicago businesses cited for violating COVID-19 guidelines last weekend
Several Chicago businesses received citations from the city’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection last weekend for violating Phase 4 reopening guidelines.
The BACP says it conducted 47 investigations across the city last weekend to ensure restaurants and bars were following rules meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Six different businesses received a total of 12 citations.
“While most businesses are taking the necessary precautions to keep their customers and employees safe, the City will continue to hold the bad actors accountable,” a statement read.
One bar – Wise Owl Drinkery & Cookhouse, located at 324 S. Racine – so egregiously broke guidelines that officials required an immediate shutdown. The city says the bar was cited for “being over capacity, failure to maintain social distancing, patrons not wearing face coverings and patrons not seated.”
In the last 10 days, the city has received 1,276 complaints over reopening guideline violations, issued 85 warnings, cited 25 businesses and ordered the immediate closure of two businesses, according to BACP.
— Satchel Price
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
8:23 a.m. Deeply concerned about the coronavirus, can Cubs’ Yu Darvish embrace the ace within him?
Things never are easy for Yu Darvish, are they?
On one hand, Darvish, 33, isn’t even halfway into his contract. He encountered elbow and triceps trouble early on as a Cub, which could’ve happened to anybody. Now, the coronavirus has stolen his chance to build off an encouraging 2019 second half with the sort of complete, elite season the Cubs envisioned when they chose to move forward with him rather than Jake Arrieta. It’s too soon to give up on him.
On the other, Darvish has seven victories as a Cub. If all goes reasonably well for him in a 60-game season, how many will he have when he does hit the halfway point of his contract? A dozen? Imagine if Theo Epstein, Tom Ricketts or the average fan on a barstool would’ve heard that number before the start of the 2018 season. Anyone would’ve been horrified.
And now, a player who said back in Mesa, Ariz., in early March that he was seriously worried about the potential spread of the coronavirus, who took himself out of a spring start days later because he felt ill and went to a local hospital for tests and treatment, has to lead a pitching staff at a time like this?
“Definitely, I still have concerns,” he said Sunday, through a translator, in a video conference with reporters.
Read Steve Greenberg’s full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo misses another workout, has MRI on back

Of course there ’ s nothing to worry about .
That ’ s the way the Cubs have been conditioned to think when it comes to Rizzo and his annual bouts with back pain and stiffness .
The bouts don ’ t last long .
Rizzo always comes back swinging soon .
But it ’ s that time again .
The first baseman missed another day at the office Tuesday and had an MRI , one week after the first workout he was held out of because of a back that manager David Ross described at the time as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , took live batting practice Sunday and was encouraged during it .
“ Once he cooled down , some of that stiffness came back , ” Ross said .
“ He ’ s still day-to-day .
Going to have some tests run and see where he ’ s at .
Rizzo ’ s history says there ’ s nothing much to see here .
Why would this time be any different ?
With the July 24 season opener looming — the start of what seemingly everyone in baseball has termed a 60-game “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it isn ’ t .
Despite his back flareups , Rizzo has been close to an iron man over his Cubs career , averaging 153 games played the last seven seasons .
And the 25 or so pounds he took off over the offseason and during baseball ’ s months-long shutdown was intended to keep that going .
The back issues were part of the reason Rizzo logged all those hours with a personal trainer .
“ Skinny Rizz , Big Rizz , Strong Rizz , Bad Ankle Rizz — he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last of those guys — Bad Ankle Rizz — only furthered the narrative that Rizzo , who survived cancer as a teenager , can handle whatever ails him .
After badly spraining his right ankle while fielding a bunt last September , Rizzo shocked everyone by playing in a game four days later and homering against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field .
He was in the lineup every day after that until the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention .
“ It ’ s just mind over matter , really , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resembling an eggplant .
His back has never set off the kind of alarms the ankle injury did .
In 2016 , for example , he said of an onset of back stiffness , “ I ’ ve had this before.
” Then-manager Joe Maddon said it was “ not a concern.
” In 2017 , it was already being characterized as a “ rinse , repeat ” sort of mini-problem .
“ I should be fine , ” Rizzo said when his back barked at him , and in short order he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to put Rizzo on the 10-day disabled list with lower-back pain , prompting this from Maddon : “ Anthony is one guy I don ’ t worry about.
” Rizzo ’ s bat being anywhere but in the lineup — specifically , in the No .
2 spot behind leadoff man Kris Bryant — when the season starts against the Brewers might make Ross worry plenty .
So might a recurrence of that old , familiar stiffness at any point in the two months to follow .
There aren ’ t enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguably their most dependable hitter .
Last week , when Rizzo missed his first workout , he hung around in the bleachers and watched his teammates have an intrasquad scrimmage .
He hopes to hang around Wrigley for a lot longer — next year , when the Cubs hold a $ 16.5 million option on him , and beyond .
As long as his durability isn ’ t in question , Rizzo clearly has a bright baseball future .
Why would this incidence of back trouble be any different from previous ones ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are counting on .

He’s Anthony Rizzo.
Of course there’s nothing to worry about.
That’s the way the Cubs have been conditioned to think when it comes to Rizzo and his annual bouts with back pain and stiffness. The bouts don’t last long. Rizzo always comes back swinging soon.
But it’s that time again. The first baseman missed another day at the office Tuesday and had an MRI, one week after the first workout he was held out of because of a back that manager David Ross described at the time as “a little stiff.”
Rizzo, 30, took live batting practice Sunday and was encouraged during it.
“Once he cooled down, some of that stiffness came back,” Ross said. “He’s still day-to-day. Going to have some tests run and see where he’s at.
Rizzo’s history says there’s nothing much to see here. Why would this time be any different? With the July 24 season opener looming — the start of what seemingly everyone in baseball has termed a 60-game “sprint” — the Cubs better hope it isn’t.
Despite his back flareups, Rizzo has been close to an iron man over his Cubs career, averaging 153 games played the last seven seasons.
And the 25 or so pounds he took off over the offseason and during baseball’s months-long shutdown was intended to keep that going. The back issues were part of the reason Rizzo logged all those hours with a personal trainer.
Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce coined the nickname “Skinny Rizz” a few days ago.
“Skinny Rizz, Big Rizz, Strong Rizz, Bad Ankle Rizz — he’s still got power,” Iapoce said.
The last of those guys — Bad Ankle Rizz — only furthered the narrative that Rizzo, who survived cancer as a teenager, can handle whatever ails him. After badly spraining his right ankle while fielding a bunt last September, Rizzo shocked everyone by playing in a game four days later and homering against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. He was in the lineup every day after that until the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention.
“It’s just mind over matter, really,” Rizzo said then, his ankle resembling an eggplant.
His back has never set off the kind of alarms the ankle injury did.
In 2016, for example, he said of an onset of back stiffness, “I’ve had this before.” Then-manager Joe Maddon said it was “not a concern.”
In 2017, it was already being characterized as a “rinse, repeat” sort of mini-problem. “I should be fine,” Rizzo said when his back barked at him, and in short order he was.
In 2018, the Cubs had to put Rizzo on the 10-day disabled list with lower-back pain, prompting this from Maddon: “Anthony is one guy I don’t worry about.”
Rizzo’s bat being anywhere but in the lineup — specifically, in the No. 2 spot behind leadoff man Kris Bryant — when the season starts against the Brewers might make Ross worry plenty. So might a recurrence of that old, familiar stiffness at any point in the two months to follow. There aren’t enough games for the Cubs to be without arguably their most dependable hitter.
Last week, when Rizzo missed his first workout, he hung around in the bleachers and watched his teammates have an intrasquad scrimmage. He hopes to hang around Wrigley for a lot longer — next year, when the Cubs hold a $16.5 million option on him, and beyond.
As long as his durability isn’t in question, Rizzo clearly has a bright baseball future. Why would this incidence of back trouble be any different from previous ones? That’s the narrative the Cubs are counting on.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Blackhawks notebook: Calvin de Haan misses practice; Corey Crawford still ‘unfit’

Mysteriously missing Corey Crawford remained “ unfit to participate ” at the second day of Blackhawks training camp Tuesday , but he wasn ’ t the only NHL regular absent .
Defenseman Calvin de Haan , whose participation Monday was his first appearance in seven months since undergoing shoulder surgery in December , was gone again Tuesday due to a “ family emergency.
” “ [ It ’ s ] unclear when he ’ ll be back , ” coach Jeremy Colliton said , adding he could not provide no update on Crawford .
De Haan is a native of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west of Ottawa .
Rookie Nicolas Beaudin skated with the first-team practice group instead and replaced de Haan in his pairing with Slater Koekkoek .
The rest of the Hawks ’ defensive pairs ( Duncan Keith and Adam Boqvist , Connor Murphy and Olli Maatta , Brent Seabrook and Lucas Carlsson ) remained unchanged .
Malcolm Subban and Kevin Lankinen were the goaltenders practicing with the first team Tuesday , while Collin Delia practiced with the taxi squad .
But coach Jeremy Colliton said to expect a rotation of the three netminders as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling to the Edmonton bubble on Sunday , July 26 , the Hawks will play an exhibition game against the Blues on Wednesday , July 29 , at 5:30 p.m. CT.
It ’ ll be their lone warm-up contest before beginning the best-of-five series against the Oilers , for which the NHL also announced start times Tuesday .
Game 1 on Saturday , Aug. 1 , will be a 2 p.m. matinee , while Games 2 and 3 on Aug. 3 and Aug. 5 , respectively , will both start at 9:30 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s packed daily slates .
Andrew Shaw announced Monday that he ’ ll sit out the 2020 playoffs and aim to return for the 2020-21 season .
“ I feel healthy and am close to fully being healed from not just my last concussion but from others I have had over the years , ” he wrote in a statement .
“ [ I ] have come to the difficult decision that these extra five months until next season would be great for my health and recovery.
” Colliton said Tuesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Shaw , relaying his own experiences with concussions — Colliton ’ s successful AHL career with the Islanders was derailed by head injuries .
“ I ’ m familiar with what he ’ s going through .
so I tried to be open with him with my own experiences , ” the coach said .
“ Ultimately , he knows he has our support and we ’ re here for him so he can take care of himself and his family .
In a perfect world , that would involve him returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
But we ’ ll see .
”

Mysteriously missing goalie Corey Crawford remained “unfit to participate” on the second day of Blackhawks training camp Tuesday — and he wasn’t the only NHL regular absent.
Defenseman Calvin de Haan, whose participation Monday was his first appearance in seven months since undergoing shoulder surgery in December, was gone Tuesday because of what was called a family emergency.
“[It’s] unclear when he’ll be back,” said Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton who also had no update on Crawford.
Rookie Nicolas Beaudin skated with the first-team practice group and replaced de Haan in his pairing with Slater Koekkoek. The rest of the Hawks’ defensive pairs (Duncan Keith and Adam Boqvist, Connor Murphy and Olli Maatta and Brent Seabrook and Lucas Carlsson) remained unchanged.
Malcolm Subban and Kevin Lankinen were the goaltenders practicing with the first team, while Collin Delia practiced with the taxi squad. Colliton said to expect a rotation of the three as they compete to replace Crawford.
Hawks-Blues exhibition set
After traveling to the Edmonton postseason “bubble” site on July 26, the Hawks will play an exhibition game against the Blues on Wednesday, July 29, at 5:30 p.m. It’ll be their lone warmup contest before beginning a best-of-five series against the Oilers, for which the NHL also announced start times Tuesday.
Game 1 on Saturday, Aug. 1, will be a 2 p.m. matinee, while Games 2 and 3 on Aug. 3 and Aug. 5 will start at 9:30 p.m. — the final NHL playoff games those days.
Colliton supports Shaw
Hawks winger Andrew Shaw announced Monday he’ll sit out the playoffs and aim to return for the 2020-21 season.
“I feel healthy and am close to fully being healed from not just my last concussion but from others I have had over the years,” Shaw wrote in a statement. “[I] have come to the difficult decision that these extra five months until next season would be great for my health and recovery.”
Colliton said Tuesday that he has been in close contact with Shaw, relaying his own experiences with concussions. Colliton’s successful AHL career in the Islanders organization was derailed by head injuries.
“I’m familiar with what he’s going through, so I tried to be open with him with my own experiences,” the coach said. “Ultimately, he knows he has our support and we’re here for him so he can take care of himself and his family. In a perfect world, that would involve him returning [next season] and helping us win. But we’ll see.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Decision on whether to keep school cops highlights uneven role of CPS local school councils

Many students and teachers at Roberto Clemente Community Academy celebrated last Wednesday evening when the high school ’ s elected governing body voted to remove the Chicago police officers stationed in their building .
The Chicago Teachers Union voiced support on social media , and advocates of police-free schools said this latest victory could spur similar decisions at other high schools that have cops .
But had Clemente ’ s Local School Council actually voted out their school officers ?
The next morning , an LSC member tried to clarify what happened a night earlier : The council had taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not a vote set in stone.
” They would reconvene for a binding vote at a later meeting after taking more community input .
“ Please stop speculating , we are trying to do what is best for Clemente students , ” the LSC member wrote on social media .
Those confusing 24 hours for the Clemente school community — and even some LSC members who thought the vote was real — exposes the sometimes muddled affairs of Chicago Public Schools LSCs , about 70 of which the mayor and district have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions on school police .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and schools chief Janice Jackson have said LSCs are the ultimate authority on the issue because they know best each school ’ s unique needs .
But more than a dozen schools where police are stationed either have an LSC that doesn ’ t have full voting authority — several councils don ’ t have at least seven members , the number needed for a quorum — or don ’ t have an LSC at all .
Those schools without functioning LSCs are all — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northwest Side — on the South and West Sides and serve almost entirely low-income Black and Latino students .
Apathy has been a central theme for many LSCs soon after they were created in a landmark 1988 school reform law that tasked them with hiring and evaluating principals , and approving a school ’ s budget and expenditures .
The first LSC election year in 1989 saw more than 17,000 candidates and 312,00 voters .
Those numbers dwindled to about half that the very next election .
In the latest LSC election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than half of schools didn ’ t have enough names on the ballot to fill the 12 non-principal positions on a typical LSC — six parents , two community members , two teachers and one staffer who isn ’ t a teacher .
LSC meetings at many schools also see low attendance by the public , and even finding out how to contact members of the council can be difficult for constituents .
When CPS put the decision on school police in the hands of LSCs last year , the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their officers .
But many members across the city said they received little information and minimal notice before voting .
Northside College Preparatory High School became the district ’ s first school last week to remove its officers .
But even at Northside , one of the district ’ s most prestigious schools that has heavy parent and community involvement , the vote last year to keep the officers was a scramble at best .
“ We voted on it in August , and that was just a rushed vote that CPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Luna Johnston , the student member of the LSC , said last week .
“ We voted to keep our SROs just because we knew our SROs and we didn ’ t have any personal issues with them .
But we didn ’ t really understand what their job was and really we voted conditionally in hopes that CPS would add training.
” On Wednesday , CPS plans to issue guidelines for making the decision and has a meeting scheduled for LSC members across the city to discuss their votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ again by Aug. 15 .
City Inspector General Joe Ferguson , who issued a scathing report on the school cops program in 2018 , renewing the uproar for change , testified earlier this month at a City Council committee hearing on school police and took a shot at Lightfoot ’ s stance that the decision should be kicked down to members of Local School Councils .
He said “ the choice to limit community representation on this issue to Local School Councils ” is “ insufficient ” by national standards .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community engagement is a broader issue for CPD and municipal government generally , ” Ferguson said .
“ The tightly controlled and orchestrated community dialogue exercises that have become the norm exclude and alienate many concerned and engaged constituents and community members.
” The mayor and CPS ’ call to leave the decision to LSCs has also left the people calling for the removal of officers from schools in a peculiar position : They ’ re some of the same advocates who have argued for empowering LSCs , but they ’ re now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left up to the councils .
Raise Your Hand , a parent advocacy group closely aligned with the teachers union , has been part of a social media campaign for police-free schools .
The organization ’ s executive director , Jianan Shi , reiterated Tuesday that Raise Your Hand strongly supports LSCs .
The group hosted workshops in the spring to educate parents and school staff about upcoming LSC elections — which were delayed until the fall because of the pandemic — and has held a dozen support calls with council members since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s disingenuous to spring a major decision on LSCs , with little support , and call that empowerment .
“ LSCs could not vote out a citywide contract like Aramark , ” Shi said , comparing the district ’ s food and cleaning contract to the police contract .
“ This conversation is not , again , about ‘ we ’ re trying to establish community control ’ or ‘ we ’ re trying to empower LSCs.
” Shi said advocates would think differently if schools were allowed to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPS has said it won ’ t .
“ That actually gives them power , ” he said .

Many students and teachers at Roberto Clemente Community Academy celebrated last Wednesday evening when the high school’s elected governing body voted to remove the Chicago police officers stationed in their building.
The Chicago Teachers Union voiced support on social media, and advocates of police-free schools said this latest victory could spur similar decisions at other high schools that have cops.
But had Clemente’s Local School Council actually voted out their school officers?
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The next morning, an LSC member tried to clarify what happened a night earlier: The council had taken an “advisory vote” that “was not a vote set in stone.” They would reconvene for a binding vote at a later meeting after taking more community input.
“Please stop speculating, we are trying to do what is best for Clemente students,” the LSC member wrote on social media.
Those confusing 24 hours for the Clemente school community — and even some LSC members who thought the vote was real — exposes the sometimes muddled affairs of Chicago Public Schools LSCs, about 70 of which the mayor and district have now tasked with making their own monumental decisions on school police.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and schools chief Janice Jackson have said LSCs are the ultimate authority on the issue because they know best each school’s unique needs.
But more than a dozen schools where police are stationed either have an LSC that doesn’t have full voting authority — several councils don’t have at least seven members, the number needed for a quorum — or don’t have an LSC at all. Those schools without functioning LSCs are all — with the exception of one on the Northwest Side — on the South and West Sides and serve almost entirely low-income Black and Latino students.
Apathy has been a central theme for many LSCs soon after they were created in a landmark 1988 school reform law that tasked them with hiring and evaluating principals, and approving a school’s budget and expenditures. The first LSC election year in 1989 saw more than 17,000 candidates and 312,000 voters. Those numbers dwindled to about half that the very next election.
In the latest LSC election in 2018, there were 5,000 candidates citywide and more than half of schools didn’t have enough names on the ballot to fill the 12 non-principal positions on a typical LSC — six parents, two community members, two teachers and one staffer who isn’t a teacher.
LSC meetings at many schools also see low attendance by the public, and even finding out how to contact members of the council can be difficult for constituents.
When CPS put the decision on school police in the hands of LSCs last year, the district said every one of them voted to keep their officers. But many members across the city said they received little information and minimal notice before voting.
Northside College Preparatory High School became the district’s first school last week to remove its officers. But even at Northside, one of the district’s most prestigious schools that has heavy parent and community involvement, the vote last year to keep the officers was a scramble at best.
“We voted on it in August, and that was just a rushed vote that CPS said we had to make this decision,” Luna Johnston, the student member of the LSC, said last week. “We voted to keep our SROs just because we knew our SROs and we didn’t have any personal issues with them. But we didn’t really understand what their job was and really we voted conditionally in hopes that CPS would add training.”
On Wednesday, CPS plans to issue guidelines for making the decision and has a meeting scheduled for LSC members across the city to discuss their votes. The district has asked LSCs to vote again by Aug. 15.
City Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who issued a scathing report on the school cops program in 2018, renewing the uproar for change, testified earlier this month at a City Council committee hearing on school police and took a shot at Lightfoot’s stance that the decision should be kicked down to members of Local School Councils. He said “the choice to limit community representation on this issue to Local School Councils” is “insufficient” by national standards.
“This tendency to give short shrift to quality community engagement is a broader issue for CPD and municipal government generally,” Ferguson said. “The tightly controlled and orchestrated community dialogue exercises that have become the norm exclude and alienate many concerned and engaged constituents and community members.”
The mayor and CPS’ call to leave the decision to LSCs has also left the people calling for the removal of officers from schools in a peculiar position: They’re some of the same advocates who have argued for empowering LSCs, but they’re now saying this choice shouldn’t be left up to the councils.
Raise Your Hand, a parent advocacy group closely aligned with the teachers union, has been part of a social media campaign for police-free schools.
The organization’s executive director, Jianan Shi, reiterated Tuesday that Raise Your Hand strongly supports LSCs. The group hosted workshops in the spring to educate parents and school staff about upcoming LSC elections — which were delayed until the fall because of the pandemic — and has held a dozen support calls with council members since the pandemic started.
But Shi said it’s disingenuous to spring a major decision on LSCs, with little support, and call that empowerment.
“LSCs could not vote out a citywide contract like Aramark,” Shi said, comparing the district’s food and cleaning contract to the police contract. “This conversation is not, again, about ‘we’re trying to establish community control’ or ‘we’re trying to empower LSCs.”
Shi said advocates would think differently if CPS allowed schools to keep the money used to pay police once they removed officers. But CPS has said it won’t.
“That actually gives them power,” he said.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Trump: More white people die at hands of police than Black people

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump bristled at a reporter ’ s question about police killing African Americans and defended the right to display the Confederate flag as he continued to play into racial divisions in a pair of interviews Tuesday .
In one interview , Trump seemed taken aback when asked why African Americans are still dying at the hands of police .
“ And so are white people .
So are white people .
What a terrible question to ask .
So are white people , ” Trump told CBS ’ s Catherine Herridge .
“ More white people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people.
” There is no national database tracking police-involved shootings .
But studies have shown that Black Americans are much more likely to be killed by police , even though more whites — who represent a larger portion of the population — are killed .
One study that examined the use of lethal force by law enforcement from 2009 to 2012 , for instance , found that , while victims were a majority white ( 52 % ) , they were disproportionately Black ( 32 % ) with a fatality rate 2.8 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interview , Trump also defended the use of the Confederate flag , despite saying in 2015 that he believed the flag belongs in a museum .
“ All I say is freedom of speech .
It ’ s very simple .
My attitude is freedom of speech , ” Trump responded .
“ Very simple .
Like it , don ’ t like it , it ’ s freedom of speech.
” Asked whether he understood the flag is a painful symbol to many because it is a reminder of slavery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love it , ” adding : “ And I know people that like the Confederate flag and they ’ re not thinking about slavery.
” Trump has been under fire for his response to the mass anti-racism protests that broke out across the across the nation following the killing of George Floyd in police custody .
In the face of demands for racial justice and equality , Trump has instead leaned in on a law-and-order message , painting mostly peaceful protesters as domestic “ terrorists ” and continuing to stoke divisions .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media , Trump defended the white St. Louis couple captured on video brandishing guns as they defended their home during one racial injustice protest .
Trump claimed that Mark and Patricia McCloskey “ were going to be beat up badly , if they were lucky ” and said their house would have been “ totally ransacked and probably burned down ” had they not been out there .
“ And now I understand somebody local , they want to prosecute these people .
It ’ s a disgrace , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he spoke with Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr by phone earlier Tuesday and that the president expressed concern that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner , a Democrat , may file charges against the couple .
“ I think the president didn ’ t like what he was seeing , and the way people are being treated , ” Parson said , adding : “ I think you ’ ll see some sort of actions .
”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump bristled at a reporter’s question about police killing African Americans and defended the right to display the Confederate flag as he continued to play into racial divisions in a pair of interviews Tuesday.
In one interview, Trump seemed taken aback when asked why African Americans are still dying at the hands of police.
“And so are white people. So are white people. What a terrible question to ask. So are white people,” Trump told CBS’s Catherine Herridge. “More white people, by the way. More white people.”
There is no national database tracking police-involved shootings. But studies have shown that Black Americans are much more likely to be killed by police, even though more whites — who represent a larger portion of the population — are killed. One study that examined the use of lethal force by law enforcement from 2009 to 2012, for instance, found that, while victims were a majority white (52%), they were disproportionately Black (32%) with a fatality rate 2.8 times higher among Blacks than whites.
In the interview, Trump also defended the use of the Confederate flag, despite saying in 2015 that he believed the flag belongs in a museum.
“All I say is freedom of speech. It’s very simple. My attitude is freedom of speech,” Trump responded. “Very simple. Like it, don’t like it, it’s freedom of speech.”
Asked whether he understood the flag is a painful symbol to many because it is a reminder of slavery, Trump told CBS that some “people love it,” adding: “And I know people that like the Confederate flag and they’re not thinking about slavery.”
Trump has been under fire for his response to the mass anti-racism protests that broke out across the across the nation following the killing of George Floyd in police custody. In the face of demands for racial justice and equality, Trump has instead leaned in on a law-and-order message, painting mostly peaceful protesters as domestic “terrorists” and continuing to stoke divisions.
In a second interview with the conservative Townhall Media, Trump defended the white St. Louis couple captured on video brandishing guns as they defended their home during one racial injustice protest.
Trump claimed that Mark and Patricia McCloskey “were going to be beat up badly, if they were lucky” and said their house would have been “totally ransacked and probably burned down” had they not been out there. “And now I understand somebody local, they want to prosecute these people. It’s a disgrace,” he said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters that he spoke with Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr by phone earlier Tuesday and that the president expressed concern that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, may file charges against the couple.
“I think the president didn’t like what he was seeing, and the way people are being treated,” Parson said, adding: “I think you’ll see some sort of actions.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--CPD has evolved, no longer aiming to ‘impose our will,’ retiring high-ranking cop says

When Anthony Riccio became a Chicago cop in 1986 , he says the Chicago Police Department was an “ occupying force .
“ We would try to lock down the neighborhoods , ” Riccio , who is retiring as first deputy superintendent Aug. 1 after nearly 34 years with the department , said in an interview Tuesday .
“ We ’ ve evolved now to the point where we ’ re more of guardians .
We want to work with the community to make it safe .
We ’ re no longer coming in there to impose our will.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have grown out of George Floyd ’ s killing by a Minneapolis cop earlier this year , but he doesn ’ t understand the looting and violence that accompanied the demonstrations .
He said the double whammy of COVID-19 and the Floyd killing have resulted in cops across the country “ being a little cautious right now , ” and that has emboldened more people to carry guns in Chicago and elsewhere .
“ It caused police officers to go back on their heels a little bit , ” Riccio said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has this anti-police mentality going right now .
I think people see that as an opportunity to carry guns and to commit more crimes .
And that ’ s why we ’ ve seen this spike in shootings and murders .
“ We can ’ t live in a city that accepts merciless shooters ” willing to inflict collateral damage on children , Riccio said .
“ We ’ ve got to just hit a reset button in the community .
We got to just say , ‘ We ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to work with you to make your community safer so your kids can play in the park .
And our kids can play in the park.
’ “ And we have to be able to support the officers and realize that these officers are doing a good job , there ’ s no malice in their hearts , they came on this job to work hard and to protect the citizens of this city.
” Riccio said he supports Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s multimillion-dollar investment in community groups working in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Chicago .
But he said those organizations must be held accountable when their strategies don ’ t work .
In 2018 , Riccio became first deputy superintendent — then the department ’ s No .
2 job , before the position was split into operations and reform jobs , with him overseeing operations .
He previously ran the specialized gang and drug units in the Organized Crime Bureau and was a supervisor of hundreds of detectives .
He said he views three former police superintendents as mentors : Phil Cline for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Garry McCarthy for holding commanders accountable at his sometimes draconian “ CompStat ” meetings and Eddie Johnson for stressing community relations .
“ I think you learn as much from the good leaders as you do from bad leaders , ” Riccio said .
“ I ’ ve seen a lot of bad supervisors over the course of my career , and I thought : ’ I never want to be like them.
’ ” He said the department needs to keep rolling out the reforms spelled out by the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a cop of Laquan McDonald and how Chicago cops were doing their jobs .
A revised policy on officers ’ use of force and new training were good steps , according to Riccio .
“ Training can ’ t be just , ‘ You train in the academy , and then , for the next 34 years , we don ’ t update your training , ’ ” he said .
He said his worst days on the job were those when officers died in the line of duty .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those officers were honored .
While being interviewed Tuesday at police headquarters , he struggled to keep his composure when the subject came up .
“ Those days are bad , horrible , ” he said .
Riccio said he ’ ll take at least a month off before he decides what to do next — besides working on his golf game .
One possibility : becoming the chief of a suburban police department .
“ But I ’ m not opposed to becoming a snowbird , ” he said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

When Anthony Riccio became a Chicago cop in 1986, he says the Chicago Police Department was an “occupying force.”
“We would try to lock down the neighborhoods,” Riccio, who is retiring as first deputy superintendent Aug. 1 after nearly 34 years with the department, said in an interview Tuesday. “We’ve evolved now to the point where we’re more of guardians. We want to work with the community to make it safe. We’re no longer coming in there to impose our will.”
Riccio said he sympathizes with the protests that have grown out of George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis cop earlier this year, but he doesn’t understand the looting and violence that accompanied the demonstrations.
He said the double whammy of COVID-19 and the Floyd killing have resulted in cops across the country “being a little cautious right now,” and that has emboldened more people to carry guns in Chicago and elsewhere.
“It caused police officers to go back on their heels a little bit,” Riccio said. “One segment [of society] has this anti-police mentality going right now. I think people see that as an opportunity to carry guns and to commit more crimes. And that’s why we’ve seen this spike in shootings and murders.
“We can’t live in a city that accepts merciless shooters” willing to inflict collateral damage on children, Riccio said. “We’ve got to just hit a reset button in the community. We got to just say, ‘We’re going to come in, and we’re going to work with you to make your community safer so your kids can play in the park. And our kids can play in the park.’
“And we have to be able to support the officers and realize that these officers are doing a good job, there’s no malice in their hearts, they came on this job to work hard and to protect the citizens of this city.”
Riccio said he supports Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s multimillion-dollar investment in community groups working in the streets in an effort to prevent shootings in Chicago. But he said those organizations must be held accountable when their strategies don’t work.
In 2018, Riccio became first deputy superintendent — then the department’s No. 2 job, before the position was split into operations and reform jobs, with him overseeing operations. He previously ran the specialized gang and drug units in the Organized Crime Bureau and was a supervisor of hundreds of detectives.
He said he views three former police superintendents as mentors: Phil Cline for his focus on gangs, guns and drugs, Garry McCarthy for holding commanders accountable at his sometimes draconian “CompStat” meetings and Eddie Johnson for stressing community relations.
“I think you learn as much from the good leaders as you do from bad leaders,” Riccio said. “I’ve seen a lot of bad supervisors over the course of my career, and I thought: ’I never want to be like them.’ ”
He said the department needs to keep rolling out the reforms spelled out by the Justice Department after it investigated the 2014 fatal shooting by a cop of Laquan McDonald and how Chicago cops were doing their jobs. A revised policy on officers’ use of force and new training were good steps, according to Riccio.
“Training can’t be just, ‘You train in the academy, and then, for the next 34 years, we don’t update your training,’ ” he said.
First Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
He said his worst days on the job were those when officers died in the line of duty. He has gotten choked up at ceremonies at which those officers were honored. While being interviewed Tuesday at police headquarters, he struggled to keep his composure when the subject came up.
“Those days are bad, horrible,” he said.
Riccio said he’ll take at least a month off before he decides what to do next — besides working on his golf game.
One possibility: becoming the chief of a suburban police department.
“But I’m not opposed to becoming a snowbird,” he said. “I don’t like winter anymore.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-14--Remove the Stephen A. Douglas monuments — but then take the next steps

We agree with House Speaker Michael Madigan : A portrait of former President Barack Obama hanging in the Illinois House chamber in Springfield makes way more sense than a huge portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Stephen A. Douglas , whose family owned slaves .
We applaud the Speaker for taking the lead in suggesting Douglas be eradicated from the Capitol .
It shows awareness for what ’ s going on in America at this moment , and removing the portrait and two statues of Douglas from the seat of Illinois government sets the right tone .
Similarly , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tarver and Lamont Robinson for calling on a 96-foot-tall statue of Douglas to be removed from its perch in Chicago ’ s Bronzeville neighborhood .
Douglas ’ tomb sits beneath the statue near 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue .
The lawmakers have no issue with Douglas ’ grave remaining on the site .
But as they wrote to Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday , the towering bronze statue “ is an edifice dedicated to allowing a bigot even in his grave to look down upon the Black community.
” But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful actions come along with them .
We imagine Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot will heed the requests from Madigan and his three fellow Democrats to remove the tributes to Douglas .
But the effect of taking down a symbol is short-lived .
The real challenge is for elected officials at every level of government — federal , state , county , city , school board and township — to set policies that promote social justice and solve the widening wealth gap in Illinois and the rest of the nation .
In Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs to encourage racial and gender diversity in hiring and contracting , but they ’ ve long been watered down by white businesspeople setting up minority “ fronts ” to continue getting their share of the taxpayer-funded pie .
It ’ s also abundantly clear that Cook County ’ s property tax system has provided breaks to the rich — who can afford to hire property-tax appeal lawyers like Madigan to help them win tax reductions — at the expense of the poor .
Illinoisans will have a chance in November to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more equal when they vote on Pritzker ’ s plan to replace Illinois ’ flat-tax system with a graduated income tax that will allow high-income Illinoisans to bear more of the state ’ s tax burden .
That ’ s a good start , but now — more than ever — is the time to see what else might be in our elected officials ’ equity and inclusion playbooks .
The issue is similar to what we wrote last month as more American companies than ever called for racial justice : Expressions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Black Lives Matter ” are welcome at a time when America is having a historic racial reckoning .
It ’ s heartening to see them in unexpected places , including the Mars Cheese Castle just over the border in Wisconsin .
But they matter less than concrete actions .
Just as it is not enough for corporate America to pay lip service without taking action , the same is true of government .
It seems nowadays that you can ’ t move in America without bumping into a statue that harkens back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how entrenched it is .
In Douglas ’ case , he allied himself with Abraham Lincoln to defeat the Confederacy , but he also inherited through his wife a Mississippi plantation with enslaved persons , and he drafted the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 , which allowed settlers to decide whether slavery would be allowed in a new state .
He once said , “ I hold that this government was established on the white basis .
It was established by white men for the benefit of white men and their posterity forever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and none others.
” But whether it ’ s Stephen Douglas , Christopher Columbus or any number of historical figures who have been glorified with monuments despite clearly offensive words and behaviors , there isn ’ t a one-size-fits-all solution for how to uproot all these symbols .
Getting the Douglas monuments out of the Illinois Capitol and its grounds — and cutting his legacy down to size in Bronzeville — is a good start toward making amends .
But let ’ s not forget about the bigger picture : A more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a much longer way toward ending racism .

We agree with House Speaker Michael Madigan: A portrait of former President Barack Obama hanging in the Illinois House chamber in Springfield makes way more sense than a huge portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, whose family owned slaves.
We applaud the Speaker for taking the lead in suggesting Douglas be eradicated from the Capitol. It shows awareness for what’s going on in America at this moment, and removing the portrait and two statues of Douglas from the seat of Illinois government sets the right tone.
Similarly, we applaud state representatives Kam Buckner, Curtis Tarver and Lamont Robinson for calling on a 9-foot tall statue of Douglas atop a 96-foot monument to be removed from its perch in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
Douglas’ tomb sits beneath the statue near 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. The lawmakers have no issue with Douglas’ grave remaining on the site.
But as they wrote to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday, the towering bronze statue “is an edifice dedicated to allowing a bigot even in his grave to look down upon the Black community.”
Those are powerful words.
But we’d also like to see some powerful actions come along with them.
We imagine Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot will heed the requests from Madigan and his three fellow Democrats to remove the tributes to Douglas. But the effect of taking down a symbol is short-lived.
The Stephen Douglas Tomb, which includes a 96-foot-tall monument with a Douglas statue on top, is an official Illinois state historic site. It’s located at 636 E. 35th St. in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The real challenge is for elected officials at every level of government — federal, state, county, city, school board and township — to set policies that promote social justice and solve the widening wealth gap in Illinois and the rest of the nation.
In Illinois and Chicago, we know there are programs to encourage racial and gender diversity in hiring and contracting, but they’ve long been watered down by white businesspeople setting up minority “fronts” to continue getting their share of the taxpayer-funded pie.
It’s also abundantly clear that Cook County’s property tax system has provided breaks to the rich — who can afford to hire property-tax appeal lawyers like Madigan to help them win tax reductions — at the expense of the poor.
Illinoisans will have a chance in November to make a bold statement about making our state more equal when they vote on Pritzker’s plan to replace Illinois’ flat-tax system with a graduated income tax that will allow high-income Illinoisans to bear more of the state’s tax burden. That’s a good start, but now — more than ever — is the time to see what else might be in our elected officials’ equity and inclusion playbooks.
The issue is similar to what we wrote last month as more American companies than ever called for racial justice: Expressions of social concern are appropriate and signs proclaiming “Black Lives Matter” are welcome at a time when America is having a historic racial reckoning. It’s heartening to see them in unexpected places, including the Mars Cheese Castle just over the border in Wisconsin.
But they matter less than concrete actions. Just as it is not enough for corporate America to pay lip service without taking action, the same is true of government.
It seems nowadays that you can’t move in America without bumping into a statue that harkens back to institutional racism. That’s how entrenched it is.
In Douglas’ case, he allied himself with Abraham Lincoln to defeat the Confederacy, but he also inherited through his wife a Mississippi plantation with enslaved persons, and he drafted the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed settlers to decide whether slavery would be allowed in a new state.
He once said, “I hold that this government was established on the white basis. It was established by white men for the benefit of white men and their posterity forever, and should be administered by white men, and none others.”
A statue of Stephen Douglas inside the state Capitol in Springfield. Neal Earley/Sun-Times
But whether it’s Stephen Douglas, Christopher Columbus or any number of historical figures who have been glorified with monuments despite clearly offensive words and behaviors, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for how to uproot all these symbols.
Getting the Douglas monuments out of the Illinois Capitol and its grounds — and cutting his legacy down to size in Bronzeville — is a good start toward making amends.
But let’s not forget about the bigger picture: A more economically fair Illinois and nation will go a much longer way toward ending racism.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.