chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Chicago video game studio whips up ‘Bugsnax’ for PlayStation 5

After more than half a decade of quietly working on the follow-up to indie hit “ Octodad : Dadliest Catch , ” Chicago video game developers Young Horses announced their new title , “ Bugsnax , ” during Sony ’ s PlayStation 5 showcase event last month .
“ It ’ s really exhilarating , because we know that a lot of people are going to see it , ” creative director Kevin Zuhn said of the high-profile reveal .
“ We ’ ve gotten a pretty big fan response , and we ’ ve been quiet for a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show it to the public in such an explosive way is really gratifying.
” While the studio is staying tight-lipped about the particulars of the gameplay and plot , Zuhn said “ Bugsnax ” is a first-person mystery that tasks players with searching for missing explorer Elizabert Megafig on Snaktooth Island , which is populated by the titular half-bug , half-snack food creatures .
Players will have to hunt and capture the Bugsnax using a variety of traps and tools .
Zuhn said the studio is excited to incorporate some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagship console into the game ’ s design , including the advanced haptic feedback of the DualSense controller .
“ We ’ re trying to get a kind of immersive feel with the vibrations that it can make , ” Zuhn said .
“ It feels different on different terrains as you ’ re walking around the island.
” They also plan on making use of the controller ’ s built-in microphone and the improved loading times Sony is touting with the system ’ s solid-state drive .
The trailer introduces an assortment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strawberry , cinnamon-bun snails and a literal crab apple — set to a bubbly theme song by British indie-pop outfit Kero Kero Bonito .
Zuhn said Young Horses has seen a huge online response to the announcement , including fan art , memes and in-depth attempts to analyze the two-minute trailer for any clues revealing what the game is actually about .
“ It ’ s the funniest thing , I ’ ve seen people out there who have said the exact plot , ” Zuhn said .
“ And , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to stay silent about it so that no one knows which of the ideas is right .
… That one person is gon na feel super smart and justified .
And I think that ’ s cool , I think it ’ s good that people are able to extrapolate and figure things out.
” Young Horses ’ previous release , “ Octodad ” — a slapstick comedy game about an octopus pretending to be regular human husband and father — started out as a student project when the developers were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The eight-person team founded the company after graduating and released a commercial version of the game in 2014 that ended up selling more than a million copies .
“ Back in school , I didn ’ t know that this would have been a possible career path , ” Zuhn said .
“ Like I had never imagined starting a company .
I had always figured that I would wind up , you know , working my way up through various positions at a bigger company.
” Zuhn said the lessons they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their process as they got started on “ Bugsnax.
” “ We want a broad audience , but we want to make games about really weird and interesting topics , and that ’ s , I think , the tightrope we ’ re always walking , is trying to make the absurd very appealing , ” Zuhn said .
“ And that ’ s what I think we learned most from ‘ Octodad , ’ is one , that we could do that , and two , that kind of approach of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time .
And I think that spirit , more than anything , carries between both games.
” The core team working on “ Bugsnax ” is about 10 people , including Young Horses employees and a few contracted collaborators .
Zuhn said keeping the team small has allowed them greater creative freedom to experiment and take their time with the game ’ s design .
“ Our biggest challenge is speed , relative to our ambitions , ” he said .
“ We have a fairly big game idea .
Normally a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to make that process go faster , but we didn ’ t do that , and so the process didn ’ t go faster.
” While there ’ s no release date set yet , “ Bugsnax ” is expected to launch this holiday season for PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 and PC .

After more than half a decade of quietly working on the follow-up to indie hit “Octodad: Dadliest Catch,” Chicago video game developers Young Horses announced their new title, “Bugsnax,” during Sony’s PlayStation 5 showcase event last month.
“It’s really exhilarating, because we know that a lot of people are going to see it,” creative director Kevin Zuhn said of the high-profile reveal. “We’ve gotten a pretty big fan response, and we’ve been quiet for a very long time, so kind of getting to show it to the public in such an explosive way is really gratifying.”
While the studio is staying tight-lipped about the particulars of the gameplay and plot, Zuhn said “Bugsnax” is a first-person mystery that tasks players with searching for missing explorer Elizabert Megafig on Snaktooth Island, which is populated by the titular half-bug, half-snack food creatures. Players will have to hunt and capture the Bugsnax using a variety of traps and tools.
Zuhn said the studio is excited to incorporate some of the new features of Sony’s upcoming flagship console into the game’s design, including the advanced haptic feedback of the DualSense controller.
“We’re trying to get a kind of immersive feel with the vibrations that it can make,” Zuhn said. “It feels different on different terrains as you’re walking around the island.”
They also plan on making use of the controller’s built-in microphone and the improved loading times Sony is touting with the system’s solid-state drive.
The trailer introduces an assortment of colorful creatures — including a living strawberry, cinnamon-bun snails and a literal crab apple — set to a bubbly theme song by British indie-pop outfit Kero Kero Bonito.
A crab apple scuttles on a beach in a clip from the trailer for “Bugsnax,” an upcoming PlayStation 5 game from Chicago-based studio Young Horses. Provided
Zuhn said Young Horses has seen a huge online response to the announcement, including fan art, memes and in-depth attempts to analyze the two-minute trailer for any clues revealing what the game is actually about.
“It’s the funniest thing, I’ve seen people out there who have said the exact plot,” Zuhn said. “And, you know, obviously the best thing to do is to stay silent about it so that no one knows which of the ideas is right. … That one person is gonna feel super smart and justified. And I think that’s cool, I think it’s good that people are able to extrapolate and figure things out.”
Young Horses’ previous release, “Octodad” — a slapstick comedy game about an octopus pretending to be regular human husband and father — started out as a student project when the developers were in the game design program at DePaul University. The eight-person team founded the company after graduating and released a commercial version of the game in 2014 that ended up selling more than a million copies.
“Back in school, I didn’t know that this would have been a possible career path,” Zuhn said. “Like I had never imagined starting a company. I had always figured that I would wind up, you know, working my way up through various positions at a bigger company.”
Chicago-based game developers Young Horses announced their new game, “Bugsnax,” during Sony’s PlayStation 5 showcase event in June. Their 2014 game, “Octodad: Dadliest Catch,” started out as a student project while they attended DePaul University. Provided
Zuhn said the lessons they learned from that early success helped inform their process as they got started on “Bugsnax.”
“We want a broad audience, but we want to make games about really weird and interesting topics, and that’s, I think, the tightrope we’re always walking, is trying to make the absurd very appealing,” Zuhn said. “And that’s what I think we learned most from ‘Octodad,’ is one, that we could do that, and two, that kind of approach of being emotionally sincere and extremely bizarre at the same time. And I think that spirit, more than anything, carries between both games.”
The core team working on “Bugsnax” is about 10 people, including Young Horses employees and a few contracted collaborators. Zuhn said keeping the team small has allowed them greater creative freedom to experiment and take their time with the game’s design.
“Our biggest challenge is speed, relative to our ambitions,” he said. “We have a fairly big game idea. Normally a company would hire up a bunch of people to make that process go faster, but we didn’t do that, and so the process didn’t go faster.”
While there’s no release date set yet, “Bugsnax” is expected to launch this holiday season for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Tow truck driver critically hurt in Stevenson Expressway crash

Two people were injured , one of them critically , in a crash Monday on the Stevenson Expressway on the @ @ @ @ @ truck driver was outside his truck about 2:45 a.m. assisting a semi on the shoulder @ @ @ @ @ Avenue when another vehicle rear-ended his truck , according to Illinois State Police .
The @ @ @ @ @ hit by either his truck or the vehicle that hit it , state police said @ @ @ @ @ of that vehicle were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where the tow truck @ @ @ @ @ .
The right two inbound lanes of I-55 remain closed in the area as crews @ @ @ @ @ police said .

All inbound lanes reopened at 8:15 a.m. Monday after two people were injured, one of them critically, in a crash on the Stevenson Expressway near Cicero Avenue.
A tow truck driver was outside his truck about 2:45 a.m. assisting a semi on the shoulder of eastbound I-55 near Cicero Avenue when another vehicle rear-ended his truck, according to Illinois State Police.
The tow truck driver was then hit by his truck, state police said. He and the 33-year-old driver of that vehicle were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where the tow truck driver was in critical condition.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Spaghetti Western movie composer Ennio Morricone dead at 91

ROME — Ocar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone , who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “ The Good , the Bad and the Ugly ” and often haunting soundtracks for such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “ The Untouchables ” and the epic “ Once Upon A Time In America , ” died on Monday .
He was 91 .
Morricone ’ s longtime lawyer and friend , Giorgio Assumma , said the Maestro , as he was known , died in a Rome hospital of complications following a recent fall in which he broke a leg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earned him an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007 , Morricone collaborated with some of Hollywood ’ s and Italy ’ s top directors , including on “ The Untouchables ” by Brian de Palma , “ The Hateful Eight ” by Quentin Tarantino and “ The Battle of Algiers ” by Gillo Pontecorvo .
The Tarantino film would win him the Oscar for best original score in 2016 .
In accepting that award , Morricone told the audience at the ceremony : “ There is no great music without a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he produced more than 400 original scores for feature films .
His iconic so-called Spaghetti Western movies saw him work closely with the late Italian film director Sergio Leone .
Morricone was credited with nothing less than reinventing music for Western movies through his partnership with Sergio Leone , a former classmate .
Their partnership included the “ Dollars ” trilogy starring Clint Eastwood as a quick-shooting , lonesome gunman : “ A Fistful of Dollars ” in 1964 , “ For a Few Dollars More ” in 1965 and “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a year later .
Morricone was celebrated for crafting just a few notes , like those played on a harmonica in Leone ’ s 1984 movie “ Once Upon A Time in America , ” which would instantly become the film ’ s motif .
The movie is a saga of Jewish gangsters in New York that explores themes of friendship , lost love and the passing of time , starring Robert De Niro and James Wood .
It is considered by some to be Leone ’ s masterpiece , thanks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a lush section played on string instuments .
“ Inspiration does not exist , ” Morricone said in a 2004 interview with The Associated Press .
“ What exists is an idea , a minimal idea that the composer develops at the desk , and that small idea becomes something important.
” In a later interview , with Italian state TV , Morricone cited “ study , discipline and curiosity ” as the keys to his creative genius .
“ Writing music , like all creative arts , comes from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences , he said .
In his late 80s , Morricone provided the score for “ The Hateful Eight , ” Tarantino ’ s 2015 70-mm epic and the first time in decades that he had composed new music for a Western .
It was also the first time Tarantino had used an original score .
In accepting Morricone ’ s Golden Globe for the music in his place , Tarantino called him his favorite composer .
“ When I say ‘ favorite composer , ’ I don ’ t mean movie composer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mozart , I ’ m talking about Beethoven , I ’ m talking about Schubert , ” Tarantino said .
Italy ’ s head of state , President Sergio Mattarella , in a condolence message to the composer ’ s family , wrote : “ Both a refined and popular musician , he left a deep footprint on the musical history of the second half of the 1900s.
” Morricone ’ s sound tracks , Mattarella said , “ contributed greatly to spreading and reinforcing the prestige of Italy in the world.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made of memorable tunes and unusual instruments and arrangements .
His music punctuated the long silences typical of the Spaghetti Westerns , with the characters locked in close-ups , staring at each other and waiting for their next moves .
The coyote howl , harmonicas and eerie whistling of “ The Good , the Bad and the Ugly ” became Morricone ’ s trademark and one of the most easily recognizable soundtracks in cinema .
Minutes before handing Morricone the Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007 , Eastwood recalled hearing for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Dollars ” and thinking : “ What actor wouldn ’ t want to ride into town with that kind of music playing behind him ?
” It was a night to remember for Morricone , who had been nominated for Oscars five times ( “ The Hateful Eight ” was his sixth ) but until then had never won .
Born in Rome on Nov. 10 , 1928 , Morricone was the oldest of the five children .
His father was a trumpet player .
After studying trumpet and composition at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cecilia in the Italian capital , he started working as a trumpeter and then as an arranger for record companies .
“ I started working on very easy kinds of music pieces for the radio , for television and then for the theater , and then little by little I started to compose the film scores , ” he told the AP in 2016 .
In 1961 he wrote his first score for a movie , a bittersweet comedy set in the final moments of Fascism called “ Il Federale ” ( known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
That decade also saw Morricone cooperate with Pontecorvo , first on “ The Battle of Algiers , ” the black-and-white classic depicting the Algerian uprising against the French ; and later on “ Queimada , ” a tale of colonialism starring Marlon Brando .
Morricone received his first Oscar nomination for original score with “ Days Of Heaven , ” a 1978 movie by U.S. director Terence Malick .
Beside “ The Hateful Eight , ” the others were for “ The Mission ” ( 1986 ) , “ The Untouchables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( 1991 ) and “ Malena ” ( 2000 ) .
Shortly before his lifetime Oscar , Morricone joked that he would have been happy without the coveted statuette , saying “ I would have remained in the company of illustrious non-winners.
” But he also made no secret that he thought “ The Mission , ” with its memorably sweet theme of “ Gabriel ’ s Oboe , ” deserved the Academy Award .
That year , he lost to Herbie Hancock ’ s “ Round Midnight.
” Asked by Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was one director he would have liked to have worked with but didn ’ t , Morricone said Stanley Kubrick had asked him to work on “ Clockwork Orange.
” But that collaboration didn ’ t happen because of a commitment to Leone , Morricone recalled .
Morricone is survived by his wife Maria Travia , whom he cited when accepting his 2016 Oscar .
Married in 1956 , the couple had four children , Marco , Alessandra , Andrea and Giovanni .

ROME — Ennio Morricone, the Oscar-winning Italian composer who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and often haunting soundtracks for such classic Hollywood gangster movies as “The Untouchables” and the epic “Once Upon A Time In America,” died Monday. He was 91.
Morricone’s longtime lawyer, Giorgio Assumma, said “the Maestro,” as he was known, died in a Rome hospital of complications following surgery after a recent fall in which he broke a leg bone.
Outside the hospital, Assumma read a farewell message from Morricone.
“I am Ennio Morricone, and I am dead,” began the message. In the greeting, the composer went on to explain that the only reason he was saying goodbye this way and had requested a private funeral was: “I don’t want to bother anyone.”
During a career that spanned decades and earned him an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007, Morricone collaborated with some of Hollywood’s and Italy’s top directors, including on “The Untouchables” by Brian de Palma, “The Hateful Eight” by Quentin Tarantino , “The Battle of Algiers” by Gillo Pontecorvo and “Cinema Paradiso,” a nostalgic ode to the importance of movie houses in Italian small town life, by Giuseppe Tornatore.
The Tarantino film would win him the Oscar for best original score in 2016. In accepting that award, Morricone told the audience at the ceremony: “There is no great music without a great film that inspires it.”
In total, he produced more than 400 original scores for feature films.
His iconic so-called Spaghetti Western movies saw him work closely with the late Italian film director Sergio Leone, a former classmate.
Morricone practically reinvented music for Western genre movies through his partnership with Leone. Their partnership included the “Dollars” trilogy starring Clint Eastwood as a quick-shooting, lonesome gunman: “A Fistful of Dollars” in 1964, “For a Few Dollars More” in 1965 and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” a year later.
Morricone was celebrated for crafting just a few notes — like those played on a harmonica in Leone’s 1984 movie “Once Upon A Time in America” — that would instantly become a film’s highly memorable motif.
That movie is a saga about Jewish gangsters in New York that explores themes of friendship, lost love and the passing of time, starring Robert De Niro and James Wood. It is considered by some to be Leone’s masterpiece, thanks in part to Morricone’s evocative score, including a lush section played on string instruments.
“Inspiration does not exist,” Morricone said in a 2004 interview with The Associated Press. “What exists is an idea, a minimal idea that the composer develops at the desk, and that small idea becomes something important.”
In a later interview, with Italian state TV, Morricone cited “study, discipline and curiosity” as the keys to his creative genius. “Writing music, like all creative arts, comes from a long path” along life’s experiences, he said.
“A great phenomenon of world music” was how Italian film director Dario Argento described Morricone, who scored five of his films.
In his late 80s, Morricone provided the score for “The Hateful Eight,” Tarantino’s 2015 70-mm epic and the first time in decades that he had composed new music for a Western. It was also the first time Tarantino had used an original score.
In accepting Morricone’s Golden Globe for the music in his place, Tarantino called him his favorite composer.
“When I say ‘favorite composer,’ I don’t mean movie composer. ... I’m talking about Mozart, I’m talking about Beethoven, I’m talking about Schubert,” Tarantino said.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti said, via statement, “[Ennio was] a maestro for whom I had friendship and admiration. I conducted his “Voices from the Silence” [in 2014], which received a very emotional response from the audience. An extraordinary musician not only for film music but also for classical compositions. Ennio Morricone will be missed as a man and as an artist.” “Voices from the Silence” paid tribute to the 9/11 tragedy, and it was Muti who encouraged Morricone to compose the work in memory of all the victims.
Italy’s head of state, President Sergio Mattarella, in a condolence message to the composer’s family, wrote: “Both a refined and popular musician, he left a deep footprint on the musical history of the second half of the 1900s.”
Morricone’s sound tracks, Mattarella said, “contributed greatly to spreading and reinforcing the prestige of Italy in the world.”
Morricone’s style was sparse, made of memorable tunes and unusual instruments and arrangements, and often stirred deep emotions.
His music punctuated the long silences typical of the Spaghetti Westerns, with the characters locked in close-ups, staring at each other and waiting for their next moves. The coyote howl, harmonicas and eerie whistling of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” became Morricone’s trademark and one of the most easily recognizable soundtracks in cinema.
Minutes before handing Morricone the Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2007, Eastwood recalled hearing for the first time the score of “A Fistful of Dollars” and thinking: “What actor wouldn’t want to ride into town with that kind of music playing behind him?”
It was a night to remember for Morricone, who had been nominated for Oscars five times (“The Hateful Eight” was his sixth) but until then had never won.
Born in Rome on Nov. 10, 1928, Morricone was the oldest of the five children. His father was a trumpet player.
After studying trumpet and composition at the Conservatory of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the Italian capital, he started working as a trumpeter and then as an arranger for record companies.
“I started working on very easy kinds of music pieces for the radio, for television and then for the theater, and then little by little I started to compose the film scores,” he told the AP in 2016.
In 1961 he wrote his first score for a movie, a bittersweet comedy set in the final moments of Fascism called “Il Federale” (known in English as “The Fascist”). That decade also saw Morricone cooperate with Pontecorvo, first on “The Battle of Algiers,” the black-and-white classic depicting the Algerian uprising against the French; and later on “Queimada,” a tale of colonialism starring Marlon Brando.
Morricone received his first Oscar nomination for original score with “Days Of Heaven,” a 1978 movie by U.S. director Terence Malick. Beside “The Hateful Eight,” the others were for “The Mission” (1986), “The Untouchables” (1987), “Bugsy” (1991) and “Malena” (2000).
Shortly before his lifetime Oscar, Morricone joked that he would have been happy without the coveted statuette, saying “I would have remained in the company of illustrious non-winners.”
But he also made no secret that he thought “The Mission,” with its memorably sweet theme of “Gabriel’s Oboe,” deserved the Academy Award. That year, he lost to Herbie Hancock’s “Round Midnight.”
Highly versatile, Morricone also orchestrated Italian pop tunes that include enduring classics, like one version of an eternal summer hit, “Sapore di Sale” (“Taste of Salt”), which was written by famed Italian troubadour Gino Paoli.
Asked by Italian state TV a few years ago if there was one director he would have liked to have worked with but didn’t, Morricone said Stanley Kubrick had asked him to work on “Clockwork Orange.” But that collaboration didn’t happen because of a commitment to Leone, Morricone recalled.
Morricone is survived by his wife Maria Travia, whom he cited when accepting his 2016 Oscar. Married in 1956, the couple had four children, Marco, Alessandra, Andrea and Giovanni.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--16-year-old boy fatally shot in NW Indiana

A death investigation team was called about 6:20 p.m. to Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary , Indiana , where 16-year-old @ @ @ @ @ , the Lake County coroner ’ s office said .
The teen had been fatally @ @ @ @ @ of Pierce Street in Gary , the coroner ’ s office said .
His death @ @ @ @ @ Gary police didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for details about the shooting @ @ @ @ @ , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot Sunday in northwest Indiana.
A death investigation team was called about 6:20 p.m. to Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary, Indiana, where 16-year-old Christopher Watson was pronounced dead, the Lake County coroner’s office said.
The teen had been fatally shot in the 800 block of Pierce Street in Gary, the coroner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.
Gary police didn’t immediately respond to a request for details about the shooting.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--2 Chicago police officers hurt in crash with Steelworkers Park gate

Two Chicago police officers were injured when their squad car crashed into a park gate Monday in South Chicago .
@ @ @ @ @ Park at 12:14 a.m. in the 3400 block of East 87th Street when the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ to Chicago police .
The gate was open when the officers entered the park and @ @ @ @ @ that someone had closed it , police said .
Both officers were taken to hospitals @ @ @ @ @ thought to be life-threatening , according to police .

Two Chicago police officers were injured when their squad car crashed into a park gate Monday in South Chicago.
The officers were exiting Steelworkers Park at 12:14 a.m. in the 3400 block of East 87th Street when the vehicle hit the gate, according to Chicago police.
The gate was open when the officers entered the park and they didn’t see that someone had closed it, police said.
Both officers were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening, according to police.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--New rules: International students must leave US if classes go online

International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall , under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities .
The guidelines , issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults .
Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions , including Harvard University , announced that all instruction will be offered remotely .
President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and colleges return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Soon after the guidance was released , Trump repeated on Twitter that schools must reopen this fall , adding that Democrats want to keep schools closed “ for political reasons , not for health reasons.
” “ They think it will help them in November .
Wrong , the people get it !
” Trump wrote .
Under the updated rules , international students must take at least some of their classes in person .
New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of in-person and online courses this fall , international students will be barred from taking all their classes online .
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online .
Those attending schools that are staying online must “ depart the country or take other measures , such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction , ” according to the guidance .
The American Council on Education , which represents university presidents , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely .
Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won ’ t be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term .
It ’ s unclear what would happen if a student ended up in that scenario but faced travel restrictions from their home country , said Terry Hartle , the council ’ s senior vice president .
“ It ’ s going to cause enormous confusion and uncertainty , ” Hartle said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentive for institutions to reopen , regardless of whether or not the circumstances of the pandemic warrant it.
” The international education group NAFSA blasted the rules and said schools should be given the authority to make decisions that are right for their own campuses .
It said the guidance “ is harmful to international students and puts their health and well-being and that of the entire higher education community at risk.
” Nearly 400,000 foreigners received student visas in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30 , down more than 40 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partly blame visa processing delay .
Colleges across the U.S. were already expecting sharp decreases in international enrollment this fall , but losing all international students could be disastrous for some .
Many depend on tuition revenue from international students , who typically pay higher tuition rates .
Last year , universities in the U.S. attracted nearly 1.1 million students from abroad .
Trump ’ s critics were quick to attack the new guidelines .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , the Vermont independent , said the “ cruelty of this White House knows no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened with a choice : risk your life going to class in-person or get deported , ” Sanders said in a tweet .
“ We must stand up to Trump ’ s bigotry .
We must keep all our students safe.
” Dozens of colleges have said they plan to offer at least some classes in person this fall , but some say it ’ s too risky .
The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus , saying classes will be hosted primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will invite first-year students to live on campus , but classes will stay online .
Immigration authorities suspended certain requirements for international students early in the pandemic , but colleges were awaiting guidance on what would happen this fall .
ICE notified schools of the changes Monday and said a formal rule would be forthcoming .
The announcement was the Trump administration ’ s latest pandemic-related strike against legal immigration .
Last month , authorities extended a ban on new green cards to many people outside the United States and expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work permits , including at high-tech companies , multinational corporations and seasonal employers .
The administration has long sought deep cuts to legal immigration , but the goal was elusive before the coronavirus .

International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall, under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities.
The guidelines, issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions, including Harvard University, announced that all instruction will be offered remotely.
President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and colleges return to in-person instruction as soon as possible. Soon after the guidance was released, Trump repeated on Twitter that schools must reopen this fall, adding that Democrats want to keep schools closed “for political reasons, not for health reasons.”
“They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!” Trump wrote.
Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person. New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online.
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must “depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,” according to the guidance.
The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, said the guidelines are “horrifying” and will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely.
Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won’t be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term. It’s unclear what would happen if a student ended up in that scenario but faced travel restrictions from their home country, said Terry Hartle, the council’s senior vice president.
“It’s going to cause enormous confusion and uncertainty,” Hartle said. “ICE is clearly creating an incentive for institutions to reopen, regardless of whether or not the circumstances of the pandemic warrant it.”
The international education group NAFSA blasted the rules and said schools should be given the authority to make decisions that are right for their own campuses. It said the guidance “is harmful to international students and puts their health and well-being and that of the entire higher education community at risk.”
Nearly 400,000 foreigners received student visas in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, down more than 40% from four years earlier. School administrations partly blame visa processing delay.
Colleges across the U.S. were already expecting sharp decreases in international enrollment this fall, but losing all international students could be disastrous for some. Many depend on tuition revenue from international students, who typically pay higher tuition rates. Last year, universities in the U.S. attracted nearly 1.1 million students from abroad.
Trump’s critics were quick to attack the new guidelines. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said the “cruelty of this White House knows no bounds.”
“Foreign students are being threatened with a choice: risk your life going to class in-person or get deported,” Sanders said in a tweet. “We must stand up to Trump’s bigotry. We must keep all our students safe.”
Dozens of colleges have said they plan to offer at least some classes in person this fall, but some say it’s too risky. The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus, saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online. Harvard on Monday said it will invite first-year students to live on campus, but classes will stay online.
Immigration authorities suspended certain requirements for international students early in the pandemic, but colleges were awaiting guidance on what would happen this fall. ICE notified schools of the changes Monday and said a formal rule would be forthcoming.
The announcement was the Trump administration’s latest pandemic-related strike against legal immigration. Last month, authorities extended a ban on new green cards to many people outside the United States and expanded the freeze to include many on temporary work permits, including at high-tech companies, multinational corporations and seasonal employers.
The administration has long sought deep cuts to legal immigration, but the goal was elusive before the coronavirus.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Woman, 65, missing from Garfield Ridge found

79 shot , 15 fatally , over Fourth of July weekend in Chicago Among the victims are a 7-year-old girl @ @ @ @ @ of July party and a 14-year-boy who was one of four people killed in a @ @ @ @ @ .

Pvt. Travis King entered the North while on a civilian tour of a Korean border village July 18, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Illinois announces 6 additional coronavirus deaths as downward trend continues (LIVE UPDATES)

Second consecutive day of 6 coronavirus deaths in Illinois Illinois health officials Monday announced six additional coronavirus deaths and 614 new cases .
It was the second consecutive day in which the state announced six deaths — the lowest one-day total since March 25 .
The numbers through the first days of July mirror the very beginning of the pandemic that has so far cost Illinois 7,026 lives .
The announcement of 614 new cases Monday brings the total number of confirmed cases in Illinois to 147,865 .
The vast majority of COVID-19 patients recovered .
The state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 2.6 % .
Read the full report from Mitch Dudek here .
7:24 p.m. New Chicago quarantine order kicks in for travelers from states with skyrocketing COVID cases Jennifer Carreno was visiting family in Utah when she heard about Chicago ’ s emergency travel order , which requires people coming to the city from high-COVID states to self-quarantine for two weeks .
Utah is one of those states , but Carreno , who landed Monday at Midway Airport with five other relatives , said she can ’ t afford to stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Hare Airport , flew to Salt Lake City on June 17 to visit family .
While there , “ none of us really traveled a lot .
... We didn ’ t go out much.
” Carreno , 22 , thought the directive was “ kind of weird.
” In announcing the order , the city said it would publicize it on social media and the city ’ s website , as well as with signs in airports and along highways .
It also would direct hotels to inform guests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no announcements on their flights .
At Midway ’ s baggage claim area , a single sign about the order stood at the main exit .
The travel order was touted Monday on three billboards along highways near both Midway and O ’ Hare : “ COMING TO CHICAGO FROM A COVID HOT SPOT ?
/14-DAY SELF-QUARANTINE REQUIRED.
” Those violating the order can be fined $ 100 to $ 500 per day , up to $ 7,000 .
Read the full report from Clare Proctor here .
6:39 p.m .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more likely to quit as the pandemic lingers on Millions of American families are finding themselves in a jam , with their jobs requiring them to return to work on site and plans from their local school districts calling for children to spend less time in classrooms .
At the same time , child care is becoming less available and , in many cases , more costly .
Many working parents with young or school-age children may have to quit their job to stay home as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender and labor market inequality , I expect that more women than men will leave their jobs .
In 2019 — before this new disease upended life as we know it — 72 % of all U.S. women with children under 18 were working or looking for work , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
The situation was very similar for mothers with spouses and those without them : 70 % versus 77 % .
With nearly all married fathers employed or looking for work , in 64 % of families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A drive-in movie theater is coming to Soldier Field this week .
Starting Wednesdays , movies will air on a big screen outside the Bears ’ home field in the South Lot Festival Area , Block Club Chicago first reported Monday .
The flicks will be shown Wednesdays through Sundays .
The lot opens at 7 p.m. with musical performances by DJs and local artists happening until the screening begins at 8:30 p.m .
The initial lineup features a list of classic movies , including “ Groundhog Day , ” “ Ferris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Fast & Furious , ” “ Grease ” and “ Shrek.
” Tickets — $ 55 per vehicle ( up to six people ) — won ’ t be available for purchase on site , but can be purchased on ticketweb.com .
That price includes a bucket of popcorn .
For social distancing purposes , eight feet of separation will be established between cars and pedestrian areas , Block Club reported .
Concessions will be cashless and there will also be sanitation stations throughout the lot .
Read the full story from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks and lines as Cook County courthouses open , hold more in-person hearings Although more in-person hearings were held at Cook County courthouses Monday , there was more activity outside some buildings with lines and tents set up for wellness checks for those waiting to go inside .
At the Leighton Criminal Courthouse , sheriff ’ s deputies stationed outside questioned judges , lawyers , employees and others seeking to enter the courthouse about potential COVID-19 symptoms they may have .
Those without symptoms then went on to walk through a sectioned-off tent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they could pass through the front doors with face masks .
There were some lines to get inside the Daley Center , with a wait time that averaged 20 minutes , according to a spokeswoman for Chief Judge Timothy Evans .
Once inside , security guards at both buildings conducted temperature checks before permitting people to go through the usual security screening process .
The new coronavirus protection procedures were instituted as part of Evans ’ latest court order allowing more in-person hearings .
But despite the new order , little changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pope here .
4:21 p.m. City issues 10 citations to five businesses July 4th weekend for social distancing violations Chicago ’ s enforcement of the city ’ s and state ’ s social distancing rules at local businesses over the holiday weekend yielded 49 investigations and led to ten citations issued to five businesses , according to a spokesperson for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection .
Each citation carries a fine of up to $ 10,000 , although the department did not specify further about the size of the penalties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were conducted at bars and restaurants in River North , Wrigleyville , Lincoln Park and Wicker Park and were triggered by reports from consumers ; Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareno explained last month that City Hall simply doesn ’ t have the staff to conduct random inspections .
The city also issued an immediate shutdown order to Chicago Lakefront Cruises , which “ showed egregious disregard for the health and safety of their employees and customers by blatantly ignoring the reopening requirements , ” according to a BACP spokesperson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George ” rental vessel as a 100-foot , two-story “ party boat ” that can accommodate up to 150 guests on its website , although BACP did not specify how many people were on the boat when the closure order was issued .
The rules in place for businesses operating under Phase 4 of Illinois ’ reopening include limiting indoor restaurant service to groups of 10 or less and spacing out tables by 6 feet or more for indoor and outdoor dining .
Gatherings of more than 50 people are still prohibited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling or returning to Chicago from states that have seen a spike in COVID-19 infection rates is required to quarantine for two weeks under a travel advisory issued by Mayor Lori Lightfoot last week .
The public health order , issued Thursday evening by Dr. Allison Arwady , who leads the Chicago Department of Public Health , applies to anyone coming to Chicago from one of these 15 designated states where COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate : Alabama , Arkansas , Arizona , California , Florida , Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , Nevada , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas and Utah .
Here ’ s what you need to know about Chicago ’ s travel advisory : If a person tested negative for COVID-19 and hasn ’ t developed any symptoms , would they still have to quarantine for the full two weeks ?
The city said individuals coming from hotbed states are encourage to self-quarantine for two weeks even if they have tested negative for the virus or haven ’ t shown any symptoms because they can become contagious up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could still develop symptoms at a later time .
Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here .
12:00 p.m .
Most of WNBA ’ s older coaches OK with dealing with coronavirus risk in Florida Mike Thibault knows he could be at higher risk for severe illness if he gets the coronavirus because of his age .
The 69-year-old Washington Mystics coach didn ’ t hesitate about going down to Florida with his team Monday to prepare for the virus-delayed WNBA season .
“ There ’ s no guarantee .
Living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay away from people , ” said Thibault , who turns 70 in September .
“ You go to the grocery store or have food delivered , there is some risk involved in your life .
That ’ s the nature of the virus .
I ’ m not at the same risk as that grocery store worker or restaurant owner heading to work every day .
We ’ re going to a controlled environment.
” Thibault is one of five head coaches in the league over 60 , including three over 65 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk category , according to the CDC .
No other major sports league has as high a percentage ( 41.6 ) of head coaches over 60 .
“ It ’ s our job , ” said Dallas Wings coach Brian Agler , who is one of the five .
“ I ’ m not more concerned because it ’ s Florida , as the virus is hitting everywhere right now.
” 9:58 a.m. How start-and-stop reopenings mess with your head amid COVID-19 As coronavirus cases continue to surge in many states , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them back in place could be America ’ s new tumultuous reality — one that threatens the psyche of many , experts say .
At least 21 states have paused their plans to reopen their economies , just weeks after unveiling those measures as the nation started to emerge from strict quarantine measures and stay-at-home orders .
These stops and starts can trigger feelings of frustration and fatigue and leave people feeling overwhelmed .
“ This is very confusing for many people , and rightfully so , ” Dr. Ogbonnaya Omenka , assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told USA TODAY .
“ Initially , mixed messages defined how states and different jurisdictions were responding to this problem .
With public health intervention , clear messaging , even if it ’ s wrong , is better than mixed messages .
Because if the message is clear , you are leaving it still up to the individuals to decide whether they want to acquiesce to it or not , ” he said .
“ But when it ’ s mixed , the confusion is : ‘ What should I follow ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those mixed messages .
One thing it did was lure the public into a sense of an oversimplification of the problem.
” The Cook County Circuit Court system will begin in-person operations Monday , but most cases will continue to be heard virtually .
The court system has been essentially online-only since March 13 , when Presiding Judge Timothy Evans issued an order to comply with Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s stay-at-home order .
Monday will mark the first small loosening of that order .
Litigants , attorneys and others involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Clerk of the Circuit Court ’ s office before their hearings to figure out whether they ’ ll be expected to attend in person or via Zoom , according to a news release .
For in-person matters , people entering court buildings will be required to wear masks and given wellness checks at the entrance .
Read the full story from Ben Pope here .
7:31 a.m .
Surprise : Justice Kavanaugh sides with Gov .
Pritzker over Illinois Republican organizations in COVID-19 crowd restriction case The Supreme Court always has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday — Independence Day — Justice Brett Kavanaugh , a Trump appointee , was on the job .
And on July 4 , Kavanaugh did something that might surprise you , given his conservative and GOP credentials , his days in the George W. Bush White House and the Democratic-led fight over his confirmation .
He denied an emergency bid by several allied Illinois Republican organizations to block Pritzker ’ s COVID-19 pandemic related ban on political events with more than 50 people .
The rush for a temporary restraining order and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — so went the argument — to the urgent need to clear the legal way for a July 4 picnic and fireworks to rally the Will County GOP faithful — at a farm , a place with plenty of room for people to spread out .
That picnic angle is now moot .
Read the full story by Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet here .
• Illinois health officials announced Sunday an additional six coronavirus deaths , the lowest one-day total since March 25 .
• Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero has died in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus .
He was 41 .
• Kimberly Guilfoyle , campaign official and Donald Trump Jr. ’ s girlfriend , tests positive for coronavirus .
• Bachata singer Prince Royce revealed that he is recovering from the virus in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday .
6:14 p.m. Beware of those going ‘ nose commando ’ during COVID-19 pandemic By my count , 44 percent of the American people who wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be worn over the nose .
That is using the same statistical base President Trump used to calculate that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are harmless .
While waiting for takeout at my favorite restaurant , I looked into the kitchen and saw at least two cooks wearing their masks over their mouths but pulled below their nose .
A manager was standing about five feet away and said nothing to them .
I am COVID-inhibited , meaning I think anyone crazy enough not to wear a mask , or wear it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members and friends and therefore should not be confronted .
It would be like stopping someone on State Street who is screaming and gesturing wildly to ask if they are a madman or simply a stock trader having a bad day .
Yet , someone should say something .
Read the full column from Phil Kadner here .
5:10 p.m. Just in from Florida ?
Please cool your heels for a couple of weeks If only for the shaming factor , it ’ s worth a shot .
We can ’ t imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that anyone arriving in the city from a state that has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases self-quarantine for two weeks .
As a practical matter , the Chicago police have enough to worry about without having to issue fines to people recently arriving from , say , Florida or Texas for wandering around town instead of staying put indoors .
But as a matter of raising awareness about the need for travelers from hot spot states to quarantine — and prodding them to do so — Chicago ’ s rule , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm ground .
Chicago has worked hard , and sacrificed much , to beat back the spread of the coronavirus .
It ’ s only right that the city should protect itself from the irresponsible actions of other cities and states that have done much less and are paying the price .
Chicago ’ s travel-related quarantine rule , imposed a week after New Jersey , Connecticut and New York State jointly imposed a similar rule , affects travelers from 15 states that have seen significant increases in cases of COVID-19 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , Nevada , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas and Utah .
Not surprisingly , all but two of those states — California and Nevada — were carried by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election , and 11 are presided over by Republican governors who continue to cower before the denier-in-chief in the White House .
When Trump has sneered about face masks and social distancing , they have sneered , too , or — just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stupidity .
When it comes to domestic travel quarantines that pit cities and states against each other , common sense calls for clear and consistent national guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control .
But that ’ s never going to happen under this president , who has failed from the beginning to lead in the fight against COVID-19 .
And so cities and states are rolling out their own rules of quarantine , applying inconsistent standards .
7:23 a.m. A dreaded call from her Millennial during pandemic ’ s surge : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel well at all ’ It was a call this Chicago mother had feared , ever since the start of the pandemic lockdowns .
Her millennial offspring was calling from one of the four states worst hit by new coronavirus outbreaks nationwide .
Under a resurgence of the highly contagious virus , Arizona , California , Florida and Texas now account for 50 percent of the 44,000+ new cases daily .
Experts say the U.S. could soon reach 100,000+ cases daily — absent an immediate U-turn .
That ’ s led states like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose quarantines on visitors from impacted states in the South and West .
The new rule takes effect here Monday .
Of particular note , at COVID-19 ’ s six-month anniversary in the U.S. , infections are skewing younger .
In several states , nearly half the new cases are occurring among millennials — in California , among those under age 35 ; in Florida , those under age 37 .
Read the full column from Maudlyne Ihejirika here .

The latest
Second consecutive day of 6 coronavirus deaths in Illinois
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Illinois health officials Monday announced six additional coronavirus deaths and 614 new cases.
It was the second consecutive day in which the state announced six deaths — the lowest one-day total since March 25.
The numbers through the first days of July mirror the very beginning of the pandemic that has so far cost Illinois 7,026 lives.
The state’s first COVID-19 death occurred March 17.
The announcement of 614 new cases Monday brings the total number of confirmed cases in Illinois to 147,865. The vast majority of COVID-19 patients recovered.
The state’s positivity rate over the past week is about 2.6%.
Read the full report from Mitch Dudek here.
News
7:53 p.m. As temperatures stay high, Lightfoot orders Park District to open splash pools, but beaches, swimming pools stay closed
With temperatures continuing to rise well into the 90s, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday she has ordered the Chicago Park District to open its splash pools, but keep beaches and other swimming pools closed.
Ever since she partially reopened the lakefront — for transit and exercise only — Chicagoans chomping at the bit to take a dip in Lake Michigan or dive into a pool to get some relief from the summer heat have been asking whether beaches and pools would be next.
The answer came Monday during a City Hall news conference called to tout a utility bill relief program included in the mayor’s 2020 budget.
“We don’t see the beaches opening up any time soon,” the mayor said.
“The challenge with the beaches — and with swimming pools, let’s just add that in — is that they are ripe for congregate gathering and not social distancing. … Given where we are — which is progress, but we have some concerns — we’re not gonna take any steps that could tip us ... backwards. So, for now, the beaches and swimming pools will remain closed.”
Chicago has endured a steady string of days with temperatures soaring into the 90s. More of the same is forecast before temperatures finally break on Saturday.
“We’ve got cooling centers that we’ve opened up. We’ve got cooling buses that are gonna be available. We’re gonna be opening up the splash pools in the parks so that adults and children can get some relief,” Lightfoot said.
“But I don’t see a circumstance yet because I don’t think the public health metrics will allow for it where we’re gonna be opening up the beaches or swimming pools.”
Read the full report from Fran Spielman here.
7:24 p.m. New Chicago quarantine order kicks in for travelers from states with skyrocketing COVID cases
Jennifer Carreno was visiting family in Utah when she heard about Chicago’s emergency travel order, which requires people coming to the city from high-COVID states to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Utah is one of those states, but Carreno, who landed Monday at Midway Airport with five other relatives, said she can’t afford to stay home.
Carreno, a cargo worker at O’Hare Airport, flew to Salt Lake City on June 17 to visit family. While there, “none of us really traveled a lot. ... We didn’t go out much.”
Carreno, 22, thought the directive was “kind of weird.”
In announcing the order, the city said it would publicize it on social media and the city’s website, as well as with signs in airports and along highways. It also would direct hotels to inform guests.
Many travelers at Midway on Monday said there were no announcements on their flights. At Midway’s baggage claim area, a single sign about the order stood at the main exit.
The travel order was touted Monday on three billboards along highways near both Midway and O’Hare: “COMING TO CHICAGO FROM A COVID HOT SPOT?/14-DAY SELF-QUARANTINE REQUIRED.”
Those violating the order can be fined $100 to $500 per day, up to $7,000.
Read the full report from Clare Proctor here.
6:39 p.m. Working moms, not dads, will be more likely to quit as the pandemic lingers on
Millions of American families are finding themselves in a jam, with their jobs requiring them to return to work on site and plans from their local school districts calling for children to spend less time in classrooms. At the same time, child care is becoming less available and, in many cases, more costly.
Many working parents with young or school-age children may have to quit their job to stay home as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on. As a sociologist who studies parenthood, gender and labor market inequality, I expect that more women than men will leave their jobs.
In 2019 — before this new disease upended life as we know it — 72% of all U.S. women with children under 18 were working or looking for work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The situation was very similar for mothers with spouses and those without them: 70% versus 77%. With nearly all married fathers employed or looking for work, in 64% of families with two parents, both were breadwinners.
Read the full report here.
6:17 p.m. Drive-in movie theater coming to Soldier Field this week
A drive-in movie theater is coming to Soldier Field this week.
Starting Wednesdays, movies will air on a big screen outside the Bears’ home field in the South Lot Festival Area, Block Club Chicago first reported Monday.
The flicks will be shown Wednesdays through Sundays. The lot opens at 7 p.m. with musical performances by DJs and local artists happening until the screening begins at 8:30 p.m.
The initial lineup features a list of classic movies, including “Groundhog Day,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day off,” “Fast & Furious,” “Grease” and “Shrek.”
Tickets — $55 per vehicle (up to six people) — won’t be available for purchase on site, but can be purchased on ticketweb.com. That price includes a bucket of popcorn.
For social distancing purposes, eight feet of separation will be established between cars and pedestrian areas, Block Club reported. Concessions will be cashless and there will also be sanitation stations throughout the lot.
Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here.
4:50 p.m. Wellness checks and lines as Cook County courthouses open, hold more in-person hearings
Although more in-person hearings were held at Cook County courthouses Monday, there was more activity outside some buildings with lines and tents set up for wellness checks for those waiting to go inside.
At the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, sheriff’s deputies stationed outside questioned judges, lawyers, employees and others seeking to enter the courthouse about potential COVID-19 symptoms they may have.
Those without symptoms then went on to walk through a sectioned-off tent — designed to ensure social distancing — before they could pass through the front doors with face masks.
There were some lines to get inside the Daley Center, with a wait time that averaged 20 minutes, according to a spokeswoman for Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
Once inside, security guards at both buildings conducted temperature checks before permitting people to go through the usual security screening process.
The new coronavirus protection procedures were instituted as part of Evans’ latest court order allowing more in-person hearings.
But despite the new order, little changed.
Read the full report from Ben Pope here.
4:21 p.m. City issues 10 citations to five businesses July 4th weekend for social distancing violations
Chicago’s enforcement of the city’s and state’s social distancing rules at local businesses over the holiday weekend yielded 49 investigations and led to ten citations issued to five businesses, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Each citation carries a fine of up to $10,000, although the department did not specify further about the size of the penalties assessed this weekend.
Task Force investigations were conducted at bars and restaurants in River North, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park and were triggered by reports from consumers; Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareno explained last month that City Hall simply doesn’t have the staff to conduct random inspections.
The city also issued an immediate shutdown order to Chicago Lakefront Cruises, which “showed egregious disregard for the health and safety of their employees and customers by blatantly ignoring the reopening requirements,” according to a BACP spokesperson. Chicago Lakefront Cruises describes its “Summer of George” rental vessel as a 100-foot, two-story “party boat” that can accommodate up to 150 guests on its website, although BACP did not specify how many people were on the boat when the closure order was issued.
The rules in place for businesses operating under Phase 4 of Illinois’ reopening include limiting indoor restaurant service to groups of 10 or less and spacing out tables by 6 feet or more for indoor and outdoor dining. Gatherings of more than 50 people are still prohibited.
— Staff report
1:12 p.m. Chicago travel advisory from 15 states with rising COVID-19 numbers begins Monday
Starting Monday, anyone who is traveling or returning to Chicago from states that have seen a spike in COVID-19 infection rates is required to quarantine for two weeks under a travel advisory issued by Mayor Lori Lightfoot last week.
The public health order, issued Thursday evening by Dr. Allison Arwady, who leads the Chicago Department of Public Health, applies to anyone coming to Chicago from one of these 15 designated states where COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Here’s what you need to know about Chicago’s travel advisory:
If a person tested negative for COVID-19 and hasn’t developed any symptoms, would they still have to quarantine for the full two weeks?
In short, yes.
The city said individuals coming from hotbed states are encourage to self-quarantine for two weeks even if they have tested negative for the virus or haven’t shown any symptoms because they can become contagious up to 14 days after their last exposure and could still develop symptoms at a later time.
Read the full story from Madeline Kenney here.
12:00 p.m. Most of WNBA’s older coaches OK with dealing with coronavirus risk in Florida
Mike Thibault knows he could be at higher risk for severe illness if he gets the coronavirus because of his age.
The 69-year-old Washington Mystics coach didn’t hesitate about going down to Florida with his team Monday to prepare for the virus-delayed WNBA season.
“There’s no guarantee. Living in D.C., I wear my mask and stay away from people,” said Thibault, who turns 70 in September. “You go to the grocery store or have food delivered, there is some risk involved in your life. That’s the nature of the virus. I’m not at the same risk as that grocery store worker or restaurant owner heading to work every day. We’re going to a controlled environment.”
Thibault is one of five head coaches in the league over 60, including three over 65 — which puts them in the higher risk category, according to the CDC. No other major sports league has as high a percentage (41.6) of head coaches over 60.
“It’s our job,” said Dallas Wings coach Brian Agler, who is one of the five. “I’m not more concerned because it’s Florida, as the virus is hitting everywhere right now.”
Read the full story here.
9:58 a.m. How start-and-stop reopenings mess with your head amid COVID-19
As coronavirus cases continue to surge in many states, the process of easing restrictions, then slamming them back in place could be America’s new tumultuous reality — one that threatens the psyche of many, experts say.
At least 21 states have paused their plans to reopen their economies, just weeks after unveiling those measures as the nation started to emerge from strict quarantine measures and stay-at-home orders. These stops and starts can trigger feelings of frustration and fatigue and leave people feeling overwhelmed.
“This is very confusing for many people, and rightfully so,” Dr. Ogbonnaya Omenka, assistant professor of public health at Butler University, told USA TODAY.
“Initially, mixed messages defined how states and different jurisdictions were responding to this problem. With public health intervention, clear messaging, even if it’s wrong, is better than mixed messages. Because if the message is clear, you are leaving it still up to the individuals to decide whether they want to acquiesce to it or not,” he said.
“But when it’s mixed, the confusion is: ‘What should I follow?’ We are reaping the fruits of those mixed messages. One thing it did was lure the public into a sense of an oversimplification of the problem.”
Read the full report here.
8:47 a.m. Cook County Circuit Court resuming limited in-person operations Monday
The Cook County Circuit Court system will begin in-person operations Monday, but most cases will continue to be heard virtually.
The court system has been essentially online-only since March 13, when Presiding Judge Timothy Evans issued an order to comply with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order. Monday will mark the first small loosening of that order.
Litigants, attorneys and others involved in cases will be asked to confer with the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office before their hearings to figure out whether they’ll be expected to attend in person or via Zoom, according to a news release.
For in-person matters, people entering court buildings will be required to wear masks and given wellness checks at the entrance.
Read the full story from Ben Pope here.
7:31 a.m. Surprise: Justice Kavanaugh sides with Gov. Pritzker over Illinois Republican organizations in COVID-19 crowd restriction case
The Supreme Court always has a justice on duty for emergencies, and on Saturday — Independence Day — Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, was on the job.
And on July 4, Kavanaugh did something that might surprise you, given his conservative and GOP credentials, his days in the George W. Bush White House and the Democratic-led fight over his confirmation.
Kavanaugh sided with Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
He denied an emergency bid by several allied Illinois Republican organizations to block Pritzker’s COVID-19 pandemic related ban on political events with more than 50 people.
The rush for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in this case was pegged — so went the argument — to the urgent need to clear the legal way for a July 4 picnic and fireworks to rally the Will County GOP faithful — at a farm, a place with plenty of room for people to spread out.
That picnic angle is now moot.
Read the full story by Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
6:14 p.m. Beware of those going ‘nose commando’ during COVID-19 pandemic
By my count, 44 percent of the American people who wear face masks believe they do not have to be worn over the nose. That is using the same statistical base President Trump used to calculate that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are harmless.
While waiting for takeout at my favorite restaurant, I looked into the kitchen and saw at least two cooks wearing their masks over their mouths but pulled below their nose.
A manager was standing about five feet away and said nothing to them.
Neither did I.
I am COVID-inhibited, meaning I think anyone crazy enough not to wear a mask, or wear it properly, is willing to kill family members and friends and therefore should not be confronted.
It would be like stopping someone on State Street who is screaming and gesturing wildly to ask if they are a madman or simply a stock trader having a bad day.
Yet, someone should say something.
Read the full column from Phil Kadner here.
5:10 p.m. Just in from Florida? Please cool your heels for a couple of weeks
If only for the shaming factor, it’s worth a shot.
We can’t imagine how Chicago will enforce a new rule that anyone arriving in the city from a state that has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases self-quarantine for two weeks. As a practical matter, the Chicago police have enough to worry about without having to issue fines to people recently arriving from, say, Florida or Texas for wandering around town instead of staying put indoors.
But as a matter of raising awareness about the need for travelers from hot spot states to quarantine — and prodding them to do so — Chicago’s rule, which went into effect Monday, is on firm ground.
Chicago protecting itself
Chicago has worked hard, and sacrificed much, to beat back the spread of the coronavirus. It’s only right that the city should protect itself from the irresponsible actions of other cities and states that have done much less and are paying the price.
Chicago’s travel-related quarantine rule, imposed a week after New Jersey, Connecticut and New York State jointly imposed a similar rule, affects travelers from 15 states that have seen significant increases in cases of COVID-19. The states are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Not surprisingly, all but two of those states — California and Nevada — were carried by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, and 11 are presided over by Republican governors who continue to cower before the denier-in-chief in the White House. When Trump has sneered about face masks and social distancing, they have sneered, too, or — just as unconscionable — declined to call out his stupidity.
When it comes to domestic travel quarantines that pit cities and states against each other, common sense calls for clear and consistent national guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control. But that’s never going to happen under this president, who has failed from the beginning to lead in the fight against COVID-19.
And so cities and states are rolling out their own rules of quarantine, applying inconsistent standards.
Read the Sun-Times full editorial here.
7:23 a.m. A dreaded call from her Millennial during pandemic’s surge: ‘Mom, I don’t feel well at all’
“Mom, I don’t feel well at all.”
It was a call this Chicago mother had feared, ever since the start of the pandemic lockdowns.
Her millennial offspring was calling from one of the four states worst hit by new coronavirus outbreaks nationwide.
Under a resurgence of the highly contagious virus, Arizona, California, Florida and Texas now account for 50 percent of the 44,000+ new cases daily.
Experts say the U.S. could soon reach 100,000+ cases daily — absent an immediate U-turn.
That’s led states like New York and cities like Chicago to impose quarantines on visitors from impacted states in the South and West. The new rule takes effect here Monday.
Of particular note, at COVID-19’s six-month anniversary in the U.S., infections are skewing younger.
In several states, nearly half the new cases are occurring among millennials— in California, among those under age 35; in Florida, those under age 37.
Read the full column from Maudlyne Ihejirika here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Executive turmoil at Essence, Ebony magazines prompts changes and investigations

NEW YORK — Two storied magazines that focus on news and culture in the Black community , Essence and Ebony , are in the midst of turmoil at their top levels .
Ebony late last week forced out CEO Willard Jackson following an initial inquiry into some of his financial transactions .
The general interest magazine , which focuses on news and culture about African American life , celebrates its 75th anniversary later this year .
Essence , a magazine geared to women , was hit by an anonymous essay reportedly penned by former and current employees that alleged a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interim CEO .
Jackson is a partner in the CVG Group , which purchased Ebony in 2016 .
The board of directors is looking for an interim CEO and operating committee to replace him .
Jacob Walthour Jr. , chairman of Ebony ’ s board of directors , said Monday the board became aware of financial transactions that did not go through the proper approval process , including some where it wasn ’ t clear whether the magazine or Jackson was the beneficiary .
The lack of transparency was unacceptable and prompted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Without giving specifics , Walthour said the board was also concerned about some of the entities that Jackson was dealing with .
He cited the “ class , integrity and honor ” with which company founder John H. Johnson operated with .
“ It ’ s our view that we prevented significant damage from being done to the brand , ” he said .
There was no immediate response to an attempt to reach Jackson through CVG Group .
The essay , “ The Truth About Essence , ” was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ byline “ Black Female Anonymous.
” The essay alleged pay inequity , sexual harassment and corporate bullying and intimidation on the part of management at Essence , where Naomi Campbell just graced the cover of its 50th anniversary issue .
“ The company ’ s longstanding pattern of gross mistreatment and abuse of its Black female employees is the biggest open secret in the media business , ” said the essay , which was accompanied by a petition seeking a management change .
It is the latest example of journalists of color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death and nationwide demonstrations , speaking up about alleged mistreatment and inequities in the industry as well as their news organizations .
Essence management called the letter “ heartbreaking ” in an initial response .
The magazine , run by Essence Communications , called the anonymous letter “ an unfounded attempt to discredit our brand and assassinate personal character.
” Last week , however , Essence announced the appointment of Caroline Wanga , a former Target executive hired in June , to step in as interim CEO .
The owner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus of many of the complaints in the anonymous letter .
Essence also said it would hire outside investigators to interview employees and determine the truth about the accusations .

NEW YORK — Two storied magazines that focus on news and culture in the Black community, Essence and Ebony, are in the midst of turmoil at their top levels.
Ebony late last week forced out CEO Willard Jackson following an initial inquiry into some of his financial transactions. The general interest magazine, which focuses on news and culture about African American life, celebrates its 75th anniversary later this year.
Essence, a magazine geared to women, was hit by an anonymous essay reportedly penned by former and current employees that alleged a toxic work environment and recently named an interim CEO.
Jackson is a partner in the CVG Group, which purchased Ebony in 2016. The board of directors is looking for an interim CEO and operating committee to replace him.
Jacob Walthour Jr., chairman of Ebony’s board of directors, said Monday the board became aware of financial transactions that did not go through the proper approval process, including some where it wasn’t clear whether the magazine or Jackson was the beneficiary.
The lack of transparency was unacceptable and prompted the investigation, which is continuing, he said.
Without giving specifics, Walthour said the board was also concerned about some of the entities that Jackson was dealing with. He cited the “class, integrity and honor” with which company founder John H. Johnson operated with.
“It’s our view that we prevented significant damage from being done to the brand,” he said.
There was no immediate response to an attempt to reach Jackson through CVG Group.
The essay, “The Truth About Essence,” was published on Medium on June 28 under the byline “Black Female Anonymous.” The essay alleged pay inequity, sexual harassment and corporate bullying and intimidation on the part of management at Essence, where Naomi Campbell just graced the cover of its 50th anniversary issue.
“The company’s longstanding pattern of gross mistreatment and abuse of its Black female employees is the biggest open secret in the media business,” said the essay, which was accompanied by a petition seeking a management change.
It is the latest example of journalists of color, in the week of George Floyd’s death and nationwide demonstrations, speaking up about alleged mistreatment and inequities in the industry as well as their news organizations.
Essence management called the letter “heartbreaking” in an initial response. The magazine, run by Essence Communications, called the anonymous letter “an unfounded attempt to discredit our brand and assassinate personal character.”
Last week, however, Essence announced the appointment of Caroline Wanga, a former Target executive hired in June, to step in as interim CEO. The owner of the magazine, Richlieu Dennis, was a focus of many of the complaints in the anonymous letter.
Essence also said it would hire outside investigators to interview employees and determine the truth about the accusations.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Little League field with high levels of lead, arsenic to get $700K cleanup

A South Side Little League field where kids played as recently as last summer is being torn up to remove dirt with high levels of lead and arsenic .
U.S. environmental officials said they will begin excavating and removing the contaminated soil at Hegewisch Little League Field Tuesday and will replace it with clean dirt .
The cleanup is expected to last 20 days , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said .
“ Conditions at the site present an imminent and substantial threat to the public health , or welfare , or the environment and meet the criteria for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a memo dated March 3 .
Adam Gutierrez , president of Hegewisch Little League , said the EPA contacted the league last fall to say it was testing the field .
In documents , the EPA didn ’ t provide a clear explanation of what caused the contamination but noted the surrounding area ’ s long history of industrial activity .
The site was a baseball field since at least 1964 and was vacant prior to then , the agency said .
While he was surprised by the findings , Gutierrez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heavy industry around the park and said he ’ s grateful that the field is being cleaned up .
“ A lot of people in the community have been playing there for years , ” he said .
“ We always joke about what ’ s in the water but I guess it ’ s in the grass.
” While about 100 children played Little League at the field last year , the season never got started this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic , he said .
The EPA said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the area as part of an investigation into potential manganese contamination from the nearby Watco Terminal site on 126th Street .
Concerned about the health impacts of exposure of manganese dust , the city of Chicago imposed tougher rules on companies that handle it in 2019 .
While the EPA said it didn ’ t find excessively high levels of manganese at the Hegewisch site , it did find high levels of lead and arsenic on about one-third of the field that required removal of the contaminated dirt .
It determined Watco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contaminants .
In January 2019 , U.S. Sens .
Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth asked the EPA to do soil sampling in the neighborhood around the Watco facility .
That sampling included soil tests at more than 50 homes , according to EPA records .
None of the homes sampled found levels of manganese , lead or arsenic high enough to require the agency to take immediate action , records show .
The EPA sampled dirt at the Little League field , 127th Street and Carondolet Avenue , last September .
“ EPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hegewisch Little League Field was not related to the Watco Terminal Site because the contamination was lead and arsenic , likely from historical fill material below the field , ” the agency said in a March document .
The agency will spend up to $ 691,295 on the project , according to the document .
EPA said on its website that it ’ s also testing soil at another nearby Hegewisch youth baseball field , Babe Ruth Field , at the request of the city .
Both fields are located near a 67-acre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was designated for high-priority cleanup last year .
The site was a dumping ground for steel slag from the 1950s at least through the late 1970s , the EPA said .
“ It ’ s legacy pollution , ” said Gina Ramirez , a Southeast Side community activist .
“ I think it would be awesome if the U.S. EPA did a briefing on the soil situation with all the community organizations that have been asking for years .
I think the community deserves to have answers.
” Brett Chase ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust .

A South Side Little League field where kids played as recently as last summer is being torn up to remove dirt with high levels of lead and arsenic.
U.S. environmental officials said they will begin excavating and removing the contaminated soil at Hegewisch Little League Field Tuesday and will replace it with clean dirt. The cleanup is expected to last 20 days, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
“Conditions at the site present an imminent and substantial threat to the public health, or welfare, or the environment and meet the criteria for a time-critical removal action,” the EPA said in a memo dated March 3.
Adam Gutierrez, president of Hegewisch Little League, said the EPA contacted the league last fall to say it was testing the field.
In documents, the EPA didn’t provide a clear explanation of what caused the contamination but noted the surrounding area’s long history of industrial activity. The site was a baseball field since at least 1964 and was vacant prior to then, the agency said.
While he was surprised by the findings, Gutierrez said residents have long been aware of the heavy industry around the park and said he’s grateful that the field is being cleaned up.
“A lot of people in the community have been playing there for years,” he said. “We always joke about what’s in the water but I guess it’s in the grass.”
While about 100 children played Little League at the field last year, the season never got started this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
The EPA said it tested dirt at the field and elsewhere in the area as part of an investigation into potential manganese contamination from the nearby Watco Terminal site on 126th Street. Concerned about the health impacts of exposure of manganese dust, the city of Chicago imposed tougher rules on companies that handle it in 2019.
The Hegewisch Little League field at 12710 S. Carondolet Ave. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
While the EPA said it didn’t find excessively high levels of manganese at the Hegewisch site, it did find high levels of lead and arsenic on about one-third of the field that required removal of the contaminated dirt. It determined Watco was not likely the source of those contaminants.
In January 2019, U.S. Sens. Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth asked the EPA to do soil sampling in the neighborhood around the Watco facility. That sampling included soil tests at more than 50 homes, according to EPA records. None of the homes sampled found levels of manganese, lead or arsenic high enough to require the agency to take immediate action, records show.
The EPA sampled dirt at the Little League field, 127th Street and Carondolet Avenue, last September.
“EPA determined that the contamination found at the Hegewisch Little League Field was not related to the Watco Terminal Site because the contamination was lead and arsenic, likely from historical fill material below the field,” the agency said in a March document.
The agency will spend up to $691,295 on the project, according to the document.
EPA said on its website that it’s also testing soil at another nearby Hegewisch youth baseball field, Babe Ruth Field, at the request of the city.
Both fields are located near a 67-acre EPA toxic waste site, Schroud, which was designated for high-priority cleanup last year. The site was a dumping ground for steel slag from the 1950s at least through the late 1970s, the EPA said.
“It’s legacy pollution,” said Gina Ramirez, a Southeast Side community activist. “I think it would be awesome if the U.S. EPA did a briefing on the soil situation with all the community organizations that have been asking for years. I think the community deserves to have answers.”
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Jimmy John’s fires all employees involved in ‘dough noose’ video

Jimmy John ’ s fired all employees involved in a now viral video showing employees playing with a noose made out of dough , the company confirmed .
A video , posted to Snapchat and subsequently share on other social platforms , shows one employee helping place a noose made out of bread dough around the neck of another worker at a Jimmy John ’ s location in Woodstock , Georgia .
“ The actions seen in the video are absolutely unacceptable and do not represent the Jimmy John ’ s brand or the local franchise ownership team , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on Twitter .
“ As soon as we were alerted to the video , we notified our franchisee , who quickly investigated and terminated all employees involved.
” The video was posted with a filter reading “ Happy 4th of July ” prompting a backlash on social media , that included the chain ’ s founder James John Liautaud .
“ The franchisee is also meeting with their team to conduct training to help prevent anything like this from ever happening again , ” the company ’ s statement said .
Liautaud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign and serving on the president ’ s Great American Economic Revival Industry Group for Food and Beverage team .

Jimmy John’s fired all employees involved in a now viral video showing employees playing with a noose made out of dough, the company confirmed.
A video, posted to Snapchat and subsequently share on other social platforms, shows one employee helping place a noose made out of bread dough around the neck of another worker at a Jimmy John’s location in Woodstock, Georgia.
“The actions seen in the video are absolutely unacceptable and do not represent the Jimmy John’s brand or the local franchise ownership team,” Jimmy John’s said in a statement on Twitter. “As soon as we were alerted to the video, we notified our franchisee, who quickly investigated and terminated all employees involved.”
The video was posted with a filter reading “Happy 4th of July” prompting a backlash on social media, that included the chain’s founder James John Liautaud.
“The franchisee is also meeting with their team to conduct training to help prevent anything like this from ever happening again,” the company’s statement said.
Liautaud has faced controversy recently over his support of President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign and serving on the president’s Great American Economic Revival Industry Group for Food and Beverage team.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Lightfoot, Brown condemn another weekend of slain children; ‘Chicago deserves us figuring this out’

In what ’ s become a macabre routine , city leaders Monday found themselves forced to lament , mourn and condemn the weekend killings of several children in Chicago .
Shootings over the Fourth of July holiday weekend left 15 people dead and another 64 wounded in the city , according to a tally maintained by the Chicago Sun-Times .
Two of those killed were kids : 7-year-old Natalia Wallace in Austin and 14-year-old Vernado Jones Jr. in Englewood .
It was the third consecutive weekend in Chicago in which at least two children were slain , though both Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Brown urged the public to not “ normalize these circumstances.
” “ I want all of us to feel this loss .
It feels personal to me , ” Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference .
“ Thoughts and prayers are simply not enough at this point .
Sorrow itself is not enough .
And what it says is we need to do better as a city this day , this year and really every day .
There ’ s no reason we should be feeling and experiencing moments like this.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves to focusing on the root causes of the violence .
It is every bit a public health crisis as COVID-19 , and we can never lose sight of that fact.
” In recent weeks , Brown has grown increasingly vocal in his criticisms of the Cook County criminal justice apparatus .
He has called for revisions to the county ’ s home monitoring system and decried the frequency with which people charged with gun-related crimes are released from the Cook County Jail before trial .
“ There ’ s no consequences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , ” Brown said during a news conference at the CPD ’ s training academy .
“ My hopes are that the deaths of these young people won ’ t be in vain and will prick the hearts of the decision-makers who release violent offenders on electronic monitoring back into these very communities to mete out this kind of violence every weekend.
” On Monday evening , CPD Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan announced that one man had been charged with murder in connection with Natalia ’ s death .
Reginald Merrill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the getaway vehicle used in the shooting , was charged with first-degree murder .
Merrill , 33 , is expected to have his first court hearing Tuesday , and police are still searching for three more suspects , according to Deenihan .
Along with Jones , three other people were killed and four more were wounded in the Saturday night shooting at 61st and Carpenter .
Two other boys , ages 11 and 15 , were among those injured .
No arrests have been made .
Deenihan said both shootings were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , 1-year-old Sincere A. Gaston was killed when someone opened fire on his mother ’ s car as they drove home from a laundromat in Englewood .
Lina Nunez , 10 , was killed in Logan Square when a bullet came through her window and struck her .
Over Father ’ s Day weekend , 3-year-old Mekhi James was fatally shot while riding in an SUV with his father in Austin when someone opened fire on them from another vehicle .
Amaria Jones , 13 , died after she was struck by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also wounded two boys on the West Side .
They were among 104 people shot that weekend , 15 of them fatally .
Though Brown repeatedly said Monday that he doesn ’ t “ want to be the person that ’ s pointing the finger , ” he noted other parts of the county justice system — the chief judge ’ s office and sheriff — do not face the same scrutiny when it comes to addressing gun violence in Chicago .
“ Chicago deserves us figuring this out .
And we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown said .
“ But not if it ’ s only the Chicago Police Department , only the superintendent , standing at the podium every weekend , answering these questions .
This has to be an all-hands-on-deck [ scenario ] , everyone in the criminal justice system being held accountable in the same ways Chicago police officers are.
” Brown had a meeting last week with the leaders of the Chicago offices of the FBI , DEA , ATF and U.S. attorney ’ s office for the Northern District of Illinois , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shootings by bringing more gun cases to the federal level , according to sources familiar with the meeting .
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart ’ s office released a statement Monday saying : “ The sheriff is committed to combating violence and has always believed individuals charged with gun-related or violent crimes should remain in jail while awaiting trial to ensure the safety of the public .
Decisions about bond amounts and conditions of bond — including which individuals are placed on electronic monitoring — rest solely with the judiciary.
” The office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to an opinion piece that Evans authored last year in which he said criticism of pretrial justice practices in Cook County is “ misleading because pretrial defendants released on bond are not driving the weekend crime statistics.
” And Mary Wisniewski , a spokeswoman for Evans , said in an email , “ If this is a discussion about resources for pretrial programs , Chief Judge Evans welcomes ideas to strengthen services for those who qualify for release while their cases are pending and they are presumed innocent .
”

In what’s become a macabre routine, city leaders Monday found themselves forced to lament, mourn and condemn the weekend killings of several children in Chicago.
Shootings over the Fourth of July holiday weekend left 15 people dead and another 64 wounded in the city, according to a tally maintained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Two of those killed were kids: 7-year-old Natalia Wallace in Austin and 14-year-old Vernado Jones Jr. in Englewood.
It was the third consecutive weekend in Chicago in which at least two children were slain, though both Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown urged the public to not “normalize these circumstances.”
Natalia Wallace and Vernado Jones Jr. Provided photos
“I want all of us to feel this loss. It feels personal to me,” Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference. “Thoughts and prayers are simply not enough at this point. Sorrow itself is not enough. And what it says is we need to do better as a city this day, this year and really every day. There’s no reason we should be feeling and experiencing moments like this.”
“We simply must fundamentally recommit ourselves to focusing on the root causes of the violence. It is every bit a public health crisis as COVID-19, and we can never lose sight of that fact.”
In recent weeks, Brown has grown increasingly vocal in his criticisms of the Cook County criminal justice apparatus. He has called for revisions to the county’s home monitoring system and decried the frequency with which people charged with gun-related crimes are released from the Cook County Jail before trial.
“There’s no consequences to illegal gun possession in our criminal justice system,” Brown said during a news conference at the CPD’s training academy. “My hopes are that the deaths of these young people won’t be in vain and will prick the hearts of the decision-makers who release violent offenders on electronic monitoring back into these very communities to mete out this kind of violence every weekend.”
On Monday evening, CPD Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan announced that one man had been charged with murder in connection with Natalia’s death. Reginald Merrill, who police believe was the driver of the getaway vehicle used in the shooting, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery. Merrill, 33, is expected to have his first court hearing Tuesday, and police are still searching for three more suspects, according to Deenihan.
Investigators tracked Merrill’s vehicle through a video and arrested him about 9:15 p.m. July 4 in the 1000 block of North Pine Avenue, police said. Detectives believe the shooting may have been in retaliation for an earlier homicide.
Reginald Merrill CPD
Along with Vernado, three other people were killed and four more were wounded in the Saturday night shooting at 61st and Carpenter. Two other boys, ages 11 and 15, were among those injured. No arrests have been made.
Deenihan said both shootings were the byproduct of area gang conflicts.
Last week, 1-year-old Sincere A. Gaston was killed when someone opened fire on his mother’s car as they drove home from a laundromat in Englewood. Lena Nunez, 10, was killed in Logan Square when a bullet came through her window and struck her.
Over Father’s Day weekend, 3-year-old Mekhi James was fatally shot while riding in an SUV with his father in Austin when someone opened fire on them from another vehicle. Amaria Jones, 13, died after she was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting that also wounded two boys on the West Side. They were among 104 people shot that weekend, 15 of them fatally.
Though Brown repeatedly said Monday that he doesn’t “want to be the person that’s pointing the finger,” he noted other parts of the county justice system — the chief judge’s office and sheriff — do not face the same scrutiny when it comes to addressing gun violence in Chicago.
“Chicago deserves us figuring this out. And we can. Chicago can do this,” Brown said. “But not if it’s only the Chicago Police Department, only the superintendent, standing at the podium every weekend, answering these questions. This has to be an all-hands-on-deck [scenario], everyone in the criminal justice system being held accountable in the same ways Chicago police officers are.”
Brown had a meeting last week with the leaders of the Chicago offices of the FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois, asking for their help in tamping down Chicago shootings by bringing more gun cases to the federal level, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office released a statement Monday saying: “The sheriff is committed to combating violence and has always believed individuals charged with gun-related or violent crimes should remain in jail while awaiting trial to ensure the safety of the public. Decisions about bond amounts and conditions of bond — including which individuals are placed on electronic monitoring — rest solely with the judiciary.”
The office of Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans pointed to an opinion piece that Evans authored last year in which he said criticism of pretrial justice practices in Cook County is “misleading because pretrial defendants released on bond are not driving the weekend crime statistics.”
And Mary Wisniewski, a spokeswoman for Evans, said in an email, “If this is a discussion about resources for pretrial programs, Chief Judge Evans welcomes ideas to strengthen services for those who qualify for release while their cases are pending and they are presumed innocent.”
Contributing: Mitch Dudek, Carly Behm and Emmanuel Camarillo.