chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--The definitive guide to flu shots during the COVID pandemic (LIVE UPDATES)

Flu shots during the COVID pandemic : everything you need to know The message to vaccinate hasn ’ t been lost on Americans already calling their doctors and pharmacists to schedule a flu shot appointment before the start of the 2020-2021 influenza season .
Experts say it ’ s especially important this year , amid the coronavirus pandemic , to get vaccinated against the flu , whose symptoms can be similar .
It ’ s hard to predict how COVID-19 will mix with this year ’ s flu season .
Will mask-wearing and social distancing help limit flu transmission as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SARS-CoV-2 ?
Or will both viruses simultaneously wreak havoc on the nation even as some schools reopen for in-person learning ?
“ This fall , nothing can be more important than to try to increase the American public ’ s decision to embrace the flu vaccine with confidence , ” says Dr. Robert R. Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
” This is a critical year for us to try to take flu as much off the table as we can.
” Read the full guide to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
6:56 p.m. One in five Illinois counties now at COVID-19 ‘ warning level , ’ 2,208 new cases reported — and some in Will Co. say , ‘ So what ?
’ As public health officials announced nearly a fifth of all Illinois counties are at a coronavirus “ warning level , ” the state on Friday reported 2,208 new cases of COVID-19 — the fifth time in the last two weeks that Illinois has amassed 2,000 cases or more in a single day .
Illinois hadn ’ t seen such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial peak month of May — and it follows a 33-day stretch from June to July in which Illinois never surpassed more than a thousand new diagnoses in a day .
More than 37,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus over the first three weeks of August , compared to 22,925 in all of June .
That ’ s as the state has averaged more than 1,800 new cases per day over the last two weeks , almost triple the state ’ s running rate at the end of June .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among 51,736 tests submitted to the state , marking a third straight day of record-high testing numbers for the state and lowering the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 4.3 % .
But positivity rates have increased in seven of the state ’ s 11 regions over the last week , including the downstate Metro East region which is now at 9.4 % positivity — after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s health team forced officials there to scale back capacities and operating hours at bars and restaurants .
World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotes regional job growth , is facing the same funding pressures as other organizations and businesses and has laid off some staff , its president and CEO said Friday .
Andrea Zopp said the group has laid off five people and eliminated four open positions , leaving it with a staff of 30 .
“ We are expecting revenue impacts related to COVID-19 and we felt it was important to better align our expenses with those expectations , ” she said .
Zopp said she and other top staff at WBC have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The laid-off staffers received severance , she said .
A group representing hundreds of teachers and parents with the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Thursday called for all fall classes at the parochial school system to be held online .
“ Now is the wrong time to gather hundreds of human beings into enclosed spaces , ” James Cahill , a history and religion teacher at Wilmette ’ s St. Francis Xavier School , said at a news conference outside the archdiocese ’ s downtown offices , at 835 N. Rush St .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , Catholic Schools Supt .
Jim Rigg said the archdiocese is starting the school year with full-time in-person learning , saying it ’ s “ in the best interests of children and our mission.
” The “ Arch Teachers for a Safe Return ” group , which represents hundreds of teachers , is giving the archdiocese until Tuesday to respond .
Read the full story from Clare Proctor here .
Parents of Big Ten football players , upset over the process that led to the postponement of the fall season , held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosemont headquarters Friday while an attorney in Nebraska demanded Commissioner Kevin Warren turn over material illustrating how the decision was made .
The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced Aug. 11 that health and safety concerns over the coronavirus led them to shut down football this fall .
The other three major conferences , the Atlantic Coast , Big 12 and Southeastern , are planning to play .
Groups of player parents from several Big Ten schools have complained that Warren was not forthcoming in explaining the process that led to the school presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren offered in an open letter this week was not to their satisfaction .
“ We ’ ve got a voice .
We want to use it , ” said Jay Kallenberger , father of Iowa offensive lineman Mark Kallenberger .
“ Our kids may not be comfortable speaking out or the programs may say , ‘ Hey , just sit back , there ’ s not a lot you can say right now.
’ Transparency , that ’ s what we want.
” Randy Wade , father of Ohio State cornerback Shaun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two dozen parents representing Iowa , Illinois , Ohio State and Wisconsin showed up .
A few carried “ Let Them Play ” signs and the group chanted , “ Let us play !
” 1:10 p.m .
Instead of exploring COVID-19 effects , ‘ Love in the Time of Corona ’ does drive-bys With apologies to Gabriel Garcia Marquez — so many apologies — a show called “ Love in the Time of Corona ” seemed inevitable .
Judging by the evidence of the four-episode limited dramaseries ( airing Saturday and Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the answer is yes .
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about it is how it was shot — with remote cameras , in the homes of the actors .
The scripted series , which stars real-life couples like Leslie Odom Jr. ( “ Hamilton ” ) and Nicolette Robinson quarantining together , manages to shoehorn in almost every facet of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives , in glossy soap-opera fashion .
The series looks at the lives of four groups of people , each affected in their own way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dorfman ) is a gay man living with his best friend Elle ( Rainey Qualley ) , a straight woman ; Dorman is married in real life but he and Qualley are friends and have been quarantining together .
11:31 a.m. What ’ s been the hardest thing about wearing a mask for you ?
What Chicagoans say With face masks looking like they ’ ll be with us for the foreseeable future thanks to coronavirus , we asked Chicagoans : What ’ s been the hardest thing about wearing a mask for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lightly edited for clarity .
“ I absolutely freaking hate it !
It causes my glasses to fog .
Sometimes , I feel I can ’ t breathe when I ’ m in a store or the library places like that.
” — Jackie Waldhier “ Nothing .
It ’ s super easy to do and fun to make them myself .
When it ’ s hot , it may be a little uncomfortable , which honestly just encourages me to get back inside much faster.
” — Lia Crawford “ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still wear it.
” — Andrea Gorman “ The breakouts on my cheeks and the severe congestion I get from wearing them for 12 hours straight at work .
But those are minor things just glad to be healthy and safe.
” — Tanay Watson Read the full story by Alice Bazerghi here .
7:37 a.m. 1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in coronavirus rebound One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 also struggled to keep staff .
Significantly , there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment , known as PPE , or in the staffing shortfalls , according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers .
The summer has seen the coronavirus surge across the South , and much of the West and Midwest .
People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1 % of the U.S. population , but account for 43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID Tracking Project .
Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries , but in the U.S. the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump , who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid .
• Health officials on Thursday announced 1,832 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois , another four-digit caseload that has become the norm as the virus flares back up statewide .
• Illinois has reported an average of 1,807 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up from an average of 1,063 cases per day this time last month .
The big top is different , not gone .
But the traditional political grub fests once held outside our national political conventions have disappeared , jettisoned by a pandemic .
What fun they were ... if the pickings were good .
Outside the political wigwam was the juicy steak of journalism : private venues feeding a press hungry for news not available under the convention tent .
Party havens for hustlers , glad handers , gadflies , lugubrious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were delicious .
These coveted private , invitation-only “ after-parties , ” tossed by celebs , charities , pols , major firms , and media groups , once buzzed with deals and appeals — where drinks flowed and handshakes were under the table or in a quiet corner of the room .
To a journalist , an invite to an after-party was creme ; a place where scoops were netted , scores were settled ; and new sources formed .
No more .
For now .
7:51 a.m. Chicago needs sensible plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a leader in so many ways , has not done a good enough job of protecting its residents from lead in its decades-old water pipes .
As other cities turned to safer alternatives , our city kept requiring that service lines be made of lead — until Congress made the city stop in 1986 .
Even tiny amounts of lead can damage children ’ s brains , and the heavy metal has been tied to other health problems as well , such as kidney failure , heart disease , learning disabilities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the number of Chicagoans who were working in buildings with lead-free water before the COVID-19 pandemic struck , but who are now at home drinking out of tainted pipes .
The city is looking for a way to fix this problem .
It needs to get it right this time , with input from all the stakeholders .
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board here .

Health officials in Illinois are still grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but they’re already warning the public about another health problem in the making — flu season.
Here’s what else happened Friday as the pandemic continued to make headlines around the state.
News
8:57 p.m. Flu shots during the COVID pandemic: everything you need to know
Original: Barrington 11/10/09 Rylan Lamp, 1.5, of Lake Zurich, receives the H1N1 Flu Vaccine, at Good Shepherd Hospital, in Barrington, on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. (Ruthie Hauge/Staff Photographer) Published: Rylan Lamp, 1, of Lake Zurich, receives the H1N1 Flu Vaccine, at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital earlier this month. (Ruthie Hauge/Staff Photographer)
The message to vaccinate hasn’t been lost on Americans already calling their doctors and pharmacists to schedule a flu shot appointment before the start of the 2020-2021 influenza season.
Experts say it’s especially important this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, to get vaccinated against the flu, whose symptoms can be similar.
It’s hard to predict how COVID-19 will mix with this year’s flu season. Will mask-wearing and social distancing help limit flu transmission as it’s meant to do with SARS-CoV-2? Or will both viruses simultaneously wreak havoc on the nation even as some schools reopen for in-person learning?
“This fall, nothing can be more important than to try to increase the American public’s decision to embrace the flu vaccine with confidence,” says Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ”This is a critical year for us to try to take flu as much off the table as we can.”
Read the full guide to getting flu shots during the COVID-19 pandemic.
6:56 p.m. One in five Illinois counties now at COVID-19 ‘warning level,’ 2,208 new cases reported — and some in Will Co. say, ‘So what?’
Nurse practitioner Capri Reese talks to a Chicago Fire Department EMT in the Emergency Department at Roseland Community Hospital, Tuesday afternoon, April 28, 2020. During Reese’s 12-hour shift Tuesday, she responded to five code blues and three patients suffering from COVID-19 died. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
As public health officials announced nearly a fifth of all Illinois counties are at a coronavirus “warning level,” the state on Friday reported 2,208 new cases of COVID-19 — the fifth time in the last two weeks that Illinois has amassed 2,000 cases or more in a single day.
Illinois hadn’t seen such a cluster of high coronavirus caseloads since its initial peak month of May — and it follows a 33-day stretch from June to July in which Illinois never surpassed more than a thousand new diagnoses in a day.
More than 37,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus over the first three weeks of August, compared to 22,925 in all of June. That’s as the state has averaged more than 1,800 new cases per day over the last two weeks, almost triple the state’s running rate at the end of June.
Still, Illinois’ latest cases were confirmed among 51,736 tests submitted to the state, marking a third straight day of record-high testing numbers for the state and lowering the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 4.3%.
But positivity rates have increased in seven of the state’s 11 regions over the last week, including the downstate Metro East region which is now at 9.4% positivity — after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s health team forced officials there to scale back capacities and operating hours at bars and restaurants.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.
5:19 p.m. Layoffs hit World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago, the public-private agency that promotes regional job growth, is facing the same funding pressures as other organizations and businesses and has laid off some staff, its president and CEO said Friday.
Andrea Zopp said the group has laid off five people and eliminated four open positions, leaving it with a staff of 30. “We are expecting revenue impacts related to COVID-19 and we felt it was important to better align our expenses with those expectations,” she said.
Zopp said she and other top staff at WBC have taken pay cuts she declined to specify. The laid-off staffers received severance, she said.
Reporter David Roeder has the full story.
3:24 p.m. Catholic school teachers demand fully remote learning: ‘Outbreaks are inevitable’
The Rev. C.J. Hawking with Arise Chicago said the interfaith workeres’ rights organization has heard from hundreds of teachers terrified to return to school in-person. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
A group representing hundreds of teachers and parents with the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Thursday called for all fall classes at the parochial school system to be held online.
“Now is the wrong time to gather hundreds of human beings into enclosed spaces,” James Cahill, a history and religion teacher at Wilmette’s St. Francis Xavier School, said at a news conference outside the archdiocese’s downtown offices, at 835 N. Rush St.
In an email to families earlier this month, Catholic Schools Supt. Jim Rigg said the archdiocese is starting the school year with full-time in-person learning, saying it’s “in the best interests of children and our mission.”
The “Arch Teachers for a Safe Return” group, which represents hundreds of teachers, is giving the archdiocese until Tuesday to respond.
Read the full story from Clare Proctor here.
2:11 p.m. Athletes’ parents hold protest at Big Ten headquarters
Parents of Big Ten football players, upset over the process that led to the postponement of the fall season, held a protest near the conference’s Rosemont headquarters Friday while an attorney in Nebraska demanded Commissioner Kevin Warren turn over material illustrating how the decision was made.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced Aug. 11 that health and safety concerns over the coronavirus led them to shut down football this fall. The other three major conferences, the Atlantic Coast, Big 12 and Southeastern, are planning to play.
Groups of player parents from several Big Ten schools have complained that Warren was not forthcoming in explaining the process that led to the school presidents’ decision. A more detailed explanation Warren offered in an open letter this week was not to their satisfaction.
“We’ve got a voice. We want to use it,” said Jay Kallenberger, father of Iowa offensive lineman Mark Kallenberger. “Our kids may not be comfortable speaking out or the programs may say, ‘Hey, just sit back, there’s not a lot you can say right now.’ Transparency, that’s what we want.”
Randy Wade, father of Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, organized the protest. About two dozen parents representing Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin showed up. A few carried “Let Them Play” signs and the group chanted, “Let us play!”
Read the full report here.
1:10 p.m. Instead of exploring COVID-19 effects, ‘Love in the Time of Corona’ does drive-bys
With apologies to Gabriel Garcia Marquez — so many apologies — a show called “Love in the Time of Corona” seemed inevitable.
Too soon?
Judging by the evidence of the four-episode limited dramaseries (airing Saturday and Sunday on Freeform, then on Hulu), the answer is yes.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about it is how it was shot — with remote cameras, in the homes of the actors. The scripted series, which stars real-life couples like Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) and Nicolette Robinson quarantining together, manages to shoehorn in almost every facet of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives, in glossy soap-opera fashion.
The series looks at the lives of four groups of people, each affected in their own way by the pandemic. Oscar (Tommy Dorfman) is a gay man living with his best friend Elle (Rainey Qualley), a straight woman; Dorman is married in real life but he and Qualley are friends and have been quarantining together.
Read the full review here.
11:31 a.m. What’s been the hardest thing about wearing a mask for you? What Chicagoans say
With face masks looking like they’ll be with us for the foreseeable future thanks to coronavirus, we asked Chicagoans: What’s been the hardest thing about wearing a mask for you? Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
“I absolutely freaking hate it! It causes my glasses to fog. Sometimes, I feel I can’t breathe when I’m in a store or the library places like that.” — Jackie Waldhier
“Nothing. It’s super easy to do and fun to make them myself. When it’s hot, it may be a little uncomfortable, which honestly just encourages me to get back inside much faster.” — Lia Crawford
“My skin conditions flaring up. But I still wear it.” — Andrea Gorman
“The breakouts on my cheeks and the severe congestion I get from wearing them for 12 hours straight at work. But those are minor things just glad to be healthy and safe.” — Tanay Watson
Read the full story by Alice Bazerghi here.
7:37 a.m. 1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in coronavirus rebound
One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday that finds facilities in areas hard-hit by COVID-19 also struggled to keep staff.
Significantly, there was no improvement from May to July in the shortages of personal protective equipment, known as PPE, or in the staffing shortfalls, according to the analysis of federal data by academic researchers. The summer has seen the coronavirus surge across the South, and much of the West and Midwest.
People living in long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but account for 43% of coronavirus deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Similar glaring disparities have been seen with nursing home residents in other countries, but in the U.S. the issue has become politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to hang on to support from older voters in his reelection bid.
Read the full story here.
New cases
Five Notre Dame football players test positive for COVID-19.
Health officials on Thursday announced 1,832 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Illinois, another four-digit caseload that has become the norm as the virus flares back up statewide.
Illinois has reported an average of 1,807 new cases per day over the last two weeks, up from an average of 1,063 cases per day this time last month.
Analysis & Commentary
6:07 p.m. Fun and flavor of political conventions fade amid pandemic
It’s no longer a circus.
The big top is different, not gone. But the traditional political grub fests once held outside our national political conventions have disappeared, jettisoned by a pandemic.
What fun they were ... if the pickings were good.
Outside the political wigwam was the juicy steak of journalism: private venues feeding a press hungry for news not available under the convention tent. Party havens for hustlers, glad handers, gadflies, lugubrious leakers, hustlers and hucksters — they were delicious.
These coveted private, invitation-only “after-parties,” tossed by celebs, charities, pols, major firms, and media groups, once buzzed with deals and appeals — where drinks flowed and handshakes were under the table or in a quiet corner of the room.
To a journalist, an invite to an after-party was creme; a place where scoops were netted, scores were settled; and new sources formed.
No more. For now.
Read more of Michael Sneed’s pre-pandemic convention memories.
7:51 a.m. Chicago needs sensible plan to get the lead out of water
Chicago, a leader in so many ways, has not done a good enough job of protecting its residents from lead in its decades-old water pipes.
As other cities turned to safer alternatives, our city kept requiring that service lines be made of lead — until Congress made the city stop in 1986. Even tiny amounts of lead can damage children’s brains, and the heavy metal has been tied to other health problems as well, such as kidney failure, heart disease, learning disabilities and impaired hearing.
The problem is compounded by the number of Chicagoans who were working in buildings with lead-free water before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, but who are now at home drinking out of tainted pipes.
The city is looking for a way to fix this problem. It needs to get it right this time, with input from all the stakeholders.
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board here.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Yoan Moncada out of White Sox lineup for series opener against Cubs

Center fielder Luis Robert and Yasmani Grandal returned to the White Sox lineup after missing two and three games with a sore right hand and back , respectively , but a big bat was missing Friday when the Sox opened a three game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field .
Third baseman Yoan Moncada was out after appearing to be less than 100 percent in recent days .
“ Just managing his legs a little bit , ” manager Rick Renteria said .
“ You guys have seen him kind of grinding it out a little bit .
Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ll be able to get him back in there tomorrow , maybe use him for a special at-bat or something today .
That ’ s basically all it is.
” Moncada was batting .266/.352./468 with five home runs .
He was batting .185 with two homers and nine RBI in his last eight games and .211 with three homers and 10 RBI in his last 15 .
Renteria didn ’ t specify the nature of Moncada ’ s soreness , but Moncada , who started late during summer camp because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with hamstring issues throughout his career .
“ With Yoán absolutely , we ’ re constantly keeping our eye on how he ’ s moving around the bases and how he ’ s reacting , ” Renteria said .
“ These guys are very strong and they can push themselves and maybe I can just help them kind of calm it down a little bit , let those legs cool off a little bit.
” Robert said he was worried after hurting his hand diving for a ball Tuesday , and how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t feel any pain , although Renteria didn ’ t play him for two games .
In any event , Robert said he wasn ’ t considering the fact the Sox were ahead by five runs when he made the dive , coming up about a foot short .
“ When you have a chance to make a play you ’ re not thinking about how many runs you ’ re up or down , ” he said through translator Billy Russo .
“ You ’ re just trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to catch the ball .
You ’ re also not thinking that , ‘ OK , if I five here I ’ m going to get hurt.
’ Not that ’ s not in your mind .
For me , I ’ m just trying to do what I know I can do , I ’ m always trying to catch every flyball in my range.
” There was no announcement of the Saturday starter but Reynaldo Lopez is the likely choice And left-hander Gio Gonzalez , who has made four starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lopez , who has been out with a sore shoulder and would probably be limited to two , three or four innings depending on his pitch count .
Saturday would be Gonzalez ’ turn to start .

Center fielder Luis Robert and catcher Yasmani Grandal returned to the White Sox’ lineup after missing two and three games with a sore right hand and a sore back, respectively, but a big bat was missing Friday, when the Sox opened a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada was out after appearing to be less than 100% in recent days.
“Just managing his legs a little bit,” manager Rick Renteria said. “You guys have seen him kind of grinding it out a little bit. Maybe this will just calm it down, and we’ll be able to get him back in there tomorrow, maybe use him for a special at-bat or something today. That’s basically all it is.”
Moncada was batting .266/.352/.468 with five home runs. He was hitting .185 with two homers and nine RBI in his last eight games and .211 with three homers and 10 RBI in his last 15.
Renteria didn’t specify the nature of Moncada’s soreness, but Moncada, who started late during summer camp because of a positive coronavirus test, has dealt with hamstring issues throughout his career.
“With Yoan, absolutely, we’re constantly keeping our eye on how he’s moving around the bases and how he’s reacting,” Renteria said.
“These guys are very strong, and they can push themselves and maybe I can just help them kind of calm it down a little bit, let those legs cool off a little bit.”
Ryan Goins started at third.
Robert won’t back down
Robert said he was worried after hurting his hand diving for a ball Tuesday, and how it would feel the next day but said he didn’t feel any pain, although Renteria didn’t play him for two games.
In any event, Robert said he wasn’t considering the fact the Sox were ahead by five runs when he made the dive, coming up about a foot short.
“When you have a chance to make a play, you’re not thinking about how many runs you’re up or down,” he said. “You’re just trying to do your job; you’re trying to catch the ball. You’re also not thinking that, ‘OK, if I dive here, I’m going to get hurt.’ That’s not on your mind. For me, I’m just trying to do what I know I can do, I’m always trying to catch every fly ball in my range.”
Jimenez’s blasting memory
At first, Eloy Jimenez called the Sox-Cubs series “like any other series.’’ By the time he was done with his pregame Zoom interview, it was apparent that it’s more than that.
Traded by the Cubs to the Sox in 2017 in the Jose Quintana deal, Jimenez now counts his home run against the Cubs at Wrigley Field last season as one of the most cherished of his young career. He has the broken bat he hit it with, the ball, the batting gloves.
“I have pretty much everything that I used that game,” he said.
“It’s always fun playing against the Cubs. After they traded me, I like to play against them. But I just try to go out and play hard like always.”
Jimenez, who homered off Colin Rea in the seventh inning and singled against Jon Lester in the first inning, recalled connecting on the two-run tiebreaking homer against Pedro Strop on June 19 last year, a ninth-inning blast that gave the Sox a 3-1 victory before 41,192 fans.
“It’s special,” Jimenez said. “My first game at Wrigley Field. I was dreaming of that, hitting a home run here. Nothing against them, but after they traded me, I said, ‘Oh, yeah. I want to hit it against them.’ A really good memory for me for the rest of my life.”
Lopez to start Saturday
Reynaldo Lopez will start Saturday, Renteria said after the game. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who has made four starts and one relief appearance, might relieve Lopez, who has been out with a sore shoulder since his first start of the season and probably would be limited to two, three or four innings depending on his pitch count.
“Absolutely, that’s a possibility,” Renteria said.
Saturday would have been Gonzalez’s turn to start.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Craft distillers see sales evaporate amid pandemic

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — For five months , no rum has flowed for visitors at Jaime Windon ’ s distillery in Maryland , drying up a crucial part of her revenue stream .
Windon ’ s tasting room remains shuttered by the coronavirus , another victim of the pandemic ’ s devastating impact on the world economy .
Like other craft distillers , Windon Distilling relied heavily on sales from people who ventured in to learn a bit about making spirits , sample the products and take home a bottle or two .
But small , independent producers — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s spirits sector — have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak , according to a new study .
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States found that nationally , craft distillers will see an estimated 41 % of their sales — worth more than $ 700 million — evaporate because of the pandemic .
The distillers furloughed nearly one-third of their employees , its study estimated .
Windon , whose flagship brand is Lyon Rum , had no revenue coming in at the end of March at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland ’ s Eastern Shore .
She furloughed most of her staff but has since brought back most of her full-time workers , though she ’ s only staffed at 50 % with the tasting room still closed .
She could reopen the tasting room — which had averaged about 500 visitors per week — but has chosen not to in part because of space restrictions .
“ If people would have told me at the beginning of this year that I would have to close my tasting room for five months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out of business , ” Jaime Windon said in an interview .
She ’ s stayed afloat thanks to her wholesale business , having developed a strong core business in Maryland and a broader distribution network that reaches eight other states .
“ We ’ re able to produce , ” Windon said .
“ But we don ’ t meet the hundreds of people a week in our distillery like we used to .
That ’ s the hardest hit and it ’ s the biggest change for us.
” Craft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate giants producing well-known brands like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel ’ s Tennessee Whiskey .
In the world ’ s bourbon capital , Kentucky craft distillers have their own bourbon trail in a state that has cultivated whiskey tourism .
Nationally , craft distilling grew into almost a $ 1.8 billion business in 2019 , directly employing around 15,000 people and indirectly supporting thousands of jobs in related businesses , according to the study .
At retail , those sales are worth nearly $ 3.2 billion , it said .
About 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,500 cases per year and 70 % employ 10 or fewer employees .
But because of their size , craft distillers aren ’ t as well capitalized as the large producers , making them more vulnerable to economic downturns .
The study by the Distilled Spirits Council was based on data from a June 2020 survey by the American Distilling Institute , a trade association for craft distillers .
The survey included feedback from nearly 300 distilleries across the country .
It found that COVID-19 restrictions drained sales from on-site tasting rooms at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distillers participating in the survey reported their on-site sales were down 25 % or more , the study found .
More than 15 % said their tasting rooms were shut down , Combining lost tasting room sales with lost wholesale business means craft distillers are projected to lose $ 700 million in annualized sales — a loss of 41 % of the total craft business , the study said .
In 2019 , an estimated $ 919 million of craft distiller revenues came from on-site sales .
More than 40 % of craft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down 25 % or more , while 11 % said they had lost all their wholesale business , the study said .
Most of the lost wholesale business was due to bar closures during the pandemic , it said .
The distilling industry has been seeking seeking additional economic relief from Congress , including pushing a bill that would make current federal excise tax rates permanent .
Without the measure , the industry says craft distillers face a massive tax increase next year .
Windon , the CEO at Windon Distilling , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will weather the storm but worries that it could take time to recoup the losses .
She wonders how quickly some people will return to tasting rooms , and whether craft producers can maintain their market shares .
“ What ’ s it going to look like on the other side ?
Will those hard-earned spaces on liquor store shelves , will that be lost ?
Because it ’ s harder to sell a craft , unique product , ” she said .

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For five months, no rum has flowed for visitors at Jaime Windon’s distillery in Maryland, drying up a crucial part of her revenue stream. Windon’s tasting room remains shuttered by the coronavirus, another victim of the pandemic’s devastating impact on the world economy.
Like other craft distillers, Windon Distilling relied heavily on sales from people who ventured in to learn a bit about making spirits, sample the products and take home a bottle or two. But small, independent producers — who have carved out a sizable niche in the country’s spirits sector — have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a new study.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States found that nationally, craft distillers will see an estimated 41% of their sales — worth more than $700 million — evaporate because of the pandemic.
The distillers furloughed nearly one-third of their employees, its study estimated.
Windon, whose flagship brand is Lyon Rum, had no revenue coming in at the end of March at the distillery she founded seven years ago on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. She furloughed most of her staff but has since brought back most of her full-time workers, though she’s only staffed at 50% with the tasting room still closed. She could reopen the tasting room — which had averaged about 500 visitors per week — but has chosen not to in part because of space restrictions.
“If people would have told me at the beginning of this year that I would have to close my tasting room for five months, I would have told you we would go out of business,” Jaime Windon said in an interview.
She’s stayed afloat thanks to her wholesale business, having developed a strong core business in Maryland and a broader distribution network that reaches eight other states.
“We’re able to produce,” Windon said. “But we don’t meet the hundreds of people a week in our distillery like we used to. That’s the hardest hit and it’s the biggest change for us.”
Craft distilling has grown in the shadows of corporate giants producing well-known brands like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. In the world’s bourbon capital, Kentucky craft distillers have their own bourbon trail in a state that has cultivated whiskey tourism.
Nationally, craft distilling grew into almost a $1.8 billion business in 2019, directly employing around 15,000 people and indirectly supporting thousands of jobs in related businesses, according to the study. At retail, those sales are worth nearly $3.2 billion, it said. About 60% of craft distillers sell fewer than 2,500 cases per year and 70% employ 10 or fewer employees.
But because of their size, craft distillers aren’t as well capitalized as the large producers, making them more vulnerable to economic downturns.
The study by the Distilled Spirits Council was based on data from a June 2020 survey by the American Distilling Institute, a trade association for craft distillers. The survey included feedback from nearly 300 distilleries across the country.
It found that COVID-19 restrictions drained sales from on-site tasting rooms at distilleries.
About 40% of craft distillers participating in the survey reported their on-site sales were down 25% or more, the study found. More than 15% said their tasting rooms were shut down,
Combining lost tasting room sales with lost wholesale business means craft distillers are projected to lose $700 million in annualized sales — a loss of 41% of the total craft business, the study said. In 2019, an estimated $919 million of craft distiller revenues came from on-site sales.
More than 40% of craft distillers reported that their wholesale business was down 25% or more, while 11% said they had lost all their wholesale business, the study said. Most of the lost wholesale business was due to bar closures during the pandemic, it said.
The distilling industry has been seeking seeking additional economic relief from Congress, including pushing a bill that would make current federal excise tax rates permanent. Without the measure, the industry says craft distillers face a massive tax increase next year.
Windon, the CEO at Windon Distilling, said she’s confident that craft distillers will weather the storm but worries that it could take time to recoup the losses. She wonders how quickly some people will return to tasting rooms, and whether craft producers can maintain their market shares.
“What’s it going to look like on the other side? Will those hard-earned spaces on liquor store shelves, will that be lost? Because it’s harder to sell a craft, unique product,” she said.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Chicago’s derecho damage points to need for more native tree planting, U. of I. scientist says

Most people are probably like my wife and I , who have traveled the city awestruck by the widespread tree damage caused by the Aug. 10 derecho that slammed through neighborhoods with 75 mile-an-hour winds .
We ’ ve observed only a small portion of what city officials tell us were thousands of downed trees — some that landed on cars , garages and houses — and marveled at the seeming randomness of nature ’ s destructive force .
Greg Spyreas came away with a different take .
“ What I saw wasn ’ t random at all .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head at the utter predictability of it , ” Spyreas wrote in a letter to the Sun-Times .
Spyreas , 45 , a botanist who works as a research scientist with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , said the damage was primarily the result of poor decisions made over many decades about which trees to plant .
Instead of native trees adapted to Midwestern storms , Chicago ’ s streets are lined with “ non-native , ornamental and/or fast-growing , weak-wooded trees ” that are the first to fall , Spyreas said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Norway maples snapped in half , European lindens completely uprooted , Callery pears split and shredded , ” he said , naming some of the main culprits , their presence attributable to shortsighted fads .
To try to see what Spyreas sees , I took a walk with him Friday south of Welles Park near where he lives .
It wasn ’ t the hardest-hit part of the city , but it took a punch , and the scars were evident .
We paused at a stand of Norway maples along Montrose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm well but might not the next .
“ They ’ re 40 years old .
They ’ re at the end of their life span , ” Spyreas said .
The Norway maple is a good-looking tree .
It grows fast and reaches for the sky , Spyreas said , making that nice circular shape on top like you see in a kid ’ s drawing .
But its wood is weak , and it measures life in decades , not centuries .
The next time we came across a Norway maple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of our walk , Spyreas estimated that 75 percent of the damage we ’ d seen was to that one tree species .
We passed a pair of ash trees looking a little worse for wear .
The ash is a majestic tree native to our area but , as most folks know , has fallen victim to the emerald ash borer .
Twenty percent of the trees in the city are ash , Spyreas said , and most will be coming down in the next five years , testament to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
Our next stop was a healthy little tree .
“ That ’ s a red oak , and that ’ s a good choice , ” Spyreas said .
“ Whoever did that knew what they were doing .
“ And over there they didn ’ t know what they were doing , ” he said , pointing to a Callery pear with a missing limb that had fallen into the street .
“ It ’ s the biggest fad tree that ’ s actually a piece of garbage.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landed on a car .
Spyreas really hates Callery pears , so I didn ’ t tell him we planted some type of ornamental pear when we lived in the suburbs .
Rounding the corner , we found aanother toppled Norway maple .
Spyreas inspected it closely and said the trunk and roots appeared healthy .
“ You would have thought this one would have done better , ” he said .
Which raises the obvious point that any storm of the derecho ’ s magnitude is going to cause tree damage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ less if we plant better trees .
It ’ s not like our choices are limited .
“ Sassafras , flowering dogwood , serviceberry , hawthorn , Iowa crabapple , Canadian plum , redbud , blue beech , juniper , white pine , eastern hemlock , American elm , American sycamore , American beech , tupelo , catalpa , magnolia , walnut , hackberry , Ohio buckeye , Kentucky coffeetree and tulip poplar can all thrive in the city , ” Spyreas said .
Most of the trees that sustained major limb damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years , Spyreas warned .
With so many trees needing to be replaced , he said it ’ s a good time for homeowners to consider their options — and take the long view .
A native sugar maple , for instance , can live hundreds of years .
Spyreas had one last piece of advice .
Don ’ t ever park under a Norway maple or a Callery pear .

Most people are probably like my wife and I, who have traveled the city awestruck by the widespread tree damage caused by the Aug. 10 derecho that slammed through neighborhoods with 75 mile-an-hour winds.
We’ve observed only a small portion of what city officials tell us were thousands of downed trees — some that landed on cars, garages and houses — and marveled at the seeming randomness of nature’s destructive force.
Greg Spyreas came away with a different take.
“What I saw wasn’t random at all. As I walked around, I shook my head at the utter predictability of it,” Spyreas wrote in a letter to the Sun-Times.
Spyreas, 45, a botanist who works as a research scientist with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the damage was primarily the result of poor decisions made over many decades about which trees to plant.
Instead of native trees adapted to Midwestern storms, Chicago’s streets are lined with “non-native, ornamental and/or fast-growing, weak-wooded trees” that are the first to fall, Spyreas said.
“I see block after block of Norway maples snapped in half, European lindens completely uprooted, Callery pears split and shredded,” he said, naming some of the main culprits, their presence attributable to shortsighted fads.
To try to see what Spyreas sees, I took a walk with him Friday south of Welles Park near where he lives. It wasn’t the hardest-hit part of the city, but it took a punch, and the scars were evident.
We paused at a stand of Norway maples along Montrose Avenue that seemed to have weathered this storm well but might not the next.
“They’re 40 years old. They’re at the end of their life span,” Spyreas said.
The Norway maple is a good-looking tree. It grows fast and reaches for the sky, Spyreas said, making that nice circular shape on top like you see in a kid’s drawing.
But its wood is weak, and it measures life in decades, not centuries.
The next time we came across a Norway maple, it was badly damaged. By the end of our walk, Spyreas estimated that 75 percent of the damage we’d seen was to that one tree species.
We passed a pair of ash trees looking a little worse for wear. The ash is a majestic tree native to our area but, as most folks know, has fallen victim to the emerald ash borer.
Twenty percent of the trees in the city are ash, Spyreas said, and most will be coming down in the next five years, testament to the need for diversity in our tree population.
Our next stop was a healthy little tree.
“That’s a red oak, and that’s a good choice,” Spyreas said. “Whoever did that knew what they were doing.
“And over there, they didn’t know what they were doing,” he said, pointing to a Callery pear with a missing limb that had fallen into the street. “It’s the biggest fad tree that’s actually a piece of garbage.”
A neighbor told us the fallen limb had landed on a car.
Spyreas really hates Callery pears, so I didn’t tell him we planted some type of ornamental pear when we lived in the suburbs.
Rounding the corner, we found another toppled Norway maple. Spyreas inspected it closely and said the trunk and roots appeared healthy.
“You would have thought this one would have done better,” he said.
Which raises the obvious point that any storm of the derecho’s magnitude is going to cause tree damage. But Spyreas said it will be much less if we plant better trees.
It’s not like our choices are limited.
“Sassafras, flowering dogwood, serviceberry, hawthorn, Iowa crabapple, Canadian plum, redbud, blue beech, juniper, white pine, eastern hemlock, American elm, American sycamore, American beech, tupelo, catalpa, magnolia, walnut, hackberry, Ohio buckeye, Kentucky coffeetree and tulip poplar can all thrive in the city,” Spyreas said.
Most of the trees that sustained major limb damage Aug. 10 will die within the next five years, Spyreas warned.
With so many trees needing to be replaced, he said it’s a good time for homeowners to consider their options — and take the long view. A native sugar maple, for instance, can live hundreds of years.
Spyreas had one last piece of advice.
Don’t ever park under a Norway maple or a Callery pear.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Fun and flavor of political conventions fade amid pandemic

The big top is different , not gone .
But the traditional political grub fests once held outside our national political conventions have disappeared , jettisoned by a pandemic .
What fun they were ... if the pickings were good .
Outside the political wigwam was the juicy steak of journalism : private venues feeding a press hungry for news not available under the convention tent .
Party havens for hustlers , glad handers , gadflies , lugubrious leakers , hustlers and hucksters — they were delicious .
These coveted private , invitation-only “ after-parties , ” tossed by celebs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and media groups , once buzzed with deals and appeals — where drinks flowed and handshakes were under the table or in a quiet corner of the room .
To a journalist , an invite to an after-party was creme ; a place where scoops were netted , scores were settled ; and new sources formed .
No more .
For now .
This year ’ s Democratic National Convention was deadly serious : a message of impending doom ; a warning of an attack on our Constitution ; a plea for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structural racism ; and a return to a kinder , gentler nation .
Next week ’ s Republican National Convention is drawing major production whispers of President Donald Trump ’ s brand of uber “ patriotism , ” flag waving and Evangelical conservatism .
So , folks , let ’ s peek inside Sneed ’ s grab bag of memorabilia collected covering Democratic and Republican conventions since 1968 , when the work was a lot more fun than it seems to be now .
Jutting out of my convention keepsakes like an angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 14.99 plastic Hillary Clinton doll dubbed the “ Boogie Diva ” — purchased on sale after she lost her Dem presidential nominee bid to Barack Obama .
Under Sneed ’ s necklace of old security passes is also : • A “ Jesse Jackson for President ” shoelace from the 1988 Dem convention in Atlanta .
• A Trump toilet bowl scrubber and bar of Trump hand soap “ for dirty politics ” purchased after 2016 Dem convention in Philadelphia .
• A smudged House Speaker Dennis Hastert baseball cap ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cards ; and a 1996 GOP convention Bob Dole for President button emblazoned with the candidate decked as a Mohican Indian .
( “ The Last of the Republicans !
” ) Get it ?
Don ’ t ask me .
Covering the conventions was great fun but heavy lifting ; requiring a leg up as well as strong legs ; and , decades ago , keeping quarters in our pockets for the obligatory pay phone before the age of cellphones .
Hailing a cab to “ private , invitation-only ” after-parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
My baptism covering conventions began in 1968 , spending time at police stations bailing out reporters and photographers arrested covering the anti-Vietnam War protests in Grant Park ; and in 1972 getting pepper sprayed covering protesters outside the Republican convention center during the Nixon era .
Sometime in 1980 , I began peppering my convention coverage in a column featuring snide Sneed snippets primarily vetted by sources at after-parties .
“ Who would have known plump first daughter Maureen Reagan and her chief of staff tossed dinner plates at each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotel after being caught in a tiff ?
“ Did Maureen lick the plates clean before she threw them , ” I once asked .
Even boxing promoter Don King , whose 2016 Trump endorsement speech was dumped by former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus because he had a criminal history , erupted : “ The Republican Party said an ex-convict can ’ t speak !
( They ) ... didn ’ t have the decency to tell me to my face , they just sent me a note , ” said King , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And remember when former White House adviser David Axelrod predicted Donald Trump Jr. may have launched a political career stemming from his boffo convention speech Tuesday night .
“ My wife thinks his speech was masterful , and she has a great gauge , ” he told Sneed .
Somewhere , in the midst of hard news , came column items garnered from those infamous after-parties , such as : Phyllis “ No ERA ” Schlafly , whose hair wouldn ’ t move even if it were plaited with dynamite , fell asleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
Former Dem presidential contender Hillary Clinton got lost in an elevator en route to her party ’ s convention .
...
Moral Majority maven Jerry Falwell , who sued Hustler magazine over a prurient cartoon , was spotted passing out comic books portraying Dem presidential contender Mike Dukakis in a dress.
” Sneed snippets aside , our country now needs to move forward , not backward .
Not Trump twice , please .

It’s no longer a circus.
The big top is different, not gone. But the traditional political grub fests once held outside our national political conventions have disappeared, jettisoned by a pandemic.
What fun they were ... if the pickings were good.
Outside the political wigwam was the juicy steak of journalism: private venues feeding a press hungry for news not available under the convention tent. Party havens for hustlers, glad handers, gadflies, lugubrious leakers, hustlers and hucksters — they were delicious.
These coveted private, invitation-only “after-parties,” tossed by celebs, charities, pols, major firms, and media groups, once buzzed with deals and appeals — where drinks flowed and handshakes were under the table or in a quiet corner of the room.
To a journalist, an invite to an after-party was creme; a place where scoops were netted, scores were settled; and new sources formed.
No more. For now.
This year’s Democratic National Convention was deadly serious: a message of impending doom; a warning of an attack on our Constitution; a plea for nice over vice; an end to structural racism; and a return to a kinder, gentler nation.
Next week’s Republican National Convention is drawing major production whispers of President Donald Trump’s brand of uber “patriotism,” flag waving and Evangelical conservatism.
So, folks, let’s peek inside Sneed’s grab bag of memorabilia collected covering Democratic and Republican conventions since 1968, when the work was a lot more fun than it seems to be now.
Here goes.
Jutting out of my convention keepsakes like an angry tooth waiting to be pulled — is a $14.99 plastic Hillary Clinton doll dubbed the “Boogie Diva” — purchased on sale after she lost her Dem presidential nominee bid to Barack Obama.
A Hillary Clinton doll purchased on sale after she lost her Dem presidential nominee bid to Barack Obama. Provided photo
Under Sneed’s necklace of old security passes is also:
A “ Jesse Jackson for President” shoelace from the 1988 Dem convention in Atlanta.
for President” shoelace from the 1988 Dem convention in Atlanta. A Trump toilet bowl scrubber and bar of Trump hand soap “for dirty politics” purchased after 2016 Dem convention in Philadelphia.
A smudged House Speaker Dennis Hastert baseball cap; an opened 2004 George W. Bush deck of cards; and a 1996 GOP convention Bob Dole for President button emblazoned with the candidate decked as a Mohican Indian. (“The Last of the Republicans!”) Get it? Don’t ask me.
A Trump toilet bowl scrubber purchased after the 2016 Dem convention in Philadelphia. Provided photo
Covering the conventions was great fun but heavy lifting; requiring a leg up as well as strong legs; and, decades ago, keeping quarters in our pockets for the obligatory pay phone before the age of cellphones.
Hailing a cab to “private, invitation-only” after-parties was a nightmare in a traffic-congested convention city.
My baptism covering conventions began in 1968, spending time at police stations bailing out reporters and photographers arrested covering the anti-Vietnam War protests in Grant Park; and in 1972 getting pepper sprayed covering protesters outside the Republican convention center during the Nixon era.
Sometime in 1980, I began peppering my convention coverage in a column featuring snide Sneed snippets primarily vetted by sources at after-parties.
“Who would have known plump first daughter Maureen Reagan and her chief of staff tossed dinner plates at each other at the RNC offices at the Hilton Hotel after being caught in a tiff?
“Did Maureen lick the plates clean before she threw them,” I once asked.
So naughty.
Even boxing promoter Don King, whose 2016 Trump endorsement speech was dumped by former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus because he had a criminal history, erupted: “The Republican Party said an ex-convict can’t speak! (They)... didn’t have the decency to tell me to my face, they just sent me a note,” said King, decked out in spangles and stars.
And remember when former White House adviser David Axelrod predicted Donald Trump Jr. may have launched a political career stemming from his boffo convention speech Tuesday night.
“My wife thinks his speech was masterful, and she has a great gauge,” he told Sneed.
Somewhere, in the midst of hard news, came column items garnered from those infamous after-parties, such as: Phyllis “No ERA” Schlafly, whose hair wouldn’t move even if it were plaited with dynamite, fell asleep twice on the GOP convention floor. . . Former Dem presidential contender Hillary Clinton got lost in an elevator en route to her party’s convention. ...Moral Majority maven Jerry Falwell, who sued Hustler magazine over a prurient cartoon, was spotted passing out comic books portraying Dem presidential contender Mike Dukakis in a dress.”
Sneed snippets aside, our country now needs to move forward, not backward.
Not Trump twice, please.
Sneedlings . . .
Saturday’s birthdays: Dua Lipa, 25; James Corden, 42; and Randall Cobb, 30. . . . Sunday’s birthdays: Seth Curry, 30; Rick Springfield, 71; and Jeremy Lin, 32.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Saying their names: Remembering murdered Chicago women

This is the third in an occasional series titled , “ Unforgotten : The Untold Stories of Murdered Women.
” It is about 51 mostly unsolved strangulation and asphyxiation cases in Chicago since 2001 , as identified by the Murder Accountability Project .
In spring 2020 , my Convergence Journalism class at Roosevelt University took on this case that I titled , “ Unforgotten.
” Ours is a working project that seeks to humanize the victims whose families still hope for justice .
The project resumes this fall .
This is a story by Roosevelt senior Mohammad Samra : Fifty-one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strangled .
Fifty-one souls .
These are the Chicago women — from Jan. 4 , 2001 to Sept. 10 , 2018 — whose homicides are believed connected to one or more serial killers .
This is a story by the numbers .
Just the facts .
A portrait of this case with no frills , although revelatory and piercing in its numerical simplicity : Ninety-four percent were found dead in Chicago alleys , vacant lots , abandoned buildings , some of them set on fire in trashcans .
Seventy-six percent were African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Makalavah Williams , at 18 , was the youngest ; Catherine Saterfield-Buchanan , 58 , was the oldest .
Angela Marieanna Ford was the first victim — found Jan. 4 , 2001 ; Reo Renee Holyfield was the most recent — Sept. 10 , 2018 .
In two separate cases , two victims were discovered on the exact same date .
On average , over the 18-year period , there were about three murders a year , with 2003 having the highest number of related strangulation victims — eight .
Nancy Walker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barocio , LaTonya Keeler , Latricia Hall , Lucyset ( aka Mary ) Thomas and Ethel Amerson were the eight slain in 2003 .
Tarika Jones and Linda Green were found slain May 20 , 2003 .
The bodies of Latricia Hall and Lucyset ( aka Mary ) Thomas were discovered less than five months later on the same day : Oct. 15 , 2003 .
Yvette Mason , 35 , was found on Christmas Day 2005 , strangled , and in an alley at 5031 S. Indiana Ave. Of the 51 women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one slaying in each of the years 2008 , 2011 , 2012 , and 2014 .
No slayings were recorded in 2013 , 2015 and 2016 .
Twenty-seven percent of the bodies of the 51 were recovered in an alley .
About 16 percent in garbage cans and about 16 percent in vacant lots .
Fourteen women — Jody Grissom , Loraine Harris , Celeste Jackson , Linda Green , Rosenda Barocio , Tamala Edwards , Precious Smith , Denise V. Torres , Yvette Mason , Veronica Fraizer , LaToya Banks , Shannon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard — were found in alleys .
Seven women — LaTonya Keeler , Michelle Davenport , Antoinette P. Simmons , Theresa Bunn , Hazel Marion Lewis , Diamond Turner and Reo Renee Holyfield — were found in garbage cans .
Ten women — Angela Marieanna Ford , Bessie Scott , Dellie Jones , Tarika Jones , Lucyset ( aka Mary ) Thomas , Ethel Amerson , Shaniqua Williams , Kelly Sarff , Quanda L. Crider and Nicole Lynell Ridge — in abandoned buildings ; eight — Charlotte W. Day , Brenda Cowart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Gomez , Angela Profit , Pamela Wilson and Lora Dawn Harbin — in vacant lots .
Nine women — Winifred Shines , Elaine Boneta , Gwendolyn Williams , Nancy Walker , Makalavah Williams , Genevieve Mellas , Vanessa Rajokovich , Catherine Saterfield-Buchanan and Valarie Marie Jackson — were found in what is described as “ outdoors ” ; and three women — Charlene Miller , Mary Ann Szatkowski and Saudia Banks — were discovered “ indoors.
” By the numbers : Fifty-one women .
Collectively they represent 1,878 collective years of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth more weight than perhaps any statistics could ever convey .
“ They ( the victims ) have become very important women , ” said Beverly Reed Scott — an advocate for women ’ s issues who was inspired to create an event to honor the murdered women .
The story of their lives “ can be a bridge for us to cross over into deeper understanding about what it means to try to live — to try to have your existence and have it matter in the world , ” Reed Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily dismissed as , ‘ she ’ s just a prostitute or she ’ s just an addict ’ when she has a name ... ” One hundred percent of them have names .
One hundred percent had lives and loved ones .
One hundred percent of them had stories .
And the number of them who deserve justice ?
Every single one .

This is the third in an occasional series titled, “Unforgotten: The Untold Stories of Murdered Women.” It is about 51 mostly unsolved strangulation and asphyxiation cases in Chicago since 2001, as identified by the Murder AccountabilityProject.
In spring 2020, my Convergence Journalism class at Roosevelt University took on this case that I titled “Unforgotten.” Ours is a working project that seeks to humanize the victims whose families still hope for justice. The project resumes this fall. This is a story by Roosevelt senior Mohammad Samra:
Fifty-one women. Fifty-one lives. Fifty-one women strangled. Fifty-one souls. These are the Chicago women — from Jan. 4, 2001 to Sept. 10, 2018 — whose homicides are believed connected to one or more serial killers.
This is a story by the numbers. Just the facts. A portrait of this case with no frills, although revelatory and piercing in its numerical simplicity:
Ninety-four percent were found dead in Chicago alleys, vacant lots, abandoned buildings, some of them set on fire in trash cans. Seventy-six percent were African American. The median age was 36. Makalavah Williams, at 18, was the youngest; Catherine Saterfield-Buchanan, 58, was the oldest.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Angela Marieanna Ford was the first victim — found Jan. 4, 2001. Reo Renee Holyfield was the most recent — Sept. 10, 2018.
In two separate cases, two victims were discovered on the exact same date. On average, over the 18-year period, there were about three murders a year, with 2003 having the highest number of related strangulation victims — eight.
Nancy Walker, Tarika Jones, Linda Green, Rosenda Barocio, LaTonya Keeler, Latricia Hall, Lucyset (aka Mary) Thomas and Ethel Amerson were the eight slain in 2003.
Tarika Jones and Linda Green were found slain May 20, 2003. The bodies of Latricia Hall and Lucyset (aka Mary) Thomas were discovered less than five months later on the same day: Oct. 15, 2003.
Yvette Mason, 35, was found on Christmas Day 2005, strangled, and in an alley at 5031 S. Indiana Ave.
Of the 51 women identified by MAP, there was only one slaying in each of the years 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2014. No slayings were recorded in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Twenty-seven percent of the bodies of the 51 were recovered in an alley. About 16 percent in garbage cans and about 16 percent in vacant lots.
Fourteen women — Jody Grissom, Loraine Harris, Celeste Jackson, Linda Green, Rosenda Barocio, Tamala Edwards, Precious Smith, Denise V. Torres, Yvette Mason, Veronica Fraizer, LaToya Banks, Shannon Williams, LaFonda Sue Wilson and Velma Howard — were found in alleys.
Seven women — LaTonya Keeler, Michelle Davenport, Antoinette P. Simmons, Theresa Bunn, Hazel Marion Lewis, Diamond Turner and Reo Renee Holyfield — were found in garbage cans.
Ten women — Angela Marieanna Ford, Bessie Scott, Dellie Jones, Tarika Jones, Lucyset (aka Mary) Thomas, Ethel Amerson, Shaniqua Williams, Kelly Sarff, Quanda L. Crider and Nicole Lynell Ridge — in abandoned buildings; eight — Charlotte W. Day, Brenda Cowart, Latricia Hall, Wanda Hall, Margaret E. Gomez, Angela Profit, Pamela Wilson and Lora Dawn Harbin — in vacant lots.
Nine women — Winifred Shines, Elaine Boneta, Gwendolyn Williams, Nancy Walker, Makalavah Williams, Genevieve Mellas, Vanessa Rajokovich, Catherine Saterfield-Buchanan and Valarie Marie Jackson — were found in what is described as “outdoors”; and three women — Charlene Miller, Mary Ann Szatkowski and Saudia Banks — were discovered “indoors.”
By the numbers: Fifty-one women. Collectively they represent 1,878 collective years of life. Contained within those years are moments worth more weight than perhaps any statistics could ever convey.
“They (the victims) have become very important women,” said Beverly Reed Scott, an advocate for women’s issues who was inspired to create an event to honor the murdered women.
The story of their lives “can be a bridge for us to cross over into deeper understanding about what it means to try to live — to try to have your existence and have it matter in the world,” Reed Scott said.
“It’s not easily dismissed as, ‘she’s just a prostitute or she’s just an addict’ when she has a name ...”
One hundred percent of them have names. One hundred percent had lives and loved ones. One hundred percent of them had stories.
And the number of them who deserve justice? Every single one.
Email: Author@Johnwfountain.com


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Rest in peace, Big Jim

Rest in peace, Big Jim

The late Jim Thompson was just 40 years old when he was first elected governor of Illinois in 1976 .
Rod Blagojevich was called a youthful politician , but he was 45 on the day he was elected governor .
Jim Edgar was 44 in November of 1990 .
After serving 14 years as governor , longer than anyone else in Illinois history , Thompson was still just 54 years old the day he left office .
Thompson could ’ ve coasted on his reputation and lived a charmed life as a law firm rainmaker .
Instead , he became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into the international legal powerhouse it is today .
Along the way , he served on the 9/11 Commission , chaired the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority , did a little lobbying and argued numerous cases before the Illinois Supreme Court .
But his time as governor is what he ’ ll justifiably be most remembered for .
He truly dominated Illinois , and the man was one of the best natural-born campaigners I ’ ve ever seen .
Thompson had the innate ability to wrap a blistering attack in a humorous coating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adlai Stevenson III once complained that Thompson was treating him like “ some kind of wimp.
” “ I have never called Adlai Stevenson a wimp , ” Thompson said to knowing laughter .
“ I don ’ t think he ’ s a wimp , whatever wimp means .
Sun-Times called him a wimp , but I didn ’ t call him a wimp.
” Thompson just barely won that race , though the state was in the depths of the “ Reagan recession.
” Stevenson came back four years later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stevenson ’ s best ideas from 1982 and Stevenson was obliterated after followers of Lyndon LaRouche created havoc by winning two statewide Democratic primaries .
Like Barack Obama after him , Thompson ’ s opponents seemed to fall away on their own , but it was never that easy .
Thompson was a strong partisan on the campaign trail and with his innumerable patronage hires .
He once said if two people were equally qualified to be a janitor , then he ’ d naturally prefer that a Republican was hired .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it came to the General Assembly .
Thompson and House Speaker Michael Madigan cooked up countless deals , with the new ballpark for the White Sox being the best known .
When Senate President Phil Rock was having trouble with Madigan , Thompson would straighten things out .
When Senate Minority Leader Pate Philip wouldn ’ t take his calls , he physically barreled past Philip ’ s chief of staff and marched into the Leader ’ s office and cleared the air .
The man knew how to handle people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And when he decided that he wanted to be endorsed by both the AFL-CIO and the Illinois Chamber in his final reelection bid , he made it happen .
Gov .
Richard Ogilvie helped move Illinois into modern times with a state income tax , but Thompson accelerated the process with his massive state building and construction programs .
He traveled the world to attract businesses and was instrumental in opening a new automobile assembly plant in McLean County .
He fathered the state ’ s nuclear energy program , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Along the way , he mentored countless people and helped even more with their careers .
After convicting former Gov .
Otto Kerner as U.S. attorney , Thompson argued strenuously for his early prison release on health grounds .
He was , in a word , a mensch .
Thompson was a lover of art , a lover of knowledge and a lover of people .
All that being said , some of Thompson ’ s actions created a burdensome legacy for Illinois .
Back in the 1970s , state retirees who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tiny pensions that couldn ’ t possibly keep up with rampant inflation .
Thompson eventually pushed through a compounded annual cost of living pension increase that has since driven the state ’ s finances into a deep pit because the benefit increases were never properly funded .
Thompson ’ s push to exempt retirement income from taxation blew what eventually became a multi-billion-dollar hole in state revenues .
And during his years in office , the state budget did not nearly keep pace with the need for more money for K-12 schools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and has caused huge property tax hikes .
I do not think he knew how much the pension change would cost , and just about every politician loves pandering to the elderly .
And Illinois still had fairly reasonable property taxes at the time .
Whatever .
I could never hold a grudge against that man .
I respected him , warts and all .
Rest in peace , Big Jim .

The late Jim Thompson was just 40 years old when he was first elected governor of Illinois in 1976. Rod Blagojevich was called a youthful politician, but he was 45 on the day he was elected governor. Jim Edgar was 44 in November 1990.
After serving 14 years as governor, longer than anyone else in Illinois history, Thompson was still just 54 years old the day he left office.
Thompson could’ve coasted on his reputation and lived a charmed life as a law firm rainmaker. Instead, he became chairman of Winston & Strawn and transformed it into the international legal powerhouse it is today.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Along the way, he served on the 9/11 Commission, chaired the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, did a little lobbying and argued numerous cases before the Illinois Supreme Court.
But his time as governor is what he’ll justifiably be most remembered for. He truly dominated Illinois, and the man was one of the best natural-born campaigners I’ve ever seen.
Thompson had the innate ability to wrap a blistering attack in a humorous coating. For instance, his 1982 opponent Adlai Stevenson III once complained that Thompson was treating him like “some kind of wimp.”
“I have never called Adlai Stevenson a wimp,” Thompson said to knowing laughter. “I don’t think he’s a wimp, whatever wimp means. Sun-Times called him a wimp, but I didn’t call him a wimp.”
Thompson just barely won that race, though the state was in the depths of the “Reagan recession.” Stevenson came back four years later, but Thompson had already adopted most of Stevenson’s best ideas from 1982 and Stevenson was obliterated after followers of Lyndon LaRouche created havoc by winning two statewide Democratic primaries. Like Barack Obama after him, Thompson’s opponents seemed to fall away on their own, but it was never that easy.
Thompson was a strong partisan on the campaign trail and with his innumerable patronage hires. He once said if two people were equally qualified to be a janitor, then he’d naturally prefer that a Republican was hired.
But he was a bipartisan dealmaker par excellence when it came to the General Assembly. Thompson and House Speaker Michael Madigan cooked up countless deals, with the new ballpark for the White Sox being the best known. When Senate President Phil Rock was having trouble with Madigan, Thompson would straighten things out.
When Senate Minority Leader Pate Philip wouldn’t take his calls, he physically barreled past Philip’s chief of staff and marched into the leader’s office and cleared the air.
The man knew how to handle people, and he knew how to pass a bill. And when he decided he wanted to be endorsed by both the AFL-CIO and the Illinois Chamber in his final reelection bid, he made it happen.
Gov. Richard Ogilvie helped move Illinois into modern times with a state income tax, but Thompson accelerated the process with his massive state building and construction programs. He traveled the world to attract businesses and was instrumental in opening a new automobile assembly plant in McLean County. He fathered the state’s nuclear energy program, which is still a cornerstone of our economy.
Along the way, he mentored countless people and helped even more with their careers. After convicting former Gov. Otto Kerner as U.S. attorney, Thompson argued strenuously for his early prison release on health grounds. He was, in a word, a mensch.
Thompson was a lover of art, a lover of knowledge and a lover of people.
All that being said, some of Thompson’s actions created a burdensome legacy for Illinois. Back in the 1970s, state retirees who’d worked for decades were stuck with tiny pensions that couldn’t possibly keep up with rampant inflation. Thompson eventually pushed through a compounded annual cost of living pension increase that has since driven the state’s finances into a deep pit because the benefit increases were never properly funded.
And during his years in office, the state budget did not nearly keep pace with the need for more money for K-12 schools, a habit that has continued to this day and has caused huge property tax hikes.
I do not think he knew how much the pension change would cost, and just about every politician loves pandering to the elderly. And Illinois still had fairly reasonable property taxes at the time.
Whatever. I could never hold a grudge against that man. I respected him, warts and all. Rest in peace, Big Jim.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Ex-Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski charged in extortion conspiracy as federal drumbeat con

Ex-Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski charged in extortion conspiracy as federal drumbeat continues

Federal prosecutors filed long-anticipated criminal charges Friday against former Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski , accusing him of a conspiracy to commit extortion .
The feds also accused Tobolski of filing a false income tax return for the year 2018 .
They said he claimed his income was $ 214,270 when he “ knew that the total income substantially exceeded that amount.
” The conspiracy charge alleges that Tobolski conspired with an unnamed “ McCook Official A ” to extort money from an unnamed “ Individual A.
” The charges against Tobolski appeared in a document known as an information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to plead guilty .
Tobolski ’ s defense attorney , James Vanzant , declined to comment .
Tobolski resigned in March from his posts on the Cook County Board and in McCook , where he ’ d been mayor , months after federal agents searched his offices at McCook ’ s Village Hall .
Agents also seized $ 55,205 in cash from Tobolski ’ s home at that time , including $ 51,611 taken “ from within a safe , ” according to records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times .
In their raid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCook — part of a broader September 2019 sweep of the southwest suburbs — agents sought items related to several individuals and businesses .
They also sought items related to a Latino Night at a McCook-owned sports facility known as the Max ; Chicago Cubs spring training trips ; heating and air conditioning at Tobolski ’ s home ; and benefits provided by an unnamed law firm and attorney .
Additionally , they sought “ items related to any official action taken in exchange for a benefit.
” A source said the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that took place days earlier on the home and offices of then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval , including his office at the state Capitol in Springfield .
Among the records taken from Sandoval ’ s office were documents from Burke Burns & Pinelli , at the time the law firm of state Senate President Don Harmon .
A subpoena served on McCook in September 2019 also mentioned Burke Burns & Pinelli , records show .
Harmon stepped down from his law firm after succeeding John Cullerton as Senate president in January .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firm had not been contacted about the Sandoval investigation .
Harmon has suggested Sandoval had a habit of keeping files on political opponents .
Sandoval pleaded guilty in January to corruption charges and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors .
His plea agreement said he “ engaged in corrupt activities with other public officials ” and took more than $ 250,000 “ in bribes as part of criminal activity that involved more than five participants.
” Back in February , federal prosecutors charged Tobolski ’ s onetime county chief of staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a seven-page indictment .
The indictment did not revolve around Doherty ’ s work for the county but rather his role as a paid consultant for the politically connected red-light camera company SafeSpeed , LLC .
Sandoval has admitted to accepting bribes to block legislation in the General Assembly that would have harmed SafeSpeed ’ s income , though the company has denied any wrongdoing .
Bill Helm , another now-former SafeSpeed salesman tasked with getting municipalities to use the company ’ s red-light systems in exchange for potentially lucrative commissions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s a longtime associate of Doherty and political ally of Tobolski .
Tobolski was known to enjoy socializing and , for a time , was a regular at a Countryside cigar lounge that was frequented by political players in get-togethers presided over by Omar Maani , a SafeSpeed partner now believed to be cooperating with federal authorities .
Among others who ’ d visit the Casa De Montecristo : Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and Lyons Mayor Chris Getty .
Tobolski threw a campaign fundraiser for Cullerton at the cigar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 50,000 in recent years to different political organizations , according to records and interviews .
Tobolski has dug into his own campaign fund to pay for lawyers since the McCook raid .
The total so far : More than $ 400,000 spent on two law firms , according to Illinois State Board of Elections records .
His campaign account is now thoroughly drained , registering a negative balance .
Four days after the raid , Tobolski and his wife closed on the purchase of a two-bedroom condo in Nashville , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price at just over $ 130,000 .
Doherty acknowledged last fall being questioned by FBI and IRS agents the same day as the McCook raid about a different business run by Maani that received taxpayer money through county government — with Tobolski ’ s support — to build housing for low-income residents in Summit and Cicero .
“ They did come in the door because they had a relationship with the commissioner , ” a government official familiar with the housing deal said of Maani ’ s other company , Presidio Capital LLC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big proponents of the project .
.
.
not inappropriate but probably a little bit heavy in their level of involvement.
” The charges against Tobolski are the latest in a series of ongoing public corruption investigations that appear to again be picking up steam .
Last month , the feds filed bribery charges against the utility company ComEd .
The case against ComEd implicated Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan , though Madigan has not been charged with a crime , and he denies wrongdoing .
Federal authorities filed charges earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit with an income tax case , and Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta , who is accused in a bribery scheme tied to SafeSpeed .
The day after the news broke about Presta , his campaign sent out invitations for a golf-themed political fundraiser at a south suburban country club .
The invite declares : “ Presta for Mayor 2021.
” An organizer said nobody has canceled , and the event is slated to go ahead .

Federal prosecutors filed long-anticipated criminal charges Friday against former Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, accusing him of a conspiracy to commit extortion.
The feds also accused Tobolski of filing a false income tax return for the year 2018. They said he claimed his income was $214,270 when he “knew that the total income substantially exceeded that amount.”
The conspiracy charge alleges that Tobolski conspired with an unnamed “McCook Official A” to extort money from an unnamed “Individual A.”
The charges against Tobolski appeared in a document known as an information, which typically signals a defendant intends to plead guilty. Tobolski’s defense attorney, James Vanzant, declined to comment.
Tobolski resigned in March from his posts on the Cook County Board and in McCook, where he’d been mayor, months after federal agents searched his offices at McCook’s Village Hall. Agents also seized $55,205 in cash from Tobolski’s home at that time, including $51,611 taken “from within a safe,” according to records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The tiny but politically influential Village of McCook, the southwest suburb where Jeffrey Tobolski had been mayor. Village of McCook
In their raid on Tobolski’s mayoral office in McCook — part of a broader September 2019 sweep of the southwest suburbs — agents sought items related to several individuals and businesses. They also sought items related to a Latino Night at a McCook-owned sports facility known as the Max; Chicago Cubs spring training trips; heating and air conditioning at Tobolski’s home; and benefits provided by an unnamed law firm and attorney.
Additionally, they sought “items related to any official action taken in exchange for a benefit.”
A source said the federal southwest suburban sweep was related to raids that took place days earlier on the home and offices of then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval, including his office at the state Capitol in Springfield. Among the records taken from Sandoval’s office were documents from Burke Burns & Pinelli, at the time the law firm of state Senate President Don Harmon.
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, shown earlier this year leaving the federal courthouse. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file.
A subpoena served on McCook in September 2019 also mentioned Burke Burns & Pinelli, records show.
Harmon stepped down from his law firm after succeeding John Cullerton as Senate president in January. One of Harmon’s partners said in January the firm had not been contacted about the Sandoval investigation. Harmon has suggested Sandoval had a habit of keeping files on political opponents.
Sandoval pleaded guilty in January to corruption charges and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. His plea agreement said he “engaged in corrupt activities with other public officials” and took more than $250,000 “in bribes as part of criminal activity that involved more than five participants.”
Back in February, federal prosecutors charged Tobolski’s onetime county chief of staff, Patrick Doherty, with three bribery charges in a seven-page indictment. The indictment did not revolve around Doherty’s work for the county but rather his role as a paid consultant for the politically connected red-light camera company SafeSpeed, LLC.
Patrick Doherty, the former county government chief of staff to Jeffrey Tobolski. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Sandoval has admitted to accepting bribes to block legislation in the General Assembly that would have harmed SafeSpeed’s income, though the company has denied any wrongdoing.
Bill Helm, another now-former SafeSpeed salesman tasked with getting municipalities to use the company’s red-light systems in exchange for potentially lucrative commissions, has been charged in a separate scheme. He’s a longtime associate of Doherty and political ally of Tobolski.
Tobolski was known to enjoy socializing and, for a time, was a regular at a Countryside cigar lounge that was frequented by political players in get-togethers presided over by Omar Maani, a SafeSpeed partner now believed to be cooperating with federal authorities. Among others who’d visit the Casa De Montecristo: Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and Lyons Mayor Chris Getty.
The Countryside cigar lounge that for a time was frequented by Jeffrey Tobolski and numerous other political figures. Rick Majewski / For the Sun-Times
Tobolski threw a campaign fundraiser for Cullerton at the cigar shop, which has donated more than $50,000 in recent years to different political organizations, according to records and interviews.
Tobolski has dug into his own campaign fund to pay for lawyers since the McCook raid. The total so far: More than $400,000 spent on two law firms, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.
His campaign account is now thoroughly drained, registering a negative balance.
Records showing Jeffrey Tobolski’s campaign fund with a negative balance, after huge spending on legal fees. Illinois State Board of Elections
Four days after the raid, Tobolski and his wife closed on the purchase of a two-bedroom condo in Nashville, according to Tennessee property records that put the sales price at just over $130,000.
Doherty acknowledged last fall being questioned by FBI and IRS agents the same day as the McCook raid about a different business run by Maani that received taxpayer money through county government — with Tobolski’s support — to build housing for low-income residents in Summit and Cicero.
Omar Maani, a now-former SafeSpeed partner whose other company developed affordable housing in Summit and Cicero after securing taxpayer money with Jeffrey Tobolski’s help. Screen grab from SafeSpeed, LLC video
“They did come in the door because they had a relationship with the commissioner,” a government official familiar with the housing deal said of Maani’s other company, Presidio Capital LLC. “Tobolski and Doherty were definitely big proponents of the project . . . not inappropriate but probably a little bit heavy in their level of involvement.”
The charges against Tobolski are the latest in a series of ongoing public corruption investigations that appear to again be picking up steam.
Last month, the feds filed bribery charges against the utility company ComEd. The case against ComEd implicated Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, though Madigan has not been charged with a crime, and he denies wrongdoing.
Federal authorities filed charges earlier this month against state Sen. Terry Link, who was hit with an income tax case, and Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta, who is accused in a bribery scheme tied to SafeSpeed.
The day after the news broke about Presta, his campaign sent out invitations for a golf-themed political fundraiser at a south suburban country club. The invite declares: “Presta for Mayor 2021.”
An organizer said nobody has canceled, and the event is slated to go ahead.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-21--Layoffs hit World Business Chicago

Layoffs hit World Business Chicago

World Business Chicago , the public-private agency that promotes regional job growth , is facing the same funding pressures as other organizations and businesses and has laid off some staff , its president and CEO said Friday .
Andrea Zopp said the group has laid off five people and eliminated four open positions , leaving it with a staff of 30 .
“ We are expecting revenue impacts related to COVID-19 and we felt it was important to better align our expenses with those expectations , ” she said .
Zopp said she and other top staff at WBC have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The laid-off staffers received severance , she said .
The pandemic-related shutdowns have cut off corporate travel and forced companies to defer decisions about hiring or expanding .
Consequently , Zopp said , her group has less work to do in those areas .
“ We ’ re still talking to a number of companies and organizations interested in coming to or expanding in Chicago , ” Zopp said .
“ The pace of decision-making has slowed.
” She said recent outbreaks of violence have not deterred outside investment .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive story to tell ” about its handling of COVID-19 , Zopp said .

World Business Chicago, the public-private agency that promotes regional job growth, is facing the same funding pressures as other organizations and businesses and has laid off some staff, its president and CEO said Friday.
Andrea Zopp said the group has laid off five people and eliminated four open positions, leaving it with a staff of 30. “We are expecting revenue impacts related to COVID-19 and we felt it was important to better align our expenses with those expectations,” she said.
Zopp said she and other top staff at WBC have taken pay cuts she declined to specify. The laid-off staffers received severance, she said.
The pandemic-related shutdowns have cut off corporate travel and forced companies to defer decisions about hiring or expanding. Consequently, Zopp said, her group has less work to do in those areas.
“We’re still talking to a number of companies and organizations interested in coming to or expanding in Chicago,” Zopp said. “The pace of decision-making has slowed.”
She said recent outbreaks of violence have not deterred outside investment. In addition, the city “has a very positive story to tell” about its handling of COVID-19, Zopp said.