chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--Healthy Halloween? Think candy on driveway tables, no haunted houses or crowded costume parties

With the COVID-19 pandemic still haunting Illinois this autumn , public health officials on Wednesday set guidelines for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities .
And no , that spooky mask won ’ t cut it as a face covering .
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the safest option is for all the state ’ s little goblins and ghouls to stay home instead of going door-to-door looking for candy — but instead of “ denying the reality ” that people will celebrate anyway , she urged residents to follow health precautions to keep the viral specter at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this holiday season .
Challenge yourself and your kids on how you can celebrate these holidays as safely as possible , ” Ezike said .
That means considering virtual gatherings as an alternative .
Absent that , the state ’ s top doctor suggested leaving individually wrapped candy on tables in driveways or other areas outside homes where distance can be maintained — or setting up tables in a large outdoor space for a socially distant Halloween treat parade .
Both givers and receivers of treats should maintain six feet of social distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be limited to household members .
Ezike also stressed that “ a Halloween costume mask is not a substitute for face covering , ” and that a cloth covering should be worn under a costume mask unless it creates breathing problems .
Haunted houses aren ’ t allowed under the state ’ s latest reopening phase .
And the guidelines aren ’ t just for kids ; Ezike told adults to “ avoid crowded costume parties at home or at bars , which can absolutely increase your risk of getting COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest reminder of how the pandemic has upended life in the state came as officials announced 2,273 more people were confirmed to carry the virus among the latest 58,546 tests administered .
That kept the state ’ s average testing positivity rate over the last week at 3.6 % .
That number , which indicates how quickly the virus is spreading , has fallen almost a full percentage point since the start of September .
But it ’ s up to 8.4 % in the northwest portion of the state that includes Rockford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 % for three days , Pritzker ’ s office announced restrictions on indoor restaurant and bar service this week .
“ These rules are not meant to be a punishment , and I don ’ t particularly enjoy having to deploy them .
But we have got to keep people healthy , ” Pritzker said during a COVID-19 briefing that was held virtually because one of his staffers tested positive .
The Democratic governor and other staffers have all tested negative as they isolate for safety , he said .
As for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some symptoms but are in good condition and resting at home , ” Pritzker said .
Chicago ’ s positivity rate is at 4.4 % and all its surrounding regions are below 6 % .
Officials also said the virus killed 35 more Illinoisans , the state ’ s highest single-day death toll in two weeks .
More than 5.6 million coronavirus tests have been administered over the last six months .
At least 293,274 have tested positive and 8,672 have died with the virus .
As of Tuesday night , 1,632 Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in intensive care units and 152 on ventilators .

With the COVID-19 pandemic still haunting Illinois this autumn, public health officials on Wednesday set guidelines for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities.
And no, that spooky mask won’t cut it as a face covering.
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the safest option is for all the state’s little goblins and ghouls to stay home instead of going door-to-door looking for candy — but instead of “denying the reality” that people will celebrate anyway, she urged residents to follow health precautions to keep the viral specter at bay.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
“Try to be creative this holiday season. Challenge yourself and your kids on how you can celebrate these holidays as safely as possible,” Ezike said.
That means considering virtual gatherings as an alternative. Absent that, the state’s top doctor suggested leaving individually wrapped candy on tables in driveways or other areas outside homes where distance can be maintained — or setting up tables in a large outdoor space for a socially distant Halloween treat parade.
Both givers and receivers of treats should maintain six feet of social distance, and Ezike said groups of trick-or-treaters should be limited to household members.
Ezike also stressed that “a Halloween costume mask is not a substitute for face covering,” and that a cloth covering should be worn under a costume mask unless it creates breathing problems.
Fans wear Halloween costumes during an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears in New Orleans in 2017. Butch Dill/AP file
Haunted houses aren’t allowed under the state’s latest reopening phase. And the guidelines aren’t just for kids; Ezike told adults to “avoid crowded costume parties at home or at bars, which can absolutely increase your risk of getting COVID-19 and spreading it in the community.”
The latest reminder of how the pandemic has upended life in the state came as officials announced 2,273 more people were confirmed to carry the virus among the latest 58,546 tests administered.
Graph not displaying properly? Click here.
That kept the state’s average testing positivity rate over the last week at 3.6%. That number, which indicates how quickly the virus is spreading, has fallen almost a full percentage point since the start of September.
But it’s up to 8.4% in the northwest portion of the state that includes Rockford and Dixon. Because the region topped 8% for three days, Pritzker’s office announced restrictions on indoor restaurant and bar service this week.
“These rules are not meant to be a punishment, and I don’t particularly enjoy having to deploy them. But we have got to keep people healthy,” Pritzker said during a COVID-19 briefing that was held virtually because one of his staffers tested positive.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers a virtual COVID-19 briefing Wednesday from his Chicago home. Screenshot of State of Illinois live stream.
The Democratic governor and other staffers have all tested negative as they isolate for safety, he said. As for the infected staffer, “they have some symptoms but are in good condition and resting at home,” Pritzker said.
Chicago’s positivity rate is at 4.4% and all its surrounding regions are below 6%.
Officials also said the virus killed 35 more Illinoisans, the state’s highest single-day death toll in two weeks.
More than 5.6 million coronavirus tests have been administered over the last six months. At least 293,274 have tested positive and 8,672 have died with the virus.
As of Tuesday night, 1,632 Illinois coronavirus patients were hospitalized, with 378 in intensive care units and 152 on ventilators.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--Joliet man allegedly shot at deputy, bit his hands during pursuit

A man faces an attempted murder charge after allegedly shooting at a Will County sheriff ’ s deputy and then biting his hands during a foot chase in Joliet early Wednesday .
A deputy began running after Jason Stevens Jr. after spotting him about 5 a.m. in a car that had allegedly fled a traffic stop an hour earlier , the sheriff ’ s office said .
While running from the 1100 block of Parkwood Drive , Stevens shot a gun once at the deputy , but didn ’ t strike him , the sheriff ’ s office said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the deputy began wrestling to gain control of his wrist and gun .
Another round was discharged from Stevens ’ gun but didn ’ t hit anyone .
Stevens , 26 , then allegedly bit the deputy ’ s hands , wrists and arms .
Another deputy in the area heard the gunfire and came to assist in the arrest .
Stevens is awaiting a Thursday bond hearing on charges of attempted murder , resisting an officer , armed violence , possession of a firearm by a felon , aggravated battery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation .

A man faces an attempted murder charge after allegedly shooting at a Will County sheriff’s deputy and then biting his hands during a foot chase in Joliet early Wednesday.
A deputy began running after Jason Stevens Jr. after spotting him about 5 a.m. in a car that had allegedly fled a traffic stop an hour earlier, the sheriff’s office said.
While running from the 1100 block of Parkwood Drive, Stevens shot a gun once at the deputy, but didn’t strike him, the sheriff’s office said.
Stevens then fell to the ground, and the deputy began wrestling to gain control of his wrist and gun. Another round was discharged from Stevens’ gun but didn’t hit anyone.
Stevens, 26, then allegedly bit the deputy’s hands, wrists and arms. Another deputy in the area heard the gunfire and came to assist in the arrest.
Stevens is awaiting a Thursday bond hearing on charges of attempted murder, resisting an officer, armed violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery, reckless conduct, drug possession and parole violation.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--Self-described ‘cautious’ county pol tests positive for COVID-19: ‘I’m not a person who would touch

Self-described ‘cautious’ county pol tests positive for COVID-19: ‘I’m not a person who would touch doorknobs’

A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle .
In a series of tweets , Kevin Morrison , who was elected in 2018 , said Wednesday he was “ feeling well with very little symptoms .
“ Upon receiving my positive test results , I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested , ” Morrison tweeted .
“ I will be following Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test .
I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.
” Morrison and Preckwinkle appeared together last Wednesday to announce the launch of the county ’ s COVID-19 Small Business Assistance program along with Commissioner Donna Miller , state Rep. William Davis , and community partners .
Morrison said he got his test results Wednesday after someone in his close circle started to feel ill over the weekend and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and — low and behold — I tested positive.
” The freshman Democrat , whose district includes Schaumburg , Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village , said he felt fine but a little exhausted Wednesday .
Even before the pandemic he described himself as a “ cautious ” person .
“ I ’ m not a person who would touch doorknobs — I ’ d use my shirt , ” Morrison said .
“ I ’ m taking lots of vitamins and trying to stay healthy.
” Morrison is the first openly LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also touts himself as the youngest person elected to the board — 28 in November of 2018 .
In a significant upset , he beat longtime incumbent Timothy Schneider , who also serves as the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party .
A spokesman for Preckwinkle said the County Board president tested negative for the virus Tuesday , after news that a staff member of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker tested positive for the virus .
“ I wish Commissioner Kevin Morrison a speedy recovery , ” Preckwinkle said in a tweet .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts ’ guidance and self-isolate for at least 14 days or until a negative test .
All of us at Cook County look forward to having you back and healthy very soon .
Get well soon , Commissioner @ Kevin4Cook.
” Morrison said Preckwinkle ’ s team reached out to those at the event last week , but he was told no contact tracers would be reaching out to him to see who he ’ d been in contact with .
To those in similar predicaments , he urged people to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ anyone you knowingly came in contact with ” so they ’ ll get tested .
To those who are still healthy , Morrison warned “ make sure you ’ re taking all the precautions necessary to keep you and your family safe .
”

A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
In a series of tweets, Kevin Morrison, who was elected in 2018, said Wednesday he was “feeling well with very little symptoms.”
“Upon receiving my positive test results, I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested,” Morrison tweeted.
“I will be following Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health guidance and will be self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test. I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.”
Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison attends a board meeting of the Cook County Forrest Preserve at the County Building in 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file
Morrison and Preckwinkle appeared together last Wednesday to announce the launch of the county’s COVID-19 Small Business Assistance program along with Commissioner Donna Miller, state Rep. William Davis and community partners.
Morrison said he got his test results Wednesday after someone in his close circle started to feel ill over the weekend and “as a precaution I got tested Monday and — lo and behold — I tested positive.”
The freshman Democrat, whose district includes Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village, said he felt fine but a little exhausted Wednesday. Even before the pandemic he described himself as a “cautious” person.
“I’m not a person who would touch doorknobs — I’d use my shirt,” Morrison said. “I’m taking lots of vitamins and trying to stay healthy.”
Morrison is the first openly LGBTQ county commissioner. The northwest suburban Democrat also touts himself as the youngest person elected to the board — 28 in November of 2018. In a significant upset, he beat longtime incumbent Timothy Schneider, who also serves as the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.
Then Cook County Commissioner Timothy Owen Schneider, left, and Democratic challenger Kevin B. Morrison in 2018, Rich Hein/Sun-Times file
A spokesman for Preckwinkle said the County Board president tested negative for the virus Tuesday, after news that a staff member of Gov. J.B. Pritzker tested positive for the virus.
“I wish Commissioner Kevin Morrison a speedy recovery,” Preckwinkle said in a tweet. “I understand that he will follow the health experts’ guidance and self-isolate for at least 14 days or until a negative test. All of us at Cook County look forward to having you back and healthy very soon. Get well soon, Commissioner @Kevin4Cook.”
Morrison said Preckwinkle’s team reached out to those at the event last week, but he was told no contact tracers would be reaching out to him to see who he’d been in contact with.
To those in similar predicaments, he urged people to take it upon themselves to reach out to “anyone you knowingly came in contact with” so they’ll get tested.
To those who are still healthy, Morrison warned “make sure you’re taking all the precautions necessary to keep you and your family safe.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--Will White Sox’ late life in Game 2 loss to A’s carry over into series finale? Should be fun finding

Will White Sox’ late life in Game 2 loss to A’s carry over into series finale? Should be fun finding out.

For the longest time Wednesday , it looked like the young White Sox had dutifully unrolled their mats and laid down for naptime .
The mighty power and spirit they had displayed the day before were gone , replaced by a lot of nothing .
Slowly but surely , though , that nothing was replaced by a lot of something .
Energy .
Resolve .
Fury .
After falling behind to the A ’ s by five runs early , the Sox had the bases loaded with a chance to take the lead with two outs in the ninth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liam Hendriks .
Jose Abreu ’ s groundout ended the day for the Sox , and the 5-3 loss means that the two teams will face off Thursday in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their American League wild-card series .
It was a defeat , and it would be silly to cast it as a victory for the Sox .
But there are various shades of defeat , and this one had a fiery red hue to it that could help in Game 3 .
The Sox battled back from a difficult time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they battled back from themselves .
They made a game of Game 3 after looking like they wanted to make a getaway .
Is that faint praise ?
No , it is not .
Is that something to grab onto ?
Yes , it is .
“ Playoff time is all about momentum – who has it and who doesn ’ t , ’ ’ Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal said .
“ They played their asses off , ’ ’ manager Rick Renteria said of his players .
“ … We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we battled.
’ ’ What started the Sox fire ?
Grandal hit a two-run homer off Hendriks in the eighth , and at that point the prevailing thought in Chicago probably was , “ Hmmm .
Interesting.
’ ’ Abreu followed with a single .
Even more interesting .
Then home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski rang up Nomar Mazara on a pitch that was about an inch out of the strike zone .
With no fans in the stands because of the pandemic , the TV audience could hear the Sox dugout screaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Does anger work in baseball ?
I usually don ’ t think so , but the Sox sure seemed to come alive after that .
“ The last thing I want to do is have our guys start to focus on those particular situations , ’ ’ Renteria said .
“ What is irritating just from a competitive standpoint for everybody is the moment in which they occur.
’ ’ He meant in the eighth inning of a playoff game in which your team finally seems to have found some life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant , “ Have you considered corrective eye wear , Mike ?
” The charged-up Sox had a chance to win in the ninth , and they comported themselves well against Hendriks , one of the best closers in the American League .
With two outs , Nick Madrigal , whom you ’ ll be hearing about more later , singled .
Tim Anderson followed with a single , because that ’ s what he does .
Yoan Moncada walked .
The A ’ s brought in Jake Diekman , who walked Grandal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then Abreu ’ s hard groundout to second .
Deflating ?
No , deflating would have been a listless , 5-0 loss in a big game .
What happened in the eighth and ninth innings should be uplifting as the team heads into Game 3 .
Especially after how they started .
Early on Wednesday , the Sox had two errors and a base-running mistake … but enough about Madrigal .
OK , it was not a good day for the rookie , but to pin the loss on him is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bring their “ A ’ ’ games to the A ’ s game for the first seven innings .
It wasn ’ t acceptable , but it was understandable .
You never know what to expect from a young team .
It can look vibrant , the way the Sox did Tuesday , and it can look absent , the way the Sox did for a lot of Wednesday .
But it ’ s worth noting that they had a lot of that nothingness thrust upon them by Bassitt , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty Tuesday .
Down 4-0 , the Sox had an opportunity to get back in the game in the third inning .
Madrigal , on first after a single , didn ’ t advance to third on a steal attempt during Anderson ’ s single to right field .
The gaffe cost the Sox a run when Moncada hit a ball that Mark Canha leaped to catch at the left-field wall .
Madrigal had two errors Wednesday , the most costly one a grounder that skipped over his glove in the first inning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , no , it probably couldn ’ t have gone worse for the kid .
But if you ’ re going reap the fruits of a rebuild , you ’ re going to have to live with some of the growing pains , too .
It was Madrigal ’ s second playoff game and the 31st big-league game of his career .
He started that ninth-inning mini-rally .
So there ’ s that .
I guess we ’ ll find out Thursday if momentum has flesh and bones .
It sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along late in Wednesday ’ s game .

For the longest time Wednesday, it looked like the young White Sox had dutifully unrolled their mats and laid down for naptime. The mighty power and spirit they had displayed the day before were gone, replaced by a lot of nothing.
Slowly but surely, though, that nothing was replaced by a lot of something. Energy. Resolve. Fury.
After falling behind to the Athletics by five runs early, the Sox had the bases loaded with a chance to take the lead with two outs in the ninth. They got one run off Oakland closer Liam Hendriks. Jose Abreu’s groundout ended the day for the Sox, and the 5-3 loss means that the teams will face off Thursday in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their American League wild-card series.
It was a defeat, and it would be silly to cast it as a victory for the Sox. But there are various shades of defeat, and this one had a fiery red hue to it that could help in Game 3. The Sox battled back from a difficult time against A’s ace Chris Bassitt, and they battled back from themselves.
They made a game of Game 2 after looking like they wanted to make a getaway.
Is that faint praise? No, it is not.
Is that something to grab on to? Yes, it is.
“Playoff time is all about momentum — who has it and who doesn’t,’’ Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal said.
“They played their [butts] off,’’ manager Rick Renteria said of his players. “We didn’t finish it, but we battled.’’
What started the Sox fire? Grandal hit a two-run homer off Hendriks in the eighth, and at that point the prevailing thought in Chicago probably was, “Hmmm. Interesting.’’ Abreu followed with a single. Even more interesting. Then plate umpire Mike Muchlinski rang up Nomar Mazara on a pitch that was about an inch out of the strike zone. With no fans in the stands because of the pandemic, the TV audience could hear the Sox’ dugout screaming ugliness in Muchlinski’s general direction.
Does anger work in baseball? I usually don’t think so, but the Sox sure seemed to come alive after that.
“The last thing I want to do is have our guys start to focus on those particular situations,’’ Renteria said. “What is irritating just from a competitive standpoint for everybody is the moment in which they occur.’’
He meant in the eighth inning of a playoff game in which your team finally seems to have found some life. And by that, he might have meant, “Have you considered corrective eye wear, Mike?”
The charged-up Sox had a chance to win in the ninth, and they comported themselves well against Hendriks, one of the best closers in the AL. With two outs, Nick Madrigal, whom you’ll be hearing about more later, singled. Tim Anderson followed with a single, because that’s what he does. Yoan Moncada walked. The A’s brought in Jake Diekman, who walked Grandal, scoring Madrigal. Two-run ballgame.
And then Abreu’s hard groundout to second. Deflating? No, deflating would have been a listless 5-0 loss in a big game. What happened in the eighth and ninth innings should be uplifting as the team heads into Game 3. Especially after how they started.
Early on, the Sox had two errors and a baserunning mistake … but enough about Madrigal. OK, it was not a good day for the rookie, but to pin the loss on him is to ignore all the Sox players who didn’t bring their “A’’ games to the A’s game for the first seven innings.
It wasn’t acceptable, but it was understandable. You never know what to expect from a young team. It can look vibrant, the way the Sox did Tuesday, and it can look absent, the way the Sox did for a lot of Wednesday. But it’s worth noting that they had a lot of that nothingness thrust upon them by Bassitt, the way Lucas Giolito had made Oakland feel empty Tuesday.
Down 4-0, the Sox had an opportunity to get back in the game in the third inning. Madrigal, on first after a single, didn’t advance to third on a steal attempt during Anderson’s single to right field. The gaffe cost the Sox a run when Moncada hit a ball that Mark Canha leaped to catch at the left-field wall.
Madrigal had two errors, the most costly one a grounder that skipped over his glove in the first inning. It led to two Oakland runs. So, no, it probably couldn’t have gone worse for the kid. But if you’re going to reap the fruits of a rebuild, you’re going to have to live with some of the growing pains, too. It was Madrigal’s second playoff game and the 31st big-league game of his career.
He started that ninth-inning mini-rally. So there’s that.
I guess we’ll find out Thursday if momentum has flesh and bones. It sure looked like it was pushing the Sox along late in Game 2.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--Itching to vote? More than 57,000 Illinois voters have already weighed in as requests for mail ballo

Itching to vote? More than 57,000 Illinois voters have already weighed in as requests for mail ballots top 2 million

Nearly a quarter of the state ’ s registered voters have requested ballots to vote by mail a little over a month before Election Day .
State records updated Tuesday morning show 2,001,775 people , or 24.6 % of registered voters in Illinois , have requested a mail ballot so far , and 11,506 people have already returned those completed ballots to their election authorities .
The state has also seen 45,892 people vote early as of Tuesday morning , according to numbers released by the Illinois State Board of Elections .
Chicago has reported 440,893 voters requesting mail ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cook County ’ s election officials recorded 354,032 ballot requests in the suburbs — the most for a county election agency in the state , according to state figures .
DuPage County was close behind with 320,596 ballots out — and 2,680 people already voting early in that county .
In-person early voting begins Thursday in Chicago at the board of election ’ s Loop super site at 191 N. Clark St. Marisel Hernandez , the chairwoman of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners , said Wednesday the city has seen a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming election .
“ We have received a record number of applications for Election Judges and shattered the previous record for Vote By Mail applications , ” Hernandez said in a statement .
“ This is truly unprecedented , and we are happy to see so many Chicagoans making their plan to vote.
” The growing numbers of vote-by-mail requests come as voters prepare to cast their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic , following a March primary that saw some polling places fail to open and election judges fail to show .
Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lobbied hard for people to vote by mail since then .
An expansion of the state ’ s vote-by-mail apparatus , which was designed to ease concerns of voters still leery of visiting potentially crowded polling places , helped bolster the efforts of election agencies who ’ d have to sort through the mailed ballots .
The city dropped about 245,000 ballots in the mail last Thursday , the start date for election authorities around the state to begin sending out ballots to those who requested to vote absentee .
Voters can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person without any fear of penalty .
Should they receive a vote-by-mail ballot and decide not to use it , they can surrender their mail ballot at the early voting site or Election Day polling place in exchange for a regular ballot .

Nearly a quarter of the state’s registered voters have requested ballots to vote by mail a little over a month before Election Day.
State records updated Tuesday morning show 2,001,775 people, or 24.6% of registered voters in Illinois, have requested a mail ballot so far, and 11,506 people have already returned those completed ballots to their election authorities.
The state has also seen 45,892 people vote early as of Tuesday morning, according to numbers released by the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Chicago has reported 440,893 voters requesting mail ballots as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, while Cook County’s election officials recorded 354,032 ballot requests in the suburbs — the most for a county election agency in the state, according to state figures.
DuPage County was close behind with 320,596 ballots out — and 2,680 people already voting early in that county.
In-person early voting begins Thursday in Chicago at the board of election’s Loop super site at 191 N. Clark St.
Marisel Hernandez, the chairwoman of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, said Wednesday the city has seen a “historic” amount of interest in the upcoming election.
“We have received a record number of applications for Election Judges and shattered the previous record for Vote By Mail applications,” Hernandez said in a statement. “This is truly unprecedented, and we are happy to see so many Chicagoans making their plan to vote.”
Marisel Hernandez, chairwoman of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, speaks during a news conference at the Loop Super Site on Wednesday. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The growing numbers of vote-by-mail requests come as voters prepare to cast their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic, following a March primary that saw some polling places fail to open and election judges fail to show.
Chicago election officials and others throughout the state have lobbied hard for people to vote by mail since then.
An expansion of the state’s vote-by-mail apparatus, which was designed to ease concerns of voters still leery of visiting potentially crowded polling places, helped bolster the efforts of election agencies who’d have to sort through the mailed ballots.
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners workers clean plastic barriers at the Loop Super Site, an early voting site, at 191 N. Clark St. Wednesday morning. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The city dropped about 245,000 ballots in the mail last Thursday, the start date for election authorities around the state to begin sending out ballots to those who requested to vote absentee.
Voters can still change their minds and vote in person without any fear of penalty.
Should they receive a vote-by-mail ballot and decide not to use it, they can surrender their mail ballot at the early voting site or Election Day polling place in exchange for a regular ballot.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--What channel are the White Sox on?

What channel are the White Sox on?

It started with a casual `` How you doing , man ? ''
from Joe Biden to Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ vice president was sniping at the president to `` keep yapping , man . ''
@ @ @ @ @ .

The White Sox began their first playoff series since 2008 Tuesday with a win over the A’s in Oakland. The A’s, however, came back to tie the series on Wednesday. The American League wild card is a best-of-three, with the winner advancing to face the Astros.
Game 1: White Sox 4, A’s 1: Lucas Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced and the White Sox offense brought the boom with three home runs to beat the Athletics, 4-1, in Game 1 of their Wild Card Round series.
White Sox 4, A’s 1: Lucas Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced and the White Sox offense brought the boom with three home runs to beat the Athletics, 4-1, in Game 1 of their Wild Card Round series. Game 2: A’s 5, White Sox 3: Three home runs gave the Athletics a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 5-3 win over the White Sox to force a Game 3 in their Wild Card Round series. The two teams will meet again Thursday afternoon in Oakland for a winner-take-all elimination showdown.
Game 3, is at 2:10 p.m. Thursday on ESPN. Dane Dunning starts for the White Sox. Mike Fiers goes for the Athletics.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--State will offer small businesses free ‘infection prevention’ training  (LIVE UPDATES)

The Illinois Department of Labor announced Tuesday a free consulting program to help small businesses reopen under COVID-19 safety guidelines .
The service , called Back to Business Illinois , will connect businesses with up to 250 with consultants in the department ’ s Workplace Safety and Health Consultation Division , the department said in a statement .
The consultants will “ help local small businesses audit their physical operation , identify best practices and find ways to implement them efficiently , ” the statement said .
They will be paired with businesses “ based on their expertise and specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their business.
” “ While this pandemic has affected Illinois ’ small businesses in unexpected ways , IDOL remains committed to promoting health and safety during every step of recovery .
We are excited to offer this new program in support of our small business owners ’ efforts to keep workers and customers safe as these businesses continue to operate , ” said IDOL Director Michael Kleinik .
Read the full story from Sam Kelly here .
7:03 p.m. Self-described ‘ cautious ’ Cook County pol tests positive for COVID-19 : ‘ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch doorknobs ’ A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle .
In a series of tweets , Kevin Morrison , who was elected in 2018 , said he was “ feeling well with very little symptoms .
“ Upon receiving my positive test results , I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested , ” Morrison tweeted .
“ I will be following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Department of Public Health guidance and will be self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test .
I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.
” 3:30 p.m .
Healthy Halloween ?
Think candy on driveway tables , no haunted houses or crowded costume parties , Pritzker team says With the COVID-19 pandemic still haunting Illinois this autumn , public health officials on Wednesday set guidelines for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities .
And no , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as a face covering .
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the safest option is for all the state ’ s little goblins and ghouls to stay home instead of going door-to-door looking for candy — but instead of “ denying the reality ” that people will celebrate anyway , she urged residents to follow health precautions to keep the viral specter at bay .
“ Try to be creative this holiday season .
Challenge yourself and your kids on how you can celebrate these holidays as safely as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering virtual gatherings as an alternative .
Absent that , the state ’ s top doctor suggested leaving individually wrapped candy on tables in driveways or other areas outside homes where distance can be maintained — or setting up tables in a large outdoor space for a socially distant Halloween treat parade .
7:58 a.m. College in Grant Park ?
Columbia faculty move classes outdoors amid dispute over coronavirus protections Columbia College instructors and students have been forced to trade-in their state of the art dance and theater facilities for Grant Park ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute about coronavirus protections .
After the college ’ s part-time faculty union , Columbia Faculty Association Local 6602 , and school officials failed to come to a safety agreement for the fall semester , several faculty members decided to hold classes outdoors at 11th Street and Michigan Avenue rather than in classrooms that did not meet their safety expectations .
Last week the union filed an unfair labor practices charge against the school over coronavirus-related concerns .
The union wants portable air purifiers in all classrooms where in-person instruction will take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll only take that precaution where “ science shows there is a higher potential of risk , ” like in classes that require singing , playing a musical instrument or dancing , according to Lambrini Lukidis , Columbia ’ s associate vice president for strategic communications .
• Public health officials on Tuesday announced 1,362 more people have tested for COVID-19 in Illinois , the lowest number of new cases confirmed in a single day statewide in almost three weeks .
• The latest coronavirus cases were detected among 45,624 tests submitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowering the state ’ s average testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.6 % .
Tuesday ’ s daily caseload is the lowest since the state added 1,337 new cases Sept. 9 .
Chicago is at 4.5 % positivity , while all its surrounding regions are below 6 % .
8:23 a.m. How COVID is hammering Chicago ’ s arts and entertainment scene Two years ago , we visited Lifeline Theatre in Rogers Park to better understand the role of the arts in a community ’ s development .
We described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical to a small but promising resurgence in that small corner of the neighborhood , as if a seed had been planted , leading to new energy and investment .
Now , as COVID-19 rages on , we visited Lifeline again last week , wondering how the theater and the neighborhood are faring .
We found that the symbiotic relationship between the arts and nightlife and a community — where one ’ s success begets the other ’ s — continues to hold , for better and worse , in hard times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling , yet determined , to hang in there — a story to be found all over town .
We also found ourselves wanting to reaffirm the message of our original editorial .
Support the arts , fellow Chicagoans .
Now more than ever .
They are essential to our city ’ s identity and post-pandemic future .
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times editorial board here .

The latest reminder of how the pandemic has upended life in the state came as officials announced 2,273 more people were confirmed to carry the virus among the latest 58,546 tests administered.
Here’s what else happened in Chicago and around Illinois as the coronavirus pandemic continued.
News
8:53 p.m. State will offer small businesses free ‘infection prevention’ training
rcfotostock - stock.adobe.com
The Illinois Department of Labor announced Tuesday a free consulting program to help small businesses reopen under COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The service, called Back to Business Illinois, will connect businesses with up to 250 with consultants in the department’s Workplace Safety and Health Consultation Division, the department said in a statement.
The consultants will “help local small businesses audit their physical operation, identify best practices and find ways to implement them efficiently,” the statement said. They will be paired with businesses “based on their expertise and specific needs to customize the best plan for their business.”
“While this pandemic has affected Illinois’ small businesses in unexpected ways, IDOL remains committed to promoting health and safety during every step of recovery. We are excited to offer this new program in support of our small business owners’ efforts to keep workers and customers safe as these businesses continue to operate,” said IDOL Director Michael Kleinik.
7:03 p.m. Self-described ‘cautious’ Cook County pol tests positive for COVID-19: ‘I’m not a person who would touch doorknobs’
A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
In a series of tweets, Kevin Morrison, who was elected in 2018, said he was “feeling well with very little symptoms.
“Upon receiving my positive test results, I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested,” Morrison tweeted.
“I will be following Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health guidance and will be self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test. I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.”
Reporter Rachel Hinton has the full story.
3:30 p.m. Healthy Halloween? Think candy on driveway tables, no haunted houses or crowded costume parties, Pritzker team says
With the COVID-19 pandemic still haunting Illinois this autumn, public health officials on Wednesday set guidelines for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities.
And no, that spooky mask won’t cut it as a face covering.
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the safest option is for all the state’s little goblins and ghouls to stay home instead of going door-to-door looking for candy — but instead of “denying the reality” that people will celebrate anyway, she urged residents to follow health precautions to keep the viral specter at bay.
“Try to be creative this holiday season. Challenge yourself and your kids on how you can celebrate these holidays as safely as possible,” Ezike said.
That means considering virtual gatherings as an alternative. Absent that, the state’s top doctor suggested leaving individually wrapped candy on tables in driveways or other areas outside homes where distance can be maintained — or setting up tables in a large outdoor space for a socially distant Halloween treat parade.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.
7:58 a.m. College in Grant Park? Columbia faculty move classes outdoors amid dispute over coronavirus protections
Columbia College instructors and students have been forced to trade-in their state of the art dance and theater facilities for Grant Park’s greenways and concrete walkways over a dispute about coronavirus protections.
After the college’s part-time faculty union, Columbia Faculty Association Local 6602, and school officials failed to come to a safety agreement for the fall semester, several faculty members decided to hold classes outdoors at 11th Street and Michigan Avenue rather than in classrooms that did not meet their safety expectations.
Last week the union filed an unfair labor practices charge against the school over coronavirus-related concerns. The union wants portable air purifiers in all classrooms where in-person instruction will take place, while the college said it’ll only take that precaution where “science shows there is a higher potential of risk,” like in classes that require singing, playing a musical instrument or dancing, according to Lambrini Lukidis, Columbia’s associate vice president for strategic communications.
Reporter Adam Mahoney has the full story.
New cases
Public health officials on Tuesday announced 1,362 more people have tested for COVID-19 in Illinois, the lowest number of new cases confirmed in a single day statewide in almost three weeks.
The latest coronavirus cases were detected among 45,624 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health, lowering the state’s average testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.6%. Tuesday’s daily caseload is the lowest since the state added 1,337 new cases Sept. 9. Chicago is at 4.5% positivity, while all its surrounding regions are below 6%.
Analysis & Commentary
8:23 a.m. How COVID is hammering Chicago’s arts and entertainment scene
Two years ago, we visited Lifeline Theatre in Rogers Park to better understand the role of the arts in a community’s development.
We described in an editorial how Lifeline had been critical to a small but promising resurgence in that small corner of the neighborhood, as if a seed had been planted, leading to new energy and investment.
Now, as COVID-19 rages on, we visited Lifeline again last week, wondering how the theater and the neighborhood are faring.
We found that the symbiotic relationship between the arts and nightlife and a community — where one’s success begets the other’s — continues to hold, for better and worse, in hard times. We found a theater company and neighborhood struggling, yet determined, to hang in there — a story to be found all over town.
We also found ourselves wanting to reaffirm the message of our original editorial. Support the arts, fellow Chicagoans. Now more than ever. They are essential to our city’s identity and post-pandemic future.
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times editorial board here.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-30--What channel are the Cubs on?

What channel are the Cubs on?

After Thursday’s weather-related postponement, the Cubs’ return to the postseason could end Friday afternoon against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. The National League wild card is a best-of-three, with the winner advancing to face the Reds or the Braves.
Game 1: Marlins 5, Cubs 1. Ian Happ’s solo home run in the fifth inning accounted for the Cubs’ only run in Wednesday’s loss. Kyle Hendricks and Jeremy Jeffress gave up three-run and two-run homers, respectively, in the seventh inning.
Marlins 5, Cubs 1. Ian Happ’s solo home run in the fifth inning accounted for the Cubs’ only run in Wednesday’s loss. Kyle Hendricks and Jeremy Jeffress gave up three-run and two-run homers, respectively, in the seventh inning. Game 2 is scheduled for at 1 p.m. Friday on ABC-7 and streaming on the ESPN app. Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish will go against Marlins right-handed starter Sixto Sanchez. Sanchez, who also will make his postseason debut, was 3-2 with a 3.46 earned-run average in seven starts this season.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-01--New clinics opening nationwide to treat patients with post-COVID symptoms  (LIVE UPDATES)

New clinics opening nationwide to treat patients with post-COVID symptoms “ We need to think about how we ’ re going to provide care for patients who may be recovering for years after the virus , ” said Dr. Sarah Jolley , a pulmonologist with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and director of UCHealth ’ s Post-Covid Clinic , where Troutman goes .
That need has jumpstarted post-COVID clinics , which offer a range of specialists in one place .
One of the first and largest of these clinics is at Mount Sinai in New York City .
Programs also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California-San Francisco , Stanford University Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania .
The Cleveland Clinic plans to open one early next year .
It ’ s not just academic medical centers : St. John ’ s Well Child and Family Center , part of a network of community clinics in South Central Los Angeles , said it aims to test thousands of its patients who were diagnosed with COVID since March for long-term effects .
7:25 p.m. Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza going online this year The garland-draped huts , the warm glow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuts — all of that will be missing from Daley Plaza this year after Christkindlmarket organizers said the popular event will go online .
“ Ultimately , the safety of our visitors , our staff and our vendors really is our top priority and we really wanted to make sure we were doing it in the best way possible , ” said Kate Bleeker , a spokeswoman for the market .
“ On top of that , about 60 percent of our vendors come from Europe and around the world , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in.
” The market , which in years past has been open from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 , draws about 1.2 million people annually to Daley Plaza .
There are smaller-scale events in Wrigleyville and in Milwaukee .
The market started in Chicago in 1996 .
2:50 p.m. 2,166 more coronavirus cases keep Illinois on pace to surpass 300K this weekend Public health officials on Thursday announced 2,166 more people have contracted COVID-19 in Illinois as the virus claimed 25 more lives statewide .
More than 295,000 residents have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months ago , with 8,696 of those cases proving fatal .
Among the latest victims was a Cook County woman in her 40s , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
The state has added new coronavirus cases at a rate of about 1,945 per day over the last two weeks , putting Illinois on pace to surpass 300,000 cases of the virus by the end of the weekend .
That means about 2.4 % of the state ’ s population of 12.7 million residents have contracted the virus — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone undetected .
State health officials consider at least 2,489 more infections and 244 deaths to have been “ probable ” COVID-19 cases .
11:23 a.m. COVID fears about voting in person ?
Hit the polls early , one reader implores In a letter to the Sun-Times editors , Varun Sree of Aurora writes ... Last Thursday , Illinois joined eight other states in opening early in-person voting .
Before the end of October , 41 states and D.C. will have in-person early voting .
For all intents and purposes , the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts over a month before election day , why are so many people waiting until Nov. 3 to cast their ballot ?
We have all experienced the long lines and insane wait times that have become synonymous with voting .
Given the public safety concerns stemming from the pandemic , we must avoid a repeat of past elections .
Decided voters who choose to cast their ballot in person should take advantage of the state ’ s election laws and vote before Nov. 3 to protect themselves and others from crowded polling locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly followed .
Read this and more Letters to the Editor here .
9:03 a.m. Self-described ‘ cautious ’ Cook County pol tests positive for COVID-19 : ‘ I ’ m not a person who would touch doorknobs ’ A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle .
In a series of tweets , Kevin Morrison , who was elected in 2018 , said he was “ feeling well with very little symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested , ” Morrison tweeted .
“ I will be following Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health guidance and will be self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test .
I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.
” The latest reminder of how the pandemic has upended life in the state came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed to carry the virus Wednesday among the latest 58,546 tests administered .
That kept the state ’ s average testing positivity rate over the last week at 3.6 % .
That number , which indicates how quickly the virus is spreading , has fallen almost a full percentage point since the start of September .
But it ’ s up to 8.4 % in the northwest portion of the state that includes Rockford and Dixon .
Because the region topped 8 % for three days , Pritzker ’ s office announced restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
1:15 p.m. How your participation in the Census could lead to greater health care equity in Chicago As an ER doctor who has worked throughout Chicago ’ s South and West sides , I ’ ve seen profound tragedy and sadness over my career — but especially over the last several months .
Since the pandemic began , I ’ ve seen people who have gone from 100 % healthy to barely able to breathe in just a few days .
I ’ ve counseled friends who have been blindsided by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve had to tell the heartbroken families of my patients that they can ’ t see their grandparent , their spouse or their child during what could be their last days alive .
These unfortunate circumstances are concentrated in certain communities across Chicago .
More than three out of four COVID-19 cases in the city occur within our African-American or Latinx populations , with the predominant number of coronavirus cases clustered on the South and West sides .
In the short term , we can decrease the spread of COVID-19 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding how to protect the most vulnerable people , such as the elderly and those who have compromised immune systems and live in poverty .
But to make gains in the long run , there ’ s something else we can do right now to dramatically improve health care : Fill out our Census forms and represent our community .
Read the full guest column from Dr. Garth Walker , an emergency medical physician at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center , here .

Holidays certainly won’t be the same during the coronavirus pandemic. Thursday’s headlines prove that.
Here’s what happened in coronavirus-related news.
News
8:57 p.m. New clinics opening nationwide to treat patients with post-COVID symptoms
Joaquin Collado, father of a nurse, remains infected with COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit of a private clinic, in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on July 24, 2020. File photo. Photo by ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images
“We need to think about how we’re going to provide care for patients who may be recovering for years after the virus,” said Dr. Sarah Jolley, a pulmonologist with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and director of UCHealth’s Post-Covid Clinic, where Troutman goes.
That need has jumpstarted post-COVID clinics, which offer a range of specialists in one place.
One of the first and largest of these clinics is at Mount Sinai in New York City. Programs also have been launched at the University of California-San Francisco, Stanford University Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania. The Cleveland Clinic plans to open one early next year.
It’s not just academic medical centers: St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, part of a network of community clinics in South Central Los Angeles, said it aims to test thousands of its patients who were diagnosed with COVID since March for long-term effects.
Read the full report here.
7:25 p.m. Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza going online this year
The garland-draped huts, the warm glow from inside, the smell of roasting nuts — all of that will be missing from Daley Plaza this year after Christkindlmarket organizers said the popular event will go online.
Blame the coronavirus.
“Ultimately, the safety of our visitors, our staff and our vendors really is our top priority and we really wanted to make sure we were doing it in the best way possible,” said Kate Bleeker, a spokeswoman for the market. “On top of that, about 60 percent of our vendors come from Europe and around the world, and with travel restrictions, they can’t come in.”
The market, which in years past has been open from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, draws about 1.2 million people annually to Daley Plaza. There are smaller-scale events in Wrigleyville and in Milwaukee. The market started in Chicago in 1996.
Reporter Stefano Esposito has the full story.
5:37 p.m. Chicago plans ‘Halloweek’ full of activities to minimize trick-or-treating crowds
Chicago plans a week full of trick-or-treating and city-sponsored Halloween activities to safely celebrate the popular holiday during the pandemic, a costumed Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
Lightfoot entered a City Hall news conference to spooky music with a plastic pale filled with candy she distributed to those in attendance.
She was wearing a black eye mask, a red cape emblazoned with the words “Rona the Destroyer” as in coronavirus and a giant chest board that featured Clorox disinfectant wipes. Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady was wearing a blue, “Rona the Destroyer” cape with a hand sanitizer chest board.
The celebration City Hall calls “Halloweek” will begin Monday, Oct. 26.
Trick-or-treating can start then and continue through Halloween, which falls on a Saturday this year.
Reporter Fran Spielman has the full story.
2:50 p.m. 2,166 more coronavirus cases keep Illinois on pace to surpass 300K this weekend
Public health officials on Thursday announced 2,166 more people have contracted COVID-19 in Illinois as the virus claimed 25 more lives statewide.
More than 295,000 residents have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic hit six months ago, with 8,696 of those cases proving fatal. Among the latest victims was a Cook County woman in her 40s, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The state has added new coronavirus cases at a rate of about 1,945 per day over the last two weeks, putting Illinois on pace to surpass 300,000 cases of the virus by the end of the weekend.
That means about 2.4% of the state’s population of 12.7 million residents have contracted the virus — while experts agree many more cases have gone undetected. State health officials consider at least 2,489 more infections and 244 deaths to have been “probable” COVID-19 cases.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.
11:23 a.m. COVID fears about voting in person? Hit the polls early, one reader implores
In a letter to the Sun-Times editors, Varun Sree of Aurora writes...
Last Thursday, Illinois joined eight other states in opening early in-person voting. Before the end of October, 41 states and D.C. will have in-person early voting. For all intents and purposes, the 2020 election has already started.
If voting starts over a month before election day, why are so many people waiting until Nov. 3 to cast their ballot?
We have all experienced the long lines and insane wait times that have become synonymous with voting. Given the public safety concerns stemming from the pandemic, we must avoid a repeat of past elections.
Decided voters who choose to cast their ballot in person should take advantage of the state’s election laws and vote before Nov. 3 to protect themselves and others from crowded polling locations where social distancing guidelines cannot be properly followed.
Read this and more Letters to the Editor here.
9:03 a.m. Self-described ‘cautious’ Cook County pol tests positive for COVID-19: ‘I’m not a person who would touch doorknobs’
A commissioner on the Cook County Board has tested positive for the coronavirus about a week after appearing at an event with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
In a series of tweets, Kevin Morrison, who was elected in 2018, said he was “feeling well with very little symptoms.
“Upon receiving my positive test results, I immediately contacted anyone that I knowingly came in contact with and encouraged them to be tested,” Morrison tweeted.
“I will be following Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health guidance and will be self-isolating for at least 14 days and will not resume any in-person activities until a confirmed negative test. I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidance and to stay safe.”
Reporter Rachel Hinton has the full story.
New cases
The latest reminder of how the pandemic has upended life in the state came as officials announced 2,273 more people were confirmed to carry the virus Wednesday among the latest 58,546 tests administered.
That kept the state’s average testing positivity rate over the last week at 3.6%. That number, which indicates how quickly the virus is spreading, has fallen almost a full percentage point since the start of September.
But it’s up to 8.4% in the northwest portion of the state that includes Rockford and Dixon. Because the region topped 8% for three days, Pritzker’s office announced restrictions on indoor restaurant and bar service this week.
Analysis & Commentary
1:15 p.m. How your participation in the Census could lead to greater health care equity in Chicago
As an ER doctor who has worked throughout Chicago’s South and West sides, I’ve seen profound tragedy and sadness over my career — but especially over the last several months.
Since the pandemic began, I’ve seen people who have gone from 100% healthy to barely able to breathe in just a few days. I’ve counseled friends who have been blindsided by an onslaught of end-of-life care decisions. I’ve had to tell the heartbroken families of my patients that they can’t see their grandparent, their spouse or their child during what could be their last days alive.
These unfortunate circumstances are concentrated in certain communities across Chicago. More than three out of four COVID-19 cases in the city occur within our African-American or Latinx populations, with the predominant number of coronavirus cases clustered on the South and West sides.
In the short term, we can decrease the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and understanding how to protect the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those who have compromised immune systems and live in poverty.
But to make gains in the long run, there’s something else we can do right now to dramatically improve health care: Fill out our Census forms and represent our community.
Read the full guest column from Dr. Garth Walker, an emergency medical physician at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, here.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-01--Judge Mauricio Araujo quits before panel could remove him over sexual harassment accusations

Cook County Circuit Judge Mauricio Araujo resigned Thursday , effective the start of next week , according to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board .
Araujo was facing the prospect of being removed from the bench next week after the Illinois Courts Commission said Tuesday there is “ clear and convincing evidence ” he engaged in a pattern of inappropriate and harassing behavior toward women .
The commission — a panel of five judges and two other members who are appointed by the governor — was set to decide Araujo ’ s punishment next week .
Its decision followed a two-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually harassed or demeaned them in several incidents between 2011 and 2018 .
Araujo admitted he made one inappropriate comment about an assistant Cook County state ’ s attorney .
But he disputed accusations from a Chicago police officer who said he tried to kiss her and from a court reporter who said he propositioned her for sex .
Araujo — who didn ’ t respond to a request for comment — was seeking six more years on the bench as a candidate for retention on the November ballot .
He didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Democratic Party , and there were calls by a host of elected officials for voters to boot him from office .
Araujo has been on administrative duty — known as “ judges ’ jail — since 2018 , when the sexual harassment complaints were filed with the Judicial Inquiry Board , which reviews judicial misconduct allegations .
The board filed a formal complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission in June 2019 and acted as the prosecutor at his hearing .
On Monday , Karen Rittorno , a Chicago police officer , testified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chambers on Aug. 15 , 2016 , to get a warrant signed and that he tried to kiss her on the lips .
She said she put some distance between him and and asked , “ Aren ’ t you married ?
” “ He said , ‘ Well , yeah , ’ ” she testified .
“ I said , ‘ Oh my god.
’ ” As they were leaving his chambers , Rittorno said , he reached back , grabbed her hand and said , “ Touch it.
” “ Touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied .
She said that , in nearly two decades as a cop often surrounded by male colleagues , she ’ d never previously been sexually harassed .
She told members of her gang investigation team what happened , she said , and it became a kind of running joke .
“ In my profession , you have to suck it up , ” she told the commission , voice shaking .
She said she promised never to let herself be alone with Araujo again , even though she and her team continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Araujo denied asking Rittorno to touch him .
He testified that he considered her a friend and had once hugged and kissed her on the cheek , saying he does that with many female friends , including police officers .
Araujo said his gestures of physical affection are part of his Colombian heritage .
But Rittorno said she had no personal relationship with Araujo .
“ The judge ’ s testimony that he hugs and kisses male and female officers all the time is just not believable , ” Judicial Inquiry Board attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came forward after seeing news coverage of the sexual assault trial of Bill Cosby and hearing that Araujo had made a sexual comment about a Cook County prosecutor .
That comment came Sept. 11 , 2018 , after Assistant Cook County State ’ s Attorney Nina Ricci , a law school classmate of Araujo , appeared in his courtroom on a case , according to testimony .
Araujo said he was upset Ricci didn ’ t acknowledge their past .
Later , in his chambers , Araujo told Akash Vyas , another prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Maybe it was because I didn ’ t have sex with her .
Or maybe it was because I did have sex with her , ’ ” Vyas testified .
Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx reported the incident to the criminal division ’ s presiding judge , LeRoy Martin Jr. , and her office asked to move the case Ricci was handling to another judge .
Rittorno said she wished she had come forward sooner .
“ I thought , if I had said something when it happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from happening to the attorney , ” she testified .
Court reporter Carolina Schultz described incidents in 2011 , when she and Araujo were working at the Domestic Violence Courthouse , alone in an elevator , She testified Araujo asked her , “ How much ?
” She said the implication was that he was offering to pay her for sex .
Weeks later , he repeated the proposition , she testified .
Schultz said she subsequently avoided taking the elevators alone and transferred to a different courthouse .
Araujo described his behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , if the commission would let him remain a judge , he ’ d behave in a more formal manner and refrain from hugs and kisses .
“ My intent is not to make anybody feel uncomfortable , ” the judge said .

Cook County Circuit Judge Mauricio Araujo resigned Thursday, effective the start of next week, according to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board.
Araujo was facing the prospect of being removed from the bench next week after the Illinois Courts Commission said Tuesday there is “clear and convincing evidence” he engaged in a pattern of inappropriate and harassing behavior toward women.
The commission — a panel of five judges and two other members who are appointed by the governor — was set to decide Araujo’s punishment next week.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Its decision followed a two-day hearing at which three women testified Araujo sexually harassed or demeaned them in several incidents between 2011 and 2018.
Araujo admitted he made one inappropriate comment about an assistant Cook County state’s attorney.
But he disputed accusations from a Chicago police officer who said he tried to kiss her and from a court reporter who said he propositioned her for sex.
Araujo — who didn’t respond to a request for comment — was seeking six more years on the bench as a candidate for retention on the November ballot.
He didn’t get the support of the Cook County Democratic Party, and there were calls by a host of elected officials for voters to boot him from office.
The Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board’s June 2019 complaint against Cook County Circuit Judge Mauricio Araujo accused him of having “engaged in a pattern of inappropriate and harassing behavior toward women.”
Araujo has been on administrative duty — known as “judges’ jail — since 2018, when the sexual harassment complaints were filed with the Judicial Inquiry Board, which reviews judicial misconduct allegations. The board filed a formal complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission in June 2019 and acted as the prosecutor at his hearing.
On Monday, Karen Rittorno, a Chicago police officer, testified that she went to Araujo’s chambers on Aug. 15, 2016, to get a warrant signed and that he tried to kiss her on the lips.
She said she put some distance between him and and asked, “Aren’t you married?”
“He said, ‘Well, yeah,’ ” she testified. “I said, ‘Oh my god.’ ”
As they were leaving his chambers, Rittorno said, he reached back, grabbed her hand and said, “Touch it.”
“Touch what?” she asked.
“Touch my butt,” she testified he replied.
She said that, in nearly two decades as a cop often surrounded by male colleagues, she’d never previously been sexually harassed. She told members of her gang investigation team what happened, she said, and it became a kind of running joke.
“In my profession, you have to suck it up,” she told the commission, voice shaking.
She said she promised never to let herself be alone with Araujo again, even though she and her team continued to request his approval for warrants.
Araujo denied asking Rittorno to touch him. He testified that he considered her a friend and had once hugged and kissed her on the cheek, saying he does that with many female friends, including police officers. Araujo said his gestures of physical affection are part of his Colombian heritage.
But Rittorno said she had no personal relationship with Araujo.
“The judge’s testimony that he hugs and kisses male and female officers all the time is just not believable,” Judicial Inquiry Board attorney Kevin Fee argued.
Rittorno said she came forward after seeing news coverage of the sexual assault trial of Bill Cosby and hearing that Araujo had made a sexual comment about a Cook County prosecutor.
That comment came Sept. 11, 2018, after Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Nina Ricci, a law school classmate of Araujo, appeared in his courtroom on a case, according to testimony.
Araujo said he was upset Ricci didn’t acknowledge their past. Later, in his chambers, Araujo told Akash Vyas, another prosecutor, “something to the effect of, ‘Maybe it was because I didn’t have sex with her. Or maybe it was because I did have sex with her,’ ” Vyas testified.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx reported the incident to the criminal division’s presiding judge, LeRoy Martin Jr., and her office asked to move the case Ricci was handling to another judge.
Rittorno said she wished she had come forward sooner.
“I thought, if I had said something when it happened, I probably would have stopped it from happening to the attorney,” she testified.
Court reporter Carolina Schultz described incidents in 2011, when she and Araujo were working at the Domestic Violence Courthouse, alone in an elevator, She testified Araujo asked her, “How much?” She said the implication was that he was offering to pay her for sex.
Weeks later, he repeated the proposition, she testified.
Schultz said she subsequently avoided taking the elevators alone and transferred to a different courthouse.
Araujo described his behavior as “overly casual” and said that, if the commission would let him remain a judge, he’d behave in a more formal manner and refrain from hugs and kisses.
“My intent is not to make anybody feel uncomfortable,” the judge said.
John Seasly reports for Injustice Watch, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit journalism organization.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-01--Oswego ex-Marine says she’s ‘first in’ against Madigan for House speaker

Even as long-serving House Speaker Michael Madigan ’ s approval rating was falling below Donald Trump ’ s , Democratic legislators always had a fallback explanation for re-electing him : he was the only Democrat seeking the job .
They won ’ t have that excuse next time , assuming state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit , a little known four-term Democrat from Oswego , makes good on her announcement Thursday to challenge Madigan for the speakership .
Kifowit , who was among a handful of House Democrats calling upon Madigan to resign after he was implicated this summer in a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her colleagues by taking her opposition to the next level .
Kifowit said she is running against Madigan because he has “ compromised the integrity ” of the speaker ’ s office and “ undermined the public trust.
” It ’ s almost inconceivable Kifowit could knock off the powerful Madigan , who has held the post all but two years since 1983 .
She ’ s not popular enough with her colleagues to pull it off .
But her candidacy creates another chink in Madigan ’ s armor that might eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes needed for another term .
If that happens , there could be a wide open scramble to replace him in which other , more influential House members would be favored .
Even Kifowit suggested she expects other candidates to join the fray before the vote takes place in January after the new Legislature is sworn in .
“ I believe firmly there should be a choice , and now there ’ s a choice , ” she said during a news conference .
Democrats currently control 74 House seats , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sources tell me nowhere near that many have indicated a willingness to do so , even privately .
That could change if there are further developments drawing Madigan deeper into the ComEd scandal , in which the company has admitted to spending $ 1.3 million to hire Madigan associates in an effort to influence him .
The speaker has not been charged and has said he ’ s done nothing wrong .
Democrats are actually expecting to pick up more House seats in the November voting , which would make the task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new members are often beholden to him .
Kifowit , who is running unopposed on the November ballot , would not discuss her conversations with other House members seeking support for her candidacy , except to say she has some support .
“ Many of my colleagues are fearful of retaliation , coercion , intimidation , from not only Speaker Madigan but also his allies , ” she said .
Madigan , the longest serving leader of any state legislative body in the U.S. , brushed aside Kifowit ’ s challenge with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November election .
“ I have spent my entire career supporting Democrats , regardless of differences in perspective within our party .
We are at a critical juncture in our country , and all of us should be focused on coming together to defeat Donald Trump and repair the hate and division he has sown in our communities , ” the statement read .
Kifowit , 48 , said she believes she would be the first Democrat to formally oppose Madigan during his nearly four decades at the helm .
I can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other old-timers with whom I checked .
“ I guess I ’ m the first .
They always say Marines are the first ones in and the last ones to leave , so I guess I ’ m the first one in , ” said Kifowit , making reference to her four years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps .
Social distancing wasn ’ t much of a challenge at Kifowit ’ s news conference at the Hotel Allegro , which was known as the Bismarck Hotel and a longtime stronghold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I was the only reporter in attendance , along with three television photographers .
That meant I asked all the questions , which was awkward .
Kifowit criticized Madigan ’ s refusal to appear voluntarily before a House special investigative committee called by Republicans to consider disciplinary action against him in light of the ComEd scandal .
But she stopped short of taking issue with Democrats on the committee who have declined to subpoena him to testify .
Republicans seized on Kifowit ’ s announcement to put pressure on Democratic candidates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position on who they would support for speaker .
That put some House Democrats in a difficult position before the election , which won ’ t win her any friends .
A tip of the hat to Kifowit for being first to challenge Madigan .
Just hope she ’ s not the last .

Even as long-serving House Speaker Michael Madigan’s approval rating was falling below Donald Trump’s, Democratic legislators always had a fallback explanation for re-electing him: he was the only Democrat seeking the job.
They won’t have that excuse next time, assuming state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, a little known four-term Democrat from Oswego, makes good on her announcement Thursday to challenge Madigan for the speakership.
Kifowit, who was among a handful of House Democrats calling upon Madigan to resign after he was implicated this summer in a federal investigation of Commonwealth Edison, surprised many of her colleagues by taking her opposition to the next level.
Kifowit said she is running against Madigan because he has “compromised the integrity” of the speaker’s office and “undermined the public trust.”
It’s almost inconceivable Kifowit could knock off the powerful Madigan, who has held the post all but two years since 1983. She’s not popular enough with her colleagues to pull it off.
But her candidacy creates another chink in Madigan’s armor that might eventually allow opponents to deny him the 60 votes needed for another term.
If that happens, there could be a wide open scramble to replace him in which other, more influential House members would be favored.
Even Kifowit suggested she expects other candidates to join the fray before the vote takes place in January after the new Legislature is sworn in.
“I believe firmly there should be a choice, and now there’s a choice,” she said during a news conference.
Democrats currently control 74 House seats, which would require 15 members to defect from Madigan.
Sources tell me nowhere near that many have indicated a willingness to do so, even privately.
That could change if there are further developments drawing Madigan deeper into the ComEd scandal, in which the company has admitted to spending $1.3 million to hire Madigan associates in an effort to influence him.
The speaker has not been charged and has said he’s done nothing wrong.
Democrats are actually expecting to pick up more House seats in the November voting, which would make the task of replacing Madigan even more difficult because new members are often beholden to him.
Kifowit, who is running unopposed on the November ballot, would not discuss her conversations with other House members seeking support for her candidacy, except to say she has some support.
“Many of my colleagues are fearful of retaliation, coercion, intimidation, from not only Speaker Madigan but also his allies,” she said.
Madigan, the longest serving leader of any state legislative body in the U.S., brushed aside Kifowit’s challenge with a statement saying he is focused on the November election.
“I have spent my entire career supporting Democrats, regardless of differences in perspective within our party. We are at a critical juncture in our country, and all of us should be focused on coming together to defeat Donald Trump and repair the hate and division he has sown in our communities,” the statement read.
Kifowit, 48, said she believes she would be the first Democrat to formally oppose Madigan during his nearly four decades at the helm. I can’t remember anyone, and neither could the other old-timers with whom I checked.
“I guess I’m the first. They always say Marines are the first ones in and the last ones to leave, so I guess I’m the first one in,” said Kifowit, making reference to her four years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Social distancing wasn’t much of a challenge at Kifowit’s news conference at the Hotel Allegro, which was known as the Bismarck Hotel and a longtime stronghold of Chicago Democrats when Madigan took power.
I was the only reporter in attendance, along with three television photographers. That meant I asked all the questions, which was awkward.
Kifowit criticized Madigan’s refusal to appear voluntarily before a House special investigative committee called by Republicans to consider disciplinary action against him in light of the ComEd scandal.
But she stopped short of taking issue with Democrats on the committee who have declined to subpoena him to testify.
Republicans seized on Kifowit’s announcement to put pressure on Democratic candidates in contested races to make them take a position on who they would support for speaker.
That put some House Democrats in a difficult position before the election, which won’t win her any friends.
A tip of the hat to Kifowit for being first to challenge Madigan. Just hope she’s not the last.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-01--‘I Voted’ stickers are back, and Chicagoans rejoice

Chicagoans who cast ballots on the first day of early voting were met with a pleasant surprise : The popular “ I Voted ” stickers the city ditched in 2012 have made a quiet comeback .
As officials geared up for an election marked by the COVID-19 crisis , Chicago Board of Elections Chairwoman Marisel Hernandez said the decision dump the wristbands handed out in recent years was made to protect poll workers from coming into close contact with voters during the coronavirus pandemic .
But the stickers also serve as a symbol of civic pride , Hernandez said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people not only that they voted , but possibly a lot of other things — that they contributed to this election , that they are a part of it , ” she said .
“ With COVID and all of the other things going on , it is just a nice little gift to our voters.
” The stickers , which celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment , are also being sent to mail-in voters , some of whom have already taken to social media to express their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABSOLUTE UNIT , ” one Twitter user posted on Wednesday .
As voters continue to cast their ballots , Hernandez said she ’ s “ so glad about the enthusiasm.
” The Chicago Board of Elections did away with the stickers — following complaints of that they were being stuck to various surfaces in and around polling places — and replaced them with paper receipts that didn ’ t elicit the same type of enthusiasm .
Ahead of the 2016 election , officials started passing out the festival-style wristbands that former CBOE spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emblem for their participation.
” While the wristbands offered a more Instagram-friendly alternative to the drab pieces of printer paper , some voters held out hope for a return to the stickers of yesteryear .
“ I ’ ve voted here in Chicago every election since I moved here 8 years ago .
Never got a sticker .
The chance of getting a sticker is the only reason I vote in person , ” a Twiter user wrote on Aug. 4 .
Just two days later , Block Club Chicago reported that officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to protect poll workers pitching in during the pandemic .
That same day , a Twitter user rejoiced : “ The ultimate status symbol of 2020 is a tie between a face mask and an ‘ I voted ’ sticker.
” “ They ’ ve come to Chicago at long last .
”

Chicagoans who cast ballots on the first day of early voting were met with a pleasant surprise: The popular “I Voted” stickers the city ditched in 2012 have made a quiet comeback.
As officials geared up for an election marked by the COVID-19 crisis, Chicago Board of Elections Chairwoman Marisel Hernandez said the decision to dump the wristbands handed out in recent years was made to protect poll workers from coming into close contact with voters during the coronavirus pandemic.
But the stickers also serve as a symbol of civic pride, Hernandez said.
“It’s an acknowledgment to a lot of people not only that they voted, but possibly a lot of other things — that they contributed to this election, that they are a part of it,” she said. “With COVID and all of the other things going on, it is just a nice little gift to our voters.”
The stickers, which celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, are also being sent to mail-in voters, some of whom have already taken to social media to express their excitement.
“This sticker is an ABSOLUTE UNIT,” one Twitter user posted on Wednesday.
As voters continue to cast their ballots, Hernandez said she’s “so glad about the enthusiasm.”
The Chicago Board of Elections did away with the stickers — following complaints of that they were being stuck to various surfaces in and around polling places — and replaced them with paper receipts that didn’t elicit the same type of enthusiasm.
Ahead of the 2016 election, officials started passing out the festival-style wristbands that former CBOE spokesman Jim Allen described as a new “emblem for their participation.” While the wristbands offered a more Instagram-friendly alternative to the drab pieces of printer paper, some voters held out hope for a return to the stickers of yesteryear.
“I’ve voted here in Chicago every election since I moved here 8 years ago. Never got a sticker. The chance of getting a sticker is the only reason I vote in person,” a Twiter user wrote on Aug. 4.
Just two days later, Block Club Chicago reported that officials were bringing back the stickers in an effort to protect poll workers pitching in during the pandemic. That same day, a Twitter user rejoiced: “The ultimate status symbol of 2020 is a tie between a face mask and an ‘I voted’ sticker.”
“They’ve come to Chicago at long last.”