chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--COVID-19 death toll tops 16,000 in Illinois (LIVE UPDATES)

The death toll in Illinois from the coronavirus has climbed past the 16,000 mark , state public health officials said Monday .
The state reported 105 deaths from the coronavirus and 4,453 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus Monday .
The death toll rose to 16,074 since the pandemic began nine months ago .
Sixteen of the new deaths were in Cook County .
The new COVID-19 cases were found in a batch of 51,406 tests conducted over the last 24 hours .
As of Sunday night , 4,243 people in Illinois were reported to be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 884 patients were in intensive care units and 515 COVID-positive patients were on ventilators .
The state ’ s latest numbers continue a trend of lower case counts since a November surge saw the state log record-breaking daily cases , including a nationwide record of 15,415 cases reported in one day .
So far , the state has reported a total of 942,362 cases in 102 counties in Illinois .
Officials have previously pointed to a decrease in testing as a potential reason why the state is seeing lower daily case totals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $ 2,000 , meeting President Donald Trump ’ s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate , where the outcome is uncertain .
Democrats led passage , 275-134 , their majority favoring additional assistance , but dozens of Republicans joined in approval .
Congress had settled on smaller $ 600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law .
Democrats favored higher payments , but Trump ’ s push put his GOP allies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided Republicans who mostly resist more spending .
But many House Republicans joined in support , preferring to link with Democrats rather than buck the outgoing president .
Senators were set to return to session Tuesday , forced to consider the measure .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared , “ Republicans have a choice : Vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people ” the assistance she said they need during the pandemic .
JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reimposed a ban on alcohol sales and ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new restrictions to help the country battle a resurgence of the coronavirus , including a new variant .
In a nationwide address , Ramaphosa also announced the closure of all beaches and public swimming pools in the country ’ s infection hotspots , which include Cape Town , Johannesburg , Durban and several coastal areas .
South Africa will extend its nighttime curfew so all residents must be at home from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. , the president said .
The president said that wearing masks is mandatory and that anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public place will be subject to a fine or a criminal charge punishable by a possible jail sentence .
Ramaphosa said the increased restrictions are necessary because of a surge in COVID-19 infections which has pushed South Africa ’ s cumulative virus cases above 1 million .
Ramaphosa announced the new measures after a Cabinet meeting and an emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council .
1:07 p.m.
Vaccine ’ s unbalanced rollout : Few South , West side residents get COVID shots so far Doctors , nurses and other health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North Side stepped forward in large numbers to get vaccinated for COVID-19 , while a smaller number of the city ’ s South Side and West Side residents got the shots .
The findings , from city data for the first 12 days of vaccinations along with census information showing where health care workers live , point to a trend of Chicago doctors living in more affluent areas showing up in sizable numbers to get inoculated while technicians and other lower-paid health care workers living in predominantly Black and Latino communities did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signal the challenge ahead for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago public health officials who have said they expect resistance from minority residents who may distrust the vaccination process .
Health care workers are the first in line to receive the shots , and city officials hope Black and Latino nurses , doctors and others will set the example for the broader population in communities of color .
“ This is exactly the challenge , ” Dr. Allison Arwady , the city ’ s public health chief , said in an interview .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really about equity , and it ’ s about recognizing there is a lot of extra work that needs to go in to see a map that shows equitable vaccine uptake.
” Arwady said she was “ not at all surprised this is how the very first week of data look ” but added , “ I am confident that it will improve as more vaccine is available both within hospitals , but , importantly , when we move beyond hospitals.
” A large concentration of health care workers living in the whitest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Dec. 15 and 26 , according to city data .
There were 20,091 vaccinations of Chicago residents in total .
The largest numbers were in ZIP codes that include Near North Side , Lake View , Lincoln Park , South Loop and Wicker Park .
The 60611 ZIP code had the most number of vaccinated people with 1,297 .
The Near North Side ZIP code is more than 70 % white , with a median income of almost $ 107,000 , and includes the Magnificent Mile and Streeterville .
The ZIP code @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest number of doctors and physicians , according to a city analysis of census data .
Brett Chase and Elvia Malangón have the story .
12:17 p.m. ‘ This is not Tuskegee ’ : Elected officials work to build Black trust in COVID-19 vaccine Black elected officials from the West Side held a virtual press conference Sunday to encourage Chicagoans , especially Black residents , to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it ’ s available to them .
“ I have taken the vaccine , ” said U.S. Rep. Danny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 20 in Washington , D.C. “ I have had it injected into my body , and I guarantee that if I thought it would in any way harm myself or any other people , I would never ever recommend it.
” Black Americans are one of the groups most hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine .
A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 35 % of Black adults said they “ definitely or probably would not get vaccinated.
” Some of the elected officials referenced the Tuskegee experiment as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 vaccine .
Hundreds of Black men , many of whom had syphilis , were told they would be treated for the disease but in fact were misled and never given adequate treatment .
“ This ain ’ t that , I ’ ll say it again , this ain ’ t that , ” Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer ( 2nd ) said .
“ I want to get the message across that this is not Tuskegee ; this is about you and about your children and about your generation.
” 10:03 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
All the plants and lots of people who grew them Maybe you ’ re crabby you were “ stuck at home ” throughout this pandemic , but I was off luxuriating in the garden .
My plants have never looked so happy since I ’ ve been home .
Weeds never stood a chance once I started taking phone calls out front in the bee border and tall garden , and yanked the buggers as they popped up .
Houseplants got watered and pruned ( and talked to ) on demand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house was otherwise empty .
The big ones sucked up air and light on the front porch oasis arranged to make a safe place to see a few friends or some grandparents , an extra “ office , ” occasionally a kindergarten classroom .
Like the puppies and the babies of 2020 , green growing things thrived with caretakers around all the time , clearly among the big winners of our collective staying put for weeks that have stretched into months .
And bonus , we growers confronting the end of normal got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , one unfurled leaf , one sprouted seed , one cycle of photosynthesis at a time .
When I ventured out late in the spring and couldn ’ t find the usual seeds and seedlings to buy , I realized that everyone else was growing stuff , too .
I asked an online houseplant group I joined this year : Why ?
All the birthday parties and barbecues and vacations got canceled .
For a minute , actual food shortages seemed possible .
We needed a bright side to unemployment , something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs left us stressed and drained .
We had to entertain kids who were isolated from friends .
We always wanted to grow tomatoes .
The more of us the coronavirus killed , the more we surrounded ourselves with living things .
President Donald Trump signed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday , ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown .
The massive bill includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits .
Trump announced the signing in a statement Sunday night that spoke of his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief for including only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 that his fellow Republicans rejected .
He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large .
But Trump ’ s eleventh-hour objections created turmoil because lawmakers had thought he was supportive of the bill , which had been negotiated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed , ” Trump said in the statement .
While the president insisted he would send Congress “ a redlined version ” with items to be removed under the rescission process , those are merely suggestions to Congress .
The bill , as signed , would not necessarily be changed .
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday , but it ’ s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate where spending faces opposition .
Read the full story from the Associated Press .
• The coronavirus has killed an additional 66 Illinois residents and spread to 3,293 more , state public health officials announced Saturday .
• As of Saturday night , 4,083 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 , with 905 of those patients in intensive-care units and 497 on ventilators , officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like ... well , you know An Easter like no other .
A summer like no other .
A World Series like no other .
A year like no other .
The description “ a _____ like no other ” wasn ’ t invented in 2020 .
It has been used for more than a century : ” It has been a year like no other , ” wrote R.M .
Squires , summing up the world of dentistry in 1919 .
But the phrase was worn to a nubbin over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a handy three-word code the baked-in strangeness and continuous turmoil we ’ ve been enduring .
A branded logo to rubber-stamp this slow-motion train wreck : COVID-19 pandemic meets civic unrest meets economic disruption .
Our locked-down society of shuttered schools and struggling restaurants , all playing out against a political clown show that veers from farcical to frightening , sometimes within the same hour .
7:30 a.m .
Pending Chicago projects can relieve the pandemic blahs In 2020 , the pandemic altered life so profoundly that for many Chicagoans , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions changed .
For many , work has been severed from a traditional place to do it , surrounded by colleagues or from standard commuting patterns .
Much has been written about whether the glue that binds cities together will give way because of the pandemic .
Luckily , trends have a way of smoothing out over time .
For every tech worker who decamps for Idaho or rustic Michigan , somebody else will toy with the option but stay put , whether it ’ s because a small-town music scene isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real deficit in health care just about anywhere beyond metro areas .
For Chicago , 2021 is shaping up as a year to get back on its feet — a real positive , all things considered .
It brings back confidence , and capital is sure to follow .
The city needs investment across its neighborhoods .
Perhaps the lessons from this year ’ s demonstrations over social injustice will be fresh enough to ensure that investments are more equitable .
Construction plans being laid in various communities offer signs of urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — with a notable involvement from nonprofit organizations .
Here are a few proposals somewhat unique : At 2500 S. Wabash Ave. , the developer who built the Wit Hotel at 201 N. State St. is touting a $ 30 million e-sports arena called Surge .
Scott Greenberg , president of Lincolnshire-based ECD , is promising an IMAX-like experience in virtual reality for up to 1,200 gamers and those who watch them .
The site is just the other side of I-55 from McCormick Place .
Greenberg also plans a parking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve the facility .
Ald .
Pat Dowell ( 3rd ) and neighborhood groups back the plan , so city approval should come soon .
Greenberg is aiming for mid-2022 completion .
Might as well get started on this before these ventures pop up in old department stores in the suburbs .
• Last week , I reported the Chicago Cubs are eyeing the old Silver Shovel site , nearly 21 acres at Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue , for a baseball-oriented youth academy .
The Cubs ’ plan will be evaluated against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city invited developer interest .
But the Cubs could be a welcome lift for Lawndale families .
The site is associated with a 1990s scandal over illegal dumping that spoke volumes over how poor neighborhoods get treated .
• On a similar theme is a proposal for a North Austin Community Center at 1830 N. LeClaire Ave. , a venture of the By the Hand Club for Kids and Grace and Peace Fellowship .
The nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is managing the project using New Markets Tax Credits .
Its president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 million facility could be ready by summer 2022 .
It will include indoor turf fields , basketball and volleyball courts , and space for after-school programs .

Illinois passed another grim milestone Monday, and early data suggests many people on the South and West sides aren’t getting the coronavirus vaccine.
Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus in Chicago and around Illinois.
News
8:55 p.m. Illinois’ coronavirus death toll tops 16,000
Dr. Pam Khosia, chief of hematology and oncology, receives her Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Southwest Side, Thursday afternoon, Dec. 17, 2020. Sinai received 975 doses of the vaccine, the hospital’s first batch, Thursday. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The death toll in Illinois from the coronavirus has climbed past the 16,000 mark, state public health officials said Monday.
The state reported 105 deaths from the coronavirus and 4,453 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus Monday. The death toll rose to 16,074 since the pandemic began nine months ago.
Sixteen of the new deaths were in Cook County. The new COVID-19 cases were found in a batch of 51,406 tests conducted over the last 24 hours.
As of Sunday night, 4,243 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of that number, 884 patients were in intensive care units and 515 COVID-positive patients were on ventilators.
The state’s latest numbers continue a trend of lower case counts since a November surge saw the state log record-breaking daily cases, including a nationwide record of 15,415 cases reported in one day.
So far, the state has reported a total of 942,362 cases in 102 counties in Illinois. Officials have previously pointed to a decrease in testing as a potential reason why the state is seeing lower daily case totals.
Rachel Hinton has the story.
6:02 p.m. House votes to increase COVID checks to $2K
WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is uncertain.
Democrats led passage, 275-134, their majority favoring additional assistance, but dozens of Republicans joined in approval. Congress had settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law. Democrats favored higher payments, but Trump’s push put his GOP allies in a difficult spot.
The vote deeply divided Republicans who mostly resist more spending. But many House Republicans joined in support, preferring to link with Democrats rather than buck the outgoing president. Senators were set to return to session Tuesday, forced to consider the measure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared, “Republicans have a choice: Vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people” the assistance she said they need during the pandemic.
Read more here.
4:13 p.m. As South Africa’s virus spikes, president bans liquor sales
JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reimposed a ban on alcohol sales and ordered the closure of all bars Monday as part of new restrictions to help the country battle a resurgence of the coronavirus, including a new variant.
In a nationwide address, Ramaphosa also announced the closure of all beaches and public swimming pools in the country’s infection hotspots, which include Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and several coastal areas.
South Africa will extend its nighttime curfew so all residents must be at home from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., the president said.
The president said that wearing masks is mandatory and that anyone found not wearing a mask in a public place will be subject to a fine or a criminal charge punishable by a possible jail sentence.
Ramaphosa said the increased restrictions are necessary because of a surge in COVID-19 infections which has pushed South Africa’s cumulative virus cases above 1 million.
Ramaphosa announced the new measures after a Cabinet meeting and an emergency meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council.
Read the full report here.
1:07 p.m. Vaccine’s unbalanced rollout: Few South, West side residents get COVID shots so far
Doctors, nurses and other health care workers who live near downtown or on the North Side stepped forward in large numbers to get vaccinated for COVID-19, while a smaller number of the city’s South Side and West Side residents got the shots.
The findings, from city data for the first 12 days of vaccinations along with census information showing where health care workers live, point to a trend of Chicago doctors living in more affluent areas showing up in sizable numbers to get inoculated while technicians and other lower-paid health care workers living in predominantly Black and Latino communities did not get the shots.
The numbers signal the challenge ahead for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago public health officials who have said they expect resistance from minority residents who may distrust the vaccination process. Health care workers are the first in line to receive the shots, and city officials hope Black and Latino nurses, doctors and others will set the example for the broader population in communities of color.
“This is exactly the challenge,” Dr. Allison Arwady, the city’s public health chief, said in an interview. “Our whole plan here in Chicago is really about equity, and it’s about recognizing there is a lot of extra work that needs to go in to see a map that shows equitable vaccine uptake.”
Arwady said she was “not at all surprised this is how the very first week of data look” but added, “I am confident that it will improve as more vaccine is available both within hospitals, but, importantly, when we move beyond hospitals.”
A large concentration of health care workers living in the whitest, wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago were vaccinated between Dec. 15 and 26, according to city data. There were 20,091 vaccinations of Chicago residents in total.
The largest numbers were in ZIP codes that include Near North Side, Lake View, Lincoln Park, South Loop and Wicker Park.
The 60611 ZIP code had the most number of vaccinated people with 1,297. The Near North Side ZIP code is more than 70% white, with a median income of almost $107,000, and includes the Magnificent Mile and Streeterville.
The ZIP code is among those in the city with the highest number of doctors and physicians, according to a city analysis of census data.
Brett Chase and Elvia Malangón have the story.
12:17 p.m. ‘This is not Tuskegee’: Elected officials work to build Black trust in COVID-19 vaccine
Black elected officials from the West Side held a virtual press conference Sunday to encourage Chicagoans, especially Black residents, to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to them.
“I have taken the vaccine,” said U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., who was vaccinated Dec. 20 in Washington, D.C. “I have had it injected into my body, and I guarantee that if I thought it would in any way harm myself or any other people, I would never ever recommend it.”
Black Americans are one of the groups most hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 35% of Black adults said they “definitely or probably would not get vaccinated.”
Some of the elected officials referenced the Tuskegee experiment as a major reason why Black Americans distrust the COVID-19 vaccine. Hundreds of Black men, many of whom had syphilis, were told they would be treated for the disease but in fact were misled and never given adequate treatment.
“This ain’t that, I’ll say it again, this ain’t that,” Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd) said. “I want to get the message across that this is not Tuskegee; this is about you and about your children and about your generation.”
Read the full report here.
10:03 a.m. You know who thrived during 2020? All the plants and lots of people who grew them
Maybe you’re crabby you were “stuck at home” throughout this pandemic, but I was off luxuriating in the garden.
My plants have never looked so happy since I’ve been home.
Weeds never stood a chance once I started taking phone calls out front in the bee border and tall garden, and yanked the buggers as they popped up. Houseplants got watered and pruned (and talked to) on demand, not just on Saturday mornings when the house was otherwise empty. The big ones sucked up air and light on the front porch oasis arranged to make a safe place to see a few friends or some grandparents, an extra “office,” occasionally a kindergarten classroom.
Like the puppies and the babies of 2020, green growing things thrived with caretakers around all the time, clearly among the big winners of our collective staying put for weeks that have stretched into months.
And bonus, we growers confronting the end of normal got to hold on to some sanity, too, one unfurled leaf, one sprouted seed, one cycle of photosynthesis at a time.
When I ventured out late in the spring and couldn’t find the usual seeds and seedlings to buy, I realized that everyone else was growing stuff, too. I asked an online houseplant group I joined this year: Why?
All the birthday parties and barbecues and vacations got canceled. For a minute, actual food shortages seemed possible. We needed a bright side to unemployment, something to do with ourselves. Our COVID-essential jobs left us stressed and drained. We had to entertain kids who were isolated from friends. We always wanted to grow tomatoes.
The more of us the coronavirus killed, the more we surrounded ourselves with living things.
Lauren FitzPatrick’s story continues here.
8:46 a.m. Trump signs massive funding bill, averts shutdown
President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
The massive bill includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits.
Trump announced the signing in a statement Sunday night that spoke of his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief for including only $600 checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large. But Trump’s eleventh-hour objections created turmoil because lawmakers had thought he was supportive of the bill, which had been negotiated for months with White House input.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
While the president insisted he would send Congress “a redlined version” with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday, but it’s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate where spending faces opposition.
Read the full story from the Associated Press.
New cases
The coronavirus has killed an additional 66 Illinois residents and spread to 3,293 more, state public health officials announced Saturday.
As of Saturday night, 4,083 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19, with 905 of those patients in intensive-care units and 497 on ventilators, officials said.
Analysis & Commentary
12:13 p.m. Goodbye 2020: A year like... well, you know
An Easter like no other.
A summer like no other.
A World Series like no other.
A year like no other.
The description “a _____ like no other” wasn’t invented in 2020. It has been used for more than a century: ”It has been a year like no other,” wrote R.M. Squires, summing up the world of dentistry in 1919.
But the phrase was worn to a nubbin over the past nine months by journalists lunging to convey in a handy three-word code the baked-in strangeness and continuous turmoil we’ve been enduring. A branded logo to rubber-stamp this slow-motion train wreck: COVID-19 pandemic meets civic unrest meets economic disruption. Our locked-down society of shuttered schools and struggling restaurants, all playing out against a political clown show that veers from farcical to frightening, sometimes within the same hour.
7:30 a.m. Pending Chicago projects can relieve the pandemic blahs
In 2020, the pandemic altered life so profoundly that for many Chicagoans, their relationship to each other and to city institutions changed. For many, work has been severed from a traditional place to do it, surrounded by colleagues or from standard commuting patterns.
Much has been written about whether the glue that binds cities together will give way because of the pandemic. Luckily, trends have a way of smoothing out over time. For every tech worker who decamps for Idaho or rustic Michigan, somebody else will toy with the option but stay put, whether it’s because a small-town music scene isn’t any good or there’s a real deficit in health care just about anywhere beyond metro areas.
For Chicago, 2021 is shaping up as a year to get back on its feet — a real positive, all things considered. It brings back confidence, and capital is sure to follow. The city needs investment across its neighborhoods. Perhaps the lessons from this year’s demonstrations over social injustice will be fresh enough to ensure that investments are more equitable.
Construction plans being laid in various communities offer signs of urban revival — not calling it “renewal” — with a notable involvement from nonprofit organizations. Here are a few proposals somewhat unique:
At 2500 S. Wabash Ave., the developer who built the Wit Hotel at 201 N. State St. is touting a $30 million e-sports arena called Surge. Scott Greenberg, president of Lincolnshire-based ECD, is promising an IMAX-like experience in virtual reality for up to 1,200 gamers and those who watch them. The site is just the other side of I-55 from McCormick Place. Greenberg also plans a parking and retail site at 2601 S. Wabash to serve the facility. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and neighborhood groups back the plan, so city approval should come soon. Greenberg is aiming for mid-2022 completion. Might as well get started on this before these ventures pop up in old department stores in the suburbs.
• Last week, I reported the Chicago Cubs are eyeing the old Silver Shovel site, nearly 21 acres at Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue, for a baseball-oriented youth academy. The Cubs’ plan will be evaluated against other proposals for the site, because the city invited developer interest. But the Cubs could be a welcome lift for Lawndale families. The site is associated with a 1990s scandal over illegal dumping that spoke volumes over how poor neighborhoods get treated.
• On a similar theme is a proposal for a North Austin Community Center at 1830 N. LeClaire Ave., a venture of the By the Hand Club for Kids and Grace and Peace Fellowship. The nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is managing the project using New Markets Tax Credits. Its president, David Doig, said the $30 million facility could be ready by summer 2022. It will include indoor turf fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and space for after-school programs.
Keep reading David Roeder’s column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Snow, freezing rain could hit Chicago area starting Tuesday

After a mostly snowless start to winter , the Chicago area may see several inches of snow this week — along with freezing rain — as a storm system moves over the region .
A winter weather advisory is in effect for northern and northeastern Illinois from 3 p.m. Tuesday until 9 a.m. Wednesday , the National Weather Service said .
Snow , at times heavy in the early evening , will likely develop Tuesday night and transition into mixed precipitation including freezing rain overnight Wednesday , the weather service said .
The city could see between 1-3 inches of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but areas around Waukegan , Elgin and Rockford could get up to 5 inches .
In addition , power outages are possible due to the combined effects of wet snow accumulation , icing and wind gusts up to 30 mph , the weather service said .
Motorists were advised to plan on slippery roads and reduced visibility , especially during the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes .
The forecast for accumulating snow comes as Chicago experiences a historically snowless winter — although cities like New York have gotten hit hard .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a top 10 quietest start for both snowfall and snow cover , ” the weather service said .
So far in 2020 , the area has seen only .9 inches of snow , the weather service said .
Only six other winters since 1884 have gone this long with less than 1 inch of total snow , the most recent being 2012-2013 .
The area may see another round of wintry precipitation Thursday night and New Year ’ s Day , the weather service said .

After a mostly snowless start to winter, the Chicago area may see several inches of snow this week — along with freezing rain — as a storm system moves over the region.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for northern and northeastern Illinois from 3 p.m. Tuesday until 9 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
Snow, at times heavy in the early evening, will likely develop Tuesday night and transition into mixed precipitation including freezing rain overnight Wednesday, the weather service said.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The city could see between 1-3 inches of snow, the weather service said, but areas around Waukegan, Elgin and Rockford could get up to 5 inches.
Hazardous travel conditions are possible Tuesday PM into Wednesday AM. Snow develops over the area late Tue then gradually changes to a wintry mix, including freezing rain overnight. Warmer air moves in on Wed helping end the icing threat during the day for most areas #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/SsyNR93XDu — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 28, 2020
In addition, power outages are possible due to the combined effects of wet snow accumulation, icing and wind gusts up to 30 mph, the weather service said.
Motorists were advised to plan on slippery roads and reduced visibility, especially during the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.
The forecast for accumulating snow comes as Chicago experiences a historically snowless winter — although cities like New York have gotten hit hard.
“Through today for Chicago, this is a top 10 quietest start for both snowfall and snow cover,” the weather service said.
While wintry precipitation is forecast this week, there has been a clear lack of ❄ in northern Illinois and most of northwest Indiana thus far this winter. Through today for Chicago, this is a top ten quietest start for both snowfall and snow cover.#ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/XUaOOiYeGE — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 28, 2020
So far in late 2020, the area has seen only .9 inches of snow, the weather service said. Only six other winters since 1884 have gone this long with less than 1 inch of total snow, the most recent being 2012-2013.
The area may see another round of wintry precipitation Thursday night and New Year’s Day, the weather service said.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--House votes to increase COVID checks to $2K

WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $ 2,000 , meeting President Donald Trump ’ s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate , where the outcome is uncertain .
Democrats led passage , 275-134 , their majority favoring additional assistance , but dozens of Republicans joined in approval .
Congress had settled on smaller $ 600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law .
Democrats favored higher payments , but Trump ’ s push put his GOP allies in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans who mostly resist more spending .
But many House Republicans joined in support , preferring to link with Democrats rather than buck the outgoing president .
Senators were set to return to session Tuesday , forced to consider the measure .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared , “ Republicans have a choice : Vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people ” the assistance she said they need during the pandemic .
The showdown could end up as more symbol than substance .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the Senate will handle the bill when Democrats there try to push it forward for a vote on Tuesday .
The legislative action during the rare holiday week session may do little to change the $ 2 trillion-plus COVID-19 relief and federal spending package that Trump signed into law Sunday , one of the biggest bills of its kind providing relief for millions of Americans .
Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas , the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee , acknowledged the division and said Congress had already approved ample funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this bill helps anybody get back to work , ” he said .
The package the president signed into law includes two parts — $ 900 billion in COVID-19 aid and $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies .
It will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown that otherwise would have started Tuesday , in the midst of the public health crisis .
Aside from the direct $ 600 checks to most Americans , the COVID-19 portion of the bill revives a weekly pandemic jobless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , through March 14 — as well as a popular Paycheck Protection Program of grants to businesses to keep workers on payrolls .
It extends eviction protections , adding a new rental assistance fund .
The COVID-19 package draws and expands on an earlier effort from Washington .
It offers billions of dollars for vaccine purchases and distribution , for virus contact tracing , public health departments , schools , universities , farmers , food pantry programs and other institutions and groups facing hardship in the pandemic .
Americans earning up to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 payments , which are phased out at higher income levels , and there ’ s an additional $ 600 payment per dependent child .
Meantime the government funding portion of the bill keeps federal agencies nationwide running without dramatic changes until Sept. 30 .
Together with votes Monday and Tuesday to override Trump ’ s veto of a sweeping defense bill , the attempt to send much higher pandemic-era checks to people is perhaps the last standoff of the president ’ s final days in office as he imposes fresh demands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new Congress is set to be sworn in Sunday .
Trump ’ s sudden decision to sign the bill in Florida , where he is spending the holidays , came as he faced escalating criticism from lawmakers on all sides over his eleventh-hour demands .
The bipartisan bill negotiated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins .
Lawmakers had thought they had Trump ’ s blessing after months of negotiations with his administration .
The president ’ s defiant refusal to act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just before the Christmas holiday , sparked chaos , a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and the threat of a government shutdown in the pandemic .
It was another crisis of his own making , resolved when he ultimately signed the bill into law .
In his statement about the signing , Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $ 600 checks to most Americans and complained about what he considered unnecessary spending , particularly on foreign aid — much of it proposed by his own budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send Congress “ a redlined version ” with spending items he wants removed , those are merely suggestions to Congress .
Democrats said they would resist such cuts .
For now , the administration can only begin work sending out the $ 600 payments .
A day after the signing , Trump was back at the golf course in Florida , the state where he is expected to move after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20 .
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama , a conservative who supported Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election results , counted himself Monday among the opponents of a more generous relief package and Trump ’ s call for higher payments .
“ It ’ s money we don ’ t have , we have to borrow to get and we can ’ t afford to pay back , ” he said on “ Fox and Friends.
” But Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York said she was open to the idea of $ 2,000 checks .
“ Many Americans are in dire need of relief , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats alike swiftly welcomed Trump ’ s decision to sign the bill into law .
“ The compromise bill is not perfect , but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. “ I thank the President for signing this relief into law.
” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said he would offer Trump ’ s proposal for $ 2,000 checks for a vote in Senate — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House will pass a bill to give Americans $ 2,000 checks , ” Schumer tweeted .
“ Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.
” He said no Democrats will object .
“ Will Senate Republicans ?
” Democrats are promising more aid to come once Biden takes office , but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach .
Biden told reporters at an event in Wilmington , Delaware , that he supported the $ 2,000 checks .
Colvin reported from West Palm Beach , Florida .
Associated Press writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is uncertain.
Democrats led passage, 275-134, their majority favoring additional assistance, but dozens of Republicans joined in approval. Congress had settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law. Democrats favored higher payments, but Trump’s push put his GOP allies in a difficult spot.
The vote deeply divided Republicans who mostly resist more spending. But many House Republicans joined in support, preferring to link with Democrats rather than buck the outgoing president. Senators were set to return to session Tuesday, forced to consider the measure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared, “Republicans have a choice: Vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people” the assistance she said they need during the pandemic.
The showdown could end up as more symbol than substance. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has declined to say publicly how the Senate will handle the bill when Democrats there try to push it forward for a vote on Tuesday.
The legislative action during the rare holiday week session may do little to change the $2 trillion-plus COVID-19 relief and federal spending package that Trump signed into law Sunday, one of the biggest bills of its kind providing relief for millions of Americans.
Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, acknowledged the division and said Congress had already approved ample funds during the COVID-19 crisis. “Nothing in this bill helps anybody get back to work,” he said.
The package the president signed into law includes two parts — $900 billion in COVID-19 aid and $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies. It will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown that otherwise would have started Tuesday, in the midst of the public health crisis.
Aside from the direct $600 checks to most Americans, the COVID-19 portion of the bill revives a weekly pandemic jobless benefit boost — this time $300, through March 14 — as well as a popular Paycheck Protection Program of grants to businesses to keep workers on payrolls. It extends eviction protections, adding a new rental assistance fund.
The COVID-19 package draws and expands on an earlier effort from Washington. It offers billions of dollars for vaccine purchases and distribution, for virus contact tracing, public health departments, schools, universities, farmers, food pantry programs and other institutions and groups facing hardship in the pandemic.
Americans earning up to $75,000 will qualify for the direct $600 payments, which are phased out at higher income levels, and there’s an additional $600 payment per dependent child.
Meantime the government funding portion of the bill keeps federal agencies nationwide running without dramatic changes until Sept. 30.
Together with votes Monday and Tuesday to override Trump’s veto of a sweeping defense bill, the attempt to send much higher pandemic-era checks to people is perhaps the last standoff of the president’s final days in office as he imposes fresh demands and disputes the results of the presidential election. The new Congress is set to be sworn in Sunday.
Trump’s sudden decision to sign the bill in Florida, where he is spending the holidays, came as he faced escalating criticism from lawmakers on all sides over his eleventh-hour demands. The bipartisan bill negotiated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins. Lawmakers had thought they had Trump’s blessing after months of negotiations with his administration.
The president’s defiant refusal to act, publicized with a heated video he tweeted just before the Christmas holiday, sparked chaos, a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and the threat of a government shutdown in the pandemic. It was another crisis of his own making, resolved when he ultimately signed the bill into law.
In his statement about the signing, Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $600 checks to most Americans and complained about what he considered unnecessary spending, particularly on foreign aid — much of it proposed by his own budget.
While the president insisted he would send Congress “a redlined version” with spending items he wants removed, those are merely suggestions to Congress. Democrats said they would resist such cuts.
For now, the administration can only begin work sending out the $600 payments.
A day after the signing, Trump was back at the golf course in Florida, the state where he is expected to move after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, a conservative who supported Trump’s extraordinary and futile challenge of the election results, counted himself Monday among the opponents of a more generous relief package and Trump’s call for higher payments.
“It’s money we don’t have, we have to borrow to get and we can’t afford to pay back,” he said on “Fox and Friends.”
But Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York said she was open to the idea of $2,000 checks. “Many Americans are in dire need of relief,” she said on the show.
Altogether, Republicans and Democrats alike swiftly welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill into law.
“The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I thank the President for signing this relief into law.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would offer Trump’s proposal for $2,000 checks for a vote in Senate — putting Republicans on the spot.
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks,” Schumer tweeted. “Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.” He said no Democrats will object. “Will Senate Republicans?”
Democrats are promising more aid to come once Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.
Biden told reporters at an event in Wilmington, Delaware, that he supported the $2,000 checks.
Colvin reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Vets home resident diagnosed with COVID-19, Legionnaires’ disease ‘responding well’ to treatment

SPRINGFIELD — A resident at the state-run veterans home in Quincy who tested positive for both COVID-19 and Legionnaires ’ disease is responding well to treatment , a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday .
The Veterans Affairs department and the Illinois Department of Public Health had announced last week they were investigating the case of the resident , who tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 30 and also showed pneumonia symptoms on Dec. 16 , according to a department news release .
The Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy was notified on Dec. 22 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ disease , a severe pneumonia caused by the inhalation of waterborne bacteria .
The resident in question lives in Hammond Hall , which had not previously reported the presence of Legionella , the type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires ’ disease .
Hammond Hall is one of six residential halls at the Quincy facility in Adams County .
No other residents have tested positive for Legionnaires ’ disease , according to a state Veterans Affairs department spokesperson .
After the positive Legionnaire ’ s test was reported on Dec. 22 , Quincy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Health Department spoke by phone with representatives from the state health department , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Dr. Avery Hart , a medical consultant for the state veterans ’ homes on behalf of the state health department , according to the news release .
“ On the call , the CDC asked for clean-out and flushing logs which are part of the water management plan for the facility .
All actions by the Illinois Veterans ’ Home in Quincy are consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocols , ” according to the state veterans department news release .
Infectious disease staff from the state health department “ are working with the facility to collect information and further investigate the resident ’ s illness.
” The last legionella test at Hammond Hall was conducted Oct. 27 and was negative , according to the news release .
The last case of Legionnaires ’ disease was reported at the Quincy facility on Dec. 21 , 2019 , in Fifer Hall , according to the release .
An outbreak of Legionnaires ’ disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Quincy .
The single incident of Legionnaires ’ disease at the Quincy home comes as the facility also faces an outbreak of COVID-19 .
As of Dec. 26 , the Quincy facility has reported five resident deaths related to COVID-19 , 123 total positive cases among residents and 143 total positive cases among employees since the pandemic began .
The state-run veterans homes at Manteno and LaSalle have also reported COVID-19 outbreaks , prompting Gov .
JB Pritzker last month to send members of the Illinois National Guard to assist staff with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing outbreaks .
As of Dec. 26 , the Manteno facility has reported a total of 19 resident coronavirus-related deaths .
Since the outbreak began , Manteno has reported 69 positive cases among residents and 69 positive cases among employees .
As of Dec. 27 , the LaSalle facility has reported 34 resident deaths related to COVID-19 since Nov. 1 .
Since the start of the pandemic , 108 residents at LaSalle have tested positive and 105 employees have tested positive .
Three legislative committees are investigating the administration ’ s response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Human Services ’ acting inspector general has also announced an investigation into the deaths at LaSalle .
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit , nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide .
It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation .

SPRINGFIELD — A resident at the state-run veterans home in Quincy who tested positive for both COVID-19 and Legionnaires’ disease is responding well to treatment, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday.
The Veterans Affairs Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health had announced last week they were investigating the case of the resident, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 30 and also showed pneumonia symptoms on Dec. 16, according to a department news release.
The Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy was notified on Dec. 22 of the resident’s positive test for Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia caused by the inhalation of waterborne bacteria.
The resident in question lives in Hammond Hall, which had not previously reported the presence of Legionella, the type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. Hammond Hall is one of six residential halls at the Quincy facility in Adams County.
No other residents have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, according to a state Veterans Affairs department spokesperson.
After the positive Legionnaire’s test was reported on Dec. 22, Quincy facility staff and officials with the Adams County Health Department spoke by phone with representatives from the state health department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Dr. Avery Hart, a medical consultant for the state veterans’ homes on behalf of the state health department, according to the news release.
“On the call, the CDC asked for clean-out and flushing logs, which are part of the water management plan for the facility. All actions by the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy are consistent with the water management plan following CDC protocols,” according to the state veterans department news release.
Infectious disease staff from the state health department “are working with the facility to collect information and further investigate the resident’s illness.”
The last legionella test at Hammond Hall was conducted Oct. 27 and was negative, according to the news release.
The last case of Legionnaires’ disease was reported at the Quincy facility on Dec. 21, 2019, in Fifer Hall, according to the release. An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease between 2015 and 2018 killed 13 residents at Quincy.
The single incident of Legionnaires’ disease at the Quincy home comes as the facility also faces an outbreak of COVID-19.
As of Dec. 26, the Quincy facility has reported five resident deaths related to COVID-19, 123 total positive cases among residents and 143 total positive cases among employees since the pandemic began.
The state-run veterans homes at Manteno and LaSalle have also reported COVID-19 outbreaks, prompting Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month to send members of the Illinois National Guard to assist staff with administrative tasks at all three veterans homes experiencing outbreaks.
As of Dec. 26, the Manteno facility has reported a total of 19 resident coronavirus-related deaths. Since the outbreak began, Manteno has reported 69 positive cases among residents and 69 positive cases among employees.
As of Dec. 27, the LaSalle facility has reported 34 resident deaths related to COVID-19 since Nov. 1. Since the start of the pandemic, 108 residents at LaSalle have tested positive and 105 employees have tested positive.
Three legislative committees are investigating the administration’s response to the LaSalle outbreak, and the Illinois Department of Human Services’ acting inspector general has also announced an investigation into the deaths at LaSalle.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach out four to five months after wrist surgery

The centerpiece of the Blackhawks ’ youth movement likely will miss most or all of the 2021 season .
The Hawks announced center Kirby Dach had wrist surgery Monday and will be out for four to five months while recovering .
Dach suffered a fractured right wrist on an innocent-looking hit during an exhibition game between Canada and Russia last week at the world junior championships .
He quickly was ruled out for the rest of the tournament and returned to Chicago for further testing , indicating the issue might be serious .
Still , the news Monday represents the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the future first-line center the Hawks projected him to be when selecting him third overall in 2019 — a role he looked on track to achieve during his impressive rookie season — now faces a huge hurdle .
Moreover , the goal of the Hawks ’ 2021 season — which general manager Stan Bowman suggested in October would be focused on developing the team ’ s next generation of talent — has suffered a setback .
Dach will join wing Alex Nylander , who will miss four to six months after having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured list when on-ice training-camp sessions begin next week .

The centerpiece of the Blackhawks’ youth movement likely will miss most or all of the 2021 season.
The Hawks announced center Kirby Dach had wrist surgery Monday and will be out for four to five months while recovering.
Dach suffered a fractured right wrist on an innocent-looking hit during an exhibition game between Canada and Russia last week at the world junior championships.
He quickly was ruled out for the rest of the tournament and returned to Chicago for further testing, indicating the issue might be serious. Still, the news Monday represents the worst-case scenario.
Dach’s development into the future first-line center the Hawks projected him to be when selecting him third overall in 2019 — a role he looked on track to achieve during his impressive rookie season — now faces a huge hurdle.
Moreover, the goal of the Hawks’ 2021 season — which general manager Stan Bowman suggested in October would be focused on developing the team’s next generation of talent — has suffered a setback.
Dach will join wing Alex Nylander, who will miss four to six months after having knee surgery last week, on the injured list when on-ice training-camp sessions begin next week.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Ohio police officer fired in fatal shooting of Black man

COLUMBUS , Ohio — A white Ohio police officer was fired Monday after bodycam footage showed him fatally shooting 47-year-old Andre Hill — a Black man who was holding a cellphone — and refusing to administer first aid for several minutes .
Columbus police officer Adam Coy was fired hours after a hearing was held to determine his employment , Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. said in a statement .
“ The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer , or the standards we , and the community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement read .
“ The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him in addition to the community and our Division of Police.
” Coy remains under criminal investigation for last week ’ s shooting .
The decision came after Pettus concluded a hearing to determine whether the actions taken by Coy in the moments before and after the fatal shooting of Hill on Tuesday were justified .
The public safety director upheld the recommendation of Police Chief Thomas Quinlan , who made a video statement Christmas Eve , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coy be terminated .
Quinlan expedited the investigation and bypassed procedure to file two departmental charges alleging critical misconduct against Coy in the death of Hill .
“ This is what accountability looks like .
The evidence provided solid rationale for termination , ” Quinlan said after Coy ’ s termination Monday afternoon .
“ Mr .
Coy will now have to answer to the state investigators for the death of Andre Hill.
” Members of the local Fraternal Order of Police attended the hearing on behalf of Coy , who was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Pettus ’ office .
“ Officer Coy was given the opportunity today to come and participate , ” Brian Steel , vice president of the police union , told reporters Monday .
He elected not to participate .
I do not know why … I would have liked to have him here , but it ’ s his decision.
” Coy and another officer responded to a neighbor ’ s nonemergency call after 1 a.m. Tuesday about a car in front of his house in the city ’ s northwest side that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then turned back on , according to a copy of the call released Wednesday .
Mayor Andrew Ginther said it remains unclear if that car had anything to do with Hill .
Police bodycam footage showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding up a cellphone in his left hand seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy .
There is no audio because the officer hadn ’ t activated the body camera ; an automatic “ look back ” feature captured the shooting without audio .
An investigation is also being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the call that ended in Hill being shot , who Quinlan said also appear to have either failed to activate their body cameras or to render Hill aid .
He said any others who violated department protocols will be held accountable .
Officers must activate their body cameras as soon as they are dispatched to a major incident such as a shooting , robbery or burglary , under departmental policy .
Although Coy was dispatched on a nonemergency call , the call became an enforcement action when the officer interacted with Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call , said police department spokesperson Sgt .
James Fuqua .
In addition to an internal police investigation , Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was appointed a special prosecutor in the death of Hill on Thursday .
“ We will do our duty based on the facts and the law , ” Yost said in a tweet .
“ Whatever the outcome , someone will be angry — but the decision will be objective.
” There is also an investigation under the state ’ s criminal investigations unit , under Yost , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office and the FBI ’ s Civil Rights Division .
Coy , a 17-year member of the force , was relieved of duty , ordered to turn in his gun and badge , and stripped of police powers last week .
The killing of Hill at the hands of Columbus police follows the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. on Dec. 4 by a white Franklin County Sheriff ’ s deputy .
The two back-to-back shootings have resulted in an outpour of criticism from advocates and the Black community in Columbus for wider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A white Ohio police officer was fired Monday after bodycam footage showed him fatally shooting 47-year-old Andre Hill — a Black man who was holding a cellphone — and refusing to administer first aid for several minutes.
Columbus police officer Adam Coy was fired hours after a hearing was held to determine his employment, Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. said in a statement.
“The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers,” the statement read. “The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him in addition to the community and our Division of Police.”
Coy remains under criminal investigation for last week’s shooting.
The decision came after Pettus concluded a hearing to determine whether the actions taken by Coy in the moments before and after the fatal shooting of Hill on Tuesday were justified. The public safety director upheld the recommendation of Police Chief Thomas Quinlan, who made a video statement Christmas Eve, saying he had seen enough to recommend Coy be terminated.
Quinlan expedited the investigation and bypassed procedure to file two departmental charges alleging critical misconduct against Coy in the death of Hill.
“This is what accountability looks like. The evidence provided solid rationale for termination,” Quinlan said after Coy’s termination Monday afternoon. “Mr. Coy will now have to answer to the state investigators for the death of Andre Hill.”
Members of the local Fraternal Order of Police attended the hearing on behalf of Coy, who was not in attendance, according to a statement from Pettus’ office.
“Officer Coy was given the opportunity today to come and participate,” Brian Steel, vice president of the police union, told reporters Monday. He elected not to participate. I do not know why … I would have liked to have him here, but it’s his decision.”
Coy and another officer responded to a neighbor’s nonemergency call after 1 a.m. Tuesday about a car in front of his house in the city’s northwest side that had been running, then shut off, then turned back on, according to a copy of the call released Wednesday.
Mayor Andrew Ginther said it remains unclear if that car had anything to do with Hill.
Police bodycam footage showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding up a cellphone in his left hand seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy. There is no audio because the officer hadn’t activated the body camera; an automatic “look back” feature captured the shooting without audio.
An investigation is also being conducted into the other officers who responded to the call that ended in Hill being shot, who Quinlan said also appear to have either failed to activate their body cameras or to render Hill aid. He said any others who violated department protocols will be held accountable.
Officers must activate their body cameras as soon as they are dispatched to a major incident such as a shooting, robbery or burglary, under departmental policy. Although Coy was dispatched on a nonemergency call, the call became an enforcement action when the officer interacted with Hill because that was separate from the original call, said police department spokesperson Sgt. James Fuqua.
In addition to an internal police investigation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was appointed a special prosecutor in the death of Hill on Thursday.
“We will do our duty based on the facts and the law,” Yost said in a tweet. “Whatever the outcome, someone will be angry — but the decision will be objective.”
There is also an investigation under the state’s criminal investigations unit, under Yost, with assistance from the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI’s Civil Rights Division.
Coy, a 17-year member of the force, was relieved of duty, ordered to turn in his gun and badge, and stripped of police powers last week.
The killing of Hill at the hands of Columbus police follows the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. on Dec. 4 by a white Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy. The two back-to-back shootings have resulted in an outpour of criticism from advocates and the Black community in Columbus for wider and more comprehensive police reform.
___
Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Former Ald. Proco ‘Joe’ Moreno charged with DUI in Gold Coast crash

Former 1st Ward Ald .
Proco “ Joe ” Moreno was charged with several misdemeanors Monday — including driving under the influence — after he allegedly crashed into several vehicles in the Gold Coast Sunday night .
Moreno , 48 , was charged with two counts of driving under the influence , one count of reckless driving and five counts of failing to report damage to an unattended vehicle , according to Chicago police .
Moreno crashed a vehicle into several others before hitting a tree in the 1200 block of North Astor Street about 9:20 p.m. Sunday , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreno was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
While no one was hurt in the incident , among the cars damaged in the incident was Andrew Schneidwind ’ s Honda Pilot .
“ I ’ m very surprised he made it as far as he did destroying cars along the way , ” Schneidwind told ABC7 .
“ It ’ s shocking that he made it all the way and he ’ s messing up cars in such a big way for such a long distance .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Monday marked the second time in as many years that criminal charges were brought against the former alderman .
In May 2019 — three months after he lost his reelection bid — Moreno was charged with insurance fraud , disorderly conduct , obstruction of justice and filing a false police report .
Those charges stemmed from a report Moreno filed four months before in which he claimed his car was stolen from his Wicker Park home .
In January 2019 , Moreno loaned the car to Liliya Hrabar — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night before he reported the car stolen , according to Cook County prosecutors .
Hrabar was arrested after police pulled her over in Moreno ’ s car , and she was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle , a misdemeanor , though that charge was dropped .
Records show Moreno ’ s fraud case is still pending , with the next court date set for Jan. 19 , 2021 .

Former 1st Ward Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno was charged with several misdemeanors Monday — including driving under the influence — after he allegedly crashed into several vehicles in the Gold Coast Sunday night.
Moreno, 48, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, one count of reckless driving and five counts of failing to report damage to an unattended vehicle, according to Chicago police.
Moreno crashed a vehicle into several others before hitting a tree in the 1200 block of North Astor Street about 9:20 p.m. Sunday, according to police. After the crash, Moreno was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.
While no one was hurt in the incident, among the cars damaged in the incident was Andrew Schneidwind’s Honda Pilot.
“I’m very surprised he made it as far as he did destroying cars along the way,” Schneidwind told ABC7. “It’s shocking that he made it all the way and he’s messing up cars in such a big way for such a long distance. It’s insane.”
Moreno could not be reached for comment.
A damaged car is seen Monday where former Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno allegedly crashed into several parked cars before hitting a tree Sunday in the 1200 block of North Astor St. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Monday marked the second time in as many years that criminal charges were brought against the former alderman.
In May 2019 — three months after he lost his reelection bid — Moreno was charged with insurance fraud, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice and filing a false police report.
Those charges stemmed from a report Moreno filed four months before in which he claimed his car was stolen from his Wicker Park home.
In January 2019, Moreno loaned the car to Liliya Hrabar — who he was dating at the time — the night before he reported the car stolen, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Hrabar was arrested after police pulled her over in Moreno’s car, and she was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle, a misdemeanor, though that charge was dropped.
Records show Moreno’s fraud case is still pending, with the next court date set for Jan. 19, 2021.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-29--Dear Abby: My husband discusses our sex life with his former girlfriend

DEAR ABBY : I have been married for 19 years now .
A few years back , I came to know about my husband ’ s platonic relationship with his old girlfriend .
She lives in a different state and is married .
My husband has long chats with her every day about everything , including our sex life .
I confronted him and asked him to end their relationship because knowing that he wants me to do something in bed because his friend does it bothers me a lot .
He promised at the time that he wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I trusted him .
A few weeks ago , I discovered that he still chats with her every day , and he changed her name in his contact list to hide his relationship .
I feel cheated on , and I want to end this marriage .
Please help me .
I don ’ t want to make a wrong step .
— BETRAYED IN FLORIDA DEAR BETRAYED : A couple ’ s sex life is supposed to be private .
Your husband and his supposedly platonic “ friend ” have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That he would expect you to do something in bed that he knows she is doing is substituting your body for hers , and frankly , it strikes me as another form of cheating .
Obscuring her name in his contact file illustrates that he has no intention of ending their relationship .
You feel cheated on because you HAVE been cheated on .
It will continue as long as you allow it .
Because you ’ re afraid you will take a wrong step , start quietly gathering all the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers before deciding which one will work hardest to protect your interests and proceed from there .
DEAR ABBY : Due to COVID shutting schools down , my employer is now allowing staff to bring their kids to work if they don ’ t have alternative child care .
I bring my 8-year-old , and I have seen many other kids around .
Most of them are well behaved and don ’ t cause any problems .
However , we have a new employee , “ Michelle , ” who has started bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ll call her Autumn , is in her mother ’ s office , but she ’ s so loud , she can be heard all the way across the building !
I thought surely Michelle would close her office door and contain Autumn ’ s “ jolly ” voice inside her own area , but she seems perfectly happy to let her daughter make as much noise as she wants .
I don ’ t understand this .
Other parents make sure their kids behave and act appropriately .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my supervisor know that while yes , she can bring her child with her , it ’ s still her responsibility to make sure the kid isn ’ t creating a distraction ?
— TIRED OF THE NOISE DEAR TIRED OF THE NOISE : I do not think it would be prudent to talk about this with Michelle , which is sure to make her defensive .
You should , however , inform your supervisor that because Michelle ’ s door is left open , her daughter ’ s “ jolly ” voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been causing a problem for you , the chances are it is doing the same for other employees and reducing productivity .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To receive a collection of Abby ’ s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays , send your name and mailing address , plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 19 years now. A few years back, I came to know about my husband’s platonic relationship with his old girlfriend. She lives in a different state and is married.
My husband has long chats with her every day about everything, including our sex life. I confronted him and asked him to end their relationship because knowing that he wants me to do something in bed because his friend does it bothers me a lot. He promised at the time that he wouldn’t talk or chat with her anymore, and I trusted him.
A few weeks ago, I discovered that he still chats with her every day, and he changed her name in his contact list to hide his relationship. I feel cheated on, and I want to end this marriage. Please help me. I don’t want to make a wrong step. — BETRAYED IN FLORIDA
DEAR BETRAYED: A couple’s sex life is supposed to be private. Your husband and his supposedly platonic “friend” have both betrayed the trust of their spouses. That he would expect you to do something in bed that he knows she is doing is substituting your body for hers, and frankly, it strikes me as another form of cheating. Obscuring her name in his contact file illustrates that he has no intention of ending their relationship.
You feel cheated on because you HAVE been cheated on. It will continue as long as you allow it. Because you’re afraid you will take a wrong step, start quietly gathering all the financial information you can and talk with several lawyers before deciding which one will work hardest to protect your interests and proceed from there.
DEAR ABBY: Due to COVID shutting schools down, my employer is now allowing staff to bring their kids to work if they don’t have alternative child care. I bring my 8-year-old, and I have seen many other kids around. Most of them are well behaved and don’t cause any problems.
However, we have a new employee, “Michelle,” who has started bringing her 4-year-old with her. The child, I’ll call her Autumn, is in her mother’s office, but she’s so loud, she can be heard all the way across the building! I thought surely Michelle would close her office door and contain Autumn’s “jolly” voice inside her own area, but she seems perfectly happy to let her daughter make as much noise as she wants.
I don’t understand this. Other parents make sure their kids behave and act appropriately. What can I do to let Michelle and my supervisor know that while yes, she can bring her child with her, it’s still her responsibility to make sure the kid isn’t creating a distraction? — TIRED OF THE NOISE
DEAR TIRED OF THE NOISE: I do not think it would be prudent to talk about this with Michelle, which is sure to make her defensive. You should, however, inform your supervisor that because Michelle’s door is left open, her daughter’s “jolly” voice is creating a distraction. If it has been causing a problem for you, the chances are it is doing the same for other employees and reducing productivity.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-29--Film Center’s Barbara Scharres closes out a career of bringing the world to Chicago

The woman known as the face of Chicago film programming did not start out as a cinema buff .
Barbara Scharres , who ’ s retiring Thursday as director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center after 45 years , has played an integral role in cinema circles .
But she had a different path in mind .
“ I was going to be a nurse like my mother , ” she said .
Her parents , who met in post-war London , exposed her to the arts , but not film .
“ My dad didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada , Scharres grew up in Clarendon Hills , where her film interests were limited to Disney re-releases and the occasional blockbuster like “ Lawrence of Arabia ” ( which she saw “ five times over several weeks ” ) .
Her tastes ran more to theater , especially Broadway musicals , than they did to the pop culture of her teens , including songwriters such as Joni Mitchell , who could be her twin .
“ I ’ ve been told that a million times , ” she said , “ but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After enrolling as a nursing major at St. Xavier College , Scharres discovered that her course load would consist of “ nothing that I was interested in .
I thought , ‘ I got ta get out of this , ’ and changed my major to art .
It was a narrow escape.
” During orientation week , she came across a free screening of “ The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner ” ( 1962 ) .
“ From that point on , I was hooked , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from movies.
” Scharres then started making 8mm and 16mm films .
But her nascent career was derailed by a part-time job .
Founded in 1972 as part of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago , the Film Center grew out of a monthly cinema series curated by Camille Cook .
The Film Center ’ s first director , Cook hired Scharres as a part-time staffer .
In 1975 , Scharres went full time and served in various jobs , leading to her current role in 1988 .
October marked her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renamed in 2000 for the longtime Tribune film critic ) .
Though she ’ s just a few years away from another milestone , she didn ’ t want to stay on until her 50th .
“ I used to say I don ’ t want to go from the Film Center to Alzheimer ’ s .
It was time.
” Along with other arts venues , the Film Center has been shuttered by the pandemic .
It has continued with virtual events , but “ it ’ s difficult to have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be.
” The venue ’ s early years overlapped a pivotal era , with the end of the studio system , and the beginnings of indie and world cinema .
After finding foreign films in college , Scharres also gravitated toward American experimental film .
“ I left school with that education and continued those interests in grad school , ” she said .
“ From the start , the Film Center was a wealth of world cinema .
Camille had a firm idea of the expansiveness of our mission .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ many achievements have been a continued focus on global film , especially the cinemas of Hong Kong and Iran .
Chinese action films wouldn ’ t seem to be a natural fit for a Clarendon Hills gal .
“ Their emotional aspects appeal to me , ” she said .
“ I love the melodrama and over-the-top emotion .
Those themes disappeared from U.S. films a long time ago.
” After retirement , Scharres will continue in another role : chief of lectors at Lake View ’ s St. Alphonsus Church , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
They had planned to marry this year but delayed their wedding due to the pandemic .
It will mark the first marriage for both .
“ We ’ re cafeteria Catholics , ” she said .
“ We pick and choose what we believe in.
” Active on the film festival circuit , Scharres hopes to keep attending these events .
She has covered Cannes , Toronto and other major festivals for rogerebert.com , where she contributed to the site ’ s Top 10 of 2020 list .
Along with foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Apples , ” Scharres picked the crowd-pleaser “ Borat Subsequent Moviefilm ” for her best of 2020 .
“ It was much more cohesive than the first ‘ Borat , ’ because of the female character Tutar [ Borat ’ s daughter ] , ” she said .
“ Her evolution is the core of the film.
” Very nice .
But even the single-minded Borat must be wondering whether theatrical presentation will survive .
“ It ’ s so shocking that the whole culture of going to the movies could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Talk about a deus ex machina that drops in and changes everything .
It will be a long , long comeback .
”

The woman known as the face of Chicago film programming did not start out as a cinema buff.
Barbara Scharres, who’s retiring Thursday as director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center after 45 years, has played an integral role in cinema circles. But she had a different path in mind. “I was going to be a nurse like my mother,” she said. Her parents, who met in post-war London, exposed her to the arts, but not film. “My dad didn’t consider it an art.”
Born in Canada, Scharres grew up in Clarendon Hills, where her film interests were limited to Disney re-releases and the occasional blockbuster like “Lawrence of Arabia” (which she saw “five times over several weeks”). Her tastes ran more to theater, especially Broadway musicals, than they did to the pop culture of her teens, including songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, who could be her twin. “I’ve been told that a million times,” she said, “but I don’t see the resemblance.”
After enrolling as a nursing major at St. Xavier College, Scharres discovered that her course load would consist of “nothing that I was interested in. I thought, ‘I gotta get out of this,’ and changed my major to art. It was a narrow escape.”
During orientation week, she came across a free screening of “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” (1962). “From that point on, I was hooked,” she said. “I couldn’t keep away from movies.” Scharres then started making 8mm and 16mm films. But her nascent career was derailed by a part-time job.
Founded in 1972 as part of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Film Center grew out of a monthly cinema series curated by Camille Cook. The Film Center’s first director, Cook hired Scharres as a part-time staffer. In 1975, Scharres went full time and served in various jobs, leading to her current role in 1988. October marked her 45th anniversary at the Siskel Center (renamed in 2000 for the longtime Tribune film critic). Though she’s just a few years away from another milestone, she didn’t want to stay on until her 50th. “I used to say I don’t want to go from the Film Center to Alzheimer’s. It was time.”
Along with other arts venues, the Film Center has been shuttered by the pandemic. It has continued with virtual events, but “it’s difficult to have any feeling for what the job used to be.”
The venue’s early years overlapped a pivotal era, with the end of the studio system, and the beginnings of indie and world cinema. After finding foreign films in college, Scharres also gravitated toward American experimental film. “I left school with that education and continued those interests in grad school,” she said. “From the start, the Film Center was a wealth of world cinema. Camille had a firm idea of the expansiveness of our mission. And I embraced it right away.”
Tony Jones, then president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Barbara Scharres pose with portraits of Gene Siskel during the Film Center’s move to 164 N. State St. in 2001. Sun-Times file
Among Scharres’ many achievements have been a continued focus on global film, especially the cinemas of Hong Kong and Iran. Chinese action films wouldn’t seem to be a natural fit for a Clarendon Hills gal. “Their emotional aspects appeal to me,” she said. “I love the melodrama and over-the-top emotion. Those themes disappeared from U.S. films a long time ago.”
After retirement, Scharres will continue in another role: chief of lectors at Lake View’s St. Alphonsus Church, where she met her partner of 23 years. They had planned to marry this year but delayed their wedding due to the pandemic. It will mark the first marriage for both. “We’re cafeteria Catholics,” she said. “We pick and choose what we believe in.”
Active on the film festival circuit, Scharres hopes to keep attending these events. She has covered Cannes, Toronto and other major festivals for rogerebert.com, where she contributed to the site’s Top 10 of 2020 list. Along with foreign films like “Another Round” and “Apples,” Scharres picked the crowd-pleaser “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” for her best of 2020. “It was much more cohesive than the first ‘Borat,’ because of the female character Tutar [Borat’s daughter],” she said. “Her evolution is the core of the film.”
Very nice. But even the single-minded Borat must be wondering whether theatrical presentation will survive. “It’s so shocking that the whole culture of going to the movies could be destroyed,” she said. “Talk about a deus ex machina that drops in and changes everything. It will be a long, long comeback.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-29--Menu planner: Balsamic marinated flank steak will leave you wanting more

Combine vinegar , oil , basil , mustard , garlic and sugar in a small bowl .
Place steak and marinade in resealable plastic bag ; close securely and turn steak to coat .
Marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or overnight , turning occasionally .
Remove steak ; discard marinade .
Place steak on grill over medium , ash-covered coals .
Grill , covered , 11 to 16 minutes ( or 16 to 21 minutes over medium heat on preheated gas grill ) for medium-rare to medium doneness , turning occasionally .
Season steak with salt and pepper to taste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serve .
Per serving : 160 calories , 23 grams protein , 7 grams fat ( 40 % calories from fat ) , 2.8 grams saturated fat , no carbohydrate , 65 milligrams cholesterol , 84 milligrams sodium , no fiber .
Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper to taste ; set aside .
In a large nonstick skillet , heat oil on medium-high .
Add chicken and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until browned , turning once .
Transfer chicken to a plate and cover to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cook 2 minutes or just until browned .
Add wine or broth ; deglaze pan ( loosen browned bits on skillet ) , bring to a boil and simmer to reduce liquid by half .
Add mustard , tarragon and half-and-half , stirring gently until ingredients are well-mixed .
Add chicken and any accumulated juices back to skillet ; bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes .
Serve .
Per serving : 259 calories , 27 grams protein , 14 grams fat ( 49 % calories from fat ) , 5.2 grams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 95 milligrams cholesterol , 311 milligrams sodium , no fiber .
Cooking time : 3 1/2 to 4 hours on high , or 7 to 8 hours on low Heat a small , nonstick skillet on medium .
Add cumin seeds , stirring constantly ; cook for 1 minute or until aromatic .
Remove from pan ; set aside .
Add beef to 4-quart or larger slow cooker ; sprinkle with flour .
Toss to coat .
Add cumin seeds , broth , apple juice concentrate , thyme , allspice , pepper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combine .
Cook on low 7 to 8 hours or on high 3 1/2 to 4 hours .
Toast 4 halved whole-grain English muffins .
Transfer to a plate , cut side up .
Immediately sprinkle each top half with 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese .
On each bottom half , arrange 1 sliced avocado quarter , 4 fresh basil leaves and thinly sliced red onion to taste .
Toss 2 cups arugula with 4 teaspoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar ; set aside .
Brush rounded side of 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaspoons olive oil ; sprinkle gill side with coarse salt and pepper .
Heat a large , nonstick skillet on medium-high .
Cover and cook mushrooms , gill-side up , 3 minutes .
Reduce heat to medium ; turn , cover and cook mushrooms 3 more minutes or until cooked through .
Place gill-side up on bottom muffin halves .
Top with sliced tomatoes and the dressed arugula .
Add muffin top and serve .
Combine 2 ham hocks ( about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds total ) with enough water to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce heat and simmer 1 hour .
Meanwhile , rinse and pick over 1 pound dry black-eyed peas ; place peas in 4-quart or larger slow cooker .
Top with ham hocks , 4 cups of the ham hock water , 1 teaspoon minced garlic , 2 medium onions ( cut into thin wedges ) , 1 ( 14.5-ounce ) can diced tomatoes with jalapeno peppers ( with liquid ) , and coarse salt and pepper to taste .
Cook on low 5 to 7 hours or until peas are soft , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 5 hours , and they were perfect , but it depends on your cooker . )
Remove ham hocks and discard the fat .
Add meat from hocks back to the peas ; mix well .

Balsamic marinated flank steak
Makes 4 servings
Preparation time: 10 minutes; marinating time: 6 hours to overnight
Cooking time: 16 to 21 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 beef flank steak (about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Combine vinegar, oil, basil, mustard, garlic and sugar in a small bowl. Place steak and marinade in resealable plastic bag; close securely and turn steak to coat. Marinate in refrigerator 6 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Remove steak; discard marinade. Place steak on grill over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 16 minutes (or 16 to 21 minutes over medium heat on preheated gas grill) for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Season steak with salt and pepper to taste. Carve steak crosswise into thin slices and serve.
Per serving: 160 calories, 23 grams protein, 7 grams fat (40% calories from fat), 2.8 grams saturated fat, no carbohydrate, 65 milligrams cholesterol, 84 milligrams sodium, no fiber.
Carb choices: 0
Chicken cutlets with Dijon-tarragon sauce
Makes 4 servings
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: about 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
4 (4- or 5-ounce) chicken cutlets
Coarse salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 shallots, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup dry white wine or unsalted chicken broth
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 cup half-and-half
Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper to taste; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium-high. Add chicken and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until browned, turning once. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add shallots to skillet and cook 2 minutes or just until browned. Add wine or broth; deglaze pan (loosen browned bits on skillet), bring to a boil and simmer to reduce liquid by half. Add mustard, tarragon and half-and-half, stirring gently until ingredients are well-mixed. Add chicken and any accumulated juices back to skillet; bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Serve.
Per serving: 259 calories, 27 grams protein, 14 grams fat (49% calories from fat), 5.2 grams saturated fat, 5 grams carbohydrate, 95 milligrams cholesterol, 311 milligrams sodium, no fiber.
Carb choices: 0.5.
Winter spiced beef and apple stew
Makes 8 servings
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 3 1/2 to 4 hours on high, or 7 to 8 hours on low
INGREDIENTS
4 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 1/2 pounds lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons flour
1 (14-ounce) can unsalted beef broth
3 ounces frozen apple juice concentrate, undiluted
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
Heat a small, nonstick skillet on medium. Add cumin seeds, stirring constantly; cook for 1 minute or until aromatic. Remove from pan; set aside. Add beef to 4-quart or larger slow cooker; sprinkle with flour. Toss to coat. Add cumin seeds, broth, apple juice concentrate, thyme, allspice, pepper, salt, potatoes and apples. Stir to combine. Cook on low 7 to 8 hours or on high 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
Per serving: 229 calories, 18 grams protein, 6 grams fat (25% calories from fat), 2.3 grams saturated fat, 25 grams carbohydrate, 53 milligrams cholesterol, 219 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 1.5.
Caprese avocado ‘cheeseburgers’
Toast 4 halved whole-grain English muffins. Transfer to a plate, cut side up. Immediately sprinkle each top half with 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese. On each bottom half, arrange 1 sliced avocado quarter, 4 fresh basil leaves and thinly sliced red onion to taste. Toss 2 cups arugula with 4 teaspoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar; set aside. Brush rounded side of 4 large portobello mushroom caps with 2 more teaspoons olive oil; sprinkle gill side with coarse salt and pepper. Heat a large, nonstick skillet on medium-high. Cover and cook mushrooms, gill-side up, 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; turn, cover and cook mushrooms 3 more minutes or until cooked through. Place gill-side up on bottom muffin halves. Top with sliced tomatoes and the dressed arugula. Add muffin top and serve.
Black-eyed peas with ham
Combine 2 ham hocks (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds total) with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Meanwhile, rinse and pick over 1 pound dry black-eyed peas; place peas in 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Top with ham hocks, 4 cups of the ham hock water, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 2 medium onions (cut into thin wedges), 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with jalapeno peppers (with liquid), and coarse salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low 5 to 7 hours or until peas are soft, but not mushy. (I cooked mine for 5 hours, and they were perfect, but it depends on your cooker.) Remove ham hocks and discard the fat. Add meat from hocks back to the peas; mix well.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-29--6 shot, 3 fatally, Monday in Chicago

6 shot, 3 fatally, Monday in Chicago

Six people were shot , three of them fatally , Monday in Chicago , including a man who was fatally shot inside a home in Gresham on the South Side .
The 33-year-old was found unresponsive about 9:15 p.m. on the kitchen floor of a residence in the 8300 block of South Kerfoot Avenue , with a gunshot wound to the face , Chicago police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office hasn ’ t released details on the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside a vehicle in Portage Park on the Northwest Side .
Officers responded to gunfire about 6 a.m. and found the man unresponsive with gunshot wounds in the 4000 block of North Lockwood Avenue , according to preliminary information from police .
He was identified as Luis Perez , 33 , the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately released .
Two hours prior , a 57-year-old Westchester man was shot to death while driving on the Lower West Side .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Wood Street about 4 a.m. , when someone in a gold-colored SUV opened fire , police .
Albert Posey was struck multiple times in the back and was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
In non-fatal shootings , a man was wounded in a shooting in Roseland on the Far South Side .
He was walking about 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of West 112th Street when someone in a passing white SUV opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was struck in the abdomen and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition .
A man was shot in Austin on the West Side .
He was near an alley about 7:46 p.m. in the 5800 block of West Washington Boulevard when someone opened fire , striking him in the back and forehead , police said .
The 29-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was in good condition .
In the day ’ s first reported shooting , a woman was wounded in a shooting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 22-year-old walked into an Advocate Health clinic in the 9800 block of South Western Avenue with a gunshot wound to the face , police said .
The circumstances of the shooting are unclear .
Thirty people were shot , eight of them fatally , last weekend citywide .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Six people were shot, three of them fatally, Monday in Chicago, including a man who was fatally shot inside a home in Gresham on the South Side.
The 33-year-old was found unresponsive about 9:15 p.m. on the kitchen floor of a residence in the 8300 block of South Kerfoot Avenue, with a gunshot wound to the face, Chicago police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details on the death.
A man was shot to death inside a vehicle in Portage Park on the Northwest Side. Officers responded to gunfire about 6 a.m. and found the man unresponsive with gunshot wounds in the 4000 block of North Lockwood Avenue, according to preliminary information from police. He was identified as Luis Perez, 33, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately released.
Two hours prior, a 57-year-old Westchester man was shot to death while driving on the Lower West Side. He was headed south in the 2300 block of South Wood Street about 4 a.m., when someone in a gold-colored SUV opened fire, police said. Albert Posey was struck multiple times in the back and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
In nonfatal shootings, a man was wounded in a shooting in Roseland on the Far South Side. He was walking about 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of West 112th Street when someone in a passing white SUV opened fire, police said. The 27-year-old was struck in the abdomen and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition.
A man was shot in Austin on the West Side. He was near an alley about 7:46 p.m. in the 5800 block of West Washington Boulevard when someone opened fire, striking him in the back and forehead, police said. The 29-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was in good condition.
In the day’s first reported shooting, a woman was wounded in a shooting on the South Side. About 6:30 p.m., the 22-year-old walked into an Advocate Health clinic in the 9800 block of South Western Avenue with a gunshot wound to the face, police said. The circumstances of the shooting are unclear.
Thirty people were shot, eight of them fatally, last weekend citywide.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.