chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--‘Coffee & Kareem’ plot almost as foul as the 12-year-old’s mouth

From “ Superbad ” to “ Kick-Ass ” to last year ’ s “ Good Boys , ” I ’ ve been a fan of many an R-rated comedy featuring kids and teenagers who swear like truck drivers and cops at a poker game hosted by Marines and construction workers .
But there has to be more than the initial shock value of cherub-faced “ innocents ” riffing like 1980s Eddie Murphy .
You know , little things such as character and plot development .
If we don ’ t care about what happens to the little BLEEPS who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BLEEP you , the gimmick quickly wears off .
In the abomination that is the Netflix original movie “ Coffee & Kareem , ” the insults and comebacks voiced by the adult characters and by a 12-year-old grow ever nastier , ever more explicit , ever more focused on one character inviting another character to perform some sexual act — and ever more off-putting .
It ’ s almost astonishing how unfunny this movie is , given the talents of primary cast members Ed Helms , Taraji P. Henson , Betty Gilpin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all troupers and they dive headfirst into the material , but the dialogue they ’ re delivering and the situations they ’ re mired in make it impossible to wring even a smile , let alone a legitimate laugh , from the material .
Ed Helms is a hit-and-miss kind of personality whose performances can go either way ( his Andy Bernard was my least favorite character by far on “ The Office ” ) and he ’ s unpleasantly over the top here as Detroit police officer James Coffee , a bumbling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demoted to traffic duty on a nearly deserted intersection after his latest screw-up .
Coffee has recently started dating Taraji P. Henson ’ s Vanessa , a single mother , and he charms her with lines such as , “ Ma ’ am , I ’ m going to ask you to step away from your clothes and put your hands on your boyfriend.
” Terrence Little Gardenhigh plays Vanessa ’ s 12-year-old son Kareem , a heavy-set , unbelievably foul-mouthed kid who ’ s so horrified his mom is dating a cop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the guy .
Talk about a hilarious premise !
No , I mean , I ’ d rather talk about a hilarious premise , because that sure ain ’ t one .
Through some clunky plot machinations , Coffee and Kareem wind up on the run , like mismatched partners in a buddy cop movie .
( Plus , they ’ re Coffee & Kareem , like coffee and cream , get it ? )
Kareem barrages Coffee with a nonstop stream of profanity-laced insults , many of them involving oral sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bond with Kareem by telling a story about his own childhood and becoming best friends with his stepfather , Kareem says that ’ s messed up : “ There ’ s literally documentaries on Netflix about that !
” Because in the world of “ Coffee & Kareem , ” nobody ever bypasses the opportunity to make a strained joke about incest or rape .
Betty Gilpin contributes to the tsunami of obscenities and cheap jokes with a manic performance as a star cop colleague of Coffee ’ s makes one major bust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in just about any circumstance , e.g.
, when she shoots up the ceiling at a strip club to clear out the joint and exclaims , “ Go home and work on your marriages !
” ( Okay , that ’ s not a bad line .
There are a handful of decent jokes sprinkled among the garbage . )
As Coffee and Kareem get mixed up with all sorts of nefarious characters , director Michael Dowse reels off one slapstick-violent action sequence after another .
This is the kind of movie where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get a fight scene in which somebody ’ s head is plunged into a toilet .
There ’ s a halfhearted twist involving some dirty cops , and an obligatory showdown on the docks , in which American drug dealers meet up with French-Canadian buyers , which gives one of the Americans the opportunity to try to fake a French accent , because that ’ s really original comedy .
Meanwhile , various characters take turns calling each other “ bitch ” and the range of humor expands to extended exchanges about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence in “ Coffee and Kareem ” is played for laughs , as are the cliché plot points and certain shots , e.g.
, the badly wounded hero emerging from a fiery building against all odds .
Director Michael Dowse and screenwriter Shane Mack were clearly going for a broad and bloody spoof — kind of a gritty , Detroit version of the “ Kingsman ” movies — but having a kid fill the air with profanities and staging set pieces where someone ’ s always getting shot or blown up by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a toilet tank isn ’ t nearly enough to make for an actual movie .

From “Superbad” to “Kick-Ass” to last year’s “Good Boys,” I’ve been a fan of many an R-rated comedy featuring kids and teenagers who swear like truck drivers and cops at a poker game hosted by Marines and construction workers.
But there has to be more than the initial shock value of cherub-faced “innocents” riffing like 1980s Eddie Murphy. You know, little things such as character and plot development. If we don’t care about what happens to the little BLEEPS who are saying BLEEP this and BLEEP that and BLEEP you, the gimmick quickly wears off.
In the abomination that is the Netflix original movie “Coffee & Kareem,” the insults and comebacks voiced by the adult characters and by a 12-year-old grow ever nastier, ever more explicit, ever more focused on one character inviting another character to perform some sexual act — and ever more off-putting.
‘Coffee & Kareem’
Untitled Netflix presents a film directed by Michael Dowse and written by Shane Mack. No MPAA rating. Running time: 88 minutes. Streaming now on Netflix.
It’s almost astonishing how unfunny this movie is, given the talents of primary cast members Ed Helms, Taraji P. Henson, Betty Gilpin and David Alan Grier. They’re all troupers and they dive headfirst into the material, but the dialogue they’re delivering and the situations they’re mired in make it impossible to wring even a smile, let alone a legitimate laugh, from the material.
Ed Helms is a hit-and-miss kind of personality whose performances can go either way (his Andy Bernard was my least favorite character by far on “The Office”) and he’s unpleasantly over the top here as Detroit police officer James Coffee, a bumbling, 15-year-veteran of the force who gets demoted to traffic duty on a nearly deserted intersection after his latest screw-up. Coffee has recently started dating Taraji P. Henson’s Vanessa, a single mother, and he charms her with lines such as, “Ma’am, I’m going to ask you to step away from your clothes and put your hands on your boyfriend.”
Groan.
Terrence Little Gardenhigh plays Vanessa’s 12-year-old son Kareem, a heavy-set, unbelievably foul-mouthed kid who’s so horrified his mom is dating a cop, he tries to put a hit on the guy. Talk about a hilarious premise! No, I mean, I’d rather talk about a hilarious premise, because that sure ain’t one.
Through some clunky plot machinations, Coffee and Kareem wind up on the run, like mismatched partners in a buddy cop movie. (Plus, they’re Coffee & Kareem, like coffee and cream, get it?) Kareem barrages Coffee with a nonstop stream of profanity-laced insults, many of them involving oral sex and pedophilia. When Coffee tries to bond with Kareem by telling a story about his own childhood and becoming best friends with his stepfather, Kareem says that’s messed up: “There’s literally documentaries on Netflix about that!”
Because in the world of “Coffee & Kareem,” nobody ever bypasses the opportunity to make a strained joke about incest or rape.
Betty Gilpin contributes to the tsunami of obscenities and cheap jokes with a manic performance as a star cop colleague of Coffee’s makes one major bust after another and loves firing her weapon in just about any circumstance, e.g., when she shoots up the ceiling at a strip club to clear out the joint and exclaims, “Go home and work on your marriages!” (Okay, that’s not a bad line. There are a handful of decent jokes sprinkled among the garbage.)
As Coffee and Kareem get mixed up with all sorts of nefarious characters, director Michael Dowse reels off one slapstick-violent action sequence after another. This is the kind of movie where you just know we’re going to get a fight scene in which somebody’s head is plunged into a toilet. There’s a halfhearted twist involving some dirty cops, and an obligatory showdown on the docks, in which American drug dealers meet up with French-Canadian buyers, which gives one of the Americans the opportunity to try to fake a French accent, because that’s really original comedy.
Meanwhile, various characters take turns calling each other “bitch” and the range of humor expands to extended exchanges about testicles and child molestation. The brutal violence in “Coffee and Kareem” is played for laughs, as are the cliché plot points and certain shots, e.g., the badly wounded hero emerging from a fiery building against all odds. Director Michael Dowse and screenwriter Shane Mack were clearly going for a broad and bloody spoof — kind of a gritty, Detroit version of the “Kingsman” movies — but having a kid fill the air with profanities and staging set pieces where someone’s always getting shot or blown up by a grenade or hit over the head with a toilet tank isn’t nearly enough to make for an actual movie.
“Coffee & Kareem” is DOA.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-02--Medical examiner confirms 30 more COVID-19 deaths in Cook County

The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office Thursday confirmed an additional 30 COVID-19 deaths , bringing the total in @ @ @ @ @ The adults ’ ages ranged from 38 to 98 years old , the medical examiner @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , the medical examiner ’ s office announced 23 COVID-19 deaths in Cook @ @ @ @ @ fatalities come as Illinois health officials on Thursday announced an additional 715 COVID-19 cases , @ @ @ @ @ tally to 7,596 confirmed cases .
The virus is now reported in 61 of 102 @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
In total , 157 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois , @ @ @

The Cook County medical examiner’s office Thursday confirmed an additional 30 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total in the county to 124.
The adults’ ages ranged from 38 to 98 years old, the medical examiner’s office said.
On Wednesday, the medical examiner’s office announced 23 COVID-19 deaths in Cook County.
The new confirmed fatalities come as Illinois health officials on Thursday announced an additional 715 COVID-19 cases, raising the state’s tally to 7,596 confirmed cases. The virus is now reported in 61 of 102 counties in the state, officials said.
In total, 157 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois, officials said.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--Bears vow ‘completely fair’ battle between Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky

Bears general manager Ryan Pace didn ’ t equivocate when asked about quarterback Mitch Trubisky on New Year ’ s Eve .
“ Mitch is our starter , ” he said .
At the NFL Scouting Combine eight weeks later , Pace , while admitting he wasn ’ t inclined to tell the truth before free agency , said the team ’ s plan was to stay committed to Trubisky starting .
“ To be clear , ’ he said , “ yes it is.
” That clarity vanished last month when the Bears agreed to trade a fourth-round pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
And it was blown out of the water Friday , when both Pace and head coach Matt Nagy declared their starting quarterback job will be an “ open competition , ” whenever practice begins .
“ I can promise you this : It ’ s going to be completely fair , it ’ s going to be extremely competitive in a good way , ” Nagy said on a teleconference Friday .
“ It ’ s going to be a healthy competitiveness .
In the end for us , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what we all feel .
And I think that that ’ s all that those guys really ask for , or want , as competitors.
” In their first public comments of the offseason , Pace and Nagy laid out ground rules for the competition : • Trubisky will take the first snap of the first practice , but the team will make sure to give he and Foles equal reps .
The coaching staff will make sure they are paired with starting offensive players — and playing against starting defenders — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a change from the last two years , Nagy will play both quarterbacks — and other starters — in preseason games .
• Nagy said that “ what it really comes down to is winning , scoring points , physical and mental toughness — and then obviously command and leadership with some other things.
” That competition became apparent the minute the Bears struck the Foles deal .
Pace and Nagy explained it to both players at the time .
The former Super Bowl MVP said Friday it required a “ crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trade .
Foles , who has three years left on his contract , will receive $ 21 million guaranteed .
No team would give that much money to someone preordained to be a clipboard-holder .
Similarly , the Bears ’ silence about Trubisky ’ s fifth-year option speaks volumes .
Pace refused to say Friday whether the Bears would pick up his 2021 contract , saying the team had until May to do so .
Even though the contract is guaranteed only for injury , Pace might not be able to justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise just admitted might not be good enough to start the 2020 season .
The fact Foles wasn ’ t named the starter immediately offers Trubisky to opportunity to , after a disappointing 2019 , seize the job .
He won ’ t receive the benefit of the doubt the way he did after every struggle last season , though .
The blind-faith defense of his play is over .
Rather , his bosses were left to describe how Trubisky took the news that he had to fight for his job .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it wasn ’ t about anything other than , ‘ OK , I understand that , I ’ m gon na give you everything that I ’ ve got , we ’ re gon na compete , and you ’ re gon na get that best that I ’ ve got … ’ ” Nagy said .
“ When we look at that as coaches , that ’ s all we can ask for is , trying to make sure that we do everything we can possibly do on our end to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and play football and be the best quarterback that they can possibly be.
” Pace hopes the competition brings out the best in Trubisky , whom he staked his reputation on when he traded four picks to draft him No .
2 overall in 2017 .
“ I think the key word is just that he ‘ embraced ’ the competition , ” Pace said .
The Bears ’ trade for Foles ensured he didn ’ t have any other choice in the matter .

Bears general manager Ryan Pace didn’t equivocate when asked about quarterback Mitch Trubisky on New Year’s Eve.
“Mitch is our starter,” he said.
At the NFL Scouting Combine eight weeks later, Pace, while admitting he wasn’t inclined to tell the truth before free agency, said the team’s plan was to stay committed to Trubisky starting.
“To be clear,’ he said, “yes it is.”
That clarity vanished last month when the Bears agreed to trade a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for quarterback Nick Foles. And it was blown out of the water Friday, when both Pace and head coach Matt Nagy declared their starting quarterback job will be an “open competition,” whenever practice begins.
“I can promise you this: It’s going to be completely fair, it’s going to be extremely competitive in a good way,” Nagy said on a teleconference Friday. “It’s going to be a healthy competitiveness. In the end for us, it’s going to be a collaboration of what we all feel. And I think that that’s all that those guys really ask for, or want, as competitors.”
In their first public comments of the offseason, Pace and Nagy laid out ground rules for the competition:
• Trubisky will take the first snap of the first practice, but the team will make sure to give he and Foles equal reps. The coaching staff will make sure they are paired with starting offensive players — and playing against starting defenders — the same number of times.
• In a change from the last two years, Nagy will play both quarterbacks — and other starters — in preseason games.
• The battle won’t necessarily end with Week 1.
• Nagy said that “what it really comes down to is winning, scoring points, physical and mental toughness — and then obviously command and leadership with some other things.”
That competition became apparent the minute the Bears struck the Foles deal. Pace and Nagy explained it to both players at the time.
The former Super Bowl MVP said Friday it required a “crazy restructure” of his contract to facilitate the trade. Foles, who has three years left on his contract, will receive $21 million guaranteed. No team would give that much money to someone preordained to be a clipboard-holder.
Similarly, the Bears’ silence about Trubisky’s fifth-year option speaks volumes. Pace refused to say Friday whether the Bears would pick up his 2021 contract, saying the team had until May to do so. Even though the contract is guaranteed only for injury, Pace might not be able to justify picking up the option of someone the franchise just admitted might not be good enough to start the 2020 season.
The fact Foles wasn’t named the starter immediately offers Trubisky to opportunity to, after a disappointing 2019, seize the job. He won’t receive the benefit of the doubt the way he did after every struggle last season, though. The blind-faith defense of his play is over.
Rather, his bosses were left to describe how Trubisky took the news that he had to fight for his job.
“It wasn’t about excuses, it wasn’t about anything other than, ‘OK, I understand that, I’m gonna give you everything that I’ve got, we’re gonna compete, and you’re gonna get that best that I’ve got … ’” Nagy said. “When we look at that as coaches, that’s all we can ask for is, trying to make sure that we do everything we can possibly do on our end to make this completely fair. Let them go out and play football and be the best quarterback that they can possibly be.”
Pace hopes the competition brings out the best in Trubisky, whom he staked his reputation on when he traded four picks to draft him No. 2 overall in 2017.
“I think the key word is just that he ‘embraced’ the competition,” Pace said.
The Bears’ trade for Foles ensured he didn’t have any other choice in the matter.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--For families of kids with complex medical needs, the stakes have never been higher  (LIVE UPDATES)

For families of kids with complex medical needs , the stakes have never been higher Every winter , Emma Fedor goes on lockdown , trying to hide from germs .
Even before coronavirus and COVID-19 became everyday terms , that was just how the 14-year-old and her family learned to ride out flu season so she wouldn ’ t end up in a hospital .
Emma is prone to seizures and medically fragile .
She needs machines just to eat , communicate and breathe at night .
What ’ s a sniffle for someone else can be a seriously illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad and sister are experts in the germ-killing practices now seen as essential in staving off the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus .
In their family , hands have always gotten washed and washed , classes have been missed and schoolwork done at home and routine appointments pushed off until after the danger has passed .
Now , packages sit in the basement for a day , the nurses who help care for Emma don masks , and all other visitors have been banned from their Norwood Park home — including those who help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spreading global pandemic , others are getting a small taste of what life normally is like in homes like Emma ’ s .
“ I don ’ t wish that on anybody , ” Emma ’ s mother Christina Fedor says , “ to realize how fragile people are .
I just hope we can get through this without an ICU admission.
” 6:00 p.m. Pritzker announces 52 more Illinois coronavirus deaths from press conference at McCormick Place field hospital Health officials on Friday announced 52 more deaths across Illinois have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily high that raises the statewide death toll to 210 since the pandemic first hit .
The state ’ s case tally now stands at 8,904 , with another 1,209 newly confirmed cases , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
Nearly three quarters of the cases have been reported in Cook County , which accounted for 33 of the latest deaths , officials said .
But it has spread to nearly two-thirds of the state map , with cases confirmed in 64 of 102 counties .
The latest numbers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Lori Lightfoot were set to unveil the first phase of a massive field hospital being set up with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at McCormick Place East .
Three exhibition halls at the convention center are being converted into medical wings , one of which was set to have 500 beds ready to use Friday .
Our Frank Main broke down how the McCormick Place is being transformed into a massive field hospital for COVID-19 patients .
Another 2,500 beds will be installed in stages to meet what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus diagnoses in Chicago around mid-April .
The buildout is being paid for with $ 15 million in federal emergency funding .
People with varying degrees of coronavirus complications will be housed in each of the three converted exhibition halls .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says his administration is encouraging many Americans to wear face masks in public , though he stresses that the recommendation is optional and is conceding that he will not be complying with it .
Though some people already have begun acquiring or creating face masks on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance could test the market ’ s ability to accommodate a surge in demand .
It was expected to be limited to people in areas of the country hit hard by the coronavirus , not nationwide , as some health experts had urged .
The new guidelines , to be announced Friday , will encourage people to use more rudimentary covering like T-shirts , bandannas and non-medical masks .
And President Donald Trump himself suggested scarves could be an good alternative to masks .
The new recommendations are set to be announced at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced .
They ’ re scrambling to stockpile all manners of equipment .
Read the full Associated Press report here .
The day after students at Benet Academy opened their spring musical , “ The Addams Family , ” their directors sat them down to talk .
What was going to be a seven-day run of their production would now be just two , teachers Lauren Butera and Brian Wand , who directed the show , told them .
That evening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for good .
“ I knew it was going to be a closing chapter anyway , but I ’ m sad it came sooner than expected , ” said Claire Ann Santos , a senior at Benet .
Their closing night became March 13 — the same day Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced that all schools would be closed to stop coronavirus from spreading .
“ There ’ s a song in the show called ‘ Happy-Sad , ’ so we talked about that as our motivation for the day ; we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , and sad that we wouldn ’ t get the others , ” Wand said .
Read the full story by Ella Lee here .
A James Beard Award-nominated Chicago chef is leveraging his social media presence in order to assist the people who ’ ve been on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic .
Chef Jenner Tomaska , a rising star Beard finalist in 2016 and 2017 , has launched a 24-hour Instagram Live auction for a private , in-home dinner prepared by him .
The auction proceeds will be shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virtue Restaurant — a Hyde Park eatery that specializes in Southern cuisine— and donations to first responders .
Tomaska , who has 69,500 Instagram followers , started the auction at noon Friday .
Read how the auction works here .
3:56 p.m. Can ’ t pay mortgage due to coronavirus ?
What you need to know , where to turn for help .
What should you know and where can you turn for help if you ’ re among the record 10 million U.S. workers filing unemployment claims in the past two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The $ 2 trillion federal CARES Act — that ’ s the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act — passed by Congress offers relief to about 70 percent of those with home mortgages .
And there are options for other borrowers .
Our Stephanie Zimmermann answers to your questions and a guide for finding assistance here .
A Christian nonprofit organization donated food and diapers to families in need Friday outside a Near West Side Church .
One hundred families received a food kit of nonperishable items like rice , pasta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vision and loaded into families ’ cars by the organization ’ s workers outside Soul City Church at 1150 W. Adams St. ” We ’ re super excited to start this process today , and we hope we can do this many more times , ” said Jaryl Pool , a program director for Washington-based World Vision , adding that the food kits were designed to last a week for a family of five .
World Vision worked with Chicago Public Schools to identify 100 families to received the donations , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought over from World Vision ’ s warehouse on the West Side , were loaded into the families ’ vehicles through a “ no-touch distribution model , ” Pool said .
Cars , vans and truck idled at stations outside Soul City Church and workers loaded the items directly into their trunks .
The organization plans to do similar drive-up donations once a week for the upcoming months at 12 different locations across the city .
2:57 p.m. Coronavirus test site on NW Side expands to seniors with underlying medical issues A drive-thru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side will begin expanded testing Saturday morning .
The Harwood Heights community testing site , 6959 Forest Preserve Dr. , will open at 7:30 a.m. to anyone 18 and older showing symptoms and anyone over 60 with underlying medical issues , regardless of symptoms , the Chicago Fire Department announced Friday .
The site , open seven days a week , will issue 500 tests per day .
1:46 p.m. Cook County ’ s chief architect of COVID-19 response is out The chief operating officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s efforts to battle the coronavirus , is out , sources told the Chicago Sun-Times .
Dr. Terry Mason joined Cook County Health as the health system ’ s Chief Medical Officer before transitioning into the role of Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health in 2013 .
Read this developing story from Rachel Hinton here .
1:42 p.m How McCormick Place is being transformed into a massive field hospital for COVID-19 patients Construction is currently underway at McCormick Place , which is being turned into an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite , commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers , is in charge of assembling the massive field hospital .
He ’ s a three-star general whose jobs have included building up the Afghan police and armed forces , restoring electricity to war-torn Iraq and helping states recover after devastating hurricanes .
Three exhibition halls at the convention center are being converted into medical wings , one of which will have 500 beds ready to use by the end of the day , Semonite said .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet what officials say could be a peak in coronavirus diagnoses in Chicago around mid-April .
People with varying degrees of coronavirus complications will be housed in each of the three converted exhibition halls .
Pritzker said he has toured the hospital being built at McCormick Place : “ I didn ’ t know you could build something like that in five days.
” “ You should all feel very , very proud of the work that ’ s been done so quickly , ” Pritzker said , calling the carpenters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Place “ patriotic.
” “ They know they are doing something that ’ s going to save people ’ s lives.
” Read more about the project in Frank Main ’ s report .
A drive-thru COVID-19 test site in a north suburban Walmart parking lot will close Friday afternoon after less than two weeks of operation .
The Northlake test center at 137 W. North Ave. will be consolidated with another coronavirus test site at a Walmart in Joliet , Northlake police said in a statement .
The Joliet site , 2424 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to first responders , health care workers and people 65 or older with symptoms , police said .
A Walmart spokesperson said the Northlake site was closed in response to the opening of a state-run test site at 6959 Forest Preserve Dr. on the Northwest Side of Chicago .
Read the full report from David Struett here .
1:12 p.m. Chicagoans honor Mayor Lightfoot ’ s plea to say indoors during sunny spring day Only the pigeons appeared to flout the rules about congregating Friday as warmer temperatures and blue skies teased a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kayakers floated on the glistening waters of the otherwise empty Chicago River near the Franklin Street Bridge .
Runners , mostly solo , jogged up and down a Michigan Avenue dotted with boarded-up storefronts .
“ What a beautiful day !
” a young woman announced to no one in particular .
And everywhere , masks covered faces .
From Irving Park to North Avenue , the squirrels , robins and other scavenging creatures had the lakefront to themselves .
But a familiar , warm scent still wafted from the Blommer Chocolate Co. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of young women stretched and leaned — at a safe distance apart — in Independence Park on the North Side .
And a mother could be seen steadying a tiny child on a teetering bicycle .
12:38 p.m. Family of CPD officer who died of COVID-19 to receive line-of-duty death benefits Interim Chicago Police Supt .
Charlie Beck announced Friday the coronavirus-related death of veteran Officer Marco DiFranco will be considered a line-of-duty death , ensuring DiFranco ’ s widow and two children will receive honors and benefits .
“ When faced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight in the eye , ” Beck said during a Friday morning news conference a day after DiFranco ’ s death .
“ The mayor and I did that , and we recognized that our first responders , by their very nature , place themselves at risk every day .
“ And we determined that Marco DiFranco ’ s death was line-of-duty , and , because of that , his family will continue to have the protections of the Chicago Police Department .
They will not be destitute .
They will be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities at state parks , fish and wildlife areas , recreational areas and historic sites in another move to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
Colleen Callahan , director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources , said in a statement that hunters and anglers aren ’ t allowed to receive refunds on state-issued permits or permit transfers due to administrative guidelines under the state wildlife code .
“ We understand the problems these laws create for our sportsmen and sportswomen and are reviewing all possible solutions , ” Callahan said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still hunt and fish on privately-owned open properties as Illinois continues issuing restrictions to curb the virus that causes COVID-19 , the Journal-Star reported Thursday .
Read the full story from the Associated Press .
Businesses in Illinois notified state officials of 14,702 layoffs in March at more than 190 locations , according to a report released Friday by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity .
The overwhelming number of closings were in the Chicago area .
Almost all the companies reporting layoffs cited the coronavirus as the reason .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fitness clubs .
Trump International Hotel & Tower said it was cutting 294 jobs at its Chicago location .
The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile reported 350 layoffs .
The largest single reported layoff was a plant closing : Fabrik Molded Plastics in McHenry , costing 600 jobs .
Read the David Roeder ’ s full story , which includes the names of some other companies that reported layoffs or closings .
11:26 a.m. Coronavirus concerns continue to reshape the sports world With the NFL still deciding whether teams will be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquarters , the Bears are exploring alternate sites .
General manager Ryan Pace said Friday they have several venues in mind if they can ’ t work at Halas Hall , and one of the options is to simply continue working from home as they have for the past few weeks .
The NFL has been adamant that the draft will take place as scheduled April 23-25 .
The Bears have seven selections , beginning with No .
43 overall .
In other sports news , the WNBA announced Friday that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its season indefinitely due to the coronavirus , which has already infected more than 1 million people worldwide .
Training camp was scheduled to open April 26 and the season was supposed to start May 15 .
Read more from Jason Lieser about how the Bears are bracing for an unconventional NFL Draft , and get the details on the WNBA ’ s postponements from Madeline Kenney .
9:30 a.m. What worries Chicagoans most about the coronavirus As we settle into our new ( temporary ) normal , anxieties are still high for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worries them the most about the coronavirus pandemic .
Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity .
Here ’ s what they said : “ I ’ m most worried about how long this will last .
We need to start thinking about how to roll back precautions so businesses can reopen , while at the same time keeping our most vulnerable citizens safe.
” —Jason Betke “ Keeping my small business open ( we are essential ) .
I am praying I can continue to pay my staff.
” — Stephanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alice Bazerghi ’ s story .
8:50 a.m .
The numbers that tell the story : Our coronavirus data tracking As the state , nation and world contends with the exponential spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 , our newsroom is committed to telling the human stories behind the global crisis — but we also recognize that battling a pandemic is , in many ways , a numbers game .
On our Coronavirus Data page , you ’ ll find a collection of graphs , charts and maps tracing the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact on individual counties .
Check back daily for updated totals .
Is there a data set we ’ re missing that would help inform your understanding of the coronavirus and its spread ?
Send us a note at audience @ suntimes.com , and we ’ ll investigate .
See the latest reports in our Coronavirus Data section .
6:56 a.m .
Rapid coronavirus testing is coming to Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that Illinois was set to receive 15 machines that process rapid COVID-19 tests developed by North Chicago-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing , Pritzker said the first shipment was expected later Thursday , adding that representatives from the medical supply firm assured him that its home state “ is a priority for them.
” “ We expect to have machines online very shortly , ” Pritzker said .
Abbott ’ s groundbreaking coronavirus test can deliver positive results in just five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes .
As he touted the advancement as “ a game changer , ” Pritzker noted that existing tests take about four to six hours to process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parade : 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school ( yes , some are ) With Chicago schools closed because of the coronavirus , teachers are trying their best to bring their lessons home to students — and educators at a Southwest Side school took that a step further this week .
A few dozen teachers at Dore Elementary drove through the Clearing neighborhood Thursday afternoon in a 30-car caravan , led by a Chicago police escort , honking their horns and waving to kids as they passed by families ’ homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars that were painted with messages for their students , more than a dozen families on a single block waved back at their educators .
Maureen O ’ Hara , a fourth grade teacher who helped organize the effort , said parents and students were thrilled when they heard their teachers were coming by to say hello .
Reporter Nader Issa has the full story with photos by Ashlee Rezin Garcia .
• Jazz guitarist John “ Bucky ” Pizzarelli , who was inducted to the New Jersey Hall of Fame , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His family told The New York Times they believe the cause of death was the coronavirus .
• The Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County announced Friday two more employees tested positive for COVID-19 , bringing the total number of confirmed cases in that office to nine .
• Chicago police Friday announced 13 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the department , bringing the number of cases to 89 .
• The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office Thursday confirmed an additional 30 COVID-19 deaths , bringing the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 13th employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 .
• Archbishop Lucius Hall , 87 , well-known in church and gospel circles , dies after contracting coronavirus .
4:58 p.m. Illinois adjusts on the fly to meet medical supply needs in a coronavirus ‘ Wild West ’ In a state where the government usually operates on the basis of buy now , pay later ( often much , much later ) , the emergency of the coronavirus pandemic has required a decidedly different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois officials tracked down a supply of 1.5 million potentially life-saving N95 respirator masks in China through a middleman in the Chicago area and negotiated a deal to buy them .
One day before they were expecting to complete the purchase , they got a call in the morning from the supplier informing them he had to get a check to the bank by 2 p.m. that day , or the deal was off .
Other bidders had surfaced .
Realizing there was no way the supplier could get to Springfield and back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellen Andres jumped in her car and raced north on I-55 with a check for $ 3,469,600 .
From the other end , Jeffrey Polen , president of The Moving Concierge in Lemont , drove south .
Polen isn ’ t in the medical supply business , but he “ knows a guy , ” an old friend who specializes in working with China ’ s factories .
As they drove , Andres and Polen arranged to meet in the parking lot of a McDonald ’ s restaurant just off the interstate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Polen made it back to his bank with 20 minutes to spare .
Illinois already has received part of the mask shipment .
There ’ s more on the way .
That ’ s just a taste of the “ Wild West ” world of emergency procurement taking place over the past several weeks as the state fights for equipment and supplies to protect frontline workers and patients in the battle against COVID-19 .
6:48 a.m. Every state — including 12 slackers — must join the fight to beat COVID-19 As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not issued the statewide stay-at-home orders that are the best defense against the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
We have to wonder how many more of their residents must catch the virus , and how many more must die , before these 12 state chief executives wake up .
We have to wonder whether they understand that they are endangering every American .
A pandemic respects no state lines .
There is not a moment to spare .
The toll of the virus is mounting by the day .
More than 225,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people worldwide — have contracted COVID-19 .
More than 5,000 Americans , including 157 in Illinois , have died .
And the worst by far — possibly up to 240,000 American deaths — is yet to come .
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board .

McCormick Place is officially ready to become a field hospital. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot toured the facility today as the number of cases in the state topped 8,900.
Around Chicago and the state, residents, businesses and officials worked to combat the virus and the many ripple effects it’s causing. Here’s what else happened as the city and state continued the fight against the coronavirus.
News
8:55 p.m. For families of kids with complex medical needs, the stakes have never been higher
Letty Young, 12, videochats with her speech therapist while waiting out the coronavirus pandemic at home. The Ogden International student uses her fingers to spell words, but is trying to get better communicating on an iPad so everyone can understand what she’s saying. Provided
Every winter, Emma Fedor goes on lockdown, trying to hide from germs. Even before coronavirus and COVID-19 became everyday terms, that was just how the 14-year-old and her family learned to ride out flu season so she wouldn’t end up in a hospital.
Emma is prone to seizures and medically fragile. She needs machines just to eat, communicate and breathe at night.
What’s a sniffle for someone else can be a seriously illness for her. So her mom, dad and sister are experts in the germ-killing practices now seen as essential in staving off the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus.
In their family, hands have always gotten washed and washed, classes have been missed and schoolwork done at home and routine appointments pushed off until after the danger has passed.
Now, packages sit in the basement for a day, the nurses who help care for Emma don masks, and all other visitors have been banned from their Norwood Park home — including those who help with therapy.
In the face of the spreading global pandemic, others are getting a small taste of what life normally is like in homes like Emma’s.
“I don’t wish that on anybody,” Emma’s mother Christina Fedor says, “to realize how fragile people are. I just hope we can get through this without an ICU admission.”
Read the full story from Lauren FitzPatrick.
8:11 p.m. Bleak picture for restaurant and hotel industries among hardest hit by the pandemic
Trade groups representing two industries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic offered a bleak forecast on Friday of the economic aftermath.
Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said up to 25 percent of the roughly 7,500 restaurants that have made Chicago one of the food capitals of the world may never re-open.
Without dine-in customers, restaurant revenue is down 71 percent. And 40 percent of all restaurants aren’t even doing pick-ups and deliveries.
“It’s not a pretty picture,” Toia told the Sun-Times.
Read more of Fran Spielman’s interview with Toi here and check out more of The Fran Spielman Show here.
7:39 p.m. UChicago students threaten tuition strike, want rate cut 50% during coronavirus pandemic
Students at the University of Chicago are threatening to withhold their spring quarter tuition unless the university agrees to negotiate with them on tuition rates and offer students a look at the university’s budget.
The group, UChicago for Fair Tuition, is demanding a 50% reduction in tuition and the elimination of student fees for as long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the group said in a statement Friday.
“As everyone knows, unemployment is reaching record levels and that is clearly affecting students and their families,” Julia Attie, an organizer of the campaign, said Friday.
The group said that as of Friday morning, more than 1,100 students had signed a petition calling on the university to negotiate with the group and more than 650 students are considering withholding their spring tuition money, due on April 29, if the negotiations fail.
A spokeswoman for the university was not immediately available for comment Friday evening.
Reporter Matthew Hendrickson has the full story,
7:10 p.m. Rahm Emanuel hits the road to feed critical workers during pandemic
Last week, Rahm Emanuel — once known as the Rocketman for his energetic mojo — headed to Manny’s legendary downtown deli — where he and his pals like to nosh.
That’s when Emanuel became the Serviceman.
To wit: After collecting eight trays of sandwiches and cookies, Emanuel and Amy put on their gloves and personally delivered the yummies to health care providers at four major Chicago hospitals.
First stop in the family car: Mount Sinai Hospital “because that is where my father, a doctor, and my mother, who was a nurse, met,” said Emanuel.
“My parents were always about being ‘of service,’” said Emanuel, who parked outside a designated hospital door where he loads food onto rolling tray carts with gloved hands.
Columnist Michael Sneed has the scoop. Read her full column here.
6:42 Chicago Police Department reports 89 cases of COVID-19
Chicago police Friday announced 13 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the department, bringing the number of cases to 89.
Of the cases, 87 are officers and two are civilian employees, Chicago police said.
On Thursday, officials announced the first death of an officer from complications of the coronavirus, and his death will be considered on-duty.
Read the full report from the Sun-Times staff here.
6:00 p.m. Pritzker announces 52 more Illinois coronavirus deaths from press conference at McCormick Place field hospital
Health officials on Friday announced 52 more deaths across Illinois have been attributed to the coronavirus, another record daily high that raises the statewide death toll to 210 since the pandemic first hit.
The state’s case tally now stands at 8,904, with another 1,209 newly confirmed cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Nearly three quarters of the cases have been reported in Cook County, which accounted for 33 of the latest deaths, officials said.
But it has spread to nearly two-thirds of the state map, with cases confirmed in 64 of 102 counties.
Related Live map of Illinois coronavirus cases
The latest numbers were announced as Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot were set to unveil the first phase of a massive field hospital being set up with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at McCormick Place East.
Three exhibition halls at the convention center are being converted into medical wings, one of which was set to have 500 beds ready to use Friday.
Our Frank Main broke down how the McCormick Place is being transformed into a massive field hospital for COVID-19 patients.
Another 2,500 beds will be installed in stages to meet what officials say could be a peak in coronavirus diagnoses in Chicago around mid-April. The buildout is being paid for with $15 million in federal emergency funding.
People with varying degrees of coronavirus complications will be housed in each of the three converted exhibition halls.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Sfondeles.
5:30 p.m. Trump recommends — but won’t wear — face masks in public
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says his administration is encouraging many Americans to wear face masks in public, though he stresses that the recommendation is optional and is conceding that he will not be complying with it.
Though some people already have begun acquiring or creating face masks on their own, the administration’s new guidance could test the market’s ability to accommodate a surge in demand. It was expected to be limited to people in areas of the country hit hard by the coronavirus, not nationwide, as some health experts had urged.
The new guidelines, to be announced Friday, will encourage people to use more rudimentary covering like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks. And President Donald Trump himself suggested scarves could be an good alternative to masks.
The new recommendations are set to be announced at a time when states are bracing for critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced. They’re scrambling to stockpile all manners of equipment.
5:00 p.m. High school theater performances cut short, canceled statewide due to coronavirus
The day after students at Benet Academy opened their spring musical, “The Addams Family,” their directors sat them down to talk.
What was going to be a seven-day run of their production would now be just two, teachers Lauren Butera and Brian Wand, who directed the show, told them. That evening, they’d be closing the show for good.
“I knew it was going to be a closing chapter anyway, but I’m sad it came sooner than expected,” said Claire Ann Santos, a senior at Benet.
Their closing night became March 13 — the same day Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all schools would be closed to stop coronavirus from spreading.
“There’s a song in the show called ‘Happy-Sad,’ so we talked about that as our motivation for the day; we were happy that we got to do one more, and sad that we wouldn’t get the others,” Wand said.
Read the full story by Ella Lee here.
4:30 p.m. Chef Jenner Tomaska launches live auction to benefit Hyde Park first responders, restaurant employees
A James Beard Award-nominated Chicago chef is leveraging his social media presence in order to assist the people who’ve been on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chef Jenner Tomaska, a rising star Beard finalist in 2016 and 2017, has launched a 24-hour Instagram Live auction for a private, in-home dinner prepared by him. The auction proceeds will be shared between a relief fund for employees at Virtue Restaurant — a Hyde Park eatery that specializes in Southern cuisine— and donations to first responders.
Tomaska, who has 69,500 Instagram followers, started the auction at noon Friday.
Read how the auction works here.
3:56 p.m. Can’t pay mortgage due to coronavirus? What you need to know, where to turn for help.
What should you know and where can you turn for help if you’re among the record 10 million U.S. workers filing unemployment claims in the past two weeks and struggling to pay your mortgage?
The $2 trillion federal CARES Act — that’s the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — passed by Congress offers relief to about 70 percent of those with home mortgages. And there are options for other borrowers.
Our Stephanie Zimmermann answers to your questions and a guide for finding assistance here.
3:29 p.m. World Vision donates food, diapers to families affected by COVID-19
A Christian nonprofit organization donated food and diapers to families in need Friday outside a Near West Side Church.
One hundred families received a food kit of nonperishable items like rice, pasta and canned goods, donated by World Vision and loaded into families’ cars by the organization’s workers outside Soul City Church at 1150 W. Adams St.
”We’re super excited to start this process today, and we hope we can do this many more times,” said Jaryl Pool, a program director for Washington-based World Vision, adding that the food kits were designed to last a week for a family of five.
World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 1 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 2 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 3 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 4 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 5 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 6 of 7 World Vision, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, is providing hundreds of the most at-risk students, and their families, with a week’s worth of food, hygiene and protective items. The supplies were handed out at Soul City Church on Friday April 3, 2020. | Brian Rich/Sun-Times 7 of 7
World Vision worked with Chicago Public Schools to identify 100 families to received the donations, he said.
The food kits and diapers, brought over from World Vision’s warehouse on the West Side, were loaded into the families’ vehicles through a “no-touch distribution model,” Pool said. Cars, vans and truck idled at stations outside Soul City Church and workers loaded the items directly into their trunks.
The organization plans to do similar drive-up donations once a week for the upcoming months at 12 different locations across the city.
— Sun-Times Staff
2:57 p.m. Coronavirus test site on NW Side expands to seniors with underlying medical issues
A drive-thru test site for COVID-19 on the Northwest Side will begin expanded testing Saturday morning.
The Harwood Heights community testing site, 6959 Forest Preserve Dr., will open at 7:30 a.m. to anyone 18 and older showing symptoms and anyone over 60 with underlying medical issues, regardless of symptoms, the Chicago Fire Department announced Friday.
The site, open seven days a week, will issue 500 tests per day.
Reporter David Struett has the full report.
1:46 p.m. Cook County’s chief architect of COVID-19 response is out
The chief operating officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health, who was the face of the county’s efforts to battle the coronavirus, is out, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Dr. Terry Mason joined Cook County Health as the health system’s Chief Medical Officer before transitioning into the role of Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health in 2013.
Read this developing story from Rachel Hinton here.
1:42 p.m How McCormick Place is being transformed into a massive field hospital for COVID-19 patients
Construction is currently underway at McCormick Place, which is being turned into an “alternative care facility” for coronavirus patients.
Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, is in charge of assembling the massive field hospital. He’s a three-star general whose jobs have included building up the Afghan police and armed forces, restoring electricity to war-torn Iraq and helping states recover after devastating hurricanes.
Three exhibition halls at the convention center are being converted into medical wings, one of which will have 500 beds ready to use by the end of the day, Semonite said. Another 2,500 beds will be installed in stages to meet what officials say could be a peak in coronavirus diagnoses in Chicago around mid-April.
People with varying degrees of coronavirus complications will be housed in each of the three converted exhibition halls.
Pritzker said he has toured the hospital being built at McCormick Place: “I didn’t know you could build something like that in five days.”
“You should all feel very, very proud of the work that’s been done so quickly,” Pritzker said, calling the carpenters, National Guardsmen and other workers at McCormick Place “patriotic.”
“They know they are doing something that’s going to save people’s lives.”
Read more about the project in Frank Main’s report.
1:34 p.m. COVID-19 test site closes at Northlake Walmart
A drive-thru COVID-19 test site in a north suburban Walmart parking lot will close Friday afternoon after less than two weeks of operation.
The Northlake test center at 137 W. North Ave. will be consolidated with another coronavirus test site at a Walmart in Joliet, Northlake police said in a statement.
The Joliet site, 2424 W. Jefferson St., will remain open to first responders, health care workers and people 65 or older with symptoms, police said.
A Walmart spokesperson said the Northlake site was closed in response to the opening of a state-run test site at 6959 Forest Preserve Dr. on the Northwest Side of Chicago.
Read the full report from David Struett here.
1:12 p.m. Chicagoans honor Mayor Lightfoot’s plea to say indoors during sunny spring day
Only the pigeons appeared to flout the rules about congregating Friday as warmer temperatures and blue skies teased a city ordered to stay home.
Two kayakers floated on the glistening waters of the otherwise empty Chicago River near the Franklin Street Bridge. Runners, mostly solo, jogged up and down a Michigan Avenue dotted with boarded-up storefronts.
“What a beautiful day!” a young woman announced to no one in particular. And everywhere, masks covered faces.
Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians could be seen outside Friday, despite the refreshing springtime weather. | Stefano Esposito/Chicago Sun-Times 1 of 5 Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians could be seen outside Friday, despite the refreshing springtime weather. | Stefano Esposito/Chicago Sun-Times 2 of 5 Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians could be seen outside Friday, despite the refreshing springtime weather. | Stefano Esposito/Chicago Sun-Times 3 of 5 Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians could be seen outside Friday, despite the refreshing springtime weather. | Stefano Esposito/Chicago Sun-Times 4 of 5 Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic and a stay-at-home order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, few pedestrians could be seen outside Friday, despite the refreshing springtime weather. | Stefano Esposito/Chicago Sun-Times 5 of 5
From Irving Park to North Avenue, the squirrels, robins and other scavenging creatures had the lakefront to themselves.
But a familiar, warm scent still wafted from the Blommer Chocolate Co. building on Kinzie Avenue. A trio of young women stretched and leaned — at a safe distance apart — in Independence Park on the North Side. And a mother could be seen steadying a tiny child on a teetering bicycle.
— Stefano Esposito
12:38 p.m. Family of CPD officer who died of COVID-19 to receive line-of-duty death benefits
Interim Chicago Police Supt. Charlie Beck announced Friday the coronavirus-related death of veteran Officer Marco DiFranco will be considered a line-of-duty death, ensuring DiFranco’s widow and two children will receive honors and benefits.
“When faced with tragedy, you have to look it straight in the eye,” Beck said during a Friday morning news conference a day after DiFranco’s death. “The mayor and I did that, and we recognized that our first responders, by their very nature, place themselves at risk every day.
“And we determined that Marco DiFranco’s death was line-of-duty, and, because of that, his family will continue to have the protections of the Chicago Police Department. They will not be destitute. They will be taken care of.”
Read the full story from reporter Sam Charles.
12:35 p.m. Illinois bans activities at state parks amid coronavirus outbreak
Illinois has barred all activities at state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites in another move to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said in a statement that hunters and anglers aren’t allowed to receive refunds on state-issued permits or permit transfers due to administrative guidelines under the state wildlife code.
“We understand the problems these laws create for our sportsmen and sportswomen and are reviewing all possible solutions,” Callahan said.
With proper state authorization, people can still hunt and fish on privately-owned open properties as Illinois continues issuing restrictions to curb the virus that causes COVID-19, the Journal-Star reported Thursday.
Read the full story from the Associated Press.
12:10 p.m. Illinois companies report layoffs of 14,702 workers in March
Businesses in Illinois notified state officials of 14,702 layoffs in March at more than 190 locations, according to a report released Friday by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The overwhelming number of closings were in the Chicago area.
Almost all the companies reporting layoffs cited the coronavirus as the reason.
The list was dominated by hotels, restaurants and fitness clubs. Trump International Hotel & Tower said it was cutting 294 jobs at its Chicago location. The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile reported 350 layoffs.
The largest single reported layoff was a plant closing: Fabrik Molded Plastics in McHenry, costing 600 jobs.
Read the David Roeder’s full story, which includes the names of some other companies that reported layoffs or closings.
11:26 a.m. Coronavirus concerns continue to reshape the sports world
With the NFL still deciding whether teams will be allowed to conduct their NFL Draft operations from their headquarters, the Bears are exploring alternate sites.
General manager Ryan Pace said Friday they have several venues in mind if they can’t work at Halas Hall, and one of the options is to simply continue working from home as they have for the past few weeks.
The NFL has been adamant that the draft will take place as scheduled April 23-25. The Bears have seven selections, beginning with No. 43 overall.
In other sports news, the WNBA announced Friday that it was postponing training camp and the start of its season indefinitely due to the coronavirus, which has already infected more than 1 million people worldwide.
Training camp was scheduled to open April 26 and the season was supposed to start May 15.
Read more from Jason Lieser about how the Bears are bracing for an unconventional NFL Draft, and get the details on the WNBA’s postponements from Madeline Kenney.
9:30 a.m. What worries Chicagoans most about the coronavirus
As we settle into our new (temporary) normal, anxieties are still high for many, so we asked readers what worries them the most about the coronavirus pandemic. Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Here’s what they said:
“I’m most worried about how long this will last. We need to start thinking about how to roll back precautions so businesses can reopen, while at the same time keeping our most vulnerable citizens safe.” —Jason Betke
“Keeping my small business open (we are essential). I am praying I can continue to pay my staff.” — Stephanie Paszkiewicz
“I’m worried for my 80-year-old parents.” — Pam Shelton
See what more Chicagoans said in Alice Bazerghi’s story.
8:50 a.m. The numbers that tell the story: Our coronavirus data tracking
As the state, nation and world contends with the exponential spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, our newsroom is committed to telling the human stories behind the global crisis — but we also recognize that battling a pandemic is, in many ways, a numbers game.
On our Coronavirus Data page, you’ll find a collection of graphs, charts and maps tracing the spread of the virus, tracking test results and plotting the impact on individual counties. Check back daily for updated totals.
Is there a data set we’re missing that would help inform your understanding of the coronavirus and its spread? Send us a note at audience@suntimes.com, and we’ll investigate.
See the latest reports in our Coronavirus Data section.
6:56 a.m. Rapid coronavirus testing is coming to Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that Illinois was set to receive 15 machines that process rapid COVID-19 tests developed by North Chicago-based Abbott Labs.
During his daily press briefing, Pritzker said the first shipment was expected later Thursday, adding that representatives from the medical supply firm assured him that its home state “is a priority for them.”
“We expect to have machines online very shortly,” Pritzker said.
Abbott’s groundbreaking coronavirus test can deliver positive results in just five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. As he touted the advancement as “a game changer,” Pritzker noted that existing tests take about four to six hours to process results.
Read more from reporter Tom Schuba.
6:22 a.m. CPS teachers on parade: 30-car caravan brightens day for kids missing school (yes, some are)
With Chicago schools closed because of the coronavirus, teachers are trying their best to bring their lessons home to students — and educators at a Southwest Side school took that a step further this week.
A few dozen teachers at Dore Elementary drove through the Clearing neighborhood Thursday afternoon in a 30-car caravan, led by a Chicago police escort, honking their horns and waving to kids as they passed by families’ homes.
With music blaring from teachers’ cars that were painted with messages for their students, more than a dozen families on a single block waved back at their educators.
Maureen O’Hara, a fourth grade teacher who helped organize the effort, said parents and students were thrilled when they heard their teachers were coming by to say hello.
Reporter Nader Issa has the full story with photos by Ashlee Rezin Garcia.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
8:08 p.m. Dick Durbin ‘99.9%’ sure grandchild had COVID-19, calls McConnell’s Trump defense ‘pathetic’
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Friday that one of his grandchildren likely had COVID-19 and called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assertion that Donald Trump could not focus on the impending coronavirus pandemic because of his Senate impeachment trial “pathetic.”
“We have some grandkids out in Brooklyn, New York and we think they have weathered that storm and are now fever free and have turned the corner,” Durbin said while taping the WLS-AM radio show “Connected to Chicago with Bill Cameron.”
“There were some anxious moments there and I am sure a lot of families are going through that.”
Durbin’s grandchild — he did not mention the age or gender of the youth — was not tested.
Read Lynn Sweet’s full column here.
4:58 p.m. Illinois adjusts on the fly to meet medical supply needs in a coronavirus ‘Wild West’
In a state where the government usually operates on the basis of buy now, pay later (often much, much later), the emergency of the coronavirus pandemic has required a decidedly different approach.
About two weeks ago, Illinois officials tracked down a supply of 1.5 million potentially life-saving N95 respirator masks in China through a middleman in the Chicago area and negotiated a deal to buy them.
One day before they were expecting to complete the purchase, they got a call in the morning from the supplier informing them he had to get a check to the bank by 2 p.m. that day, or the deal was off. Other bidders had surfaced.
Realizing there was no way the supplier could get to Springfield and back by the deadline, Illinois assistant comptroller Ellen Andres jumped in her car and raced north on I-55 with a check for $3,469,600.
From the other end, Jeffrey Polen, president of The Moving Concierge in Lemont, drove south. Polen isn’t in the medical supply business, but he “knows a guy,” an old friend who specializes in working with China’s factories.
As they drove, Andres and Polen arranged to meet in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant just off the interstate in Dwight. They made the handoff there.
Polen made it back to his bank with 20 minutes to spare. Illinois already has received part of the mask shipment. There’s more on the way.
That’s just a taste of the “Wild West” world of emergency procurement taking place over the past several weeks as the state fights for equipment and supplies to protect frontline workers and patients in the battle against COVID-19.
Read the Mark Brown’s full column here.
6:48 a.m. Every state — including 12 slackers — must join the fight to beat COVID-19
As of Thursday afternoon, 12 governors still had not issued the statewide stay-at-home orders that are the best defense against the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
We have to wonder how many more of their residents must catch the virus, and how many more must die, before these 12 state chief executives wake up. We have to wonder whether they understand that they are endangering every American. A pandemic respects no state lines.
There is not a moment to spare. The toll of the virus is mounting by the day. More than 225,000 Americans — and more than 1 million people worldwide — have contracted COVID-19. More than 5,000 Americans, including 157 in Illinois, have died.
And the worst by far — possibly up to 240,000 American deaths — is yet to come.
Read the full editorial from the Sun-Times Editorial Board.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--Dick Durbin ‘99.9%’ sure grandchild had COVID-19, calls McConnell’s Trump defense ‘pathetic’

Sen. Dick Durbin , D-Ill. , said Friday that one of his grandchildren likely had COVID-19 and called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s assertion that Donald Trump could not focus on the impending coronavirus pandemic because of his Senate impeachment trial “ pathetic.
” “ We have some grandkids out in Brooklyn , New York and we think they have weathered that storm and are now fever free and have turned the corner , ” Durbin said while taping the WLS-AM radio show “ Connected to Chicago ” with Bill Cameron .
“ There were some anxious moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of families are going through that.
” Durbin ’ s grandchild — he did not mention the age or gender of the youth — was not tested .
“ In New York , there were so many cases coming at once that the doctor basically told the family , I believe , I am 99 % sure , it is coronavirus but don ’ t go into the emergency room for tests , they are just overwhelmed with some very sick people and it ’ s not a good place for a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Asked if Trump was a reliable source of information , Durbin said , “ No .
He says things that are contradicted over and over again on a daily basis.
” Asked about the statement made by McConnell defending the president , Durbin said , “ I have one word for that .
Pathetic .
Pathetic .
To think that that a one week so-called trial somehow diverted this president from dealing with this international global health crisis and its threat to the United States is pathetic.
” The Senate acquitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Friday that one of his grandchildren likely had COVID-19 and called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assertion that Donald Trump could not focus on the impending coronavirus pandemic because of his Senate impeachment trial “pathetic.”
“We have some grandkids out in Brooklyn, New York and we think they have weathered that storm and are now fever free and have turned the corner,” Durbin said while taping the WLS-AM radio show “Connected to Chicago with Bill Cameron.”
“There were some anxious moments there and I am sure a lot of families are going through that.”
Durbin’s grandchild — he did not mention the age or gender of the youth — was not tested.
“In New York, there were so many cases coming at once that the doctor basically told the family, I believe, I am 99% sure, it is coronavirus but don’t go into the emergency room for tests, they are just overwhelmed with some very sick people and it’s not a good place for a child to be in anyway,” Durbin said.
Asked if Trump was a reliable source of information, Durbin said, “No. He says things that are contradicted over and over again on a daily basis.”
Asked about the statement made by McConnell defending the president, Durbin said, “I have one word for that. Pathetic. Pathetic. To think that that a one week so-called trial somehow diverted this president from dealing with this international global health crisis and its threat to the United States is pathetic.”
The Senate acquitted Trump after his February impeachment trial.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--Halas Intrigue Episode 91: The open QB competition

Man was paid $ 5K to ‘ execute ’ South Side pregnant teen who was witness in murder case , @ @ @ @ @ people he was paid for `` nailing a girl who testified against somebody , '' @ @ @

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chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--Gov. Pritzker shields healthcare workers from lawsuits during coronavirus pandemic

Without fanfare last week , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker issued a sweeping executive order ( 2020-19 ) granting many health care providers immunity from civil liability during the COVID-19 crisis .
If medical facilities , community-integrated living facilities , community mental health centers and others are providing COVID-19 healthcare services , they can not be sued “ for any injury or death alleged to have been caused by any act or omission by the Health Care Facility , which injury or death occurred at a time when a Health Care Facility was engaged in the course of rendering assistance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to the COVID-19 outbreak , ” until after the governor ’ s disaster declaration finally expires .
And the same goes for doctors , nurses , emergency medical service workers and even “ health care volunteers.
” They ’ re all immune to civil liability if they are providing services to any of the facilities dealing with the pandemic .
To be clear , this executive order covers not just the treatment of pandemic cases , but every service offered during the pandemic , as long as the institutions are involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a botched heart surgery , they ’ d still be theoretically immune to lawsuits , as long as it didn ’ t involve “ gross negligence or willful misconduct.
” The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association , which represents plaintiffs lawyers and has pushed for strong civil suit protections , is one of the most powerful Statehouse lobbies , but it has been utterly silent on the governor ’ s new executive order and hasn ’ t responded to requests for comment .
So , how can the governor legally sweep away almost all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s in state law .
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act gives the governor a ton of powers , and exempts health care workers and others from certain civil liability during a pending or actual disaster while under contract or direction from the government .
Pritzker ’ s executive order specifically directs medical facilities , personnel and volunteers to “ render assistance in support of the State ’ s response to the disaster.
” That gubernatorial order triggers the law ’ s provisions .
Everyone from the federal government on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get very real here ( it already is in New York ) , and several hospitals will be overloaded .
A Pritzker administration official explained what ’ s about to happen .
“ You tell your hospital , ‘ I know your standards of care are , say , 15 nurses on your ICU floor and now we ’ re telling you to only have 10 nurses because you have nurses calling in sick , and you have 20 more patients , but you ’ re just gon na have to tough it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not turn anybody away who you can fit in a bed.
’ ” Understandably , you don ’ t want facilities and staff constantly worrying about being sued while treating people in those conditions .
They have enough to worry about right now .
The hospitals also reportedly asked for the executive order partly to make sure that nursing homes and other residential facilities don ’ t freak out about legal liability when their residents begin to show symptoms and then hurriedly decide to immediately transfer them to already overburdened hospitals .
Flattening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about preventing the overloading of hospitals .
Staying at home lessens your chance of catching or spreading the virus , and it also means keeping nursing home , CILA residents and others in place as long as possible .
Most hospitals weren ’ t doing well financially even before the pandemic .
Closures were becoming the norm throughout the state as revenues dried up .
Elective procedures were essentially keeping most facilities afloat , but those are now banned by the most recent executive order .
As Crain ’ s Chicago Business reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s public health system relies on elective procedures to bring in revenues , but eliminating them per CDC guidelines cut the number of surgeries it performs in half .
It ’ s the same wherever you look , particularly in rural areas .
A massive health systems bailout will likely be required after this is all over , if not before .
Until then , I ’ m told the Pritzker administration wanted to provide whatever help it could , and this executive order will do that .
As to whether that theoretical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the civil liability exemption , I ’ ve heard differing opinions on whether it will or won ’ t .
Judges and juries are certain to cut hospitals and caregivers some slack if they are working in an over-burdened facility .
A heart surgeon , however , who is not doing any pandemic work wouldn ’ t have much of a defense for botching a surgery .
So maybe the trial lawyers won ’ t be completely shut out .

Without fanfare last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a sweeping executive order (2020-19) granting many health care providers immunity from civil liability during the COVID-19 crisis.
If medical facilities, community-integrated living facilities, community mental health centers and others are providing COVID-19 health care services, they cannot be sued “for any injury or death alleged to have been caused by any act or omission by the Health Care Facility, which injury or death occurred at a time when a Health Care Facility was engaged in the course of rendering assistance to the State by providing health care services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,” until after the governor’s disaster declaration finally expires.
And the same goes for doctors, nurses, emergency medical service workers and even “health care volunteers.” They’re all immune to civil liability if they are providing services to any of the facilities dealing with the pandemic.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
To be clear, this executive order covers not just the treatment of pandemic cases, but every service offered during the pandemic, as long as the institutions are involved in the response. If you have a botched heart surgery, they’d still be theoretically immune to lawsuits, as long as it didn’t involve “gross negligence or willful misconduct.”
The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, which represents plaintiffs lawyers and has pushed for strong civil suit protections, is one of the most powerful Statehouse lobbies, but it has been utterly silent on the governor’s new executive order and hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
So, how can the governor legally sweep away almost all civil liability for those providers? Well, it’s in state law.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act gives the governor a ton of powers, and exempts health care workers and others from certain civil liability during a pending or actual disaster while under contract or direction from the government.
Pritzker’s executive order specifically directs medical facilities, personnel and volunteers to “render assistance in support of the State’s response to the disaster.” That gubernatorial order triggers the law’s provisions.
Everyone from the federal government on down say it’s about to get very real here (it already is in New York), and several hospitals will be overloaded.
A Pritzker administration official explained what’s about to happen. “You tell your hospital, ‘I know your standards of care are, say, 15 nurses on your ICU floor and now we’re telling you to only have 10 nurses because you have nurses calling in sick, and you have 20 more patients, but you’re just gonna have to tough it out and do that because you cannot turn anybody away who you can fit in a bed.’”
Understandably, you don’t want facilities and staff constantly worrying about being sued while treating people in those conditions. They have enough to worry about right now.
The hospitals also reportedly asked for the executive order partly to make sure that nursing homes and other residential facilities don’t freak out about legal liability when their residents begin to show symptoms and then hurriedly decide to immediately transfer them to already overburdened hospitals.
Flattening the curve, remember, is all about preventing the overloading of hospitals. Staying at home lessens your chance of catching or spreading the virus, and it also means keeping nursing home, CILA residents and others in place as long as possible.
Most hospitals weren’t doing well financially even before the pandemic. Closures were becoming the norm throughout the state as revenues dried up.
Elective procedures were essentially keeping most facilities afloat, but those are now banned by the most recent executive order. As Crain’s Chicago Business reported last week, even Cook County’s public health system relies on elective procedures to bring in revenues, but eliminating them per CDC guidelines cut the number of surgeries it performs in half.
It’s the same wherever you look, particularly in rural areas.
A massive health systems bailout will likely be required after this is all over, if not before. Until then, I’m told the Pritzker administration wanted to provide whatever help it could, and this executive order will do that.
As to whether that theoretical botched heart surgery mentioned above will fall under the civil liability exemption, I’ve heard differing opinions on whether it will or won’t. Judges and juries are certain to cut hospitals and caregivers some slack if they are working in an over-burdened facility. A heart surgeon, however, who is not doing any pandemic work wouldn’t have much of a defense for botching a surgery.
So maybe the trial lawyers won’t be completely shut out.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-04-03--Rahm Emanuel hits the road to feed critical workers during pandemic

When the exercise enthusiast is not biking , rowing in his basement or walking in the forest preserves at proscribed distances , the former mayor is hanging out in the house with wife , Amy , during the pandemic .
Last week , Emanuel — once known as the Rocketman for his energetic mojo — headed to Manny ’ s legendary downtown deli — where he and his pals like to nosh .
That ’ s when Emanuel became the Serviceman .
• To wit : After collecting eight trays of sandwiches and cookies , Emanuel and Amy put on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to health care providers at four major Chicago hospitals .
• First stop in the family car : Mount Sinai Hospital “ because that is where my father , a doctor , and my mother , who was a nurse , met , ” said Emanuel .
“ My parents were always about being ‘ of service , ’ ” said Emanuel , who parked outside a designated hospital door where he loads food onto rolling tray carts with gloved hands .
• Next stop : “ We then hit Northwestern hospital where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U of Chicago hospital which services the South Side ; and UIC hospital which services the West Side.
” Emanuel , an avid reader , just devoured Erik Larson ’ s “ The Splendid and the Vile , ” about the bombing of London .
Emanuel is also an admitted new Netflix addict “ now that I have time to do so , ” now tuning in “ the third episode of series five of “ ‘ Peaky Blinders , ’ about a gang in Birmingham , England , after World War I.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at our cottage ; and our son is away ; Amy and I are going for walks ; sharing funny and insightful articles , cartoon jokes , ” he said .
Then he added some advice : “ Just remember to exercise .
It helps the immune system , ” said Emanuel , rushing out the front door after eating his morning yogurt , granola and fresh fruit .

Rahm’s tray way . . .
Rahm Emanuel is isolating.
Well, sort of.
When the exercise enthusiast is not biking, rowing in his basement or walking in the forest preserves at proscribed distances, the former mayor is hanging out in the house with wife, Amy, during the pandemic.
Last week, Emanuel — once known as the Rocketman for his energetic mojo — headed to Manny’s legendary downtown deli — where he and his pals like to nosh.
That’s when Emanuel became the Serviceman.
To wit: After collecting eight trays of sandwiches and cookies, Emanuel and Amy put on their gloves and personally delivered the yummies to health care providers at four major Chicago hospitals.
First stop in the family car: Mount Sinai Hospital “because that is where my father, a doctor, and my mother, who was a nurse, met,” said Emanuel.
“My parents were always about being ‘of service,’” said Emanuel, who parked outside a designated hospital door where he loads food onto rolling tray carts with gloved hands.
Next stop: “We then hit Northwestern hospital where my dad once taught; followed by U of Chicago hospital which services the South Side; and UIC hospital which services the West Side.”
Emanuel, an avid reader, just devoured Erik Larson’s “The Splendid and the Vile,” about the bombing of London. Emanuel is also an admitted new Netflix addict “now that I have time to do so,” now tuning in “the third episode of series five of “ ‘Peaky Blinders,’ about a gang in Birmingham, England, after World War I.”
“Our daughters are social distancing at our cottage; and our son is away; Amy and I are going for walks; sharing funny and insightful articles, cartoon jokes,” he said.
Then he added some advice: “Just remember to exercise. It helps the immune system,” said Emanuel, rushing out the front door after eating his morning yogurt, granola and fresh fruit.
Please pass the banana.