chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Christopher Columbus statue taken down hours after Lightfoot ordered its removal

The Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park was removed hours after Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for its removal .
Two cranes pulled their way up to the statue just before 2 a.m. Friday , after hours of vocal confrontations between protestors and supporters of the statue , including John Catanzara , president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 .
The decision to take down two monuments to Columbus came after violent clashes between police and protesters broke out last week when activists attempted to tear down a statue of the Italian explorer in Grant Park .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort of Black and Indigenous activists who know the true history of Columbus and what he represents , ” said Stefan Cuevas-Caizaguano , a resident watching the removal .
The monument was removed about 3 a.m. Crews were also preparing to remove another statue in Arrigo Park on the Near West Side .
Ald .
Brian Hopkins ( 2nd ) told the Chicago Sun-Times late Thursday that Lightfoot made “ a unilateral decision ” to take down the statues .
Hopkins said the intention was to have them removed Thursday night .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about postponing the removal , but the mayor has not indicated any reversal of her decision , ” he said .
The Chicago Tribune first reported that Lightfoot planned to have the Grant Park statue removed as early as Thursday night .
When the news broke , over a thousand protesters who were rallying near Lightfoot ’ s Logan Square home rejoiced .
Soon after , an organizer led the crowd in a celebratory chant .
“ Thank you for the statue , now defund CPD , ” the crowd bellowed .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the other monument , has been cloaked in plastic , remained intact late Thursday .
John Catanzara , the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 , showed up at the park after hearing the statue was set to be removed .
Catanzara has recently feuded with Lightfoot after he penned a letter to President Donald Trump pleading for federal help to address the city ’ s surging gun violence .
“ I ’ m sick of the mayor thinking she can do whatever she wants to do , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descent .
“ She ’ s not a dictator .
“ She ’ s a coward that she wanted to do this in the middle of the night when nobody was paying attention after she said she wasn ’ t going to take the statue down.
” The mayor ’ s decision follows a standoff last Friday in Grant Park , which devolved into chaos when protesters attempted to take down that statue .
Like other monuments to colonialism , the Columbus statue has come under increased scrutiny amid the nationwide reckoning over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statue , some protesters were seen lobbing firecrackers and other projectiles in their direction and guarding themselves with umbrellas .
Amid the chaos , officers swung batons and used pepper spray to quell the crowd .
Police later reported that 12 people were arrested and 18 others were hurt during the incident .
On Monday , Chicago Police Supt .
David Brown said 49 officers were injured , with 18 requiring hospitalization .
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability , which investigates allegations of police misconduct , reported Sunday that the agency had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest .
Though Lightfoot has called reports of excessive force “ unacceptable ” and vowed they would be investigated , she also cast blame on a small group of “ vigilantes ” who she said “ came for a fight.
” On Monday , she faulted that contingent for “ hijacking ” the demonstration and throwing frozen water bottles and other objects at officers .
“ That ’ s not peaceful protest , ” she said .
“ That ’ s anarchy .
”

The controversial Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park was taken down under cover of darkness early Friday, hours after Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered its removal.
Two cranes pulled up to the statue just before 2 a.m. Friday, after protesters and supporters of the statue argued and yelled at each other. Supporters included John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7.
The decision to remove the statue came after violent clashes between police and protesters broke out last week when activists tried but failed to take it down.
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“This statue coming down is because of the effort of Black and Indigenous activists who know the true history of Columbus and what he represents,” said Stefan Cuevas-Caizaguano, a resident watching the removal.
The monument was removed about 3 a.m. Crews also removed another statue of the Italian explorer in Arrigo Park on the Near West Side.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a statement Friday morning saying the statues were removed until further notice “in response to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police, as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner.”
The mayor said a formal process will soon be announced to assess each monument, memorial and mural across the city.
City crews begin to remove the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 1 of 16 City crews attached straps to the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park as they begin to remove it, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 2 of 16 City crews inspect the straps that are around the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park as they begin to remove it, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 3 of 16 City crews inspect the straps that are around the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park as they begin to remove it, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 4 of 16 City crews cut away part of the tarp that’s covering the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park as the statue is being removed, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 5 of 16 City crews help guide the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park as it’s being removed by a crane, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times file photo 6 of 16 A crane lowers the Christopher Columbus Statue to the ground in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 7 of 16 A crane removes the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park from its plinth, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 8 of 16 A crane lowers the Christopher Columbus Statue to the ground in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 9 of 16 A crane lowers the Christopher Columbus Statue to the ground in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 10 of 16 The plinth that the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park sits empty after city crews removed the statue, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 11 of 16 The plinth that the Christopher Columbus Statue in Grant Park sits empty after city crews removed the statue, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 12 of 16 A crane moves the Christopher Columbus Statue to a waiting flatbed truck in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 13 of 16 A crane moves the Christopher Columbus Statue to a waiting flatbed truck in Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 14 of 16 A group of people in support of the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue cheer as the statue is driven away from Grant Park, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 15 of 16 A flatbed truck drives on Roosevelt Rd away from Grant Park with the Christopher Columbus statue loaded onto it after crews removed it from its original location, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times 16 of 16
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) told the Chicago Sun-Times late Thursday that Lightfoot made “a unilateral decision” to remove the statues.
The Chicago Tribune first reported Lightfoot’s decision Thursday night.
After the news broke, more than 1,000 protesters who were rallying near Lightfoot’s Logan Square home rejoiced. Soon after, an organizer led the crowd in a celebratory chant.
“Thank you for the statue, now defund CPD,” the crowd bellowed.
Catanzara showed up at the park after hearing the statue was set to be removed. Catanzara has recently feuded with Lightfoot after he wrote a letter to President Donald Trump pleading for federal help to address the city’s surging gun violence.
“I’m sick of the mayor thinking she can do whatever she wants to do,” said Catanzara, who is of Italian descent. “She’s not a dictator. She’s a coward that she wanted to do this in the middle of the night when nobody was paying attention after she said she wasn’t going to take the statue down.”
The Columbus statue has come under increased scrutiny amid the nationwide reckoning over racial injustice.
Last week, while officers guarded the statue, some protesters lobbed firecrackers, frozen water bottles and other projectiles at police and hid themselves behind umbrellas. Amid the chaos, officers swung batons and used pepper spray to quell the crowd.
Police later reported that 12 people were arrested and 18 others were hurt during the incident. On Monday, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said 49 officers were injured, with 18 requiring hospitalization.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates allegations of police misconduct, reported Sunday that the agency had received over 20 complaints related to the protest.
Though Lightfoot has called reports of excessive force “unacceptable” and vowed they would be investigated, she also cast blame on a small group of “vigilantes” who she said “came for a fight.” On Monday, she faulted that contingent for “hijacking” the demonstration and throwing frozen water bottles and other objects at officers.
“That’s not peaceful protest,” she said. “That’s anarchy.”
Contributing: Sam Kelly, Carly Behm, Sam Charles, Fran Spielman


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Man killed, teen girl wounded in Austin shooting

A man was shot dead , and a 15-year-old girl was wounded Friday in Austin on the West Side .
@ @ @ @ @ whose age isn ’ t known , were with a group of people about 1:25 @ @ @ @ @ of North Lamon Avenue when they were shot , Chicago police said .
The girl @ @ @ @ @ , and the man was shot in the abdomen and leg .
Both of them @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The man was pronounced dead , and the girl was in @ @ @ @ @ County medical examiner ’ s office hasn ’ t released details about the man ’ @ @ @ @ @ is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A man was shot dead, and a 15-year-old girl was wounded Friday in Austin on the West Side.
They were with a group of people about 1:25 a.m. in the 900 block of North Lamon Avenue when they were shot, Chicago police said. The girl was shot in the arm, and the man was shot in the abdomen and leg.
Both of them were taken to Stroger Hospital, police said. The man was pronounced dead, and the girl was in good condition.
The man was identified as Marquis Crump, 18, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide.
No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Goodbye, Columbus. Now let democracy, not violence, decide what monuments we keep

The sculpted bas-relief panels on the four bridge houses at Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River are among our city ’ s best examples of public art — and , quiet as kept , probably the most racist .
One panel depicting the Battle of Fort Dearborn shows U.S. Army Ensign George Ronan preparing to plunge his sword into a Potawatomi .
A slain Native American lies crumpled at the feet of the soldier .
An angel floats above , positioned to indicate that God is on the side of the white settlers and the army protecting them .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michigan and Wacker — did you ever notice ?
— adorning a bridge now named in honor of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable , a Black man who was the city ’ s first non-native settler .
In the wake of Friday ’ s early-morning removal of two contested Christopher Columbus statues , Mayor Lori Lightfoot has promised to create a formal process to assess the appropriateness of all the city ’ s public monuments , memorials and murals .
This needs to happen — and quickly .
Monuments and public imagery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being re-assessed around the world as part of the calls for racial and social justice following the senseless killing of George Floyd , a Black man , by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 .
Some monuments are being taken down by elected officials .
Others have been defaced , pulled down or destroyed by demonstrators .
In one of the latest incidents , a bronze bust of 19th century white supremacist Cecil Rhodes was decapitated a week ago in Cape Town , South Africa .
And in Virginia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and six busts of his fellow confederates were removed from the state capitol building late last week .
“ Virginia has a story to tell that extends far beyond glorifying the Confederacy and its participants , ” Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn , who ordered the removals , said in a statement .
Lightfoot made the right move in “ temporarily ” — read permanently — taking down the two Columbus statues , one in Grant Park and the other at Polk and Loomis streets .
The Grant Park Columbus had become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured each other .
It was best to just remove the statue — and reallocate the police assigned to protect it — until the monuments process that Lightfoot has promised unfolds .
Been there before This is not all new Chicago .
Chicago has struggled with this issue before .
In 1889 , a 9-foot statue of a uniformed cop was erected near Halsted and Des Plaines streets to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Riot , in which a bomb killed seven police officers .
Haymarket was a pivotal moment in the American labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police casualties , not the civilians injured .
Nor did it offer a balanced view of the events of that day , a decision that would haunt the work for decades .
In 1927 , a streetcar conductor purposely forced his streetcar to jump its tracks and hit the sculpture .
The monument was restored and moved to Union Park .
In 1968 , demonstrators against the Vietnam War , after fighting with the police , covered the monument — now on a platform overlooking the Kennedy Expressway — with black paint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970 , the anti-war Weathermen blew up the statue .
At that point , Mayor Richard J. Daley put the monument under 24-hour police guard .
Today , the monument stands on the grounds of police headquarters .
And a more inclusive Haymarket monument , featuring an artistic recreation of the wooden wagon that was used as a speakers platform , has sat — unbothered —on the original Haymarket site since 1992 .
There is worthy , but tough work ahead if Chicago is serious about reexamining its many statues and monuments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be removed or recontextualized .
That includes the artwork at the DuSable Bridge .
The four panels were created in 1928 to honor the city ’ s rebuilding after the Chicago Fire , the Battle of Fort Dearborn , the early settler John Kinzie and the explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet .
The panels devoted to the early settlers and the Chicago Fire could pass muster if designed today .
But the Fort Dearborn panel , with its depiction of the Potawatomi , likely wouldn ’ t .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Army was victorious over the Potawatomi .
They weren ’ t .
Ronan himself was killed in the battle .
In the Marquette and Joliet panels , the explorers make their way through the wilderness surrounded by subservient Native Americans .
So what should be done here ?
We ’ re not arguing for removing the panels .
But this clearly is an example of where a monuments commission formed by Lightfoot could be helpful , suggesting ways to reinterpret the panels through additional signage or art .
We ’ d rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues in the dark of night in response to protest violence .
But if Chicago is committed to the call sweeping the nation for greater justice and equity , it is time to deliberately and democratically decide which monuments to keep , which to redefine and which to flat-out get rid of .

The sculpted bas-relief panels on the four bridge houses at Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River are among our city’s best examples of public art — and, quiet as kept, probably the most racist.
One panel depicting the Battle of Fort Dearborn shows U.S. Army Ensign George Ronan preparing to plunge his sword into a Potawatomi. A slain Native American lies crumpled at the feet of the soldier. An angel floats above, positioned to indicate that God is on the side of the white settlers and the army protecting them.
It’s right there on the corner of Michigan and Wacker — did you ever notice? — adorning a bridge now named in honor of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Black man who was the city’s first non-native settler.
Editorials bug Editorials
In the wake of Friday’s early-morning removal of two contested Christopher Columbus statues, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has promised to create a formal process to assess the appropriateness of all the city’s public monuments, memorials and murals.
This needs to happen — and quickly.
Monuments reassessed
Monuments and public imagery associated with racism, slavery or imperialism are being re-assessed around the world as part of the calls for racial and social justice following the senseless killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25.
Some monuments are being taken down by elected officials. Others have been defaced, pulled down or destroyed by demonstrators.
In one of the latest incidents, a bronze bust of 19th century white supremacist Cecil Rhodes was decapitated a week ago in Cape Town, South Africa. And in Virginia, a life-sized statue of Robert E. Lee and six busts of his fellow confederates were removed from the state capitol building late last week.
“Virginia has a story to tell that extends far beyond glorifying the Confederacy and its participants,” Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, who ordered the removals, said in a statement.
Lightfoot made the right move in “temporarily” — read permanently — taking down the two Columbus statues, one in Grant Park and the other at Polk and Loomis streets.
The Grant Park Columbus had become a flashpoint as police and protesters clashed and injured each other. It was best to just remove the statue — and reallocate the police assigned to protect it — until the monuments process that Lightfoot has promised unfolds.
Been there before
This is not all new Chicago. Chicago has struggled with this issue before.
In 1889, a 9-foot statue of a uniformed cop was erected near Halsted and Des Plaines streets to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Riot, in which a bomb killed seven police officers.
Haymarket was a pivotal moment in the American labor movement. But the monument honored only the police casualties, not the civilians injured. Nor did it offer a balanced view of the events of that day, a decision that would haunt the work for decades.
In 1927, a streetcar conductor purposely forced his streetcar to jump its tracks and hit the sculpture. The monument was restored and moved to Union Park.
In 1968, demonstrators against the Vietnam War, after fighting with the police, covered the monument — now on a platform overlooking the Kennedy Expressway — with black paint. Then, in both 1969 and 1970, the anti-war Weathermen blew up the statue.
At that point, Mayor Richard J. Daley put the monument under 24-hour police guard.
Today, the monument stands on the grounds of police headquarters. And a more inclusive Haymarket monument, featuring an artistic recreation of the wooden wagon that was used as a speakers platform, has sat — unbothered —on the original Haymarket site since 2004.
Beautiful, flawed works
There is worthy, but tough work ahead if Chicago is serious about reexamining its many statues and monuments. Beautiful, but deeply flawed works will have to be removed or recontextualized. That includes the artwork at the DuSable Bridge.
The four panels were created in 1928 to honor the city’s rebuilding after the Chicago Fire, the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the early settler John Kinzie and the explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet.
The panels devoted to the early settlers and the Chicago Fire could pass muster if designed today. But the Fort Dearborn panel, with its depiction of the Potawatomi, likely wouldn’t. It also gives the historically false impression that the U.S. Army was victorious over the Potawatomi. They weren’t. Ronan himself was killed in the battle.
In the Marquette and Joliet panels, the explorers make their way through the wilderness surrounded by subservient Native Americans.
Time to decide
So what should be done here?
We’re not arguing for removing the panels. But this clearly is an example of where a monuments commission formed by Lightfoot could be helpful, suggesting ways to reinterpret the panels through additional signage or art.
We’d rather not see the mayor yank down more statues in the dark of night in response to protest violence.
But if Chicago is committed to the call sweeping the nation for greater justice and equity, it is time to deliberately and democratically decide which monuments to keep, which to redefine and which to flat-out get rid of.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Pritzker’s tiered reopening plan: Explained (LIVE UPDATES)

On July 15 , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker unveiled a new plan to mitigate the continued spread of COVID-19 in Illinois , splitting up the state into 11 regions instead of the four regions outlined in his original Restore Illinois plan .
The new guidelines aim to take a more granular approach to coronavirus mitigation , targeting smaller areas than the original plan did and separating Chicago into its own region .
The plan outlines three tiers of actions that officials can take to slow the spread of coronavirus .
If a region surpasses certain thresholds — metrics include percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and rising hospital admissions — then officials can choose to tighten restrictions from a “ menu ” of options outlined in the new tiered-system .
Municipalities , such as Chicago , can set their own restrictions , as long as they are no less stringent than the governor ’ s benchmarks .
Read the full explanation from Caroline Hurley here .
7:10 p.m. No virus bill yet : White House , GOP at odds over jobless aid WASHINGTON — Negotiations over a new COVID-19 rescue bill were in flux Friday after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost to as little as $ 100 and President Donald Trump turned to a new priority , adding money to build a new FBI headquarters .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home , promising a Republican proposal would be ready on Monday .
Outraged Democrats warned that time was being wasted on GOP infighting as the virus worsens , jobless aid expires and the death toll rises .
“ We call upon Leader McConnell to get serious , ” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of start-and-stop efforts , McConnell abruptly halted the rollout of the Republicans ’ $ 1 trillion plan , which was supposed to provide a counter-offer to the Democrats ’ $ 3 trillion bill in an opening bid for negotiations .
Trump was forced to abandon his push for a payroll tax break , which his party opposed , and the White House turned to new priorities .
6:07 p.m. McDonald ’ s customers must wear masks at all U.S. restaurants starting Aug. 1 Joining retailers attempting to control the coronavirus , McDonald ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers to wear face masks at all of its 14,000 retailers across the country .
But the Chicago-based company won ’ t eject those who refuse to comply .
McDonald said the nationwide mask mandate will take effect Aug. 1 .
Customers without a mask will be offered one .
If they don ’ t accept it , their order will be expedited and they will be directed to a pickup location safely distant from others .
Or , in the words of a joint statement from McDonald ’ s USA President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Franchise Leadership Alliance , “ we ’ ll put in place additional procedures to take care of them in a friendly , expedited way .
Additionally , we will provide training for our restaurant staff to ensure they are prepared to address this new policy in a friendly and positive way.
” Read the full story by David Roeder here .
5:10 p.m. 26 deaths in three US convents , as nuns confront the coronavirus pandemic LIVONIA , Michigan — At a convent near Detroit , 13 nuns have died of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a center for Maryknoll sisters in New York , and six at a Wisconsin convent that serves nuns with fading memories .
Each community perseveres , though strict social-distancing rules have made communal solidarity a challenge as the losses are mourned .
Only small , private funeral services were permitted as the death toll mounted in April and May at the Felician Sisters convent in Livonia , Michigan — a spiritual hardship for the surviving nuns .
“ The yearnings , throughout the pandemic , were to be with our dying sisters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and burial , to comfort each other , ” said Sister Mary Christopher Moore , a leader of the Felician Sisters of North America .
4:05 p.m , NFL , union closer to agreement on coronavirus changes The NFL and its players union moved closer to an agreement that will set the protocols — and financial ramifications — of the most unusual season in league history .
Gone would be preseason games , replaced by a strength and conditioning program at the start of training camp that would prevent full practices until mid-August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted unanimously on Friday to recommend Collective Bargaining Agreement changes to its 32 team representatives .
If they approve the changes , they will be set .
The NFL and NFLPA have bargained for weeks about changes in the wake of the coronavirus , from testing to salary cap smoothing to how to get players in shape in time for the regular season .
Read the full story by Patrick Finley here .
The Midlothian Drivers Services Facility will remain closed until Aug. 5 after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 14434 S. Pulaski Rd .
will self-quarantine for two weeks while the facility undergoes cleaning , the according to a Friday statement from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White ’ s office .
Read the full story by David Struett here .
2:15 p.m. ‘ Risky behavior ’ in four downstate counties prompts warnings as Illinois reports 1,532 new coronavirus cases .
Another 1,532 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois , health officials announced Friday , the latest four-digit daily caseload that has Gov .
J.B. Pritzker worried the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus resurgence .
The new cases were confirmed among 44,330 tests received by the state , keeping Illinois ’ testing rolling positivity rate at 3.4 % over the last week .
That rate has increased from 2.5 % two weeks ago , a gradual increase that Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike has stressed is not due to the state ’ s massive uptick in testing capacity this month .
“ We have seen an increase in cases , ” she said at a news conference earlier this week .
“ Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more testing — actually , if you do more testing , your positivity should go down .
So , yes , we ’ re seeing increased transmission.
” Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here .
1:36 p.m. Greenhouse Theater Center ’ s general manager resigns in protest over live show ’ s opening during pandemic Derek Rienzi Van Tassel , the general manager of the Greenhouse Theater Center , has resigned his post in protest over what he calls the “ foolish and dangerous ” decision by the company to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Via Facebook on Thursday , Van Tassel made public his July 18 decision to exit the job : “ The theater is in the epicenter of the virus , Lincoln Park , and [ owners William and Wendy Spatz ] have not thoroughly addressed their safety precautions .
Reopening right now in the middle of this pandemic will only spread the virus further , cause another lockdown , and put more theater artists out of work .
This is unacceptable.
” Reached Thursday by phone , William Spatz said he had hired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show would open as planned .
“ Filled the job in an hour .
I could have found 100 people to do it .
All that person has to do is sit in the box office behind plexiglass .
It ’ s not a dangerous job .
It ’ s not a strenuous job.
” Veteran stage and television star Alexandra Billings was among those on social media calling for the cancellation of the production .
In one Facebook post , Billings wrote : “ Theaters were designed to spread a joyful noise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Downstate counties sue , seeking declaration there is no public health emergency Residents in six central and southern Illinois counties , including the state capital ’ s home , filed lawsuits Thursday against Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s restrictions on social interaction prompted by the coronavirus pandemic .
The actions taken in Bond , Clay , Clinton , Edgar , Richland and Sangamon counties seek court orders declaring there is no public health emergency as defined by Pritzker ’ s Public Health Department .
Springfield , the state capital , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case seek injunctions against the disaster declaration Pritzker ’ s using to justify restrictions on public interaction to limit transmission of the virus .
The state has reported 7,367 deaths among 167,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus — mostly in Chicago and Cook County .
“ You can ’ t put a county that has had nine confirmed cases and no one pass away under the same rules and restrictions as counties like Cook , ” said Thomas DeVore , a Greenville attorney representing the plaintiffs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat are no barrier to COVID-19 Any hopes that summer ’ s high temperatures might slow the spread of the coronavirus were smashed in June and July by skyrocketing cases across the country , especially in some of the warmest states .
Colin Carlson wasn ’ t a bit surprised that summer heat failed to curb the virus that causes COVID-19 , which has claimed more than 140,000 lives in the U.S. That notion , no matter how many times it was repeated , was never supported by science , said Carlson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who studies the relationship between climate change and infectious disease .
The optimistic , though inaccurate forecast was among several persistent misconceptions about heat and light , and other issues related to the spread of the virus , that leave epidemiologists like Carlson increasingly frustrated .
They see and hear mixed messages and miscommunications all the time , whether it ’ s in social media , their circle of friends and family , hastily assembled research papers or the White House .
• Mel Gibson spent a week in a Los Angeles hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his representative revealed Friday .
The 64-year-old actor and director has completely recovered and is doing “ great ” according to the rep .
He also said Gibson has tested negative “ numerous times ” since then .
• Thursday recorded the biggest number of new cases Illinois has seen in a single day since May 25 — 1,624 .
Another troubling sign is the statewide testing positivity rate , which has increased to 3.4 % — nearly a full percentage point higher than it was two weeks ago .
8:19 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control ’ in Donald Trump ’ s America ?
The pandemic President Donald Trump has a point .
People are being injured .
The property damage runs into the millions .
Things are out of control .
Local governments are not able to handle this on their own .
It demands a federal response .
When sacred things are desecrated , it takes a toll on the national spirit .
Trump thinks this applies to rioters and protesters in Portland and other cities .
He thinks the sacred things are Confederate monuments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus that demands a response — and when it comes to that , the president is AWOL .
COVID-19 has now been registered in 193 countries around the globe .
That ’ s why it ’ s called a pandemic .
The only places that have escaped infection thus far are remote islands like Samoa and Tonga and mountainous enclaves like Turkmenistan .
And it will reach those redoubts eventually .
By denying the dire threat , Trump discouraged a systematic response from the departments and agencies tasked with public health .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem , he saw hospitals struggling to cope with shortages of masks , gloves and testing materials , and tens of thousands of Americans dying , and he shrugged , saying governors should handle it .
“ We ’ re not a shipping clerk.
” Now , the average daily rate of new infections is 60,000 , on the way to a predicted 100,000 .
Read the full column from Mona Charen here .

Another quadruple-digit case count for Illinois on Friday has Gov. J.B. Pritzker concerned about a possible coronavirus surge
Specifically, Pritzker is worried four downstate counties — Adams, LaSalle, Peoria and Randolph — that are at a “warning level” after officials traced outbreaks to lax masking requirements at bars, youth sports and other high-risk gatherings.
In Chicago, Friday was the first day for the new restrictions by Mayor Lori Lightfoot that ends indoor service at bars.
There’s still no relief bill from Congress that could continue the $600 weekly unemployment payments to American that have been put out of work by the pandemic. Those current payments will expire at the end of July unless Congress reauthorizes them.
And finally, McDonald’s will soon join the restaurants and stores that will require a face mask to enter.
Here’s what happened today in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
9 p.m. Pritzker’s tiered reopening plan: Explained
Lan Phan, left, and Jun Phan, center, follow along with Anthony Marquez owner and head coach at EFK Martial Arts, 5951 N. Clark St., during a boxing class on the first day of Illinois’ Phase 4 reopening, Friday, June 26, 2020. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
On July 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a new plan to mitigate the continued spread of COVID-19 in Illinois, splitting up the state into 11 regions instead of the four regions outlined in his original Restore Illinois plan.
The new guidelines aim to take a more granular approach to coronavirus mitigation, targeting smaller areas than the original plan did and separating Chicago into its own region.
Coronavirus Data The numbers that tell the story: Our coronavirus data tracking 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.
The plan outlines three tiers of actions that officials can take to slow the spread of coronavirus. If a region surpasses certain thresholds — metrics include percentage of people testing positive, hospital capacity, and rising hospital admissions — then officials can choose to tighten restrictions from a “menu” of options outlined in the new tiered-system.
Municipalities, such as Chicago, can set their own restrictions, as long as they are no less stringent than the governor’s benchmarks.
Read the full explanation from Caroline Hurley here.
8:30 p.m. US Supreme Court denies Nevada church’s appeal of coronavirus rule
RENO, Nev. — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.
In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.
Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners’ First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.
Read the full story here.
7:10 p.m. No virus bill yet: White House, GOP at odds over jobless aid
WASHINGTON — Negotiations over a new COVID-19 rescue bill were in flux Friday after the White House floated cutting an unemployment benefits boost to as little as $100 and President Donald Trump turned to a new priority, adding money to build a new FBI headquarters.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home, promising a Republican proposal would be ready on Monday. Outraged Democrats warned that time was being wasted on GOP infighting as the virus worsens, jobless aid expires and the death toll rises.
“We call upon Leader McConnell to get serious,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a statement.
During a head-spinning week of start-and-stop efforts, McConnell abruptly halted the rollout of the Republicans’ $1 trillion plan, which was supposed to provide a counter-offer to the Democrats’ $3 trillion bill in an opening bid for negotiations. Trump was forced to abandon his push for a payroll tax break, which his party opposed, and the White House turned to new priorities.
Read the full story here.
6:07 p.m. McDonald’s customers must wear masks at all U.S. restaurants starting Aug. 1
Joining retailers attempting to control the coronavirus, McDonald’s said Friday it will require in-store customers to wear face masks at all of its 14,000 retailers across the country. But the Chicago-based company won’t eject those who refuse to comply.
McDonald said the nationwide mask mandate will take effect Aug. 1. Customers without a mask will be offered one. If they don’t accept it, their order will be expedited and they will be directed to a pickup location safely distant from others.
Or, in the words of a joint statement from McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger and Mark Salebra, chair of the National Franchise Leadership Alliance, “we’ll put in place additional procedures to take care of them in a friendly, expedited way. Additionally, we will provide training for our restaurant staff to ensure they are prepared to address this new policy in a friendly and positive way.”
Read the full story by David Roeder here.
5:10 p.m. 26 deaths in three US convents, as nuns confront the coronavirus pandemic
LIVONIA, Michigan — At a convent near Detroit, 13 nuns have died of COVID-19. The toll is seven at a center for Maryknoll sisters in New York, and six at a Wisconsin convent that serves nuns with fading memories.
Each community perseveres, though strict social-distancing rules have made communal solidarity a challenge as the losses are mourned.
Only small, private funeral services were permitted as the death toll mounted in April and May at the Felician Sisters convent in Livonia, Michigan — a spiritual hardship for the surviving nuns.
“The yearnings, throughout the pandemic, were to be with our dying sisters and hold our traditional services, funeral Mass and burial, to comfort each other,” said Sister Mary Christopher Moore, a leader of the Felician Sisters of North America.
Read the full story here.
4:05 p.m, NFL, union closer to agreement on coronavirus changes
The NFL and its players union moved closer to an agreement that will set the protocols — and financial ramifications — of the most unusual season in league history. Gone would be preseason games, replaced by a strength and conditioning program at the start of training camp that would prevent full practices until mid-August.
The NFL Players Association Executive Committee voted unanimously on Friday to recommend Collective Bargaining Agreement changes to its 32 team representatives. If they approve the changes, they will be set.
The NFL and NFLPA have bargained for weeks about changes in the wake of the coronavirus, from testing to salary cap smoothing to how to get players in shape in time for the regular season.
Read the full story by Patrick Finley here.
3 p.m. Midlothian DMV closes till August after worker tests positive for COVID-19
The Midlothian Drivers Services Facility will remain closed until Aug. 5 after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19.
All employees at the south suburban facility at 14434 S. Pulaski Rd. will self-quarantine for two weeks while the facility undergoes cleaning, the according to a Friday statement from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office.
Read the full story by David Struett here.
2:15 p.m. ‘Risky behavior’ in four downstate counties prompts warnings as Illinois reports 1,532 new coronavirus cases.
Another 1,532 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois, health officials announced Friday, the latest four-digit daily caseload that has Gov. J.B. Pritzker worried the state is on the brink of a dangerous coronavirus resurgence.
The new cases were confirmed among 44,330 tests received by the state, keeping Illinois’ testing rolling positivity rate at 3.4% over the last week.
That rate has increased from 2.5% two weeks ago, a gradual increase that Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike has stressed is not due to the state’s massive uptick in testing capacity this month.
“We have seen an increase in cases,” she said at a news conference earlier this week. “Some will say it’s just because of more testing — actually, if you do more testing, your positivity should go down. So, yes, we’re seeing increased transmission.”
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
1:36 p.m. Greenhouse Theater Center’s general manager resigns in protest over live show’s opening during pandemic
Derek Rienzi Van Tassel, the general manager of the Greenhouse Theater Center, has resigned his post in protest over what he calls the “foolish and dangerous” decision by the company to open a live theater show this weekend.
Via Facebook on Thursday, Van Tassel made public his July 18 decision to exit the job: “The theater is in the epicenter of the virus, Lincoln Park, and [owners William and Wendy Spatz] have not thoroughly addressed their safety precautions. Reopening right now in the middle of this pandemic will only spread the virus further, cause another lockdown, and put more theater artists out of work. This is unacceptable.”
Reached Thursday by phone, William Spatz said he had hired a new general manager and that the show would open as planned. “Filled the job in an hour. I could have found 100 people to do it. All that person has to do is sit in the box office behind plexiglass. It’s not a dangerous job. It’s not a strenuous job.”
Veteran stage and television star Alexandra Billings was among those on social media calling for the cancellation of the production. In one Facebook post, Billings wrote: “Theaters were designed to spread a joyful noise, not a contagious virus.”
Read the full story here.
11:04 a.m. Downstate counties sue, seeking declaration there is no public health emergency
Residents in six central and southern Illinois counties, including the state capital’s home, filed lawsuits Thursday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s restrictions on social interaction prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The actions taken in Bond, Clay, Clinton, Edgar, Richland and Sangamon counties seek court orders declaring there is no public health emergency as defined by Pritzker’s Public Health Department. Springfield, the state capital, is in Sangamon County.
Plaintiffs in each case seek injunctions against the disaster declaration Pritzker’s using to justify restrictions on public interaction to limit transmission of the virus. The state has reported 7,367 deaths among 167,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus — mostly in Chicago and Cook County.
“You can’t put a county that has had nine confirmed cases and no one pass away under the same rules and restrictions as counties like Cook,” said Thomas DeVore, a Greenville attorney representing the plaintiffs.
Read the full report here.
8:10 a.m. Skyrocketing cases prove summer, heat are no barrier to COVID-19
Any hopes that summer’s high temperatures might slow the spread of the coronavirus were smashed in June and July by skyrocketing cases across the country, especially in some of the warmest states.
Colin Carlson wasn’t a bit surprised that summer heat failed to curb the virus that causes COVID-19, which has claimed more than 140,000 lives in the U.S. That notion, no matter how many times it was repeated, was never supported by science, said Carlson, an assistant research professor at Georgetown University who studies the relationship between climate change and infectious disease.
The optimistic, though inaccurate forecast was among several persistent misconceptions about heat and light, and other issues related to the spread of the virus, that leave epidemiologists like Carlson increasingly frustrated. They see and hear mixed messages and miscommunications all the time, whether it’s in social media, their circle of friends and family, hastily assembled research papers or the White House.
Read the full story here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
8:19 a.m. What’s really ‘out of control’ in Donald Trump’s America? The pandemic
President Donald Trump has a point. People are being injured. The property damage runs into the millions. Things are out of control. Local governments are not able to handle this on their own. It demands a federal response. When sacred things are desecrated, it takes a toll on the national spirit.
Trump thinks this applies to rioters and protesters in Portland and other cities. He thinks the sacred things are Confederate monuments. In truth, it’s the coronavirus that demands a response — and when it comes to that, the president is AWOL.
COVID-19 has now been registered in 193 countries around the globe. That’s why it’s called a pandemic. The only places that have escaped infection thus far are remote islands like Samoa and Tonga and mountainous enclaves like Turkmenistan. And it will reach those redoubts eventually.
By denying the dire threat, Trump discouraged a systematic response from the departments and agencies tasked with public health. When he did eventually turn his gaze toward the problem, he saw hospitals struggling to cope with shortages of masks, gloves and testing materials, and tens of thousands of Americans dying, and he shrugged, saying governors should handle it. “We’re not a shipping clerk.”
Now, the average daily rate of new infections is 60,000, on the way to a predicted 100,000.
Read the full column from Mona Charen here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Cook County Board to give $5 million to non-profit to help combat gun violence

The Cook County Board will be giving $ 5 million to a local non-profit to help curb gun violence in 25 of the city ’ s “ hardest hit communities , ” Toni Preckwinkle announced at an anti-violence rally in Austin Friday .
Metropolitan Family Service will use the money for violence prevention and interruption work through its Communities Partnering 4 Peace initiative , which works to reduce violence and gang activity .
The $ 5 million for the Metropolitan Family Service is pending approval from the county board .
Preckwinkle Friday said it was not acceptable for children to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
“ When I read a newspaper account of a death in one of our troubled streets , I have to ask , ‘ Did anyone try to stop this ?
’ ” the Cook County board president said .
“ With this $ 5 million investment infusion into Communities Partnering 4 Peace we hope the answer will be , Cook County is doing its part.
” Friday ’ s “ Let Our Kids Live ” rally was organized by the Austin Peoples Action Center and was attended by several local leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently killed by gun violence .
Nathan Wallace , who lost his 7-year-old daughter Natalia at a Fourth of July party nearby , broke down in tears recounting the loss and how his other children have been trying to cope .
“ It eats me up every day that I have to wake up and see my other three kids and know one of them is not there — it ’ s hard , really hard , ” the single father told the Chicago Sun-Times .
“ She could ’ ve been anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace urged people to put the guns down before it ’ s too late like for the two men who have been charged with Natalia ’ s murder .
“ We have to something about [ gun violence ] as a community and we can do that by bringing the youth together have them understand what is really going on out here and hopefully the community can be a lot better , ” he said .
Others at the rally , included Myesha James , mother of slain 3-year-old Mekhi James ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones , who was killed while dancing in her living room .
Cynthia Williams , CEO of Austin Peoples Action Center , said the organization has helped raise over $ 20,000 for all three families for burial costs and other needs .
Some of the money also went toward relocating some of the families out of Austin .
“ Somebody killed [ James ’ ] 3-year-old baby and we had to bury that baby , we had to provide the resources to bury that baby .
She didn ’ t have no insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it makes me angry that this is something we have to do .
It breaks my heart that I even have to say , ‘ Here ’ s a check for $ 10,000 ’ but this can not replace her 3-year-old baby .
We have to stop these killings.
” Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America , a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago ’ s South and West sides .

The Cook County Board will be giving $5 million to a local non-profit to help curb gun violence in 25 of the city’s “hardest hit communities,” Toni Preckwinkle announced at an anti-violence rally in Austin Friday.
Metropolitan Family Service will use the money for violence prevention and interruption work through its Communities Partnering 4 Peace initiative, which works to reduce violence and gang activity.
The $5 million for the Metropolitan Family Service is pending approval from the county board.
Preckwinkle Friday said it was not acceptable for children to be surrounded by and die from gun violence.
“When I read a newspaper account of a death in one of our troubled streets, I have to ask, ‘Did anyone try to stop this?’” the Cook County board president said.
“With this $5 million investment infusion into Communities Partnering 4 Peace we hope the answer will be, Cook County is doing its part.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks during the “Let our Kids Live” rally against gun violence at the Austin Peoples Action Center on the West Side, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Friday’s “Let Our Kids Live” rally was organized by the Austin Peoples Action Center and was attended by several local leaders and the parents of children who were recently killed by gun violence.
Nathan Wallace, who lost his 7-year-old daughter Natalia at a Fourth of July party nearby, broke down in tears recounting the loss and how his other children have been trying to cope.
“It eats me up every day that I have to wake up and see my other three kids and know one of them is not there — it’s hard, really hard,” the single father told the Chicago Sun-Times. “She could’ve been anything and we will never know now.”
Wallace urged people to put the guns down before it’s too late like for the two men who have been charged with Natalia’s murder.
“We have to something about [gun violence] as a community and we can do that by bringing the youth together have them understand what is really going on out here and hopefully the community can be a lot better,” he said.
Others at the rally, included Myesha James, mother of slain 3-year-old Mekhi James; and Prince Jackson, brother of 13-year-old Amaria Jones, who was killed while dancing in her living room.
Cynthia Williams, CEO of Austin Peoples Action Center, said the organization has helped raise over $20,000 for all three families for burial costs and other needs. Some of the money also went toward relocating some of the families out of Austin.
“Somebody killed [James’] 3-year-old baby and we had to bury that baby, we had to provide the resources to bury that baby. She didn’t have no insurance,” Williams said. “And it makes me angry that this is something we have to do. It breaks my heart that I even have to say, ‘Here’s a check for $10,000’ but this cannot replace her 3-year-old baby. We have to stop these killings.”
Cynthia Williams, CEO of the Austin Peoples Action Center, speaks during the organization’s “Let our Kids Live” rally against gun violence on the West Side, Friday, July 24, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of Chicago’s South and West sides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Jon Burge torture survivor on Chicago police: ‘What have we seen different from 1981 to 2020?’

Mark Clements was tortured at a Chicago police station as a teenager and forced to admit to a quadruple murder .
He was 16 at the time .
Detectives working under now-disgraced Lt. Jon Burge pulled the confession out of him .
He was 44 when his conviction was overturned in 2009 .
And after all that time , he sees the same Chicago Police Department operating today .
“ Jon Burge may be dead , but his tortures still ring on , ” Clements said Friday at a protest in Homan Square outside a CPD facility that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where officers illegally detain and abuse people — a claim the police dispute .
Since his release , Clements has spent much of his time working as a police accountability activist .
“ What have we seen different from 1981 to 2020 ?
We haven ’ t seen much different , ” he said .
“ Why do I take this personal ?
I lost 28 years of my life .
I ’ ve seen how much the city of Chicago cares about the people.
” A few hundred people gathered Friday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPD to community programs that would provide better educational , trauma and health support .
They also continued a long-standing demand for a civilian police accountability council to put oversight of CPD in the hands of the community .
After a few people addressed the crowd at the start , musicians took turns playing songs while people passed out water , snacks , masks and hand sanitizer .
Across the street , a few dozen officers stood in riot gear at the entrance of the controversial police site .
Officers on the roof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with binoculars .
Trina Reynolds-Tyler is an activist with several grassroots organizations and a recent University of Chicago graduate with a master ’ s degree in public policy .
Reynolds-Tyler said attempts to “ reform ” the police have gone nowhere , meaning lasting change will only come through divesting from CPD and investing in community resources .
“ Police accountability to us looks like defunding the police .
It looks like reducing the proximity of police to people , ” she said .
“ People should have access to safety , access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Period .
And they shouldn ’ t have to be arrested to access services.
” Reynolds-Tyler said the recent drive-by shooting of 15 people outside a Gresham funeral home proves policing is not preventative , but reactionary .
The shooting occurred despite Chicago police later saying they had been tipped off that an attack was possible , and had stationed two squad cars and a tactical unit outside the funeral home .
“ What we learned from the mass shooting that happened is that police don ’ t keep us safe , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police were notified .
Not only did they not prevent it , but they also did not stop it midway .
And honestly , the only thing that they bring to the table are handcuffs and incarceration .
“ You need to really call your alderpeople and tell them to defund CPD .
I need all of the alderpeople to know that we want to defund the CPD .
They do not keep us safe.
” Ald .
Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez ( 33rd ) was the only City Council member at the protest @

Mark Clements was tortured at a Chicago police station as a teenager and forced to admit to a quadruple murder.
He was 16 at the time. Detectives working under now-disgraced Lt. Jon Burge pulled the confession out of him. He was 44 when his conviction was overturned in 2009.
And after all that time, he sees the same Chicago Police Department operating today.
“Jon Burge may be dead, but his tortures still ring on,” Clements said Friday at a protest in Homan Square outside a CPD facility that has been criticized as a so-called “black-site” where officers illegally detain and abuse people — a claim the police dispute. Since his release, Clements has spent much of his time working as a police accountability activist.
“What have we seen different from 1981 to 2020? We haven’t seen much different,” he said. “Why do I take this personal? I lost 28 years of my life. I’ve seen how much the city of Chicago cares about the people.”
Mark Clements, a Jon Burge torture survivor, speaks to a crowd of protesters in Homan Square Friday. Nader Issa/Sun-Times
A few hundred people gathered Friday to call for the redirection of resources from CPD to community programs that would provide better educational, trauma and health support. They also continued a long-standing demand for a civilian police accountability council to put oversight of CPD in the hands of the community.
After a few people addressed the crowd at the start, musicians took turns playing songs while people passed out water, snacks, masks and hand sanitizer. Across the street, a few dozen officers stood in riot gear at the entrance of the controversial police site. Officers on the roof of the five-story building watched the crowd with binoculars.
Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times 1 of 5 Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times 2 of 5 Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times 3 of 5 Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times 4 of 5 Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times 5 of 5
Trina Reynolds-Tyler is an activist with several grassroots organizations and a recent University of Chicago graduate with a master’s degree in public policy.
Reynolds-Tyler said attempts to “reform” the police have gone nowhere, meaning lasting change will only come through divesting from CPD and investing in community resources.
“Police accountability to us looks like defunding the police. It looks like reducing the proximity of police to people,” she said. “People should have access to safety, access to treatment on a regular basis. Period. And they shouldn’t have to be arrested to access services.”
Reynolds-Tyler said the recent drive-by shooting of 15 people outside a Gresham funeral home proves policing is not preventative, but reactionary. The shooting occurred despite Chicago police later saying they had been tipped off that an attack was possible, and had stationed two squad cars and a tactical unit outside the funeral home.
“What we learned from the mass shooting that happened is that police don’t keep us safe,” Reynolds-Tyler said. “Police were there, police were notified. Not only did they not prevent it, but they also did not stop it midway. And honestly, the only thing that they bring to the table are handcuffs and incarceration.
“You need to really call your alderpeople and tell them to defund CPD. I need all of the alderpeople to know that we want to defund the CPD. They do not keep us safe.”
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) was the only City Council member at the protest.
After rallying for a couple of hours, about 1,500 protesters started marching through Homan Square and Lawndale with officers in helmets walking alongside them.
Neighbors came out of their homes to wave and film demonstrators as passing cars honked their support.
Marchers chanted at the officers, “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?” mixed in with messages against Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
After reaching Douglas Park, the protesters marched back, returning to Homan Square shortly after 9 p.m.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Stick to sports? Cubs sticking to walking the walk in fight against racism, inequality

The Cubs have been out in front of Major League Baseball ’ s efforts to support the Black Lives Matter movement and stand with their players and coaches to fight racial injustice and inequality .
On Friday , Cubs players and coaches wore T-shirts that read ‘ ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ ’ during pregame warmups and sent out a statement on Twitter with the signature of every player .
Several private conversations among players , coaches and staff behind the scenes have accompanied the Cubs ’ public displays of solidarity , along with their commitment to continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as individuals .
‘ ‘ Our conversation was a family conversation ; it was very real and genuine since the start of this , ’ ’ outfielder Jason Heyward said .
‘ ‘ One of the first days of summer camp , [ Cubs president ] Theo [ Epstein ] wanted to get everyone together and begin this dialogue .
We ’ ve all been genuine , we ’ ve all been open and we ’ ve all wanted everyone to speak ; we all wanted to hear everyone ’ s feelings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on our team right now that have been a part of a certain struggle that is going on in the world and going on in our country that no one wants to miss out on supporting them.
’ ’ Heyward ’ s voice as one of the Cubs ’ two Black players is needed in such conversations , but first baseman Anthony Rizzo knows he also plays a big role as the face of one of the most popular teams in the majors .
He is vocal about the Cubs ’ desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leader of this team , I want to hear everyone , ’ ’ Rizzo said .
‘ ‘ That was the main thing : to come together .
We all did that pretty easily .
It was a really growing conversation for every single one of us players .
.
.
.
It was a big growing moment for us .
I ’ m proud of that , and I ’ m proud of the decisions we ’ re making .
‘ ‘ The one common thing is that we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re making this about what ’ s right , just like Jason said .
We ’ re standing up for what we believe is right.
’ ’ But even with more players feeling empowered to take a public stand against racism and show support for Black Lives Matter , there are still detractors echoing the ‘ ‘ stick to sports ’ ’ mantra .
Epstein has said that sentiment will have no meaning at Wrigley Field .
‘ ‘ We ’ ve been on record as saying we don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ Epstein said .
‘ ‘ We want them to be themselves , we encourage them to be engaged citizens and we see them as people and citizens , not just as players .
‘ ‘ ‘ Shut up and play ’ is not going to be the way it ’ s gon na be around here .
That ’ s just the way it is .
That ’ s a fact .
’ ’

The Cubs have been out in front of Major League Baseball’s efforts to support the Black Lives Matter movement and stand with their players and coaches to fight racial injustice and inequality.
On Friday, Cubs players and coaches wore T-shirts that read ‘‘Black Lives Matter’’ during pregame warmups and sent out a statement on Twitter with the signature of every player.
Several private conversations among players, coaches and staff behind the scenes have accompanied the Cubs’ public displays of solidarity, along with their commitment to continue to be part of the change as an organization and as individuals.
‘‘Our conversation was a family conversation; it was very real and genuine since the start of this,’’ outfielder Jason Heyward said. ‘‘One of the first days of summer camp, [Cubs president] Theo [Epstein] wanted to get everyone together and begin this dialogue. We’ve all been genuine, we’ve all been open and we’ve all wanted everyone to speak; we all wanted to hear everyone’s feelings on it.
‘‘We have people on our team right now that have been a part of a certain struggle that is going on in the world and going on in our country that no one wants to miss out on supporting them.’’
Heyward’s voice as one of the Cubs’ two Black players is needed in such conversations, but first baseman Anthony Rizzo knows he also plays a big role as the face of one of the most popular teams in the majors. He is vocal about the Cubs’ desire for lasting change.
‘‘As the leader of this team, I want to hear everyone,’’ Rizzo said. ‘‘That was the main thing: to come together. We all did that pretty easily. It was a really growing conversation for every single one of us players. . . . It was a big growing moment for us. I’m proud of that, and I’m proud of the decisions we’re making.
‘‘The one common thing is that we’re not making this about politics. We’re making this about what’s right, just like Jason said. We’re standing up for what we believe is right.’’
But even with more players feeling empowered to take a public stand against racism and show support for Black Lives Matter, there are still detractors echoing the ‘‘stick to sports’’ mantra. Epstein has said that sentiment will have no meaning at Wrigley Field.
‘‘We’ve been on record as saying we don’t want our players to stick to sports,’’ Epstein said. ‘‘We want them to be themselves, we encourage them to be engaged citizens and we see them as people and citizens, not just as players.
‘‘ ‘Shut up and play’ is not going to be the way it’s gonna be around here. That’s just the way it is. That’s a fact.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--No virus bill yet: White House, GOP at odds over jobless aid

WASHINGTON — Negotiations over a new COVID-19 rescue bill were in flux Friday after the White House floated cutting an unemployment benefits boost to as little as $ 100 and President Donald Trump turned to a new priority , adding money to build a new FBI headquarters .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home , promising a Republican proposal would be ready on Monday .
Outraged Democrats warned that time was being wasted on GOP infighting as the virus worsens , jobless aid expires and the death toll rises .
“ We call upon Leader McConnell to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a statement .
During a head-spinning week of start-and-stop efforts , McConnell abruptly halted the rollout of the Republicans ’ $ 1 trillion plan , which was supposed to provide a counter-offer to the Democrats ’ $ 3 trillion bill in an opening bid for negotiations .
Trump was forced to abandon his push for a payroll tax break , which his party opposed , and the White House turned to new priorities .
As Republicans struggled , the nation ’ s infections topped 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to nearly 145,000 , and the $ 600 unemployment benefit boost for millions of out-of-work Americans was on track to expire .
As McConnell shut down the Senate , he promised to return with “ a strong , targeted piece of legislation aimed directly at the challenges we face right now.
” The GOP leader , who is up for reelection in November alongside Trump , dashed home to Kentucky for an event with the nation ’ s drug czar , Jim Carroll , in a part of Appalachia confronting opioid addiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 crisis , McConnell said in Ashland , Kentucky , “ This has been one heck of a challenge for everybody in the country .
Hopefully we can come together behind some package we can agree on in the next few weeks.
” One sticking point for Republicans trying to resolve their differences with the White House is how to cut the $ 600 weekly jobless benefit boost that is expiring .
Republicans largely believe the add-on , which had been approved in an earlier aid bill , is too much and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some situations , the boost gives the unemployed more money than if they were working .
Under McConnell ’ s plan , senators proposed cutting it to $ 200 and then transitioning over the next few months to a new system more closely linked to a state ’ s own payment levels .
An administration official granted anonymity to discuss the private talks said the White House viewed the Senate GOP ’ s proposal as too “ cumbersome ” and the $ 200 boost as too high .
A number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said Thursday , including dropping the add-on to $ 100 .
Democrats warned time was running out .
The benefit officially expires July 31 , but due to the way states process unemployment payments , the cutoff is effectively Saturday .
Rep. Richie Neal , D-N.J. , chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee , said the nation is on “ the eve of an economic catastrophe.
” The U.S. registered its 18th straight week of new jobless claims topping 1 million , with an unemployment rate at 11 percent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Recession .
A new AP-NORC poll said half of Americans laid off now believe their jobs will not return .
“ People need the sustenance of day-to-day life , ” Neal said at the Capitol .
He said the extra aid not only helps cash-strapped families , but is key to fueling the economy as Americans go without paychecks .
“ The recovery is going to be slow , ” he said .
The unemployment debate is only one of many issues dividing Republicans as they enter negotiations with Democrats over how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and devastating economic fallout .
McConnell ’ s emerging CARES Act II , named after the earlier effort , was expected to include a fresh round of direct $ 1,200 cash payments to many Americans , a repeat of the money sent in spring , along with $ 105 billion to help reopen schools , $ 25 billion for virus testing and McConnell ’ s top priority of a liability shield to protect businesses , hospitals and others against COVID-19 lawsuits .
Trump was pushing the payroll tax cut , but Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it because they say it does little to help out-of-work Americans .
It would also pull revenue away from the tax that funds Social Security and Medicare .
The president relented , but the White House also inserted new priorities — rethinking the jobless benefit and Trump ’ s preference for a new building to replace the FBI ’ s aging J. Edgar Hoover Building in downtown Washington , across the street from the Trump hotel .
“ This is disarray , ” Pelosi said Friday at the Capitol .
Next steps are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Capitol with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and others .
“ We had expected to be working throughout this weekend , ” the Democratic leaders said .
“ It is simply unacceptable that Republicans have had this entire time to reach consensus among themselves and continue to flail .
”

WASHINGTON — Negotiations over a new COVID-19 rescue bill were in flux Friday after the White House floated cutting an unemployment benefits boost to as little as $100 and President Donald Trump turned to a new priority, adding money to build a new FBI headquarters.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home, promising a Republican proposal would be ready on Monday. Outraged Democrats warned that time was being wasted on GOP infighting as the virus worsens, jobless aid expires and the death toll rises.
“We call upon Leader McConnell to get serious,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a statement.
During a head-spinning week of start-and-stop efforts, McConnell abruptly halted the rollout of the Republicans’ $1 trillion plan, which was supposed to provide a counter-offer to the Democrats’ $3 trillion bill in an opening bid for negotiations. Trump was forced to abandon his push for a payroll tax break, which his party opposed, and the White House turned to new priorities.
As Republicans struggled, the nation’s infections topped 4 million, deaths rose by several thousand, to nearly 145,000, and the $600 unemployment benefit boost for millions of out-of-work Americans was on track to expire.
As McConnell shut down the Senate, he promised to return with “a strong, targeted piece of legislation aimed directly at the challenges we face right now.”
The GOP leader, who is up for reelection in November alongside Trump, dashed home to Kentucky for an event with the nation’s drug czar, Jim Carroll, in a part of Appalachia confronting opioid addiction and skyrocketing overdose deaths.
As for the COVID-19 crisis, McConnell said in Ashland, Kentucky, “This has been one heck of a challenge for everybody in the country. Hopefully we can come together behind some package we can agree on in the next few weeks.”
One sticking point for Republicans trying to resolve their differences with the White House is how to cut the $600 weekly jobless benefit boost that is expiring.
Republicans largely believe the add-on, which had been approved in an earlier aid bill, is too much and becoming a disincentive for returning to work. In some situations, the boost gives the unemployed more money than if they were working. Under McConnell’s plan, senators proposed cutting it to $200 and then transitioning over the next few months to a new system more closely linked to a state’s own payment levels.
An administration official granted anonymity to discuss the private talks said the White House viewed the Senate GOP’s proposal as too “cumbersome” and the $200 boost as too high.
A number of different solutions were being discussed, the official said Thursday, including dropping the add-on to $100.
Democrats warned time was running out. The benefit officially expires July 31, but due to the way states process unemployment payments, the cutoff is effectively Saturday.
Rep. Richie Neal, D-N.J., chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, said the nation is on “the eve of an economic catastrophe.”
The U.S. registered its 18th straight week of new jobless claims topping 1 million, with an unemployment rate at 11 percent, higher than during last decade’s Great Recession. A new AP-NORC poll said half of Americans laid off now believe their jobs will not return.
“People need the sustenance of day-to-day life,” Neal said at the Capitol. He said the extra aid not only helps cash-strapped families, but is key to fueling the economy as Americans go without paychecks. “The recovery is going to be slow,” he said.
The unemployment debate is only one of many issues dividing Republicans as they enter negotiations with Democrats over how best to respond to the prolonged coronavirus crisis and devastating economic fallout.
McConnell’s emerging CARES Act II, named after the earlier effort, was expected to include a fresh round of direct $1,200 cash payments to many Americans, a repeat of the money sent in spring, along with $105 billion to help reopen schools, $25 billion for virus testing and McConnell’s top priority of a liability shield to protect businesses, hospitals and others against COVID-19 lawsuits.
Trump was pushing the payroll tax cut, but Senate Republicans didn’t want to include it because they say it does little to help out-of-work Americans. It would also pull revenue away from the tax that funds Social Security and Medicare.
The president relented, but the White House also inserted new priorities — rethinking the jobless benefit and Trump’s preference for a new building to replace the FBI’s aging J. Edgar Hoover Building in downtown Washington, across the street from the Trump hotel.
“This is disarray,” Pelosi said Friday at the Capitol.
Next steps are uncertain after days of closed-door GOP negotiations at the Capitol with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and others.
“We had expected to be working throughout this weekend,” the Democratic leaders said.
“It is simply unacceptable that Republicans have had this entire time to reach consensus among themselves and continue to flail.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Until Black lives matter, let us pray

Until Black lives matter, let us pray

This is the first in a series titled , “ Until Black Lives Matter ” “ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities , against powers , against the rulers of darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places.
” – Ephesians 6:12 Until Black lives matter , let us pray .
Pray that this city will regain its lost soul .
Pray that Black and brown neighborhoods will be made whole .
Pray , O Chicago , that we will cease to be so cold-blooded .
A bloodstained world-class city now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ pain .
With rivers of murder and endless names , lives and souls claimed .
Have we no shame ?
Pray that streets from Englewood to K-Town , from Austin and back down to Roseland will once again ring with children ’ s laughter , with little boys playing baseball .
Resound with the slap of jump ropes against the sidewalk and summer banter more than gunshots .
Pop-pop-pop… Take cover .
Another Black body drops .
When will the killing stop ?
Pray .
For divine intervention amid impotent good intentions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church ’ s laxity .
Amid the abandonment of morality by too many in our community .
Pray against the disintegration of family .
Against the infestation of depravity that has eaten at the fabric of this city like cancer .
Pray .
For vengeance , retaliation or federal troops are not the answer .
Pray for the solution , for resolve , for unwavering will .
Pray that peace will be still and confiscate this chaos .
Pray that light will swallow up this darkness that fills the hearts and minds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the insatiable lust to kill and kill again .
Pray that God will transform the hearts of men .
However grand the plan to mend this ailing soulless city , let it begin with prayer .
With the faithful fervent prayers uttered by our ancestors whose spirits still yearn for peace , freedom and the posterity of Black people .
Prayers that lifted us up from chattel slavery to build grand institutions , even churches with grand steeples .
Prayers that preserved us from cruel slave masters ’ hands .
Prayers that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the shadow of death across America ’ s lynching land , across the desert sands of Jim Crow ’ s hate-filled plan .
The prayers that helped Martin , Malcolm , Medgar and John Lewis stand .
Pray .
Like we used to — before complacency set in .
Before we began to mimic the oppressor ’ s plan .
Before the glint of materialism stole our spiritual affections like a grand ploy that left us wandering across this Promised Land .
Sinking sand .
Suffocation .
“ I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the hood without hesitation .
Bullets whiz without name or discrimination .
Death comes suddenly without invitation .
“ She was in the wrong place at the wrong time , ” they say .
But 13-year-old Amaria Jones was dancing in her family ’ s living room when struck in the throat by a stray bullet and killed last month one day .
We need to pray — just to make it today .
So let our requests be made known unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving .
Mourn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Call for the mourning women whose husbands , sons and daughters have been slain .
That they may lament for us who remain , stirring within us overflowing rivers of tears .
Pray that the violence engulfing this glistening lakefront city for all these years finally loosens its hold .
Pray that we will be bold as we confront the enemy on every side .
Pray that His hand will guide .
That He will grant us strength and the strategy to combat this gun violence that burns like wildfire , even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body count .
As killings mount .
Pray that mothers will have the courage to turn in murderous sons .
That young men will have the wisdom to put down their guns .
Until Black lives matter .
Let us pray…

This is the first in a series titled, “Until Black Lives Matter”
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12
Until Black lives matter, let us pray. Pray that this city will regain its lost soul. Pray that Black and brown neighborhoods will be made whole.
Pray, O Chicago, that we will cease to be so cold-blooded. A bloodstained world-class city now flooded with steel rain. With mothers’ pain. With rivers of murder and endless names, lives and souls claimed.
Have we no shame?
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Pray that streets from Englewood to K-Town, from Austin and back down to Roseland will once again ring with children’s laughter, with little boys playing baseball. Resound with the slap of jump ropes against the sidewalk and summer banter more than gunshots.
Pop-pop-pop… Take cover. Another Black body drops. When will the killing stop?
Pray. For divine intervention amid impotent good intentions by the powers that be. Amid the church’s laxity. Amid the abandonment of morality by too many in our community.
Pray against the disintegration of family. Against the infestation of depravity that has eaten at the fabric of this city like cancer. Pray. For vengeance, retaliation or federal troops are not the answer.
Pray for the solution, for resolve, for unwavering will. Pray that peace will be still and confiscate this chaos. Pray that light will swallow up this darkness that fills the hearts and minds of too many young Black men with the insatiable lust to kill and kill again.
Pray. For righteousness exalts a nation, not sin.
Pray that God will transform the hearts of men. However grand the plan to mend this ailing soulless city, let it begin with prayer.
With the faithful fervent prayers uttered by our ancestors whose spirits still yearn for peace, freedom and the posterity of Black people. Prayers that lifted us up from chattel slavery to build grand institutions, even churches with grand steeples.
Prayers that preserved us from cruel slave masters’ hands. Prayers that led us as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death across America’s lynching land, across the desert sands of Jim Crow’s hate-filled plan. The prayers that helped Martin, Malcolm, Medgar and John Lewis stand.
Pray. Like we used to — before complacency set in. Before we began to mimic the oppressor’s plan. Before the glint of materialism stole our spiritual affections like a grand ploy that left us wandering across this Promised Land.
Sinking sand. Suffocation. “I can’t breathe.” But neither can I walk through the hood without hesitation. Bullets whiz without name or discrimination. Death comes suddenly without invitation.
“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” they say. But 13-year-old Amaria Jones was dancing in her family’s living room when struck in the throat by a stray bullet and killed last month one day.
We need to pray — just to make it today. So let our requests be made known unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Mourn the dead. Pray for the living.
Call for the mourning women whose husbands, sons and daughters have been slain. That they may lament for us who remain, stirring within us overflowing rivers of tears. Pray that the violence engulfing this glistening lakefront city for all these years finally loosens its hold.
Pray that we will be bold as we confront the enemy on every side. Pray that His hand will guide.
That He will grant us strength and the strategy to combat this gun violence that burns like wildfire, even as we tire of the shooting and the body count. As killings mount.
Pray that mothers will have the courage to turn in murderous sons. That young men will have the wisdom to put down their guns.
Until Black lives matter. Let us pray…
Email: Author@johnwfountain.com
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Topps selling trading card of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s errant first pitch

This potential collector ’ s item won ’ t be available for long .
Topps is launching a limited edition @ @ @ @ @ pitch offered by Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and @ @ @ @ @ Thursday ’ s MLB season opener between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees @ @ @ @ @ on the company ’ s website , but the card will be for sale only @ @ @ @ @ on the front shows Fauci in his Nationals jersey , cap and mask just as @ @ @ @ @ the edge of the mound — before the pitch ended up a bit outside .
@ @ @ @ @ of the card calls Fauci an “ ardent Washington Nationals fan ” and that his @ @ @ @ @ start of the 2020 MLB season .
”

This potential collector’s item won’t be available for long.
Topps is launching a limited edition trading card of the first pitch offered by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prior to Thursday’s MLB season opener between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees. Orders can be made on the company’s website, but the card will be for sale only 24 hours.
The photo on the front shows Fauci in his Nationals jersey, cap and mask just as he releases the ball from the edge of the mound — before the pitch ended up a bit outside.
The description on the back of the card calls Fauci an “ardent Washington Nationals fan” and that his pitch “signaled the official start of the 2020 MLB season.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--Man dies four days after I-57 shooting in Morgan Park

A man who was shot last week on I-57 in Morgan Park on the South Side has died from his @ @ @ @ @ wounded in a shooting about 1:30 p.m. July 18 on a ramp on I-57 near @ @ @ @ @ Police said .
Jaquan Darling died Wednesday at 1:17 p.m. at Christ Medical Center in @ @ @ @ @ the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
An autopsy ruled his death a @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said .
He lived in Jeffery Manor .
Read more on crime @ @ @ @ @ ’ s homicides .

A man who was shot last week on I-57 in Morgan Park on the South Side has died from his injuries.
The 25-year-old was wounded in a shooting about 1:30 p.m. July 18 on a ramp on I-57 near 111th Street, Illinois State Police said.
Jaquan Darling died Wednesday at 1:17 p.m. at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy ruled his death a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said. He lived in Jeffery Manor.
Illinois State Police are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-24--No doubt Madigan created climate for ComEd to shower favors around Springfield

A couple of days after the July 17th disclosures in ComEd ’ s deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. attorney ’ s office , Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called individual House Democrats to reassure them that all would be well .
According to multiple legislators , the speaker told his members that he had done nothing wrong and that he never did things like recommend unqualified people for jobs , and fully expected that if they were hired , they would actually show up for work .
One object , I was told , was to prevent more House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madigan must resign ” statements .
The gambit failed .
By the day he had called , four House Democrats already had said he should resign if the allegations were true .
Another , Rep. Anne Stava-Murray , D-Naperville , had gone even further , saying Madigan ought to resign without an “ if true ” qualifier .
And then not long after the calls , two more House Democrats released “ if true ” statements , followed that evening by “ if true ” demands from 12 members of the House Progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already issued similar statements .
That makes 15 .
And 74 House Democrats minus 15 equals 59 , which is one vote shy of what Madigan will need to be reelected speaker in January , though it ’ s unclear what will happen that far down the road .
Just two House Democratic men have spoken up .
As with the 2018 sexual harassment crisis in his chamber , Madigan once again faces serious problems with women legislators .
Madigan also informed his members that while he was cooperating fully with the feds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there was no quid pro quo .
But fending off the full force and might of a federal prosecutor who appears more hell-bent on prosecuting the speaker than any of his predecessors will not be easy or cheap .
The Friends of Michael J. Madigan campaign committee began earnestly spending money on legal fees in late July of 2017 and has reported spending $ 2.66 million on lawyers since then .
Some of that was spent on investigations that Madigan ordered into his own political operation regarding sexual harassment issues , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.66 million is more than one of every five dollars ( 21 % ) expended on legal and attorney fees since late July of 2017 by all state and local candidates and political committees in Illinois combined .
Whew .
So I asked a Madigan campaign spokesperson if he would pledge to spend all the money he raises for the rest of this campaign cycle on campaigns and not on legal fees .
“ Not going to have a comment , ” the spokesperson emailed me back .
Madigan ’ s most vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of them suburban women , and that costs lots of money .
But so does a vigorous legal defense .
Madigan was super-quick to oust others during the 2018 sexual harassment crisis .
For example , Madigan immediately stripped Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang of his leadership position and his chairmanships after wild and ultimately disproved allegations were leveled against Lang , including a preposterous claim that Lang was involved in a $ 170 million “ bribery ” scheme .
Madigan ’ s actions appeared prudent at the time to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own foot .
As with the 2018 sexual harassment scandal , there is no doubt that Madigan created this current climate , either by design or by default .
How else can you explain the willingness of ComEd to allegedly hand over a vacant corporate board seat to the man ?
Why else would ComEd pay millions of dollars to a “ consultant ” so he could allegedly use that money to put Madigan ’ s captains ( and others ) on the payroll who did little to no work ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a direct pipeline to the 13th Ward , for crying out loud .
These things don ’ t happen out of thin air .
You don ’ t throw one precious goodie after another at somebody unless you believe it works .
And , hey , give Madigan the benefit of the doubt , maybe one thing didn ’ t specifically lead to another .
But you can not disagree that Madigan allowed that impression to persist .
Madigan ultimately had to admit in 2018 that he ’ d fostered a hostile climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he made things better .
Madigan also created a climate that allowed these ComEd favors to happen , whether he specifically ordered those favors or not .
As before , perhaps , he didn ’ t want to know as long as everything got done .
And , as before , he should admit to this and disavow the practice and change the way things are done or he should seriously consider retirement .
It ’ s time to fully bring Illinois into the 21st Century .

A couple of days after the July 17th disclosures in ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called individual House Democrats to reassure them that all would be well.
According to multiple legislators, the speaker told his members that he had done nothing wrong and that he never did things like recommend unqualified people for jobs, and fully expected that if they were hired, they would actually show up for work.
One object, I was told, was to prevent more House Democrats from releasing “if true, Madigan must resign” statements.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
The gambit failed. By the day he had called, four House Democrats already had said he should resign if the allegations were true. Another, Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, had gone even further, saying Madigan ought to resign without an “if true” qualifier.
And then not long after the calls, two more House Democrats released “if true” statements, followed that evening by “if true” demands from 12 members of the House Progressive Caucus, eight of whom had not already issued similar statements.
That makes 15. And 74 House Democrats minus 15 equals 59, which is one vote shy of what Madigan will need to be reelected speaker in January, though it’s unclear what will happen that far down the road.
Just two House Democratic men have spoken up. As with the 2018 sexual harassment crisis in his chamber, Madigan once again faces serious problems with women legislators.
Madigan also informed his members that while he was cooperating fully with the feds, he would be fighting these claims because there was no quid pro quo. But fending off the full force and might of a federal prosecutor who appears more hell-bent on prosecuting the speaker than any of his predecessors will not be easy or cheap.
The Friends of Michael J. Madigan campaign committee began earnestly spending money on legal fees in late July of 2017 and has reported spending $2.66 million on lawyers since then. Some of that was spent on investigations that Madigan ordered into his own political operation regarding sexual harassment issues, but not all.
Madigan’s $2.66 million is more than one of every five dollars (21%) expended on legal and attorney fees since late July of 2017 by all state and local candidates and political committees in Illinois combined. Whew.
So I asked a Madigan campaign spokesperson if he would pledge to spend all the money he raises for the rest of this campaign cycle on campaigns and not on legal fees.
“Not going to have a comment,” the spokesperson emailed me back.
Madigan’s most vital job is electing and reelecting House Democrats, many of them suburban women, and that costs lots of money. But so does a vigorous legal defense.
Madigan was super-quick to oust others during the 2018 sexual harassment crisis. For example, Madigan immediately stripped Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang of his leadership position and his chairmanships after wild and ultimately disproved allegations were leveled against Lang, including a preposterous claim that Lang was involved in a $170 million “bribery” scheme.
Madigan’s actions appeared prudent at the time to many. But now the shoe is on his own foot.
As with the 2018 sexual harassment scandal, there is no doubt that Madigan created this current climate, either by design or by default.
How else can you explain the willingness of ComEd to allegedly hand over a vacant corporate board seat to the man? Why else would ComEd pay millions of dollars to a “consultant” so he could allegedly use that money to put Madigan’s captains (and others) on the payroll who did little to no work? The company’s internship program apparently had a direct pipeline to the 13th Ward, for crying out loud.
These things don’t happen out of thin air. You don’t throw one precious goodie after another at somebody unless you believe it works. And, hey, give Madigan the benefit of the doubt, maybe one thing didn’t specifically lead to another. But you cannot disagree that Madigan allowed that impression to persist.
Madigan ultimately had to admit in 2018 that he’d fostered a hostile climate for women. To his credit, he made things better.
Madigan also created a climate that allowed these ComEd favors to happen, whether he specifically ordered those favors or not. As before, perhaps, he didn’t want to know as long as everything got done.
And, as before, he should admit to this and disavow the practice and change the way things are done or he should seriously consider retirement. It’s time to fully bring Illinois into the 21st Century.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.