chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--Will CPS kids go back to schools this fall? Lightfoot says ‘we’re not there yet’

Public health conditions have not yet improved to a point that would allow Chicago Public Schools students to return to classrooms in November as officials have hoped , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday .
Despite the challenges remote learning poses for 300,000 students and 30,000 teachers and support staff , Lightfoot and CPS officials have said health will be the main priority in a decision to resume in-person learning .
“ We have to see more progress in order for us , I think , to have a conversation about in-person learning , ” the mayor said at an afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing of restrictions on indoor seating at bars and restaurants .
“ We ’ re not there yet.
” “ I don ’ t want to speculate about the chances .
It ’ s something we are focused on every single day , and we ’ ll make an announcement relatively soon because we ’ ve got to give parents and the school community enough time to adapt if we ’ re going to make a change .
But we ’ re not there yet.
” Lightfoot said there are several factors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the willingness of workers to return to buildings during a pandemic .
The mayor and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said they ’ re encouraged by the direction of COVID-19 metrics they ’ re monitoring , which include stability in hospitalizations and ER visits .
Since the mayor announced on Aug. 5 her decision to return to full-time remote learning instead of the school system ’ s planned hybrid model , the seven-day rolling case average has gone up from 280 to 299 .
The rolling test positivity rate has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.8 % to 4.3 % .
Despite the city also now having more daily cases than when the bar and restaurant restrictions were put in place , the mayor insisted officials “ feel confident enough ” to roll back indoor seating limitations and are still looking for in-person learning at some point .
“ I ’ m hopeful that we will get there sooner rather than later because I know that all-remote learning is a real challenge for everybody involved , not the least of which the students and the parents , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to think about the workforce , of course .
We ’ ve got to think about our principals , our teachers , our staff , coming back to work , what does that mean for them .
What does it mean for members of that school community who are over 60 , who have underlying medical conditions ?
Are we going to have enough of a robust workforce to be able to come back in-person ?
” The Chicago Teachers Union had previously floated the possibility of a strike when the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a part-time basis , before the mayor decided to start the year fully remote .
CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement Monday that Lightfoot and CPS needs to work with the union to improve remote learning “ now that Mayor Lightfoot has moved to reopen bars and relax restrictions on fitness and personal care.
” Sharkey added that “ there are numerous Chicago zip codes , especially in vulnerable Black and Brown communities with high student populations , with double-digit positivity rates.
” Sharkey said a return to classrooms before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be catastrophic ” for the city and school communities .
“ We can not prioritize bars and restaurants over Black and Brown children and our city ’ s most vulnerable students , including special education students and English language learners , ” Sharkey said .
“ Increased socialization could cause a sharper spike , which would make it more difficult to reopen school buildings .
”

Public health conditions have not yet improved to a point that would allow Chicago Public Schools students to return to classrooms in November as officials have hoped, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday.
Despite the challenges remote learning poses for 300,000 students and 30,000 teachers and support staff, Lightfoot and CPS officials have said health will be the main priority in a decision to resume in-person learning.
“We have to see more progress in order for us, I think, to have a conversation about in-person learning,” the mayor said at an afternoon news conference at which she announced an easing of restrictions on indoor seating at bars and restaurants. “We’re not there yet.”
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
“I don’t want to speculate about the chances. It’s something we are focused on every single day, and we’ll make an announcement relatively soon because we’ve got to give parents and the school community enough time to adapt if we’re going to make a change. But we’re not there yet.”
Lightfoot said there are several factors to consider, including vulnerable students and staff, and the willingness of workers to return to buildings during a pandemic. The mayor and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said they’re encouraged by the direction of COVID-19 metrics they’re monitoring, which include stability in hospitalizations and ER visits.
Since the mayor announced on Aug. 5 her decision to return to full-time remote learning instead of the school system’s planned hybrid model, the seven-day rolling case average has gone up from 280 to 299. The rolling test positivity rate has generally remained steady, down slightly from 4.8% to 4.3%.
Despite the city also now having more daily cases than when the bar and restaurant restrictions were put in place, the mayor insisted officials “feel confident enough” to roll back indoor seating limitations and are still looking for in-person learning at some point.
“I’m hopeful that we will get there sooner rather than later because I know that all-remote learning is a real challenge for everybody involved, not the least of which the students and the parents,” Lightfoot said.
“We’ve got to think about the workforce, of course. We’ve got to think about our principals, our teachers, our staff, coming back to work, what does that mean for them. What does it mean for members of that school community who are over 60, who have underlying medical conditions? Are we going to have enough of a robust workforce to be able to come back in-person?”
The Chicago Teachers Union had previously floated the possibility of a strike when the district was planning to bring kids back on a part-time basis, before the mayor decided to start the year fully remote.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement Monday that Lightfoot and CPS needs to work with the union to improve remote learning “now that Mayor Lightfoot has moved to reopen bars and relax restrictions on fitness and personal care.” Sharkey added that “there are numerous Chicago zip codes, especially in vulnerable Black and Brown communities with high student populations, with double-digit positivity rates.”
Sharkey said a return to classrooms before it’s safe to do so “could be catastrophic” for the city and school communities.
“We cannot prioritize bars and restaurants over Black and Brown children and our city’s most vulnerable students, including special education students and English language learners,” Sharkey said. “Increased socialization could cause a sharper spike, which would make it more difficult to reopen school buildings.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--Over 900 CPD officers have tested positive for COVID-19 this year, top cop says

Over 900 Chicago Police Department officers have tested positive for COVID-19 this year , Supt .
David Brown said Monday @ @ @ @ @ end , he added , expects that number to exceed 1,000 .
“ We want @ @ @ @ @ in the community to seek out help and talk with someone , but also our @ @ @ @ @ a lot of trauma in the way that they do this job , ” Brown @ @ @ @ @ of Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding COVID numbers among @ @ @

Over 900 Chicago Police Department officers have tested positive for COVID-19 this year, Supt. David Brown said Monday.
By year’s end, he added, expects that number to exceed 1,000.
“We want to encourage not only people in the community to seek out help and talk with someone, but also our police officers who are experiencing a lot of trauma in the way that they do this job,” Brown said.
The Fraternal Order of Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding COVID numbers among CPD officers.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--Man shot dead in East Garfield Park

Man shot dead in East Garfield Park

A man was killed in a shooting Sunday in East Garfield Park .
Earnest James , 21 , was on @ @ @ @ @ in the 600 block of North Sawyer Avenue when someone in a gray sedan opened @ @ @ @ @ the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
He was struck in the @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , where he was pronounced dead , authorities said .
An autopsy ruled his @ @ @ @ @ more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was killed in a shooting Sunday in East Garfield Park.
Earnest James, 21, was on the sidewalk about 11 p.m. in the 600 block of North Sawyer Avenue when someone in a gray sedan opened fire, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
He was struck in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Area Four detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Dear Abby: Grieving widower needs friends, hobbies — but not a quick replacement

DEAR ABBY : Your advice to the grieving widower “ In Need of Someone ” ( June 22 ) was spot on .
I met my husband when I was 14 .
We married at 18 , and he died when he was 44 .
After his death , I had no idea how to be a person because I had always been a partner .
In the early years , I cried every day and was searching , like “ In Need , ” to fill that empty spot in my life .
Then one day , I started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other holes in my life .
I had not been the breadwinner , so my income was poverty-level .
I had no college and not a lot of work experience .
I knew if I was going to be able to keep my house and put my kids in college , I had to work on these other holes .
In the process of school , working three jobs and keeping up with life , I realized I had never thought about what was important to ME .
Over the years I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go through exactly what “ In Need ” and I have experienced .
Your advice is so true .
Volunteer .
Get a part-time job doing something you like or a job that will just give you someone to talk to .
Go to a support group , go to a church , but do not get into a serious relationship , because if you do , you will go from one dependent situation to another .
Every person I know who went right into another relationship later regretted it .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never will be and will never measure up .
Go into a relationship only if you are willing to let the past go and are willing to change YOU .
Be open to another opinion and a new lifestyle .
You might like doing something you never thought you would see yourself doing before .
You are not going to know unless you try .
Do not look for a Band-Aid to fix the emptiness .
Look for a seed to plant and nurture , and be prepared to be amazed at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
— SHELLY IN ILLINOIS DEAR SHELLY : Thank you for sharing the important life lessons you have learned .
Other caring readers also responded to encourage “ In Need ” as he moves forward : DEAR ABBY : I lost my husband after 30 years together .
I ’ m still working on getting “ from hollow to whole , ” as “ In Need ” wrote .
Your advice that he should “ figure out the boundary between where you left off and your wife began ” is an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this from a grief counselor , but it ’ s exactly what I ’ ve been trying to do for the past three months .
You can ’ t live with someone else if you can ’ t live with yourself .
I ’ m working on becoming whole again , and it ’ s happening slowly .
“ In Need ” should do the same .
It may take longer , but it works better .
— TAMMY IN OREGON DEAR ABBY : “ In Need ” should get some hobbies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was considering pursuing a relationship and I found out he had no hobbies , no outside interests or friends beyond his late spouse , I would be gone .
Among my friends , I don ’ t know a single one who would want a relationship with someone whose life was totally wrapped up in his spouse and “ needed ” a replacement .
— NANCY IN NEW MEXICO DEAR ABBY : After my wife died , I joined Widowed Information and Consultation Services in my home state .
It was a wonderful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost their mates , and it helped me realize I wasn ’ t the only one going through this .
Also , I decided to say “ yes ” to any invitations from friends to join them for dinner or a social gathering .
Being around others helped to stave off the loneliness .
In addition , I decided to travel by myself to Europe for a month , joining a group tour .
I eventually found a wonderful lady , also a widow , and we have been married 15 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In Need ” should consider adopting a pet , a dog or cat , that will love him unconditionally .
Because of my pets , I am never alone , always loved and have creatures who depend on me .
It might make the days ahead easier for that widower .
I wish him the best .
— MICHAEL IN THE MIDWEST Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , CA 90069 .
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person , order “ How to Be Popular.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Popularity Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: Your advice to the grieving widower “In Need of Someone” (June 22) was spot on. I met my husband when I was 14. We married at 18, and he died when he was 44. After his death, I had no idea how to be a person because I had always been a partner.
In the early years, I cried every day and was searching, like “In Need,” to fill that empty spot in my life. Then one day, I started figuring out what to do about the other holes in my life.
I had not been the breadwinner, so my income was poverty-level. I had no college and not a lot of work experience. I knew if I was going to be able to keep my house and put my kids in college, I had to work on these other holes. In the process of school, working three jobs and keeping up with life, I realized I had never thought about what was important to ME.
Over the years I have seen several close friends lose partners and go through exactly what “In Need” and I have experienced. Your advice is so true. Volunteer. Get a part-time job doing something you like or a job that will just give you someone to talk to.
Go to a support group, go to a church, but do not get into a serious relationship, because if you do, you will go from one dependent situation to another. Every person I know who went right into another relationship later regretted it. The new person is not your lost partner, never will be and will never measure up. Go into a relationship only if you are willing to let the past go and are willing to change YOU.
Be open to another opinion and a new lifestyle. You might like doing something you never thought you would see yourself doing before. You are not going to know unless you try. Do not look for a Band-Aid to fix the emptiness. Look for a seed to plant and nurture, and be prepared to be amazed at the beauty that will be opened up to you. — SHELLY IN ILLINOIS
DEAR SHELLY: Thank you for sharing the important life lessons you have learned. Other caring readers also responded to encourage “In Need” as he moves forward:
DEAR ABBY: I lost my husband after 30 years together. I’m still working on getting “from hollow to whole,” as “In Need” wrote. Your advice that he should “figure out the boundary between where you left off and your wife began” is an important insight. I’ve never heard this from a grief counselor, but it’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do for the past three months. You can’t live with someone else if you can’t live with yourself.
I’m working on becoming whole again, and it’s happening slowly. “In Need” should do the same. It may take longer, but it works better. — TAMMY IN OREGON
DEAR ABBY: “In Need” should get some hobbies. If I met a nice person and was considering pursuing a relationship and I found out he had no hobbies, no outside interests or friends beyond his late spouse, I would be gone. Among my friends, I don’t know a single one who would want a relationship with someone whose life was totally wrapped up in his spouse and “needed” a replacement. — NANCY IN NEW MEXICO
DEAR ABBY: After my wife died, I joined Widowed Information and Consultation Services in my home state. It was a wonderful way to be with others who had lost their mates, and it helped me realize I wasn’t the only one going through this.
Also, I decided to say “yes” to any invitations from friends to join them for dinner or a social gathering. Being around others helped to stave off the loneliness. In addition, I decided to travel by myself to Europe for a month, joining a group tour. I eventually found a wonderful lady, also a widow, and we have been married 15 years. — ROBERT IN WASHINGTON
DEAR ABBY: “In Need” should consider adopting a pet, a dog or cat, that will love him unconditionally. Because of my pets, I am never alone, always loved and have creatures who depend on me. It might make the days ahead easier for that widower. I wish him the best. — MICHAEL IN THE MIDWEST
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--1 killed, 1 wounded in shooting in South Shore

Two men were shot , one fatally , Tuesday in South Shore on the South Side .
About 2:40 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ sidewalk in the 1600 block of East 68th Street , when someone fired shots at @ @ @ @ @ .
One man , 27 , was grazed by a bullet to his head and @ @ @ @ @ .
The second man , whose age is unknown , was taken to University of @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s @ @

Two men were shot, one fatally, Tuesday in South Shore on the South Side.
About 2:40 a.m. they were standing on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of East 68th Street, when someone fired shots at them, Chicago police said.
One man, 27, was grazed by a bullet to his head and refused treatment, police said.
The second man, 26, was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.
He was identified as Damajia Lashawn Bell, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Area One detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Man fatally shot in West Garfield Park

Man fatally shot in West Garfield Park

A 27-year-old man was fatally shot Tuesday in West Garfield Park on the West Side .
About 2:50 a.m. he @ @ @ @ @ of West Wilcox Street , when he was shot in the back , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ to Mt .
Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead , police said .
The @ @ @ @ @ s office has not yet released his name .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A 27-year-old man was fatally shot Tuesday in West Garfield Park on the West Side.
About 2:50 a.m. he was in the 4000 block of West Wilcox Street, when he was shot in the back, Chicago police said.
He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as David Guzman of Dwight.
Area Four detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Menu planner: Lemon and herb red potato salad complements a filling dinner

Combine potatoes , 8 cups water , vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt in Dutch oven ; bring to a boil over high heat .
Reduce heat to medium and cook 10 to 15 minutes at a strong simmer until potatoes are just tender .
Meanwhile , whisk lemon zest and juice , pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in large bowl .
Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified ; set aside .
Drain potatoes thoroughly , then transfer to rimmed baking sheet .
Drizzle 2 tablespoons dressing over hot potatoes and gently toss until evenly coated .
Let potatoes cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though cooling .
Whisk dressing to recombine ; stir in onions , tarragon , parsley , chives and capers .
Add cooled potatoes to remaining dressing and gently stir to combine .
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste .
Serve warm or at room temperature .
Per serving : 209 calories , 4 grams protein , 10 grams fat ( 40 % calories from fat ) , 1.3 grams saturated fat , 29 grams carbohydrate , no cholesterol , 232 milligrams sodium , 3 grams fiber .
1 ( 28-ounce ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with puree Heat oven to 350 degrees .
Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray .
In large bowl , mash beans slightly .
Stir in tomatoes , onion , bell pepper , salsa , chili powder and cumin ; mix well .
In small bowl , combine ricotta , garlic powder and egg ; blend well .
Spread 1 cup of tomato mixture over bottom of dish .
Top with half of noodles , overlapping slightly .
Top with half of remaining tomato mixture .
Spoon ricotta mixture over top ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheddar cheese , then with remaining noodles , tomato mixture and cheddar cheese .
Cover with nonstick foil ; bake 40 to 45 minutes or until noodles are tender .
Uncover ; let stand 15 minutes before serving .
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast , or 1 ( 10- to 12-ounce ) can chicken breast , drained Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat .
Add onion , celery and jalapeno pepper ; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are softened , stirring often .
Add flour and cook 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milk , chicken , frozen corn , thyme , cayenne pepper , salt and creamed corn .
Bring to a boil ; cook 5 minutes or until thickened .
Combine 8 boneless pork chops ( 3/4 inch thick ) with 1 1/2 cups balsamic vinaigrette in a resealable plastic bag .
Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours .
Remove chops , pat dry and discard marinade .
Grill over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes , turning once .
On the side , ( packaged ) rice pilaf and green peas ( from frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 teaspoon pesto on each of 8 slices Italian bread .
Top 4 slices with thinly sliced cooked pork and 4 ( 1-ounce ) slices provolone cheese .
Top with remaining 4 bread slices .
Lightly brush outer surface with olive oil ; grill in skillet on medium until toasted on each side .
Heat oven to 400 degrees .
Layer 1 package ( thawed ) frozen onion pierogies in a 7-by-11-inch baking dish ; top with 1 ( 15-ounce ) can vegetarian chili and bake 15 to 20 minutes .
Sprinkle with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheese and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted .
Garnish with reduced-fat sour cream before serving .

Lemon and herb red potato salad
Makes 8 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 to 15 minutes; cooling time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
3 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, plus salt for cooking potatoes
2 teaspoons lemon zest plus 3 tablespoons juice
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion, rinsed
3 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
2 tablespoons capers, minced
Combine potatoes, 8 cups water, vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt in Dutch oven; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook 10 to 15 minutes at a strong simmer until potatoes are just tender. Meanwhile, whisk lemon zest and juice, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified; set aside. Drain potatoes thoroughly, then transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons dressing over hot potatoes and gently toss until evenly coated. Let potatoes cool about 30 minutes, stirring once halfway though cooling. Whisk dressing to recombine; stir in onions, tarragon, parsley, chives and capers. Add cooled potatoes to remaining dressing and gently stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Per serving: 209 calories, 4 grams protein, 10 grams fat (40% calories from fat), 1.3 grams saturated fat, 29 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 232 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 2.
Black bean lasagna
Makes 8 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 to 45 minutes; standing time: 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed
1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added or regular crushed tomatoes, with puree
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup medium salsa
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg
10 no-cook-style lasagna noodles
6 ounces shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mash beans slightly. Stir in tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, salsa, chili powder and cumin; mix well. In small bowl, combine ricotta, garlic powder and egg; blend well. Spread 1 cup of tomato mixture over bottom of dish. Top with half of noodles, overlapping slightly. Top with half of remaining tomato mixture. Spoon ricotta mixture over top; spread carefully. Top with half of cheddar cheese, then with remaining noodles, tomato mixture and cheddar cheese. Cover with nonstick foil; bake 40 to 45 minutes or until noodles are tender. Uncover; let stand 15 minutes before serving.
Per serving: 271 calories, 17 grams protein, 6 grams fat (19% calories from fat), 3.2 grams saturated fat, 37 grams carbohydrate, 42 milligrams cholesterol, 244 milligrams sodium, 5 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 2.5.
Chicken-corn chowder
Makes 6 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: about 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups 2% milk
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast, or 1 (10- to 12-ounce) can chicken breast, drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can no-salt-added cream-style corn
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery and jalapeno pepper; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are softened, stirring often. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk, chicken, frozen corn, thyme, cayenne pepper, salt and creamed corn. Bring to a boil; cook 5 minutes or until thickened.
Per serving: 266 calories, 21 grams protein, 7 grams fat (24% calories from fat), 3.4 grams saturated fat, 30 grams carbohydrate, 55 milligrams cholesterol, 162 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.
Carb choices: 2.
Grilled balsamic pork chops
Combine 8 boneless pork chops (3/4 inch thick) with 1 1/2 cups balsamic vinaigrette in a resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours. Remove chops, pat dry and discard marinade. Grill over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, turning once.
On the side, (packaged) rice pilaf and green peas (from frozen). Add whole-grain rolls.
Grilled pork and provolone paninis
Spread 1 teaspoon pesto on each of 8 slices Italian bread. Top 4 slices with thinly sliced cooked pork and 4 (1-ounce) slices provolone cheese. Top with remaining 4 bread slices. Lightly brush outer surface with olive oil; grill in skillet on medium until toasted on each side.
Chili cheese pierogies
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Layer 1 package (thawed) frozen onion pierogies in a 7-by-11-inch baking dish; top with 1 (15-ounce) can vegetarian chili and bake 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with 4 ounces shredded 50% light cheddar cheese and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with reduced-fat sour cream before serving.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Convenience store robbed in Ravenswood Manor

A convenience store was robbed Tuesday in Ravenswood Manor on the North Side .
Just after midnight a male and @ @ @ @ @ store in the 2900 block of West Montrose Avenue , pulled out a gun and @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The clerk handed over money from the cash drawer and the pair @ @ @ @ @ police said .
No one was injured in the robbery , police said .

A convenience store was robbed Tuesday in Ravenswood Manor on the North Side.
Just after midnight a male and woman walked into a convenience store in the 2900 block of West Montrose Avenue, pulled out a gun and announced a robbery, Chicago police said.
The clerk handed over money from the cash drawer and the pair ran from the store, police said.
No one was injured in the robbery, police said.
Area Five detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--SWAT team responds to barricade situation in West Garfield Park

Police were involved in an hours-long standoff Monday with a person at a home in West Garfield Park .
A @ @ @ @ @ p.m. in the basement of a home in the 3800 block of West Adams Street @ @ @ @ @ A SWAT team was called to the scene .
Police said the situation was resolved @ @ @ @ @ , and no one was taken into custody .
No injuries were reported .

Police were involved in an hours-long standoff Monday with a person at a home in West Garfield Park.
A male barricaded himself about 8 p.m. in the basement of a home in the 3800 block of West Adams Street, Chicago police said. A SWAT team was called to the scene.
Police said the situation was resolved without incident about 11:30 p.m., and no one was taken into custody. No injuries were reported.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--Horoscope for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020

Horoscope for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions .
The moon is in Pisces .
Whatever you do , proceed slowly , carefully and cautiously .
If you try to rush anything , you will regret it .
Furthermore , if you are hasty about pushing something through , authority types might try to block you .
Easy does it — steady Eddie .
You might be frustrated because whatever you try to do ( likely from behind the scenes ) you will meet with opposition .
It might be in the form of rules and regulations .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong opinion from social media ?
Be careful .
If you try to coordinate the efforts of others , it will be like herding cats .
Expect some opposition .
Others might object because of financial reasons or because they think you ’ re moving too fast .
Any advance will have to be slow and steady .
Expect opposition to whatever you try to do , especially from authority figures and possibly from a partner or close friend .
It ’ s as if you ’ re trying to do the impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
In fact , it feels more like one step forward and two steps back !
Go gently .
Travel plans might be blocked .
Likewise , your efforts to explore opportunities in publishing , the media , higher education , medicine and the law will be discouraging .
Be satisfied with small successes .
Everything is relative .
Disputes about shared property , inheritances or anything that you own jointly with others ( including debt ) might be tough to deal with .
It ’ s hard to get cooperation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do carefully and pay attention to detail .
One step at a time .
It might be challenging dealing with those who are closest to you today .
Best to ask yourself if what you are doing is useful .
Go slowly and stick to practical tasks .
If you work carefully , you won ’ t have to do the same job again .
As the wise carpenter said , “ Measure twice , cut once.
” Whatever you do at work today ( or for whatever task you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a slog .
The secret is to slow down and be observant .
Do things bit by bit .
Do each task carefully .
Don ’ t let others discourage you .
Expect small gains but proceed in a slow , steady way .
Parents might find it frustrating dealing with their kids today .
There ’ s no point in throwing your weight around .
Accept the fact that you can only make small advances and achieve small results .
It ’ s easy for people to feel discouraged .
Respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whatever you attempt to do at home or within your family might meet with resistance and opposition .
Don ’ t overreact .
Be calm .
Today is full of frustrating little moments that can be overcome with quiet perseverance .
Do not engage in angry confrontations .
( Definitely ! )
It will not be easy for you to get your way today , so the sooner you can grasp this , the easier this day will be for you .
Remember the game where you say please take a giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step ?
Today is full of baby steps — at best .
Do not try to force financial matters today or purchases .
There might be a reason that you meet with obstacles and objections from others .
Maybe you need to take a moment and listen ?
If something is important , you will still be able to do it later .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actress Chrissy Metz ( 1980 ) shares your birthday .
You have a wonderful imagination .
You are charming , diplomatic and enjoy the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that service to others , especially with family , is important .
This is why you must take care of yourself so that you are a strong resource for yourself and others .
Look around you and invest in the relationships that you value .
Hang out with quality people .

Moon Alert
There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Pisces.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Whatever you do, proceed slowly, carefully and cautiously. If you try to rush anything, you will regret it. Furthermore, if you are hasty about pushing something through, authority types might try to block you. Easy does it — steady Eddie.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You might be frustrated because whatever you try to do (likely from behind the scenes) you will meet with opposition. It might be in the form of rules and regulations. It might be in the form of a strong opinion from social media? Be careful.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
If you try to coordinate the efforts of others, it will be like herding cats. Expect some opposition. Others might object because of financial reasons or because they think you’re moving too fast. Any advance will have to be slow and steady.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Expect opposition to whatever you try to do, especially from authority figures and possibly from a partner or close friend. It’s as if you’re trying to do the impossible? Two steps forward, one step back. In fact, it feels more like one step forward and two steps back! Go gently.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Travel plans might be blocked. Likewise, your efforts to explore opportunities in publishing, the media, higher education, medicine and the law will be discouraging. Be satisfied with small successes. Everything is relative.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Disputes about shared property, inheritances or anything that you own jointly with others (including debt) might be tough to deal with. It’s hard to get cooperation. Whatever you do today, you will have to do carefully and pay attention to detail. One step at a time.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
It might be challenging dealing with those who are closest to you today. Best to ask yourself if what you are doing is useful. Go slowly and stick to practical tasks. If you work carefully, you won’t have to do the same job again. As the wise carpenter said, “Measure twice, cut once.”
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Whatever you do at work today (or for whatever task you’re doing) might be a bit of a slog. The secret is to slow down and be observant. Do things bit by bit. Do each task carefully. Don’t let others discourage you. Expect small gains but proceed in a slow, steady way.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Parents might find it frustrating dealing with their kids today. There’s no point in throwing your weight around. Accept the fact that you can only make small advances and achieve small results. It’s easy for people to feel discouraged. Respect that and don’t be demanding.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Whatever you attempt to do at home or within your family might meet with resistance and opposition. Don’t overreact. Be calm. Today is full of frustrating little moments that can be overcome with quiet perseverance. Do not engage in angry confrontations. (Definitely!)
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
It will not be easy for you to get your way today, so the sooner you can grasp this, the easier this day will be for you. Remember the game where you say please take a giant step? Or please take a baby step? Today is full of baby steps — at best.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Do not try to force financial matters today or purchases. There might be a reason that you meet with obstacles and objections from others. Maybe you need to take a moment and listen? If something is important, you will still be able to do it later.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actress Chrissy Metz (1980) shares your birthday. You have a wonderful imagination. You are charming, diplomatic and enjoy the company of groups. This year you see that service to others, especially with family, is important. This is why you must take care of yourself so that you are a strong resource for yourself and others. Look around you and invest in the relationships that you value. Hang out with quality people.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-28--Lightning blank Stars 2-0 to capture Stanley Cup in six games

EDMONTON , Alberta — The joyful yells from the bench could be heard in the empty arena in the final seconds and the roar from players when Commissioner Gary Bettman called for Steven Stamkos to accept the Stanley Cup echoed even louder .
The triumph of winning the NHL championship in a bubble was certainly no less sweet for the Tampa Bay Lightning .
Brayden Point scored his playoff-best 14th goal and the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 on Monday night to win finish off the most unusual NHL postseason in history , staged nearly entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The clock hitting zeros with no fans in attendance set off a celebration for a team that endured years of playoff heartbreak and two months in isolation — and their fans outside Amalie Arena in Tampa celebrated right along with them .
“ It takes a lot to be in a bubble for 80 days or whatever long it was , ” said defenseman Victor Hedman , who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP .
“ But it ’ s all worth it now .
We ’ re coming home with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Hedman , Bettman gave all the players credit for enduring a quarantine largely on their own for so long .
“ To be in this place at this time under these circumstances is remarkable and frankly overwhelming , ” Bettman said .
“ Frankly , all of the players who participated should feel like MVPs.
” Goals from Point and Blake Coleman and a 22-save shutout by Andrei Vasilevskiy in Game 6 were enough to power the Lightning to their second championship after winning it in 2004 .
That one came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an entire season and similar uncertainty hangs in the air now because of the coronavirus .
Questions about the future were put off for a celebration by the Lightning and by the NHL , the first of the four major North American professional sports leagues to crown a champion since the start of the pandemic .
Tampa Bay ’ s core group closed out the final with an almost poetic display of what got the Lightning to this point over the past several years and months .
Point ’ s goal came with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hedman , key addition Coleman scored on an odd-man rush in the second and Vasilevskiy did his job on a relatively slow night in net .
Veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn was the first to get the Cup after Stamkos and Hedman , even though he played just three games in the postseason .
He played 964 regular-season and 137 playoff games to get to this point , losing in the final twice before .
“ The beauty of our team is everyone was chipping in , ” Point said .
“ We got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , and that ’ s what makes this win so special.
” It was more of a coronation than a challenge as the dominant Lightning outshot the Stars 29-22 and looked like the powerhouse they ’ ve been for much of the past decade .
Tampa Bay ’ s power play turned the series around after Dallas won the opener .
Point ’ s goal made it 7 for 16 over the past five games to decimate the Stars , who were undone by their lack of discipline and couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goaltender Anton Khudobin .
“ There is no feelings right now , ” Khudobin said .
“ Just empty , you know .
We battled hard , especially with this situation , it ’ s not easy to stay without families for two months and stuff like that.
” The Stars simply ran out of gas after injuries piled up .
“ I couldn ’ t ask more from our players , ” said coach Rick Bowness , an assistant for Tampa Bay for five years who was part of their 2015 run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So it wasn ’ t enough to beat that team , so it wasn ’ t enough .
But it ’ s better than sitting here saying how we could done this or could have done .
We don ’ t second-guess anything we ’ ve done.
” The Lightning did to the Stars what Chicago did to them in the ’ 15 final , when injuries built up .
Tampa Bay had Point and No .
2 center Anthony Cirelli playing hurt this time , didn ’ t have Stamkos for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still survived .
“ These last six weeks have been really emotional for my family and I , not only on the ice but off the ice , ” said Stamkos , who played just 2:37 in the playoffs yet scored a goal in Game 3 .
“ I just want to say to my family : I love you guys so much .
To all the friends and everyone who supported us along the way : We love you , we can ’ t wait to celebrate with you.
” The painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — losing four consecutive games to Chicago after going up 2-1 , blowing 3-2 series leads in the Eastern Conference final in 2016 and 2018 , and last season ’ s jaw-dropping , first-round sweep by Columbus after the Lightning had tied the NHL single-season wins record and won the Presidents ’ Trophy .
Coach Jon Cooper thought the attitude needed to change from wanting to beat every opponent 9-0 because that ’ s not realistic in playoff hockey .
His team went 12-3 in one-goal games this postseason , and he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by years of “ heartbreak.
” Bettman was on hand exactly 200 days after his dismal if hopeful announcement that the season was being put on pause with 189 games left unplayed .
The league and players ’ union worked for nearly four months to iron out where , how and when to play so 2020 wouldn ’ t join 1919 and 2004 as a year in which the Cup wasn ’ t awarded .
The plan they came up with was unusual .
Like the NBA , it called for walling off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
Unlike the NBA , it called for doing it in two spots — Toronto and Edmonton , while the U.S. grappled with spiking coronavirus cases in too many places for NHL leadership to feel comfortable .
And it worked .
After more than 31,000 tests , there were zero positive coronavirus cases reported among players , coaches and staff inside the bubbles and just a handful among hotel , arena or restaurant employees .
There was nothing close to a breakout .
Bizarre as it was with no fans and manufactured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hockey was often top notch .
The expanded , 24-team playoffs meant there was hockey nearly every day , sometimes from midday until past midnight , including a five-overtime marathon that was the second longest in modern hockey history .
And in this unprecedented postseason , there were even two elimination games on the same day in the same arena .
By the conference finals , Rogers Place , a nearby JW Marriott and the rest of a heavily fenced bubble in downtown Edmonton became the center of hockey for fans thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two of the southernmost teams in the league , settling the Cup in the NHL ’ s northernmost arena .
In all , the NHL played 130 games in a bubble , 25 of them going into overtime , before the final horn set off a celebration by Tampa Bay that simply had to do with no fans in the stands , and few loved ones allowed on the ice to share the moment .
Unable to hug them , players embraced each other and took out their phones to call and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be there .
“ We were in the bubble for this many days away from our friends and family , our support systems , ” Stamkos said .
“ We love each and every person that has helped us and allowed us to come here and accomplish our dream .
”

EDMONTON, Alberta — The joyful yells from the bench could be heard in the empty arena in the final seconds and the roar from players when Commissioner Gary Bettman called for Steven Stamkos to accept the Stanley Cup echoed even louder.
The triumph of winning the NHL championship in a bubble was certainly no less sweet for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Brayden Point scored his playoff-best 14th goal and the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 on Monday night to win finish off the most unusual NHL postseason in history, staged nearly entirely in quarantine because of the pandemic.
The clock hitting zeros with no fans in attendance set off a celebration for a team that endured years of playoff heartbreak and two months in isolation — and their fans outside Amalie Arena in Tampa celebrated right along with them.
“It takes a lot to be in a bubble for 80 days or whatever long it was,” said defenseman Victor Hedman, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. “But it’s all worth it now. We’re coming home with the Cup.”
Before giving that trophy to Hedman, Bettman gave all the players credit for enduring a quarantine largely on their own for so long.
“To be in this place at this time under these circumstances is remarkable and frankly overwhelming,” Bettman said. “Frankly, all of the players who participated should feel like MVPs.”
Goals from Point and Blake Coleman and a 22-save shutout by Andrei Vasilevskiy in Game 6 were enough to power the Lightning to their second championship after winning it in 2004. That one came just ahead of a lockout that wiped out an entire season and similar uncertainty hangs in the air now because of the coronavirus.
Questions about the future were put off for a celebration by the Lightning and by the NHL, the first of the four major North American professional sports leagues to crown a champion since the start of the pandemic.
Tampa Bay’s core group closed out the final with an almost poetic display of what got the Lightning to this point over the past several years and months. Point’s goal came with assists from longtime standouts Nikita Kucherov and Hedman, key addition Coleman scored on an odd-man rush in the second and Vasilevskiy did his job on a relatively slow night in net.
Veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn was the first to get the Cup after Stamkos and Hedman, even though he played just three games in the postseason. He played 964 regular-season and 137 playoff games to get to this point, losing in the final twice before.
“The beauty of our team is everyone was chipping in,” Point said. “We got contributions from anyone and everyone at different times, and that’s what makes this win so special.”
It was more of a coronation than a challenge as the dominant Lightning outshot the Stars 29-22 and looked like the powerhouse they’ve been for much of the past decade.
Tampa Bay’s power play turned the series around after Dallas won the opener. Point’s goal made it 7 for 16 over the past five games to decimate the Stars, who were undone by their lack of discipline and couldn’t get enough “Dobby” magic from goaltender Anton Khudobin.
“There is no feelings right now,” Khudobin said. “Just empty, you know. We battled hard, especially with this situation, it’s not easy to stay without families for two months and stuff like that.”
The Stars simply ran out of gas after injuries piled up.
“I couldn’t ask more from our players,” said coach Rick Bowness, an assistant for Tampa Bay for five years who was part of their 2015 run that fell short in the final. “So it wasn’t enough to beat that team, so it wasn’t enough. But it’s better than sitting here saying how we could done this or could have done. We don’t second-guess anything we’ve done.”
The Lightning did to the Stars what Chicago did to them in the ’15 final, when injuries built up. Tampa Bay had Point and No. 2 center Anthony Cirelli playing hurt this time, didn’t have Stamkos for almost all of the playoffs — and still survived.
“These last six weeks have been really emotional for my family and I, not only on the ice but off the ice,” said Stamkos, who played just 2:37 in the playoffs yet scored a goal in Game 3. “I just want to say to my family: I love you guys so much. To all the friends and everyone who supported us along the way: We love you, we can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
The painful playoff losses look like mile markers now — losing four consecutive games to Chicago after going up 2-1, blowing 3-2 series leads in the Eastern Conference final in 2016 and 2018, and last season’s jaw-dropping, first-round sweep by Columbus after the Lightning had tied the NHL single-season wins record and won the Presidents’ Trophy.
Coach Jon Cooper thought the attitude needed to change from wanting to beat every opponent 9-0 because that’s not realistic in playoff hockey. His team went 12-3 in one-goal games this postseason, and he said the Lightning won because they were strengthened by years of “heartbreak.”
Bettman was on hand exactly 200 days after his dismal if hopeful announcement that the season was being put on pause with 189 games left unplayed.
The league and players’ union worked for nearly four months to iron out where, how and when to play so 2020 wouldn’t join 1919 and 2004 as a year in which the Cup wasn’t awarded. The plan they came up with was unusual. Like the NBA, it called for walling off teams from the public for months on end. Unlike the NBA, it called for doing it in two spots — Toronto and Edmonton, while the U.S. grappled with spiking coronavirus cases in too many places for NHL leadership to feel comfortable.
And it worked. After more than 31,000 tests, there were zero positive coronavirus cases reported among players, coaches and staff inside the bubbles and just a handful among hotel, arena or restaurant employees. There was nothing close to a breakout.
Bizarre as it was with no fans and manufactured crowd noise and light shows, the hockey was often top notch. The expanded, 24-team playoffs meant there was hockey nearly every day, sometimes from midday until past midnight, including a five-overtime marathon that was the second longest in modern hockey history. And in this unprecedented postseason, there were even two elimination games on the same day in the same arena.
By the conference finals, Rogers Place, a nearby JW Marriott and the rest of a heavily fenced bubble in downtown Edmonton became the center of hockey for fans thousands of miles away with Dallas and Tampa Bay, two of the southernmost teams in the league, settling the Cup in the NHL’s northernmost arena.
In all, the NHL played 130 games in a bubble, 25 of them going into overtime, before the final horn set off a celebration by Tampa Bay that simply had to do with no fans in the stands, and few loved ones allowed on the ice to share the moment. Unable to hug them, players embraced each other and took out their phones to call and video chat with those who couldn’t be there.
“We were in the bubble for this many days away from our friends and family, our support systems,” Stamkos said. “We love each and every person that has helped us and allowed us to come here and accomplish our dream.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Man killed in West Side shooting

Man killed in West Side shooting

A man was fatally shot Tuesday on the West Side .
About 12:48 p.m. , the 25-year-old was in the @ @ @ @ @ Avenue when he was shot in the chest , Chicago police said .
The man @ @ @ @ @ , where he was pronounced dead about 4:47 p.m. , police and the Cook County @ @ @ @ @ said .
No arrests have been reported .
Area Four detectives are investigating .
Read @ @ @ @ @ track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was fatally shot Tuesday on the West Side.
About 12:48 p.m., the 25-year-old was in the 400 block of North Springfield Avenue when he was shot in the chest, Chicago police said.
The man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 4:47 p.m., police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
He was identified as Lanell Fields Jr., the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
No arrests have been reported. Area Four detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Bully for Lucas Giolito, who flirted with perfection in White Sox’ Game 1 victory

You White Sox fans had every reason to be worried about your team Tuesday morning .
On your mind were seven losses in eight games to end the regular season .
You had Tim Anderson in a slump .
You had lots of young players making their playoff debuts .
If that wasn ’ t enough , you had the Sox ’ wretched recent history in Oakland staring you in your horrified faces .
But you had one very good reason to be as loose as an over-served goose .
You had Lucas Giolito glaring over his glove at A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scary sight and Giolito ’ s mastery were more than enough in the Sox ’ 4-1 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-three series in the Bay Area .
My goodness was he good .
He had a perfect game through six innings and ended up limiting the A ’ s to two hits over seven-plus innings .
He painted a plus sign over the strike zone .
Pitches up .
Pitches down .
Pitches over here .
Pitches over there .
He threw more sliders ( 26 ) than he had in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s surely were ready for the fastball/changeup approach he had taken to most games .
Instead , they got nothing and were told to like it .
Former Cub Tommy La Stella singled up the middle to start the seventh inning , ending the pursuit of perfection .
Spoilsport .
What did Giolito do after that ?
He struck out the next two batters .
He started off well Tuesday and got better .
Seven of his eight strikeouts came after the third inning .
“ You can kind of read him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ’ Anderson said .
“ He goes into like a bully stage where he just starts hitting his spots and being so dominant .
I watched this all season long and last season as well .
I know when he ’ s in his groove.
’ ’ A bully stage ?
I thought we were against that sort of thing .
“ It ’ s like when things start to sync up , the brain kind of shuts off , and it ’ s just kind of tunnel vision to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When I hit that state , I just want to ride it out as long as possible .
That ’ s pretty much it right there .
I like that he calls it that – the bully stage.
’ ’ Some people downgraded Giolito ’ s no-hitter against Pittsburgh last month , saying that the weak-hitting Pirates were in danger of being relegated to Triple A. OK , fine .
But there was no downplaying what he did Tuesday .
Because it was against the second-seeded A ’ s in the Sox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it might have been a more dominant performance than the no-no .
“ Throwing a perfect-game no-hitter is a great personal accomplishment , ’ ’ he said .
“ But we ’ re in the playoffs .
The goal is to win the game .
For me , it was all about ‘ I ’ m going to give the team the best possible chance to come out on top after nine innings are done.
’ … If a perfect game happens , it happens , but that was not on my mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very much on my mind.
’ ’ A perfect game was on some of his teammates ’ minds .
How could it not be ?
“ Getting to the sixth or seventh inning , it ’ s like , ‘ I ’ ve been here before .
I know what this is like , what do we have to do to make this happen ?
’ ’ ’ right fielder Adam Engel said .
“ I was kind of going back and forth : Am I rooting for a perfect game right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the game ?
” The victory , of course , but everybody wants to see history .
And there was history Tuesday , despite the perfect game and no-hitter going by the wayside .
Giolito became the second Sox pitcher to pitch seven-plus innings and allow one run or fewer and two hits or fewer in a postseason game .
The other was Ed Walsh against the Cubs in Game 3 of the 1906 World Series .
I think the Sox ’ public-relations department had to do an archeological dig to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game was for Giolito to surprise Oakland ’ s aggressive hitters with the slider .
You are free to consider them surprised .
“ Against that lineup , we knew that the slider would be effective if it was working , ’ ’ he said .
“ So ( catcher James ) McCann made it a point to call it a good amount early , even in counts where in another start maybe we ’ d throw changeups in those situations .
That just got the feel for it going early.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debut .
You never would have known it .
He seemed as calm as a windless day .
He wasn ’ t the night before .
“ I ’ m not going to lie : I was a little bit nervous , ’ ’ he said .
He said he woke up Tuesday and felt relaxed .
Too bad for the A ’ s .
But good for Sox fans , who had seen things trending downward toward the end of the regular season .
To make matters worse , the Sox had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not to worry .
Some pitchers stop the bleeding .
Giolito stops the fretting .

You White Sox fans had every reason to be worried about your team Tuesday morning. On your mind were seven losses in eight games to end the regular season. You had Tim Anderson in a slump. You had lots of young players making their playoff debuts. If that wasn’t enough, you had the Sox’ wretched recent history in Oakland staring you in your horrified faces.
But you had one very good reason to be as loose as an overserved goose. You had Lucas Giolito glaring over his glove at A’s hitters Tuesday afternoon. That scary sight and Giolito’s mastery were more than enough in the Sox’ 4-1 victory in Game 1 of their American League wild-card series in the Bay Area.
My goodness, was he good. Giolito had a perfect game through six innings and ended up limiting the A’s to two hits in seven-plus innings. He painted a plus sign over the strike zone. Pitches up. Pitches down. Pitches over here. Pitches over there. He threw more sliders (26) than he had in any game this season.
The A’s surely were ready for the fastball/changeup approach he had taken to most games. Instead, they got nothing and were told to like it. Former Cub Tommy La Stella singled up the middle to start the seventh, ending the pursuit of perfection. Spoilsport.
Giolito started off well and got better. Seven of his eight strikeouts came after the third inning.
‘‘You can kind of read him when he’s on the mound,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘He goes into, like, a bully stage, where he just starts hitting his spots and being so dominant. I watched this all season long and last season, as well. I know when he’s in his groove.’’
A bully stage? I thought we were against that sort of thing.
‘‘It’s like when things start to sync up, the brain kind of shuts off and it’s just kind of tunnel vision to the glove,’’ Giolito said. ‘‘When I hit that state, I just want to ride it out as long as possible. That’s pretty much it right there. I like that he calls it that — the bully stage.’’
Some people downgraded Giolito’s no-hitter last month against the weak-hitting Pirates, saying they were in danger of being relegated to Triple-A. OK, fine. But there was no downplaying what he did Tuesday. Because it was against the second-seeded A’s in the Sox’ first playoff game since 2008, it might have been a more dominant performance than the no-no.
‘‘Throwing a perfect-game no-hitter is a great personal accomplishment,’’ Giolito said. ‘‘But we’re in the playoffs. The goal is to win the game. For me, it was all about, ‘I’m going to give the team the best possible chance to come out on top after nine innings are done.’ . . . If a perfect game happens, it happens. But that was not on my mind, whereas the one during the season was very much on my mind.’’
A perfect game was on some of his teammates’ minds. How could it not be?
‘‘Getting to the sixth or seventh inning, it’s like: ‘I’ve been here before. I know what this is like. What do we have to do to make this happen?’ ’’ right fielder Adam Engel said. ‘‘I was kind of going back and forth: Am I rooting for a perfect game right now, or are we just trying to win the game?’’
The victory, of course, but everybody wants to see history. And there was history Tuesday, despite the perfect game and no-hitter going by the wayside. Giolito became the second Sox pitcher to pitch seven-plus innings and allow one run or fewer and two hits or fewer in a postseason game. The other was Ed Walsh against the Cubs in Game 3 of the 1906 World Series. I think the Sox’ public-relations department had to do an archeological dig to find that stat.
The plan going into the game was for Giolito to surprise the A’s aggressive hitters with the slider. You are free to consider them surprised.
‘‘Against that lineup, we knew that the slider would be effective if it was working,’’ Giolito said. ‘‘So [catcher James] McCann made it a point to call it a good amount early, even in counts where in another start maybe we’d throw changeups in those situations. That just got the feel for it going early.’’
It was Giolito’s postseason debut. You never would have known it. He seemed as calm as a windless day.
He wasn’t the night before.
‘‘I’m not going to lie: I was a little bit nervous,’’ he said.
Giolito said he woke up and felt relaxed. Too bad for the A’s. But good for Sox fans, who had seen things trending downward toward the end of the regular season. To make matters worse, the Sox had lost their previous six games in Oakland.
Not to worry. Some pitchers stop the bleeding. Giolito stops the fretting.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Group of Illinois’ top employers announce opposition to Pritzker’s graduated income tax amendment

A group of executives from the state ’ s leading employers on Tuesday came out against Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s proposed graduated income tax referendum , saying approval of the measure on the November ballot “ all but promises that Illinois will not address its long-term financial challenges.
” The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago said in a statement that its opposition to the proposal is “ based on the state ’ s decades-long history of fiscal mismanagement.
” “ The result will be further loss of jobs and people , long-term cuts in critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burdened with growing debt and a guarantee that Illinois will continue to have the worst credit rating of any state in the country , ” the group said .
Pritzker himself is an honorary member of the Civic Committee , which reached its position by consensus , according to a spokesman .
The group comprises a who ’ s-who of the Chicago business world with members including Ken Griffin , the hedge fund billionaire who pumped $ 20 million earlier this month into the “ Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has dumped $ 56.5 million of his fortune into the “ Vote Yes for Fairness ” committee .
Quentin Fulks , who heads the committee supporting Pritzker ’ s coveted amendment , said “ it ’ s no surprise that an organization of the wealthiest people in our state who have benefited from avoiding paying their fair share for 50 years is voicing their opposition to the Fair Tax.
” The Civic Committee said it “ could support a graduated income tax as part of a comprehensive plan , ” but absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck in a financial rut.
” Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and Michael Sacks , chairman of the private equity firm GCM Grosvenor , are also members of the Civic Committee .
Both are investors in Sun-Times Media .
Illinois currently applies a tax rate of 4.95 % to all incomes .
If the amendment passes , rates higher than 4.95 % would apply to incomes greater than $ 250,000 a year , while those making less than $ 100,000 a year would pay a slightly lower rate .

A group of executives from the state’s leading employers on Tuesday came out against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax referendum, saying approval of the measure on the November ballot “all but promises that Illinois will not address its long-term financial challenges.”
The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago said in a statement that its opposition to the proposal is “based on the state’s decades-long history of fiscal mismanagement.”
“The result will be further loss of jobs and people, long-term cuts in critical social services, a shrinking tax base burdened with growing debt and a guarantee that Illinois will continue to have the worst credit rating of any state in the country,” the group said.
Pritzker himself is an honorary member of the Civic Committee, which reached its position by consensus, according to a spokesman.
The group comprises a who’s-who of the Chicago business world with members including Ken Griffin, the hedge fund billionaire who pumped $20 million earlier this month into the “Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment.”
The billionaire Democratic governor, meanwhile, has dumped $56.5 million of his fortune into the “Vote Yes for Fairness” committee.
Quentin Fulks, who heads the committee supporting Pritzker’s coveted amendment, said “it’s no surprise that an organization of the wealthiest people in our state who have benefited from avoiding paying their fair share for 50 years is voicing their opposition to the Fair Tax.”
The Civic Committee said it “could support a graduated income tax as part of a comprehensive plan,” but absent that, the state “will remain stuck in a financial rut.”
Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and Michael Sacks, chairman of the private equity firm GCM Grosvenor, are also members of the Civic Committee. Both are investors in Sun-Times Media.
Illinois currently applies a tax rate of 4.95% to all incomes. If the amendment passes, rates higher than 4.95% would apply to incomes greater than $250,000 a year, while those making less than $100,000 a year would pay a slightly lower rate.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Biden campaign denies ‘absurd’ Trump claim about wearing an earpiece during debate

The campaign for presidential candidate Joe Biden strongly denied he plans to wear an earpiece in Tuesday ’ s debate , and denied he declined to be inspected ahead of time or take breaks during the 90-minute face-off , as the Trump campaign claimed .
“ It is completely absurd .
Of course , he is not wearing an earpiece , and we never asked for breaks , ” Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield told reporters .
The claim came late Tuesday morning when the Trump campaign issued a statement via communications director Tim Murtaugh condemning Biden for refusing “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ refusal to take a drug test.
” The statement offered no evidence of the claim .
Biden ’ s team had earlier joked that the Democratic candidate planned to use words — not urine — to win the debate .
The pre-debate accusations came as President Donald Trump spent Tuesday preparing for the debate in Cleveland .
Trump ’ s prep team includes former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , campaign communications strategist Jason Miller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jared Kushner , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and communications director Alyssa Farah .
Some other advisers like Dan Scavino and Hope Hicks have also been involved .
While Trump is itching to go on the offense against Biden , some aides have encouraged him to adopt a more measured tone — believing that in many ways the debates are more about Trump vs himself than Biden .
Trump , they argue , should focus more on selling his accomplishments than trying to viciously attack Biden .
Some involved with the preparations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more aggressive “ counterpunching ” side .

The campaign for presidential candidate Joe Biden strongly denied he plans to wear an earpiece in Tuesday’s debate, and denied he declined to be inspected ahead of time or take breaks during the 90-minute face-off, as the Trump campaign claimed.
“It is completely absurd. Of course, he is not wearing an earpiece, and we never asked for breaks,” Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield told reporters.
The claim came late Tuesday morning when the Trump campaign issued a statement via communications director Tim Murtaugh condemning Biden for refusing “a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces” and “refusal to take a drug test.” The statement offered no evidence of the claim.
Biden’s team had earlier joked that the Democratic candidate planned to use words — not urine — to win the debate.
The pre-debate accusations came as President Donald Trump spent Tuesday preparing for the debate in Cleveland.
Trump’s prep team includes former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, campaign communications strategist Jason Miller, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Jared Kushner, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and communications director Alyssa Farah. Some other advisers like Dan Scavino and Hope Hicks have also been involved.
While Trump is itching to go on the offense against Biden, some aides have encouraged him to adopt a more measured tone — believing that in many ways the debates are more about Trump vs himself than Biden. Trump, they argue, should focus more on selling his accomplishments than trying to viciously attack Biden. Some involved with the preparations, though, have encouraged Trump’s more aggressive “counterpunching” side.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-29--Crisis response team — without cops — would be sent to mental health emergencies under proposal

Community health advocates and some aldermen called Tuesday for creation of a crisis response team that excludes police officers to help people experiencing mental health emergencies .
“ Currently , the city ’ s response to crises has been done and managed exclusively by the city ’ s police department , ” said Arturo Carrillo , lead organizer for the Collaborative for Community Wellness , a citywide coalition of community groups .
“ As a result , the largest mental health provider in this city and this country is Cook County Jail.
” Instead , Carrillo , a licensed social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be staffed by paramedics and social workers and operated by the Chicago Department of Public Health .
The team would be based out of the city ’ s five public mental health clinics .
The “ Treatment for Trauma ” proposal was introduced at a City Council meeting Sept. 9 and assigned to the Health and Human Relations Committee .
CDPH did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Carrillo said more than three-quarters of Chicago ’ s population live in communities with less than .2 therapists per 1,000 community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has four therapists per 1,000 residents .
Rosa Julia Garcia Rivera , chief operating officer of Gads Hill Center , a group that provides community and mental health services to underserved communities , said the center and its clinicians have seen “ a dramatic increase ” in the necessity for mental health services and crisis support in the past seven months .
“ At the end of the day , the need for services consistently outpaces our resources as a nonprofit , ” she said .
“ We need to find a solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers are under and respond to our mental health needs with the appropriate intervention.
” Ald .
Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez ( 33rd ) , a co-sponsor of the “ Treatment Not Trauma ” proposal , said Chicago police have been in charge of responding to a wide variety of situations , such as homelessness , substance abuse and mental health emergencies .
“ That has created a huge problem because we have continued to allocate resources to use police but we have not been allocated the same amount of resources to make sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health based , ” Rodriguez-Sanchez said .
She said similar programs in two West Coast cities have saved the police departments about $ 8.5 million annually .
The Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets programs in Eugene and Springfield , Oregon , are run by local clinics and respond to about 20 % of service calls to the police departments .
Carmen Orozco , a community leader with the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council , said she has worked with residents for more than 15 years who have come to her during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one time , while leading a restorative justice course , a participant reached out to her with an emotional crisis situation .
Orozco said she thought about calling the police but was afraid to do so .
“ I thought about the economic situation she was dealing with and her immigration status , and in that situation , I would [ have ] put her in a very difficult position , ” Orozco said via Carrillo , who translated .
Ald .
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa ( 35th ) said people with untreated mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be killed when they come into contact with law enforcement .
“ We need a non-law enforcement emergency crisis response to ensure that when people are in need of help ... they will get the support that they need , and it will not result in an unnecessary arrest , and it will not result in an unnecessary murder or death at the hands of law enforcement , ” he said .

Community health advocates and some aldermen called Tuesday for creation of a crisis response team that excludes police officers to help people experiencing mental health emergencies.
“Currently, the city’s response to crises has been done and managed exclusively by the city’s police department,” said Arturo Carrillo, lead organizer for the Collaborative for Community Wellness, a citywide coalition of community groups. “As a result, the largest mental health provider in this city and this country is Cook County Jail.”
Instead, Carrillo, a licensed social worker, said the crisis response team would be staffed by paramedics and social workers and operated by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The team would be based out of the city’s five public mental health clinics.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The “Treatment for Trauma” proposal was introduced at a City Council meeting Sept. 9 and assigned to the Health and Human Relations Committee.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot included a co-response program involving police officers and mental health professionals in a multiyear anti-violence plan unveiled Tuesday.
CDPH did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carrillo said more than three-quarters of Chicago’s population live in communities with less than .2 therapists per 1,000 community residents; the rest of the population has four therapists per 1,000 residents.
Rosa Julia Garcia Rivera, chief operating officer of Gads Hill Center, a group that provides community and mental health services to underserved communities, said the center and its clinicians have seen “a dramatic increase” in the necessity for mental health services and crisis support in the past seven months.
“At the end of the day, the need for services consistently outpaces our resources as a nonprofit,” she said. “We need to find a solution to alleviate the pressure that our police officers are under and respond to our mental health needs with the appropriate intervention.”
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), a co-sponsor of the “Treatment Not Trauma” proposal, said Chicago police have been in charge of responding to a wide variety of situations, such as homelessness, substance abuse and mental health emergencies.
“That has created a huge problem because we have continued to allocate resources to use police but we have not been allocated the same amount of resources to make sure that people can have a response that is public health based,” Rodriguez-Sanchez said.
She said similar programs in two West Coast cities have saved the police departments about $8.5 million annually. The Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets programs in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, are run by local clinics and respond to about 20% of service calls to the police departments.
Carmen Orozco, a community leader with the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, said she has worked with residents for more than 15 years who have come to her during family or emotional crises.
She said one time, while leading a restorative justice course, a participant reached out to her with an emotional crisis situation. Orozco said she thought about calling the police but was afraid to do so.
“I thought about the economic situation she was dealing with and her immigration status, and in that situation, I would [have] put her in a very difficult position,” Orozco said via Carrillo, who translated.
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said people with untreated mental health conditions nationally are 16 times more likely to be killed when they come into contact with law enforcement.
“We need a non-law enforcement emergency crisis response to ensure that when people are in need of help ... they will get the support that they need, and it will not result in an unnecessary arrest, and it will not result in an unnecessary murder or death at the hands of law enforcement,” he said.