chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--23 shot, 4 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

23 shot, 4 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

Twenty-three people were shot , four of them fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
The day ’ s most recent reported fatal shooting killed a man and wounded another in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
Just after 11 p.m. , the men , 30 and 32 , were on the front porch of a home in the 12200 block of South Morgan Street , when two males walked up and opened fire , Chicago police said .
The younger man was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
The older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the buttocks , and was in fair condition .
A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot in Woodlawn on the South Side .
He was standing on a corner about 1:13 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired five to six shots at him , police said .
The teen was struck twice in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot and killed in West Garfield Park , according to police .
He was shot once in his chest about noon in the 3800 block of West Adams Street , according to preliminary information from police .
Multiple shooters allegedly ran from the scene .
Paramedics took the man to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead , police said .
A 34-year-old man was killed in a drive-by in Riverdale on the Far South Side .
He was walking in the 600 block of East 133rd Street about 12:30 a.m. when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots at him , according to police .
Boris Lilly was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition , but later died , officials said .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said he lived in suburban Country Club Hills .
In non-fatal shootings , 15 people were injured in a shooting outside a funeral home in Gresham on the South Side .
The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. as a group of people left a funeral in the 1000 block of West 79th Street , First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhodes Funeral Services is located on that block .
People in a black vehicle opened fire on the group as they left the funeral , Carter said .
At least one of the funeral attendees started shooting back , and 60 shell casings were found at the scene .
The vehicle crashed after speeding away from the scene , Carter said , and the occupants fled .
Police are questioning one person of interest .
Fifteen adults were being treated at five area hospitals , Carter said .
Police said their conditions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 11 of them were listed in serious-to-critical condition .
Police are questioning a person of interest , Carter said .
Two men were shot in a drive-by in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
About 1:40 a.m. the pair , 23 and 25 , was standing in the 3600 block of West Garfield Square Drive , when someone in a passing silver-colored Hyundai fired shots at them , police said .
The 23-year-old was struck in the leg and hand , and the 25-year-old was struck in the arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
They both were taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in good condition .
A 16-year-old girl was wounded when she was shot in Chicago Lawn on the South Side .
She was in an alley about 1 p.m. in the 2400 block of West 63rd Street when a male suspect approached her and fired shots , police said .
The girl was struck in the foot and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition , police said .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s @ @

Twenty-three people were shot, four of them fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.
The day’s most recent reported fatal shooting killed a man and wounded another in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
Just after 11 p.m., the men, 30 and 32, were on the front porch of a home in the 12200 block of South Morgan Street, when two males walked up and opened fire, Chicago police said.
The younger man was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The older man was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the buttocks, and was in fair condition.
A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot in Woodlawn on the South Side.
He was standing on a corner about 1:13 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired five to six shots at him, police said.
The teen was struck twice in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
That afternoon, a 20-year-old man was shot and killed in West Garfield Park, according to police.
He was shot once in his chest about noon in the 3800 block of West Adams Street, according to preliminary information from police. Multiple shooters allegedly ran from the scene.
Paramedics took the man to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
A 34-year-old man was killed in a drive-by in Riverdale on the Far South Side.
He was walking in the 600 block of East 133rd Street about 12:30 a.m. when someone in a passing black sedan fired shots at him, according to police.
Boris Lilly was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, but later died, officials said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office said he lived in suburban Country Club Hills.
In non-fatal shootings, 15 people were injured in a shooting outside a funeral home in Gresham on the South Side.
The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. as a group of people left a funeral in the 1000 block of West 79th Street, First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter said. Rhodes Funeral Services is located on that block.
People in a black vehicle opened fire on the group as they left the funeral, Carter said. At least one of the funeral attendees started shooting back, and 60 shell casings were found at the scene.
The vehicle crashed after speeding away from the scene, Carter said, and the occupants fled. Police are questioning one person of interest.
Fifteen adults were being treated at five area hospitals, Carter said. Police said their conditions were unknown, while Chicago fire officials said at least 11 of them were listed in serious-to-critical condition.
Police are questioning a person of interest, Carter said.
Two men were shot in a drive-by in East Garfield Park on the West Side.
About 1:40 a.m. the pair, 23 and 25, was standing in the 3600 block of West Garfield Square Drive, when someone in a passing silver-colored Hyundai fired shots at them, police said.
The 23-year-old was struck in the leg and hand, and the 25-year-old was struck in the arm and grazed on the hand, police said. They both were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition.
A 16-year-old girl was wounded when she was shot in Chicago Lawn on the South Side.
She was in an alley about 1 p.m. in the 2400 block of West 63rd Street when a male suspect approached her and fired shots, police said.
The girl was struck in the foot and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition, police said.
Twenty-five people were shot, three fatally, Monday citywide.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Girl, 3, shot in South Shore

Girl, 3, shot in South Shore

The girl and her parents were driving about 12:45 a.m. when two males shot in their direction as they passed @ @ @ @ @ East 74th Street , Chicago police said .
The girl was shot in the head @ @ @ @ @ suffered scratches on her eye that may have come from broken glass .
The parents @ @ @ @ @ down a stranger , who drove them to Jackson Park Hospital , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ Comer Children ’ s Hospital in serious condition .
Police sources said it is unclear @ @ @ @ @ the shooting was .
No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate .
@ @ @ @ @ and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 3-year-old girl was in serious condition after she was shot in her head early Wednesday while riding in her family’s car in South Shore.
They were driving in the 2400 block of East 74th Street about 12:45 a.m. when two gunmen standing on a corner fired shots in their direction, Chicago police said.
The girl was shot in the head and suffered scratches on her eye from broken glass, police said.
The parents stopped their vehicle and flagged down a stranger, who drove them to Jackson Park Hospital, police said. The girl was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in serious condition.
It is unclear who was the intended target of the shooting, police said.
No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
At a Wednesday morning news conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot similarly pleaded for help in finding the people behind the shooting.
“By the grace of God, she is still with us,” the mayor said.
Contributing: Fran Spielman
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-21--Red Stars have momentum, but they need some more offense

Red Stars coach Rory Dames has been preaching patience since the first week of the NWSL Challenge Cup .
The focus hasn ’ t been on winning the tournament , per se , but on this new-look team figuring out a way to win with fresh talent .
Despite their offensive struggles and the COVID-19 situation , the Red Stars credit a gritty identity as the reason they ’ re making their sixth consecutive semifinal appearance .
“ It ’ s in our DNA to find a way to win , ” midfielder Danielle Colaprico said .
“ Whatever the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for it .
I think the coolest thing about playing for the Red Stars is that we don ’ t have one type of way of playing.
” Defensively , the Red Stars haven ’ t skipped a beat with a stout back line anchored by Julie Ertz , Casey Short and Sarah Gorden .
Heading into their semifinal Wednesday against Sky Blue , the Red Stars are still working to establish an attack that resembles last season ’ s offensive powerhouse .
Their two goals before the knockout stage were scored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Red Stars advanced on penalty kicks ( 4-3 ) after a scoreless draw in the quarterfinals against OL Reign .
It won ’ t be easy to score with Kailen Sheridan in goal for Sky Blue .
Sheridan leads the tourney with 20 saves and three shutouts through five games .
“ It ’ s very clear we need to score in the run of play , ” forward Rachel Hill said .
“ We ’ ve been analyzing our attack and how we can go about doing that with different runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think in the coming game , we ’ re going to do a good job with that and put some away.
” Gautrat will remain sidelined after injuring her right leg in the last game of the preliminary stage .
Colaprico was listed as questionable , but she said she ’ s looking forward to the semifinal .
The Portland Thorns ’ quarterfinal win against top-seeded NC Courage , the reigning NWSL champion , has left a wide-open path for the Red Stars to secure the title .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Georges said .
“ Our adrenaline has been going since the PKs .
We have one goal in mind , and that ’ s to make it to the final and bring the championship back .
’ ’

Red Stars coach Rory Dames has been preaching patience since the first week of the NWSL Challenge Cup.
The focus hasn’t been on winning the tournament, per se, but on this new-look team figuring out a way to win with fresh talent.
Despite their offensive struggles and the COVID-19 situation, the Red Stars credit a gritty identity as the reason they’re making their sixth consecutive semifinal appearance.
“It’s in our DNA to find a way to win,” midfielder Danielle Colaprico said. “Whatever the game calls for, we’re up for it. I think the coolest thing about playing for the Red Stars is that we don’t have one type of way of playing.”
Defensively, the Red Stars haven’t skipped a beat with a stout back line anchored by Julie Ertz, Casey Short and Sarah Gorden.
Heading into their semifinal Wednesday against Sky Blue, the Red Stars are still working to establish an attack that resembles last season’s offensive powerhouse.
Their two goals before the knockout stage were scored by Short and midfielder Morgan Gautrat. The Red Stars advanced on penalty kicks (4-3) after a scoreless draw in the quarterfinals against OL Reign.
It won’t be easy to score with Kailen Sheridan in goal for Sky Blue. Sheridan leads the tourney with 20 saves and three shutouts through five games.
“It’s very clear we need to score in the run of play,” forward Rachel Hill said. “We’ve been analyzing our attack and how we can go about doing that with different runs, decisive runs and playing balls forward. I think in the coming game, we’re going to do a good job with that and put some away.”
Gautrat will remain sidelined after injuring her right leg in the last game of the preliminary stage. Colaprico was listed as questionable, but she said she’s looking forward to the semifinal.
The Portland Thorns’ quarterfinal win against top-seeded NC Courage, the reigning NWSL champion, has left a wide-open path for the Red Stars to secure the title.
“We have so much momentum,” defender Bianca St. Georges said. “Our adrenaline has been going since the PKs. We have one goal in mind, and that’s to make it to the final and bring the championship back.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-07-21--Horoscope for Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Horoscope for Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions until 7 p.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Leo into Virgo .
Fun surprises might occur at home or within your family .
You might also see a clever , new solution for a problem , especially a repair problem at home .
Meanwhile , surprise company might drop by .
( Get dressed . )
Today is full of new discoveries , new faces and fun , new ideas !
This is an interesting day because it ’ s full of all kinds of possibilities — seeing new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited about new ideas !
Without question , your daily routine will change .
Stay light on your feet so that you can go with the flow !
You might have some excellent money-making ideas .
One thing is certain : If you are shopping , guard against impulse buying because you will want to do this today .
( Keep your receipts . )
Something unexpected might affect something you own or a particular possession .
This is a fast-paced exciting day for you because you are brimming with ideas and ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make decisions and quick to change your mind .
You will also enjoy meeting characters and doing unusual things because you want fun and stimulation !
Something unusual might happen today .
For example , a secret might come out .
Very possibly , research will reveal unexpected answers or solutions to a problem .
Meanwhile , you feel a bit restless because you have a feeling that you ’ re waiting for that other shoe to drop .
Plonk !
Expect to meet someone unusual and probably younger today , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real character .
Meanwhile , someone you know might surprise you by saying or doing something unexpected .
You might impulsively join a group or accept a curious invitation .
A boss , parent teacher or VIP might surprise you today .
( Incidentally , this includes the police . )
Or perhaps you will surprise someone with an inventive , creative idea .
They might be impressed with your original input or your vision .
It ’ s a fascinating day !
Unexpected opportunities to travel might fall in your lap today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are traveling , your plans might be changed , canceled or delayed .
( Bummer ! )
You might also hear surprising news regarding colleges , universities or courses you were going to take .
Could this be a new opportunity ?
Something unusual or unexpected might affect inheritances , shared property , taxes , debt or insurance issues today .
You might receive a surprise gift .
Or perhaps , something you expected did not arrive ?
Today ’ s a bit of a crapshoot .
This is an interesting day to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will have something unusual to say .
In fact , they might do something that throws you for a loop .
( Expect a surprise . )
They might even introduce you to someone unusual or different .
Stay on your toes !
Your work routine will be interrupted because everything is buzzing !
People have new ideas and they ’ re ready to try new things .
An exciting energy that encourages thinking outside of the box will prevail .
Pet owners should make sure they are not surprised or caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for your kids .
Meanwhile , this is a fun-loving day full of surprises !
( However , guard against sports accidents . )
Surprise invitations might come your way to do something unusual .
Admittedly , planned social events might be canceled or changed .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actor Terence Stamp ( 1938 ) shares your birthday .
You are sharp , clever and passionate !
Sometimes you are suspicious about change .
This year you will see that service to others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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
Avoid shopping or making important decisions until 7 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Leo into Virgo.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Fun surprises might occur at home or within your family. You might also see a clever, new solution for a problem, especially a repair problem at home. Meanwhile, surprise company might drop by. (Get dressed.) Today is full of new discoveries, new faces and fun, new ideas!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This is an interesting day because it’s full of all kinds of possibilities — seeing new places, meeting new faces and being excited about new ideas! Without question, your daily routine will change. Stay light on your feet so that you can go with the flow!
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You might have some excellent money-making ideas. One thing is certain: If you are shopping, guard against impulse buying because you will want to do this today. (Keep your receipts.) Something unexpected might affect something you own or a particular possession.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This is a fast-paced exciting day for you because you are brimming with ideas and ready for anything! You will be quick to make decisions and quick to change your mind. You will also enjoy meeting characters and doing unusual things because you want fun and stimulation!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Something unusual might happen today. For example, a secret might come out. Very possibly, research will reveal unexpected answers or solutions to a problem. Meanwhile, you feel a bit restless because you have a feeling that you’re waiting for that other shoe to drop. Plonk!
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Expect to meet someone unusual and probably younger today, or perhaps it is someone who is a real character. Meanwhile, someone you know might surprise you by saying or doing something unexpected. You might impulsively join a group or accept a curious invitation.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
A boss, parent teacher or VIP might surprise you today. (Incidentally, this includes the police.) Or perhaps you will surprise someone with an inventive, creative idea. They might be impressed with your original input or your vision. It’s a fascinating day!
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Unexpected opportunities to travel might fall in your lap today. Or vice versa, if you are traveling, your plans might be changed, canceled or delayed. (Bummer!) You might also hear surprising news regarding colleges, universities or courses you were going to take. Could this be a new opportunity?
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Something unusual or unexpected might affect inheritances, shared property, taxes, debt or insurance issues today. You might receive a surprise gift. Or perhaps, something you expected did not arrive? Today’s a bit of a crapshoot.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is an interesting day to talk to partners and close friends because they will have something unusual to say. In fact, they might do something that throws you for a loop. (Expect a surprise.) They might even introduce you to someone unusual or different. Stay on your toes!
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Your work routine will be interrupted because everything is buzzing! People have new ideas and they’re ready to try new things. An exciting energy that encourages thinking outside of the box will prevail. Pet owners should make sure they are not surprised or caught off guard.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Parents should be extra vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for your kids. Meanwhile, this is a fun-loving day full of surprises! (However, guard against sports accidents.) Surprise invitations might come your way to do something unusual. Admittedly, planned social events might be canceled or changed.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Terence Stamp (1938) shares your birthday. You are sharp, clever and passionate! Sometimes you are suspicious about change. This year you will see that service to others, especially within your 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--2020-07-21--15 shot outside Gresham funeral home

15 shot outside Gresham funeral home

Fifteen people were shot Tuesday evening outside a funeral home in Gresham on the South Side — the largest number of victims in a single Chicago shooting in recent memory .
The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. as people left a funeral in the 1000 block of West 79th Street , Chicago Police First Deputy Supt .
Eric Carter said .
Several police evidence markers placed near spent bullet casings were lying outside the entrance to Rhodes Funeral Services on the north side of the block .
All told , Carter said , police recovered 60 of them .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area hospitals , Carter said .
Chicago fire officials said they were listed in conditions ranging from serious to critical .
All the victims ages range from 21 to 65-years-old , police said .
Police said they were investigating the motive and couldn ’ t say yet if the shootings were gang-related .
Carter said a black vehicle was speeding west on 79th Street when people inside began “ firing at attendees of a funeral.
” Some of those at the funeral returned gunfire with those in the vehicle .
The driver then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one person in the vehicle continued to shoot at the funeralgoers .
The driver soon crashed in the 7800 block of South Carpenter .
Those inside the vehicle ran off in different directions , though one “ person of interest ” was taken into custody and was being questioned by detectives Tuesday night , Carter said .
Sources said the funeral was for Donnie Weathersby , 31 , who was shot and killed last week in the 7400 block of South Stewart — about a mile and half northeast of where Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Chicago police squad car was assigned to guard the funeral home and was parked outside when the gunfire began .
Arnita Geder and Kenneth Hughes said they were in their home watching TV when they heard gunshots .
“ We went out in the street and all we saw was bodies just laying everywhere , ” Geder said .
“ They were shot up everywhere.
” “ We thought it was a war out here .
It ’ s ridiculous all the shooting that ’ s going on out here , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Tuesday night , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a Twitter post , “ When a person picks up a gun , we suffer as a city .
This can not be who we are.
“ “ Too many guns are on our streets and in the hands of people who should never possess them , ” Lightfoot continued .
“ These individuals will be held accountable .
I ask that anyone with information on this incident please come forward or submit a tip anonymously at http : //cpdtip.com.
” Tuesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single incidents of violence in modern Chicago history – leaving a tally more akin to a battleground in Afghanistan or Iraq than a city street .
A mass shooting in September 2013 horrified Chicagoans when 13 people , including a 3-year-old boy , were wounded in Cornell Park near 51st and Wood in Back of the Yards .
Six men were arrested in what police said was an act of revenge on behalf of Byron Champ , who had suffered a graze wound in a quarrel with gang rivals .
Champ , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting , fired into the park with an AK-47 while another man fired a handgun .
Champ is serving a 28-year prison term and the other five men got shorter sentences .
The potential violence associated with gang funerals has drawn the attention of the Chicago police for decades .
In late 2012 , a 21-year-old man was shot to death and another man was critically wounded in a shooting outside St. Columbanus Catholic Church across the street from A.A. Rayner & Sons Funeral Home in the 300 block of East 71st .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scrambled for cover during the shootings .
Then-police Supt .
Garry McCarthy said the violence and threats associated with funerals for gang members were “ out of control ” and ordered his officers to ramp up surveillance of them .
Other shootings involving funerals in the past decade have included a 2007 killing outside a funeral home on the South Side .
The feds said the Hobos street gang was responsible .
In 2004 , a cortege for a slain Latin Kings member even stopped to let someone in the procession shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police said at the time .
Tuesday ’ s mass shooting comes just one day after President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he was looking at sending federal agents to Chicago and other cities to combat crime .
“ We ’ re not going to let this happen in our country .
All run by liberal Democrats , ” the president said Monday .
That prompted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to say , “ We don ’ t need federal agents without any insignia taking people off the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has repeatedly bashed Chicago as an example of big cities unable to contain surges of violence this year .
Murders in Chicago are up almost 50 % compared with the same period of 2019 .
And on May 31 , Chicago suffered the single deadliest day in six decades , with 18 murders .
As violence has risen in recent months , police activity has fallen , with arrests , traffic stops and street stops far below 2019 levels , a Chicago Sun-Times analysis found .
Earlier this month , police Supt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new citywide unit to concentrate on crime hot spots .
Other such citywide units have been tried in the past , but were disbanded .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Fifteen people were shot Tuesday evening outside a funeral home in Gresham on the South Side — the largest number of victims in a single Chicago shooting in recent memory.
The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. as people left a funeral in the 1000 block of West 79th Street, Chicago Police First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter said.
Several police evidence markers placed near spent bullet casings were lying outside the entrance to Rhodes Funeral Services on the north side of the block. All told, Carter said, police recovered 60 of them.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The 15 victims were being treated at five area hospitals, Carter said. Chicago fire officials said they were listed in conditions ranging from serious to critical. All the victims ages range from 21 to 65-years-old, police said. Ten of them are women.
Police said they were investigating the motive and couldn’t say yet if the shootings were gang-related.
Carter said a black vehicle was speeding west on 79th Street when people inside began “firing at attendees of a funeral.” Some of those at the funeral returned gunfire with those in the vehicle. The driver then turned north onto Carpenter, while at least one person in the vehicle continued to shoot at the funeralgoers.
Warning: The following video contains graphic content.
@WGNNews WAS THE ONLY STATION GRANTED PERMISSION TO USE THIS VIDEO FROM IT'S OWNER.
This is from Tuesday's shooting outside a funeral @ 79th & Carpenter.
Several young children were standing around w/ adults, when gunfire erupts. This group runs and takes cover by a nearby car. pic.twitter.com/J271mL3uNI — Courtney Gousman (@cgousman) July 22, 2020
The driver soon crashed in the 7800 block of South Carpenter. Those inside the vehicle ran off in different directions, though one “person of interest” was taken into custody and was being questioned by detectives Tuesday night, Carter said.
Sources said the funeral was for Donnie Weathersby, 31, who was shot and killed last week in the 7400 block of South Stewart — about a mile and half northeast of where Tuesday’s shooting occurred.
Carter said a Chicago police squad car was assigned to guard the funeral home and was parked outside when the gunfire began.
Arnita Geder and Kenneth Hughes said they were in their home watching TV when they heard gunshots.
“We went out in the street and all we saw was bodies just laying everywhere,” Geder said. “They were shot up everywhere.”
“We thought it was a war out here. It’s ridiculous all the shooting that’s going on out here, it really has to stop,” she said.
Tuesday night, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a Twitter post, “When a person picks up a gun, we suffer as a city. This cannot be who we are.“
“Too many guns are on our streets and in the hands of people who should never possess them,” Lightfoot continued. “These individuals will be held accountable. I ask that anyone with information on this incident please come forward or submit a tip anonymously at http://cpdtip.com.”
Tuesday’s mass shooting is among the bloodiest single incidents of violence in modern Chicago history – leaving a tally more akin to a battleground in Afghanistan or Iraq than a city street.
A mass shooting in September 2013 horrified Chicagoans when 13 people, including a 3-year-old boy, were wounded in Cornell Park near 51st and Wood in Back of the Yards.
Six men were arrested in what police said was an act of revenge on behalf of Byron Champ, who had suffered a graze wound in a quarrel with gang rivals.
Champ, who was identified by prosecutors as organizing the shooting, fired into the park with an AK-47 while another man fired a handgun. Champ is serving a 28-year prison term and the other five men got shorter sentences.
The potential violence associated with gang funerals has drawn the attention of the Chicago police for decades.
In late 2012, a 21-year-old man was shot to death and another man was critically wounded in a shooting outside St. Columbanus Catholic Church across the street from A.A. Rayner & Sons Funeral Home in the 300 block of East 71st.
Hundreds of mourners were leaving the church and scrambled for cover during the shootings.
Then-police Supt. Garry McCarthy said the violence and threats associated with funerals for gang members were “out of control” and ordered his officers to ramp up surveillance of them.
Other shootings involving funerals in the past decade have included a 2007 killing outside a funeral home on the South Side. The feds said the Hobos street gang was responsible.
In 2004, a cortege for a slain Latin Kings member even stopped to let someone in the procession shoot a rival gang member on the street, police said at the time.
Tuesday’s mass shooting comes just one day after President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he was looking at sending federal agents to Chicago and other cities to combat crime.
“We’re not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats,” the president said Monday.
That prompted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to say, “We don’t need federal agents without any insignia taking people off the streets, I think, unlawfully.”
Trump has repeatedly bashed Chicago as an example of big cities unable to contain surges of violence this year. Murders in Chicago are up almost 50% compared with the same period of 2019. And on May 31, Chicago suffered the single deadliest day in six decades, with 18 murders. As violence has risen in recent months, police activity has fallen, with arrests, traffic stops and street stops far below 2019 levels, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis found.
Earlier this month, police Supt. David Brown announced the creation of a new citywide unit to concentrate on crime hot spots. Other such citywide units have been tried in the past, but were disbanded.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-21--Mick Jenkins to open drive-in concert series at Adler Planetarium lot

While the stage is quiet at Huntington Bank Pavilion , normally a hotbed of summer concerts , live music soon will ring out from the nearby parking lot of the Adler Planetarium .
The space is being dubbed the Lakeshore Drive-In , and planners are promising a series of live music and comedy events there for fans to enjoy from ( or near ) their cars .
The first , headlined by Chicago hip-hop artists Mick Jenkins and Ric Wilson , is scheduled for 7 p.m July 29 .
Cars will be limited to 200 at the site at 1632 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking space will be left open for social distancing .
Patrons may sit on or near their cars but must stay within their space unless going to or from the restrooms .
Anyone out of a car must wear a mask .
Outside food and drink are prohibited , but concessions will be delivered to patrons ordering through a touchless smartphone system .
Admission to next week ’ s show will cost $ 110 or $ 170 per car , with an addition $ 25 fee per passenger .
Tickets are on sale @ @ @ @

While the stage is quiet at Huntington Bank Pavilion, normally a hotbed of summer concerts, live music soon will ring out from the nearby parking lot of the Adler Planetarium.
The space is being dubbed the Lakeshore Drive-In, and planners are promising a series of live music and comedy events there for fans to enjoy from (or near) their cars. The first, headlined by Chicago hip-hop artists Mick Jenkins and Ric Wilson, is scheduled for 7 p.m July 29.
Cars will be limited to 200 at the site at 1632 S. Linn White Dr. Every other 12-foot-by-8-foot parking space will be left open for social distancing. Patrons may sit on or near their cars but must stay within their space unless going to or from the restrooms.
Anyone out of a car must wear a mask. Outside food and drink are prohibited, but concessions will be delivered to patrons ordering through a touchless smartphone system.
Admission to next week’s show will cost $110 or $170 per car, with an addition $25 fee per passenger. Tickets are on sale now at lsdrivein.com.
Artist management company Audisbliss is running the venue.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Gang feud likely cause of mass shooting at South Side funeral home, sources say

The mass shooting that wounded 15 people outside a South Side funeral home Tuesday night was most likely fueled by a longstanding war between two obscure gang factions , officials said .
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday , a Chevy Malibu pulled up to Rhodes Funeral Services in the 1000 block of West 79th Street and people in the car fired at funeralgoers on the sidewalk .
The victims were also carrying guns and shot back , police said .
The stolen Malibu crashed and the shooters ran away .
Violence-prevention activists said they warned the police about the potential for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference Tuesday night , CPD First Deputy Supt .
Eric Carter said the Gresham District Commander assigned a squad car to sit outside the funeral .
However on Wednesday , Supt .
David Brown said there were at least three police vehicles nearby .
Two squad cars and a tactical team were assigned because the funeral involved a victim of a suspected gang killing .
But those officers were powerless to stop the drive-by shooting , said Brendan Deenihan , chief of detectives .
Surveillance video is “ not graphic enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three people in the Malibu , two of whom were shooters , Deenihan said .
“ People know they were going to do this .
It wasn ’ t just random .
... We believe that there ’ s individuals out in the community and out in the crowd who know the shooters , ” he said , echoing the mayor and police superintendent in asking for help from the public .
Late Tuesday , surveillance footage of the shooting was taken from a nearby laundromat and posted on the social media site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show the shooters , but booming gunfire is heard for several seconds as terrified people sprint east on 79th Street to get to safety .
Rev .
Michael Pfleger , whose St. Sabina Church is blocks away from Tuesday ’ s mass shooting , said he was told the violence was the result of a conflict between rival Gangster Disciples factions .
The funeral was for Donnie Weathersby , 31 , who died in a July 14 drive-by shooting in the 7400 block of South Stewart in Englewood , about a mile and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Gresham .
One theory is that Weathersby ’ s killing was retaliation for the fatal shooting one day earlier of 21-year-old Tremoni Pace in the 8000 block of South Stewart in Gresham , law-enforcement sources said .
Weathersby was believed to be a part of the Wuga World faction and Pace , part of the Face World faction , neither of which are well-known — even to some Chicago police officers .
The gang factions have been feuding for a long time , sources said .
Weathersby had served prison time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him as having ties to the Gangster Disciples , but Pace doesn ’ t appear to have a criminal record .
At a news conference with the mayor Wednesday , Brown said Chicago has 117,000 gang members divided into 55 major gangs and 747 factions with 2,500 “ subsets of those factions.
” Any day of the week , any hour of the day , Chicago has “ several hundred gang conflicts , ” he said , and the cycle repeats : someone is shot and someone else “ picks up a gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violence ends when people reach for a phone to call detectives with information about crimes like Tuesday ’ s mass shooting .
“ It ends when someone does not reach for a gun , ” Brown said .
“ That ’ s real justice — not revenge .
”

The mass shooting that wounded 15 people outside a South Side funeral home Tuesday night was most likely fueled by a longstanding war between two obscure gang factions, officials said.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Chevy Malibu pulled up to Rhodes Funeral Services in the 1000 block of West 79th Street and people in the car fired at funeralgoers on the sidewalk. The victims were also carrying guns and shot back, police said. The stolen Malibu crashed and the shooters ran away.
Violence-prevention activists said they warned the police about the potential for violence at the funeral. At a press conference Tuesday night, CPD First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter said the Gresham District Commander assigned a squad car to sit outside the funeral. However on Wednesday, Supt. David Brown said there were at least three police vehicles nearby. Two squad cars and a tactical team were assigned because the funeral involved a victim of a suspected gang killing.
But those officers were powerless to stop the drive-by shooting, said Brendan Deenihan, chief of detectives.
Not random
Surveillance video is “not graphic enough to give us personal identifiers” of the three people in the Malibu, two of whom were shooters, Deenihan said.
“People know they were going to do this. It wasn’t just random. ... We believe that there’s individuals out in the community and out in the crowd who know the shooters,” he said, echoing the mayor and police superintendent in asking for help from the public.
Late Tuesday, surveillance footage of the shooting was taken from a nearby laundromat and posted on the social media site Reddit. The footage doesn’t show the shooters, but booming gunfire is heard for several seconds as terrified people sprint east on 79th Street to get to safety.
Rev. Michael Pfleger, whose St. Sabina Church is blocks away from Tuesday’s mass shooting, said he was told the violence was the result of a conflict between rival Gangster Disciples factions.
Donnie Weathersby. Chicago police arrest photo
The funeral was for Donnie Weathersby, 31, who died in a July 14 drive-by shooting in the 7400 block of South Stewart in Englewood, about a mile and a half northeast of the funeral home in Gresham.
One theory is that Weathersby’s killing was retaliation for the fatal shooting one day earlier of 21-year-old Tremoni Pace in the 8000 block of South Stewart in Gresham, law-enforcement sources said.
Weathersby was believed to be a part of the Wuga World faction and Pace, part of the Face World faction, neither of which are well-known — even to some Chicago police officers. The gang factions have been feuding for a long time, sources said.
Weathersby had served prison time for a gun-possession conviction and police records identify him as having ties to the Gangster Disciples, but Pace doesn’t appear to have a criminal record.
Top cop: End cycle of violence
At a news conference with the mayor Wednesday, Brown said Chicago has 117,000 gang members divided into 55 major gangs and 747 factions with 2,500 “subsets of those factions.”
Any day of the week, any hour of the day, Chicago has “several hundred gang conflicts,” he said, and the cycle repeats: someone is shot and someone else “picks up a gun and retaliates.”
He said that cycle of violence ends when people reach for a phone to call detectives with information about crimes like Tuesday’s mass shooting.
“It ends when someone does not reach for a gun,” Brown said. “That’s real justice — not revenge.”
Contributing: Fran Spielman


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Pritzker calls out ‘virus deniers’ as Illinois COVID-19 cases rise again (LIVE UPDATES)

Pritzker blames ‘ virus deniers ’ as state sees highest daily COVID-19 caseload since early June : ‘ The enemy is you ’ Illinois sees its worst day for new coronavirus cases in more than seven weeks , the testing positivity rate steadily rises — and Gov .
J.B. Pritzker sees only one place to point the finger .
“ The enemy is not your mask .
If you ’ re not wearing a mask in public , you ’ re endangering everyone around you , so the enemy is you , ” the Democratic governor said Wednesday .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois could soon see a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 cases if residents — and “ virus-deniers ” — don ’ t take precautions more seriously .
“ The deadly nature of this virus is not a hoax .
Choosing to go out in public without a mask is not a political statement , ” Pritzker said during a Loop news conference .
“ It demonstrates a callous disregard for the people in your community and in your county and in our state and in our nation.
” A week after expressing worry over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases , Pritzker said “ our numbers now appear to be gradually rising , and that ’ s very concerning.
” The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed an additional 1,598 cases of the virus statewide on Wednesday , the highest total announced in a single day since early June .
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here .
6:53 p.m. CPS rethinking plan to keep high school juniors and seniors at home this fall Chicago Public Schools is considering backing off a proposal to keep high school juniors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall as the rest of the district moves to partial in-classroom instruction .
Last week , CPS announced a “ preliminary framework ” that called on most students to return to school two days a week , but that had 11th and 12th graders starting the fall with online classes only .
But this week , schools chief Janice Jackson said parents should “ stay tuned ” on that component of the plan .
“ We thought that that was the best approach , it was our best thinking on that day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been hearing from parents of 11th and 12th graders , that is something that we ’ re going to go back and look at , ” Jackson said during a live-streamed conversation with Alison Arwady , the city health commissioner .
Arwady said officials would rethink reopening schools at all if Chicago reaches 400 new cases per day .
Chicago hasn ’ t had a daily case count over 400 since May , but health officials have warned the city could be headed back in that direction if precautions aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7-day average is around 230 cases .
5:46 p.m .
US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $ 2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is developing , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday .
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement , Azar said .
“ Now those would , of course , have to be safe and effective ” and approved by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an appearance on Fox News .
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly .
It is the latest in a series of similar agreements with other vaccine companies .
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program , under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously .
The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep high school juniors and seniors at home this fall Chicago Public Schools is considering backing off a proposal to keep high school juniors and seniors in full-time remote learning in the fall as the rest of the district moves to partial in-classroom instruction .
Schools chief Janice Jackson said parents should “ stay tuned ” on that component of the plan for fall learning , which still could be entirely changed if the city sees another COVID-19 outbreak .
“ We thought that that was the best approach , it was our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the overwhelming response that I ’ ve been hearing from parents of 11th and 12th graders , that is something that we ’ re going to go back and look at , ” Jackson said during a live-streamed conversation with Alison Arwady , the city health commissioner , this week .
As for the remainder of students who would return for at least two days of instruction per week in the fall , Arwady said officials would rethink reopening schools if Chicago reaches 400 new cases per day .
Chicago hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 since May , but health officials have warned the city could be headed back in that direction if precautions aren ’ t taken .
Chicago ’ s rolling 7-day average is around 230 cases .
WASHINGTON — Laboratories across the U.S. are buckling under a surge of coronavirus tests , creating long processing delays that experts say are actually undercutting the pandemic response .
With the U.S. tally of infections at 3.9 million Wednesday and new cases surging , the bottlenecks are creating problems for workers kept off the job while awaiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus out and for the labs themselves , dealing with a crushing workload .
Some labs are taking weeks to return COVID-19 results , exacerbating fears that asymptomatic people could be spreading the virus if they don ’ t isolate while they wait .
“ There ’ s been this obsession with how many tests are we doing per day ” said Dr. Tom Frieden , a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ The question is how many tests are being done with results coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested is promptly isolated and their contacts are promptly warned.
” INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will have a statewide face mask mandate starting next week , joining many other states in the attempt to slow the coronavirus spread , Gov .
Eric Holcomb said Wednesday .
The order will apply to anyone ages 8 and older in any indoor public or business areas and at outdoor public spaces when sufficient distancing can ’ t be maintained .
The order will take effect Monday .
Holcomb said his order will also require masks in schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , teachers and other employees .
Holcomb said a renewed growth in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations necessitated the mask order .
He said he did not want Indiana to have to follow other states and restore business restrictions that had been lifted in the past couple months .
Officials in Indiana ’ s second-largest county and one of the largest Indianapolis suburbs have adopted face mask mandates for residents and businesses in an attempt to s low the coronavirus spread .
The mandates throughout northwestern Indiana ’ s Lake County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the city of Fishers just northeast of Indianapolis will take effect Friday .
Those areas join a growing lists of cities and counties across the state imposing mask requirements .
Republican Gov .
Eric Holcomb has declined to issue a statewide mandate even while encouraging face masks as the state has seen recent growth in the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations .
Lake County ’ s health department issued the requirement for mouth and nose face covering inside a businesses or other public places where people can not maintain at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in Gary and Merrillville , both in Lake County , adopted similar orders .
Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella said council members had discussed requiring masks for about a month .
“ There ’ s a lot of different opinions about it , but our thoughts were , ’ Hey , if it could prevent someone from getting sick , it ’ s just well worth it , ” Bella said .
A mask requirement will also take effect Wednesday in rural northern Indiana ’ s Starke County .
Similar orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indianapolis , Evansville and West Lafayette , along with LaPorte , St. Joseph , Elkhart and LaGrange counties in northern Indiana and Monroe County , which includes Bloomington and Indiana University ’ s main campus .
8:40 a.m. Auburn Gresham residents frustrated by weeks of missing mail delivery Lashann Walker spent more than an hour Tuesday morning picking up her mail at her local post office in Auburn Gresham .
She had to .
It hadn ’ t been delivered to her home for three weeks .
“ I ’ ve been expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t come in yet , ” Walker said outside the Auburn Park branch post office , 8345 S. Ashland Ave .
The post office “ didn ’ t inform me that they were running behind and if they did , I would ’ ve been here a long time ago , ” Walker added .
“ Even now when I picked up my mail they still didn ’ t tell me when I will get some more mail .
Like , will I have to come back up here every day ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is causing home delivery delays in the South Side neighborhood ; Walker was among half a dozen residents interviewed by the Sun-Times who told similar stories .
The problems have gotten the attention of the local congressman , U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush , who said his office has been bombarded with complaints .
Read the full report from Manny Ramos here .
Walmart stores will be closed this Thanksgiving , the retailer announced Tuesday .
In a memo to employees , Walmart U.S. president and CEO John Furner announced another bonus for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition and close for the holiday , which usually is the start of the holiday shopping season and Black Friday weekend .
“ We know holiday shopping will be different this year , and we will be managing sales events differently , ” Furner wrote .
” Our best ideas come from our associates , and this year we have decided to close our stores on Thanksgiving Day – November 26.
” Walmart stores haven ’ t closed on Thanksgiving since the late 1980s , the company told USA TODAY .
Christmas is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations close .
• Carlos Rosas , the friendly manager of popular fish shack Calumet Fisheries , has died of the coronavirus .
He was 41 .
• Illinois ’ coronavirus testing positivity rate crept upward once more with the latest batch of 955 confirmed cases statewide , officials said Tuesday .
The new cases were detected among 29,745 test results , raising the state ’ s rolling positivity rate over the last week to 3.1 % , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
8:03 a.m.
It ’ s good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard to view it as an escape in these tumultuous times In case you haven ’ t noticed , these are crazy times .
And I must apologize , but as a veteran sportswriter , I was just plain bored watching on TV the two Cubs-White Sox exhibition games from empty Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field .
Do you know how packed those places would have been for those tuneups Sunday and Monday ?
Oh , man , it would have been a carnival at each place .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horticulture Zoom meeting outdoors .
Little League games , sandlot games , even old-man , slow-pitch softball games have more color , more drama , more noise than these things .
Luis Robert , as thrilling a rookie as we ’ ve had in town for years , fans in his first at-bat , rips a screaming double later , and what do we hear ?
The political , social , entertainment , education , health , sports and civil-rights elements of our world have gone haywire and coalesced into a big ball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurs to all of us at increasing moments of anxiety and distress , we ’ ll have to live like this .
Staying away from other humans ?
Wearing masks ?
Never assembling in joyful crowds ?
Tearing down everything that once seemed stable and secure ?
Dear God .
Tell me this : What in your life is stable ?
What is the way it was in 2019 ?
Read the full column from Rick Telander here .

Any Chicagoans hoping to escape wearing a mask in nearby Indiana will need to rethink their travel plans. Indiana now has a state-wide mask mandate, set to start next Monday.
That’s not all that happened in coronavirus-related news. Here’s what else happened Wednesday in Chicago and Illinois.
News
9 p.m. Pritzker promises millions to expand COVID-19 contact tracing in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker adjusts his mask during a press conference at the National Able Network offices at 1700 West 18th St. in Heart of Chicago, Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state will provide tens of millions of dollars in additional funding to public health departments and community organizations to help expand COVID-19 contact tracing across the state.
The pledge comes as the state announced the highest single-day total for coronavirus cases since early June.
Pritzker has been promisingsince April that he would step up efforts to track people potentially exposed to coronavirus patients. The practice, which involves tracking down people who were in contact with those who test positive, is regarded by health officials as key to limiting the virus’ spread and instrumental in saving lives.
“Contact tracing allows us to break the chain of transmission to prevent large outbreaks and, ultimately save lives,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement.
Pritzker is pledging more than $150 million to public health departments outside Cook County to help them bolster their contact tracing efforts. Another $60 million will be given to nine community organizations, also outside Cook, that will coordinate regional tracking efforts, state public health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.
Reporter Brett Chase has the full story.
7:54 p.m. Pritzker blames ‘virus deniers’ as state sees highest daily COVID-19 caseload since early June: ‘The enemy is you’
Illinois sees its worst day for new coronavirus cases in more than seven weeks, the testing positivity rate steadily rises — and Gov. J.B. Pritzker sees only one place to point the finger.
“The enemy is not your mask. If you’re not wearing a mask in public, you’re endangering everyone around you, so the enemy is you,” the Democratic governor said Wednesday.
It was his most dire warning yet that Illinois could soon see a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 cases if residents — and “virus-deniers” — don’t take precautions more seriously.
“The deadly nature of this virus is not a hoax. Choosing to go out in public without a mask is not a political statement,” Pritzker said during a Loop news conference. “It demonstrates a callous disregard for the people in your community and in your county and in our state and in our nation.”
A week after expressing worry over a “mild uptick” in Illinois coronavirus cases, Pritzker said “our numbers now appear to be gradually rising, and that’s very concerning.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed an additional 1,598 cases of the virus statewide on Wednesday, the highest total announced in a single day since early June.
Read the full story from reporter Mitchell Armentrout here.
6:53 p.m. CPS rethinking plan to keep high school juniors and seniors at home this fall
Chicago Public Schools is considering backing off a proposal to keep high school juniors and seniors in full-time remote learning in the fall as the rest of the district moves to partial in-classroom instruction.
Last week, CPS announced a “preliminary framework” that called on most students to return to school two days a week, but that had 11th and 12th graders starting the fall with online classes only.
But this week, schools chief Janice Jackson said parents should “stay tuned” on that component of the plan.
“We thought that that was the best approach, it was our best thinking on that day, but given the overwhelming response that I’ve been hearing from parents of 11th and 12th graders, that is something that we’re going to go back and look at,” Jackson said during a live-streamed conversation with Alison Arwady, the city health commissioner.
Arwady said officials would rethink reopening schools at all if Chicago reaches 400 new cases per day. Chicago hasn’t had a daily case count over 400 since May, but health officials have warned the city could be headed back in that direction if precautions aren’t taken. Chicago’s rolling 7-day average is around 230 cases.
Reporter Nader Issa has the full story.
5:46 p.m. US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is developing, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday.
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement, Azar said.
“Now those would, of course, have to be safe and effective” and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Azar said during an appearance on Fox News.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly. It is the latest in a series of similar agreements with other vaccine companies.
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously. The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021.
Read the full story here.
4:50 p.m. CPS rethinking plan to keep high school juniors and seniors at home this fall
Chicago Public Schools is considering backing off a proposal to keep high school juniors and seniors in full-time remote learning in the fall as the rest of the district moves to partial in-classroom instruction.
Schools chief Janice Jackson said parents should “stay tuned” on that component of the plan for fall learning, which still could be entirely changed if the city sees another COVID-19 outbreak.
“We thought that that was the best approach, it was our best thinking on that day, but given the overwhelming response that I’ve been hearing from parents of 11th and 12th graders, that is something that we’re going to go back and look at,” Jackson said during a live-streamed conversation with Alison Arwady, the city health commissioner, this week.
As for the remainder of students who would return for at least two days of instruction per week in the fall, Arwady said officials would rethink reopening schools if Chicago reaches 400 new cases per day. Chicago hasn’t had a daily case count over 400 since May, but health officials have warned the city could be headed back in that direction if precautions aren’t taken. Chicago’s rolling 7-day average is around 230 cases.
Read the full story here.
3:59 p.m. US labs struggle amid massive testing surge; world virus cases top 15M
WASHINGTON — Laboratories across the U.S. are buckling under a surge of coronavirus tests, creating long processing delays that experts say are actually undercutting the pandemic response.
With the U.S. tally of infections at 3.9 million Wednesday and new cases surging, the bottlenecks are creating problems for workers kept off the job while awaiting results, nursing homes struggling to keep the virus out and for the labs themselves, dealing with a crushing workload.
Some labs are taking weeks to return COVID-19 results, exacerbating fears that asymptomatic people could be spreading the virus if they don’t isolate while they wait.
“There’s been this obsession with how many tests are we doing per day” said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The question is how many tests are being done with results coming back within a day, where the individual tested is promptly isolated and their contacts are promptly warned.”
Read the full story here.
3:10 p.m. Indiana governor imposing statewide face mask order starting Monday
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will have a statewide face mask mandate starting next week, joining many other states in the attempt to slow the coronavirus spread, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday.
The order will apply to anyone ages 8 and older in any indoor public or business areas and at outdoor public spaces when sufficient distancing can’t be maintained. The order will take effect Monday.
Holcomb said his order will also require masks in schools for grades 3 and above by students, teachers and other employees.
Holcomb said a renewed growth in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations necessitated the mask order. He said he did not want Indiana to have to follow other states and restore business restrictions that had been lifted in the past couple months.
Read the full story here.
1:57 p.m. Mask mandates spread across Indiana
Officials in Indiana’s second-largest county and one of the largest Indianapolis suburbs have adopted face mask mandates for residents and businesses in an attempt to s low the coronavirus spread.
The mandates throughout northwestern Indiana’s Lake County took effect Monday, while the order for the city of Fishers just northeast of Indianapolis will take effect Friday.
Those areas join a growing lists of cities and counties across the state imposing mask requirements. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has declined to issue a statewide mandate even while encouraging face masks as the state has seen recent growth in the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
Lake County’s health department issued the requirement for mouth and nose face covering inside a businesses or other public places where people cannot maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing. Municipal officials in Gary and Merrillville, both in Lake County, adopted similar orders.
Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella said council members had discussed requiring masks for about a month.
“There’s a lot of different opinions about it, but our thoughts were, ’Hey, if it could prevent someone from getting sick, it’s just well worth it,” Bella said.
A mask requirement will also take effect Wednesday in rural northern Indiana’s Starke County. Similar orders have been issued for the cities of Indianapolis, Evansville and West Lafayette, along with LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart and LaGrange counties in northern Indiana and Monroe County, which includes Bloomington and Indiana University’s main campus.
Read the full report here.
8:40 a.m. Auburn Gresham residents frustrated by weeks of missing mail delivery
Lashann Walker spent more than an hour Tuesday morning picking up her mail at her local post office in Auburn Gresham.
She had to. It hadn’t been delivered to her home for three weeks.
“I’ve been expecting a lot of mail that just hasn’t come in yet,” Walker said outside the Auburn Park branch post office, 8345 S. Ashland Ave.
The post office “didn’t inform me that they were running behind and if they did, I would’ve been here a long time ago,” Walker added. “Even now when I picked up my mail they still didn’t tell me when I will get some more mail. Like, will I have to come back up here every day?”
It’s not exactly clear what is causing home delivery delays in the South Side neighborhood; Walker was among half a dozen residents interviewed by the Sun-Times who told similar stories.
The problems have gotten the attention of the local congressman, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, who said his office has been bombarded with complaints.
Read the full report from Manny Ramos here.
8:19 a.m. Anticipating a ‘different’ holiday season amid pandemic, Walmart to remain closed Thanksgiving
Walmart stores will be closed this Thanksgiving, the retailer announced Tuesday.
In a memo to employees, Walmart U.S. president and CEO John Furner announced another bonus for employees and that stores will break from tradition and close for the holiday, which usually is the start of the holiday shopping season and Black Friday weekend.
“We know holiday shopping will be different this year, and we will be managing sales events differently,” Furner wrote. ”Our best ideas come from our associates, and this year we have decided to close our stores on Thanksgiving Day – November 26.”
Walmart stores haven’t closed on Thanksgiving since the late 1980s, the company told USA TODAY. Christmas is the only day each year most Walmart locations close.
Read the full report here.
New cases
Carlos Rosas, the friendly manager of popular fish shack Calumet Fisheries, has died of the coronavirus. He was 41.
Illinois’ coronavirus testing positivity rate crept upward once more with the latest batch of 955 confirmed cases statewide, officials said Tuesday. The new cases were detected among 29,745 test results, raising the state’s rolling positivity rate over the last week to 3.1%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Analysis & Commentary
8:03 a.m. It’s good to have baseball back, but it’s hard to view it as an escape in these tumultuous times
In case you haven’t noticed, these are crazy times.
And I must apologize, but as a veteran sportswriter, I was just plain bored watching on TV the two Cubs-White Sox exhibition games from empty Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field.
Do you know how packed those places would have been for those tuneups Sunday and Monday? Oh, man, it would have been a carnival at each place. Instead, it was like tuning in to a horticulture Zoom meeting outdoors.
Little League games, sandlot games, even old-man, slow-pitch softball games have more color, more drama, more noise than these things. Luis Robert, as thrilling a rookie as we’ve had in town for years, fans in his first at-bat, rips a screaming double later, and what do we hear?
Nothing.
The political, social, entertainment, education, health, sports and civil-rights elements of our world have gone haywire and coalesced into a big ball of confusion.
Maybe, the thought occurs to all of us at increasing moments of anxiety and distress, we’ll have to live like this.
Staying away from other humans? Wearing masks? Never assembling in joyful crowds? Tearing down everything that once seemed stable and secure? Dear God.
Tell me this: What in your life is stable? What is the way it was in 2019?
Read the full column from Rick Telander here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Police release video of fatal Loop shooting

Police released images and video Wednesday of a shooting in the Loop that left a Maywood man dead and a woman wounded .
The attack happened about 2:34 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of North Wabash Avenue , Chicago police said .
In the video , a group of people can be seen walking on the Wabash Avenue bridge .
A few of them appear to look across the street as a man wearing black pants and a black shirt pulls out a gun .
Moments later , the man opens fire and another man behind him appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots as well .
People on the bridge can be seen ducking and dropping to the ground as the shooting unfolds .
A 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were traveling in a vehicle when gunfire erupted , police said .
The man , Gregory Crawford , was shot in the neck and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital , where he died , according to police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
The woman was struck in the arms and taken to the same hospital .
Police are looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are seen in the video .
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8261 .

Police released images and video Wednesday of a shooting in the Loop that left a Maywood man dead and a woman wounded.
The attack happened about 2:34 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of North Wabash Avenue, Chicago police said.
In the video, a group of people can be seen walking on the Wabash Avenue bridge. A few of them appear to look across the street as a man wearing black pants and a black shirt pulls out a gun.
Moments later, the man opens fire and another man behind him appears to pull out his own gun and fire shots as well. People on the bridge can be seen ducking and dropping to the ground as the shooting unfolds.
A 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were traveling in a vehicle when gunfire erupted, police said.
The man, Gregory Crawford, was shot in the neck and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The woman was struck in the arms and taken to the same hospital.
Images released by police of two gunmen in a fatal shooting July 19, 2020, in the 300 block of North Wabash Avenue. Chicago Police Department
Police are looking to identify the gunman or any witnesses that are seen in the video.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8261.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Pritzker promises millions to expand COVID-19 contact tracing in Illinois

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said the state will provide tens of millions of dollars in additional funding to public health departments and community organizations to help expand COVID-19 contact tracing across the state .
The pledge comes as the state announced the highest single-day total for coronavirus cases since early June .
Pritzker has been promising since April that he would step up efforts to track people potentially exposed to coronavirus patients .
The practice , which involves tracking down people who were in contact with those who test positive , is regarded by health officials as key to limiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saving lives .
“ Contact tracing allows us to break the chain of transmission to prevent large outbreaks and , ultimately save lives , ” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement .
Pritzker is pledging more than $ 150 million to public health departments outside Cook County to help them bolster their contact tracing efforts .
Another $ 60 million will be given to nine community organizations , also outside Cook , that will coordinate regional tracking efforts , state public health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local groups to help reach “ hard to reach ” populations , including various ethnic groups , the homeless , migrant workers and others “ leery of talking ” with the government , Arnold said .
Included in the funding , Lake and DuPage Counties will each get $ 4.9 million for their tracing programs .
For Lake , that will help the county hire 100 case investigators and contact tracers , said Sara Zamor , associate director of prevention at the Lake County Health Department .
Lake County has had more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The health department now has 60 people dedicated to contact tracing who have tried to reach out to every person infected , Zamor said .
Even as Lake County is seeing fewer new cases from its peak , “ this money is coming at the right time , ” Zamor said , citing concerns about the potential for an increase in cases .
In addition to Lake and DuPage , Evanston and Skokie health departments each will receive almost $ 818,000 apiece from the state for contact tracing , Arnold said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
Cook County previously announced $ 41 million in funding from the state health department , which is funneled from federal dollars .
The state provided $ 20 million to the City of Chicago ’ s $ 56 million contact tracing program .
Brett Chase ’ s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust .

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state will provide tens of millions of dollars in additional funding to public health departments and community organizations to help expand COVID-19 contact tracing across the state.
The pledge comes as the state announced the highest single-day total for coronavirus cases since early June.
Pritzker has been promising since April that he would step up efforts to track people potentially exposed to coronavirus patients. The practice, which involves tracking down people who were in contact with those who test positive, is regarded by health officials as key to limiting the virus’ spread and instrumental in saving lives.
“Contact tracing allows us to break the chain of transmission to prevent large outbreaks and, ultimately save lives,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement.
Pritzker is pledging more than $150 million to public health departments outside Cook County to help them bolster their contact tracing efforts. Another $60 million will be given to nine community organizations, also outside Cook, that will coordinate regional tracking efforts, state public health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.
The community organizations will contract with local groups to help reach “hard to reach” populations, including various ethnic groups, the homeless, migrant workers and others “leery of talking” with the government, Arnold said.
Included in the funding, Lake and DuPage Counties will each get $4.9 million for their tracing programs.
For Lake, that will help the county hire 100 case investigators and contact tracers, said Sara Zamor, associate director of prevention at the Lake County Health Department.
Lake County has had more than 10,000 reported cases of COVID-19, she said. The health department now has 60 people dedicated to contact tracing who have tried to reach out to every person infected, Zamor said.
Even as Lake County is seeing fewer new cases from its peak, “this money is coming at the right time,” Zamor said, citing concerns about the potential for an increase in cases.
In addition to Lake and DuPage, Evanston and Skokie health departments each will receive almost $818,000 apiece from the state for contact tracing, Arnold said. Stickney will receive almost $677,000, she said.
Cook County previously announced $41 million in funding from the state health department, which is funneled from federal dollars. The state provided $20 million to the City of Chicago’s $56 million contact tracing program.
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--Indiana governor imposing statewide face mask order starting Monday

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will have a statewide face mask mandate starting next week , joining many other states in similar orders aimed at slowing the coronavirus spread , Gov .
Eric Holcomb said Wednesday .
The Indiana order will take effect Monday and apply to anyone ages 8 and older in any indoor public or business areas and at outdoor public spaces when sufficient distancing can ’ t be maintained .
Holcomb said his order will also require masks in schools for grades 3 and above by students , teachers and other employees , but that he would leave decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Republican governor had resisted a statewide order as similar mask mandates were imposed in recent weeks for a growing number of Indiana cities , including Indianapolis , Evansville , South Bend , Gary , Bloomington and West Lafayette .
All of Indiana ’ s neighboring states will also have mask mandates once one announced Wednesday by Ohio ’ s governor takes effect Thursday evening .
Holcomb said a renewed growth in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across Indiana necessitated the mask order after he had started easing business and travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want businesses to stay open , we want more Hoosiers to continue this trend of going back safely to work , ” Holcomb said .
“ We don ’ t want to dial it back or put it in reverse or , as some are , shutting down again.
” The head of the state ’ s largest business organization called the mask mandate “ a necessary step at this time in continuing to reopen Indiana safely.
” “ Our economy will not be on the full road to recovery until some certainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar said .
“ The wearing of masks is a proven strategy for protecting others and enhancing our health — both physical and economic.
” Holcomb said widespread mask use will also help in school reopenings , saying “ There is no more important task before us ” than returning students to class .
“ We ’ re asking our kids and their teachers to mask up and our kids should not be getting mixed messages throughout the day , ” he said .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see that everyone is doing what they ’ re doing.
” Democratic governor candidate Woody Myers , a physician and former state health commissioner , called for a statewide mask order on July 1 and faulted Holcomb for not acting sooner .
“ Governor Eric Holcomb stalled for months , caving to the anti-science conservatives — taking action only when every single state surrounding us implemented a mask order , ” Myers said in a statement .
Holcomb repeated his support for allowing fans to attend the rescheduled Indianapolis 500 at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety plan Wednesday for the Aug. 23 race .
Coronavirus hospitalizations jumped by 66 people to 869 as of Tuesday — a figure that ’ s plunged since peaking in mid-April but has curved back up since late June , according to the state health department .
Indiana ’ s ICU cases grew by 61 people to 328 on Tuesday , up from the low 200s two weeks earlier .
Health officials also reported 17 more deaths of people with confirmed or presumed COVID-19 infections , raising the state ’ s death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred people attended a weekend protest at the Statehouse against mask mandates and other restrictions imposed since the coronavirus outbreak swept across the country in March .
Holcomb pointed to President Donald Trump ’ s description of mask wearing as “ patriotic ” this week in defending his decision .
He also said while violating the mask order was potentially a misdemeanor crime , the “ mask police will not be patrolling Hoosier streets.
” Holcomb urged an end to the “ cavalier behavior ” by many people of not wearing face coverings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is nothing that I wanted to do , ” he said .
“ This is not about what I want to do or wished would be .
This is what the reality is .
”

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will have a statewide face mask mandate starting next week, joining many other states in similar orders aimed at slowing the coronavirus spread, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday.
The Indiana order will take effect Monday and apply to anyone ages 8 and older in any indoor public or business areas and at outdoor public spaces when sufficient distancing can’t be maintained.
Holcomb said his order will also require masks in schools for grades 3 and above by students, teachers and other employees, but that he would leave decisions on reopening schools to local officials.
The Republican governor had resisted a statewide order as similar mask mandates were imposed in recent weeks for a growing number of Indiana cities, including Indianapolis, Evansville, South Bend, Gary, Bloomington and West Lafayette. All of Indiana’s neighboring states will also have mask mandates once one announced Wednesday by Ohio’s governor takes effect Thursday evening.
Holcomb said a renewed growth in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across Indiana necessitated the mask order after he had started easing business and travel restrictions in early May.
“We want businesses to stay open, we want more Hoosiers to continue this trend of going back safely to work,” Holcomb said. “We don’t want to dial it back or put it in reverse or, as some are, shutting down again.”
The head of the state’s largest business organization called the mask mandate “a necessary step at this time in continuing to reopen Indiana safely.”
“Our economy will not be on the full road to recovery until some certainty is brought to this uncontrolled pandemic,” Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar said. “The wearing of masks is a proven strategy for protecting others and enhancing our health — both physical and economic.”
Holcomb said widespread mask use will also help in school reopenings, saying “There is no more important task before us” than returning students to class.
“We’re asking our kids and their teachers to mask up and our kids should not be getting mixed messages throughout the day,” he said. “When they leave school grounds, they need to see that everyone is doing what they’re doing.”
Democratic governor candidate Woody Myers, a physician and former state health commissioner, called for a statewide mask order on July 1 and faulted Holcomb for not acting sooner.
“Governor Eric Holcomb stalled for months, caving to the anti-science conservatives — taking action only when every single state surrounding us implemented a mask order,” Myers said in a statement.
Holcomb repeated his support for allowing fans to attend the rescheduled Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which released a safety plan Wednesday for the Aug. 23 race.
Coronavirus hospitalizations jumped by 66 people to 869 as of Tuesday — a figure that’s plunged since peaking in mid-April but has curved back up since late June, according to the state health department. Indiana’s ICU cases grew by 61 people to 328 on Tuesday, up from the low 200s two weeks earlier.
Health officials also reported 17 more deaths of people with confirmed or presumed COVID-19 infections, raising the state’s death toll to 2,863 since mid-March.
A couple hundred people attended a weekend protest at the Statehouse against mask mandates and other restrictions imposed since the coronavirus outbreak swept across the country in March.
Holcomb pointed to President Donald Trump’s description of mask wearing as “patriotic” this week in defending his decision. He also said while violating the mask order was potentially a misdemeanor crime, the “mask police will not be patrolling Hoosier streets.”
Holcomb urged an end to the “cavalier behavior” by many people of not wearing face coverings when in crowded places.
“This is nothing that I wanted to do,” he said. “This is not about what I want to do or wished would be. This is what the reality is.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--$900,000 grant backs home renovations in Pullman

Backed by a $ 900,000 grant from the city ’ s Housing Department , developers are expected to begin renovating 35 vacant rowhomes in Pullman , a deal that combines historic preservation with the push for affordable housing .
The grant will be awarded to Area Wide Realty so it can buy 30 of the homes — 17 from the community developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and 13 from the Cook County Land Bank Authority .
CNI will retain five others and rehab them .
The City Council approved the grant Wednesday .
Most of the homes are in the 10500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10600 block of South Champlain Avenue and the 10700 block of South Langley Avenue .
The properties cover almost all of the vacant rowhomes left in a neglected area of North Pullman , said David Doig , president of CNI .
He said he hopes the first group of gut rehabs can be completed early in 2021 .
The homes will be priced at about $ 120,000 and sold to people earning from 80 % to 120 % of the area ’ s median income .
For a family of four , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 91,000 a year , according to Housing Department data .
For a single person , it ’ s $ 63,700 .
Area Wide Realty , which has renovated homes throughout the South Side , will work on its properties with private financing .
The homes are near the federally designated Pullman National Monument .
Doig said the city ’ s involvement ensures that a section of Pullman ’ s historic residential district will be preserved .
He had tried for years to put together a deal involving tax credits , but couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pullman , the housing has special significance , ” Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara said .
“ Built more than 100 years ago but left to languish in the late 1990s , like Pullman itself the housing has ‘ good bones , ’ is sturdy and ready to meet the housing needs of this century ’ s occupants.
” Ald .
Anthony Beale , whose 9th Ward include Pullman , said the deal builds on other projects that have expanded the neighborhood ’ s business base .
“ As someone who has lived through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought Pullman and Roseland had a chance to survive , it ’ s gratifying to see that all are pulling together to continue the renewal that is happening here , ” Beale said .

Backed by a $900,000 grant from the city’s Housing Department, developers are expected to begin renovating 35 vacant rowhomes in Pullman, a deal that combines historic preservation with the push for affordable housing.
The grant will be awarded to Area Wide Realty so it can buy 30 of the homes — 17 from the community developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and 13 from the Cook County Land Bank Authority. CNI will retain five others and rehab them.
The City Council approved the grant Wednesday. Most of the homes are in the 10500 block of South Corliss Avenue, the 10600 block of South Champlain Avenue and the 10700 block of South Langley Avenue.
The properties cover almost all of the vacant rowhomes left in a neglected area of North Pullman, said David Doig, president of CNI. He said he hopes the first group of gut rehabs can be completed early in 2021.
The homes will be priced at about $120,000 and sold to people earning from 80% to 120% of the area’s median income. For a family of four, the city’s current median income is $91,000 a year, according to Housing Department data. For a single person, it’s $63,700.
Area Wide Realty, which has renovated homes throughout the South Side, will work on its properties with private financing. The homes are near the federally designated Pullman National Monument.
Doig said the city’s involvement ensures that a section of Pullman’s historic residential district will be preserved. He had tried for years to put together a deal involving tax credits, but couldn’t get financing.
“In Pullman, the housing has special significance,” Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara said. “Built more than 100 years ago but left to languish in the late 1990s, like Pullman itself the housing has ‘good bones,’ is sturdy and ready to meet the housing needs of this century’s occupants.”
Ald. Anthony Beale, whose 9th Ward include Pullman, said the deal builds on other projects that have expanded the neighborhood’s business base. “As someone who has lived through the hard times here when no one thought Pullman and Roseland had a chance to survive, it’s gratifying to see that all are pulling together to continue the renewal that is happening here,” Beale said.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-22--US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $ 2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is developing , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday .
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement , Azar said .
“ Now those would , of course , have to be safe and effective ” and approved by the Food and Drug Administration , Azar said during an appearance on Fox News .
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly .
It is the latest in a series of similar agreements with other vaccine companies .
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program , under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously .
The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021 .
Under the initiative , the government will speed development and buy vaccines — before they are deemed safe and effective — so that the medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once the FDA approves or authorizes its emergency use after clinical trials .
Trump , during a Wednesday briefing , described the agreement as “ historic .
“ We think we have a winner there .
We also think we have other companies right behind that are doing very well in the vaccines , long ahead of schedule , ” he told reporters .
Pfizer and BioNTech said the U.S. will pay $ 1.95 billion upon receipt of the first 100 million doses it produces , following FDA authorization or approval .
Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the companies said .
Azar said the contract brings to five the number of potential coronavirus vaccines that are under development with U.S. funding .
Nearly two dozen are in various stages of human testing around the world , with several entering final test to prove if they really work .
As early as next week , a vaccine created by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. is set to begin final-stage testing in a study of 30,000 people to see if it really is safe and effective .
A few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other countries , and in the U.S. a series of huge studies are planned to begin each month through fall in hopes of , eventually , having several vaccines to use .
Pfizer is finishing an earlier stage of testing to determine which of four possible candidates to try in a larger , final study .
Other countries are also scrambling to get a vaccine for COVID-19 , which has killed more than 617,000 people , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Nearly 4 million Americans have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 142,000 have died from COVID-19 , the disease it causes , according to Johns Hopkins .
Britain announced Monday it had secured access to another 90 million experimental COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and others , a move some campaigners warned could worsen a global scramble by rich countries to hoard the world ’ s limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines .
China , where the new coronavirus originated , also has several vaccine candidates entering final testing .
Trump blames Beijing for not doing a better job of containing the virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , he said he ’ d be willing to work with China if it were first to the market with a reliable vaccine .
“ We ’ re willing to work with anybody that ’ s going to get us a good result , ” Trump said Tuesday .
“ We ’ re very close to the vaccine .
I think we ’ re going to have some very good results.
” The FDA has told manufacturers it expects any vaccine to be at least 50 % effective to qualify .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Frank Pallone , D-N.J. , said he was worried Trump could push the agency into prematurely clearing a vaccine .
“ My fear is that FDA will be forced by the Trump administration to approve a vaccine that lacks effectiveness , ” Pallone said .
Executives from five leading vaccine companies testified that they will take no shortcuts in their testing of the shots , so that people can be confident in the results .
In addition , it won ’ t be just the FDA rendering an opinion — each vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory authorities in Britain and Europe .
“ I don ’ t think any of the regulatory bodies that we have interacted with are lowering their standards , ” said Menelas Pangalos , executive vice president of AstraZeneca , which is manufacturing a potential vaccine developed by Oxford University .
“ We would not be trying to launch a medicine that is not effective .
”

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will pay Pfizer nearly $2 billion for a December delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is developing, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday.
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement, Azar said.
“Now those would, of course, have to be safe and effective” and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Azar said during an appearance on Fox News.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly. It is the latest in a series of similar agreements with other vaccine companies.
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously. The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021.
Under the initiative, the government will speed development and buy vaccines — before they are deemed safe and effective — so that the medication can be in hand and quickly distributed once the FDA approves or authorizes its emergency use after clinical trials.
Trump, during a Wednesday briefing, described the agreement as “historic.
“We think we have a winner there. We also think we have other companies right behind that are doing very well in the vaccines, long ahead of schedule,” he told reporters.
Pfizer and BioNTech said the U.S. will pay $1.95 billion upon receipt of the first 100 million doses it produces, following FDA authorization or approval.
Americans will receive the vaccine for free, the companies said.
Azar said the contract brings to five the number of potential coronavirus vaccines that are under development with U.S. funding. Nearly two dozen are in various stages of human testing around the world, with several entering final test to prove if they really work.
As early as next week, a vaccine created by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. is set to begin final-stage testing in a study of 30,000 people to see if it really is safe and effective. A few other vaccines have begun smaller late-stage studies in other countries, and in the U.S. a series of huge studies are planned to begin each month through fall in hopes of, eventually, having several vaccines to use.
Pfizer is finishing an earlier stage of testing to determine which of four possible candidates to try in a larger, final study.
Other countries are also scrambling to get a vaccine for COVID-19, which has killed more than 617,000 people, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Nearly 4 million Americans have been infected by the new coronavirus and at least 142,000 have died from COVID-19, the disease it causes, according to Johns Hopkins.
Britain announced Monday it had secured access to another 90 million experimental COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and others, a move some campaigners warned could worsen a global scramble by rich countries to hoard the world’s limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
China, where the new coronavirus originated, also has several vaccine candidates entering final testing. Trump blames Beijing for not doing a better job of containing the virus and allowing it to spread around the world. Still, he said he’d be willing to work with China if it were first to the market with a reliable vaccine.
“We’re willing to work with anybody that’s going to get us a good result,” Trump said Tuesday. “We’re very close to the vaccine. I think we’re going to have some very good results.”
The FDA has told manufacturers it expects any vaccine to be at least 50% effective to qualify. But at a congressional hearing Tuesday, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said he was worried Trump could push the agency into prematurely clearing a vaccine.
“My fear is that FDA will be forced by the Trump administration to approve a vaccine that lacks effectiveness,” Pallone said.
Executives from five leading vaccine companies testified that they will take no shortcuts in their testing of the shots, so that people can be confident in the results. In addition, it won’t be just the FDA rendering an opinion — each vaccine will likely be judged nearly simultaneously by regulatory authorities in Britain and Europe.
“I don’t think any of the regulatory bodies that we have interacted with are lowering their standards,” said Menelas Pangalos, executive vice president of AstraZeneca, which is manufacturing a potential vaccine developed by Oxford University. “We would not be trying to launch a medicine that is not effective.”