chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Slight rise in coronavirus deaths, and dip in new cases as Illinois avoids sharp spikes seen elsewhe

Slight rise in coronavirus deaths, and dip in new cases as Illinois avoids sharp spikes seen elsewhere (LIVE UPDATES)

Slight rise in coronavirus deaths , and dip in new cases as Illinois avoids sharp spikes seen elsewhere ( LIVE UPDATES ) Another 37 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois , raising the state ’ s pandemic death toll to 7,063 , health officials said Tuesday .
That ’ s the highest number of Illinois deaths announced in a single day since June 26 , when the state reported 39 lives lost as more businesses were allowed to resume operations with the fourth phase of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the previous three days combined , which included Illinois ’ two lowest daily death tolls in more than three months — six deaths each reported Sunday and Monday .
And just shy of two weeks since the latest reopening phase kicked in , Illinois so far has apparently avoided a major case spike like those seen in other states .
The rise in parts of the South and West has prompted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to impose a two-week quarantine order for anyone arriving to Chicago from more than a dozen COVID-19 hotspots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armentrout here .
6:40 p.m. Another PPE shortage ?
Protective gear for medical workers begins to run low again The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs .
A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused .
A doctors association warns that physicians ’ offices are closed because they can not get masks and other supplies .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall .
“ We ’ re five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns , hair covers , shoe covers , masks , N95 masks , ” said Deborah Burger , president of National Nurses United , who cited results from a survey of the union ’ s members .
“ They ’ re being doled out , and we ’ re still being told to reuse them.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April in hot spots such as New York City , the situation was so desperate that nurses turned plastic garbage bags into protective gowns .
The lack of equipment forced states and hospitals to compete against each other , the federal government and other countries in desperate , expensive bidding wars .
In general , supplies of protective gear are more robust now , and many states and major hospital chains say they are in better shape .
But medical professionals and some lawmakers have cast doubt on those improvements as shortages begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing .
Could be it ’ s merely the slightest blip , here one moment and gone from the radar screen the next .
For all we know , it won ’ t impede the Cubs ’ progress in the slightest .
But late is late .
And Tuesday at Wrigley Field , the latest round of COVID-19 test results was late .
Again .
Major League Baseball is having a problem staying on top of testing .
Some — namely the league itself — would say it ’ s a shrinking problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gummed up the shipping-and-delivery works on merely a temporary basis .
Others might be more skeptical and see a growing problem , with players around the game voicing concern and frustration at tests coming less frequently than expected and results repeatedly delayed .
Take Cubs star Kris Bryant , who sounded off Monday about the state of things at Cubs camp , where no player had yet tested positive , an extreme rarity in the league .
But players were not being tested every other day , as agreed to in 11th-hour negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of camps , and results were , in some cases , several days late .
In comments that echoed around the sport like a home run hit into empty bleachers , Bryant said he didn ’ t feel safe at work and wouldn ’ t be the slightest bit surprised if the season were canceled .
Read the full story by Steve Greenberg here .
3:05 p.m. Wellness checks and lines as Cook County courthouses open , hold more in-person hearings Although more in-person hearings were held at Cook County courthouses Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lines and tents set up for wellness checks for those waiting to go inside .
At the Leighton Criminal Courthouse , sheriff ’ s deputies stationed outside questioned judges , lawyers , employees and others seeking to enter the courthouse about potential COVID-19 symptoms they may have .
Those without symptoms then went on to walk through a sectioned-off tent — designed to ensure social distancing — before they could pass through the front doors with face masks .
There were some lines to get inside the Daley Center , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a spokeswoman for Chief Judge Timothy Evans .
Read the full story by Ben Pope here .
United Airlines , its plans for a business recovery upended by a surge in coronavirus cases , has begun notifying tens of thousands of employees about potential layoffs or furloughs starting Oct. 1 .
The carrier has authorization for $ 5 billion in grants or loans under the federal CARES Act , but the measure ’ s protections against job reductions expire Sept. 30 .
United already has announced its intention to cut 3,400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its total , a move expected to take a chunk out of its Chicago headquarters .
Just a week ago , United said an increase in bookings would allow it to triple its August schedule , bringing it to 40 % of its level from a year ago .
But in a presentation to employees Monday , United said cancellations have risen again as state and local governments , including Chicago , issue quarantine orders covering travelers from coronavirus hot spots .
A United executive confirmed a Wall Street Journal account of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of layoffs or furloughs , with some notices going out this week .
The exact number couldn ’ t be determined .
The airline ’ s parent company , United Airlines Holdings , said at the end of 2019 it had 96,000 employees .
12:18 p.m. How safe is it to eat at a restaurant right now ?
How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic ?
There is some risk , but health officials say there are precautions you can take to minimize the chances you ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or delivery is still the safest option for getting restaurant food , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
If you decide to eat at a restaurant , it ’ s best to opt for outdoor seating where tables are at least 6 feet apart , the agency says .
Dining inside a restaurant that hasn ’ t reduced its capacity or safely distanced tables poses the most risk , it says .
The coronavirus spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk , laugh , sing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more risky than outdoor spaces because it might be harder to keep people apart and there ’ s less ventilation , the CDC says .
Diners should assess what other safety steps the restaurant is taking .
For example , servers should be wearing masks and the restaurant should have a process to ensure people are not congregating too closely while waiting for a table , says Dr. Susan Casey Bleasdale , an infectious disease expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago .
The $ 2 trillion federal CARES Act — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act — passed by Congress in March included funds to create the Paycheck Protection Program , or PPP .
The financial lifeline was intended to help employers keep people on the payroll and pay some overhead expenses .
If used as intended , the loans do not have to be repaid .
The Chicago Sun-Times has compiled a database of Illinois businesses receiving loans of $ 1 million or more .
Click here to see our searchable database of companies .
9:43 a.m. Yeezy clothing line , artist Jeff Koons , The Girl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPP loans The government ’ s small business lending program has benefited millions of companies , with the goal of minimizing the number of layoffs Americans have suffered in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
Yet the recipients include many you probably wouldn ’ t have expected .
Kanye West ’ s clothing line .
The sculptor Jeff Koons .
Law firms and high-dollar hedge funds .
The Girl Scouts .
Political groups on both the left and right .
All told , the Treasury Department ’ s Paycheck Protection Program authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly small businesses and nonprofits .
On Monday , the government released the names and some other details of recipients who were approved for $ 150,000 or more .
That amounted to fewer than 15 % of all borrowers .
The Associated Press and other news organizations are suing the government to obtain the names of the remaining recipients .
Economists generally credit the program with preventing the job market meltdown this spring from becoming even worse .
More than 22 million jobs were lost in March and April .
But roughly one-third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June — a faster rebound than many analysts had expected .
Click to read about seven unlikely PPP recipients .
7:53 a.m. As temperatures stay high , Lightfoot orders Park District to open splash pools , but beaches , swimming pools stay closed With temperatures continuing to rise well into the 90s , Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday she has ordered the Chicago Park District to open its splash pools , but keep beaches and other swimming pools closed .
Ever since she partially reopened the lakefront — for transit and exercise only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a dip in Lake Michigan or dive into a pool to get some relief from the summer heat have been asking whether beaches and pools would be next .
The answer came Monday during a City Hall news conference called to tout a utility bill relief program included in the mayor ’ s 2020 budget .
“ We don ’ t see the beaches opening up any time soon , ” the mayor said .
“ The challenge with the beaches — and with swimming pools , let ’ s just add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ripe for congregate gathering and not social distancing .
… Given where we are — which is progress , but we have some concerns — we ’ re not gon na take any steps that could tip us ... backwards .
So , for now , the beaches and swimming pools will remain closed.
” Chicago has endured a steady string of days with temperatures soaring into the 90s .
More of the same is forecast before temperatures finally break on Saturday .
“ We ’ ve got cooling centers that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got cooling buses that are gon na be available .
We ’ re gon na be opening up the splash pools in the parks so that adults and children can get some relief , ” Lightfoot said .
“ But I don ’ t see a circumstance yet because I don ’ t think the public health metrics will allow for it where we ’ re gon na be opening up the beaches or swimming pools.
” Read the full report from Fran Spielman here .
• Illinois health officials announced Monday another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in which the state announced six deaths — the lowest one-day total since March 25 .
• Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Monday that she had tested positive for COVID-19 .
• Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero has died in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus .
He was 41 .
• Kimberly Guilfoyle , campaign official and Donald Trump Jr. ’ s girlfriend , tests positive for coronavirus .
• Bachata singer Prince Royce revealed that he is recovering from the virus in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11:39 a.m .
Working moms , not dads , will be more likely to quit as the pandemic lingers on Millions of American families are finding themselves in a jam , with their jobs requiring them to return to work on site and plans from their local school districts calling for children to spend less time in classrooms .
At the same time , child care is becoming less available and , in many cases , more costly .
Many working parents with young or school-age children may have to quit their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drags on .
As a sociologist who studies parenthood , gender and labor market inequality , I expect that more women than men will leave their jobs .
In 2019 — before this new disease upended life as we know it — 72 % of all U.S. women with children under 18 were working or looking for work , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
The situation was very similar for mothers with spouses and those without them : 70 % versus 77 % .
With nearly all married fathers employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of families with two parents , both were breadwinners .
Read the full opinion piece by Joyce Misra here .
7:14 a.m. Beware of those going ‘ nose commando ’ during COVID-19 pandemic By my count , 44 percent of the American people who wear face masks believe they do not have to be worn over the nose .
That is using the same statistical base President Trump used to calculate that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are harmless .
While waiting for takeout at my favorite restaurant , I looked into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooks wearing their masks over their mouths but pulled below their nose .
A manager was standing about five feet away and said nothing to them .
I am COVID-inhibited , meaning I think anyone crazy enough not to wear a mask , or wear it properly , is willing to kill family members and friends and therefore should not be confronted .
It would be like stopping someone on State Street who is screaming and gesturing wildly to ask if they are a madman or simply a stock trader having a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something .
Read the full column from Phil Kadner here .

The latest
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Another 37 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 7,063, health officials said Tuesday.
That’s the highest number of Illinois deaths announced in a single day since June 26, when the state reported 39 lives lost as more businesses were allowed to resume operations with the fourth phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan.
It’s also more than the number of deaths announced over the previous three days combined, which included Illinois’ two lowest daily death tolls in more than three months — six deaths each reported Sunday and Monday.
And just shy of two weeks since the latest reopening phase kicked in, Illinois so far has apparently avoided a major case spike like those seen in other states. The rise in parts of the South and West has prompted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to impose a two-week quarantine order for anyone arriving to Chicago from more than a dozen COVID-19 hotspots.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
News
9 p.m. President Trump ‘flexible’ on size of convention as lawmakers shy away
WASHINGTON — With coronavirus cases surging in Florida, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he’s “flexible” on the size of the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville.
The president spoke as a growing number of Senate Republicans said they’d skip the event, and even as the White House tried to tamp down nationwide concern about the virus’s spread.
Asked in an interview Tuesday whether he’d want to limit the gathering if the state’s coronavirus cases continue to rise, Trump replied that the decision “really depends on the timing.”
“We’re always looking at different things,” Trump said during an interview on Gray Television’s “Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren.”
“When we signed a few weeks ago, it looked good,” the president continued. “And now, all of a sudden, it’s spiking up a little bit. And that’s going to go down. It really depends on the timing. Look, we’re very flexible.”
Read the full story here.
8:15 p.m. Suburban movie theaters to temporarily close again after 3 weeks of social distancing
Suburban movie theaters in the Classic Cinemas chain, which reopened 11 days ago, will close again temporarily after the end of business on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, the lack of new movies and the extra costs have made our current business model unsustainable,” the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Classic Cinemas operates the York Theatre in Elmhurst, the Luxury 6 in North Riverside, the Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles, the Cinema 12 in Carpentersville, the Cinema 7 in Sandwich, the Elk Grove in Elk Grove Village, the Fox Lake in Fox Lake, the Paramount Theatre in Kankakee and the Woodstock in Woodstock, as well as locations in Beloit, Wisconsin, and Freeport.
Read the full story here by Darel Jevens.
7:30 p.m. Kanye West and Reese Witherspoon clothing lines, artist Jeff Koons, singer Tim McGraw — all got PPP loans
The government’s small business lending program has benefited millions of companies, with the goal of minimizing the number of layoffs Americans have suffered in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet the recipients include many you probably wouldn’t have expected.
Clothing lines by Kanye West and Reese Witherspoon. The sculptor Jeff Koons. Law firms and high-dollar hedge funds. The Girl Scouts. Political groups on both the left and right.
All told, the Treasury Department’s Paycheck Protection Program authorized $520 billion for nearly 5 million mostly small businesses and nonprofits. On Monday, the government released the names and some other details of recipients who were approved for $150,000 or more.
That amounted to fewer than 15% of all borrowers. The Associated Press and other news organizations are suing the government to obtain the names of the remaining recipients.
Read the full story here.
6:40 p.m. Another PPE shortage? Protective gear for medical workers begins to run low again
The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs.
A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused. A doctors association warns that physicians’ offices are closed because they cannot get masks and other supplies. And Democratic members of Congress are pushing the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall.
“We’re five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, N95 masks,” said Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, who cited results from a survey of the union’s members. “They’re being doled out, and we’re still being told to reuse them.”
When the crisis first exploded in March and April in hot spots such as New York City, the situation was so desperate that nurses turned plastic garbage bags into protective gowns. The lack of equipment forced states and hospitals to compete against each other, the federal government and other countries in desperate, expensive bidding wars.
In general, supplies of protective gear are more robust now, and many states and major hospital chains say they are in better shape. But medical professionals and some lawmakers have cast doubt on those improvements as shortages begin to reappear.
Read the full story here.
5:55 p.m. Further testing delays push back start of Cubs’ Tuesday workouts
Maybe it’s nothing. Could be it’s merely the slightest blip, here one moment and gone from the radar screen the next. For all we know, it won’t impede the Cubs’ progress in the slightest.
“This isn’t a huge deal,” manager David Ross said.
But late is late. And Tuesday at Wrigley Field, the latest round of COVID-19 test results was late. Again.
Major League Baseball is having a problem staying on top of testing. Some — namely the league itself — would say it’s a shrinking problem, that the Fourth of July weekend gummed up the shipping-and-delivery works on merely a temporary basis. Others might be more skeptical and see a growing problem, with players around the game voicing concern and frustration at tests coming less frequently than expected and results repeatedly delayed.
Take Cubs star Kris Bryant, who sounded off Monday about the state of things at Cubs camp, where no player had yet tested positive, an extreme rarity in the league. But players were not being tested every other day, as agreed to in 11th-hour negotiations with the league prior to the opening of camps, and results were, in some cases, several days late.
In comments that echoed around the sport like a home run hit into empty bleachers, Bryant said he didn’t feel safe at work and wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if the season were canceled.
Read the full story by Steve Greenberg here.
3:05 p.m. Wellness checks and lines as Cook County courthouses open, hold more in-person hearings
Although more in-person hearings were held at Cook County courthouses Monday, there was more activity outside some buildings with lines and tents set up for wellness checks for those waiting to go inside.
At the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, sheriff’s deputies stationed outside questioned judges, lawyers, employees and others seeking to enter the courthouse about potential COVID-19 symptoms they may have.
Those without symptoms then went on to walk through a sectioned-off tent — designed to ensure social distancing — before they could pass through the front doors with face masks.
There were some lines to get inside the Daley Center, with a wait time that averaged 20 minutes, according to a spokeswoman for Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
Read the full story by Ben Pope here.
1:57 p.m. United warns employees of job losses
United Airlines, its plans for a business recovery upended by a surge in coronavirus cases, has begun notifying tens of thousands of employees about potential layoffs or furloughs starting Oct. 1.
The carrier has authorization for $5 billion in grants or loans under the federal CARES Act, but the measure’s protections against job reductions expire Sept. 30. United already has announced its intention to cut 3,400 of its managers, about 30% of its total, a move expected to take a chunk out of its Chicago headquarters.
Just a week ago, United said an increase in bookings would allow it to triple its August schedule, bringing it to 40% of its level from a year ago. But in a presentation to employees Monday, United said cancellations have risen again as state and local governments, including Chicago, issue quarantine orders covering travelers from coronavirus hot spots.
A United executive confirmed a Wall Street Journal account of the presentation and its warning of tens of thousands of layoffs or furloughs, with some notices going out this week. The exact number couldn’t be determined. The airline’s parent company, United Airlines Holdings, said at the end of 2019 it had 96,000 employees.
Read the full report here.
12:18 p.m. How safe is it to eat at a restaurant right now?
How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic?
There is some risk, but health officials say there are precautions you can take to minimize the chances you’ll be exposed to the virus.
Ordering takeout or delivery is still the safest option for getting restaurant food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you decide to eat at a restaurant, it’s best to opt for outdoor seating where tables are at least 6 feet apart, the agency says. Dining inside a restaurant that hasn’t reduced its capacity or safely distanced tables poses the most risk, it says.
The coronavirus spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk, laugh, sing, cough or sneeze. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces because it might be harder to keep people apart and there’s less ventilation, the CDC says.
Diners should assess what other safety steps the restaurant is taking.
For example, servers should be wearing masks and the restaurant should have a process to ensure people are not congregating too closely while waiting for a table, says Dr. Susan Casey Bleasdale, an infectious disease expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Read the full story here.
10:50 a.m. Which Illinois businesses scored PPP loans?
The $2 trillion federal CARES Act — the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — passed by Congress in March included funds to create the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP.
The financial lifeline was intended to help employers keep people on the payroll and pay some overhead expenses. If used as intended, the loans do not have to be repaid.
The Chicago Sun-Times has compiled a database of Illinois businesses receiving loans of $1 million or more.
Click here to see our searchable database of companies.
9:43 a.m. Yeezy clothing line, artist Jeff Koons, The Girl Scouts, political groups — all got PPP loans
The government’s small business lending program has benefited millions of companies, with the goal of minimizing the number of layoffs Americans have suffered in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet the recipients include many you probably wouldn’t have expected.
Kanye West’s clothing line. The sculptor Jeff Koons. Law firms and high-dollar hedge funds. The Girl Scouts. Political groups on both the left and right.
All told, the Treasury Department’s Paycheck Protection Program authorized $520 billion for nearly 5 million mostly small businesses and nonprofits. On Monday, the government released the names and some other details of recipients who were approved for $150,000 or more.
That amounted to fewer than 15% of all borrowers. The Associated Press and other news organizations are suing the government to obtain the names of the remaining recipients.
Economists generally credit the program with preventing the job market meltdown this spring from becoming even worse. More than 22 million jobs were lost in March and April. But roughly one-third of them were regained in May and June — a faster rebound than many analysts had expected.
Click to read about seven unlikely PPP recipients.
7:53 a.m. As temperatures stay high, Lightfoot orders Park District to open splash pools, but beaches, swimming pools stay closed
With temperatures continuing to rise well into the 90s, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday she has ordered the Chicago Park District to open its splash pools, but keep beaches and other swimming pools closed.
Ever since she partially reopened the lakefront — for transit and exercise only — Chicagoans chomping at the bit to take a dip in Lake Michigan or dive into a pool to get some relief from the summer heat have been asking whether beaches and pools would be next.
The answer came Monday during a City Hall news conference called to tout a utility bill relief program included in the mayor’s 2020 budget.
“We don’t see the beaches opening up any time soon,” the mayor said.
“The challenge with the beaches — and with swimming pools, let’s just add that in — is that they are ripe for congregate gathering and not social distancing. … Given where we are — which is progress, but we have some concerns — we’re not gonna take any steps that could tip us ... backwards. So, for now, the beaches and swimming pools will remain closed.”
Chicago has endured a steady string of days with temperatures soaring into the 90s. More of the same is forecast before temperatures finally break on Saturday.
“We’ve got cooling centers that we’ve opened up. We’ve got cooling buses that are gonna be available. We’re gonna be opening up the splash pools in the parks so that adults and children can get some relief,” Lightfoot said.
“But I don’t see a circumstance yet because I don’t think the public health metrics will allow for it where we’re gonna be opening up the beaches or swimming pools.”
Read the full report from Fran Spielman here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
11:39 a.m. Working moms, not dads, will be more likely to quit as the pandemic lingers on
Millions of American families are finding themselves in a jam, with their jobs requiring them to return to work on site and plans from their local school districts calling for children to spend less time in classrooms. At the same time, child care is becoming less available and, in many cases, more costly.
Many working parents with young or school-age children may have to quit their job to stay home as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on. As a sociologist who studies parenthood, gender and labor market inequality, I expect that more women than men will leave their jobs.
In 2019 — before this new disease upended life as we know it — 72% of all U.S. women with children under 18 were working or looking for work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The situation was very similar for mothers with spouses and those without them: 70% versus 77%. With nearly all married fathers employed or looking for work, in 64% of families with two parents, both were breadwinners.
Read the full opinion piece by Joyce Misra here.
7:14 a.m. Beware of those going ‘nose commando’ during COVID-19 pandemic
By my count, 44 percent of the American people who wear face masks believe they do not have to be worn over the nose. That is using the same statistical base President Trump used to calculate that 99 percent of coronavirus cases are harmless.
While waiting for takeout at my favorite restaurant, I looked into the kitchen and saw at least two cooks wearing their masks over their mouths but pulled below their nose.
A manager was standing about five feet away and said nothing to them.
Neither did I.
I am COVID-inhibited, meaning I think anyone crazy enough not to wear a mask, or wear it properly, is willing to kill family members and friends and therefore should not be confronted.
It would be like stopping someone on State Street who is screaming and gesturing wildly to ask if they are a madman or simply a stock trader having a bad day.
Yet, someone should say something.
Read the full column from Phil Kadner here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--General Iron partially reopens in Lincoln Park

General Iron reopened part of its Lincoln Park operations for the first time since the city shut down the site after explosions in May .
Under a city order approved last month , the company is allowed to receive , sort and ship scrap metal to be reused but is not allowed to operate its metal shredding equipment .
The explosions involved ancillary equipment of the shredder , the city said .
The entire facility at 1909 N. Clifton Ave. was shut down May 18 as the city “ determined that the site posed an immediate danger and constituted an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Following a Chicago Department of Fire inspection in early June , the city issued an order June 24 saying General Iron can reopen .
The site reopened June 29 , General Iron ’ s owner said in a statement , adding that “ we are proceeding with repairs and looking forward to receiving all necessary approvals to resume full operations.
” “ After a necessary period of closure to ascertain the scope of the issues surrounding the incident , the city concluded that it would be appropriate and create no safety issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities , ” a statement from Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s office said .
The business has long been the source of complaints by residents and received dozens of city citations for pollution and nuisance law violations since late last year .
“ I feel sheer disappointment and frustration , ” said Lara Compton , whose organization Clean the North Branch has called on the city to keep General Iron closed .
“ I ’ m in utter disbelief our politicians would protect a serial polluter during a pandemic.
” General Iron ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park operations to the East Side neighborhood where residents and some local politicians have protested the move , arguing that the area can not tolerate any additional air pollution .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s administration recently approved a construction permit that will allow the business to open on the Southeast Side .
The city order allowing the reopening was approved last month by Lightfoot ’ s outgoing Building Commissioner Judith Frydland and Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II .
Brett Chase ’ s reporting on the environment and public health is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Community Trust .

General Iron reopened part of its Lincoln Park operations for the first time since the city shut down the site after explosions in May.
Under a city order approved last month, the company is allowed to receive, sort and ship scrap metal to be reused but is not allowed to operate its metal shredding equipment. The explosions involved ancillary equipment of the shredder, the city said.
The entire facility at 1909 N. Clifton Ave. was shut down May 18 as the city “determined that the site posed an immediate danger and constituted an imminent threat to the public at large.”
Following a Chicago Department of Fire inspection in early June, the city issued an order June 24 saying General Iron can reopen.
The site reopened June 29, General Iron’s owner said in a statement, adding that “we are proceeding with repairs and looking forward to receiving all necessary approvals to resume full operations.”
“After a necessary period of closure to ascertain the scope of the issues surrounding the incident, the city concluded that it would be appropriate and create no safety issues to allow the facility to resume non-shredding activities,” a statement from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office said.
The business has long been the source of complaints by residents and received dozens of city citations for pollution and nuisance law violations since late last year.
“I feel sheer disappointment and frustration,” said Lara Compton, whose organization Clean the North Branch has called on the city to keep General Iron closed. “I’m in utter disbelief our politicians would protect a serial polluter during a pandemic.”
General Iron’s owner plans to relocate the Lincoln Park operations to the East Side neighborhood where residents and some local politicians have protested the move, arguing that the area cannot tolerate any additional air pollution.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration recently approved a construction permit that will allow the business to open on the Southeast Side.
The city order allowing the reopening was approved last month by Lightfoot’s outgoing Building Commissioner Judith Frydland and Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II.
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Lender puts a hold on Michigan Avenue project

The lender on a Helmut Jahn-designed skyscraper planned for 1000 S. Michigan has temporarily pulled funding for the project , making it the biggest Chicago development so far to be stymied by economic worries tied to the coronavirus pandemic .
Goldman Sachs has put a 90-day hold on construction funding for the $ 470 million building and will revisit the matter in September , the developers said .
They said buyers of the 74-story building ’ s condo units have been offered part of their deposits back .
Goldman is “ concerned about economic stability of the market at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Time Equities Chairman Francis Greenburger said Tuesday .
New York-based Time Equities is developing the building with JK Equities and Oak Capitals .
Any big investment in real estate has run headlong into the deep recession caused by the business shutdowns state and local governments have ordered to control the coronavirus .
In the case of Jahn ’ s building , the funding delay calls into question the viability of a 421-unit tower that would be Chicago ’ s largest new condo building since the last recession in 2008 .
Greenburger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goldman ’ s funding , said he will explore other financing options in the meantime .
“ We remain hopeful that this graceful iconic structure will one day help define the skyline of Chicago , ” he said .
In June , the developers stopped foundation work at the site to prevent any spread of COVID-19 , even though construction projects have been deemed “ essential ” and have proceeded under Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s shutdown rules .
The project was expected to be done by late 2022 .
Quoted prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a studio to $ 8.1 million for a four-bedroom penthouse .
At 832 feet , it would be Jahn ’ s tallest building in Chicago .
His work here has included the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop , which state government wants to vacate and sell for development , and the United Airlines terminal at O ’ Hare Airport .
Greenburger said buyers have signed contracts for about a quarter of the building ’ s units but it has taken a long period of pre-sales to get to that point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s go-ahead for the project in 2016 .
The delay for the project was first reported by the Chicago Tribune .

The lender on a Helmut Jahn-designed skyscraper planned for 1000 S. Michigan has temporarily pulled funding for the project, making it the biggest Chicago development so far to be stymied by economic worries tied to the coronavirus pandemic.
Goldman Sachs has put a 90-day hold on construction funding for the $470 million building and will revisit the matter in September, the developers said. They said buyers of the 74-story building’s condo units have been offered part of their deposits back.
Goldman is “concerned about economic stability of the market at this particular time due to recent events,” Time Equities Chairman Francis Greenburger said Tuesday. New York-based Time Equities is developing the building with JK Equities and Oak Capitals.
Any big investment in real estate has run headlong into the deep recession caused by the business shutdowns state and local governments have ordered to control the coronavirus. In the case of Jahn’s building, the funding delay calls into question the viability of a 421-unit tower that would be Chicago’s largest new condo building since the last recession in 2008.
Greenburger, who did not specify the amount of Goldman’s funding, said he will explore other financing options in the meantime. “We remain hopeful that this graceful iconic structure will one day help define the skyline of Chicago,” he said.
In June, the developers stopped foundation work at the site to prevent any spread of COVID-19, even though construction projects have been deemed “essential” and have proceeded under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s shutdown rules. The project was expected to be done by late 2022. Quoted prices for the units ranged from $313,000 for a studio to $8.1 million for a four-bedroom penthouse.
At 832 feet, it would be Jahn’s tallest building in Chicago. His work here has included the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop, which state government wants to vacate and sell for development, and the United Airlines terminal at O’Hare Airport.
Greenburger said buyers have signed contracts for about a quarter of the building’s units but it has taken a long period of pre-sales to get to that point. The developers got the city’s go-ahead for the project in 2016.
The delay for the project was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--No tickets, no special portions as Taste of Chicago moves to storefronts and the cloud

The annual Taste of Chicago , like most events that are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic , won ’ t be the same as many Chicagoans — and tourists — expect .
This year , foodies can experience a “ re-imagined ” Taste Wednesday through Sunday both online and via 42 food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurant participants .
With no pre-purchased tickets required and no “ Taste portions ” in sight , customers can order regular menu items online or visit the eateries and food trucks while adhering to social distancing guidelines .
“ This concept is meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hungry crowd in a new , safe , and convenient environment , ” said Abigail Barrios , the operations manager for Aztec Dave ’ s Food Truck Inc. “ These items are not meant to be Taste items because the concept of the festival can not be re-created in its full sense .
The items listed [ at TasteofChicago.us ] are full-priced and were chosen because they are the most popular items on our menu.
” A food truck procession is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at Grant Park ’ s Buckingham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free online programming including cooking demonstrations , virtual music and dance events is featured .
Some Taste eateries around the city , accustomed to the up-close and personal format that Grant Park provides in normal summers , say they will gladly take the publicity amid the pandemic .
“ It is important for us to be a part of Taste of Chicago to create awareness about our product , ” said Chole Robinson , manager of Barangaroos Aussie Pies , a Lake View eatery that specializes in Australian Pies that can be stuffed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red and green peppers , among other ingredients .
“ Australian-style meat pies are a very new concept , and a lot of people still don ’ t know about it.. ” It will be a very different experience for those who revel in the annual summer lakefront tradition .
“ Eateries were not required to provide special incentives or menu items to participate in Taste of Chicago To-Go , ” Christine Carrino , communications director for the city ’ s cultural affairs department , said in a statement .
“ Taste of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by local chefs , digital music and dance programming and Community Eats meals benefiting neighborhood organizations and essential workers.
” Some of the food trucks , such as Whadda Jerk , a food truck that specializes in jerk eats , plan to pass out food at Mount Sinai Hospital to first responders and hospital employees through the city ’ s Community Eats program .
Some eateries , who were given a chance to back out of the Taste after it was the Grant Park event was canceled , were offered re-enrollment into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have been a part of the Taste since 2018 and have enjoyed it , said Asana Nakornchai , owner of BITES Asian Kitchen + Bar .
“ Our goal has always been to introduce Chicagoans to new Asian flavors ( East meets West 2.0 ) and Taste of Chicago is a great platform to do so .
Even though we could not be serving everyone at Grant Park this year , we are hoping people will still come out and visit us on our cozy patio or enjoy our curbside pickup/delivery.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year ’ s Taste of Chicago in the Taste section of Wednesday ’ s Chicago Sun-Times and at tasteofchicago.us .

The annual Taste of Chicago, like most events that are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, won’t be the same as many Chicagoans — and tourists — expect.
This year, foodies can experience a “re-imagined” Taste Wednesday through Sunday both online and via 42 food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurant participants.
With no pre-purchased tickets required and no “Taste portions” in sight, customers can order regular menu items online or visit the eateries and food trucks while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
“This concept is meant to reconnect the restaurant community with Chicago’s hungry crowd in a new, safe, and convenient environment,” said Abigail Barrios, the operations manager for Aztec Dave’s Food Truck Inc. “These items are not meant to be Taste items because the concept of the festival cannot be re-created in its full sense. The items listed [at TasteofChicago.us] are full-priced and were chosen because they are the most popular items on our menu.”
A food truck procession is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at Grant Park’s Buckingham Fountain.
Also, a slate of free online programming including cooking demonstrations, virtual music and dance events is featured.
Some Taste eateries around the city, accustomed to the up-close and personal format that Grant Park provides in normal summers, say they will gladly take the publicity amid the pandemic.
“It is important for us to be a part of Taste of Chicago to create awareness about our product,” said Chloe Robinson, manager of Barangaroos Aussie Pies, a Lake View eatery that specializes in Australian Pies that can be stuffed with chopped steak, sliced mushrooms and red and green peppers, among other ingredients. “Australian-style meat pies are a very new concept, and a lot of people still don’t know about it.”
An “Aussie Pie” from Barangaroos Aussie Pies, a Lake View eatery. Barangaroos Aussie Pies
It will be a very different experience for those who revel in the annual summer lakefront tradition.
“Eateries were not required to provide special incentives or menu items to participate in Taste of Chicago To-Go,” Christine Carrino, communications director for the city’s cultural affairs department, said in a statement. “Taste of Chicago To-Go also offers online cooking demonstrations by local chefs, digital music and dance programming and Community Eats meals benefiting neighborhood organizations and essential workers.”
Aztec Daves Food Truck’s Beer Battered Shrimp Tacos. Aztec Daves Food Truck
Some of the food trucks, such as Whadda Jerk, a food truck that specializes in jerk eats, plan to pass out food at Mount Sinai Hospital to first responders and hospital employees through the city’s Community Eats program.
Some eateries, who were given a chance to back out of the Taste after it was the Grant Park event was canceled, were offered re-enrollment into the platform — with no enrollment fee.
“We have been a part of the Taste since 2018 and have enjoyed it, said Asana Nakornchai, owner of BITES Asian Kitchen + Bar. “Our goal has always been to introduce Chicagoans to new Asian flavors (East meets West 2.0) and Taste of Chicago is a great platform to do so. Even though we could not be serving everyone at Grant Park this year, we are hoping people will still come out and visit us on our cozy patio or enjoy our curbside pickup/delivery.”
You can find more info on this year’s Taste of Chicago in the Taste section of Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times and at tasteofchicago.us.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Kenosha man charged with sharing child porn, stalking

A man from Kenosha , Wisconsin , is facing charges after allegedly posing as a teenager to get nude photos from a girl in the north suburbs and then sending them to her family and friends after she refused to take more .
Howard Hickey , 56 , is charged with three counts each of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography , one count of stalking and one count of obstructing an officer , the Lake County sheriff ’ s office said in a statement .
The charges stem from an investigation which was sparked In September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unincorporated area near Gurnee reported that she was being harassed and stalked online , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Nude photos of her were sent to family and friends .
An investigation revealed that in 2016 , when the woman was a minor , she met someone online who claimed to be a 16-year-old boy , the sheriff ’ s office said .
The pair communicated online for several months and she felt like she was in a relationship with the person .
She was enticed to send nude photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but eventually ended communication with them , the sheriff ’ s office said .
In 2019 , the woman received unsolicited threatening messages from the person , telling her that if she didn ’ t send more nude photos and videos , he would send the images he already had to her family and friends , the sheriff ’ s office said .
The woman refused , and the person shared the images .
Hickey was allegedly determined to be the person behind the fake profile , and authorities executed a search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the sheriff ’ s office said .
He allegedly tried to destroy an electronic device during the search .
Hickey was released from custody after posting bail , the sheriff ’ s office said .

A man from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is facing charges after allegedly posing as a teenager to get nude photos from a girl in the north suburbs and then sending them to her family and friends after she refused to take more.
Howard Hickey, 56, is charged with three counts each of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, one count of stalking and one count of obstructing an officer, the Lake County sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The charges stem from an investigation which was sparked In September 2019, after a woman living in an unincorporated area near Gurnee reported that she was being harassed and stalked online, the sheriff’s office said. Nude photos of her were sent to family and friends.
An investigation revealed that in 2016, when the woman was a minor, she met someone online who claimed to be a 16-year-old boy, the sheriff’s office said. The pair communicated online for several months and she felt like she was in a relationship with the person.
She was enticed to send nude photos and videos of herself to the person, but eventually ended communication with them, the sheriff’s office said.
In 2019, the woman received unsolicited threatening messages from the person, telling her that if she didn’t send more nude photos and videos, he would send the images he already had to her family and friends, the sheriff’s office said. The woman refused, and the person shared the images.
Hickey was allegedly determined to be the person behind the fake profile, and authorities executed a search warrant at his home on July 2, the sheriff’s office said. He allegedly tried to destroy an electronic device during the search.
Hickey was released from custody after posting bail, the sheriff’s office said.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Trump runs foreign students out of the country in a desperate move to return to ‘normal’

We have one question about a Trump administration plan to force thousands of foreign college students to leave the country should their school go online because of COVID-19 : Why now , when dozens of states are seeing skyrocketing new cases of COVID-19 and colleges are struggling with how best to serve their students during this resurgent pandemic ?
Why the rush ?
Why no advance warning ?
Why create even bigger problems for more than a million international students who already are struggling to carry on with their education in the United States in this time of global crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eager to turn back smart and talented young people from around the world whose presence here only makes our campuses of higher learning , college towns and big cities more cosmopolitan , vibrant and diverse ?
It ’ s not as if international students have been a burden .
They pump an estimated $ 41 billion into the U.S. economy each year and support 458,290 jobs , according to NAFSA : Association of International Educators .
In Illinois , 53,724 foreign students boost the economy by some $ 1.9 billion and support 25,855 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Customs Enforcement announced a decision — out of the blue and without explanation — to scrap a rules exemption , granted just months ago , that allows international students to remain in the U.S. while taking all their classes online .
The exemption was created in response to the inconvenient fact that schools are shifting heavily — and sometimes exclusively — to online learning during the pandemic .
We appreciate why , in normal times , the federal rule against international students taking most or all of their classes online while residing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to guard against bogus “ students ” enrolling in bogus online “ universities ” just to gain legal entry into the country .
But need we point out the obvious ?
These are not normal times .
We can only assume that scrapping the exemption now is nothing more than another foolish effort by the Trump administration , eager to deny the truth of the pandemic , to force the country back to business as usual way too soon .
We also smell more than a hint of xenophobia .
These are “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face deportation The message from ICE to foreign students whose schools will be operating only online this fall is blunt : Get out now or get deported .
Or , ICE is saying , go ahead and take all those courses online .
But do so from your own country , be it China or India or some other place four or five time zones away .
Get up in the middle of the night for that physics class that starts in the U.S. at 9 a.m. Or , as a third alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will offer a sufficient number of in-person classes this fall and show up in person .
International students at dozens of schools that already have decided to go exclusively online this fall — 9 % of 1,090 institutions tracked by the Chronicle of Higher Education — will have to make that no-win decision .
Another 24 % of schools are planning hybrid teaching with both in-person and online instruction .
The University of Illinois system , the University of Chicago , Loyola , Concordia and Columbia College are among this group .
Students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , but they also will face huge potential obstacles , as Neal McCrillis , vice provost for global engagement at the University of Illinois at Chicago , explained to us .
Now that ICE has reimposed the pre-pandemic rule strictly limiting online course-taking , McCrillis said , UIC will have to re-examine the fall schedules of its almost 4,000 international students to make sure they meet the old standard .
And that information must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a mere three weeks .
“ We spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer these hybrid classes , ” McGillis said .
“ Now we ’ re being thrown this huge curveball.
” Hundreds of other schools across the country are finding themselves in the same bind .
Will they ever return ?
A raging pandemic is a bad time to impose hard-and-fast federal rules that handcuff colleges and universities from making the tough decisions that are best for their students and financial bottom line .
And nobody should be surprised if all those talented young people from abroad do , indeed , pick up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At a time when new international student enrollment is in decline , our nation risks losing global talent with new policies that hurt us academically and economically , ” as NAFSA Executive Director Esther D. Brimmer said Monday .
All because America ’ s got a president who wants to pretend away a deadly pandemic .

We have one question about a Trump administration plan to force thousands of foreign college students to leave the country should their school go online because of COVID-19:
Why?
Why now, when dozens of states are seeing skyrocketing new cases of COVID-19 and colleges are struggling with how best to serve their students during this resurgent pandemic?
Why the rush? Why no advance warning? Why create even bigger problems for more than a million international students who already are struggling to carry on with their education in the United States in this time of global crisis?
Why is the Trump administration so eager to turn back smart and talented young people from around the world whose presence here only makes our campuses of higher learning, college towns and big cities more cosmopolitan, vibrant and diverse?
It’s not as if international students have been a burden. They pump an estimated $41 billion into the U.S. economy each year and support 458,290 jobs, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators. In Illinois, 53,724 foreign students boost the economy by some $1.9 billion and support 25,855 jobs.
Editorials bug Editorials
Not normal times
On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a decision — out of the blue and without explanation — to scrap a rules exemption, granted just months ago, that allows international students to remain in the U.S. while taking all their classes online. The exemption was created in response to the inconvenient fact that schools are shifting heavily — and sometimes exclusively — to online learning during the pandemic.
We appreciate why, in normal times, the federal rule against international students taking most or all of their classes online while residing here made sense. The intent was to guard against bogus “students” enrolling in bogus online “universities” just to gain legal entry into the country.
But need we point out the obvious? These are not normal times.
We can only assume that scrapping the exemption now is nothing more than another foolish effort by the Trump administration, eager to deny the truth of the pandemic, to force the country back to business as usual way too soon.
We also smell more than a hint of xenophobia. These are “foreign” students.
Get out or face deportation
The message from ICE to foreign students whose schools will be operating only online this fall is blunt: Get out now or get deported.
Or, ICE is saying, go ahead and take all those courses online. But do so from your own country, be it China or India or some other place four or five time zones away. Get up in the middle of the night for that physics class that starts in the U.S. at 9 a.m.
Or, as a third alternative, transfer to another U.S. school that will offer a sufficient number of in-person classes this fall and show up in person.
International students at dozens of schools that already have decided to go exclusively online this fall — 9% of 1,090 institutions tracked by the Chronicle of Higher Education — will have to make that no-win decision.
A new mess for local universities
Another 24% of schools are planning hybrid teaching with both in-person and online instruction. The University of Illinois system, the University of Chicago, Loyola, Concordia and Columbia College are among this group.
Students at these schools can remain in the U.S., but they also will face huge potential obstacles, as Neal McCrillis, vice provost for global engagement at the University of Illinois at Chicago, explained to us.
Now that ICE has reimposed the pre-pandemic rule strictly limiting online course-taking, McCrillis said, UIC will have to re-examine the fall schedules of its almost 4,000 international students to make sure they meet the old standard. And that information must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a mere three weeks.
“We spent two or three months working out how to offer these hybrid classes,” McGillis said. “Now we’re being thrown this huge curveball.”
Hundreds of other schools across the country are finding themselves in the same bind.
Will they ever return?
A raging pandemic is a bad time to impose hard-and-fast federal rules that handcuff colleges and universities from making the tough decisions that are best for their students and financial bottom line.
And nobody should be surprised if all those talented young people from abroad do, indeed, pick up and leave, never to return.
“At a time when new international student enrollment is in decline, our nation risks losing global talent with new policies that hurt us academically and economically,” as NAFSA Executive Director Esther D. Brimmer said Monday.
All because America’s got a president who wants to pretend away a deadly pandemic.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Teen slain in Englewood was ‘already amazing’ with ‘so much more life to live,’ family says

It didn ’ t take long for the family of Vernado Jones Jr. to figure out that the boy was “ already amazing.
” When his mother brought him home after his birth , the newborn was sporting a full head of hair .
His aunt said he “ looked like Samson , ” the Biblical figure who drew superhuman strength from his long hair .
He had a bright future , too .
The 14-year-old was set to attend the perennial basketball powerhouse Simeon Career Academy in the fall , but “ he didn ’ t even get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ He was going to be our great basketball star , ” his aunt , Nancy Wardlaw-Williams , said Tuesday .
“ I told him , ‘ I ’ m waiting on my NBA tickets.
’ ” Jones was one of eight people shot near 61st and Carpenter shortly after 11:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July .
The teen was one of four killed .
Two boys , 11 and 15 , were among the other four wounded .
No arrests have been made in the shooting , and family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come forward to police .
“ Vernado was a wonderful kid .
He had so much more life to live .
So much more life to live , ” Wardlaw-Williams added .
“ And we ’ re deeply hurt .
The entire family is deeply hurt.
” As she spoke to reporters during a rally to support her and other members of Jones ’ family , Wardlaw-Williams held a sign that read : “ Do Black Lives Really Matter ?
!
!
!
Stop Killing Our Kids !
” While gun violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the city has seen a rash of shootings in recent weeks that have left young children dead or wounded .
In fact , at least two children have been shot to death in Chicago during each of the last three weekends .
A few hours before Jones was killed , 7-year-old Natalia Wallace was fatally shot while at a Fourth of July party at her grandmother ’ s house in Austin .
One man has been charged in her death , though police said they ’ re still searching for three more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Jones ’ death .
Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said Monday that both shootings were the byproducts of existing gang feuds .

It didn’t take long for the family of Vernado Jones Jr. to figure out that the boy was “already amazing.”
When his mother brought him home after his birth, the newborn was sporting a full head of hair. His aunt said he “looked like Samson,” the Biblical figure who drew superhuman strength from his long hair.
Vernado Jones Jr. Provided photo
He had a bright future, too. The 14-year-old was set to attend the perennial basketball powerhouse Simeon Career Academy in the fall, but “he didn’t even get a chance to step into the front door.”
“He was going to be our great basketball star,” his aunt, Nancy Wardlaw-Williams, said Tuesday. “I told him, ‘I’m waiting on my NBA tickets.’”
Jones was one of eight people shot near 61st and Carpenter shortly after 11:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July. The teen was one of four killed. Two boys, 11 and 15, were among the other four wounded. No arrests have been made in the shooting, and family members and supporters pleaded for anyone with information to come forward to police.
“Vernado was a wonderful kid. He had so much more life to live. So much more life to live,” Wardlaw-Williams added. “And we’re deeply hurt. The entire family is deeply hurt.”
As she spoke to reporters during a rally to support her and other members of Jones’ family, Wardlaw-Williams held a sign that read: “Do Black Lives Really Matter?!!! Stop Killing Our Kids!”
While gun violence in Chicago spikes during the summer months, the city has seen a rash of shootings in recent weeks that have left young children dead or wounded.
In fact, at least two children have been shot to death in Chicago during each of the last three weekends.
Posters hung in remembrance of Vernado Jones Jr., a 14-year-old boy shot and killed in Englewood on the Fourth of July. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
A few hours before Jones was killed, 7-year-old Natalia Wallace was fatally shot while at a Fourth of July party at her grandmother’s house in Austin. One man has been charged in her death, though police said they’re still searching for three more suspects. No arrests have been made in Jones’ death.
Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said Monday that both shootings were the byproducts of existing gang feuds.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Fox News’ Tucker Carlson criticized for saying Democrats hate America

NEW YORK — Television ’ s most popular political host , Tucker Carlson , says leaders of the Democratic party should be disqualified from running the country because they “ despise ” it .
That led the Biden campaign to accuse the Fox News Channel host on Tuesday of using “ hate speech masquerading as journalism ” and acting as an accomplice to President Donald Trump .
Days after reports surfaced that some Republicans were discussing Carlson as a potential 2024 presidential contender , he delivered a monologue Monday night striking in its language and amplification of points made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump said at Mount Rushmore that the “ radical ideology attacking our country ” in protests that followed George Floyd ’ s death in police custody “ would demolish both justice and society.
” Trump has been critical of efforts to remove monuments to the Confederacy , which has led to reevaluations of other historical figures .
While some analysts called it divisive , Carlson praised it as the best speech the president has made in his life .
He played clips of cable TV hosts and analysts critical of some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlson said that “ these people hate America .
There ’ s no longer any question about that.
” “ The leaders of today ’ s Democratic Party … despise this country , ” he said .
“ They have said so .
They continue to .
That is shocking but it is also disqualifying .
We can not let them run this nation because they hate it .
Imagine what they would do to it.
” He contrasted Trump ’ s speech with one made over the holiday weekend where former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee , said Americans had the chance to rip out the roots of systemic racism .
Carlson said Biden was wagging his finger “ in the face of the nation that promoted someone as mediocre as you to the position you held.
” “ Tucker Carlson and his colleagues who traffic in hate speech masquerading as journalism are accomplices to Donald Trump ’ s perverse mission to use division and bitterness to tear this country apart , ” said Biden campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo .
“ It is the polar opposite of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he means when he talks about a battle for the soul of America.
” Fox News did not immediately comment on Ducklo ’ s statement .
Questioning patriotism has long been a part of politicians ’ playbooks , from suggestions that anti-Vietnam War protesters “ love it or leave it ” and harsh criticisms of Democrats after the Civil War , said Thomas Patterson , former head of Harvard ’ s Shorenstein Center on Media , Politics and Public Policy .
“ Things are really heating up and I do think there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of Republicans in this , ” said Patterson , author of “ Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself ?
” Carlson has been among biggest television beneficiaries during the busy news period .
He ’ s been reaching 4 million viewers a night and in recent months has pulled slightly ahead of Fox News colleague Sean Hannity .
Besides Biden , Carlson on Monday singled out U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois , a former military helicopter pilot who lost both legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq .
Carlson was critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with CNN ’ s Dana Bash where she was twice asked about whether or not statues of George Washington should be removed .
Duckworth didn ’ t give her opinion , but said Americans should have a “ national dialogue ” about it .
“ You ’ re not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military , ” Carlson said .
“ Most people just ignore her .
But when Duckworth does speak in public you ’ re reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response : “ Does Tucker Carlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America ?
”

NEW YORK — Television’s most popular political host, Tucker Carlson, says leaders of the Democratic party should be disqualified from running the country because they “despise” it.
That led the Biden campaign to accuse the Fox News Channel host on Tuesday of using “hate speech masquerading as journalism” and acting as an accomplice to President Donald Trump.
Days after reports surfaced that some Republicans were discussing Carlson as a potential 2024 presidential contender, he delivered a monologue Monday night striking in its language and amplification of points made by Trump over the Fourth of July weekend.
Trump said at Mount Rushmore that the “radical ideology attacking our country” in protests that followed George Floyd’s death in police custody “would demolish both justice and society.” Trump has been critical of efforts to remove monuments to the Confederacy, which has led to reevaluations of other historical figures.
While some analysts called it divisive, Carlson praised it as the best speech the president has made in his life.
He played clips of cable TV hosts and analysts critical of some of the nation’s actions historically. Carlson said that “these people hate America. There’s no longer any question about that.”
“The leaders of today’s Democratic Party … despise this country,” he said. “They have said so. They continue to. That is shocking but it is also disqualifying. We cannot let them run this nation because they hate it. Imagine what they would do to it.”
He contrasted Trump’s speech with one made over the holiday weekend where former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said Americans had the chance to rip out the roots of systemic racism. Carlson said Biden was wagging his finger “in the face of the nation that promoted someone as mediocre as you to the position you held.”
“Tucker Carlson and his colleagues who traffic in hate speech masquerading as journalism are accomplices to Donald Trump’s perverse mission to use division and bitterness to tear this country apart,” said Biden campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo. “It is the polar opposite of what Joe Biden stands for, and exactly what he means when he talks about a battle for the soul of America.”
Fox News did not immediately comment on Ducklo’s statement.
Questioning patriotism has long been a part of politicians’ playbooks, from suggestions that anti-Vietnam War protesters “love it or leave it” and harsh criticisms of Democrats after the Civil War, said Thomas Patterson, former head of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.
“Things are really heating up and I do think there is an air of desperation on the part of Republicans in this,” said Patterson, author of “Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?”
Carlson has been among biggest television beneficiaries during the busy news period. He’s been reaching 4 million viewers a night and in recent months has pulled slightly ahead of Fox News colleague Sean Hannity.
Besides Biden, Carlson on Monday singled out U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former military helicopter pilot who lost both legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq.
Carlson was critical of the Democratic senator for an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash where she was twice asked about whether or not statues of George Washington should be removed. Duckworth didn’t give her opinion, but said Americans should have a “national dialogue” about it.
“You’re not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military,” Carlson said. “Most people just ignore her. But when Duckworth does speak in public you’re reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is.”
Duckworth tweeted in response: “Does Tucker Carlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Man shooting at dog in NW Indiana strikes 10-year-old girl instead: police

A 10-year-old girl was struck by stray bullets when someone was fending off a dog Tuesday in Gary , Indiana @ @ @ @ @ van into the parking lot of a store about 3:30 p.m. in the 4100 block @ @ @ @ @ dog charged at him , the Lake County Indiana sheriff ’ s office said .
@ @ @ @ @ gun and fired shots at the dog , but the bullets missed the animal and @ @ @ @ @ legs , the sheriff ’ s office said .
The girl was treated at Methodist @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said .
Police are searching for the blue van the man was @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 10-year-old girl was shot by someone trying to fend off a dog Tuesday in Gary, Indiana.
The girl was walking with her two brothers and their two dogs about 3:30 p.m. in the 4100 block of Cleveland Street, the Lake County Indiana sheriff’s office said. A man pulled his van into a parking lot when one of the dogs charged at him.
The man pulled out a gun and fired shots at the dog, but the bullets missed the animal and struck the girl in both legs, the sheriff’s office said.
The girl was treated at Methodist Northlake Hospital and is expected to recover, the sheriff’s office said.
Police are searching for the blue van the man was driving.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-07--Another PPE shortage? Protective gear for medical workers begins to run low again

The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs .
A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused .
A doctors association warns that physicians ’ offices are closed because they can not get masks and other supplies .
And Democratic members of Congress are pushing the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns , hair covers , shoe covers , masks , N95 masks , ” said Deborah Burger , president of National Nurses United , who cited results from a survey of the union ’ s members .
“ They ’ re being doled out , and we ’ re still being told to reuse them.
” When the crisis first exploded in March and April in hot spots such as New York City , the situation was so desperate that nurses turned plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of equipment forced states and hospitals to compete against each other , the federal government and other countries in desperate , expensive bidding wars .
In general , supplies of protective gear are more robust now , and many states and major hospital chains say they are in better shape .
But medical professionals and some lawmakers have cast doubt on those improvements as shortages begin to reappear .
— Brazil ’ s president , Jair Bolsonaro , said he has tested positive for COVID-19 after months of downplaying the virus ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test results while speaking to reporters in the capital of Brasilia .
Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds , at times without a mask .
— The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization .
The move makes good on President Donald Trump ’ s vow to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO , which he has criticized for its response to the pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence .
The pullout will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change .
— Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the nation ’ s schools must reopen this fall and be “ fully operational ” even as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge around the country .
She said anything short of a full reopening would fail students and taxpayers .
DeVos made the comments during a call with governors .
Audio of the call was obtained by The Associated Press .
Speaking about protective equipment on the call , U.S. Health and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s important for gear to be reused and repurposed as a way to stretch the stocks and avoid shortages .
Dr. Aisha Terry said that she has good access to PPE as an associate professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington , but some non-academic and rural health facilities have much less .
“ I think overall , production , distribution and access has improved , ” Terry said .
“ But the fear is that we will become complacent ” and allow supplies to dwindle in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Federal Emergency Management Agency , Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress calling for a coordinated national strategy to buy and allocate gear .
Rep. Carolyn Maloney , a New York Democrat , released a memo last week ahead of a congressional committee hearing that raised concerns about looming problems in the supply chain .
Her report was based on interviews with unnamed employees at medical supply companies , one of whom warned that raw material for gowns is not available at any price in the amounts needed , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rear Adm. John Polowczyk , who is in charge of coronavirus-related supplies for the White House , told Congress last week that more than than one-fourth of the states have less than a 30-day supply .
“ It would seem like in less than 30 days , we ’ re going to have a real crisis , ” said Rep. Bill Foster , an Illinois Democrat .
FEMA , one of the main federal agencies in charge of the coronavirus response , would not break down which states have enough gear to last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It referred those questions to individual states .
In June , the government started replenishing its once-depleted stockpile with the goal of building up a two-month supply .
As of June 10 , FEMA had distributed or directed private companies to distribute more than 74 million N95 masks and 66 million pairs of gloves , along with other gear .
The agency said it changed its distribution method to send more equipment to hot spots .
Although all U.S. states and territories have received some protective gear from FEMA , an Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own data found that the amounts varied widely when measured by population and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases .
The AP analysis found that low-population , mostly rural states received the largest FEMA allocations per confirmed case .
As of mid-June , for example , Montana had received 1,125 items of protective gear per case , compared with 32 items per case in Massachusetts , an early hot spot .
States including California , Iowa and Nebraska , all of which have seen a surge in confirmed infections , received among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per case , according to the AP analysis .
Many states say the federal supplies make up a small part of their stockpiles after they spent millions of dollars to acquire equipment on their own .
FEMA told the AP that its initial distributions were made on a per-capita basis , but also said the agency has tried to accommodate individual requests from the states .
Concerns extend beyond the amount of gear .
In New Hampshire , an association representing nursing homes said most items sent by FEMA in early June were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks with ear loops that broke when stretched and isolation gowns with no arm openings .
A nonprofit group called # GetUsPPE was established in March by physicians to help distribute donated protective gear .
The group had a 200 % increase in requests during the last two weeks of June from medical providers in Texas , a state with a big surge in confirmed virus cases .
State officials there have said their supplies are adequate .
“ We anticipated that we would need to be around for a few weeks until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem , ” said Dr. Megan Ranney , an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital who was among the group ’ s founders .
“ Here we are , still getting hundreds of thousands of requests a week .
”

The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs.
A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused. A doctors association warns that physicians’ offices are closed because they cannot get masks and other supplies. And Democratic members of Congress are pushing the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall.
“We’re five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, N95 masks,” said Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, who cited results from a survey of the union’s members. “They’re being doled out, and we’re still being told to reuse them.”
When the crisis first exploded in March and April in hot spots such as New York City, the situation was so desperate that nurses turned plastic garbage bags into protective gowns. The lack of equipment forced states and hospitals to compete against each other, the federal government and other countries in desperate, expensive bidding wars.
In general, supplies of protective gear are more robust now, and many states and major hospital chains say they are in better shape. But medical professionals and some lawmakers have cast doubt on those improvements as shortages begin to reappear.
In other virus-related developments Tuesday:
— Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, said he has tested positive for COVID-19 after months of downplaying the virus’ severity. The 65-year-old populist confirmed the test results while speaking to reporters in the capital of Brasilia. Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask.
— The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The move makes good on President Donald Trump’s vow to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO, which he has criticized for its response to the pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence. The pullout will not take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change.
— Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the nation’s schools must reopen this fall and be “fully operational” even as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge around the country. She said anything short of a full reopening would fail students and taxpayers. DeVos made the comments during a call with governors. Audio of the call was obtained by The Associated Press.
Speaking about protective equipment on the call, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday that it’s important for gear to be reused and repurposed as a way to stretch the stocks and avoid shortages.
Dr. Aisha Terry said that she has good access to PPE as an associate professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington, but some non-academic and rural health facilities have much less.
“I think overall, production, distribution and access has improved,” Terry said. “But the fear is that we will become complacent” and allow supplies to dwindle in some places.
The American Medical Association wrote to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress calling for a coordinated national strategy to buy and allocate gear.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat, released a memo last week ahead of a congressional committee hearing that raised concerns about looming problems in the supply chain. Her report was based on interviews with unnamed employees at medical supply companies, one of whom warned that raw material for gowns is not available at any price in the amounts needed, leading to an “unsustainable” situation.
Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, who is in charge of coronavirus-related supplies for the White House, told Congress last week that more than than one-fourth of the states have less than a 30-day supply.
“It would seem like in less than 30 days, we’re going to have a real crisis,” said Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat.
FEMA, one of the main federal agencies in charge of the coronavirus response, would not break down which states have enough gear to last beyond 30 days and which do not. It referred those questions to individual states. In June, the government started replenishing its once-depleted stockpile with the goal of building up a two-month supply.
As of June 10, FEMA had distributed or directed private companies to distribute more than 74 million N95 masks and 66 million pairs of gloves, along with other gear. The agency said it changed its distribution method to send more equipment to hot spots.
Although all U.S. states and territories have received some protective gear from FEMA, an Associated Press analysis of the agency’s own data found that the amounts varied widely when measured by population and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The AP analysis found that low-population, mostly rural states received the largest FEMA allocations per confirmed case. As of mid-June, for example, Montana had received 1,125 items of protective gear per case, compared with 32 items per case in Massachusetts, an early hot spot. States including California, Iowa and Nebraska, all of which have seen a surge in confirmed infections, received among the lowest amounts of protective gear from FEMA per case, according to the AP analysis.
Many states say the federal supplies make up a small part of their stockpiles after they spent millions of dollars to acquire equipment on their own. FEMA told the AP that its initial distributions were made on a per-capita basis, but also said the agency has tried to accommodate individual requests from the states.
Concerns extend beyond the amount of gear. In New Hampshire, an association representing nursing homes said most items sent by FEMA in early June were unusable, including child-size gloves, surgical masks with ear loops that broke when stretched and isolation gowns with no arm openings.
A nonprofit group called #GetUsPPE was established in March by physicians to help distribute donated protective gear.
The group had a 200% increase in requests during the last two weeks of June from medical providers in Texas, a state with a big surge in confirmed virus cases. State officials there have said their supplies are adequate.
“We anticipated that we would need to be around for a few weeks until someone else stepped in and solved this problem,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital who was among the group’s founders. “Here we are, still getting hundreds of thousands of requests a week.”


chicagosun-times--2020-07-08--Northside College Prep votes to remove its CPD officer, becomes first CPS school to do so

A Northwest Side school has elected to remove the police officer stationed in its building in a first-of-its-kind vote that offers a potential preview of dozens more similar decisions likely to be considered in the coming weeks .
The Chicago police officer at Northside College Preparatory High School will be kicked out this fall after the school ’ s elected representative body of parents , a lone student , teachers and community members voted unanimously Tuesday evening to make the change .
The decision makes Northside ’ s Local School Council the first to yank its officer as debates rage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Education over whether to terminate a $ 33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department .
That move would pull about 200 officers from all 73 public schools that participate in the program .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS officials , including Janice Jackson , the district ’ s chief executive , have argued against a blanket removal of officers from schools .
Instead , they have said they would rather leave the choice up to LSCs , arguing each individual school has its own needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of LSCs ahead of the past school year .
Not a single LSC voted to remove its officers a year ago , but many members across the city said they received little information and minimal heads up before their vote .
Only schools that have officers are asked to vote on whether to keep them ; schools without cops aren ’ t being asked whether they want to add police .
In all , 72 of 93 district-run high schools have officers , and one of 43 charter high schools has an officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for police-free schools , saying Black and Brown students face disproportionately harsh treatment by officers who turn typical childhood behavior into a criminal record — causing the so-called “ school-to-prison pipeline.
” The movement took a hit at the end of last month when Lightfoot ’ s handpicked school board in a narrow 4-3 vote decided against ending the district ’ s contract with CPD .
The agreement is set to expire at the end of August , however , meaning another vote is likely this month or the next .
CPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has advocated for police-free schools along with several other organizations in recent weeks , declared the vote a victory for students .
“ This vote is a meaningful step for both the students of Northside College Prep and for the district as a whole , who have continuously demonstrated their desire to attend schools that make them feel welcome and safe , ” the group said in a statement , adding the vote could set a precedent for other LSCs in the coming weeks .
Members of the Northside LSC couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @

A Northwest Side school has elected to remove two police officers stationed in its building in a first-of-its-kind vote that offers a potential preview of dozens more similar decisions likely to be considered in the coming weeks.
The Chicago police officers at Northside College Preparatory High School will be kicked out this fall after the school’s elected body of parents, teachers and community members, along with a lone student, voted unanimously Tuesday evening to make the change.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The decision makes Northside’s Local School Council the first to yank its officers as debates rage in the City Council and among the Board of Education over whether to terminate a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department. There are about 200 officers at 73 public schools currently in the program.
Luna Johnston, the student member of Northside’s LSC, said Wednesday she was inspired by students, alumni and teachers who pushed in recent weeks for officers to be removed.
Luna Johnston, the student representative on Northside’s Local School Council. Provided
“With the student push that we had and all the statistics that we have on CPS SROs, I think that we made the right decision,” Johnston, a 17-year-old rising senior, said. “It’s not only huge because it’s having an impact on students’ daily lives, but it’s setting the tone for what we care about as a school.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS officials, including Janice Jackson, the district’s chief executive, have argued against a blanket removal of officers from schools. Instead, they have said they would rather leave the choice up to LSCs, saying each individual school has its own needs.
CPS put that decision in the hands of LSCs ahead of last school year. Not a single LSC voted to remove its officers a year ago, but many members across the city said they received little information and minimal notice before voting.
“We voted on it in August, and that was just a rushed vote that CPS said we had to make this decision,” Johnston said. “We voted to keep our SROs just because we knew our SROs and we didn’t have any personal issues with them. But we didn’t really understand what their job was and really we voted conditionally in hopes that CPS would add training.”
Only schools that have officers are being asked to vote on whether to keep them; schools without cops aren’t being asked whether they want to add police. In all, 72 of 93 district-run high schools have officers, and one of 43 charter high schools has an officer.
CPS is asking all LSCs with cops in their schools to vote by Aug. 15 on whether to remove them. The district is handing out an information packet next week to help members better understand the issue.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday said she was neither surprised nor disappointed by the Northside LSC vote.
“The whole point is, those decisions should be made by the Local School Council,” Lightfoot told reporters at an unrelated event at Buckingham Fountain. “They shouldn’t be made by the mayor. They shouldn’t be made by the Board of Education.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a press conference at the launch of Taste of Chicago To-Go at the Buckingham Fountain on July 8, 2020. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
LSCs are “empowered” to “make the decision that is in the best interest of their particular schools,” the mayor said. “That’s what this discussion should be about: Making sure that the people who are closest to it — who know what the individual school environment is like in conversation with parents, teachers and other stakeholders.”
Students and activists have fought for years for police-free schools, saying Black and Brown students face disproportionately harsh treatment by officers who turn typical childhood behavior into a criminal record — causing the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline.”
Northside, one of the district’s highest-rated and most prestigious schools, is disproportionately white compared to the rest of CPS. In a district that’s 10.8% white, 35.9% Black and 46.6% Latino, 31% of Northside’s students are white, 30.5% are Latino, 19.2% are Asian and 5.8% are Black.
A police officer was only called to intervene in one incident at the school throughout the 2018-19 school year, the latest with data available, according to CPS records.
The movement to remove officers took a hit at the end of last month when Lightfoot’s handpicked school board, in a 4-3 vote, decided against ending the district’s contract with CPD. The agreement is set to expire at the end of August, however, meaning another vote is likely this month or the next.
CPS Alumni for Abolition, a group that has advocated for police-free schools along with several other organizations in recent weeks, declared the vote a victory for students.
“This vote is a meaningful step for both the students of Northside College Prep and for the district as a whole, who have continuously demonstrated their desire to attend schools that make them feel welcome and safe,” the group said in a statement, adding the vote could set a precedent for other LSCs in the coming weeks.