chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Blackhawks pick goalie Drew Commesso, six other prospects on Day 2 of NHL Draft

After selecting forward Lukas Reichel in the first round Tuesday , the Blackhawks added seven more prospects during Day Two of the NHL draft on Wednesday .
Both Kelley and Bowman had hinted often over the past few weeks that the Hawks wanted to boost their goalie pipeline , which entered the draft pretty bare .
They did just that with Commesso , who was ranked by most scouts as the second- or third-best goalie in this draft class .
Although he ’ s a bit of a late bloomer , he boasts big upside .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Commesso said .
“ You won ’ t really find me scrambling or really making those crazy highlight-reel saves much .
I ’ d rather just make the simple save in my chest.
” The 6-foot-2 Massachusetts native went 18-7-1 with a .920 save percentage with the U.S. National Team Development Program last season .
He ’ s a freshman at Boston University now , where he ’ ll be teammates with fellow Hawks prospects Alex Vlasic and Jake Wise .
BU goalie coach Brian Eklund has coached Commesso since age 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently working on improving his skating and rebound control .
Hawks scouting director Mark Kelley said the Hawks were “ very , very concerned ” that Commesso might be taken before 46th and was relieved he wasn ’ t .
“ A lot of times , we don ’ t talk about goaltenders ’ hockey sense , but with Drew , it ’ s obvious , ” Kelley said .
“ [ With ] his IQ , he understands how the play develops .
So that bodes well for him.
” The Hawks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was projected to go several rounds later .
Slaggert scored 24 points in 47 games for the USNTDP last season .
He ’ s now a freshman at Notre Dame , where his father is an assistant coach .
He projects as a bottom-six grinder if he makes it to the NHL .
“ I see my game as a 200-foot game , ” he said .
“ I bring a lot of energy on the ice .
I ’ m a tough player to play against.
” The Hawks found out at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ d receive this pick and promptly used it on Kaiser , a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth and one of the top high schoolers last season in Minnesota last season .
Kaiser is mobile defenseman with good awareness in his own zone .
“ My skating is a big [ strength ] , ” he said .
“ Skating , moving the puck fast .
Some of my weaknesses [ are ] the offensive side of the game .
Just figuring out how to be more offensive.
” The Hawks played their two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prague .
A year later , they selected players from both of those cities in this draft .
Krutil is a 6-foot-1 defensive defenseman who mostly played for Sparta Praha ’ s U-20 team and the Czech U-18 national team last season .
Kelley said Krutil will move over to North America and join Kelowna in the WHL eventually .
He said skating , passing and physicality are the strongest parts of his game , but he needs to work on quickness , decision-making and shooting moving forward .
Phillips combined his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Sudbury to move up into the fifth round .
He has interestingly played internationally for Jamaica .
“ I ’ m a two-way defenseman who has good skating and good size , ” he said .
“ I ’ m a guy that likes to jump up into the place and likes to use my feet to add to that second wave .
But I ’ m also a guy who can defend in his own end [ with a ] big reach , big body.
” Yetman scored 74 points in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Otters , catching the eyes of Hawks scouts there watching Jamie Drysdale ( drafted sixth by the Ducks ) .
The 20-year-old wing went undrafted in his first two years of eligibility but finally found a taker this year .
“ It ’ s been a little crazy this last 20 minutes , ” Yetman said , grinning .
“ [ I was ] sitting around and my phone started to blow up .
I wasn ’ t even watching .
My heart kind of stopped a little and I said to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selected.
’ ” The Hawks unexpectedly traded their 2021 seventh-round pick to the Canadiens in order to pick Crevier .
The Quebecois defenseman ’ s biggest selling point is that he ’ s 6-foot-8 , 216 pounds at age 19 .
“ Actually , I don ’ t really know why , ” Crevier said .
“ I don ’ t have someone in my family that ’ s really tall .
Just fortunate to have this gift .
”

After selecting forward Lukas Reichel in the first round Tuesday, the Blackhawks added seven more prospects during Day 2 of the NHL Draft on Wednesday.
Round 2, No. 46 overall
Drew Commesso, Goaltender, Boston University (NCAA)
Scouting director Mark Kelley and general manager Stan Bowman had hinted often over the last few weeks that the Hawks wanted to boost their goalie pipeline, which entered the draft pretty bare.
They did just that with Commesso, who was ranked by most scouts as the second- or third-best goalie in this draft class. Although he’s a bit of a late bloomer, he boasts big upside.
“I’m a very calm and efficient goalie,” Commesso said. “You won’t really find me scrambling or really making those crazy highlight-reel saves much. I’d rather just make the simple save in my chest.”
New Hawks pick Drew Commesso not shying away from the Zoom call.
Says he plans to spend a few years a Boston University and "go from there." pic.twitter.com/upzeTcO8fO — Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 7, 2020
The 6-2 Massachusetts native went 18-7-1 with a .920 save percentage with the U.S. National Team Development Program last season.
He’s a freshman at Boston University, where he’ll be teammates with fellow Hawks prospects Alex Vlasic and Jake Wise. BU goalie coach Brian Eklund has coached Commesso since age 10, and Commesso said the two are working on improving his skating and rebound control.
Kelley said the Hawks were “very, very concerned” that Commesso might be taken before the 46th pick, and they were relieved that he wasn’t.
“A lot of times, we don’t talk about goaltenders’ hockey sense, but with Drew, it’s obvious,” Kelley said. “[With] his IQ, he understands how the play develops. So that bodes well for him.”
Round 3, No. 79 overall
Landon Slaggert, Center, Notre Dame (NCAA)
The Hawks reached a bit for Slaggert, who was projected to go several rounds later.
Slaggert had 24 points in 47 games for the USNTDP last season. He’s a freshman at Notre Dame, where his father is an assistant coach. He projects as a bottom-six grinder if he makes it to the NHL.
“I see my game as a 200-foot game,” he said. “I bring a lot of energy on the ice. I’m a tough player to play against.”
Round 3, No. 81 overall
Wyatt Kaiser, Defenseman, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
The Hawks found out at the start of the third round that they’d receive this pick and promptly used it on Kaiser, a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth and one of the top high school players in Minnesota last season.
Kaiser is a mobile defenseman with good awareness in his own zone.
“My skating is a big [strength],” he said. “Skating, moving the puck fast. Some of my weaknesses [are] the offensive side of the game. Just figuring out how to be more offensive.”
Round 4, No. 110 overall
Michael Krutil, Defenseman, Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)
The Hawks played their two 2019 NHL Global Series games in Berlin and Prague. A year later, they selected players from both of those cities in this draft.
Krutil is a 6-1 defensive defenseman who mostly played for Sparta Praha’s U-20 team and the Czech U-18 national team last season. Kelley said Krutil will move over to North America and join Kelowna in the WHL eventually.
He said skating, passing and physicality are the strongest parts of his game, but he needs to work on his quickness, decision-making and shooting.
Round 5, No. 141 overall
Isaak Phillips, Defenseman, Sudbury (OHL)
Phillips combined his lanky 6-3 frame with decent scoring numbers with Sudbury to move up into the fifth round. Interestingly, he has played internationally for Jamaica.
“I’m a two-way defenseman who has good skating and good size,” he said. “I’m a guy that likes to jump up into the place and likes to use my feet to add to that second wave. But I’m also a guy who can defend in his own end [with a] big reach, big body.”
New Blackhawks pick Isaak Phillips wins the award for best-dressed and best lighting on Zoom.
His dad hails from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and he played for Team Jamaica in 2018, but he's grown up and plays mostly in Canada. Fascinating backstory. pic.twitter.com/biAuutlKOi — Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 7, 2020
Round 6, No. 172 overall
Chad Yetman, Right Wing, Erie (OHL)
Yetman scored 74 points in 61 games last season with the Erie Otters, catching the eyes of Hawks scouts there watching Jamie Drysdale (drafted sixth by the Ducks).
The 20-year-old wing went undrafted in his first two years of eligibility but finally found a taker this year.
“It’s been a little crazy this last 20 minutes,” Yetman said, grinning. “[I was] sitting around, and my phone started to blow up. I wasn’t even watching. My heart kind of stopped a little, and I said to my mom, ‘I think I got selected.’ ”
Round 7, No. 188 overall
Louis Crevier, Defenseman, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
The Hawks unexpectedly traded their 2021 seventh-round pick to the Canadiens in order to pick Crevier.
The Quebecois defenseman’s biggest selling point is that he’s 6-8, 216 pounds at 19.
“Actually, I don’t really know why,” Crevier said. “I don’t have someone in my family that’s really tall. Just fortunate to have this gift.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--COVID-19 craps out state gambling tax revenue by $200 million, but sports betting off to strong star

COVID-19 craps out state gambling tax revenue by $200 million, but sports betting off to strong start

Illinois ’ three-month COVID-19 shutdown left the state $ 200 million in the hole in terms of gambling tax revenue , as casino profits were slashed by nearly a third compared to last year .
And while the bright lights have been flipped back on at the state ’ s 10 casinos and 36,000-plus video gaming terminals , it ’ s no sure bet those revenues will jump back to normal anytime soon , according to a report released this week by the state ’ s bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability .
“ Even with the resumption of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramifications of the pandemic on public confidence will persist for some time , ” state analyst Eric Noggle said in the report .
Gaming was put on hold along with thousands of other businesses statewide for the duration of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s pandemic stay-at-home order from March 16 through the end of June , which also marked the end of the state ’ s fiscal year .
Casinos raked in $ 943 million , plummeting 30 % from the previous fiscal year ’ s haul of $ 1.4 billion — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclamation mark on an eighth consecutive year of casino losses .
The state ’ s most lucrative gambling house , Rivers Casino in Des Plaines , suffered a 27 % revenue loss of about $ 119 million .
“ No one could predict COVID-19 and the impact it would have on the gaming industry and the entire economy , ” Rivers general manager Corey Wise said , adding that “ COVID protocols have been well received and successful ” since reopening in July .
Video gambling terminals not in casinos took a 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion of gamblers ’ money compared to $ 1.6 billion the year prior .
On top of that , Illinois Lottery sales fell $ 173 million to $ 2.8 billion .
That ’ s the lottery ’ s worst one-year decline since the 1970s , a 5.8 % falloff that Noggle attributed to the pandemic because “ customers were more likely to stay at home and some retailers may not have been open.
” Overall , gambling tax revenue for the state fell by 13.4 % to $ 1.2 billion .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he scrambles to make ends meet after the pandemic fired a $ 2.7 billion hole into his spending plan .
The Democratic governor has ordered his cabinet directors to plan for a “ nightmare scenario ” of budget cuts of at least 5 % this fiscal year and 10 % in the next one .
But a new gaming revenue stream is showing promising early returns .
Gamblers plunked down nearly $ 140 million in sports bets in August , Illinois ’ second full month of legal sports betting .
Among the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held about $ 7.2 million of that handle , pumping about $ 1.1 million into state coffers .
The state had hoped to see some of that money sooner , as the industry launched just days ahead of the COVID-19 shutdown .
Just $ 12,224 was collected in sports betting tax revenue by the end of June .
But the proliferation of mobile sports betting options — and the return of most major American sports — have sent those numbers skyrocketing since July .
Illinois bettors put down $ 52.5 million during that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Numbers are expected to keep ballooning with five online sportsbooks live statewide .
Nearly 90 % of the Illinois ’ August sports betting handle was placed online .
State analysts are still hedging their bets though , with Noggle writing that “ while these revenue amounts are sure to increase in FY 2021 , the extent that this will occur remains uncertain due to the lingering impact of COVID-19 on sports events.
” The state is also counting on six new casinos authorized under last year ’ s gambling expansion law to eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions remain on the extent that gaming revenues will increase given the plethora of gaming opportunities that already exist and the potential ramifications of the virus on the economy and discretionary spending , ” Noggle said .
The Illinois Gaming Board has until the end of the month to issue license decisions on casino applicants — but that appears on track to be delayed .
The board isn ’ t scheduled to meet again until Nov. 5 .

Illinois’ three-month COVID-19 shutdown left the state $200 million in the hole in terms of gambling tax revenue, as casino profits were slashed by nearly a third compared to last year.
And while the bright lights have been flipped back on at the state’s 10 casinos and 36,000-plus video gaming terminals, it’s no sure bet those revenues will jump back to normal anytime soon, according to a report released this week by the state’s bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
“Even with the resumption of wagering, it is expected that the ramifications of the pandemic on public confidence will persist for some time,” state analyst Eric Noggle said in the report.
Gaming was put on hold along with thousands of other businesses statewide for the duration of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s pandemic stay-at-home order from March 16 through the end of June, which also marked the end of the state’s fiscal year.
Casinos raked in $943 million, plummeting 30% from the previous fiscal year’s haul of $1.4 billion — with the coronavirus shutdown putting a brutal exclamation mark on an eighth consecutive year of casino losses.
The state’s most lucrative gambling house, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, suffered a 27% revenue loss of about $119 million.
“No one could predict COVID-19 and the impact it would have on the gaming industry and the entire economy,” Rivers general manager Corey Wise said, adding that “COVID protocols have been well received and successful” since reopening in July.
A security guard stationed at the front door gives a face mask to a guest before he can enter Rivers Casino in Des Plaines on the first day of reopening following July 1. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Video gambling terminals not in casinos took a 23% hit, sucking down $1.2 billion of gamblers’ money compared to $1.6 billion the year prior.
On top of that, Illinois Lottery sales fell $173 million to $2.8 billion. That’s the lottery’s worst one-year decline since the 1970s, a 5.8% falloff that Noggle attributed to the pandemic because “customers were more likely to stay at home and some retailers may not have been open.”
Overall, gambling tax revenue for the state fell by 13.4% to $1.2 billion. That’s just another headache for Pritzker as he scrambles to make ends meet after the pandemic fired a $2.7 billion hole into his spending plan. The Democratic governor has ordered his cabinet directors to plan for a “nightmare scenario” of budget cuts of at least 5% this fiscal year and 10% in the next one.
But a new gaming revenue stream is showing promising early returns. Gamblers plunked down nearly $140 million in sports bets in August, Illinois’ second full month of legal sports betting.
Among the state’s seven sportsbooks, the house held about $7.2 million of that handle, pumping about $1.1 million into state coffers.
The state had hoped to see some of that money sooner, as the industry launched just days ahead of the COVID-19 shutdown. Just $12,224 was collected in sports betting tax revenue by the end of June.
But the proliferation of mobile sports betting options — and the return of most major American sports — have sent those numbers skyrocketing since July. Illinois bettors put down $52.5 million during that first full month of sports wagering.
Numbers are expected to keep ballooning with five online sportsbooks live statewide. Nearly 90% of the Illinois’ August sports betting handle was placed online.
State analysts are still hedging their bets though, with Noggle writing that “while these revenue amounts are sure to increase in FY 2021, the extent that this will occur remains uncertain due to the lingering impact of COVID-19 on sports events.”
The state is also counting on six new casinos authorized under last year’s gambling expansion law to eventually start generating cash.
“However, questions remain on the extent that gaming revenues will increase given the plethora of gaming opportunities that already exist and the potential ramifications of the virus on the economy and discretionary spending,” Noggle said.
The Illinois Gaming Board has until the end of the month to issue license decisions on casino applicants — but that appears on track to be delayed. The board isn’t scheduled to meet again until Nov. 5.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Senior groups accuse wealthy opponents of Pritzker’s income tax plan of running ‘dishonest ads to tr

Senior groups accuse wealthy opponents of Pritzker’s income tax plan of running ‘dishonest ads to try and scare us’

AARP Illinois and other senior-focused interest groups voiced concerns Wednesday over “ misinformation ” that they say is being spread about the state ’ s proposed shift to a graduated income to communities that “ can ’ t afford to be misled.
” “ It makes me crazy to know my hard-working friends and neighbors are paying the same tax rate as millionaires and billionaires in this state , and it makes me angry when I see those same millionaires and billionaires spreading rumors about graduated income tax impacting retirement income , ” said Wendy Edington , an AARP Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , members of the advocacy group for retirees , as well as the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans and Jane Addams Seniors in Action , said there ’ s “ nothing more important ” than voters passing the amendment that would change the state ’ s tax structure to a graduated-rate system .
AARP has paid for ads in support of the tax proposal , which Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and other supporters call the “ Fair Tax.
” Opponents have taken to calling it the “ Tax Hike Amendment.
” But representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the other side is peddling “ misinformation ” directed at those who “ can ’ t afford to be misled.
” “ Millionaires and billionaires have teamed up to stop the Fair Tax by scaring seniors , ” said Ruth Maskow of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans .
“ They ’ re spending millions of dollars on dishonest ads to try and scare us into voting against our own best interests .
You don ’ t have to listen to those scare tactics .
The Fair Tax is our best way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy groups argued that “ rumors ” about the state potentially opening the door to taxing retirement income are just not true .
Talk of taxing retirement income has sparked a back and forth between the two sides arguing over the proposal , with opponents seizing on a statement from state Treasurer Mike Frerichs in June .
The Daily Herald reported Frerichs said a shift to a graduated tax system would “ make clear you can have graduated rates when you are taxing retirement income.
” Frerichs has since tried to walk that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not pushing ” for taxing retirement income .
After the right-leaning Illinois Policy Institute referenced the statement in a lawsuit filed Monday , Frerichs once again tried to clarify , insisting he opposes “ creating a retirement tax in Illinois , along with the General Assembly , and Governor .
“ I encourage others to join me to stand up for working families and retirees , so they get a tax cut while we ask millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share , ” Frerichs said in a statement after cancelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
“ The fact is opponents of the fair tax have actually released plans to tax retirement income and raise taxes on everyone.
” Lissa Druss , a spokeswoman for the Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment , accused “ Springfield Politicians ” of ” pushing plans to tax retirement income ” and “ attempting to rewrite history , ” two reasons why “ why voters can ’ t trust the Springfield Politicians with their Tax Hike Amendment.
” In a statement Tuesday , Druss said “ no amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact this is the worst possible time to raise taxes , and we simply can ’ t trust Springfield Politicians.
” The proposed amendment to the state constitution does not tax retirement income , but opponents say there ’ s nothing stopping legislators from doing so in the future — or raising tax rates on those who make lower or middle incomes down the line to help fill the state ’ s budget gap .
The potential move to a graduated-rate income tax system has been a hotly contested one , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of “ paying their fair share.
” Voters are not deciding on the rates when they cast their ballot in November — those rates were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Pritzker last June .
Under that legislation , if voters approve the change to a graduated income tax system , incomes between $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 would be taxed 7.75 % .
It would maintain the current tax rate of 4.95 % on incomes between $ 100,000 and $ 250,000 , drop it to 4.9 % for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and lower it to 4.75 % for the first $ 10,000 .
Income from $ 500,000 to $ 1 million would be taxed 7.85 % , while income over $ 1 million would be taxed 7.99 % .
The new tax rates would go into effect Jan. 1 , 2021 .

AARP Illinois and other senior-focused interest groups voiced concerns Wednesday over “misinformation” that they say is being spread about the state’s proposed shift to a graduated income to communities that “can’t afford to be misled.”
“It makes me crazy to know my hard-working friends and neighbors are paying the same tax rate as millionaires and billionaires in this state, and it makes me angry when I see those same millionaires and billionaires spreading rumors about graduated income tax impacting retirement income,” said Wendy Edington, an AARP Illinois volunteer.
In a Zoom news conference, members of the advocacy group for retirees, as well as the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans and Jane Addams Seniors in Action, said there’s “nothing more important” than voters passing the amendment that would change the state’s tax structure to a graduated-rate system.
AARP has paid for ads in support of the tax proposal, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other supporters call the “Fair Tax.”
Opponents have taken to calling it the “Tax Hike Amendment.”
But representatives for the senior groups speaking Wednesday argue that the other side is peddling “misinformation” directed at those who “can’t afford to be misled.”
“Millionaires and billionaires have teamed up to stop the Fair Tax by scaring seniors,” said Ruth Maskow of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. “They’re spending millions of dollars on dishonest ads to try and scare us into voting against our own best interests. You don’t have to listen to those scare tactics. The Fair Tax is our best way to protect our retirement security.”
The advocacy groups argued that “rumors” about the state potentially opening the door to taxing retirement income are just not true.
Talk of taxing retirement income has sparked a back and forth between the two sides arguing over the proposal, with opponents seizing on a statement from state Treasurer Mike Frerichs in June.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs talks to reporters at the Thompson Center last year. Megan Nagorzanski/Sun-Times file
The Daily Herald reported Frerichs said a shift to a graduated tax system would “make clear you can have graduated rates when you are taxing retirement income.”
Frerichs has since tried to walk that back, saying in August he was “not pushing” for taxing retirement income.
After the right-leaning Illinois Policy Institute referenced the statement in a lawsuit filed Monday, Frerichs once again tried to clarify, insisting he opposes “creating a retirement tax in Illinois, along with the General Assembly, and Governor.
“I encourage others to join me to stand up for working families and retirees, so they get a tax cut while we ask millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share,” Frerichs said in a statement after cancelling his own news conference on the issue Tuesday. “The fact is opponents of the fair tax have actually released plans to tax retirement income and raise taxes on everyone.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at a state Capitol news conference last year as state Treasurer Michael Frerichs looks on. John O’Connor/AP file
Lissa Druss, a spokeswoman for the Coalition to Stop the Proposed Tax Hike Amendment, accused “Springfield Politicians” of ”pushing plans to tax retirement income” and “attempting to rewrite history,” two reasons why “why voters can’t trust the Springfield Politicians with their Tax Hike Amendment.”
In a statement Tuesday, Druss said “no amount of backtracking” from Frerichs can “change the fact this is the worst possible time to raise taxes, and we simply can’t trust Springfield Politicians.”
The proposed amendment to the state constitution does not tax retirement income, but opponents say there’s nothing stopping legislators from doing so in the future — or raising tax rates on those who make lower or middle incomes down the line to help fill the state’s budget gap.
The potential move to a graduated-rate income tax system has been a hotly contested one, with supporters claiming opponents are trying to get out of “paying their fair share.”
Voters are not deciding on the rates when they cast their ballot in November — those rates were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Pritzker last June.
Under that legislation, if voters approve the change to a graduated income tax system, incomes between $250,000 and $500,000 would be taxed 7.75%. It would maintain the current tax rate of 4.95% on incomes between $100,000 and $250,000, drop it to 4.9% for income from $10,000 to $100,000, and lower it to 4.75% for the first $10,000.
Income from $500,000 to $1 million would be taxed 7.85%, while income over $1 million would be taxed 7.99%.
The new tax rates would go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Boy, 9, dies after accidentally shooting himself on West Side: police

A 9-year-old boy was fatally wounded when he accidentally shot himself Wednesday inside an Austin home on the West Side .
The boy was playing with a gun about 1:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of North Lorel Avenue when the gun went off , hitting him in the head , according to Chicago police .
Ashton Lipscomb was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was later pronounced dead , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
It was not immediately clear who the gun belonged to or whether anyone had been taken into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigate , police said .
One neighbor said the boy used to ride his bicycle up and down the street .
Another said she saw him helping mow the lawn earlier this week .
Devon Guy , who lives down the street , didn ’ t know the family personally .
He said he learned of the accident on the news .
Guy , who has an 11-year-old son , urged people who have guns in their house to keep them away from children .
“ People just need to put their stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s already crazy out here ...
They just need to watch what they do .
If you know you have guns in the house , put them up , take the bullets out .
There ’ s kids out here losing their lives .
It ’ s crazy , it ’ s sad.
” Chicago has seen at least three other shootings this year in which children accidentally shot themselves while handling guns .
On Sept. 15 , a 5-year-old boy shot himself in the thigh after handling a gun inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was hospitalized in serious condition .
In April , another 5-year-old boy shot himself in his hand after finding a gun in his father ’ s pocket while his parents slept at their Woodlawn home .
His father was later charged with a gun offense and trying to discard the weapon .
In March , a 13-year-old boy shot himself in his leg after handling his older brother ’ s gun inside their home in the Back of the Yards .
The brother drove the child to Stroger Hospital , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other accidental shootings involving children , a 7-year-old girl accidentally shot her 11-year-old brother in February in Lawndale after gaining access to the gun .
A woman was later charged with child endangerment .
Also in February , an 8-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were accidentally shot by another child after the child found a gun in a Bronzeville home .
In the U.S. , there have been at least 221 unintentional shooting by children in 2020 , resulting in 92 deaths and 135 injures , according to the advocacy group Everytown for @ @ @

A 9-year-old boy was fatally wounded when he accidentally shot himself Wednesday inside an Austin home on the West Side.
The boy was playing with a gun about 1:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of North Lorel Avenue when the gun went off, hitting him in the head, according to Chicago police.
Ashton Lipscomb was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
It was not immediately clear who owned the gun or whether anyone had been taken into custody as Area Five detectives continue to investigate, police said.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
One neighbor said the boy used to ride his bicycle up and down the street. Another said she saw him helping mow the lawn earlier this week.
Devon Guy, who lives down the street, didn’t know the family personally. He said he learned of the accident on the news.
Guy, who has an 11-year-old son, urged people who have guns in their house to keep them away from children.
“People just need to put their stuff up,” he said. “It’s already crazy out here. ... They just need to watch what they do. If you know you have guns in the house, put them up, take the bullets out. There’s kids out here losing their lives. It’s crazy, it’s sad.”
Chicago has seen at least three other shootings this year in which children accidentally shot themselves.
On Sept. 15, a 5-year-old boy shot himself in the thigh after handling a gun inside a home in the Lawndale neighborhood. He was hospitalized in serious condition.
In April, another 5-year-old boy shot himself in his hand after finding a gun in his father’s pocket while his parents slept at their Woodlawn home. His father was later charged with a gun offense and trying to discard the weapon.
In March, a 13-year-old boy shot himself in his leg after handling his older brother’s gun inside their home in the Back of the Yards. The brother drove the child to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.
In other accidental shootings involving children, a 7-year-old girl accidentally shot her 11-year-old brother in February in Lawndale after gaining access to the gun. A woman was later charged with child endangerment.
Also in February, an 8-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were accidentally shot by another child after the child found a gun in a Bronzeville home.
In the U.S., there have been at least 221 unintentional shooting by children in 2020, resulting in 92 deaths and 135 injures, according to the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Walgreens spends $35 million to reopen looted Chicago stores

Walgreens said Wednesday it is spending $ 35 million to reopen Chicago stores hit by looting and vandalism in recent months and to expand health services in Chatham under a pilot program Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to see expanded to the West Side .
The pharmacy chain said 70 of its 118 city locations sustained damage in recent weeks amid unrest connected to national anger over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
All but six of the stores have reopened and the rest will be completed “ as quickly as possible , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that another store at 4000 W. 59th St. must be completely rebuilt .
It was gutted by a suspected arson fire following a looting incident .
The company said two locations are operating as mobile pharmacies while the sites are being rebuilt and one outlet is operating only as a drive-through .
The mobile pharmacies are at 11 E. 75th St. and 1213 W. 79th St. ; the drive-thru is at 10300 S. Michigan Ave. Deerfield-based Walgreens said it will roll out a pilot program in Chatham called Health Equity .
It said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conditions such as diabetes and asthma .
The program will enlist Black churches and other organizations in a partnership for more health screenings , consultations regarding asthma and diabetes and free flu shots .
Walgreens provided a statement from Lightfoot that said , in part : “ By working closely with community partners like Walgreens , we can help ensure that essential pharmacy services remain available to the communities that rely on them the most , improve and provide education on these services , and get that much closer to closing health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for all.
” The mayor has called for similar programs to target health disparities on the West Side .
Walgreens said it would work with the city and others to expand Health Equity .
“ Improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve guides everything we do , and we know there is great need , as well as opportunity , to assist the patients we serve on their journey to better health , ” said John Standley , Walgreens president .
“ By learning more about the particular health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmacy services to help address them , we can continue to make an impact as part of our commitment to Chicago , and with pharmacists our customers know and trust.
” The Walgreens stores yet to reopen are at 833 W. 115th St. , 200 W. Adams St. , 79 W. Monroe St. , 1533 E. 67th St. , 5036 S. Cottage Grove Ave. and 1320 E. 47th St .
The chain said it is extending its offer of free one- to two-day delivery of prescriptions through the end of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities as it expands its COVID-19 testing sites .
Meanwhile , Walgreens competitor CVS reported that all 31 of its Chicago sites that sustained damage during the looting have been repaired and reopened .

Walgreens said Wednesday it is spending $35 million to reopen Chicago stores hit by looting and vandalism in recent months and to expand health services in Chatham under a pilot program Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to see expanded to the West Side.
The pharmacy chain said 70 of its 118 city locations sustained damage in recent weeks amid unrest connected to national anger over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. All but six of the stores have reopened and the rest will be completed “as quickly as possible,” a Walgreens spokeswoman said.
She later added that another store at 4000 W. 59th St. must be completely rebuilt. It was gutted by a suspected arson fire following a looting incident.
The company said two locations are operating as mobile pharmacies while the sites are being rebuilt and one outlet is operating only as a drive-through. The mobile pharmacies are at 11 E. 75th St. and 1213 W. 79th St.; the drive-thru is at 10300 S. Michigan Ave.
Deerfield-based Walgreens said it will roll out a pilot program in Chatham called Health Equity. It said the community has exhibited a high incidence of conditions such as diabetes and asthma. The program will enlist Black churches and other organizations in a partnership for more health screenings, consultations regarding asthma and diabetes and free flu shots.
A Chicago police vehicle sits in front of a boarded up Walgreens at 8628 South Cottage Grove Ave.v on Monday, June 1 after a string of looting that occurred throughout the city amid protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Walgreens provided a statement from Lightfoot that said, in part: “By working closely with community partners like Walgreens, we can help ensure that essential pharmacy services remain available to the communities that rely on them the most, improve and provide education on these services, and get that much closer to closing health gaps for our most vulnerable neighborhoods once and for all.”
The mayor has called for similar programs to target health disparities on the West Side. Walgreens said it would work with the city and others to expand Health Equity.
“Improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve guides everything we do, and we know there is great need, as well as opportunity, to assist the patients we serve on their journey to better health,” said John Standley, Walgreens president. “By learning more about the particular health needs in these areas and tailoring our pharmacy services to help address them, we can continue to make an impact as part of our commitment to Chicago, and with pharmacists our customers know and trust.”
The Walgreens stores yet to reopen are at 833 W. 115th St., 200 W. Adams St., 79 W. Monroe St., 1533 E. 67th St., 5036 S. Cottage Grove Ave. and 1320 E. 47th St.
The chain said it is extending its offer of free one- to two-day delivery of prescriptions through the end of the year. It also said it is prioritizing underserved communities as it expands its COVID-19 testing sites.
Meanwhile, Walgreens competitor CVS reported that all 31 of its Chicago sites that sustained damage during the looting have been repaired and reopened.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Blackhawks give qualifying offers to Dominik Kubalik, Dylan Strome but relinquish others

The Blackhawks will retain the rights to young star forwards Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome for the duration of the offseason .
Kubalik and Strome both received qualifying offers — largely a formality to preserve their restricted free agent status — before Wednesday ’ s deadline , sources confirmed to the Sun-Times .
Kubalik holds arbitration rights and could use them if contract negotiations with the Hawks , which are currently underway , don ’ t go as planned .
Strome does not .
Goaltender Malcolm Subban , meanwhile , did not receive a QO and will become an unrestricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Defenseman Slater Koekkoek also did not receive a QO , The Athletic ’ s Scott Powers reported .
Unlike most NHL teams , the Hawks don ’ t announce QOs publicly , so the status of would-be RFA forward Drake Caggiula remains unknown .
Caggiula ’ s agent politely declined comment .
The Hawks weren ’ t expected to give QOs to any of their four minor-league RFAs : forwards Alexandre Fortin and Jacob Nilsson and defensemen Ian McCoshen and Joni Tuulola .
Nilsson and Tuulola have both already signed with European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by rule , one-year contracts with salaries equaling 100 % to 110 % of a player ’ s previous salary .
With the salary cap staying flat this offseason and many teams hard-pressed for cap space , Wednesday was a bloodbath for RFAs around the league .
Edmonton ’ s Andreas Athanasiou , Vancouver ’ s Troy Stetcher and three notable former Hawks — Ottawa ’ s Anthony Duclair , Buffalo ’ s Dominik Kuhun and Arizona ’ s Vinny Hinostroza — were among those who unexpectedly did not receive QOs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Blackhawks will retain the rights to young star forwards Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome for the duration of the offseason.
Kubalik and Strome both received qualifying offers — largely a formality to preserve their restricted free agent status — before Wednesday’s deadline, sources confirmed to the Sun-Times.
Kubalik holds arbitration rights and could use them if contract negotiations with the Hawks, which are currently underway, don’t go as planned. Strome does not.
Goaltender Malcolm Subban, meanwhile, did not receive a QO and will become an unrestricted free agent Friday, per a source.
Defenseman Slater Koekkoek and forward Drake Caggiula also did not receive QOs, The Athletic’s Scott Powers reported.
Unlike most NHL teams, the Hawks don’t announce QOs publicly.
The Hawks weren’t expected to give QOs to any of their four minor-league RFAs: forwards Alexandre Fortin and Jacob Nilsson and defensemen Ian McCoshen and Joni Tuulola. Nilsson and Tuulola have both already signed with European teams for 2020-21.
Qualifying offers are, by rule, one-year contracts with salaries equaling 100% to 110% of a player’s previous salary.
With the salary cap staying flat this offseason and many teams hard-pressed for cap space, Wednesday was a bloodbath for RFAs around the league.
Edmonton’s Andreas Athanasiou, Vancouver’s Troy Stetcher and three notable former Hawks — Ottawa’s Anthony Duclair, Buffalo’s Dominik Kuhun and Arizona’s Vinny Hinostroza — were among those who unexpectedly did not receive QOs and will hit the open market Friday.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--COVID-19 warnings issued as state’s progress ‘cools off’ with 2,630 new cases (LIVE UPDATES)

COVID-19 warnings issued as state ’ s progress ‘ cools off ’ with 2,630 new cases Illinois reported its largest number of new COVID-19 cases in over a month Wednesday as 2,630 more people tested positive for the deadly virus statewide .
The new cases were confirmed among 58,820 tests , raising the state ’ s average testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.5 % .
A steady rise in Illinois ’ testing capacity over the last two months has kept that number — the key gauge of how rapidly the virus is spreading — relatively low compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the Illinois Department of Public Health also announced the virus has killed 42 more residents , the second time in a week that the state ’ s daily death toll has surpassed 40 — following a stretch of more than three months without exceeding that mark .
The latest victims were spread out among 23 of the state ’ s 102 counties , ranging in age from their 40s to 90s .
Five Cook County residents died .
6:30 p.m. Alderman wants playgrounds to reopen — even if it means imposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be mandated to open its playgrounds — even if it means imposing capacity limits — to give stir-crazy children studying remotely a place to let off steam , under an “ order ” introduced Wednesday by an influential alderman .
Lincoln Park Ald .
Michele Smith ( 43rd ) , chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Government Operations , has been the City Council ’ s chief proponent of mask mandates .
In fact , the “ order ” she introduced at Wednesday ’ s Council meeting , would give the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days to “ develop and implement a plan for uniform enforcement of the mask wearing requirement ” including in its public health order , “ including but not limited to ” the issuance of fines .
But Smith said that does not mean Park District playgrounds can ’ t be safely re-opened .
“ There ’ s really very scant evidence that kids playing on the playground with their hands cause problems .
And we know that , all over the city , many parents are disregarding it .
It really sends a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith told the Sun-Times .
Read the full story by Fran Spielman here .
4:03 p.m. COVID-19 craps out state gambling tax revenue by $ 200 million , but sports betting off to strong start Illinois ’ three-month COVID-19 shutdown left the state $ 200 million in the hole in terms of gambling tax revenue , as casino profits were slashed by nearly a third compared to last year .
And while the bright lights have been flipped back on at the state ’ s 10 casinos and 36,000-plus video gaming terminals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues will jump back to normal anytime soon , according to a report released this week by the state ’ s bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability .
“ Even with the resumption of wagering , it is expected that the ramifications of the pandemic on public confidence will persist for some time , ” state analyst Eric Noggle said in the report .
Gaming was put on hold along with thousands of other businesses statewide for the duration of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s pandemic stay-at-home order from March 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also marked the end of the state ’ s fiscal year .
2:20 p.m. Chicago joins ‘ week of mourning ’ for lives lost to COVID-19 Chicago activists will hold a vigil outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center Wednesday as part of a national week of mourning for victims of the coronavirus pandemic .
The tribute outside the federal facility is for incarcerated people who have died of COVID-19 , and is scheduled for 5:30 p.m .
Event organizers will play music by Chicago artist Ric Wilson and political speeches by Chicago activists as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners .
Participants in the national week of mourning are also encouraged to observe it by using pre-curated graphics from the “ # WeGrieveTogether ” campaign or by creating their own artwork to be used for signs , shrines and collages .
Reaching all parts of the city , more than 20 banners are expected to be hung this week by lead organizers .
To maintain COVID-19 precautions , individual participants can set up memorials in their homes or organize socially distanced memorials outside with their friends and neighbors .
1:28 p.m. Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next challenge will be distributing it Making vaccines is complicated .
And so is distributing them .
Vaccine makers say they already are producing vaccine in advance of knowing whether they will win approval .
But simply having ample vaccine supply doesn ’ t mean manufacturers will have all the needed glass bottles , syringes or injectors to ship them right away .
Some experts fear that a shortage of both production-line capabilities — special facilities are needed to make vaccines under strict sterile conditions — and limited supplies could hamper distribution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine candidates must be shipped and stored at super-low temperatures , adding to the complexity .
“ Even if you have the vaccine , that doesn ’ t mean you can ship it out .
There are multiple , multiple steps , and all of them have to work , ” says Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel , a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania who has warned of potential shortages .
The National Academies of Sciences , Engineering and Medicine have issued a framework for who should get priority for the initial vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a say in how supplies roll out .
Current recommendations say first in line will be health care workers and people with medical conditions that put them at highest risk if they get the virus .
People living in nursing homes and other congregate settings also will be higher on the list .
Further down are average healthy adults .
Read ‘ 5 things to know about a COVID vaccine ’ here .
9:43 a.m. Biden says debate shouldn ’ t happen if Trump still has coronavirus Democratic presidential candidate Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ shouldn ’ t have a debate ” as long as the president remains positive for the coronavirus .
Biden said Tuesday that he ’ s “ looking forward to being able to debate him ” but said “ we ’ re going to have to follow very strict guidelines.
” He says he doesn ’ t know Trump ’ s status since the president returned to the White House after being hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three days after a COVID-19 diagnosis .
Biden told reporters while boarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maryland : “ I think if he still has COVID , then we shouldn ’ t have a debate.
” 8:55 a.m. Hoosier hiatus ?
Chicagoans ‘ strongly advised ’ to avoid Indiana as Illinois adds 1,617 more coronavirus cases As Illinois reported another set of relatively low coronavirus infection numbers Tuesday , Chicago officials urged residents to avoid visiting Indiana as cases tick up in that state .
Adding COVID-19 cases at an average rate of 17 per 100,000 residents each day , the Hoosier State is on the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will land on the travel quarantine list if Indiana is “ unable to bring down the daily case average in the next week , ” according to the city Department of Public Health .
“ Chicago residents are strongly advised to not travel to Indiana , ” agency officials said in a statement .
Still , Illinois has logged infections at a similar clip — 16 new cases per 100,000 residents per day — meeting the city ’ s own criteria for the quarantine order that currently applies to 22 “ hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Chicago ’ s infection rates have slowed considerably compared to most of the rest of Illinois .
Illinois has logged infections at a rate of 16 new cases per 100,000 residents per day , but Chicago ’ s infection rates have slowed considerably compared to most of the rest of Illinois .
Statewide , the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,617 more people were confirmed to carry the virus among the latest batch of 49,513 tests .
8:18 a.m. To get out of this mess , we need bold thinking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do If you want to tick off a top Chicago official , try implying that the city isn ’ t doing all it can to control the pandemic and solve the injustices it has revealed .
But the fact is , the city isn ’ t .
The current strategy isn ’ t working , and nothing suggests that ’ s going to change soon .
A vaccine isn ’ t likely to have an impact for at least a year , as the CDC ’ s Anthony Fauci has said .
Neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much interest in approaches that have gotten results in other countries , and that could easily be implemented in Illinois .
Long-term plans for rectifying the inequalities made worse by the pandemic are grossly inadequate .
More could — and should — be done .
This column discusses what the city needs to do now .
The next installment describes what it must do to fix itself over the long haul .
Read the full column by Ed Zotti here .

Coronavirus cases may be rising again in Illinois, but it will take more than one day’s cases to see if the uptick in cases is a trend.
Here’s what else happened today in coronavirus-related news.
News
9:25 p.m. COVID-19 warnings issued as state’s progress ‘cools off’ with 2,630 new cases
Chicago’s public health commissioner Allison Arwady (left) and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike Jake Wittich/Sun-Times
Illinois reported its largest number of new COVID-19 cases in over a month Wednesday as 2,630 more people tested positive for the deadly virus statewide.
The new cases were confirmed among 58,820 tests, raising the state’s average testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.5%.
A steady rise in Illinois’ testing capacity over the last two months has kept that number — the key gauge of how rapidly the virus is spreading — relatively low compared to neighboring states of Wisconsin and Indiana.
But the Illinois Department of Public Health also announced the virus has killed 42 more residents, the second time in a week that the state’s daily death toll has surpassed 40 — following a stretch of more than three months without exceeding that mark.
The latest victims were spread out among 23 of the state’s 102 counties, ranging in age from their 40s to 90s. Five Cook County residents died.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.
6:30 p.m. Alderman wants playgrounds to reopen — even if it means imposing capacity limits
Sun Yat-Sen Playground Park in Chinatown. Colin Boyle/Sun-Times
The Chicago Park District would be mandated to open its playgrounds — even if it means imposing capacity limits — to give stir-crazy children studying remotely a place to let off steam, under an “order” introduced Wednesday by an influential alderman.
Lincoln Park Ald. Michele Smith (43rd), chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Government Operations, has been the City Council’s chief proponent of mask mandates.
In fact, the “order” she introduced at Wednesday’s Council meeting, would give the city’s Department of Public Health 30 days to “develop and implement a plan for uniform enforcement of the mask wearing requirement” including in its public health order, “including but not limited to” the issuance of fines.
But Smith said that does not mean Park District playgrounds can’t be safely re-opened.
“There’s really very scant evidence that kids playing on the playground with their hands cause problems. And we know that, all over the city, many parents are disregarding it. It really sends a bad message out to people,” Smith told the Sun-Times.
Read the full story by Fran Spielman here.
4:03 p.m. COVID-19 craps out state gambling tax revenue by $200 million, but sports betting off to strong start
Illinois’ three-month COVID-19 shutdown left the state $200 million in the hole in terms of gambling tax revenue, as casino profits were slashed by nearly a third compared to last year.
And while the bright lights have been flipped back on at the state’s 10 casinos and 36,000-plus video gaming terminals, it’s no sure bet those revenues will jump back to normal anytime soon, according to a report released this week by the state’s bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
“Even with the resumption of wagering, it is expected that the ramifications of the pandemic on public confidence will persist for some time,” state analyst Eric Noggle said in the report.
Gaming was put on hold along with thousands of other businesses statewide for the duration of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s pandemic stay-at-home order from March 16 through the end of June, which also marked the end of the state’s fiscal year.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full story.
2:20 p.m. Chicago joins ‘week of mourning’ for lives lost to COVID-19
Chicago activists will hold a vigil outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center Wednesday as part of a national week of mourning for victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
The tribute outside the federal facility is for incarcerated people who have died of COVID-19, and is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Event organizers will play music by Chicago artist Ric Wilson and political speeches by Chicago activists as demonstrators mourn and stand in solidarity with prisoners.
Participants in the national week of mourning are also encouraged to observe it by using pre-curated graphics from the “#WeGrieveTogether” campaign or by creating their own artwork to be used for signs, shrines and collages. Reaching all parts of the city, more than 20 banners are expected to be hung this week by lead organizers. To maintain COVID-19 precautions, individual participants can set up memorials in their homes or organize socially distanced memorials outside with their friends and neighbors.
Read Adam Mahoney’s full story here.
1:28 p.m. Once a COVID vaccine is approved, the next challenge will be distributing it
Making vaccines is complicated. And so is distributing them. Vaccine makers say they already are producing vaccine in advance of knowing whether they will win approval. But simply having ample vaccine supply doesn’t mean manufacturers will have all the needed glass bottles, syringes or injectors to ship them right away. Some experts fear that a shortage of both production-line capabilities — special facilities are needed to make vaccines under strict sterile conditions — and limited supplies could hamper distribution of an approved vaccine. Many of the vaccine candidates must be shipped and stored at super-low temperatures, adding to the complexity.
“Even if you have the vaccine, that doesn’t mean you can ship it out. There are multiple, multiple steps, and all of them have to work,” says Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania who has warned of potential shortages.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have issued a framework for who should get priority for the initial vaccine. State and local health departments also will have a say in how supplies roll out.
Current recommendations say first in line will be health care workers and people with medical conditions that put them at highest risk if they get the virus. People living in nursing homes and other congregate settings also will be higher on the list. Further down are average healthy adults.
Read ‘5 things to know about a COVID vaccine’ here.
9:43 a.m. Biden says debate shouldn’t happen if Trump still has coronavirus
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he and President Donald Trump “shouldn’t have a debate” as long as the president remains positive for the coronavirus.
Biden said Tuesday that he’s “looking forward to being able to debate him” but said “we’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines.” He says he doesn’t know Trump’s status since the president returned to the White House after being hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three days after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Biden told reporters while boarding his plane back to Delaware in Hagerstown, Maryland: “I think if he still has COVID, then we shouldn’t have a debate.”
Read the full report here.
8:55 a.m. Hoosier hiatus? Chicagoans ‘strongly advised’ to avoid Indiana as Illinois adds 1,617 more coronavirus cases
As Illinois reported another set of relatively low coronavirus infection numbers Tuesday, Chicago officials urged residents to avoid visiting Indiana as cases tick up in that state.
Adding COVID-19 cases at an average rate of 17 per 100,000 residents each day, the Hoosier State is on the city’s warning list for now — but it will land on the travel quarantine list if Indiana is “unable to bring down the daily case average in the next week,” according to the city Department of Public Health.
“Chicago residents are strongly advised to not travel to Indiana,” agency officials said in a statement.
Still, Illinois has logged infections at a similar clip — 16 new cases per 100,000 residents per day — meeting the city’s own criteria for the quarantine order that currently applies to 22 “hot spot” states plus Puerto Rico.
But Chicago’s infection rates have slowed considerably compared to most of the rest of Illinois.
Reporter Mitch Armentrout has the full report.
New cases
Illinois has logged infections at a rate of 16 new cases per 100,000 residents per day, but Chicago’s infection rates have slowed considerably compared to most of the rest of Illinois.
Statewide, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,617 more people were confirmed to carry the virus among the latest batch of 49,513 tests.
Analysis & Commentary
8:18 a.m. To get out of this mess, we need bold thinking. Here’s what city leaders should do
If you want to tick off a top Chicago official, try implying that the city isn’t doing all it can to control the pandemic and solve the injustices it has revealed.
But the fact is, the city isn’t. The current strategy isn’t working, and nothing suggests that’s going to change soon. A vaccine isn’t likely to have an impact for at least a year, as the CDC’s Anthony Fauci has said.
Neither the city nor the state has shown much interest in approaches that have gotten results in other countries, and that could easily be implemented in Illinois. Long-term plans for rectifying the inequalities made worse by the pandemic are grossly inadequate.
More could — and should — be done. This column discusses what the city needs to do now. The next installment describes what it must do to fix itself over the long haul.
Read the full column by Ed Zotti here.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Chicago man dies after his gun discharges in struggle during traffic stop in Harvey: state police

A 30-year-old Chicago man died after his gun discharged in a struggle over the gun with two state troopers during a traffic stop Wednesday in Harvey , according to the Illinois State Police .
Neither trooper involved had discharged their weapon during the 12:30 a.m. incident in a parking lot in the south suburb , state police said in a statement .
Two state troopers pulled over a vehicle for not using headlights in the 14700 block of Halsted Street and noticed a gun in the waistband of passenger Darren Green Jr. as he climbed to the driver side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The troopers began fighting with him over the gun and it discharged , striking Green , state police said .
He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead , state police said .
Neither officer was struck by gunfire .
The vehicle was also occupied by an 8-year-old girl and two other women , one of whom was driving , state police said .
After the shooting , the vehicle rolled forward and struck one of the troopers , state police said .
Both troopers were treated at a hospital and released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not ruled on a cause or manner of death .

A 30-year-old Chicago man died after his gun went off during a struggle with two state troopers during a traffic stop Wednesday in Harvey, according to the Illinois State Police.
Neither trooper involved had discharged their weapon during the 12:30 a.m. incident in a parking lot in the south suburb, state police said in a statement.
Two state troopers pulled over a vehicle for not using headlights in the 14700 block of Halsted Street and noticed a gun in the waistband of passenger Darren Green Jr. as he climbed into the driver’s seat, which had been vacated by a 21-year-old woman who had stepped out of the vehicle, state police said.
One trooper began fighting with him over the gun and Green started to drive away, dragging both troopers, state police said. The gun went off, striking Green, and the vehicle, which was still carrying a 29-year-old woman and 8-year-old girl in the back seat, came to rest at a bus stop.
Green was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, state police said.
An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the head and ruled his death a homicide, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Neither officer was struck by gunfire, but both were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated and released, state police said.
The two troopers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-08--Diversity among top U.S. prosecutors hits a nadir under Trump, new analysis finds

The nation ’ s top federal prosecutors have become less diverse under President Donald Trump than under his three predecessors , leaving white men overwhelmingly in charge at a time of national demonstrations over racial inequality and the fairness of the criminal justice system .
Analyzing government data from nearly three decades , The Associated Press found that a persistent lack of diversity in the ranks of U.S. attorneys has reached a nadir in the Trump administration .
Eighty-five percent of his Senate-confirmed U.S attorneys are white men , according to AP ’ s analysis , compared with 58 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight years , 73 % during Republican George W. Bush ’ s two terms and , at most , 63 % under Democrat Bill Clinton .
White men lead 79 of the 93 U.S. attorney ’ s offices , including the Chicago office headed by U.S. Attorney John Lausch , in a country where they make up less than a third of the population .
Nine current U.S. attorneys are women , two are Black and two Hispanic .
Federal prosecutors can have a profound effect on the criminal justice system , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sway .
Without a diverse group considering cases , bias can seep into charging decisions and sentencing recommendations , undermine federal leadership with state and local law enforcement and chip away at the perceived legitimacy of the justice system .
The enduring imbalance leaves U.S. attorneys looking less like the people they serve and is in stark contrast to the population of federal prisons , where a disproportionate share of those incarcerated are Black .
“ When you take it in the aggregate , it becomes very evident that the department , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversity at its highest ranks of leadership and not making the most well-informed decisions when those voices are absent from the decision-making process , ” said Kenneth Polite Jr. , who was U.S. attorney in New Orleans during Obama ’ s second term .
“ It would be silly for anyone to suggest the department couldn ’ t do better.
” The gap is especially relevant in an era in which state and local law enforcement agencies repeatedly are being taken to task over decisions not to prosecute police in the killings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a backstop in those situations by filing federal charges .
That the Trump administration hasn ’ t appointed top prosecutors who reflect the nation has deepened mistrust in communities frustrated by the Justice Department ’ s shift away from investigating police practices and Attorney General William Barr ’ s dismissal of the idea of systemic racism in law enforcement .
Asked about the diversity of U.S. attorneys , White House spokesman Judd Deere declined to answer questions .
Instead , Deere said in a written statement that the Trump administration has “ worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best candidates to serve as the chief law enforcement officer in their districts back home.
” Former prosecutors say that , even among qualified and well-meaning professionals , bias can skew prosecutorial decisions when there isn ’ t a varied group considering the cases .
That ’ s something Danny Williams Sr. saw a year after he became the U.S. attorney in Oklahoma in 2012 .
The Tulsa police had arrested two groups , one white , the other Black , in separate armed robberies , and the cases ended up before federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so Williams said he was surprised that the proposed charges that reached his desk were different : The Black defendants were facing more potential prison time .
Williams , who is Black , said he asked the assistant U.S. attorney who ’ d handled the cases what factual difference accounted for the disparity .
The career prosecutor , who is white , responded that the white defendants were college students , Williams said .
“ I don ’ t want this story to come off as I thought the guy was racist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that he didn ’ t grasp , in the charging decision , the way he treated these two different groups differently .
It ’ s just an example of : This is why you need diversity.
” The same charges ended up being filed in both cases , according to Williams .
The U.S. attorney is the public face of a prosecuting office but hardly the sole decision-maker , serving at the top of a career bureaucracy that relies on the judgment and recommendations of lower-level officials who typically do the investigative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer gunned down a Black man named Walter Scott in 2015 , the Justice Department secured a 20-year prison sentence for the officer .
Jared Fishman , the white former prosecutor who handled the case , “ showed so much compassion , and he took on my brother ’ s case as if it was his own family , ” said Anthony Scott , Walter ’ s older brother .
But other families have had their hopes dashed .
After New York prosecutors didn ’ t file any criminal charges in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration opened a federal investigation into the Garner ’ s death in 2014 after a police officer put him in a chokehold .
That federal investigation , not yet completed , was passed on to the Trump administration , which decided no charges would be filed .
And years before George Floyd ’ s death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer set off protests around the country , Valerie Castile turned to the federal government after the Minnesota police officer who killed her son was found not to have committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department “ our last hope when these little towns … don ’ t want to do what ’ s right.
” Former St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando Castile , a Black school cafeteria worker , in July 2016 , within two minutes of approaching his car during a traffic stop in the Twin Cities suburb of Falcon Heights .
The following summer , a state court jury found him not guilty of second-degree manslaughter .
After Castile ’ s death , his mother and political leaders in Minnesota , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 and 2015 , according to state data , pressed for an outside investigation into the shooting and charges of racially biased policing in the region .
Local prosecutors got help in the case from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , but there was no independent federal investigation .
But the Justice Department ’ s Community Oriented Policing Services Office did start a review of the St. Anthony police department .
Castile testified at a community forum similar to ones the department held during its review of police practices in St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 police-shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson .
Before the office completed its findings , though , Trump ’ s Justice Department , under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions , put a stop to all such assessments , according to an announcement and the office ’ s former director , Ronald Davis .
The Minnesota ’ s U.S. attorney ’ s office wouldn ’ t discuss its investigation .
“ They want to tell you , ‘ Oh , it ’ s not a federal case .
We can ’ t make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Yes , you can .
You change things as you want to.
” A lack of diversity has long been an issue throughout the federal law enforcement and criminal justice systems .
In some places , it ’ s grown more acute under Trump .
In 2016 , James Comey , who was then the FBI director , said the bureau ’ s failure to recruit more minorities had become “ a crisis.
” In the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration , according to recent court filings , 8 % of the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Black , and about 77 % are white .
Nearly 86 % of the 206 federal judges confirmed to lifetime positions under Trump have been white — the highest rate of white judicial appointments since George H.W .
Bush ’ s presidency .
Two-thirds of Trump ’ s judicial appointees have been white men .
Fewer than a quarter have been women .
At the top of the Justice Department , Trump ’ s two attorneys general — Barr and Sessions — are white .
In the past three administrations , Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first female attorney general served as the nation ’ s top law officer .
“ Oftentimes , you go in to court , and the judge is white , the prosecutor is white , the defense attorney is white ; the only person in the courtroom who ’ s Black is the defendant , ” said Gregory Davis , who was a U.S. attorney in Mississippi during the Obama administration .
U.S. attorneys — given broad authority to file criminal cases in their districts and draw on the investigative muscle of federal law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation through an interplay of the White House , the Justice Department and political leaders from each state .
The path to a U.S. attorney ’ s office begins with state political leaders , usually senators or governors , making recommendations to the president , who generally picks a new slate of top prosecutors after taking office .
The White House then sends one to three candidates to the Justice Department to be interviewed and vetted .
More than a dozen current U.S. attorneys , including four women , are serving in acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department provided a written statement from Erin Nealy Cox , U.S. attorney in Dallas and chair of the Attorney General Advisory Committee , that didn ’ t address the demographic disparities among U.S. attorneys .
Cox described the current group as “ the most dedicated public servants in America ” and noted many have long been prosecutors .

The nation’s top federal prosecutors have become less diverse under President Donald Trump than under his three predecessors, leaving white men overwhelmingly in charge at a time of national demonstrations over racial inequality and the fairness of the criminal justice system.
Analyzing government data from nearly three decades, The Associated Press found that a persistent lack of diversity in the ranks of U.S. attorneys has reached a nadir in the Trump administration. Eighty-five percent of his Senate-confirmed U.S attorneys are white men, according to AP’s analysis, compared with 58% in Democratic President Barack Obama’s eight years, 73% during Republican George W. Bush’s two terms and, at most, 63% under Democrat Bill Clinton.
White men lead 79 of the 93 U.S. attorney’s offices, including the Chicago office headed by U.S. Attorney John Lausch, in a country where they make up less than a third of the population. Nine current U.S. attorneys are women, two are Black and two Hispanic.
Federal prosecutors can have a profound effect on the criminal justice system, and the leadership of those offices holds immense sway. Without a diverse group considering cases, bias can seep into charging decisions and sentencing recommendations, undermine federal leadership with state and local law enforcement and chip away at the perceived legitimacy of the justice system.
The enduring imbalance leaves U.S. attorneys looking less like the people they serve and is in stark contrast to the population of federal prisons, where a disproportionate share of those incarcerated are Black.
Eight-five percent of President Donald Trump’s Senate-confirmed U.S attorneys are white men, compared with 58% in Democratic President Barack Obama’s eight years, 73% during Republican George W. Bush’s two terms and, at most, 63% under Democrat Bill Clinton. AP
“When you take it in the aggregate, it becomes very evident that the department, as a whole, is simply not valuing diversity at its highest ranks of leadership and not making the most well-informed decisions when those voices are absent from the decision-making process,” said Kenneth Polite Jr., who was U.S. attorney in New Orleans during Obama’s second term. “It would be silly for anyone to suggest the department couldn’t do better.”
The gap is especially relevant in an era in which state and local law enforcement agencies repeatedly are being taken to task over decisions not to prosecute police in the killings of Black people. U.S. prosecutors can be a backstop in those situations by filing federal charges.
That the Trump administration hasn’t appointed top prosecutors who reflect the nation has deepened mistrust in communities frustrated by the Justice Department’s shift away from investigating police practices and Attorney General William Barr’s dismissal of the idea of systemic racism in law enforcement.
Asked about the diversity of U.S. attorneys, White House spokesman Judd Deere declined to answer questions. Instead, Deere said in a written statement that the Trump administration has “worked closely with U.S. senators to identify the best candidates to serve as the chief law enforcement officer in their districts back home.”
Bias can skew prosecutorial decisions
Former prosecutors say that, even among qualified and well-meaning professionals, bias can skew prosecutorial decisions when there isn’t a varied group considering the cases.
That’s something Danny Williams Sr. saw a year after he became the U.S. attorney in Oklahoma in 2012. The Tulsa police had arrested two groups, one white,the other Black, in separate armed robberies, and the cases ended up before federal prosecutors. The facts were similar, so Williams said he was surprised that the proposed charges that reached his desk were different: The Black defendants were facing more potential prison time.
Williams, who is Black, said he asked the assistant U.S. attorney who’d handled the cases what factual difference accounted for the disparity. The career prosecutor, who is white, responded that the white defendants were college students, Williams said.
“I don’t want this story to come off as I thought the guy was racist,” Williams said. “I just think that he didn’t grasp, in the charging decision, the way he treated these two different groups differently. It’s just an example of: This is why you need diversity.”
The same charges ended up being filed in both cases, according to Williams.
The U.S. attorney is the public face of a prosecuting office but hardly the sole decision-maker, serving at the top of a career bureaucracy that relies on the judgment and recommendations of lower-level officials who typically do the investigative work.
After a white South Carolina police officer gunned down a Black man named Walter Scott in 2015, the Justice Department secured a 20-year prison sentence for the officer.
Jared Fishman, the white former prosecutor who handled the case, “showed so much compassion, and he took on my brother’s case as if it was his own family,” said Anthony Scott, Walter’s older brother.
But other families have had their hopes dashed. After New York prosecutors didn’t file any criminal charges in the death of Eric Garner, the Obama administration opened a federal investigation into the Garner’s death in 2014 after a police officer put him in a chokehold. That federal investigation, not yet completed, was passed on to the Trump administration, which decided no charges would be filed.
And years before George Floyd’s death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer set off protests around the country, Valerie Castile turned to the federal government after the Minnesota police officer who killed her son was found not to have committed a crime. Castile called the Justice Department “our last hope when these little towns … don’t want to do what’s right.”
Former St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando Castile, a Black school cafeteria worker, in July 2016, within two minutes of approaching his car during a traffic stop in the Twin Cities suburb of Falcon Heights. The following summer, a state court jury found him not guilty of second-degree manslaughter.
After Castile’s death, his mother and political leaders in Minnesota, where police killed at least 60 people between 2008 and 2015, according to state data, pressed for an outside investigation into the shooting and charges of racially biased policing in the region. Local prosecutors got help in the case from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, but there was no independent federal investigation.
But the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services Office did start a review of the St. Anthony police department. Castile testified at a community forum similar to ones the department held during its review of police practices in St. Louis County, Missouri, after the 2014 police-shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.
Before the office completed its findings, though, Trump’s Justice Department, under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, put a stop to all such assessments, according to an announcement and the office’s former director, Ronald Davis.
The Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office wouldn’t discuss its investigation.
“They want to tell you, ‘Oh, it’s not a federal case. We can’t make a case,’ ” Castile said. “Yes, you can. You change things as you want to.”
Lack of diversity pervades federal law enforcement, judgeships
A lack of diversity has long been an issue throughout the federal law enforcement and criminal justice systems. In some places, it’s grown more acute under Trump.
In 2016, James Comey, who was then the FBI director, said the bureau’s failure to recruit more minorities had become “a crisis.”
In the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, according to recent court filings, 8% of the agency’s more than 4,000 special agents are Black, and about 77% are white.
Nearly 86% of the 206 federal judges confirmed to lifetime positions under Trump have been white — the highest rate of white judicial appointments since George H.W. Bush’s presidency. Two-thirds of Trump’s judicial appointees have been white men. Fewer than a quarter have been women.
At the top of the Justice Department, Trump’s two attorneys general — Barr and Sessions — are white. In the past three administrations, Black people, a Latino man and the first female attorney general served as the nation’s top law officer.
William Barr (above) and Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump’s two attorneys general, are white. In the past three administrations, Black people, a Latino man and the first female attorney general served as the nation’s top law officer. AP
“Oftentimes, you go in to court, and the judge is white, the prosecutor is white, the defense attorney is white; the only person in the courtroom who’s Black is the defendant,” said Gregory Davis, who was a U.S. attorney in Mississippi during the Obama administration.
U.S. attorneys — given broad authority to file criminal cases in their districts and draw on the investigative muscle of federal law enforcement agencies — are chosen for Senate confirmation through an interplay of the White House, the Justice Department and political leaders from each state. The path to a U.S. attorney’s office begins with state political leaders, usually senators or governors, making recommendations to the president, who generally picks a new slate of top prosecutors after taking office. The White House then sends one to three candidates to the Justice Department to be interviewed and vetted.
More than a dozen current U.S. attorneys, including four women, are serving in acting roles.
In response to questions, the Justice Department provided a written statement from Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. attorney in Dallas and chair of the Attorney General Advisory Committee, that didn’t address the demographic disparities among U.S. attorneys.
Cox described the current group as “the most dedicated public servants in America” and noted many have long been prosecutors.
Contributing: Meghan Hoyer


chicagosun-times--2020-10-08--Dear Abby: I wait hours for my husband’s attention as he scrolls social media

DEAR ABBY : I realize that social media is a big part of today ’ s world , and I have no problem with someone using it to stay in contact with family and friends .
But at what point is it deemed an addiction ?
My significant other spends hours every day scrolling through his Facebook and Twitter pages .
I have tried discussing it with him , but it becomes an argument .
Now I just sit in the same room with him , silent and waiting until it ’ s my turn for his attention .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated from him it makes me feel and that my presence doesn ’ t seem to be needed ?
Should I just accept that he ’ s an addict and move on ?
— OFFLINE IN FLORIDA DEAR OFFLINE : Something becomes an addiction when it causes a disruption in one ’ s life .
Your significant other isn ’ t the first person to have been seduced by the internet .
He may argue with you because he doesn ’ t realize the amount of time he spends glued to his screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time he ’ s on FB and Twitter for one week .
Afterward , ask him if he realizes how much time he is spending there .
He may be shocked when you read him the number of hours .
That ’ s the time to express how isolated and unneeded this has made you feel .
He may be willing to install an app that signals when the time limit he has allotted himself is up .
Discuss making a “ date ” for the two of you to get out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular basis — without devices — to take a walk , go to the park or have socially distanced coffee somewhere , which may interrupt his habit and enable you to enjoy some time together when you are both fully present .
But if he isn ’ t interested , you may have to decide if you want to continue being his lady-in-waiting .
DEAR ABBY : Is it rude or disrespectful for someone to change their first name ?
I ’ m in my early 30s and have wanted to change mine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spelling of my name when I was 12 , and my parents legally changed it for me when I was a teenager .
But I still don ’ t like the name , and I cringe whenever I hear it .
Because it ’ s a common name for someone my age , I ’ m sure most people won ’ t understand if I change it .
While I respect the effort my parents put into selecting a name for me , I don ’ t want to be stuck with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t want to cause hurt feelings .
However , I ’ m ultimately the one who has to live with it .
Should I do what feels right for me , or must I accept the negative feelings and the disconnect I have toward the name to spare my family ’ s feelings ?
— DISCONNECTED OUT WEST DEAR DISCONNECTED : Many people change their name ( s ) for various reasons .
If you feel the need to do it in order to be a more authentic version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assuming you have told your parents how you feel about your first name , I doubt they ’ ll be any more upset about it than they were when they helped you change its spelling as a teenager .
A word of caution , however .
The process may take more time than you would like because the pandemic has slowed the court system considerably .
Also , once you change your name , you will need to change it on all official identifying documents , such as your driver ’ s license @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which can be time-consuming .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For everything you need to know about wedding planning , order “ How to Have a Lovely Wedding.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: I realize that social media is a big part of today’s world, and I have no problem with someone using it to stay in contact with family and friends. But at what point is it deemed an addiction?
My significant other spends hours every day scrolling through his Facebook and Twitter pages. I have tried discussing it with him, but it becomes an argument. Now I just sit in the same room with him, silent and waiting until it’s my turn for his attention.
How can I get him to realize how isolated from him it makes me feel and that my presence doesn’t seem to be needed? Should I just accept that he’s an addict and move on? — OFFLINE IN FLORIDA
DEAR OFFLINE: Something becomes an addiction when it causes a disruption in one’s life. Your significant other isn’t the first person to have been seduced by the internet. He may argue with you because he doesn’t realize the amount of time he spends glued to his screen.
Try this: Quietly clock the time he’s on FB and Twitter for one week. Afterward, ask him if he realizes how much time he is spending there. He may be shocked when you read him the number of hours. That’s the time to express how isolated and unneeded this has made you feel. He may be willing to install an app that signals when the time limit he has allotted himself is up.
Discuss making a “date” for the two of you to get out of the house as a couple on a regular basis — without devices — to take a walk, go to the park or have socially distanced coffee somewhere, which may interrupt his habit and enable you to enjoy some time together when you are both fully present. But if he isn’t interested, you may have to decide if you want to continue being his lady-in-waiting.
DEAR ABBY: Is it rude or disrespectful for someone to change their first name? I’m in my early 30s and have wanted to change mine my whole life. I changed the spelling of my name when I was 12, and my parents legally changed it for me when I was a teenager. But I still don’t like the name, and I cringe whenever I hear it.
Because it’s a common name for someone my age, I’m sure most people won’t understand if I change it. While I respect the effort my parents put into selecting a name for me, I don’t want to be stuck with this one for the rest of my life. I don’t want to cause hurt feelings. However, I’m ultimately the one who has to live with it.
Should I do what feels right for me, or must I accept the negative feelings and the disconnect I have toward the name to spare my family’s feelings? — DISCONNECTED OUT WEST
DEAR DISCONNECTED: Many people change their name(s) for various reasons. If you feel the need to do it in order to be a more authentic version of yourself, go for it. Assuming you have told your parents how you feel about your first name, I doubt they’ll be any more upset about it than they were when they helped you change its spelling as a teenager.
A word of caution, however. The process may take more time than you would like because the pandemic has slowed the court system considerably. Also, once you change your name, you will need to change it on all official identifying documents, such as your driver’s license, insurance documents, passport, etc., which can be time-consuming.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-10-08--‘A Rainy Day in New York’: Woody Allen’s soggy script drips with dated humor

If not for the occasional cell phone conversation , you might think Woody Allen ’ s “ A Rainy Day in New York ” was set in the 1950s , given everyone talks as if time and particularly culture stopped somewhere around the end of the Eisenhower administration .
Of course , this being a Woody Allen movie , everyone also talks a little bit like Woody Allen — and while that was once charming and original ( albeit a little sketchy ) in the days of “ Annie Hall ” and “ Manhattan ” and “ Hannah and Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ludicrous and in some cases downright creepy .
Sidelined by Amazon Studios in 2018 after renewed controversy surrounding allegations dating back to 1992 of assault by Allen ’ s adoptive daughter Dylan , “ A Rainy Day in New York ” is only now getting a release after Allen reacquired the U.S. rights earlier this year .
This is the 50th movie for the 84-year-old filmmaker , and it plays like a glossy , semi-clever retread of , yes , earlier and better work .
From the same old same old opening credits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ I Got Lucky in the Rain ” and “ Everything Happens to Me ” to the focus on wealthy one-percenters gliding through an idyllic version of New York City , we have seen this movie before .
The effortlessly charming Timothee Chalamet plays the tweedy and quite preppy Gatsby Welles — I ’ m not kidding , that ’ s really his name — a self-involved little twerp who is attending the fictional Yardley liberal arts college with a minimum of enthusiasm and making big scores as a high-stakes cash game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene where we see Gatsby playing Hold ’ Em does little to convince us this guy ’ s a shark .
Gatsby has struck up a romance with Elle Fanning ’ s Ashleigh , a fellow Yardley student and aspiring journalist from Arizona ( cue the jokes about cacti and Republicans ) who has scored an interview with the legendary director Roland Pollard ( Liev Schreiber ) , famous for films such as “ Winter Memories , ” which we can only hope is better than that title .
The interview will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they make a whole day of it .
Once Ashleigh finishes her brief interview , Gasby will show her around his beloved Manhattan and take her to the places that mean the most to him .
Ashleigh giggles like a child around the 50ish Pollard and sounds more like a fan-girl than a journalist , but he takes a shine to her ( ahem ) because she reminds him of his first wife , and before you know it , Ashleigh is an insider in Pollard ’ s world — watching a rough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pollard ’ s longtime writing collaborator Ted ( Jude Law ) on an impromptu caper as Ted spots his unfaithful wife Connie ( Rebecca Hall ) emerging from his best friend ’ s apartment , and even getting swept up in a possible romance with the famous leading man Francisco Vega ( Diego Luna ) — all in the course of a few rainy hours .
Meanwhile , Gatsby is experiencing his own improbable series of events .
At one point he wanders around a street corner and runs into an old chum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the old chum asks Gatsby to appear in the movie , and the next thing you know Gatsby is in the front seat of a car with one Chan Tyrell ( Selena Gomez ) , who just happens to be the younger sister of Gatsby ’ s ex-girlfriend , and the scene calls for the two of them to kiss , passionately .
For multiple takes .
Throughout the respective and separate adventures of Gatsby and Ashleigh , the curiously dated cultural references fly this way and that .
A boorish former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loud when he hears the name of Gatsby ’ s new girlfriend : “ Like Ashley Wilkes from ‘ Gone with the Wind ’ ?
” Right , because there haven ’ t been a kajillion Ashley/Ashleigh/Ashlees in recent times .
There are references to Charlie Parker and Mark Rothko , movies such “ Gigi ” and “ Out of the Past.
” Ashleigh says of Gatsby , “ In his wildest dreams , he ’ d like to be Sky Masterson.
” We also get some astonishingly inappropriate and unfunny stabs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told , “ The word on Amy was she performed oral sex at a bar mitzvah ” — not to mention the appearance of yet another Wise Prostitute In A Woody Allen movie .
Shot in rich , deliberately overly cinematic tones by Vittorio Storaro designed to showcase New York City in the best possible light in more ways than one , “ A Rainy Day in New York ” is a great-looking film .
Even a warmed-over , behind-the-times Woody Allen script is going to contain some choice one-liners , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put the right spin on clever dialogue — even when they ’ re playing thinly drawn characters in a dated and unnecessary story .

If not for the occasional cell phone conversation, you might think Woody Allen’s “A Rainy Day in New York” was set in the 1950s, given everyone talks as if time and particularly culture stopped somewhere around the end of the Eisenhower administration. Of course, this being a Woody Allen movie, everyone also talks a little bit like Woody Allen — and while that was once charming and original (albeit a little sketchy) in the days of “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” and “Hannah and Her Sisters,” it’s now ludicrous and in some cases downright creepy.
‘A Rainy Day in New York’
Untitled MPI Media Group and Signature Entertainment present a film written and directed by Woody Allen. Rated PG-13 (for mature suggestive content, some drug use, smoking, language and partial nudity). Running time: 92 minutes. Opens Friday at Landmark Century Centre.
Sidelined by Amazon Studios in 2018 after renewed controversy surrounding allegations dating back to 1992 of assault by Allen’s adoptive daughter Dylan, “A Rainy Day in New York” is only now getting a release after Allen reacquired the U.S. rights earlier this year. This is the 50th movie for the 84-year-old filmmaker, and it plays like a glossy, semi-clever retread of, yes, earlier and better work. From the same old same old opening credits to the use of old-timey classics such as “I Got Lucky in the Rain” and “Everything Happens to Me” to the focus on wealthy one-percenters gliding through an idyllic version of New York City, we have seen this movie before.
The effortlessly charming Timothee Chalamet plays the tweedy and quite preppy Gatsby Welles — I’m not kidding, that’s really his name — a self-involved little twerp who is attending the fictional Yardley liberal arts college with a minimum of enthusiasm and making big scores as a high-stakes cash game poker player, though the one brief scene where we see Gatsby playing Hold ’Em does little to convince us this guy’s a shark. Gatsby has struck up a romance with Elle Fanning’s Ashleigh, a fellow Yardley student and aspiring journalist from Arizona (cue the jokes about cacti and Republicans) who has scored an interview with the legendary director Roland Pollard (Liev Schreiber), famous for films such as “Winter Memories,” which we can only hope is better than that title. The interview will be in New York, so Gatsby suggests they make a whole day of it. Once Ashleigh finishes her brief interview, Gatsby will show her around his beloved Manhattan and take her to the places that mean the most to him.
Ashleigh giggles like a child around the 50ish Pollard and sounds more like a fan-girl than a journalist, but he takes a shine to her (ahem) because she reminds him of his first wife, and before you know it, Ashleigh is an insider in Pollard’s world — watching a rough cut of his new film, joining Pollard’s longtime writing collaborator Ted (Jude Law) on an impromptu caper as Ted spots his unfaithful wife Connie (Rebecca Hall) emerging from his best friend’s apartment, and even getting swept up in a possible romance with the famous leading man Francisco Vega (Diego Luna) — all in the course of a few rainy hours. Meanwhile, Gatsby is experiencing his own improbable series of events. At one point he wanders around a street corner and runs into an old chum who is making a short film, and the old chum asks Gatsby to appear in the movie, and the next thing you know Gatsby is in the front seat of a car with one Chan Tyrell (Selena Gomez), who just happens to be the younger sister of Gatsby’s ex-girlfriend, and the scene calls for the two of them to kiss, passionately. For multiple takes.
Sigh.
Selena Gomez plays an actress called upon to kiss Gatsby. MPI Media Group/Signature Entertainment
Throughout the respective and separate adventures of Gatsby and Ashleigh, the curiously dated cultural references fly this way and that. A boorish former classmate of Gatsby’s laughs out loud when he hears the name of Gatsby’s new girlfriend: “Like Ashley Wilkes from ‘Gone with the Wind’?” Right, because there haven’t been a kajillion Ashley/Ashleigh/Ashlees in recent times. There are references to Charlie Parker and Mark Rothko, movies such “Gigi” and “Out of the Past.” Ashleigh says of Gatsby, “In his wildest dreams, he’d like to be Sky Masterson.” We also get some astonishingly inappropriate and unfunny stabs at humor, as when we’re told, “The word on Amy was she performed oral sex at a bar mitzvah” — not to mention the appearance of yet another Wise Prostitute In A Woody Allen movie.
Double sigh.
Shot in rich, deliberately overly cinematic tones by Vittorio Storaro designed to showcase New York City in the best possible light in more ways than one, “A Rainy Day in New York” is a great-looking film. Even a warmed-over, behind-the-times Woody Allen script is going to contain some choice one-liners, and this is a superb cast that knows how to put the right spin on clever dialogue — even when they’re playing thinly drawn characters in a dated and unnecessary story.