chicagosun-times--2020-11-05--Park Manor man charged in deadly 2013 drive-by

A Park Manor man has been charged with the 2013 murder of a 19-year-old woman who was shot to death while she was traveling in a car with her friends in the South Side neighborhood .
But a Cook County judge Thursday described prosecutors ’ key evidence against Reginald Reed — a witness identification four years after the deadly June 25 , 2013 shooting — as “ weak.
” Reed , now 43 , was never taken into custody following Marissa Boyd-Stingley ’ s murder after another witness who had been with Boyd-Stingley “ tentatively ” identified Reed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like ” the shooter .
Prosecutors Thursday didn ’ t provide additional details as to why it took over seven years to charge Reed .
However , they said Boyd-Stingley ’ s mother , who had heard that her daughter ’ s killer was “ cockeyed , ” had told detectives she knew of a man in the neighborhood nicknamed “ Rico ” with that distinguishing facial feature .
Detectives then ran a search on people nicknamed “ Rico ” in the area , and learned that Reed went by the nickname .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanently positioned to the outer corner of that eye , prosecutors said .
Before Reed allegedly fired into the car at 73rd Street and King Drive , one of the passengers traveling with Boyd-Stingley , noticed that he had a “ distinct , misaligned eye.
” The passenger went on to call Reed “ cockeyed ” and made a comment , along the lines of “ right , with your cock-eye ass , ” Assistant State ’ s Attorney James Murphy said .
Moments before at 2:30 a.m. that morning , Reed pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other car , prompting one of Boyd-Stingley ’ s friends to ask Reed if he knew someone inside , Murphy said .
Reed then started firing into the car , striking all four occupants , including Boyd-Stingley , who was pronounced dead at the scene , Murphy said .
Except for the one witness who looked at the photo array , none of the other surviving victims could be located after the shooting , prosecutors said .
The gun used to kill Boyd-Stingley was recovered just a few weeks later when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate matter .
But detectives didn ’ t learn it was the gun used in Boyd-Stingley ’ s murder until 2016 , prosecutors said .
By that point , the man charged with possessing the weapon was on parole and refused to tell authorities who gave it to him , prosecutors said .
Then in 2017 , a woman who was with Boyd-Stingley in the car was contacted by detectives .
She identified Reed as the shooter in a line-up , prosecutors said .
Reed , who has no criminal background and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life , “ strenuously ” denies the allegations against him , an assistant public defender said .
“ I don ’ t know how many people on the South Side of Chicago are cockeyed , but it does not seem to be much of a description here , ” the defense attorney said .
Beach agreed and noted the amount of time that had passed since the murder and the 2017 witness identification .
But he also pointed the seriousness of the murder and attempted murder charges and said bail was necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings before his trial .
The judge went on to set Reed ’ s bail at $ 150,000 and recommended that he be placed on electronic monitoring if he is able to post bond .

A Park Manor man has been charged with the 2013 murder of a 19-year-old woman who was shot to death while she was traveling in a car with her friends in the South Side neighborhood.
But Cook County Judge Charles Beach Thursday described prosecutors’ key evidence against Reginald Reed — a witness identification four years after the June 25, 2013, shooting — as “weak.”
Reed, now 43, was never taken into custody following Marissa Boyd-Stingley’s killing after another witness who had been with Boyd-Stingley “tentatively” identified Reed in a photo array, saying he “looks like” the shooter.
Prosecutors didn’t provide additional details Thursday about why it took over seven years to charge Reed.
They said Boyd-Stingley’s mother, who had heard that her daughter’s killer was “cockeyed,” had told detectives she knew of a man in the neighborhood nicknamed “Rico” with that distinguishing facial feature.
Detectives then ran a search on people nicknamed “Rico” in the area, and learned that Reed went by the nickname. Reed’s left eyeball also is permanently positioned to the outer corner of that eye, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said that before Reed fired into the car at 73rd Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, one of the passengers traveling with Boyd-Stingley, noticed he had a “distinct, misaligned eye.” The passenger went on to call Reed “cockeyed” and made a comment, along the lines of “right, with your cock-eye ass,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.
Reginald Reed Chicago police
Moments before at 2:30 a.m. that morning, Reed pulled up in his SUV and stared inside the other car, prompting one of Boyd-Stingley’s friends to ask Reed if he knew someone inside, Murphy said.
Reed then started firing into the car, striking all four occupants, including Boyd-Stingley, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Murphy said.
Except for the one witness who looked at the photo array, none of the other surviving victims could be located after the shooting, prosecutors said.
The gun used to kill Boyd-Stingley was recovered just a few weeks later when it was taken from a man in a separate matter. But detectives didn’t learn it was the gun used in Boyd-Stingley’s murder until 2016, prosecutors said.
By that point, the man charged with possessing the weapon was on parole and refused to tell authorities who gave it to him, prosecutors said.
Then in 2017, a woman who was with Boyd-Stingley in the car was contacted by detectives. She identified Reed as the shooter in a line-up, prosecutors said.
Reed, who has no criminal background and has lived with his mother for most of his life, “strenuously” denies the allegations against him, an assistant public defender said.
“I don’t know how many people on the South Side of Chicago are cockeyed, but it does not seem to be much of a description here,” the defense attorney said.
Beach agreed and noted the amount of time that had passed since the murder and the 2017 witness identification.
But he also pointed the seriousness of the murder and attempted murder charges and said bail was necessary to ensure Reed shows up for subsequent hearings before his trial.
The judge set Reed’s bail at $150,000 and recommended he be placed on electronic monitoring if he is released on bail.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-05--Bears’ injury report packed with progress, setbacks heading toward Titans game

The Bears didn ’ t practice Thursday , but if they had , they would ’ ve gotten a mixed bag of injury news as they prepare to visit the Titans on Sunday .
With the team clearing Halas Hall and holding everything virtually , the NFL required it to estimate player health on the injury report .
Tight end Jimmy Graham would likely have been full-go after missing Wednesday because knee and hamstring injuries .
Same for cornerback Buster Skrine despite a shoulder issue .
Wide receiver Anthony Miller was out Wednesday with a toe injury , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a partial participant Thursday .
That ’ s also true of Eddie Jackson , who has dealt with knee pain since the Rams game .
Offensive lineman Rashaad Coward , who could be in line to start at left guard or right tackle Sunday , has an ankle injury but would ’ ve been able to fully practice .
Just when he was making big strides , rookie tight end Cole Kmet would ’ ve been out with a groin injury Thursday .
Backup center Sam Mustipher , who was filling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed practice for a second consecutive day with a knee injury .
That would leave guard Alex Bars or practice squad center Aaron Neary to start .
Starting safety Tashaun Gipson would have been limited by a foot injury for the second day in a row .
Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris would have missed his second straight practice with a shoulder injury .

The Bears didn’t practice Thursday, but if they had, they would have gotten a mixed bag of injury news as they prepare to visit the Titans on Sunday.
With the team clearing Halas Hall and holding everything virtually, the NFL required them to estimate player health on the injury report.
The good
Tight end Jimmy Graham likely would have been full-go after missing practice Wednesday because of knee and hamstring injuries. Same for cornerback Buster Skrine, who has been dealing with a shoulder issue.
Wide receiver Anthony Miller was out Wednesday with a toe injury, but the team thought he could have been at least a partial participant Thursday.
That’s also true of Eddie Jackson, who has dealt with knee pain since the game against the Rams.
Offensive lineman Rashaad Coward, who could be in line to start at left guard or right tackle Sunday, has an ankle injury but would have been able to practice fully.
The bad
Just when he was making big strides, rookie tight end Cole Kmet would have been out with a groin injury Thursday.
Backup center Sam Mustipher, who was filling in for Cody Whitehair, would have missed practice for a second consecutive day with a knee injury. That would leave guard Alex Bars or practice-squad center Aaron Neary to start.
Starting safety Tashaun Gipson would have been limited by a foot injury for the second day in a row.
Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris would have missed his second consecutive practice with a shoulder injury.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Dear Abby: Busy retired woman sick of gripes from bored friends on furlough

DEAR ABBY : I retired a year ago from a stressful job because I couldn ’ t take what it was doing to my health .
Despite a divorce after a 35-year marriage 10 years ago , I had recovered financially .
I was lucky to have landed a job in my early 30s that had an employer-sponsored 401 ( k ) plan , and I contributed to it for 34 years , putting in as much as I could .
I am able to collect enough Social Security and withdraw a small amount from the 401 ( k ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked .
I always had hobbies , interests and things I wanted to do but never had time for .
I have been very happy and busy ever since .
During the quarantine , getting groceries was a bit of a challenge , but I live simply and had no problems .
I am shocked at all the furloughed people who are having fits and complaining that they are bored out of their minds .
This should be a wake-up call that they need to get a life .
For these people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , they need to plan for the future and have a six- to 12-month emergency fund .
I have put old home movies on DVDs , reorganized photo albums , cleared out a lot of stuff to simplify my life , put in a vegetable garden , made a quilt .
COVID or not , I am a busy woman .
Can you encourage all those bored people to learn a new craft , try a new recipe , make a birdhouse , SOMETHING other than call this busy woman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LIVING IT UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DEAR LIVING : No , but YOU should certainly consider doing it .
You can also make yourself less available to the complainers by putting your phone on mute during the hours you prefer not to be disturbed .
This is not to say your suggestions aren ’ t good ones , just that I have urged readers for years to prepare well in advance for retirement and discuss with their spouse ( if they have one ) how the realities of daily living will change when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
DEAR ABBY : A man has been reaching out to me on social media for three years .
He claims to be in love with me ( after having met me once , briefly ) , and I think I believe him .
It ’ s hard to explain , but I think I may feel the same way toward him .
The problem is , I have ignored him for the last three years .
I blocked him on all social media , but he keeps finding ways to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my house .
To tell the truth , I ghosted him because I ’ m terrified of what our “ love at first sight ” connection could mean .
I have been hurt in the past , and I know a relationship of this magnitude could destroy me emotionally .
I feel terrible for ignoring him , but my friends and family insist that he is a stalker , and they would never understand if I decided to pursue a relationship with him .
I feel paralyzed .
What should I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : If a relationship of this magnitude could destroy you emotionally , then I do not recommend pursuing it .
Sane individuals who have been ignored for three years usually take the hint and walk away .
Listen to your family .
What this man has been doing is , to say the least , unusual and could , indeed , be considered stalking .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: I retired a year ago from a stressful job because I couldn’t take what it was doing to my health. Despite a divorce after a 35-year marriage 10 years ago, I had recovered financially. I was lucky to have landed a job in my early 30s that had an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, and I contributed to it for 34 years, putting in as much as I could. I am able to collect enough Social Security and withdraw a small amount from the 401(k) to live as I did when I worked.
I always had hobbies, interests and things I wanted to do but never had time for. I have been very happy and busy ever since. During the quarantine, getting groceries was a bit of a challenge, but I live simply and had no problems.
I am shocked at all the furloughed people who are having fits and complaining that they are bored out of their minds. This should be a wake-up call that they need to get a life. For these people, retirement is going to be really hard. Also, they need to plan for the future and have a six- to 12-month emergency fund.
I have put old home movies on DVDs, reorganized photo albums, cleared out a lot of stuff to simplify my life, put in a vegetable garden, made a quilt. COVID or not, I am a busy woman. Can you encourage all those bored people to learn a new craft, try a new recipe, make a birdhouse, SOMETHING other than call this busy woman and distract me from my projects? — LIVING IT UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEAR LIVING: No, but YOU should certainly consider doing it. You can also make yourself less available to the complainers by putting your phone on mute during the hours you prefer not to be disturbed. This is not to say your suggestions aren’t good ones, just that I have urged readers for years to prepare well in advance for retirement and discuss with their spouse (if they have one) how the realities of daily living will change when it comes to chores and conserving personal space.
DEAR ABBY: A man has been reaching out to me on social media for three years. He claims to be in love with me (after having met me once, briefly), and I think I believe him.
It’s hard to explain, but I think I may feel the same way toward him. The problem is, I have ignored him for the last three years. I blocked him on all social media, but he keeps finding ways to contact me. He even had flowers delivered to my house. To tell the truth, I ghosted him because I’m terrified of what our “love at first sight” connection could mean. I have been hurt in the past, and I know a relationship of this magnitude could destroy me emotionally.
I feel terrible for ignoring him, but my friends and family insist that he is a stalker, and they would never understand if I decided to pursue a relationship with him. I feel paralyzed. What should I do? — CONFUSED OUT EAST
DEAR CONFUSED: If a relationship of this magnitude could destroy you emotionally, then I do not recommend pursuing it. Sane individuals who have been ignored for three years usually take the hint and walk away. Listen to your family. What this man has been doing is, to say the least, unusual and could, indeed, be considered stalking.
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.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--‘Moonbase 8’: Three funny guys’ lunar humor seldom lands in new Showtime series

In space , no one can hear you laugh .
To be fair , the Showtime series “ Moonbase 8 ” isn ’ t actually set in outer space but in a simulation , and it does yield a couple of chuckles per episode .
But given the comedic credentials of the three leads , it ’ s a disappointingly flat and tame endeavor that falls far short of even the middling success of the recent Steve Carell vehicle “ Space Force.
” Created by Jonathan Krisel , Fred Armisen , Tim Heidecker and John C. Reilly and starring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launches with graphics informing us NASA is about to construct the first manned base on the surface of the moon and has built several simulation bases to train candidates for living and working there .
Moonbase 8 , in Winslow , Arizona ( such a fine sight to see … ) , is one such faux base .
And by the looks of things , NASA must have poured hundreds , maybe even thousands , of dollars into the flimsy-looking operation .
Reilly plays Robert “ Cap ” Caputo , Armisen is Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heidecker is Professor Scott “ Rook ” Sloan .
And the characters aren ’ t much more interesting than those bland nicknames .
They ’ re all amiable , low-key , team-oriented fellows — and they ’ re various degrees of dim , leading one to wonder how they ever got past the NASA gift shop , let alone chosen as candidates to lead the first base station on the surface of the moon .
That ’ s basically the joke of “ Moonbase 8 , ” that it ’ s a workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gentler version of “ The Three Stooges in Orbit.
” In the series premiere , the crew has been isolated in the simulation base for 200 days , and NASA has marked the occasion by sending a $ 100 Harley-Davidson store gift card .
“ I think it ’ s pretty cool , they ’ ve got cool leather gloves you can do , ” says Rook .
Skip chimes in : “ There ’ s a café in there , too .
You could get something to eat.
” This establishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the season on balance .
Inoffensive , wry , maybe worth a slight smile , underwhelming .
Like the denizens of “ Gilligan ’ s Island , ” the crew is often presented with a dilemma that must be resolved within the confines of a roughly half-hour adventure .
In Episode One , there ’ s a water shortage , which leads to the inevitable scene of the men drinking “ de-urinized ” water ( “ It ’ s been de-peed , ” assures Skip ) — and the obligatory group spit-take that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to contend with a prowler who is stealing items from the base ; an impending cattle stampede that could go right through and over the base ; Cap getting sick and placed into quarantine ; and the occasional guest arrival who provides the impetus for sitcom-level conflict and somewhat dated humor .
( I kinda feel the time has come and gone for “ Apocalypse Now ” references . )
Reilly , Armisen and Heidecker handle the material like the pros they are — some of the dialogue feels improvised and can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sails by in relatively brisk fashion .
But the storylines are , at best , mildly involving and the characters so thinly drawn you don ’ t feel anything approaching a binge-twinge when one episode ends and another is about to begin .
This is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of show , and in a streaming/premium cable world where so much material is available , there ’ s no pressing need to spend your time on Moonbase 8 .

In space, no one can hear you laugh.
To be fair, the Showtime series “Moonbase 8” isn’t actually set in outer space but in a simulation, and it does yield a couple of chuckles per episode.
But given the comedic credentials of the three leads, it’s a disappointingly flat and tame endeavor that falls far short of even the middling success of the recent Steve Carell vehicle “Space Force.”
‘Moonbase 8’
Untitled 10 p.m. Sundays on Showtime. First episode free at youtube.com/showtime and SHO.com, and on demand.
Created by Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker and John C. Reilly and starring the latter three, “Moonbase 8” launches with graphics informing us NASA is about to construct the first manned base on the surface of the moon and has built several simulation bases to train candidates for living and working there.
Moonbase 8, in Winslow, Arizona (such a fine sight to see …), is one such faux base. And by the looks of things, NASA must have poured hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars into the flimsy-looking operation.
Reilly plays Robert “Cap” Caputo, Armisen is Dr. Michael “Skip” Henai, and Heidecker is Professor Scott “Rook” Sloan. And the characters aren’t much more interesting than those bland nicknames. They’re all amiable, low-key, team-oriented fellows — and they’re various degrees of dim, leading one to wonder how they ever got past the NASA gift shop, let alone chosen as candidates to lead the first base station on the surface of the moon.
That’s basically the joke of “Moonbase 8,” that it’s a workplace comedy featuring guys who are a kinder, gentler version of “The Three Stooges in Orbit.”
In the series premiere, the crew has been isolated in the simulation base for 200 days, and NASA has marked the occasion by sending a $100 Harley-Davidson store gift card.
“I think it’s pretty cool, they’ve got cool leather gloves you can do,” says Rook.
Skip chimes in: “There’s a café in there, too. You could get something to eat.”
This establishes the soft-humor tone for this episode and the season on balance. Inoffensive, wry, maybe worth a slight smile, underwhelming.
Like the denizens of “Gilligan’s Island,” the crew is often presented with a dilemma that must be resolved within the confines of a roughly half-hour adventure.
In Episode One, there’s a water shortage, which leads to the inevitable scene of the men drinking “de-urinized” water (“It’s been de-peed,” assures Skip) — and the obligatory group spit-take that follows.
In various episodes, they have to contend with a prowler who is stealing items from the base; an impending cattle stampede that could go right through and over the base; Cap getting sick and placed into quarantine; and the occasional guest arrival who provides the impetus for sitcom-level conflict and somewhat dated humor. (I kinda feel the time has come and gone for “Apocalypse Now” references.)
Reilly, Armisen and Heidecker handle the material like the pros they are — some of the dialogue feels improvised and can be pretty clever.
And each episode sails by in relatively brisk fashion.
But the storylines are, at best, mildly involving and the characters so thinly drawn you don’t feel anything approaching a binge-twinge when one episode ends and another is about to begin.
This is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of show, and in a streaming/premium cable world where so much material is available, there’s no pressing need to spend your time on Moonbase 8.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Cook County’s $1 million tax bust

Cook County’s $1 million tax bust

For years , nobody wanted the abandoned warehouse in the west suburbs .
A big reason : The building — an old perfume factory in Bellwood — had unpaid property taxes topping $ 1 million that anyone who bought it would have to pay .
To try to get the property once again bringing in taxes , the Cook County Land Bank Authority stepped in .
The county government agency was established in 2011 to do that very sort of thing and given an unusual power to help make it happen : It can wipe out any unpaid taxes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have that added financial burden .
All they have to do is fix up the property , and they get a bargain .
And the county gets property taxes once again coming in to support schools and other government functions .
But it didn ’ t in Bellwood .
The building is still vacant , nearly three more years of taxes have gone unpaid , a court fight ’ s under way , and taxpayers are likely to end up being out even more money on the whole thing .
The failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax bust for the county land bank authority , which has come under scrutiny and been the subject of two critical audits since the Chicago Sun-Times reported in November 2019 on an insider deal involving Chester Wilson , chief of staff to Ald .
Carrie Austin ( 34th ) .
Wilson donated a dilapidated building to the land bank , which .
wiped out his unpaid property taxes , penalties and interest — more than $ 200,000 — and , at Wilson ’ s recommendation , sold the building to his onetime business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Bellwood property .
It paid the county $ 250,000 for the warehouse in 2017 , with plans to convert the 27,000-square-foot building into a not-for-profit urban farm and culinary school .
That rehab hasn ’ t happened because the new owner , Urban Transformation Enterprises , says it shouldn ’ t have to pay any taxes on the warehouse property because it ’ s a not-for-profit charity .
The state has signed off on that , but the final decision rests with the Cook County assessor ’ s office , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to justify removing the property from the tax rolls .
Land bank officials aren ’ t happy about the delay .
They ’ re suing to take back the warehouse and keep all of the money Urban Transformation paid for the property , saying it violated the terms of its deal by not rehabilitating the place within two years .
Urban Transformation president Donald Patterson and his lawyer say they haven ’ t been able to do that because the village of Bellwood — which wants somebody paying taxes to move in — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , Urban Transformation has dropped its plans to turn the warehouse into a farm where people , including some coming out of prison , would get valuable job training .
But , rather than let the county take back the property and lose what it paid Patterson wants to do one of two things : • Lease the warehouse for $ 10,000 a month to Perry Mandera , a clout-heavy businessman who ’ s awaiting a license from the state of Illinois to grow marijuana there — a process that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Or sell the property for $ 350,000 to a neighboring business that wants to expand its rug importing company — if the assessor approves its application for an industrial tax break that would cut the real estate taxes by 60 % over the next decade .
“ We ’ re preparing to sell it , ” Patterson says .
“ I didn ’ t buy it to sell it .
But I don ’ t have a choice .
Robert Rose is trying to take it.
” Rose is the land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other land bank officials won ’ t talk about the deal .
Records show he initially supported Patterson ’ s plan to grow produce inside the warehouse .
But the Nov. 10 , 2016 , sales agreement and a letter he sent Bellwood officials on June 27 , 2018 , indicate that his understanding was that Urban Transformation intended to seek only the industrial tax break of 60 % on its property taxes .
The letter came weeks after Urban Transformation announced that , as a not-for-profit organization , it actually was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About a year later , Rose emailed Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey : “ We are in the process of taking 2821 W. Grant back from Don Patterson so that we can find a more suitable buyer.
” Now , the whole mess is in court , where Cook County Circuit Judge Anna Loftus has scheduled a hearing on the land bank ’ s lawsuit for Nov. 12 .
Records show the Bellwood warehouse is one of 25 properties on which property taxes haven ’ t been paid since the land bank sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 3 % of the 1,068 properties the land bank says it has sold .
The rest of the owners are current , and the land bank has touted the fact that they have paid more than $ 100 million combined in property taxes .
After the Sun-Times report last year on the deal involving Wilson , Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle ordered an outside audit of the agency created by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer with the aim of redeveloping abandoned buildings in distressed neighborhoods .
The auditors ’ recommendations included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has vetted potential buyers of the properties that it ’ s bought or seized for failure to pay property tax .
In a separate audit , issued Oct. 29 , Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard also criticized the land bank but for poor record-keeping .
The land bank is one of six government agencies that have a role in the future of the one-story warehouse on Grant Avenue in Bellwood , which for now remains an eyesore riddled with mold and broken windows .
Solo Laboratories once owned three warehouses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2821 Grant Ave. that Urban Transformation now owns .
Solo walked away from the properties in 2016 , essentially donating them to the land bank rather than pay the $ 1 million-plus it owed in taxes .
The land bank sold one of the warehouses to a rug importer , another to a printing supplier and the third to Urban Transformation .
Patterson — who also runs a tax-preparation service in North Lawndale and unsuccessfully ran for 24th ward alderman in 2007 — started Urban Transformation in 2015 with grants from four West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
Patterson put in his bid to buy the warehouse weeks before being notified in November 2016 by the Internal Revenue Service that Urban Transformation would be certified as a tax-exempt charity .
He later started another company , Urban Transformation Farms , to raise money for the charity .
It recently sold more than $ 8 million in COVID-related protective clothing to the state of Illinois , which he says is part of that effort .
After the land bank ’ s board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , Patterson took possession of the warehouse in May 2017 .
Some highlights of what ’ s happened since : Feb. 1 , 2018 — The architect applied for a building permit to redo the electrical system , bathrooms and other interior work .
The village denied it , saying it needed more information .
Feb. 6 , 2018 — Bellwood ’ s zoning administrator emailed the mayor and chief buildings inspector with concerns : “ Mr .
Patterson did not have a clear idea of what he wanted to do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
He said he wasn ’ t the right person for that… [ The buildings inspector ] also says that the Village prefers the property to be a taxable entity versus not for profit.
” Patterson ’ s attorney Lester Barclay says , “ We thought we were doing some good in the ’ hood .
Then , we got into , ‘ You need to sell this.
’ We don ’ t want to sell this .
Then , it was , ‘ You ’ re not going to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall .
We thought we would buy the facility , refurbish the facility and train people to work in restaurants .
We needed to create a kitchen , a work environment that made sense for the training program we were going to do .
You want to play by the rules .
We ’ re not going to build out something without full authority from the village .
We couldn ’ t get that .
You ’ re caught in the middle of somebody ’ s political game.
” May 1 , 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the Illinois Department of Revenue to certify it as exempt from paying property taxes .
“ We told him it couldn ’ t be tax-exempt because we don ’ t do tax-exempt , ” Mayor Andre Harvey says .
“ All those taxes go back on the taxpayers , which is not something we really want to do .
When we talk about economic development , we want to do things to help the village grow , not to take properties back off the tax rolls.
” June 27 , 2018 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he described as Urban Transformation ’ s plans for a partial tax break on the warehouse “ for growing fresh produce , packaging and canning processes , ” by employing former prison inmates he called “ returning citizens and other hard-to-employ members of the community.
” Dec. 20 , 2018 — The state rejected Urban Transformation ’ s request to exempt the warehouse from property taxes because the vacant building wasn ’ t being used for tax-exempt purposes .
June 5 , 2019 — Rose emailed the mayor : “ We are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from Don Patterson so that we can find a more suitable buyer.
” Sept. 23 , 2019 — Reversing its earlier decision , the state decided Patterson shouldn ’ t have to pay property taxes on the warehouse after all — as long as it ’ s used for a tax-exempt purpose .
Sept. 25 , 2019 — The land bank sued Urban Transformation to get the warehouse back , also saying it should forfeit all of the money it paid for the building .
“ We paid a quarter of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patterson ’ s lawyer .
“ We own the property outright .
But now you ’ re going to take our property without just compensation ?
There ’ s something sinister about that.
” Dec. 9 , 2019 — Weeks before recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois , Bellwood village trustees approved the creation of six cannabis business licenses .
March 10 , 2020 — The Herbal Care Center , owned by Perry Mandera , submitted a zoning application , seekingo Bellwood ’ s permission to grow marijuana in Patterson ’ s warehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois Department of Agriculture he hds agreed to rent Patterson ’ s warehouse for $ 10,000 a month if the state approves his grower ’ s application .
May 6 — As part of the state ’ s coronavirus response , the Illinois Emergency Management Agency paid $ 2.5 million for 500,000 isolation gowns from Urban Transformation Farms , which operates from Patterson ’ s tax-prep office .
Its registered agent is Victor B. Dickson , president and chief executive officer of the Safer Foundation , which finds jobs for people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Urban Transformation Farms sold another $ 6 million of “ coveralls for COVID19 response.
” “ We purchased product , and the state purchased it from us , ” Patterson says .
“ The purpose is to sell product and put money into the nonprofit .
It ’ s another funding source to put people to work.
” May 30 — MDA Rug co-owner Miltjadh Iljadhi agreed to buy Patterson ’ s warehouse for $ 350,000 — if Bellwood and the assessor grant him a tax break that would slash the property taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sale also depends on getting the land bank ’ s OK .
The village board has since given its approval .
Whatever ’ s decided in court about the vacant warehouse in Bellwood , the Cook County treasurer ’ s office says Donald Patterson owes $ 308,363.84 in property taxes to cover the period since he bought it from the land bank , plus penalties and interest .
If the county succeeds in its effort to take back the property , it likely would have to once again wipe out the unpaid @ @ @ @ @ @

For years, nobody wanted the abandoned warehouse in the west suburbs.
A big reason: The building — an old perfume factory in Bellwood — had unpaid property taxes topping $1 million that anyone who bought it would have to pay.
To try to get the property once again bringing in taxes, the Cook County Land Bank Authority stepped in.
The county government agency was established in 2011 to do that very sort of thing and given an unusual power to help make it happen: It can wipe out any unpaid taxes on vacant property so prospective buyers won’t have that added financial burden. All they have to do is fix up the property, and they get a bargain. And the county gets property taxes once again coming in to support schools and other government functions.
That’s how it’s supposed to work.
But it didn’t in Bellwood. The building is still vacant, nearly three more years of taxes have gone unpaid, a court fight’s underway, and taxpayers are likely to end up being out even more money on the whole thing.
The failed deal has become a $1 million tax bust for the county land bank authority, which has come under scrutiny and been the subject of two critical audits since the Chicago Sun-Times reported in November 2019 on an insider deal involving Chester Wilson, chief of staff to Ald. Carrie Austin (34th). Wilson donated a dilapidated building to the land bank, which wiped out his unpaid property taxes, penalties and interest — more than $200,000 — and, at Wilson’s recommendation, sold the building to his onetime business partner.
Just one bidder was interested in the Bellwood property. It paid the county $250,000 for the warehouse in 2017, with plans to convert the 27,000-square-foot building into a not-for-profit urban farm and culinary school.
That rehab hasn’t happened because the new owner, Urban Transformation Enterprises, says it shouldn’t have to pay any taxes on the warehouse property because it’s a not-for-profit charity. The state has signed off on that, but the final decision rests with the Cook County assessor’s office, which says it hasn’t seen evidence to justify removing the property from the tax rolls.
Land bank officials aren’t happy about the delay. They’re suing to take back the warehouse and keep all of the money Urban Transformation paid for the property, saying it violated the terms of its deal by not rehabilitating the place within two years.
“Every homeowner in Cook County knows they have a legal obligation to pay property taxes,” says Tarrah Cooper-Wright, a spokeswoman for the land bank. “The current owner is out of compliance with the legally binding agreement because he failed to complete the rehab within the agreed-upon rehab period.”
Cooper-Wright says taxpayers aren’t losing any money on the warehouse because, given that “the property was vacant for 10 years, that $1 million is likely at this point not to be paid.”
Urban Transformation president Donald Patterson and his lawyer say they haven’t been able to do the rehab because the village of Bellwood — which wants somebody paying taxes to move in — won’t give them building permits.
Now, Urban Transformation has dropped its plans to turn the warehouse into a farm where people, including some coming out of prison, would get valuable job training.
But, rather than let the county take back the property and lose what it paid Patterson wants to do one of two things:
Lease the warehouse for $10,000 a month to Perry Mandera, a clout-heavy businessman who’s awaiting a license from the state of Illinois to grow marijuana there — a process that’s been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Or sell the property for $350,000 to a neighboring business that wants to expand its rug importing company — if the assessor approves its application for an industrial tax break that would cut the real estate taxes by 60% over the next decade.
Clout-heavy businessman Perry Mandera wants to lease the Bellwood warehouse and grow marijuana there. Alex Wroblewski / Sun-Times file
“We’re preparing to sell it,” Patterson says. “I didn’t buy it to sell it. But I don’t have a choice. Robert Rose is trying to take it.”
Rose is the land bank’s executive director. Records show he initially supported Patterson’s plan to grow produce inside the warehouse.
But the Nov. 10, 2016, sales agreement and a letter he sent Bellwood officials on June 27, 2018, indicate that his understanding was that Urban Transformation intended to seek only the industrial tax break of 60% on its property taxes.
The letter came weeks after Urban Transformation announced that, as a not-for-profit organization, it actually was seeking a complete exemption from the taxes.
About a year later, Rose emailed Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey: “We are in the process of taking 2821 W. Grant back from Don Patterson so that we can find a more suitable buyer.”
Now, the whole mess is in court, where Cook County Circuit Judge Anna Loftus has scheduled a hearing on the land bank’s lawsuit for Nov. 12.
Records show the Bellwood warehouse is one of 25 properties on which property taxes haven’t been paid since the land bank sold them to new owners.
That’s 3% of the 1,068 properties the land bank says it has sold. It says the rest of the owners are current, and the land bank says they have paid a combined total of more than $100 million in property taxes.
Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, who created the Cook County Land Bank Authority. Rich Hein / Sun-Times file
After the Sun-Times report last year on the deal involving Wilson, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle ordered an outside audit of the agency created by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer with the aim of redeveloping abandoned buildings in distressed neighborhoods. The auditors’ recommendations included requiring the land bank to document that it has vetted potential buyers of the properties that it’s bought or seized for failure to pay property tax.
In a separate audit, issued Oct. 29, Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard also criticized the land bank for poor record-keeping.
The land bank is one of six government agencies that have a role in the future of the one-story warehouse on Grant Avenue in Bellwood, which for now remains an eyesore riddled with mold and broken windows.
Solo Laboratories once owned three warehouses on Grant Avenue, including the one at 2821 Grant Ave. that Urban Transformation now owns. Solo walked away from the properties in 2016, essentially donating them to the land bank rather than pay the $1 million-plus it owed in taxes.
The land bank sold one of the warehouses to a rug importer, another to a printing supplier and the third to Urban Transformation.
Patterson — who also runs a tax-preparation service in North Lawndale and unsuccessfully ran for 24th Ward alderman in 2007 — started Urban Transformation in 2015 with grants from four West Side churches. He later reported also getting grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Patterson put in his bid to buy the warehouse weeks before being notified in November 2016 by the Internal Revenue Service that Urban Transformation would be certified as a tax-exempt charity.
He later started another company, Urban Transformation Farms, to raise money for the charity. It recently sold more than $8 million in COVID-related protective clothing to the state of Illinois, which he says is part of that effort.
Whatever’s decided in court about the vacant warehouse in Bellwood, the Cook County treasurer’s office says Donald Patterson owes $308,363.84 in property taxes since he bought it from the land bank, plus penalties and interest. If the county ends up taking back the property, it likely would have to once again wipe out the unpaid taxes to find another buyer. Pat Nabong / Sun-Times
After the land bank’s board of directors approved the sale in late March 2017, Patterson took possession of the warehouse in May 2017. Some highlights of what’s happened since:
June 3, 2017 — Patterson signed a contract with an architect.
Feb. 1, 2018 — The architect applied for a building permit to redo the electrical system, bathrooms and other interior work. The village denied it, saying it needed more information.
Feb. 6, 2018 — Bellwood’s zoning administrator emailed the mayor and chief buildings inspector with concerns: “Mr. Patterson did not have a clear idea of what he wanted to do, nor could he tell us what they do. He said he wasn’t the right person for that… [The buildings inspector] also says that the Village prefers the property to be a taxable entity versus not for profit.”
Patterson’s attorney Lester Barclay says, “We thought we were doing some good in the ’hood. Then, we got into, ‘You need to sell this.’ We don’t want to sell this. Then, it was, ‘You’re not going to get a permit.’
“We hit a brick wall. We thought we would buy the facility, refurbish the facility and train people to work in restaurants. We needed to create a kitchen, a work environment that made sense for the training program we were going to do. You want to play by the rules. We’re not going to build out something without full authority from the village. We couldn’t get that. You’re caught in the middle of somebody’s political game.”
May 1, 2018 — Urban Transformation notified Bellwood it had asked the Illinois Department of Revenue to certify it as exempt from paying property taxes.
Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey: “We want to do things to help the village grow, not to take properties back off the tax rolls.” Village of Bellwood
“We told him it couldn’t be tax-exempt because we don’t do tax-exempt,” Mayor Andre Harvey says. “All those taxes go back on the taxpayers, which is not something we really want to do. When we talk about economic development, we want to do things to help the village grow, not to take properties back off the tax rolls.”
June 27, 2018 — Rose wrote to Bellwood, citing what he described as Urban Transformation’s plans for a partial tax break on the warehouse “for growing fresh produce, packaging and canning processes,” by employing former prison inmates he called “returning citizens and other hard-to-employ members of the community.”
Dec. 20, 2018 — The state rejected Urban Transformation’s request to exempt the warehouse from property taxes because the vacant building wasn’t being used for tax-exempt purposes.
Robert Rose, executive director of the Cook County Land Bank Authority, is trying to take back the Bellwood property, have the county agency keep the $250,000 that Donald Patterson’s Urban Transformation Enterprises paid for it and resell it to “a more suitable buyer.” Rich Hein / Sun-Times file
June 5, 2019 — Rose emailed the mayor: “We are in the process of taking 2821 W. Grant back from Don Patterson so that we can find a more suitable buyer.”
Sept. 23, 2019 — Reversing its earlier decision, the state decided Patterson shouldn’t have to pay property taxes on the warehouse after all — as long as it’s used for a tax-exempt purpose.
Sept. 25, 2019 — The land bank sued Urban Transformation to get the warehouse back, also saying it should forfeit all of the money it paid for the building.
“We paid a quarter of a million dollars,” says Barclay, Patterson’s lawyer. “We own the property outright. But now you’re going to take our property without just compensation? There’s something sinister about that.”
Donald Patterson’s attorney Lester Barclay on the county’s move to take back the vacant property in Bellwood because it hasn’t been redeveloped as Patterson agreed to do: “But now you’re going to take our property without just compensation?” LinkedIn
Dec. 9, 2019 — Weeks before recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois, Bellwood village trustees approved the creation of six cannabis business licenses.
March 10, 2020 — The Herbal Care Center, owned by Perry Mandera, submitted a zoning application, seeking Bellwood’s permission to grow marijuana in Patterson’s warehouse.
March 29 — Mandera notified the Illinois Department of Agriculture he had agreed to rent Patterson’s warehouse for $10,000 a month if the state approves his grower’s application.
May 6 — As part of the state’s coronavirus response, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency paid $2.5 million for 500,000 isolation gowns from Urban Transformation Farms, which operates from Patterson’s tax-prep office. Its registered agent is Victor B. Dickson, president and chief executive officer of the Safer Foundation, which finds jobs for people who have criminal records. A week later, Urban Transformation Farms sold another $6 million of “coveralls for COVID19 response.”
“We purchased product, and the state purchased it from us,” Patterson says. “The purpose is to sell product and put money into the nonprofit. It’s another funding source to put people to work.”
May 30 — MDA Rug co-owner Miltjadh Iljadhi agreed to buy Patterson’s warehouse for $350,000 — if Bellwood and the assessor grant him a tax break that would slash the property taxes by 60% for 10 years. The sale also depends on getting the land bank’s OK. The village board has since given its approval.
Whatever’s decided in court about the vacant warehouse in Bellwood, the Cook County treasurer’s office says Donald Patterson owes $308,363.84 in property taxes to cover the period since he bought it from the land bank, plus penalties and interest.
If the county succeeds in its effort to take back the property, it likely would have to once again wipe out the unpaid taxes to find another buyer.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--13 shot, 3 fatally, Thursday in Chicago

13 shot, 3 fatally, Thursday in Chicago

Three people were killed and 10 others were wounded in gun violence Thursday in Chicago .
A man was killed and a woman injured in a shooting in Gresham on the South Side .
About 7:30 p.m. , the two were in a parking lot in the 7500 block of South Racine Avenue when someone approached and unleashed gunfire , Chicago police said .
A 46-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
A woman , 39 , was shot in the leg and stabilized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two hours earlier , a 27-year-old man was fatally shot at a barbershop in Englewood on the South Side .
A person walked into the barbershop about 5:50 p.m. in the 700 block of West 69th Street and fired shots , striking the 27-year-old in the back and arm , police said .
Authorities said the gunman was the man ’ s “ acquaintance.
” The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
Thursday morning , a 36-year-old man was fatally shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side .
The man ’ s roommate found him on his bed about 2:50 a.m. at their home in the 3500 block of North Hamlin Avenue , police said .
He had been shot in the chest , abdomen and leg , and was pronounced dead on the scene .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified him as Usbaldo Arbelo .
The roommate told officers he didn ’ t see anyone come inside their home , and didn ’ t have other details to share , according to police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was injured in Englewood on the South Side .
The 19-year-old man was sitting in his parked vehicle about 11:05 p.m. in the 6000 block of South LaSalle Street when a gunman approached on foot and began firing shots , police said .
The driver suffered a graze wound to his right shoulder and refused medical assistance on the scene .
A 25-year-old man was injured in a shooting in Pilsen on the South Side .
The man was standing on the sidewalk about 9:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of West 18th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired shots , according to police .
The 25-year-old was hit in the right leg and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
About 8 p.m. a man was shot in Austin on the West Side .
He was in the 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue when someone opened fire , striking him in the leg and abdomen , police said .
The man , about 40 years old , was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
A 25-year-old man was wounded in a shooting Thursday evening in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street about 5:15 p.m. in the 100 block of West Van Buren Street when someone approached and fired shots at him , police said .
He was struck in the abdomen and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
According to fire officials , he was in serious-to-critical condition .
Hours prior , a man was wounded in a shooting in West Englewood on the South Side .
About 4:24 p.m. , the 24-year-old was in the 6300 block of South Wolcott Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the arm .
A 22-year-old man was shot about half an hour earlier in Back of the Yards on the South Side .
He was in his car about 3:54 p.m. in the 4900 block of South Loomis Boulevard when someone fired shots , police said .
The man was struck in the hand and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
About 2:30 p.m. a man was wounded in a shooting on the South Side .
The 21-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue when someone opened fire , striking him in the thigh , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
A 36-year-old woman was wounded in a shooting hours earlier in Lawndale on the West Side .
She was walking on the street about 12:40 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Ogden Avenue when someone fired shots from a white Chevy Malibu , police said .
The woman was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thigh .
About an hour earlier , a man was shot while stepping out of a car in Calumet Heights on the South Side .
The 24-year-old was shot in his foot by someone in a passing gray Jeep about 11:45 a.m. in the 8800 block of South Kenwood Avenue , police said .
He took himself to Trinity Hospital , where he was listed in good condition .
Twelve people were shot , one of them fatally , Wednesday in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ @ @ @

Three people were killed and 10 others were wounded in gun violence Thursday in Chicago.
A man was killed and a woman injured in a shooting in Gresham on the South Side.
About 7:30 p.m., the two were in a parking lot in the 7500 block of South Racine Avenue when someone approached and unleashed gunfire, Chicago police said. A 46-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A woman, 39, was shot in the leg and stabilized at the same hospital.
Less than two hours earlier, a 27-year-old man was fatally shot at a barbershop in Englewood on the South Side.
A person walked into the barbershop about 5:50 p.m. in the 700 block of West 69th Street and fired shots, striking the 27-year-old in the back and arm, police said. Authorities said the gunman was the man’s “acquaintance.” The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Thursday morning, a 36-year-old man was fatally shot at his home in Avondale on the Northwest Side.
The man’s roommate found him on his bed about 2:50 a.m. at their home in the 3500 block of North Hamlin Avenue, police said. He had been shot in the chest, abdomen and leg, and was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Usbaldo Arbelo.
The roommate told officers he didn’t see anyone come inside their home, and didn’t have other details to share, according to police.
In nonfatal shootings, a delivery driver was injured in Englewood on the South Side.
The 19-year-old man was sitting in his parked vehicle about 11:05 p.m. in the 6000 block of South LaSalle Street when a gunman approached on foot and began firing shots, police said. The driver suffered a graze wound to his right shoulder and refused medical assistance on the scene.
A 25-year-old man was injured in a shooting in Pilsen on the South Side.
The man was standing on the sidewalk about 9:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of West 18th Street when a male walked up and fired shots, according to police. The 25-year-old was hit in the right leg and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
About 8 p.m. a man was shot in Austin on the West Side.
He was in the 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the leg and abdomen, police said. The man, about 40 years old, was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
A 25-year-old man was wounded in a shooting Thursday evening in the Loop.
The man was in the street about 5:15 p.m. in the 100 block of West Van Buren Street when someone approached and fired shots at him, police said. He was struck in the abdomen and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition. According to fire officials, he was in serious-to-critical condition.
Hours prior, a man was wounded in a shooting in West Englewood on the South Side.
About 4:24 p.m., the 24-year-old was in the 6300 block of South Wolcott Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He went to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition with a gunshot wound to the arm.
A 22-year-old man was shot about half an hour earlier in Back of the Yards on the South Side.
He was in his car about 3:54 p.m. in the 4900 block of South Loomis Boulevard when someone fired shots, police said. The man was struck in the hand and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
About 2:30 p.m. a man was wounded in a shooting on the South Side.
The 21-year-old man was on the sidewalk in the 10300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the thigh, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
A 36-year-old woman was wounded in a shooting hours earlier in Lawndale on the West Side.
She was walking on the street about 12:40 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Ogden Avenue when someone fired shots from a white Chevy Malibu, police said. The woman was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition with with a gunshot wound to her thigh.
About an hour earlier, a man was shot while stepping out of a car in Calumet Heights on the South Side.
The 24-year-old was shot in his foot by someone in a passing gray Jeep about 11:45 a.m. in the 8800 block of South Kenwood Avenue, police said. He took himself to Trinity Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.
Twelve people were shot, one of them fatally, Wednesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Driver cited after Streeterville crash with squad car injures 2 CPD officers

Two Chicago police officers were injured in a crash Thursday in Streeterville on the Near North Side .
A marked @ @ @ @ @ with its emergency equipment activated at 8:41 p.m. in the 500 block of East Illinois @ @ @ @ @ by a southbound Toyota Camry on Lower Lake Shore Drive , according to Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ the driver of the Toyota works for a ride-hailing service .
Two male officers were @ @ @ @ @ good condition , police said .
Their injuries were not considered life-threatening .
A female @ @ @ @ @ taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition , police said .
The 55-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ treatment , according to police .
he was cited for failure to yield to an @ @ @

Two Chicago police officers were injured in a crash Thursday in Streeterville on the Near North Side.
A marked squad car was heading east with its emergency equipment activated at 8:41 p.m. in the 500 block of East Illinois Street when it was hit by a southbound Toyota Camry on Lower Lake Shore Drive, according to Chicago police.
A police source said the driver of the Toyota works for a ride-hailing service.
Two male officers were taken to a hospital in good condition, police said. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
A female passenger in the Toyota was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, police said.
The 55-year-old man driving the Toyota declined medical treatment, according to police. he was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Chicago police officer stabbed in South Chicago; suspect in custody

A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing a Chicago police officer responding to a mental health emergency Thursday at a @ @ @ @ @ were called about 11:15 p.m. for reports of a “ mental health disturbance ” involving @ @ @ @ @ apartment he lives in with his family in the 9000 block of South Burley Avenue @ @ @ @ @ from Chicago police .
When officers arrived , the man started throwing objects at them @ @ @ @ @ said .
He then came outside and ran toward officers with two knives .
Two @ @ @ @ @ the man , police said .
While he was being taken into custody , he @ @ @ @ @ abdomen , causing a puncture wound .
The officer was taken to a hospital in @ @ @ @ @ was taken to Trinity Hospital for observation and charges are pending , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ and track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing a Chicago police officer responding to a mental health emergency Thursday at a South Chicago apartment.
Authorities were called about 11:15 p.m. for reports of a “mental health disturbance” involving a 26-year-old man damaging the apartment he lives in with his family in the 9000 block of South Burley Avenue, according to preliminary information from Chicago police.
When officers arrived, the man started throwing objects at them from the apartment, police said. He then came outside and ran toward officers with two knives.
Two officers used stun guns on the man, police said. While he was being taken into custody, he stabbed one officer in the abdomen, causing a puncture wound. The officer was taken to a hospital in fair condition.
The man was taken to Trinity Hospital for observation and charges are pending, police said.
Area Two detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--South Side driver facility closed next week following positive COVID test

The Illinois Driver Services center in Rosemoor on the South Side will be closed next week after an employee tested @ @ @ @ @ The Chicago South Driver Services facility , 9901 S. King Dr. , will be closed @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State ’ s office announced .
Employees who work at the center will @ @ @ @ @ and the building will undergo a thorough disinfection .
Secretary of State Jesse White has @ @ @ @ @ expired driver ’ s license renewals back to Feb. 1 , 2021 as a way @ @ @ @ @ Services centers .
Residents who need to renew license plate stickers and get replacement driver @ @ @ @ @ cards can do so at www.cyberdriveillinois.com .

The Illinois Driver Services center in Rosemoor on the South Side will be closed next week after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Chicago South Driver Services facility, 9901 S. King Dr., will be closed until Nov. 16, the Secretary of State’s office announced. Employees who work at the center will quarantine for 14 days, and the building will undergo a thorough disinfection.
Secretary of State Jesse White has already pushed the deadline for expired driver’s license renewals back to Feb. 1, 2021 as a way to mitigate crowds at Driver Services centers.
Residents who need to renew license plate stickers and get replacement driver’s licenses and ID cards can do so at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Dolton police shooting:  video shows man shot by officers had gun, wouldn’t drop it

Police body camera video released Friday shows a 19-year-old man being shot multiple times by Dolton police after raising a gun in the direction of officers last week .
The footage , released by the village of Dolton , showed officers commanding Carterris Doty to drop the gun dozens of times .
“ Why would I drop my gun for ?
” Doty responded , seconds before being shot .
While on the ground , Doty held on to the gun even as police asked him to drop it , so officers fired at him once more .
After being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before tossing the handgun to the side .
“ What the f -- - , man .
Come on !
” an officer said after shooting him .
“ F -- - , come on man !
Just drop the f -- -- -- gun.
” Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers said the video “ exonerates ” the officers of any wrongdoing , and he commended them for their restraint in not immediately shooting Doty after he initially pulled the gun from his waistband .
The video shows the vantage point of three different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from them on Oct. 31 .
A call was made to Dolton police that day about a man wearing a red hoodie walking down a street with a gun .
When police first arrived , Doty refused to remove his hands from his pocket and dodged officers attempts to grab him .
Police repeatedly commanded he show them his hands ; instead , at one point he brandished a handgun from his waistband and pulled it out .
He held the gun down beside his legs for most of the pursuit while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand .
Officers fired a barrage of bullets at Doty but Rogers said he didn ’ t know how many .
“ You may want to say , ‘ why so many gun shots ’ but officers are trained to fire until the threat is extinguished , ” Rogers said .
“ As you can clearly see in the video the offender – even though he had been struck several times by the officer ’ s bullets – he was on the ground , he raised up and still had the gun in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat.
” Rogers also couldn ’ t give an update on the man ’ s condition or how many times he was shot .
Giavonni Nickson , spokeswoman for the village , said Doty has been charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with more charges pending .
He was taken to a hospital after the shooting , and his condition was stabilized , but Dolton police on Friday could provide no updates on his condition .
The two officers who shot Doty are on administrative leave ; the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains on duty , Rogers said .
“ These officers , I think , put themselves in jeopardy , by continuing to try not to shoot , ” Rogers said .
“ I think they took an extended amount of time to get the [ offender ] to drop his weapon.
” Rogers said the officers could ’ ve shot the man as soon as he pulled the gun from his waistband because “ at that point , it is like , who ’ s the quickest draw ?
” “ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in use , ” Rogers said .
“ In this case we feel it exonerates our officers .
They did exactly what they were supposed to do.
” Dolton Police Chief Ernest Mobley credited his officers ’ training with helping them show restraint in a difficult situation — especially this year , when fatal police shootings sparked protests across the country and around the world .
“ So many times , we know the outcome of a [ police ] shooting is a person with a cell phone mistaken for a gun or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I like to think the training we give the officers played a part in it , ” Mobley said .
“ I think with the temperature and climate across the nation also played a part in their mind because they didn ’ t want it to be a bad shoot.
” He added : “ I would say 99.9 % of law enforcement across the nation would have said they would ’ ve been taken him down at the point where they saw the weapon.
” Manny Ramos is a corps member in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago ’ s South and West sides .

Police body camera video released Friday shows a 19-year-old man being shot multiple times by Dolton police after raising a gun in the direction of officers last week.
The footage, released by the village of Dolton, showed officers commanding Carterris Doty to drop the gun dozens of times.
“Why would I drop my gun for?” Doty responded, seconds before being shot.
While on the ground, Doty held on to the gun even as police asked him to drop it, so officers fired at him once more. After being shot, the man yelled in agony before tossing the handgun to the side.
“What the f---, man. Come on!” an officer said after shooting him. “F---, come on man! Just drop the f------ gun.”
Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers said the video “exonerates” the officers of any wrongdoing, and he commended them for their restraint in not immediately shooting Doty after he initially pulled the gun from his waistband.
The video shows the vantage point of three different officers chasing after Doty as he jogged away from them on Oct. 31.
A call was made to Dolton police that day about a man wearing a red hoodie walking down a street with a gun. When police first arrived, Doty refused to remove his hands from his pocket and dodged officers attempts to grab him.
Police repeatedly commanded he show them his hands; instead, at one point he brandished a handgun from his waistband and pulled it out. He held the gun down beside his legs for most of the pursuit while holding a cell phone in his other hand.
Officers fired a barrage of bullets at Doty but Rogers said he didn’t know how many.
“You may want to say, ‘why so many gun shots’ but officers are trained to fire until the threat is extinguished,” Rogers said. “As you can clearly see in the video the offender – even though he had been struck several times by the officer’s bullets – he was on the ground, he raised up and still had the gun in his hand which also presents a continuing threat.”
Rogers also couldn’t give an update on the man’s condition or how many times he was shot.
Giavonni Nickson, spokeswoman for the village, said Doty has been charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with more charges pending. He was taken to a hospital after the shooting, and his condition was stabilized, but Dolton police on Friday could provide no updates on his condition.
The two officers who shot Doty are on administrative leave; the third officer didn’t fire and remains on duty, Rogers said.
“These officers, I think, put themselves in jeopardy, by continuing to try not to shoot,” Rogers said. “I think they took an extended amount of time to get the [offender] to drop his weapon.”
Rogers said the officers could’ve shot the man as soon as he pulled the gun from his waistband because “at that point, it is like, who’s the quickest draw?”
“It is very important that the body cams are in use,” Rogers said. “In this case we feel it exonerates our officers. They did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
Dolton Police Chief Ernest Mobley credited his officers’ training with helping them show restraint in a difficult situation — especially this year, when fatal police shootings sparked protests across the country and around the world.
“So many times, we know the outcome of a [police] shooting is a person with a cell phone mistaken for a gun or with no weapon at all. And I like to think the training we give the officers played a part in it,” Mobley said. “I think with the temperature and climate across the nation also played a part in their mind because they didn’t want it to be a bad shoot.”
He added: “I would say 99.9% of law enforcement across the nation would have said they would’ve been taken him down at the point where they saw the weapon.”
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago’s South and West sides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--With COVID-19 surging, appellate court hands Pritzker new legal victory on coronavirus restrictions

A state appellate court handed Gov .
J.B. Pritzker a new legal victory Friday , siding with him on a key question that has hovered over his COVID-19 restrictions since the early days of the pandemic .
In an opinion undoing a temporary restraining order that had freed a Kane County restaurant from Pritzker ’ s current ban on indoor dining , Illinois ’ 2nd District Appellate Court found that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act “ plainly authorizes ” the governor to issue multiple disaster proclamations — each giving him 30 days of emergency powers .
Though most judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that question , Kane County Judge Kevin Busch recently found that Pritzker could claim emergency powers for no more than 30 days .
State lawyers appealed , and that led to Friday ’ s opinion .
Though the appellate court noted its opinion “ may not be cited as precedent ” except in limited circumstances , veteran attorney Terry Ekl said in an email it ’ s clear the court “ has determined that the governor had the authority to issue his restrictions.
” “ This decision is binding on all circuit courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State lawyers have continued to defend Pritzker ’ s orders in court even as warm weather led to loosened restrictions .
The 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals is getting ready to hear further arguments in a religious challenge to Pritzker ’ s orders Thursday , for example .
It ’ s the same case in which U.S. District Judge John Lee addressed the question of Pritzker ’ s ability to extend his powers beyond 30 days back in May .
Lee wrote that Illinois law specifically mentions disasters that could extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is difficult to see why the legislature would recognize these long-running problems as disasters , yet divest the governor of the tools he needs to address them.
” Amy Coney Barrett even weighed in before she joined the U.S. Supreme Court .
The judge joined a 7th Circuit panel in September that sided with Pritzker in a case brought by the Illinois Republican Party .
Three weeks later , President Donald Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court , where she is now a justice .
Though a judge in Clay County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case has been moved to Sangamon County and is being considered by a different judge .
Now COVID-19 is on the rise again .
Pritzker has said , “ I can not stress enough the severity of our situation ” and that further restrictions could be coming “ because the rise in cases and hospitalizations is unsustainable.
” The state ’ s COVID-19 death toll has now passed 10,000 .
Pritzker recently issued bans on indoor services at bars and restaurants across the state .
But Busch , the Kane County judge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from enforcing an indoor dining ban against Fox Fire Tavern and told lawyers that “ I believe the statute is plain , simple and clear , and that the 30 days is a limitation of the governor ’ s power.
” Meanwhile , the Illinois Restaurant Association and Restaurant Law Center filed its own 24-page brief with the appellate court , insisting they “ can not overemphasize the importance of the outcome of this case to their members.
” Most Illinois restaurants are in debt and unable to pay their bills “ after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” attorney Gabriel Gillett wrote on their behalf .
But some of the earlier financial pain the pandemic could have caused was blunted by government aid and outdoor dining allowed by warm weather .
“ But now , outdoor dining is all but over and meaningful support to stay in business and pay employees is not coming from the state or federal government , ” Gillett wrote .
“ Without aid , and without the ability to continue serving customers either indoors or outdoors , restaurants will be out of options and out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written by Appellate Justice Joseph E. Birkett , the court said the “ reasonableness ” of Pritzker ’ s orders “ is not before us.
” In a concurrence , Appellate Justice Robert D. McLaren wrote that , “ in order to deem the governor ’ s orders unreasonable , there has to be a comparison of the disease ’ s impact on the restaurant industry viz a viz its impact on the general public.
” “ Simply put , ( Fox Fire ) has neither pled nor presented evidence that the cure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McLaren wrote .

A state appellate court handed Gov. J.B. Pritzker a new legal victory Friday, siding with him on a key question that has hovered over his COVID-19 restrictions since the early days of the pandemic.
In an opinion undoing a temporary restraining order that had freed a Kane County restaurant from Pritzker’s current ban on indoor dining, Illinois’ 2nd District Appellate Court found the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act “plainly authorizes” the governor to issue multiple disaster proclamations — each giving him 30 days of emergency powers.
Though most judges had already sided with the governor on that question, Kane County Judge Kevin Busch recently found that Pritzker could claim emergency powers for no more than 30 days. State lawyers appealed, and that led to Friday’s opinion. It is believed to be the first time an appellate court in the state has ruled on the issue.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker updates the media on the latest COVID-19 numbers during his daily COVID-19 update at the James R. Thompson Center on Thursday. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Though the appellate court noted its opinion “may not be cited as precedent” except in limited circumstances, veteran attorney Terry Ekl said in an email it’s clear the court “has determined that the governor had the authority to issue his restrictions.”
State lawyers have continued to defend Pritzker’s orders in court even as warm weather led to loosened restrictions. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is getting ready to hear further arguments in a religious challenge to Pritzker’s orders Thursday, for example.
It’s the same case in which U.S. District Judge John Lee addressed the question of Pritzker’s ability to extend his powers beyond 30 days back in May. Lee wrote Illinois law specifically mentions disasters that could extend beyond 30 days and added, “It is difficult to see why the legislature would recognize these long-running problems as disasters, yet divest the governor of the tools he needs to address them.”
Amy Coney Barrett even weighed in before she joined the U.S. Supreme Court. The judge joined a 7th Circuit panel in September that sided with Pritzker in a case brought by the Illinois Republican Party. Three weeks later, President Donald Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court, where she is now a justice.
Though a judge in Clay County did rule against the governor, that case has been moved to Sangamon County and is being considered by a different judge.
Now COVID-19 is on the rise again. Pritzker has said, “I cannot stress enough the severity of our situation” and that further restrictions could be coming “because the rise in cases and hospitalizations is unsustainable.” The state’s COVID-19 death toll has now passed 10,000.
Pritzker recently issued bans on indoor services at bars and restaurants across the state. But Busch, the Kane County judge, entered an order Oct. 26 stopping Pritzker from enforcing an indoor dining ban against Fox Fire Tavern and told lawyers that “I believe the statute is plain, simple and clear, and that the 30 days is a limitation of the governor’s power.”
Meanwhile, the Illinois Restaurant Association and Restaurant Law Center filed its own 24-page brief with the appellate court, insisting they “cannot overemphasize the importance of the outcome of this case to their members.”
Most Illinois restaurants are in debt and unable to pay their bills “after close to eight months of scrambling,” attorney Gabriel Gillett wrote on their behalf. But some of the earlier financial pain the pandemic could have caused was blunted by government aid and outdoor dining allowed by warm weather.
“But now, outdoor dining is all but over and meaningful support to stay in business and pay employees is not coming from the state or federal government,” Gillett wrote. “Without aid, and without the ability to continue serving customers either indoors or outdoors, restaurants will be out of options and out of business.”
In the Friday ruling written by appellate Justice Joseph E. Birkett, the court said the “reasonableness” of Pritzker’s orders “is not before us.” In a concurrence, appellate Justice Robert D. McLaren wrote, “in order to deem the governor’s orders unreasonable, there has to be a comparison of the disease’s impact on the restaurant industry viz a viz its impact on the general public.”
“Simply put, (Fox Fire) has neither pled nor presented evidence that the cure is worse than the disease,” McLaren wrote.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-06--Illinois sets dismal new record for daily COVID-19 cases (LIVE UPDATES)

For the second consecutive day , state health officials on Friday announced a new record high single-day tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases with 10,376 .
Friday ’ s announcement comes as the virus is spreading out of control in Illinois amid a second wave of infections and as Gov .
J.B. Pritzker considers putting in place further , unspecified statewide restrictions to counter the surge .
An additional 49 deaths were also reported Friday , bringing the state ’ s total to 10,079 , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
The state ’ s total case count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolating after possibly being exposed to COVID-19 , his office announced Friday .
The possible exposure stems from a Monday meeting that took place in a large conference room in the governor ’ s office , according to a statement from the governor ’ s office .
The person he met with , who does not work in the governor ’ s office , later tested positive for COVID-19 , according to spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh .
4:20 p.m. Bears C Cody Whitehair has coronavirus ; no other Bears positive tests The Bears will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after his initial positive coronavirus test was confirmed overnight .
The team had no new positive tests and discovered no close contacts for Whitehair , coach Matt Nagy said .
Whitehair tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday but the Bears sent another sample to the NFL ’ s laboratory overnight looking for confirmation .
Whitehair , who is nursing a calf injury , did not practice with the Bears on Wednesday but was in attendance , talking to teammates .
Friday , safety Tashaun Gipson said Whitehair wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was sick but didn ’ t know it , probably prevented an outbreak .
1:59 p.m. No one is immune as COVID-19 spreads across Illinois My friend ’ s voice was low , a whisper on the phone , as she called from another state .
The Chicagoan and her husband had gone to pick up her mother from a nursing home to protect her from a COVID-19 outbreak , the facility saying it was discharging all its elderly residents who tested negative .
They got her mother settled in in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , etc.
, when the call came from the nursing home that it had made a mistake .
Her mother ’ s secondary test was actually positive .
Within days , the husband fell sick , then my friend .
The mother was last to show symptoms , rushed by ambulance to the hospital as breathing became difficult .
She remains hospitalized .
12:49 p.m. What would you put into a pandemic time capsule to give next generations an idea of what this has been like ?
We asked Chicagoans : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capsule to give your future kids or grandkids an idea of what this has been like ?
Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity .
“ Toilet paper , mask and many bottles of bourbon.
” — Pete Herrnreiter “ My grungy gray sweatpants with Cheetos stains , an empty bag of Cheetos , the bill to my Netflix account , all the discarded empty boxes of disposable face masks , empty pizza boxes that were delivered , empty bottles of hand sanitizer and my work calendar lit up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castro “ A mask and unused play tickets .
I have no keepsakes from my COVID hospital stay because I was not allowed to bring anything home.
” — Zeta Street 9:33 a.m. Chicago ’ s Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be virtual affair this year Chicago will have an official Christmas tree this year for fans to enjoy , but the annual lighting ceremony will be off-limits to the public .
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on mass gatherings , the lighting ceremony will for the first time be a virtual event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ( DCASE ) .
“ Visitors ” can “ attend ” the virtual event via a 30-minute “ Millennium Park at Home : Chicago Holidays ” program starting at 6:30 p.m. Nov 19 on the DCASE YouTube channel .
Starting Nov 20 , groups of 10 persons or fewer who practice social distancing and wear masks can visit the tree , located near the intersection of Michigan and Washington , from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 7 , 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 45-foot blue spruce donated by the family of Catherine Townsend of Morgan Park .
There will be a specific entrance/exit to the park ; details can be found at MillenniumPark.org .
Read the full story here for more information .
The Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year crept past 10,000 on Thursday — a “ terrible milestone ” that Gov .
J.B. Pritzker warned could lead to further statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the surging virus .
“ Each day we are losing more and more of our neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a trend that ’ s going to turn around , ” Pritzker said .
“ It ’ s up to us — all of us — to do something to save the next family from tragedy .
Because unfortunately , it could easily be yours.
” Pritzker then led a moment of silence for those who have died of the disease .
That includes the 97 people whose deaths were announced Thursday – 31 of them in Cook County alone .
The statewide daily total is the highest since the state reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials also reported 9,935 new COVID-19 cases , dwarfing the previous single-day high of 7,899 reported Saturday and more than double the previous longstanding high of 4,015 reached during the spring peak month of May .
Reporters Mitch Dudek , Fran Spielman , and Tom Schuba have the full story .
• The Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year surpassed 10,000 on Thursday .
That includes the 97 people whose deaths were announced Thursday – 31 of them in Cook County alone .
• State health officials reported 9,935 new COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high of 7,899 reported Saturday and more than double the previous longstanding high of 4,015 reached during the spring peak month of May .
7:53 a.m .
Kids belong in school — the real thing — and Chicago can make it work Educators across the country are warning about a ‘ lost year ’ for public school education because of the coronavirus pandemic , and let ’ s consider for a minute what a disaster that would be .
A lost year , with children in Chicago and elsewhere staring at electronic screens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school work at all — instead of learning in person with their classmates and teachers .
A lost year , without the presence of counselors and social workers , who traditionally are among the first caring adults to detect and flag signs of child abuse or other trauma .
Calls to local child abuse hotlines have plummeted during the pandemic .
A lost year without the therapeutic services that children with special needs can not get online .
It doesn ’ t have to be this way , and it should not .

For the second day in a row, Illinois broke its own record of coronavirus cases reported in a single day — not exactly something to be proud of.
Here’s what else happened in coronavirus-related news.
News
8:59 p.m. Illinois sets dismal new record for daily COVID-19 cases
Workers with the CORE disaster relief organization started by actor and activist Sean Penn teach people how to collect their own nasopharyngeal swab samples to test for the coronavirus at a new drive-thru testing site at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy, 2231 N. Central Ave. on the Northwest Side, Monday morning, May 18, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
For the second consecutive day, state health officials on Friday announced a new record high single-day tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases with 10,376.
The previous record, set Thursday, was 9,935.
Friday’s announcement comes as the virus is spreading out of control in Illinois amid a second wave of infections and as Gov. J.B. Pritzker considers putting in place further, unspecified statewide restrictions to counter the surge.
An additional 49 deaths were also reported Friday, bringing the state’s total to 10,079, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state’s total case count was 465,540.
Read the full report here.
6:44 p.m. Pritzker isolating after possible COVID-19 exposure
Governor J.B. Pritzker is self-isolating after possibly being exposed to COVID-19, his office announced Friday.
The possible exposure stems from a Monday meeting that took place in a large conference room in the governor’s office, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The person he met with, who does not work in the governor’s office, later tested positive for COVID-19, according to spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh.
Reporter Sam Kelly has the full story.
4:20 p.m. Bears C Cody Whitehair has coronavirus; no other Bears positive tests
The Bears will put center Cody Whitehair on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after his initial positive coronavirus test was confirmed overnight. The team had no new positive tests and discovered no close contacts for Whitehair, coach Matt Nagy said.
Whitehair tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday but the Bears sent another sample to the NFL’s laboratory overnight looking for confirmation. Whitehair, who is nursing a calf injury, did not practice with the Bears on Wednesday but was in attendance, talking to teammates.
Friday, safety Tashaun Gipson said Whitehair wearing a mask earlier in the week, when he was sick but didn’t know it, probably prevented an outbreak.
Reporter Patrick Finley has the full story.
1:59 p.m. No one is immune as COVID-19 spreads across Illinois
My friend’s voice was low, a whisper on the phone, as she called from another state.
The Chicagoan and her husband had gone to pick up her mother from a nursing home to protect her from a COVID-19 outbreak, the facility saying it was discharging all its elderly residents who tested negative.
They got her mother settled in in her own home and were arranging in-home care, etc., when the call came from the nursing home that it had made a mistake. Her mother’s secondary test was actually positive. Within days, the husband fell sick, then my friend.
The mother was last to show symptoms, rushed by ambulance to the hospital as breathing became difficult. She remains hospitalized.
Reporter Maudlyne Ihejirika has the full story.
12:49 p.m. What would you put into a pandemic time capsule to give next generations an idea of what this has been like?
We asked Chicagoans: What would you put into your pandemic time capsule to give your future kids or grandkids an idea of what this has been like? Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
“Toilet paper, mask and many bottles of bourbon.” — Pete Herrnreiter
“My grungy gray sweatpants with Cheetos stains, an empty bag of Cheetos, the bill to my Netflix account, all the discarded empty boxes of disposable face masks, empty pizza boxes that were delivered, empty bottles of hand sanitizer and my work calendar lit up with Zoom meeting notifications.” — Tony De Castro
“A mask and unused play tickets. I have no keepsakes from my COVID hospital stay because I was not allowed to bring anything home.” — Zeta Street
9:33 a.m. Chicago’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be virtual affair this year
Chicago will have an official Christmas tree this year for fans to enjoy, but the annual lighting ceremony will be off-limits to the public.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on mass gatherings, the lighting ceremony will for the first time be a virtual event, according to plans announced Friday by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). “Visitors” can “attend” the virtual event via a 30-minute “Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Holidays” program starting at 6:30 p.m. Nov 19 on the DCASE YouTube channel.
Starting Nov 20, groups of 10 persons or fewer who practice social distancing and wear masks can visit the tree, located near the intersection of Michigan and Washington, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 7, 2021. This year’s tree is a 45-foot blue spruce donated by the family of Catherine Townsend of Morgan Park. There will be a specific entrance/exit to the park; details can be found at MillenniumPark.org.
7:43 a.m. p.m. Illinois hits ‘terrible milestone’ of 10,000 deaths
The Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year crept past 10,000 on Thursday — a “terrible milestone” that Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned could lead to further statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the surging virus.
“Each day we are losing more and more of our neighbors to this virus. That’s not a trend that’s going to turn around,” Pritzker said. “It’s up to us — all of us — to do something to save the next family from tragedy. Because unfortunately, it could easily be yours.”
Pritzker then led a moment of silence for those who have died of the disease. That includes the 97 people whose deaths were announced Thursday – 31 of them in Cook County alone.
The statewide daily total is the highest since the state reported 115 deaths on June 4.
State health officials also reported 9,935 new COVID-19 cases, dwarfing the previous single-day high of 7,899 reported Saturday and more than double the previous longstanding high of 4,015 reached during the spring peak month of May.
Reporters Mitch Dudek, Fran Spielman, and Tom Schuba have the full story.
New Cases
The Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year surpassed 10,000 on Thursday. That includes the 97 people whose deaths were announced Thursday – 31 of them in Cook County alone.
State health officials reported 9,935 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, dwarfing the previous single-day high of 7,899 reported Saturday and more than double the previous longstanding high of 4,015 reached during the spring peak month of May.
Analysis & Commentary
7:53 a.m. Kids belong in school — the real thing — and Chicago can make it work
Educators across the country are warning about a ‘lost year’ for public school education because of the coronavirus pandemic, and let’s consider for a minute what a disaster that would be.
A lost year, with children in Chicago and elsewhere staring at electronic screens for hours — if they engage in school work at all — instead of learning in person with their classmates and teachers.
A lost year, without the presence of counselors and social workers, who traditionally are among the first caring adults to detect and flag signs of child abuse or other trauma. Calls to local child abuse hotlines have plummeted during the pandemic.
A lost year without the therapeutic services that children with special needs cannot get online.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and it should not.
Read the full Sun-Times editorial here.