chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--The year in movies: Cheers to home viewing, Oscar-caliber acting and great musicals in 2020

You already know this has been the most unusual year in the 125-year history of commercial movies and you already know about the delayed releases of major blockbusters from “ No Time to Die ” to “ Black Widow ” to “ Coming 2 America ” and you already know about the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the movie business and theater chains , and we have fingers crossed and prayers sent that we ’ ll be back at the movies in full force in 2021 , as soon as it ’ s safe to do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my annual look back at the highlights and lowlights of the year in movies .
They are women , hear them roar You could have a stellar one-day film festival just with 2020 movies with “ Woman ” in the title : Lightning-rod conservative commentator Ben Shapiro caused a tweetstorm when he got his undies in a bunch over “ The Happiest Season ” ( a movie he hadn ’ t seen ) , a holiday love story featuring a lesbian couple played by Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make … a lesbian romcom , ” said Shapiro .
“ All I ’ m saying is if you ’ re a conservative with conservative sensibilities , at a certain point you might get sick that Hollywood only wants to make the kinds of movies that you despise .
Right ?
[ ‘ The Happiest Season ’ ] is all about how a conservative family learns that all of their religious values have been a bunch of crap for years.
” Pro tip : See the movie before you critique the movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make a wildly off-base assertion concerning what the movie is actually about .
Also , it should be pointed out “ Hollywood , ” led by Hallmark , Lifetime and Netflix , is releasing more than 80 — EIGHTY — new holiday films and specials this year , including some 65 with the word “ Christmas ” in the title .
The great majority of these movies and specials actually carry messages in keeping with the most important Christian values — you know , the whole “ love thy neighbor , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Never in the history of Hollywood have there been as many Christmas movies as there have been in recent years .
Why , the characters are even allowed to say “ Merry Christmas !
” It was a great year for former Oscar winners , many of whom will be adding at least another nomination to their resumes : • Meryl Streep in “ Let Them All Talk ” and “ The Prom ” • Tom Hanks in “ News of the World ” • Dianne Weist in “ Let Them All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trial of the Chicago 7 ” The streaming version of “ Hamilton ” is not eligible to compete for Academy Awards due to a 1997 rule barring films “ that are essentially unfiltered records of performances.
” Actually , that very language should mean “ Hamilton ” IS eligible for Oscar consideration .
Yes , it is a filmed record of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’ s brilliant Broadway sensation — but it ’ s not as if director Thomas Kail stuck a few cameras around the Richard Rodgers Theatre and pressed “ Record.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the “ Hamilton ” you see on Disney+ was filmed over a three-day period , with nine cameras and more than 100 microphones capturing the production .
In addition to the two full performances that were recorded , the cast performed 13 numbers with a crane , a dolly-mounted camera and a Steadicam to get close-ups .
Then began the editing process .
Regardless of the label we affix to “ Hamilton , ” it ’ s the leader of a standout lineup of 2020 musicals and music performance films , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to the instant holiday classic “ Jingle Jangle : A Christmas Journey ” to the old-fashioned and uplifting “ Dolly Parton ’ s Christmas on the Square ” to the masterful “ David Byrne ’ s American Utopia ” to Taylor Swift ’ s “ Folklore : The Long Pond Studio Sessions ” to Beyonce ’ s “ Black Is King ” to the animated “ Over the Moon ” and even the hilarious “ Eurovision Song Contest : the Story of Fire Saga.
” Granted , 2020 also gave us the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone-deaf musical update of the 1983 teen classic , but that lump of coal doesn ’ t take away from the bounty of fantastic musical presents under the tree .
Coming soon to a living room near you To the dismay of big-canvas directors Christopher Nolan and Dennis Villeneuve , WarnerMedia announced all of its 2021 films would be released simultaneously in theaters and on its streaming service , HBO Max .
In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter , Nolan said , “ Some of our industry ’ s biggest filmmakers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.
” Even before the pandemic , the gap between theatrical release and VOD was rapidly closing , and of course this year brought about the straight-to-video releases of films that normally would have opened on thousands of screens , e.g.
, “ Mulan ” and “ Wonder Woman 84.
” All great respect to the filmmakers , I don ’ t believe releasing films in theaters and on video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even after it ’ s safe once again to see films in theaters , there ’ s a substantial audience of a certain age ( and financial comfort ) who love movies but almost never go to theaters and wait for the home video release .
Those folks will pay a premium to see “ event ” movies from home on the same day we hope millions of others will flock to their local cineplexes .
Some of the first TV shows and movies shot after the outbreak of the pandemic were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s smart and funny “ Connecting , ” the impactful Netflix dramatic series “ Social Distance , ” the bombastic action thriller “ Songbird ” and the HBO movie “ Coastal Elites , ” which came across as , well , a bit elitist .
Tom Cruise ’ s profanity-laced rant about crew members not following COVID protocols on the set of the latest “ Mission : Impossible ” movie went viral , with many praising Cruise for rightfully calling out the reckless behavior .
As much as I agree with Cruise ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ methodology .
When you ’ re the undisputed Alpha King on the set of a movie that will gross you tens of millions of dollars , dressing down the working crew like a 1960s football coach is unnecessarily demeaning and will make for some tense days on the set .
Why not address the troops in a firm but calm manner ?
The message can be the same — anyone who violates safe practices will be fired — but would probably have been even more effective if Cruise hadn ’ t been so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mini-renaissance of drive-in theaters , some promoters floated the idea ( so to speak ) of “ dive-in theaters , ” with the movie screen dockside and moviegoers in the water or in boats .
The Alamo Drafthouse , the theater chain that has held such screenings in previous years , planned summer screenings of all four “ Jaws ” movies in Lake Travis in Texas — but the event was canceled due to COVID concerns .
Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn would have been so disappointed .

You already know this has been the most unusual year in the 125-year history of commercial movies and you already know about the delayed releases of major blockbusters from “No Time to Die” to “Black Widow” to “Coming 2 America” and you already know about the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the movie business and theater chains, and we have fingers crossed and prayers sent that we’ll be back at the movies in full force in 2021, as soon as it’s safe to do so.
In the meantime, here’s my annual look back at the highlights and lowlights of the year in movies.
In numbers too big to ignore, movies including “I Am Woman” (a Helen Reddy biopic starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey) shared a word in their titles. Quiver Distribution
They are women, hear them roar
You could have a stellar one-day film festival just with 2020 movies with “Woman” in the title:
“I Am Woman”
“A Regular Woman”
“I’m Your Woman”
“Wonder Woman 1984”
“Pieces of a Woman”
“Promising Young Woman”
The love of two women played by Kristen Stewart (left) and Mackenzie Davis in “The Happiest Season” made some viewers (and faraway onlookers) unhappy. Hulu
Christmas wins the War on Christmas
Lightning-rod conservative commentator Ben Shapiro caused a tweetstorm when he got his undies in a bunch over “The Happiest Season” (a movie he hadn’t seen), a holiday love story featuring a lesbian couple played by Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.
“I’m not saying it’s terrible to make … a lesbian romcom,” said Shapiro. “All I’m saying is if you’re a conservative with conservative sensibilities, at a certain point you might get sick that Hollywood only wants to make the kinds of movies that you despise. Right? [‘The Happiest Season’] is all about how a conservative family learns that all of their religious values have been a bunch of crap for years.”
Pro tip: See the movie before you critique the movie. That way, you won’t make a wildly off-base assertion concerning what the movie is actually about.
Also, it should be pointed out “Hollywood,” led by Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix, is releasing more than 80 — EIGHTY — new holiday films and specials this year, including some 65 with the word “Christmas” in the title. The great majority of these movies and specials actually carry messages in keeping with the most important Christian values — you know, the whole “love thy neighbor,” Golden Rule school of faith and thought.
Never in the history of Hollywood have there been as many Christmas movies as there have been in recent years. Why, the characters are even allowed to say “Merry Christmas!”
The gold standard
It was a great year for former Oscar winners, many of whom will be adding at least another nomination to their resumes:
Anthony Hopkins in “The Father”
Meryl Streep in “Let Them All Talk” and “The Prom”
Frances McDormand in “Nomadland”
George Clooney in “The Midnight Sky”
Tom Hanks in “News of the World”
Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Sophia Loren in “The Life Ahead”
Gary Oldman in “Mank”
Ellen Burstyn in “Pieces of a Woman”
Nicole Kidman in “The Prom”
Olivia Colman in “The Father”
Marisa Tomei in “The King of Staten Island”
Dianne Wiest in “Let Them All Talk”
Mark Rylance in “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
“Hamilton,” with Lin-Manuel Miranda (left) and Leslie Odom Jr., was the best of this year’s many musicals. Disney+
Singin’ on the screen
The streaming version of “Hamilton” is not eligible to compete for Academy Awards due to a 1997 rule barring films “that are essentially unfiltered records of performances.” Actually, that very language should mean “Hamilton” IS eligible for Oscar consideration. Yes, it is a filmed record of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s brilliant Broadway sensation — but it’s not as if director Thomas Kail stuck a few cameras around the Richard Rodgers Theatre and pressed “Record.” As the New York Times reported, the “Hamilton” you see on Disney+ was filmed over a three-day period, with nine cameras and more than 100 microphones capturing the production. In addition to the two full performances that were recorded, the cast performed 13 numbers with a crane, a dolly-mounted camera and a Steadicam to get close-ups. Then began the editing process.
That’s a movie.
Regardless of the label we affix to “Hamilton,” it’s the leader of a standout lineup of 2020 musicals and music performance films, from the colorful and rousing “The Prom” to the instant holiday classic “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” to the old-fashioned and uplifting “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square” to the masterful “David Byrne’s American Utopia” to Taylor Swift’s “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions” to Beyonce’s “Black Is King” to the animated “Over the Moon” and even the hilarious “Eurovision Song Contest: the Story of Fire Saga.” Granted, 2020 also gave us the execrable “Valley Girl,” a tone-deaf musical update of the 1983 teen classic, but that lump of coal doesn’t take away from the bounty of fantastic musical presents under the tree.
“Wonder Woman 1984,” with Gal Gadot (left), and “Mulan,” with Yifei Liu, were made for theaters but moved to streaming services. Warner Bros.; Disney
Coming soon to a living room near you
To the dismay of big-canvas directors Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, WarnerMedia announced all of its 2021 films would be released simultaneously in theaters and on its streaming service, HBO Max. In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Nolan said, “Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed … thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.”
Even before the pandemic, the gap between theatrical release and VOD was rapidly closing, and of course this year brought about the straight-to-video releases of films that normally would have opened on thousands of screens, e.g., “Mulan” and “Wonder Woman 84.”
All great respect to the filmmakers, I don’t believe releasing films in theaters and on video simultaneously is a sure recipe for disaster. Even after it’s safe once again to see films in theaters, there’s a substantial audience of a certain age (and financial comfort) who love movies but almost never go to theaters and wait for the home video release. Those folks will pay a premium to see “event” movies from home on the same day we hope millions of others will flock to their local cineplexes.
Seven friends played by Otmara Marrero (clockwise from top left), Ely Henry, Preacher Lawson, Shakina Nayfack, Keith Powell, Jill Knox and Parvesh Cheena stay in touch on group chat on “Connecting.” NBC
COVID material
Some of the first TV shows and movies shot after the outbreak of the pandemic were ABOUT the pandemic, including NBC’s smart and funny “Connecting,” the impactful Netflix dramatic series “Social Distance,” the bombastic action thriller “Songbird” and the HBO movie “Coastal Elites,” which came across as, well, a bit elitist.
Tom Cruise (pictured in “Mission: Impossible — Fallout) demanded compliance with COVID protocols on the set of the next “Mission” movie. Paramount Pictures
Are we clear? Crystal
Tom Cruise’s profanity-laced rant about crew members not following COVID protocols on the set of the latest “Mission: Impossible” movie went viral, with many praising Cruise for rightfully calling out the reckless behavior. As much as I agree with Cruise’s messaging, I disagree with his methodology. When you’re the undisputed Alpha King on the set of a movie that will gross you tens of millions of dollars, dressing down the working crew like a 1960s football coach is unnecessarily demeaning and will make for some tense days on the set. Why not address the troops in a firm but calm manner? The message can be the same — anyone who violates safe practices will be fired — but would probably have been even more effective if Cruise hadn’t been so strident and abrasive.
We’re gonna need a bigger boat — eventually
In addition to a mini-renaissance of drive-in theaters, some promoters floated the idea (so to speak) of “dive-in theaters,” with the movie screen dockside and moviegoers in the water or in boats. The Alamo Drafthouse, the theater chain that has held such screenings in previous years, planned summer screenings of all four “Jaws” movies in Lake Travis in Texas — but the event was canceled due to COVID concerns.
Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn would have been so disappointed.
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chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--FDIC settles for $2.5M with accountants for Bridgeport bank closed for fraud after CEO’s death

In the summer of 2017 , a Chicago accounting firm with political connections gave Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Bridgeport a clean bill of health in the yearly audit required by federal bank regulators .
Five months later , the bank ’ s CEO was found hanged in the master bedroom of a Washington Federal customer ’ s Park Ridge home , and federal regulators had shut down the clout-heavy , family-owned bank for what they later described as massive fraud .
They ultimately found more than $ 82 million in suspicious loans — some made without collateral or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal ’ s biggest clients , attorney Robert Kowalski , and four former top bank employees have since been charged with fraud .
Now , the accounting firm Bansley & Kiener has agreed to pay a $ 2.5 million settlement to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. , the government agency that took over the bank after regulators closed it on Dec. 15 , 2017 , 12 days after bank CEO John Gembara was found dead in what was ruled a suicide .
The FDIC “ has asserted claims ” against the accounting firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims ” but agreed to settle , according to the settlement signed Aug. 28 , which says the agreement “ is not an admission or evidence of liability or infirmity.
” It was signed by Bansley & Kiener partner Robert Hannigan , who couldn ’ t be reached for comment , and the FDIC .
Bansley & Kiener initially refused to comply with a government subpoena for its records on Washington Federal .
A federal judge ordered the accountants to produce the subpoenaed records .
The FDIC — which still could seek restitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gotten a $ 3 million settlement from the insurance company representing the bank ’ s board of directors and $ 1.25 million from the insurer for the bank .
The accounting firm , formerly based in Bridgeport , has long ties to the neighborhood ’ s version of royalty — the family of former Mayors Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley .
Bansley & Kiener has done auditing work for the Daley family ’ s political funds , handling the finances for the 11th Ward Regular Democratic Organization , and has contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made millions of dollars from City Hall deals , primarily from auditing tax-increment financing districts .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office in Chicago continues to investigate the failure of the bank , which also had ties to the 11th Ward Regular Democratic Organization .
A few months before the bank closed , Gembara gave an $ 80,000 loan to the party organization — which the Daley family has run for decades — for repairs to its headquarters at 3659 S. Halsted St. That loan , arranged by Ald .
Patrick Daley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Mayor Daley and nephew of the second — wasn ’ t secured by any collateral at the time regulators shut down Washington Federal .
The loan has since been rewritten by Royal Savings Bank , which the government brought in to take over deposits and some loans from the failed bank ’ s portfolio .
When Washington Federal was shut down , its board included William M. Mahon , a deputy commissioner for the city of Chicago ’ s Department of Streets and Sanitation who once was suspended for 45 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daley administration could hire politically connected job applicants .
Mahon ’ s brother-in-law Michael Huels is an accountant who once audited the bank when he worked for Bansley & Kiener .
Huels is a first cousin of Patrick Huels , the former 11th Ward alderman who resigned in 1997 after the Chicago Sun-Times revealed he ’ d gotten a $ 1.25 million loan from a city contractor .
Mahon was on the bank ’ s board since 2001 , according to records he filed with City Hall .
Since 1993 , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.3 million from Gembara ’ s bank — including three unpaid mortgages totaling more than $ 1 million on a three-flat he built in Bridgeport , according to records filed with the Cook County recorder of deeds .
Mahon , who is part of the 11th Ward organization , has been questioned by federal banking regulators , his attorney has said .
Mahon was involved in approving the bank ’ s loans .
Washington Federal was founded in 1913 by Gembara ’ s grandfather to serve his fellow Polish immigrants .
It focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial loans .
Its main office was in Bridgeport , at 2869 S. Archer Ave. , with a branch at 1410 W. Taylor St. in Little Italy .
Gembara , who also was the bank ’ s majority owner , was found dead Dec. 3 , 2017 , inside the million-dollar home of a contractor , Marek Matczuk , a friend and bank customer who had five outstanding loans from Washington Federal totaling about $ 1.8 million .
U.S. Bank , which holds the first mortgage , has been trying to foreclose on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years .

In the summer of 2017, a Chicago accounting firm with political connections gave Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Bridgeport a clean bill of health in the yearly audit required by federal bank regulators.
Five months later, the bank’s CEO was found hanged in the master bedroom of a Washington Federal customer’s Park Ridge home, and federal regulators had shut down the clout-heavy, family-owned bank for what they later described as massive fraud.
They ultimately found more than $82 million in suspicious loans — some made without collateral or even any paperwork.
One of Washington Federal’s biggest clients, attorney Robert Kowalski, and four former top bank employees have since been charged with fraud.
Now, the accounting firm Bansley & Kiener has agreed to pay a $2.5 million settlement to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the government agency that took over the bank after regulators closed it on Dec. 15, 2017, 12 days after bank CEO John Gembara was found dead in what was ruled a suicide.
The FDIC “has asserted claims” against the accounting firm, which “denies liability for the claims” but agreed to settle, according to the settlement signed Aug. 28, which says the agreement “is not an admission or evidence of liability or infirmity.”
It was signed by Bansley & Kiener partner Robert Hannigan, who couldn’t be reached for comment, and the FDIC.
Bansley & Kiener initially refused to comply with a government subpoena for its records on Washington Federal. A federal judge ordered the accountants to produce the subpoenaed records.
The FDIC — which still could seek restitution from Bansley & Kiener — earlier had gotten a $3 million settlement from the insurance company representing the bank’s board of directors and $1.25 million from the insurer for the bank.
The accounting firm, formerly based in Bridgeport, has long ties to the neighborhood’s version of royalty — the family of former Mayors Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley.
Bansley & Kiener has done auditing work for the Daley family’s political funds, handling the finances for the 11th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, and has contributed to Daley-controlled campaigns. The firm also has made millions of dollars from City Hall deals, primarily from auditing tax-increment financing districts.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago continues to investigate the failure of the bank, which also had ties to the 11th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
A few months before the bank closed, Gembara gave an $80,000 loan to the party organization — which the Daley family has run for decades — for repairs to its headquarters at 3659 S. Halsted St. That loan, arranged by Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th) — grandson of the first Mayor Daley and nephew of the second — wasn’t secured by any collateral at the time regulators shut down Washington Federal.
Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th). Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times file
The loan has since been rewritten by Royal Savings Bank, which the government brought in to take over deposits and some loans from the failed bank’s portfolio.
When Washington Federal was shut down, its board included William M. Mahon, a deputy commissioner for the city of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation who once was suspended for 45 days for helping to rig test scores so the Daley administration could hire politically connected job applicants.
Mahon’s brother-in-law Michael Huels is an accountant who once audited the bank when he worked for Bansley & Kiener. Huels is a first cousin of Patrick Huels, the former 11th Ward alderman who resigned in 1997 after the Chicago Sun-Times revealed he’d gotten a $1.25 million loan from a city contractor.
Mahon was on the bank’s board since 2001, according to records he filed with City Hall. Since 1993, he got 24 loans totaling more than $4.3 million from Gembara’s bank — including three unpaid mortgages totaling more than $1 million on a three-flat he built in Bridgeport, according to records filed with the Cook County recorder of deeds.
Mahon, who is part of the 11th Ward organization, has been questioned by federal banking regulators, his attorney has said. Mahon was involved in approving the bank’s loans.
Washington Federal was founded in 1913 by Gembara’s grandfather to serve his fellow Polish immigrants. It focused on residential mortgages, with a few commercial loans. Its main office was in Bridgeport, at 2869 S. Archer Ave., with a branch at 1410 W. Taylor St. in Little Italy.
Gembara, who also was the bank’s majority owner, was found dead Dec. 3, 2017, inside the million-dollar home of a contractor, Marek Matczuk, a friend and bank customer who had five outstanding loans from Washington Federal totaling about $1.8 million. U.S. Bank, which holds the first mortgage, has been trying to foreclose on Matczuk’s house for the past two years.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Official White House Christmas ornaments a popular tradition for the politics- and history-minded

Official White House Christmas ornaments a popular tradition for the politics- and history-minded Share All sharing options for : Official White House Christmas ornaments a popular tradition for the politics- and history-minded Nearly 1 million Americans will hang a miniature portrait of a somber and contemplative President John F. Kennedy on their Christmas tree this year .
The replica of the posthumous official portrait of the slain president serves as the official 2020 White House Christmas ornament .
I ’ ve already hung mine .
And I ’ d say the Kennedy ornament , more than any of its predecessors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a fond holiday tradition for my family and many others .
The official White House Christmas ornament began in 1981 as a fundraising vehicle for the White House Historical Association .
Every year since , the association has issued a new ornament commemorating a president ’ s time in office or marking a significant milestone in White House history .
The ornaments have become so popular over those four decades that the most popular ones bring in sales of 800,000 to 900,000 in a good year , said Stewart McLaurin , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They go sequentially , which means we ’ ll see an ornament for Barack Obama in 2029 and Donald Trump in 2030 , unless the association chooses to mark some other anniversary in between .
Through the years , the ornaments have grown increasingly sophisticated in terms of artistry , design and materials .
The first one depicted a simple copper weather vane of an angel in flight .
The George Washington ornament , which didn ’ t come until the second year , was a similarly plain , one-dimensional dove of peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vane at Mount Vernon , McLaurin said .
Last year ’ s ornament was a replica of a Sikorsky military helicopter .
This was in recognition of Dwight Eisenhower , the first White House occupant to make that a common mode of presidential travel .
Some ornaments invoke patriotic imagery .
Others are more whimsical .
Many are beautiful .
All of them draw on presidential history .
As the ornaments move into what I would consider the modern era , meaning presidents most people actually remember , it gets trickier for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to have much of a personal reaction to an ornament for Millard Fillmore .
But it can be a little awkward to display for Christmas the likeness of a president you once saw assassinated or to honor some other president you couldn ’ t stand .
Most of the ornaments don ’ t use the likeness of the president at all — with the exception of the Abraham Lincoln ornament , based on his official White House portrait .
The folks who design the ornaments have exhibited a particular interest over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition to the helicopter , there was a horse-drawn carriage in 2001 to honor Andrew Johnson , who was said to relax by taking an afternoon ride around the Capitol with his children and grandchildren , who all lived with him in the White House .
This was followed by a sleigh-ride ornament in 2004 for Rutherford B. Hayes , described as a real jingle-bells kind of guy .
There ’ s an automobile for William Howard Taft ’ s 2012 ornament .
The 355-pound Taft is said to have introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1909 , probably much to the relief of his horse .
Herbert Hoover ’ s ornament is a fire truck carrying a Christmas tree , oddly enough commemorating Christmas Eve 1929 , when the White House almost burned down while the Hoovers were throwing a party .
It was the worst fire damage inflicted on the White House since the British torched the place during the War of 1812 .
Still , Hoover might have appreciated the irony of the ornament .
A year after the fire , he distributed toy fire trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harding ’ s ornament is a replica of a steam locomotive that took him out West in 1923 for his “ Voyage of Understanding ” speaking and sightseeing tour .
It then brought back Harding ’ s casket to Washington after he fell ill during the trip and died in a San Francisco hotel .
Each ornament comes with a small pamphlet that explains it and provides a thumbnail biography of the president and tidbits about his time in the White House .
The notes on Ulysses S. Grant ’ s ornament mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania Avenue in his horse-drawn sulky .
The historical association says he paid the $ 20 fine on the spot and complimented the police officer , though I keep thinking $ 20 was a lot of money in those days .
Grover Cleveland gets two ornaments as the only president elected to two non-consecutive terms , the feat we ’ re told Trump hopes to duplicate .
Cleveland also was the first president to get married in the White House — with the wedding of the 49-year-old chief executive and the 21-year-old daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2007 ornament .
The law partner had died in a carriage accident when the daughter was 12 , making Cleveland her ward .
The stuff you learn from Christmas ornaments !
Cleveland ’ s second ornament in 2009 depicts the first Christmas tree in the White House lluminated by electric lights .
Which should not be confused with Calvin Coolidge ’ s 2015 ornament of the National Christmas Tree .
It comes with an LED bulb that actually lights up ( when it works ) .
McLaurin said ornaments that have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas tree tend to be the best-sellers .
A good buddy of mine from Washington began giving us White House ornaments in 1988 , and we always look forward to receiving the new one .
McLaurin said he learned the hard way something I already knew from my friend : “ Once you start giving them as a gift , you can ’ t stop.
” That ’ s because the recipients come to expect it and are disappointed if the new one doesn ’ t arrive each year .
Politics and Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of church and state and all that — but the historical association tries to keep everything nonpartisan and noncontroversial .
“ Our job is the same whoever is in the White House , ” McLaurin said .
“ We don ’ t involve the White House in the decision-making process.
” Lyndon Johnson ’ s ornament will debut in February on Presidents Day .
No hints from McLaurin about the theme .
We all have our own Christmas traditions .
I just wanted to share one of mine .

Nearly 1 million Americans will hang a miniature portrait of a somber and contemplative President John F. Kennedy on their Christmas tree this year.
The replica of the posthumous official portrait of the slain president serves as the official 2020 White House Christmas ornament.
I’ve already hung mine. And I’d say the Kennedy ornament, more than any of its predecessors, highlights the peculiarities of what has become a fond holiday tradition for my family and many others.
The official White House Christmas ornament began in 1981 as a fundraising vehicle for the White House Historical Association.
Every year since, the association has issued a new ornament commemorating a president’s time in office or marking a significant milestone in White House history.
The ornaments have become so popular over those four decades that the most popular ones bring in sales of 800,000 to 900,000 in a good year, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association.
They go sequentially, which means we’ll see an ornament for Barack Obama in 2029 and Donald Trump in 2030, unless the association chooses to mark some other anniversary in between.
Through the years, the ornaments have grown increasingly sophisticated in terms of artistry, design and materials.
The first one depicted a simple copper weather vane of an angel in flight.
The White House Christmas ornament honoring George Washington shows the dove of peace weathervane he commissioned for his home at Mount Vernon. White House Historical Association
The George Washington ornament, which didn’t come until the second year, was a similarly plain, one-dimensional dove of peace, this time modeled after a weather vane at Mount Vernon, McLaurin said.
Last year’s ornament was a replica of a Sikorsky military helicopter. This was in recognition of Dwight Eisenhower, the first White House occupant to make that a common mode of presidential travel.
The 2019 White House Christmas ornament for Dwight D. Eisenhower reflects that he was the first president to regularly use a helicopter. He had two, one staffed by the Army, the other by Marine Corps. White House Historical Association
Some ornaments invoke patriotic imagery. Others are more whimsical. Many are beautiful. All of them draw on presidential history.
As the ornaments move into what I would consider the modern era, meaning presidents most people actually remember, it gets trickier for the historical association.
After all, nobody is going to have much of a personal reaction to an ornament for Millard Fillmore. But it can be a little awkward to display for Christmas the likeness of a president you once saw assassinated or to honor some other president you couldn’t stand.
The official White House Christmas ornament for Abraham Lincoln. White House Historical Association
Most of the ornaments don’t use the likeness of the president at all — with the exception of the Abraham Lincoln ornament, based on his official White House portrait.
The folks who design the ornaments have exhibited a particular interest over the years in presidential forms of transportation. In addition to the helicopter, there was a horse-drawn carriage in 2001 to honor Andrew Johnson, who was said to relax by taking an afternoon ride around the Capitol with his children and grandchildren, who all lived with him in the White House.
The official White House Christmas ornament for Rutherford Hayes. White House Historical Association
This was followed by a sleigh-ride ornament in 2004 for Rutherford B. Hayes, described as a real jingle-bells kind of guy.
There’s an automobile for William Howard Taft’s 2012 ornament. The 355-pound Taft is said to have introduced auto travel to the White House in 1909, probably much to the relief of his horse.
The official White House Christmas ornament honoring William Howard Taft recognizes him as the first president to regularly use an automobile. White House Historical Association
Herbert Hoover’s ornament is a fire truck carrying a Christmas tree, oddly enough commemorating Christmas Eve 1929, when the White House almost burned down while the Hoovers were throwing a party.
It was the worst fire damage inflicted on the White House since the British torched the place during the War of 1812.
Herbert Hoover’s official White House Christmas ornament gives a nod to a Christmas Eve fire at the White House during his administration. Mark Brown / Sun-Times
Still, Hoover might have appreciated the irony of the ornament. A year after the fire, he distributed toy fire trucks to children for Christmas.
Warren G. Harding’s ornament is a replica of a steam locomotive that took him out West in 1923 for his “Voyage of Understanding” speaking and sightseeing tour. It then brought back Harding’s casket to Washington after he fell ill during the trip and died in a San Francisco hotel.
Each ornament comes with a small pamphlet that explains it and provides a thumbnail biography of the president and tidbits about his time in the White House.
The 2003 White House Christmas ornament honoring President Ulysses S. Grant was Inspired by a Victorian illustration of a child’s joy at Christmas, featuring toys available at Washington’s fancy stores during his time in office. White House Historical Association
The notes on Ulysses S. Grant’s ornament mention he once was cited for speeding down Pennsylvania Avenue in his horse-drawn sulky. The historical association says he paid the $20 fine on the spot and complimented the police officer, though I keep thinking $20 was a lot of money in those days.
Grover Cleveland gets two ornaments as the only president elected to two non-consecutive terms, the feat we’re told Trump hopes to duplicate.
Cleveland also was the first president to get married in the White House — with the wedding of the 49-year-old chief executive and the 21-year-old daughter of his late law partner commemorated by the 2007 ornament. The law partner had died in a carriage accident when the daughter was 12, leaving Cleveland as her unofficial guardian.
The stuff you learn from Christmas ornaments!
President Grover Cleveland was the first president to get married in the White House. His wedding is depicted in his White House Christmas ornament. Mark Brown / Sun-Times
Cleveland’s second ornament in 2009 depicts the first Christmas tree in the White House lluminated by electric lights. Which should not be confused with Calvin Coolidge’s 2015 ornament of the National Christmas Tree. It comes with an LED bulb that actually lights up (when it works).
McLaurin said ornaments that have an image of the White House or a Christmas tree tend to be the best-sellers.
A good buddy of mine from Washington began giving us White House ornaments in 1988, and we always look forward to receiving the new one.
McLaurin said he learned the hard way something I already knew from my friend: “Once you start giving them as a gift, you can’t stop.”
That’s because the recipients come to expect it and are disappointed if the new one doesn’t arrive each year.
Politics and Christmas can be an awkward mix — separation of church and state and all that — but the historical association tries to keep everything nonpartisan and noncontroversial.
“Our job is the same whoever is in the White House,” McLaurin said. “We don’t involve the White House in the decision-making process.”
Lyndon Johnson’s ornament will debut in February on Presidents Day. No hints from McLaurin about the theme.
We all have our own Christmas traditions. I just wanted to share one of mine.
The 1991 White House Christmas ornament honored William Henry Harrison, who died just 32 days after his inauguration as president. On March 4, 1841, inauguration day, Harrison mounted a white charger and went to the Capitol with a large procession to take the oath of office. White House Historical Association
The 2011 White House Christmas ornament honored Theodore Roosevelt, depicting the excitement that he, his wife Edith and their young family brought to the White House. It was based on a 1901 political cartoon by W.A. Rogers illustrating the anticipation for the Roosevelts’ first White House Christmas. White House Historical Association


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Murders up, but Chicago police have cleared the most killings with arrests since 2005

Though the number of killings in Chicago is sharply up , police officials say they ’ ve cleared more murder cases this year by making arrests than in any year since 2005 .
They say two key factors have been teaming homicide detectives with gang officers and the use of evidence from surveillance cameras and cell phones .
The fatal shooting of a transgender women in June was one of the cases in which video helped solve a murder case .
Orlando Perez , 18 , confessed to killing 37-year-old Selena Reyes-Hernandez after going home with her and learning she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surveillance video showed him leaving her Chicago Lawn home , returning in half an hour with his face covered , taking out a gun , hopping a gate and then leaving minutes later , authorities said .
It was one of the 329 murder cases the police department have closed this year as of Monday — 195 with at least one arrest .
The arrests involved killings that occurred in 2020 and also in previous years .
For all of 2019 , the police cleared 265 murder cases — 113 of them by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptionally , ” meaning the suspect was dead or the police decided there were other barriers to prosecute the case , such as uncooperative witnesses .
Through Monday , the department has cleared 134 murders exceptionally this year compared with 152 for all of 2019 .
Despite the rise in murder arrests , the department ’ s clearance rate is worse than in 2019 because the number of killings has soared , with 739 through Monday , compared with 495 for all of last year .
To determine the clearance rate , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of killings in the current year .
The rate through Monday was 44 % compared with 50 % for the same period last year , 41 % in 2018 , 34 % in 2017 and 29 % in 2016 .
“ I would say that this year has been a remarkable success for the detectives , ” said Brendan Deenihan , chief of detectives since February .
He said he has followed the recommendations of the Police Executive Research Forum , a Washington think tank that in a report last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau to boost the number of murder arrests .
The think tank said the department should create a designated homicide unit , increase the number of detective headquarters around the city from three to five , have sergeants and lieutenants whose only role is to supervise murder cases and have detectives take the lead on no more than six new murder cases a year .
“ Most of what we are doing is a result of that PERF report , ” Deenihan said .
He said the installation of “ Area Technology Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosted the department ’ s ability to use social media , video surveillance and cellphone data to solve killings .
He said the centers rely on open-source social media unless a detective obtains a search warrant to get into a protected account .
Deenihan said it ’ s gotten “ harder and more complicated ” to be a homicide detective than when he joined the department 24 years ago .
“ I like to call them information managers now , ” he said of detectives , “ because they have to manage so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many different levels in order to solve a case.
” Deenihan blames the steep rise in killings in Chicago and other cities mainly on the coronavirus pandemic .
The civil unrest following George Floyd ’ s death after a Minneapolis police officer held him down by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes in late May “ emboldened criminal acts that have led to these remarkable spikes in homicides , ” Deenihan said .
David Olson , a criminologist at Loyola University Chicago , said the pandemic changed the mix of murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the domestic violence killings , which have risen this year , are easier to solve because the suspect is usually known .
There were more than 50 domestic killings this year through Dec. 7 — up 60 % over last year — and police made arrests in 34 of those , or 68 % .
But most of the hundreds of other killings in Chicago this year were on the streets , sparked by gang rivalries , protection of drug markets and personal conflicts .
Those have been even more difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with suspects concealing their identities with masks and fewer people outdoors as possible witnesses .
Witnesses to those crimes typically are members of the victim ’ s own gang and typically don ’ t cooperate with investigators , Deenihan said .
In a video the police department released this past week , Supt .
David Brown said he wants homicide detectives to meet with people at sporting events and other community activities , which he said might help them build trust and ultimately solve more murders .
Detectives also need to demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
In the four years Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx has been in office , prosecutors have rejected murder charges that the Chicago Police Department was seeking in , on average , nearly a quarter of the cases the police presented to them .
By comparison , during the last four years of Foxx ’ s predecessor Anita Alvarez ’ s tenure as state ’ s attorney , an average of 17 % of Chicago murder cases were rejected for prosecution .
“ State ’ s Attorney Foxx ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s second-largest prosecutor ’ s office is a contrast to how previous administrations operated , ” Foxx spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic said in a written statement .
“ Unlike her predecessors , State ’ s Attorney Foxx does not believe in kicking the can of responsibility to judges and juries to decide someone ’ s fate when the evidence is just not there — because this is not fair to those whose futures are on the line , ” she said .
After a murder case is rejected , the police can present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to prosecutors reversing themselves and approving charges , Sinovic said .

Though the number of killings in Chicago is sharply up, police officials say they’ve cleared more murder cases this year by making arrests than in any year since 2005.
They say two key factors have been teaming homicide detectives with gang officers and the use of evidence from surveillance cameras and cell phones.
The fatal shooting of a transgender woman in June was one of the cases in which video helped solve a murder case.
Police say surveillance cameras captured images of Orlando Perez walking on Selena Reyes-Hernandez’s block the day of her killing. Chicago Police Department
Orlando Perez, 18, confessed to killing 37-year-old Selena Reyes-Hernandez after going home with her and learning she was transgender, according to prosecutors.
Surveillance video showed him leaving her Chicago Lawn home, returning in half an hour with his face covered, taking out a gun, hopping a gate and then leaving minutes later, authorities said.
Selena Reyes-Hernandez. Facebook
It was one of the 329 murder cases the police department has closed this year as of Monday — 195 with at least one arrest. The arrests involved killings that occurred in 2020 and also in previous years.
For all of 2019, the police cleared 265 murder cases — 113 of them by arrest.
The rest were cleared “exceptionally,” meaning the suspect was dead or the police decided there were other barriers to prosecute the case, such as uncooperative witnesses. Through Monday, the department has cleared 134 murders exceptionally this year compared with 152 for all of 2019.
Despite the rise in murder arrests, the department’s clearance rate is worse than in 2019 because the number of killings has soared, with 739 through Monday, compared with 495 for all of last year.
To determine the clearance rate, the number of cases cleared is divided by the number of killings in the current year.
The rate through Monday was 44% compared with 50% for the same period last year, 41% in 2018, 34% in 2017 and 29% in 2016.
“I would say that this year has been a remarkable success for the detectives,” said Brendan Deenihan, chief of detectives since February.
He said he has followed the recommendations of the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington think tank that in a report last year called for an overhaul of the detective bureau to boost the number of murder arrests.
The think tank said the department should create a designated homicide unit, increase the number of detective headquarters around the city from three to five, have sergeants and lieutenants whose only role is to supervise murder cases and have detectives take the lead on no more than six new murder cases a year.
“Most of what we are doing is a result of that PERF report,” Deenihan said.
Sgt. Patrick Kinney showing the Area Technology Center’s video processing capabilities at Area South Headquarters in April 2019. Chicago Police Department
He said the installation of “Area Technology Centers” in the five detective headquarters has boosted the department’s ability to use social media, video surveillance and cellphone data to solve killings. He said the centers rely on open-source social media unless a detective obtains a search warrant to get into a protected account.
Deenihan said it’s gotten “harder and more complicated” to be a homicide detective than when he joined the department 24 years ago.
“I like to call them information managers now,” he said of detectives, “because they have to manage so much information coming at them on so many different levels in order to solve a case.”
Deenihan blames the steep rise in killings in Chicago and other cities mainly on the coronavirus pandemic. The civil unrest following George Floyd’s death after a Minneapolis police officer held him down by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes in late May “emboldened criminal acts that have led to these remarkable spikes in homicides,” Deenihan said.
David Olson, a criminologist at Loyola University Chicago, said the pandemic changed the mix of murder cases detectives have to investigate. He said the domestic violence killings, which have risen this year, are easier to solve because the suspect is usually known. There were more than 50 domestic killings this year through Dec. 7 — up 60% over last year — and police made arrests in 34 of those, or 68%.
Criminology professor David Olson. Loyola University Chicago
But most of the hundreds of other killings in Chicago this year were on the streets, sparked by gang rivalries, protection of drug markets and personal conflicts. Those have been even more difficult to solve during the pandemic, Olson said, with suspects concealing their identities with masks and fewer people outdoors as possible witnesses.
Witnesses to those crimes typically are members of the victim’s own gang and typically don’t cooperate with investigators, Deenihan said.
In a video the police department released this past week, Supt. David Brown said he wants homicide detectives to meet with people at sporting events and other community activities, which he said might help them build trust and ultimately solve more murders.
Detectives also need to demonstrate to prosecutors that they have a solid case. In the four years Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has been in office, prosecutors have rejected murder charges that the Chicago Police Department was seeking in, on average, nearly a quarter of the cases the police presented to them.
By comparison, during the last four years of Foxx’s predecessor Anita Alvarez’s tenure as state’s attorney, an average of 17% of Chicago murder cases were rejected for prosecution.
“State’s Attorney Foxx’s approach to justice within the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office is a contrast to how previous administrations operated,” Foxx spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic said in a written statement.
Sinovic pointed to Cook County’s history of wrongful convictions.
“Unlike her predecessors, State’s Attorney Foxx does not believe in kicking the can of responsibility to judges and juries to decide someone’s fate when the evidence is just not there — because this is not fair to those whose futures are on the line,” she said.
After a murder case is rejected, the police can present new evidence, and that sometimes can lead to prosecutors reversing themselves and approving charges, Sinovic said.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--8 shot, 1 fatally Thursday in Chicago

8 shot, 1 fatally Thursday in Chicago

One person was killed and seven others wounded in shootings Thursday across Chicago .
A 19-year-old man was fatally shot Thursday afternoon in Mayfair on the Northwest Side .
About 12:50 p.m. , he was walking in the 4000 block of West Wilson Avenue when someone in a stolen white Nissan Maxima fired shots , striking him multiple times in the body , Chicago police said .
He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
The stolen Nissan was later found several blocks away in the 4400 block of North LaCrosse Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 4300 block of North Major Avenue , police said .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not yet identified the man .
In non-fatal shootings , a 22-year-old woman was shot late Thursday in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
About 11:50 p.m. she was walking in the 2800 block of West Chicago Avenue when she heard shots and felt pain , police said .
She suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was brought to Norwegian Hospital where she was listed in fair condition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she saw a black vehicle pass by but she could not describe the people inside , according to police .
Minutes earlier , a person was shot while driving on the Kennedy Expressway near Old Norwood Park on the Northwest Side .
The shooting happened about 11:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Sayre Avenue , according to Illinois State Police .
One person was wounded in the shooting , state police said .
State police did not release any additional details on the condition of the injured person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a shooting in West Garfield Park .
He was standing in the street about 2:25 p.m. in the 300 block of South Kildare Avenue when someone opened fire , striking him in the legs , police said .
The 20-year-old took himself to Loretto Hospital and was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
About 12:10 p.m. a 24-year-old man was shot in South Chicago .
He was sitting in a vehicle in the 8000 block of South Manistee Avenue when a white SUV pulled alongside and someone inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulder , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition .
A 50-year-old homeless man was seriously wounded in a shooting Thursday morning in the Humboldt Park neighborhood .
He was standing outside in the 3500 block of West Thomas Street when a car passed by and two gunmen inside opened fire , according to a Chicago police spokeswoman .
Officers arrived about 8:40 a.m. and found the man standing and talking , despite having at least two gunshot wounds in his chest and arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment .
Earlier , a man was shot while leaving a house party in Hegewisch on the Far South Side .
About 7:30 a.m. , the 27-year-old got into an argument as he was leaving the gathering in the 13400 block of South Avenue O when someone opened fire , striking him in the thigh , police said .
Family members were driving the man to a hospital when officers from another police agency stopped their car , noticed the man had a gunshot wound and escorted them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana , police said .
The man was listed in good condition .
Thursday ’ s first reported shooting left a 25-year-old man wounded in Heart of Chicago on the Near West Side .
He was walking about 12:15 a.m. in the 2000 block of West 23rd Street when someone emerged from a gangway and shot him in the back , police said .
He was brought to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in fair condition , police said .
Seven people were shot , one fatally Wednesday in Chicago .
Read more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s homicides .

One person was killed and seven others wounded in shootings Thursday across Chicago.
A 19-year-old man was fatally shot Thursday afternoon in Mayfair on the Northwest Side.
About 12:50 p.m., he was walking in the 4000 block of West Wilson Avenue when someone in a stolen white Nissan Maxima fired shots, striking him multiple times in the body, Chicago police said. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The stolen Nissan was later found several blocks away in the 4400 block of North LaCrosse Avenue, and officers located the person of interest in the 4300 block of North Major Avenue, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet identified the man.
In non-fatal shootings, a 22-year-old woman was shot late Thursday in Humboldt Park on the West Side.
About 11:50 p.m. she was walking in the 2800 block of West Chicago Avenue when she heard shots and felt pain, police said. She suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was brought to Norwegian Hospital where she was listed in fair condition, police said.
Just before the shooting, she saw a black vehicle pass by but she could not describe the people inside, according to police.
Minutes earlier, a person was shot while driving on the Kennedy Expressway near Old Norwood Park on the Northwest Side.
The shooting happened about 11:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Sayre Avenue, according to Illinois State Police.
One person was wounded in the shooting, state police said.
State police did not release any additional details on the condition of the injured person.
Thursday afternoon a man was wounded in a shooting in West Garfield Park.
He was standing in the street about 2:25 p.m. in the 300 block of South Kildare Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the legs, police said. The 20-year-old took himself to Loretto Hospital and was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
About 12:10 p.m. a 24-year-old man was shot in South Chicago.
He was sitting in a vehicle in the 8000 block of South Manistee Avenue when a white SUV pulled alongside and someone inside opened fire, striking him in the shoulder, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition.
A 50-year-old homeless man was seriously wounded in a shooting Thursday morning in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
He was standing outside in the 3500 block of West Thomas Street when a car passed by and two gunmen inside opened fire, according to a Chicago police spokeswoman.
Officers arrived about 8:40 a.m. and found the man standing and talking, despite having at least two gunshot wounds in his chest and arm, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment.
Earlier, a man was shot while leaving a house party in Hegewisch on the Far South Side.
About 7:30 a.m., the 27-year-old got into an argument as he was leaving the gathering in the 13400 block of South Avenue O when someone opened fire, striking him in the thigh, police said.
Family members were driving the man to a hospital when officers from another police agency stopped their car, noticed the man had a gunshot wound and escorted them to Franciscan Health Hospital in Hammond, Indiana, police said. The man was listed in good condition.
Thursday’s first reported shooting left a 25-year-old man wounded in Heart of Chicago on the Near West Side.
He was walking about 12:15 a.m. in the 2000 block of West 23rd Street when someone emerged from a gangway and shot him in the back, police said. He was brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said.
Seven people were shot, one fatally Wednesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Fire breaks out in Lake Meadows high-rise building

Fire crews responded to a blaze early Friday in a Lake Meadows high-rise building on the South Side .
The @ @ @ @ @ unit on the 9th floor of a building in the 550 block of East 33rd @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Fire Department .
No injuries were reported and the fire was put out by @ @ @ @ @ officials .
Warming buses were ordered as fire crews worked to return residents to the @ @

Fire crews responded to a blaze early Friday in a Lake Meadows high-rise building on the South Side.
The fire was contained to one unit on the 9th floor of a building in the 550 block of East 33rd Place, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
STILL AND BOX IN A HI RISE/ EMS PLAN I - 555 E 33RD PL. Fire is out, No injuries reported at this time. Warming buses ordered for occupants. Fire contained to one unit on 9th Fl. Overhaul in progress. Preparing to let residents back into building 4-1-8. pic.twitter.com/VtcZLMHrQy — Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) December 18, 2020
No injuries were reported and the fire was put out by 3:30 a.m., according to officials.
Warming buses were ordered as fire crews worked to return residents to the building.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--1 person wounded in Kennedy Expressway shooting

One person was injured in a shooting late Thursday on the Kennedy Expressway near Old Norwood Park on the Northwest @ @ @ @ @ about 11:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Sayre Avenue , according @ @ @ @ @ One person was wounded in the shooting , state police said .
State police did @ @ @ @ @ on the condition of the injured person .

A 27-year-old man was hurt in a shooting late Thursday on the Kennedy Expressway on the Northwest Side.
The shooting happened about 11:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Sayre Avenue, a few blocks east of the Harlem Avenue exit, according to Illinois State Police.
The man was taken to a hospital with an injury that was not life-threatening, state police said.
Lanes were closed until about 2 a.m. for an investigation.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Man charged with murder in March Bronzeville shooting

A man has been charged with the March shooting death of a 22-year-old in Bronzeville on the South Side .
@ @ @ @ @ was charged with one count of first-degree murder for his role in the fatal shooting @ @ @ @ @ police announced Friday .
Starnes was outside a home on March 1 about 4:55 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ South Evans Avenue when three males walked up to him and fired shots , according @ @ @ @ @ County medical examiner ’ s office .
He was struck multiple times in the chest @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead , officials said .
Boyce was @ @ @ @ @ .
He is expected to appear in court Friday .
Read more on crime , @ @ @ @ @ s homicides .

A man has been charged with the March shooting death of a 22-year-old in Bronzeville on the South Side.
Nathaniel Boyce, 18, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for his role in the fatal shooting of Tramen Starnes, Chicago police announced Friday.
Starnes was outside a home on March 1 about 4:55 p.m. in the 4700 block of South Evans Avenue when three males walked up to him and fired shots, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
He was struck multiple times in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Boyce was arrested Wednesday in South Shore. He is expected to appear in court Friday.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Reports: NHL, NHLPA reach tentative agreement for 56-game schedule starting Jan. 13

The Blackhawks could be less than a month away from starting their 2021 season .
According to numerous reports , the NHL and NHL Players Association reached a tentative agreement for the upcoming season ’ s format and rules Friday night .
Nothing will be official until the agreement is approved via vote by both sides .
The tentative agreement calls for each team to play a 56-game regular season — with games taking place in home arenas — starting Jan. 13 , per reports .
The Hawks and the 23 other teams who qualified for the 2020 playoffs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 , while the seven teams who did not will start camps Dec. 30 or 31 , per reports .
Much of that general framework has been believed to be established for weeks , but the two sides have been working out logistics about salary deferral — eventually sticking with an CBA modification settled over the summer — and pandemic-related adjustments .
One such adjustment , per reports , is that teams will be allowed to field a four- to six-player “ taxi squad ” in addition to their primary 23-man NHL roster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid AHL salaries , not count against the $ 81.5 million NHL salary cap , travel to road games with the team and be eligible for activation at any time if players on the main roster can ’ t play .
Additionally , players will reportedly be allowed to opt out of participating in the 2021 season if they have a family member at high risk for COVID-19 .
In that case , teams would be able to carry over the player ’ s contract for an additional year .
Friday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a specific Hawks schedule or which opponents will be on the schedule this season .
The NHL will likely split teams into divisions and play all or mostly intra-divisional games , but projections for the eight-team Central Division have varied — for example , probably only one out of the Wild , Blues and Stars will be included .

The Blackhawks could be less than a month away from starting their 2021 season.
According to numerous reports, the NHL and the NHL Players Association reached a tentative agreement for the season’s format and rules Friday night.
Nothing will be official until the agreement is approved through a vote by both sides.
The tentative agreement reportedly calls for each team to play a 56-game regular season — with games taking place in home arenas — starting Jan. 13.
The Hawks and the 23 other teams who qualified for the 2020 playoffs in August will reportedly begin training camp Jan. 3, while the seven teams who did not will start Dec. 30 or 31.
Much of that general framework has likely been established for weeks, but the sides have been working out logistics about salary deferral — eventually sticking with a CBA modification settled over the summer — and pandemic-related adjustments.
One such adjustment, per reports, is that teams will be allowed to field a four- to six-player “taxi squad” in addition to their primary 23-man roster. Taxi-squad players will reportedly be paid AHL salaries, not count against the $81.5 million NHL salary cap, travel to road games with the team and be eligible for activation at any time if players on the main roster can’t play.
Additionally, players will reportedly be allowed to opt out of participating in the season if they have a family member at high risk for COVID-19. In that case, teams would be able to carry over the player’s contract for an additional year.
Friday’s reports did not contain information about a specific Hawks schedule or the opponents they will face this season.
The NHL will likely split teams into divisions and play all or mostly intra-divisional games, but projections for the eight-team Central Division have varied.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--‘Grave’ cyber risk to nation needs stronger response than we are seeing

Maybe someone will offer the United States a free year of credit monitoring .
Once again , after perhaps the most serious cyber attack on the government ever seen , we are reminded that people – even those in sensitive government positions – just don ’ t take cybersecurity seriously enough .
Last week , the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the cyber attack on most federal government unclassified networks “ poses a grave risk to the federal government.
” The attack , believed to have come from Russia , also gained entry into 18,000 businesses , including more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Microsoft also found victims in Belgium , Canada , Israel , Mexico , Spain and Britain .
This goes well beyond the usual cyber espionage practiced by industrial nations .
Any tech expert will tell you that network security is really , really hard .
But two years ago , the Trump administration axed the position of cybersecurity coordinator on the National Security Council , weakening the nation ’ s protections against cyber attacks .
We shouldn ’ t be surprised that move turned out to be a colossal mistake .
Cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen so far .
In a so-called supply chain attack , the cyber hackers gained entry last spring through a vendor called SolarWinds , which sells software to thousands of government and corporate customers .
The Department of Commerce , the Agriculture Department and the Department of Homeland Security ’ s cyber branch have confirmed they were compromised .
The cyber spies might also have targeted the military , the White House , public health agencies , the Justice Department , the National Security Agency and even the Postal Service .
It could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extent of the intrusion .
The sophisticated hackers have had time to cover their tracks and open up “ back doors ” that will give them continued access to government and business networks even after their original point of entry is closed .
It could take years to fully secure the networks .
In the meantime , those who have gained illicit access will have the ability to destroy or alter data .
They can impersonate officials and spread misinformation .
It will be harder to trust official communications and data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause all sorts of international turmoil .
Normally , you ’ d expect an immediate and outraged response from the U.S. government and an all-out crash program to rebuild our defenses , a prospect that is enormously challenging .
But President Donald Trump has been quieter than a mouse .
President-elect Joe Biden has called the attack a top priority .
But every day that goes by increases the risk of serious damage .
We need action now .

Maybe someone will offer the United States a free year of credit monitoring.
Once again, after perhaps the most serious cyber attack on the government ever seen, we are reminded that people – even those in sensitive government positions – just don’t take cybersecurity seriously enough.
Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the cyber attack on most federal government unclassified networks “poses a grave risk to the federal government.” The attack, believed to have come from Russia, also gained entry into 18,000 businesses, including more than 425 on the Fortune 500 list. Microsoft also found victims in Belgium, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Spain and Britain. This goes well beyond the usual cyber espionage practiced by industrial nations.
Editorials bug Editorials
Any tech expert will tell you that network security is really, really hard. But two years ago, the Trump administration axed the position of cybersecurity coordinator on the National Security Council, weakening the nation’s protections against cyber attacks. We shouldn’t be surprised that move turned out to be a colossal mistake.
Cyber experts are dismayed by what they have seen so far. In a so-called supply chain attack, the cyber hackers gained entry last spring through a vendor called SolarWinds, which sells software to thousands of government and corporate customers. The Department of Commerce, the Agriculture Department and the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber branch have confirmed they were compromised. The cyber spies might also have targeted the military, the White House, public health agencies, the Justice Department, the National Security Agency and even the Postal Service. It could take weeks or months just to know the extent of the intrusion.
The sophisticated hackers have had time to cover their tracks and open up “back doors” that will give them continued access to government and business networks even after their original point of entry is closed. It could take years to fully secure the networks.
In the meantime, those who have gained illicit access will have the ability to destroy or alter data. They can impersonate officials and spread misinformation. It will be harder to trust official communications and data. Taken to its extreme, they could cause all sorts of international turmoil.
Normally, you’d expect an immediate and outraged response from the U.S. government and an all-out crash program to rebuild our defenses, a prospect that is enormously challenging. But President Donald Trump has failed the test.
President-elect Joe Biden has called the attack a top priority. But every day that goes by increases the risk of serious damage. We need action now.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Last test of 2020: Being responsible about COVID-19 over the holidays

After nine long months amid the worst pandemic in a century , there ’ s light at the end of the tunnel .
Health care workers and nursing home residents are getting vaccinated .
A second vaccine just received final federal approval .
But we ’ re approaching the most difficult test of the year this week : Christmas and a week later , the New Year ’ s holiday , when family and friends will be tempted to gather in celebration .
We want to issue another reminder : Don ’ t do it .
We ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tunnel , but we can not let down our guard against this deadly virus .
The numbers are already dire : On Friday , the Illinois coronavirus death toll surpassed 15,000 .
The nationwide death toll is approaching 313,000 and is now increasing daily by more than 3,000 .
None of us should take a chance and risk including our friends and family , and ourselves , among those numbers .
The day before Thanksgiving , Americans traveled in record numbers , against the advice of health care experts .
More than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide , one of the highest traveling numbers since the pandemic began , according to a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration .
Weeks later , the post-Thanksgiving surge has put the country in the midst of a terrible stretch of the pandemic .
Hospitalizations as well as deaths are on a steep rise , setting records and forcing some hospitals to turn away patients for lack of ICU beds .
If we don ’ t sacrifice during this the last stretch of the 2020 holiday season , experts predict a grim start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to increase over the next couple of weeks , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The death toll could reach over 360,000 by Jan. 2 .
“ One thing this vaccine will not solve , or cure , is selfishness or indifference to what is happening to our neighbors around us , ” Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said last week .
In Illinois , experts say we are heading in the right direction as the state ’ s test positivity rate has fallen from 10.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s keep doing the right thing , all the way through to the new year .

After nine long months amid the worst pandemic in a century, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Health care workers and nursing home residents are getting vaccinated. A second vaccine just received final federal approval.
But we’re approaching the most difficult test of the year this week: Christmas and a week later, the New Year’s holiday, when family and friends will be tempted to gather in celebration.
Editorials bug Editorials
We want to issue another reminder: Don’t do it.
We’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot let down our guard against this deadly virus. The numbers are already dire: On Friday, the Illinois coronavirus death toll surpassed 15,000. The nationwide death toll is approaching 313,000 and is now increasing daily by more than 3,000.
None of us should take a chance and risk including our friends and family, and ourselves, among those numbers.
Opinion Newsletter
The day before Thanksgiving, Americans traveled in record numbers, against the advice of health care experts. More than a million people were screened at airport checkpoints nationwide, one of the highest traveling numbers since the pandemic began, according to a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration.
Weeks later, the post-Thanksgiving surge has put the country in the midst of a terrible stretch of the pandemic. Hospitalizations as well as deaths are on a steep rise, setting records and forcing some hospitals to turn away patients for lack of ICU beds.
If we don’t sacrifice during this the last stretch of the 2020 holiday season, experts predict a grim start to the new year. COVID-19 deaths are expected to increase over the next couple of weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death toll could reach over 360,000 by Jan. 2.
“One thing this vaccine will not solve, or cure, is selfishness or indifference to what is happening to our neighbors around us,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said last week.
In Illinois, experts say we are heading in the right direction as the state’s test positivity rate has fallen from 10.3% to below 8%.
Let’s keep doing the right thing, all the way through to the new year.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Public health officials announce 181 COVID-19 related deaths, 7,377 new cases statewide (LIVE UPDATE

Public health officials announce 181 COVID-19 related deaths, 7,377 new cases statewide (LIVE UPDATES)

Coronavirus infection rates fell across Illinois again Friday as public health officials announced COVID-19 has killed another 181 residents and spread to 7,377 more people statewide .
The new cases were diagnosed among 112,292 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health , meaning only about 6.6 % of tests returned positive .
That ’ s the lowest proportion of positive results reported by the state in a day since Oct. 27 , when the virus was just beginning to surge to all-time highs across the state .
Most of the state ’ s metrics have gradually fallen since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7-day average positivity rate statewide is down to 8 % , as low as it has been since Nov. 1 .
That ’ s not the case for coronavirus deaths in the state , which continue to mount at an unprecedented frequency .
Friday was the 11th consecutive day Illinois reported 100 or more fatalities .
Previously , that had never happened more than five days in a row .
The latest deaths , which included 104 Chicago-area residents , pushed the state ’ s death toll past the 15,000 mark , up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois surpassed 14,000 deaths .
On top of that , officials say about 1,200 more deaths throughout the pandemic are considered to have been probable but untested cases of the disease .
WASHINGTON — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday , boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day .
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move marks the world ’ s first authorization for Moderna ’ s shots .
The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany ’ s BioNTech that ’ s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up .
The two work “ better than we almost dared to hope , ” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press .
“ Science is working here , science has done something amazing.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna ’ s is easier to handle since it doesn ’ t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures .
4:29 p.m. ‘ The Big Leap ’ filming in Joliet on hiatus after crew members test positive for COVID The COVID-19 pandemic has shutdown production for another TV series filmed in the Chicago area .
Fox ’ s “ The Big Leap , ” which has been filming its pilot at Joliet ’ s Rialto Square Theatre since Dec. 2 , has temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test results , venue officials told the Sun-Times .
The positive test results came from the routine testing on set , which takes place three times a week , according to crew officials .
No further decision has been made about the remaining four days left in production .
The pilot had completed 11 days of filming when the positive tests shut down filming .
NBC ’ s “ Chicago Fire ” shut down production in November after several team members tested positive for COVID-19 .
1:26 p.m.
Here ’ s how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Oak Street Health is expanding access to COVID-19 testing by providing free rapid coronavirus tests to Chicago residents .
The network of primary care centers is working with the City of Chicago to expand its free rapid COVID-19 testing , and has already completed more than 2,500 tests .
All testing provided by Oak Street Health is free , does not require an appointment and tests will be administered regardless of symptoms or insurance status .
“ Testing remains critical to containing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping Chicagoans safe , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Public Health , said in a release announcing the renewed effort Friday .
“ We ’ re grateful for Oak Street Health ’ s leadership and effort to broaden testing access to those who need it most .
We remain committed to allocating resources and providing support to our partners who are on the frontline of this pandemic , working every day to increase access to testing in communities hit the hardest.
” Testing hours are every Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more about Oak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Pence receives COVID vaccine on live TV : Will Trump be next ?
Vice President Mike Pence was vaccinated for COVID-19 on Friday in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the vaccine is safe .
“ The American people can be confident : we have one and perhaps within hours two safe vaccines , ” Pence said , referring to expected FDA approval for Moderna ’ s vaccine .
His wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received shots during the televised White House event .
But five days into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history , Trump has held no public events to trumpet the rollout .
He hasn ’ t been inoculated himself .
He has tweeted only twice about the shot .
Pence , meanwhile , has taken center stage — touring a vaccine production facility this week and receiving a dose himself on live television Friday morning .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that they will get vaccinated in the next few days .
Pence , along with his wife , Karen , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots Friday morning in an office suite in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from three medical technicians from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
8:32 a.m. Uber to offer 10 million free or discounted rides to people getting COVID-19 shots Uber says it will offer 10 million free or discounted rides to people looking to receive the COVID-19 vaccination .
The rides include transportation to and from their destination for both the first and second doses .
A date for when the offer will begin rolling out hasn ’ t been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app partnered with organizations dedicated to serving communities of color , including the National Urban League , the Morehouse School of Medicine and the National Action Network , to help target riders who could benefit most .
And it plans to partner with other organizations in the future .
• Public health officials on Thursday announced the coronavirus has killed another 181 residents and spread to 8,828 more , the highest daily figures the state has reported in a week .
• Cook County Jail reported 370 positive COVID-19 cases on Dec. 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility that saw one of the largest outbreaks of confirmed cases of any location in the country last spring .
• Two more employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in Cook County ’ s Office of the Chief Judge .
A total of 216 employees working in Office of the Chief Judge have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Additionally , 17 judges have tested positive since the start of the pandemic .
I have tiny veins .
So tiny that it usually takes several sticks before a phlebotomist can draw my blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and as I aged , a bad situation got a lot worse .
Thankfully , my health hasn ’ t required that I have blood draws more than once a year in recent years .
But , man , do I get stressed out when it comes to shots .
I trace a lot of this anxiety back to childhood .
On “ shot day , ” teachers herded us like cattle into the auditorium .
There we stood in long lines , with some of the children crying so hysterically a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , the anticipation of the shot was a lot worst than the actual prick .
But I still have to steady my nerves before I get a flu shot .
So you can imagine how anxious I am about getting the COVID-19 vaccine .
I glanced at Wednesday ’ s front-page photograph of Dr. Marina Del Rios getting the first COVID-19 vaccination at Loretto Hospital in the Austin neighborhood , and I felt faint .
Yes .
I ’ m one of those people who get weak in the knees if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I ’ m not alone .

Good news: A second coronavirus vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Here’s what else happened in coronavirus-related news.
News
7:55 p.m. Infection rates fall as Illinois coronavirus death toll passes 15,000
Coronavirus infection rates fell across Illinois again Friday as public health officials announced COVID-19 has killed another 181 residents and spread to 7,377 more people statewide.
The new cases were diagnosed among 112,292 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health, meaning only about 6.6% of tests returned positive. That’s the lowest proportion of positive results reported by the state in a day since Oct. 27, when the virus was just beginning to surge to all-time highs across the state.
Most of the state’s metrics have gradually fallen since hitting a brutal mid-November peak. The 7-day average positivity rate statewide is down to 8%, as low as it has been since Nov. 1.
That’s not the case for coronavirus deaths in the state, which continue to mount at an unprecedented frequency.
Friday was the 11th consecutive day Illinois reported 100 or more fatalities. Previously, that had never happened more than five days in a row.
The latest deaths, which included 104 Chicago-area residents, pushed the state’s death toll past the 15,000 mark, up to 15,015 — just one week after Illinois surpassed 14,000 deaths.
On top of that, officials say about 1,200 more deaths throughout the pandemic are considered to have been probable but untested cases of the disease.
Read the full story here.
6:57 p.m. FDA approves 2nd coronavirus vaccine
WASHINGTON — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.
The move marks the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that’s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up.
The two work “better than we almost dared to hope,” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press. “Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”
Early results of large, still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.
Read the full report here.
4:29 p.m. ‘The Big Leap’ filming in Joliet on hiatus after crew members test positive for COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic has shutdown production for another TV series filmed in the Chicago area.
Fox’s “The Big Leap,” which has been filming its pilot at Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre since Dec. 2, has temporarily shut down production due to positive COVID-19 test results, venue officials told the Sun-Times.
The positive test results came from the routine testing on set, which takes place three times a week, according to crew officials.
No further decision has been made about the remaining four days left in production. The pilot had completed 11 days of filming when the positive tests shut down filming.
NBC’s “Chicago Fire” shut down production in November after several team members tested positive for COVID-19.
Reporter Evan F. Moore has the full story.
1:26 p.m. Here’s how to get a free rapid COVID-19 test in Chicago
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Oak Street Health is expanding access to COVID-19 testing by providing free rapid coronavirus tests to Chicago residents.
The network of primary care centers is working with the City of Chicago to expand its free rapid COVID-19 testing, and has already completed more than 2,500 tests.
All testing provided by Oak Street Health is free, does not require an appointment and tests will be administered regardless of symptoms or insurance status.
“Testing remains critical to containing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping Chicagoans safe,” Christina Anderson, Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health, said in a release announcing the renewed effort Friday. “We’re grateful for Oak Street Health’s leadership and effort to broaden testing access to those who need it most. We remain committed to allocating resources and providing support to our partners who are on the frontline of this pandemic, working every day to increase access to testing in communities hit the hardest.”
Current testing locations include:
Testing hours are every Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To learn more about Oak Street Health, click here.
11:05 a.m. Pence receives COVID vaccine on live TV: Will Trump be next?
Karen Pence, seated center, receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Washington. Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also participated. Andrew Harnik, AP Photos
Vice President Mike Pence was vaccinated for COVID-19 on Friday in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the vaccine is safe.
“The American people can be confident: we have one and perhaps within hours two safe vaccines,” Pence said, referring to expected FDA approval for Moderna’s vaccine.
His wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received shots during the televised White House event.
But five days into the largest vaccination campaign in the nation’s history, Trump has held no public events to trumpet the rollout. He hasn’t been inoculated himself. He has tweeted only twice about the shot. Pence, meanwhile, has taken center stage — touring a vaccine production facility this week and receiving a dose himself on live television Friday morning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that they will get vaccinated in the next few days.
Pence, along with his wife, Karen, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams, received their shots Friday morning in an office suite in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from three medical technicians from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Read the full story here.
8:32 a.m. Uber to offer 10 million free or discounted rides to people getting COVID-19 shots
Uber says it will offer 10 million free or discounted rides to people looking to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
The rides include transportation to and from their destination for both the first and second doses.
A date for when the offer will begin rolling out hasn’t been set, according to Uber.
The ride-hailing app partnered with organizations dedicated to serving communities of color, including the National Urban League, the Morehouse School of Medicine and the National Action Network, to help target riders who could benefit most. And it plans to partner with other organizations in the future.
Read the full story here.
New Cases
Public health officials on Thursday announced the coronavirus has killed another 181 residents and spread to 8,828 more, the highest daily figures the state has reported in a week.
Cook County Jail reported 370 positive COVID-19 cases on Dec. 7, setting a new record for the facility that saw one of the largest outbreaks of confirmed cases of any location in the country last spring.
Two more employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in Cook County’s Office of the Chief Judge. A total of 216 employees working in Office of the Chief Judge have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, 17 judges have tested positive since the start of the pandemic.
Analysis & Commentary
8:03 a.m. Trypanophobia is real
I have tiny veins. So tiny that it usually takes several sticks before a phlebotomist can draw my blood. This has always been a problem, and as I aged, a bad situation got a lot worse.
Thankfully, my health hasn’t required that I have blood draws more than once a year in recent years. But, man, do I get stressed out when it comes to shots.
I trace a lot of this anxiety back to childhood. On “shot day,” teachers herded us like cattle into the auditorium. There we stood in long lines, with some of the children crying so hysterically a teacher had to restrain them.
Of course, the anticipation of the shot was a lot worst than the actual prick. But I still have to steady my nerves before I get a flu shot.
So you can imagine how anxious I am about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. I glanced at Wednesday’s front-page photograph of Dr. Marina Del Rios getting the first COVID-19 vaccination at Loretto Hospital in the Austin neighborhood, and I felt faint.
Yes. I’m one of those people who get weak in the knees if I even see someone getting a shot.
And I’m not alone.
Read Mary Mitchell’s full commentary here.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-18--Van Morrison teams with Eric Clapton for anti-lockdown song

Van Morrison has crafted yet another anti-lockdown tune , this time teaming with Eric Clapton .
“ Stand and Deliver , ” which dropped Friday , was written by Morrison and performed by Clapton .
Proceeds from the blues track will go to Morrison ’ s Save Live Music campaign benefitting those working in the music industry in the UK and Ireland .
“ Eric ’ s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations , ” Morrison told Variety .
“ It is heart-breaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music , and to save our industry.
” Morrison previously released a trio of anti-lockdown songs in September and October in support of the campaign : “ Born To Be Free , ” “ As I Walked Out ” and “ No More Lockdown.
” In “ No More Lockdown , ” the Northern Irishman says the lockdowns “ enslave ” people and accuses scientists of “ making up crooked facts.
” The singer-songwriter has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home country to put an end to the lockdowns put in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus .
“ The Northern Ireland Executive has refused to quantify the economic impact of the restrictions on live music nor have they provided the scientific evidence to justify the ban , ” Morrison said in a statement .
“ It ’ s time to make them accountable.
” Much of the world , including the U.S. , has been under some form of a lockdown since early this year .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , until a newly developed vaccine is widely available next year .
In “ Stand and Deliver , ” Morrison and Clapton urge listeners to push back against the narrative they ’ ve been hearing , with lyrics such as : “ Stand and deliver // You let them put the fear on you // Stand and deliver // But not a word you heard was true // But if there ’ s nothing you can say // There may be nothing you can do // Do you want to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a slave ?
” In the U.S. , owners of nearly 3,000 venues have formed a new group , the National Independent Venue Association , to lobby for federal assistance allowing the music industry to stay afloat .
A survey NIVA distributed to members showed 90 % of music venues think they will be forced to permanently close in the coming weeks or months if funding doesn ’ t arrive .
“ We are at the precipice of a mass collapse of this industry , ” NIVA spokeswoman Audrey Fix Schaefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are such good , hardworking , determined people .
They don ’ t deserve to be left out to dry like this.
” Legislation that could provide relief includes the RESTART Act and the Save Our Stages Act .
They would provide financial support in the form of loans , grants and tax credits and have bipartisan support .

Van Morrison has crafted yet another anti-lockdown tune, this time teaming with Eric Clapton.
“Stand and Deliver,” which dropped Friday, was written by Morrison and performed by Clapton. Proceeds from the blues track will go to Morrison’s Save Live Music campaign benefitting those working in the music industry in the UK and Ireland.
“Eric’s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations,” Morrison told Variety. “It is heart-breaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government, but we want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music, and to save our industry.”
Morrison previously released a trio of anti-lockdown songs in September and October in support of the campaign: “Born To Be Free,” “As I Walked Out” and “No More Lockdown.”
In “No More Lockdown,” the Northern Irishman says the lockdowns “enslave” people and accuses scientists of “making up crooked facts.”
The singer-songwriter has started a Change.org petition urging officials in his home country to put an end to the lockdowns put in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“The Northern Ireland Executive has refused to quantify the economic impact of the restrictions on live music nor have they provided the scientific evidence to justify the ban,” Morrison said in a statement. “It’s time to make them accountable.”
Much of the world, including the U.S., has been under some form of a lockdown since early this year. That’s likely to continue, health officials say, until a newly developed vaccine is widely available next year.
In “Stand and Deliver,” Morrison and Clapton urge listeners to push back against the narrative they’ve been hearing, with lyrics such as: “Stand and deliver // You let them put the fear on you // Stand and deliver // But not a word you heard was true // But if there’s nothing you can say // There may be nothing you can do // Do you want to be a free man // Or do you want to be a slave?”
In the U.S., owners of nearly 3,000 venues have formed a new group, the National Independent Venue Association, to lobby for federal assistance allowing the music industry to stay afloat. A survey NIVA distributed to members showed 90% of music venues think they will be forced to permanently close in the coming weeks or months if funding doesn’t arrive.
“We are at the precipice of a mass collapse of this industry,” NIVA spokeswoman Audrey Fix Schaefer told USA TODAY recently. “These are such good, hardworking, determined people. They don’t deserve to be left out to dry like this.”
Legislation that could provide relief includes the RESTART Act and the Save Our Stages Act. They would provide financial support in the form of loans, grants and tax credits and have bipartisan support.
Read more at usatoday.com