chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Park Ridge restaurants fined for defying Pritzker’s order and continuing indoor dining amid soaring

Park Ridge restaurants fined for defying Pritzker’s order and continuing indoor dining amid soaring rates of COVID-19

Daily fines of $ 500 “ will continue as long as they remain open , ” the director said , @ @ @ @ @ also exploring other options , such reporting the establishments to the county and state health @ @ @ @ @ of their liquor licenses .

Patrons dine indoors at Pazzi Di Pizza on Oct. 29 in Park Ridge. Five Park Ridge restaurant owners, including Pazzi Di Pizza, filed a lawsuit last week against Gov. J.B. Pritzker, objecting to the governor's latest order shutting down indoor dining at bars and restaurants. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Park Ridge restaurants that defy the governor’s indoor dining ban and continue to serve customers inside are being fined daily, a city official said.
Between Thursday and Sunday, the city issued three restaurants a total of $1,750 in fines for continued non-compliance with the governor’s order, said Jim Brown, director of community preservation and development.
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The restaurants were fined $250 for the first violation and $500 for subsequent violations, Brown said.
Daily fines of $500 “will continue as long as they remain open,” the director said, adding that the city is also exploring other options, such reporting the establishments to the county and state health departments or recommending a suspension of their liquor licenses.
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“No one is happy about enforcing this,” Mayor Marty Maloney said during a virtual meeting of the Park Ridge City Council Monday. “We’re all in this situation, playing the hand we’re dealt.”
No restaurants were ordered to close by the city after owners or managers were informed they were being cited, Brown said. The restaurants can request an adjudication hearing before an independent hearing officer to contest the tickets, he said.
As of Monday, city staff learned that two of the restaurants fined for non-compliance had reverted to all outdoor dining and one was closed, Brown said.
Owners of Pazzi Di Pizza, Pennyville Station and Shakou shared statements on their websites and social media accounts last week that they would remain open to diners despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order that restaurants end indoor dining on Oct. 28 due to soaring rates of COVID-19.
The restaurants were among seven that were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against Pritzker, arguing he did not have the authority to force their closure.
A Cook County Circuit Court judge on Friday ruled against the restaurants, upholding the governor’s order.
“It was definitely a letdown,” Tony Antonacci, owner of Pennyville and Taco Melly, told the Chicago Tribune following the court’s decision. “It’s absolutely terrible.”
Antonacci said carryout and curbside service just isn’t profitable. Between the two restaurants, Antonacci said he has close to 70 employees whose livelihoods depend on the business.
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“I’m not sure what to tell these guys; there’s no end in sight,” he said. “I feel restaurants in general have lost trust in our government.”
On Monday, Pennyville Station announced on its Facebook page that it will close for indoor dining.
Other restaurants in the lawsuit included Hay Caramba, Holt’s, and the Harp and Fiddle in Park Ridge. Though Neoteca Pizza and Wine Bar in Barrington was also listed, owner Guy Sorrentino said that was inaccurate and the restaurant is not part of the lawsuit.
Prior to issuing fines for noncompliance with the governor’s order, the city of Park Ridge gave restaurants written warnings, Brown said. A total of eight restaurants were warned, with four of them found in compliance during a subsequent visit by city health department staff, he said.
During Monday’s Park Ridge City Council meeting, elected officials stressed that the fines were not being issued as a way to generate revenue for the city.
“I want to avoid the perspective of the public that we are doing this to make money," said 5th Ward Ald. Charlie Melidosian. “I don’t want this to be, in any sense, that we are writing tickets to fill our pockets."
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Mayor Maloney also objected to comments he had received from citizens accusing the city of being “unfriendly” to businesses. He pointed out that the City Council and staff had made it possible for restaurants to expand outdoor dining, particularly on Main Street, and had initiated other assistance as well, like offering 2.5-month credits for liquor and business licenses.
More recently, the council expressed support for extending outdoor dining and tent dining until Nov. 15 — two weeks longer than initially planned.
“It’s interesting how quickly people forget what city staff and City Council have done,” Maloney said.
Robert McCoppin and Angie Leventis Lourgos contributed.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx challenged by Republican candidate Patrick O'Brien

290 Shadowood Lane , Northfield : $ 3,499,000 | Listed : Oct. 2 , 2020 This six-bedroom Cape Cod-style home in the North Shore suburb of Northfield has six bathrooms and four half-bathrooms .
The expansive kitchen features two islands , a wood-burning pizza oven and high-end appliances .
It opens to a family room with vaulted ceilings fitted with wooden arches in an impressive display .
The home has six fireplaces in rooms including the heated sunroom and a living room with a coffered ceiling and a wall of windows .
Another fireplace can be found in a suite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes two private offices , a study with built-in bookshelves and a printer room .
The spacious primary bedroom suite offers a large dressing room with a coffee bar and refrigerator , along with dual walk-in closets and French doors that open to a private balcony .
An elevator , radiant heated floors throughout , multiple outdoor patios and a four-car garage complete the home .
Agent : Beth Hager and Tamara Duckler of Jameson Sotheby ’ s International Realty , 847-716-5152 *Some photos are “ virtually staged , ” meaning they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or decorating options .
To feature your luxury listing of $ 800,000 or more in Chicago Tribune ’ s Dream Homes , send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate @ chicagotribune.com .
Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news .

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx raises two fingers to symbolize a second term while exiting after giving a victory speech at her election night headquarters in the Kinzie Hotel, Nov. 3, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Democratic Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx wins second term over Republican challenger Pat O’Brien in a high-profile contest that has focused on whether the incumbent has made needed changes to a broken system or fueled crime.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--University of Chicago Medicine looking for 2,000 participants for COVID-19 vaccine trial

“ We are looking for individuals from all walks of life to participate in this study , ” said trial @ @ @ @ @ director of the Institute for Precision and Population Health at University of Chicago Medicine , @ @ @ @ @ “ This includes healthy adults , but also individuals with comorbidities , all genders , @ @ @ @ @ of all races .
We want to be sure that the community our hospital serves @ @ @ @ @ trial .
”

University of Chicago Medicine will soon begin testing another potential COVID-19 vaccine, and is looking for up to 2,000 adults to enroll in the phase three clinical trial.
The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single dose of a vaccine produced by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The trial began enrolling 60,000 people across the world in September.
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It’s one of a handful of potential vaccines now in advanced clinical trials in the U.S.
“We are looking for individuals from all walks of life to participate in this study,” said trial leader Dr. Habibul Ahsan, director of the Institute for Precision and Population Health at University of Chicago Medicine, in a news release. “This includes healthy adults, but also individuals with comorbidities, all genders, older adults, and people of all races. We want to be sure that the community our hospital serves is well represented in this trial.”
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The international trial of the Janssen vaccine was temporarily paused in October after one participant developed an unexplained illness.
“Such pauses are not uncommon in vaccine trials, and late last week the FDA approved the resumption of the trial after an independent committee found the vaccine did not cause the illness,” University of Chicago Medicine leaders wrote in an email sent Monday to faculty, staff and students.
This is the second COVID-19 vaccine trial University of Chicago Medicine has offered. The health system is also participating in the Moderna COVE trial.
To participate in the Janssen trial and future research, people can join UChicago Medicine’s registry.
Other large hospital systems in Chicago are taking part in COVID-19 vaccine trials, including the University of Illinois at Chicago, which is part of the Moderna trial, and Northwestern Medicine, which is part of a trial of the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine.
The AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine trial was temporarily paused in September after participants became ill, but that trial resumed in the U.S. in October after the FDA said it was safe to do so, AstraZeneca said in a news release.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives a COVID-19 update

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker will give an update on the state ’ s response to the coronavirus in a briefing @ @ @ @ @ the latest updates on COVID-19 in Illinois here .

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chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Indiana’s COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths increasing; Lake County reports most new cases with 366

Indiana ’ s average daily number of new confirmed COVD-19 cases reached 2,960 as of Sunday .
That is up @ @ @ @ @ month ago and has continued rising to new highs that the state has seen during @ @ @

Indiana’s hospitals spent the weekend with more COVID-19 patients than all but a single day since the state started its public reports on hospitalizations nearly eight months ago, according to state health officials on Monday.
The 1,759 coronavirus hospitalizations as of Sunday trailed only one day in mid-April and marked an 80% jump for COVID-19 patients in the past month, the state health department reported in its daily statistics update.
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District 1, representing Northwest Indiana, showed 26.6% of ICU beds in use by COVID-19 patients.
The agency also added 26 more coronavirus-related deaths to Indiana’s toll, raising it to 4,390, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections. Indiana reached a seven-day rolling average of 28 daily deaths on Saturday, the highest level since May and nearly double from a month ago.
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Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has resisted calls for reinstating coronavirus restrictions since lifting nearly all limits in late September, just as the state started recording sharp increases in hospitalizations, deaths and new infections.
Democratic governor candidate Woody Myers, a former state health commissioner, said tougher restrictions needed to be reinstated in Indiana. He has also repeatedly called for a stronger mask mandate, as the one Holcomb has issued includes no penalties for violators.
Indiana’s average daily number of new confirmed COVD-19 cases reached 2,960 as of Sunday. That is up almost 190% from a month ago and has continued rising to new highs that the state has seen during the pandemic.
Lake County continues to challenge Marion County for the most positive cases in the state. In Monday reporting Lake County showed 366 new cases and two deaths to bring totals to more than 16,000 cases with 378 deaths.
Marion County reported 306 new cases Monday to bring the county total to 27,994.
In reporting Monday on the Porter County Department of Health dashboard, the county had 4,122 cases and 58 deaths.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital da

COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital data in your area

Among the metrics ( see below ) tracked under guidelines set by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker are the percentage of @ @ @ @ @ , the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19-like illnesses , and the capacity of hospitals @ @ @ @ @ state will decide how much or how little to restrict activities based on these metrics @

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
To assess how different parts of Illinois are handling the COVID-19 pandemic, officials look at the state through the 11 regions of Emergency Medical Services. The city of Chicago is one region, for example, and the rest of Cook County is another.
Among the metrics (see below) tracked under guidelines set by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are the percentage of coronavirus tests that return positive, the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19-like illnesses, and the capacity of hospitals to take in new patients.The state will decide how much or how little to restrict activities based on these metrics. (Cases, deaths and tests data is as of Dec. 31).
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus.
• Other Chicago, suburbs and Illinois COVID-19 metrics.
• See how the governor’s plan to manage the regions works.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
Created by the Chicago Tribune dataviz team. On Twitter @chitribgraphics


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

Search below by street address , ZIP code or city , then click on the map to see the number @ @ @ @ @ state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer .

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
Illinois releases the number of positive COVID-19 cases by ZIP code daily. The map below shows the cumulative cases for each area as well as other analysis of the data.
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Tracking daily Illinois coronavirus deaths, cases and tests.
Search below by street address, ZIP code or city, then click on the map to see the number of confirmed and probable cases. The state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer.
Data as of June 10.
The map search tool above works best in Chrome or Firefox and may not perform consistently in Internet Explorer.
Note: Because of a coding error this map was displaying the incorrect rates for new cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 people — the issue should now be resolved.. The Tribune adjusted the data shown on the map below to focus on new cases, those the state tracked in the last 7 seven days. The totals for the entire pandemic are still available, but in the pop-up after tapping or clicking on a ZIP.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 20 new deaths, 6,222 new confirmed cases and 68,118 new test resu

Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 20 new deaths, 6,222 new confirmed cases and 68,118 new test results

Illinois announced 6,222 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday for a total of 423,502 .
The state also announced 20 @ @ @ @ @ of 9,810 and 68,1188 new test results for a total of 7.88 million .

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracked coronavirus cases, deaths and test totals from Jan. 22, 2020 through March 10, 2023, but is no longer providing this data. These charts will no longer be updated.
Check the Illinois Department of Public Health for the most up-to-date data for Illinois.
[ Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus ]
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Libertyville jewelry store robbed of $150,000 worth of items

Police responded to a report of a robbery at Rolland ’ s Jewelers at 500 N. Milwaukee Avenue at about @ @ @ @ @ from the police department states .
The man who committed the act looked at jewelry @ @ @ @ @ he showed a note to an employee , officials said .
The note implied the @ @ @ @ @ and he took the items he was looking at .
He then left in a @ @ @ @ @ the release states .

A man robbed a Libertyville jewelry store Friday morning, making off with about $150,000 worth of items, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Police responded to a report of a robbery at Rolland’s Jewelers at 500 N. Milwaukee Avenue at about 11:24 a.m., a release from the police department states. The man who committed the act looked at jewelry for about 30 minutes before he showed a note to an employee, officials said. The note implied the man had a gun, and he took the items he was looking at. He then left in a black, four-door vehicle, the release states.
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The man left westbound on W. Cook Avenue, and the vehicle was last seen driving south on Brainerd Avenue from W. Cook. He is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, about six-feet tall and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white and gray baseball hat, blue-hooded sweatshirt, with blue jeans and boots.
As of Monday, Sgt. Jason Kapusinski said the police were looking through various surveillance videos from the area, but at this time there are no further developments. Kapusinski specified the items taken were a handful of diamond pieces.
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Libertyville police are asking anyone with information related to the incident call their non-emergency number at 847-362-8310. The department states they will release more information as it becomes available.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Judge Diane Gordon Cannon, longtime Cook County jurist, dies after long medical leave

“ She was not afraid to make sure that both sides were doing their jobs properly , but she also @ @ @ @ @ understanding person , '' Gaeger said .
“ That wasn ’ t put in the @ @ @ @ @ read about her in the news .
Understanding with lawyers when they needed help and @ @ @ @ @ say , ‘ Come on back , how ’ s your family , how are @ @ @ @ @ .
’ ”

Cook County Judge Diane Gordon Cannon presiding over the trial of Chicago police Cmdr. Glenn Evans at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in 2015. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Cook County Judge Diane Gordon Cannon, a veteran jurist with a controversial reputation at the county’s largest criminal courthouse, died Saturday after a long medical leave, authorities confirmed to the Tribune.
Cannon, 65, had been off the bench for months, and she had quietly declined to seek retention on the 2020 ballot. The office of Chief Judge Timothy Evans could not immediately confirm the cause of death, though Cannon was widely known to have been in treatment for cancer.
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Cannon was a career prosecutor before her election to the bench in 1996. She presided over a busy felony courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Some defense attorneys accused her of being overtly pro-prosecutor and a recent analysis of Cook County court data by the Better Government Association, the Chicago Reporter and Injustice Watch found that attorneys opted to remove Cannon from their cases at a far higher rate than other judges in the building.
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But that reputation was not warranted, said David Gaeger, a defense attorney who has practiced at Leighton for more than a decade.
“She was not afraid to make sure that both sides were doing their jobs properly, but she also was a very compassionate, understanding person," Gaeger said. “That wasn’t put in the forefront of the stories you read about her in the news. Understanding with lawyers when they needed help and assistance ... never shy to say, ‘Come on back, how’s your family, how are things going outside the courtroom.’ ”
“That’s something I don’t think the world really knew about her,” he said. "Or that she didn’t really want to publicize either.”
She is perhaps best known for her 2015 acquittal of then-Chicago police Cmdr. Glenn Evans on charges he shoved his gun into a suspect’s mouth and threatened to kill him. In throwing out all charges, Cannon said the evidence of the man’s DNA on Evans' service weapon as “of fleeting relevance or significance.”
And she was known among courthouse insiders for her colorful rants from the bench.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Man on electronic monitoring in Cook County now wanted in Ohio, where he is accused of pulling gun o

Man on electronic monitoring in Cook County now wanted in Ohio, where he is accused of pulling gun on deputies

The sheriff ’ s office said it visited Torkelson ’ s reported address Oct. 28 and discovered he was not @ @ @ @ @ note for a resident at the home saying he had to go to a hospital @ @ @ @ @ that Torkelson had been granted authorization to meet with a local law enforcement agency that @ @

Jeremy Gorner, Annie Sweeney, Megan Crepeau

A Chicago man released on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial on murder charges is being sought in Ohio after he allegedly pulled a gun on sheriff’s deputies during a traffic stop there and then evaded arrest.
Juan Torkelson, 28, was charged in Cook County in June with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the fatal stabbing of one person and the wounding of three others in a 2019 attack on the Northwest Side.
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On May 30, Torkelson was ordered held on $100,000 bond with electronic monitoring as a condition of his release if he posted the necessary $10,000, according to court records and the Cook County sheriff’s office.
He was placed on electronic monitoring June 25 after posting bail, the office said in a written statement to the Tribune on Saturday
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The sheriff’s office, which oversees the electronic monitoring program, said it was notified on Oct. 27 of a “possible unauthorized leave” for Torkelson.
The sheriff’s office said it visited Torkelson’s reported address Oct. 28 and discovered he was not there but had left a note for a resident at the home saying he had to go to a hospital. The investigators also discovered that Torkelson had been granted authorization to meet with a local law enforcement agency that day.
Investigators checked with both the hospital and the law enforcement agency but found no record he had visited either location.
About 1 a.m. Oct. 28, two sheriff’s deputies in Madison County, Ohio, pulled over Torkelson for equipment issues with his vehicle and for following too closely to another car, said Madison County Sheriff’s Lt. Bryan White.
White said it took a few minutes for Torkelson to pull over. When he did, the deputies approached the vehicle on foot, Torkelson pulled out a gun and the deputies heard it click, White said.
The deputies then took cover, and Torkelson apparently drove off. Torkelson’s vehicle then crashed and he fled on foot, White said.
As of Sunday morning, Torkelson remained at large.
According to a news release from the Madison County sheriff’s office, Torkelson was described as “armed and dangerous.”
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Torkelson was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder after he fatally stabbed a 28-year-old man and wounded three others in November 2019 in the 5300 block of West Irving Park Road, authorities said.
The Chicago Police Department’s fugitive apprehension unit arrested him in May.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Daywatch: All Illinois regions face tighter COVID restrictions, Trump doubles Biden in campaign stop

Daywatch: All Illinois regions face tighter COVID restrictions, Trump doubles Biden in campaign stops and 13 new Chicago sandwiches to take home

Called the “ shecession ” by some economists , the coronavirus pandemic is unlike other modern recessions in that job @ @ @ @ @ , who dominate jobs that can not be done remotely , like food service , @ @ @ @ @ the same time , they ’ re being required to do more at home .
@ @ @ @ @ centers close , parents — mostly mothers — are forced to take on more responsibility @ @ @ @ @ care needs that hasn ’ t happened in past recessions .

Good morning, Chicago. On Sunday, Illinois public health officials reported 35 news deaths from COVID-19 and 6,980 confirmed cases, a day after the state reported a record 7,899 cases. The 7-day statewide positivity rate for cases jumped up to 8%.
Meanwhile, voters in Chicago and the suburbs hit the polls over the weekend as the clock ticks down to the long-awaited Election Day. If you haven’t voted yet, here’s everything you need to know.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
Listen to the Tribune | 2020 Voter Guide | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games
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A phlebotomist administered a nasal swab at a COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot of the Foreman Mills Shopping Center, on Oct. 19, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
All regions in the Illinois reopening plan will soon be under tighter restrictions as positivity rates for the coronavirus climb.
The final region to avoid the more restrictive measures — a chunk of north-central Illinois — will be under stricter rules starting Wednesday, officials announced Sunday.
President Donald Trump addresses supporters at a campaign rally at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin, on Oct. 27, 2020. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
In the final three weeks of the 2020 race for the White House, Republican President Donald Trump has made more than twice the number of campaign trail stops as Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
New poll has Biden leading in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin: Track the race for president in key battleground states
Colleen Zavodny tries to work from home while her daughter Sylvia, 5, takes an exercise break with her online kindergarten class on Oct. 29, 2020 at their Woodridge home. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Called the “shecession” by some economists, the coronavirus pandemic is unlike other modern recessions in that job losses are greatest among women, who dominate jobs that cannot be done remotely, like food service, retail and hospitality. At the same time, they’re being required to do more at home. As schools and day care centers close, parents — mostly mothers — are forced to take on more responsibility, an escalation in child care needs that hasn’t happened in past recessions.
Medical assistant Debbie Turrise helps a patient with a self-administered COVID-19 test at drive-thru site at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Oct. 20, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
As Illinois finally nears its goal of employing 3,800 people to track down and warn the contacts of people infected with COVID-19, experts say that number may no longer be sufficient to help control the virus.
Sandwiches from newcomers including, clockwise from top left: Curry Theory, Flippin Flavors, Big Kids, QBirria Factory and Daisies. (Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune)
With the weather cooling and patio dining dwindling, things are looking particularly dire for restaurants. In other words: It’s never been more important to support local restaurants.
Want to help? The Tribune’s Nick Kindelsperger suggests a sandwich.


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Plans for Clarendon Park Community Center are chugging along as railroad club hopes for return

“ I think the real benefit is that the Park District is saving a historically significant building , ” said @ @ @ @ @ of the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club .
“ There ’ s still some remnants remaining @ @ @ @ @ and to be able to preserve that for generations down the road , I think @ @ @ @ @ And the other thing is that had the building been demolished , the train club @ @ @ @ @ quite frankly .
We would have had to close down .
”

The future of an Uptown community center is settled, even if what’s in store for the railroad club whose sprawling track and clanging trains call the historical building its home is less certain.
The Clarendon Park Community Center, for years caught in a back-and-forth between community members who wanted to see the ailing Chicago Park District building renovated and others who hoped for brand-new construction, will remain on the North Side just off the lake.
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Last month, the Park District board voted to enter into a $1.12 million contract with Booth Hansen architects for the rehab. The overall project, funded in part from nearly $7 million in TIF funds, is expected to include two phases. Construction is anticipated to start by mid- to late 2021, according to the Park District, and it will remain partially open during construction.
“I think the real benefit is that the Park District is saving a historically significant building,” said Scott Baumgartner, a member of the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club. “There’s still some remnants remaining of the original structure, and to be able to preserve that for generations down the road, I think, is very important. And the other thing is that had the building been demolished, the train club would no longer exist, quite frankly. We would have had to close down.”
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The Clarendon Park Community Center and Field House, shown March 4, 2015, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
So, being able to one day open again to wide-eyed kids and railroad enthusiasts alike will be a plus, Baumgartner said.
The possibility of what a teardown would mean for the railroad club’s miniature world (created on a 1/87 scale) worried community members. Last year, more than 2,000 people signed an online petition to save the center, named as one of Chicago’s most endangered buildings by Preservation Chicago in 2015.
In a survey about program preferences, community members placed the “train display” second in importance, only after the gym. Concerns of community members also included building operation during construction, and what that would mean for programming like the youth arts and hip-hop organization Kuumba Lynx, and gardening programs outside the center.
If the railroad club had to relocate, members estimated it could take years to get the display, anchored at the center since 1963, up and running again. The club estimates the current railroad, with 1,500 linear feet of hand-laid track, to be one of the largest model railroads in the country.
Club members were also unsure about what would happen to their youth education program that melds the railroad with STEM education.
“It’s kind of like, could you deconstruct the Eiffel Tower and move it somewhere?” Katharine Boyda, president of the Clarendon Park Advisory Council, said last year as debate over the future of the center grew. “Well, maybe. But what would that take?”
In recent months, the trains have been quiet. No one has checked in on the pocket-size car that crashed into a fire hydrant. The tiny people waiting for a train to arrive will have to keep waiting, as the miniature Appalachian-inspired countryside remains dark.
The club has had some Zoom meetings and developed a pandemic protocol that would allow members to enter the room — with a reservation system to stagger visits, required masks and a process to wipe everything down. But the Park District has not signed off on letting members back in the building and says it will do so when health officials determine it to be safe.
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Members of the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club, located in Clarendon Park Community Center in Chicago, adjusting work of the trains on Feb. 8, 2019. (Victor Hilitski / Chicago Tribune)
“First and foremost, it’s going to be strange,” Baumgartner said, about a hopeful return to Clarendon one day. “The really sad part about it is, we’ve agreed that we’re not going to be able to allow visitors to come in.”
As renovation plans move forward, the club is hoping for additional workshop or storage space, Baumgartner said. But members haven’t had luck getting any requests approved.
“Ultimately, we’d like to have some space available to us so we can set up a workshop,” Baumgartner said.
Heather Gleason, the Park District’s director of planning and construction, outlined the long journey to reach this point at the last Park District meeting.
“Improving Clarendon Park Community Center has long been the desire of the community,” Gleason said.
“The planning process resulted in a vision for that project that will fix fundamental problems — like the leaky gym roof and lack of accessibility, and create a more functional floor plan, as well as update the interior of the historic building,” Gleason said.
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The renovation was celebrated at the meeting by both the board and Ald. James Cappleman, 46th.
“It’s a dream come true,” Cappleman said at the virtual meeting, noting the center is situated in a North Side census tract with a high rate of poverty. He called the rehab “remarkable.”
“Because this community center serves as a beacon for all the residents,” Cappleman said. “Going to the ribbon-cutting for this will be the highlight of my entire time as alderman.”
Parks Superintendent Michael Kelly said the project stretches back decades.
“This project, for me and many folks on our team, goes back so far for me — I was working with Alderman (Helen) Shiller on this project. For those of you who remember Alderman Shiller, she was once a very, very big personality, a stalwart of the ward,” Kelly said.
“Personally, I had always wanted this to be a teardown and a new field house,” Kelly said, but the funds couldn’t be raised. “So while I’m disappointed that we’re not building a new building from the ground up, I am excited that we’re finally retrofitting this building, tightening it up and making it suitable for the 21st century.
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“So I want to congratulate the community on that.”
A 1914 Tribune article announcing plans for Clarendon Beach declared it “will be the most complete social center in the world.”
“It will be much more than a bathing beach,” said the chairman of the bathing beach committee of the special park commission. “It will be a community center for all the year.”
This summer, Clarendon became a spot to which people flocked to gather outside near the lakefront, said Melanie Eckner, of the Clarendon Park Advisory Council. That was a fitting role for the hub, once marketed as a bastion of health and happiness.
Eckner said the renovation shows that decision-makers can listen to the community.
“I think what’s really important for the Clarendon Park Advisory Council is that it remains a community center for all people,” Eckner said. “That it continues to be there for the people who live immediately around it and reflects the diversity of the community.”


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Column: Win or lose on Tuesday, those who stood against Trump can stand with their heads held high

The past four years have been difficult for our country .
Our democracy has been under constant siege , not @ @ @ @ @ but just as vigilantly from within .
Even if he is defeated , Trump will @ @ @ @ @ , division and grief .

A protester holds a sign while marching on Wacker Drive toward Trump Tower in protest of President Donald Trump's first visit to Chicago since he was elected on Oct. 28, 2019, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
On the eve of one of the most important presidential elections of our time, I am reminded of a gospel song that we sing in the Black church as a testament to our resilience. It’s called “Stand.”
"What do you do when you’ve done all you can, and it seems like it’s never enough? ...
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Tell me, what do you give when you’ve given your all, and it seems like you can’t make it through?
Well, you just stand when there’s nothing left to do. …
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After you’ve done all you can, you just stand."
Donnie McClurkin’s lyrics are soothing in a time of uncertainty. His words give us hope when we find ourselves wondering if we tried hard enough. And they reassure us that, indeed, we did all that we could.
So at the end of the day on Tuesday, after every ballot is cast, all we can do is stand.
Regardless of the outcome, we can stand tall knowing that we fought against Donald Trump’s despotic abuse of power with courage and valor. We can hold our heads high because we stood for the things that we know in our souls are right.
We stood not only for ourselves, but also for those who are unable to stand on their own.
We stood against the brutal killing of a Black man in Minnesota, who died with a ruthless cop’s knee pressed to his neck. Not only did we stand up for George Floyd, we stood up for Breonna Taylor, Laquan McDonald, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks, And at this moment, we are standing for Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia.
We stood up for the Central American children who were placed in cages and inhumanely separated from their parents at our border. We stood up against the deadly attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh — one of the most horrific anti-Semitic events in modern history.
We refused to normalize police misconduct. We marched onward, through swinging billy clubs and tear gas, because in troubling times like these, we had no other choice.
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We stood up against racism and bigotry, rejecting Trump’s claim that in clashes between white supremacists and ordinary Americans, there are good people on both sides.
We stood up for Heather Heyer, who was killed while standing up against white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia. We are still standing for Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, who were shot to death at a social justice protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
We stood against Trump’s call for “law and order” because we understood it was nothing more than a political wedge issue designed to create more chaos between police officers and the Black and brown communities they are sworn to serve.
We stood with Chicago, Los Angeles and New York when they refused to back down as sanctuary cities, despite Trump’s executive order restricting their federal funding. We chose instead to stand for compassion and the preservation of families.
We stood up against Trump’s “travel ban,” which sought to stop people from Muslim countries from entering the United States. We rejected his insinuation that the immigrants coming from Mexico to America were rapist and criminals.
Most importantly, we said “hell no” to a president who longed to be a dictator. We refused to accept the notion that the president is above the law. And we stood for Trump’s impeachment for abusing his power and obstructing Congress.
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The past four years have been difficult for our country. Our democracy has been under constant siege, not just from the outside, but just as vigilantly from within. Even if he is defeated, Trump will leave a legacy of turmoil, division and grief.
The trail of destruction will take years, even decades, to repair. It will not happen in some of our lifetimes. But hopefully, we can soon begin clearing the debris.
No matter what happens in the end, though, we will always be resilient people. We have stood strong for four years and if we must, we will stand for four more.
And we will look for strength in simple things, like a song by McClurkin.
Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
"Tell me, how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me, how do you deal with the strain?
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And how can you smile when your heart has been broken and filled with pain?
Tell me, what do you give when you’ve given your all, and it seems like you can’t make it through?
Child, you just stand, when there’s nothing left to do."
dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Trump has made double the number of campaign stops as Biden in race’s final three weeks

“ He ’ s going around having events , big events — no masks , no protective gear , no @ @ @ @ @ his obsession with crowds anyway ? ''
Obama said of Trump during a drive-in rally @ @ @ @ @ Detroit .
“ That ’ s the difference between Joe Biden and Donald Trump right @ @ @ @ @ feeding his ego .
Joe cares about keeping you safe and your family safe and @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden gestures prior to speaking at a drive-in event in Coconut Creek, Florida, on Oct. 29, 2020, and President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives to a campaign rally at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Oct. 30. (JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
In the final three weeks of the 2020 race for the White House, Republican President Donald Trump has made more than twice the number of campaign trail stops as Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Since Trump finished his Washington quarantine on Oct. 12 following his diagnosis with COVID-19, the president has campaigned 21 straight days, making 48 stops across 15 states, according to the Chicago Tribune’s tracker of campaign stops. Over the same three weeks, Biden appeared at 23 events in 10 states.
The numbers reflect two very different styles of campaigning embraced by each candidate amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Aside from holding almost all of his events outside, Trump has changed very little about how he has campaigned, drawing large crowds to airports and other public venues where few of his supporters have worn masks and the attendance of thousands of supporters makes social distancing impossible.
Biden’s campaign, however, has re-imagined what it means to campaign amid a pandemic, with the candidate traveling less and holding small gatherings where supporters often are seated in circles spaced 6 feet apart. In the final weeks, he’s held drive-in rallies that allow for slightly larger crowds listening to his speeches from their cars.
[ Campaign trail tracker: Where Trump, Biden and their running mates have traveled in presidential race’s final weeks ]
It’s a difference both candidates regularly draw attention to on the trail as Biden seeks to portray himself as a president who would handle the pandemic responsibly while Trump urges the country to reopen even as the nation has endured record numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent days.
On a blistery cold and snowy morning Sunday, Trump drew thousands to a park in Macomb County, Michigan — a key county in suburban Detroit filled with white, blue-collar workers that the president won four years ago on his way to a narrow victory in the state. Throughout the rally, Trump repeatedly noted how windy and cold the conditions were as the hearty crowd cheered.
A portion of the line in Macomb County’s Washington Twp ahead of a cold and rainy rally for President Donald Trump — his third of five in Michigan in the space of a week. pic.twitter.com/1U2WNBciwg — Beth LeBlanc (@DNBethLeBlanc) November 1, 2020
“This is a hell of a day. You sure must love Trump. It’s packed,” the president said. “Do you see the other side? They have no spirit. They have no enthusiasm. They have no nothing.”
Trump, who often mocks Biden for running a campaign from his basement, repeatedly has said that Biden and former President Barack Obama can’t attract big crowds, as if they were trying to do so. The president recently said Obama was “drawing flies.”
“He’s going around having events, big events — no masks, no protective gear, no precautions. What’s his obsession with crowds anyway?" Obama said of Trump during a drive-in rally with Biden on Saturday in Detroit. “That’s the difference between Joe Biden and Donald Trump right there. Trump cares about feeding his ego. Joe cares about keeping you safe and your family safe and getting this country moving again.”
Who let all these people into my basement? pic.twitter.com/E17SPqmXib — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 31, 2020
Since Sept. 1, the Tribune has tracked all campaign stops of Trump, Biden and their running mates, Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The data reveals differing priorities for the two campaigns.
The Trump campaign has stumped more widely across the country, visiting states that the president won easily four years ago but has been forced to play defense in — including Iowa, North Carolina and Georgia. Biden has remained heavily focused on three states that make up the so-called blue wall that Trump demolished four years ago — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
From Sept. 1 through Sunday, Trump had made 74 stops in 17 states while Pence had made 54 appearances in 19 states. Trump has made the highest percentage of his campaign stops — 35% — in the Southeast, with a heavy focus on Florida (12 stops) and North Carolina (nine stops).
Over the same two-month period, Biden has made 53 stops in 13 states while Harris has made 35 appearances in 13 states. Biden has made the highest percentage of his campaign stops in the Midwest — 40% — with eight stops in Michigan, five in Wisconsin and five in Ohio.
The hard-fought battleground state of Pennsylvania, which has the closest polling margin of the blue wall states, has received the most attention from both candidates. Biden has made 16 stops in the Keystone State since Sept. 1 while Trump has made 14.
Because Biden’s events draw small numbers, it’s less about interacting with individual voters and more about generating local media coverage and attention on social media to make his pitch for why independents, Republicans and Democrats should support his campaign. In the final days, an emphasis has been placed on turnout in places such as Milwaukee, Detroit and Philadelphia.
With Trump, the large crowds are all about playing to his base and driving up turnout. Campaign officials say the massive events draw in new voters, some of whom are newly registered and not typically part of the political process.
A voter registered living in the Midwest who has signed up to receive Trump messages, for example, would have received five or six texts per event, encouraging them to sign up for tickets for rallies by Trump in Dubuque, Iowa, Pence in Swanton, Ohio, and Ivanka Trump in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.
Trump will conclude his campaign the same way he did four years ago, with a late-night rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s also scheduled to appear in Kenosha on Monday night.
At these rallies, Trump routinely complains of how much coverage COVID-19 has received as cases surge to record highs across the nation. The president criticizes governors who have put in place public health restrictions and he warns Biden will shut down the economy.
“Biden is all about lockdowns. He loves a lockdown,” Trump said Sunday in Washington, Michigan. “The Biden plan is to imprison you in your home ... you’ll be living in a prison state.”
On Saturday in Detroit, Biden hammered Trump for “waving the white flag to this virus" and slammed his administration for not doing enough to contain the pandemic.
“We have a president that’s given up. We’re gonna beat this virus and get it under control," Biden said to a parking lot full of drivers honking their car horns. “The first step of beating this virus is beating Donald Trump.”
bruthhart@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @BillRuthhart


chicagotribune--2020-11-02--Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks at a Mount Greenwood rally in support of President Trump

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 People gather at a President Donald Trump rally on Nov. 1, 2020, at Firewater Saloon in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks at a President Donald Trump rally on Nov. 1, 2020, at Firewater Saloon in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago. Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on corruption charges in 2011 but President Trump commuted his sentence earlier this year and he was released.


chicagotribune--2020-11-03--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

But it may take some time for the votes to be counted and there ’ s no guarantee results will @ @ @ @ @ races .
Nor is the election likely to put to rest the ongoing potential for @ @ @ @ @ what has been a year of civil unrest — the combustible byproduct of a charged @ @ @ @ @ in Black communities and restrictions resulting from COVID-19 .

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
CTU workers direct vehicles lined up for COVID-19 testing outside of the Chicago Teachers Union on Dec. 30, 2021, in Chicago. CPS starts back to school on Monday following their holiday break. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
For the latest updates, click here for Wednesday’s live blog.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged local police and sheriffs to quickly disperse large election night parties, cautioning that lax enforcement could lead to new surge COVID-19 infections.
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The Chicago Democrat singled out bar and restaurant owners who refuse to comply with state efforts to bend the latest spike in positive tests for the virus. He also condemned municipal leaders who are egging on scofflaws.
“Local officials, local law enforcement should be standing up and enforcing the rules in this state,” Pritzker said during his Tuesday pandemic briefing.
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Illinois public health officials Tuesday reported 6,516 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. There were also 68 additional deaths reported.
The statewide positivity rate for cases as a percent of total test for the past 7 days is 8.2%. There were 82,435 tests reported in the prior 24 hours. The state has now reported 430,018 cases since the pandemic began, and 9,878 fatalities.
Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
8:10 p.m.: Owners of Park Ridge restaurant report customer backlash as they follow governor’s order to close for indoor dining
Owners of a Park Ridge establishment that closed its indoor dining area last week in compliance with the governor’s order said they have been subject to backlash from some customers for their decision.
Jamie Kendall and Meghan O’Neill, owners of Sweet and Tart Shoppe in Uptown, said that between Friday and Monday they received 13 to 14 phone calls from people who said they would not purchase from their restaurant unless they opened their indoor dining area.
Some additional customers came to the door and, when told only takeout, delivery and outdoor tent service were being offered, walked away without ordering, the owners said.
A teenage employee reported being “a little shaken up” by a caller who was angry the eatery wasn’t fully open, O’Neill said.
“There’s this prevalent feeling that we’re darned if we did or darned if we didn’t (open), but we felt the safety of our employees and customers was the most important thing here and that should be what we always lead with,” Kendall said.
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“There’s not much we can do,” O’Neill added. “We take safety very highly and we don’t want anyone to get sick.”
The angry complaints Kendall and O’Neill received prompted them to share their experience on Sweet and Tart’s Facebook page.
“These calls, as well as remarks on social media, do far more harm than good, in our opinion,” the post read in part. “The penalties for not following the mandate include daily fines and the loss of a liquor license. We would like to remind those who object that we are a small, self-funded operation and are not in a position to handle such penalties.”
—Jennifer Johnson
3:41 p.m.: Pritzker urges local police and sheriffs to quickly disperse large election night parties
Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged local police and sheriffs to quickly disperse large election night parties, cautioning that lax enforcement could lead to new surge COVID-19 infections.
The Chicago Democrat singled out bar and restaurant owners who refuse to comply with state efforts to bend the latest spike in positive tests for the virus. He also condemned municipal leaders who are egging on scofflaws.
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“Local officials, local law enforcement should be standing up and enforcing the rules in this state,” Pritzker said during his daily pandemic briefing. “Because weeks from now, when people end up going to the hospital as a result of these gatherings … those local officials and people who live in those areas will be coming to the state to ask us what are we going to add hospital space when the hospitals are full.”
“It’s these local officials,” Pritzker continued. “If they don’t do their job, then we’re going to end up with hospitals having to turn people away. That is just not something that I find acceptable.”
—Michael Hawthorne
2:17 p.m.: Chicago’s weekly coronavirus travel ban update delayed for Election Day
Chicago won’t update its coronavirus travel ban today due to the presidential election but will be providing an update later in the week, possibly on Thursday, a city spokesman said.
Public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady typically announces revisions to the city’s travel ban on Tuesdays, which go into effect later in the week. But her regularly scheduled news conference is being pushed back.
As of last week, there were 31 states on the list, as well as Puerto Rico, where city residents can’t travel without quarantining.
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All of Illinois’s neighboring states are on the list and Michigan was added to the warning list last week.
—Gregory Pratt
12:36 p.m.: Lake Forest, Lake Bluff restaurant owners face tough decisions as they navigate new restrictions on dine-in customers
This past weekend, bar and restaurant owners in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff had to adapt to tighter operating restrictions due to Lake County’s recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
For many local restaurant owners, it was a decision that was not greeted warmly. Meanwhile, state officials say they understand the hardships the limitations create, but emphasize their necessity for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the state as case numbers rise to new heights.
“It seems like it is another stab in the back toward restaurants. I can only do what they tell me but I think they are leading the restaurant owners in a path for being blamed for all of this, which is ridiculous,” said Joe Knesley, owner of Lake Forest’s Chief’s Pub.
For safety reasons, Knesley said his patrons have been sitting 10-12 feet apart at the restaurant, far more than the six feet outlined by health officials. It is part of an overall effort to abide by the safety guidelines.
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“Our restaurants have never been cleaner, everyone is wearing masks and washing their hands,” Knesley added.
Knesley said over the past few months, Chief’s has offered seating in a tent set up in a parking lot and shared with neighbor Egg Harbor Cafe. Yet under the new state restrictions, two sides of the tent have to be open, allowing for air movement. With temperatures now falling, Knesley senses the tent will not viewed desirable for customers.
Knesley thinks he will only be able to keep seven to eight employees of his current roster of 35, under the newly imposed restrictions.
“I don’t know if anybody running the state has ever had to go walk into a kitchen and tell everyone they don’t have a job anymore,” he said. “I know the pandemic is going on and I take it serious, but it is hard, this is everyone’s livelihood.”
Read more here. —Daniel I. Dorfman
12:07 p.m.: 6,516 new known COVID-19 cases and 68 additional deaths reported
Illinois health officials on Tuesday announced 6,516 new known cases of COVID-19 and 68 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 430,018 and the statewide death toll to 9,878 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 82,435 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 8.2%.
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—Chicago Tribune staff
7:20 a.m.: At Rogers Park library, neighbor steps in for older poll worker because of COVID-19 risks
Aana Vigen wanted to work the polls on Election Day for her 80-year-old neighbor, Jean.
As she taped an American flag about 6:30 a.m. outside the Rogers Park Library polling place in Ward 49, a badge reading “Democratic Judge” attached to her shirt, Vigen recalled how Jean had always worked as an election judge in past years.
But with COVID-19 still a high risk, especially for older people, the 52-year-old election judge wanted to step in for her neighbor this election and set an example for her 13-year-old son, Ben, by participating in democracy.
“In the midst of all the grief and heartache of this year, doing active things helps me with the anxiety and the sadness,” Vigen, an ethics professor at Loyola University, said. “It gives me a sense of hope and purpose and I just hope we keep that spirit regardless of how this election plays out.”
There was no line outside the voting site Vigen was working in Rogers Park early Tuesday as a handful of voters rushed in and out to cast their ballot.
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Marilyn Jaffe, 64, was the second voter who arrived, standing outside the doors at about 5:55 a.m. She said she’s always voted as early as she can on Election Day to avoid lines, and this year was no different.
For Jaffe, this election was about needing change after the last four years under President Donald Trump. She said the administration’s handling of COVID-19 and the nation’s divisiveness was a top factor for her decision.
“COVID is a big issue and hasn’t been addressed properly,” Jaffe said before entering the library at 6 a.m. to cast her vote.
—Kelli Smith
Aana Vigen, 52, a professor of ethics at Loyola University, tapes up a flag outside the library entrance. She‘s working as a poll watcher this election for the first time. pic.twitter.com/tUlQE0RBaU — Kelli Smith (@KelliSmithNews) November 3, 2020
6:40 a.m. Chicago officials tout COVID-19 measures for election, tell businesses to sign up for protest, unrest alerts
With more than 756,000 early or by-mail ballots case by Chicago voters by Monday, city officials early Tuesday said that in addition to the more than 1,000 voting sites in the city, residents also can drop off their mail-in ballots at drop boxes at the city’s largest sports arenas.
Secure drop boxes are available at the United Center—a city voting super site, where any registered voter can cast a ballot—as well as Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field, according to a release from the mayor’s office. Chicago election officials replaced many of the city’s smaller polling places with larger ones better able to handle social distancing and have put in place health plans under the guidance of the city health department.
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The city also plans to send out geographically targeted messages to businesses regarding “any expected rallies or large gatherings” in the wake of the election, according to the release. Neighborhood businesses can sign up for CHIBIZ alerts by sending via text the acronym “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3. Anyone who signs up will receive emergency messages directly from the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The emergency management office also “has launched a Business Operation Center” for businesses and other “private sector partners to exchange real-time information and provide situational awareness during public safety or public health issues,” according to the release.
—Chicago Tribune staff
6 a.m.: Against a backdrop of pandemic, civil unrest and charged political rhetoric, it’s Election Day for those who haven’t already cast a ballot.
Illinois voters who didn’t cast an early or mail-in ballot go to the polls Tuesday to wrap up a contentious political season complicated by pandemic restrictions that have forced them to largely watch from afar.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. with weather forecast to be unusually mild for early November, with temperatures in Chicago predicted to be near 60 degrees and nearing 70 degrees downstate.
Election Day will bring an end to the thousands of TV ads, costing tens of millions of dollars, that have aired almost incessantly since September for candidates and a major ballot issue.
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But it may take some time for the votes to be counted and there’s no guarantee results will be quickly available in key races. Nor is the election likely to put to rest the ongoing potential for social discontent and violence in what has been a year of civil unrest — the combustible byproduct of a charged presidential campaign, policing incidents in Black communities and restrictions resulting from COVID-19.
Read more here. —Rick Pearson
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
In case you missed it
Here are five stories from Monday related to COVID-19.