chicagotribune--2020-11-09--Cook County murder defendant who fled to Ohio one of more than 50 murder defendants here out on bond

Cook County murder defendant who fled to Ohio one of more than 50 murder defendants here out on bond and on electronic monitoring

He heard people yelling for help , he said , and told himself that people wouldn ’ t find him @ @ @ @ @ so he was able to get up and was later told he walked a full @ @ @ @ @ driving by found him unconscious and called 911 .
He had surgery to remove part @ @ @ @ @ a week in the hospital .
Now , he feels like he more easily gets @ @ @ @ @ while exercising or during work doing physical labor .

Paige Fry, Jessica Villagomez, Megan Crepeau

A memorial for Reinaldo “Reii” Sanchez sits near the scene where four men were stabbed, including Sanchez, in the 5300 block of West Irving Park Road on Nov. 11, 2019, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
On Oct. 30, friends and family of Reinaldo “Reii” Sanchez gathered on what would have been his 29th birthday, a step toward healing after he was fatally stabbed last year in Portage Park.
As they lighted lanterns and released balloons, they didn’t know that two days earlier the man charged in his killing had violated his house arrest, fled Illinois, and pulled a gun on two sheriff’s deputies some 250 miles away.
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Juan Torkelson, 28, was arrested in West Virginia after fleeing to Ohio while on electronic monitoring in a Chicago murder case. (Chicago Police Department)
Sanchez’s mother, Guillermina, was watching the television news when she saw that Juan Torkelson — who allegedly killed her son and injured three others — had escaped from his electronic monitoring.
“No one told us,” she said in Spanish, stammering over her words through shaking breaths. “They didn’t take the proper precautions, they let him out. That is what hurts me the most. It’s ridiculous, he’s a dangerous person.”
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U.S. marshals on Tuesday arrested Torkelson in West Virginia, authorities said.
But that was after long days of worry and fear for Sanchez’s loved ones and the other victims, frustration that they had learned of his escape on the news, and concern that he had been let out of jail in the first place.
More than 50 Cook County murder defendants are awaiting trial on electronic home monitoring, like Torkelson was. After a significant push toward bail reform, and a pandemic that made emptying the jail a priority, the number of people on monitoring has skyrocketed — and along with it, the number of people on ankle bracelets with serious violent charges.
In October 2016, there were 17 people on ankle monitors charged with murder, according to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office. As of Thursday, there were 54.
And the electronic monitoring population as a whole has grown by 1,000 just since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dart said in a budget hearing Thursday. In the years since Cook County courts took steps toward bond reform, his office has raised concerns their electronic monitoring program is stretched too thin, trying to keep track of more and more people with serious charges.
It is incredibly challenging to keep track of them all, Dart said at the budget meeting.
“We didn’t get extra money, didn’t get extra resources, didn’t get anything,” he told county commissioners. “On an average day we have about 20 people out for the entire county, per shift, to watch 3,300 people.”
Like Torkelson, most of the murder defendants on electronic monitoring are given ankle bracelets as a condition of bond — that is, they are placed on monitoring only after they post money to get out of jail, said Sarah Staudt, an attorney at the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice.
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“The judge likely assumed that Torkelson would remain in custody. He ordered EM as essentially a ‘backup’ on the off chance that Torkelson did post that money,” Staudt said. Court records show the case was handled by Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr.
Staudt keeps a close eye on bail numbers, and said that Torkelson’s $100,000 bond is not particularly rare. His case was unusual largely in that he was able to post the required funds.
“There are other murder defendants, and defendants with other very serious crimes, who are incarcerated on that bond or a lower one,” she said.
Torkelson’s attorney, Robert Kerr, told the Tribune that his client has a “credible and viable” claim of self-defense. While he did not represent Torkelson during the initial bond hearing, he said electronic monitoring was appropriate.
“Any reasonable person in his shoes on that day not only would have, but should have, acted in a way to defend himself and others on scene,” he said.
Sanchez was killed in November of last year, but Torkelson was not arrested until May.
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In court earlier this year, Cook County prosecutors said Sanchez and his friends were in an argument at a bar with another group of patrons. Someone in the opposing group messaged friends — including Torkelson — to come back them up.
But by the time Torkelson, armed with a knife, and his friends got to the bar, the argument was largely over, prosecutors said.
Torkelson’s attorney denied that framing, saying “by all accounts, it seems as if two groups of people spilled out of a bar and started a brawl.”
Sanchez had just gotten into a car’s driver’s seat when someone else in Torkelson’s group backed his pickup truck into the car, prosecutors said.
The truck drove off, and Torkelson ran up to Sanchez in the driver’s seat and began stabbing him, prosecutors said. Torkelson’s attorney strenuously denies that the attack came out of nowhere, as prosecutors described.
“If he did react or respond in self-defense, it was in response to an initial aggressor,” Kerr said, noting that his client was not the only person in the street that night who was armed with a knife.
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Sanchez was able to get out of the car, but Torkelson kept stabbing him, along with others who came to Sanchez’s aid, prosecutors said.
“We’re not exactly sure why or how it happened,” said a 29-year-old friend of Sanchez who was critically injured in the attack. He asked not to be identified out of fear for his safety. “We don’t know the motive.”
The man said he was stabbed once, which cut an artery and punctured a lung. He went in and out of consciousness while lying in the parking lot.
He heard people yelling for help, he said, and told himself that people wouldn’t find him where he was lying, so he was able to get up and was later told he walked a full block. A good Samaritan driving by found him unconscious and called 911. He had surgery to remove part of his lung and spent a week in the hospital. Now, he feels like he more easily gets out of breath, especially while exercising or during work doing physical labor.
Sanchez collapsed in Irving Park Road and was later pronounced dead.
Torkelson was arrested May 28, according to Chicago police. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
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Detectives told Sanchez’s friends that someone from the state’s attorney’s office would be in touch with them after Torkelson was arrested, and that was their last interaction with the detectives, said a 27-year-old woman who was a witness of the attack and also asked not to be identified out of safety concerns. But no one reached out.
Then came the court hearing. 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 Dart’s office.
The group found out he was put on electronic monitoring through their own online research, the woman said.
“Once we heard about the bond that was set for him, and he was able to be on house arrest, that was a slap in the face, honestly,” the 29-year-old stabbing survivor told the Tribune.
Guillermina Sanchez, the victim’s mother, said she received a call from the state’s attorney’s office on Tuesday informing her that Torkelson was at large, long after she had already found out. She said she told authorities long before the escape that she was worried about Torkelson’s low bond, concerned for the safety of the survivors and her family’s well-being.
“These boys are traumatized from this crime, it’s not easy surviving an attack like this, I hurt every day. He left me with no son, my only son,” she said. “If my son was white or had a white last name, maybe they would have taken his case seriously. Because for me, they told me nothing.”
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The office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who won reelection Tuesday, said its Victim Witness staff notified Sanchez on Tuesday that Torkelson had jumped bail, after being notified by the sheriff a few days earlier. Foxx spokeswoman Tandra Simonton in an email addressed questions about whether prosecutors had protested the bond decision on Torkelson.
“At the bail hearing, prosecutors presented all available information regarding the charges related to this case and the offender’s criminal history to the court so the judge could make his final determination on Torkelson’s bail and custody,” the email stated. “Additionally, the court granted our request for special conditions of bail, which include electronic monitoring if bail is posted and ordered the defendant have no contact with the victims and witnesses in this case.”
Torkelson’s attorney said the judge must have “recognized this case for what it is, which is a good case, a strong case of self-defense and a case involving many issues related to the identity of each and every offender that was out here on that day. Torkelson’s not the only one who was involved in what happened out there. Far from it.”
On Oct. 27, the sheriff’s office, which oversees the electronic monitoring program, said it was notified of a “possible unauthorized leave” for Torkelson. The office is notified by its program vendor when a monitor unit leaves a geographic area it has been designated to remain in, officials said.
About 1 a.m. Oct. 28, two sheriff’s deputies in Madison County, Ohio — some 250 miles away — 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.
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The deputies then took cover, and Torkelson apparently drove off. His car crashed and he fled on foot, White said.
In the car, the deputies found a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9 mm handgun, a box of 9 mm ammunition, and a bag that had a knife and a magazine with six rounds, according to an incident report.
That day, in Cook County, the sheriff’s office visited Torkelson’s reported address. He was not there but he had left a note for a resident there, saying he had to go to a hospital. Investigators also discovered that Torkelson had been granted permission to meet with a local law enforcement agency that day.
They checked with both the hospital and the law enforcement agency but found no record he had visited either location.
Torkelson was at large until Tuesday, when deputy U.S. marshals arrested him after developing information that he was in the area of Oak Hill, West Virginia, the southern part of the state, according to Mark Gregoline, deputy commander of the Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Gregoline would not say how the marshals found him, but said their investigation led them to an apartment complex in the area.
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When authorities arrived there, Torkelson leapt through a second-floor glass window and fled on foot, said Gregoline. He did not know Torkelson’s connection to the apartment complex.
After a brief foot chase, the marshals arrested Torkelson, who was carrying a large knife, Gregoline said.
Chicago Tribune’s Annie Sweeney and Jeremy Gorner contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-11-09--Column: Breathe, America. Donald Trump’s knee is off your neck.

You stand bruised and unsteady , uncertain about what the future holds .
Though you are rejoicing in the streets @ @ @ @ @ the ordeal is over .
Other times you thought he was defeated , he prevailed @ @ @ @ @ Rather than loosening the grip on your neck , he pressed down harder and harder @

Demonstrators march to advocate protecting the voting results Nov. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles, after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was announced as the presumptive winner over President Donald Trump. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)
Breathe easy, America. Donald Trump’s knee is no longer on your neck.
You rose, more than 75 million voters strong, and shoved him off your back. The debilitating weight that rendered you helpless for four agonizing years is no longer there.
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You are free now. You survived.
You stand bruised and unsteady, uncertain about what the future holds. Though you are rejoicing in the streets, you are not sure the ordeal is over. Other times you thought he was defeated, he prevailed more emboldened than before. Rather than loosening the grip on your neck, he pressed down harder and harder.
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When someone’s knee is buried deep in your neck, you cannot think clearly. You lose focus and drift in and out of awareness. You are so weakened that it is difficult to fend for yourself.
He thought he had convinced you that living with a knee pinned to your neck is not as bad as some make it out to be. He thought that you would be content to remain under duress four more years if he dangled a few distortions in your face.
He claimed responsibility for a growing economy that began thriving under Barack Obama. He offered you the freedom not to wear a mask, knowing that it would allow COVID-19 to flourish. He promised you a speedy return to normal. But the pandemic has created a new normal in America, and it is nothing like the past.
You were not tempted in the least, because you knew that he could not be trusted.
Still, he thought he had you beaten. He thought he had drained every bit of resilience from your veins. He thought you had given up. He was sure he had won.
He cannot believe that you had the fortitude to push him off your neck. He cannot accept that he was so blinded by narcissism and arrogance that he never thought you would form a human crane and lift yourself up.
Not only did you free yourself, you liberated more than 70 million others who voted to stay exactly where they were. Some didn’t even realize there was a knee holding them down. Others didn’t care.
The pressure was applied so hard that it stifled the entire country. Everyone was suffocating from anger and hatred, aimed not at him but at each other. America was on a path to annihilation, though some saw it much more clearly than others.
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He cannot afford to let you go because when you breathe freely, he must gasp for air. He thrives on your pain and is energized when you feel hopeless.
He is doing everything in his power to prove that you are not as strong as you appeared to be on Tuesday when you showed the world that you’d had enough.
You got up and ran faster than you ever had before. He is trying to catch you and pin you down again. But every vote that is counted puts you another step ahead.
So far, you have outpaced him. He knows that you will soon be so far out of reach that he will have no other option than to turn around and face defeat.
But he isn’t ready yet. He has invested too much in your demise. Though it could rip this country into shreds, he isn’t about to give up without a fight. And when — not if — he fails, it is unlikely that he will concede.
He is coming hardest for the most vulnerable among you — in urban areas where Black people have had knees on their necks for generations.
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The case he will make in court this week, however, is an indictment of every American who voted against him. He believes you deserved to be buckled down, that anyone who suffers beneath someone’s knee is unworthy of being freed.
He does not think that oppressed people are courageous enough to fend off their oppressor. He is seeking witnesses who will say that you did not free yourself by your own will. He insists that you are cheaters, liars and scoundrels.
He thinks that you were held under his knee so long that you are willing to break laws and undermine democracy to get what you want. He sees you as a corrupt mirror image of himself.
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At the end of the day, he is counting on the courts to take over the pursuit, wrestle you down and bring you back to him. He is looking for a court that is willing to grant him more time on your neck to finish the destruction he started.
He needs a court to believe his accusations that the system which allowed you to free yourself is fraudulent, that the election in which you decided to get up rather than continue flailing helplessly on the ground was rigged.
But he has already lost. Now that his knee is removed, you can envision a future without him. Hope has returned. You are proud of your perseverance and invigorated by your victory.
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So exhale. The tightness in your chest is gone. Your heart is calm and your mind is clear. You are eager to start anew.
Soon you will have the confidence to stand firm on your feet. And you will look him in the eye and say, “Never again.”
dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng


chicagotribune--2020-11-09--1 fatally shot near Midway Airport, police say

About 2 a.m. , officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 4700 block of West 59th Street on the @ @ @ @ @ .
They found a vehicle that hit a tree and a man inside was unresponsive @ @ @ @ @ the face .

A 20-year-old man was fatally shot early Monday while sitting in the driver seat of a vehicle near Midway Airport, according to Chicago police.
About 2 a.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 4700 block of West 59th Street on the Southwest Side, police said. They found a vehicle that hit a tree and a man inside was unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the face.
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He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
There were no witnesses to the shooting, so further details were not immediately known, police said.
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pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-11-09--Trump supporters rally in Schaumburg after election results announced

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad placed his five-bedroom house in Lakeview on the market in early November for just @ @ @ @ @

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chicagotribune--2020-11-10--Crystal Lake paving business owner pleads guilty to tax evasion, admitting he failed to pay about $1

Crystal Lake paving business owner pleads guilty to tax evasion, admitting he failed to pay about $1 million

Gary Petersen , 55 , of Crystal Lake , was president and sole shareholder of Petersen Sealcoating and Paving Inc @ @ @ @ @ plea agreement stated , he deposited business checks into his and his family ’ s @ @ @ @ @ than his business accounts , and cashed checks for personal use .

A Crystal Lake seal-coating business owner pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Rockford to evading more than $400,000 in federal income tax.
Gary Petersen, 55, of Crystal Lake, was president and sole shareholder of Petersen Sealcoating and Paving Inc. In 2016, the plea agreement stated, he deposited business checks into his and his family’s personal bank accounts, rather than his business accounts, and cashed checks for personal use.
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For 2016, Petersen filed a tax return claiming he owed about $11,000 in taxes on about $75,000 in income, when he admitted he actually earned almost $1.2 million and owed about $400,000.
Petersen also admitted he engaged in the same practice in 2012 through 2015, resulting in unpaid taxes totaling about $600,000.
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Petersen faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to twice the amount owed. Sentencing was set for federal court on Feb. 17.


chicagotribune--2020-11-10--Suburban counties face 10-person gathering limit, Pritzker raises possibility of another stay-at-hom

Suburban counties face 10-person gathering limit, Pritzker raises possibility of another stay-at-home order as coronavirus surge continues unabated

In DuPage and Kane counties , the seven-day average for the test positivity rate was 13.7 % as of Friday @ @ @ @ @ when the prohibition on indoor service at restaurants and bars took effect Oct. 23 .
@ @ @ @ @ , the positivity rate was 16.4 % , up from 9.3 % on Oct. 23 @ @ @ @ @ slightly better , with a positivity rate of 11.5 % as of Friday , up @ @ @ @ @ restrictions went into effect Oct. 22 .

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)
With the coronavirus continuing to surge largely unabated, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday that he would impose a 10-person limit on gatherings in parts of suburban Chicago and much of southern Illinois and suggested a statewide stay-at-home order is back on the table as a possible step to bring COVID-19 under control.
DuPage, Kane, Will and Kankakee counties, along with the state’s 20 southernmost counties, will come under the stricter rules, which also include a limit of six people per table for outdoor restaurant and bar service, beginning Wednesday. They join the northwest region, home to Rockford, DeKalb and Galena, in facing the next level of restrictions in Pritzker’s 11-region reopening plan.
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The latest restrictions came on the fourth consecutive day that state health officials reported more than 10,000 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. The virus is flaring in much of the country, but there was some good news as a major pharmaceutical company announced significant progress on a coronavirus vaccine.
Pritzker last week said he was considering renewed statewide restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, and on Monday he appeared to open the door to a new stay-at-home order. The stay-at-home order that went into effect March 21 and was lifted May 29 was Pritzker’s most drastic measure to date to combat the spread of the virus.
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“We are looking at, really, all the possibilities: the possibility that we would have to go back a phase, the possibility that we would have to, ultimately, have a stay-at-home order,” Pritzker said at his daily coronavirus briefing. “Those are not things I’d prefer to do.”
It was a subtle shift for the governor, who as recently as Thursday had said a new stay-at-home order was “not something right now that we’re considering.”
Positivity rates on coronavirus tests in the suburban and southern Illinois regions have continued to increase even after Pritzker ordered the shutdown of indoor dining and bar service and capped gatherings at 25 people in those areas roughly two weeks ago. Many establishments have flouted the governor’s orders, and local officials in some areas have refused to enforce them.
“These mayors and city councils and county boards and state’s attorneys need to take some responsibility for keeping their constituents safe,” Pritzker said Monday. “I promise them, that responsibility pales in comparison to what could come when the hospitals in your area are filling up and there aren’t enough nurses or doctors to save their constituents’ lives.”
Those appeals, which Pritzker has made repeatedly as the virus has surged this fall and more regions have come under tightened restrictions, have been ignored by some local leaders who disagree with the governor’s decisions.
“It’s not the mitigations that aren’t strict enough,” Pritzker said. “It’s whether people are following the mitigations.”
The positivity rate has continued to rise in the one region where the 10-person limit on gatherings is already in effect. In the nine-county northwest region, the positivity rate hit 17.6% on Friday, up from 13% on Oct. 25, when the region came under the lower limit on gatherings and other stricter rules.
In DuPage and Kane counties, the seven-day average for the test positivity rate was 13.7% as of Friday, up from 9.5% when the prohibition on indoor service at restaurants and bars took effect Oct. 23. In Will and Kankakee counties, the positivity rate was 16.4%, up from 9.3% on Oct. 23. Southern Illinois was faring slightly better, with a positivity rate of 11.5% as of Friday, up from 8.7% when tighter restrictions went into effect Oct. 22.
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Under the governor’s plan, if the regions facing the second level of tighter restrictions don’t bring down their positivity rates, the next step could include suspending indoor and outdoor recreational activities and in-store shopping at nonessential retailers.
Pritzker largely has relied on the Illinois State Police to enforce his orders in areas where local officials aren’t. But at last count, state police had only issued four citations for violations.
The governor also has said he would look to pull liquor licenses and video gambling permits from establishments that don’t follow the rules.
A spokeswoman for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission said the agency, along with others, is “actively enforcing” the governor’s rules. But so far, no licenses have been revoked. A spokesman for the Illinois Gaming Board did not respond to a request for comment.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday she is planning an unspecified series of restrictions that are more limited than measures taken in the spring.
As the virus spreads “across every neighborhood, across every demographic, every age group, we’ve got to be very strategic about the way in which we deploy interventions,” she said.
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“We’ve got to use a surgeon’s knife and not a blunt ax. In thinking about the next steps, that is really the mindset that we are taking,” Lightfoot said.
Statewide, the test positivity rate — the share of positive tests out of all tests take in a 24-hour period — was at a seven-day average of 12.4% as of Sunday, up from 8.2% when the state began reporting the figure on Oct. 29.
State health officials on Monday reported 10,573 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, bringing the seven-day average for new daily cases to 9,626, up from 6,360 a week earlier. A month ago, the seven-day average was 2,267 cases per day.
Dozens of people wait in line to get tested outside a mobile COVID-19 testing site Nov. 9, 2020, at the Resurrection Project in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
It’s unclear what effect the inclusion of probable cases — those that meet clinical criteria and have an epidemiological link to the virus or those who have a positive antigen test — has had on the daily totals since the state began including them in the count on Friday, though the previous day’s total was 9,935 confirmed cases. In all there, have been 498,560 cases statewide during the pandemic.
Officials also reported 14 additional fatalities Monday, bringing the statewide death toll to 10,210.
Surging hospitalizations also remain a concern for health officials. As of Sunday night, 4,409 people were in the hospital for COVID-19, bringing the seven-day average for hospitalizations above 4,000 for the first time since May 23. A week ago, the seven-day average for hospitalizations was 3,091. The number of patients in intensive care and on ventilators also continues to rise statewide.
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Pritzker’s plan doesn’t fully open the state until a vaccine is available. On Monday, Pfizer and a German partner announced preliminary results that suggested their vaccine was more than 90% effective.
The results are preliminary, and the vaccine will not come in time to rescue the world from the next several months.
Chicago Tribune’s Jamie Munks contributed from Springfield. Associated Press also contributed.
dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
gpratt@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-11-10--Imperial Lamian latest among Chicago restaurants closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic tol

Imperial Lamian latest among Chicago restaurants closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic toll. Here’s our running list.

Earlier this summer , changes to the OpenTable website for Kiki ’ s Bistro caused some confusion over whether or not the beloved River North spot had closed for good .
The restaurant shared a clarification that , for now , it would be open for business .
Sadly , however , Kiki ’ s website changed late last week , indicating that the restaurant will close permanently after the final day of service Sept. 30 .
“ We appreciate the birthdays , anniversaries , special occasions and everyday meals that you spent dining and laughing with us .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months , as your visits did for those many years , ” read the post .
It wasn ’ t all bad news , though , mentioning that a small-time operation remains on the radar for Kiki ’ s founder Georges “ Kiki ” Cuisance : “ Kiki , 87 , is attempting retirement with an open eye for a potential petite Kiki ’ s — a tiny , cozy reboot with the potential to offer authentic French fare you love on a very intimate scale.
” See the full story here @ @ @ @

Adam Lukach, Grace Wong, Nick Kindelsperger, Josh Noel

The statewide shutdown of restaurants and bars for on-premise service took effect March 16. Since then, several restaurants and bars have reopened for dining and drinking, as Chicago and the state have rolled out gradual reopening plans. But not all of them have made it.
This article lists bars and restaurants that have been forced to close due to the financial strain of COVID-19 regulations. Note that these closures are strictly finance-related and are not due to illness among any of the business’ staff.
We will update the list, sorted alphabetically, as needed.
NEW CLOSINGS
Lagunitas taproom likely won’t reopen in 2021
Lagunitas Brewing likely won’t reopen its Chicago taproom until at least 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the brewery’s chief marketing officer said Thursday. The taproom, which opened in 2014, is situated directly above the brewery, in the center of Lagunitas’ South Side building. Lagunitas CMO Paige Guzman said she’d “be surprised” if it reopened this year due to concerns about virus spread. The taproom has been closed since the pandemic took root in the U.S. in March. Lagunitas is among the first Chicago bars or restaurants to acknowledge a 2021 reopening as unlikely. See the full story here.
— Josh Noel
FULL RESTAURANT CLOSINGS LIST
25 Degrees
The downtown restaurant and bar did not mention the pandemic shutdown specifically, but a Facebook post announcing its closure noted that it was “due to our current situation.”
Arlington Cake Box Bakery
Chicagoland residents have been celebrating special occasions with the baking of Arlington Cake Box Bakery for 71 years, but the bakery announced in a Facebook post last week that it closed Sept. 20. “We are so grateful for the level of support you have shown us, not only in these unprecedented last six months, but also in the past 71 years,” read the post. The bakery first opened in 1949 and had been on its third generation as a family business.
Bad Hunter
The dining room at Bad Hunter is reflected in a mirror on the back wall. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)
Bad Hunter — known for its vegetable-and-grains-forward menu — and its second-floor event venue, The Herbarium, closed for good because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The West Loop restaurant, which survived a fire and re-opened in 2019, was voted the Chicago restaurant with the best plant-based menu in the Chicago Tribune Readers’ Choice Dining Awards earlier this year. — Grace Wong
Band of Bohemia
Band of Bohemia, which announced in July that it was closing temporarily, first earned a Michelin star in 2016 and had retained it every year since through 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Five-year-old Band of Bohemia, whose pioneering vision of brewing beer and serving creative, ambitious food was ultimately rewarded with a coveted Michelin star, is going out of business after filing for bankruptcy. The Ravenswood brewpub filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation Oct. 16 in the Northern District of Illinois. According to court records, Band of Bohemia is more than $1 million in debt. But in a statement Oct. 21, Band of Bohemia founders Michael Carroll and Craig Sindelar blamed the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic for the closure. The restaurant has been closed since July, when owners said it would be shuttering temporarily. See the full story here. — Josh Noel
Baobab BBQ
The barbecue spot, which used South African flavors to riff on traditional ‘cue, announced in May on its Facebook page that it would close permanently due to the effects of the shutdown, writing: “When a small business’s revenue is interrupted it is devastating; when it’s a restaurant, earth shattering best describes it.”
Bar Biscay
An array of "pintxos," popular small bites offered at Bar Biscay. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Bar Biscay, the restaurant that lit up West Town with coastal-Spain sunshine, has closed, for keeps, after a 2½-year run. Partner Scott Worsham said in a posting on Facebook that, “The time has come to say goodbye to our groovy, Atlantic-coast inspired French-Spanish-Basque funhouse, our Oasis of Joy. He blamed COVID-19 and “factors beyond our control.” See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Bite Cafe
Noah Sandoval (Oriole, Kumiko/Kikko) will join with friend Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of the 16″ On Center restaurant group (Longman & Eagle, Dusek’s Board & Beer, Revival Food Hall), to create Pizza Friendly Pizza, opening later this summer in the Bite Cafe space. Finkelman said, “Once the quarantine hit, I realized that that type of restaurant wouldn’t be able to exist in the post-COVID culinary scene.” — Phil Vettel
Blackbird
Blackbird restaurant in Chicago on Monday June 29, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The highest-profile Chicago restaurant victim of coronavirus to date has been Blackbird, closing for good after more than 22 years as one of the area’s finest restaurants. “We’ve labored long and hard over this decision,” said partner Paul Kahan. “But in an incredibly small, tight dining room — operating at only 25% capacity for who knows how long — and removing the opportunity to do private dining, it becomes incredibly difficult to manage.” — Phil Vettel
Blue Nose Brewery
Small southwest suburban Blue Nose Brewery has closed due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Blue Nose co-founder Jordan Isenberg said he made the decision in late October 2020, after the state ordered suburban Cook County bars and restaurants to close for indoor business for a second time to stem the spread of COVID-19. He kept the decision largely to himself while winding down the business, he said. See the rest of the story here. — Josh Noel
Bonci (Wicker Park)
Three different options at Bonci (Arugula, dried tomatoes and bufala mozzarella) (zucchini, ricotta, lemon zest and black pepper) and (prosciutto and fior di latte mozzarella). (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
The second Chicago location of the world famous pizzeria was located in Wicker Park, but Eater Chicago reported that Bonci’s director of U.S. operations said consolidating to one location (West Loop) was necessary in light of the pandemic.
Bonfire
The no-frills steakhouse in Homer Glen confirmed via Facebook message that it has closed for good due to the effects of the pandemic shutdown.
Bottled Blonde
Bottled Blonde has closed after years of legal drama. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
Bottled Blonde, the River North bar better known for its legal drama than pizza, closed permanently July 27, due to the coronavirus — but COVID-19 violations are not among the complaints against it. The business “surrendered their business licenses, permanently closing the River North bar after a series of serious nuisance conditions dating back to 2017,” according to a statement from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. The bar had not received any citations related to COVID-19, wrote the department spokesperson.
The district manager of Bottled Blonde said, “It’s been an uphill battle since we came into this neighborhood. We had fights with the city, fights with the neighborhood. With the COVID thing, you need revenue to keep up those fights. We can’t stay open and operate at limited capacities.” See the full story here. — Louisa Chu
Boulangerie (Belmont Avenue)
La Boulangerie closed its location at 915 W. Belmont Ave. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
The French bakery chain La Boulangerie has closed the Lakeview location on Belmont Avenue. The Logan Square and Ravenswood bakeries remain open, but for pickup and delivery only.
Bridgeport Coffee Co. (Loop)
The Chicago coffee roaster closed its Loop location in June, confirming the shuttering as a result of COVID in a blog post. Its other three in Bridgeport, Hyde Park and the South Loop remain open.
Cactus Bar & Grill
The Cactus Bar at 404 S. Wells St. in Chicago. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
The recent closure of Cactus Bar & Grill leaves the South Loop financial district without a 31-year-old standby. Cactus confirmed the closure with a note on its website, writing that they knew in the middle of August that the bar wouldn’t make it: “With few offices in the Loop occupied, and a challenging situation with our land lord, the crisis’s financial devastation became insurmountable.” The bar was a staple for lunches and drinks in the Loop.
Cafe Marie-Jeanne
The announcement that Cafe Marie-Jeanne will close drew lines outside the Humboldt Park restaurant Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. By Saturday, owners had to close early after running out of food. The wait Sunday was four hours. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Cafe Marie-Jeanne (1001 N. California Ave.), co-owned by the husband and wife team of Michael Simmons and Val Szafranski, announced Nov. 19 on Instagram that they would close permanently: “The string has run out for CMJ. We hung in as long as we could and it’s time to let go. Everything must end. WE WILL MISS YOU ALL!” Over the following weekend, fans flocked to the Humboldt Park restaurant known for its French-influenced dishes for one last taste. Lines stretched down the block, and Simmons had to shut down early Nov. 20 because he ran out of food. On that Saturday, the wait in line took four hours. The restaurant closed Nov. 23. See the full story here. — Nick Kindelsperger
Candyality
Candyality is known for its collection of retro candies, among hundreds of other confections.
Andersonville has one less spot to sate your sweet tooth, as Candyality has announced in a Facebook post that it will be closing its location in the neighborhood at the end of September. The closing comes “with great sadness” after spending more than 5 years in that space, the post reads. The Chicago-based candy store — which has also had locations in Wicker Park and Water Tower Place during the past several years — is still open at its Lakeview location, 3737 N. Southport Ave., and offers local delivery.
Cafe Cancale
The strawberry sundae with sea salt ice cream at Cafe Cancale. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
The One Off Hospitality property in Wicker Park was another casualty of the pandemic, closing at the same time as Blackbird.
California Clipper and coffee shop C.C. Ferns
Detail of the Vesper at California Clipper in 2017. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Both the Clipper and attached cafe C.C. Ferns shuttered permanently due to the COVID shutdown. However, there have been conflicting accounts between Hogsalt Hospitality owner Brendan Sodikoff and landlord Gino Battaglia as to how the fallout was navigated, according to reports from Eater Chicago and Block Club Chicago, respectively.
Chicago House Of ‘Za
The North Center spot for all-vegan pizza shared an Instagram post announcing its permanent closure, citing the financial effects of the pandemic shutdown as part of the reason: “With the current pandemic, as well as the enormous cost of operating a business in Chicago, we are unable to stay open for business any longer.”
City Mouse
City Mouse restaurant in the Ace Hotel opened in 2017. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
City Mouse, the Ace Hotel restaurant operated by the team behind Giant and Chef’s Special, is closing after three years. Sunday, Oct. 18, will be the last day, the restaurant announced Wednesday in a statement. Jason Vincent, one of the partners at Giant and Chef’s Special, declined further comment. Giant and Chef’s Special bar announced just Tuesday it was launching a food truck to get their creative cooking to a larger audience. The space is going to be occupied by the Alinea Group, starting in November; owner Nick Kokonas confirmed that Alinea has leased the space for a three-month residency, but offered no additional details. For more details, see the story here. — Phil Vettel
Conga’s
The Norwood Park restaurant, which also featured music and dancing, announced it would be closing on Facebook. The post read, “I’m deeply saddened to announce Congas Restaurant will not be opening again. Covid-19 made me realize the most important things in life.” Another post teased a return for the Congas name, but as more of a venue-esque space.
Danny’s Tavern
After rumors of a closure had persisted on social media for weeks, Danny’s Tavern has confirmed it closed permanently. The Bucktown dive was well-known for its dance floor and its popular party celebrating The Smiths. The closure comes five years after the bar nearly shuttered once before and ends the bar’s 34-year stay on Dickens Avenue.
Davanti Enoteca
Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy.
The Little Italy location of Davanti Enoteca has closed for good, and, according to a report from the Sun-Times, it appears finances were a factor: “A demand letter dated June 12 from the landlord ... said the establishment was nearly $60,000 behind on rent.” The letter was posted on the window of Francesca’s, a sister restaurant also owned by chef David Harris.
Ditka’s in Chicago
Mike Ditka lookalike Don, center, and his wife Marian Feuling eat during a birthday party dinner at Ditka's restaurant in 2019. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune)
The economic effects of the mandated shutdown were a contributing factor in the closure of Mike Ditka’s Chicago restaurant in May. Other locations remain open, including Ditka’s in suburban Oakbrook Terrace and Grill 89 in suburban Westmont.
Eden
People settle in for dinner at the restaurant called Eden, 1748 W. Lake St. in Chicago, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Eden, a Cal-Mediterranean restaurant popular with pre- and post-event United Center crowd (among others), closed in mid-July after a run of just over 3½ years. Eden opened on west Lake Street in December 2016 and made friends quickly, both for its pretty, bright-white interiors and Devon Quinn’s skillful cooking. The owners said in a release that “While we recently reopened our doors to an immensely positive response, the larger economic impact resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for us to sustain operations.” Read the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Emerald City Coffee Shop (Sheridan)
The Emerald City Coffee Shop location on Sheridan Road closed permanently Oct. 31, according to a post on the cafe’s Instagram page: “The uncertainty of the pandemic and other financial stressors were too much to bear and we’re so, so bummed to see ECC Sheridan go, but it’s the tough choice we had to make.” Emerald City, which was also known for its breakfast burritos, occupied a noticeable space below the Sheridan Red Line stop for years and was a neighborhood favorite. The Emerald City Coffee in Uptown, at 1224 W. Wilson Ave., remains open.
A Go Fund Me campaign launched earlier to save the Sheridan location has been taken down. But a new Go Fund Me has been launched, this one to help laid-off baristas. “The purpose of this fundraiser is to help cushion the blow that our ECC Sheridan staff will experience in the coming days,” the campaign reads. It seeks $5,000 and by the afternoon of Nov. 4 had raised $2,100. — Adam Lukach
Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market
Owner Glenn Fahlstrom confirmed that he would be closing the Lakeview seafood spot in an online post shared on the restaurant’s website and social media pages. The post, in part, read: “The new restaurant model is asking owners to put employees in harm’s way so that their business can possibly survive. That is an ‘acceptable risk’ I cannot take. The restaurant business as I know it is gone and will not return for years. It was hard enough when the playing field was supposedly level, now it is tilted beyond recognition. So, I am closing Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market.”
Fat Rice / Super Fat Rice Mart
At the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, Fat Rice pivoted to become Super Fat Rice Mart, a market for meal kits and various grocery goods. Later, current and former Fat Rice employees went public with allegations of harassment and mistreatment by owner Abe Conlon, and the location has been closed ever since, with no public mention of a reopening date.
Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
Rib tips at Fat Willy's Rib Shack, 2416 W. Schubert Ave. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
The North Side is losing another barbecue spot after Fat Willy’s Rib Shack announced Thursday evening that it will close Sept. 27. The Logan Square restaurant has been in the neighborhood for more than 19 years and has a loyal following of diners who go there for baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket and mac and cheese. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Finom Coffee
Cream and sugar station at Finom Coffee in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
Finom Coffee — the popular two-year-old cafe in Old Irving Park known for serving Hungarian small plates, along with coffee, tea and baked goods, out of a snazzy art-deco storefront, has closed. Chef Rafa Esparza posted an upbeat message on Instagram: “It was a beautiful moment in time and the whole crew slayed from day one!” See the full story here. — Adam Lukach
Foodlife
The multi-station food concept located in Water Tower Place confirmed its closing in early June, although owner Lettuce Entertain You declined to comment exactly why. — Nick Kindelsperger
Fountainhead
Guests sit on the popular rooftop patio at Fountainhead in Ravenswood in this 2015 photo. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye)
For the past 10 years, Fountainhead bar and restaurant has occupied the northeast corner of Damen and Montrose, one of Ravenswood’s essential intersections, bringing an enviable selection of whiskey and barrel-aged spirits to the neighborhood. In late September, the restaurant announced in social media posts that its run will come to an end Nov 14. “The past year has been difficult for everyone but pressures facing our industry at this time make it financially impossible to operate past the roof deck season. We made every effort to make adjustments to operate in this ‘new normal’ but with limitations restricting revenue and without funding to offset this condition it is impossible to continue,” read the post. Fountainhead owners are working with building ownership to find the “right concept” for the prominently situated storefront. Rhe Fountainhead Market — located next door — will remain there. — Adam Lukach
Francesca’s On Taylor
As with Taylor Street’s Davanti Enoteca — the two restaurants share ownership — the Italian restaurant in Little Italy has closed permanently, with reports indicating that rent-payment issues were at least partly to blame.
Gino’s East
The Gino’s East restaurant at 500 N. LaSalle St. has closed, a victim of a decline in business downtown, according to Jordan Himmel, chief information officer for Chicago-based Bravo Restaurants (which owns Gino’s East, Ed Debevic’s, Edwardo’s Pizza and Eduardo’s Enoteca.) The location closed in March, but other Chicago locations remain open.
Guthrie’s Tavern
Ron DeNicolo and his wife, Cynthia, take a photograph outside Guthrie's Tavern, 1300 W. Addison St., on July 21 in Chicago. DeNicolo said he and Cynthia had their first date at the bar 10 years ago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Guthrie’s Tavern, one of Chicago’s oldest and most popular neighborhood bars, announced it would be closing permanently, citing the city’s rollback of phase four rules for bars as a primary cause. Guthrie’s has occupied the corner of Addison Street and Lakewood Avenue for 34 years. It closed July 23. See the complete story here. — Adam Lukach
Habana Libre
Per a post on its website, Habana Libre closed permanently “due to the impact of coronavirus.” The Cuban restaurant had been in West Town since 2007.
Hamburger Mary’s
Hamburger Mary's opened on a key corner in Andersonville in 2006. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
Andersonville’s Hamburger Mary’s — the only remaining city location of the nationwide network of independent franchises — announced Sunday on Facebook that it would be closing Nov. 1. Ownership listed the building for sale last year, and the lease ends at the end of December, but the coronavirus pandemic expedited the closing process, according to the post. The burger-focused restaurant, an outlet of the San Francisco-based chain, opened on a high-profile in Andersonville in June 2006, featuring drag shows, karaoke and bingo, along with the burgers. The closing announcement also teased ownership interest in reopening at another location: “We feel it’s best to wait until spring before we look for a possible new space.” The restaurant will host regular business hours until its final day of service Nov. 1. — Adam Lukach
Hot “G” Dog
Duck sausage, topped with lobes of foie gras and sea salt flakes, from Hot "G" Dog (5009 N. Clark St.). (Kevin Pang / Chicago Tribune)
Andersonville lost a hot-dog joint — at least the rest of 2020 — from the former Hot Doug’s chef with the closure of Hot “G” Dog. A Facebook post from the restaurant said its owners hope to return eventually, but the COVID shutdown had made business unsustainable for now.
Imperial Lamian
After more than four and a half years of serving rainbow-colored soup dumplings, roast duck and vegan spring rolls, Imperial Lamian is closing its doors in River North. The Chinese restaurant cited pandemic-related challenges as its reason for closing. Imperial Lamian, which opened in the spring of 2016, was lauded by the Chicago Tribune as having the best xiaolongbao (or XLB for short) in the city. Dozens of people expressed how much they would miss the restaurant in the comments section of the social media posts. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Income Tax
Income Tax brought a much-needed wine bar to Edgewater, furthering the trend of easy-drinking, non-pretentious wine lists. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
Ownership for the laid-back Edgewater wine bar confirmed via email that the pandemic’s effect on Income Tax’s financials led to its closing. It had been open since 2016.
Jeri’s Grill
The diner on Western Avenue was a monument to greasy spoons of yore, open for 57 years and 24 hours a day, and was cut down by COVID-19, reported Block Club Chicago in May. “If there was no COVID, we’d be open,” owner Frank Di Piero told the publication.
Katana
Katana brought its robatayaki-style restaurant to the River North neighborhood in 2017. (Katana)
A spokesperson for the parent company of the River North sushi restaurant wrote in an email: “Yes, the COVID closure was a devastating financial hit for us and the reason behind our closure … The Chicago location was very special to us, and we were sad to close.”
Kiki’s Bistro
Diners raise a toast during a wine dinner at Kiki’s Bistro, 900 N. Franklin St., May 4, 2006. The restaurant announced it would close permanently at the end of September 2020. (Wes Pope / Chicago Tribune)
Earlier this summer, changes to the OpenTable website for Kiki’s Bistro caused some confusion over whether or not the beloved River North spot had closed for good. The restaurant shared a clarification that, for now, it would be open for business. Sadly, however, Kiki’s website changed late last week, indicating that the restaurant will close permanently after the final day of service Sept. 30. “We appreciate the birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions and everyday meals that you spent dining and laughing with us. Those memories have sustained us through the last few months, as your visits did for those many years,” read the post. It wasn’t all bad news, though, mentioning that a small-time operation remains on the radar for Kiki’s founder Georges “Kiki” Cuisance: “Kiki, 87, is attempting retirement with an open eye for a potential petite Kiki’s — a tiny, cozy reboot with the potential to offer authentic French fare you love on a very intimate scale.” See the full story here. — Adam Lukach
Kroll’s South Loop
One of the South Loop’s signature sports bars, Kroll’s South Loop, announced in a Facebook post that it would be closing its doors at the end of the summer. “We fought hard,” read the announcement. “The burden of operating under the current conditions is too great and, come fall, will be impossible to continue under the current indoor capacity restrictions of 50 patrons. … We do not know whether this closure will last until next spring or forever. Only time will tell.” Kroll’s will remain open for dinner service Thursdays through Sundays until it concludes its 15-year run at the end of summer.
La Buona Vita
La Buona Vita, a Northern Italian restaurant in downtown La Grange closed its doors after a six-year run. In a message posted on the restaurant’s now-defunct website, owner Jim Barron named COVID-19 as the proximate cause of his restaurant’s demise. — Phil Vettel
La Fontanella
The owners of the longtime Italian restaurant had already planned to sell the building and restaurant prior to the pandemic, according to Block Club Chicago.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
Lawry's, known by generations of Chicagoans for its prime rib, steaks and lush steakhouse trappings inside a former mansion, will close after service Dec. 31, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Lawry’s The Prime Rib, which has been a fixture on Ontario Street (just west of Michigan Avenue) for 46 years, called it quits at the end of 2020. The coronavirus, last summer’s civil unrest and an expiring lease all contributed to the decision, said Ryan Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Inc. “In a year of incredible turmoil, this is a tough one for sure,” he said. “But with the industry in general in such a state of flux, we felt we had to push the pause button,” he added, leaving room for Lawry’s to reopen. “I think there’s a future for Lawry’s in the Chicago area,” Wilson said. See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Links Taproom
Links Taproom. (Leigh Loftus / ThinkLeigh Photography)
Michael Quinlan, owner of the Milwaukee Avenue beer bar in Wicker Park, wrote in an email that Links was planning to move out of its storefront at some point in 2020 due to an acrimonious relationship with its landlord. Due the the COVID-19 shutdown, he decided to pull the plug on Links in March. As of late July, Quinlan indicated that ownership is “going to wait until things stabilize until we make our next move.”
Mesa Urbana
The Mexican restaurant will be consolidating operations, closing its Glenview restaurant and moving everything to its location in Portage Park, per a note on its website. The note cited the “situation” from COVID-19 as the impetus for the decision.
Mity Nice Bar & Grill
Along with Foodlife, this Water Tower Place restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You closed in early June. Ownership declined to disclose specific reasons.
Monty Gaels Tavern & Grill
The Irish tavern in Ravenswood closed permanently due to the burden of the pandemic shutdown, ownership confirmed in a Facebook message.
Passerotto
Passerotto in Andersonville in July 2018.
The Andersonville restaurant announced over Labor Day weekend that it would be closing its doors permanently, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Passerotto’s last day is Sept. 12. Chef Jennifer Kim said the decision to close was a result of multiple conversations with staff and investors, and ultimately they decided that “operating a restaurant safely in the midst of multiple pandemics was going to negatively affect our community in the long run.” A pop-up project was also teased on the restaurant’s profile. See the full story here. — Grace Wong
Pepper Canister
The casual River North bar announced June 15 via Facebook it would be permanently closing, although it did not specifically reference the costs of shutting down for the pandemic as a reason.
Rainforest Cafe
Rainforest Cafe at the corner of Ohio and Clark Streets in Chicago on Thursday, August, 13, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The Rainforest Cafe in the Near North neighborhood has closed sooner than expected after it shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant at 605 N. Clark St. was expected to close within two years, when its lease expired. That timeline was accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has left the Chicago restaurant closed since March, said building owner Sean Conlon. He recently negotiated an early termination of the lease with parent company Landry’s Restaurants. He plans to redevelop the site. See the full story here. — Ryan Ori
Ramen Misoya (Streeterville)
Tonkotsu ramen at Ramen Misoya. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
The Loop lost one of its best bets for ramen in August with the closing of Ramen Misoya’s storefront in Streeterville. “Due to a loss in business caused by the Covid-19 shutdown, we can no longer justify continuing operations at this time,” read a post on its Facebook page. On the bright side, the Mount Prospect location of Misoya remains open.
Redmond’s Ale House
Remond’s Ale House has closed due to the financial stress of the COVIID-19 restrictions. The Wrigleyville bar, which had been at the corner of Sheffield and Roscoe for years, was known for offering an abundance of drink deals and for being an area staple for game-watching due to plenty of TVs and good sightlines.
Rickshaw Republic
Owners confirmed via email that the state’s COVID-19 shutdown caused financial losses that required the Indonesian restaurant in Lincoln Park to permanently close.
Ronny’s Steakhouse
Ronny’s, a cafeteria-style “steakhouse” that had occupied two separate downtown corners for years, announced plans to close due to the coronavirus in a Facebook announcement over Labor Day weekend. “We won’t say ‘good bye’ but rather ‘until we meet again,’” read the post. The Loop staple began 63 years ago at the corner of State and Randolph and, in recent years, operated at the corner of Clark and Lake.
La Sardine
La Sardine's terrine de foie gras featured layers of creamy foie gras mixed with thinly sliced black truffle, drizzled with a tart and slightly sweet cherry sauce and crowned with slices of extra buttery brioche. (Nick Kindelsperger/Chicago Tribune)
La Sardine, which has been a fixture in the West Loop for nearly 22 years, has closed for good. “It’s sad,” said partner and executive chef Oliver Poilevey about closing La Sardine, founded by his parents, along with Le Bouchon in Bucktown. “A month, month-and-a-half ago, I thought we were going to make it.” La Sardine has no outdoor space in which to set up tables, but had eked by with meals-to-go and, eventually, indoor dining with the 25% capacity limitation. Then the weather turned warm and the unthinkable happened: The air conditioning broke down. Looking at $80,000 in repairs, Poilevey knew he could not risk taking on the cost. “There’s no way we could pay for that, heading into the fall with no rent abatement,” Poilevey said. “Throwing 80K at something and then having to close — that’s not a good plan.” Le Bouchon remains open for pickup and indoor dining, though space inside is limited. For the full story, go here. — Phil Vettel
Siam Rice
Siam Rice, 117 N. Wells St., has called it quits after 18 years. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune)
Siam Rice (117 N. Wells St.) has closed after 18 years in the Loop, according to a note posted on the Thai restaurant’s window. "Unfortunately, we have come to the decision that it is no longer viable to operate our business during these uncertain times,” the note said. “This was a difficult decision for us, however, recent events and current pandemic conditions have left us concerned for the safety of our customers as well as our staff.” The note ends with an apology to customers and the hope that the restaurant will be able to return in the future. The restaurant’s last day Sept. 15.
Simply It
The Vietnamese restaurant, which had been in Lincoln Park for nearly 14 years, closed permanently in April, reported Block Club Chicago. COVID-19 restrictions and unworkable margins gave owner Tuan Nguyen “no choice” but to close, he told Block Club.
People eat and drink as others pass by Southport Lanes in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood on Sept. 17, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Southport Lanes
Southport Lanes has lasted nearly a century by evolving, at various times serving as a tavern, bowling alley, speak-easy, brothel and illegal off-track horse betting venue. But the Lakeview mainstay, which opened not long after another pandemic, couldn’t survive COVID-19. Read the full story here. — Ryan Ori
Step Down Cafe
The Pilsen coffee shop announced on its Facebook page that it would close permanently due to the effects of the pandemic.
Taco in a Bag
The Big Jim Reeves was a big hit at Taco in a Bag. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
Taco in a Bag has closed after five years in Lincoln Square. The shop specialized in playful versions of walking tacos, a dish where components one would normally find on a taco are instead poured into a bag of corn chips. The restaurant announced the closure on Facebook with a surprisingly irreverent, if slightly hopeful video. The owners assured fans that, “we will be back...promise!!!!” Block Club Chicago first reported the closing.
Taqueria Sabor y Sazon
The popular Pilsen taqueria closed permanently in May. The financial difficulties of trying to survive the pandemic’s hospitality restrictions were insurmountable, the owners said.
Tin Fish
The Tin Fish restaurant closed in Tinley Park. (Bob Bong / Daily Southtown)
The coronavirus claimed another high-profile restaurant victim with the permanent closure of Tin Fish, a highly regarded restaurant in south-suburban Tinley Park. A sign on the front door of the seafood restaurant and oyster bar thanked customers “for 18 great years,” and said the decision to close came “with a heavy heart.” “I’m not happy, but it’s something a lot of us are going through,” said partner Curtis Wierbicki, who launched the restaurant in September 2002 with partner Colin Turner. The restaurant closed in July. See the full story here. — Phil Vettel
Tintos & Tapas
Laura Rivera, the owner of the Spanish small plates restaurant, confirmed via email that the closing of Tintos & Tapas was due to the financial strain of the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as its effects on how it operated: “My chef and I cried the last day we were there to clean up,” she wrote. “Carryout is not a model that works for my type of operation at all. Frankly, it is demoralizing to become a fast food.”
Toast Restaurant
Owner Jeanne Roeser confirmed in a Facebook message that she had closed both the Bucktown and Lincoln Park locations of the 24-year-old breakfast favorite: “I couldn’t imagine reopening and surviving with reduced capacity and putting my staff and their families at risk of harm.” Roeser also posted a goodbye note on Facebook, which reads in part: “Nothing lasts forever in this world and it is time to move forward and see what this next phase will bring. I wish you peace and good health, my friends.”
Trattoria No. 10
A goodbye post on the reliable Italian restaurant’s website alluded to the pandemic shutdown as cause for its shuttering, reading, “With no theater and no convention/tourism business for the foreseeable future, there was just no way we could realistically reopen.”
Two Lights Seafood & Oyster
A post on the Old Town restaurant’s Facebook page confirmed that Two Lights has closed, although it did not mention whether or not the shuttering was due to the financial effects of COVID.
U.B. Dogs
U.B. Dogs served classic Chicago hot dog stand fare with serious culinary ambitions. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
U.B. Dogs (185 N. Franklin St.), a stellar hot dog joint that served a flawless fully loaded Chicago hot dog, freshly grilled burgers and great fries, has closed. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing countless downtown office workers to telecommute from home, the Loop-based U.B. Dogs decided it was time to close for good. Owner Joe Plonka announced the decision on Facebook: “While it breaks our hearts to announce our permanent closure, we wanted to take the time and properly thank our customers and family for their support over these last 10 years. Unfortunately, it’s time for us to end this chapter.” See the full story here. — Nick Kindelsperger
Unicorn Cafe
Unicorn Cafe had been serving coffee to Evanston for almost 30 years before the coffee shop closed permanently due to the financial effects of COVID-19, reported the Daily Northwestern earlier in September. According to the Daily report, ownership said the cafe was getting only 8-10 customers per day. Aside from being a local staple, Unicorn Cafe was one of only a handful of area coffee shops that offered the highly touted Sparrow Coffee.
Wells St. Market
Wells Street Market, which reopened July 6 after weathering the first three months of the coronavirus shut down (and was the first Chicago food hall to resume service) announced it will close for keeps Sept. 18. “From all of us at the Wells Street Market, it has been an honor and a joy to serve Chicagoans every day,” the company said in a release. The food hall made its debut, at 205 W. Wacker Drive, in June 2018. The food hall format had enjoyed a boom in Chicago in recent years. But most have not reopened since the coronavirus shutdown. Only Time Out Market has reopened. But a new market, Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall, launched in early August in the former Cook County Hospital. — Phil Vettel
The Whale closing indefinitely
The Whale (2427 N. Milwaukee Ave.), the glitzy Logan Square restaurant named for what casinos call an obscenely wealthy gambler, closed indefinitely last week. In a message posted on Facebook, the owners blamed the closing on the tight restrictions the state has imposed on restaurants. “Today we were forced to make the decision to lay off all our team members and close our doors to service. The restrictions that have been put on us by the elected officials are suffocating our industry and leaving us no choice. There has been no plan in place or system for relief.” The Whale opened last year, quickly amassing a strong following, though we found the food to be less than stellar. While it’s unknown how long the restaurant will be closed, the owners promise it will eventually return. “We WILL re-open and come back strong. We look forward to serving you again when that time comes.” — Nick Kindelsperger


chicagotribune--2020-11-10--Rep. Lauren Underwood holds slim lead over Republican Jim Oberweis, whose campaign is raising cash f

Rep. Lauren Underwood holds slim lead over Republican Jim Oberweis, whose campaign is raising cash for a recount it calls ‘almost inevitable’

In McHenry County , there were 1,737 vote-by-mail ballots that have been returned but not yet counted and 1,211 uncounted @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , according to the clerk ’ s office .
In a Monday email requesting @ @ @ @ @ to monitor the ongoing count , Lake County Republican Party chairman Mark Shaw said “ @ @ @ @ @ ” still need to be processed by the county by Nov. 17 .

Edward Gatson, second from left, a Democratic election judge and Ken Kosirog, third from left, a Republican election judge, look over and agree on each mail-in ballot being counted at the DuPage County clerk's office on Nov. 9, 2020, in Wheaton. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Buoyed by mail-in ballots counted since election night, Rep. Lauren Underwood now has a slim advantage over Republican challenger Jim Oberweis in the extraordinarily close race to see who will represent the sprawling, suburban 14th Congressional District.
But counting continues and a spokesman for Oberweis' campaign called a recount “almost inevitable.”
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As of 4 p.m. Monday, Underwood, the 34-year-old first-term incumbent Democrat from Naperville, had a 1,147-vote lead, according to unofficial results from The Associated Press. Underwood had 192,601 votes so far, and Oberweis had 191,454.
Both candidates have expressed confidence they will prevail, and Oberweis, 74, a state senator and dairy magnate from Sugar Grove, claimed victory in a video posted to social media last week, at a time when he held the lead by a narrow margin.
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“We knew all along there were still votes left to be counted,” Oberweis campaign spokesman Travis Akin said Monday. “We think the final outcome will be the same as it was on Election Day.”
A postmarked envelope containing a ballot at the Kane County clerk's office in Geneva on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 that arrive within two weeks after the election will be counted. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Akin said a recount “is almost inevitable.” Oberweis is fundraising for a possible recount, soliciting donations and sending email blasts to supporters.
Underwood, in a video conference call with reporters last week, cited thousands of outstanding vote-by-mail ballots as the reason she believes she ultimately will return to Capitol Hill.
Underwood has a distinct advantage in vote-by-mail ballots counted so far, doubling or tripling the amount Oberweis received. Oberweis fared better among those who voted in person on the day of the election. The early voting vote was essentially split.
Election officials across the district continue to tabulate mail-in ballots, including those postmarked by Election Day but delivered after Nov. 3 and those deposited into drop boxes in the hours leading up to the polls closing.
Illinois election officials have until Nov. 17 to complete their count of vote-by-mail ballots. Some county clerks said they may provide a count update Tuesday, the last day a provisional voter can submit additional information to verify their registration.
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Akin acknowledged Underwood’s advantage in vote-by-mail ballots, but said “we are constantly optimistic,” especially since additional results have not yet been released in areas of the district such as McHenry and Kendall counties where Oberweis had success.
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In McHenry County, there were 1,737 vote-by-mail ballots that have been returned but not yet counted and 1,211 uncounted provisional ballots as of Monday afternoon, according to the clerk’s office. In a Monday email requesting poll watchers and election judges to monitor the ongoing count, Lake County Republican Party chairman Mark Shaw said “between 30,000 and 40,000 ballots” still need to be processed by the county by Nov. 17.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 28 State Sen. Jim Oberweis, left, contests Rep. Lauren Underwood’s reelection in U.S. House. (Armando L. Sanchez and Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Lake County clerk’s office, which last week said it didn’t have a total on how many ballots were left to count because mail-in and provisional ballots were still coming in, is expected to release more vote-by-mail totals Tuesday afternoon.
Will, McHenry, Kendall and DeKalb counties have not released new vote counts since the hours after the election. Lake, DuPage and Kane have updated their counts in the days since, with more votes still to be tabulated.
Underwood is attempting to keep the district in the Democrats' column two years after she defeated Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren, part of suburban blue wave that helped Democrats take control of the U.S. House. Underwood became the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress.
This year, Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in every county with portions of territory within the 14th District, except for McHenry. On the eve of the election, Oberweis spoke at a rally for Trump in Kenosha, Wisconsin, though he appears to have outperformed Trump among the votes counted so far, indicating voters split their ballots.
Unlike the president, the Oberweis camp is not alleging any wrongdoing or fraud as ballots continue to be counted.
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“We have no reason, at this point, to doubt the integrity of the process,” Akin said, adding that they will continue to have poll watchers monitor the vote counting.
The campaign was marked by two district styles, as Underwood kept her events mostly online or limited to small group gatherings, while Oberweis campaigned more door to door. Over the weekend, Underwood held a drive-thru parade for supporters and volunteers in St. Charles. All attendees were asked to wear masks and remain in their vehicles.
poconnell@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-11-10--Republican newcomer Mike Buehler holds big lead for McHenry County board chairman over incumbent Jac

Republican newcomer Mike Buehler holds big lead for McHenry County board chairman over incumbent Jack Franks going into final counts

There were also more than 16,000 vote-by-mail ballots that had been sent out but not returned to the clerk , @ @ @ @ @ ballots arriving had slowed to a trickle of perhaps 50 ballots on Monday , Clerk @ @ @ @ @ planned to count the remaining ballots and update the vote totals Tuesday .

Republicans lost ground in some suburban elections, but they appeared to be making progress toward reclaiming a traditional GOP office in the race for McHenry County board chairman.
Political newcomer Mike Buehler had captured 53% of the vote and led incumbent Democrat Jack Franks by 9,550 votes Monday, according to unofficial totals from the county clerk’s office. There remained more than 1,900 provisional and vote-by-mail ballots yet to be counted.
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There were also more than 16,000 vote-by-mail ballots that had been sent out but not returned to the clerk, but the number of mail-in ballots arriving had slowed to a trickle of perhaps 50 ballots on Monday, Clerk Joe Tirio said. He planned to count the remaining ballots and update the vote totals Tuesday.
“I don’t like to count my chickens before they’re hatched,” Buehler said Monday, “but we’re very confident it’s going to come out in our favor.”
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Franks said he would wait to see more complete vote totals before commenting.
“I want to respect the process and make sure the votes are counted,” he said. “So we’ll see in a few days, there should be a clearer picture.”
Franks, a lawyer who lives on his family’s farm in Marengo, was a state representative for 18 years before upsetting the Republican establishment in 2016 by becoming the county’s first publicly elected chairman. He boasted of cutting property taxes and refunding a surplus to taxpayers from the county nursing home as chairman.
But he often butted heads with the local GOP establishment in a county where Republicans traditionally hold most countywide offices, and he faced allegations of a scandal.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office released a copy of a search warrant that had been executed by Illinois State Police as part of an ongoing investigation. The warrant alleged Franks as being suspected of sex crimes, stalking, battery and official misconduct.
No charges have been announced in the case.
“From the beginning, I’ve said I’ve done nothing wrong, and nothing has changed,” Franks said Monday.
Franks also faces an indirect civil contempt of court order for not answering questions related to a lawsuit by County Clerk Tirio charging that two Democratic operatives ran a smear campaign against him. The suit is pending.
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Democrats appeared to have some success in Chicago’s suburbs this election, with preliminary results favoring some candidates for Congress and county board in DuPage County. McHenry Democrats were in a position to win or retain some county board seats.
Tirio expects to render a final count by Nov. 18, with certification by Nov. 24.
rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-11-09--Ballot counting in DuPage and Kane County continues

Democratic and Republican election judges look over and agree on each mail-in ballot being counted in Kane and DuPage County @ @ @ @ @ .
Mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3rd , 2020 , and that arrive within two @ @ @ @ @ will be counted .

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Edward Gatson, second from left, a Democratic election judge and Ken Kosirog, third from left, a Republican election judge, look over and agree on each mail-in ballot being counted at the DuPage County clerk's office on Nov. 9, 2020, in Wheaton. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Democratic and Republican election judges look over and agree on each mail-in ballot being counted in Kane and DuPage County on Nov. 9, 2020. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 3rd, 2020, and that arrive within two weeks after the election, will be counted.


chicagotribune--2020-11-09--The Spin: Biden-Harris vow relief for cash-strapped states | Reports of Emanuel in Biden White House

The Spin: Biden-Harris vow relief for cash-strapped states | Reports of Emanuel in Biden White House stir controversy | Chicago doctors tapped for Biden-Harris for COVID-19 team

Lightfoot ’ s going to hold them to that : On Saturday the Democratic mayor , who has battled with @ @ @ @ @ victory at a few different points , but also told an enthusiastic crowd — through @ @ @ @ @ much as we love Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , they need to be true @ @ @ @ @ made .
... We need resources to fight this plague , we need resources to @ @ @ @ @ streets , we need resources to make sure people aren ’ t evicted .
”

FILE- In this Aug. 20, 2020, file photo Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden pumps his fist on stage with his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Republican President Donald Trump, his family and some close advisers, including Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are saying the race for president is too close to call, but Democrat Joe Biden’s transition efforts already have begun to take shape.
A just-released plan includes a call to fund local and state governments. It also includes the addition of two physicians with Chicago ties to a COVID-19 advisory board.
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They are: Dr. Zeke Emanuel, an architect of the Affordable Care Act who was a health adviser in President Barack Obama’s White House. He is an oncologist and ex-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s older brother. The list also includes Dr. Julie Morita, the former Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner, the first Asian American woman to lead the office.
Even before the election, speculation was running rampant about what a Biden Cabinet — the advisers who will carry out his domestic and international agenda — might look like and who from Illinois might get the call.
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Speaking of former Mayor Emanuel, the mere mention that he might be considered for a post in the Biden-Harris White House is stirring controversy. Emanuel was chief of staff in the Obama-Biden White House. New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offered a preemptive strike calling Emanuel “a pretty divisive pick,” according to a New York Times piece out today. It’s a reminder that the divide doesn’t just exist between Republicans and Democrats.
There’s also chatter that Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, once a contender to be Biden’s vice president, might be up for secretary of defense or Veterans Affairs. U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has been rumored to be a consideration for Housing and Urban Development.
And the desire for weed was loud and clear this election season as voters expanded recreational marijuana use to more locations, my Tribune colleague Robert Channick writes. It comes as we learn the state hit a one-month high of $100 million-plus.
Welcome to The Spin.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are seen on a monitor screen as they listen during a meeting with Biden's COVID-19 advisory council, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Delaware. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
The Biden-Harris transition team released a COVID-19 response plan — similar to what they’ve talked about on the campaign trail — that on paper has to be music to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ears as they both grapple with budget shortfalls. Or at least it strikes the right political note.
The incoming administration is pledging to “(e)stablish a renewable fund for state and local governments to help prevent budget shortfalls, which may cause states to face steep cuts to teachers and first responders,” according to a newly launched website.
Lightfoot’s going to hold them to that: On Saturday the Democratic mayor, who has battled with Trump, cheered the Biden-Harris victory at a few different points, but also told an enthusiastic crowd — through a bullhorn — “As much as we love Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, they need to be true to the promises that they made. ... We need resources to fight this plague, we need resources to stop people living on the streets, we need resources to make sure people aren’t evicted.”
The mayor also said it’s time to bridge political divisions where we can, recognizing the disappointment of Trump supporters evidenced by the relatively narrow margin of Biden’s victory. Lightfoot repeatedly said “no” as people booed as she said Trump’s name.
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“We have to figure out a way to unite as a country,” Lightfoot said. “We need to be gracious winners and make room at the table of governance for those people of goodwill who we may not agree with. ... That is the only way we’re going to move forward. We need to build bridges to them and they need to come over those bridges to us.”
Data point: A reminder that each candidate set popular vote records with Biden getting 74 million to Trump’s nearly 70 million, according to unofficial results.
New York Times: Senator Mitch McConnell threw his support behind President Trump’s refusal to concede the election, declining to recognize Joe Biden’s victory — Read the full story here.
Much at stake as Supreme Court weighs future of ‘Obamacare’ starting tomorrow: “Arguments will revolve around arcane points of law like severability — whether the justices can surgically snip out part of the law and leave the rest, but what’s at stake has real-world consequences for just about every American, as well as the health care industry, a major source of jobs and tax revenues,” The Associated Press reports.
“The argument against the law from the Trump administration and conservative states is that the 10-year-old statute was rendered unconstitutional in its entirety when Congress dialed down to zero a penalty on those remaining uninsured,” The AP notes. A look at what’s at stake here.
In this image from video, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden leads a conversation on racial justice with Art Acevedo, Jamira Burley, Gwen Carr, Derrick Johnson and Lori Lightfoot during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17, 2020. (AP)
Lightfoot today hailed the appointment of Dr. Morita, who served in the city’s public health department including as its commissioner until 2019, to the Biden-Harris COVID-19 advisory board.
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“Dr. Morita obviously knows the city very well. She’s a national expert, (and) there’s already been some communications with her,” the mayor said during a news conference.
The mayor said she’ll be urging the Biden administration to bring mayors into their discussions on COVID-19 response, considering policies and procedures are implemented at the local level, saying, “We have not been at the table.”
Biden met with the COVID-19 advisory panel, then held a news conference imploring the public to wear masks as cases surge nationwide. His approach represents a shift from President Donald Trump’s upbeat approach to the pandemic, The Associated Press notes in a piece. They emphasis on a virus response underscores the virus is likely to dominate the early days of his administration.
Over the past two weeks, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen nearly 65%.
DuPage and Kane among counties in Chicago and southern Illinois to face 10-person limit on gatherings as COVID-19 surges – Positivity rates on coronavirus tests in the suburban and southern Illinois regions have continued to increase even after Pritzker ordered the shutdown of indoor dining and bar service and capped gatherings at 25 people in those areas roughly two weeks ago. Many establishments have flouted the governor’s orders, and local officials in some areas have refused to enforce them, The Tribune’s Dan Petrella reports.
Mayor Lightfoot said she is planning a series of mitigation measures that are more limited than the options used by city and state officials in the spring and will share information about it later in the week, the Tribune’s Gregory Pratt reports.
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Data points: Statewide, the test positivity — the share of positive tests out of all tests taken in a 24-hour period — was at a seven-day average of 12.4% as of Sunday, up from 8.2% when the state began reporting the figure on Oct. 29.
Pfizer: early data signals COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90 % effective: read The Associated Press story here.
TOMORROW - A virtual conversation with the mayor about what her life looks like amid the pandemic: The “Chicago Ideas” series has gone virtual and tomorrow night it will feature a conversation between Chicago Ideas founder Brad Keywell and Mayor Lightfoot. Sounds like it may be lighter on policy and more personal, according to the website. Questions will range from how she stays “calm” to ho she spends her free time. More information, including how to tune in to the 7 p.m.-8 p.m. event Tuesday, here.
Then-Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Rahm Emanuel following an event celebrating the first domestic violence shelter built in the city in more than a decade in Chicago on Nov. 25, 2013. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
The New York Times reports today: “The former mayor has been floated by some in Mr. Biden’s inner circle to lead a department like housing or transportation.”
During the campaign, Emanuel was having regular conversations with Biden and his top advisers about everything from economic policy to the selection of a running mate, the Tribune’s Bill Ruthhart reported in May. That proved true, too, during the debates when Emanuel, doing the TV pundit rounds, seemed to have the best crystal ball for predicting Biden’s approach.
Asked via text whether he was interested in a Cabinet post or had spoken to Biden, Emanuel replied to The Spin: “Chill. Relax.”
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Chicago Sun-Times reporter Fran Spielman talked to him in recent days, writing that he “did not slam the door on serving in the Biden administration in some capacity.”
“If the president calls, that’s one thing. But, I don’t expect that,” Emanuel told Spielman.
But New York U.S. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez blasted him as a “pretty divisive pick,” pointing to his battles with the teachers unions and racial justice. “And it would signal, I think, a hostile approach to the grassroots and the progressive wing of the party.”
Matt Martin, the Chicago alderman in the North Side ward Emanuel calls home, applauded the criticism on Twitter: “Rahm’s Alderman here. Also the guy who helped write the consent decree after the murder of Laquan McDonald. Chicagoans already retired Rahm. Let’s keep it that way.”
Emanuel has for the bulk of the presidential campaign season been preaching the gospel of moderate Democrats, saying that the far-left, which includes Democratic socialists such as AOC, would hurt the party’s chances of winning swing votes.
It may be a fissure between ideological wings in the party, but as Politico reminds, if he was picked, confirmation hearings would include an examination of how he handled the aftermath of the Chicago police killing of Laquan McDonald, a case widely believed to have prompted him to scrap a bid for a third term as Chicago mayor.
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Rahm’s Alderman here. 👋🏼 Also the guy who helped write the consent decree after the murder of Laquan McDonald.
Chicagoans already retired Rahm. Let’s keep it that way. — Alderman Matt Martin (@AldMattMartin) November 9, 2020
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Political signs, including one against the graduated-rate income tax amendment, in Lake Zurich on Nov. 2, 2020. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois' Bustos won’t seek second term as head of congressional Democrats' campaign arm: The Hill newspaper and other news outlets are reporting that U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, of Moline, "will not run for a second term leading House Democrats' campaign arm following a disappointing election where her party saw at least seven vulnerable incumbents go down to defeat.
“In a statement Monday, Bustos confirmed that she would not run for chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for the 2022 cycle, saying that the party would be in good hands next year with a House majority and Joe Biden in the White House.” Read the rest of the story here.
Underwood-Oberweis race in Illinois' 14th Congressional District still too close to call: With mail-in ballots now being counted, freshman U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Naperville Democrat, is leading state Sen. Jim Oberweis, a Sugar Grove Republican. Little more than 1,000 votes separated them. NBC5-Chicago has the details here.
Pandemic, lack of trust in government and Madigan effect help send graduated tax amendment to defeat: The Tribune’s Rick Pearson, Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks have the details here.
Data points: The proposed graduated-rate tax amendment was defeated with 55% of voters rejecting it. Unofficial vote totals showed the measure only got a majority in one of the state’s counties — Cook — with 62.5%. Downstate, 80% of voters rejected the change; opposition topped 60% in 88 of the state’s 102 counties.
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The loss is "yet one more sign Michael Madigan’s grip over Illinois and its beleaguered citizens is growing weaker,” Denise Crosby writes in an Aurora Beacon-News column. “And the governor’s loss has given Republicans, who had been wringing their hands over Trump’s negative influence on their party, a much-needed shot in the arm in their quest to wrestle control of Springfield from the Democrats.” Read the full story here.
Blue wave drenches DuPage County, aiding Democratic transformation of onetime Republican stronghold. But will it last? Once known as one of the most solidly Republican areas in the country, DuPage County appears to have given Democrats control of the County Board for the first time since the 1930s, the Tribune’s John Keilman reports.
Trump vs. Biden: Inside Chicago’s politically split 41st Ward — ‘I don’t talk about it, you know?’ — The Tribune’s Alice Yin and John Byrne have the story here.
Nicole Vaughn, 31, of Wonder Lake, smokes Revolution cannabis Turbo Lemon Cake as she tests cannabis products for the Cannabis Cup at her home on August 27, 2020. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s Robert Channick writes: “There was no blue wave or red wave during Election Day, but the green wave rolled on as voters expanded recreational marijuana use to more locations just days after the industry’s most lucrative month yet in Illinois.”
Four more states approved recreational marijuana use in Tuesday’s election, while six Chicago suburbs joined a growing list of Illinois municipalities allowing adult use cannabis dispensaries.
Other news: Stroger Hospital nurses could face firing after what they say was a Halloween-themed bargaining march — including a plastic rat, skeleton and a bouquet of dried flowers, the Tribune’s Alice Yin writes.
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