chicagotribune--2020-03-16--As coronavirus decimates demand for jets, Boeing may slash production, cut jobs

With the Renton narrow-body jet plant already shut down since January because of the extended grounding of the 737 Max @ @ @ @ @ suspension of production in Everett too would mean Boeing ’ s parts plants in Auburn @ @ @ @ @ assembly lines to feed , and so they would also likely have to cut or @ @ @

Several 777 series jets are seen in various stages of production in 2013 on the floor of Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington. Boeing, headquartered in Chicago, has about 72,000 employees in Washington state. (Lindsey Wasson/for the Chicago Tribune)
The dramatic worldwide collapse in air travel accelerated this weekend as the U.S. expanded its ban on passengers from Europe and other governments enacted their own barriers to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Airline CEOs are comparing the drop in traffic to the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 — when Boeing reduced production from 527 jets in 2001 to just 281 jets two years later. In less than three years following the attacks, Boeing cut 27,000 jobs in Washington state.
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Like then, Chicago-based Boeing now faces a stark near-term decision on whether it must slash jet production. That could again spell substantial local layoffs, which until now — even with its 737 Max production already halted — Boeing has avoided.
Boeing is the largest private employer in Washington state, with about 72,000 employees here. Most of those work on Commercial Airplanes and all those jobs are at risk of at least temporary suspension. Any cuts to that workforce would reverberate sharply throughout the local economy, and its impacts likewise would be felt on Boeing’s global supply chain.
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With the Renton narrow-body jet plant already shut down since January because of the extended grounding of the 737 Max, any cut to or suspension of production in Everett too would mean Boeing’s parts plants in Auburn and Frederickson have virtually no assembly lines to feed, and so they would also likely have to cut or stop work.
The outbreak of coronavirus within Boeing employee ranks — six confirmed cases at the Everett plant and one at the local headquarters in Longacres, with two possible cases from Auburn — may supply another reason for a full-scale temporary halt to production.
A top Boeing executive — speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation — said Sunday that contingency planning at the highest levels of the company is still focused on avoiding layoffs so as to enable the business to recover quickly once the virus emergency passes.
He said Boeing’s leadership is unlikely to announce a firm plan until later in the week, but that for now “the conversation here is leaning even more toward doing everything we can to protect employees.”
“We’ll need them to be back in the saddle quickly when this thing passes over,” he said, adding that “nothing is firm at this time.”
Airline meltdown
Underlying Boeing’s dilemma is the wrenching drama playing out among U.S. and global airlines.
On Friday, Delta Air Lines said it would cut capacity by 40% in the next few months, park up to 300 aircraft and defer new jet deliveries. Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian said it was the largest capacity reduction in Delta’s history, including after the 9/11 attacks.
On Saturday, American Airlines announced it will cut 75% of its international flights through May 6 and cut domestic flights by 30% by May. American will ground 135 out of its fleet of 149 widebody jets.
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The impact from coronavirus abroad is even worse: To ensure “the survival of British Airways,” that airline’s CEO Alex Cruz told employees Friday that jobs will be cut “perhaps for a short period, perhaps longer-term.”
Low-cost carrier Norwegian, a big 737 Max and 787 customer, has laid off half its 11,000 employees, and the CEO told the Norwegian government it has “weeks not months” to avert bankruptcy.
According to Swiss airline intelligence provider ch-aviation, Korean Air has grounded about 100 of its 145 passenger jets and airline President Woo Kee-hong told employees in an internal memo that “If the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company’s survival.”
On Sunday, SAS of Scandinavia temporarily laid off 90% of all employees and suspended almost all flights.
And only passengers willing to be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival can fly Air New Zealand or Qantas of Australia into those two countries.
U.S. airlines and the broader aerospace players including Boeing and its suppliers are in urgent talks with the Trump administration, asking for public financial support to keep the industry alive and protect an estimated total of about 2 million direct and indirect aviation-related jobs in the U.S.
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Not only are the airlines facing a sharp, immediate plummet in demand, their finances will be wrecked for the near future.
“Airlines will be focused on survival, not taking new jets,” said Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia in an interview Sunday.
For Boeing, the urgent question is whether any airlines want or need the big jets it’s building right now.
Because of the Max crisis, the assembly lines for that narrow-body jet in Renton are silent. Now production of the larger widebody jets in Everett and in North Charleston, South Carolina, may have to follow.
In the first two months of the year, the impact of coronavirus already began to appear as Boeing delivered only 30 airplanes total from those two final assembly sites, 25% below the nominal widebody jet production rates.
In Everett, a new 787 Dreamliner has taken its first flights and is ready to be delivered to American. Another 787 is ready for delivery to the flag carrier of Israel, El Al, which as of Sunday has suspended almost all its flights.
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While it may be too late to defer those two planes, the airlines have nowhere they can fly them. For many of the planes coming behind them and now under assembly, deferred delivery seems certain.
Among the aircraft under assembly in the Everett factory and almost ready to roll out are another 787 for American and a 777 passenger jet for United. In North Charleston, there are two more 787-10s under assembly for United.
Economic impact worse than 9/11?
When novel coronavirus first appeared, the aviation world compared it to the SARS outbreak in 2003 and hoped for a similar outcome: a three-month slump in demand and a rapid recovery afterward. But as Bastian noted, this is a reckoning more comparable to the hit from 9/11.
And since no one knows if this slump will last three months, six months or a year, when Southwest CEO Gary Kelly last week made the comparison to 9/11, he told employees that the economic slump this time “may be worse.”
Adam Pilarski, veteran analyst with consulting firm Avitas, said Boeing’s position today may indeed be tougher because in the past year the Max crisis has been straining its financial resources.
Like the airlines, Pilarksi said Boeing “will have to think survival.”
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After 9/11, with that mindset, Boeing reacted immediately to a similarly rapid falloff in demand.
Exactly one week after the terrorist attacks that used Boeing jets to kill almost 3,000 Americans, the Boeing Commercial Airplanes division announced drastic production cuts and plans to lay off between 20,000 and 30,000 workers by the end of 2002.
Then-CEO Phil Condit explained these “tough business decisions” as necessary to “enhance the company’s ability to maintain its solid financial position, strong liquidity and premier debt ratings.”
“These are critical factors in times of business uncertainty and financial stress,” Condit said.
In an interview in 2016, the CEO of Commercial Airplanes at the time of the attacks, Alan Mulally, recalled the decision he had to make as “devastating.”
“The effect on our business was dramatic,” Mulally recalled. “You have to move decisively to match your production resources with the demand. If not, you start burning through so much cash you put the company at risk.”
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That’s the threat Boeing again faces now, compounded by the lack of revenue from the 737 Max and the money it must spend to return that jet to service.
Boeing has the experience of 9/11 and of SARS and other lesser external shocks behind it. So its leadership can be reasonably confident that the long-term trend of growing global air travel will inevitably resume eventually. The problem is how to survive the short-term impact, without knowing exactly how short-term it may be.
When Boeing halted production of the Max in January, it made the decision not to lay workers off because it anticipated restarting the assembly line around April and getting clearance to fly the Max by the summer. Management said it wants to retain the skilled workforce during the intervening months to be able to resume production as planned.
As the coronavirus’ economic threat escalates daily around the world, company leaders have to act soon to either slow or stop production. Their decision will likely depend on the response from the government to industry’s appeals.
The question is: Will Boeing be able to maintain jobs to preserve talent for the future recovery? Or will management revert to the thinking of Condit and Mulally in 2001?
Aboulafia said that while slowing or suspending production seems inevitable, “laying off people is probably the wrong call.”
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Still, he’s worried that Boeing’s “crack cocaine addiction to shareholder returns” going back almost two decades will produce a different answer that puts protecting the stock price and the current cash position ahead of the workforce and the future.
Pilarski of Avitas suggested Boeing could negotiate a temporary suspension that at least lets employees retain their medical and pension benefits.
The top Boeing executive said that “as I stand here today, mass layoffs is an unlikely outcome.”
“The situation is incredibly fluid,” he then cautioned. “There are too many unknowns and no guaranteed outcome.”
©2020 The Seattle Times
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chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Tracking the Bears’ moves in free agency: Former Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski agrees to a 3-year

Tracking the Bears’ moves in free agency: Former Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski agrees to a 3-year deal with the Raiders

What it means : The Bears cleared $ 13.5 million in salary cap space when they cut the veterans .
@ @ @ @ @ a starting cornerback to pair with Kyle Fuller and a speedy , deep-threat wide receiver @ @ @ @ @ , 30 , started 44 games over three seasons with the Bears .
He had @ @ @ @ @ , all in 2018 , along with 29 passes defended over three years .
Gabriel @ @ @ @ @ catches for 1,041 yards over two seasons with the Bears .
He was limited to @ @ @ @ @ he dealt with two concussions .
The Bears very likely will add to both rooms @ @ @ @ @ cornerbacks Kevin Toliver and Tre Roberson and wide receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley are @ @ @ @ @ could compete for playing time after the roster moves .

The Chicago Bears have been quite active as they build their 2020 roster.
On March 18, general manager Ryan Pace made his biggest move of the offseason, trading a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars to acquire veteran quarterback and former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.
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The Tribune’s team is tracking all of the Bears’ moves — with players arriving and exiting — and providing insight into what each move means.
[ Bears draft tracker: 7-player class is complete, from a local tight end to a pair of cornerbacks and a speedy receiver ]
May 13
Former Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara is signing with the Raiders, according to NFL Network .
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What it means: Amukamara will begin his 10th NFL season in Las Vegas after the Bears released him earlier this offseason. The deal reportedly is for one year. Amukamara was a Giants first-round pick in 2011 and played five seasons with the Giants, one with the Jaguars and three with the Bears. He had three interceptions, including a pick-six, and 29 passes defended in his Bears career. The Bears cut Amukamara to clear $9 million in salary-cap space and drafted his expected replacement last month when they took Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson with the 50th pick.
May 5
Edge rusher Aaron Lynch signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars, the team announced .
What it means: Lynch played two seasons in a reserve role for the Bears, totaling five sacks, 22 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 17 quarterback hits. A 49ers fifth-round pick in 2014, Lynch will join the Jaguars for his seventh NFL season. He has 20 career sacks. The Bears already had secured reserve outside linebackers to play behind starters Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. They signed former Browns first-round pick Barkevious Mingo to a one-year deal and traded a future draft pick to grab Tulsa’s Trevis Gipson in the fifth round of the draft last month.
April 30
The Bears are adding veteran safety Tashaun Gipson on a one-year deal, according to Pro Football Talk.
What it means: The Bears appear to have a starting safety to play alongside Eddie Jackson. Gipson has started 104 games over eight NFL seasons, including 62 over the last four years with the Jaguars and Texans. He has 23 career interceptions, three of which came in 2019 in his lone season in Houston, and 47 career passes defended, including eight last year. He also had a pick-six in 2019.
Gipson, who will be 30 in August, signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2012. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014, when he returned six interceptions for 158 yards and one touchdown.
The Texans signed Gipson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract last year, but he finished the season on injured reserve with a back injury. They cut him this week.
The Bears are signing veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to a one-year deal, an NFL source confirmed.
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What it means: Ginn, who turned 35 this month, will join the Bears for his 14th NFL season after three with the Saints. He had 30 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games last season. The 2007 Dolphins first-round pick also spent time with the 49ers, Cardinals and Panthers.
Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara knocks a ball down in the end zone as Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn is unable to make a catch in the second quarter at Soldier Field on Oct. 20, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
He had three straight seasons of at least 700 receiving yards from 2015-2017, including a career-high 10 touchdown catches in 2015 with the Panthers. He has played in 15 playoff games in his career. And he also was a punt and kick returner earlier in his career, with seven career return touchdowns.
Ginn provides the Bears with a speedy, experienced competitor to join a fairly young receivers room beyond veteran Allen Robinson.
April 29
The Bears signed wide receiver and returner Trevor Davis to a one-year deal, the team announced .
What it means: A fifth-round draft pick by the Packers in 2016, Davis joins the Bears for his fifth NFL season. Davis, 26, played in 31 games with the Packers, totaling nine catches for 122 yards. He bounced between the Packers, Dolphins and Raiders in 2019 and had seven catches for 83 yards in nine games (four starts) with the Raiders.
He also is an experienced return man. He had a career-high 24 punt returns for 289 yards (12.0 average) and 31 kickoff returns for 707 yards (22.8) in 2017. And among his three teams in 2019, he had 22 punt returns for 145 yards (6.6) and 23 kickoff returns for 506 yards (22.0).
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April 28
The Bears signed defensive tackle John Jenkins to a one-year deal, the team announced .
What it means: The Bears are bringing back the seven-year NFL veteran to serve as depth on the defensive line after Nick Williams left for a two-year contract with the Lions. Jenkins has played for five teams since he was drafted in the third round in 2013, including eight games for the Bears in 2017. He played in all 16 games for the Dolphins last year, making five starts, with 34 tackles, including two for a loss, and a sack.
April 22
Tight end Trey Burton signed a one-year contract with the Colts, the team announced .
What it means: It took Burton five days after the Bears cut him to latch on with a new team. He reunites with coach Frank Reich, who was the offensive coordinator with the Eagles for two seasons when Burton was there. Burton’s contract is for the veteran minimum, NFL Network reported, which will deduct from the $4 million the Bears owe him for this season.
The Bears cut Burton after an injury-plagued 2019 season in which he caught just 14 passes for 84 yards over eight games.
We have signed TE Trey Burton. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 23, 2020
April 17
The Bears are releasing tight end Trey Burton, the team announced.
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What it means: Burton’s tenure in Chicago comes to an end two years before his four-year, $32 million contract is up.
The Bears are cutting him after he totaled 14 catches for 84 yards and no touchdowns during an injury-plagued 2019 season. It’s the latest development for Burton in a dramatic 16-month span that started when he was a late scratch for the 2018 playoff loss to the Eagles because of a groin injury. He had sports hernia surgery last offseason, battled a groin injury over eight games in 2019 and then had hip surgery in December.
The Bears signed veteran tight end Jimmy Graham this offseason, and Burton’s departure could mean they’re eyeing another in next week’s draft.
The Bears are signing former Packers offensive lineman Jason Spriggs to a one-year deal, ESPN reported.
Packers' Jason Spriggs runs a drill at training camp on July 25, 2019. (Morry Gash/AP)
What it means: The 6-foot-6, 301-pound Spriggs adds depth to the Bears at tackle after free agent tackle Cornelius Lucas left for the Redskins. Spriggs, a 2016 second-round pick, has started just nine games for the Packers in his career. He’s dealt with back and elbow injuries leading up to the 2019 season and spent the year on injured reserve. An Elkhart, Ind., native, Spriggs, who will turn 26 next month, was an All-American at Indiana in his senior season in 2015.
The Bears signed free-agent kicker Ramiz Ahmed and exclusive-rights free agents J.P. Holtz and Rashaad Coward, the team announced.
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What it means: Ahmed joins the Bears on a one-year deal as apparent competition for kicker Eddy Pineiro. He last kicked in 2018 at Nevada, where he made 15 of 20 field-goal attempts and 40 of 44 extra-point attempts. He made Nevada’s team in 2017 in a walk-on tryout and did kickoffs that season. The Bears settled on Pineiro after a wild kicking competition last year, and he was 23-for-28 on field goals and 27-for-29 on extra points in his rookie year.
Holtz and Coward return as expected. Coward is expected to compete for the starting spot at right guard with newcomer Germain Ifedi after Coward started 10 games in 2019. Holtz, one of nine tight ends on the roster, played in 14 games for the Bears in 2019 and had seven catches for 91 yards.
April 16
Defensive back Sherrick McManis is expected to re-sign with a one-year contract.
What it means: Veteran defensive back Sherrick McManis is expected to re-sign with the Bears on a one-year contract. The longtime special teams standout will be entering his ninth season with the organization after arriving via a trade during the 2012 preseason. McManis missed the final four games last season with a groin injury that didn’t require surgery. He had 11 tackles in defense last season and a forced fumble in the Week 5 loss to the Raiders in London.
McManis, a Peoria native and Northwestern product, had eight stops on special teams last season. The 32-year-old has 88 special teams tackles in the last eight seasons. He’s the third free agent in the secondary to re-sign with the Bears following safeties Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson. All three are on one-year contracts.
April 15
Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris signed his restricted free-agent tender.
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What it means: The move ensures Robertson-Harris will be back in the fold in 2020. The Bears tendered the former undrafted free agent at the second-round level, meaning he will earn $3.259 million this season. That higher tender ensured no other teams would attempt to lure him away with an offer sheet.
Had the Bears tendered Robertson-Harris at the original-round level, they would have had only right of first refusal on an offer sheet because he was undrafted coming out of UTEP. The 26-year-old had 30 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 2½ sacks in 15 games last season. Provided he remains healthy, he figures to do well for himself in free agency next March.
By signing the tender, Robertson-Harris will be eligible to participate in the team’s virtual voluntary offseason workout program.
March 25
The Bears are bringing back third-string quarterback Tyler Bray, ESPN reported.
What it means: Bray returns for a third season as the Bears’ third-string quarterback. He spent the last two years on the practice squad behind Mitch Trubisky and Chase Daniel. Bray, 28, has a long history with coach Matt Nagy, dating back to their mutual arrival in Kansas City in 2013. Bray also spent the 2016 Chiefs season with new Bears quarterback Nick Foles.
He has one career pass attempt in one career regular-season appearance, in 2017 with the Chiefs. Even with the signing, the Bears could still draft a quarterback to add to their mix.
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The Bears agreed to a one-year deal with former Seahawks offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, NFL Network reported.
What it means: The Bears are in need of competition at right guard with Rashaad Coward and depth at tackle behind Charles Leno and Bobbie Massie. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Ifedi played both guard and tackle during his four seasons with the Seahawks.
Seahawks offensive guard Germain Ifedi tries to stop Bears linebacker Khalil Mack during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 17, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Ifedi, who will turn 26 in June, was a 2016 first-round draft pick and started 60 games in Seattle, including 100% of their offensive snaps in 2019. He has been called for 12 holding and 29 false start penalties in his career, according to Pro Football Reference.
March 23
The Bears are re-signing safety DeAndre Houston-Carson to a one-year contract, a source told the Tribune.
What it means: Houston-Carson, a sixth-round pick in 2016, is back in the mix as a core special teams player. Houston-Carson has been one of the team’s most dependable players in that area for the last two seasons. With the addition of fellow safety Jordan Lucas, the Bears have been making sure they add depth for special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
The Bears are bringing back veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban, news that his wife, Kate, announced on Twitter.
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What it means: Urban, 28, appeared in nine games in a reserve role last season after injuries forced some depth moves on the line beginning in October. Urban made 16 tackles and added two pass breakups. A one-year deal for Urban isn’t surprising as the Bears are going to need to add depth to the line, especially after Nick Williams departed for the NFC North rival Lions on a two-year contract. Urban will be in position to compete for a roster spot.
@AdamSchefter DE Brent Urban is re-signing with the Chicago Bears on one year deal. Per source. I’m the source. — Kate Salerno Urban (@Kate_KanSkate) March 23, 2020
The Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal with outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, NFL Network reported .
What it means: Mingo, 29, looks like a replacement for Aaron Lynch. He’s a veteran that can play a backup role on defense and a core special teams player.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano had Mingo in Indianapolis and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was in Cleveland when the Browns used the No. 6 pick in 2013 on him. While he has never panned out as a pass rusher — five of his 10 career sacks came during his rookie season — he’s a reliable player that has missed only two games and he has developed as a versatile guy on special teams. The contract is worth $1.187 million. The Bears become Mingo’s sixth team in the last six years.
March 22
The Bears signed safety Jordan Lucas to a one-year deal, NFL Network reported .
What it means: Lucas, 26, joins the Bears after playing two seasons each with the Dolphins and Chiefs. He has played in 49 career games but started just four, in 2018 in Kansas City, when he totaled 32 tackles, a sack, his lone career interception and two passes defended.
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Chiefs safety Jordan Lucas gestures during the first half of a game against the Chargers on Dec. 29, 2019. (Ed Zurga/AP)
Lucas, a former Dolphins sixth-round pick, was a key special teams player for the Chiefs last season, playing 63% of those plays. He provides more depth for a group of safeties that includes Deon Bush, who re-signed with the Bears on Friday and might compete for the starting spot alongside Eddie Jackson. Lucas’ contract is for $1 million.
March 21
Cornerback Artie Burns is joining the Bears on a one-year contract.
What it means: Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Saturday’s move, a one-year “prove it” deal that puts Burns in position to compete for a starting cornerback job opposite Kyle Fuller.
Steelers cornerback Artie Burns tackles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams during a game on Oct. 13, 2019. (Kyusung Gong/AP)
Burns was a first-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2016, selected No. 25 overall by the Steelers. But he never became the impact playmaker the Steelers hoped. The organization did not pick up his fifth-year option last year and Burns fell deeper into a reserve role. Over four seasons in Pittsburgh, Burns started 32 of the 58 games he played in. He recorded three interceptions as a rookie but only one more over the following three seasons.
Burns has intriguing length and speed and offers a skillset that could allow him to replace Prince Amukamara as a reliable man-to-man cover corner. But he will certainly have to earn that role whenever the Bears are cleared to get back on the practice field. Kevin Tolliver is also in the mix for that job. And the Bears signed CFL star Tre Roberson earlier this winter to compete as well.
March 20
The Bears are signing safety Deon Bush to a one-year contract, ESPN reported.
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What it means: The $1.4 million deal means Bush will return for a fifth season in Chicago. The Bears are in need of a new starter at safety alongside Eddie Jackson after Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed with the Cowboys. It remains to be seen whether Bush will get a chance to compete for the starting spot or if the Bears have someone else in mind to fill that role, either through free agency or the draft. Bush, a 2016 fourth-round pick, has started eight games over four seasons. He played in 15 games in 2019, playing 5% of the Bears’ snaps on defense and 63% on special teams. He had eight tackles and two passes defended.
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is headed to Dallas to play for Cowboys.
What it means: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Clinton-Dix’s one-year deal in Dallas is worth $4 million with $2.5 million guaranteed, a similar “prove it” deal to what he signed with the Bears last March. It’s no surprise the Bears allowed Clinton-Dix’s contract to expire or that the 27-year-old safety is moving on, now joining his fourth team since 2018.
Dix was signed to play free safety, per source. That would mean that Xavier Woods would move to strong safety https://t.co/2zyAabm4Oh — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 20, 2020
He will reunite in Dallas with his former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Clinton-Dix had two interceptions last season for the Bears, including a 59-yard touchdown return against the Redskins in Week 3. He was solid on the back end of the defense. But the Bears also awarded Eddie Jackson a record-setting extension in January, dishing out $33 million guaranteed and keeping Jackson under contract through the end of the 2024 season. There was little chance the Bears were going to spend big to fill that second safety spot.
While the Bears were happy with Clinton-Dix’s play last season, they would ideally like to find a second starting safety who has a more complementary skill set to Jackson, a defensive back who will allow the Bears to use Jackson’s biggest strengths as a free-ranging ball-hawk more easily. General manager Ryan Pace has had success identifying safeties in the draft. He chose Jackson with a fourth-round pick in 2017 and scooped up Adrian Amos in Round 5 two years earlier. The Bears may still browse the bargain bins of free agency for help and depth at the position. But keep a close eye on next month’s draft as well.
March 19
The Bears are bringing back long snapper Patrick Scales on a one-year deal.
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What it means: Scales, 32, will return for his sixth year in Chicago. One of those years, 2017, was spent on injured reserve, but he played in all 16 games each of the last two seasons. He’ll be back with a special teams unit that also includes returning punter Pat O’Donnell and kicker Eddy Pineiro.
The Redskins are signing former Bears offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas to a two-year deal .
What it means: The Bears will be in search of a new swing tackle after Lucas leaves for the $5.3 million deal. Lucas started a game in September and then the final five of the year filling in for injured Bobby Massie. The Redskins will be his fifth team in seven NFL seasons.
March 18
The Bears have acquired Nick Foles from the Jaguars in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next month’s draft.
What it means: No one is more invested in learning what this move means than Mitch Trubisky, the incumbent starting quarterback who has received multiple votes of public confidence from general manager Ryan Pace since last season ended.
Trubisky’s inconsistency and the unraveling of the Bears offense in 2019 was well-documented and created a new sense of urgency behind closed doors at Halas Hall. So while Pace has publicly said he expects Trubisky to be the starter when next season begins, the Bears’ desire to create real competition opens the door for Foles to slide into the starting role fairly easily and soon.
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Per @NFLNetwork reports, we have traded for QB @NickFoles.
(NFL policy currently prohibits teams from making any official announcements.)@SNICKERS | #DaBears — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 18, 2020
Foles’ chemistry with the offensive coaching staff — he spent time in previous stops with coach Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo — is a major plus. And his understanding of Nagy’s offensive system gives him a chance to hit the ground running when the the Bears get the all-clear to begin practicing this spring or summer. In giving up a fourth-round pick for Foles, the Bears have only two selections in the top 150. Foles’ contract with the Jaguars, which the Bears will inherit, runs through 2022 and has a base salary of more than $15 million for this season. Before long, Pace and Nagy will have to communicate their vision for their quarterback situation. It will be interesting to see when the team schedules those first public comments.
Leonard Floyd has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rams worth $10 million.
What it means: A day after the Bears released him, Floyd found a new home in Los Angeles, reuniting with first-year Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who was Floyd’s position coach with the Bears in 2017 and 2018. The Bears exercised the fifth-year option on Floyd’s rookie deal last year but wiggled out of it Tuesday, freeing themselves from a $13.2 million commitment. Now Floyd gets a one-season “prove-it deal” in Hollywood. The Bears, for what it’s worth, are scheduled to play the Rams in Los Angeles next season.
March 17
The Redskins are signing inside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis to a one-year deal, NFL Network reported.
What it means: Pierre-Louis leaves the Bears after one season. He did a nice job filling in for most of four games after Roquan Smith was injured. He had 37 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, three passes defended and an interception and also played on special teams. His play earned him a deal worth up to $3.45 million as he joins his fifth team for his seventh year in the league.
The Bears are signing edge rusher Robert Quinn to a five-year deal and releasing Leonard Floyd, NFL Network reported .
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What it means: The Bears get an upgrade at edge rusher with the swap. Quinn, who will turn 30 in May, joins the Bears and All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack for his 10th NFL season. He had 11 ½ sacks with the Cowboys in 2019, the second-most in his career behind the 19 he had in 2013 as an All-Pro. He also had 22 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and three passes defended. Quinn was a Rams first-round pick in 2011, and he spent his first seven seasons with the team before spending a year each with the Dolphins and Cowboys. He has 80 ½ sacks in his career. The deal, for $70 million with $30 million guaranteed, makes the Bears defensive front, with Mack and Akiem Hicks, even more formidable.
Floyd’s departure isn’t entirely surprising given he was owed $13.2 million in 2020. Floyd had a career-low three sacks in 2019. The Bears’ No. 9 overall draft pick in 2016 never quite lived up to the expectations for him. Bears general manager Ryan Pace has said multiple times he likes what Floyd provided in coverage and on run defense, but the Bears also noted his pass rushing production was not where they would like it to be. Floyd becomes Pace’s second first-round pick to leave, behind Kevin White.
Chase Daniel is headed to the Lions on a three-year deal, ESPN reported .
What it means: It was known the Bears likely weren’t going to bring Chase Daniel back for a third season as Mitch Trubisky’s backup, so he moves on to be the backup to Matthew Stafford.
Bears quarterback Chase Daniel sits on the bench before the first half against the Lions at Soldier Field on Nov. 10, 2019. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The Lions will be his fifth team in 11 seasons, a remarkable career for someone who has made only five starts. For the Bears, Daniel was a veteran presence to help guide Trubisky through coach Matt Nagy’s offense, and he also served as a team leader and the Bears’ representative to the NFLPA. He also started three games, throwing six touchdown passes and four interceptions. His presence is valued enough that the Lions gave him a $13.05 million deal, which contains a voidable clause.
The Lions agreed to terms with defensive lineman Nick Williams on a two-year deal.
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Bears defensive tackle Nick Williams celebrates after sacking Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins at Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2019. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: Nick Williams, 30, received his first significant pay day in the NFL after totaling six sacks last season when his playing time expanded because of injuries on the defensive line. Williams appeared in all 16 games with five starts and totaled 42 tackles. He’d made just 19 tackles with no sacks in 28 previous career games.
The Bears will hope to replace a chunk of Williams’ playing time (he was on the field for 49 percent of the snaps) with greater health. Akiem Hicks’ injury led to a lot of his playing time.
Can say thank you enough to the McCaskey family and the @ChicagoBears organization for giving me the opportunity. Thanks to my teammates and to the fans! Big Bear 97 Out ✌🏾 #OnePride 🦁 What’s good 😤 pic.twitter.com/9kVcmREelU — Nicholas Williams (@NickWilliams_98) March 17, 2020
The Lions are re-tooling their defensive front with coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn under pressure to break out of losing ways in Detroit and Williams is expected to be just one new piece along the defensive line, a familiar face the Bears will see twice a year. He reportedly will earn $10 million over the next two seasons. That’s not a bad deal for a guy that was on a minimum-salary benefit contract last year.
March 16
The Bears agreed to terms with veteran tight end Jimmy Graham on a two-year deal.
What it means: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bears will guarantee Jimmy Graham $9 million on a two-year deal that could be worth up to $16 million.
It’s a hefty price to pay for a 33-year-old veteran in the twilight of his career. But it also speaks to the Bears’ desperate need for production at tight end. Last season, six Bears tight ends combined for 46 catches, 416 yards and two touchdowns, woeful production for an offense that relies heavily on the tight end. Graham, in a 2019 season that could be characterized as ordinary at best, provided the Packers with 38 catches, 447 yards and three touchdowns.
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Bears GM Ryan Pace, of course, has familiarity with Graham from their days together with the Saints. From 2010 to 2014, Graham averaged 77 catches, 950 yards and 10 touchdowns and was selected to three Pro Bowls. That was a long time ago. And while it’s difficult to forecast how much Graham has left in his tank, he will be given every opportunity to be a major difference-maker in the Bears offense. His arrival also raises legitimate questions as to whether the Bears are ready to pull the plug on Trey Burton for 2020, even with $4 million of guaranteed money still owed.
The Raiders agreed to terms with former Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski on a three-year deal.
What it means: The Bears say goodbye to their 2016 fourth-round pick, a player who served them well when they needed him during the 2019 season.
Kwiatkoski earned himself a solid new deal when he filled in for eight starts last year while veteran Danny Trevathan was injured, totaling 76 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, four passes defended, a forced fumble and an interception. The Bears had to decide between trying to keep Kwiatkoski or Trevathan, and they went with the latter. Kwiatkoski’s deal is for $21 million with $13.5 million in guarantees, NFL Network reported.
March 13
The Bears tendered restricted free agent defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris .
Roy Robertson-Harris (95) goes after Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for a sack in the second quarter t Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2019. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The tender is believed to be at the second-round level, making it unlikely another team will try to sign him. The Bears have the right of first refusal and would receive a second-round draft pick if they didn’t match another team’s contract offer. Robertson-Harris, who joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, had 30 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 2 ½ sacks in his third season on the field.
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March 12
The Bears signed inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a three-year contract extension, NFL Network reported.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles the ball as Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan flips over in the third quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 5, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The Bears bring back a key piece of their defense on and off the field. The eight-year NFL veteran, who turns 30 later this month, had 70 tackles, two for a loss, four quarterback hits, a sack and a forced fumble over nine games in his fourth season with the Bears. He sat out the remainder of the year with an elbow injury. He will team up with Roquan Smith for a third season. His return, on a deal that could be worth $24 million, could signal the departure of inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to another team in free agency.
Feb. 21
The Bears released cornerback Prince Amukamara and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel.
Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel signs autographs on Nov. 24, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The Bears cleared $13.5 million in salary cap space when they cut the veterans. But they now must find a starting cornerback to pair with Kyle Fuller and a speedy, deep-threat wide receiver to replace Taylor Gabriel.
Prince Amukamara, 30, started 44 games over three seasons with the Bears. He had three interceptions and a touchdown, all in 2018, along with 29 passes defended over three years. Gabriel, 29, had 96 catches for 1,041 yards over two seasons with the Bears. He was limited to nine games in 2019 as he dealt with two concussions. The Bears very likely will add to both rooms in the offseason. But cornerbacks Kevin Toliver and Tre Roberson and wide receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley are among the current players who could compete for playing time after the roster moves.
Feb. 20
The Bears signed veteran tight end Demetrius Harris to a one-year contract.
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Browns tight end Demetrius Harris tries for a catch in front of Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the second half on Dec. 1, 2019. (Don Wright/AP)
What it means: Demetrius Harris, 28, joins the Bears to potentially fill a role as their “Y” blocking tight end. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Chiefs in Kansas City when Bears coach Matt Nagy was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator there. He had 57 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns with the Chiefs. The Browns released him in February after one season in which he had 15 catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of Harris is likely the first of several moves to rebuild the Bears tight ends room this offseason.
Jan. 29
The Bears signed CFL cornerback Tre Roberson to a two-year contract.
Calgary's Tre Roberson celebrates an interception against Ottawa during the second half of the Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 25, 2018. (Codie McLachlan / Getty Images)
What it means: Tre Roberson, 27, picked the Bears from nine NFL contract offers after he had an All-Star season with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2019. The former Indiana and Illinois State quarterback, who spent time with the Vikings on their practice squad in 2016 and in training camp in 2017, had seven interceptions and two touchdowns in his second season in the CFL. The 6-foot, 190-pound Roberson provides needed depth at cornerback in a room that includes Kyle Fuller, Buster Skrine and Kevin Toliver.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Amazon seeks to hire 100,000 to keep up with surge in orders

Amazon said this weekend that a surge of orders is putting its operations under pressure .
It warned shoppers that @ @ @ @ @ the usual two days to get packages .
It also said it was sold out @ @ @ @ @ and is working to get more in stock .

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon said Monday that it needs to hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of orders as the coronavirus spreads and keeps more people at home, shopping online.
The online retailer said it will also temporarily raise pay by $2 an hour through the end of April for hourly employees. That includes workers at its warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores, all of whom make at least $15 an hour. Employees in the United Kingdom and other European countries will get a similar raise.
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“We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year,” said Dave Clark, who oversees Amazon’s warehouse and delivery network.
Amazon said this weekend that a surge of orders is putting its operations under pressure. It warned shoppers that it could take longer than the usual two days to get packages. It also said it was sold out of many household cleaning supplies and is working to get more in stock.
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The Seattle-based company said the job openings are for a mix of full-time and part-time positions and include delivery drivers and warehouse workers, who pack and ship orders to shoppers.
Amazon is already the second-largest U.S.-based employer behind Walmart, with nearly 800,000 workers worldwide.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Watch live: Gov. J. B. Pritzker and health officials discuss Illinois coronavirus cases

Coronavirus in Illinois updates : Illinois officials reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 in the state , bringing the total @ @ @ @ @ outbreak to 105 .
Two counties saw their first cases , Will and Peoria .
@ @ @ @ @ have now reported coronavirus cases .

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chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Indiana reports 1st coronavirus death; governor orders restaurants and bars to close

For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
@ @ @ @ @ adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , @ @ @ @ @ illness may take three to six weeks to recover .

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks with reporters about the state's coronavirus response on Friday, March 13, 2020, at his Statehouse office in Indianapolis. (Tom Davies/AP)
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana officials have reported the state’s first death linked to the coronavirus outbreak.
State health officials said the person was over 60 and suffered other medical problems as well as the COVID-19. The Indianapolis resident died Monday at a Community Health Network hospital.
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Gov. Eric Holcomb expressed sympathy for the death at a Statehouse news conference and said it underlined the seriousness of the illness.
“To those who think we that may be overreacting, I can assure that you we are not,” Holcomb said. “Indiana is under a public health emergency. We are, no mistake about it, at war with COVID-19.”
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Tests have confirmed 24 COVID-19 illnesses in 13 Indiana counties as of Monday, according to the state health department.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said Indianapolis is showing “community spread” of the illness with confirmed cases that cannot be traced back to the person traveling to affected countries or conferences.
All restaurants and bars in Indiana are being closed to in-person customers in another step ordered Monday by Holcomb toward stemming the spread of the coronavirus.
Holcomb's order follows the same step being taken in each state adjacent to Indiana in recent days.
Schools across the state have largely closed to students. According to the governor's office, 273 public school districts have either shut down or switched to online classwork. The state education department is working with the 16 others to determine their next steps.
Holcomb last week approved allowing schools to cancel 20 days without having to make them up later, but said local school officials should decide if and when they would close. Statewide school closings have occurred in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois after their governors either ordered the closures or asked schools to do so.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
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The number of confirmed COVID-19 illnesses in Indiana reached 24 on Monday in 13 counties, according to the state health department. That is five more than reported on Sunday and double Friday’s number.
Holcomb said Friday that people must take precautions to slow the spread of the virus.
“This is real. The numbers are going to continue to increase by the very definition of the what this virus is,” Holcomb told reporters.
Indiana’s hospitals and surgery centers are being asked to cancel or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures to free up resources and personnel to treat patients who may have the virus.
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State regulators in Indiana also closed all casinos and off-track betting parlors, effective Monday, for at least two weeks.
Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to limit large events and mass gatherings to 50 people, according to the governor’s office. Holcomb last week discouraged non-essential gatherings of more than 250 people in sites such as churches, stadiums, conference rooms and auditoriums.
An employee at the state police laboratory division in Indianapolis has been diagnosed with the virus and remains hospitalized, according to state police. One co-worker is self-quarantined at home and others have been notified.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Column: The NFL opened free-agent negotiations amid a pandemic. Is it a nice distraction or a tone-d

Column: The NFL opened free-agent negotiations amid a pandemic. Is it a nice distraction or a tone-deaf decision?

Of course I like the distraction of the signings and trades and tags as I follow from my couch .
@ @ @ @ @ do my job when so much else is uncertain .
In a time when they @ @ @ @ @ live sports as a source of entertainment , I ’ m sure plenty of fans @ @ @ @ @ the NFL transactions .

In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the world outside our homes is grinding to a halt.
Businesses with employees who can work from home have closed their offices. Schools are closed statewide until at least March 30. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is ordering restaurants to stop dine-in services. And in sports, the NCAA basketball tournaments were canceled and the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer suspended their seasons.
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The NFL world, however, carries on.
At 11 a.m. Monday, the free-agency negotiating window opened. Teams will spend three days working to secure agreements with players, whom they can sign when the new league year begins Wednesday afternoon.
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The NFL also announced Monday it still plans to hold its draft April 23-25, though the events open to the public in Las Vegas have been canceled.
New from the NFL pic.twitter.com/N4Zt35PG8k — Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 16, 2020
The league banned in-person prospect visits last week, requiring any interviews with potential draftees to be done by phone or video conference until further notice. But it apparently expects teams to be able to operate smoothly enough under uncertain circumstances to commit to an event more than a month away.
Depending on your point of view, the NFL’s resolve to move forward with its operations could be viewed as comforting or arrogant and insensitive.
Many voiced the latter point of view on social media Monday morning, calling the decision to keep free agency on schedule “tone deaf,” “dangerous” and “one of the biggest mistakes the NFL has ever made.”
Must agree that free agency amid all this is tone deaf. — Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) March 16, 2020
Mike Florio of NBC Sports said it was about even more than the bad optics of players signing multimillion-dollar deals while the nation is struggling with health and financial concerns. Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated strongly made the point that the league is making the pandemic “an ‘other people’ issue.” And NFLPA executive committee member Lorenzo Alexander told NFL.com that free agency should have been pushed back because the safety of his family is bigger than football.
In a selfish bubble, I don’t mind the league continuing on as usual. My family is healthy. I am lucky to have a job that I can perform from home half of the year — and am in that half right now. I also have childcare arrangements that help me do that job even in these odd times.
Of course I like the distraction of the signings and trades and tags as I follow from my couch. I like being able to do my job when so much else is uncertain. In a time when they can’t turn to live sports as a source of entertainment, I’m sure plenty of fans also welcome the debate about the NFL transactions.
But I realize not everyone has the aforementioned luxuries. And the idea we keep hearing from government and health officials — as well as people from other countries who are living through the advanced stages of the coronavirus spread — is that this is a time to be unselfish.
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Sacrifices are being made everywhere in the name of public health. Is the NFL saying it’s excluded from that? Is it wrong for the league to ask executives, coaches, players and agents to focus on contracts when bigger considerations are at play? If team officials conduct business entirely remotely, is that enough to calm concerns?
The NFL took some steps toward addressing the concerns Monday evening.
Eight hours after negotiating began, the NFL and NFLPA released a new set of restrictions for free agency. They prohibit in-person meetings between team personnel, including medical staff, and free agents. Instead of bringing in a player for a physical, teams may access medical records from a player’s previous team or arrange a physical at a location near the player.
Joint statement from the NFL and NFLPA pic.twitter.com/JjzNqGQi9M — Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 17, 2020
The league also announced offseason activities — scheduled to begin April 6 for teams with new coaches and April 20 for the rest — won’t start on time. And teams are prohibited from opening their facilities to players except those undergoing treatment and rehabilitation there.
The Bears, who announced last week they were keeping team personnel away from air travel, provided an update Monday afternoon that they are keeping their offices at Halas Hall, downtown and at Soldier Field closed “aside from a limited number of staff.” They also will hold conference calls instead of news conferences “for the foreseeable future.”
Update on Bears Office Closures and Upcoming Media Planning. pic.twitter.com/FJ3EulN7Id — Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) March 16, 2020
The many considerations have made for an uneasy opening to one of the NFL’s busiest weeks.
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Should we be excited about where Tom Brady is going to land or which quarterback the Bears bring in? Or should we be asking one of the country’s most powerful entertainment entities to consider the message it’s sending by continuing with its business in the midst of a national emergency?
It’s possible to answer both questions with a yes.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--If you’re taking your temperature because of the coronavirus, 98.6 isn’t the normal body temperature

If you’re taking your temperature because of the coronavirus, 98.6 isn’t the normal body temperature anymore

But doctors say evidence of declining temperature is not likely to change how they treat and assess patients for fever @ @ @ @ @ emphasizes that people should pay attention to how they feel and not just the number @ @ @ @

Body temperature can vary by sex, size, age, time of day it’s taken and other factors. (BSIP / Universal Images Group)
For centuries, 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit was said to be the average, normal body temperature. It’s not.
More recently, researchers have known normal body temperature is actually lower than 98.6 and can vary by gender, size, age, time of day and other factors. But now there’s also evidence that shows we’ve been cooling off since the 19th century when 98.6 was established as “normal.”
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As the coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, continues to spread, temperature checks are necessary for those feeling ill, public health officials say. Fever, along with coughing and shortness of breath, make up the symptoms of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Research published in January in eLife, shows body temperature has not only dropped since German physician Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich’s study in 1851 established the average body temperature as 98.6 degrees, but it has also dropped since the 1970s. The findings indicate that Americans’ average, normal body temperature has dropped about 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, based on their birth year.
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“People are stuck on the 98.6 number, but that number has always been wrong,” said Dr. Julie Parsonnet, one of the authors of the study and professor of medicine at Stanford University. “There’s never been a real number because people vary.”
But Parsonnet’s research indicates there are still unknowns when it comes to the continued decrease in body temperature.
In the study, Parsonnet and other researchers looked at the temperatures of three groups: data from a study that recorded Civil War veterans’ temperatures from the mid-1800s through 1930, more recent data from the 1970s recorded by the Centers for Disease Control, and temperatures of patients visiting Stanford health clinics from 2007 to 2017.
The data showed that the body temperature of men born in the 2000s is about 1.06 degrees Fahrenheit lower than men born in the early 1800s. And the body temperature of women born in the 2000s is on average 0.58 degrees Fahrenheit lower than women born in the 1890s.
Meaning, “it’s not just an ancient change,” Parsonnet said, indicating previous theories that advancements in thermometers or means of calculating research data are not the only possible explanations for the change.
It’s unclear what exactly is causing the continued decline, Parsonnet said, or what it could mean moving forward. Some factors could be that people have grown taller and heavier, and that their metabolic rates have slowed.
And modern medicine’s elimination of certain diseases, like syphilis, tuberculosis and periodontal diseases also could affect changes in body temperature, she said. When the original 98.6-degree normal was established, a significant portion of the population would’ve been fighting these diseases, Parsonnet said, which cause inflammation and higher temperatures.
It’s important to find out why, she added, because it could affect lifespan. “We are having human cooling, and we don’t know what that means, but it’s good to know that it’s happening.”
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But doctors say evidence of declining temperature is not likely to change how they treat and assess patients for fever, though Parsonnet said it emphasizes that people should pay attention to how they feel and not just the number on the thermometer.
Dr. Edward Ward, emergency medicine physician at Rush University Medical Center, said he doesn’t give a lot of weight to what could be considered normal temperature, instead focusing on extremes, including above 100 degrees Fahrenheit indicating a fever and below 94 degrees indicating hypothermia.
“It’s not surprising that there will be changes (in normal body temperature) since the Industrial Revolution,” he said. “As an ER doctor, I’m looking for abnormalities.”
Ward also pointed out that there’s “a difference between having what is medically considered a fever and feeling feverish. If someone is normally 96 and then suddenly they’re 99, they probably feel uncomfortable.”
That can indicate illness and the need for medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, he said.
kthayer@chicagotribune.com
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Editor’s note: This story was originally published Jan. 20. It has been updated to include information about the coronavirus.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Bears are talking with Teddy Bridgewater about a deal to be their starting quarterback, report says

There could be a difference in perception , however , between signing Bridgewater and acquiring Dalton .
With a big @ @ @ @ @ certainly would replace Trubisky right away .
Trading for Dalton could be framed as bringing @ @ @ @ @ option to pivot away from Trubisky if he doesn ’ t show improvement .

The Bears reportedly are zeroing in on a new quarterback.
But which one depends upon whom you ask.
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Within the first few hours of the free-agent negotiating period Monday, the Bears were linked to the Saints’ Teddy Bridgewater, the Bengals’ Andy Dalton and the Jaguars’ Nick Foles.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio first reported the Bears were talking to Bridgewater about a deal that would make him the new starter over Mitch Trubisky. Initial numbers on a contract for Bridgewater would be in the range of $21 million per year, Florio reported.
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Of course, the Bears aren’t Bridgewater’s only suitors. The Buccaneers and Chargers, who are rumored to be vying for Tom Brady, could turn to Bridgewater should Brady sign elsewhere. And not long after Florio’s report, NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo indicated he didn’t think Bridgewater would land with the Bears.
Not expecting Teddy Bridgewater to land with the #Bears. Other QB options in play there. — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2020
A source then told the Tribune that the Bears reached out to the Bengals and Jaguars about trade possibilities for Dalton or Foles.
The phones are active in the NFL world right now and the Bears, per a source, are reaching out to the Bengals and Jaguars re: trade possibilities for Andy Dalton or Nick Foles. — Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) March 16, 2020
Bears general manager Ryan Pace publicly committed to Trubisky as the 2020 starter when he last spoke to the media at the NFL combine. But Pace also noted he was looking to add competition for Trubisky.
“Our players know what’s best for the team, and what’s best for the team is creating competition everywhere,” Pace said. “That’s our goal.”
There could be a difference in perception, however, between signing Bridgewater and acquiring Dalton. With a big new contract, Bridgewater almost certainly would replace Trubisky right away. Trading for Dalton could be framed as bringing in competition, with the option to pivot away from Trubisky if he doesn’t show improvement.
Bridgewater, 27, went 5-0 in five starts with the Saints in 2019 while Drew Brees was injured. That included a 36-25 victory over the Bears.
He was a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2014 and started 28 games for them before he suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2016. Bridgewater has started six games since the knee injury. He completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,384 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions for the Saints in 2019.
After nine seasons with the Bengals, Dalton, 32, could be headed to a new home. The Bengals have the top pick in the draft and might select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
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Dalton started 13 games in 2019, completing 59.5% of his passes for 3,494 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has played under new Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.
Foles, 31, signed a four-year, $88 million contract with the Jaguars last March, but he broke his collarbone in Week 1. Rookie Gardner Minshew filled in well over the next nine games. Foles returned to start three games in mid-November but was benched in favor of Minshew.
Foles has played for four teams in an eight-year NFL career. He filled in for injured Eagles starter Carson Wentz late in the 2017 season and was named MVP of Super Bowl LII after their victory over the Patriots.
He played under Bears coach Matt Nagy with the Eagles and Chiefs, Lazor with the Eagles and new Bears quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo with the Eagles and Jaguars.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Pritzker names new DCFS watchdog; some child welfare advocates concerned

`` It is essential to have a strong independent voice in that position , '' Wolf said .
Paniak `` @ @ @ @ @ issues that were sometimes embarrassing to DCFS , often with few resources and little support @ @ @ @ @ general better be someone in that role , because children depend on that voice , @ @ @ @ @ it to know how well the system is functioning . ''

An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services field office in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood is shown in 2019. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appointed Lester Bovia as interim inspector general of the Department of Children and Family Services, drawing skepticism from a key figure in child welfare in Cook County.
In a Facebook post, Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert said Pritzker’s announcement was “suspect and likely designed to avoid scrutiny” because it was made “on a Friday night in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic dominating the news.”
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"No one in the child advocacy community seems to have heard of Bovia but we hold out hope that he will continue the tradition of fiercely independent Inspectors General who will fearlessly tell it like it is and expose problems so that they can be fixed," Golbert wrote.
Bovia replaces Meryl Paniak, who had served since January 2018 as the child welfare agency’s watchdog.
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In a statement Sunday, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said Paniak asked Pritzker to withdraw her as DCFS inspector general so she could pursue other employment opportunities. “The administration will conduct a thorough search to name a permanent appointment,” Abudayyeh’s statement added.
Attempts to reach Bovia for comment were unsuccessful. Paniak declined to comment in a brief telephone interview.
Bovia had been deputy general counsel of the Illinois Human Rights Commission, where he started as an administrative law judge in 2009. The commission reviews citizen complaints of discrimination in employment, real estate transactions and other areas.
Pritzker’s announcement said Bovia was instrumental in helping the commission eliminate a backlog of 2,500 pending cases. To help correct shortfalls in DCFS, the inspector general investigates the deaths and serious injuries of children who were in state care, probes corruption in agency contracts and offers broad policy recommendations.
The position has been critical given the churn in top leadership at the agency, Golbert said in an interview. When Pritzker named Marc D. Smith the acting director of DCFS last year, Smith became the 15th person to lead the child welfare agency since 2003, a number that includes acting and interim directors.
“We are concerned about Ms. Paniak’s departure,” said Benjamin Wolf, emeritus legal director of the ACLU of Illinois, who since 1988 has served as counsel in a federal lawsuit that seeks better conditions for all children under the care of DCFS.
"It is essential to have a strong independent voice in that position," Wolf said. Paniak "was willing to tackle tough issues that were sometimes embarrassing to DCFS, often with few resources and little support, and the new inspector general better be someone in that role, because children depend on that voice, and the public depends on it to know how well the system is functioning."
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Anita Weinberg, director of the ChildLaw Policy Institute at Loyola University Chicago, said she was concerned about a "lack of consistent oversight when the agency has gone through so many shifts of leadership.”
dyjackson@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Oakbrook Center cuts hours due to coronavirus

“ There is nothing more important than maintaining a safe environment , and we will be taking all necessary precautions @ @ @ @ @ entire shopping center community , a statement from Oakbrook Center said .
“ This includes @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control , the World Health Organization and our local Department of Health @ @

Oakbrook Center has reduced its hours of operation because of concerns about the coronavirus.
Effective Monday, the shopping center will operate between noon and 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The mall’s usual hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Sunday hours have not changed.
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“There is nothing more important than maintaining a safe environment, and we will be taking all necessary precautions for the well-being of our entire shopping center community, a statement from Oakbrook Center said. “This includes following guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and our local Department of Health.”
The statement also said that in light of concerns surrounding the coronavirus, retailers and merchants may implement their own corporate policies regarding modified hours or temporary store closures. The most up-to-date tenant hours, can be found by clicking the name of that business in Oakbrook Center’s online directory.
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Mall management is following CDC guidelines on workplace cleanliness, including an increased frequency of cleaning highly touchable areas and said it is disinfecting high traffic areas within the center and parking garages.
Additional steps being taken include working with housekeeping vendors to increase the frequency and intensity of cleaning touchable surfaces, using a strong disinfectant known to eradicate viruses, and placing hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the mall.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Theater Wit will stream its play 'Teenage Dick’ just like live theater, down to the curtain time — t

Theater Wit will stream its play 'Teenage Dick’ just like live theater, down to the curtain time — this idea should be copied

The innovative idea , likely to be widely copied in Chicago theater , is a way , he says , @ @ @ @ @ close its show and to continue to pay artists ( including the understudies and crew @ @ @ @ @ under contract for the run .
Agreements with the various unions involved ( Wechsler says @ @ @ @ @ agree ) limit the total audience to 98 “ seats ” per performance , which @ @ @ @ @ original capacity of the theater .

Audiences will buy a ticket, just as if they were going to the theater, except they will huddle around their computer screens at home. Ten minutes before curtain, they’ll be sent a unique code. And at curtain time, 8 p.m. most nights, they will be treated to a curtain speech from Jeremy Wechsler, the founder of Theater Wit.
Then the show, a new production of Mike Lew’s edgy comedy “Teenage Dick,” will begin. And the curtain will come down at precisely the same time as it would had everyone been together on Belmont Avenue. If you wish, you will be even invited to stay for a talkback.
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It’ll all to be a bit of a ruse, though. Everyone will be watching the same filmed performance, to be taped in the Lakeview venue on Monday night without a live audience and then broadcast through Vimeo at the curtain times previously advertised. The filming won’t be fancy or movie-like, as are many video productions from major theaters and opera companies, but will flow from two fixed cameras.
But the idea, Wechsler says, is to come as close as possible to the time-specific experience and aesthetic of going to the theater, which is not usually an aspect of other films and streams of live theatrical performances.
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The innovative idea, likely to be widely copied in Chicago theater, is a way, he says, for Theater Wit not to close its show and to continue to pay artists (including the understudies and crew members) who have remained under contract for the run. Agreements with the various unions involved (Wechsler says everyone moved very quickly to agree) limit the total audience to 98 “seats” per performance, which just happens to be the original capacity of the theater.
“We think,” Wechsler says, “that this will be a way to help with all the feelings of isolation and loneliness. I am literally going to meet our audience at the door and bring them into the theater. We are going to do everything we can to replicate the actual feeling of live theater."
And are people buying tickets? “Yes,” Wechsler says. “A lot of them. And not just people from Chicago.”
That’s an advantage of the idea, of course. It brings off-Loop Chicago theater to the world. And, for many people much closer to the non-virtual Theater Wit, it will be a chance to offer financial support to something they know is both precious and fragile.
The show opens Wednesday. You can expect a review from me.
“Teenage Dick” will be live streamed from Theater Wit beginning March 20; more at www.theaterwit.org.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Hinsdale police arrest two and seize four handguns in searches in South Holland and Dolton

The police took seven people , including two juveniles , into custody March 11 , authorities said .
An 18-year-old @ @ @ @ @ man were turned over , respectively , to the Naperville Police Department and the McHenry @ @ @ @ @ , for questioning related to crimes in their jurisdiction .

Hinsdale police participated in raids of two homes in South Holland and Dolton that resulted in the seizure of four handguns and recovering a stolen vehicle early Wednesday morning. (Kimberly Fornek / Pioneer Press)
The Hinsdale police have charged two people in relation to recently stolen vehicles after executing search warrants in South Holland and Dolton early Wednesday morning, Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King said.
Police from Burr Ridge, Wilmette, South Barrington and Highland Park participated in the search. The warrants were part of an investigation of a series of overnight auto thefts.
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Christian Green, 18, of the 15200 block of State Street, South Holland, has been charged with residential burglary and aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Christian Green, 18, of 15202 State St., South Holland, IL was charged with residential burglary in Hinsdale and aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle. (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)
Green is accused of entering an attached residential garage on south Lincoln Street in Hinsdale at about 2:55 a.m. Feb. 9 and stealing a Jaguar F-Pace, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office reported. Hinsdale police later that morning pursued the Jaguar in south suburban Harvey, King said
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Jarone Carter, 24, who lived at the same address as Green, has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
Jarone Carter, 24, of 15202 State St., South Holland, IL was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in DuPage County. (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)
Authorities said several times between Feb. 27 and Feb. 29, Carter was seen in a 2012 Audi A6 that had been reported stolen Feb. 20.
The Audi, along with four handguns, were recovered at the homes the police searched March 11, King said.
At a bond hearing Friday, Green’s bond was set at $75,000 and Carter’s bond was set at $50,000. The next court appearance for both men is April 20 for arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.
“The Hinsdale Police Department will actively pursue the arrest, charging and prosecution of individuals who have targeted our communities for overnight auto thefts and burglaries.” King said in a statement.
The police took seven people, including two juveniles, into custody March 11, authorities said. An 18-year-old from Harvey and a 22-year-old man were turned over, respectively, to the Naperville Police Department and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department, for questioning related to crimes in their jurisdiction.
The remaining adult and two juveniles taken into custody were released without charges, the State’s Attorney’s Office reported.
“This is a continuing investigation," King said. “We are working with our law enforcement partners and the DuPage County States Attorney’s office to identify additional offenders and lodge additional charges.”
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Hinsdale Police remind residents to be vigilant, not leave their keys or key fobs in their vehicles and lock their cars.
Along with officers from the towns named above, Hinsdale police worked collaboratively with the Chicago Police Department and specially trained regional crime task forces, including the Major Case Assistance Team and the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--‘90 Day Fiance’ update: Jonathan Rivera and Fernanda Nunez finalize divorce in Chicago

Rivera and Nunez , who goes by Fernanda Flores , declined to comment immediately after the short hearing , which @ @ @ @ @ .
Rivera on Monday agreed to pay $ 5,000 toward Nunez ’ s attorney fees @ @ @ @ @ sticking point for the former couple as they tried to reach a divorce agreement , @ @ @ @ @ January court hearing .

Fernanda Nunez (left) and Jonathan Rivera married in Chicago on Season 6 of "90 Day Fiance." The wedding episode aired in December 2018. (TLC via YouTube)
“90 Day Fiance” cast members Jonathan Rivera and Fernanda Nunez finalized their divorce Monday at the downtown Daley Center.
Rivera and Nunez, who goes by Fernanda Flores, declined to comment immediately after the short hearing, which was not filmed for TV. Rivera on Monday agreed to pay $5,000 toward Nunez’s attorney fees. These fees were a sticking point for the former couple as they tried to reach a divorce agreement, their lawyers said at a January court hearing.
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TLC’s “90 Day Fiance” follows couples in a rush to the altar. Foreign cast members have 90 days to wed their American partner before their visas expire and they have to return home. Nunez’s immigration status is unclear.
The Mexico native met Rivera, who grew up in the Chicago area, at a club in Mexico. The two wed on May 5, 2018, in a Chicago ceremony that was featured on a “90 Day Fiance” Season 6 episode that initially aired on Dec. 30, 2018.
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Rivera filed for divorce on June 21, 2019, in Cook County court. Rivera later petitioned the court for a temporary restraining order after Nunez posted videos online that Rivera said included “false, egregious and defamatory accusations” about him mentally and physically abusing her.
Rivera said Nunez intended to “publicly make false, defamatory statements” about him at a women empowerment event in River North in October 2019, according to his court filing. Judge Pamela Loza denied Rivera’s emergency petition less than two weeks before Nunez’s scheduled speaking engagement, records show. Loza granted their divorce Monday.
Rivera is a real estate broker who relocated from North Carolina to the Chicago area. Nunez, meanwhile, has amassed more than 354,000 Instagram followers, and she gives paid shoutouts via the Cameo video message service.
tswartz@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, as we must, at home and on TV

There are no official statistics available but it certainly appeared to me that many , many people had had more @ @ @ @ @ .
There was nothing joyful about the crowds .
Compelled in part by seeing these @ @ @ @ @ and governor reacted swiftly and so on Tuesday all the normal St. Patrick ’ s @ @ @ @ @ be sensibly silenced when taverns and restaurants will close for the next two weeks , @ @ @

Cork & Kerry, sometimes called "the soul of Beverly," is one of the three Irish taverns featured in "Our Irish Pub" Sunday on WTTW-Ch. 11. (Roger Wolski Photo)
Wandering the streets of this parade-less city on Saturday and seeing the throngs of people waiting in line at, and filling, and stumbling out of various liquor-selling establishments, I was put in mind of something said by George Shinnick Sr., who opened the venerable Shinnick’s Pub on the South Side in 1938. This was his tavern wisdom: “He who drinks and drinks with grace/is always welcome in this place/He who drinks more than his share/is never welcome anywhere.”
There are no official statistics available but it certainly appeared to me that many, many people had had more than their share on Saturday. There was nothing joyful about the crowds. Compelled in part by seeing these same gatherings, the mayor and governor reacted swiftly and so on Tuesday all the normal St. Patrick’s Day boozy public festivities will be sensibly silenced when taverns and restaurants will close for the next two weeks, perhaps longer.
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Yes, there will be those who complain but this is a wise move and I say this not only as a man of Irish heritage but a person who has a long affinity for and familiarity with places that serve alcohol. Many cities are doing the same, including Dublin, which is, if you don’t know, the capital of Ireland.
The phony St. Patrick’s Day exuberance here has always bugged me, increasingly so in recent years as stores shelves buckle under the weight of almost anything in varying shades of green. There are gloves, cowboy hats and hats with beards attached; stickers and bow ties, headbands, scarves, feather boas; glitter glasses and light-up glasses; hair clips and rubber ducks. And, punctuating the sartorial offerings are shamrock-emblazoned shot glasses. How proud are we Americans to be able to claim the invention of green beer and Shamrock Shakes?
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Yet, do most of the revelers even know the significance of the date, March 17?
It is believed to be the day St. Patrick died in 461.
Want more history? You’re on your own because I would rather tell you about a way you can celebrate in the company of your television set — indoors — by watching “Our Irish Pub” on WTTW-Ch. 11 Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
A terrifically entertaining and musically rich 30 minutes, it is the second such show delivered by Mike Houlihan, Irish to his core, and his Hibernian Transmedia, a not-for-profit dedicated to Irish and Irish American culture locally and globally (more at hiberniantransmedia.org.)
“It’s not like I had no familiarity with pubs and Irish music. They have been are part of my life for many years,” Houlihan told me.
Still, it took three years to produce the first edition of “Our Irish Pub,” which aired around this time last year and visited Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub, Chief O’Neill’s Irish Pub and the Galway Arms.
This new edition takes us to Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, Cork & Kerry Irish Pub, and the Curragh Irish Pub.
Reprising her role as host is Katie Grennan, an internationally known fiddler, step dancer, and member of Gaelic Storm. She’s a charmer as she relates a bit of the history of each pub and joins the musicians some of the nearly 12 songs packed in the show’s half hour. You will see and hear some terrific music from many people including young Irish dancer Tadgh Spillane and Irish singer Eimear Arkins who, playfully, tries to teach the audience to sing with a Lilt, which she calls “Irish rapping.”
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Houlihan is very pleased with the show, saying “There is so much talent here.”
One example comes with “In the City of Chicago,” written by Christy Moore and performed by Gavin Coyle. For me it really embodies what it means to be Irish in this town:
In the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall / There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal.
Eighteen forty-seven was the year it all began / Deadly pains of hunger drove a million from the land.
They journeyed not for glory, their motive wasn’t greed/ A voyage of survival across the stormy sea.
To the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall / There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal.
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Some of them knew fortune and some of them knew fame / More of them knew hardship, died upon the plain.
They spread throughout the nation, they rode the railroad cars / Brought their songs and music to ease their lonely hearts.
To the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall / There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal.
Houlihan has always been a man of large ambitions and extraordinary energy — actor, newspaper columnist, author of books; producer of the radio shows “The Hibernian Radio Hour” and “The Houli’s Hooley” on WSBC 1240AM; creative force behind the annual Irish American Movie Hooley and leader of frequent group tours of Ireland.
So of course, he is seeing beyond the Sunday airing of “Our Irish Pub.”
“I can envision taking our cameras and doing something similar in other cities with great Irish pubs and music. I think of Boston, Philadelphia, New York." He paused for a few seconds and then added, as if for extra emphasis, “And Ireland of course.”
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So, Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Take good care of one another. Drink sensibly.
rkogan@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Tempus raised another $100 million. Eric Lefkofsky’s cancer-fighting startup is now valued at $5 bil

Tempus raised another $100 million. Eric Lefkofsky’s cancer-fighting startup is now valued at $5 billion.

“ As we began to scale in oncology we realized our platform was disease agnostic , and would work just @ @ @ @ @ like depression and diabetes , ” said CEO and founder Eric Lefkofsky .
“ Throughout @ @ @ @ @ need of solutions like ours that allow them to make real-time , data-driven decisions .
@

Tempus, the cancer-fighting company founded by Eric Lefkofsky, has raised another $100 million to continue its expansion into other disease areas. (Brian Cassella/ Chicago Tribune)
Tempus, the cancer-fighting company that is among the most highly valued technology startups in Chicago, has raised another $100 million to continue its expansion into other disease areas.
The latest round of funding values the less-than-5-year-old company at $5 billion, according to a news release from Tempus. It has raised a total of $620 million.
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This newest round of funding will help expand Tempus’ work in diabetes, depression and cardiology, the company said.
Tempus built a platform to collect, structure and analyze clinical data, such as information from patient charts, that is often unorganized in electronic medical record systems. The company also generates genomic data by sequencing patient DNA and other information in its lab. The goal is to help doctors cater treatment to each individual patient.
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“As we began to scale in oncology we realized our platform was disease agnostic, and would work just as well in other areas like depression and diabetes,” said CEO and founder Eric Lefkofsky. “Throughout healthcare, doctors are in need of solutions like ours that allow them to make real-time, data-driven decisions.”
Lefkofsky told the Tribune last year that Tempus planned to expand beyond cancer treatment, and start using its data in the treatment of diabetes and depression. It raised its last round of funding in May.
Tempus employs more than 1,000 people, said spokeswoman Erin Carron. That’s up from about 700 in May.
The company secured a spot among the handful of Chicago “unicorns,” an industry term for privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more, in early 2018 and its valuation has continued to rise.
Investors in the latest round included Baillie Gifford, a U.K.-based investment management firm; New Enterprise Associates; funds and accounts managed by T. Rowe Price; Novo Holdings, a Denmark-based life sciences investor; and investment management company Franklin Templeton. All five have invested in Tempus previously.
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Here’s a list of things to do from home while social distancing

Try practicing yoga while quarantined at home .
( PeopleImages / Getty Images )


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Cubs Q&A: When should the season start — and what about unused spring training tickets? Why was Adbe

Cubs Q&A: When should the season start — and what about unused spring training tickets? Why was Adbert Alzolay optioned so early?

Rest assured that every player — regardless of his chances of earning a roster spot — will have his health @ @ @ @ @ his conditioning .
Given that many teams said the number of players staying near spring @ @ @ @ @ dwindle by the end of the month , it ’ s safe to assume not @ @ @ @ @ peak condition when play resumes .

The Tribune’s Mark Gonzales answers questions about when baseball could resume in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, why the Cubs optioned Adbert Alzolay to the minors so early and Kris Bryant’s future at the leadoff spot.
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What is a realistic date for the season to start? — Jim P., Lisle
The two-week delay announced last week was just a starting point. The safety of everyone associated with baseball — players, executives, staff members, fans and media — is paramount.
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And with the CDC’s recommendation Sunday that crowds of 50 or more not be allowed to gather for the next eight weeks, it’s likely the regular season won’t start until at least June 1.
As Cubs President Theo Epstein said, it will take three to four weeks of a modified spring training before the season starts. I wouldn’t be surprised if teams need a full four weeks of spring training to ensure pitchers have built enough stamina.
Rest assured that every player — regardless of his chances of earning a roster spot — will have his health monitored, as well as his conditioning. Given that many teams said the number of players staying near spring training camps was expected to dwindle by the end of the month, it’s safe to assume not every player will be in peak condition when play resumes.
Also in consideration is compensation — whether salaries will be prorated if the schedule is trimmed — service time and the playoff format that MLB and the players union need to settle. But those matters are secondary to ensuring the safety of everyone once play resumes.
I could see a few teams moving their spring training headquarters to their regular-season facilities once the suspension is lifted. The weight room at Wrigley Field is undergoing renovations but should be ready by the end of the month.
As of now, baseball is in the hands of the medical experts.
Why haven’t the Cubs issued any statement regarding ticket refunds/exchanges for fans who hold tickets to the remaining Cactus League games at Sloan Park? — Joseph H., Andersonville
My sense is that the team will wait until the resumption of spring training before instituting a policy. Attendance at Sloan Park has been respectable despite a cooler-than-usual spring training, but this was going to be a big week with home games against the Rockies — a night game on St. Patrick’s Day — and Giants.
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There’s no doubt the spring training schedule will be condensed once the suspension is lifted, but maybe the number of canceled games will be made up in its entirety.
Why was Adbert Alzolay optioned so early in spring training? — Steve K., Bolingbrook
It was evident Alzolay wasn’t going to earn the fifth spot in the rotation, so it was in his and the Cubs’ best interests to send him to the minors to build his endurance in preparation for the season with Triple-A Iowa.
Alec Mills remains in the major-league camp and is out of options. He has pitched well in a variety for roles and is destined to be a valuable member of the staff.
If MLB tries to play close to a 162-game schedule, Mills easily can slide into the rotation as a spot starter. Right now he is no worse than a long reliever.
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Alzolay definitely has a future with the Cubs, but his glimpses of success might have distorted the fact he hasn’t thrown many minor-league innings because of injuries the last two seasons and perhaps could use more minor-league seasoning.
What were your impressions of Kris Bryant at the leadoff spot, and do you expect him to stay there for a long time? — Jack W., Escondido, Calif.
I guess I’m less skeptical than I was when the decision was announced last month. Manager David Ross prefers a more set lineup, with most of the changes at the bottom half of the order.
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Bryant might have the best chance of succeeding among the core players, simply because he does reach base with impressive frequency and runs well.
The Cubs need to get off to a good start, but I still sense Ross will stick with Bryant longer than Joe Maddon would if Bryant struggles. Bryant hasn’t fallen into many prolonged slumps since reaching the majors in 2015.
We didn’t hear much about reliever Dillon Maples at the start of spring training, but he pitched a few times last week. Do you think he still has a future with the Cubs? — Max W., Glenview
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I still think there’s hope for Maples, but much of it is up to him. A lot was made of him throwing from more of a three-quarter angle, based on video. But Maples said he merely takes a deep breath as he throws from the stretch.
It’s a big “if,” but if he can throw more strikes against right-handed hitters, then he has a chance to play a prominent role in the bullpen. He has been an interesting study for the last three years, especially with so few relievers in the organization with a powerful fastball and breaking pitch comparable to him.
Maples has one minor-league option left but he’s the type of reliever who could be effective with the three-batter minimum in effect this season. He was unscored upon in 11 of his 14 outings last season, allowing only one walk in his final seven appearances. Left-handers were 1-for-12 against him.
But his 10 walks and four hit batsmen in 11⅔ innings were an eyesore.


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--At 39,000 feet, the Southwest 737 started to lose cabin pressure

The FAA said that an inspection turned up a 12-inch crack in the skin of the plane ’ s crown @ @ @ @ @ are required to inspect that area every 1,500 flights .
The FAA said it was @ @ @ @ @ the frequency of inspections should be increased .

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 prepares to land at Oakland International Airport on April 25, 2019 in San Leandro, California. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a March 9, 2020, Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Boise, Idaho. which gradually lost cabin pressure because of a 12-inch crack in the aircraft's skin. (Justin Sullivan/Getty)
Dallas — Federal officials said Friday they are investigating after a crack ruptured the skin on a Boeing 737 jet operated by Southwest Airlines, causing the plane to gradually lose cabin pressure.
The incident occurred March 9 on a flight from Las Vegas to Boise, Idaho. Flight records show that the pilots began a rapid, 6-minute descent from 39,000 feet to 22,000 feet.
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At that altitude, the cabin pressure was safe, and the crew completed the flight, said Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration. Oxygen masks in the passenger cabin never dropped from the ceiling, and no injuries were reported, the airline and the regulatory agency said.
The FAA said that an inspection turned up a 12-inch crack in the skin of the plane’s crown behind the cockpit. Airlines are required to inspect that area every 1,500 flights. The FAA said it was too early to know whether the frequency of inspections should be increased.
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Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew said the plane had been inspected for cracks within the required 1,500-flight period.
Agnew said that during the flight, pilots responded to an indicator in the cockpit and “followed standard procedures by descending to a lower altitude to maintain a safe and comfortable cabin environment.” That “resolved the issue,” and the crew continued safely to Boise, she said.
“The aircraft did not incur a rapid depressurization, masks were not deployed, and the aircraft did not require a diversion to maintain safety of flight,” Agnew said.
On Friday, the plane was in a maintenance facility and undergoing repairs for the crack, she said.
A spokesman for Chicago-based Boeing said the manufacturer was aware of the incident and was working with Southwest to learn more.
The incident was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper, citing people familiar with the matter, said Southwest told the FAA that required inspections turned up external cracks in two other planes in the same area but that those incidents didn’t lead to cabin decompression.
Breaks in the skin of aluminum-body jets such as the Boeing 737 are usually caused by fatigue or wear and tear. Maintenance experts say fatigue cracks are not uncommon in older planes, and inspections are designed to find them and repair them before they become safety problems.
In 2009, metal fatigue created a hole in the roof of a Southwest jet as it cruised 35,000 feet over West Virginia. The crack started where two sheets of aluminum skin were bonded together.
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Two years later, a 5-foot-long hole ripped opened in another Southwest 737, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing at a military base in Arizona. Investigators blamed fatigue cracks in the plane’s skin.
No one was injured in those incidents, but in 1988 an Aloha Airlines flight attendant was blown out through a hole of a Boeing 737 as it flew over the Pacific Ocean. That prompted tougher inspection rules.
Southwest’s maintenance record has faced scrutiny. In 2008, the FAA proposed a $10.2 million fine against the airline for failing to conduct mandatory inspections for fatigue cracks on some of its planes. Southwest, which is based in Dallas, settled the case by agreeing to pay a $7.5 million civil penalty.
Last month, the Transportation Department’s inspector general said Southwest flew used planes it bought without verifying their maintenance and repair histories. The agency added that, “Many officials throughout FAA have expressed concern about the safety culture at Southwest Airlines.'' The airline denied the allegations.
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