chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Chaotic scenes unfold in Loop, North Side as protesters jump onto bus, climb a light pole, clash wit

Chaotic scenes unfold in Loop, North Side as protesters jump onto bus, climb a light pole, clash with police during demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

“ To make sure the people who are murdered by cops have a voice and the best way that I @ @ @ @ @ is leverage my white privilege and I think it ’ s important to protect all @ @ @ @ @ background or their behavior or where they grew up .
‘ ’

Jeremy Gorner, Madeline Buckley, Paige Fry

Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower hold back protesters in the Loop on May 30, 2020, during a rally and march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
After intense skirmishes overnight, a Loop protest escalated with thousands of demonstrators marching, burning at least one flag, climbing onto a CTA bus and a light pole, hurling bottles, overturning police cars and surrounding officers on Saturday evening.
Chicago George Floyd protests Sunday updates: City cleans up, reduces access into downtown area as it braces for more unrest
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Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot held a news conference shortly after 8 p.m., saying the demonstration had "evolved into criminal conduct'' as she imposed a curfew on the city: from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
Lightfoot said violators of the curfew will be given a chance to disperse and then they will be arrested. The order exempts essential workers.
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The mayor, who said she was "disgusted,'' said she had seen protesters use pipes, bats, hammers and other objects to damage property.
"I’m here to call you out for your recklessness,'' she said, directing her comments to some of the protesters.
“I’ve seen protesters hurl projectiles at our police department ... bottles of water, urine and Lord knows what else,’’ she said.
“I want to express my disappointment and, really, my total disgust at the number of others who came to today’s protests armed for all-out battle.”
Lightfoot singled out “the people who came armed with weapons,’’ calling them “criminals.“
“We can have zero tolerance for people who came prepared for a fight and tried to initiate and provoke our police department.’’
She ruled out calling in the National Guard.
Chicago police Superintendent David Brown was also on hand, saying officers had many things thrown at them, including molotov cocktails. "We will be taking you into custody when you destroy property'' or burn cars, Brown said. "That’s just facts.''
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“People are destroying property, meting out violence in the memory of a man who was unjustly killed, murdered by police officers,” he said.
At least one officer had "broken bones,'' and several others suffered less serious injuries, Brown said. He added several buildings had been vandalized, windows broken, and police responded with pepper spray and "arrests to prevent looting.''
In a statement late Friday, the FBI said they were ‘aware’ of the situation and was working with other law enforcement to ‘restore order’ to the community.
The crowd, which swelled to around 3,000, began their demonstration Saturday at Federal Plaza at 2 p.m. in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Crowds of protesters then made their way onto Lake Shore Drive and shut down portions of the roadway.
As of 3:30 p.m., hundreds were marching north and became more and more raucous, even hostile, throwing fireworks, bottles and reportedly a liquid near officers. Some also began tagging buildings, cars and a bus shelter. There was at least one report of injuries to police, including a sergeant who had broken his arm near Trump Tower.
Protesters began cheering as several somehow hopped onto a No. 151 bus, carrying flags. The bus, which was halted, was occupied by a driver and did not appear to have many passengers.
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Bus is a 151 that looks like it is occupied by the driver but otherwise appears without passengers. pic.twitter.com/yVaww1vprq — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
At one point, protesters gathered on three sides of a police vehicle that was backing up on Dearborn Street, and confrontations had broken out between officers and protesters as a police car tried to roll down Monroe Street in the Loop.
A police vehicle is reversing down Dearborn with protesters on 3 sides pic.twitter.com/3bvoOFSViA — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
Later, police and protesters clashed just outside of Trump Tower when officers wearing helmets and carrying batons pushed protesters out of the way of a police vehicle.
Some confrontations have broken out by officers and police as police vehicles were trying to get down Monroe pic.twitter.com/6bchKj4g0v — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
Deandre Washington, 27, gathered early at Federal Plaza before the protest officially began and said he was “mad as hell” when he saw the video that showed Floyd’s death. As a black man in Chicago, he fears being the victim of police violence on a daily basis.
“I worry every god damn day,” Washington said.
By 4 p.m., the crowd had broken up into several groups heading in different directions, including Trump Tower, where it became especially chaotic with some throwing bottles and fireworks at officers.
Along State Street going north, marchers chanted, “Black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe,” most of them donning masks and many hoisting signs that read, “DEFUND THE POLICE” and “JUSTICE FOR FLOYD.”
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People standing on the sidewalk who appeared not to be part of the protest apparently posed for pictures with the marchers in the background. Some passing vehicles honked their horns in apparent support of the protesters.
At one point, someone threw a drink at a police squad car.
Along the Magnificent Mile, a marcher could be seen later wearing a mobile stereo around his neck as the song “Fight the Power” by famed rap group Public Enemy blared from it. At the same time, church bells sounded from the Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Zach Daniels, 20, was marching late Saturday afternoon.
“I’m really tired of seeing racial injustice across our country,” said Daniels, who is a student at Moody Bible Institute.
As the march moved to East Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, one person could be heard shouting, “Shut down Lake Shore Drive.”
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Shortly thereafter, the crowd began to enter the outer drive through a northbound entrance ramp.
“George Floyd! George Floyd!” they chanted.
A 27-year-old woman who identified herself as Lola was marching on southbound Lake Shore Drive as it was shutting down. She said she came out to “bring representation.’’
“To make sure the people who are murdered by cops have a voice and the best way that I know how to do that is leverage my white privilege, and I think it’s important to protect all black people no matter their background or their behavior or where they grew up. ‘’
By 5 p.m., officers had responded to at least a dozen calls of 10-1, a police emergency, as they worked to control the crowd, some reportedly trying to overturn a Chicago police car, others trying to hop onto another CTA bus and some fighting with officers.
Also as of that time, officials had closed the Ohio and Ontario feeder ramps going in and out of the downtown Chicago area.
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Additionally, ramps to the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) had been closed, and the CTA temporarily suspended Red Line service between the Clark/Division and Sox-35th stations.
A few minutes later, a loud "boom'' was heard, and officers flipped it back again and demonstrators moved closer to Kinzie and Dearborn, outside Harry Caray’s.
Outer Lake Shore Drive was temporarily closed in both directions around 5 p.m. Motorists who were at a standstill due to the marching appeared to honk in support of the protesters who hoisted signs and chanted, “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! NO RACIST POLICE!”
[ Demonstrations turn violent Saturday as mayor enacts curfew ]
At one point, the scores of marchers staged a sit-in in the middle of the southbound lanes.
Then, around 7:30 p.m. at Dearborn and Hubbard streets, a police vehicle was overturned.
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Squad car just got tipped over at Hubbard and Dearborn. pic.twitter.com/738bIgqYPF — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
After about 30 minutes, the protesters marched south on the outer drive onto North Michigan Avenue. There, some marchers spray-painted the front of some posh shops and businesses along the Magnificent Mile.
Slogans like “F—- 12,” meant as an adversarial saying about police, and “EAT THE RICH” were scrawled on front windows.
Around 8 p.m., a demonstrator riding a horse could be seen in the same area.
Now there’s a guy on horseback at Dearborn and Hubbard. pic.twitter.com/IHy9BfXrQJ — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
As the evening went on, loud bells rang out on the Chicago River, as the city made the decision to lift several bridges, including the Michigan Avenue bridge. No one could cross in either direction. At that point, protesters clashed with police in riot gear outside the Wrigley Building.
Multiple shootings occurred in the downtown area as the violence continued throughout the night into the early morning. At least one man was shot dead in the River North neighborhood Saturday night.
A 26-year-old man was shot around 11 p.m. in the 100 block of West Hubbard Street, police said. The man was walking on the sidewalk with another man when someone got out of a vehicle and approached them.
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They argued until the man who got out the vehicle took out a handgun and began hitting the 26-year-old with it, police said. The man then shot the 26-year-old man in the chest and continued to hit the other man with the gun.
The man got back into his vehicle and drove away, police said. The 26-year-old died at the scene. No arrests have been made.
Earlier, officials asked protesters in Chicago to remain peaceful as demonstrations were expected to continue throughout the weekend over the death of Floyd.
Speaking at a service event on the South Side on Saturday morning, Superintendent Brown and Lightfoot decried the actions of the officers in Minneapolis.
“I understand and I feel the pain and anguish the killing of George Floyd has evoked all over this country,” Lightfoot said.
She referenced the 2014 killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, calling it a “painful period we experienced as a city.”
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“We have lost too many people to violence in the city. It wasn’t just Laquan McDonald,” she said.
When asking protesters to stay peaceful, Lightfoot criticized President Donald Trump’s response to protests in Minneapolis, saying, “It’s not easy when we have a president who is inciting violence.”
“Let’s be better than him,” said Lightfoot, who also urged residents that COVID-19 “isn’t gone from Chicago” and that they should wear masks while protesting.
Earlier, Brown said there were about 108 arrests made in connection with the protests Friday and early Saturday.
Among those arrested was someone who faces pending gun charges.
“Many came to the downtown area in Chicago last night,” Brown said at the Saturday morning event. “The protesting early on started peacefully and ended more aggressive and intense.”
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Asked about whether there was looting Friday overnight downtown, where store windows were smashed, Brown said police hadn’t yet gone through inventory with store owners to see whether anything was missing. It remains under investigation.
Warning: Graphic content. Loop windows are smashed and protesters clash with police during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. (Chicago Tribune Handout)
By the time the demonstrators dispersed from Chicago’s downtown area early Saturday, windows of several Loop businesses were broken, leaving shards of glass strewn on the streets and sidewalks. Garbage cans and flower pots were also toppled over.
About a dozen squad cars were damaged, and some officers were injured, including one with a broken wrist, Brown said.
Floyd, who was black, died Monday after Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was captured on video pinning Floyd down by his neck.
The video footage went viral on social media, sparking national outrage that resulted in protests, rioting and looting in several cities. Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen fires set by protesters and major property damage.
A civil rights investigation was launched after the video surfaced, and Chauvin and three other officers were fired. On Friday, authorities announced that Chauvin had been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
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In the video, Floyd is lying facedown on the street and handcuffed, while Chauvin presses his knee into Floyd’s neck. And then, Floyd is heard on the video repeating, “I can’t breathe.”
Chicago Tribune reporter Deanese Williams-Harris contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--‘Thank God places are opening.’ Stir-crazy residents venture back out as stay-at-home order lifts ou

‘Thank God places are opening.’ Stir-crazy residents venture back out as stay-at-home order lifts outside Chicago.

Retailers that reopened also weighed how many precautions to take .
Some chains have closed fitting rooms , while those @ @ @ @ @ merchandise must sanitize or quarantine it before placing it back out for sale .
Some @ @ @ @ @ below rules restricting them to half their normal capacity , while others let shoppers line @ @ @

Lauren Zumbach, Ariel Cheung, Darcel Rockett, Sarah Freishtat, Laura Rodríguez Presa, Karen Ann Cullotta

Vendors wear masks as customers are reminded to shop with their eyes and not touch the produce at the Oak Park farmers market on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
The chance to venture out to a destination other than a grocery store or essential workplace for the first time in more than two months encouraged many Illinoisans to return to suburban restaurants and shopping malls on Saturday.
For some stir-crazy consumers and cash-strapped businesses, the lifting of a statewide stay-at-home order meant to slow the spread of a viral pandemic couldn’t come soon enough. Others balanced the desire to take steps toward a sense of normalcy with fears that moving too quickly could bring restrictions back. Diners filled tables at some suburban restaurants, but even on a sunny weekend afternoon, one north suburban beach remained quiet.
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The coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in nearly 119,000 confirmed cases and 5,330 deaths in Illinois, has slowed enough to see the state start to reopen its economy and loosen restrictions on a range of businesses and other activities after Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed nonessential businesses in March. Chicago is expected to take the same step on Wednesday.
Still, Pritzker warned Friday that the virus remains a threat, and a spike in cases could bring back restrictions. That’s what worried some of the patrons who flocked to cafes that reopened for outdoor dining in downtown Evanston on Saturday.
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“I think people are fed up, and that’s what is driving this,” said Sharon Okonek, who stopped at Colectivo Coffee after visiting the city’s farmers market with her husband. “It corresponds with the change in the weather. People are just ready to come out, and I do worry that it’s not the right time scientifically.”
Others were more than ready to get back to activities they’d missed.
Dayna Nguyen, waiting to enter the patio at Potter’s Place in downtown Naperville with her husband, two daughters and parents, said her family followed quarantine guidelines through March and April. But in May, the family went on a weeklong vacation in Florida, where stores and beaches opened earlier than they did in Illinois.
“I am a grown adult with all the information,” she said. “I fully understand ... I will take my chances.”
Restaurants with space for outdoor dining were busy from north suburban Glenview to south suburban Frankfort, where waits for an open table at Trail’s Edge Brewing Co. stretched up to four hours when it opened Friday night.
“People are just so happy to be out, some of our servers are getting 100% tips,” said manager Ken Majewski.
Frankfort resident Laurie Miller was out enjoying a meal with daughter Samantha, a student at St. Louis University. They were both sporting wide grins after just coming from getting manicures. They sat in the shade, taking in the environment.
“Thank God places are opening,” Laurie Miller said. “Just to walk, get some air and not have to cook? It feels good. It feels good to let someone else serve me a meal.”
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At the Glen Town Center in Glenview, outdoor seating at some restaurants extended into the street and was blocked off by large orange barricades. While some wore masks, people of all ages dined and shopped without them, or left them hanging around necks or below their noses.
Employees at The Curragh Irish Pub install lights on their patio, at the Glen Town Center in Glenview as it begins to reopen on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
At El Tradicional, Debby Weber, 65, and an out-of-town cousin perched on a high-top a half-hour before the restaurant opened for service. They contentedly looked over the menu, taking in the fine weather and the foreign experience of eating at a restaurant after months of staying in.
“It’s heavenly,” said Weber, who lives in Northfield.
“We have our masks if we need them,” said Weber, patting her purse. “But I’ve been very careful, and I plan to stay that way.”
Downtown Aurora wasn’t crowded Saturday afternoon.
Altiro Latin Fusion, which opened weeks before the state required restaurants to close to in-person dining, was busier than owners expected, but remained below its capacity, general manager Jessica Contreras said. That was likely because the restaurant is requiring customers to make reservations before arriving as part of its social distancing and safety precautions, she said.
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She expected business to pick up, however, and the restaurant was working with the city to expand into the street to add additional tables.
“I think it’ll definitely be picking up,” she said. “Especially because it’s summer and people don’t want to be home.”
The scene at Northbrook Court mall also was quiet. Only a handful of stores reopened by Saturday, though an eyebrow threading salon and nail salon saw a steady stream of customers, said general manager Brian Lee.
“We’re hoping as we get more tenants opening and as more people get the word things are safe and comfortable and ready to go, things will continue to grow,” he said.
Retailers that reopened also weighed how many precautions to take. Some chains have closed fitting rooms, while those that let shoppers try on merchandise must sanitize or quarantine it before placing it back out for sale. Some require appointments to help stay below rules restricting them to half their normal capacity, while others let shoppers line up outside.
At Gracie’s, a women’s boutique in Evanston, every shopper must have their temperature checked before coming in to browse. Owner John Liberty wasn’t sure how consumers would react, but said people seemed to appreciate that Gracie’s went beyond the basic precautions.
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Business so far has been better than expected, “but our expectations were low,” he said.
Vivian Killebrew, owner of Stepping Out on Faith consignment shop in Evanston, said she hopes shoppers will return as more stores open.
She had few customers on her first two days in business and spent most of the time straightening out her inventory and putting some of it aside to donate.
Killebrew, who said she lost three family members to COVID-19, felt the state had loosened its restrictions of the stay-at-home order too quickly. At the same time, her store is behind on rent, and she has bills to pay.
“I’ve been here for 10 years,” said Killebrew, 62. “I don’t know if I’m going to be here another six months.”
In Naperville, on the other hand, there was a line outside to get into clothing boutique Havana, as the store had limited its capacity to no more than 10 people.
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Naperville resident Sherri Daniels said she felt more concerned about safety waiting in line, where people wore masks but had congregated behind her, than she did entering a store. As long as shoppers wore masks and stores limited capacity, and everyone was mindful of safety precautions, she felt safe.
Vendors wear masks at the Oak Park farmers market, which has been redesigned for social distancing on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
What remains to be seen is how eagerly shoppers will return to businesses once the initial wave of pent-up demand from people who put off purchases or are just desperate to get out of the house passes, said Neil Stern, senior partner at Chicago-based retail consultancy McMillanDoolittle.
Retailers that were struggling even before the pandemic began can’t afford significant reductions in foot traffic, he said.
“It’s going to hasten the demise of a lot of retailers that were already on defense,” Stern said.
J.C. Penney, J. Crew and Neiman Marcus all filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month. Small independent stores could be even more vulnerable, since they lack bigger chains’ leverage to push for assistance on rent, Stern said.
Others took advantage of the sunny skies and mid-60s temperatures to head to outdoor destinations, where a wider range of activities are permitted in the open air.
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Nearly 2,000 people attended the Oak Park Farmers’ Market on its opening day Saturday. Customers were required to wear masks and encouraged to “shop with eyes only,” as several vendors featured signs asking customers to not touch the products. Only 150 people at a time were allowed to shop from the 23 vendors.
A sign at the entrance of the one-way Oak Park farmers market reminds customers to shop with their eyes and not touch produce while also observing social distance on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Shopper Janice Tonietto, of Berwyn, said she didn’t enjoy wearing the required mask, but it was worth it for the market’s fresh vegetables and fruits. “But if wearing it gets me into the market, I’ll wear it.”
The mood was quieter at Glencoe Beach, where the required season passes swiftly sold out this month. A lone sailboat bobbed in a turquoise swath of Lake Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Only a few dozen visitors, primarily young families, soaked up the sunshine on the nearly empty shoreline.
While a few youngsters dipped their toes in the icy water lapping the North Shore beach, swimming is currently verboten, and officials have said even if the prohibition is lifted later this summer, it will be “swim at your own risk” with no lifeguards on duty.
“This is absolutely joyless ... there’s only a handful of families, and there’s no laughter from the children,” said Northbrook resident Marian Cross, who said she and her family have been season pass holders at the beach for more than 20 years.
Gesturing toward a clutch of masked visitors strolling on the beach’s lookout, Cross said, “This is all so sad.”
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Chicago’s Grant Park was bustling by comparison. Children rolled down hills, skateboarders took out their cameras to shoot moves and others exercised with personal trainers on Saturday.
Patrice Clarke of Lakeview met her best friend Monica Barry of Bronzeville in the park for a picnic. Despite their online get-togethers, the two were all smiles breaking bread in the sunshine.
“She’s my first hug in months,” Clarke said. “I wanted a hug so much, but I didn’t know what to do.”
Barry said she went in for it. The friends said they hadn’t been ill during the stay-at-home order.
“Yes, seeing each other online is OK, but there’s nothing like being in a person’s space and feeling their energy,” Clarke said.


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Officials report 1,462 new known COVID-19 cases and 61 additional f

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Officials report 1,462 new known COVID-19 cases and 61 additional fatalities as state begins to tentatively reopen

“ Business has decreased dramatically since restrictions went in place — we ’ ve seen at least a 70 % @ @ @ @ @ pickup and takeout orders didn ’ t help as much as one would think , @ @ @ @ @ said the restaurant had to furlough 80 % of its staff , but they ’ @ @ @ @ @ or five employees to help with the outdoor eating area .
About 40 people can @ @ @ @ @ still in place , Salazar said .

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Health officials reported on Sunday 1,343 new known cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 120,260 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported another 60 deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,390.
The new numbers come as Mayor Lori Lightfoot said looting over the weekend in Chicago could delay the city’s reopening scheduled for June 3.
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[ Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s where each region stands. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening this weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
Sunday
7:50 p.m.: Businesses reeling from pandemic face rebuilding after George Floyd protests give way to looting
This week was supposed to mark a milestone for a city looking forward to reopening after nearly three months of being sidelined by COVID-19.
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Chicago’s economic engine was expected to restart, with outdoor dining permitted at restaurants, hair salons reopening, and nonessential stores welcoming in customers Wednesday for the first time since mid-March. Other workplaces, like offices, also were given guidelines to reopen. Combined, the moves were expected to chip away at the city’s unemployment rate, which had climbed to 18.9% in April.
Instead, businesses in Chicago spent Sunday sweeping up glass, boarding up windows and taking stock of destroyed stores and stolen inventory amid fallout from the death in Minneapolis last week of George Floyd. Long before night had fallen, any hope that workers, consumers and business would return to a sense of normalcy had been dashed. Read more here. —Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Lauren Zumbach and Ryan Ori
3:15 p.m.: Officials report 1,343 new cases of COVID-19 and 60 additional fatalities
Illinois officials on Sunday announced 1,343 new cases of COVID-19 and 60 additional fatalities, bringing the total of known cases to 120,260 and the death toll to 5,390 statewide since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 21,154 new tests in the last 24 hours.
12:30: Lightfoot says looting could delay Chicago’s reopening on June 3
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said unrest over the weekend in Chicago could delay the city’s reopening scheduled for June 3. The mayor said that she has been in touch with the city’s public health commissioner about it.
“We will make a determination about whether we can go forward as planned,” Lightfoot said at a Sunday news conference. —Gregory Pratt
Saturday
4:34 p.m.: Diners out in force at The Glen. ‘It is heavenly.’
In north suburban Glenview, diners were out in force Saturday afternoon at the Glen Town Center, where outdoor seating at some restaurants extended into the street and was blocked off by large orange barricades. While some wore masks, people of all ages dined and shopped without them, or left them hanging around necks or below their noses.
Employees at The Curragh Irish Pub install lights on their patio at the Glen Town Center in Glenview on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
At El Tradicional, Debby Weber, 65, and an out-of-town cousin perched on a high-top a half-hour before the Mexican restaurant opened for service. They contentedly looked over the menu, taking in the fine weather and the foreign experience of eating at a restaurant after months of staying in.
“It’s heavenly,” said Weber, who lives in Northfield. The pair first went to Arlington Heights, lured by news that the village would close some streets to traffic to allow for more outdoor dining space. But with the closures not in effect Saturday, patrons saw hourlong wait times for restaurants there. The pair came to Glenview instead and were the only diners at El Tradicional at the time.
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“We have our masks if we need them,” said Weber, patting her purse. “But I’ve been very careful, and I plan to stay that way.”
While many of the shopping center’s restaurants were open, along with anchor stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Von Maur, other retailers remained closed or open only for takeout and delivery. Taking advantage of the good weather, some propped open doors to signal they were ready for customers.
At The Curragh Irish Pub, guests sat at about half of the outdoor tables, while masked servers bustled around.
Dimitri Jurgensen paused from his work as a server to adjust a sign listing the restaurant’s coronavirus-related precautions outside. He came from Holland, Michigan, this weekend to help his aunt with her restaurant’s reopening. During lunchtime service Saturday, he said the restaurant has been busy, but not slammed.
“It’s nice to get out of the house and be making some money again,” he said. “I’ve been doing takeout orders at my family’s restaurant, but it’s not the same money I make serving.” —Ariel Cheung
4:33 p.m.: ‘... It’s summer and people don’t want to be home’
Handfuls of residents walked through downtown Aurora and sat in restaurants’ outdoor areas Saturday afternoon, standing in stark contrast to the bustling patios and shops in neighboring Naperville’s downtown.
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Aurora leaders have long sought to energize and transform the city’s downtown into an entertainment and arts hub. The area had just begun to redefine itself and attract new restaurants when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
Since then, one of the downtown’s largest draws, the Paramount Theatre, has remained closed.
Some downtown restaurants also remained closed to in-person customers, lacking outdoor seating. At Ballydoyle Irish Pub, a handful of diners sat on the back patio in the midafternoon, though general manager Kevin Kauper said the restaurant had attracted a nice crowd for lunch, and owners intended to expand outdoor seating moving forward.
Altiro Latin Fusion, which opened in Aurora weeks before the state required restaurants to close to in-person dining, was busier than owners expected, but remained below its capacity, general manager Jessica Contreras said. That was likely because the restaurant is requiring customers to make reservations before arriving as part of its social distancing and safety precautions, she said.
She expected business to pick up, however, and the restaurant was working with the city to expand into the street to add additional tables.
“I think it’ll definitely be picking up,” she said. “Especially because it’s summer and people don’t want to be home.” —Sarah Freishtat
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4:27 p.m.: Nearly 2,000 people attend Oak Park Farmers’ Market on opening day
Nearly 2,000 people attended the Oak Park Farmers’ Market on its opening day. Customers were required to wear masks and only 150 people at a time were allowed to shop from the 23 vendors.
Vendors wear masks as customers are reminded to shop with their eyes and not touch at the Oak Park farmers market on May 30, 2020. The farmers market has been redesigned for social distancing. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Customers were encouraged to “shop with eyes only,” as several vendors featured signs asking customers to not touch the products. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes were available.
To accommodate public health guidelines amid the pandemic, vendors were spread through a three-block radius and each vendor was at least 6 feet apart.
“We have had amazing positive feedback, I’m really excited we are having the market,” said Mindy Agnew, the sustainability coordinator for the Village of Oak Park.
Shopper Janice Tonietto said she was worried the market wouldn’t open this summer. She said she liked the fresh vegetables and fruits and drove from Berwyn to the market to buy asparagus.
“I was thrilled when I heard it was going to be opening,” said Tonietto, who indicated she preferred not to wear a mask.
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"I’m one of those who wishes that it would open more quickly (and) lose the mask, the mask really bothers me,” she added. “But if wearing it gets me into the market, I’ll wear it.”
For the last 45 years, Kenny Stover, owner of Stover Farm Market, has been selling his signature dehydrated fruit and veggies, jelly, and honey at the Oak Park market.
Like Tonietto, he said he was concerned about how the pandemic would affect the market’s opening date and guidelines. However, he praised organizers for the setup and suggested that more than 150 customers should be allowed to enter the market at once.
“Sales were fairly decent for an opening day,” Stover added. —Laura Rodriguez Presa
4:15 p.m.: ‘She’s my first hug in months.'
With temperatures in the high 60s, children rolled down hills, skateboarders took out their cameras to shoot moves and others exercised with personal trainers in Grant Park on Saturday.
Patrice Clarke of Lakeview met her best friend Monica Barry of Bronzeville in the park for a picnic. Despite their online get-togethers, the two were all smiles breaking bread in the sunshine.
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“She’s my first hug in months,” Clarke said. “I wanted a hug so much, but I didn’t know what to do.”
Barry said she went in for it. The friends said they hadn’t been ill during the stay-at-home order.
“Yes, seeing each other online is OK, but there’s nothing like being in a person’s space and feeling their energy,” Clarke said.
Barry laughed in agreement, and said she didn’t want to get in trouble with the mayor. They had their face masks in tow, but were not donning them while eating waffle cookies.
Johana Batista, a new South Loop resident, was out with her family riding Divvy bikes — nine members strong wearing face masks.
“It’s such a nice day, my sister came by with her children and we thought, ‘why not get the kids out,'" she said. “With the kids not seeing the sun due to school and the recent weather, we thought this would be fun for them.”
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Maalik Falsetto, a recent graduate of DePaul University, was in Grant Park taking professional graduation photos in his cap and gown with friend Ariana R. Jordan. He, with a master’s degree in producing, her with a master’s degree in screenwriting, Falsetto said Jordan set up the shoot. She didn’t get to have a graduation ceremony because of the coronavirus restrictions, but Falsetto did since he graduated a semester ahead of Jordan.
“She’s heading to Hollywood in August, but I’m going to make a go of it in Chicago,” said Falsetto, a Hyde Park resident. “I’ve been busy with pre-production for a number of projects even with COVID-19 restrictions.”
South suburbanites were out to enjoy the weekend as well. Crest Hill couple Dave and Carol Worth were outside the Tex-Mex eatery Chuy’s on Saturday morning enduring a 20-minute wait. Carol said it’s her favorite restaurant and she was just tired of cooking.
Chuy’s patio was full with patrons sitting at 10 tables distanced 6 feet apart. It’s been a steady stream of foot traffic since the patio opened to the public Friday, said Jose Salazar, the general manager.
“Business has decreased dramatically since restrictions went in place — we’ve seen at least a 70% decrease. And the curbside pickup and takeout orders didn’t help as much as one would think,” he said. He said the restaurant had to furlough 80% of its staff, but they’ve already brought back four or five employees to help with the outdoor eating area. About 40 people can eat safely with social distancing still in place, Salazar said.
“We’re just excited to have people here,” said Larry Cappos, Chuy’s Chicagoland area supervisor. “People are just looking to get out because it makes them feel normal again. And people are looking for a sense of normalcy.”
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Friends Jill Loffredo and Joan Rohrich, Oak Forest residents, were excited for their version of normalcy, waiting outside Frankfort’s Fat Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar. The two friends said this was their first outing together in months.
“We wanted to hit a couple of the stores, do a little shopping, while we were out,” Loffredo said. “Staying inside all this time, can really get you down. My husband and I are both retired, so we like to go out and enjoy a meal. He didn’t find the food that we pick up for takeout as good as having it in person.”
Trail’s Edge Brewing Co. opened its outdoor seating area Friday evening and, according to manager Ken Majewski, there wasn’t an open table for up to four hours. With 22 tables 6 feet apart, he suggested people call ahead for wait times, since they are not taking reservations at this time.
“People are just so happy to be out, some of our servers are getting 100% tips,” he said. “I’m expecting full capacity tonight as well.”
Frankfort resident Laurie Miller was out enjoying a meal with her daughter Samantha Miller, a student at St. Louis University. They were both sporting wide grins after just coming from getting manicures. They sat in the shade taking in the environment.
“Thank God places are opening,” Laurie Miller said. “Just to walk, get some air and not have to cook? It feels good. It feels good to let someone else serve me a meal.” —Darcel Rockett
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Rogers Park resident Diane Manning eagerly patronized her favorite coffee shop, Patisserie Coralie, in Evanston on Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
3:38 p.m.: ′In an ideal world, we might be waiting a little longer'
Diane Manning has patiently awaited the reopening of her favorite Evanston spot, Patisserie Coralie, for months. As she drove by Saturday morning, she noticed activity inside and stopped by for a coffee and a caprese croissant.
She sat at one of just a few small folding tables outside the cafe, where sunlight and a gentle breeze made for perfect dining al fresco.
“It’s been challenging for me, because I’m such an active person,” said Manning, a swim instructor in her 60s. “To sit at home has been hard.”
At the same time, she was critical of passersby not wearing masks as they traversed downtown Evanston. A couple of maskless cyclists caught her eye as she sipped on her iced coffee, while only about half the people had masks on as they meandered down sidewalks in small clusters.
“That’s not going to help us,” she said. “I just don’t understand the thought process.”
Inside Patisserie Coralie, co-workers Katie Delicath and Justin Pierce were delighted to be back at their full-time job. The cafe was bustling for most of the morning, with a line of eager patrons outside as the eatery let four people inside at a time, they said. A hanging sheet of plexiglass separated them from customers, and they both wore face coverings.
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“It’s extremely nice to have something to do,” said Pierce, who wore a bandana around his face. “Although I honestly felt like I had maybe forgotten how to make all the drinks.”
And while getting a paycheck again is a big relief for them financially, both said they were concerned about the state reopening too quickly.
“In an ideal world, we might be waiting a little longer,” Pierce said. “But also, people need to be at work.”
They also considered themselves fortunate to be healthy enough to do so.
“There are immunocompromised people who don’t have the luxury of being excited for this,” Delicath said. “Older people who maybe aren’t comfortable going places.”
John Okonek, right, sits with wife Sharon Okonek outside Colectivo Coffee in Evanston as the state's loosened restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic allow for outdoor dining everywhere except Chicago on Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
Around the block, Colectivo Coffee’s outdoor sidewalk patio was busy as well. Most customers wore masks, including John and Sharon Okonek, of East Glenview, who stopped by for a drink after visiting the Evanston farmers market.
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“I think people are fed up, and that’s what is driving this,” Sharon Okonek said of the reopening. “It corresponds with the change in the weather. People are just ready to come out, and I do worry that it’s not the right time scientifically.”
The couple will wait awhile to visit a restaurant for a full meal, expecting crowds of diners in the first few weeks. They want to proceed with caution, and plan to keep an eye on Wisconsin, which reopened earlier than Illinois.
“I’m waiting for us to have a big flare (of cases) and for all the staying at home to have been all for nothing,” Sharon Okonek said.
Not all stores and restaurants were open Saturday in Evanston. While places like a comic book shop, a mattress store and Aloha Poke Co. had doors open, some remained closed altogether or only open for takeout and delivery. —Ariel Cheung
3 p.m.: ‘I fully understand. ... I will take my chances.’
Dayna Nguyen, waiting to enter the patio at Potter’s Place in downtown Naperville with her husband, two daughters and parents, was anxious to get out Saturday. She and her family had recently returned from a weeklong vacation in Florida, where stores and beaches opened earlier than they did in Illinois.
“I am a grown adult with all the information,” she said. “I fully understand. ... I will take my chances.”
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She said she respects individuals’ choices about how to respond to the virus, but her family runs a small business and she was anxious to get the economy moving again. Her family followed quarantine guidelines through March and April, she said. But then came May. “
You broke us, come May,” she said. She kept her distance as she asked a hostess at Potter’s Place for a table on the crowded patio.
Tables were more spread out than usual on the patio, general manager Matt Galanes said. A few were kept empty to try to space out entrances to the restaurant, and seats at the outdoor bar were reduced from about 25 to between six and eight.
“I think everyone is a little concerned, but the vibe is, everyone’s anxious to get out," he said. Though a steady stream of customers came to the patio, business was slower than typical for a May Saturday, he said.
The restaurant rented a concrete lot next door to add additional tables on weekend nights, but Galanes said he didn’t anticipate Potter’s Place would need the extra space on weeknights.
Servers were not as busy as usual, but they had to do extra work like sanitizing tables. And some staff and patrons had to be educated on safety precautions, he said, as he approached a group of young customers who had pulled two tables together to tell them they had to maintain their distance.
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“Ultimately, the number one thing is safety and educating the clients and then also our staff," he said. “We all have different opinions about what’s going on in the world, and we just have to keep our staff and patrons safe to the best of our ability.” —Sarah Freishtat
2:53 p.m.: ‘There’s only a handful of families and there’s no laughter from the children’
At Glencoe Beach, where the required season passes swiftly sold out this month, a lone sailboat bobbed in a turquoise swath of Lake Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Only a few dozen visitors, primarily young families, soaked up the sunshine on the nearly empty shoreline.
While a few youngsters dipped their toes in the icy water lapping the North Shore beach, swimming is currently verboten, and officials have said even if the prohibition is lifted later this summer, it will be “swim at your own risk” with no lifeguards on duty.
“This is absolutely joyless ... there’s only a handful of families and there’s no laughter from the children,” said Northbrook resident Marian Cross, who said she and her family have been season pass holders at the beach for more than 20 years.
Gesturing toward a clutch of masked visitors strolling on the beach’s lookout, Cross said, “This is all so sad.”
“The experience this year is a dismal one, but I’m still glad it’s open, and I appreciate that the park district made that decision,” Cross added.
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Danny Kogan, 21, a Glencoe resident and Northwestern University student, said he enjoyed spending a few hours on the beach Saturday afternoon, especially since his social life has been limited in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My grandmother lives with us, and she’s 80, so I understand why my mom is being so strict about me hanging out with friends,” said Kogan, who rode his bike to the beach.
The Glencoe Park District says the season pass requirement is aimed at limiting visitors to avoid overcrowding and help ensure social distancing. Kogan noted the upside and downside.
“The season pass rule makes it rough when I have friends in town who want to come to the beach, but there’s usually no parking, even for residents most summers, when the beach is really crowded,” Kogan said. —Karen Cullotta
Vivian Killebrew, owner of Evanston's Stepping Out On Faith consignment shop, opened for business Saturday, May 30, 2020, as the state loosened its restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic and entered phase three of its recovery plan. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
2:19 p.m.: Opening consignment shop this weekend in Evanston was a mixed bag, owner says
For Vivian Killebrew, opening her Stepping Out on Faith consignment shop this weekend in Evanston was a mixed bag. She felt the state had loosened its restrictions of the stay-at-home order a little too quickly. At the same time, her store is behind on rent, and she has bills to pay.
“I’ve been here for 10 years,” said Killebrew, 62. “I don’t know if I’m going to be here another six months.”
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Like other retail across the state, Stepping Out closed in late March, when the order went into effect. In the months that followed, Killebrew lost three family members to COVID-19, and she was denied a small business loan because, as she put it, “we were too small to qualify.”
She had few customers on her first two days in business, and spent most of the time straightening out her inventory and putting some of it aside to donate to Connections for the Homeless. The problem with selling seasonal merchandise, she said, is that she missed out on collecting summer clothes from sellers in time for the summer shoppers.
“By the time the summer stuff comes in, it’ll be winter,” she noted.
Killebrew said she is hopeful business will pick up, despite some shuttered shops nearby. Should a spike in cases force the state to revert to phase two, however, she’ll likely have to close permanently.
“That would really make the decision for me,” she said. “It’s sad, because there’s really nothing you can do about it.” —Ariel Cheung
2:40 p.m.: 1,462 new known COVID-19 cases and 61 additional deaths
Public health officials reported on Saturday 1,462 new known cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 118,917 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported another 61 deaths.
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The new cases were reported in 14 counties in Illinois including Coles, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, Madison, McHenry, McDonough, St. Clair, Tazewell, Union, Will and Winnebago.
IDHP has reported a total of 5,330 deaths in 101 counties, with ages ranging from one to older than 100. Within the last 24 hours, 25,343 specimens have been sent to laboratories, for a total of 877,105. —Deanese Williams-Harris
1:48 p.m.: Steady stream of families in downtown Naperville
A steady stream of families filed along downtown Naperville’s sidewalks Saturday afternoon, many wearing masks and many without.
There was a line outside to get into clothing boutique Havana, as the store had limited its capacity to no more than 10 people.
Naperville resident Sherri Daniels said she normally doesn’t wait in lines at stores but she felt bad that Havana was closing. A sale also likely brought out shoppers, she said.
“It’s sad to see these businesses close after this time,” Daniels said. “You hope they’d make it.”
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Manager Monica Sebesta said the store was looking for a new location in part because its lease was up and it would be continuing to operate an online store. The closing was not related to the COVID-19 shutdown, she said.
Daniels said stores reopening provided something to do. She said she felt more concerned about safety waiting in line, where people wore masks but had congregated behind her, than she did entering a store. As long as shoppers wore masks and stores limited capacity, and everyone was mindful of safety precautions, she felt safe.
A couple blocks away, the rooftop patio and sidewalk tables at Empire were full at lunchtime Saturday. The restaurant had also been packed on Friday, general manager Raffi Demerdjian said. As long as the restaurant practiced required social distancing and safety measures, he felt confident diners would return. And he thinks the restaurant’s reduced outdoor capacity and takeout business will keep it operating, though he wasn’t happy about the restrictions, he said.
“I think people are just tired of being home and want to go out,” he said.
That was the case for Rob Sheppard, who lives in Chicago but was sharing lunch with his girlfriend, Sydney Schoolcraft, after he played a round of golf in the suburbs.
“I’ve been cooped up long enough,” he said. Schoolcraft, who used to work at Empire, said she felt safe with everyone wearing masks and tables spaced 6 feet apart. She had visited some other suburban restaurants Friday, and was trying to support businesses she knows, she said.
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“I think it’s time to open up,” she said. —Sarah Freishtat
5 a.m.: Animals at university research labs still get care during the pandemic — but scores of mice have been euthanized to conserve ‘critical resources’
As researchers wrapped up their experiments in March to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order, another problem dogged the University of Illinois at Chicago: How would it continue tending to the 40,000 lab animals housed on campus?
Veterinarians and maintenance staff were deemed essential workers to handle the cage cleaning, feeding and daily health checks required for animals used in federally sponsored research. They are given personal protective equipment and instructed to follow social distancing.
But other aspects of UIC’s response ― including a recent memo that asked scientists to consider euthanizing older rodents ― are likely to stir more controversy, especially from organizations that have long opposed the use of animals in research. Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
5 a.m.: Sewage may help predict future virus outbreaks. Chicago researchers aim to test hundreds or thousands of manholes at a time.
In the global effort to stem the novel coronavirus, every toilet flush reveals a vital clue.
Droplets we breathe, sneeze or cough through our mouths and noses aren’t the only source of SARS-CoV-2. Bits of genetic material from the virus also end up in our waste, offering local health departments life-saving opportunities to track, trace and prevent outbreaks.
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Researchers and technology startups involved in the rapidly developing science are finding signs of the virus in raw sewage days before people overwhelm hospitals with symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease driving a pandemic that already has killed more than 100,000 Americans and another 256,000 combined in other countries.
With the United States woefully behind on testing individuals, collecting samples from municipal sewers on a regular basis could give cities early warnings about where the disease is spreading. It also could indicate whether community lockdowns can be eased or if more stringent restrictions on daily life are needed. Read more here. —Michael Hawthorne
Clarification: The name of Oak Park Farmers’ Market vendor Kenny Stover was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. The story has been updated to fix the error.
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chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Watch live: Protesters rally in Chicago after death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

Watch live as protesters rally in Chicago after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Get the latest here @

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chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Man in serious condition after being shot by a known gunman inside a West Side apartment, police say

Shortly after 2 p.m. , the man was inside an apartment in the 1000 block of North Leamington Avenue when @ @ @ @ @ a handgun and fired shots , police said .

A 27-year-old man was wounded Saturday afternoon inside of an apartment on the West Side in the Austin neighborhood, Chicago police said.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the man was inside an apartment in the 1000 block of North Leamington Avenue when a known person pulled out a handgun and fired shots, police said.
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The man suffered gunshot wounds to the body and was taken in serious condition to Stroger Hospital.
No one was in custody, and detectives were investigating.


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s a daily look at wh

Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s a daily look at where each region stands.

With each of the state ’ s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s Restore @ @ @ @ @ starts on moving on to Phase 4 , where more businesses and activities are allowed @ @ @ @ @ Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital @ @ @ @ @ depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker .

Chad Yoder, Nausheen Husain, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jonathon Berlin

With each of the state’s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the clock starts on moving on to Phase 4, where more businesses and activities are allowed. The plan to reopen Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital to concerts and festivals — depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker.
The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of the outbreak as well as availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge. There are also benchmarks for testing and tracing positive tests.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
A key element of the plan is that a region can move both forward and backward, where more parts of society can open and shut depending on the seriousness of the outbreak.
Here is a breakdown of where each region stands.


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,330 deaths, 118,917 confirmed cases, 877,105 tests,  14.1% positivi

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,330 deaths, 118,917 confirmed cases, 877,105 tests,  14.1% positivity rate for Northeast region

As the coronavirus spreads and local , state and national governments work to contain and mitigate the outbreak , the @ @ @ @ @ .

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


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Coronavirus at Illinois long-term care facilities, more than 17,000 confirmed cases and 2741 deaths

The Illinois Department of Public Health is releasing information on COVID-19 tied to long-term care facilities in Illinois .
The @ @ @ @ @ at 535 long-term care facilities in 41 counties .
Of those , 505 facilities have @ @ @ @ @ , defined as a positive test result in the past 28 days .
In all @ @ @ @ @ be tied to long-term care facilities , with 2,741 deaths , as of May 29 @

The Illinois Department of Public Health is releasing information on COVID-19 tied to long-term care facilities in Illinois. The data shows outbreaks have occurred at long-term care facilities in 94 counties. Of those, 1,003 facilities have an “active” outbreak, defined as a positive test result in the past 28 days. In all, 71,103 confirmed cases can be tied to long-term care facilities, with 9,263 deaths, as of Jan. 22.


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--COVID-19 deaths at Illinois long-term care facilities top 2,700

But the state has struggled in its effort to test residents and staff at all facilities — reaching only a @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , when Pritzker announced that the facilities would need to take responsibility for the @ @

City View Multicare Center is shown March 12, 2021, in Cicero. Workers and residents haven't received COVID-19 vaccinations and the nursing home is dealing with an outbreak. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
An additional 345 residents and workers at Illinois’ long-term care facilities have died of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 2,747, according to state data released Friday.
The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health continue to show — even as the state begins to reopen — how devastating the pandemic has been for facilities housing elderly and frail residents.
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At least 129 facilities are now tied to at least 10 or more deaths, the data shows. Over the past month, long-term care facilities have grown to account for more than half of the virus’s total death toll in Illinois.
The hardest hit facilities continue to be in the Chicago area, led by Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook with 40 deaths, Villa at Windsor Park (37), Niles Nursing and Rehab Center (33), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (33), Peterson Park Health Care (31) and Norridge Gardens (30).
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Case figures also jumped an additional 15% from a week earlier, to now tally 17,133 confirmed COVID-19 infections at 535 facilities across 41 counties. Elisabeth Ludeman Developmental Center in Forest Park has the most, with 316 cases, followed by City View Multi-Care Center (243), Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion (218), Symphony at Midway (211) and Peterson Park Health Care (202).
Industry representatives have told the Tribune they’ve done the best they can to weather an unprecedented pandemic to which their facilities were particularly vulnerable.
The figures reinforce the deadly impact of the virus on long-term care facilities that have struggled at times to obtain enough caregivers and protective gear, helping fuel complaints the state should be doing more to protect residents and workers with a more coordinated effort.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker made testing a priority at nursing homes on April 20, a time when the number of deaths tied to long-term care facilities was reported to be 286 — roughly a tenth of the number reached six weeks later.
But the state has struggled in its effort to test residents and staff at all facilities — reaching only a fifth of the homes before Thursday, when Pritzker announced that the facilities would need to take responsibility for the testing.
Pritzker, who noted that some homes had already arranged for testing on their own, said the new rule was needed because other facilities were refusing state help.
It remains unclear how many facilities have tested all residents and staff at least once, when facilities must comply with the new state rule, and how often they should retest to ensure the virus doesn’t creep in.
A state public health spokeswoman said within two weeks, each facility must provide the state a plan for testing that should be shared with residents and their families. The plan could include details on follow-up testing, she said, and regardless, state or local health officials could order repeat testing.
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Also Friday, the state released a new metric to show which homes were having recent outbreaks, and which ones appear to have weathered them. According to the data, 30 homes no longer have active outbreaks, which the state has defined as someone testing positive for the virus in the past 28 days.
Last week, the state initially released figures on places with current outbreaks but reversed course a day later after complaints the figures wouldn’t allow people to fully research the extent the virus had been in a facility.
jmahr@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Loop windows smashed, at least 108 arrests made during Chicago protests

Warning : Graphic content .
Loop windows are smashed and protesters clash with police during demonstrations over the death of @ @ @


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--7 dead, at least 12 wounded since Friday afternoon in city violence

Police said the security guard went to confront a 43-year-old man in a courtyard who was attempting to break out @ @ @ @ @ man pulled out a knife and stabbed the guard in the torso .
The guard @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead , police said .

Seven people were killed and at least 12 others were wounded in city violence since Friday afternoon spanning into early Saturday morning, Chicago police said.
Most recently, about 8:30 a.m., a 39-year-old man was fatally shot on the West Side, in the 800 block of North Lorel Avenue.
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Police were called to the address on Lorel, in the South Austin neighborhood, where they found the unresponsive man, who appeared to suffer one gunshot wound to the left side of his body, under his arm, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Shortly after 2 a.m, a 53-year-old security guard was stabbed to death by a man who was breaking out windows of an apartment complex in the 6200 block of South King Drive in the Washington Park neighborhood.
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Police said the security guard went to confront a 43-year-old man in a courtyard who was attempting to break out several windows, but the man pulled out a knife and stabbed the guard in the torso. The guard was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested, and was being questioned by police.
Shortly before. 3 a.m., a 30-year-old woman was fatally wounded in the Avalon Park neighborhood in the 8100 block of South Woodlawn Avenue, police said.
The woman was standing on a front porch when someone approached on foot and opened fire, striking her in the chest. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Shortly before 3 a.m., a 21-year-old man was fatally shot while he was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on the Far South Side in the 500 block of East 115th Street in the West Pullman neighborhood, police said.
The victim was shot by someone in a passing vehicle who opened fire, striking him in the neck and chest. His friend drove him to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, a 23-year-old man was fatally shot while he was walking in the 1200 block of West 70th Street in the Englewood neighborhood. Police said someone in a passing vehicle opened fire, hitting him in the chest and side. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
He was identified as Deonte Fleming of the 8400 block of South Komensky Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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Earlier Friday, two other men were killed in separate shootings.
Shortly before 4:30 p.m., a 28-year-old man was inside of a building in the 5600 block of South Michigan Avenue when a woman he knew pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The woman was placed into police custody, and a weapon was recovered, police said.
The victim was identified as Farrish L. Michael, of the same block where he died, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Shortly before 12:45 p.m. Friday, officers responded to ShotSpotter technology in the 4500 block of West Lamon Avenue in the Austin neighborhood and found an unresponsive 31-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the body lying in the street. He was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.
The victim was identified as Rafael Simmons of the 200 block of South Sacramento Avenue, according to the medical examiner’s office.
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At least 12 others were wounded in shootings:


chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago will experiment with shutting down some neighborhood streets for o

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicago will experiment with shutting down some neighborhood streets for outdoor dining options

“ I don ’ t know if any restaurant has that much space , ” she said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ one table for two people in the middle of the patio , and I don @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to make financial sense for us.
” She was encouraged , though @ @ @ @ @ a more open direction .
In the meantime , like other restaurants creating alternatives to @ @ @ @ @ her business partner have created I-Chef Now , a service to deliver recipes and ingredient @ @

John Byrne, Madeline Buckley, Alison Bowen, Jennifer Day, Christen A. Johnson

Rush Street near Cedar Street in Chicago. One of the street sections in the pilot program is Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Friday that six streets in different neighborhoods throughout the city will be shut down to allow restaurants to set up tables for expanded outdoor dining.
The streets included in the upcoming pilot program aimed at helping restaurants that have been hurt during the coronavirus pandemic are: 75th Street from Calumet Avenue to Indiana Avenue; Broadway from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway; 26th Street from Central Park to Harding Avenue; Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street; Taylor Street from Loomis Street to Ashland Avenue; and Randolph Street west from I-90-94 to no farther than Elizabeth Street.
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It was unclear when the program would start. Restaurants in groups of three or more, chambers of commerce and business associations can begin applying for expanded outdoor dining Monday, the mayor’s office said.
Outdoor dining streets in pilot program
But restaurants will need to continue to apply for sidewalk cafe licenses in order to serve people outside. Business Affairs Commissioner Rosa Escareno acknowledged those licenses could take a month or more to get approved, depending on the timing of the city receiving the request and how long it takes for aldermen to hold hearings on them.
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The mayor said Friday that some aldermen have concerns about closing streets for dining, but said she hopes they can work out their differences.
And she emphasized that the dining streets will not be party areas.
“We cannot allow these streets to turn into street festivals, and we will not," she said.
If things get out of hand on the first six stretches she identified, the city won’t be able to expand it to other areas, Lightfoot said.
Peter Toader, one of the owners of The Crepe Shop on Broadway in Lakeview, was surprised to hear about the new program to expand outdoor dining. He wondered how it all will work and how quickly, but was tentatively excited. “If I’m just allowed to put tables in front of my store on the street? Heck yeah.”
Like all businesses, The Crepe Shop has been impacted by the shutdown despite staying open and feeling support from the neighborhood, he said.
But his large dining room has been empty. He hopes that the potential ability to have outdoor dining will get people back to sitting down to dine, and will be a steppingstone to opening even restricted indoor dining.
“That’s what’s hurting us, we can’t get people dining in,” he said. “It would get the ball rolling to just open it up, get people in.”
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Toader said he’d need to get some outdoor items — the restaurant had not started planning for tables and chairs outside, with the pandemic making it impossible so far.
“On the other hand, I’m thinking where am I going to park,” he said, laughing. “But whatever. I’ll take the seats outside, if I need to park three blocks away.”
Leyla Khanahmad, co-owner of Black & Caspian restaurant, which opened in Lakeview just before the coronavirus crisis, said that being able to expand outdoor dining into the street was “better than nothing,” but she still harbored concerns.
For example, on a busy street with multiple businesses, how many tables could be set up at 6 feet apart?
“I don’t know if any restaurant has that much space,” she said. “We are going to put just one table for two people in the middle of the patio, and I don’t know if that’s going to make financial sense for us.” She was encouraged, though, by things moving in a more open direction. In the meantime, like other restaurants creating alternatives to make money, she and her business partner have created I-Chef Now, a service to deliver recipes and ingredient boxes.
Latasha Taylor, owner of Flammin Restaurant on 75th Street, said she would definitely expand into the street, but expects that would mean just four tables instead of the usual two outside. The restaurant’s team still worries about social distancing even with such few tables. “It would be great actually for us because right now, the sidewalk area alone, that’s not a lot of space," Taylor said.
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Jimmy’s Burgers on 75th manager Moe Qrani said the restaurant does primarily takeout business and plans to stay that way. “I don’t know if a lot of people even want to sit outside if it’s near other people. I wouldn’t want to. Carryout still seems like the best option for the future, I think.”
Nia Asimis, the owner of Nia Restaurant on Randolph Street in the West Loop, hopes the extra outdoor dining space will help her and her employees make back money they’ve lost during the stay-at-home order. “Up until now, we’ve been subjected to these forced closures and definitely a little distraught about it,” she said. “It’d be nice to get into the swing of things. I’m really excited about it, actually.”
Asimis isn’t sure yet how she’s going to implement the new seating structure. “There will be some logistics involved,” she said. And she will revamp the menu. The restaurant's focus on tapas did not fit into a carryout scenario, so Nia has been closed.
“Our menu doesn’t necessarily translate to the style of food, or the style of service, we’re going to have to start doing at this point,” she said. “It’s not going to be tapas, but probably larger portions. It’s basically reformulating what you’re already doing."
Maureen Martino, executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, said 44 food establishments are on the stretch of Broadway affected by the mayor’s plan. “It gives them maybe a little bit of a lifeline to keep going until the restaurants can open at a better capacity," she said.
Many, she said, didn’t apply for a sidewalk cafe permit before because it didn’t make sense financially for one or two tables. The chamber is looking at how it can help those restaurants, including with outdoor furniture and helping find space for those with impediments to easy dining, such as a bench or bus stop or fire hydrant.
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Martino said closing the street was a short-term solution but hopefully one to help restaurants make more money as they work toward indoor dining. “It makes more financial sense, if you have more space, you can actually bring some money in.”
Other cities have tried similar things; she hopes it will be successful and not create congregating instead, which might doom the project. Closing down streets is not new in the neighborhood, which has an arts festival on the north side of Belmont each September. “We’ve never closed this side of Belmont, so this will be interesting to give these businesses something to look forward to.”
Lightfoot, meanwhile, also said the 9 p.m. liquor sale curfew she imposed during the coronavirus pandemic will stay in place after Wednesday for package liquor stores, but not for restaurants that will be reopening with liquor licenses.
Bars that don’t sell food won’t be allowed to reopen with new outdoor dining rules because people lose their inhibitions when they drink and will be less likely to follow social distancing rules, Lightfoot said.
A runner uses the middle of Leland Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue on May 29, 2020. The street has been designated a "shared street." (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Lightfoot also briefly outlined a “shared streets” program that will allow neighborhood streets to be closed to through traffic so residents can walk and bike on them to more easily socially distance.
Gia Biagi, commissioner of the city Department of Transportation, said the shared streets program will start to roll out “over the next couple of days.”
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“Over the last month or so we’ve had an outpouring of inquiries about this from Chicagoans looking to make their local streets accessible for recreation while maintaining that safe distance from other people traveling or exercising on the streets and sidewalks,” Biagi said.
The city will “assess project ideas by a range of criteria,” Biagi said.
As they consider whether to temporarily close a street to much of its vehicular traffic, Biagi said officials will look at whether it will “contribute to community health and well-being,” feasibility in terms of vehicular traffic flow, and whether it connects with other walking areas and public transit hubs.
Some walkers and joggers and even a postal worker fanned out into the roadway Friday afternoon on Leland Avenue in Uptown as the street closed to nonlocal traffic as part of the city’s shared streets plan.
Orange traffic signs stood at some of the bigger intersections, alerting drivers that Leland was closed except for local traffic. Signs from the 47th Ward were stapled to posts between Clark Street and Lincoln Avenue, the east and west boundaries.
A sign with the letterhead of Ald. Matt Martin laid down guidelines for using the shared street, including wearing a mask and not congregating.
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“It’s not a block party — It’s a public health benefit,” the sign read.
Joey and Ashley McCusty walked east on Leland in the street, and voiced support for the plan. Both choose not to drive, and often walk up and down Leland.
“There’s too much space devoted to cars in the city,” said Joey McCusty, adding that drivers still have Lawrence, Montrose and Wilson for getting across town.
Others, though, were skeptical of how the plan would be enforced.
“We’re just confused,” said Barb Dowling, who was out with her dogs Friday. “I’m not sure what the point of it is if there’s still cars.”
Dowling said she had wondered if she and her neighbors would be able to enjoy a socially distant cocktail in the street, but then she learned that isn’t allowed. The rules order people to keep moving.
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“I think people are already conscious,” she said. “It’s just a lot of common sense.”
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chicagotribune--2020-05-30--Animals at university research labs still get care during the pandemic — but scores of mice have bee

Animals at university research labs still get care during the pandemic — but scores of mice have been euthanized to conserve ‘critical resources’

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A veterinarian and a technician perform a health check of laboratory mice kept at the Biologic Resources Laboratory at University of Illinois at Chicago. The school advised reseearchers that the pandemic might be a good time to cull their mice colonies. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
As researchers wrapped up their experiments in March to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order, another problem dogged the University of Illinois at Chicago: How would it continue tending to the 40,000 lab animals housed on campus?
Veterinarians and maintenance staff were deemed essential workers to handle the cage cleaning, feeding and daily health checks required for animals used in federally sponsored research. They are given personal protective equipment and instructed to follow social distancing.
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But other aspects of UIC’s response ― including a recent memo that asked scientists to consider euthanizing older rodents ― are likely to stir more controversy, especially from organizations that have long opposed the use of animals in research.
The March 19 memo to researchers said it was a “good time to critically look at colonies and cull aged breeders or nonproductive cages,” citing the need to “preserve critical resources.” Though projects that began before the shutdown were allowed to be completed, all others that weren’t deemed critical or related to COVID-19 were put on hold, and new animal orders were temporarily suspended.
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“We feel that there’s a moral and ethical responsibility to make sure the animals are used appropriately and judiciously," said Jeffrey Fortman, director of the UIC’s Biologic Resources Laboratory, where the animal researchers work. “Because we’ve asked principal investigators not to initiate new research projects, we don’t want them unnecessarily producing animals that cannot be used.”
Rodents at other major institutions are also being put down in droves. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard and Johns Hopkins each have needed to cull hundreds of mice when laboratories abruptly shut down, according to media reports. Most commonly, rodents are euthanized with carbon dioxide or anesthetic gases.
Researchers characterize the jump in euthanization as a difficult but necessary step to prepare for a protracted pandemic. Universities have sought to limit the number of employees in the facilities, allowing them to work in staggered shifts. And lab operators want to maintain enough supplies for the animals — food, bedding, medication — in case there are long-term shortages. Administrators also fear a worst-case scenario in which workers fall ill and there aren’t enough staff for daily rounds.
A veterinary technician checks on laboratory mice kept at the Biologic Resources Laboratory at University of Illinois at Chicago. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Still, the recent moves have only heightened tensions with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a historic foe to many in the scientific community. Referring to downsizing efforts as a “killing spree,” PETA launched a new campaign to voice its fierce objection to animal research as a whole.
As PETA learned of lab shutdowns, often from notices posted on university websites, the activist group wrote to schools — Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago among them — urging them to stop using animals once and for all.
“PETA has been questioning why any of these animals are being bought, bred, trapped or experimented on in the first place since they are now so easily being disposed of and since experiments are now being ended or delayed,” Shalin Gala, PETA’s vice president for international laboratory methods, told the Tribune.
Researchers couldn’t disagree more. They counter that animal experiments help lead to live-saving advances in medicine and will be crucial as scientists race to discover treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. Already, a study spearheaded by Oxford University showed encouraging results that a potential vaccine injected into monkeys helped them develop antibodies to attack the virus.
‘We had to eliminate so many mice’
A researcher at U. of C. said she reduced her mouse population by more than half after the school began warning of a looming shutdown. By the end of March, the school had restricted lab access, and she began working from home.
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The researcher, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from animals rights groups, said she had more than 400 cages of mice, with two to five per cage. She only had about a week to euthanize the animals.
“Before the shutdown there was a decision, and I think this is consistent across all universities, that they wanted to lower the essential workforce that was required to go in ... and one essential workforce is the people who take care of our animals,” the researcher said.
The researcher and U. of C. officials were hesitant to share details of her work, such as how the mice are used. Others contacted by the Tribune also said they were reluctant to speak about their studies because of PETA, which has been using Twitter to single out scientists during the pandemic.
Some learned the hard way. The official PETA Twitter account started replying to researchers who lamented on social media about putting down mice with comments such as, “Sad to have killed a bunch of animals? What if you never did it again?” That’s caused some researchers to delete the original posts.
As part of its new letter-writing campaign, PETA also sent messages to more than 70 universities, demanding the schools shut down their animals labs, divulge how many animals have been euthanized — though there’s no indication that animals other than mice or rats have been affected.
Northwestern, which received a letter March 31, declined to comment. The letter also mentioned several animal care violations found by inspectors prior to the pandemic, including an incident in which more than 1,000 mice were given expired medication.
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At Loyola, spokeswoman Anna Shymanski said the school follows federal guidelines for its work with animals and only uses them in cases when alternates aren’t available. In response to PETA’s May 5 letter, she said in an email: “Specially trained veterinarians and animal-care technicians provide for the care and well-being of the animals, and animal care committees regulate and monitor laboratories regularly,” she said in an email. “Our faculty understand that it is a privilege to use animals for the advancement of scientific discovery."
A spokeswoman for U. of C., which received a letter April 15, said the school has also developed contingency plans “to ensure humane care and comfort of research animals during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Though U. of C. has launched dozens of new studies related to COVID-19, all labs working on other topics were closed.
The U. of C. researcher said she’s not sure when she’ll be able to return and worries about the impact of the delay on graduate students who work in her lab and were relying on results to finish their degrees.
She predicts further setbacks, because it will take time to breed the colonies again once everyone is allowed back. Graduate students typically spend about four years in the lab working to earn a doctorate, she said.
“It is a big issue that we had to eliminate so many mice,” she said. “If we could go back to the lab full time this summer, we would still be another six months behind.”
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Freezing mouse sperm
Even as researchers scramble to shrink their rodent colonies now, they also need to keep enough on hand in case studies resume on short notice.
Many are looking to cryopreservation ― a process that involves freezing mouse sperm or embryos and storing them in liquid nitrogen ― as a kind of insurance policy. Since lab mice are typically bred with particular genetic profiles that researchers isolate in their experiments, those unique DNA strains need to be protected.
The Jackson Laboratory, a nonprofit biomedical research institution based in Maine, has seen “a sudden spike in demand” for cryopreservation, said senior manager Robert Taft.
As shelter-in-place orders took effect, the Jackson Laboratory dispatched trucks to Chicago and elsewhere to retrieve mice for cryopreservation.
“We were getting these panicked calls from folks because they were uncertain what was going to happen,” Taft said.
'Natural social distancing’ in UIC animal labs
Unlike schools that pulled the plug on all studies, UIC made an exception for research projects started before the state’s stay-at-home order on March 21. Some other special projects, clinical trials and research related to COVID-19 were also permitted to move forward if they were considered essential, said Joanna Groden, vice chancellor for research.
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At the sprawling Biologic Resources Laboratory, staffing levels have remained close to normal, Fortman said. Researchers approved to continue their projects use rotations to avoid contact with others and were required to wear face coverings.
“We have 137,000 square feet of space for housing animals, and it’s pretty easy to have your staff in different facilities, buildings and in different services areas, so there’s a lot of natural social distancing in how we operate,” Fortman said.
A veterinarian and veterinary technician examine mice at the Biologic Resources Laboratory at University of Illinois at Chicago. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
One project allowed to continue was a 12-week study that started in January, testing a possible vaccine for a type of human papillomavirus on rabbits, Fortman said. Results from the study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, will be used in the coming years as the vaccine is considered for federal approval.
“If we had to shut down on March 19, we would have had to euthanize these animals,” Fortman said. But after the study ended recently, Fortman said, “this researcher popped by my office and said how appreciative they were that we allowed them to complete this project."
Of all the animals housed at UIC, more than 99% are rodents and fish, Fortman said. The school also has about 80 primates, 25 dogs and eight pigs, Fortman said.
But the numbers have dropped in recent weeks. From late February to late April, the animal population declined by about 11%, Fortman said. While he attributed the gap to restrictions on breeding and new animal orders, Fortman said he could not rule out that euthanization also played a role. The researchers act autonomously, making decisions about colony size on their own, Fortman said.
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“UIC did not track how many rodents were euthanized by investigators as a result of the pandemic but the number is thought to be low,” said spokeswoman Sherri McGinnis Gonzalez.
Now, with the Monday expiration date for the stay-at-home order in sight, Groden and Fortman have turned their attention to the future. They are brainstorming what procedures will be necessary when the Biologic Resources Laboratory fully reopens, and researchers are eager to resume their work. At least six projects using animals have been proposed for COVID-19 research, according to UIC.
“I hope this (time period) inspires people to continue to work in clinics and hospitals and studies that will help us understand disease and how to treat it,” Groden said. “It’s very important for us to keep the pilot light going here in research, to provide a safe path forward."
On May 18, UIC announced an array of new protocols for animal researchers when state restrictions are lifted, according to its website. Those working in the Biologic Resources Laboratory will need to continue wearing face coverings, comply with temperature checks at entrances and practice social distancing throughout the facility, including in elevators and rooms with animals. It will also start accepting requests for new animal purchases.
echerney@chicagotribune.com