chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic. And geog

Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic. And geography is no longer a barrier.

“ Nobody is going to get on the phone and tell you ‘ I talked to a person for a @ @ @ @ @ , we sexted a little , and then I went to their house and slept @ @ @ @ @ it.
’ But that ’ s happening all around the city , ” Groner said @

Chicagoan Rachael Jimenez has gone on first dates without ever leaving her couch.
She has had the pivotal “Are we seeing each other exclusively?” conversation with a man she has never met face-to-face. She has seen a close friend fall hard for an acquaintance of just three weeks — a man who happens to live in Scotland.
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“They are in love. It’s wild,” said Jimenez, 30. “Everything that can happen that’s bizarre is happening.”
Welcome to the the upside-down world of video dating, where geography is no obstacle but the smallest physical intimacies — holding hands, kissing — are completely off the table.
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In the weeks since COVID-19 left Chicagoans largely homebound, dating via apps such as FaceTime and Skype has exploded, with OkCupid reporting a 470% increase from March to April in the number of users who answered yes to the question, “Have you been on a virtual date?”
“Video dating has had a surge,” said Stefanie Groner, co-founder of the new Chicago matchmaking service Quarantine Bae.
“What other choice do people have?”
Groner, 29, of Chicago, sees video dating as a chance to remake a noncommittal, physically driven dating scene supported by apps that encourage you to swipe through an endless parade of pretty faces. Now maybe people will have a chance to really click with the each other over the course of multiple meaningful conversations, she said.
The dating pool has gotten more international during the pandemic, with Tinder allowing users to look for potential matches anywhere, without paying an additional fee. Jimenez said she matched with a man from Ireland, and one in Australia.
There are potential downsides as well, some of which are tied directly to the pandemic. Video dating at a time when people are losing their jobs, getting overwhelmed at work or assuming new child care responsibilities can be difficult, Groner said.
And while video dating can have an international flair, a quirky creativity and an old-fashioned, slow-moving sweetness, it can also be just plain odd and frustrating.
“It’s really weird not to hold someone’s hand that I’ve been talking to for 2½ months. I’ve never kissed him. I’ve never seen him in person,” Jimenez said of a man with whom she was video chatting regularly.
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Divorced a year ago, Jimenez had just made the leap back into dating when the coronavirus pandemic hit Chicago, and she was determined to sustain her momentum.
“Dating — what I’ve experienced in the short time I’ve done it — is like getting on the horse again,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to keep those skills.”
Rachael Jimenez, age 30, on the North Side of Chicago on May 15, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
One of her first video dates was by Skype, and there were technical challenges, but she and her date made it through them together and then talked for a while from their beds.
The conversation, accompanied by bourbon on his part and wine on hers, went well and they agreed to keep talking.
Some people are going on activity-based virtual dates. Groner suggests exploring new places via Google maps or playing “takeout roulette:” you each order a meal from your favorite restaurant and have it sent to your date. When the food arrives, you eat together.
People are dating from their beds or couches, often with a beverage in hand, Groner said.
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They’re watching movies, some via Netflix Party, or cooking meals together, according to Chicago dating coach Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy.
“You’re developing this legitimate emotional connection,” Gandhi said. “You’re getting to know people slowly, surely. It’s only going to help you build that physical chemistry when you actually meet.”
Jimenez, the casting associate at a Chicago theater, has mostly gone on conversation-based dates. She has met a police officer, a man who works at a nursing home and a man who works at a toilet paper company.
She got to the point of the “Are we dating exclusively?” conversation after more than two months of talking with a Chicago graduate student who had gone home to California when his dorm closed. They agreed to put off the decision until they can meet in person.
Unfortunately, not everyone is video dating responsibly, Groner said.
“Nobody is going to get on the phone and tell you ‘I talked to a person for a week over text and call, we sexted a little, and then I went to their house and slept with them and immediately regretted it.’ But that’s happening all around the city,” Groner said.
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Groner said she respects people who use sexting as a way to get through the pandemic without physical contact. But for some people, sexting becomes a slippery slope.
She has been adventurous in her conversations, taking on topics that are deeper, more meaningful and more challenging than your typical dating fare.
“There’s just no reason not to try to make the conversation exciting if you’re going to go out on a limb and have a conversation in the first place,” she said.
For better or worse, video dating isn’t all that different from in-person dating, Jimenez said. You’re still going to get ghosted; you’re still going to get stood up. You’re still going to meet some great people and get to know them.
Some of her friends tried video dating and hated it; but a close pal from Los Angeles is a fan. Just three weeks after meeting on a dating app that relaxed its geographical restrictions, the friend and her Scottish suitor are very much in love.
“If they ever do meet and get married, I’m going to lose my mind,” said Jimenez. “I can’t wait to see what happens.”
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nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Unrelenting rains bring flooding across the Midwest, with evacuations in Michigan

In Chicago , water that flooded some areas downtown was receding on Tuesday , but Larry Langford , a fire @ @ @ @ @ he did not expect power to be restored at the iconic Willis Tower for days @ @ @ @ @ building ’ s subbasements to fill with as much as 25 feet of water .
@ @ @ @ @ tenants and visitors .

Tyler Marciniak, of Grand Rapids, carries hanging plants through floodwaters as he helps his father, Tom Marciniak, assess the damage to his home on Red Oak Drive on Wixom Lake, on May 19, 2020, in Beaverton, Michigan. (Katy Kildee / Midland Daily News)
EDENVILLE, Mich — Rapidly rising water overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in central Michigan, where flooding struck communities along rain-swollen waterways and the governor said one downtown could be “under approximately 9 feet of water" by Wednesday.
For the second time in less than 24 hours, families living along the Tittabawassee River and connected lakes in Midland County were ordered to leave home Tuesday evening. By Wednesday morning, water several feet deep covered some streets, parking lots and parkland and had reached a hotel near the river in downtown Midland.
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On Wednesday morning, the river topped a previous record reading of 33.9 feet set during flooding in 1986, the National Weather Service said. Its flood stage is 24 feet, and it was expected to crest by day’s end at about 38 feet.
The Weather Service urged anyone near the river to seek higher ground following “castastrophic dam failures” at the Edenville Dam, about 140 miles north of Detroit, and the Sanford Dam, about seven miles downriver. The evacuations come as Michigan remains under a stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
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While Michigan has been a national hot spot for COVID-19, with more than 52,000 cases and 5,000 deaths, Midland County has had fewer than 80 cases and under 10 deaths. Still, some dealing with the flooding and evacuations remained aware of the dangers posed by the virus.
Area schools were set up as shelters Tuesday, with cots spaced apart to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said downtown Midland, a city of 42,000 people, faced an especially serious flooding threat.
“In the next 12 to 15 hours, downtown Midland could be under approximately 9 feet of water,” the governor said during a late Tuesday briefing. “We are anticipating an historic high water level.”
Whitmer was scheduled to provide an update early Wednesday afternoon.
Dow Chemical Co. has been headquartered in Midland for more than 120 years, and its main plant sits on the city’s riverbank. It is a quintessential company town with downtown parks located at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers and is known among architecture buffs for its midcentury modern structures first introduced by architect Alden B. Dow. One high school is named after the company’s founder. The other high school’s mascot is the Chemics. A Dow foundation has funded many community amenities such as a botanical garden.
Dow Chemical, with 9,000 employees and contractors in Midland, on Tuesday shut down all operating units except those needed to contain chemicals, spokesman Kyle Bandlow said. By Wednesday, floodwater was mixing with on-site containment ponds and the company and U.S. Coast Guard activated emergency plans, Dow said in a statement. Only essential staff was on site and no injuries have been reported, the company said.
Water rushes through the Edenville on May 19, 2020, in Edenville, Mich. (Katy Kildee/Midland Daily News)
A view of a dam on Wixom Lake in Edenville, Mich., on May 19, 2020. People living along two mid-Michigan lakes and parts of a river have been evacuated following several days of heavy rain. (Kaytie Boomer/The Bay City Times)
Steve Carlson, 61, said he and his wife, Patty, fled their Midland home about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday after an evacuation order was issued for a large swath of the city, and they noticed neighborhood creeks were spilling over local roads and threatening some homes.
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“They had risen a lot and the worst was yet to come,” Carlson said Wednesday morning.
One couple in their neighborhood decided to stay put, but Carlson said everyone else had evacuated their homes. The Carlsons spent the night in a hotel. He said they’ve been wearing face masks in the hotel to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
“The hotel was very happy to see people coming in. There were refugees coming in,” he said with a laugh.
Further down the Tittabawassee River, communities in Saginaw County were on alert for flooding.
[ Roads still flooded, rivers close to cresting as Chicago hits wettest May on record ]
“It's going to continue downriver,” Sara Pampreen, a weather service meteorologist, said Wednesday morning. “Just exactly how much, that’s the question.”
Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County and urged residents threatened by the flooding to find a place to stay with friends or relatives, or to seek out one of several shelters. She encouraged people to do their best to take precautions to prevent spreading COVID-19.
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Emergency responders went door-to-door early Tuesday warning residents living near the Edenville Dam of the rising water. Some were able to return home, only to be told to leave again following the dam’s breach several hours later. The towns of Edenville, Sanford and parts of Midland have been evacuated, according to Selina Tisdale, spokeswoman for the city of Midland.
There have been no reported injuries or fatalities due to the flooding, and no reports of anyone trapped by the high water, Tisdale said Wednesday.
In 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked the license of the company that operated the Edenville Dam due to non-compliance issues that included spillway capacity and the inability to pass the most severe flood reasonably possible in the area.
In 2018, the state rated the Edenville Dam, which was built in 1924, in unsatisfactory condition. The Sanford Dam, which was built in 1925, received a fair condition rating.
Both dams are in the process of being sold.
There were 19 high hazard dams in unsatisfactory or poor condition in Michigan in 2018, ranking 20th among the 45 states and Puerto Rico for which The Associated Press obtained condition assessments.
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The Weather Service issued flood warnings because of widespread rainfall of 4 to 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 centimeters) since Sunday. Heavy runoff pushed rivers higher. This coming Saturday, there's a 30% chance of rain, with more moving into the area Sunday and Monday.
“Our hope is we get a little time for the water to recede," Tisdale said.
[ Trump threatens on Twitter to hold up coronavirus relief money for Michigan, falsely saying state sent millions of absentee ballots to voters ]
Webber reported from Oak Park, Illinois, and Williams from West Bloomfield, Michigan.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Park Ridge, Evanston men accused in scheme to use company money to buy GPS devices and sell back at

Park Ridge, Evanston men accused in scheme to use company money to buy GPS devices and sell back at markup

According to a federal indictment , Collins , chief executive officer of Honor Finance , and DiMeo , the company @ @ @ @ @ , created a shell corporation and diverted company funds to this corporation between 2011 and @ @ @ @ @ the scheme , the men used the money to buy GPS devices and used the @ @ @ @ @ Honor Finance “ at a significant markup , ” the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office @ @

Two men have been indicted on federal charges after they were accused of misappropriating more than $5 million in funding belonging to the Evanston-based car loan company that employed them, federal authorities said.
Robert DiMeo, 49, of Park Ridge, and James Collins, 50, of Evanston, are accused of working with accountant Michael Walsh, 62, of Evanston, to divert $5.3 million owed to their company, Honor Finance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
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According to a federal indictment, Collins, chief executive officer of Honor Finance, and DiMeo, the company’s chief operating officer, created a shell corporation and diverted company funds to this corporation between 2011 and 2018. As part of the scheme, the men used the money to buy GPS devices and used the corporation to resell them to Honor Finance “at a significant markup,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Honor Finance required GPS devices be installed in certain cars that had been bought with loan money from the company in case the loan recipients defaulted, according to the indictment against DiMeo, Collins and Walsh.
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All three men allegedly used $5.3 million in misappropriated company funds for themselves, including spending $80,000 for a down payment on a lake house in Michigan, federal officials said.
All three men were each indicted on 10 counts of mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Their arraignments were scheduled for May 20.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Column: The Farnsworth House, a modernist masterpiece, is threatened anew by floodwaters

In response , the trust called for the hydraulic jacks to be placed beneath the entire house , which would @ @ @ @ @ then returned to its original site when construction of the jacks were complete .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ forward .

The Farnsworth House is a modernist masterpiece designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The house museum in Plano is opening an exhibition, "Edith Farnsworth's Country House," that displays replicas of furnishings of the house's original owner. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Floodwaters are threatening the Farnsworth House, a masterpiece of modern architecture built in a flood plain along the Fox River.
Photographs provided Tuesday by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns and operates the house, showed the floodwaters rising to near the top of the house’s stilt-like steel columns and covering its lower terrace.
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Even though the waters later receded and the terrace reappeared, severe storms are forecast for next week. That means “we aren’t out of the woods yet,” the house’s executive director, Scott Mehaffey, wrote in an email.
“Just hoping the water stays below floor level!” he added.
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Located in far southwest suburban Plano, about 60 miles from the Loop, the Farnsworth House was designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a weekend home for Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a Chicago kidney doctor.
Completed in 1951, the elegant, single-room house of steel and glass has been inundated with floodwaters before.
The worst flood occurred In 1996, when the raging Fox River cracked through the house’s huge plate-glass windows and 5 1/2 feet of water roared in.
The water flipped a desk upside down, turned a wardrobe on its face, lifted a bed at a 30-degree angle against a wall, and drenched a Moroccan wool carpet in mud. It also carried valuable works of art out the broken window and dumped them in the brown waters of the Fox River.
Seen from above, the Farnsworth House is surrounded by floodwaters from the Fox River on May 19, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The heavy rains that have hit the Chicago area in the last few days, flooding home basements as well as the Chicago Riverwalk, are threatening the house, making it resemble a beleaguered house boat.
When Mies designed the house in the late 1940s, he is said to have examined the river’s high water mark on a nearby bridge.
Accordingly, the architect raised the Farnsworth House above ground — partly to prevent flooding, but also to make the house appear floating, even ethereal.
Since then, Mies’ defenders have said, suburban development upriver has made thousands acres of land in the Fox River’s watershed less permeable, increasing the volume of water that flows into the Fox River and raising the risk of flooding.
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The flooding “isn’t in direct response to the rain but rather is a delayed reaction to the watershed draining into the river,” Mehaffey wrote Tuesday.
Thousands of people have visited it since the trust joined with local preservationists to buy the house for more than $7.5 million at a tension-filled 2003 New York auction, then opened the house for tours.
In 2014, the trust proposed putting hydraulic jacks below the house to raise it out of danger from floodwaters.
Students from Kishwaukee College take a tour of the Farnsworth House in Plano on April 25, 2014. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
But preservationists objected, saying lifting the house would create an undignified “Jack-in-the-Box” effect. They also complained that the plan would separate the house’s upper portion, which would have been lifted by the jacks, from its lower terrace, which would have remained in place.
In response, the trust called for the hydraulic jacks to be placed beneath the entire house, which would have to be moved and then returned to its original site when construction of the jacks were complete. Yet the plan has not moved forward.
Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
The threat to the house comes shortly after the publication of a book about the contentious relationship between Mies and his client, which centered on cost overruns and led to a court fight won by the architect.
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In the book, “Broken Glass,” author Alex Beam describes a warning issued to Mies by Karl Freund, a local cabinetmaker who became one of the main contractors of the house.
“I wouldn’t build here. You’ll get flooded,” Freund is said to have told Mies as they walked the site.
According to the book, Mies replied, “we can combat that. It’s easy. You have a canoe there, and if it floods, you take the canoe to the house. It isn’t much. It’s an adventure, but that belongs to life.”
Blair Kamin is a Tribune critic.
bkamin@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @BlairKamin


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Man fatally shoots self during struggle with police in Racine County, Wisconsin, officials say

Caledonia Police Chief Christopher Botsch posted the following on the department ’ s Facebook page : “ Due to the @ @ @ @ @ , please remember to be civil towards each other when using social media and we @ @ @ @ @ their support .
”

CALEDONIA, Wis. — A suspect shot and killed himself while struggling with a police officer in Caledonia, according to state officials.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation said the officer was attempted to take the suspect into custody Monday when a physical altercation began.
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During the struggle, the suspect removed a gun from his waistband and shot himself, DCI said. He died at the scene. No one else was injured, police said.
The officer is on administrative leave, which is standard practice. The Journal Times in Racine reports DCI will turn over its investigative reports to the Racine County District Attorney once completed.
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Caledonia Police Chief Christopher Botsch posted the following on the department’s Facebook page: “Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, please remember to be civil towards each other when using social media and we again thank the community for their support.”


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--2 Chicago firefighters injured battling extra-alarm fire that likely will lead to South Side buildin

2 Chicago firefighters injured battling extra-alarm fire that likely will lead to South Side building’s demolition

The building at the corner of 79th Street and Vincennes Avenue houses a convenience store on the ground level and @ @ @ @ @ posts on social media from the Chicago Fire Department , which has had crews battling @ @ @ @ @ a.m .
The fire was entirely struck out about 9:15 a.m .

Chicago firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in a building at the corner of 79th Street and Vincennes Avenue which houses a convenience store on the ground level and apartments above. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries Tuesday morning battling a three-alarm blaze that overtook a West Chatham building before spreading to a second building nearby, displacing about 30 residents in total, officials said.
The building at the corner of 79th Street and Vincennes Avenue houses a convenience store on the ground level and apartments above, according to posts on social media from the Chicago Fire Department, which has had crews battling the blaze since about 6:30 a.m. The fire was entirely struck out about 9:15 a.m.
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The fire also spurred a hazardous materials response, as thick plumes of black smoke rolled off the structure, as well as an emergency response that included five ambulances. Officials said the original building with the store was a “total loss” and other buildings sustained “heavy damage.”
Extreme smoke conditions. Two fire fighters injured. Not serious pic.twitter.com/xvjvMJLRWl — Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) May 19, 2020
Fire officials said two firefighters suffered minor injuries; no one else was reported injured. The fire jumped to a second building, officials said.
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The department said the fire began in the store in the corner building. Because of heavy bars on the building, firefighters had a difficult time getting inside to fight the flames.
The corner building with the store was expected to require demolition due to the extent of the damage, according to the fire department.
Check back for updates.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Daisies, El Che, Publican Quality Meats and more join ranks of restaurants offering groceries

Brad Newman , who has been operating his Cookies & Carnitas at Green City Market for 11 years , began @ @ @ @ @ early this year .
But with the opening months away ( planned for August ) @ @ @ @ @ a popup market Sunday in partnership with importer Regalis Chicago dubbed “ Socially Distant Shopping @ @ @ @ @ ” featuring several local chefs and other producers .
Brasserie by Cookies & Carnitas will @ @ @ @ @ other offerings include meat from Avrom Farms , produce from Nichols Farm , artisan cheese @ @ @ @ @ Regalis Chicago , fresh pasta and eggplant Parmesan by chef Ryan Poli ( formerly of @ @ @ @ @ and knife sharpening by American Farms .
The popup will focus on a safe experience @ @ @ @ @ eight shoppers at a time , masks required , and payment by Venmo only .
@ @ @ @ @ advance here .
$ 5 to register ( which goes to the restaurant partners ’ @ @ @ @ @ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday .
5940 N. Broadway .

With Illinois restaurant dining rooms closed until phase four, which remains weeks away under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan, more Chicago area owners and chefs are pivoting to offer grocery items and meal kits. Bar Biscay was among the first, renaming and refocusing as Bodega Biscay. Since then the format has won more converts.
We’ve rounded up some of the most recent, including high-profile spots like El Che Steakhouse, Publican Quality Meats and Daisies.
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Grocery and packaged goods at Beatrix Market's DePaul Loop location. (Jeff Marini)
Beatrix
The DePaul/Loop location of Beatrix is open for grab-and-go groceries. Place your order online, then pick up your selection of deli meats, produce, dairy, spices, sauces and dips, snacks and packaged foods, plus beer and wine. 23 E. Jackson Blvd., 312-583-0598, exploretock.com/beatrixmarketdepaul
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Brasserie by Cookies & Carnitas
Brad Newman, who has been operating his Cookies & Carnitas at Green City Market for 11 years, began construction of a brick-and-mortar space early this year. But with the opening months away (planned for August), he’s launching a popup market Sunday in partnership with importer Regalis Chicago dubbed “Socially Distant Shopping & Take Out Experience,” featuring several local chefs and other producers. Brasserie by Cookies & Carnitas will offer pizza and cookies; other offerings include meat from Avrom Farms, produce from Nichols Farm, artisan cheese and other pantry goods from Regalis Chicago, fresh pasta and eggplant Parmesan by chef Ryan Poli (formerly of Tavernita), and microgreens and knife sharpening by American Farms. The popup will focus on a safe experience, with a limit of eight shoppers at a time, masks required, and payment by Venmo only. Shoppers must sign up in advance here. $5 to register (which goes to the restaurant partners’ employee relief fund). 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. 5940 N. Broadway.
Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
Make sure you phone in your order ahead at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club, which recently began to offer pantry and grocery items in addition to its usual morning menu. Shoppers can choose from a rotating lineup of items including produce, dairy, juice, snacks and select household supplies. 3348 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 872-208-7079, brynmawrbreakfastclub.net
Daisies
The popular pasta spot Daisies recently launched a new menu of pasta and meal kits, as well as some grocery items. Options include raw meats, baking goods and other dry pantry goods. Place your order online for pickup Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant also plans to launch a farmers market-style “Sunday Shop” weekly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, with local farmers and brands like Frillman Farms, Preserved States, Daisies, Klug Farm, Catalpa Grove and RealGood Stuff Co.. Safety protocols will be in place for Sunday Shop events. 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-661-1671, daisieschicago.com
El Che Meat & Provisions
El Che Steakhouse will launch a permanent butcher’s counter within the restaurant after Memorial Day. The steakhouse hosted pop-up meat markets after the restaurant shutdown began, and this pivot will have a similar setup. Guests can pick up raw cuts of meat, plus salads, sides and house-made sauces, as they would at a meat market. Options also include sandwiches, meal kits and “heat and eat” to-go meals. All steaks come with instructions for cooking, or can be grilled by chef John Manion for a surcharge. Orders can be placed via phone or walk-in. 845 W. Washington Blvd., 312-265-1130, elchechicago.com
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Found Kitchen & Social House
Evanston’s Found Kitchen & Social House is offering boxes of produce from local farms, plus a variety of cheeses. The restaurant also brings in beef from Slagel Farms and Meats by Linz. Rotating family-style meals are also available for pickup Wednesday through Friday. 1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-868-8945, foundkitchen.com
Publican Quality Meats
The West Loop favorite PQM has a variety of options to help fill out your fridge, including its butcher shop and bakery items. Guests can also pick up soups, salads and sandwiches, or a family-style meal kit. Beer and wine are also available. 825 W. Fulton Market, 312-445-8977, publicanqualitymeats.com
RealGood Stuff Co.
The marketplace/healthy food purveyor RealGood Stuff is offering grocery bundles ($45) featuring produce from local farms, including Mick Klug Farm, Nichols Farm, Spence Farm and more, as well as Publican Quality Bread. Bundles can be ordered online for pickup from any of RealGood’s three locations, or for delivery within select areas. Locations vary; order online, realgoodfarmbox.com
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Super Fat Rice Mart
The restaurant formerly known as Fat Rice made a high-profile switch to market goods and meal kits at the end of April. The meal kit and prepared offerings are closer to what you know from the restaurant, and the market has plenty of staples. You’ll also be able to find a lot of specialty Portuguese and Asian cooking items. 2957 W. Diversey Ave., 773-661-9170, eatfatrice.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Map: Where to buy legal weed in Chicago and across Illinois

The state is approving applications from existing dispensaries on a rolling basis , but if a municipality votes down recreational @ @ @ @ @ is moot .
Residents of communities such as Naperville and Arlington Heights , for example @ @ @ @ @ to a different town to legally buy weed .

Throughout the state, 57 marijuana stores are selling recreational weed.
That’s up from the 37 that opened their doors to recreational customers on Jan. 1, when sales began in Illinois. Others are under construction, waiting on local approvals or sorting out permitting issues.
[ Nearly $3.2 million in legal weed was sold in Illinois on the first day of sales, and the long lines continue ]
[ See our full legalization coverage here ]
The dispensaries that have started selling recreational marijuana so far this year are run by companies that already sold medical cannabis.
The state approves applications to sell recreational marijuana on a rolling basis, but if a municipality votes down recreational sales, the state approval is moot. Residents of communities such as Naperville and Arlington Heights, for example, will have to go to a different town to legally buy weed.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan

The forward progress still could be derailed by a surge in positive tests for the coronavirus , or if hospitals @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients .
To move forward the share of people testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ or under 20 % and increase no more than 10 percentage points over a 14-day @ @

Nausheen Husain, Chad Yoder, Jonathon Berlin

In need of a haircut or a shopping trip?
There are glimmers of hope that much of the state could move from phase 2 to phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to reopen Illinois on May 29 if current trends hold.
[ When can Illinois reopen? Check our daily charts on where each region stands. ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
The plan, as detailed below, is dependent on rates of infection, hospital capacity, capacity to test and systems for tracing infections.
The forward progress still could be derailed by a surge in positive tests for the coronavirus, or if hospitals or intensive care units become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. To move forward the share of people testing positive for the coronavirus must be at or under 20% and increase no more than 10 percentage points over a 14-day period.
Right now, according to the plan, every region of Illinois has reached the second phase, “Flattening,” to some extent. In this phase, the rate of infections is still increasing but at a slower rate, and Illinoisians can resume outdoor activities, while maintaining social distancing guidelines and wearing face masks.
Here is how the plan works.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--Extra alarm fire guts South Side building

Mario Tate , center , who lived in the second floor apartment gutted by the fire is assisted by neighbor @ @ @ @ @ the clothing and toys , and Pastor Larry Jones on May 19 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ Tribune )

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chicagotribune--2020-05-19--All this food with nowhere to go. Restaurant distributor finds new demand in supermarkets, carryout

All this food with nowhere to go. Restaurant distributor finds new demand in supermarkets, carryout and home delivery

Supermarkets , normally 20 % of his business , became 40 % as their orders doubled and shifted to include @ @ @ @ @ supplies .
Restaurants offering carryout , particularly in the medical district , became a focus @ @ @ @ @ in an industrial zone between Pilsen and Chinatown , struggled to keep up with demand @ @ @ @

Gustavo Nicolas, bottom, and Francisco Rodriguez, both workers from Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, unload a delivery to Manny's Deli in Chicago on April 28, 2020. (Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Eugene Lam, vice president of Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, watched COVID-19 shutdowns deflate demand from his biggest customers: restaurants, airlines, casinos.
But orders at the food service distributor founded by his parents 27 years ago perked up in other areas.
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Supermarkets, normally 20% of his business, became 40% as their orders doubled and shifted to include more shelf-stable products and cleaning supplies. Restaurants offering carryout, particularly in the medical district, became a focus. The company, based in an industrial zone between Pilsen and Chinatown, struggled to keep up with demand for to-go containers.
Francisco Rodriguez, a worker from Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, unloads a delivery to Manny's Deli on April 28, 2020. (Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
And there was a whole new audience in consumers holed up at home, reluctant to frequent grocery stores and struggling to book busy grocery delivery services.
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Lam had the food, but had to figure out how to get it to them.
He found a partner in Choco, an ingredient sourcing and delivery app for the restaurant industry, which in mid-April launched a program to help farmers, fisherman, butchers and wholesalers with excess products sell directly to consumers.
[ Pandemic pivot: How Chicago-area businesses and workers are managing the coronavirus crisis ]
Choco, headquartered in New York and Berlin, launched e-commerce sites in 17 markets featuring products from local vendors and offered next-day delivery to people’s homes. The Chicago Choco site features a varied selection of produce and other products, including three types of bok choy, udon noodles, tofu, shrimp and garbage bags.
Teaming up with Choco helped Lam, who didn’t want to send his large trucks or his drivers to people’s residences. He also appreciated Choco’s commitment to donate 100% of profits to regional funds helping restaurants survive the COVID-19 business closures.
“That was really intriguing for us when the majority of our business is food service,” said Lam, 30. His company, which employs about 50 people, saw restaurant order volume fall to a third of normal levels, and several small-business owners told him they planned to call it quits.
Gustavo Nicolas, from Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, unloads a delivery to Manny's Deli in Chicago on April 28, 2020. (Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Sending food to consumers, rather than restaurants, meant doing a lot of repacking, as most people don’t want to receive a 70-count pack of chicken, Lam said. He is now selling 15-pound bags of rice instead of 150 pounds.
Looking ahead, Lam expects to rely less on dine-in restaurants and focus on growing takeout, home delivery and supermarket customers. He also expects virtual restaurants — concepts created solely for delivery and carryout — to become increasingly important customers.
Lam is confident Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, which originally focused on serving Asian restaurants but in recent years expanded its business, will survive because it knows how to adapt.
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“We are just trying to continue shifting our offering to where the demand is,” he said. “Being agile in this climate is very crucial.”
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Chicago-area companies and workers to face harsh realities about their paychecks and their place in the local economy. The Tribune is reaching out to hear, and share, their stories.


chicagotribune--2020-05-19--How much did it rain near you? Check out our interactive map

With more than 8 inches of rain in the last 4 days , May storms have flooded basements , Lower @ @ @ @ @ Riverwalk and much more .
Spring Creek which empties into the Fox River in eastern @ @ @ @ @ ankle-deep creek to a fast-moving , 5-foot-deep river .

With more than 8 inches of rain in the last 4 days, May storms have flooded basements, Lower Wacker Drive, the Chicago Riverwalk and much more. Spring Creek which empties into the Fox River in eastern McHenry County transformed from an ankle-deep creek to a fast-moving, 5-foot-deep river.
The deluge led the Chicago River to swell to its highest level in more than 60 years, swamping the downtown Riverwalk.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District was forced to temporarily reverse the flow of the Chicago River both downtown and in Wilmette, sending even more water into Lake Michigan, which already is near record-high levels.
Read more here. And check out the forecast here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-20--Daywatch: Pritzker preaches patience as COVID-19 metrics improve, colleges prepare for virus resurge

Daywatch: Pritzker preaches patience as COVID-19 metrics improve, colleges prepare for virus resurgence and can food halls survive the pandemic?

With a few exceptions , the public ’ s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end @ @ @ @ @ format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects .
And for restaurateurs @ @ @ @ @ , it was an affordable way to test new ideas .
But with all Illinois @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic , and the idea of stuffing hundreds of people together in @ @ @ @ @ will food halls be able to survive ?

Want Daywatch delivered to your inbox? Sign up here. | Get the top Tribune stories of the day on your smart speaker | Here’s how to get the most out of your Tribune subscription | Got something to say? Join the conversation on our Facebook page
Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Illinois officials announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus and 146 additional deaths, bringing the statewide totals to 98,030 cases and 4,379 deaths since the pandemic began
The U.S. has recorded 1.5 million confirmed infections and nearly 92,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday
About 4.9 million people worldwide have been confirmed infected by the virus, and about 323,000 deaths have been recorded, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
Members of CORE, actor Sean Penn’s charity, assist drivers arriving for coronavirus testing in the parking lot of Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy on May 18, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
While the state’s testing rate for COVID-19 is greatly improved and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday as Illinois residents look forward to moving on to a new phase in the reopening plan at the end of the month.
“We’re all itching to move ahead. So why can’t we just do it now?” Pritzker said. “Well, there’s no doubt this is hard, but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us. It’s about our collective impact on each other.”
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House Speaker Michael Madigan stands behind Gov. J.B. Pritzker as Pritzker delivers his budget address to a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on Feb. 19, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 11 weeks, meeting in a special session that figures to be driven by pandemic-heightened divides between Democrats and Republicans, and urban and rural splits over how to move the state forward in the new world of the coronavirus.
Lawmakers are scheduled to meet for just three days to try to put together a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, a coronavirus response package that covers employment, education, health care and the courts, an enhanced vote-by-mail program for November, and a program to provide funding for safety-net hospitals that care for the poor.
Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-day session
Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., will open two weeks early in the fall and will conclude the fall term before Thanksgiving out of concern about a possible COVID resurgence. (Alfredo Sosa/The Christian Science Monitor)
A new but seemingly simple idea is emerging as a possible solution for colleges that want to bring students back to campus in the fall: starting classes sooner.
In recent days, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and Marquette University in Milwaukee announced they will begin the fall semester earlier than usual and finish in-person classes by Thanksgiving. The goal, the schools say, is to limit student travel ahead of any potential resurgence of coronavirus infections anticipated for the winter.
Julie Youngquist, executive at StreetWise, gives forms and other supplies to Edward Cephus, left, Donald Morris and other magazine street vendors who will be helping with 2020 census in Chicago on May 18, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home orders caused the U.S. Census Bureau to push back its timeline for the decennial count. The agency was going to work with local service organizations to count the homeless during a three-day operation in late March. It’s now uncertain when that will happen in Chicago.
Revival Food Hall, one of Chicago's largest such establishments, is closed Monday, May 18, 2020, in the Loop. Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of 16″ on Center, which runs Revival, says there's no way food halls can reopen without input from medical experts. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
With a few exceptions, the public’s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end. For developers, the format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects. And for restaurateurs, whether aspiring or established, it was an affordable way to test new ideas. But with all Illinois restaurant dining rooms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the idea of stuffing hundreds of people together in one room sounding unsafe, will food halls be able to survive?


chicagotribune--2020-05-20--Unrelenting rains overtake dams and force evacuation of about 10,000 people in Michigan


chicagotribune--2020-05-20--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says state passes New York in per capita daily COVID-19 te

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Pritzker says state passes New York in per capita daily COVID-19 tests as officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths

It doesn ’ t appear that food halls in Chicago will be able to open any time soon .
According @ @ @ @ @ ’ s five-phase reopening plan , restaurants will be able to reopen their dining rooms @ @ @ @ @ phase four .
( Currently , we are in phase two . )
But food @ @ @ @ @ attracting large crowds , probably won ’ t be able to fully reopen until phase @ @ @ @ @ governor ’ s plan details , phase five won ’ t happen until a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ is widely available .
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci , the director of the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ , estimates it will take a year or more to develop a vaccine .

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)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday afternoon that Illinois has passed New York in per capita daily administration of COVID-19 tests, which he called “significant measurable progress.”
“Among the most populous states, Illinois has now overtaken New York as the No. 1 state in the nation for per capita testing over the last seven days,” Pritzker said, calling it “very exciting news.”
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Among all states, Illinois ranks No. 3 in per capita testing, behind Rhode Island and New Mexico, according to data cited by the governor’s office at covidtracking.com. New York ranks sixth behind Connecticut and North Dakota, according to the data.
Pritzker also said all four regions of the state remained on track to enter the next phase of reopening businesses on May 29.
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State officials announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Illinois led the nation in per capita daily COVID-19 tests. Illinois ranks No. 3 nationally in per capita testing, and leads the nation’s most populous states after passing New York.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening Tuesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
8:57 p.m.: Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-day session
Measures for statewide rent relief — which would include help for tenants, landlords and homeowners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic — could hit Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days.
If signed into law, the COVID-19 Emergency and Economic Recovery Renter and Homeowner Protection Act, which Chicago Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced Friday, would cancel rent debt and suspend mortgage payments for those experiencing hardships related to COVID-19.
“We have to make housing an absolute top priority during this special session in Springfield,” Ramirez said during a livestreamed press conference Tuesday. “If we want our families to be able to get through this pandemic, they have to have a roof over their head and not have to decide if they’re going to purchase food — or pay rent.” Read more here. — Ariel Cheung
7:50 p.m.: Naperville Park District files suit against Pritzker, wants judge to give the park board authority to reopen facilities
The Naperville Park District filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking a DuPage County judge to issue an emergency ruling that would allow the park board — and not the governor — to decide when park facilities should reopen and programs resume as the coronavirus pandemic begins to recede in the city.
Board members voted 4-3 vote last week to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision that Naperville be included in a phased-in reopening schedule for a region that also includes Chicago and Cook County.
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The complaint seeks a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and declaratory judgment against Pritzker to “restore the balance of power and local accountability.”
“Unfortunately, in implementing (the stay-at-home order), Governor Pritzker does not always respect the limits of his power over units of local government like the Naperville Park District,” the lawsuit said.
“Rather, without any statutory authority in the (Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act) for doing so, Governor Pritzker has wrongfully displaced units of local government from their essential functions and is preventing them from addressing the specific health concerns of their respective communities.”
Priztker’s executive order directing people to stay at home prevents the Naperville Park Board from determining essential governmental functions by depriving it of the right to have jurisdiction over its property and programs, the suit said.
Pritzker’s order also stops park staff from performing “essential governmental functions" and prohibits residents from accessing park facilities and programs “that would otherwise be provided by the park district to combat this multifaceted health crisis,” the suit said.
The park district is suffering “irreparable harm” from the executive order being in place, the lawsuit charged. Read more here. —Erin Hegarty
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6:55 p.m.: Game on? National federation releases guidelines for return of high school sports
It’s a start.
The National Federation of State High School Associations released guidance Tuesday for its 51-member associations to follow while considering how to reopen athletics and activities.
The document was developed by the federation’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee in response to the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down the country, including the boys basketball state tournaments and the entire spring sports state tournaments administered by the Illinois High School Association.
The NFHS plan outlines three specific phases and defines sports as lower risk, moderate risk and higher risk. Tiers are created for essential, preferred and nonessential personnel allowed at events.
“We believe this guidance document will be a tremendous resource for our member state associations as they determine the timetables for reopening sports and activities,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS executive director.
The NFHS noted the reopening of high school sports will come on a local and regional basis. Each state will be different, and likewise, each sport will be different.
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Individual cross country, golf, individual swimming and certain individual events in track are considered lower risk. Basketball, baseball, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, water polo, swimming relays, 7-on-7 football and the pole vault, high jump and long jump are moderate risk.
Football, lacrosse and wrestling are considered higher risk.
Baseball, gymnastics, softball, tennis, volleyball and the pole vault, high jump and long jump could be potentially considered lower risk with “appropriate cleaning of equipment and use of masks by participants.” Read more here.
6:52 p.m.: How Aurora-area police departments are handling enforcement of governor’s stay-at-home order
While the sheriffs of Kane and Kendall counties made announcements late last week that they will not enforce the governor’s stay-at-home and social distancing orders, not all local police departments have been as vocal about their enforcement policies.
In their announcements, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain and Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird said they will not fine or arrest people for gathering in large groups, like hosting a graduation party or wedding celebration during the coronavirus pandemic.
While not all local police departments have said they are not enforcing the governor’s order, they are aiming for voluntary compliance and, rather than arrest residents, would rather educate them on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel said the department is enforcing the governor’s executive order, but no one in Aurora has faced criminal charges. The department is continuing to focus on educating residents and encouraging people to practice social distancing, he said.
Officers can use enforcement as a last resort and in extreme circumstances of non-compliance, Lewbel said.
Aurora’s City Council passed an ordinance that gives the police department the right to charge violators of the governor’s orders with disorderly conduct, but not all cities have taken that step. Read more here. —Megan Jones
6:10 p.m.: 2nd lawsuit filed against Bria of Geneva nursing home
A second lawsuit against Bria of Geneva nursing home was filed Tuesday, claiming the facility failed to implement basic precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after a number of its residents died from COVID-19 complications, attorneys said.
The family of Lucille “Lucy” James, a resident at the nursing home in Geneva who died of COVID-19 May 1, is suing the long-term care facility, claiming it failed to comply with preventative directions of the Illinois Department of Public Health and did not prevent the spread of the virus.
Bria of Geneva officials dispute the allegations brought against the facility.
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James’ son-in-law Ed Borowiak said the family did not find out she had coronavirus until after her death. James, 80, lived at the nursing home for about three-and-a-half years.
The lawsuit accuses the facility of failing to provide personal protective equipment and sufficient testing kits for residents and staff. It also failed to implement continuous screening checks on residents and staff, such as temperature checks and using a checklist to identify symptomatic residents, the lawsuit states. Read more here. —Megan Jones
5:17 p.m.: Mariano’s parent Kroger will not seek repayment from workers it overpaid during COVID-19 outbreak
Mariano’s parent company, Kroger, will not seek repayment from employees the grocery chain overpaid for time they took off to self-quarantine.
When the coronavirus pandemic started spreading through the U.S., Kroger began offering paid time off to employees who needed to self-isolate, were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who needed time off for another virus-related reason.
Dozens of employees at Chicago-area Mariano’s stores that had taken the paid time off recently received letters from Kroger notifying them that they had been overpaid and would need to pay the money back, said Zach Koutsky, spokesman for Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Local 881 represents more than 34,000 grocery store, drugstore and food production workers in Illinois and northwest Indiana.
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Outrage erupted on Twitter after a user posted a screenshot Monday of a letter from Kroger telling an employee to return overpaid funds. Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said Tuesday in a statement that the company would not seek repayment.
“We’ve instructed our payroll department to directly inform the small number of associates affected by the recent overpayments of Emergency Leave of Absence pay that we will not seek repayment,” she said. Read more here. —Ally Marotti
4:48 p.m.: As they adjust to a new normal, some colleges are approaching fall classes a different way: by starting early
While the impulse at some college campuses may be to push back the start of fall classes amid all the pandemic uncertainty, Notre Dame and Marquette universities are taking a different approach: They’re planning to open early.
The schools’ plan — subject to change if health guidelines necessitate it — are also to reduce the length of fall breaks so that students wrap up classes for the year before Thanksgiving.
The changes are in response to concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the late fall or winter, and the hope that condensing the term could help limit the spread of the virus by curtailing student travel. Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
4:28 p.m.: Niles home to most COVID-19 deaths among Cook County suburbs, majority reported in nursing homes, data shows
The village of Niles has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths among Cook County suburbs, the latest data available from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office shows.
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As of May 19, the medical examiner had reported 74 COVID-19-related deaths in Niles since March 16, making it the suburb with the largest number of deaths caused by the virus, a review of the data shows.
Nearly three-fourths of the deaths reported in the village have occurred within Niles nursing homes, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
IDPH data shows that as of May 14, 49 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported within six long-term care facilities in Niles. These facilities reported a total of 236 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The highest number of deaths for a single facility — 21 — occurred at Niles Nursing and Rehab Center, which had 127 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of May 15, according to the IDPH. Read more here. —Jennifer Johnson
4:10 p.m.: Pritzker offers some optimistic news, but continues to preach caution
Even though the state’s rate of testing is at a new high and hospitalizations are at their lowest point this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to preach patience Tuesday before Illinois moves onto its new phase of reopening the state at the end of the month.
Pritzker’s comments come as some mayors and law enforcement officers continue to say they won’t follow Pritzker’s plans to gradually reopen the state and after the governor recently instituted a new rule to issue misdemeanor citations to those who refuse to follow public health guidelines.
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“We’re all itching to move ahead. So why can’t we just do it now?” Pritzker said. “Well, there’s no doubt this is hard, but public health means that each of is working to protect all of us. It’s about our collective impact on each other.”
Illinois transitioned into phase two of Pritzker’s reopening plan on May 1, with non-essential businesses remaining closed and a handful of outdoor activities allowed as individuals are asked to wear face coverings when they can’t practice social distancing. The governor acknowledged that the lives of many Illinoisans “didn’t change much between phase one and phase two.”
Pritzker’s plan requires 28 days of monitoring public health data in four regions of the state before each can transition to phase three as soon as May 29. In that new phase, gatherings of 10 people or fewer would be allowed for any reason, fitness and health clubs could offer one-on-one training and outdoor classes, barbershops and salons could reopen with restrictions as could manufacturing businesses, offices and retailers.
“It’s critical that we observe the full 28 day measurement period before moving forward to phase three,” Pritzker said. “The good news is we’re just 10 days from that point, and as of now, all four regions of Illinois are on track to moving forward into phase three before the end of May.” —Bill Ruthhart
4:08 p.m.: Chicago McDonald’s workers file class-action lawsuit alleging COVID-19 failures put employees and customers at risk
Five Chicago McDonald’s workers filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status Tuesday alleging the restaurant chain’s “inadequate” COVID-19 protective measures endangered employees and customers.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges McDonald’s failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment, allow for proper social distancing or notify employees when co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at four restaurants across Chicago during the pandemic.
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“McDonald’s has failed to take adequate steps in response to the pandemic,” the complaint alleges. “The damage done by inadequate safety practices is not confined to the walls of a restaurant, but instead has broader public health consequences for the Chicago community.”
Chicago-based McDonald’s issued an emailed statement Tuesday calling the allegations “inaccurate characterizations … which do not represent the actual realities in our 14,000 restaurants around the country.”
Employees at the four Chicago McDonald’s restaurants, which include both franchise and corporate-owned locations, cited a number of examples in the lawsuit of “dangerous conditions” that allegedly risked spreading the disease to customers, co-workers and family members. Read more here. —Robert Channick
3:40 p.m.: South Elgin to cut residential and business water bills by $30 in June and July to help during pandemic
South Elgin residents will be getting a small bit of economic relief in the form of a $60 break on water bills to help those who have taken a financial hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Elgin Village Board voted unanimously Monday to authorize $30 credits on bills paid in June and July by renters, homeowners and business owners.
“This is what we do as a village. ... We are here to do the right thing for our people," Village President Steve Ward said. "I think this is a good thing. Maybe they’ll remember it in a year from now.” Read more here. —Rafael Guerrero
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3:05 p.m.: Orland Park threatens legal action if COVID-19 restrictions not loosened soon
Orland Park officials say they will consider legal action against the state unless the General Assembly takes more aggressive steps by June 1 to reopen Illinois’ economy.
A resolution adopted Monday by the Village Board asks lawmakers, who are scheduled to meet Wednesday, to provide guidelines for the resumption of “business and civic life with reasonable and specifically targeted public health guidelines.”
Mayor Keith Pekau said that stay-at-home restrictions have “come at great cost to the economy” statewide and locally.
The village is projecting revenue from sources including sales taxes, motor fuel taxes and income taxes, to fall about $4.5 million during this budget year, which ends Dec. 31.
Orland Park is also furloughing about 140 part-time employees because of the anticipated revenue drop.
“The whole time we stay closed we continue to damage our economy,” he said. “It’s time for us to move to the next phase.” Read more here. —Mike Nolan
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2:35 p.m.: Officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths
State officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new known cases of the coronavirus in Illinois from among 18,443 tests over the previous 24 hours. There were also 146 additional deaths reported, bringing the death toll to 4,379 since the pandemic began. Statewide, there have been 98,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from a total of 621,684 tests.
2:23 p.m.: Single Chicagoans are turning to video dating in a big way during the coronavirus pandemic. And geography is no longer a barrier.
Chicagoan Rachael Jimenez has gone on first dates without ever leaving her couch.
She has had the pivotal “Are we seeing each other exclusively?” conversation with a man she has never met face-to-face. She has seen a close friend fall hard for an acquaintance of just three weeks — a man who happens to live in Scotland.
“They are in love. It’s wild,” said Jimenez, 30. “Everything that can happen that’s bizarre is happening.”
Welcome to the the upside-down world of video dating, where geography is no obstacle but the smallest physical intimacies — holding hands, kissing — are completely off the table.
In the weeks since COVID-19 left Chicagoans largely homebound, dating via apps such as FaceTime and Skype has exploded, with OkCupid reporting a 470% increase from March to April in the number of users who answered yes to the question, “Have you been on a virtual date?”
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“Video dating has had a surge,” said Stefanie Groner, co-founder of the new Chicago matchmaking service Quarantine Bae.
“What other choice do people have?” Read more here. —Nara Schoenberg
1:59 p.m.: University employees call for more federal money for student financial aid and retain faculty during pandemic
The union representing faculty at seven of Illinois’ public universities is asking Congress to set aside more money for higher education in the next stimulus bill, saying the funds are needed to increase financial aid for students and keep staff from being laid off.
In a letter sent to the Illinois delegation this month, University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 said financial progress made by colleges in Illinois following the 2008 recession and the three-year budget impasse is now being offset because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the global economy and community, higher education degrees are more important now than ever ... ,” the letter says. “As the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate begin to discuss additional aid to address the harm from the Covid-19 pandemic, we are specifically asking for your strong advocacy to protect Illinois students and higher education institutions (community colleges, state universities, and non-profit private institutions).”
The letter said lawmakers should create a “state stabilization fund” to prevent state budget cuts to higher education, enhance federal financial aid for students, allow universities to keep paying faculty through the Paycheck Protection Program and increase technological support for students who don’t have access to computers or high-speed internet.
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"At a time when there is massive unemployment, the federal government must invest in its citizens by helping them earn their education, their degrees and even their certifications,” UPI president John Miller said in a virtual news conference Tuesday. “This will help the U.S. economy recover faster and will also create a greater economic stability and security in the years to come.”
The first stimulus bill, known as the CARES act, set aside $14 billion for colleges, with each able to receive an allocation based on its enrollment and the number of low-income students it serves. Half of the money was required to be used as emergency financial aid grants for students.
Miller said students need more support and that federal financial aid should be made available to part-time students, not just those taking a full course load. A second relief package passed by the U.S. House is being negotiated in the Senate. —Elyssa Cherney
1:20 p.m.: Can Chicago’s food halls survive the pandemic? Owners and chefs consider the future of what had been a hot format.
When Hayden Hall opened in February, it was simply the latest food hall in a city increasingly saturated with them. Every few months, some impeccably designed project opened promising a collection of top-notch chefs, from Time Out Market Chicago in the West Loop to Wells Street Market in the Loop. Some were even getting national attention. On Feb. 26, Margaret Pak’s Thattu in Politan Row was selected as a semifinalist for best new restaurant in the country by the James Beard Foundation.
With a few exceptions, the public’s insatiable appetite for food halls looked like it would never end. For developers, the format was an easy way to attract crowds to downtown projects. And for restaurateurs, whether aspiring or established, it was an affordable way to test new ideas.
But with all Illinois restaurant dining rooms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the idea of stuffing hundreds of people together in one room sounding unsafe, will food halls be able to survive?
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“I’ve never felt so ill prepared to answer such a big question,” says Bruce Finkelman, managing partner of 16″ on Center, which runs Revival Food Hall in the Loop. Finkelman says he’s been focusing on the immediate issues. “It’s heartbreaking the amount of people we had to furlough,” says Finkelman. “I’ve been worried about how we pay rent. Do we have a workforce when this whole thing is over? It’s really hard to look at the bigger picture right now.”
It doesn’t appear that food halls in Chicago will be able to open any time soon. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase reopening plan, restaurants will be able to reopen their dining rooms with 50-person capacity limits in phase four. (Currently, we are in phase two.) But food halls, which depend on attracting large crowds, probably won’t be able to fully reopen until phase five. And as the governor’s plan details, phase five won’t happen until a vaccine or some other effective treatment is widely available. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimates it will take a year or more to develop a vaccine.
Will food halls be able to survive being closed that long? And will customers want to return to crowded spaces? Already, a few food halls in the works have pushed back their opening dates. Read more here. —Nick Kindelsperger and Ryan Ori
11 a.m.: Ditka’s restaurant in Chicago’s Gold Coast closing for good due to coronavirus shutdown
The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to the closing of Ditka’s restaurant on Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Ditka’s Restaurant Group announced Monday that it will permanently close the downtown location because of the ongoing economic impact of the outbreak and the impending end of its lease.
The memorabilia-filled eatery, which opened in 1997, was frequently visited by former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and other celebrities. Read more here. —Associated Press
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9:45 a.m.: Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home
The family of a woman who died with the coronavirus at a nursing home in Geneva filed a lawsuit Monday, alleging that the facility left its residents vulnerable by failing to follow basic precautions against the spread of the disease.
Bria of Geneva officials disputed the allegations, reporting that most of those who had COVID-19 there never showed any symptoms from a “silent enemy.” Read more here. —Robert McCoppin
6:38 a.m.: 25th case of Cook County Court clerk employee with COVID-19
A 25th Cook County Court clerk’s office employee has been found to have COVID-19, the office announced late Monday.
The employee, who works in the clerk’s accounting department at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Room 1005, last was at work May 14, according to a news release. The employee, whose age, sex and length of employment weren’t released, has been hospitalized, according to the release.
So far, 24 people who work for the clerk’s office have tested positive for the coronavirus and a 25th tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.
Other workers who came in close contact with the employee have been notified and told to isolate for two weeks, according to the release. The clerk’s office and MB Real Estate were deep-cleaning the area where the employee worked. — Chicago Tribune staff
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6 a.m.: Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first year in office was filled with big moments and tough decisions. Then the coronavirus ‘changed everything.’
During her tumultuous first year in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot fired the police superintendent, presided over a 11-day teachers strike and fought to strip aldermen of powers in their wards.
But with more than 37,000 known COVID-19 cases in Chicago and about 1,700 deaths to date, Lightfoot’s first term will be defined by her response to a deadly challenge unlike any faced by her predecessors in a century.
In addition to the pandemic’s public health consequences, the ongoing crisis will have deep ramifications on city government potentially for years to come, exacerbating tremendous financial woes while diverting attention from other pressing issues.
Lightfoot has earned acclaim for taking tough actions to curb the disease, such as shutting down Chicago’s iconic lakefront, but she will soon make life-or-death decisions on how to reopen the city’s economy — a task she’s compared with rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire.
During a wide-ranging interview in Lightfoot’s City Hall office to mark the anniversary of her becoming Chicago’s first black woman and openly gay mayor, she told the Tribune the pandemic “changed everything.”
“Our lives will be defined by the moments that we’re living right now,” Lightfoot said. Read more here. —Gregory Pratt and John Byrne
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Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
May 18
Here are five things that happened Monday that you need to know:


chicagotribune--2020-05-20--Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-da

Rent relief in Illinois could be on its way, as state legislators rush to pass bills during three-day session

“ The scope of the problem is huge , ” he said .
“ We anticipate the demand will be @ @ @ @ @ problem is going to happen whether the state steps up or not .
The only @ @ @ @ @ to step in and give people financial assistance , or do we leave them vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ ”

Housing activists march on East 51st Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood on May 1, 2020, calling for a "rent strike" against large apartment rental companies on the city's South Side due to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Measures for statewide rent relief — which would include help for tenants, landlords and homeowners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic — could hit Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days.
If signed into law, the COVID-19 Emergency and Economic Recovery Renter and Homeowner Protection Act, which Chicago Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced Friday, would cancel rent debt and suspend mortgage payments for those experiencing hardships related to COVID-19.
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“We have to make housing an absolute top priority during this special session in Springfield,” Ramirez said during a livestreamed press conference Tuesday. “If we want our families to be able to get through this pandemic, they have to have a roof over their head and not have to decide if they’re going to purchase food — or pay rent.”
The act would:
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Cancel rent debt for tenants who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine; have lost income through furloughs, layoffs or other employment interruption; or are paying more for household expenses, child care or health care during the moratorium.
Prevent landlords and condo associations from fining those residents for missed payments or reporting them to a consumer reporting agency, tenant screening agency or credit bureau.
Compensate landlords and mortgage lenders for canceled payments through a newly created residential housing relief fund. The money could also help pay for moving costs and assist mortgage holders and tenants with payments after the moratorium expires.
Suspend mortgage payments for coronavirus-impacted landlords and homeowners and give those homeowners a 180-day forbearance on taxes, insurance and association fees. Loan terms would be extended for the number of months of missed payments.
Place a moratorium on foreclosures and prevent new eviction filings in court, in addition to the existing moratorium on carrying out evictions. It also gives tenants more time to pay back late rent after the moratorium expires and tightens restrictions on future eviction proceedings and rent increases for a year after the moratorium expires.
Be in effect until the state’s unemployment rate recovers to near prepandemic levels and the governor’s disaster proclamation has expired.
Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat and co-sponsor, said the goal is to pass the bill through both chambers during the three days the Illinois legislature is in session, which begins Wednesday. That could send the bill to Pritzker to sign with days to spare before June rent is due.
While Pritzker has placed a moratorium on evictions statewide since the stay-at-home order went into effect March 21, he has insisted that he legally cannot repeal the state ban on rent regulation, which would allow municipalities to take action individually.
Local leaders like Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot have said they are unable to enact rent relief while the ban is in place. The need, though, has been clear for months; when Chicago offered 2,000 one-time grants of $1,000 to pay for rent or housing in April, it received 83,000 applications. Tenants have also banded together to form tenant unions and to call for rent strikes if relief cannot be found.
On Wednesday, Lightfoot boosted housing aid with an ordinance giving grants or no-interest loans of up to $75,000 to owners of affordable housing properties to cover lost rent and other pandemic-related costs, which is meant to help as many as 3,400 low-income households. The City Council approved the ordinance during its monthly meeting.
Lightfoot also proposed new tenant rules extending the 30-day notice period for non-renewal of leases and, in some cases, requiring landlords to pay tenants a relocation fee.
While the 1997 ban forbids local governments from regulating rent, the state is able to act as a whole, Guzzardi said. While housing advocates still hope to overturn the ban, their bill would provide immediate relief to the thousands of unemployed and financially stressed residents unexpectedly impacted by COVID-19.
A key component of their plan was relief for landlords and mortgage lenders, Guzzardi said.
“We understand that’s going to create a real hardship on landlords,” he said. “There are a ton of small landlords out there making things work and being as kind and generous as they can, but we can’t just rely on the generosity of individual actors. We need policy to protect people.”
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The relief money would initially come from federal COVID-19 response funds given to the state through the CARES Act, and while Guzzardi said he doesn’t have an exact figure in mind, he expects “hundreds of millions of dollars” will be needed.
“The scope of the problem is huge,” he said. “We anticipate the demand will be there for sure. This problem is going to happen whether the state steps up or not. The only question is are we going to step in and give people financial assistance, or do we leave them vulnerable to eviction and foreclosure?”
Certain groups would be prioritized for funding, such as landlords who show rent cancellation caused a material economic hardship; mortgagors at risk of foreclosure due to COVID-19 hardships or whose property is in a high-poverty area; low-income tenants; and those not eligible for federal funds.
Rep. Tim Butler, a Springfield Republican, has introduced a separate bill in the General Assembly. His would provide rent assistance for coronavirus-impacted households if their landlord agrees to participate in the program.
The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act would require landlords to not increase rental rates or charge late fees, and in return, they would receive at least 80% of the owed rent, which they would have to accept as full payment, for up to seven months of rent between April 1 and Oct. 31.
Butler did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
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Additional housing legislation introduced Monday would provide a 90-day grace period for property tax payments and waive interest penalties for late payments.
archeung@chicagotribune.com