chicagotribune--2020-08-27--Daywatch: Antioch teen charged in Kenosha shootings, why some Chicagoans are moving away and a Seafo

Daywatch: Antioch teen charged in Kenosha shootings, why some Chicagoans are moving away and a Seafood City dining guide

They understand why protesters and rioters have poured onto the streets of downtown , and some acknowledge that crime is @ @ @ @ @ Chicago .
Some also agree with protesters that something systemic needs to be changed .
@ @ @ @ @ want to wait it out here in the city , fearful of stepping outside at @ @ @ @ @ to maybe get better .
They want out .

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Good morning, Chicago. Illinois set a grim record on Wednesday — the highest number of daily deaths from coronavirus since July 7.
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For anyone who’s currently jobless, you may get a few hundred more dollars in weekly aid soon. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois is applying for President Trump’s unemployment benefits program.
And, a new rapid COVID-19 antigen test that will cost $5 and provide results in 15 minutes was granted emergency use authorization on Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
Volunteers carry plywood to board up buildings in the Uptown neighborhood of Kenosha on Aug. 26, 2020. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Police arrested Lake County teenager Kyle Rittenhouse on a murder charge following shootings in Kenosha on Tuesday night that killed two people during unrelenting, violent demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday.
Wisconsin authorities have revealed few details of the 17-year-old Rittenhouse’s alleged crime. But the shootings came as civilians armed with rifles inserted themselves into the protests, looting and fiery property destruction that have raged since Sunday night in the city just over the Wisconsin border. The shootings compounded the act of violence that sparked the unrest: an officer’s shooting of Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, who according to a video appeared to have had his back turned to the cop who fired.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
On a night Republicans proclaimed as a “Salute to Heroes” at their national convention, Vice President Mike Pence confronted a police shooting in Kenosha, Wis., that has created deadly civil unrest involving an accused white vigilante from Illinois and furthered the already high tensions between law enforcement and the Black community across the country.
Pence and President Donald Trump used the third night of their convention to promote support for law enforcement and promote a law-and-order platform aimed at reaching the critically important suburban voters on Nov. 3 while warning that a Democratic administration under former Vice President Joe Biden would make them unsafe and lead to chaos.
Trump International Hotel and Tower is shown from Wabash Avenue on June 18, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
New York’s attorney general is trying to answer one of the most perplexing questions surrounding the troubled financing of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago: whether President Donald Trump failed to pay taxes on a $100 million loan deal related to the project.
Neil Spun stands outside his Edgewater home Aug. 20, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
They understand why protesters and rioters have poured onto the streets of downtown, and some acknowledge that crime is worse in other parts of Chicago. Some also agree with protesters that something systemic needs to be changed. But they don’t want to wait it out here in the city, fearful of stepping outside at night and hoping for things to maybe get better. They want out.
A worker puts fresh ice on fish in the fresh seafood area at Filipino supermarket Seafood City on Aug. 24, 2020, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Seafood City is more than a Filipino supermarket in Chicago; the store and food court anchor a shopping center with some of the biggest brand-name bakeries and restaurants from the Philippines.


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--Seafood City dining guide: Find all the best Filipino street food, from crispy chicharon to whole fr

Seafood City dining guide: Find all the best Filipino street food, from crispy chicharon to whole fried fish, at this one-of-a-kind supermarket and food court in Chicago

The center of the Seafood City universe might be the fresh seafood counter at the mega market .
Only 10 @ @ @ @ @ allowed in the seafood section for now , but you can still get up close @ @ @ @ @ on ice , though an employee needs to bag them .
Walk your catch over @ @ @ @ @ cleaning and even frying .
Take your fish claim ticket , and then shop while @ @ @ @ @ Lucky Me !
instant noodles , San Miguel beer and balut , a fertilized duck @ @ @ @ @ its challenging reputation , tastes like a delicate chicken and egg soup , but just @ @ @ @ @ your fried fish is ready , pay at the register — then eat as soon @ @ @ @ @ order online or on the app , look for coupons , and arrive ideally 15 @ @ @ @ @ time , because that ’ s when insiders say your order is usually ready .
@ @ @

Seafood City is more than a Filipino supermarket in Chicago; the store and food court anchor a shopping center with some of the biggest brand-name bakeries and restaurants from the Philippines.
A lot has changed since the mega-market mall opened in 2016 on a former Kmart site on the Northwest Side. Recently, the supermarket chain, based in Pomona, California, launched online shopping and its own app, complete with curbside pickup and delivery. It was the first of the international grocery companies in the area to offer the services.
“Our first- and second-generation customers kept asking for it,” said Mildred Smith, vice president of marketing, noting that some felt uncomfortable shopping inside due to coronavirus concerns. “It took 2½ months, working day and night. We thought it was going to be a simple thing to do.”
With an impressive inventory of not just Filipino items, but other Asian and American products, it’s a surprise the app came together in the short time it took. Not everything from Seafood City is available online, but that’s true for many stores that have pivoted during the pandemic.
The pandemic has also forced Seafood City to put its community events, like bingo and holiday holiday karaoke in English and Tagalog, on indefinite hold. Recently, however, the store hosted an event for our times: outdoor census outreach with a free mask giveaway.
Prepandemic, a common complaint stemmed from long lines in the supermarket food court. Now, diners can skip the line and order ahead at Grill City, the street food-style stall featuring barbecue skewers, by phone or on the Seafood City or Grill City apps. If you do go in, the line dividers are spaced farther apart, with social distancing circles on the floor. The Crispy Town stall also remains open, but Noodle Street is currently closed in the food court.
The minimum order online or on the app is $35, plus a service fee for curbside pickup.
The delivery area is within a 15-mile radius of the store. Third-party drivers from DoorDash or Postmates deliver the orders. A sample minimum order generated a base delivery fee of $6 near the supermarket, and up to $27.74 for a delivery 15 miles away.
That distance is nothing for some Filipino shoppers. Often, you can find families in the parking lot rearranging suitcases to better fit more groceries in their cars. Pop-up picnics will invariably ensue.
The Seafood City center currently offers eight dining options, listed alphabetically below. There are more on the way. Delicious Pho plans to open soon inside the largely empty indoor mall known as Elston Place Market Mix. Ima’s Kusina, a sweet rice cake maker from the San Francisco area, though, has currently stalled construction of its storefront.
If you can, go in yourself. If you can’t, the wide range of options at this one-of-a-kind Filipino food palace can bring an edible escape to the tropical island country to you. Here are my favorite items from each establishment, and tips for when you visit.
Seafood City Supermarket at Elston Place Market Mix, 5033 N. Elston Ave., 773-295-1658, seafoodcity.com
Crepe House Cafe
Classic crepe with Nutella, crushed Plazma cookies and strawberry ice cream from Crepe House Cafe. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The only place that’s not a Filipino restaurant or bakery chain at the Seafood City center is Crepe House Cafe, which is currently offering takeout only. The small storefront, with a Serbian owner, offers European crepes, both sweet and savory, with coffee and ice cream, plus Asian bubble waffles. Their classic crepe ($6) folds an expansive, thin pancake around your choice of Nutella or Eurocrem, the cocoa and hazelnut spread made near Belgrade, Serbia’s capital city. It’s garnished with crushed Plazma, the buttery cookie beloved by Serbians, plus fresh banana and strawberry slices. Add a huge scoop of ice cream ($1), then hurry back to your car — or to the cafe’s outdoor tables. 773-628-7739, facebook.com/crepehousecafechicago
Crispy Town
Chicharon bulaklak, also known as pork ruffle fat, from Crispy Town. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
A stall at the supermarket food court where visitors can dine in, Crispy Town does sound like somewhere many would like to live. It’s not listed on the Seafood City app, but some items are available under the Grill City section, including veggie lumpia and a footlong turon, the sticky and sweet fried banana lumpia. You’ll have to go inside to find mini lumpia packed with pork. Meanwhile, get the chicharon bulaklak ($19.99 per pound) if you can. Also known as pork ruffle fat, it is gloriously funky and crunchy deep-fried offal that’s traditionally a drinking food, served with a pure vinegar dip to restart your heart. 773-295-1658, seafoodcity.com/food-service/crispy-town
Grill City
Grand Silog breakfast with sinangág (garlic fried rice), eggs, longganisa (sausage) and tocino (bacon) from Grill City. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The first food court stall when you enter the grocery store, Grill City always seems to have flames behind a display window. Usually they’re under meaty skewers, chicken or pork barbecue sticks. On mornings, though, look for longganisa, the fat, little, sweet pork sausages. Get the Grand Silog ($8.99) for breakfast, available only until 10 a.m. It comes with the defining sinangág (garlic fried rice) and eggs, plus your choice of two proteins on the cafeteria line, from grilled bangus (milkfish) to pork or chicken tocino (bacon). Lechon, or whole-roasted piglet, can be ordered two ways, three days in advance. 877-446-4969, grillcity.com/chicago
Jollibee
Chickenjoy fried chicken from Jollibee. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The best-known restaurant at Seafood City center — and one with die-hard fans — is Jollibee. While the Filipino chain has three locations in the Chicago area, all dining rooms nationwide are currently closed due to COVID-19 concerns. Jollibee is as famous for its Chickenjoy ($10.99 for a six-piece bucket), batter-dipped and deep-fried chicken served with gravy, as it is for Jolly Spaghetti. By the way, the pasta sauce, sweet and studded with hot dog chunks, is not made with banana ketchup (a popular condiment in the Philippines), according to a company spokesperson. Pro tip: Call ahead to order and pay, then skip the line — especially on weekends, when it can stretch across the parking lot. 773-685-6770, jollibeeusa.com
Max’s
Max’s fried chicken from Max's restaurant at Seafood City. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The newest restaurant at the mall, Max’s opened at the end of last year and is offering limited seating. Originally founded in 1945 as a cafe in the Philippines’ Quezon City, it’s known as “The House that Fried Chicken Built.” The restaurant cooks its signature Max’s fried chicken ($15.99) whole. Don’t bother with a carving knife; you can easily tear through the golden, crispy skin to juicy and tender pieces. If you dine in, the chicken automatically comes with french fries, but for takeout you have to ask. Remember to request banana ketchup and Worcestershire sauce for dipping, too. 773-830-6297, maxsrestaurantna.com/chicago
Red Ribbon Bakeshop
Mango, caramel and ube cake slices from Red Ribbon Bakeshop bakery. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The smallest storefront, and always takeout only, Red Ribbon Bakeshop is famous for its mango cake. What was once a Filipino immigrant family-owned business is now a part of the Jollibee parent company. The bakery offers pastries and nine cake flavors. They’re normally sold only as whole rounds or sheet cakes, so grab slices ($3.99 each) of the mango, caramel and ube cake whenever you can. Savory items include chicken, pork and beef empanadas, as well as fantastic pancit palabok, a rice noodle dish topped with garlic sauce, crushed chicharon and sliced egg. 773-685-5888, redribbonbakeshop.us
Seafood City Supermarket
Whole maya maya (red snapper) fish cleaned and fried at Seafood City Filipino supermarket. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The center of the Seafood City universe might be the fresh seafood counter at the mega market. Only 10 people at a time are allowed in the seafood section for now, but you can still get up close and personal to the fish on ice, though an employee needs to bag them. Walk your catch over to the counter for free cleaning and even frying. Take your fish claim ticket, and then shop while you wait. Offerings include Lucky Me! instant noodles, San Miguel beer and balut, a fertilized duck egg — which, despite its challenging reputation, tastes like a delicate chicken and egg soup, but just in a shell. When your fried fish is ready, pay at the register — then eat as soon as possible. If you order online or on the app, look for coupons, and arrive ideally 15 minutes earlier than your pickup time, because that’s when insiders say your order is usually ready. 773-295-1658, seafoodcity.com/store-locations/chicago
Valerio’s Tropical Bakeshop
Pork asado siopao (hot buns) from Valerio's Tropical Bakeshop bakery at Seafood City. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
The innermost shop at the mall, with takeout only, Valerio’s bakery is jam-packed with a dizzying array of breads, pastries and pancit palabok. The fan-favorite sweet might be the purple- and gold-flecked pandesal, a soft and buttery bun filled with ube and cheese. Get the pork asado siopao ($7.99), too. The so-called hot buns cool to room temperature while stacked in four-packs on the pastry case. The fluffy steamed puffs are cousins to Chinese cha siu bao, stuffed with barbecue-style pork and sliced hard-cooked egg. 773-685-5115, valeriostropicalbakeshop.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--In accepting GOP nomination for second term, Vice President Mike Pence: Stop the violence

“ The violence must stop whether in Minneapolis , Portland or Kenosha .
Too many heroes have died defending our @ @ @ @ @ each other down .
We will have law and order on the streets of this @ @ @ @ @ every race and creed and color , ” he said .

Vice President Mike Pence speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
On a night Republicans proclaimed as a “Salute to Heroes” at their national convention, Vice President Mike Pence confronted a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that has created deadly civil unrest involving an accused white vigilante from Illinois and furthered the already high tensions between law enforcement and the Black community across the country.
Pence and President Donald Trump used the third night of their convention to promote support for law enforcement and promote a law-and-order platform aimed at reaching the critically important suburban voters on Nov. 3 while warning that a Democratic administration under former Vice President Joe Biden would make them unsafe and lead to chaos.
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[ Analysis: 6 key takeaways from night 3 of the RNC, including Pence taking on attack role as crises drain convention attention ]
Police arrested a white teenager from Antioch, Kyle Rittenhouse, on a murder charge following shootings in Kenosha on Tuesday night that killed two people during demonstrations over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot seven times by a white police officer on Sunday.
It was thought that Rittenhouse’s arrest might keep Republicans from addressing the unrest in Kenosha as part of their highly scripted and largely pretaped convention.
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Pence didn’t directly reference the deadly aftermath of the shooting, but instead vowed an administration pledged to end the violence.
“President Trump and I will always support the right of Americans to peaceful protest. But rioting and looting is not peaceful protest. Tearing down statues is not free speech and those who do so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Pence said from Fort McHenry in Maryland.
“The violence must stop whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha. Too many heroes have died defending our freedom to see Americans strike each other down. We will have law and order on the streets of this country for every American of every race and creed and color,” he said.
Pence reiterated the administration’s support for law enforcement while trying to show support for Black Americans outraged by incidents of police-involved shootings.
“The American people know we don’t have to choose between supporting law enforcement and standing with our African American neighbors to improve the quality of their lives, education, jobs and safety,” the vice president said.
“And from the first days of this administration, we’ve done both — and we will keep supporting law enforcement, and keep supporting our African American and minority communities across this land for four more years,” he said.
Pence contended that Biden considers America to be “systemically racist and that law enforcement in America has and I quote, ‘an implicit bias’ against minorities,” while wanting to defund police, something the former vice president has denied.
“The hard truth is, you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” he said. “Under President Trump, we will always stand with those who stand on the Thin Blue Line, and we’re not going to defund the police — not now, not ever.”
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Earlier speakers, in taped addresses from the Mellon Center in Washington, sought to establish the law-and-order theme against a backdrop of protests, civil unrest and looting arising from the police shooting of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
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Michael McHale, president of the National Association of Police Organizations, which has endorsed Trump, contended civil unrest and violence in Chicago and other cities was a result of city mayors handcuffing their police.
“Good officers need to know their elected leaders and the department brass have their backs. Unfortunately, chaos results when failed officials in cities like Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago and New York make the conscious decision not to support law enforcement,” McHale said.
“Shootings, murders, looting and rioting occur unabated. The violence and bloodshed we are seeing in these and other cities isn’t happening by chance. It’s the direct result of refusing to allow law enforcement to protect our communities,” he said.
McHale contended Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris of California have turned their candidacy over to “the far-left anti-law enforcement radicals.”
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“The differences between Trump/Pence and Biden/Harris are crystal clear,” he said. “Your choices are the most pro-law enforcement president we’ve ever had or the most radical anti-police ticket in history.”
The Fraternal Order of Police are a separate organization, which includes the Chicago police officers’ union.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem cited a 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln recounting “wild and furious passions ‘worse than savage mobs’ rather than sound judgment.”
“He was concerned for the people that had seen their property destroyed, their families attacked, and their lives threatened or even taken away. These good people were becoming tired of, and disgusted with, a government that offered them no protection. Sound familiar?” she asked.
“From Seattle and Portland to Washington and New York, Democrat-run cities across this country are being overrun by violent mobs. The violence is rampant. There’s looting, chaos, destruction and murder. People that can afford to flee have fled. But the people that can’t — good, hardworking Americans — are left to fend for themselves.”
rap30@aol.com
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chicagotribune--2020-08-27--‘We need to fight for these lives’: Union Park vigil mourns Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake,

‘We need to fight for these lives’: Union Park vigil mourns Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, fatal Louisiana police shooting

A complaint identifies Rittenhouse , who was charged as an adult , as a fugitive from justice wanted for first-degree @ @ @ @ @ It wasn ’ t clear which victim he is charged with killing .
The two @ @ @ @ @ 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident , Kenosha police said .
The @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Tuesday near a gas station on Sheridan Road where a vigilante group had gathered @ @ @ @ @ had clashed with protesters near the county courthouse after the city curfew went into effect @ @ @ @

People listen to a speaker while gathered for a vigil to remember those killed and injured by police excessive force, at Union Park on Aug. 26, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
About 300 people gathered for a vigil at Chicago’s Union Park on Wednesday night, listening to speakers mourn the death of Trayford Pellerin, killed by police in Louisiana last week, and the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday.
“You’re allowed to feel hurt, you’re allowed to feel anger, you’re allowed to be scared ... but we need to fight for these lives,” said one speaker, JJ Easterling.
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The vigil was centered on a row of tall white candles, lighted in memorial, and speakers addressed the crowd with the Willis Tower standing tall in the background.
And as the chants began, the demonstrators stood to chant:
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“When Black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”
The group got together about 7:30 p.m. at the park, 1501 W. Randolph St., in the city’s West Town neighborhood. Speeches began around 8 p.m.
Organizers prepare for a vigil to remember those killed and injured by police excessive force, at Union Park on Aug. 26, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
An attendee holds a candle while listening to a musical performance during a vigil to remember those killed and injured by police at Union Park on Aug. 26, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The mood ranged from mournful to energetic to tired to angry. Speakers and musical performances were interspersed with moments of silence and “F--- 12” chants.
Jae Rice, who emceed the event, grew up with Blake in Evanston and told the crowd about “the Jake Blake that I knew” — a valued friend and “definitely a jokester.”
Rice, who uses they/them pronouns, later told the Tribune that Blake encouraged their musical ambitions and would challenge them to freestyle battles in the hallways at Evanston Township High School.
A vigil — rather than a march — gave people a way to process their emotions, said Easterling, of the Chicago Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression.
"A lot of things happened really quickly last week," she told the Tribune. "We wanted to have an opportunity to process how we feel with that."
Rice noted the different energy that a vigil brought, particularly the moments of silence.
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“To have that silence ... that silence is the loudest thing I’ve heard in a long time,” they said.
Elli Krandel, left, and Ryan Stutesman listen to a musical performance during a vigil to remember those killed and injured by police at Union Park on Aug. 26, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Earlier Wednesday, officials announced murder charges filed against 17-year-old Antioch resident Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been described as a possible vigilante, part of a militia, acting out during the melee that killed two people and wounded a third, following the shooting of Blake on Sunday by Kenosha police.
A complaint identifies Rittenhouse, who was charged as an adult, as a fugitive from justice wanted for first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha. It wasn’t clear which victim he is charged with killing. The two shot to death were a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident, Kenosha police said. The three were shot about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday near a gas station on Sheridan Road where a vigilante group had gathered, police said. Authorities had clashed with protesters near the county courthouse after the city curfew went into effect at 8 p.m.
The shootings happened during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of Blake on Sunday. A video appears to show an officer shooting Blake, who is Black, while he has his back turned to the cop.
Pellerin, 31, a Black man, was fatally shot by police in Louisiana on Friday. Police said he was carrying a knife when officers chased him outside a southern Louisiana convenience store, authorities said.
The police killing of Pellerin was captured in a shaky video that shows officers in pursuit before repeated gunshots ring into the night in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--17-year-old from Illinois arrested in fatal shootings during Kenosha protest; Wisconsin authorities

17-year-old from Illinois arrested in fatal shootings during Kenosha protest; Wisconsin authorities ID cop who shot Jacob Blake

Pat Mess , whose grandparents live near the courthouse where much of the action has developed , visited them Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he was outside when a group of about 100 people moving south @ @ @ @ @ .
About four of them appeared to be chasing a man and , it appeared @ @ @ @ @ them shoved him to the ground .

Madison Taft and Black Lives Matter activists march through a Kenosha neighborhood Jan. 5, 2021, after news that no charges will be issued against the Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Police arrested Lake County teenager Kyle Rittenhouse on a murder charge following shootings in Kenosha on Tuesday night that killed two people during unrelenting, violent demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday.
Wisconsin authorities have revealed few details of the 17-year-old Rittenhouse’s alleged crime. But the shootings came as civilians armed with rifles inserted themselves into the protests, looting and fiery property destruction that have raged since Sunday night in the city just over the Wisconsin border. The shootings compounded the act of violence that sparked the unrest: an officer’s shooting of Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, who according to a video appeared to have had his back turned to the cop who fired.
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Rittenhouse, of Antioch, was arrested Wednesday after a complaint identified him as a fugitive wanted for first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha County. Antioch police Cmdr. Norman Johnson said Rittenhouse was charged as an adult.
Lake County Judge Paul Novak ordered Rittenhouse held without bail in the juvenile detention facility until a Friday hearing on whether to extradite him to Kenosha County, court records show.
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Records show Rittenhouse has worked as a YMCA lifeguard. His social media postings paint a picture of a teen who idolizes police and has participated in programs for aspiring cops.
[ What we know so far about Kyle Rittenhouse, accused vigilante in Kenosha shooting ]
Authorities did not give the names of the people killed but said they were a 36-year-old from Kenosha and a 26-year-old from Silver Lake, a small town west of Kenosha. A 26-year-old from the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis was injured.
The court records do not spell out how many people Rittenhouse is accused of shooting. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said his office would “have to make some determinations about, at least preliminary decisions about charges or holding (the suspect) by the end of the day (Thursday).”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 From left, Matt Muchowski, Vance Wyatt, and Donald Blake hold signs outside the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Sept. 25, 2020. Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., faces a hearing to return him to Wisconsin to face trial on homicide charges that could put him in prison for life. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Rittenhouse’s arrest came the same day Wisconsin authorities identified the officer who shot Blake seven times as Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice also revealed a potentially significant detail — a knife was recovered from the driver-side floorboard of the vehicle, the agency said. Footage of the shooting shows Blake leaning into that side of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons.
Sheskey shot Blake while holding onto his shirt after officers unsuccessfully used a Taser, according to a news release.
Tuesday’s deadly violence deepened a crisis touched off by Blake’s shooting that already has had substantial fallout. On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their playoff game in protest of Blake’s shooting. Other teams followed suit, and the NBA postponed all its playoff games for the day. The Milwaukee Brewers later decided to sit out their game.
Kenosha is only the latest scene of protests and violence during a summer of angry demonstrations nationwide over police brutality that were kicked off three months ago by the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis cop.
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As Wisconsin officials worked to prepare for further unrest in the former manufacturing hub of 100,000 people about 60 miles north of Chicago, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced he would double the number of National Guard members in Kenosha to 500, and local authorities moved up their nightly curfew by an hour to 7 p.m. and extended it at least through Sunday.
Wednesday night, about a hundred people remained at Civic Center Park after the curfew. Ten minutes later, a Kenosha County sheriff’s department tank barreled down 10th Avenue, which agitated the crowd.
The demonstrators backed up. Kejuan Goldsmith, megaphone in hand, led the crowd to chant at the vehicle, “Whose streets? Our streets! No justice, no peace.”
“Stay on the sidewalk,” a law enforcement officer standing on the tank commanded through a speaker.
The crowd responded by throwing their arms up and repeating, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
At the corner of 57th Street and 10th Avenue, cops briefly placed a man in handcuffs. When the man was released and the tank drove away, the crowd cheered, “Black lives, they matter now.”
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Around 7:45 p.m., Goldsmith instructed the demonstrators to block off the intersection of Sheridan Road and 60th Street, halting the minor traffic nearby.
“Say his name. Jacob Blake,” he led the crowd to chant. Another man with a megaphone reminded the crowd to stay peaceful before they began marching again.
An hour later, the demonstrators returned to Civic Center Park without incident.
”You see, it’s a 7′o’clock curfew, and we’re still out here,” said Tezzarree Champion, who traveled from Minneapolis to join the demonstration. “And we don’t plan on going anywhere because enough is enough.”
Video clips posted online captured the chaos surrounding the shootings Tuesday night, and several appear to contain Rittenhouse. At a news conference Wednesday, law enforcement officials fielded pointed questions about videos, including one showing a person walking past police with a rifle as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people.
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Asked about that video, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth speculated that officers might have been distracted by radio traffic, or people screaming or running past. “I can picture all kinds of reasons,” he said.
Beth and other officials also took questions about video clips that appeared to capture acts of goodwill between the cops and armed civilians. In one video clip, officers in an armored vehicle toss bottles of water to someone who appears to be Rittenhouse and other armed civilians.
“We appreciate you guys,” the officer says. “We really do.”
Rittenhouse is a year too young to openly carry a gun in Wisconsin, and he and the other armed civilians were out past curfew.
Beth shrugged off the interaction at the Wednesday news conference.
“Our deputies would toss water to anybody,” he said.
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Pressed about the armed civilians, Beth said, “Yesterday, I had a person call and say, ‘Why don’t you deputize citizens who have guns to come patrol the city of Kenosha?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, hell no.’ What happened last night was probably the perfect reason why I wouldn’t.”
One of the armed civilians out on Tuesday night was former Kenosha Ald. Kevin Mathewson, who had an assault-style rifle strapped around his torso as he stood with several other openly armed men in a park as curfew neared. Mathewson said he had come out to “lend support to the good guys.”
“Last night you had a scenario in which the police were outnumbered ... by those who wanted to do us harm,” he said. “As long as I’m alive and have a Second Amendment right, I’m going to be out here protecting property and lives.”
The shooting by police at the root of the protests, violence and property destruction unfolded about 5 p.m. Sunday. Kenosha police responded to a call from a woman who reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be there, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
In the footage shared online, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of an SUV to the driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns pointed. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and appears to open fire while Blake has his back turned.
The three officers at the scene were placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
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On Wednesday evening, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that federal authorities had launched their own investigation of the shooting, which will be overseen in part by the department’s Civil Rights Division.
Blake’s lawyers and family said Tuesday that he is paralyzed from the waist down and may never walk again. The family has called for peaceful protests.
A day of protests Tuesday gave way to clashes between demonstrators and police officers and National Guard members outside a downtown courthouse surrounded by metal fencing and protected by armored vehicles. After warning demonstrators they were violating curfew, officers cleared a crowd of several hundred people from Civic Center Park across from the courthouse by firing rubber bullets and setting off tear gas.
Protesters have begun to try to push over a fence in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. Sheriff’s deputies in riot gear have emerged from the courthouse. Some are throwing projectiles at the officers. pic.twitter.com/mkRMuUx3TK — Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) August 26, 2020
As the crowd dispersed, some made their way south on Sheridan Road, where at least a dozen vehicles in a used car lot had been set ablaze on a previous night. Across the street from the burned-out auto lot, men with guns protected the boarded-up Ultimate Gas Station, and videos posted to social media showed a confrontation between demonstrators and the armed men.
At 11:48 p.m., shots rang out near the gas station. Police quickly cordoned off a one-block stretch of Sheridan Road. An officer used a megaphone to urge people to clear the area: “We have multiple people down. Clear the area. We don’t want any more people shot. We have multiple shooters out here. Clear the area!”
Videos posted online show a person with a semi-automatic rifle jogging down the middle of a street as a crowd and some police officers follow him. As those following him became increasingly aggressive, the person with the gun falls. As people in the crowd run toward him, the person fires three or four shots from a seated position. One person falls over and another stumbles away to cries of “Medic! Medic!”
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With the crowd scattering, the gunman stands up and continues walking down the street as police cars arrive.
A protester takes cover during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (David Goldman/AP)
People attend to a wounded person on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)
A video posted early Wednesday morning shows someone who appears to be Rittenhouse talking on the phone as he runs away from a man with a bullet wound to the head.
Devin Scott said he witnessed the gunfire in the street.
“We were all chanting ‘Black Lives Matter’ at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, ‘That’s not fireworks,‘” said Scott, 19, who lives in the Round Lake area. “And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, ‘He shot someone! He shot someone!’ And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again.”
Scott said he hit the ground as the next round of shots went off and a man nearby was shot in the middle of the street.
“I was cradling him in my arms. I was trying to keep this kid alive and he wasn’t moving or nothing. He was just laying there,” a visibly shaken Scott said shortly after midnight. “I didn’t know what to do and then this woman starts performing CPR. There was no pulse. I don’t think he made it.”
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Pat Mess, whose grandparents live near the courthouse where much of the action has developed, visited them Tuesday night in case events escalated. He said he was outside when a group of about 100 people moving south on Sheridan caught his attention. About four of them appeared to be chasing a man and, it appeared to him, one of them shoved him to the ground.
“All hell broke loose from there,” Mess said. “That’s when all the shots started breaking out. That was when we witnessed the man right here laying on his back with an AR-style rifle. He proceeded to flip over and he fired two shots from that.”
He and the friends and family members he had gathered with “bolted inside” for safety. He said the last thing he saw was one of the men who’d been shot being pulled away as the gunman walked off alone.
“He proceeded to walk down the road with his hands in the air like nothing happened and he walked right past at least three SWAT trucks,” Mess said.
Chicago Tribune reporters Javonte Anderson, Paige Fry, Christy Gutowski, Dan Hinkel, John Keilman, Angie Leventis Lourgos, Robert McCoppin, Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, Bill Ruthhart, Stacy St. Clair and Alice Yin and The Associated Press contributed. The story was written by Dan Hinkel.


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--What we know so far about Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of murder after fatal Kenosha pr

What we know so far about Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of murder after fatal Kenosha protest shootings

It ’ s unclear why Rittenhouse decided to involve himself in the unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting of @ @ @ @ @ man who was shot multiple times in the back at close range on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ before the latest shootings , an armed Rittenhouse can be seen hanging out with older @ @ @ @ @ and saying that they are protecting a boarded-up gas station .

Stacy St. Clair, Christy Gutowski, Robert McCoppin, Angie Leventis Lourgos

Madison Taft and Black Lives Matter activists march through a Kenosha neighborhood Jan. 5, 2021, after news that no charges will be issued against the Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
There’s one absolute truth about Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged vigilante who has been arrested in connection with a violent Kenosha night that left two people dead and another wounded.
He idolized police.
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His Facebook page, which was deactivated Wednesday morning after his bond court appearance, pays repeated homage to law enforcement, including a picture of him holding a long-arm rifle and framed with the “Blue Lives Matter” logo. Several posts also honored officers who died in the line of duty, while another shows him wearing a T-shirt with the logo for a popular police apparel manufacturer and Crocs emblazoned with the American flag.
The young man also has a yearslong affiliation with local police cadet programs, with photographs on social media showing him in full uniform complete with a badge, arm patch and trooper-style campaign hat. The Grayslake, Lindenhurst, Hainesville Public Safety Cadet program had pictures of Rittenhouse participating in its activities on social media before its Facebook page also was taken down Wednesday.
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[ Kyle Rittenhouse, 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, is arrested in connection with fatal shootings during Kenosha protest ]
Yet it was Rittenhouse’s own local Police Department that arrested him around 5 a.m. Wednesday in Antioch, where he lives in an apartment complex with his mother. He was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice, wanted for first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha.
He is being held at a Lake County juvenile detention facility pending a hearing on his potential extradition to Wisconsin, according to the sheriff’s office.
Rittenhouse attended an Iowa Trump rally in January, and video from the event shows him cheering for the president from the front row. The teen also posted a video from the rally on one of his two TikTok accounts.
His other TikTok account contains a video of himself firing a semi-automatic rifle at a target, while the song “Sail” by Kreepa plays. The rifle in the video, which was posted earlier this month, appears identical to the one he was seen carrying Tuesday night.
White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway was asked Wednesday night about Rittenhouse attending the Trump rally. “We’re not responsible for the private conduct of people at our rallies any more than … all the crazy people who have been involved with the Obama/Biden campaigns or other things,” she said.
Two people were killed and another was injured in gun violence that erupted just before midnight in Kenosha, though authorities said they had not yet determined if there was more than one shooter involved. They would not answer questions about which death Rittenhouse is charged with.
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said his office would “have to make some determinations about, at least preliminary decisions about charges or holding (the suspect) by the end of the day (Thursday).”
Authorities said the two people shot to death were a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident. A 26-year-old from West Allis was injured. Authorities did not release their names.
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A video posted early Wednesday shows a young man who appears to be Rittenhouse talking on the phone as he runs away from a man with a bullet wound on his head.
”I just killed somebody,” a voice on the video can be heard saying.
It’s unclear why Rittenhouse decided to involve himself in the unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot multiple times in the back at close range on Sunday. In videos posted Tuesday night before the latest shootings, an armed Rittenhouse can be seen hanging out with older men who are carrying weapons and saying that they are protecting a boarded-up gas station.
The Kenosha Guard, a vigilante group that patrolled the city’s streets Tuesday night without the sheriff’s blessing, released a statement Wednesday morning saying it did not know whether the shooter had any connection to the group. It also cautioned the public to wait until the facts emerge before weighing in on the case.
In an interview with the Daily Caller that night, Rittenhouse refers to his presence as his “job” and explains his self-appointed responsibilities in policelike vernacular.
“People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business,” Rittenhouse says in the 19-second clip. “And part of my job also is to protect people. If someone is hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle; I’ve gotta protect myself obviously. But I also have my med kit.”
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In another video clip, officers in an armored vehicle toss bottles of water to Rittenhouse and other armed civilians. Though the people are clearly violating the city’s 8 p.m. curfew and Rittenhouse is too young to openly carry a firearm in Wisconsin, the officer expresses his gratitude for the group.
“We appreciate you guys,” the officer says. “We really do.”
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth shrugged off the interaction at a Wednesday news conference.
“Our deputies would toss water to anybody,” he said.
The sheriff also downplayed video indicating police let Rittenhouse walk past them with a semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. The lack of response, however, allowed Rittenhouse to return to Antioch, a far northern suburb more than 20 miles from Kenosha.
Court records indicate that Rittenhouse worked as a lifeguard at a YMCA in suburban Lindenhurst. A YMCA spokeswoman told the Tribune that Rittenhouse was a part-time employee who has been furloughed since March because of the pandemic.
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“We abhor the recent violence in Kenosha,” said Man-Yee Lee, communications director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “Our condolences go out to the families of the victims in this incident. The YMCA of Metro Chicago is committed to racial equality. We stand with the Black community against violence toward Black and Brown people, including police brutality. We also support the right to assemble to advocate against injustices prevalent in our society, including systemic racism.”
It was not immediately known if Rittenhouse attended school, as Community High School District 117 released a statement saying an Antioch resident tied to the Kenosha violence attended Lakes Community High School for a short time during the 2017-18 school year and was no longer enrolled in the district.
Rittenhouse attended the Lake Villa school for one semester as a freshman in 2017, said Jim McKay, district superintendent. McKay said he didn’t know why Rittenhouse left the district or what school he attended afterward.
”I don’t know the details of his departure,” said McKay, who added that he doesn’t believe the teen had been involved in any sports or extracurricular activities. “He was with us for such a short period of time.”
In January 2017, his mother sought an order of protection, accusing one of Rittenhouse’s classmates of bullying her son with taunts of being “dumb” and “stupid,” as well as threatening to hurt him. Wendy Rittenhouse, a single mother who works as a nurse’s assistant, expressed concern for her son’s safety but ultimately dropped the request, according to Lake County court records. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Last week, Rittenhouse received a speeding ticket and a citation for driving without a license in Kenosha.


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened on Aug. 26 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

She explained that COVID-19 is a virus spread through droplets , which don ’ t usually travel past 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ in aerosols , like coughing or sneezing , it ’ s still unclear how much @ @ @ @ @ methods .
Researchers created a chart within the report by which people can gauge the @ @ @ @ @ or outdoor gatherings , and whether someone is wearing a mask .
Landon said the @ @ @ @ @ people to calculate risk factors , like how many people are in a room and @ @ @ @ @ from one another .

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)
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,157 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 37 deaths on Wednesday. That’s the most deaths in one day since July 7, according to IDPH data.
Overall, Illinois has reported 7,954 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as 225,627 total known cases.
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The spike comes as new restrictions on public gatherings go into effect in Will and Kankakee counties, due to the rising number of people testing positive for the coronavirus. There will be no indoor service for bars or restaurants, outside bar and food service must close at 11 p.m., and gatherings are capped at 25 people or 25% of the overall room capacity. Casinos also must close at 11 p.m. and are limited to 25% capacity.
On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a new statewide restaurant and bar policy requiring all patrons to wear a mask while interacting with wait staff and other employees, when food and beverages are brought to the table and when picking up carry-out orders.
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Here’s what’s happening Wednesday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
7:50 p.m.: FDA authorizes rapid $5 coronavirus test from Abbott
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized the first rapid coronavirus test that doesn’t need any special computer equipment to get results.
The 15-minute test from Abbott Laboratories will sell for $5, giving it a competitive edge over similar tests that need to be popped into a small machine. The portable test is based on the same technology used to test for the flu, strep throat and other infections.
It’s the latest cheaper, simpler test to hit the U.S. market, providing new options to expand testing as schools and businesses struggle to reopen and flu season approaches. The FDA also recently greenlighted a saliva test from Yale University that bypasses some of the supplies that have led to testing bottlenecks.
Read more here. —Associated Press
6:45 p.m.: Pastors and health care providers partner to offer free COVID-19 tests and other needs for Chicago residents at area churches
In an effort to provide free COVID-19 testing, flu vaccinations and other needs, multiple churches on the South and West sides offered free health care services this week in a space where community members might feel more comfortable.
“They trust the pastor, and then they trust the provider,” said Lisa Green, chief executive officer of Family Christian Health Center. She said she and other doctors have been brainstorming about how to meet people in their neighborhoods.
Initially, the idea was to provide free COVID-19 testing, said Green. “As we were talking about that, my thought was, you know what? Our communities need more than a COVID test,” she said.
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Seven doctors from federally qualified health centers partnered with nine churches. The Illinois Department of Public Health and Walgreens also participated in the effort.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, six churches offered services — three on the West Side and three on the South Side. On Thursday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., health services will be provided on the Far South Side at Triedstone Church of Chicago, 1415 W. 104th St., Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church, 2233 W. 79th St., and House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St.
Read more here. —Alison Bowen
4:05 p.m.: CPS reverses course, cuts cost of tuition-based pre-kindergarten during remote learning
Chicago Public Schools announced Wednesday that it will discount the cost of its tuition-based pre-kindergarten programs by 50% during remote learning — though that may not be enough to save some of the classes.
After CPS announced fall quarter will be virtual, parents unable to afford both day care and tuition have been withdrawing from tuition-based preschool programs, offered at a pre-discounted cost of $15,275 a school year. Before a Tribune story earlier this week, CPS officials stood by their decision to charge full price for the programs, which rely on parents’ payments and operate on a 10-hour day.
That has changed, according to a letter sent to parents.
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Read more here. —Hannah Leone
3:05 p.m.: Cook County medical examiner has ruled on 10,000 deaths already this year
The Cook County medical examiner already has ruled on 10,000 deaths for the year, nearly 4,000 more than in all of 2019, with about half of this year’s cases involving COVID-19-related deaths, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday.
But while the county passed 5,000 deaths from the pandemic last week, it also is seeing increases in opioid deaths, homicides and suicides, with Black residents shouldering a disproportionate amount of the increases, Preckwinkle said.
“Each one was preventable,” Preckwinkle said. “As a community, we must do better.”
Read more here. —John Byrne
2:24 p.m.: Indiana governor extends statewide mask order for 30 days; Lake County, Ind., nears 8,800 cases
Indiana’s governor extended the statewide face mask order Wednesday that he first issued a month ago aimed at slowing the coronavirus spread.
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Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he was keeping the mask mandate in place for another 30 days.
Holcomb said he was also extending the state’s limits crowd sizes for restaurants, bars and public events. Those orders were all set to expire late Wednesday unless the governor acted.
Holcomb said he was pleased the state’s rates of new coronavirus cases have been holding steady and he does not want to see it trending up again.
Read more here. —Post-Tribune
1:45 p.m.: The stress of dealing with COVID-19 is causing decision fatigue. Here’s how to cope.
Even before the pandemic, making constant decisions daily could create stress.
COVID-19 has added weight to small and big decisions alike. Should I pick up takeout? Do I send my child to school? Do we allow a babysitter to come over? Should we attend a birthday party? Is one item from the grocery store worth the trip?
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The concept of exhaustion and stress after making choices is known as decision fatigue. After months of assessing the risk and benefit of daily choices during the coronavirus crisis, people are tired. Especially as school begins, many families have been agonizing over whether to send their children to school or how to manage remote learning.
Read more here. —Alison Bowen
12:12 p.m.: 2,157 new known COVID-19 cases, 37 additional deaths
The Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced 2,157 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 37 deaths. Overall, Illinois has reported 225,627 cases, including 7,954 deaths.
—Chicago Tribune staff
11:42 a.m.: Jobless workers could get an extra $300 a week in benefits. Pritzker says Illinois is applying for Trump’s benefits program.
Illinois is applying for the $300 weekly unemployment benefits supplement President Trump ordered earlier this month to provide financial assistance to jobless workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Aug. 8, President Trump authorized the federal supplement, which is being doled out to states by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as a temporary fix to replace the extra $600-a-week in federal benefits that expired last month. Congress remains at a standstill on negotiations for an additional coronavirus relief package, which could restore some, if not all, of those benefits.
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At a news conference Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked to respond to President Trump’s comment that Illinois is one of the states that has not applied for the benefits.
Pritzker said “We have begun that process, indeed. It takes a lot of setup on an internal basis for us to move forward with that and so that’s what we’ve been doing.”
More than 30 states have received approval for the benefits program as of Tuesday, according to FEMA. The agency, which typically handles disaster relief, will provide up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund for lost wage payments, and states will administer those funds.
Read more here. —Abdel Jimenez
10:11 a.m.: ‘There’s been an awful lot of partying’: Northwestern University asks Evanston residents to report students who ignore COVID-19 precautions in off-campus gatherings
Northwestern University’s campus in Evanston is going to feel less crowded this fall, with residence hall capacity reduced to about 70% and more than half of all employees still working from home, school officials said Tuesday.
But those estimates didn’t fully assuage concerns from residents that students will instead move into neighborhood apartments and throw raucous parties, potentially accelerating the spread of COVID-19 in a suburb that has so far avoided an uncontrollable outbreak.
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Residents raised the issue Tuesday evening during a 90-minute Zoom meeting, billed as a “community town hall,” to discuss NU’s plan for repopulating its suburban campus when classes begin next month.
Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
9:55 a.m.: CDC advice to retail workers: Don’t argue with anti-mask shoppers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about a new coronavirus health risk you probably didn't expect: getting slapped, choked or kicked in the workplace by angry customers. And the best way to avoid it is not to engage.
The health agency issued guidance this week for retail and service workers suggesting ways consumer-facing companies can limit violence toward workers that may occur when businesses implement policies to stop the spread of the virus. Or in other words, how to protect workers tasked with the unenviable job of asking shoppers to wear masks, keep 6 feet apart or wait their turn before entering a capacity-limited store.
The new CDC page gives a series of actions companies can take to protect workers, from installing panic buttons to having staff enforcing mask-wearing operate in teams of two. Above all, workers shouldn’t put themselves in the direct line of danger, according to the federal agency that usually focuses on disease prevention.
Read more here. —Bloomberg News
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7 a.m.: CDC now says people exposed to coronavirus may not need to be tested
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its COVID-19 guidelines, no longer recommending testing for most people without symptoms, even if they’ve been in close contact with someone known to have the virus.
The CDC had said that viral testing was appropriate for people with recent or suspected exposure, even if they were asymptomatic. Its previous guideline had said, ”Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with (COVID-19) infection be quickly identified and tested.”
The guideline now reads, "If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms, you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one."
The CDC guidelines still say people should get tested if they have symptoms and that someone’s health care provider “may advise a COVID-19 test.”
—Associated Press
6:45 a.m.: COVID-19 tracking apps, supported by Apple and Google, begin showing up in app stores
Four months after Apple and Google announced an unusual collaboration to help public-health authorities track the novel coronavirus, apps built on their privacy-optimized Exposure Notification framework have begun arriving in the U.S.
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The first, Virginia’s COVIDWISE, debuted Aug. 5. North Dakota and Wyoming shipped their Care19 Alert on Aug. 13, Alabama launched its GuideSafe app Aug. 17, and Nevada introduced COVID Trace on Monday. The University of Arizona is testing Covid Watch Arizona, with a statewide release expected soon.
They work by sharing anonymous Bluetooth beacons with nearby devices running the same software, tagging those that suggest extended and close contact associated with coronavirus spread, and saving the last 14 days of these records.
A positive test for COVID-19 in one of those states should include a code you enter into the app to upload its close-contact records to a health-authority server that then makes this anonymized data available to all these apps at their daily check-ins. If the app sees one of these reports match its saved list of close contacts, it warns of possible exposure and advises testing and quarantine.
—USA Today


chicagotribune--2020-08-27--Amid protests, Chicago Board of Education votes to keep school police, but also moves to create phas

Amid protests, Chicago Board of Education votes to keep school police, but also moves to create phase-out plan

As soon as the votes were in , some of the protesters began chanting the names of the members who @ @ @ @ @ them along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Department .
Youth leaders put @ @ @ @ @ of police-free schools to show up to CPS headquarters , saying the school board had @ @ @ @ @ long .

People block Madison Street on Aug. 26, 2020, near the Chicago Public Schools headquarters as the Board of Education is expected to vote on its police in schools contract. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Board of Education will enter into another yearlong contract with the Chicago Police Department, this time not to exceed $12.1 million.
In the meantime, the board gave Chicago Public Schools seven months to come up with a comprehensive plan to help schools develop alternative school safety strategies.
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As students continued to protest the use of school police outside CPS’s Loop headquarters Wednesday, the board voted 4-2 to approve the contract that will pay for officers to be stationed in more than 50 high schools when they reopen. Elizabeth Todd-Breland and Amy Rome voted no, while Board President Miguel del Valle, Vice President Sendhil Revuluri and members Dwayne Truss and Lucino Sotelo all voted in favor. Luisiana Melendez abstained.
As soon as the votes were in, some of the protesters began chanting the names of the members who favored the contract, cursing them along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Department. Youth leaders put out calls for more supporters of police-free schools to show up to CPS headquarters, saying the school board had ignored their voices for too long.
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Voices of Youth in Chicago Education reinforced its position that CPS should end its contract with CPD, issuing a statement with remarks from Marques Watts, a junior at Mather High School, which recently voted to remove police from its campus.
“This is a bad move by the Board of Education,” Watts said. “As young people, we have been telling CPS exactly what we need, and CPS is continuing to play games with our future. This is not right. What we need is for CPS to invest in us, not to continue to criminalize us.”
The young folks of #CopsOutCPS are asking you to join them at 42 W Madison pic.twitter.com/a3Dm8BhNJX — Assata's Daughters (@AssataDaughters) August 26, 2020
Members voted the same way on the resolution, which calls on district leaders to consult with school communities and “identify and recommend an alternative plan to ensure safe and supportive school environments.” It requires CPS to provide the board with a plan by March 24 for schools “to phase out” the use of officers — a phrase that led other board members to quiz Revuluri on what exactly the resolution meant.
“Phasing out means phasing out. That means that at some point there will not be SROs in schools, that’s the intent here, yes?” asked del Valle before ultimately voting in favor.
Revuluri said that was not the correct reading, but that it was intended to give Local School Councils concrete alternative safety plans to consider. He advocated for the resolution because he said it could change the way schools end up voting on officers next time, “because that will be a different set of choices that’s offered to schools.”
In a prepared statement following the contract vote, CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said the district was grateful that the board honored local schools’ decisions on police for the upcoming year.
CPS has already started meeting with schools that voted to remove police on alternative safety plans.
Over the summer, 17 Local School Councils voted to remove their police officers, and 55 others will keep them. Most of the schools removing officers have higher populations of white and Latino students, and only two are majority Black.
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Though police have made fewer arrests at schools in recent years, Black students continue to be policed at disproportionately high rates. More than 73% of students arrested last year were Black, compared with only 36% of students districtwide, according to CPS data. Meanwhile, Hispanic or Latino students, who make up 47% of CPS enrollment, accounted for 23% of arrests on school grounds, while only 3% of students arrested were white, compared with 11% of enrollment.
“Because of these individual LSC votes, Black students — the students already disproportionately harmed by police — will have SROs at significantly higher rates than other schools in the district, meaning that the groups most impacted by police harm will continue to be more policed and criminalized in schools,” Todd-Breland said. “We cannot solve a systemwide civil rights issue by shirking our responsibilities as a board and pushing it onto the backs of individual schools.”
Truss, who has been supportive of school police in his Austin neighborhood, said he was disheartened by how he has heard the schools’ decisions framed.
“It’s not about picking a side; it’s about maximizing participation of different voices,” Truss said. “... What concerns me the most is if you don’t agree with me, somehow you don’t like kids, you’re not concerned about kids’ safety. Black parents took this seriously.”
Melendez, despite abstaining on both votes, said she believes that school security does not demand police presence.
“I welcome the changes to the (CPD agreement) and reduction in the budget and particularly congratulate those 17 schools that have chosen to go ahead with alternative safety and security plans,” Melendez said.
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The contract is less than half the price of last year’s $33 million deal, with reductions stemming from fewer officers in schools, CPS defunding a mobile schools’ unit that was also doing other CPD work, and the cancellation of in-person classes for the fall quarter.
On Wednesday, CPS safety and security chief Jadine Chou discussed program reforms in areas like training, oversight, student involvement and the handling of complaints against school-based officers, who will also be banned from entering student information into CPD’s so-called gang database.
Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, said the city had repeatedly failed to provide information on whether school officers were entering information on students into the gang database.
“I would assume that somebody had that data or else it wouldn’t be introduced as a reform,” Vasquez said.
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Ald. Jeanette Taylor, 20th, recalled fainting in a board meeting five years ago during the hunger strike to save Dyett High School from closing.
“Five years ago today, I felt like I was a voiceless Black mother in a school system that not only didn’t respect me, but didn’t have the willingness to listen to me,” Taylor said. “... It is 2020, and the same fight continues.”
While Richards Career Academy, a high school in Taylor’s ward, voted to keep officers in schools, the council was missing a student member, and the decision needed student voice, she said.
In Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez’s 33rd Ward, Roosevelt High School’s vote to remove officers made her proud, but she was still disappointed in the district’s decision to leave the matter in the hands of Local School Councils, knowing some lack quorums or are not even operational.
“When we think about making decisions that are based on the best evidence ... it is beyond me how you just delegate that,” Rodriguez Sanchez said. “You know what the best evidence is. You know that SROs do not belong in schools.”
But the City Council’s education chair, Ald. Michael Scott, 24th, said it was clear from the number of schools opting to keep officers that different issues affect different communities, and many parents feel more comfortable sending their children to school knowing police have a presence.
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“I don’t think that you can remove all officers from all schools at one time and our communities continue to feel safe in and around their schools,” Scott said.
CPS CEO Janice Jackson on Wednesday said the reforms are part of a “holistic approach to school safety” and that the district will work with schools to make individual safety plans that meet their needs.
“Your voices have been heard,” Jackson said. “It’s no secret that this has been an incredibly complicated process and we heard from people all across the city with varying viewpoints.”
Yet students and education activists rejected the proposed reforms and called on the Board of Education to say no to another police contract, building on their protest efforts by staging an occupation and pitching tents outside board offices Monday night. Police arrested more than a dozen people, including at least two minors, saying they were “illegally obstructing the roadway.”
Some of the same groups of students, teachers and parents were back Wednesday morning. GoodKids MadCity tweeted that though they shouldn’t have to, youth were tirelessly continuing their fight, “putting their bodies on the line again for justice.”
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The chair of Goudy Elementary’s Local School Council, Kristen Brody, said as a CPS alumna and now parent of a child in a special education program, she believed the board should remove police from schools.
“CPS data is clear that SROs disproportionately target students with disabilities, particularly students of color,” Brody said.
hleone@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-26--Family files lawsuit against SUV driver accused of hitting woman and her daughter, then circling and

Family files lawsuit against SUV driver accused of hitting woman and her daughter, then circling and striking mother again. ‘They want to know why.’

“ She was really just the mom that everybody wanted ... all my friends knew that too , ” Shannon @ @ @ @ @ was a mom to everyone , she was a great grandmother , she took care @ @ @ @ @ so well .
She just really taught me to put everyone else before myself .

Shannon Ryan, 20, daughter of Zoraleigh Ryan, stands with her father, Mike Ryan, and talks about their lawsuit in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. She was injured and her mother was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Chicago on Aug. 10. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Shannon Ryan and her mother had been enjoying a perfect weekend in Chicago, something she stresses as she recounts their last moments together.
They were staying at a nice hotel on Lake Shore Drive and had dinner at a steakhouse on the Riverwalk to celebrate Ryan’s 20th birthday. During the meal, she and her mother had a long talk about Ryan’s plans for the future.
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“I was really thankful that we got to have such an amazing conversation,” Ryan said during a news conference Wednesday. “We were best friends.”
The two left the restaurant and were walking down Hubbard Street about 11 p.m. Aug. 10 when an SUV drove straight at them, hit them, then circled the block and struck Zoraleigh Ryan, 55, a second time, killing her.
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Zoraleigh Ryan (Family photo)
Shannon Ryan suffered a broken wrist and damage to her ankle. At the news conference, she appeared with a cane and her arm in a sling.
“It’s really hard just to deal with all the emotional pain as well as the physical pain,” Ryan said. “It’s just kind of been hard to operate and ... I lack a lot of energy to do the daily (routine), just brushing my teeth and stuff like that is a milestone for me.”
Prosecutors say the SUV driver, Edgar Roman, 25, admitted to police that he hit the women and has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Prosecutors have provided no motive for the attack.
On Wednesday, the family filed a personal injury and wrongful death lawsuit against Roman. Lawyer Tim Cavanagh said he hopes the civil suit will bring the family the answers they deserve.
“They want to know what happened,” Cavanagh said. “They want access to the evidence, they want to see the surveillance video. Why do horrible things happen to good people? They want to know why.”
Zoraleigh Ryan’s family lived in the Chicago area until around 2014 when they relocated to Arizona. Shannon Ryan and her mother were back in town for the weekend to attend Shannon’s sister’s first baby shower.
Zoraleigh Ryan had six children, including her youngest, Shannon, and about 13 grandchildren.
“She was really just the mom that everybody wanted ... all my friends knew that too,” Shannon Ryan said. “She was a mom to everyone, she was a great grandmother, she took care of all of her grandkids so well. She just really taught me to put everyone else before myself.
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“I’m really thankful that I got to spend 20 years of my life with her,” Shannon Ryan added.
Her father, Mike Ryan, stood beside her on Wednesday but did not speak. He and his daughter plan to return to Arizona soon.
ssherry@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-26--District 215 votes to retire T.F. South’s nickname, citing its connection to the Confederacy

“ If you look up the word ‘ rebels ’ in the dictionary , it ’ s also an individual @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s something admirable about that , ” Thomas told the Southtown last @ @ @ @ @ can still use ‘ Rebels , ’ but change the colors of the school or @ @ @ @ @ it .
When I was at T.F .
South , the word ‘ Rebels ’ @ @ @ @ @ way connected to racism .
”

They are Rebels no more.
High School District 215 Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to dissolve Thornton Fractional South High School’s nickname, which has come under renewed scrutiny in recent months as the country grapples with its racial legacy.
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“With everything happening in our country at the present time, it definitely seemed to me the time was right to consider this question,” board member Richard Dust said in a statement released after the vote. “If not now, when?”
The board’s resolution dissolving the Rebels name affirmed its commitment to ensuring its schools provide a safe and welcoming space for all students and acknowledged that imagery associated with the Confederacy, such as the school’s nickname, has racist connotations.
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“I think it’s a pivotal time in our country right now and I’m proud that we’re leading with not just a token, but a commitment to making the changes that we need to do,” board member Patricia Stepp said.
For the time being, T.F. South will do without a nickname, which a district spokeswoman said would be less of an issue this school year with sports and activities on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The board is scheduled to discuss the name change process, which its members have said they want to be student driven, at its Sept. 9 meeting.
“I think it’s pretty exciting that our kids are going to be able to pick a new mascot and pick a new name,” board member LeAnn Revis said after Tuesday’s vote. “It’s an exciting thing.”
The board vote came on the heels of a survey in which nearly 70% of current T.F. South students who responded said they supported changing the school’s Rebels nickname, which was chosen in 1958 after the Thornton Fractional district was divided into North and South high schools.
South’s then-entirely white inaugural class selected the moniker, which was used for Confederate soldiers and their supporters during the Civil War, because they saw themselves as “seceding” from what became known as Thornton Fractional North, district officials have said.
The new school adopted the imagery of the Confederacy, including a Confederate battle flag as its banner and a Confederate soldier as its mascot.
Over time, as more Black families moved into the district and raised alarms about the Confederate symbolism, the relics were gradually replaced.
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The Confederate flag, which once waved atop the school, was removed in the mid-1990s, and the mascot, known as Ritchie Rebel, was eliminated in the mid-2000s, district officials said.
But the Rebels nickname, which today is not explicitly associated with the Confederacy, hung on.
The Thornton Fractional South High School nickname is on the back of sports uniforms. (Allen Cunningham / Daily Southtown)
Talk of retiring the name came up every now and again, board President Michael Bolz has said, but the idea never garnered enough support to warrant serious public discussion.
Even prominent Black graduates, like former NFL running back Pierre Thomas, spoke in favor of reappropriating the name rather than discarding it altogether.
“If you look up the word ‘rebels’ in the dictionary, it’s also an individual who fights for his beliefs. There’s something admirable about that,” Thomas told the Southtown last week. “Maybe they can still use ‘Rebels,’ but change the colors of the school or bring a different meaning to it. When I was at T.F. South, the word ‘Rebels’ was never discussed in a way connected to racism.”
Still, concerns over the roots of the Rebels nickname have heightened at a time when the origin of team names, most notably the professional football team in Washington, D.C., face pressure to drop their nicknames.
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So when protests over the death of George Floyd erupted across the country in late May and early June, Dust, a former T-F South teacher and coach, raised the issue of retiring the Rebels moniker.
The board agreed to survey T.F. South students about a name change last month and released the results in mid-August.
Of the 325 sophomore, junior and senior students who responded, approximately one-quarter of those polled, 69.5% said they supported changing the Rebels name.
The school, which is 63% black and draws students from Burnham, Calumet City, Lansing and Lynwood, did not track the race of respondents, a district spokeswoman said.
Mia Pettigrew, a 19-year-old Black T.F. South graduate who has spoken out publicly in support of retiring the school’s nickname, said she was elated by the decision to dump the name.
As a student, Pettigrew addressed board members and penned an essay asking them to “finally retire the name ‘Rebels’ and choose something more appropriate for a diverse learning environment.”
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“The mascot was always on my front radar from the moment I stepped foot in the school,” said Pettigrew, who is now entering her sophomore year at Jackson State University in Mississippi.
She said she’d always been “shocked and appalled” by the roots of her alma mater’s nickname and had discussed it privately with her Black friends, but didn’t go public with her concerns until her junior year at South.
When assigned to write about something she wanted to see changed for her honors government class, Pettigrew composed a four-page essay titled “T F South Should Change its School Mascot and Name,” and emailed her paper to the superintendent’s secretary with instructions that she forward it to then-superintendent Creg Williams.
Pettigrew said she isn’t sure whether the superintendent ever actually received it, but she never heard back.
She reached out to the secretary again in her senior year, explaining that she’d never received a response from the superintendent, and asking that her essay be passed along to the school board as well, according to a copy of the email exchange provided to the Daily Southtown.
This time, both the superintendent and board were notified, emails show, but Pettigrew said the only response she received was from the board’s lone Black member, Sheryl Black.
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Black, she said, encouraged her to address the board about her concerns at a public meeting.
When Pettigrew did, she said she didn’t feel like the board was receptive.
Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
“It didn’t seem like anyone was interested in what I said,” she said. “I remember vividly feeling like Sheryl Black was the only one who really cared…I just remember feeling kind of hopeless, altogether.”
District 215 spokeswoman Dominique Newman said Wednesday that she didn’t have the information readily available to respond to questions about Pettigrew’s past communications with the board, but said members had prioritized working on a number of equity initiatives in the district over the past couple years and believed that now was the right time to move forward with a nickname change.
“With all that has been going on in the nation this summer, the board felt that this now was the right time to make this a priority,” she said.
Despite her prior disappointment with the board’s inaction on the issue, Pettigrew said Wednesday that she felt like board members were genuinely interested in improving racial equity in the district and expressed hope that they had retired the Rebels nickname “for the right reasons.”
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“Even though the action is a little delayed, I’m not mad at all,” she said. “I’m just happy that I could make a difference and that this doesn’t have to be an issue anymore.”
zkoeske@tribpub.com
Twitter @ZakKoeske


chicagotribune--2020-08-26--Pastors and health care providers partner to offer free COVID-19 tests and other needs for Chicago r

Pastors and health care providers partner to offer free COVID-19 tests and other needs for Chicago residents at area churches

Fewer labor and delivery options for women on the South and West sides often mean they must travel farther for @ @ @ @ @ difficult because of virus concerns and access to transportation .
Among pregnant women who had @ @ @ @ @ 70 % were Black and Latina .
Prenatal appointments can flag potential complications and help @ @ @ @ @

Rachel Ilesanmi, a family practitioner with Christian Community Health Center, administers a free COVID-19 test to Janet Gogins, outside Apostolic Faith Church on South Indiana Avenue in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
In an effort to provide free COVID-19 testing, flu vaccinations and other needs, multiple churches on the South and West sides offered free health care services this week in a space where community members might feel more comfortable.
“They trust the pastor, and then they trust the provider,” said Lisa Green, chief executive officer of Family Christian Health Center. She said she and other doctors have been brainstorming about how to meet people in their neighborhoods.
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Initially, the idea was to provide free COVID-19 testing, said Green. “As we were talking about that, my thought was, you know what? Our communities need more than a COVID test,” she said.
Seven doctors from federally qualified health centers partnered with nine churches. The Illinois Department of Public Health and Walgreens also participated in the effort.
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On Tuesday and Wednesday, six churches offered services — three on the West Side and three on the South Side. On Thursday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., health services will be provided on the Far South Side at Triedstone Church of Chicago, 1415 W. 104th St., Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church, 2233 W. 79th St., and House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St.
Lawrence Underwood, standing, a registered nurse with Christian Community Health Center, prepares to administer a free COVID-19 test outside Apostolic Faith Church on South Indiana Avenue in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Free services also include blood pressure checks, prenatal and postpartum care referrals, distribution of baby formula, diapers and feminine products, and distribution of protective gear. Women also could receive screening for postpartum depression.
Fewer labor and delivery options for women on the South and West sides often mean they must travel farther for care, which might be difficult because of virus concerns and access to transportation. Among pregnant women who had the coronavirus, more than 70% were Black and Latina. Prenatal appointments can flag potential complications and help women have healthier pregnancies.
Green hopes that the events lead to participants learning more about health care providers and coverage options. Many people have lost health insurance after losing jobs during the pandemic, or no longer are covered by their parents and haven’t been able to find employment.
Green said these events were a way to begin collaboration with churches, and they hope to partner with pastors again.
”That’s the whole goal,” she said.
abowen@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-26--The Spin: Trump calls for ‘law and order’ in Kenosha amid unrest | Chicago police union boss invited

The Spin: Trump calls for ‘law and order’ in Kenosha amid unrest | Chicago police union boss invited to White House for president’s convention speech | Mayor Lightfoot’s security chief is out

25 community groups , Cook County public defender sign letter criticizing Lightfoot for police response this summer : The Tribune @ @ @ @ @ in her piece that the letter writers took Lightfoot to task for playing the political @ @ @ @ @ Chicago police shot a man in Englewood earlier this month , when the mayor and @ @ @ @ @ to the lootings by pointing fingers at Cook County prosecutors and judges .
Lightfoot in @ @ @ @ @ on prosecutors to not let suspects cycle through the system without consequences .
Read the @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the "Farmers to Families Food Box Program" at Flavor First Growers and Packers, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Mills River, North Carolina. (Nell Redmond/AP)
President Donald Trump turned his attention today to the battleground state of Wisconsin, which he narrowly won in 2016, and announced on Twitter that he’s sending federal help to Kenosha after several nights of protesting and violence sparked by police shooting Jacob Blake, who is Black, in the back.
It comes on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, where Trump backers are expected to hammer home the president’s law-and-order message. Vice President Mike Pence is preparing to deliver a keynote address highlighting the president’s opposition to protests over racial injustice - particularly professional athletes who have taken a knee when the National Anthem is played at the start of a game, the Associated Press reports.
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As it turns out, all three NBA playoff games - including one with the Milwaukee Bucks - scheduled for today have been postponed, with players around the league choosing to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice, the AP is reporting.
Chicago’s controversial police union boss John Catanzara nabbed an invite and will be in Washington, D.C., tomorrow night when Trump formally accepts the Republican Party’s nomination for reelection. Rarely at a loss for words, Catanzara tells The Spin he may be so awestruck that he might only be able to utter a thank you if he gets a face-to-face meeting.
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And for the second time this week — and we’re only halfway through — a top aide to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is out at City Hall.
Today, the Tribune’s Gregory Pratt broke the news that the head of her security detail had resigned. On Monday, the mayor fired her top cannabis adviser.
Welcome to The Spin.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order establishing a new Commission on Law Enforcement and the "Administration of Justice" at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago on Oct. 28, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
President Trump announced via Twitter: “TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!” The president said Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has accepted the assistance. Read more here.
Protesters have been demonstrating in the lakefront Wisconsin town since the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, who grew up in Evanston and whose attorney says likely will never walk again after one of the bullets fired by a Kenosha cop severed his spinal cord.
Last night, violence erupted with armed civilians — it’s unclear if they belong to a militia — took it upon themselves to patrol the streets. An Antioch teen, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, has been arrested on murder charges after two people were killed and another wounded. My Tribune colleague have the details here.
Trump’s order also comes during a reelection bid in which he’s hammered home a law-and-order refrain amid protests in cities nationwide over racial injustices, sparked by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Trump has pointed the finger at Democratic mayors in Chicago; Portland, Oregon; and other cities for failing to tamp down peaceful protests that have shuttered streets and looting that has hurt businesses.
...TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020
25 community groups, Cook County public defender sign letter criticizing Lightfoot for police response this summer: The Tribune’s Alice Yin notes in her piece that the letter writers took Lightfoot to task for playing the political blame game the Monday after Chicago police shot a man in Englewood earlier this month, when the mayor and police Superintendent David Brown responded to the lootings by pointing fingers at Cook County prosecutors and judges. Lightfoot in a news conference had called on prosecutors to not let suspects cycle through the system without consequences. Read the full story here.
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John Catanzara, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, speaks in support of Chicago police and President Donald Trump during a rally near the Columbus statue site in Grand Park on July 25, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
John Catanzara, the president of Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, tells the Tribune he landed an invitation from the White House, calling it an honor and privilege he “wouldn’t miss.”
“Absolutely — I wouldn’t miss it for the world — even if it was Obama,” said Catanzara, an avowed Republican and Trump supporter, referring to former Democratic President Barack Obama. Simply put, he respects the office of president and an invitation to the White House from the most powerful leader in the world is something you don’t turn down.
While Catanzara and Trump share plenty in common — not the least of which is a blunt style — the two haven’t met in person. Read my full story here.
Illinois GOP looks for outreach to Hispanic, Black communities: Read Rick Pearson’s story here.
Vice President Pence to deliver keynote speech at Republican convention, how to watch that and more: Details here.
Road to November 2020: Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten and Republican challenger Jeanne Ives will face off in a virtual forum set for 7 p.m. Sept. 21 and hosted by the League of Women Voters.
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Casten’s a freshman representative from Downers Grove, who flipped a longtime Republican-leaning seat in the west and northwest suburban Illinois 6th Congressional District in 2018. Ives, of Wheaton, is a former state legislator and ardent Trump supporter who narrowly lost to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 primary. It could be quite a show. Details here.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot, right, is joined by Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson to announce reforms to the school resource officer program during a press conference at City Hall on Aug. 19, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s architecture critic Blair Kamin weighs in on the mayor’s public-private initiative to redevelop long-neglected parts of the South and West sides of Chicago, saying time is of the essence: “... woe to the city planner who paints a rosy picture of a shining tomorrow but fails to deliver. He doesn’t just flop — he breeds distrust among those who put faith in him.”
Kamin also examines the pros and cons of the Invest South/West program: “Will it work? Why would some real estate developers risk their precious capital on crime-ridden, violence-plagued areas they’ve neglected in the past? Will big developers, like Sterling Bay, Related Midwest and Magellan, join the smaller for-profit and nonprofit firms already working on the South and West Sides?
“There are reasons for guarded optimism. For starters, the city will take steps to minimize developers’ economic risk. It will subsidize the projects, using tax-increment financing funds, the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund and federal tax breaks within opportunity zones.” Read the full piece here.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her wife, Amy Eshleman, greet visitors in her City Hall office after Lightfoot's inauguration on May 20, 2019. At left is Lightfoot's head of security, former Deputy U.S. Marshal James Smith. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s security chief has resigned, according to the mayor’s office. Jim Smith tells the Tribune’s Pratt that he wanted more family time.
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It marks the end to a tenure that was controversial from the start: At the beginning of her term, Lightfoot broke with tradition by hiring Smith, a former deputy U.S. marshal, to lead her security detail instead of using someone from the Chicago Police Department, leading to grumbling from officers and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Most security chiefs keep a low profile but Smith was part of numerous controversies.
His hiring raised questions about how the administration would handle information security around him. His wife, Margaret Houlihan Smith, is a prominent City Hall lobbyist whose clients have included ComEd. But the administration defended the hire, saying he’s a professional who would keep information confidential. Read the full story here.
It comes a day after we learned Lightfoot fired Chicago’s top cannabis adviser without offering public explanation. Pratt had that story, too.
Other news from City Hall: City Council package aimed at preserving affordable housing near site of Obama Presidential Center advances — The Tribune’s John Byrne has the details here.
Politics: Chicago’s next election isn’t until 2023, but... “Two political organizations have formed on the Far North Side and aim to influence — or possibly replace — two aldermen,” Block Club Chicago reports. “The groups, which they say have over 300 members between them, are advocating for progressive reforms to policing, housing and education policy,” Block Club’s Joe Ward writes. Read the full story here.
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Hostess Camille Webb, right, leads customer Michael Harris to the outdoor sitting at Ja' Grill on Harper Court in Hyde Park on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces new rules requiring patrons in restaurants and bars to wear masks while ordering. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s John Byrne writes: “The Cook County medical examiner already has ruled on 10,000 deaths for the year, nearly 4,000 more than in all of 2019, with about half of this year’s cases involving COVID-19-related deaths, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday.
“But while the county passed 5,000 deaths from the pandemic last week, it also is seeing increases in opioid deaths, homicides and suicides, with Black residents shouldering a disproportionate amount of the increases, Preckwinkle said.” Read the full story here.
Jobless workers in Illinois could get an extra $300 a week in benefits: Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois is applying for Trump’s benefits program, the Tribune’s Abdel Jimenez reports.
Shaken by summer looting in affluent neighborhoods, some Chicagoans are moving away: Read Tribune Christen A. Johnson’s story here.
‘There’s been an awful lot of partying’: Northwestern University asks Evanston residents to report students who ignore COVID-19 precautions in off-campus gatherings, the Tribune’s Elyssa Cherney reports. Read the story here.
Other news: September memorial service set for late Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman: The first African American justice to sit on the state’s highest court, who died in March, will be honored in a Sept. 16 service by his colleagues in Springfield with a livestream set up to allow the public to attend virtually, the court announced in a news release today. Details on that here.
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Beginning at 2 p.m. inside the Supreme Court courtroom in Springfield, Chief Justice Anne M. Burke will deliver opening and closing remarks. Also scheduled to speak: retired Supreme Court Justice Benjamin K. Miller, retired Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas, First District Appellate Justice Robert E. Gordon, retired First District Appellate Justice Carl McCormick, attorney James D. Montgomery, Cook County Circuit Judge and Chair of Illinois Judicial Council Thaddeus L. Wilson and current Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr.
Thanks for reading The Spin, the Tribune’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Have a tip? Email host Lisa Donovan at ldonovan@chicagotribune.com.
Twitter @byldonovan