chicagotribune--2020-08-01--Gov. J.B. Pritzker lays out plan to overhaul state’s juvenile justice system, shift to smaller, ‘com

Gov. J.B. Pritzker lays out plan to overhaul state’s juvenile justice system, shift to smaller, ‘community-based’ regional facilities

The transition will take place in phases over the next four years .
Existing Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice facilities @ @ @ @ @ from about 50 to up to almost 300 youths who are committed to state custody @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Juvenile Justice will move out of “ adult-style , prisonlike ” facilities @ @ @ @ @ be renovated to create the smaller residential centers , according to the plan .

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton before Pritzker's State of the State speech at the Illinois State Capitol on Jan. 29, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration announced Friday a planned overhaul of the state’s juvenile justice system whose hallmark is a move from juvenile facilities that mimic adult prisons to smaller regional centers that allow youths to be closer to the part of the state they hail from.
The transition will take place in phases over the next four years. Existing Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice facilities are designed to house anywhere from about 50 to up to almost 300 youths who are committed to state custody through juvenile justice proceedings. The Department of Juvenile Justice will move out of “adult-style, prisonlike” facilities, and existing properties will be renovated to create the smaller residential centers, according to the plan.
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Larger juvenile justice facilities will be turned over to the Illinois Department of Corrections for use with the adult prison population, the governor’s office said.
In their place will be more “dormlike” facilities for up to 50 youths who will be closer to home and able to receive more family visits.
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That phase of the plan will start next year. The first phase entails plans to increase investment in intervention services and reentry programs, with more investment to come for victim services in communities that are most affected by violence and disinvestment.
“It’s also time for a paradigm shift in how we treat the children in our justice system — children who are predominantly Black and brown and more often than not, are victims themselves,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who heads the administration’s Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative, said during a news conference with Pritzker in Chicago
The state’s Department of Juvenile Justice’s five facilities are mostly in northern and southern Illinois and there is no presence in the central part of the state, department Director Heidi Mueller said at the news conference.
About 40% of the department’s youth population is from central Illinois, and among the goals of moving to the more regional centers is placing them nearer to their homes and families, Mueller said.
The success of the juvenile justice system has traditionally been measured by recidivism levels, the percentage of youth that return to the system within three years, she said.
“That is one way to measure and that is definitely something that we care about, we want to make sure that when kids leave our system, they are successful and they don’t reoffend and they don’t return,” Mueller said.
“But I think that we missed the boat if we don’t think about other positive outcomes” including education, housing and employment, she said.
When Pritzker took office in January 2019, the Department of Juvenile Justice population was 282, 87% lower than it was a decade earlier, according to the department’s 2019 annual report. That was a result of an effort in the state and across the nation to curtail secure confinement for youth during the early 2000s.
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On June 30, the department’s resident population was 97, Pritzker said.
In his 2017 campaign, Pritzker committed to prioritizing community-based alternatives to incarceration, outlining plans to expand programs that deal with mental health and trauma. Criminal justice reform was among the priorities for the first-term governor for this year’s spring legislative session, including a push for doing away with the cash bail system. That agenda was one of the casualties of a session cut drastically short by the coronavirus pandemic.
Pritzker said Friday the more punitive model of juvenile justice has disproportionately harmed Black youth and families, and hasn’t worked, and between 2010 and 2018 more than half of children released by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice system returned to it.
“The facilities that should, in theory, be nurturing children and rehabilitating them in their adolescence, instead exacerbate trauma, interfere with their family relationships and create a culture of instability and violence,” Pritzker said.
Riya Saha Shah, managing director of the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, said the juvenile justice system is supposed to be rehabilitative and punitive and “putting children in these types of institutions was not rehabilitative.”
Shah said Illinois’ planned transition appears to be a “good step forward,” but that officials need to make sure the new model of facility is not just replacing the old model while providing the same sort of punitive concept.
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“When a state is looking to overhaul their juvenile justice system and their placement system, we should be thinking about how to reimagine it in a way that ensures more positive growth for young people who are required to be a part of it,” Shah said.
The ACLU of Illinois, the Illinois Justice Project, the John Howard Association of Illinois and the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law issued a joint statement Friday that said while the state has moved away from a juvenile justice system that employed punitive practices used by adult prisons, “the youth prisons today remain just that — prisons.”
“As our communities struggle with violence, our strategies and spending have to be more effective, and the transformation of the juvenile system is another positive step in that direction,” according to the statement.
@jmunks@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-01--Hurricane Isaias 8 p.m. update: Florida’s east coast braces for storm

Orange County officials said it is not opening its shelters for now but they are prepared to do so if @ @ @ @ @ in place because of COVID-19 .
The county ’ s fire marshal also is in @ @ @ @ @ 100 assisted living facilities to ensure they are prepared for the storm .
County residents @ @ @ @ @ until Saturday .
A list of locations can be found at ocfl.net .

Joe Mario Pedersen, Richard Tribou, David Harris

Hurricane Isaias is expected to bring hurricane-force conditions along portions of Florida’s east coast late Saturday afternoon and Sunday with strong winds, heavy rains and possible flooding in low lying areas, the National Hurricane Center said.
At 5 a.m. Saturday, the hurricane center’s forecasters find Category 1 Isaias barreling slightly more toward the east and toward South Florida late Saturday and early Sunday. The forecast then shows Isaias hugging Florida’s east coast before making a slight northwesterly turn and going farther off the coast after passing Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
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As of Saturday morning, Isaias was located 80 miles south-southeast of Nassau, moving northwest at 12 mph.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected through Sunday, and Isaias is forecast to remain a hurricane during this time,” NHC forecasters said in an advisory.
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South Florida could start feeling the effects of the storm as early as Saturday afternoon.
No new watches or warnings were issued Saturday morning. Friday brought a slew of watches and warnings for Central Florida: a hurricane warning for Brevard and Volusia counties, a tropical storm warning for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties and a tropical storm watch for coastal Flagler and inland Volusia counties.
As of Saturday morning, Isaias was located 80 miles south-southeast of Nassau, moving northwest at 12 mph. (National Hurricane Center)
Elsewhere in the state, a hurricane warning is in effect for Boca Raton to the Volusia/Brevard line and a hurricane watch is in effect for Boca Raton to Hallandale Beach. There’s also a storm surge watch from Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach.
While the storm’s center is not predicted to make a Florida landfall, Isaias’ hurricane-force winds extend 35 miles from its core, and its tropical-storm-force winds can reach up to 175 miles from its center.
“Isaias has a somewhat ragged appearance in satellite imagery this morning, likely due to the impact of westerly shear and dry air entrainment,” forecasters said. “The area of central convection has shrunk in size, although radar data from the Bahamas shows some banding near the center and occasional attempts to wrap up an eyewall.”
Still, Fox 35 meteorologist Glenn Richards the storm could make landfall in Indian River County or Fort Pierce before going back offshore.
“If you live Brevard, Indian River and Volusia counties, do take this storm seriously,” he said.
Richards said Isaias is similar to Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which skirted along Central Florida’s east coast. While Matthew was stronger, Isaias is closer to land.
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“My concern is just keeping the western eyewall offshore,” he said.
Richards said strong winds from Isaias could cause roof damage, power outages and pool enclosures to collapse.
Tropical storm winds are expected to arrive in the Hurricane Warning area in Florida Saturday afternoon and evening. Preparations to protect live and property in those areas should be rushed to completion #Isaias pic.twitter.com/0Xe1PUGKtK — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 31, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for every east coast county from Miami-Dade to Nassau in an executive order Friday morning. DeSantis also said the state has 50 generators, the most it has ever had on hand, for emergency managers to distribute. This would ensure all nursing homes and long-term care facilities will be taken care of to avoid power loss like the deadly situation created by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
“The most recent forecast, it brings that eye closer to the coast so we just have to be vigilant,” said DeSantis, who met with President Donald Trump in Tampa discuss matters on both Isaias and COVID-19. “So please heed the warnings of your local officials.”
The state division of emergency management also has a ton of PPE supplies stockpiled in the event of emergency including 20 million masks, DeSantis said.
Attorney General Ashley Moody expanded Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline Friday to receive reports of extreme price increases on essential commodities needed to prepare for Hurricane Isaias.
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During a storm-related declared state of emergency, state law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities, such as food, water, hotel rooms, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment, needed as a direct result of the event. Anyone who suspects price gouging should report it to the Attorney General’s Office by using the NO SCAM app or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. The Attorney General’s NO SCAM app can be downloaded for free through Apple and Android stores by searching NO SCAM.
What you need to know
The NHC is forecasting 2 to 4 inches of rain with some pockets of up to 6 inches in South Florida and east-Central Florida on Saturday and Sunday that could result in flash flooding in urban areas with poor drainage.
Isaias is generating swells that will spread along the east coast of Florida and the southeastern United States coast Saturday, posing dangerous surf and current conditions.
For the U.S. east coast at large, there is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge through early next week, forecasters said.
Metro Orlando could see tropical storm force wind and gusts, said Melissa Watson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. But that could change depending on where the storm is located.
“Keep an eye on the storm,” Watson said. “Always prepare for at least one category higher than what it is forecasted. It’s always better to be over prepared than under prepared.”
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Orange County officials said it is not opening its shelters for now but they are prepared to do so if needed with social distancing measures in place because of COVID-19. The county’s fire marshal also is in contact with the more than 100 assisted living facilities to ensure they are prepared for the storm. County residents can pick up free sandbags until Saturday. A list of locations can be found at ocfl.net.
County crews worked to clear drainage systems ahead of Isaias’ arrival.
“We’re optimistic and hopeful with this storm, based on the current track, that our impact in Orange County won’t be as bad as we’ve seen in some previous years,” said Danny Banks, deputy county administrator and public safety director at a press conference.
SunRail will suspend operations starting on Monday and Volusia County said it would close low-volume six boat ramps and could shutter more.
Quick development
Isaias was officially designated as a Category 1 storm Friday by the Hurricane Center after a special midnight bulletin.
Forecasters had originally hoped that Isaias would lose strength when its low center interacted with the Dominican Republic’s mountain range, but the storm missed the mountains and re-emerged into warm waters along with very little wind shear allowing its intensity to jump in strength, pumping up Isaias into hurricane level strength, forecasters said.
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The midnight shift from tropical storm to hurricane came after an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter determined winds were strong enough for Isaias to be the second named hurricane of the season. It jumped from tropical-storm strength 60 mph sustained winds in its 11 p.m. update to 80 mph sustained winds with the notification one hour later.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 69 A truck drives through rising water in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood as Tropical Storm Isaias continues to pelt the region on Aug. 4. (Jerry Jackson)
Death in the D.R.
On Thursday, while still a tropical storm, Isaias toppled trees, destroyed crops and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where hundreds of thousands of people were left without power and water.
Officials reported that a man died in the Dominican Republic when he was electrocuted by a fallen electrical cable.
The Puerto Rico National Guard rescued at least 35 people from floodwaters, which swept away one woman who remains missing.
On Friday, the hurricane knocked shingles off roofs in the Bahamian island of San Salvador as it carved its way through an archipelago still recovering from Dorian’s devastation. Bahamas Power and Light Co. cut off power in certain areas for safety.
Meanwhile, there are two more systems being looked at by the National Hurricane Center including one that became Tropical Depression 10. If either one does become a named storm, it would be Tropical Storm Josephine.
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Get the latest hurricane coverage at OrlandoSentinel.com/hurricane.
Orlando Sentinel staff writers Stephen Hudak, Paola Pérez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-08-01--Column: Wake up. It’s August. What will you do with the rest of your pandemic summer?

When we look back at this time , we ’ ll remember little things .
Like the eerie quiet of @ @ @ @ @ was still shut down .
And the sirens in the distance when the protests came @ @ @ @ @ was again when the protests died down , and how the noise picked back up @ @ @ @ @ , with restrictions , opened up again .

August? It’s August?
You look at the calendar and feel sideswiped. The word August slams into your brain like a truck that lurched around a blind corner and knocked you over. Where did August come from?
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August is the last full month of summer, the month that always raises questions.
What have you done with your summertime? What will you do with what’s left? Wake. Up.
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Even in a normal summer — which this is not — August stirs those existential thoughts. Except for the freakish subset of people who are happy to see summer go, the ones who begin moaning in May that it’s too hot, summer always seems to end too soon, at least up here where snow can arrive in October.
Technically, I know, we haven’t even arrived at summer’s midpoint yet, but experience tells us otherwise. We’re wired to think of summer on a school calendar. And history warns us that August is the month when out of the blue a sharper breeze blows in from the lake and the infinite days grow suddenly shorter, as if an unseen hand is lowering a shade.
Most summers, one thing we summer-lovers love about the season is its familiarity. We know the days will get long and warm, the grass will grow high, and if we’re lucky, we’ll go places.
This summer, a pandemic has turned summertime, like all time, upside down. The grass still grows, but some beaches are closed, airports are cesspools, a restaurant patio is a calculated risk.
And, oddly, that hasn’t been all bad.
Way back in June, I got an email from a Tribune reader named Katy. It popped into my mind the other day when I noticed August on the calendar.
“This summer,” Katy had written, “I recalled a column you wrote about keeping a stack of index cards to note summery things you did each day. I always loved the idea. This June, I started a notebook with a few lines for each day. Since we are all staying home more, I have been paying attention to little things that make summer the best time of the year.
“During past summers, I didn’t appreciate the little things as much because there was always a pull to do BIG things — festivals, concerts, trips etc. Now that so many of those activities are cancelled, I really appreciate a cup of coffee on the porch or a cool morning to water the flowers.”
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Rereading Katy’s email, I thought about how perfectly she had characterized this summer with the virus lurking: This is the summer of little things.
I know a few people who have taken road trips, but most people I know have constructed a summer out of slower, simpler acts. No tickets, no reservations, no luggage.
When we look back at this time, we’ll remember little things. Like the eerie quiet of early summer when the world was still shut down. And the sirens in the distance when the protests came. And how quiet it was again when the protests died down, and how the noise picked back up when the bars and restaurants, with restrictions, opened up again.
If I’d thought to write down each day’s summer pleasures, those things would be on it. So would coffee outside in the morning. Long walks in the evening, noticing streets I’d walked a thousand times but somehow never seen in detail. More conversation with neighbors than I’ve ever had because everyone is outside more in search of somewhere to go.
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Katy’s email prompted me to fish out the index cards I kept in that distant, more ordinary summer, one card for every day. I was struck that even though they contained details of trips — Oregon, California — most of them, even then, were full of small pleasures — sitting on the roof, eating outdoors, walking by the lake.
And then there was the last one, on which I’d scrawled this:
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“The last day of summer. At dusk took a walk and tried in vain to get a good photo of the sunset. Reading my summer cards I realize it was a beautiful, full summer in ways I wouldn’t have seen if I hadn’t written it down.”
Reading that card I remembered there are three reasons to write down your summer pleasures. One is to nudge yourself to find them. The other is to notice them more carefully when you do. The third is that in looking back you’ll see how all those days added up to something full.
So I’ve dug out a short stack of index cards for August 2020, to record what remains of the summer of little things. Maybe you’ll do the same.
mschmich@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MarySchmich


chicagotribune--2020-07-31--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 11 counties at ‘warning level’ for COVID-19 resurgence as state rep

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 11 counties at ‘warning level’ for COVID-19 resurgence as state reports 1,941 new known cases, 21 more deaths and daily testing record

Illinois announced 1,941 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday .
The state also reported 21 more deaths and a new daily record for test results with 49,782 .
The new cases confirmed Friday are the highest daily count since May 24 .
Meanwhile , 11 Illinois counties have been put on a state “ warning level ” based on key metrics for measuring the resurgence of COVID-19 , officials said Friday .
The state classifies a county as reaching a “ warning level ” when it sees an increase in at least two risk indicators under the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows for tighter restrictions for regions that breach levels set for various metrics .
“ We ’ re at a danger point , ” Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Thursday in Peoria , warning again that Illinois could be headed for a “ reversal ” in its reopening as the state continues to see a resurgence in case numbers and regions see positivity rates of coronavirus tests creeping up .
6:32 p.m. : College students from states under Chicago ’ s quarantine order can begin their stints in isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school allows College students moving to Chicago from a designated coronavirus hotspot are allowed to complete the first half of a required 14-day quarantine in their home state , officials said Friday .
Students who do so will remain in compliance with the city ’ s emergency travel order as long as they finish the remaining week of quarantine upon arriving — either in a dorm or an off-campus residence .
It ’ s not clear why the Chicago Department of Public Health adjusted the order for college students , or whether all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the city has not allowed travelers from states with rising COVID-19 infections to split the quarantine period in half .
The order affects travelers from 22 states , including nearby Wisconsin and Missouri .
DePaul University in Lincoln Park announced the option on Thursday .
Students who complete the first week of quarantine at home will be allowed to move into dorms early and must get tested for COVID-19 shortly after arriving on campus , according to the announcement .
The students must also sign a certification showing they followed the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus with us ... we will deliver meals and urgent mail to your room , provide access to WiFi and Philo TV streaming , etc , ” the announcement says .
“ Students must stay in their rooms and not interact in-person with anyone else , including other students , for any reason except for urgent medical care and COVID testing during the quarantine period.
” The department ’ s guidance doesn ’ t specify whether using certain modes of transportation to get to Chicago after a one-week quarantine out of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train — would violate the order .
Contact tracers working on behalf of the county Health Department have been working to get in touch with the about 270 people who were at the event , which had been planned since the spring .
Department epidemiologist Alpesh Patel on Thursday urged those who are showing signs of the virus to get tested , and for those who are asymptomatic “ it is absolutely necessary to quarantine yourself ” for 14 days and self-monitor , including taking their temperature at least three times a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prom attendees , county health officials noted that the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties had , as of Thursday , showed a seven-day run of increases in positive virus cases .
They pointed out that all regions statewide had showed increases for at least six days .
Sue Olenek , executive director of the department , said the increases are an indication of people being slipshod about taking necessary precautions .
“ We have people finding their ways to events , out of town or out of state , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said in the statement .
4:37 p.m. : Chicago bars now can add outdoor service on sidewalks , if they partner with a restaurant to provide food In a surprise and undoubtedly welcome move , Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Friday afternoon announced an expansion of the city ’ s Outdoor Dining Program that will allow taverns without a retail food license to operate temporarily on the sidewalk area in front of their establishment .
Under the expanded program , bars may set up outdoor tables , enclosed by barriers ( as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving at least 6 feet of pedestrian clearance .
In addition , bars must identify a “ partner food establishment ” to ensure that food is available to bar customers .
“ While we ’ ve had to implement restrictions and take hard measures to combat a recent rise COVID-19 activity , we will continue to ensure our restaurants , bars and businesses have the supports they need to survive during these unprecedented times , ” said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement .
“ Our innovative Outdoor Dining Program has already helped more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities , and now by expanding our efforts to better support our bars impacted by these new restrictions , we are providing a lifeline to hundreds of local establishments across Chicago ’ s neighborhoods.
” In addition , establishments holding a retail food license will be able to operate in outdoor areas — such as courtyards , terraces or patios — without securing an outdoor patio license , which ordinarily would be required .
Though temporary , this move will relieve restaurants and bars with food licenses from the lengthy and onerous outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resume service on more than 25 international routes in September , including a new route between Chicago and Tel Aviv , the airline said Friday .
Chicago-based United ’ s September schedule has about 37 % of the flights it flew the same month last year .
That ’ s about 4 % more flights than it plans to operate in August , as recent increases in COVID-19 cases slows passengers ’ return to flying .
Several of the routes United is adding back are beach destinations in the Caribbean and Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover more quickly than business travel .
3:40 p.m. : Teachers who are at high risk from COVID-19 are anxious to know if they will be allowed to teach remotely Paul Dombrowski has been teaching art at Willow Bend Elementary School in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows for 23 years , and it shows ; he instinctively calls his students “ my kids , ” and the school , “ my school.
” His voice fills with excitement when he talks about the projects he would normally be preparing for at this time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cake slices , glazed ceramic monsters with elaborate horns and fangs .
Instead , Dombrowski is checking his phone five times a day , waiting anxiously for the response to his request to stay home and teach remotely .
Dombrowski , 57 , is one of thousands of teachers throughout the Chicago area who are at higher risk from COVID-19 due to age or chronic health conditions .
For many of them , this is an anxious time ; while the Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections for those with the most serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear exactly how schools will respond to a wide range of potential risk levels .
Dombrowski , who has diabetes , said if he isn ’ t allowed to teach remotely , he may make the emotionally and financially difficult decision to retire early .
“ It is a matter of life and death , ” he said of his request to teach remotely .
“ I ’ ve been very careful since March .
I ’ m a mask-wearer , and I don ’ t go out unless I really need to.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to people with tickets and those helping them , workers City officials didn ’ t spell out why they plan on keeping anyone but passengers , those helping passengers and airport employees from entering the airport , but said in a news release that it ’ s to “ to ensure the safety and security of our valued passengers and employees.
” City Aviation Department officials and Chicago police were scheduled to set up a nightly checkpoint at the airports ’ CTA stations to confirm people entering the airport have a reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release .
Eleven of Illinois ’ s 102 counties have been put on a state “ warning level ” based on key metrics for measuring the resurgence of COVID-19 , officials said Friday , as the state logged its highest daily count of new known coronavirus cases since May 24 .
State public health officials said that during the prior 24 hours , there were 1,941 newly confirmed coronavirus cases across the state , and an additional 21 people with COVID-19 in Illinois had died .
The seven-day average statewide positivity rate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals now stand at 178,837 known cases of COVID-19 in Illinois and 7,495 deaths since the pandemic began , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
The state classifies a county as reaching a “ warning level ” when it sees an increase in at least two risk indicators under the state ’ s coronavirus Resurgence Mitigation plan , which allows for tighter restrictions for regions that breach levels set for various metrics .
The counties at warning level include Jo Daviess County in the state ’ s northwestern corner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sangamon counties , the latter of which includes Springfield .
“ Residents of many communities are not wearing face coverings that have been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , ” the state Department of Public Health said in a news release Friday .
“ Public health officials are finding that most contacts to cases are testing positive as well.
” Some of the counties that were issued warnings have imposed limits on activities considered risky for the spread of COVID-19 , including a measure Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder imposed earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t compliant with Phase 4 rules in Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan subject to fines and liquor license suspensions .
The state is monitoring a range of metrics to determine whether there ’ s a coronavirus resurgence in a given community , including deaths , hospital admissions , new cases per 100,000 people , weekly test positivity and ICU availability .
To date , the state Department of Public Health has conducted nearly 2.7 million COVID-19 tests , with 49,782 in the most recent 24-hour period .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19 , with 346 of those patients in an intensive care unit and 148 on ventilators .
Remdesivir , the only drug given emergency approval for treatment of COVID-19 , appears to provide equal benefits to white , Asian , Black and Latino patients , according to an analysis led by researchers at University of Chicago Medicine .
It ’ s encouraging news , infectious disease experts say , because of the disparate effects of the disease on different groups .
Black people are dying at higher rates than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are contracting the disease at higher rates than others .
Dr. Kathleen Mullane , a UChicago Medicine infectious disease expert , said the results — which were reviewed by other scientists but are not published in a medical journal — are particularly encouraging for her institution given that it treats many patients of color .
“ We are so proud and excited and happy that our patients did well , ” she said .
The White House and its GOP allies appear to be retreating from their opposition to a $ 600 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up both the economy and family budgets but is expiring Friday .
President Donald Trump is plainly eager to extend the benefit , undercutting his GOP allies on Capitol Hill who have spent considerable effort on devising an alternative to it that could unite Republicans .
The unemployment insurance is a principle element as talks continue on a COVID-19 relief bill , which is expected to grow considerably from a $ 1 trillion-plus GOP draft released this week .
The negotiations are continuing Friday after late-night talks at the Capitol failed to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday announced 1,941 new known cases of COVID-19 and 21 additional fatalities , bringing the total number of known cases to 178,837 and the statewide death toll to 7,495 since the start of the pandemic .
Officials also reported 49,782 new tests in the last 24 hours .
The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 3.9 % .
12:27 p.m. : Fauci says he believes Americans will get COVID-19 vaccine over course of 2021 Appearing before a House panel investigating the nation ’ s response to the pandemic , Fauci expressed “ cautious ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly by next year .
“ I believe , ultimately , over a period of time in 2021 , that Americans will be able to get it , ” Fauci said , referring to the vaccine .
There will be a priority list for who gets early vaccinations .
“ I don ’ t think we will have everybody getting it immediately , ” Fauci explained .
But “ ultimately , within a reasonable time , the plans allow for any American who needs the vaccine to get it , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Major League Baseball ’ s schedule , bringing the league ’ s total to eight teams affected in the first nine days of the season .
The league announced the schedule change hours before the game was to be played .
It said the postponement in Milwaukee is “ consistent with protocols to allow enough time for additional testing and contact tracing to be conducted.
” The teams plan to resume their schedule Saturday night at Miller Park , pending results from the testing and contact tracing , and make up Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
“ We are supportive of Major League Baseball ’ s decision to postpone today ’ s game and look forward to playing our home opener as soon as conditions safely allow , ” Brewers general manager David Stearns said in a statement .
“ The health and safety of our players and employees are , and will continue to be , our top priorities.
” Two other games scheduled for Friday involving the Marlins , Nationals , Blue Jays and Phillies had already been postponed because of an outbreak among Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coaching staff .
11:01 a.m. : Children may carry high levels of the coronavirus , up to 100 times as much as adults , new Lurie Children ’ s Hospital study finds It has been a comforting refrain in the national conversation about reopening schools : Young children are mostly spared by the coronavirus and don ’ t seem to spread it to others , at least not very often .
Infected children have at least as much of the coronavirus in their noses and throats as infected adults , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger than age 5 may host up to 100 times as much of the virus in the upper respiratory tract as adults , the authors found .
That measurement does not necessarily prove that children are passing the virus to others .
Still , the findings should influence the debate over reopening schools , several experts said .
“ The school situation is so complicated .
There are many nuances beyond just the scientific one , ” said Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent , a pediatric infectious diseases expert at the Ann and Robert H. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who led the study , published in JAMA Pediatrics .
“ But one takeaway from this is that we can ’ t assume that just because kids aren ’ t getting sick , or very sick , that they don ’ t have the virus.
” This week , operators throughout the city called on legislators to pass at least one of two proposed pieces of legislation , the RESTART or Save Our Stages acts — if not both — which would offer urgent financial relief to live venues , theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 regulations .
“ Think of it this way : no revenue .
No revenue , but the bills keep coming .
And a lot of us are facing this cliff very quickly , ” said Katie Tuten , who is co-owner of the 24-year-old Hideout , as well as a founding member of the Chicago Independent Venue League ( CIVL ) , a coalition that has been spearheading the publicity push for legislation .
The last time the Hideout welcomed a show to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s phase-five plan , “ conventions , festivals , and large events ” can not fully restart until there is a widely available treatment or vaccine , contact tracing or no new cases over a sustained period .
6 a.m. : Small clusters of flu or other ailments may be popping up for the same reason COVID-19 is spreading : ‘ Strict social distancing isn ’ t in place ’ As Illinois continues testing for COVID-19 , many people showing symptoms end up with negative results .
Instead , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold or the flu .
While some people may wonder why they might catch a cold during this time of social distancing and hand washing , the answer is fairly simple , according to medical professionals .
Dr. Desler Javier , an internal physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center , said that not everyone adheres to social distancing measures , contributing to cases of the flu and other respiratory illnesses .
“ If everyone lived in a bubble no one would get a contagious disease , ” Javier said .
“ Unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , you ’ re still going to get pockets of outbreaks.
” Strict social distancing measures could ultimately curb both viruses , said Dr. Ben Singer , a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital .
5 a.m. : Chicago parents struggle to get rid of car seats , children ’ s items after COVID-19 closures : ‘ Recycling is really seeing a decline ’ If you ’ re hoping to donate your child ’ s car seat or crib this year , many thrift stores and retailers likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throwing it away may not be the best option , either .
Some Chicago-area parents say they ’ ve been struggling to get rid of unneeded car seats and other children ’ s items because of COVID-19 .
Most resale shops have for years limited what children ’ s items they ’ ll take , but even after reopening in recent weeks , many also have limited donations because of staff shortages .
Trashing children ’ s gear can harm the environment , but to limit face-to-face contact , corporations such as Walmart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which had allowed people to exchange car seats for a credit , discount or upgraded product .
“ It stinks ( the programs ) are closed , ” said Tory Andrews , 34 , a parent from the Northwest Side who has been trying to give away her child ’ s car seat .
“ I don ’ t understand why they are closed , but the pandemic is affecting nearly everything.
” 5 a.m. : Online education was a mess in the spring .
As COVID-19 prompts schools to stay virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Chicago Public Schools to make a hurried switch to remote instruction earlier this year , Lidia Muro said it didn ’ t work out so well for her 5-year-old stepson Elijah , then a kindergartner at Marvin Camras Elementary .
Some of the schoolwork he was given required logins and passwords his parents didn ’ t receive , she said .
Communication with his teacher was lacking .
And while it took Elijah a single day to finish math lessons that were supposed to stretch over months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The program was mostly games , I think , ” Muro said .
“ Educational games are good , but ( children ) can only do games for so long.
” Contrast that with the experience of Wauconda High School junior-to-be Tori Mraz .
She found her school ’ s online classes to be rigorous but flexible , and while a lack of face-to-face instruction created challenges , she gave virtual education high marks .
“ I did really well , ” said Mraz , 16 , who woke at 6 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was on my own time , my own pace .
If I had questions , I didn ’ t feel rushed .
If I wanted to email for help , I could , or text my friends .
We would FaceTime and they ’ d explain it to me .
I feel I worked a lot harder because of all that was going on.
” Such is the varied landscape many will face when school resumes .
Though some districts have pledged to return to in-person classes , many appear headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach , ensuring that education by internet will remain a staple in Illinois .
Here are five things that happened Thursday in Illinois related to COVID-19 :

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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)
Illinois announced 1,941 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday. The state also reported 21 more deaths and a new daily record for test results with 49,782. The new cases confirmed Friday are the highest daily count since May 24.
Meanwhile, 11 Illinois counties have been put on a state “warning level” based on key metrics for measuring the resurgence of COVID-19, officials said Friday. The state classifies a county as reaching a “warning level” when it sees an increase in at least two risk indicators under the state’s coronavirus Resurgence Mitigation plan, which allows for tighter restrictions for regions that breach levels set for various metrics.
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“We’re at a danger point,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Thursday in Peoria, warning again that Illinois could be headed for a “reversal” in its reopening as the state continues to see a resurgence in case numbers and regions see positivity rates of coronavirus tests creeping up.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ Illinois’ new COVID-19 plan: How the state will manage any outbreaks in 3 charts ]
[ Illinois coronavirus graphs: Here's the latest data on deaths, confirmed cases, tests and more ]
Here’s what’s happening Friday regarding COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
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9:05 p.m.: CPS students have until Aug. 7 to opt for hybrid instruction or all-remote learning
Although no final decision has been made on what instruction will look like in Chicago Public Schools this fall, parents learned Friday that they have a week to decide whether they will opt their children out of the proposed hybrid approach for fall.
The state’s largest school system has been seeking feedback on its preliminary framework for fall, which combines two days a week of in-person classes with three days of remote learning.
Officials have stressed that parents can opt out of in-person instruction for any reason, though the Chicago Teachers Union continues to push back against any reopening of schools this fall without what its members believe are adequate protections against the spread of COVID-19.
Many parents have indicated they share those concerns, but others have said that remote learning is a poor substitute for classroom instruction and that they trust school officials to mitigate the risks of coronavirus transmission.
—Claire Hao
6:32 p.m.: College students from states under Chicago’s quarantine order can begin their stints in isolation before traveling to Illinois — if their school allows
College students moving to Chicago from a designated coronavirus hotspot are allowed to complete the first half of a required 14-day quarantine in their home state, officials said Friday.
Students who do so will remain in compliance with the city’s emergency travel order as long as they finish the remaining week of quarantine upon arriving — either in a dorm or an off-campus residence.
It’s not clear why the Chicago Department of Public Health adjusted the order for college students, or whether all schools will adopt the approach. Previously, the city has not allowed travelers from states with rising COVID-19 infections to split the quarantine period in half. The order affects travelers from 22 states, including nearby Wisconsin and Missouri.
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DePaul University in Lincoln Park announced the option on Thursday. Students who complete the first week of quarantine at home will be allowed to move into dorms early and must get tested for COVID-19 shortly after arriving on campus, according to the announcement. The students must also sign a certification showing they followed the order.
“If you choose to quarantine on campus with us ... we will deliver meals and urgent mail to your room, provide access to WiFi and Philo TV streaming, etc,” the announcement says. “Students must stay in their rooms and not interact in-person with anyone else, including other students, for any reason except for urgent medical care and COVID testing during the quarantine period.”
The department’s guidance doesn’t specify whether using certain modes of transportation to get to Chicago after a one-week quarantine out of state — such as a crowded plane or train — would violate the order.
Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
5:45 p.m.: Will County health officials issue warning following Lincoln-Way East prom tied to COVID-19 cases
Will County health officials are delivering a warning to teens and adults who attended a recent student-organized prom in Indiana for graduates of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort.
Contact tracers working on behalf of the county Health Department have been working to get in touch with the about 270 people who were at the event, which had been planned since the spring.
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Department epidemiologist Alpesh Patel on Thursday urged those who are showing signs of the virus to get tested, and for those who are asymptomatic “it is absolutely necessary to quarantine yourself” for 14 days and self-monitor, including taking their temperature at least three times a day.
Although not tying the increase to prom attendees, county health officials noted that the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties had, as of Thursday, showed a seven-day run of increases in positive virus cases. They pointed out that all regions statewide had showed increases for at least six days.
Sue Olenek, executive director of the department, said the increases are an indication of people being slipshod about taking necessary precautions.
“We have people finding their ways to events, out of town or out of state, where the important precautions are not being observed,” she said in the statement.
Read more here. —Mike Nolan
4:37 p.m.: Chicago bars now can add outdoor service on sidewalks, if they partner with a restaurant to provide food
In a surprise and undoubtedly welcome move, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Friday afternoon announced an expansion of the city’s Outdoor Dining Program that will allow taverns without a retail food license to operate temporarily on the sidewalk area in front of their establishment.
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This offers some relief to bars and taverns affected most severely by the mayor’s recent rule rollback, which banned indoor service to bars lacking a food license.
Under the expanded program, bars may set up outdoor tables, enclosed by barriers (as is required of sidewalk cafes) and leaving at least 6 feet of pedestrian clearance. In addition, bars must identify a “partner food establishment” to ensure that food is available to bar customers.
“While we’ve had to implement restrictions and take hard measures to combat a recent rise COVID-19 activity, we will continue to ensure our restaurants, bars and businesses have the supports they need to survive during these unprecedented times,” said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement. “Our innovative Outdoor Dining Program has already helped more than 250 restaurants and bars in our communities, and now by expanding our efforts to better support our bars impacted by these new restrictions, we are providing a lifeline to hundreds of local establishments across Chicago’s neighborhoods.”
In addition, establishments holding a retail food license will be able to operate in outdoor areas — such as courtyards, terraces or patios — without securing an outdoor patio license, which ordinarily would be required. Though temporary, this move will relieve restaurants and bars with food licenses from the lengthy and onerous outdoor patio license process.
—Phil Vettel
3:52 p.m.: United to add international routes in September, including a flight between Chicago and Tel Aviv
United Airlines plans to resume service on more than 25 international routes in September, including a new route between Chicago and Tel Aviv, the airline said Friday.
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Chicago-based United’s September schedule has about 37% of the flights it flew the same month last year. That’s about 4% more flights than it plans to operate in August, as recent increases in COVID-19 cases slows passengers’ return to flying.
Several of the routes United is adding back are beach destinations in the Caribbean and Hawaii, as leisure travel is expected to recover more quickly than business travel.
Read more here. —Lauren Zumbach
3:40 p.m.: Teachers who are at high risk from COVID-19 are anxious to know if they will be allowed to teach remotely
Paul Dombrowski has been teaching art at Willow Bend Elementary School in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows for 23 years, and it shows; he instinctively calls his students “my kids,” and the school, “my school.”
His voice fills with excitement when he talks about the projects he would normally be preparing for at this time of year: student self portraits, papier-mache cake slices, glazed ceramic monsters with elaborate horns and fangs.
Instead, Dombrowski is checking his phone five times a day, waiting anxiously for the response to his request to stay home and teach remotely.
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Dombrowski, 57, is one of thousands of teachers throughout the Chicago area who are at higher risk from COVID-19 due to age or chronic health conditions. For many of them, this is an anxious time; while the Americans with Disabilities Act provides protections for those with the most serious health conditions, it’s still unclear exactly how schools will respond to a wide range of potential risk levels.
Dombrowski, who has diabetes, said if he isn’t allowed to teach remotely, he may make the emotionally and financially difficult decision to retire early.
“It is a matter of life and death,” he said of his request to teach remotely. “I’ve been very careful since March. I’m a mask-wearer, and I don’t go out unless I really need to.”
Read more here. —Nara Schoenberg
2:28 p.m.: Chicago airports restrict access to people with tickets and those helping them, workers
Chicago aviation officials are restricting access to O’Hare International and Midway airports starting Friday night for unspecified “safety and security” reasons.
City officials didn’t spell out why they plan on keeping anyone but passengers, those helping passengers and airport employees from entering the airport, but said in a news release that it’s to “to ensure the safety and security of our valued passengers and employees.”
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City Aviation Department officials and Chicago police were scheduled to set up a nightly checkpoint at the airports’ CTA stations to confirm people entering the airport have a reason to be there, according to the release.
Read more here. —Sophie Sherry
2:15 p.m.: Illinois puts 11 counties at ‘warning level’ for coronavirus resurgence as daily case count pushes close to 2,000
Eleven of Illinois’s 102 counties have been put on a state “warning level” based on key metrics for measuring the resurgence of COVID-19, officials said Friday, as the state logged its highest daily count of new known coronavirus cases since May 24.
State public health officials said that during the prior 24 hours, there were 1,941 newly confirmed coronavirus cases across the state, and an additional 21 people with COVID-19 in Illinois had died.
The seven-day average statewide positivity rate is now 3.9%, and the statewide totals now stand at 178,837 known cases of COVID-19 in Illinois and 7,495 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The state classifies a county as reaching a “warning level” when it sees an increase in at least two risk indicators under the state’s coronavirus Resurgence Mitigation plan, which allows for tighter restrictions for regions that breach levels set for various metrics.
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The counties at warning level include Jo Daviess County in the state’s northwestern corner, and, in central Illinois, Cass and Sangamon counties, the latter of which includes Springfield.
The remaining warning level counties are in Metro East near St. Louis and southern Illinois: Gallatin, Jackson, Johnson, Perry, Randolph, Saline, St. Clair and White, according to the state health department.
The counties have experienced coronavirus outbreaks from a range of activities and settings, including parties, bars and restaurants, religious gatherings, long-term care facilities and sporting events, state health officials said.
“Residents of many communities are not wearing face coverings that have been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” the state Department of Public Health said in a news release Friday. “Public health officials are finding that most contacts to cases are testing positive as well.”
Some of the counties that were issued warnings have imposed limits on activities considered risky for the spread of COVID-19, including a measure Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder imposed earlier this month making bars and restaurants that aren’t compliant with Phase 4 rules in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan subject to fines and liquor license suspensions.
The state is monitoring a range of metrics to determine whether there’s a coronavirus resurgence in a given community, including deaths, hospital admissions, new cases per 100,000 people, weekly test positivity and ICU availability.
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To date, the state Department of Public Health has conducted nearly 2.7 million COVID-19 tests, with 49,782 in the most recent 24-hour period. As of Thursday night, 1,369 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19, with 346 of those patients in an intensive care unit and 148 on ventilators.
—Jamie Munks
2:05 p.m.: Antiviral drug remdesivir helps white, Black and Latino patients equally, Chicago study finds
Remdesivir, the only drug given emergency approval for treatment of COVID-19, appears to provide equal benefits to white, Asian, Black and Latino patients, according to an analysis led by researchers at University of Chicago Medicine.
It’s encouraging news, infectious disease experts say, because of the disparate effects of the disease on different groups. Black people are dying at higher rates than people of other races, and Latinos are contracting the disease at higher rates than others.
Dr. Kathleen Mullane, a UChicago Medicine infectious disease expert, said the results — which were reviewed by other scientists but are not published in a medical journal — are particularly encouraging for her institution given that it treats many patients of color. “We are so proud and excited and happy that our patients did well,” she said.
Read more here. —Hal Dardick
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1:50 p.m.: White House, GOP soften on opposition to $600 unemployment benefit
The White House and its GOP allies appear to be retreating from their opposition to a $600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit that has propped up both the economy and family budgets but is expiring Friday.
President Donald Trump is plainly eager to extend the benefit, undercutting his GOP allies on Capitol Hill who have spent considerable effort on devising an alternative to it that could unite Republicans.
The unemployment insurance is a principle element as talks continue on a COVID-19 relief bill, which is expected to grow considerably from a $1 trillion-plus GOP draft released this week. The negotiations are continuing Friday after late-night talks at the Capitol failed to produce a breakthrough.
Read more here. —The Associated Press
12:30 p.m.: 1,941 new known COVID-19 cases and 21 more deaths reported
Illinois health officials on Friday announced 1,941 new known cases of COVID-19 and 21 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 178,837 and the statewide death toll to 7,495 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 49,782 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 3.9%.
12:27 p.m.: Fauci says he believes Americans will get COVID-19 vaccine over course of 2021
Once a coronavirus vaccine is approved as safe and effective, Americans should have widespread access within a reasonable time, Dr. Anthony Fauci assured lawmakers Friday.
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Appearing before a House panel investigating the nation’s response to the pandemic, Fauci expressed “cautious” optimism that a vaccine would be available, particularly by next year.
“I believe, ultimately, over a period of time in 2021, that Americans will be able to get it,” Fauci said, referring to the vaccine.
There will be a priority list for who gets early vaccinations. “I don’t think we will have everybody getting it immediately,” Fauci explained.
But “ultimately, within a reasonable time, the plans allow for any American who needs the vaccine to get it,” he added.
Read more here. —The Associated Press
11:57 a.m.: Cardinals-Brewers game postponed after 2 Cardinals employees test positive for COVID-19
The coronavirus forced another change in Major League Baseball’s schedule, bringing the league’s total to eight teams affected in the first nine days of the season.
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Friday’s game between St. Louis and Milwaukee was postponed after two Cardinals employees tested positive for the coronavirus.
The league announced the schedule change hours before the game was to be played. It said the postponement in Milwaukee is “consistent with protocols to allow enough time for additional testing and contact tracing to be conducted.”
The teams plan to resume their schedule Saturday night at Miller Park, pending results from the testing and contact tracing, and make up Friday's game as part of a doubleheader Sunday.
“We are supportive of Major League Baseball’s decision to postpone today’s game and look forward to playing our home opener as soon as conditions safely allow,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said in a statement. “The health and safety of our players and employees are, and will continue to be, our top priorities.”
Two other games scheduled for Friday involving the Marlins, Nationals, Blue Jays and Phillies had already been postponed because of an outbreak among Miami players and two positive tests on Philadelphia’s coaching staff.
Read more here. —The Associated Press
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11:01 a.m.: Children may carry high levels of the coronavirus, up to 100 times as much as adults, new Lurie Children’s Hospital study finds
It has been a comforting refrain in the national conversation about reopening schools: Young children are mostly spared by the coronavirus and don’t seem to spread it to others, at least not very often.
But Thursday, a study introduced an unwelcome wrinkle into this smooth narrative.
Infected children have at least as much of the coronavirus in their noses and throats as infected adults, according to the research. Indeed, children younger than age 5 may host up to 100 times as much of the virus in the upper respiratory tract as adults, the authors found.
That measurement does not necessarily prove that children are passing the virus to others. Still, the findings should influence the debate over reopening schools, several experts said.
“The school situation is so complicated. There are many nuances beyond just the scientific one,” said Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, who led the study, published in JAMA Pediatrics. “But one takeaway from this is that we can’t assume that just because kids aren’t getting sick, or very sick, that they don’t have the virus.”
Read more here. —The New York Times
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10:47 a.m.: Chicago venues, theaters asking for economic relief from Congress before August recess
As some Chicago businesses have chanced a reopening under the city’s “phase four” plan, venues and theaters have been notably absent from that group
Institutions like the Metro, the Hideout and Logan Theatre — among many more — have had their doors shut since March, and, with infection rates yo-yo-ing nationwide, the timeline for large venue spaces to reopen remains unclear at best.
This week, operators throughout the city called on legislators to pass at least one of two proposed pieces of legislation, the RESTART or Save Our Stages acts — if not both — which would offer urgent financial relief to live venues, theaters and similar arts and entertainment operations. These industries have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 regulations.
“Think of it this way: no revenue. No revenue, but the bills keep coming. And a lot of us are facing this cliff very quickly,” said Katie Tuten, who is co-owner of the 24-year-old Hideout, as well as a founding member of the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL), a coalition that has been spearheading the publicity push for legislation. The last time the Hideout welcomed a show to its stage was March 12.
“This is kind of like our last chance, really, and we’re all in dire situations. Most of us are ‘phase five’ businesses.”
According to the state’s phase-five plan, “conventions, festivals, and large events” cannot fully restart until there is a widely available treatment or vaccine, contact tracing or no new cases over a sustained period.
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Read more here. —Adam Lukach
6 a.m.: Small clusters of flu or other ailments may be popping up for the same reason COVID-19 is spreading: ‘Strict social distancing isn’t in place’
As Illinois continues testing for COVID-19, many people showing symptoms end up with negative results. Instead, they may have fallen ill with a common cold or the flu. While some people may wonder why they might catch a cold during this time of social distancing and hand washing, the answer is fairly simple, according to medical professionals.
Dr. Desler Javier, an internal physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, said that not everyone adheres to social distancing measures, contributing to cases of the flu and other respiratory illnesses.
“If everyone lived in a bubble no one would get a contagious disease,” Javier said. “Unless everyone is social distancing 100% of the time, you’re still going to get pockets of outbreaks.”
Strict social distancing measures could ultimately curb both viruses, said Dr. Ben Singer, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Read more here. —Jessica Villagomez
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5 a.m.: Chicago parents struggle to get rid of car seats, children’s items after COVID-19 closures: ‘Recycling is really seeing a decline’
If you’re hoping to donate your child’s car seat or crib this year, many thrift stores and retailers likely won’t take it. But throwing it away may not be the best option, either.
Some Chicago-area parents say they’ve been struggling to get rid of unneeded car seats and other children’s items because of COVID-19. Most resale shops have for years limited what children’s items they’ll take, but even after reopening in recent weeks, many also have limited donations because of staff shortages.
Trashing children’s gear can harm the environment, but to limit face-to-face contact, corporations such as Walmart and Target have canceled their trade-in programs, which had allowed people to exchange car seats for a credit, discount or upgraded product.
“It stinks (the programs) are closed,” said Tory Andrews, 34, a parent from the Northwest Side who has been trying to give away her child’s car seat. “I don’t understand why they are closed, but the pandemic is affecting nearly everything.”
Read more here. —Kelli Smith
5 a.m.: Online education was a mess in the spring. As COVID-19 prompts schools to stay virtual, will it get better this fall?
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Chicago Public Schools to make a hurried switch to remote instruction earlier this year, Lidia Muro said it didn’t work out so well for her 5-year-old stepson Elijah, then a kindergartner at Marvin Camras Elementary.
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Some of the schoolwork he was given required logins and passwords his parents didn’t receive, she said. Communication with his teacher was lacking. And while it took Elijah a single day to finish math lessons that were supposed to stretch over months, he fell behind in reading.
“The program was mostly games, I think,” Muro said. “Educational games are good, but (children) can only do games for so long.”
Contrast that with the experience of Wauconda High School junior-to-be Tori Mraz. She found her school’s online classes to be rigorous but flexible, and while a lack of face-to-face instruction created challenges, she gave virtual education high marks.
“I did really well,” said Mraz, 16, who woke at 6 a.m. each day to start her assignments. “It was on my own time, my own pace. If I had questions, I didn’t feel rushed. If I wanted to email for help, I could, or text my friends. We would FaceTime and they’d explain it to me. I feel I worked a lot harder because of all that was going on.”
Such is the varied landscape many will face when school resumes. Though some districts have pledged to return to in-person classes, many appear headed to full-time online instruction or a hybrid approach, ensuring that education by internet will remain a staple in Illinois.
Read more here. —John Keilman
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Here are five things that happened Thursday in Illinois related to COVID-19:


chicagotribune--2020-07-31--College students from states under Chicago’s quarantine order can begin their stints in isolation be

College students from states under Chicago’s quarantine order can begin their stints in isolation before traveling to Illinois — if their school allows

“ If you choose to quarantine on campus with us ... we will deliver meals and urgent mail to your @ @ @ @ @ WiFi and Philo TV streaming , etc , ” the announcement says .
“ Students @ @ @ @ @ and not interact in-person with anyone else , including other students , for any reason @ @ @ @ @ and COVID testing during the quarantine period .
”

DePaul University will allow affected students to complete one week of quarantine out of state before traveling to its Chicago campus. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
College students moving to Chicago from a designated coronavirus hotspot are allowed to complete the first half of a required 14-day quarantine in their home state, officials said Friday.
Students who do so will remain in compliance with the city’s emergency travel order as long as they finish the remaining week of quarantine upon arriving — either in a dorm or an off-campus residence.
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It’s not clear why the Chicago Department of Public Health adjusted the order for college students, or whether all schools will adopt the approach. Previously, the city has not allowed travelers from states with rising COVID-19 infections to split the quarantine period in half. The order affects travelers from 22 states, including nearby Wisconsin and Missouri.
DePaul University in Lincoln Park announced the option on Thursday. Students who complete the first week of quarantine at home will be allowed to move into dorms early and must get tested for COVID-19 shortly after arriving on campus, according to the announcement. The students must also sign a certification showing they followed the order.
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“If you choose to quarantine on campus with us ... we will deliver meals and urgent mail to your room, provide access to WiFi and Philo TV streaming, etc,” the announcement says. “Students must stay in their rooms and not interact in-person with anyone else, including other students, for any reason except for urgent medical care and COVID testing during the quarantine period.”
The department’s guidance doesn’t specify whether using certain modes of transportation to get to Chicago after a one-week quarantine out of state — such as a crowded plane or train — would violate the order.
In a separate message Friday, DePaul said it is rethinking how many courses will be offered on campus this fall in light of the area’s increasing COVID-19 infections. The state recorded 1,941 new cases on Friday and placed additional counties on a warning level.
For some Chicago residents, the city’s travel order has been a source of confusion since it was abruptly declared days before the popular Fourth of July weekend. The list of affected states has continued to grow, with four more taking effect Friday, and possible loopholes have emerged.
But the city says that violators could face fines if social media images show recent travel to affected areas, and the health department clarified that even a short day trip to Wisconsin will require the 14-day quarantine upon reentering Chicago.
However, parents returning to Chicago after helping move a child to one of the 22 states are exempt from the 14-day quarantine but encouraged to limit interactions, avoid large gatherings and remain inside their homes if possible.
“Parents who accompany students to campus in high-incidence states should quarantine during their stay, avoid all public settings, and limit exposures to others outside of the scheduled move-in time,” CDPH says.
Travelers who pass through a designated state for less than 24 hours in the course of reaching another destination do not need to quarantine, according to CDPH.
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The agency, which released special guidelines for college students and parents as they prepare for fall classes, says on its website that students traveling from designated states are subject to the order and “should ask their school for guidance on how best to meet the quarantine order. CDPH has worked with institutes of higher education to provide various acceptable options.”
Agency guidance issued to local colleges acknowledged “the current high burden of COVID-19 among 18-29 year-olds.” The latest data shows this age group accounts for 20% of all COVID-19 infections in the city, the largest of any other demographic.
CDPH suggests colleges use testing to contain the virus but is not requiring it, citing a dearth of evidence about the strategy’s effectiveness.
Loyola University Chicago is not offering the split quarantine option to its students. All students living in dorms must quarantine in their rooms for 14 days, which will include the first week of classes online, spokeswoman Anna Shymanski Zach said. Meals will be delivered to students during the quarantine period. Students arriving in Chicago early to complete the quarantine before dorms open might be asked to provide plane tickets, hotel bills or other documentation to confirm the travel order was followed.
At the University of Chicago, students arriving from states affected by the travel order will be able to fulfill the two-week quarantine in their residence halls, spokesman Jeremy Manier said. All other students will complete at least 10 days of quarantine in their dorms, and all classes for the first week of the term will be remote.
echerney@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-07-31--Man defending sister fatally shot by her ex during quarrel on Chicago’s Far South Side

Mitchell and two other witnesses , including the one staying with him , demanded Davis leave after running outside to @ @ @ @ @ suddenly pulled a gun on them as one of the witnesses backed away , and @ @ @ @ @ away .

Bail was denied Friday for an 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting a man trying to intervene in a fight he was having with the man’s sister on the Far South Side earlier this month.
Steven Davis, 18 of the 5000 block of South King Drive in Bronzeville, was arrested Thursday in Galesburg, Illinois, and charged with first-degree murder.
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Davis is accused of shooting 21-year-old Berasheet Mitchell in the abdomen outside a home in the 200 Block of East 107th Street in the city’s Rosemoor neighborhood about 9:05 p.m. July 16, according to Chicago police.
Steven Davis, 18, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Berasheet Mitchell, 21, on July 16, 2020, on the Far South Side. Mitchell died the next day, and Davis was arrested July 30, 2020, in Galesburg. (Chicago police department / HANDOUT)
Davis, who is the ex-boyfriend of Mitchell’s sister, began fighting with her outside Mitchell’s father’s home at the 107th Street address, where Mitchell was staying with a witness in the case, prior to a California vacation, prosecutors said during a bail hearing broadcast on YouTube from the Leighton Criminal Court Building,
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When Mitchell stepped outside in the front yard to check on his sister, Davis walked away down the block, and the siblings went back inside the house.
Ten minutes later, Davis returned and began knocking on the door. Mitchell’s sister went outside and they began arguing again, but it escalated when Davis grabbed her phone.
Mitchell and two other witnesses, including the one staying with him, demanded Davis leave after running outside to help her, but Davis suddenly pulled a gun on them as one of the witnesses backed away, and pulled Mitchell’s sister away.
Mitchell then “got between’' the witness who was staying with him and Davis, and tried to pull the gun from Davis’ hand.
But Davis slapped it away, pulled the slide back and shot Mitchell in the abdomen as the witness Mitchell was staying with slipped on the grass while still trying to separate them, prosecutors said.
Davis ran away but lost a gym shoe in the process, leaving it in the yard.
Mitchell was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m. the following day. An autopsy on July 18 determined Mitchell died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
After the shooting, police found Davis’ identical twin, but witnesses who know the two identified Davis as the man involved in the shooting, prosecutors said.
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Surveillance photos that included sound showed Davis running off with one shoe after three gunshots rang out in the recording, according to prosecutors.
Davis was being held in Macomb, Illinois, in connection with a burglary, in which he has not yet been charged when he was arrested Thursday according to prosecutors.
While in McDonough County Jail in Macomb, Davis made statements confessing to the July 16 shooting, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also said Davis had been texting Mitchell’s sister, apologizing for the shooting.
Davis suffers from a number of medical conditions, according to his court appointed public defender, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, asthma, lung disease and what he describes as a “hole in his heart.” He was seeing a doctor until recently, the public defender told the judge.
His next court appearance was set for Aug. 19.
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Earlier versions of this story incorrectly identified the jail where Davis was being held when prosecutors say he told someone about the killing. It was McDonough County Jail in Macomb, Illinois..


chicagotribune--2020-07-31--Anti-racism rally held in Evanston, days after Confederate flag towel displayed at beach

“ I ’ m saying open your mouth and call your neighbors and your family members to the carpet .
@ @ @ @ @ for white guilt , ” she said .
“ Because if you are indeed guilty @ @ @ @ @ been set and you can not change yourself .
There ’ s a difference between @ @ @ @ @ ’ m asking that you have a little shame in your behavior ... it means @ @ @ @ @ mistakes you have made and you are going to actively work to correct them .
@

Karla Thomas leads a group onto Lighthouse Beach during an anti-racism rally in Evanston on July 31, 2020. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
Hundreds gathered Friday afternoon near Lighthouse Beach in Evanston, days after visitors displaying a Confederate flag beach towel were confronted by a resident.
In a widely shared social media video posted Wednesday, Evanston resident LaShandra Smith-Rayfield is seen confronting the beachgoers, who were displaying the flag towel on a temporary fence at the beach.
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“That right there is a racist symbol of hate,” said Smith-Rayfield in the video.
“This is the United States of America. We have 50 stars on our flag,” said Smith-Rayfield.
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Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty later called Smith-Rayfield’s actions a display of “courage and persistence” that are “admirable and an example for all of us.”
In response to the confrontation, a rally against racism was organized by several groups, including Anti-Racism In Action and Every Single Person Committed to Anti-Racism, according to a Facebook event posting.
The rally, which began at 2 p.m., drew at least a couple hundred people to a grassy area near Lighthouse Beach. Speakers, including an emotional Smith-Rayfield, shared their own experiences with the assembled crowd.
“I am tired,” she said fighting back tears. “I’m an optimistic person. I am optimistic about the country that I live in and that is such a weight to wear because I hope beyond hope we can actually rise to the ideals that we like to profess online and in our yards with signs. But we don’t rise.”
LaShandra Smith-Rayfield speaks during an anti-racism rally at near Lighthouse Beach in Evanston. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
Smith-Rayfield, who is Black, encouraged white members of the audience to take action beyond social media statements.
“I’m saying open your mouth and call your neighbors and your family members to the carpet. I’m not asking for white guilt,” she said. “Because if you are indeed guilty that means the verdict has been set and you cannot change yourself. There’s a difference between guilt and shame. I’m asking that you have a little shame in your behavior ... it means that you have recognized the mistakes you have made and you are going to actively work to correct them.”
Smith-Rayfield said she arrived at the beach Wednesday after hearing on social media about the flag’s presence. She said she hoped it was not true, but when she arrived was disappointed that no one else had spoken up about its presence. When she confronted the group, she did not receive support from others at the beach in the moment.
“We want Evanston to be a place where my children can ride their bikes. That my children can skate. That my children can read on the beach,” Smith-Rayfield said. “That my children can feel safe in.”
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Fuschia Winston-Rodriguez of Evanston was one of the organizers of the event. She echoed Smith-Rayfield’s sentiments that words and signs alone were not enough, action is needed when it comes to fighting racism.
“I have asked you all to come here today to make racist people uncomfortable,” Winston-Rodriguez said. “I’m talking about all those folks who sat on the beach in silence and did nothing. That’s racism.”
She encouraged the crowd to consider issues like education, the investment in Black businesses and Black neighborhoods and police misconduct.
“This system of racist oppression that is killing us doesn’t belong to me,” she said. “White people this is yours.”
After about an hour, the speeches concluded, and in an agreement with the city, those gathered were allowed to march along the beach 50 people at a time. Groups took turns to allow social distancing measures to remain in place.
Trisha Connelly of Evanston holds a sign during an anti-racism rally at Lighhouse Beach in Evanston July 31, 2020. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
Marchers chanted “Black lives matter” and “Black peace matters” as they made their way along the beach.
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The peaceful rally drew a crowd of all ages, many carrying signs.
Deborah Berkman of Chicago said she attended because when she heard about the confrontation, she felt she needed to do something to stand up and show her support.
“I just wanted it not to be easy for people to bring their hate here,” Berkman said. “I want to make it uncomfortable.”
Betty Lambert lives in Evanston and said she attended the event for her children and future generations.
“When I saw the video I was appalled,” she said. “At this date and time we’re still facing racial inequality. This is the time to get it right.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter. Staff reporter Genevieve Bookwalter contributed.


Corrections and clarifications

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· A story Thursday about the U.S. coronavirus death toll implied that Rep. Raul Grijalva is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He is the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.
The Tribune regrets the error.
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Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune’s news responsibility and a value shared in all our publications. Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards. Everyone in our newsroom must agree to live up to this code of conduct. Download the file.
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chicagotribune--2020-07-31--Chicago bars now can add outdoor service on sidewalks, if they partner with a restaurant to provide

Chicago bars now can add outdoor service on sidewalks, if they partner with a restaurant to provide food

“ While we ’ ve had to implement restrictions and take hard measures to combat a recent rise COVID-19 activity @ @ @ @ @ ensure our restaurants , bars and businesses have the supports they need to survive during @ @ @ @ @ said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement .
“ Our innovative Outdoor Dining Program has already @ @ @ @ @ and bars in our communities , and now by expanding our efforts to better support @ @ @ @ @ new restrictions , we are providing a lifeline to hundreds of local establishments across Chicago @ @ @ @ @

In a surprise and undoubtedly welcome move, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Friday afternoon announced an expansion of the city’s Outdoor Dining Program that will allow taverns without a retail food license to operate temporarily on the sidewalk area in front of their establishment.
This offers some relief to bars and taverns affected most severely by the mayor’s recent rule rollback, which banned indoor service to bars lacking a food license.
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Under the expanded program, bars may set up outdoor tables, enclosed by barriers (as is required of sidewalk cafes) and leaving at least 6 feet of pedestrian clearance. In addition, bars must identify a “partner food establishment” to ensure that food is available to bar customers.
“While we’ve had to implement restrictions and take hard measures to combat a recent rise COVID-19 activity, we will continue to ensure our restaurants, bars and businesses have the supports they need to survive during these unprecedented times,” said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement. “Our innovative Outdoor Dining Program has already helped more than 250 restaurants and bars in our communities, and now by expanding our efforts to better support our bars impacted by these new restrictions, we are providing a lifeline to hundreds of local establishments across Chicago’s neighborhoods.”
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In addition, establishments holding a retail food license will be able to operate in outdoor areas — such as courtyards, terraces or patios — without securing an outdoor patio license, which ordinarily would be required. Though temporary, this move will relieve restaurants and bars with food licenses from the lengthy and onerous outdoor patio license process.
pvettel@chicagotribune.com