chicagotribune--2020-08-25--Kenosha in national spotlight after Black man is shot by police. Pepper spray fired at protesters af

Kenosha in national spotlight after Black man is shot by police. Pepper spray fired at protesters after door is ripped from hinges at government building.

“ If you see the video , it wasn ’ t anything big , ” he said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ him .
They could have done anything other than shoot that man .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not going to get better until everybody decides to say something , not @ @ @ @ @ protesting and rioting .
Everybody ’ s got to speak .
”

John Keilman, Dan Hinkel, Genevieve Bookwalter

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)
Protesters and police clashed again Monday night in Kenosha in the wake of an officer shooting a Black man, and authorities remained tight-lipped even as national attention focused on the city just north of the Wisconsin border.
Kenosha residents woke up Monday morning to burned-out cars, broken glass and damaged buildings following clashes Sunday with police that were touched off by the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake. Video appeared to show an officer firing several shots as Blake was facing away from the cop. Blake was hospitalized in serious condition.
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Monday afternoon, police in riot gear blasted pepper spray at an agitated crowd gathered near the door to a government building that people had ripped from its hinges.
Authorities were preparing for potential further unrest at night, and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers summoned 125 National Guard members to monitor the city. Kenosha County officials announced an 8 p.m. curfew for the more urban eastern portion of the county.
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By early evening, several hundred protesters had gathered in downtown Kenosha, under the watch of cops in riot gear.
As night fell, the crowd facing down Kenosha County sheriff’s officers at the courthouse grew more confrontational, heaving a barrage of water bottles, fireworks and other objects at the officers.
Police announced over a loudspeaker shortly after the 8 pm curfew that it was an unlawful assembly. Some officers fired rounds of tear gas into the crowd, which retreated to the park across the street but did not disperse.
Protesters chanted, “No justice, no peace.”
Blake has deep ties to the Chicago area. His family has been in and around Evanston for generations, his uncle, Justin Blake, told the Tribune. His grandfather, Jacob Blake Sr., served as pastor of Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston and was a local leader in the civil rights movement, according to Chicago Tribune archives.
Sunday’s shooting was the latest to galvanize outraged demonstrators who have spilled into the streets repeatedly in the three months since George Floyd died beneath the knee of a Minneapolis cop. Like other controversial uses of force, this one was captured on a harrowing video shared widely online even as authorities said little about the circumstances of the shooting.
The confrontation unfolded as police responded to a call of a domestic incident about 5 p.m. Sunday in Kenosha, a former auto manufacturing hub of 100,000 people about 60 miles north of Chicago.
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.
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Seven shots can be heard, though it isn’t clear how many struck Blake or how many of the officers fired. During the shooting, a woman can be seen jumping up and down in the street as she screams.
The three officers at the scene were placed on administrative leave, standard practice in shootings by police, while the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigates. Authorities did not disclose the identities of the officers involved or say whether they believed Blake was armed.
Court records show Blake has a pending criminal case that started last month. Records indicate Kenosha County prosecutors charged Blake on July 6 with third-degree sexual assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse. An arrest warrant was issued for Blake the following day. The records contain no further details and do not list an attorney for Blake.
Evers quickly condemned the shooting Sunday night.
“While we do not have all of the details yet,” the governor said in a statement, “what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.”
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden joined Evers in criticizing the shooting. In a statement released by his campaign, Biden said, “The nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force.”
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted, “I am deeply disturbed by the video capturing part of the incident. I urge civil & criminal authorities to pursue an immediate & thorough investigation of the shooting.”
Republicans and the police union alleged a rush to judgment, reflecting the deep partisan divide in Wisconsin, a key presidential battleground state.
“As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident,” Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha police union, said in a statement.
Wisconsin’s Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke cautioned the public and elected officials against “racing towards judgment,” given how few details were known.
“The frustration & anger that many in our communities are feeling must be met with empathy, but cannot be further fueled by politicians’ statements or actions that can stoke flames of violence,” Steineke tweeted.
Activists spent Monday in Kenosha’s streets calling for, among other things, the prosecution of the officers involved. Just before noon, protesters gathered in the neighborhood where the shooting happened before marching downtown. Clyde McLemore of the Lake County, Illinois, chapter of Black Lives Matter said he had spoken with Blake’s family and attorney, who told him the man’s condition improved overnight in a local hospital.
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“He hasn’t left this earth,” McLemore said. “He’s doing good. A lot better than expected.”
Tyrone Muhammed, of the Chicago-based group Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, said before the march began that unrest will continue as long as cops hurt those they’re sworn to protect.
“It’s going to be a bloodbath at some point,” he said. “If wise and sensible people don’t get a grip on this, it’s going to spread to something else. We can’t continue to allow the police in our communities to kill us without some reaction.”
The protests grew tense in the midafternoon after a news conference authorities had scheduled for a local park was abruptly switched to a government building after dozens of protesters arrived. Angry that they were denied entrance, people tore one of the building’s doors off its hinges as Mayor John Antaramian addressed reporters.
“The door’s broken, it’s no longer secure!” a police official shouted as Antaramian continued to speak.
A stream of officers wearing black riot gear swept through the news conference to confront the protesters and used pepper spray to repel them from the door.
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The news conference resumed in a windowless interior room. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, whose agency is investigating the shooting, said he wanted the inquiry to move “swiftly” but emphasized that speed would come second to meticulousness.
“It is vital that we get as full and thorough an investigation as possible so we can achieve justice in this case,” he said.
Blake’s uncle, Justin Blake, described him as “a lively young man” with “a hell of a personality.” Jacob Blake attended Evanston Township High School and played football and basketball, and he moved to the Kenosha-Racine area a few years ago for a job and his family, his uncle said.
On Monday near the scene of the shooting, a 32-year-old man who gave his name as Darnell said he and his wife had gotten up early to clean up the mess, including Blake’s blood. He didn’t witness the shooting but called Blake “a good dude” who didn’t cause trouble.
“If you see the video, it wasn’t anything big,” he said. “It was just the police and him. They could have done anything other than shoot that man. It’s bad, and it’s not going to get better until everybody decides to say something, not just us that’s protesting and rioting. Everybody’s got to speak.”
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents family members in several high-profile police shootings, said he had been retained by Blake’s family.
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Sunday’s violence came two weeks after a man shot a Kenosha police officer and fled. The officer’s injuries were not life-threatening, and police arrested the alleged shooter a few days later in Gary.
Another Kenosha police shooting in 2004 has driven controversy and change in Wisconsin in the years since. An officer fatally shot 21-year-old Michael Bell Jr. after he struggled with police trying to arrest him during a traffic stop. Local authorities found the shooting justified, but Bell’s father, Michael Bell Sr., criticized the investigation. The father lobbied for the adoption of a Wisconsin law that now requires outside agencies to investigate police shootings.
Michael Bell Sr. told the Tribune Monday he hopes to learn more about the details of what happened Sunday but was disturbed by the video.
“I think the shooting looked horribly bad,” he said.
John Keilman reported from Kenosha. Genevieve Bookwalter is a Pioneer Press reporter. Tribune reporters Megan Crepeau and Kelli Smith and The Associated Press contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-08-25--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 1,612 new known COVID-19 cases and 8 more deaths reported as state

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 1,612 new known COVID-19 cases and 8 more deaths reported as state scales back reopening in Will, Kankakee counties

State officials announced Monday that a series of stricter regulations will be implemented this week in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants , bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19 , after that region reached a threshold for positivity rate that triggers the move .
Come Wednesday , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come after the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties in Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan posted an 8 % test positivity rate for three consecutive days , becoming the second of the state ’ s 11 regions , as defined by the plan , to be sent backward from the Phase 4 plans that are widely in place throughout the state .
Earlier on Monday , health officials reported 1,612 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths .
That brings the state ’ s total to 221,790 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : CPS will charge thousands in tuition for virtual prekindergarten this fall — day care not included When it meant a 10-hour school day with social interaction and field trips for their children , the Theis-Brigells and many other families decided high-quality public prekindergarten was worth about $ 1,500 a month .
But now that Chicago Public Schools will continue remote learning until at least November , parents are having a harder time justifying the cost when it means they ’ ll also have to monitor their 3- and 4-year-olds , or pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ’ re paying for the child care , really , when you do the tuition-based program , ” said Maddy Brigell , who is keeping her 4-year-old in the program at Disney II Magnet School so as not to lose the seat in case schools reopen next quarter .
But if the COVID-19 pandemic causes classrooms to stay closed , the family isn ’ t planning to continue .
6:15 p.m. : ‘ One and done ’ : IHSA announces fall sports will be limited to regional geographic competition instead of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ one and done ” this season when it comes to postseason competition .
The Illinois High School Association board of directors met virtually Monday and approved a plan for a modified postseason state series that will feature a single round of regional geographic competition in boys and girls golf , boys and girls cross country , girls swimming and diving , and girls tennis .
The competition will be held the week of Oct. 19-25 , with the majority of events expected to be held on Saturday , Oct. 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have 77 false positive COVID-19 tests from the same lab ?
Several NFL teams had their weekends disrupted by false positive COVID-19 tests that the league traced to the same New Jersey BioReference laboratory .
The Bears had nine positive tests from players and coaches that turned out to be false positives .
And according to reports around the league , the Jets , Vikings , Steelers , Bills , Browns , Packers , Eagles , Lions , Patriots and Giants also had spikes in positive tests , with many confirming Sunday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the lab examine 77 positive tests from 11 teams , and all came back negative upon retesting .
Here ’ s what we know — and what we don ’ t .
—Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer Doctors at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Monday began giving vaccination shots to volunteers as part of a clinical trial of one of the new COVID-19 vaccine candidates .
The university is taking part in a trial of a vaccine being developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the body to create a non-harmful piece of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , in order to launch the body ’ s natural immune response to the disease .
The Moderna vaccine is just one of several vaccine candidates that have shown enough promise to enter Phase 3 trials , which are focused on evaluating how safe and protective they are .
People who still want to volunteer can sign up via UIC ’ s online registry or the national registry at coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org .
4:55 p.m. : Illinois scales back reopening in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold reached State officials announced Monday that a series of stricter regulations will be implemented this week in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants , bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19 , after that region reached a threshold for positivity rate that triggers the move .
Come Wednesday , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited to 25 % capacity .
The stricter rules come after the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties in Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan posted an 8 % test positivity rate for three consecutive days , becoming the second of the state ’ s 11 regions , as defined by the plan , to be sent backward from the Phase 4 plans that are widely in place throughout the state .
Other rules for bars include requirements for outdoor bar patrons to be seated at tables outside that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregating at bars , and a reservation requirement for each party .
Once the new rules take effect Wednesday , they will be in place for 14 days .
They do not apply to schools , however .
After the 14-day period , if the region ’ s coronavirus metrics don ’ t improve , the state may crack down further .
If the positivity rate declines to 6.5 % by the end of that two-week period , the region can return to the Phase 4 rules under Pritzker ’ s reopening plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
The Metro East region became the first last week to have stricter regulations imposed by the state .
4:50 p.m. : A week after opening for in-person classes , Loyola Academy closes due to COVID-19 cases Just one week after Loyola Academy students returned to the Wilmette high school ’ s campus , officials said Monday they are closing for two weeks after several students tested positive for COVID-19 .
Officials say they believe the students likely contracted the virus at social gatherings off-campus .
As of the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the private Catholic high school had tested positive for COVID-19 , and 63 students were in quarantine for issues related to exposure , travel or symptoms , officials said in a statement on the Loyola website .
“ While none of the cases have been linked to in-person instruction , we now believe off-campus social exposures are greater than first reported , ” Loyola Academy Principal Charlie Heintz said in a Sunday statement posted on the high school ’ s website .
In another weekend of enforcement , the City of Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consumer Protection shut down four more businesses , including two restaurants , after investigators found them in violation of COVID-19 safety guidelines .
All of the businesses were closed for one night and allowed to reopen the following day .
BACP ’ s enforcement team investigated 83 places and issued 12 citations this weekend .
Since June 3 , it has investigated 1,366 establishments and issued citations to 92 businesses .
For teachers , starting a new school year is never easy .
But this year , teaching remotely is adding its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic , many school districts across the country have shifted to virtual learning in the fall , including Chicago Public Schools and many Chicago-area suburban districts .
So how are teachers getting ready for Zoom classes ?
What do their setups look like ?
We asked teachers around Illinois to send us photos of their remote-learning work stations .
See them here .
—Hannah Herrera Greenspan ( Updated 12:56 p.m. ) 9:19 a.m. : Zoom says it ’ s fixed problem behind massive outages The popular videoconferencing platform Zoom experienced widespread outages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many students nationwide , with users unable to join calls .
The company said that it began receiving reports of disruptions around 9 a.m. Eastern time .
It resolved the issue around 11:30 a.m. , it reported on its status page .
12:53 p.m. : After COVID-19 had Kingston Mines singing the blues , the family takes steps to reopen Lincoln Park ’ s Kingston Mines , one of Chicago ’ s oldest and most beloved blues nightclubs , originally shuttered because of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has yet to open its doors like others in the city .
After their father ’ s death just over two years ago , the family was left with little money to run the business .
When COVID-19 first closed their doors , Donna said they had tried to do delivery for the first few weeks , but they didn ’ t have enough orders to keep going .
“ We ’ d get maybe two orders one day and then no orders for three days — and we had all this food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d make a batch of gumbo and end up having to throw it out.
” At present — due to lack of income and never-ending water and insurance bills — the pair said they ’ re in debt .
“ We ’ re living on borrowed money and GoFundMe , and that ’ s it , ” Lisa said .
On Monday , Illinois public health officials reported 1,612 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths .
That brings the state ’ s total to 221,790 cases and 7,888 fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should wear masks at times to slow coronavirus spread , WHO says Just as millions of children are heading back to school , the World Health Organization says those aged 6 to 11 should wear masks in some cases to help fight the spread of coronavirus .
The recommendations presented Monday follow the widespread belief that children under 12 are not considered as likely to propagate the virus as much as adults .
Children in general face less severe virus symptoms than do adults , with the elderly the most vulnerable to severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions about whether children aged 6 to 11 should wear masks should consider factors like whether COVID-19 transmission is widespread in the area where the child lives ; the child ’ s ability to safely use a mask ; and adult supervision when taking the masks on or off .
10:55 a.m. : Coronavirus has changed forever the way restaurants are designed — for better and for worse For generations , dining out has rarely occupied a second thought .
Restaurants have been there and we have flocked to them — all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 sales , according to an estimate from the National Restaurant Association .
But due to the pandemic and shifting attitudes about health and safety , elements once taken for granted ( squeezing into cozy spaces ) or rarely given second thoughts ( ventilation ) will take on greater meaning for perhaps years to come .
Restaurants in all directions are left to re-evaluate the mechanics of their operations during the health crisis and beyond .
Some have decided they can ’ t make it in this new world .
When one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine dining , Blackbird , announced in June it would not reopen , chef Paul Kahan cited the challenges of operating an “ incredibly small , tight dining room.
” Restaurants that survive are likely to change and new ones will almost certainly be designed with revised priorities .
Some of the changes will be barely perceptible .
Others will be glaring .
Some changes will be shorter-lived .
Others will remain long term .
9:46 a.m. : First case of coronavirus reinfection confirmed in Hong Kong Researchers in Hong Kong are reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
“ An apparently young and healthy patient had a second case of COVID-19 infection which was diagnosed 4.5 months after the first episode , ” University of Hong Kong researchers said Monday in a statement .
The report is of concern because it suggests that immunity to the coronavirus may last only a few months in some people .
And it has implications for vaccines being developed for the virus .
The 33-year-old man had only mild symptoms the first time and no symptoms this time around .
The reinfection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip to Spain , the researchers said , and the virus they sequenced closely matched the strain circulating in Europe in July and August .
This year ’ s calendar was a Halloween-lover ’ s dream : Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday , and Chicago ’ s costume shops , haunted houses and candy companies were gearing up for a blowout season of spooky thrills .
So what happens when the scariest thing on Halloween isn ’ t ghouls , witches or zombies , but the prospect of trick-or-treating in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not going to be what it has been , ” said George Garcia , owner of Fantasy Costumes , who has been selling costumes in the Portage Park neighborhood for more than half a century .
“ We waited six years to get Halloween on a Saturday , and now this.
” Headed into a Halloween unlike any other , towns are weighing whether to announce trick-or-treating hours while haunted house operators determine if there ’ s any way to make a room packed with screaming teens safe .
Costume shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflatable costumes and trick-or-treating bags that promote social distancing .
“ With everything going on , people are going to be looking for a little bit of escape or relief , ” Garcia said .
6:30 a.m. : Illinois Republicans sense momentum against Democrats but uncertain how to deliver their message In the age of COVID-19 and a variety of fits and starts , the Republican National Convention that kicks off Monday will be held largely in a virtual digital setting just as the recently completed Democratic convention .
Unlike the Democratic convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home as former Vice President Joe Biden was nominated for president , Republicans are allowing 336 delegates to actually go to the host city , representing the 50 states , plus territories .
Illinois GOP State Chairman Tim Schneider and Richard Porter , the state ’ s Republican National Committeeman , will attend .
Demetra Demonte , the state ’ s Republican National Committeewoman , had planned to go but opted out for family health reasons .
That leaves the rest of the 67-member delegation , all pledged to President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s March 17 primary results , in a bit of quandary .
Unlike the state ’ s Democrats , who met virtually for a rally session before each night ’ s prime-time festivities , the state GOP delegation ’ s schedule has become a work in progress .
“ I have no idea what to expect , ” said Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady of Bloomington , an at-large delegate .
“ I ’ ll be getting together with some colleagues to watch the convention and we ’ ll talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no idea what to expect out of this , given the framework.
” Other delegates said they are attempting to organize convention “ watch parties ” and Porter , en route to Charlotte , said “ you can put together Zoom meetings in 15 minutes , so I do think at the end of the day there will be some of that.
” 6:15 a.m. : Trump announces plasma treatment authorized for COVID-19 , a treatment that has had inconclusive results President Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a breakthrough , ” one of his top health officials called “ promising ” and other health experts said needs more study before it ’ s celebrated .
The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump ’ s reelection chances .
On the eve of the Republican National Convention , Trump put himself at the center of the FDA 's announcement of the authorization at a news conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval .
The blood plasma , taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies , may provide benefits to those battling the disease .
But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works , when to administer it and what dose is needed .
Here are five things stories from the weekend 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)
State officials announced Monday that a series of stricter regulations will be implemented this week in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants, bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19, after that region reached a threshold for positivity rate that triggers the move.
Come Wednesday, 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.
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The stricter rules come after the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan posted an 8% test positivity rate for three consecutive days, becoming the second of the state’s 11 regions, as defined by the plan, to be sent backward from the Phase 4 plans that are widely in place throughout the state.
Earlier on Monday, health officials reported 1,612 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths. That brings the state’s total to 221,790 cases and 7,888 fatalities.
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Here’s what’s happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
7 p.m.: CPS will charge thousands in tuition for virtual prekindergarten this fall — day care not included
When it meant a 10-hour school day with social interaction and field trips for their children, the Theis-Brigells and many other families decided high-quality public prekindergarten was worth about $1,500 a month.
But now that Chicago Public Schools will continue remote learning until at least November, parents are having a harder time justifying the cost when it means they’ll also have to monitor their 3- and 4-year-olds, or pay someone else to watch them.
“You’re paying for the child care, really, when you do the tuition-based program,” said Maddy Brigell, who is keeping her 4-year-old in the program at Disney II Magnet School so as not to lose the seat in case schools reopen next quarter. But if the COVID-19 pandemic causes classrooms to stay closed, the family isn’t planning to continue.
Read more here. —Hannah Leone
6:15 p.m.: ‘One and done’: IHSA announces fall sports will be limited to regional geographic competition instead of a state tournament
Athletes in fall sports will be “one and done” this season when it comes to postseason competition.
The Illinois High School Association board of directors met virtually Monday and approved a plan for a modified postseason state series that will feature a single round of regional geographic competition in boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country, girls swimming and diving, and girls tennis.
The competition will be held the week of Oct. 19-25, with the majority of events expected to be held on Saturday, Oct. 24.
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It wasn’t unexpected.
Read more here. —Rick Armstrong
6 p.m.: How did the NFL have 77 false positive COVID-19 tests from the same lab?
Several NFL teams had their weekends disrupted by false positive COVID-19 tests that the league traced to the same New Jersey BioReference laboratory.
The Bears had nine positive tests from players and coaches that turned out to be false positives. And according to reports around the league, the Jets, Vikings, Steelers, Bills, Browns, Packers, Eagles, Lions, Patriots and Giants also had spikes in positive tests, with many confirming Sunday afternoon they were false positives.
The NFL had the lab examine 77 positive tests from 11 teams, and all came back negative upon retesting.
Here’s what we know — and what we don’t. —Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer
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5:15 p.m.: Volunteers get COVID-19 vaccine candidate at UIC
Doctors at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Monday began giving vaccination shots to volunteers as part of a clinical trial of one of the new COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
The university is taking part in a trial of a vaccine being developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. It uses genetic building blocks to get the body to create a non-harmful piece of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in order to launch the body’s natural immune response to the disease.
The Moderna vaccine is just one of several vaccine candidates that have shown enough promise to enter Phase 3 trials, which are focused on evaluating how safe and protective they are.
People who still want to volunteer can sign up via UIC’s online registry or the national registry at coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org.
Read more here. —Hal Dardick
4:55 p.m.: Illinois scales back reopening in Will, Kankakee counties after positivity rate threshold reached
State officials announced Monday that a series of stricter regulations will be implemented this week in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants, bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19, after that region reached a threshold for positivity rate that triggers the move.
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Come Wednesday, 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.
The stricter rules come after the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan posted an 8% test positivity rate for three consecutive days, becoming the second of the state’s 11 regions, as defined by the plan, to be sent backward from the Phase 4 plans that are widely in place throughout the state.
Other rules for bars include requirements for outdoor bar patrons to be seated at tables outside that are at least six feet apart and no congregating at bars, and a reservation requirement for each party.
Once the new rules take effect Wednesday, they will be in place for 14 days. They do not apply to schools, however. After the 14-day period, if the region’s coronavirus metrics don’t improve, the state may crack down further.
If the positivity rate declines to 6.5% by the end of that two-week period, the region can return to the Phase 4 rules under Pritzker’s reopening plan, which took effect statewide in late June.
The Metro East region became the first last week to have stricter regulations imposed by the state.
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Read more here. —Jamie Munks
4:50 p.m.: A week after opening for in-person classes, Loyola Academy closes due to COVID-19 cases
Just one week after Loyola Academy students returned to the Wilmette high school’s campus, officials said Monday they are closing for two weeks after several students tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials say they believe the students likely contracted the virus at social gatherings off-campus.
As of the end of the school day on Friday, six students at the private Catholic high school had tested positive for COVID-19, and 63 students were in quarantine for issues related to exposure, travel or symptoms, officials said in a statement on the Loyola website.
“While none of the cases have been linked to in-person instruction, we now believe off-campus social exposures are greater than first reported,” Loyola Academy Principal Charlie Heintz said in a Sunday statement posted on the high school’s website.
Read more here. —Karen Ann Cullotta
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4:23 p.m.: 2 Chicago restaurants cited for coronavirus guideline violations
In another weekend of enforcement, the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection shut down four more businesses, including two restaurants, after investigators found them in violation of COVID-19 safety guidelines.
All of the businesses were closed for one night and allowed to reopen the following day.
BACP’s enforcement team investigated 83 places and issued 12 citations this weekend. Since June 3, it has investigated 1,366 establishments and issued citations to 92 businesses.
Read more here. —Grace Wong
2:47 p.m.: 11 Chicago-area teachers share their setups for remote learning
For teachers, starting a new school year is never easy. But this year, teaching remotely is adding its own set of challenges.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts across the country have shifted to virtual learning in the fall, including Chicago Public Schools and many Chicago-area suburban districts. So how are teachers getting ready for Zoom classes? What do their setups look like?
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We asked teachers around Illinois to send us photos of their remote-learning work stations. See them here. —Hannah Herrera Greenspan
(Updated 12:56 p.m.) 9:19 a.m.: Zoom says it’s fixed problem behind massive outages
The popular videoconferencing platform Zoom experienced widespread outages Monday, the first day of school for many students nationwide, with users unable to join calls.
The company said that it began receiving reports of disruptions around 9 a.m. Eastern time. It resolved the issue around 11:30 a.m., it reported on its status page.
Read more here. —MLive.com
12:53 p.m.: After COVID-19 had Kingston Mines singing the blues, the family takes steps to reopen
Lincoln Park’s Kingston Mines, one of Chicago’s oldest and most beloved blues nightclubs, originally shuttered because of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. It’s also a restaurant with Southern fare, but has yet to open its doors like others in the city.
After their father’s death just over two years ago, the family was left with little money to run the business. When COVID-19 first closed their doors, Donna said they had tried to do delivery for the first few weeks, but they didn’t have enough orders to keep going.
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“We’d get maybe two orders one day and then no orders for three days — and we had all this food,” Donna said. “I’d make a batch of gumbo and end up having to throw it out.”
At present — due to lack of income and never-ending water and insurance bills — the pair said they’re in debt. “We’re living on borrowed money and GoFundMe, and that’s it,” Lisa said.
Read more here. —Lauren Leazenby
12:11 p.m.: 1,612 new known COVID-19 cases, 8 additional deaths
On Monday, Illinois public health officials reported 1,612 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths. That brings the state’s total to 221,790 cases and 7,888 fatalities.
—Chicago Tribune staff
11:12 a.m.: Children ages 6-11 should wear masks at times to slow coronavirus spread, WHO says
Just as millions of children are heading back to school, the World Health Organization says those aged 6 to 11 should wear masks in some cases to help fight the spread of coronavirus.
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The recommendations presented Monday follow the widespread belief that children under 12 are not considered as likely to propagate the virus as much as adults. Children in general face less severe virus symptoms than do adults, with the elderly the most vulnerable to severe infection and death.
Now WHO says decisions about whether children aged 6 to 11 should wear masks should consider factors like whether COVID-19 transmission is widespread in the area where the child lives; the child’s ability to safely use a mask; and adult supervision when taking the masks on or off.
Read more here. —Associated Press
10:55 a.m.: Coronavirus has changed forever the way restaurants are designed — for better and for worse
For generations, dining out has rarely occupied a second thought. Restaurants have been there and we have flocked to them — all the way to a record $863 billion in 2019 sales, according to an estimate from the National Restaurant Association.
But due to the pandemic and shifting attitudes about health and safety, elements once taken for granted (squeezing into cozy spaces) or rarely given second thoughts (ventilation) will take on greater meaning for perhaps years to come. Restaurants in all directions are left to re-evaluate the mechanics of their operations during the health crisis and beyond.
Some have decided they can’t make it in this new world. When one of Chicago’s forerunners of modern fine dining, Blackbird, announced in June it would not reopen, chef Paul Kahan cited the challenges of operating an “incredibly small, tight dining room.”
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Restaurants that survive are likely to change and new ones will almost certainly be designed with revised priorities. Some of the changes will be barely perceptible. Others will be glaring. Some changes will be shorter-lived. Others will remain long term.
Read more here. —Josh Noel
9:46 a.m.: First case of coronavirus reinfection confirmed in Hong Kong
Researchers in Hong Kong are reporting the first confirmed case of reinfection with the coronavirus.
“An apparently young and healthy patient had a second case of COVID-19 infection which was diagnosed 4.5 months after the first episode,” University of Hong Kong researchers said Monday in a statement.
The report is of concern because it suggests that immunity to the coronavirus may last only a few months in some people. And it has implications for vaccines being developed for the virus.
The 33-year-old man had only mild symptoms the first time and no symptoms this time around. The reinfection was discovered when he returned from a trip to Spain, the researchers said, and the virus they sequenced closely matched the strain circulating in Europe in July and August.
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Read more here. —The New York Times
9:08 a.m.: Will COVID-19 cancel Halloween?
This year’s calendar was a Halloween-lover’s dream: Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday, and Chicago’s costume shops, haunted houses and candy companies were gearing up for a blowout season of spooky thrills.
So what happens when the scariest thing on Halloween isn’t ghouls, witches or zombies, but the prospect of trick-or-treating in the middle of a pandemic?
“Obviously it’s not going to be what it has been,” said George Garcia, owner of Fantasy Costumes, who has been selling costumes in the Portage Park neighborhood for more than half a century. “We waited six years to get Halloween on a Saturday, and now this.”
Headed into a Halloween unlike any other, towns are weighing whether to announce trick-or-treating hours while haunted house operators determine if there’s any way to make a room packed with screaming teens safe. Costume shops are trying to adapt, by offering inflatable costumes and trick-or-treating bags that promote social distancing.
“With everything going on, people are going to be looking for a little bit of escape or relief,” Garcia said.
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Read more here. —Lauren Zumbach and Doug George
7:57 a.m.: Back-to-school laptop shortage hits schools nationwide. ‘You can’t have a kid do distance learning without a computer.’
Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation has found.
The world’s three biggest computer companies, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops, in some cases exacerbated by Trump administration sanctions on Chinese suppliers, according to interviews with over two dozen U.S. schools, districts in 15 states, suppliers, computer companies and industry analysts.
As the school year begins virtually in many places because of the coronavirus, educators nationwide worry that computer shortfalls will compound the inequities — and the headaches for students, families and teachers.
Read more here. —Associated Press
6:30 a.m.: Illinois Republicans sense momentum against Democrats but uncertain how to deliver their message
In the age of COVID-19 and a variety of fits and starts, the Republican National Convention that kicks off Monday will be held largely in a virtual digital setting just as the recently completed Democratic convention.
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Unlike the Democratic convention, where states’ delegates were told to stay home as former Vice President Joe Biden was nominated for president, Republicans are allowing 336 delegates to actually go to the host city, representing the 50 states, plus territories.
Illinois GOP State Chairman Tim Schneider and Richard Porter, the state’s Republican National Committeeman, will attend. Demetra Demonte, the state’s Republican National Committeewoman, had planned to go but opted out for family health reasons.
That leaves the rest of the 67-member delegation, all pledged to President Donald Trump’s renomination based on the state’s March 17 primary results, in a bit of quandary. Unlike the state’s Democrats, who met virtually for a rally session before each night’s prime-time festivities, the state GOP delegation’s schedule has become a work in progress.
“I have no idea what to expect,” said Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady of Bloomington, an at-large delegate. “I’ll be getting together with some colleagues to watch the convention and we’ll talk and see. But I just have no idea what to expect out of this, given the framework.”
Other delegates said they are attempting to organize convention “watch parties” and Porter, en route to Charlotte, said “you can put together Zoom meetings in 15 minutes, so I do think at the end of the day there will be some of that.”
Read more here. —Rick Pearson
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6:15 a.m.: Trump announces plasma treatment authorized for COVID-19, a treatment that has had inconclusive results
President Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.
The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.
On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA's announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.
The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.
Read more here. —Associated Press
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chicagotribune--2020-08-24--‘One and done’: IHSA announces fall sports will be limited to regional geographic competition instea

‘One and done’: IHSA announces fall sports will be limited to regional geographic competition instead of a state tournament

“ If they announce anything that ’ s different than that , it might be a pleasant surprise .
I @ @ @ @ @ less advised that it would be good to use Oct. 17 as the date for @ @ @ @ @ turns out , we ’ ll take it as it floats in .
”

Runners exit the starting boxes down a long, sloping field at the start of the Class 2A state meet in boys cross country at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
Athletes in fall sports will be “one and done” this season when it comes to postseason competition.
The Illinois High School Association board of directors met virtually Monday and approved a plan for a modified postseason state series that will feature a single round of regional geographic competition in boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country, girls swimming and diving, and girls tennis.
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The competition will be held the week of Oct. 19-25, with the majority of events expected to be held on Saturday, Oct. 24.
It wasn’t unexpected.
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Prior to the announcement, Chad Clarey didn’t think a traditional playoff format would be forthcoming.
In fact, the coach of defending Class 2A boys cross country champion Kaneland pretty much called what the IHSA would decide for his sport.
“I’m already planning on having Oct. 24 marked on the calendar as my end date, like they announced in July,” Clarey said. “I’m thinking we’re going to have a Class 2A COVID Regional featuring teams from Kane and DuPage counties.
“If they announce anything that’s different than that, it might be a pleasant surprise. I think schools were more or less advised that it would be good to use Oct. 17 as the date for conference meets. However it turns out, we’ll take it as it floats in.”
Chris Muth, Yorkville’s boys and girls cross country coach, has watched his girls team finish second to Naperville North the past four years in the 3A state meet.
“It will be interesting to see how small the regions will be,” Muth said. “Right now, we’re limiting everything to 50 participants, so that’s a maximum of eight teams. That’s a pretty small region.
“It’s the times we live in now. It’s one and done for the state series. We’re grateful for what competition we can get, but it’s obviously disappointing we can’t compete against the best in state.”
Runners jockey to make it to the front of the pack at the start of the Class 3A Libertyville Regional at Adler Park on on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / News-Sun)
Craig Anderson, the executive director of the IHSA, again emphasized that the health and safety of athletes, coaches and school communities were the organization’s first priority.
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“Throughout the spring and summer, we looked for ways to reengage student-athletes with their peers and coaches, and our membership has shared countless positive experiences from that initial ‘return to play’ period,” Anderson said. “We have found similar value in being able to conduct fall sports and believe the participants deserve a culminating experience if we can offer it safely.”
Final details for each sport will be released in the coming weeks.
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 >
The board did approve a $100 state series entry fee for any school entering a team or individual in any of the fall sports, something that hasn’t happened since the 2004-05 academic year.
Approximately 70% of the IHSA budget is funded by postseason ticket sales.
“The past few months have seen a significant reduction in the IHSA’s income, given the cancellation of the IHSA boys basketball state finals and the entire spring season,” Anderson said. “Financial challenges remain on the horizon in 2020-21 due to the limited number of sports currently classified as low risk by the state, making the chances of conducting full state series tournaments unlikely at this time.”
The board also discussed a bylaw exemption that could allow for participation in club or travel sports during a high school team’s season. It won’t be allowed during the fall and winter seasons.
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The board is seeking more data on the idea for sports that may be affected during the abbreviated seasons for spring (Feb. 15 through May 1) and summer (May 3 through June 26).
High school teams in girls volleyball and boys soccer in the spring and baseball, softball, girls soccer and boys volleyball in the summer could be seriously hampered if athletes aren’t allowed to play both club and high school due to the overlap and the impact with recruiting.
It’s believed many of those high school teams would be affected if athletes were forced to choose between the two, with many likely to opt for their club teams to have a greater chance of receiving a college scholarship offer.


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--CPS will charge thousands in tuition for virtual prekindergarten this fall — day care not included

Brigell , who runs a small counseling business while her husband works for the AFSCME union , said they , @ @ @ @ @ are lucky to be able to work from home and afford to take a chance @ @ @ @ @ but she knows other families at Disney II did not have the same choice .
@ @ @ @ @ so many parents withdrawing before the tuition deadline that she wondered whether the school would @ @ @ @ @ this year , but as of Monday she had not heard otherwise .

Colin Theis and his wife Maddy Brigell play with their son Quinn 6, and their daughter Charlotte outside their home. They're among parents faced with a tough choice of keeping their child in a prekindergarten program that costs thousands but will be virtual this fall. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
When it meant a 10-hour school day with social interaction and field trips for their children, the Theis-Brigells and many other families decided high-quality public prekindergarten was worth about $1,500 a month.
But now that Chicago Public Schools will continue remote learning until at least November, parents are having a harder time justifying the cost when it means they’ll also have to monitor their 3- and 4-year-olds, or pay someone else to watch them.
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“You’re paying for the child care, really, when you do the tuition-based program,” said Maddy Brigell, who is keeping her 4-year-old in the program at Disney II Magnet School so as not to lose the seat in case schools reopen next quarter. But if the COVID-19 pandemic causes classrooms to stay closed, the family isn’t planning to continue.
For Cheryl Kaplan Zachariah, staying in a program at Alcott Elementary was not an option. As the mother of two young children with different remote learning schedules, and a dissertation of her own to write, she would still need child care help. School for her 7-year-old, entering second grade at Alcott, is free. But pre-K tuition for the 4-year-old was going to be $15,275 for the year, according to CPS documents — and she would still need to pay for day care.
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“How in the world am I supposed to manage that?” Zachariah asked.
Feeling rushed to make a decision before the deadline to commit, and with September tuition due on Aug. 20, she pulled out of pre-K. With a scholarship, she said part-time day care will cost less.
After CPS announced the fall quarter would be virtual, working parents unable to afford both day care and tuition have been withdrawing from tuition-based pre-K programs, offered at seven of the district’s elementary schools at a price less than many private preschools. At 10 hours, the days are significantly longer than the district’s free full-day programs, which by now have limited availability. Two weeks out from the first day of fall quarter, some parents are suddenly pivoting to home schooling.
Colin Theis plays with his 4-year-old daughter Charlotte Theis-Brigell outside their home. He and his wife decided to keep their daughter in a CPS pre-kindergarten even though it will be virtual, but knows other families aren't able to do that. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Brigell, who runs a small counseling business while her husband works for the AFSCME union, said they, on the other hand, are lucky to be able to work from home and afford to take a chance on the fall quarter, but she knows other families at Disney II did not have the same choice. She’s heard of so many parents withdrawing before the tuition deadline that she wondered whether the school would even have a pre-K classroom this year, but as of Monday she had not heard otherwise.
Schools chief Janice Jackson said at a news conference last week the district is working to maintain all of its tuition-based programs, but those rely on parents’ monthly payments.
“We did have a few people who elected not to enroll their students in the program and we, of course, respect that,” Jackson said. “But we know that the situation we are in is a temporary situation, and we want to make sure that when we are in a post-COVID environment, those programs are still in place, which requires us to continue to charge people.”
An email from Alcott administrators to pre-K families on Aug. 17 stated the district’s Office of Early Childhood Education had asked each school for the number of families enrolling in the tuition-based program and committing for the entire school year. To continue the program, at least 15 families from each homeroom class have to commit, according to a copy of the email shared with the Tribune.
Administrators acknowledged getting many questions from families about opting in later in the school year if in-person classes resume, but said that was not an option.
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“We understand completely that this is a difficult decision for families,” the email said. “Please know that it was not until recently that this discussion was had with the school district.”
CPS did not respond to a Tribune request for information related to tuition-based pre-K enrollment and what would happen to teachers who no longer have classes.
It wasn’t easy to give up a seat at Alcott for Zachariah or for Jason and Bridget Smith, who also have an older child there.
“I worked really hard to get him in,” Zachariah said of her 4-year-old. “I was so excited and as a single parent, before everything happened, I thought this would be great because I would have one drop-off. I don’t live in the neighborhood and was thrilled to get in.”
The Smiths enrolled their youngest in the 3-year-old program last year, making the calculation that the cost of pre-K for two years was worth it to have both of their boys at the same school, where they had been very happy with the teachers and leadership. Smith said he and some other parents he knows may have been willing to pay half the amount of tuition.
“The resources that you’re spending money on aren’t the same since you’re not physically in the space,” he said. “My wife and I are working 10 to 12 hours a day so it kind of didn’t make sense. If we had to pay for this, we would have still had to pay for some type of at-home care or put a 4-year-old in front of ‘Sesame Street’ all day.”
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Now they are planning on home schooling, and figuring things out as they go. Between Bridget’s job in real estate and Jason’s at a small tech firm, that includes looking into hiring someone to help with the children from 8 a.m. to noon.
“It all sucks still, because it’s such a division of haves and have-nots,” Smith said. “We are kind of lucky, because for the most part we work from home, so we can kind of do it.”
For many pre-K parents, Friday’s update about child care options through CPS came too late — and it’s still not clear what will be offered.
“Just getting the info three weeks before school, it’s not like they pushed the deadline back,” Smith said, referring to the remote learning plan released last week. “We got less than five days to figure this out.”
The only concession CPS made was agreeing not to keep parents on the hook for the entire school year if they decided to withdraw before it ended, Jason Smith said.
Ultimately, Brigell and her husband decided to stay in the program because they would both still be working remotely, and they liked the teacher. As long as they can mitigate the COVID-19 risks, her parents can help out with the kids.
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“Our thinking is, I guess we’ll try it for a couple of months,” she said. “The whole thing doesn’t really make sense to us, charging that much for an hour of instruction a day, but (the teacher) did a great job in the spring with it.”
Zachariah does not have family in the area and has been in touch with other parents about learning pods but is still trying to find others nearby with the same needs who are making the same safety commitments and keeping their bubbles as small as hers, she said.
Before the pandemic, Zachariah was on track to finish her doctoral degree in curriculum studies from University of Illinois at Chicago next year. While thankful for the ways in which her academic background has helped her keep her children learning during the pandemic, she feels torn between postponing it and staying on track, unsure what is best for her children.
“I have to get that degree because that degree is freedom,” Zachariah said. “It means I can be independent, I can get a job, I can be able to take care of my family.”
CPS and the city circulated a survey on Friday, asking parents to respond by the end of this week “to better understand who may need help this fall finding a safe space for their children during traditional school hours.”
CPS is evaluating potential sites across the city where families could register to have their children go during remote learning days, according to a letter sent with the survey from Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade.
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Children would be put in groups based on age, following city guidelines for limits on gathering size and social distancing, and paired with the same adults each day. They would get breakfast and lunch and internet, but the adults may not be qualified to teach or help them with schoolwork. Everyone would be required to follow public health protocols including mask wearing and daily symptom screenings, and each family would be assigned times to pick up and drop off children on a staggered schedule.
Priority would be given to families that live in transitional housing or in high-need communities, according to the letter.
hleone@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Jacob Blake, shot by police officer in Kenosha, part of Evanston family long associated with communi

Jacob Blake, shot by police officer in Kenosha, part of Evanston family long associated with community activism

In footage captured on cellphone video from across the street , Blake walks from the sidewalk to the front of @ @ @ @ @ door as shouting officers follow him with their guns pointed at him .
Blake then @ @ @ @ @ into the SUV , at which time an officer grabs his shirt from behind and @ @ @

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)
Jacob Blake, who was shot by a police officer in Kenosha on Sunday, grew up in Evanston as part of a family with deep ties to local community activism.
A video of the shooting appears to show an officer firing several shots as Blake, 29, is turned away. The shooting has touched off protests and unrest in the town not far from the Wisconsin-Illinois border.
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In footage captured on cellphone video from across the street, Blake walks from the sidewalk to the front of his SUV to the driver-side door as shouting officers follow him with their guns pointed at him. Blake then opens the door and leans into the SUV, at which time an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire.
Seven shots can be heard, though it isn’t clear how many struck Blake or how many of the officers fired.
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Jacob Blake is in and out of consciousness and appears to be paralyzed from the waist down, Justin Blake said Tuesday morning. However, that paralysis could be temporary as he continues to recover.
“After some of the swelling goes down, anything could happen,” Justin Blake said. “He’s a young dude. They heal a lot faster than us old timers.”
[ Police arrest 17-year-old from Lake County in connection with Kenosha protest fatal shootings ]
Blake’s family has been active in and around Evanston for generations, said his uncle, Justin Blake, while en route to he hospital where Jacob Blake is being treated.
“He’s a lively young man. He’s like his father, my brother,” Justin Blake said. “He’s got a hell of a personality and he loves people.”
He moved to the Kenosha-Racine area a few years ago for a job and his family, his uncle said.
In this September 2019 photo taken in Evanston, Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake. (Adria-Joi Watkins/AP)
“It was a safer location. He could work and try to save and build a better life,” Justin Blake said.
Jacob Blake played football and basketball at Evanston Township High School, his uncle said. He loves sports, music and architecture.
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But Jacob Blake didn’t forget his roots, and returned often to volunteer with his uncle at Black Urban Recycling in Chicago, an organization that collects aluminum cans from seniors centers, veterans groups and elsewhere to recycle them and raise money for a community center in the Englewood neighborhood, Justin Blake said.
“The veterans love when he comes around because he’s always polite and perky,” his uncle said.
Jacob Blake’s grandfather, also named Jacob Blake, served as pastor of Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston and was a local leader in the civil rights movement, according to Chicago Tribune archives.
After the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, the Rev. Jacob Blake helped organize and spoke to a crowd of about 3,000 Evanston residents who marched in support of a local comprehensive housing law.
Blake’s grandfather, who died in 1976, later led his congregation in constructing the Ebenezer Primm Towers, according to a Tribune obituary.
The Rev. Jacob Blake, who became pastor of the church in 1967, noticed a need for low-income housing for community members when they reached their retirement years, according to a June 16, 1974, Tribune article on the development’s opening.
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Land for the development at Emerson Street and Maple Avenue was purchased for $75,000 from Northwestern University after pressure from students, according to reporting at the time. The building was described as possibly the first Black-sponsored and Black-managed development subsidized by the federal “236 program,” which was created to provide housing to low- and moderate-income individuals.
After his death, the nearby Jacob Blake Manor, which also provided affordable housing to seniors, was named after him.
Court records show Blake has a pending criminal case that started last month. Online court records indicate Kenosha County prosecutors charged Blake on July 6 with third-degree sexual assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse. An arrest warrant was issued for Blake the following day.
The records contain no further details and do not list an attorney for Blake.
Jae Rice, 29, said she’s a family friend and former high school classmate of Blake’s. She remembers Blake as always being supportive of her music career at their high school.
“It hits a little differently when it’s someone you know and especially someone that you care about,” Rice said. “Especially when it’s coming from Evanston where we have kind of like a safety net around us. … It’s hard when these things hit us.”
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Rice said she saw the video of an officer shooting Blake on Facebook and she wants people understand that no one deserves to be shot in that way, no matter if they have a criminal record.
“It’s always sort of like a, ‘Oh let’s understand why this person got in this predicament,’” Rice said. “When I heard that, I just got sick to my stomach, because I was just wondering, ‘What does any of that, what does any of that have to do with the video we just saw?’”
As of Monday afternoon, authorities have not disclosed the identities of the officers involved nor have they said whether they believed Blake was armed.
Kori Rumore and Kelli Smith contributed.
gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Federal charges brought in carjacking, armed robbery spree that included a UPS driver in Oak Park

When officers approached the Kia , Tate accelerated in reverse and backed into a tree , according to the charges @ @ @ @ @ in the direction of officers and bailed out of the vehicle as it struck an @ @ @ @ @ dropped a firearm to the ground as he ran and was arrested a short distance @ @ @ @ @ charges .

Federal charges were brought Aug. 24 against a west suburban man accused in a two-day carjacking and armed robbery spree last week that included the broad-daylight robbery of a UPS driver in Oak Park.
Darius Young, 24, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of robbery under the federal Hobbs Act stemming from the alleged crime spree last Thursday and Friday.
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Young, of Berwyn, appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan, who ordered him held in custody pending a detention hearing later this week.
According to the complaint, the UPS driver was making a delivery in the 1100 block of South Highland Avenue in Oak Park about 1:30 p.m. Friday when he heard a man approach him from behind and say several times, “Get on the ground, stay down.”
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As the driver was lying facedown on the ground, he looked up and saw several men, one of whom had a handgun, according to the charges. The other men went through the truck and removed packages before speeding off in a light-colored vehicle.
Meanwhile, while the robbery was taking place, a witness parking a car at a nearby dollar store saw the UPS driver lying in the street while several males jumped in and out of the truck carrying boxes, according to the complaint.
The witness recorded a portion of the robbery on a cellphone and later emailed the video to Oak Park police, the charges stated.
Several hours later, law enforcement conducting surveillance in the 5200 block of West Polk Street in Chicago saw Young and an alleged accomplice, Xavier Tate, pull up in a gray Kia Optima that matched the description of the car used in the robbery, according to the complaint.
Officers had been watching the block because a Mitsubishi Outlander that had been carjacked a day earlier in Cicero was spotted parked on the street there, according to the complaint.
When officers approached the Kia, Tate accelerated in reverse and backed into a tree, according to the charges. He then drove forward in the direction of officers and bailed out of the vehicle as it struck an undercover police car. Tate dropped a firearm to the ground as he ran and was arrested a short distance away, according to the charges.
Young, meanwhile, was arrested as he stepped out of the passenger side of the Kia. In an interview with law enforcement at the Austin District police station, Young admitted he’d participated in the robbery of the UPS driver “because he needed money,” the complaint stated.
Young also said in the interview that he and his accomplices had robbed a victim leaving a Chase bank in Chicago on Thursday and also carjacked a Mazda SUV, also in Chicago, the complaint alleged.
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A lawyer for Young could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Kia’s trunk was allegedly crammed with boxes from the UPS truck heist. Officers also found a state identification card belonging to the victim of the robbery outside the Chase bank as well as a key fob for the stolen Mazda, according to the charges.
Young told authorities that after the UPS robbery, he and his accomplices drove to a different location to see what was in the boxes, but all they found was “items such as granola, toilet paper, and a pair of Jordan shoes,” the complaint said.
“Young stated he did not get any of the proceeds from the UPS robbery as the only thing of value were the pair of Jordan shoes, which were not his shoe size,” the complaint alleged.
Tate, 23, of the 6100 block of South Wood Street in Chicago, was charged by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office with one count of use of a firearm by a felon, court records show. He is in jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond.
The other participants in the robberies were still being sought by police as of Monday.
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Chicago Tribune’s Megan Crepeau contributed.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Illinois scales back reopening in Will, Kankakee counties after COVID-19 positivity rate threshold r

Illinois scales back reopening in Will, Kankakee counties after COVID-19 positivity rate threshold reached

“ Whether you disagree or agree with Governor ’ s rules , he is the one with the power right @ @ @ @ @ the constitutionality of his executive orders .
Like it or not , failure to follow @ @ @ @ @ extend beyond any one individual , ” McDermed said .
“ … This retreat from @ @ @ @ @ that the fate of area businesses is directly related to our personal behaviors , regardless @ @ @ @ @ encourage everyone to consider how their choices impact our entire community , especially business owners @ @ @ @ @ beginning to recover and are struggling to stay afloat during this health crisis .
”

In this file photo, Gov. J.B. Pritzker steps up to speak during a news conference at the University of Chicago's Harper Center on July 23, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
State officials announced Monday that a series of stricter regulations will be put in place this week in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants, bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19, after that region reached a threshold for positivity rate that triggers the move.
Come Wednesday, 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.
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Casinos also must close at 11 p.m., and are limited to 25% capacity. The stricter rules come after the region that includes Will and Kankakee counties in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan posted an 8% test positivity rate for three consecutive days, becoming the second of the state’s 11 regions, as defined by the plan, to be sent backward from the phase four rules that are widely in place throughout the state.
Other rules for bars include requirements for outdoor bar patrons to be seated at tables outside that are at least 6 feet apart and no congregating at bars, and a reservation requirement for each party.
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Once the new rules take effect Wednesday, they will be in place for 14 days. They do not apply to schools, however. After the 14-day period, if the region’s coronavirus metrics don’t improve, the state may crack down further.
If the positivity rate declines to 6.5% by the end of that two-week period, the region can return to the phase four rules under Pritzker’s reopening plan, which took effect statewide in late June. If the positivity rate sits between 6.5% and 8% at the end of two weeks, the new rules will remain in effect.
In a statement, state Rep. Margo McDermed, a Mokena Republican, said lawmakers were told the positivity rate increase in the region was driven largely by the 20-to-29 age group, including a lack of social distancing at bars, large gatherings and “travel to COVID hot spots.”
“Whether you disagree or agree with Governor’s rules, he is the one with the power right now while the courts consider the constitutionality of his executive orders. Like it or not, failure to follow his rules have consequences that extend beyond any one individual,” McDermed said. “… This retreat from reopening our local economy demonstrates that the fate of area businesses is directly related to our personal behaviors, regardless of age. I would encourage everyone to consider how their choices impact our entire community, especially business owners, who are just now beginning to recover and are struggling to stay afloat during this health crisis.”
The regions defined in Pritzker’s reopening plan that include Chicago, Cook County and the other collar counties remained lower than 7% as of Friday, according to state Department of Public Health data.
As of Friday, the test positivity rate for Chicago was 5.2%, and was higher in suburban Cook County: 6.7%, according to state Department of Public Health data.
The region that includes DuPage and Kane counties stood at 5.8% as of Friday, and the test positivity rate was 5.5% in the region that includes Lake and McHenry counties.
The Metro East region became the first last week to have stricter regulations imposed by the state, and Pritzker’s office warned on Monday that it could see a further scaling back of its reopening as early as next week if the region continues to see heightened COVID-19 test positivity rates. The Metro East test positivity rate was 9.4% as of Friday, according to state data.
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jmunks@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Volunteers start getting COVID-19 vaccine at UIC as part of large clinical trial

Two people were given the shots on the first day , to make sure all the correct systems and protocols @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Richard Novak , professor and chief of infectious diseases at the university ’ s @ @ @ @ @ plan is to scale up the process by Wednesday so 20 people a day can @ @ @ @

Doctors at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Monday began giving vaccination shots to volunteers as part of a clinical trial of one of the new COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Two people were given the shots on the first day, to make sure all the correct systems and protocols were in place, said Dr. Richard Novak, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the university’s Department of Medicine. The plan is to scale up the process by Wednesday so 20 people a day can get the shots.
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“We’re just trying to get our feet wet,” Novak said.
The university is taking part in a trial of a vaccine being developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. It uses genetic building blocks to get the body to create a non-harmful piece of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in order to launch the body’s natural immune response to the disease.
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The Moderna vaccine is just one of several vaccine candidates that have shown enough promise to enter phase 3 trials, which are focused on evaluating how safe and protective they are.
About 8,000 volunteers have signed up for the Moderna trial, including up to 2,000 or so at UIC, Novak said. Volunteers at UIC who don’t get chosen could still be picked for an anticipated arm of a phase 3 trial of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate, he added.
People who still want to volunteer can sign up via UIC’s online registry or the national registry at coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org. People can also call UIC researchers at 312-355-0656 with questions. They are looking for folks at higher risk of contracting the disease, such as essential workers or people who live in higher-risk communities.
The Moderna study plans to enroll 30,000 people in all and watch them over two years. Half will get the vaccine while the rest get a placebo, and the two groups will be compared over time to see whether those who got the vaccine fared better.
If enough data can be collected before the two years are up, and the vaccine works as well as hoped, it could be approved and go to market before the end of the study, potentially even before the year is out, Novak said.
Novak said the Moderna vaccine produced strong antibody responses in the earlier-stage trials conducted on fewer subjects. “We have good reason to believe this will be effective, so I’m very optimistic we will get good results,” he said.
hdardick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Mayor Lori Lightfoot to release Chicago’s city budget forecast next week

The mayor upended traditional political calculations last year when she pushed through a budget without major property tax hikes or @ @ @ @ @ what she said was an $ 838 million shortfall .
Politicians typically pack tax increases @ @ @ @ @ s budget to attempt to keep the backlash as far from the next election as @ @ @ @ @ on several one-time fixes including a huge tax increment financing surplus , $ 215 million @ @ @ @ @ elimination of vacant positions in city government to help plug last year ’ s deficit @

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will unveil her 2021 budget forecast next week, kicking off what could be a painful budget cycle for the city’s taxpayers.
Earlier this summer, Lightfoot administration officials said next year’s budget could include a $1 billion shortfall. They also said the coronavirus pandemic put a $700 million hole in 2020′s spending plan, raising questions about how the city would plug its deficit.
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Lightfoot officials said the city will host a budget forecast on Monday, helping answer just how big the hole will be. But Lightfoot’s plan for plugging the yawning budget deficit will come later in the fall.
After the forecast, Lightfoot will hold four virtual town hall meetings aimed at getting feedback from residents “with a focus on engaging youth and the Latinx and African American communities.”
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The format will preclude protesters from interrupting her town halls.
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The mayor upended traditional political calculations last year when she pushed through a budget without major property tax hikes or other fee increases to plug what she said was an $838 million shortfall. Politicians typically pack tax increases into their first year’s budget to attempt to keep the backlash as far from the next election as possible, but Lightfoot relied on several one-time fixes including a huge tax increment financing surplus, $215 million from debt refinancing and the elimination of vacant positions in city government to help plug last year’s deficit.
She closed that gap without a large property tax increase, in part by trying to get $163 million more from federal authorities for the cost of ambulance rides by the Chicago Fire Department, money that has been slow to materialize.
She also hiked fees on Uber and Lyft rides downtown, doubled the tax on food and drinks bought in Chicago restaurants and pushed through an increase to the personal property lease tax on some computer leases of cloud software and cloud infrastructure.
The ambulance reimbursement, in particular, remains a controversial subject among some aldermen who are unsure the federal government will follow through.
Lightfoot has called for more federal assistance to cities dealing with the pandemic to help balance their budgets. She also has refused to take property taxes or job cuts off the table.
Chicago Tribune’s John Byrne contributed.
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gpratt@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @royalpratt


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--2 men charged in connection with robbery at Glenview bank branch

Authorities said the pair left the scene in a gray dual cab pickup truck .
Using that vehicle description , @ @ @ @ @ in the area later that night and found a vehicle that matched the description , @ @ @ @ @ .
Mark Ciesla .

Police charged a Des Plaines man and an Ohio man in connection with a bank robbery that took place in Glenview last week, according to officials.
Glenview police responded to a call about the robbery around 1:30 p.m. last Thursday at the TCF Bank branch located inside Jewel Osco, 2502 Waukegan Road, police said.
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Authorities said the pair left the scene in a gray dual cab pickup truck. Using that vehicle description, detectives drove around to hotels in the area later that night and found a vehicle that matched the description, according to Glenview police Sgt. Mark Ciesla.
After watching over the area for a while, police took Kamal Fadi Farjo, 20, of the 9000 block of Golf Road, Des Plaines, and Tyler James O’Toole, 23, of the 4700 block of Fenwick Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, into custody.
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The police have been working with FBI authorities to investigate the robbery, and the men were turned over to the FBI after they were arrested, Ciesla said.
Police said the men were charged with bank robbery.
Two men robbed the TCF Bank located in Jewel Osco, 2502 Waukegan Road, in Glenview on Aug. 20, 2020. (Federal Bureau of Investigation / HANDOUT)
Surveillance from the scene showed two men in masks, one wearing a hooded sweatshirt and the other wearing a baseball hat and a North Face T-shirt.
According to surveillance and law enforcement interviews with a bank employee, one of the men approached the bank teller with a padded yellow envelope with a black handwritten demand note written on it, according to the incident complaint.
No weapons were observed or implied in the incident, and no one was injured, according to police.
An audit of the the bank teller’s drawer by TCF National Bank showed a loss of $977, according to the incident complaint.
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After appearing at a bond hearing, O’Toole was released on home detention and Farjo was released on bond with a curfew, U.S. attorney spokesman Joseph Fitzpatrick said in an email.
kedquist@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--Chicago could set record highs this week, but forecasters say humidity will be ‘relatively’ low

“ They both kind of fall under the umbrella of something that we call apparent temperature , which is what @ @ @ @ @ on — in the wintertime — wind chill is based on the temperature in the @ @ @ @ @ summertime , is based on humidity and the temperature , ” Ogorek said .

Laura Nieto, of Oak Park, and her boyfriend, Matthew Williams, of Long Island, New York, keep cool by standing along the lakefront near Monroe Harbor in Chicago on a hot and humid day, Aug. 25, 2020. Both are students at Indiana University. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
The heat this week could set records in the Chicago area, but forecasters say they haven’t issued any advisories yet because the humidity is expected to be relatively low.
The National Weather Service said high temperatures will close in on 100 degrees daily, usually between 2 and 4 p.m., until Friday when a cold front will move in, making weekend temperatures more bearable in northern Illinois.
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Rafal Ogorek, a meteorologist with the weather service, said the humidity will be about 40% to 50%. That will be particularly helpful with abnormally high temperatures for this point in August, he said.
The more humid the higher the heat index — how it feels.
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“This is just below the criteria for us to issue any heat advisories or heat warnings, and that’s mainly due to the humidity being a little bit lower than it usually is for when we issue those advisories and warnings,” he said.
“For this upcoming week, most of the heat indices are supposed to remain pretty close to the actual temperature, so we probably won’t be having heat indices much higher than 100 in most places, Ogorek said.
Highest temperature so far this hour (1pm-2pm hour) at #Chicago O'Hare and Midway has been 95° at both airports. Warmest temperature of 2020 so far for Chicago has been 96° on July 7th and July 26th. #ilwx — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 24, 2020
The high temperature Monday was 95, one degree shy of tying for the hottest day of 2020. On Tuesday, the high should also be 95, which is the current record high for Aug. 25, set in 2003.
“There’s potential for that record to fall,” Ogorek said. “There are a couple of records that are possibly in jeopardy of falling this week. The second one would be Wednesday, for Aug. 26. The record for that is 97 set in 1973 and we currently have a forecast high of 96 for O’Hare.”
Thursday could see a high of 96 but Ogorek said the heat index is not likely to exceed 100 degrees, a threshold at which the weather service begins its warnings.
Heat indices can be thought of as similar to wind chill. There is the actual air temperature that’s recorded, but it can feel hotter or colder to a person and that leads to the second measurement — wind chill in winter and heat index in summer.
“They both kind of fall under the umbrella of something that we call apparent temperature, which is what our bodies feel outside based on — in the wintertime — wind chill is based on the temperature in the wind and, in the summertime, is based on humidity and the temperature,” Ogorek said.
With hot weather expected the next few days be sure to practice basic heat safety!
Heat related resources can be found here: https://t.co/hRdCaLNF7O https://t.co/Aauzx83EaV — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 24, 2020
The weather service’s website advises best practices for heat safety, but as of Monday it had not issued any alerts.
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“Even though we aren’t issuing any heat advisory or warnings, it still could potentially be hot enough for some people to suffer heat-related exhaustion or illnesses,” Ogorek said.
In Chicago it is usually hottest in July, but the forecast for the next few days means the hottest day of the year may happen this week.
This summer’s current average temperature, which includes all readings day and night, is 76.3 degrees, Ogorek said, “and that’s already tied for second warmest on record.”
The weather service in Chicago has been keeping records since 1872, and the warmest summer on record was in 1955 when there was a mean average of 76.4 degrees.
“As it stands right now, at least for Chicago, this is on pace to be one of the top five warmest summers that we’ve had,” Ogorek said.
There’s some relief in sight. A cold front is expected to move in Thursday night into Friday morning, with a forecast high Friday of 89 degrees. By Saturday, the high temperature should be 81 degrees and on Sunday, the temperature won’t even break 80, forecasters said.
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“And in September, we’ll see where (this summer) ranks,” Ogorek said. “We still have another week to go before we finalize the seasonal temperature summaries on Sept. 1, so we’ll have more concrete numbers then.”
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-08-24--‘A tragic event’; Police say North Chicago woman killed trying to break up Waukegan party argument

Based on an investigation , police believe the victim was attending a party when an argument broke out between two @ @ @ @ @ mediate the fight when at least one shot was fired hitting her , the release @ @

Police were searching Monday for a Waukegan man accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of a North Chicago woman who tried to mediate a fight during a party Saturday in the 600 block of McAlister Avenue, according to a news release.
After police responded to the report of a shooting Saturday on McAlister Avenue, they found a woman in the street with a gunshot wound, according to Waukegan police. She was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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Based on an investigation, police believe the victim was attending a party when an argument broke out between two men. She tried to mediate the fight when at least one shot was fired hitting her, the release said.
After the shot was fired, the victim ran into the street where she was found by officers, according to the release.
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“What this is, is a tragic event,” Waukegan Police Commander Joe Florip said in a telephone interview Monday. “It seems like senseless violence.”
Achley Cruz-Oquendo - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan Police Department / HANDOUT)
The victim is believed to be a North Chicago woman in her 60s, the release said. Police would not release her name or more information on the cause of death until Coroner Howard Cooper performs an autopsy Tuesday.
In the course of their investigation, police obtained a warrant for the arrest of Damar McDonald, 32, of Waukegan, on a charge of first-degree murder, according to the release and Lake County Court records. Police believe he fired the shot that hit the victim. Bond was set at $3 million.
Police also obtained an arrest warrant and are searching for Achley Cruz-Oquendo, 32, of Waukegan, for obstruction of justice, according to the release and court records. Police believe her actions Saturday interfered with the investigation. Her bond was set at $250,000.
Police said in the release McDonald and Cruz-Oquendo are considered “armed and dangerous.” Anyone with information on either individual is asked to call the Waukegan Police Department’s Criminal Investigations “Tip-Line” at 847-360-9001.
“If you see either, please call 911 immediately,” police said in the release.


Corrections and clarifications

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Everyone in @ @ @ @ @ live up to this code of conduct .
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· A column by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in the Retirement Financials magazine publication gave an incorrect deadline to return required minimum distributions taken from certain retirement accounts this year. The government extended the deadline to Aug. 31.
· A NASA photo that accompanied a SpaceX capsule story on Aug. 3′s front page was not from the Aug. 2 splashdown, as the caption stated. The Associated Press incorrectly provided the photo, which was from a test splashdown last year.
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The Tribune regrets the errors.
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chicagotribune--2020-08-24--A week after opening for in-person classes, Loyola Academy closes due to COVID-19 cases

‘ We have repeatedly said in the online sessions that we all want our students back in school , ” @ @ @ @ @ said in a Sunday statement on the District 207 high school ’ s website .
@ @ @ @ @ , the rules outside of the school can not differ from the rules inside school @ @ @ @ @ not going to help .
What was also troubling was the lack of partnership that @ @ @ @ @ as we spoke to families who either refused to share information or gave us false @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Just one week after Loyola Academy students returned to the Wilmette high school’s campus, officials said Monday they are closing for two weeks after several students tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials say they believe the students likely contracted the virus at social gatherings off-campus.
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As of the end of the school day on Friday, six students at the private Catholic high school had tested positive for COVID-19, and 63 students were in quarantine for issues related to exposure, travel or symptoms, officials said in a statement on the Loyola website.
“While none of the cases have been linked to in-person instruction, we now believe off-campus social exposures are greater than first reported,” Loyola Academy Principal Charlie Heintz said in a Sunday statement posted on the high school‘s website.
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Heintz urged students to remain vigilant about following social distancing guidelines during lunch and free times on campus, as well as at social gatherings outside of the high school.
“It has also come to my attention that some students are not following safe social gathering guidelines outside of school,” Heintz said. “This behavior will significantly limit our ability to offer in-person instruction. As a parent, I know that it is difficult to monitor the off-campus behavior of adolescents, however, I am making a plea to our students and their families to make responsible decisions outside of school.”
A spokeswoman for the high school said Monday that contact tracing analysis, conducted by the high school’s nursing team in collaboration with the Cook County Department of Public Health, indicates that none of the positive cases originated at Loyola, but from off-campus exposure.
This week, students will switch to remote learning, but officials said they are aiming to resume the high school’s hybrid schedule on Sept. 8, after the Labor Day holiday.
“This is an uncertain time for all of us, and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep our community safe — on and off campus,” Heintz said.
Officials at Maine South High School in Park Ridge also had to step back from their reopening plans on Monday, after administrators were recently notified about potential COVID-19 exposures to students in social settings “at multiple parties across a four day period beginning on Aug. 14.”
‘We have repeatedly said in the online sessions that we all want our students back in school,” Maine South Principal Ben Collins said in a Sunday statement on the District 207 high school’s website. “For that to happen, the rules outside of the school cannot differ from the rules inside school … and large parties are not going to help. What was also troubling was the lack of partnership that we witnessed through the weekend as we spoke to families who either refused to share information or gave us false impressions of what took place.”
Collins said after spending “the entire weekend calling families, we know students were exposed to positive cases of COVID at these parties.”
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Off-campus parties have also been attributed to recent coronavirus outbreaks at college campuses across the U.S. by school officials, including The University of Notre Dame, where officials halted in-person classes last week to stem a growing COVID-19 outbreak among students.
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta