chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Nearly empty of regular commuters, CTA trains are now carrying essential workers and the homeless. ‘

Nearly empty of regular commuters, CTA trains are now carrying essential workers and the homeless. ‘A recipe for disaster.’

Shipman said in her experience of sheltering on the CTA , the homeless are not always kicked off at the @ @ @ @ @ She recalls CTA workers and security guards at the Blue Line Forest Park station moving @ @ @ @ @ move from one train to another , and then leaving them alone .
She said @ @ @ @ @ CTA employees sometimes won ’ t bother homeless people at the end of the line @ @ @ @ @ clean around them .

Andrew Wojda, substance use advocate with the Night Ministry, delivers sandwiches and counts homeless people on CTA Blue Line trains early April 22, 2020. Social service agencies have reported an uptick in the number of homeless people sheltering on CTA trains during the pandemic. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
When Melody Shipman and her boyfriend were evicted last month and couldn’t find space in a homeless shelter, they started sleeping on the “L.”
"It’s cold, and because of COVID, everything’s closed,” said Shipman, 28, who rode CTA trains for about a month before finding a spot in a shelter last week. “You can’t hang out in the laundromats.”
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Other havens, like coffee shops and libraries, also are shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Advocates for the homeless have seen an increase in people sheltering on trains during the health crisis, and the CTA has received more complaints about the issue.
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It has heightened concerns that homeless people, many of whom have health problems, are on trains with essential workers like medical personnel and grocery store clerks who may have been exposed to the virus.
With so many businesses closed, CTA trains — which have always drawn some homeless people — remain an easy and reliable option for those in need of shelter. As the economic impact of stay-at-home orders increases and more people find themselves out of work, experts worry the ranks of the homeless may grow, making the situation worse, especially once a halt on evictions statewide is lifted.
Chandra Matteson, a nurse practitioner with the Night Ministry, checks the next car for homeless passengers as she delivers sandwiches and checks temperatures on CTA Blue Line trains in the early morning of April 22, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
People may fear going into shelters, a few of which have coronavirus infection rates of 50%. Another issue is lack of space within the facilities.
Both the city and shelters have tried to create more room for social distancing within the facilities. The city moved about half of shelter residents out of typical “congregate” settings, where multiple residents share a space, and opened new beds at new locations to spread people out, said Julie Dworkin, policy director for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. But there aren’t enough beds available, Dworkin said.
It also has been difficult for the homeless to get help from the city’s 311 service, because the shelters are full, she said.
“We’re very concerned about coronavirus spread," said Chandra Matteson, a nurse practitioner with the Night Ministry, an organization that distributes food to the homeless and offers other assistance. “It’s a recipe for disaster, having essential workers who are exposed to it every day and people experiencing homelessness who are staying on the trains.”
Transit agencies around the country are dealing with the issue of homeless riders during the pandemic, said CTA spokesman Brian Steele. On New York City’s MTA, for example, service cuts have meant that homeless people are concentrated on fewer cars, so their presence is more noticeable.
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Under Illinois law, the CTA cannot prevent passengers from riding trains if they’ve paid their fares, though it is the agency’s policy to remove “continuous riders” at the end of lines, Steele said. “There’s only so much that the CTA can do,” he said.
The presence of the homeless on the trains is usually a seasonal issue, with complaints going up in the winter and down as the weather warms. But so far this April, the agency has received 74 complaints about homeless riders, compared with 53 for the same time last year, Steele said.
The increase in complaints comes as overall ridership on the CTA rail system was down 85% last week, compared with the same week a year ago, according to the transit agency.
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services has expanded its efforts to assist homeless CTA riders. Workers canvass the CTA’s Forest Park and O’Hare stations at the ends of the Blue Line, and the Howard and 95th Street stations at the ends of the Red Line, to provide meal cards, links to shelter services and resources for behavioral health and substance abuse, said spokeswoman Quenjana Adams Olayeni. That type of outreach happened before the pandemic, but the hours have been extended.
Staffers with Thresholds, a social service agency that aids the mentally ill, have stopped boarding trains to talk to homeless riders and are instead engaging people on the Red Line’s Howard platform.
The change was made to protect employees, who wear protective equipment, including masks and gloves. “We’re getting people as they come off the train,” said Nicole Richardson, associate director of Thresholds.
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Olayeni said homeless riders have asked for masks to protect themselves from coronavirus, and the city has been providing them. But of the 118 homeless riders who received services during last week’s outreach, only 15 asked for shelter placement.
Sometimes, when CTA workers try to remove homeless individuals from cars at the end of the line, they get spat on or verbally abused, said Kenneth Franklin, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 308, which represents train workers. “It’s always been a big problem for us,” Franklin said.
He said the union advises workers to protect themselves and to call police if people don’t go quietly. During the pandemic, the union has reminded workers to practice social distancing in their encounters.
The homeless typically ride on the Red and Blue lines, which operate 24 hours.
Shipman said in her experience of sheltering on the CTA, the homeless are not always kicked off at the end of the line. She recalls CTA workers and security guards at the Blue Line Forest Park station moving them or telling them to move from one train to another, and then leaving them alone. She said on the Brown Line, CTA employees sometimes won’t bother homeless people at the end of the line at Kimball and will just clean around them.
Some homeless people don’t like shelters, even in ordinary times, said Ed Stellon, executive director of Heartland Alliance Health. Some homeless riders suffer from serious mental illnesses, and being close to other people is overwhelming for them, Stellon said. Riding the trains gives them a certain level of privacy, Stellon said.
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Stellon said that the best thing to do for homeless "L" riders right now might be to offer them a spot in individual hotel rooms, which the city has set aside for both emergency workers and homeless people who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, have high risk factors for the disease or who have tested positive.“I think that would be a good fit,” Stellon said.
But Dworkin said that some people don’t qualify for hotel rooms because of behavioral health and other issues.
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Target extends temporary pay raises as online sales surge. Some workers call for more protection fro

Target extends temporary pay raises as online sales surge. Some workers call for more protection from COVID-19.

Target has been limiting store hours to allow for more cleaning , capping the number of guests in stores at @ @ @ @ @ distancing and giving employees masks and gloves .
But Adam Ryan , an employee in @ @ @ @ @ , said the group feels precautions are still too lax given the number of shoppers @ @ @ @

Target is extending temporary raises of $2 an hour for store employees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to fuel a surge in online shopping and dramatic shifts in what shoppers are buying.
Sales in Target stores have been down slightly since early February, but online sales more than doubled as customers in many parts of the country stocked up while staying home as much as possible, Target said Thursday.
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Overall, sales online and at stores open at least 13 months are up more than 7% so far in its fiscal quarter that began in February, according to a news release from the retailer.
Even with the shift to online shopping, some workers say the health and safety precautions Target is taking don’t go far enough, and that temporary raises aren’t enough to compensate them for the risk. Employees are planning a mass sickout on May 1, according to a statement posted by employee activist group Target Workers Unite.
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Target has been limiting store hours to allow for more cleaning, capping the number of guests in stores at a time to encourage social distancing and giving employees masks and gloves. But Adam Ryan, an employee in Virginia with Target Workers Unite, said the group feels precautions are still too lax given the number of shoppers coming to stores.
“They’re leaving it to the discretion of customers to do the responsible things … but you give them an inch and they take a mile,” he said.
“We’re not getting social distancing and safe spacing,” he said.
It’s unclear how many workers plan to participate, but Target isn’t the only retailer that has seen employees concerned about working conditions push back.
A group of workers at an Amazon delivery station in Chicago’s Pilsen area held “safety strikes” outside the workplace after an employee was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this month. Instacart and Whole Foods workers called for strikes and sickouts last month, and McDonald’s workers in California held protests and filed complaints with the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health after some employees tested positive.
An employee sanitizes shopping carts at the entrance on March 29, 2020 at a Target store in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood during the coronavirus pandemic. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Since Target saw a surge in stock-up buying in mid-March, the retailer said customers have been focused on groceries and other household items, and skipping apparel and home goods aisles.
Sales of food, beverages and other essentials were up 40% in March compared with the same month last year while items like appliances, tools and sporting goods rose about 20%, according to Target.
Meanwhile, apparel and accessories sales were down more than 30% in March and kept falling — down more than 40% so far in April. Food and beverage sales growth slowed in April after the March surge, but sales were still up more than 12% compared with the same period last year, Target said.
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The growth in sales of less profitable items like groceries and shift to online sales will affect the company’s profits, but Michael Fiddelke, Target’s chief financial officer, said the company expects “to emerge from this crisis in a position of strength.”
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Man stabbed after argument on CTA train on Northwest Side, police say

Shortly after 3:30 a.m. , the victim was a passenger on a train in the 4100 block of West Irving @ @ @ @ @ him the in the neck with a knife after an argument , police said .

A 51-year-old man was stabbed after an argument on a CTA train early Thursday morning on the Northwest Side in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.
Shortly after 3:30 a.m., the victim was a passenger on a train in the 4100 block of West Irving Park Road when someone stabbed him the in the neck with a knife after an argument, police said.
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The victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was listed in good condition.
No one was in custody, and police were investigating.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Volunteer your time, donate money, or create masks. Here’s how Chicagoland can give back during the

Volunteer your time, donate money, or create masks. Here’s how Chicagoland can give back during the coronavirus pandemic.

Know how to sew ?
Then make as many masks as your fingers will allow .
Can you whip up @ @ @ @ @ ?
Then find a local kitchen that could use another hand .
Like to draw @ @ @ @ @ a spectacular piece of art to hang in your window to thank the frontline workers @ @ @ @ @ ’ s driving by .
Have a healthy , but bored , college kid home @ @ @ @ @ ?
Sign them up to be an Instacart shopper .
Whatever skill or ability you @ @ @ @ @ make someone else ’ s life a bit easier and better .

Kate Thayer, Jeremy Mikula, Christen A. Johnson

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has placed an extra burden on many essential workers, primarily health care professionals. But there are other Chicagoland laborers who have felt the demand increase as well, like nonprofit organizations that help people in need.
Even though you’re quarantined at home, there are still ways to contribute to the greater good during this time of crisis.
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Here is an evolving list of ways you can give back and help, whether it’s through donating your time, money, expertise or supplies.
Donate to charities
Even before Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order effective March 21, nonprofit organizations were forced to cancel fundraising events and have expressed concern that donations will suffer because of COVID-19. In order for many nonprofits and charities to help people, they need finances. Here are a few places you can help.
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Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund is a collaboration of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust and the United Way of Metro Chicago to distribute funds to local organizations. www.chicagocovid19responsefund.org
Ronald McDonald House has been in Chicago for more than 40 years and have five locations around Chicago and the surrounding areas. Tribune columnist Heidi Stevens wrote that the organization relies “heavily on volunteers," who do everything from shop for food and prepare meals, to handling chores. www.rmhccni.org/donate
Catholic Charities The Archdiocese of Chicago provides food, shelter and other items to those in need. www.catholiccharities.net
Chicago Artists Relief Fund Created by Chicago-area artists to help fellow artists whose work has been affected by COVID-19. www.gofundme.com/f/chicago-artists-relief-fund
City of Chicago Fill out a form to consider donating new/unused goods to the city’s effort against the coronavirus. www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home.html
Community Support Services offers services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. www.cssservices.org
Connections for Abused Women and their Children provides shelter, counseling, support and a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic abuse. www.cawc.org
DuPagePads is a social support service to help the homeless, has set up an emergency fund to help provide food, water, health supplies and transportation for residents of DuPage County. www.dupagepads.org/covid-19
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My Block, My Hood, My City helps underprivileged young people overcome poverty and violence. My Block, My Hood, My City will be donating food, medicine, hand sanitizer and toiletries to seniors. www.formyblock.org
Naperville Helps! is a joint effort by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Naperville Alliance to assist first responders and health care workers. www.gofundme.com/f/naperville-helps
Ryan Banks Academy The South Side school is taking donations to help at-risk children and their families dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. www.ryanbanksacademy.org
I Grow Chicago helps the Englewood neighborhood to thrive, not just survive. The nonprofit is taking donations for washable masks, emergency response packages and care packages, among other things. www.igrowchicago.org/operationhealingresistance/
Hospitals and frontline workers
Consider making monetary donations to the hospitals in your area. Hospital staffs have called for more protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and goggles. Here is a list of hospitals requesting donations.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has a list of ways to help on its website, ranging from sending notes to its caregivers to donating items from its Amazon wish list, as well as personal protective equipment and meals. Check out the full list here.
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UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital has various donation lists specified for infants, toddlers, school-aged children to adolescents. You can find more information about the hospital’s needs here.
Mask Match connects people who have extra masks directly with health care workers who need them, and you don’t have to leave your house to do it. Learn more here.
Food
Whether you’re pulling out your checkbook to give a few dollars to these organizations, or rolling up your sleeves to make meals, or cleaning out your car to make space for the deliveries, your efforts to help people get food are essential.
Greater Chicago Food Depository serves as a network hub for more than 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs. www.chicagosfoodbank.org
Chicago Hospitality Employee Relief Guide A spreadsheet featuring ways to financially support local restaurants, bars and other hospitality outlets. www.facebook.com/chihospitalityemployeerelief
Meals on Wheels Chicago delivers meals to seniors and people with disabilities. www.mealsonwheelschicago.org
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Connections for the Homeless serves individuals throughout the northern suburbs who are homeless or experiencing housing instability. The organization’s volunteer site offers a variety of time throughout the day to make meals or pack bagged lunches for those in need. connect2home.volunteerhub.com/
Soul & Smoke has been delivering more than 250 meals a day to Evanston and Chicago residents in need. You can sponsor a meal for someone in need, an entire hospital staff, or a whole community. Check out how to help here.
Give blood
Blood banks, in particular, are in need given the number of canceled blood drives. If you’re feeling healthy and haven’t experienced any COVID-19 symptoms, visit American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois to find nearby blood drives in your area. You can also schedule a blood donation with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, as well as Vitalant, where an appointment is required.
Utilize social media
There are many Facebook groups dedicated to specific communities addressing ways to help during the pandemic. Scroll through the Next Door app, too, to see what your neighbors may need or are offering.
Use your skills
Know how to sew? Then make as many masks as your fingers will allow. Can you whip up a great meal in minutes? Then find a local kitchen that could use another hand. Like to draw or paint? Then create a spectacular piece of art to hang in your window to thank the frontline workers; you never know who’s driving by. Have a healthy, but bored, college kid home with access to a car? Sign them up to be an Instacart shopper. Whatever skill or ability you possess, use it to make someone else’s life a bit easier and better.
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jmikula@chicagotribune.com
kthayer@chicagotribune.com
chrjohnson@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Gardening in a pandemic: Whether you’re an expert green thumb or just all thumbs, here’s what to kno

Gardening in a pandemic: Whether you’re an expert green thumb or just all thumbs, here’s what to know

Take note of what type of soil is in your yard , be it sandy or claylike , as well @ @ @ @ @ degree of shade .
It ’ s vital to consider these conditions when choosing the @ @ @ @ @ , which will also change with the season .

Richard McMurray builds several spring plants and flowers into individual organic containers at City Grange in Chicago on April 22, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Gardening can reduce stress at a time when many people’s mental health could use a boost, and it provides an excuse to get outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic and the Illinois stay-at-home order.
Here’s a guide for how to get gardens and indoor plants thriving this spring, plus tips for adapting to quarantine conditions.
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Are gardening shops still open?
Hardware supply stores, like Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowe’s are essential businesses under the state’s stay-at-home order. Following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extension of the order through May, garden centers, greenhouses and nurseries are now classified as essential businesses, too.
While those businesses were allowed to fulfill orders for delivery and pickup only during April, they are now permitted to open fully in May, provided they stagger employee shifts and limit the number of people inside the building. The extension also requires employees — and anyone in most public settings — to wear face coverings.
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Some locally owned garden centers, like Gethsemane Garden Center in Edgewater, closed when the stay-at-home order was issued, but Gethsemane said it will open for some services in May.
Other open garden centers include Old Town Gardens, City Grange (Lincoln Square), CityEscape (East Garfield Park), Christy Webber Farm & Garden (East Garfield Park), Farmers Market (Irving Park), Grower’s Outlet (Gresham), Chalet Nursery (Wilmette), Ted’s Greenhouse (Tinley Park) and Meinke’s Garden Center (Niles). Some have expanded their delivery zones, as well.
Be sure to call ahead or otherwise confirm a shop’s hours before visiting, as many have adjusted due to the pandemic.
What about community gardens?
The Chicago Community Gardeners Association advises against visiting community gardens during the stay-at-home order, suggesting it could put people more at risk than just walking outside.
Those who do go, practice social distancing and wear protective masks and gloves, and be aware of high-touch surfaces like gate handles. Some community gardens have decided not to open for the season, and others have canceled large gatherings, so check first before you visit.
The association is still finding ways to keep people involved, with an April seed distribution in progress and an online community gardening forum.
How do I start a garden?
Richard McMurray builds several spring plants and flowers into individual organic containers at City Grange. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Take note of what type of soil is in your yard, be it sandy or claylike, as well as the sunlight exposure and degree of shade. It’s vital to consider these conditions when choosing the best plants for your garden, which will also change with the season.
Draw out your space on paper so you can plot out your vision for a garden. Consider things like where your utilities are located, or how you can use plants to create some privacy in your yard or bolster home security.
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Use plant catalogs or get information through the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic and Chicago Botanic Garden to figure out which plants will fit your needs and the time of year, then order from a nearby garden center. Chicago Botanic Garden also offers a free smartphone app for advice on the go.
Some major changes will need to wait until fall or next spring, but there are still plenty of things you can do as April ends and May brings warmer weather.
More tips:
What supplies do I need?
If you’re starting fresh, you’ll need to measure your garden bed to determine how much soil, compost or mulch you’ll need. There are tips below for choosing the tools that suit your needs, as well as how to care for them.
For growing plants from seeds, growing cells or jiffy pots will help get sprouts going before they’re strong enough to plant outside. (Not all seeds can be started in pots, so check the package label or website.)
For indoor plants, look for pots with drainage holes, as trapped water can lead to root rot. Use plastic inner pots inside slightly larger terra cotta, clay or other decorative pots, and fill them with indoor potting soil or, for succulents, a cactus blend.
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If your pots do not have holes, fill the bottom with small stones to keep the soil from becoming too soggy. For plants that need more humidity, you can place stones in the saucer and fill it with water, or mist leaves regularly.
You may also need fertilizer after your new plants settle in. Garden centers will usually provide advice for how best to care for your plants, and some are offering online help during the pandemic.
More tips:
What should I plant outdoors?
Lettuce at the City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center in Chicago on April 22, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Hardiness zones help determine which types of plants will thrive in your garden’s climate. The Chicago area is generally 6a or 5b, and gardening catalogs will include that information for each plant (You can read more about hardiness zones here).
You’ll need to wait until fall to plant most spring-flowering bulbs, but early spring is the perfect time for violas and pansies, wildflowers and mild-mannered native plants.
As April wraps up, it’s a good time to plant cool-season annuals like Persian buttercup or Iceland poppy, and vegetable gardens can get started as well (see more on vegetable gardens below).
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Since Friday is Arbor Day, perhaps you’ll want to celebrate this weekend by planting a potted tree.
More tips:
What can I grow indoors?
Consider the amount of daylight each room in your home gets, as well as factors like proximity to radiant heat (which dehydrates air and fluctuates temperature) or access for curious pets to nibble.
Certain houseplants thrive on neglect, so if you haven’t had good luck, try a low-maintenance plant like a ZZ plant, a parlor palm, a pothos or a monstera. Succulents and air plants also tend to require little care.
Most garden centers sell young plants, so you don’t have to start from seeds. Certain plants, like a pothos or spider plant, are easy to propagate, meaning a cutting can grow roots and become its own plant. Ask friends if they have cuttings to spare, or check plant care or trade groups on social media for fellow enthusiasts in your area.
If you have pets, consult experts on which plants would be toxic or poisonous for your animal. While mild toxicity can result in minor side effects, these plants should be kept out-of-reach of curious critters.
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More tips:
Looking for a colorful, easy-to-grow houseplant? Try African violets.
Easy-to-grow moth orchids are your best bet for keeping the finicky flower flourishing.
Brighten up your dreary winter days with easy-to-grow kalanchoes.
Potted shamrocks are easy to grow and will thrive indoors.
I have indoor plants already. What spring TLC do they need?
Do a routine check for any pests or diseases, like spider mites, aphids, mealybugs or mildew. If your houseplant is inside a plastic container, give it a squeeze, or gently lift the plant up without harming the root ball, to see if it needs to be repotted (many do after being dormant in winter).
If the plastic container doesn’t have much give, or if roots have started forming in the shape of the pot or are growing out of the holes at the bottom, it’s time to repot.
Lower leaves on some plants, like dracaenas and palms, will start to brown and wither as new growth begins. Prune dead leaves, but take a closer look if the entire plant is affected.
How do I grow herbs or start a vegetable garden?
Curley parsley at City Grange, a Lincoln Square gardening center offering curbside pickup and delivery during the stay-at-home order. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Full sun is best for a vegetable garden, and if you’re new to the process, start small. The end of April is the right time to plant cool-season vegetable crops like peas, cilantro, lettuce and radish. Start planting potatoes in early May.
The University of Illinois Extension has a vegetable guide and lots of advice on troubleshooting for vegetable gardens, while Chicago magazine has a great guide on easy-to-grow vegetables and windowsill vegetable gardens. Growing microgreens is a fun option for indoor enthusiasts, and they only take a couple weeks until they’re ready to harvest.
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For self-water, ready-to-go herb kits, Chicago-based company Modern Sprout puts seeds, soil and other growing materials into a mason jar. Aside from a variety of herbs, the company also makes kits for cacti, flowers and vegetables, plus equipment like grow lights and hydroplanters.
Some gardening centers also sell young herbs or kits, as well.
Can kids help with gardening?
Gardening can be a great way for kids to spend some time outdoors, as long as they’re practicing social distancing and not using dangerous tools.
For a fun indoor project, the Chicago Community Gardeners Association provides a tutorial on making seed bombs for your garden.
What if I run into problems like pests or unhappy plants?
There are lots of resources for gardening enthusiasts. The Tribune’s Homes section includes a weekly Q&A for gardeners, and local experts like WGN’s Lou Manfredini offer advice on a wide range of gardening topics. You can also send questions to the U of I Extension expert gardeners, who usually respond in a couple of days.
Along with virtual gardening classes, City Grange is offering one-on-one food garden consultations on Zoom. For $50, a gardening expert will recommend what plants to grow and where to put them, and half the fee goes toward purchasing plants and supplies.
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More tips:
archeung@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Body of missing 23-year-old Chicago man found in a lake in Champaign

Authorities said Wallace arrived in Champaign on April 9 to visit relatives and left their home about 10:30 p.m. that @ @ @ @ @ seen walking after leaving a business but not heard from again , The News-Gazette reported @

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The body of a Chicago man who was reported missing has been found in a lake in Champaign, authorities said.
A person out for a walk Wednesday morning spotted the body in Kaufman Lake about 15 feet from shore, police spokesman Tom Yelich said.
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The body was identified as Jeremy S. Wallace, 23, Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said. Wallace's family had filed a missing-person report with Champaign police on April 10, Northrup said.
Authorities said Wallace arrived in Champaign on April 9 to visit relatives and left their home about 10:30 p.m. that night. He was later seen walking after leaving a business but not heard from again, The News-Gazette reported.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Column: Coronavirus lockdown is letting nature make a comeback. We can’t let the earth win.

As if this all weren ’ t bad enough , the AP tried to absolutely ruin commonsense climate-change denialism by @ @ @ @ @ of Duke University : “ It is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just @ @ @ @ @ we humans are making of our beautiful planet .
This is giving us an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ better it can be .
”

A raccoon jumps a fence in a nearly deserted Central Park in New York on April 16, 2020. The park normally bustles with human activity as winter turns to spring, but this year it's the wildlife that is coming out to play. (Johannes Eisele/Getty-AFP)
Our country is facing a serious problem: The environment seems to be getting cleaner and animals are prospering.
With much of the world sheltering in place during the coronavirus pandemic, so-called scientists have noticed a pronounced drop in air pollution. Various forms of wildlife have been spotted venturing into areas previously occupied by people.
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This is, of course, an outrage. And it poses a direct threat to the sensible, long-standing conservative belief that environmentalists are stupid, climate change is a hoax and humans are in no way harming the planet.
It must be stopped. We simply cannot allow the hippies and liberals to be correct.
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Here are just a few examples of how the coronavirus shutdown is knocking down decades of Republican talking points.
The Associated Press reported the following disturbing details: “Smog stopped choking New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, and India’s getting views of sights not visible in decades. Nitrogen dioxide pollution in the northeastern United States is down 30%. Rome air pollution levels from mid-March to mid-April were down 49% from a year ago. Stars seem more visible at night.”
Visible stars? What’s next? Sea birds denied their God-given right to a protective coating of crude oil? Happy ducks?
Jason Samenow, a meteorologist and weather editor at The Washington Post, wrote Wednesday: “Data shows local pollution amounts now at their lowest levels in at least 25 years. The drop in local pollution mirrors trends seen elsewhere in the United States and other countries where the pandemic has curtailed economies and taken thousands of polluting vehicles off the roads.”
What Mr. Samenow calls “polluting vehicles,” most patriotic American know as “freedom machines.” And any serious person knows “pollution” is just a liberal propaganda term for “the sweet smell of capitalism.”
The Chicago Tribune has reported a tragic drop in nitrogen dioxide concentrations over the city, about 50% less traffic on area roads and 55% fewer flights in and out of O’Hare International Airport.
Sadly, wolves and deer are venturing out more, appearing in parking lots and neighborhood streets rather than engaging in natural behavior, like hiding in narrow, road-flanked forest preserves coughing.
As if this all weren’t bad enough, the AP tried to absolutely ruin commonsense climate-change denialism by quoting conservation scientist Stuart Pimm of Duke University: “It is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet. This is giving us an opportunity to magically see how much better it can be.”
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It’s neither magical nor better, Pimm. It’s an absolute disaster for those of us who think environmental regulations are tyranny and car exhaust just kind of blows away and gets absorbed by space.
How dare nature, likely egged on by clean-water-huggers like Pimm, take advantage of us while we’re dealing with a pandemic. It’s just rude.
You remember that great conservative, anti-environmentalist treatise “The Lorax” by noted pollution-enthusiast Dr. Seuss? It’s the book where the smart capitalist gentleman comes in and takes down all the stupid-looking trees and builds profitable factories and gets rid of the dumb bears and makes all the stupid humming fish clear out so people can get some work done?
The last line reads: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
That sounded like a pretty solid guarantee. What were the odds anyone would come along and care?
Well, thanks to this tragic break in productivity and general human driving around for no reason, we’re at risk of multiple someones starting to care “a whole awful lot.”
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If that happens, you know what comes next? Things might “get better.” THAT WOULD BE TERRIBLE!
We need to nip this “nature is making a comeback” nonsense in the bud.
I understand we can’t get out and do the normal things we would do, like promote healthy smog, use our robust automobile emissions to protect every bird’s right to get lung cancer and generously provide all the ocean’s creatures with a roof made of discarded plastics.
But we must take concrete steps toward maintaining our dominance over nature and keeping the lefties from winning.
I encourage all patriots to leave their cars idling in the driveway for at least one hour each morning and afternoon. Remove the tires from your neighbor’s Prius and burn them in the backyard, making sure to use a gas-powered fan to blow the smoke toward nearby trees and/or deer.
When outside, make as much racket as possible, and try to drive by large wooded areas at least once a week blaring your horn.
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If it all possible, find a large body of water and physically intimidate some ducks.
We must all chip in to remind the earth and its myriad creatures that we’re in charge.
Otherwise, people might start thinking things can get better.
What a mess that would be.
rhuppke@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Night Ministry nurse practitioners pass out sandwiches on the CTA Blue Line

If you ’ re a food-driven soul , going out for a really good meal is one of life ’ @ @ @ @ @ , if you want to recreate those Michelin-starred meals on your own , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ to a few chefs and they filled us in on all of the cooking tips @ @ @ @ @ their own kitchen so you can too .

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chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Chicago’s warm-weather businesses prepare for the worst as coronavirus shutdowns are extended. ‘I vi

Chicago’s warm-weather businesses prepare for the worst as coronavirus shutdowns are extended. ‘I visit the store and I say a prayer.’

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended the state ’ s stay-at-home order through the end of May , leaving @ @ @ @ @ if they ’ ll be able to open at all this year .
Others already @ @ @ @ @ operate to try to salvage some revenue .
And as they grapple with when they @ @ @ @ @ reopen , operators wonder how they ’ ll be able to operate safely .

April 1 was the magic date for Tony Zarcone, owner of The Freeze in Logan Square. Whatever happened — rain, snow or shine — that was when he would open his doors for the season.
Instead, cases of ice cream destined for soft serve machines sit in Zarcone’s freezer. Orders for meat and bread have been canceled.
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“I visit the store and I say a prayer,” Zarcone said. “I remember the good old days, when the lines were long … and everybody was smiling. And it’s all come to a halt.”
The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses in almost every industry to search for lifelines that might help recoup months of lost revenue. But for seasonal businesses like ice cream shops and Riverwalk vendors that make most of their sales in warm-weather months, the future is even more uncertain.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended the state’s stay-at-home order through the end of May, leaving some seasonal business owners wondering if they’ll be able to open at all this year. Others already are tweaking the way they operate to try to salvage some revenue. And as they grapple with when they’ll be able to reopen, operators wonder how they’ll be able to operate safely.
Zarcone has owned The Freeze for almost three decades. He made his first sales via food delivery app Grubhub on Thursday. He said he’s working with the city to follow social distancing rules, and hopes he is financially stable enough to withstand a bad year.
“We’re just following the guidelines,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Some businesses will have a harder time adapting than others. If kayak tour and rental company Wateriders can’t operate, the company is out of business, said owner Charlie Portis. Still, Portis said safety should come first, and he trusts government officials to make that call.
“If they say it’s not safe for May, it’s not safe for May,” he said.
Wateriders had a big summer planned. It operates along the Chicago River out of the East Bank Club, and was planning to open a second launch point near Metropolitan Brewing in the Avondale neighborhood. Portis is staying optimistic. The company normally doesn’t start tours or rentals until the end of May, so he has wiggle room — but not much.
If the company can’t have some basic programming by mid-June, “that’s a huge problem," Portis said. "I hope we don’t get there.”
Seasonal businesses should plan for the worst and hold off on hiring workers, said Phillip Braun, a clinical professor of finance at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
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They need to “make sure their finances are as secure as possible so they can get through the season without opening," he said.
There’s also the question of what normal operations will look like once stay-at-home orders are lifted.
“Things are definitely going to look much different in the way that we social distance and the way that we sort of experience the city,” said Nathan Holgate, City Winery’s Chicago general manager. “We’re going to have to put in place a lot of new protocols to make sure everyone is safe and healthy.”
Morgan O'Leary, center, sits with Alyssa Bovenzi and her dog, Mylo, at City Winery on the Chicago Riverwalk on April 12, 2018. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
City Winery’s Riverwalk location sells tens of thousands of gallons of rosé each summer, Holgate said. On a nice day, people sit shoulder-to-shoulder sipping wine, snacking and people-watching. Runners along the Riverwalk often must slow down to weave their way through the crowd.
The summertime scene seems like a distant memory amid coronavirus fears, as people are told to stay away from one another and wear masks in public.
City Winery is exploring ways to reopen with social distancing in mind, maybe with tables that are smaller and spaced farther apart, Holgate said.
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Last year, the 17 businesses operating along the Riverwalk generated $16.5 million. Roughly 750,000 people visited the 1.25-mile path spring through fall.
But the Riverwalk has been closed since March 26 — along with the lakefront, adjacent parks and beaches, and The 606 Trail — as part of the battle against the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Some businesses, like docked tour boat companies, already have taken a hit.
Normally, Wendella Sightseeing Co. would be running water taxis and have two tour boats in the water by now, showing school groups, tourists and locals the sights. Its water taxis could run, but there’s no one downtown to ride them, said Craig Wenokur, a vice president for the company. Instead, all five tour boats and five water taxis are docked at Wendella’s shipyards.
Island Party Hut isn’t operating its floating Tiki bar and party boats. The Riverwalk business lost 75% of the revenue it usually brings in on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, when the annual river dyeing was canceled, said co-owner Steve Majerus.
That first day of operations usually helps propel the bar and restaurant into the summer season, Majerus said. The business also is losing prospective customers as corporate events and other boat outings don’t happen.
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Like other seasonal business owners, Majerus doesn’t know what to expect when he does reopen.
“Is everybody going to want to come out in the droves that they normally do, or are half the people still going to stay in?” Majerus said. “Is the city going to … cut your capacity?”
The unprecedented situation has created a new level of uncertainty for businesses predicting consumer demand and making hiring, inventory and marketing decisions.
Sales clerk Jesus Mata, right, assists customer Juan Angulo with the purchase of a Lupine perennial at CityEscape Garden Center in Chicago on April 16, 2020. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
CityEscape Garden Center in the East Garfield Park neighborhood already is receiving trees, shrubs and spring flowers that it ordered last year, said owner Connie Rivera. The garden center has been able to tweak its orders on a weekly basis, and that has helped with adjusting to decreased demand, reduced hours and reduced staff.
Some customers have continued to shop through FaceTime, but normally, April marks the start of CityEscape’s busiest time of year.
Even retailers that operate year-round are seeing a change in buying behavior. Some ice cream shops, for example, are selling more pints than cones these days.
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Ohio-based Graeter’s Ice Cream has shops in Northbrook and Winnetka, and sells pints at Chicago-area grocery stores. Sales are up roughly 50% in grocery stores nationwide and down about 40% in scoop shops.
Lloyd Ramsey, 72, buys ice cream for his granddaughter Skylar Ramsey, 6, on April 20, 2020, at the Original Rainbow Cone store in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago’s Original Rainbow Cone is seeing a similar phenomenon at its Beverly shop, said assistant manager LaShonda Black.
“We are still getting customers,” she said. “Only difference is now we’re pretty much selling more carryout tubs than anything. In the summer, it’s more cones, shakes, banana splits.”
The Original Rainbow Cone is an icon in Chicago, tracing its origin back to a stand that opened in 1926. It layers chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with walnuts and cherries), pistachio and orange sherbet. It has a Navy Pier location that remains closed, and makes summer appearances at festivals such as Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago.
Though the fate of those festivals remains undecided, Rainbow Cone is planning as if they will still be on, and staffing up for summer.
But Rainbow Cone’s shop closes only for a month every year, Black said. That means it has more time to try to make up for any lost business. Gordo’s Homemade Ice Cream, which has shops on the Riverwalk and in Edgewater, does not have that cushion. It is open only in the summertime.
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“If it goes into the summer, the stay-at-home order, or if people are so tentative about going out, it’s just going to eat up those main months we need to make a profit,” said owner Jim Hebson. “My guess is we wouldn’t even bother to reopen.”
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--19 people who went to polls on election day in Wisconsin contracted coronavirus, but ties uncertain,

19 people who went to polls on election day in Wisconsin contracted coronavirus, but ties uncertain, officials say

Establishing a connection between positive COVID-19 cases and exposure during the election would take further epidemiological study , health experts @ @ @ @ @ professor emeritus at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health , said health officials @ @ @ @ @ the proportion of people who voted out of the total number of people who tested @ @ @ @ @ time frame in which they could have exhibited symptoms from the April 7 election , @ @ @ @ @

RILEY VETTERKIND, The Wisconsin State Journal

State health officials said 19 voters and poll workers in April’s spring election tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus afterward, but caution they can’t say for certain whether election exposure was the cause.
“We are not able to say that their exposure was necessarily at the polls because they are all people who could have had exposure in other places,” Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. “We have correlation — they voted and they were at the polls — but we do not have causation.”
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The disclosure comes after a precipitous increase of 225 COVID-19 cases in a single day, the most in the state so far, as state health officials tied nearly 150 coronavirus cases to a Green Bay meatpacking plant on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Dane County reported no increase in cases Wednesday for the first time since March 11, but is bracing for a large gathering at the state Capitol on Friday for a rally against Wisconsin’s extended stay-at-home order. The event is still on, even though a permit to hold it on the Capitol grounds has been denied.
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Wisconsinites may never know definitively whether the election caused a significant spread of the respiratory disease.
People typically begin experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of exposure, meaning Tuesday was likely the last day people who worked at or voted in-person in the April 7 election would have experienced symptoms, although there may be some lag time due to testing.
Health officials are not conducting a widespread survey of all people who voted at the polls, but contact people who had close proximity with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 as part of normal protocol. Willems Van Dijk said the state plans to notify local officials if a poll worker or voter at a particular site tested positive for COVID-19.
Public health agencies discover potential links among cases of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, tuberculosis or foodborne illnesses such as salmonella or norovirus, by interviewing people who become ill or test positive, and asking where they’ve been and with whom they’ve been in contact. Through contact tracing, health agencies talk to those who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive and see if they develop symptoms.
In addition to the 19 people who tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in the election, the state’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, said five National Guard members who had worked at the polls April 7 reported symptoms of COVID-19 afterward. One person tested negative, while the other four haven’t yet been tested. More than 2,400 National Guard members worked at the polls.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 17 Poll worker Patty Piek-Groth, left, helps fellow poll worker Jerry Moore, center, put on a mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the polls open for the presidential primary election at the Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wis., on April 7, 2020. (Angela Major / The Janesville Gazette)
Recent surges
Counties across the state have reported recent surges, but so far, only Milwaukee health officials have attributed some cases to the April 7 in-person election that health experts warned posed a risk of spreading the disease. Voters in Milwaukee and Brown counties experienced significantly longer lines than most other parts of the state.
The Brown County Health Department said 147 employees and family members of workers at JBS Packerland meatpacking plant in Green Bay have tested positive for COVID-19. There were also 39 cases tied to American Foods Group in Green Bay and another 19 to sausage maker Salm Partners in Denmark, about 20 miles away.
All of the Green Bay-area facilities remain open, even though meatpacking plants experiencing outbreaks in other states have closed down.
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In Milwaukee, which has seen about 50 new cases a day the past week, officials identified seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus through activities related to the April 7 election.
Dane County reported 17 new cases Monday, the largest increase in nearly three weeks. Most of those cases were inmates at the county jail, and no connection to the election has been found, officials said.
Establishing a connection between positive COVID-19 cases and exposure during the election would take further epidemiological study, health experts said. Patrick Remington, professor emeritus at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, said health officials would need to first determine the proportion of people who voted out of the total number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 during the time frame in which they could have exhibited symptoms from the April 7 election, or roughly two weeks.
Then, they would need to find out the proportion of people who voted among those who don’t have COVID-19. If the odds of having voted were bigger among the people who tested COVID-19 positive, then there would appear to be a risk associated with voting.
Still, Remington said health officials already know that gathering in large groups increases the risk of spreading contagious disease, so a study on voting isn’t exactly necessary.
“Whether or not we see a bump in the cases potentially attributed to gathering together, we just know it was a risky thing to do,” Remington said.
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Protest against stay-at-home orders still on
A protest planned for Friday would be the latest in a string of events across the country against stay-at-home orders opponents say are damaging the economy. It has the potential to be the largest yet in Wisconsin — as of Wednesday, more than 3,300 people said on Facebook that they are going and 12,000 were interested.
Organizer Madison Elmer applied for a permit with the state Department of Administration on April 14. Capitol Police on Monday denied the permit because the gathering would violate the order barring gatherings of any size.
Elmer pledged to forge ahead, despite the risk of being cited by law enforcement.
“I think our message is bigger than that to be worried about it,” Elmer said.
When asked to comment about enforcement actions, spokeswoman Molly Vidal said the mission of Capitol Police is to protect civil liberties, which includes freedom of speech and assembly. Gov. Tony Evers has said he respects the protesters’ free speech rights, but that he also hopes they maintain a safe distance from one another.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Coronavirus pandemic creates suicide risk. ‘This could last years’

Recognizing the possible increased threat posed by the pandemic , the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has reframed its # Bethe1To @ @ @ @ @ people who want to help a loved one they believe is at risk for suicide @ @ @ @ @ include ways to talk to someone about the risk , even if they can ’ @ @ @ @ @ loved one , and ways to find help and follow up , said Christian Burgess @ @ @ @ @ Distress Helpline , an offshoot of the lifeline .
Both are federally funded and overseen @ @ @ @ @ Health .

After years of a steady climb in suicide deaths, prevention advocates worry there could be a mental health fallout from the coronavirus pandemic for years to come.
Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are also risk factors for suicide, experts say, including prolonged isolation, a down economy with massive job losses, and an uptick in domestic violence.
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That could lead to more suicides in the coming months, or even years, said Jonathan Singer, associate professor of social work at Loyola University Chicago and president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Association of Suicidology.
Jonathan Singer, a Loyola professor and an expert on suicide, on April 22, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
“We’ve never been through this before, so we don’t actually know, but there are things that concern me,” he said, adding that studies show much of what the public is experiencing correlates with higher suicide death rates.
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And studies also show that when a parent dies by suicide, children’s risk also increases, Singer added. “So, this could last years.”
The U.S. is already experiencing a tragic trend when it comes to suicide. From 1999 through 2018, the most recent year available, suicide rates increased by 35%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Yet mental health supports and funding for research continue to lag, Singer said.
In an article published earlier this month in JAMA, “Suicide Mortality and Coronavirus Disease 2019 — A Perfect Storm?” researchers call for prevention interventions for suicide to coincide with the unprecedented public health actions like stay-at-home orders put in place to fight the virus.
Along with social isolation and financial woes, the paper points to the lack of access to religious and community supports and overall barriers to mental health treatment in a time when in-person visits are prohibited and hospitals have restrictions.
Adding to those risk factors are reports that Americans have been buying up guns and ammunition as the pandemic heightened, according to the paper. (Firearms are the most common method of suicide.) In Illinois, state police received a record number of background check requests to buy firearms in March — most occurring during the second half of the month as concerns about the virus grew and quarantine measures intensified.
And medical professionals are also at risk, the JAMA report states. Physicians already are at a higher risk for suicide, and during the pandemic, they’re in even more stressful situations as they treat patients and worry about infecting themselves and their families.
Prevention efforts could include a ramp-up of teletherapy, as well as community support that can be done in a safe, remote way.
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Singer noted that sessions with a counselor over the phone or by video chat or even text offer the same level of support as face-to-face visits. But even though most therapists are offering phone or video sessions, barriers remain, he said. Not everyone has access to the proper technology, and many insurance companies don’t cover phone sessions as they do in-person visits, Singer said, even if some have temporarily lifted such restrictions during the pandemic.
Singer said he hopes the pandemic will highlight barriers to care, like issues with telehealth, as well as broader problems when it comes to prioritizing mental health.
Recognizing the possible increased threat posed by the pandemic, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has reframed its #Bethe1To campaign to include suggestions for people who want to help a loved one they believe is at risk for suicide during the pandemic. Suggestions include ways to talk to someone about the risk, even if they can’t physically be with their loved one, and ways to find help and follow up, said Christian Burgess, director of the Disaster Distress Helpline, an offshoot of the lifeline. Both are federally funded and overseen by New York-based Vibrant Emotional Health.
“Even if you’re not with family members or loved ones physically, you can still do these things,” Burgess said.
While the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which includes a series of crisis hotlines and text lines across the country, has not seen an increase in calls of late, Burgess said it’s not unusual in a disaster situation for such fallout to come later.
“When you start to get into long-term recovery, several weeks or even months (after a disaster), that’s when you start to see risk of suicidality increase,” he said.
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The Disaster Distress Helpline, which offers a variety of mental health supports to those suffering due to a specific disaster, saw a 338% increase in calls last month compared with the previous month, Burgess said, and a 900% increase over March 2019.
But Burgess also noted the coronavirus pandemic is the first-of-its kind disaster since the helpline was created in 2012. And its calls cover more than suicide concerns. The helpline is meant to help those experiencing mental health symptoms stemming from natural or human disasters, like hurricanes or mass shootings. Typically, Burgess said, those are more localized, affecting a certain group of people.
The current pandemic, however, has national and even worldwide reach, he said.
At the DuPage County Health Department, which runs crisis lines, including one associated with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Executive Director Karen Ayala said calls have increased overall, but those specifically pathed to the suicide lifeline have held steady.
But anecdotally Ayala has heard that callers to both lines are worried about COVID-19. And, “if it’s not COVID, it’s the stress and concern over finances and the fallout from COVID on people’s minds.”
To help continue their work, Ayala said counselors who answer calls, considered essential workers, moved out of their small space and are now spread out throughout offices in an unused wing of the building.
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A recent national survey of crisis lines and other supports for suicide prevention showed the pandemic is having an impact on how they do their jobs.
The report, released by Michigan-based TBD Solutions LLC in conjunction with mental health organizations like the American Association of Suicidology, was compiled after surveying more than 350 crisis providers, including mobile crisis teams, residential programs and call centers.
Travis Atkinson, crisis systems consultant at TBD Solutions, said these supports are essential in reaching those at risk for suicide and other serious mental health problems before they need hospitalization — an especially important goal during a national pandemic.
“You don’t want a psych crisis in the ER right now,” he said.
The survey found that for crisis call centers who responded, nearly half lacked supplies to protect their employees, and 45% reported their workforce felt “overwhelmed” due to increased referrals.
Atkinson also said this pandemic is likely to bring out more similarities among those calling the crisis lines and those answering the phones.
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“This is unprecedented,” he said, “to have all of the helpers likely being impacted the same as those who are calling.”
“Crisis work is not for the faint of heart, but this is a whole new level.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-TALK (8255), and the Disaster Distress Helpline is 800-985-5990.
kthayer@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--McHenry Outdoor Theater drive-in to reopen

While it ’ s tempting to order takeout or whip up a quick dinner using canned goods , the fresh @ @ @ @ @ to close in on their use-by date .
If you want to avoid your chicken @ @ @ @ @ wilting , the Food and Drug Administration provides a refrigerator and freezer storage chart so @ @ @ @ @ each food in your home is good for .

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10
Scott Dehn sits on his movie-inspired pickup truck at the McHenry Outdoor Theater drive-in on April 22, 2010, in McHenry. Dehn has worked at the drive-in for the last 20 years and bought it in February 2020. He plans to open May 1. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Man dead, firefighter injured in fire on South Side

A man in his 60s died and a firefighter was injured in a fire that broke out in a home @ @ @ @ @ the South Side on Thursday morning , officials said .

A man in his 60s died and a firefighter was injured in a fire that broke out in a home in the Fernwood neighborhood on the South Side on Thursday morning, officials said.
Crews responded to a call in the 400 block of West 104th Street about 5:45 a.m., according to the Fire Department. They found the man dead inside.
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The firefighter was injured when he fell through the floor of the home. The firefighter was transported in good condition to a hospital, according to department spokesman Larry Merritt.
Chicago police were investigating the death.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Your virtual NFL draft party guide

Your virtual NFL draft party guide

There are tons of options available for video conferencing , but Zoom seems to be everyone ’ s lifeline of @ @ @ @ @ friends these days .
Zoom ’ s gallery view can handle up to 49 guests @ @ @ @ @ but we think that having more than 10 is pushing it .
Also remember that @ @ @ @ @ allows only 40 minutes to chat .
Google Hangouts is another great option with video @ @ @ @ @ people per call with the 10 most active participants shown at the bottom of the @ @ @ @ @ limit .

The NFL draft kicks off Thursday, but with a major twist. The annual event that football fans live for has morphed from it’s planned venue in Las Vegas to a virtual format following social distancing guidelines.
The draft signals that the football season is near, and if you’re a fan, it’s the event that has you on the edge of your seat waiting to see that one pick that could change the dynamics of your team.
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If you were planning on having a crowd over for a draft party, your plans have clearly changed. No house full of friends contributing to the potluck, no high fives and none of the bear hugs that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell usually gets from newly drafted players when they hit the stage. You will, however, get a rare look inside Goodell’s man cave as he announces the Round 1 picks from his basement.
Don’t let the changes deter you from hosting a great party. Go virtual with our guide and celebrate with a screen full of your besties — virtual bear hugs optional.
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ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will air the 2020 NFL draft. Round 1 of this year’s draft starts at 7 p.m. Thursday and continues with Rounds 2 and 3 at 6 p.m. Friday. It wraps at 11 a.m. Saturday with Rounds 4-7.
1. Pick your platform and keep the guest list tight
There are tons of options available for video conferencing, but Zoom seems to be everyone’s lifeline of choice for catching up with friends these days. Zoom’s gallery view can handle up to 49 guests in a single screen, but we think that having more than 10 is pushing it. Also remember that Zoom’s basic plan allows only 40 minutes to chat. Google Hangouts is another great option with video calls that can handle 25 people per call with the 10 most active participants shown at the bottom of the screen, and no time limit.
2. Put some effort into the props
Football-themed wooden utensils are $14 for a set of 24, and game play napkins are $3.50. ellieandpiper.com (Ellie and Piper)
When it comes to football themed swag, the sky’s the limit. Keep it to a minimum, but class things up a little and take a spin online for everything from play call napkins to football-themed wooden utensils.
3. Shake up a tradition
Seoul Sassy wings from Crisp. (Nick Kindelsperger)
For food, our top pick is wings, but move past Buffalo wings and order KFC wings — Korean fried chicken wings. Two choices that made Tribune dining writer Nick Kindelsperger’s list for the best Korean fried chicken wings in Chicago are from Crisp and Great Sea Restaurant. The Seoul Sassy Korean fried chicken wings at Crisp have a crackly outside and juicy, marinated meat that gets tossed in a fragrant ginger, soy and vinegar mixture. 10 jumbo wings, $18.95. 2940 N. Broadway 773-697-7610 crisp.cuteorder.com for pickup or delivery. At Great Sea Restaurant, the meat on their spicy Lollipop chicken wings is pushed to the top, leaving one end with bare bone so it’s easier to grasp and quicker to devour, he says. A large order (about 14 pieces) is $16.99. 3253 W. Lawrence Ave. 773-478-9129 greatsearestaurant.com for pickup or delivery.
4. Drink a better beer
Off Color Brewing’s Apex Predator. (Off Color Brewing)
You’ve been quarantined for ... how many weeks has it been? You deserve a beer upgrade and Off Color Brewing’s Apex Predator does the trick. “This beer is at once fun and elegant, with several interesting wrinkles — fruity, hoppy, robust yeast character — that tie together marvelously. It’s also dry and refreshing, and at 6% alcohol, you can easily drink a couple,” says Tribune beer writer Josh Noel.
5. Your prime-time attire: laid back
Chicago Bears flannel shirt, $49.99, New Era 2020 NFL Draft Official 39THIRTY Flex Hat, $33.99, and NFL Draft flag, $39.99. fanatics.com (Fanatics)
Just because you’re stuck in the house with only the family doesn’t mean you can’t get cleaned up a bit. OK, you’re not dressing to get noticed, but this is a special occasion. Comfort rules, and since you’re most likely only going to be seen from the waist up, stick with sweats. On top, show that you’re in the game. Online retailer Fanatics has just about everything you need from cool flannel shirts emblazoned with team logos to official NFL draft hats.
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6. The house cocktail: Make it your first margarita of the season
The house cocktail: a margarita. (Armando L. Sanchez)
Simple, yes, but that’s why we like it. Just follow the 3-2-1 ratio (tequila to lime juice to Cointreau or another orange liqueur). Shake with ice and strain.
Need simpler? The Paloma is your drink. Pour 2 ounces tequila and ½ ounce lime juice into a tall glass (salt-rimmed or not). Add ice. Top with grapefruit soda, Squirt is fine! Mexican Squirt (made with real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup) is best, if you have access.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Daywatch: Virus cases hit daily high, runners spark face mask debate and Chicago’s own ‘Tiger King’

But along the way it all starts to go south for the man , ending in his conviction for hiring @ @ @ @ @ .
There has been no documentary yet about Lorin Womack , whose Land O ’ @ @ @ @ @ at least a Batavia curiosity and in some eyes an attraction in the waning years @ @ @ @ @

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Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Illinois officials on Wednesday announced the largest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the outbreak began — 2,049 new known cases — and 98 more deaths, bringing state totals to 35,108 cases and 1,565 deaths
In the U.S., there have been more than 840,000 infections recorded and the death toll stands at nearly 47,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday
Worldwide, there are more than 2.6 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and over 183,000 reported deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday
Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
A pedestrian walks their dog across an empty Chicago Avenue in the River North neighborhood on April 21, 2020, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
With millions of Illinois residents anxiously awaiting a decision on whether he will extend his statewide stay-at-home order beyond its April 30 expiration date, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday gave the clearest picture yet of the changes he’s considering.
The easing of restrictions could include reopening state parks and allowing some elective surgeries to resume. But as state officials announced 2,049 more known cases of the new coronavirus, the highest single-day total since the start of the outbreak, Pritzker continued to temper any expectations that the order — in place since March 21 — will be lifted in its entirety at the end of the month.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks on April 19, 2020, at the Thompson Center during the coronavirus pandemic. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday rejected Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s call for a pause in federal coronavirus relief aid to the states and support for allowing states like Illinois to file bankruptcy to unload heavy public employee pension debt.
Jussie Smollett departs after a court appearance Feb. 24, 2020, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a suit by former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett alleging he was the victim of a malicious prosecution over his allegedly staged hate crime attack in January 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall ruled that Smollett’s claim against the city of Chicago and several police officers cannot go forward now that he’s been re-indicted by a special Cook County grand jury on charges stemming from the same incident.
A man wearing a mask runs April 21, 2020, in the 600 block of West Webster Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Since the Lakefront Trail closed last month amid the stay-at-home order, hundreds of Lincoln Park residents have complained that runners are clogging narrow neighborhood sidewalks and breezing past them too closely. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
When pedestrians venture outside and try to keep their distance, there’s one encounter that seems unavoidable in some Chicago neighborhoods: Runners, attempting to squeeze by on narrow sidewalks, are getting too close for comfort.
Lorin Womack owner of Land O'Lorin Exotic Wildlife Haven in Batavia Township wrestles with a Bengal Tiger and two African Lions on May 22, 1990. (Walter Kale / Chicago Tribune)
See how much of this sounds familiar. A man develops a loosely organized roadside zoo. It becomes an area attraction for the likes of visiting Brownie troops and curious journalists, and at the same time it draws the ire of animal-rights activists.
But along the way it all starts to go south for the man, ending in his conviction for hiring someone to murder a rival. There has been no documentary yet about Lorin Womack, whose Land O’Lorin Exotic Wildlife Haven was at least a Batavia curiosity and in some eyes an attraction in the waning years of the 20th Century.


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--Column: Willie Wilson can’t seem to get any respect, regardless of his generosity

This is what we know for sure about Wilson : When he speaks , a lot of black folks listen @ @ @ @ @ — from aldermen to the mayor to the governor .
Yet , politicians don ’ @ @ @ @ @ seriously — until they need him to rally the black community .

Willie Wilson is in the news again. As is often the case, he’s at the center of a controversy.
No one talks about the African American millionaire and philanthropist in the mainstream unless we’re questioning his motives for giving away money or poking fun at him for running for an office he has no chance of winning.
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His good deeds deserve more recognition from Chicagoans.
This time, the issue is masks. His medical equipment company has donated hundreds of thousands of masks to hospitals, police officers and other front-line workers during the coronavirus pandemic. But he still hasn’t gotten any respect.
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All he has received from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, he says, is an assault on his integrity.
A heated dispute is going on between him and the mayor over what went down when Wilson tried to get the city to purchase large quantities of surgical masks at cost from his 25-year-old company, Omar Medical Supplies, Inc.
The mayor says the wealthy businessman asked for millions in cash up front before placing the order. Wilson says the conversation never went far enough to even discuss money. The governor’s office also passed on Wilson’s offer.
Lightfoot says it would have taken weeks longer for Wilson to get the masks to Chicago than other vendors. He says he had 40 million masks sitting in his warehouse in suburban Bensenville at the time.
But it was the upfront cash payment that really disturbed the mayor.
“The thing that really gave me personal pause was, as I understood it, Dr. Wilson’s requirement that we pay him all the money up front and in cash,” Lightfoot said at a news conference. “Millions of dollars in cash is not something I’m ever going to do with taxpayer dollars.”
Wilson acknowledged that he asked for payment up front because he would have to order additional quantities of masks from suppliers in China, and they want their money before they ship. Plus, he told me, the government is notoriously late in paying bills. “Why should I trust them?” he asked.
Wilson is used to criticism, but this episode really got to him. He felt as though the mayor was trying to “condescend to and diminish the legitimacy of my corporation.” In addition, he says it was an assault on his integrity.
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“What legitimate business deals in cash?” he asked, adding that his company provides 100 to 200 million masks a month to Fortune 500 companies around the world. “I don’t do business in cash.”
Wilson responded the way he usually does when he comes under fire. He gave his own version of what happened by penning a public letter to the mayor and releasing it to the media.
This could be just a big misunderstanding. But Wilson thinks it’s another attack on his legitimacy as an African American philanthropist — a battle he constantly has to fight.
The name Willie Wilson is synonymous with Chicago, specifically black Chicago, but he isn’t your typical millionaire. He’s not known for giving out grants to big organizations, and his name doesn’t appear on any tall buildings in the city.
Wilson’s philanthropy is mostly in cash giveaways to poor black people who can’t pay their rent or put food on the table.
In his last run for mayor, he won nearly every African American ward on the South and West sides in the primary. His lack of showing in predominantly white North Side wards landed him in fourth place behind frontrunners Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle.
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He threw his support behind Lightfoot in the runoff, which may have contributed to her ability to win all 50 wards in the end, despite being largely unknown in the African American community.
This is what we know for sure about Wilson: When he speaks, a lot of black folks listen. Every politician knows that — from aldermen to the mayor to the governor. Yet, politicians don’t seem to take him seriously — until they need him to rally the black community.
Wilson can’t explain it, except to say it feels a lot like what he went through as the child of a sharecropper in the Jim Crow South. He won’t call it racism, but it certainly isn’t equality.
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Wilson says he offered to procure masks for the city and state because African Americans in Chicago are suffering the brunt of COVID-19 infections, representing nearly 70% of the deaths. It wasn’t about filling his pockets.
When the government blew him off, he decided to just give his masks to the folks who need them most — the way he has always conducted his philanthropy.
He has donated hundreds of thousands of masks to Sinai Health System and 22 other community organizations, 20,000 to Jackson Park Hospital, 10,000 to the Westside NAACP, 50,000 to the Chicago Transit Authority and 10,000 for correctional officers at the Cook County Jail. He also has given masks to ministers and aldermen to hand out in the community and donated others to senior citizen facilities.
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To help with the economy, Wilson has pledged to give away $1 million to people who have lost their jobs and another $1 million to 1,000 churches to help their needy congregants.
In times like these, we need more Willie Wilsons. Chicagoans should be thanking him rather than tearing him down.
dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng


chicagotribune--2020-04-23--For decades Chicago’s lunchtime dining room, Manny’s now fights for new business during coronavirus

For decades Chicago’s lunchtime dining room, Manny’s now fights for new business during coronavirus pandemic

Less than two months ago , if you wanted to find the biggest and busiest lunchtime rush in the city @ @ @ @ @ hard to beat the one that gathered most days at Manny ’ s ( 1141 @ @ @ @ @ Founded in 1942 , this South Loop cafeteria normally serves heaping portions of corned beef @ @ @ @ @ other deli classics in an enormous and , thanks to the hands-on involvement of the @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s a reason why Manny ’ s is the choice for Loop workers @ @ @ @ @ and anyone else with a hankering for an over-sized sandwich , with a potato pancake @ @ @ @

Less than two months ago, if you wanted to find the biggest and busiest lunchtime rush in the city, it would have been hard to beat the one that gathered most days at Manny’s (1141 S. Jefferson St.). Founded in 1942, this South Loop cafeteria normally serves heaping portions of corned beef, matzo ball soup and other deli classics in an enormous and, thanks to the hands-on involvement of the owners, welcoming room. There’s a reason why Manny’s is the choice for Loop workers, politicians, local celebrities and anyone else with a hankering for an over-sized sandwich, with a potato pancake on the side.
But due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closing of all restaurant dining rooms, these days there’s no hum, clang of utensils, or conversation sounding off the walls at Manny’s. “Obviously, it’s pretty quiet,” says fourth-generation co-owner Dan Raskin in a phone interview. “We are still open for customers, and have curbside and delivery options, but business is down like 70 percent.”
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Raskin says that some of his biggest losses came from canceled events. “Corporate events, wedding rehearsals, conventions — all of those orders were canceled,” says Raskin. “They want their deposits back and they can’t reschedule. They are upset about cancelling, and I feel bad for them.”
Dan Raskin, a fourth-generation co-owner of Manny's Deli, says: “I have been personally doing everything possible to get more business. I’m not a give up kind of person. I’m going to get scrappy and do what I can.” (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Which doesn’t mean Raskin isn’t trying. “I have been personally doing everything possible to get more business,” says Raskin. “I’m not a give up kind of person. I’m going to get scrappy and do what I can.”
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When the dining room first closed, he found himself working every day for three weeks straight. “I was tired, but I felt worse for my wife,” says Raskin. “We have three kids at home, and I’m trying to work. But we can’t ask for help, because we don’t want anyone to come over.”
Eventually, he noticed that a lot of people in the suburbs who would normally commute to the Loop for work wanted to place orders. This explains how Raskin found himself with a car full of orders from Manny’s ready to personally deliver them all. “I told people to either call or email me,” says Raskin. To his surprise, on the first day he got 80 orders, which initially sounded great. Then he realized he’d have to drop them off at 80 different houses.
“I called my dad and asked for help, so he took half,” admits Raskin. But this still meant that Raskin had to deliver 40 orders in four hours. “I don’t even know what I was thinking,” says Raskin. “It was working out until it got dark and then I couldn’t see the addresses.” He didn’t even have a minimum price for an order, so at one stop he delivered a single bowl of matzo ball soup.
Napkins and salt and pepper shakers are seen gathered on a table as Manny's Deli is only taking carry out and delivery orders in Chicago on April 22, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Obviously, that wasn’t sustainable, so he called a friend from EJ’s Place in Skokie, Gabriella Lenzi Littleton, to see if she had any suggestions. She recommended using Tock, Nick Kokonas’s online ordering system. “It’s so easy to set up,” says Raskin. Now, instead of making individual deliveries, he picks a parking lot in a different suburb each day, and customers meet him there. “They stay in their cars, and I set the food in their trunks for contactless pickup,” says Raskin.
Though he’s working long hours (some days he’s working 14 hours) and had to completely retool his business, he considers himself lucky. “I’m fortunate that we have a legacy brand, and that I can deliver to the suburbs,” says Raskin. “If customers don’t know who you are, it’s hard for restaurant owners to do anything right now.”
Raskin explains that he’s focused right now on taking care of his employees. “One of the things I learned early on is to treat your employees like family,” says Raskin. “We want to keep paying our employees, so all of them are still on the payroll, just with reduced hours.” Manny’s is also offering meals for employees whether they are working that day or not. “I’ve been doing everything I possibly can,” says Raskin. He applied for a government loan, but didn’t get approved for the first round.
“You work so hard and then all of a sudden everything is gone,” says Raskin. “All your savings are being used to keep you in business now. There’s so much uncertainty. Right now, it’s just survival.”
But he is adamant that you shouldn’t count Manny’s out. “I don’t know when this is going to end, probably not soon,” says Raskin. “But I know we’ll still be here when this ends.”
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If you live in the suburbs, you can place pickup orders on Tock to Go. In the city, you can order pickup through mannysdeli.com, or on Chownow, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Caviar.