chicagotribune--2020-06-23--31-year-old bicyclist trapped under truck, critically hurt in Northwest Side collision

This crash happened several blocks north of the most recent collision , and a painted bike path with plastic bollards @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no marked bike lane at Belmont and Milwaukee , though Keating noted @ @ @ @ @ route indicated by city signs and is commonly used by bikes .

A bicyclist peddles past Chicago police and investigators at the scene where a female bicyclist was run over by a vehicle on West Belmont and North Milwaukee avenues in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood June 23, 2020. The woman is in critical condition. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A city of Chicago truck driver ran over a 31-year-old bicyclist Tuesday morning on the Northwest Side, trapping her under the vehicle, authorities and witnesses said.
The 31-year-old woman was still conscious when she was removed from underneath the truck, according to witnesses at the scene, and police said she had since been taken via ambulance to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition.
Advertisement
The crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Milwaukee and Belmont avenues in the Avondale neighborhood. The 31-year-old woman was biking north on Milwaukee and stopped at the light, alongside a Chicago Department of Transportation truck.
The truck’s 48-year-old driver then turned right onto Belmont and struck the bicyclist, trapping her underneath, according to a police media notification.
Advertisement
A group standing at a nearby gas station saw the crash and immediately started running toward the truck, yelling at the driver to stop moving, according to Esteban Burgoa, 56, who observed the aftermath.
“The people here were yelling, ‘Stop, stop, stop,‘” Burgoa said. “He (the driver) was in shock. He said, ‘I killed the lady.‘”
The driver was taken to Swedish Hospital for evaluation but had no injuries, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
This type of crash, in which a motor vehicle and a cyclist are traveling in the same direction and the motorist turns right and hits the cyclist, is known as a “right hook,” said lawyer Michael Keating, who specializes in bike crashes.
Last fall, Carla Aiello, a 37-year-old counselor at a Wicker Park Catholic high school, was killed in a similar crash when the driver of a dump truck made a right turn from Milwaukee onto Kilbourn Avenue.
This crash happened several blocks north of the most recent collision, and a painted bike path with plastic bollards was added to the street. There is no marked bike lane at Belmont and Milwaukee, though Keating noted that it is a bike route indicated by city signs and is commonly used by bikes.
Keating said that right hooks are a frequent cause of crashes, and the city has seen a number of them involving cyclists being hit by commercial vehicles.
Keating noted that the municipal code states that the operator of any motor vehicle should not turn right “until it’s absolutely clear and safe to do so.”
Advertisement
The Department of Transportation said that Tuesday’s crash was under investigation and declined to comment further.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Should you travel this summer? Here’s a guide to flying, road trips and other vacation concerns amid

Should you travel this summer? Here’s a guide to flying, road trips and other vacation concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“ I strongly recommend bringing one of these plastic face shields that covers your mask .
It will help protect your face , your eyes and mask from becoming contaminated .
They are really comfortable .
The first time you put one on , you ’ re like , ‘ This is ridiculous , ’ but you can see your whole face through it .
You can wear your mask underneath it .
In fact , we ’ re recommending them for little kids at school , when schools go back , that they might be a better form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their masks on .
They are available on Amazon .
You could even make one yourself .
I would bring one with me .
I wouldn ’ t , necessarily , wear it the whole time .
I would definitely have it with me so I could add a layer of safety .
If I feel like I can ’ t keep my distance from people and other people aren ’ t wearing masks , then that would be the time I would want to put on a face shield .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re around people who aren ’ t wearing masks .
I think you need to have something that will help you add a layer of protection if someone else isn ’ t doing their part .
That , for me , would be a face shield .
”

To some, the idea of taking a summer vacation amid the COVID-19 pandemic is out of the question. With COVID-19 cases reported in all 50 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people stay home to protect themselves and others from getting sick.
“COVID-19 remains an ongoing pandemic with sustained community transition — even if you are traveling to a place with fewer cases,” said Dr. Benjamin Singer, assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical care) and biochemistry and molecular genetics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Advertisement
To others, a carefully distanced excursion to the woods or a secluded beach is in the works after months of staying close to home.
“There will be lots of people who take trips, come home and everything is fine. But there are going to be other people who take trips and end up sick who wouldn’t have otherwise gotten sick if they’d stayed home,” said Dr. Emily Landon, associate professor of medicine, infectious diseases expert and epidemiologist at University of Chicago Medicine. “It’s really up to you, about what you want to spend your personal risk on.”
Advertisement
For those planning a trip away from home this summer, the Tribune asked medical experts what precautions and items to take on every step of a journey by airplane, car or train. What follows are their answers, along with guidance from the CDC, Transportation Security Administration, and other state and federal agencies.
Whatever your plans, don’t lose sight of this opportunity to enjoy quality time with those you’ve been hunkering down with since March. “2020 may not be the summer we thought we would have, but find time to read, explore and find the joy around you — and savor what you can,” said Dr. Amy Bohnert, associate professor of clinical and developmental psychology at Loyola University Chicago, “That is a gift we can give our kids that will last a lifetime.”
Before you go
First off, is travel safe?
CDC: Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. We don’t know if one type of travel is safer than others; however, airports, bus stations, train stations and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces.
What factors should go into picking a destination?
CDC: The following should be considered when thinking about planning a trip away from home:
• Is COVID-19 spreading in your community? Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can spread COVID-19 to others while traveling.
• Is COVID-19 spreading at your destination? You can get infected while traveling. You can also spread the coronavirus — without symptoms — to loved ones when you return.
Advertisement
• Would you have to quarantine for 14 days after arriving at your destination? Check the state and local requirements. Gov. Pritzker said he is not considering asking visitors to Illinois from states with spiking coronavirus infection rates to quarantine upon arrival.
How can my family discuss the destination?
Bohnert: “I think it is always good to start by brainstorming a list of places that people in the family would be excited to visit regardless of whether it is realistic or not. Some of these may be off the table due to travel restrictions, time involved to travel or cost. Some family members may be reluctant to travel to certain places because it would involve a long car trip, and others may be hesitant to fly. Some locations are asking out-of-state visitors to quarantine upon arrival, which may be tough to pull off with limited vacation time. Having an honest discussion with family members about what might be possible (or not possible) to do when you are visiting and who feels comfortable with what is important.”
Are there any groups of people for whom you would not recommend travel for this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic?
Singer: “Higher-risk groups, including older adults and people with chronic health conditions.”
Is one form of travel safer or limits exposure to COVID-19 better than others?
Advertisement
Singer: “Staying at home is the safest option, but travel options that allow you to stay socially distant would be considered the safest.”
Dr. Erica Hartmann, assistant professor of environmental engineering at Northwestern University: “I personally would opt for modes of transportation that are less densely crowded and allow for lots of ventilation.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a road trip
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Making stops along the way for gas, food or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces. You may have to stop less often, but RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others. One approach for eating is to pick up food at drive-thrus or curbside restaurant service.
Tom and Mona Mesereau sit in the sun outside their Winnebago in Evergreen, Colorado, on May 30, 2020. Recreational vehicles were gaining in popularity before the coronavirus pandemic, but now, with travel restrictions loosening, a surge of travelers is drawn to the relative solitude that RVs offer. (Benjamin Rasmussen/The New York Times)
I’m planning to hit the road this summer with my family. Should I pack my own cleaning supplies for the trip? If so, what items should be in my kit?
Hartmann: “I would focus more on having things like masks and hand sanitizer than cleaning supplies.”
Advertisement
My beloved disinfecting wipes have been sold out for months. What’s a good substitute?
Hartmann: “Alcohol or bleach (for surfaces where it’s safe to use bleach) and a clean cloth work just fine. Make sure to use them according to instructions. Alcohol is probably easiest when traveling.”
What are your thoughts about wearing disposable gloves when I’m away from home? Are they necessary?
Hartmann: “The research that I have seen on this topic indicates that it’s not such a good idea to wear gloves. Focus more on hand hygiene: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.”
A man wearing disposal gloves folds his hands as he rests in central London, on May 26, 2020, during hot weather following the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing more outdoor recreation and letting some shops and businesses reopen. (Frank Augstein/AP)
I’m renting a vehicle for the trip. What precautions should I take to keep it disinfected from pickup to drop-off?
Hartmann: “I wouldn’t worry about keeping it disinfected unless you’re sharing with someone outside of your trusted circle. If you’re really concerned when you first pick it up, consider disinfecting high-touch surfaces like the keys or steering wheel.”
Advertisement
How do I keep the inside of my vehicle sanitized during my drive?
Hartmann: “You don’t have to keep the inside of the vehicle sanitized unless you’re sharing the vehicle with someone who is COVID-19-positive (and really that person shouldn’t be traveling except to receive medical care).”
It’s inevitable — I’ll need to stop and use the restroom during my trip. Is there any way to prevent germs from following me back to my car?
Hartmann: “Wash your hands. Which really, you should be doing regardless of COVID-19.
“Perhaps not directly related to your question, but remember to practice social distancing in the restroom if there are multiple people in the restroom. And maybe you shouldn’t talk while you’re in there.”
Any other tips for dealing with things that could potentially make me sick over the course of a driving vacation?
Advertisement
Hartmann: “Remember to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated! Drive safe.”
What about rest areas and Illinois Tollway oases?
All of the rest areas are open, said Guy Tridgell, director of communications for the Illinois Department of Transportation: “That’s consistently been the case. From time to time, rest areas do need to close for maintenance or construction issues, but the parking lots and outdoor facilities remain open and accessible.
Tridgell said the public is urged to follow the social distancing and other safety guidelines that are emphasized by public health officials.
The Illinois Tollway oases are open as well, according to Dan Rozek, communications manager, and following the same guidelines as all Illinois businesses.
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Going by air?
What is the general guidance?
Advertisement
CDC: Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. Social distancing, however, is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Wear a nonmedical, fabric face covering during the flight.
Passengers walk through the United terminal June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
At the airport
A trip to the airport is in my future and I’m worried about potential COVID-19 exposure. How can I protect myself in the terminal?
Landon: “My mom’s 75 years old. She’s been stuck in Florida much longer than usual because of the pandemic, but it’s time to come home. She’s traveling in a week and a half. We’ve had a lot of discussions about what to do. Here’s what I would do if I was going to fly right now, and this is what I advised my mom to do, as well.
“When you get in the security line, then try to keep distance from the people around you. Make sure you are wearing your mask, if you can, then manipulate the situation so you’re in line with other people wearing their masks. If the person in line in front of you doesn’t have a mask on, then let other people go ahead. Security will touch your stuff. Don’t freak out about it. Hopefully, they will be wearing masks, too, because that’s required and recommended. When you get your stuff back from security — what you should do every single time — is wash your hands. If you don’t have time to stop and wash your hands in the bathroom, then use your hand sanitizer.
“After security, get some space and keep some space between yourself and other people before you have to board your flight. You don’t want to be stuck sitting close to other people. Maybe that means finding an empty gate or one that doesn’t have a flight going out right now where you can sit at instead. There’s no rule that says you have to sit at your crowded gate before your flight. When it’s time to line up to board the flight, try to keep some space. Just remember the CDC doesn’t count an exposure unless you’re within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more. Just wait to get up and only get in line when it’s your turn. The person standing behind you is going to do what they want to do, and there’s not much you can do about it.”
Passengers line up and board by row for a flight to San Francisco on June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
On the plane
Is there a kit of items I should bring to keep myself and surroundings clean while aboard the plane?
Advertisement
Landon: “I would pack disinfecting wipes in my carry-on. If I couldn’t find disinfecting wipes then I would probably take some paper towels, saturate them with whatever disinfectant I use to clean my house and put those in a plastic bag and bring them with me. That would be my plan to get through the flight. If I can’t get it, then I’ll just make my own.”
Hartmann: “Like hotels, I think airlines are taking cleaning very seriously. I suspect the biggest risk has more to do with ventilation and proximity to other passengers than, say, cleaning the tray table. But we need more research on the exact mechanisms of transmission to be sure.”
The disinfecting procedure of United planes is shown June 18, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
I know I will need a face covering. What type would you suggest for the flight?
Landon: “You’ll want to bring a really high-quality fabric mask or a medical mask for traveling. You need to make sure your mask is super protective — not just preventive. Fabric masks are great for holding in your own respiratory droplets. But if other people aren’t wearing their masks, then they are not holding in their respiratory droplets. If everyone wears a preventive mask, then, together, everything is safer all around. But if you can’t count on other people to do that, then you need to have a really good fabric mask like the World Health Organization recommends. Probably two or three layers with a high thread-count cotton and/or silk inside of it or a filter pocket inside of it. One that fits you well. That’s what I would wear. I find fabric masks to be a lot more comfortable than medical masks.
“I would try not to take off my mask during the flight — you may need to in order to have a drink of water on a 4½-hour flight. But on a short flight, you could probably get away with drinking before you board and then drinking again when you get off the plane.”
What should I do when I arrive at my seat?
Advertisement
Landon: “I would wipe down the armrest and the tray table. If I’m in the window seat, then I would wipe that down, too, because that’s what people often lean against and put their hands on. Then I would sit in my seat, wash my hands again with hand sanitizer and sit tight. Leave your mask on for the flight.
“You’re really only at risk from the people within a couple of seats of you in any direction. So, two seats behind you, two seats diagonally, two seats in front of you. That’s what you’re really worried about.
“If someone is coughing in the back of the plane, then don’t freak out. People passing you in the aisle, don’t freak out. Theoretically, the window seat is the safest.”
Alicia Smith cleans her surroundings on an American Airlines flight to Washington from Detroit on March 3, 2020.
I see people sitting near me who have taken off their mask during the flight. What should I do?
Landon: “When we think about how to protect people out in the world from COVID-19, I like to describe it as a layered or stacked approach. We stack up interventions. None is meant to be perfect on its own. You can rely on cleaning your hands, wiping down your seat, keeping your distance from other people — these are all ways to reduce your risk when traveling. But some of them aren’t as easy to do when traveling, like protecting your eyes. So, if other people are coughing or sneezing or have respiratory droplets that are contagious, then that can get in through your eyes. A mask doesn’t protect them. And your regular glasses aren’t great protection either.
If you find yourself stuck on an airplane with someone two rows behind you or one seat behind you coughing — or, say, the guy next to you doesn’t look all that well — you want to be able to add an extra layer of protection. — Dr. Emily Landon, University of Chicago Medicine
“I strongly recommend bringing one of these plastic face shields that covers your mask. It will help protect your face, your eyes and mask from becoming contaminated. They are really comfortable. The first time you put one on, you’re like, ‘This is ridiculous,’ but you can see your whole face through it. You can wear your mask underneath it. In fact, we’re recommending them for little kids at school, when schools go back, that they might be a better form of protection than trying to get them to keep their masks on. They are available on Amazon. You could even make one yourself. I would bring one with me. I wouldn’t, necessarily, wear it the whole time. I would definitely have it with me so I could add a layer of safety. If I feel like I can’t keep my distance from people and other people aren’t wearing masks, then that would be the time I would want to put on a face shield. The real time to need them is when you’re around people who aren’t wearing masks. I think you need to have something that will help you add a layer of protection if someone else isn’t doing their part. That, for me, would be a face shield.”
Advertisement
Masked passengers fill a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas on June 3, 2020, with middle seats left open. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)
I’m stuck sitting in a row next to someone I don’t know. Does this increase my exposure to the coronavirus? What can I do to try to keep a little bit of distance between us?
Hartmann: “It only increases your exposure if that person has COVID-19. That said, since we seem to be doing such a poor job of testing and tracing in general, it’s probably not a bad idea to try to maintain a little more distance (like moving seats so you’re not sitting next to anyone, if possible).”
Would you feel comfortable using the restroom on board the airplane in light of COVID-19?
Hartmann: “Personally, yes.”
Landon: “If you’re on a short flight and don’t have to use the bathroom, then don’t use the bathroom. There are a lot of pathogens in our GI tract, and modern bathrooms are designed to make transition of those pathogens less likely. They’re easily cleanable, they have hard surfaces, they’re usually pretty clean. A bathroom on an airplane is not the best bathroom in the world, right? So, don’t use it unless you have to. If you have to use it, then make sure to wash your hands, then follow with hand sanitizer when returning to your seat. Remember, this is a short exposure. Keep your mask on — I know it seems weird — but you don’t have to take your mask off to pee. Just leave your mask on and spend a short period of time in the bathroom.”
Should I take one long flight or several shorter ones to arrive at my destination? Does it make a difference in terms of possible exposure to coronavirus?
Advertisement
Landon: “I don’t think anyone really knows what the risk is if flying into another airport then switching flights. If you’re flying into a city that has a lot of cases, then that might not be the best idea. But, then again, maybe people won’t be traveling there, so the flights could be less full. I really think you are going to be lowering your risk by traveling on a flight with fewer people on it — there’s less crowding at the gate, less crowding on the plane. That’s where you’re really going to be able to minimize your risk, if possible. I always feel better about flying a direct flight as opposed to multiple legs, but that’s not a science answer — that’s just a me answer.”
Upon arrival
When I arrive at my destination, do I need to clean my carry-on and checked bags? Is there anything else I should clean or pay attention to upon landing?
Hartmann: “If you’re going to be handling the bags extensively, sure. But if you’re going to unpack and put the bags away for a week, I would just suggest washing your hands after you’ve opened them and then leaving them be.”
Landon: “If you do have to check luggage, then I recommend something that can be wiped off and cleaned off easily. So a hard surface would be good, but if you don’t have it, then don’t go out and buy one. But if you have two to choose from, then pick the hard-sided bag.”
A lone piece of luggage circulates in the baggage carousel in the main terminal at Denver International Airport on April 23, 2020. (David Zalubowski/AP)
How can I clean my face mask to use it for my return flight?
Landon: “When it comes to fabric masks, you want to be cleaning them regularly. I would clean mine after being in close contact with other people. Some fabric masks can be cleaned in the laundry, others have to be cleaned by hand, but any of them can be washable with a detergent. I throw mine into a regular load of laundry with warmer water. If I couldn’t, then I would put it in a sink with any kind of soap that’s a detergent. Rub it in, rinse it out and lay it flat to dry. Some can be dried in the dryer along with the laundry. Bring a couple of fabric masks with you and wash them in the sink of your hotel room to keep them fresh. That would absolutely be fine.
Advertisement
“One reason face shields are so great — they can help prevent the face mask from becoming contaminated. Face shields can be wiped down with disinfectant, the same way you’d wipe down the arms of your seat.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a train
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Traveling on trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others, which could make it difficult to follow social distancing guidelines.
An Amtrak officer wears a protective mask while checking passengers boarding a train April 9, 2020, in Santa Ana, California. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
There are so many surfaces I could be in contact with while aboard a train. What tools can I bring with me to keep the ones I come into contact with clean?
Hartmann: “As with cars or planes, the emphasis shouldn’t be on sterilizing the environment around you. Consider how likely someone is to have touched or coughed on a surface immediately before you. Make sure you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after you touch those surfaces, particularly before touching your face.”
What has Amtrak changed in the pandemic?
Advertisement
Change fees for reservations made before Aug. 31, 2020, are waived. Cafe service and other services may be suspended on select trains. Customers must call 800-USA-RAIL and speak with an agent to cancel their reservation. Some stations might not be staffed. If a station is closed, then customers should proceed directly to the platform to board their train.
A man wears a mask as he sits in a Metra train at the Glenview Amtrak/Metra station in Glenview on May 13, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Taking a cruise
What is the general guidance?
CDC: Effective since March 14, the CDC has issued a No Sail Order for cruise ships.
Cruise ships are docked March 31, 2020, in Miami. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
(Jemal R. Brinson)
What about staying at a hotel?
What is the general guidance?
CDC: If staying at a hotel, then check the hotel’s COVID-19 prevention practices before you go. When you are there, limit close contact with others in the lobby or other common areas, take the stairs instead of the elevator and choose contactless options for check-in when possible.
Hotel employee Daniel Mathre helps a guest from behind protective plastic May 28, 2020, at the Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach, Oregon. (Gillian Flaccus/AP)
I’ve arrived at my destination. Are there any inside surfaces at my lodging I should wipe down as a precaution?
Advertisement
Hartmann: “If you’re really set on taking matters into your own hands, focus on high-touch surfaces (keys, doorknobs, light switches, maybe remote controls).”
Landon: “If you’re going to a resort — where you will stay, eat, play as your vacation — I think you want to have more intel ahead of time. I probably would not be planning that kind of vacation right now, though, because I would want more flexibility than that. It may be a better time for Airbnb, things like that, because you have a lot more control over the environment. You can wipe off the door handles, all the light switches, all the countertops in the bathrooms and kitchen and feel like you’re in a pretty safe place.”
What should I look for when booking a hotel?
Landon: “The most important thing is to look on the hotel’s website ahead of time and make sure the hotel has a good written policy about COVID-19. You want to see that they require masks to be worn — by staff and guests — in the inside common areas all the time. You want to see that they say something about their disinfection plan in rooms. Not just cleaning them in between guests, but they are disinfecting them using an EPA-registered disinfectant and they’ve trained their staff in how to do so. You want to see that they have a social distancing plan in place and they have policies for use of their common-use areas — like gyms or pools. That means the hotel is taking steps to protect its workers and guests. If the hotel is taking a lot of steps to protect their workers and guests, then it’s less likely there will be sick people wandering around your hotel, which makes it safer.
“It’s important that the hotel has a clear policy, but you want to go a step further. You want to find information on travel websites or talk to someone who’s been there recently. I would want to know what is really happening on the ground.
A lot of places have policies. If you call the front desk ahead of time and they have no idea what the hotel’s policies are, then that’s a bad sign. — Dr. Emily Landon, University of Chicago Medicine
“If you show up, people are not wearing masks, staff is not following policies the website said the hotel would follow, then I would not feel safe. You have a couple of options — you could book a backup hotel or just decide to stay away from the common-use areas and forgo any room cleaning for the time you are there.”
Advertisement
Emily Mesa Acosta cleans the door handle of a guest cottage June 1, 2020, at the Island Bay Resort in Tavernier, Florida. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Is it safe for a housekeeper to enter and clean my room during my stay at a hotel? Or, could I be endangering them and myself?
Landon: “If housekeepers are wearing masks in the hallways, you can see disinfectants on their carts, then I would not have any issue with them coming into my room and cleaning my room. Or, you could forgo housekeeping altogether during your stay. Some hotels are offering minimal contact services. They have ways to avoid personal contact.”
Is it safe to use a hotel’s pool?
Landon: “Pools are not inherently bad. Chlorine in pools should kill COVID-19. That’s not a problem, but people don’t wear masks when they are in pools. In general, the recommendation in Illinois is that pools are not open for recreation right now, but could be opened for exercise.
“Look for sun loungers to be spaced apart, signs saying the pool is not allowed to be used for recreation, only for exercise, and a limited number of swimmers can be inside at one time. If you scope it out and it appears you can safely do that, then, sure, go ahead and swim some laps.”
A German tourist takes a sunbath at the Riu Concordia hotel swimming pool in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on June 15, 2020. (Joan Mateu/AP)
What about camping?
Advertisement
CDC: Going camping at a time when much of the United States is experiencing community spread of COVID-19 can pose a risk to you if you come in close contact with others or share public facilities (like restrooms or picnic areas) at campsites or along the trails.
What if I’m staying with family?
Landon: “Take care of yourself. Be pretty socially distant from people in the week leading up to your trip. If your family is really, really anxious about your visit, then plan to leave a few days early and take a break in a hotel for five days before you stay with family. And get tested, maybe, if everyone is really concerned.”
(Jemal R. Brinson)
Packing
What are some precautions to take for any type of travel?
CDC: Consider the following when leaving your home:
• If taking prescription medicine, then bring enough to last you for the entire trip.
Advertisement
• Pack hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Bring a cloth face covering to wear in public places.
• Prepare food and water for your trip. Pack nonperishable food in case restaurants and stores are closed.
• Follow state and local travel restrictions. Check state and local health department information at home, along your route and at your destination.
Returning home
What is the general guidance?
CDC: If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your health care provider.
Advertisement
OK, I’ve made it back home after my trip. How can I prevent the entire trip’s germs from ending up inside my living space?
Hartmann: “Again, wash your hands when you return. Consider disinfecting high-touch objects that you may have had with you or objects that other people outside your trusted circle may have handled, if you intend on using them again very soon.”
Landon: “If you come home from a trip, then assume you’ve been exposed (to the new coronavirus). Get tested five to seven days after your last exposure, stay home for a little extra time. If I was going to travel like that this summer, then I would book another week off afterward so that I wasn’t spreading anything that I might have picked up.”
OK, this is hard
My partner wants to travel this summer, but I’m unsure about it. Can you suggest some ways we can have a conversation and try to understand each other?
Bohnert: “Partners should strive to appreciate what their partners would and would not feel comfortable doing. It is also important to understand where those concerns come from. Does a partner have a health condition that makes them more vulnerable? Is a partner worried about losing time away from work and reductions in salary if they are exposed? Is your partner worried about the potential of encountering racism? Are they concerned about whether there would be adequate medical care in the place where they are visiting? If one partner is particularly uneasy with one locale, perhaps another that is more familiar, closer to home or involves less time away could provide a more comfortable escape. The more you can understand what specific things make your partner uneasy about traveling, the easier it will be to come up with some options that may be more palatable if one of the partners feels strongly about the need to get away.”
After months of sheltering at home, I’m now afraid to head out into public and be around other people. What can I do to make a trip away from home seem less stressful?
Advertisement
Bohnert: “To start, I would encourage people to normalize these stressful feelings. After all, we have been told to avoid people and shelter at home to prevent getting sick. So heading out in public runs counter to the advice we have been heeding over the past three months — how could we not feel nervous about it?
It would be hard not to feel unsettled by the prospect of being in public after all the precautions we have been asked to take. So don’t judge yourself for feeling uncertain. — Dr. Amy Bohnert, Loyola University Chicago
“Next, try and pinpoint exactly what makes you feel uncomfortable. Is it being in closer contact with others? Fears of dining out? If you can figure out what makes you feel uneasy, you may be able to control some aspects of that situation that will make it feel more manageable. As with most things, when we feel anxious or concerned about a situation, we may seek to avoid it so we don’t have to feel anxious. This, of course, reinforces that the situation is something to be feared because when we avoid it, we don’t feel worried. So figuring out what you can control — wearing a mask (properly), washing/sanitizing your hands and finding less crowded outdoor places where you can better manage how close you have to get to others — may make the decision to get out more palatable. All these behaviors will decrease (but not eliminate) the likelihood you get infected if you encounter someone who is contagious.”
Childrens' art in the window of a home in the Bernal Heights section of San Francisco on May 3, 2020. (Cayce Clifford/The New York Times)
How can we have a fun, productive summer as a family if we decide to not take a vacation and choose, instead, to stay home?
Bohnert: “For many people, traveling introduces a lovely element of novelty to our lives. We get to see different scenery, eat different foods and have new experiences. With all the novelty we are currently facing and the uncertainty that lies ahead, the risk incurred by traveling may be more than families are ready for during challenging time. But finding little ways to enjoy the spaces and people around you, even while distancing, is important.
“There are many lovely places to explore in the Chicago area during the summertime that provide a nice respite from our homes. Some are closed but may be reopening in the coming weeks. The botanic gardens and forest preserves are lovely, nature-filled spaces. Some of our renowned Chicago university campuses also have splendid grounds in which to stroll. Springfield is a bit farther away but a great place to explore for history buffs, as is Cantigny in the western suburbs.”
Consider setting some up some new family rituals — bike rides, walks to look for birds, berry picking and picnics can all be nice ways to escape. — Dr. Amy Bohnert, Loyola University Chicago
If I’m staycationing, what are some activities my kids and I can do together to alleviate some stress?
Advertisement
Bohnert: “Parents should cut themselves some slack this summer. Many have overseen their children’s transition to virtual learning while trying to manage their own workloads. Now with summer and the cancellation of camps, many parents are still trying to work while at the same time balancing their children’s needs. ...
“My best advice is to get outside as much as possible. The sights and sounds of nature are incredibly therapeutic. Find blue (water) and green (grass, trees) near you — and connect with others in a socially distanced way. People watching at a local park can be a lovely way to pass some time on a nice day. You might also remember things that you did as a kid that you found joyful, and seek to re-create those experiences for your kids.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Illinois coronavirus graphs: 6,707 deaths, 137,825 confirmed cases, 1.4 million tests, 4.91% positiv

Illinois coronavirus graphs: 6,707 deaths, 137,825 confirmed cases, 1.4 million tests, 4.91% positivity rate for northeast region

Another metric that shows the direction of the outbreak is the positivity rate .
That rate looks at the proportion @ @ @ @ @ back positive .
This measure has been dropping across the state .
Those two metrics @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak .

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracked coronavirus cases, deaths and test totals from Jan. 22, 2020 through March 10, 2023, but is no longer providing this data. These charts will no longer be updated.
Check the Illinois Department of Public Health for the most up-to-date data for Illinois.
[ Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus ]
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

Search below by street address , ZIP code or city , then click on the map to see the number @ @ @ @ @ state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer .

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
Illinois releases the number of positive COVID-19 cases by ZIP code daily. The map below shows the cumulative cases for each area as well as other analysis of the data.
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Tracking daily Illinois coronavirus deaths, cases and tests.
Search below by street address, ZIP code or city, then click on the map to see the number of confirmed and probable cases. The state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer.
Data as of June 10.
The map search tool above works best in Chrome or Firefox and may not perform consistently in Internet Explorer.
Note: Because of a coding error this map was displaying the incorrect rates for new cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 people — the issue should now be resolved.. The Tribune adjusted the data shown on the map below to focus on new cases, those the state tracked in the last 7 seven days. The totals for the entire pandemic are still available, but in the pop-up after tapping or clicking on a ZIP.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Belvidere man found in Little Calumet River had been shot multiple times

The Boone County Sheriff ’ s Office , which had been leading the investigation into his disappearance , confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ Joliet , but declined to discuss the case further .

A Belvidere man whose body was found last week in the Little Calumet River in Blue Island had been shot multiple times, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Carl E. Gordon, a 35-year-old Boone County man whose body was recovered from the river on June 18, near 13200 S. Ann St., died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death has been ruled a homicide, according to the agency.
Advertisement
Illinois State Police, which announced Tuesday it was conducting an investigation into Gordon’s death, said only that foul play was suspected, but would not release any additional information nor confirm he’d been shot.
Carl Gordon (Boone County Sheriff's Office)
Gordon, who had been reported missing by his family, was last seen May 29 in Joliet, according to a Boone County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
Advertisement
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, which had been leading the investigation into his disappearance, confirmed that Gordon was last seen in Joliet, but declined to discuss the case further.
According to news reports, Gordon had been in Joliet to have his Harley Davidson motorcycle serviced.
zkoeske@tribpub.com
Twitter @ZakKoeske


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Illinois officials offer school districts guidance for reopening to in-person classes this fall

Every school district , college and university will be asked to develop their own reopening plan , Gov .
J.B. @ @ @ @ @ guidance issued Tuesday requires the use of face coverings , limits the number of people @ @ @ @ @ calls for social distancing “ as much as possible ” and requires more schoolwide cleaning @ @ @

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news briefing regarding the coronavirus pandemic on May 3, 2020, at the Thompson Center in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday released guidance for students to return to the classroom, but his plan left many unanswered questions as parents continue to wonder what school will look like across Illinois this fall.
The state guidance for potentially bringing hundreds of thousands of students back into classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended the academic year last spring calls for the use of face coverings and suggests social distancing “as much as possible.” It also limits the number of people gathering in one place to under 50, requests increased schoolwide cleaning and disinfection as well as symptom screening and temperature checks for people entering schools.
Advertisement
But it will up be up to each of the 852 school districts, as well as community colleges and universities, to develop their own reopening plans before in-person instruction resumes, a nod to the tradition of local control of education as well as an attempt to include regional differences involving the spread of the coronavirus.
That means some districts could opt to continue online learning. Chicago Public Schools was noncommittal Tuesday. And the two large groups representing teachers unions said the guidelines don’t address issues such as social distancing in classrooms and halls, daily health monitoring and the need for personal protective equipment.
Advertisement
While the plans will be local, Illinois education Superintendent Carmen Ayala acknowledged the State Board of Education would not review the individual district rules to ensure they complied with safety guidelines. Instead, Ayala said it would be up to local school administrators and local health officials to work together.
“At this point in time, they will not be reviewed in the agency per se,” Ayala said. “And so, it is the collaboration between the district administrators, the school administrators and their respective county health departments to work together in developing the plan that meets the needs of their respective community.”
Some districts could resume classes in mid-August, and there’s a lot of work to do. Creating individual reopening plans that could mean staggered schedules, meal times, hallway restrictions and mask requirements will be the next challenge for schools, which also will need to stand ready to return to distance learning if there’s a coronavirus resurgence.
Pritzker ordered in-person classroom instruction suspended starting March 17, and teachers and students finished out the 2019-20 school year in a remote learning capacity. The move was among the first of the sweeping statewide restrictions put in place earlier this year, as the state was confronting rapidly spreading COVID-19 infections, forcing educators, parents and students to abruptly shift to remote learning from home.
On Tuesday, Pritzker sought to downplay any lack of state oversight of local district policies.
“Every superintendent, every teacher, every person that works in the school, paraprofessionals, not to mention the students and families, all have the same interest — which is to keep these children and the people who work there safe,” the governor said.
All of the four regions of the state, as defined by the governor’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan, are poised to move Friday into the next phase, which allows for gatherings of up to 50 people. Indoor dining at restaurants, museums, movie theaters and zoos will also be able to reopen with limited capacity.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, on Tuesday said the state has seen declining numbers of newly confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths “week after week for the past five consecutive weeks.” State officials reported 601 new known cases of COVID-19 and 38 additional deaths, raising the statewide totals to 137,825 confirmed cases and 6,707 deaths since the pandemic began.
Advertisement
When in-person classes resume, Ezike said, a student, staff or teacher who tests positive for COVID-19 would be asked to isolate, and others they were in contact with, mainly those who had spent 15 to 30 minutes of close contact without face coverings, would also have to quarantine for 14 days.
“And then of course there would be extensive disinfecting of the area, of the classroom, of the spaces in which the affected individual would have come in contact with, to make sure that all surfaces and spaces are cleaned and appropriately disinfected,” Ezike said.
In order to limit the number of people in the same space, the state guidance suggests school districts could stagger schedules for arrivals and dismissals, passing periods between classes and meal times, or implement a plan with a blend of in-person and remote learning.
To cut down on the number of people cycling through hallways at the same time, school officials could consider rotating teachers through classrooms rather than students, and having “hall and bathroom monitors to ensure a limited number of persons enter bathrooms at one time.”
Hallways and staircases also could be designated as one-way, floor markings could show a 6-foot distance in spaces where students line up and prohibiting locker-sharing is recommended.
The state guidance calls for districts to prioritize in-person learning for special education students, students under the age of 13, English language learners and those who “have had greater difficulty learning remotely,” judging from attendance rates this spring. Districts can continue remote learning for “medically fragile students, students at a higher risk of severe illness, and students who live with individuals at higher risk of severe illness.”
Advertisement
Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery said in an interview that the guidelines raised more questions than answers and appeared more “aspirational” than grounded in “reality” with no certification that safety rules would be implemented and practiced.
“The thing that gives me the greatest pause is that it’s very squishy on social distancing, so I have a real concern that there’ll be districts or schools where they’ll say, ‘Well, let’s just try to keep the kids separated’ as opposed to really working it through and figuring out how you’re going to keep kids actually apart,” Montgomery said.
“The PPE issue is huge. I would really appreciate it if the State Board or the governor’s office could actually make sure every school district has masks and soap and sanitizer, and I don’t have confidence that that’s where we’re going to be anytime soon,” he said.
Montgomery said given safety concerns and the number of students, teachers and staff in schools in the Chicago area, “it’s hard to see how we’re going to have widespread, uniform in-person instruction” and that blended learning, mixing in-person and home teaching, would be the more practical outcome.
If Pritzker was attempting to reassure parents that schools would be opening in the fall for their children in a safe environment, “then I guess I’d be pretty concerned.”
Illinois colleges and universities are also creating their own rules for cleaning public spaces, traffic flow, staggered schedules and small-group sessions.
Advertisement
For Chicago Public Schools’ 355,000 students, how or even whether schools will reopen in the fall remains undetermined, despite the governor’s proclamation. CPS did announce Tuesday that summer school will remain remote.
As for the fall, CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said in a statement: “Chicago Public Schools is eager to open its doors to students as soon as it is safe to do so, and the district is gathering feedback from families and staff to inform draft reopening guidelines for our schools. We will continue to work closely with (city and public health officials) to ensure we are able to open safely.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, staff and families, and we remain committed to widespread engagement to ensure our plan for reopening supports the diverse needs of our entire school community,” she said.
CPS already was planning to require everyone wear masks when its schools do reopen and said it would provide a limited number to students and staff at the beginning of the school year. Students and staff also will be subject to daily temperature checks, and “stringent” cleaning protocols are planned.
CPS is still working on guidelines for the fall, and seeking input from students, families and employees using surveys and focus groups. But officials said draft reopening guidelines should be released in coming weeks for further community review and feedback.
The Chicago Teachers Union has criticized CPS for not being further along in planning for the fall but also has stressed the importance of adequate protections for students and staff.
Advertisement
“While Governor Pritzker and ISBE have so far been helpful and clear on policies and guidance regarding contending with COVID-19, Illinois’ size and geographic diversity was bound to catch up with the state’s ability to issue useful guidance,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement Tuesday. “Today’s guidance from ISBE is both too general and too vague to serve as a useful road map for CPS. In short, we’re going to be required to figure out many of the most critical features of school work for ourselves.”
To feel safe sending her children back to school, Carolyn Ou, the parent of an incoming seventh grader at Oscar Mayer Elementary and a 10th grader at Jones College Prep, said she still needs a clearer understanding of the risks and how the protocols will be enforced as well as assurances that people will stick to them. But even with limited capacity, enforced facial covering requirements and hand-washing, there still needs to be a solid system of contact tracing to make sure future COVID-19 cases are properly contained, Ou said.
"Taking temperatures, for me, that will catch someone when it's too late," she said.
Jeremy Babcock, who chairs the local school council at Chappell Elementary in Ravenswood and is a professor and coordinator at Northeastern Illinois University, said he isn’t sure how feasible the new guidelines will be to follow, especially for younger students.
“It all looks good on paper,” Babcock said. “In reality, I’m a bit concerned about kids leaving masks on. You see people with them lowered beneath their nose, you wonder are they going to be worn appropriately throughout the day?”
Arlington Heights School District 25 Superintendent Lori Bein said Tuesday that officials will “work together to use this guidance to plan for the potential opening of our doors in the fall.”
Advertisement
“We have anticipated the release of these joint guidelines from IDPH and ISBE and are ready to put them into action here in District 25,” Bein said. “At first glance, there is much in this 60 page document that will help ensure District 25 can open its doors and classrooms in a safe and impactful way in the fall, pending Illinois’ anticipated move to phase 4.”
District 25 also will be “communicating details and asking for input from our families in the near future,” Bein said.
Many parents have expressed strong support for reopening schools in the fall, with safety precautions in place.
In Winnetka District 36, 86% of parents who completed a recent survey about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their children’s education said they want schools to reopen in the fall to in-person learning with necessary adjustments.
“Everyone misses each other, students and teachers, and learning is such a social activity, as it’s all about relationships,” Superintendent Trisha Kocanda said. “We all realize how important it is to connect with each other in person, but we need to balance that with doing it as safely as possible.”
jmunks@chicagotribune.com
Advertisement
rap30@aol.com
hleone@chicagotribune.com
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Lake County reports three new COVID-19 deaths; Indiana reports 14 new deaths since June 17

Dr. Anthony Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has @ @ @ @ @ public to practice social distancing .
And , in a recent ABC News interview , @ @ @ @ @ as protests against racial injustice are “ risky ” to all involved .
Asked if @ @ @ @ @ , he said it did .
Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for @ @ @ @ @ before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community .

Lake County reported three additional COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, bringing the total to 238, officials said. It now stands at 4,489 cases, according to state figures.
The Porter County Health Department said it has 123 active cases with 37 deaths to date. In total, it has had 648 cases with 525 recovered, it said.
Advertisement
Indiana has reported 14 new deaths since June 17, with 2,377 official deaths and another 192 who doctors suspect died from the virus.
Gary reported over 750 positive cases confirmed, with 55 deaths as of June 19.
Advertisement
The Gary Health Department, 1145 W. 5th Ave., continues to offer free testing Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. No upfront payments are required, but residents are encouraged to bring insurance information. A doctor’s order is not required.
COVID-19 testing will be offered from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday at the Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center, 4001 Indianapolis Blvd. in East Chicago, the Lake County Health Department said. Other testing locations are listed on the Indiana Department of Health’s website including Methodist Hospitals and an ISDH/Optum test site in Valparaiso.
The government’s top infectious disease expert told a House committee on Tuesday he believes “it will be when and not if” there will be a COVID-19 vaccine and that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that some will be ready at the end of the year.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are “risky” to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
The Associated Press contributed.
Find COVID-19 testing locations under the “public resources” tab at coronavirus.in.gov.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Man, 18, missing swimmer at Indiana Dunes located, fire chief says

It is believed the man was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friends at the beach , which was @ @ @ @ @ time and did not have lifeguards , Craig said .
The area , near the @ @ @ @ @ lot , was closed while the search continued .

An 18-year-old Illinois man drowned Tuesday while swimming at the Indiana Dunes State Park, according to the Porter County Coroner’s Office.
Dominic Snovicky, of Plainfield, Illinois, was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m. at the Porter Regional Hospital Emergency Room, spokeswoman Kristi Chervenak said in a release.
Advertisement
Divers from the Portage Fire Department located and pulled the man onto a Portage Marine Unit rescue boat around 12:36 p.m. where they started “life saving procedures,” Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig said. The swimmer was reported missing at the Indiana Dunes State Park around 11 a.m., authorities said.
Snovicky was transported by ambulance to Porter Regional Hospital, Craig said. The Porter County Coroner was called at 2:25 p.m., according to a later statement from the office.
Advertisement
Witnesses said he was struck by a wave and didn’t resurface, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
It is believed he was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friends at the beach, which was closed to swimming at the time and did not have lifeguards, Craig said. The area, near the beach’s western parking lot, was closed while the search continued.
Multiple agencies assisted including fire departments from Porter, Chesterton, Burns Harbor, Portage, Crown Point and Michigan City, Craig said. Lake County Sheriff, the U.S. Coast Guard, conservation police, and other police from Porter, Chesterton, Burns Harbor also assisted, Craig said.
The investigation is ongoing.
The National Weather Service issued a beach hazards statement for Porter County that predicted waves between 3-6 feet Tuesday afternoon with strong rip currents.
“Remain out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions and do not venture out on shoreline structures or jetties or piers,” it said. “Please check with your local authorities on potential beach closures.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Man killed in tree trimming fall in Ogden Dunes

According to a release from the Ogden Dunes Police , paramedics were sent to the intersection of Beach Lane and @ @ @ @ @ Saturday to respond to a report of a man who fell from a pine tree @ @ @ @ @ high while trimming the tree .

A Chesterton man was killed in a fall on Saturday while he was trimming trees in Ogden Dunes, police confirmed in a release.
According to a release from the Ogden Dunes Police, paramedics were sent to the intersection of Beach Lane and Shore Drive around 10:49 a.m. Saturday to respond to a report of a man who fell from a pine tree that was around 40-50 feet high while trimming the tree.
Advertisement
John McMeans, 70, was transported to Methodist Hospitals Northlake in Gary, where he was pronounced dead at 11:35 a.m., a Lake County Coroner’s release confirmed. The coroner’s release lists his injuries and manner of death as pending.
McMeans was a tree trimming contractor, police said, and they believe the accident may have been due to a failure of the safety belt harness strap the victim was using, Chief Jim Reeder said. The Ogden Dunes Police Department is conducting a death investigation.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker provides update on coronavirus in Illinois

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker is scheduled to provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois at 2:30 p.m. CDT .
@ @ @ @ @ here .

This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Chicago setting up mobile COVID-19 testing sites to help monitor disease

“ I am very pleased Chicago is taking this latest , critical step in expanding our city ’ s testing @ @ @ @ @ our mobile pilot program , ” Lightfoot said in a statement .
“ As we @ @ @ @ @ city while still preventing further spread of COVID-19 , these additional sites will play a @ @ @ @ @ allowing us to continue to increase the number of residents being tested , but to @ @ @ @ @ to support our communities most in need .
”

CTU workers direct vehicles lined up for COVID-19 testing outside of the Chicago Teachers Union on Dec. 30, 2021, in Chicago. CPS starts back to school on Monday following their holiday break. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
In an effort to get COVID-19 tests to people who need them, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday announced mobile testing for residents in hard-hit African American neighborhoods on the South and West sides, and for first responders on the Northwest and Southwest sides where many police officers and firefighters live.
Mobile testing for residents will operate out of Kennedy-King College in Englewood and the Austin Health Center in the South Austin neighborhood. While prior spikes in cases in predominantly Black and Hispanic ZIP codes are less pronounced now than they were a few weeks ago, city officials this week said infection rates in those neighborhoods are still higher than they would like.
Advertisement
The mobile sites will be able to test up to 500 people per day, and the city will work with local community organizations to set up events in neighborhoods for residents to get swabbed for the virus.
Meanwhile, with police, firefighters and paramedics at risk to catch the disease because of their daily interactions with the public, the city will run mobile sites for them around neighborhoods where many of them live, the city announced.
Advertisement
If these four sites prove successful, the city will set up more mobile testing, Lightfoot said.
The city runs five other stationary testing sites. Tests are free, and officials are urging anyone with symptoms, who has come in contact with someone who has the coronavirus or who has recently been part of a big crowd to get the test.
The city is planning to further reopen its economy this Friday, along with the rest of the state. With more Chicagoans and visitors rubbing elbows in businesses and on public transit, the city wants to keep testing at least 4,500 people per day to monitor for a resurgence of cases.
“I am very pleased Chicago is taking this latest, critical step in expanding our city’s testing capabilities with the launch of our mobile pilot program,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “As we continue to safely reopen our city while still preventing further spread of COVID-19, these additional sites will play a vital role in not only allowing us to continue to increase the number of residents being tested, but to do so equitably in order to support our communities most in need.”
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne


Fireworks sales increase

Treja Kelley had been hesitant to come forward after witnessing the murder of her 17-year-old cousin .
But she found @ @ @ @ @ stand last year and helped secure a guilty verdict .
Her testimony , though , @ @ @ @ @ head , prosecutors said .
Just a few months after testifying , Kelley was shot @ @ @ @ @ not far from where her cousin had been slain .
She was 18 and pregnant @

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Daniel Mota and Peter Koun offer large Roman candles to customers at Uncle Sam's Fireworks in Hammond, Indiana in 2020. Illinoisans looking to buy fireworks often travel to neighboring states such as Indiana, where sale and possession of consumer pyrotechnics are legal. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Illinoisans looking to buy fireworks often travel to neighboring states such as Indiana, where sale and possession of consumer pyrotechnics are legal.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus

As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward , the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have @ @ @ @ @ Chicago area or who have connections to our region .
These are some of those @ @

They were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many were proud grandparents. Two were sisters from a tight-knit South Side family. All were loved, relatives say, and will be forever missed.
As the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 ticks upward, the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region. These are some of those victims.
If you know of someone or would like to offer a remembrance of someone please share your information here. To file a death notice, go here.
Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune: Our mission is to deliver trusted and meaningful local news. Your support allows us to continue providing the award-winning, watchdog and in-depth journalism our community deserves. Subscribe here.


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Ex-FBI agent charged with hoarding top-secret government documents

The materials were first uncovered in August after Yung ’ s wife filed an order of protection against him and @ @ @ @ @ Springs home for “ documents related to their separation , ” according to the complaint @

A former FBI special agent who worked for years in Chicago’s organized crime division has been charged with stealing sensitive government documents and hoarding them in his home after retirement.
Yen Cham Yung, who achieved top government security clearance during his lengthy career, was arrested in Colorado earlier this week and is scheduled to be brought to Chicago to face the charges.
Advertisement
Yung, 57, was accused in a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday of illegally keeping hundreds of documents without consent, including sensitive information about undercover informants, surveillance of gang activity and email threads between FBI supervisors concerning organized crime investigations.
The complaint also alleged Yung violated national security protocols by keeping a copy of a memorandum of understanding between the CIA and FBI “regarding the activities of those agencies overseas and domestically.”
Advertisement
The memorandum had been accessed in 2009 at the Chicago FBI headquarters by someone using Yung’s credentials, according to the complaint.
The charges do not allege Yung sold or disseminated any of the information.
The materials were first uncovered in August after Yung’s wife filed an order of protection against him and she began searching their Colorado Springs home for “documents related to their separation,” according to the complaint.
The FBI later executed several search warrants at the home and other locations and found dozens of digital storage devices that are believed to have sensitive government information on them, according to the complaint.
Yung joined the FBI in 1996 and worked in field offices in Chicago, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Indonesia, according to the complaint. He was given top security clearance when serving as an FBI liaison to the Defense Department’s Northern Command in Colorado Springs.
Yung retired in 2016, according to the complaint.
As of Tuesday, the court docket did not reflect whether Yung had hired an attorney.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--Teens are leading an effort to rename a Kenilworth school. But siblings from the family they suggest

Teens are leading an effort to rename a Kenilworth school. But siblings from the family they suggested naming the school after aren’t convinced.

Thomas said she recalls her parents referring to “ machinations ” they went through as the first Black family to @ @ @ @ @ village , as well as a woman apologizing to her mother and explaining that , @ @ @ @ @ choice , she and her husband would be among the handful of neighbors who had @ @ @ @ @ up for sale shortly after the Calhoun family moved in .

Walter Calhoun, 62, at his home on June 17, in Highland Park. Calhoun is troubled by a recent petition launched by two 18-year-old Wilmette residents to change the name of his alma mater, Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Walter Calhoun and Laura Calhoun Thomas vividly remember the night a cross was burned on the front lawn of their family’s Kenilworth home in the mid-1960s.
“It was stark, blatant and shocking,” recalled Thomas, the eldest sibling in a family of four children.
Advertisement
But Thomas, 68, and Calhoun, 62, say using the event in a petition to rename the school they both attended doesn’t place it in its proper context. Both say the truth is more complicated, and the reception they got as a family believed to be the first Black people to move to the white, affluent North Shore town was often warm.
“I can talk for hours about Kenilworth ... I had wonderful experiences for the entire 12 years I lived there,” said Calhoun, now a Highland Park resident who remembers playing baseball and football, serving as student-council president and hanging out with neighborhood friends with whom he still remains close. “When we moved to Kenilworth, I was a first-grade boy who loved sports, and who was very social, so for me, it was a match made in heaven.”
Advertisement
Calhoun, a retired attorney, said he is sharing his experiences in the town after learning that both his family and the cross-burning have been mentioned in a petition to rename his alma mater, Joseph Sears School, in connection with allegations that Kenilworth founder Joseph Sears was racist and anti-Semitic.
The petition, launched earlier this month by Wilmette residents Jack Yonover, 18, and Solomon Podorovsky, 17, points to the cross-burning as an example of the village’s racist history, something they see as begun by Sears.
One of the teens involved in the petition has suggested a member of the Calhoun family may be a potential new namesake for the school.
Yonover and Podorovsky, Class of 2020 graduates of New Trier High School who are both Jewish, said they started their petition after reading a local account that alleged Sears held both anti-Semitic and racist views.
The accusations they read were from the book “Joseph Sears and His Kenilworth,” first published by the Kenilworth Historical Society in 1969.
Officials at the Kenilworth Historical Society said Sears, who died in 1912, is falsely portrayed in the petition as having created Kenilworth as a “sundown” community, a historical term for all-white towns or neighborhoods that used intimidation, threats of violence or restrictive rules to keep non-whites out.
“There were no racial or religious restrictive covenants in Kenilworth during Joseph Sears’ life,” officials said in a statement, saying that the book by Colleen Browne Kilner has “many inaccuracies.”
The book’s author is dead and not much is known about her or her research methods.
Advertisement
Desmond Odugu, a Lake Forest College associate professor of education, is an expert on housing discrimination and says confirming any allegations against Sears regarding Kenilworth’s founding likely will prove challenging.
And while Calhoun, a community volunteer and activist, said he appreciates the teens taking a stand against racism, he objects to the use of the cross-burning as a way to characterize his experience in Kenilworth. Cross-burnings have a long history associated with violent racism, intimidation and white supremacist hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
“I was not traumatized by the cross-burning, and I would be a rich man if I had a dime for every neighbor on our block who came out of their houses to say how disgusted they were that this had happened and who helped put out the fire,” said Calhoun, who is involved in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Calhoun said that a few years after the cross-burning, his father, the late William Harold Calhoun, met with two white Highland Park youths who confessed to having been responsible. He said the teens wanted to apologize to his father, an attorney for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services.
Harold Calhoun, father of Walter Calhoun. (Walter Calhoun)
The boys, Calhoun said, “had real regrets. My dad was a very kind and gentle man, and he comforted them, and we all moved on.”
Advertisement
The teenagers who started the petition to rename Sears said their intent was to show how racism on the majority-white North Shore has deep roots.
“I’m glad to hear that Mr. Calhoun had some great times in Kenilworth, but our primary goal is to raise awareness about these issues, and the petition has done that,” Yonover said, after learning that Calhoun was dismayed by the petition’s portrayal of his family.
“If we turn out to be wrong, I’d still encourage a deeper dive into the research, but either way, overall, we’ve received a lot of support for our petition,” Yonover said.
As of Tuesday, more than 3,800 people had signed the online petition.
Advertisement
Calhoun said his Kenilworth neighbors could be strong allies, including when an instructor suggested he could not participate in the children’s ballroom dancing recital at the Kenilworth Club, which prompted his mother, the late Chicago Sun-Times journalist Lillian Calhoun, to alert the other mothers that her son was being shut out of the show.
“When the mothers heard what happened, they all called the instructor and told her, ‘If Walter can’t dance, we’re not letting our children dance,’ and the next day, I got a golden invitation,” he said.
His sister, Thomas, of Chicago, said she was 13 when the family moved out of their three-story, Hyde Park mansion and into a much more modest home in Kenilworth.
Advertisement
“I was pretty disappointed when I saw our new house, and it was hard to uproot myself from my little nucleus of neighborhood friends in Hyde Park, who were mostly from Jewish families,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she recalls her parents referring to “machinations” they went through as the first Black family to buy a home in the village, as well as a woman apologizing to her mother and explaining that, while it was not her choice, she and her husband would be among the handful of neighbors who had decided to put their homes up for sale shortly after the Calhoun family moved in.
She does not recall facing any racism at Sears, where she completed eighth grade, and found the overall experience to be “pretty uneventful.”
Jack Yonover, 18, and Solomon Podorvsky, 17, at Joseph Sears School in Kenilwoth, June 12, 2020. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
As for the petition’s allegations about the town’s founding, research done by the historical society has so far not found any document restricting property ownership based on race or religion.
After examining 70 property deeds from the 1890s through the 1940s, and covering every major Kenilworth subdivision, historical society officials said their research showed that during Joseph Sears’ lifetime, there were only four restrictions found on land that was sold.
Those restrictions banned the sale of intoxicating beverages, outlined minimum building setbacks and costs, and established rules on the location of stables.
Advertisement
But racial or religious restrictions did in fact appear in Kenilworth deeds starting from the 1920s, after Sears was dead, officials said.
“Challenging how we view the past, how it has affected the present, and what we can stand to learn from it are perhaps the most fundamental applications of history,” the Kenilworth Historical Society said in a statement. “In order to do so effectively, we must be able to understand and distinguish the facts from what is undocumented.”
The use of deeds and plats of subdivision to support racial restrictions were once commonplace nationwide, including in suburban Cook County, said Lake Forest College’s Odugu.
Odugu spent years researching housing discrimination in the Chicago area for his “Restricted Chicago: Housing Discrimination and Educational Inequities in Urban America” project.
The effort investigated and documented the history of restrictive racial covenants, a housing discrimination strategy and legal tactic used across the nation to prevent African-Americans and other racial, ethnic and religious groups — including Jews, Hispanics and Asians — from purchasing or living in homes in white neighborhoods or subdivisions covered by the covenants, Odugu said.
“What was striking to us was that this was a common practice, and we found 220 subdivisions in the Chicagoland area from 1923 to 1948 that used this kind of language,” Odugu said.
Advertisement
Public documents from this time featured statements such as, “No part of real estate hereon described shall be conveyed or leased to any person who is not of the Caucasian race.”
The enforcement of racially restrictive covenants was legally challenged in a 1948 Supreme Court case, but their use continued for decades and some did not expire until the 1980s, Odugu’s research found.
Odugu said he has not specifically researched Joseph Sears and his founding of Kenilworth, but the road on such journeys has many potential speed bumps.
“If we’re changing the name of a school because someone might have been a so-called ‘bad actor,‘ well, if you went on that journey in American society, the clean-up would be a daunting task,” Odugu said.
According to Illinois School Report Card data from 2019, Sears school enrolls 481 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade, with 88% of students being white, about 4% biracial or multiracial, 3% Asian, 3% Hispanic and about .8% Black. No students at Sears school were considered low-income, while about 49% of the state’s students were categorized as low-income in 2019.
1966 handout photo of Walter Calhoun, center, with his friend, Tom Porter, left, and Walter's younger sister Karen, right, in Kenilworth. (Walter Calhoun)
Officials at District 38 said they applaud students who are analyzing the issue and plan to continue to publicly address the concerns raised.
Advertisement
“Moving forward, the board will listen to and participate in productive dialogue with our community as they examine the history of Joseph Sears and Kenilworth,” a news release said.
Calhoun said he is troubled that the teens’ petition casts aspersions against the school’s namesake without supporting documents or direct evidence.
“I have too much respect for the truth, no matter where it lies,” Calhoun said. “I want Kenilworth residents and the children in the school to decide this issue.”
Thomas agreed, saying the renaming decision should remain in the hands of the local community.
“A petition is an all-American groundswell, but I hope any decision made is done thoughtfully,” Thomas said.
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Advertisement
Twitter @kcullotta


chicagotribune--2020-06-23--The latest from editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Daywatch: Pritzker’s school reopening guidelines, Chicago sees surge in fireworks and a guide to tra

Daywatch: Pritzker’s school reopening guidelines, Chicago sees surge in fireworks and a guide to traveling during the pandemic

To some , the idea of taking a summer vacation amid the COVID-19 pandemic is out of the question .
@ @ @ @ @ distanced excursion to the woods or a secluded beach is in the works after months @ @ @ @ @ .
For those planning a trip away from home this summer , the Tribune asked @ @ @ @ @ items to take on every step of a journey by airplane , car or train @

Want Daywatch delivered to your inbox? Sign up here. | Get the top Tribune stories of the day on your smart speaker | Here’s how to get the most out of your Tribune subscription | Got something to say? Join the conversation on our Facebook page
Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
Advertisement
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during the daily press briefing regarding the coronavirus pandemic Sunday, May 3, 2020, at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday released guidance for students to return to the classroom, but his plan left many unanswered questions as parents continue to wonder what school will look like across Illinois this fall.
The state guidance for potentially bringing hundreds of thousands of students back into classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended the academic year last spring calls for the use of face coverings and suggests social distancing “as much as possible.”
Advertisement
Cards Against Humanity founder Max Temkin poses for a portrait at his office Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Chicago. Temkin stepped down from an active role in the company amid allegations of a racist and sexist company culture. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Max Temkin, co-founder of Cards Against Humanity, has stepped down from the company amid accusations of a racist and sexist culture in the Chicago office. The company posted a statement on its website Tuesday announcing Temkin resigned June 9 following an internal investigation into social media posts by former employees about a toxic work environment. Many of the complaints centered around Temkin, who led the Chicago office, the company said.
Sales manager Costa Kara passes boxes of fireworks to customers shopping at busy Uncle Sam's Fireworks store in Hammond, Indiana, on June 22, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Already on edge on multiple fronts, many Chicagoans are now having to contend with yet another challenge to their peace of mind, not to mention their sleep — an unrelenting barrage of fireworks. During late-night hours, the sound of loud explosions has echoed through many Chicago neighborhoods, resulting in a staggering increase in 911 calls.
Colleen Lammel-Harmon, right, project manager who created the Social Distancing Ambassador program for the Chicago Park District, talks to Taniyah Bates, 19, left, and Tristan Ramirez, 22, as they walk along Lakefront Trail at Promontory Point on June 23, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Congratulate when congratulations are due. Educate when needed. Those are among the principles that Colleen Lammel-Harmon, who manages the city’s new social distancing ambassadors program, has taught her trainees, and education was clearly what was needed with some people now that Chicago’s Lakefront and 606 trails are open. Columnist Mary Schmich visited the lakefront with the people working to keep everyone safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.
United Airlines gate agent Emma Watt helps passengers scan their boarding passes for a flight to San Francisco at O'Hare International Airport on June 18, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
To some, the idea of taking a summer vacation amid the COVID-19 pandemic is out of the question. To others, a carefully distanced excursion to the woods or a secluded beach is in the works after months of staying close to home. For those planning a trip away from home this summer, the Tribune asked medical experts what precautions and items to take on every step of a journey by airplane, car or train.


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Crowds tear down statues outside Wisconsin Capitol, including one of an anti-slavery activist, and a

Crowds tear down statues outside Wisconsin Capitol, including one of an anti-slavery activist, and attack state senator

Statues of Wisconsin ’ s motto “ Forward ” and of Col. Hans Christian Heg were dragged away from the @ @ @ @ @ Heg , an anti-slavery activist who fought and died for the Union during the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ and thrown into a Madison lake by protesters , the newspaper said .

Wisconsin's Forward statue lies in the street on Capitol Square in Madison on June 23, 2020. (Emily Hamer / Wisconsin State Journal)
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s governor activated the National Guard on Wednesday to protect state properties after a night of violence that included the toppling of two statues outside the state Capitol, one of which commemorated an abolitionist Civil War hero.
Protesters also attacked a state senator, threw a Molotov cocktail into a government building and attempted to break into the Capitol Tuesday night, only to be repelled by pepper spray from police stationed inside. The violence broke out as a group of 200 to 300 people protested the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat.
Advertisement
Gov. Tony Evers, who toured the damage and said the violence was in “stark contrast” to earlier peaceful protests, said he was activating the National Guard “to make sure people can exercise their First Amendment rights while ensuring the safety of members of the public and state buildings and infrastructure.”
“If your goal was to advance social justice and policing reforms in the state of Wisconsin and making sure systemic racism is a thing of the past, you failed,” Evers said of the protesters on WTMJ-AM.
Advertisement
Republican state lawmakers and others faulted Evers and Madison's Democratic mayor for not moving more quickly on Tuesday to quell the violence.
“The mob has become very bold,” said Madison Alderman Paul Skidmore. “They see they can get away with a little, and they inch forward more and more. (Downtown Madison) is a battle zone right now, and I fear for my city.”
The violence unfolded in a city long known as a liberal bastion with a long history of protest, dating back to student demonstrations on the University of Wisconsin campus in the 1960s. About 100,000 people protested in 2011 over then-Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union proposals.
It also exposed simmering anger over the 2015 shooting by police of a 19-year-old Black man by an officer who remains on the force. That shooting has been referenced by protesters in recent weeks.
Here’s some of the damage at the Wisconsin State Capitol pic.twitter.com/TqusYNLYU2 — Lawrence Andrea (@lawrencegandrea) June 24, 2020
The violence started Tuesday after Madison police arrested a protester who came to a restaurant across the street from the Capitol with a bat on his shoulder. Video released by Madison police shows the man, Devenore Johnson, talking through a megaphone while walking around the restaurant’s outdoor patio and inside, saying he’s “disturbing” the restaurant and talking about God and the police before walking out.
On another video released by police, as many as five officers can be seen taking Johnson to the sidewalk and carrying him to a police squad car after he resisted arrest.
Police said on Tuesday night a group of 200 to 300 people broke windows in multiple buildings, threw a Molotov cocktail into the city-county building, brought down the statues on the Capitol grounds, broke glass at a state office building and smashed windows and lights at the Capitol.
Democratic state Sen. Tim Carpenter was assaulted after taking a cellphone video of protesters.
Advertisement
“Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs,” Carpenter tweeted around 4 a.m. “Innocent people are going to get killed.”
I took this pic- it got me assaulted & beat up. Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs. Maybe concussion, socked in left eye is little blurry, sore neck & ribs. 8-10 people attacked me. Innocent people are going to get killed. Capitol locked- stuck in office.Stop violence nowPlz! pic.twitter.com/Zw2hdfYG66 — Tim Carpenter (@TimCarpenterMKE) June 24, 2020
One of the statues toppled, decapitated and dragged into a lake about a half-mile away was of Civil War Col. Hans Christian Heg. He was an anti-slavery activist and leader of an anti-slave catcher militia in Wisconsin who fought for the Union and died from injuries suffered during the Battle of Chickamauga.
The base of the Heg statue was defaced with graffiti Wednesday morning that read “Fire Matt Kenny,” a reference to a white Madison police officer who shot and killed 19-year-old Tony Robinson, a Black man, in 2015. Kenny said Robinson had attacked him. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who is Black, cleared Kenny of any criminal wrongdoing and he remains a Madison officer.
The other statue taken down represents Wisconsin’s motto “Forward.” The statue was first installed 125 years ago but replaced with a bronze replica in 1998. It sat prominently outside the Capitol, facing the University of Wisconsin campus and State Street, an avenue lined with bars, restaurants and small businesses. That corridor has been the target of much of the vandalism since the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black man’s neck.
The destruction followed similar unrest nationwide following Floyd’s death, but in other cities statues of Confederate soldiers and other symbols of slavery were destroyed.
Protester Micah Le said the two statues paint a picture of Wisconsin as a racially progressive state even though slavery has continued in the form of a corrections system built around incarcerating Blacks.
Advertisement
“The fall of the statues is a huge gain for the movement, though I think that liberal and conservative media outlets will try to represent last night as senseless violence rather than the strategic political move it really was,” Le wrote.
Republicans called on Evers and Madison’s Democratic mayor to do more to protect the Capitol. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos branded the protesters as “thugs.” Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who until last month had served in the state Legislature, called on Evers to resign. Evers called that a “ridiculous statement.”
“Why doesn’t he resign?” Evers said on WTMJ.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a conference call for media later Wednesday that city leaders and law enforcement were working “on a number of fronts” to keep any additional protests calm.
“I am not in that room, I do not micromanage our law enforcement response,” she said. “There has been broad agreement among law enforcement that deescalation and protecting people is the top concern.”
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the first Black person to hold that office, condemned the violence in a tweet but said “far right provocateurs” had “fanned the flames of hate.”
Advertisement
Robert Bowhan owns August, a clothing store that was looted during the first night of protests following Floyd's death. Bowhan, who is white, has boarded up his windows like many other merchants. He said he didn't know what to expect in the coming days.
“Everyone is probably a little frustrated. (Merchants) feel they don’t have support from cops,” Bowhan said. “They feel threatened and feel like their livelihoods are in jeopardy and they don’t trust the government. This just scratches the surface of what our Black friends and colleagues go through on a daily basis.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-24--Column: Chicago’s new ‘social distancing ambassadors’ are helping us stay safe

Signs alone , however , aren ’ t as persuasive as people , and that ’ s where the ambassadors @ @ @ @ @ 300 so far , mostly Chicago Park District employees who otherwise would have been doing @ @ @ @ @ like lifeguarding .
By July there will be more , many of them ages 16 @ @ @ @ @ be what Lammel-Harmon calls “ example makers .
”

Colleen Lammel-Harmon, right, project manager who created the social distancing ambassador program for the Chicago Park District, talks to Taniyah Bates, 19, left, and Tristan Ramirez, 22, as they walk along Lakefront Trail at Promontory Point on June 23, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The job of any ambassador is to persuade, not to coerce, and it was in that cheerful, can-do spirit that ambassador Colleen Lammel-Harmon strode along the Chicago lakefront Tuesday.
It was Day 2 of the Lakefront Trail’s official reopening, and under the bright sun and big white clouds, she was outfitted in blue gym shorts, sunglasses pushed back over her blond hair, a floral-print mask and the official ambassador uniform, a powder blue T-shirt.
Advertisement
“Hi,” she called to a man in a “Bernie” cap who was clambering up the grassy slope from the rocks where he shouldn’t have been. “Did they already talk to you?”
By “they” she meant one of the pairs of ambassadors roaming Promontory Point on the South Side that morning. The man’s sheepish look suggested they had. “I’m terribly sorry,” he said, reaching into his bag. “I’ll get my mask.”
Advertisement
Job accomplished, the ambassador walked on. Two women approached, one in a cap that said, “Faith Over Fear.”
“Ladies,” she said, noting their masks, “thank you so much! You’re doing this perfectly. You’re role models!”
Congratulate when congratulations are due. Educate when needed. Those are among the principles that Lammel-Harmon, who manages the city’s new social distancing ambassadors program, has taught her trainees, and education was clearly what was needed with the man she spied standing down on the slippery rocks.
The man was shirtless and maskless, his feet bare in the puddles. He was bobbing in time with his own private music. She smiled and waved.
“Do you know the water’s closed?” she called.
He removed an AirPod. Squinted. “Do I know where the water flows?”
“The water’s closed,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day, but it’s not safe to be out here. And when in the park, please wear a mask.”
The man nodded, replaced his AirPod, turned back toward the water and resumed bouncing to the music. An ambassador can’t win ‘em all.
Advertisement
This week’s reopening of the Lakefront Trail, along with The 606 trail, has come with big new signs. One invokes the need for face coverings, a protection against the virus that in late March prompted the trail’s closure. Another says in giant letters: KEEP IT MOVING.
That means it’s OK to walk, run or bike. But no grilling, no swimming, no coolers, no picnics, no parking. Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, beaches and the water itself are still officially off-limits.
Signs alone, however, aren’t as persuasive as people, and that’s where the ambassadors come in. There are 300 so far, mostly Chicago Park District employees who otherwise would have been doing beach or pool duty, like lifeguarding. By July there will be more, many of them ages 16 to 24, who will be what Lammel-Harmon calls “example makers.”
Taniyah Bates and Tristan Ramirez are already doing peer-to-peer ambassador duty. She’s 19, he’s 22. In a normal year, they’d be lifeguarding. This year, they’ve traded their swim gear for powder blue T-shirts and masks.
So far, they like the job — they were sick of sitting around the house — and they don’t mind the masks. In fact, Ramirez says he “loves” his.
“It’s another accessory,” he said, “like sunglasses.”
Advertisement
During ambassador training, they learned that one key to success is how you approach people. Be friendly. Explain you’re just trying to help people stay safe. Assume that if people are breaking the rules it’s because they don’t know the rules.
“And you don’t want to be hunched over,” Ramirez said. He hunched, then stood up tall. “Be assertive but not intimidating.”
The ambassadors aren’t enforcers. In a dangerous situation or a “hot spot” where people are congregating, the most they can do is report to the Park District or 911. They’ll have to live with the limits of their powers.
The other day at a Lincoln Park playground, Lammel-Harmon reminded a woman that the playgrounds were still closed.
“No one’s cleaning the park surfaces,” she told the woman. “Your kid could get sick.”
Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
“OK,” the woman said, “move along on your day.” So she did.
Advertisement
Despite some resistance, according to Lammel-Harmon and other ambassadors I talked to, most people so far are cooperative and some are downright appreciative. At one point Tuesday, we passed a man and woman who appeared to be in their early 20s, both wearing masks.
“Thank you so much for working to make sure people stay safe,” she called to them across the trail.
The man shouted back: “Thank you guys for working to make sure people stay safe.”
And that’s how safety works in this pandemic — all of us keeping ourselves safe by keeping others safe. If you encounter an ambassador, remember they’re doing it for you.
mschmich@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MarySchmich