chicagotribune--2020-05-01--For law students, delay of Illinois bar exam until September due to coronavirus pandemic complicates

For law students, delay of Illinois bar exam until September due to coronavirus pandemic complicates job prospects

When the exam is administered , some procedures could be adjusted to ensure the test is given in “ a @ @ @ @ @ and well-being of all applicants , '' the court said in a news release .
@ @ @ @ @ elaborate , attorneys said that more testing spaces could be added to follow social distancing @

Meagan Robinson, a third-year student at DePaul University’s College of Law, began studying for the Illinois bar exam in January, hoping the extra months of preparation would help her ace the test this summer so she could begin her career.
On Friday, she learned the exam would be postponed until September because of the coronavirus pandemic, and she began to worry about her job prospects. Though she’s got a few promising leads, she hasn’t landed an official offer anywhere and thought passing the exam could give her job search a boost.
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“I’ve been discussing with these potential employers and they have all told me that they’re not sure of anything anymore," said Robinson, 25. “So now, not only is the bar pushed back and my license pushed back — but I’m not sure if I’m going to find a job.”
Meagan Robinson, a third-year student at DePaul University's College of Law, is disappointed the bar exam originally scheduled for the summer will be postponed until September. She’s shown in 2017 during her first year of law school. (Photo provided by Meagan Robinson)
About 1,900 people had signed up for the bar exam, which law graduates are required to pass in order to appear before a judge, conduct depositions and otherwise practice law.
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Though it’s typically offered in late July, this year’s exam will was moved back to Sept. 9 and 10, according to the Illinois Supreme Court, which oversees the process. Those who already signed up will be automatically enrolled for the new date, a court spokesman said.
"This decision was made after careful consideration of the health and safety issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, " Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said in a statement.
When the exam is administered, some procedures could be adjusted to ensure the test is given in “a manner that maintains the health and well-being of all applicants," the court said in a news release. Though the court did not elaborate, attorneys said that more testing spaces could be added to follow social distancing.
Law school students in Illinois were anxiously awaiting a decision on timing after other states, including California and New York, delayed their tests.
David Sosin, president of the Illinois State Bar Association, said the postponement will affect students differently, depending on whether they planned to work at large firms, in the public sector or at boutique offices.
While some law school graduates have employment lined up before graduation, many employers don’t hire candidates until October, when results from a summertime bar exam are out, he said. Now those results, which normally come out eight to 10 weeks after the exam, likely won’t be available until at least November.
“Lawyers who are graduating from Illinois law schools or coming to Illinois to practice have student debt well in excess of $100,000,” Sosin said. “It matters when they start working because that clock is ticking, and it’s very important that we try and help them after they’ve committed to the practice, to being a lawyer.”
Following some other states and a recommendation from the American Bar Association, Sosin said he is working on a proposal that would give law school graduates expanded privileges to work as licensed attorneys under the supervision of experienced lawyers during the pandemic. Sosin said his organization is drafting the proposal with deans at the state’s nine law schools. But in the end, the Illinois Supreme Court will have to sign off any changes.
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Lois Casaleggi, associate dean of career services at the University of Chicago Law School, praised the decision to delay the test, saying it’s beneficial for students to get as much notice as possible about the dates changing.
“At least that piece of the puzzle is no longer going to be an unknown,” she said. “The more unknowns we can take off the table, the better for the students.”
For Robinson, the delay is still disappointing. She signed up for an extra prep class that was supposed to begin in May, and she still plans to take that.
Though she’ll continue studying for the bar, she worries it could be delayed again if gatherings are still deemed unsafe in the fall, as some public health experts have warned.
“It could be postponed longer,” she said. "And now instead of being able to practice and do the profession, we’re not going to be able to until at least 2021.”
echerney@chicagotribune.com
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aayres-brown@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--‘People are frightened’: Across rural Illinois, economic frustrations mix with anxiety over COVID-19

Over the following weeks , she said , she pressed the seriousness of the issue with the county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ information campaign through local newspapers and radio , as well as her department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , there has been only one recorded COVID-19 death in her county , according to @ @ @ @ @ in adjacent Monroe County , which also has a population of 32,000 , there have @ @ @ @ @ 69 recorded cases of infection , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .

A woman leaves the post office on April 29, 2020, in Newton. Jasper County, where Newton is located, has reported at least 44 cases of COVID-19 and at least five deaths as of Thursday; nearly all of the cases linked to a nursing home in Newton. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cindy Backstein worries about her 88-year-old mother, who lives in a locked-down Jasper County nursing home where dozens of people have been infected with COVID-19.
At the same time, she is anxious about the business she and her husband run 110 miles away on the outskirts of Springfield. This would normally be the busiest season of the year for Central Illinois Inflatables, which rents bouncy houses and waterslides to parties and festivals, she said. Instead, all the inflatables remain folded up in her garage, and revenue is at zero.
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Backstein’s predicaments reflect a mixture of fear and frustration that is taking hold across the wide-open expanses of rural Illinois. Social distancing comes with the territory in a region sometimes called the Corn Belt, and the spread of the virus has come slower than in the densely populated Chicago area. But in some pockets of the state, such as Jasper County, the impact has been serious.
With just 9,600 residents, Jasper County has an infection rate second only to Cook County in Illinois. Nearly all of the cases are related to the Newton Care Center, where Backstein’s mother lives, but barely more than 200 tests have been conducted in the county, according to the local health department.
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Cindy Backstein and her son, Brandon, spend time in an equipment warehouse at their home, April 29, 2020, in Springfield. Her mother lives in a nursing home in Jasper County with dozens infected by COVID-19. She and her husband, George Backstein, own and operate Central Illinois Inflatables, which rents out inflatables, games, waterslides, concessions and laser tag in the Springfield area. Because of the coronavirus, pandemic and Gov. J.B. Pritzker's statewide restrictions on group gatherings, the business is currently inoperable. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The outbreak there started with an infected EMT delivering a patient by ambulance to the Newton Care Center from a hospital in another county, local officials said. In Randolph County, 60 miles south of St. Louis, one person infected five more at a gathering on the last day before restaurants and bars were closed in mid-March. In Sangamon County, there are 169 cases spread across nearly 200,000 residents, but one nursing home outside of Springfield accounts for about half of them, including five deaths.
But even as the number of confirmed cases rises daily downstate, so does the rhetoric from local Republican officials pushing back against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extended stay-at-home order. Since state Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed a lawsuit and received an injunction against the governor’s order on Monday, numerous officials — from county board members in southern Illinois to the state’s attorney in Woodford County across the Illinois River from Peoria — have made a range of comments seeking to undermine the order.
Backstein said she fully supports Bailey’s effort to thwart Pritzker’s order. But her family also has felt the pain and anxiety associated with the risk of exposure to the virus. Her father also lived at the Newton Care Center and died at age 90 on Easter Sunday, though not from COVID-19, she said.
“He did not die of the virus, but he was a victim of the virus because his family could not be with him,” said Backstein, who grew up in Newton before heading off to nursing school in Springfield in 1976. The funeral was family only, and her mother could not attend because of the risk. Backstein and her siblings worry constantly about their mother, who has tested negative three times for the coronavirus.
Political signs on a storefront next to the office of State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, April 29, 2020, in Louisville, Illinois. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Her support for Bailey is driven by her economic anxiety and her dissatisfaction with Pritzker, whom she believes is focusing all of his attention on the Chicago area while discounting the circumstances in the rest of the state.
“I think things need to open back up for those who can social distance, and you have to wear a mask,” Backstein said. Bailey “is so right: that people may save their lives but lose their livelihoods.”
After being turned down in the first wave of federal relief from the Paycheck Protection Program, Backstein and her husband received an email from their bank late Thursday saying they had been approved in the second round. That money will help, she said. The couple are also trying to apply for state unemployment payments for self-employed business owners.
Jasper, Randolph, Monroe, Jefferson and Warren counties are among several rural communities that have seen troubling outbreaks that rival the infection rates seen in the Chicago area. Chicago and the five collar counties adjacent to Cook County accounted for about 90% of the state’s 52,918 confirmed cases as of Friday. However, county health directors and doctors at regional hospitals are still wary, knowing that a relatively small group of very ill people could quickly overwhelm their more limited supplies of intensive care beds and respirators.
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The population in rural areas also skews older than in cities and suburbs, and a significant proportion of jobs are in health care, raising the risks.
Jasper County coroner and funeral director Jason Meyer at his desk at Meyer Funeral Home, April 29, 2020, in Newton. The county has reported at least 44 cases of COVID-19, and at least five deaths. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“For the most part, yes, we understand we’ve got to be safe,” said Jason Meyer, who is both Jasper County’s elected coroner and the funeral director in Newton.
But it has not been easy.
“The hardest thing has been we can’t go to church,” said Meyer, who has handled funeral arrangements for all five COVID-19 victims in Newton. “That is one of the greatest social gatherings we have.”
Angela Oathout, the public health director in Randolph County, which had 156 cases as of Friday, said it took residents a while to grasp the gravity of the situation.
“Trying to get people to change their lifestyle — that’s been causing some of our problems," she said. “We want to socialize. Trying to eliminate what is a natural reaction … you want to go talk to somebody — it has been difficult for our residents to adjust to that.”
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Funeral director Lisa Meyer uses a disinfectant wipe on the entry door handle at Meyer Funeral Home, April 29, 2020, in Newton. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Randolph County traced its first infection to a social gathering during the March 15-16 weekend when Pritzker announced that bars and restaurants were being closed on the 17th.
“The gathering was the day before the governor closed the bars and restaurants,” Oathout said. “If you’re open, they’re going to socialize. You can’t get mad at people.”
Over the following weeks, she said, she pressed the seriousness of the issue with the county’s 32,000 residents in a public information campaign through local newspapers and radio, as well as her department’s Facebook page. So far, there has been only one recorded COVID-19 death in her county, according to state figures. However, in adjacent Monroe County, which also has a population of 32,000, there have been 10 deaths among just 69 recorded cases of infection, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Fewer hospital beds, older populations and limited testing capacity present rural areas with serious risks even if they don’t have the giant numbers of cases facing big cities, said Michelle Patch, an expert in emergency response to medical crises who teaches at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Nursing in Baltimore.
“It is starting to get into the rural areas,” she said. “People are frightened. They are worried about their economic situation and just want to get past this and get back to normal. But there are a lot of individuals who recognize that this isn’t under control. Regardless of their political affiliation, they’re taking this seriously.”
Johns Hopkins has been tracking COVID-19 data during the pandemic, and Jasper County burns deep red on the website’s heat map, standing out against a sea of pale pink surrounding counties.
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Although county officials said no one was currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the outbreak is afflicting the most vulnerable — nursing home residents. Of the 44 people who had tested positive by Friday, 12 were in their 80s and 13 were in their 90s, according to the Jasper County Health Department.
A message of encouragement on a lawn sign is posted at Newton Care Center nursing home on April 29, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Nearly all of the cases have been affiliated with the Newton Care Center.
“They’re either residents there, or they are workers there,” Meyer said. Local residents have donated personal protective equipment to the nursing home to make sure staff have what they need, he said.
“Our community has really pulled together to assist in any way we can,” he said.
A relatively small number of tests completed makes it difficult to know how widely the virus may have spread in the community. As of Friday, 203 of the county’s roughly 10,000 residents had been tested, according to the Jasper County Health Department.
The lack of testing is as much of an issue downstate as it is in the city, said Dr. Michael Cruz, COO of Peoria-based OSF HealthCare. The Peoria area — a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities across three counties — has seen a relatively small number of cases for its size. But doctors know they may not be seeing the whole picture.
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“The problem is the testing,” Cruz said. “We actually don’t know the prevalence. But it’s here. … We’re going to get into this peak.”
Medical services in rural places can be modest. There are no hospitals in Jasper County, although four regional hospitals all maintain small clinics in Newton. One medical clinic is conducting testing at the Newton Care Center, but there is no testing facility for the general public in Newton.
Twenty-five miles away in Effingham, doctors at HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital are keeping tabs on the Jasper County situation, said Dr. Ryan Jennings, chief medical officer of the 133-bed hospital.
The HSHS network, which operates several facilities in central and southern Illinois, has designated two of their hospitals — St. John’s in Springfield and St. Elizabeth’s in O’Fallon — as COVID-19 care sites, Jennings said. “We have established a seamless process for transferring patients that ensures high-quality care and appropriate isolation practices,” he said.
Though Jasper County provides a cautionary note about the need to take the spread of the pandemic seriously outside of densely populated urban centers, resentment of Pritzker’s ongoing stay-at-home order becomes more vocal by the day.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, at his office, April 29, 2020, in Louisville, Illinois. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Leading the efforts to thwart the restrictions is Bailey, whose House district includes Jasper County. On Monday, a judge in neighboring Clay County granted a temporary injunction allowing Bailey — and only Bailey — to ignore the governor’s order. On Wednesday, a second Republican state representative, John Cabello of Machesney Park, filed a companion lawsuit in Winnebago County.
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Some law enforcement leaders downstate have said they won’t enforce Pritzker’s order. Woodford County State’s Attorney Gregory Minger told the Peoria Journal-Star he would not prosecute any business or person who violated it.
Bailey has argued that the mounting job losses from shuttered stores and factories — there are multiple auto part makers in or near his district — are too much to bear.
Nonetheless, when asked about spreading the coronavirus through social contact, he acknowledged the seriousness of the threat.
“People are smart. People are taking this seriously,” he said, adding that COVID-19 won’t be the last challenge of its kind. “The fact is, at any point in the years to come, we can, and probably will, face these things again. We’ve got to adapt and move on rapidly. It cannot shut us down.”
The state filed an appeal on Wednesday over the ruling, which Pritzker called “absurd,” saying it set a “dangerous precedent.”
Amid the political debate, doctors and scientists are trying to stay focused on the virus.
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In Peoria, doctors at one of downstate’s biggest medical centers are studying data on the crisis from big cities and other countries, trying to get ready for a surge in cases that is likely several weeks behind Chicago’s.
But there is only so much that data can predict about human behavior.
“The models are all over the place. We’ll remain ready indefinitely, and pray that it’s not going to be as big” as feared, said Stephen Hippler, chief clinical officer of OSF HealthCare, which runs OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria and 13 other hospitals.
In addition to hospitals in downstate cities, such as Bloomington, Urbana, Danville and Rockford, OSF also operates Little Company of Mary Medical Center in south suburban Evergreen Park, which has been treating large numbers of COVID-19 patients from the South Side of Chicago. Medical teams in Peoria have been closely studying the stress put on that hospital.
OSF’s Cruz said administrators have learned a lot about the burn rate for PPE and paralytic drugs used to intubate patients needing ventilators, as well as the strain that long hours and risk of infection places on staff.
Cruz and Hippler agreed that observing Chicago’s experience has helped them.
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“We’ve had time,” Hippler said. “If the outbreak (came on) day one, we’d be scrambling to learn this all at once. We’d really be struggling. But we’ve had time to plan, to build contingency.”
Both doctors said they are concerned about how to manage the infection rate as months pass. People who have stayed healthy through social distancing are still susceptible to infection.
“Physical distancing is really impactful,” Cruz said. “But I have the concern … what are you going to do after this (surge)? You can’t indefinitely distance people.”
dheinzmann@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--Here are some Chicago-area mask giveaways to prepare for Illinois order that starts Friday

With surgical masks in short supply , state residents are encouraged to don fabric masks or homemade face coverings .
@ @ @ @ @ and distributing them , and a wide variety of cloth masks are available online , @ @ @ @ @ .

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
Air travelers with and without face masks use a moving walkway toward their gates at Midway International Airport in Chicago on April 19, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Starting Friday, Illinois residents older than age 2 are required to wear masks or face coverings in public, according to an order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The directive requires facial coverings when social distancing is not possible, such as in grocery stores.
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With surgical masks in short supply, state residents are encouraged to don fabric masks or homemade face coverings. Many people have been making and distributing them, and a wide variety of cloth masks are available online, including through some local retailers.
As Chicago-area residents prepare for the order, here are some places to pick up a free mask:
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Volunteers were scheduled to pass out free masks and gloves from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the CSO Sports Multiplex parking lot, 1301 E. 47th St. The effort is organized by community groups and Ald. Sophia King, 4th.
A local organization, Masks4Chi, is partnering with Chowbus, a food delivery platform, to deliver cloth masks with food orders starting Thursday and continuing as supplies last. People can also get masks when picking up food at participating locations.
Five thousand free masks were to be given out while supplies last beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at 3506 W. Chicago Ave. in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
The 5th Ward was scheduled to host two mask giveaways: one at 11 a.m. Friday at 7351 S. Stony Island Ave. and the second at 2 p.m. at 60th and Stony Island Avenue.
About 6,000 masks were to be given away to 9th Ward residents from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Pullman Community Center, 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave. Masks are limited to two per resident.
Elderwerks Educational Services was scheduled to give away free masks to senior citizens from 9 a.m. to noon May 8 at two locations: Elderwerks Education and Resource Center at 251 E. Northwest Highway in Palatine and The Landing on Dundee Senior Living at 156 W. Dundee Road in Wheeling.
Chicago’s 33rd Ward office will be handing out free face masks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday, 3001 W. Irving Park Road.
The 31st Ward is holding a drive-through mask giveaway on Saturday at New Life Covenant Church at 5101 W. Diversey Ave. Four masks will be distributed per vehicle.
The city will distribute 250,000 reusable cloth masks to Aldermanic offices in coming weeks, along with another 750,000 masks provided to vulnerable populations this month through the Racial Equity Rapid Response Team. Details on when and where the masks will be passed out weren’t immediately released Friday.
Check back for updates.


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--Months after scandals, misconduct probes and the firing of school leaders, Lincoln Park High gets a

Months after scandals, misconduct probes and the firing of school leaders, Lincoln Park High gets a new principal

Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools across Illinois , Lincoln Park High was engulfed in widespread controversy that saw @ @ @ @ @ from their posts and multiple internal investigations looking into alleged misconduct by staff and students @ @ @ @ @ allegations .

Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools, Lincoln Park High in Chicago was in the midst of turmoil after its principal and assistant principal were abruptly fired. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Months after its former top administrators were abruptly fired — prompting student protests, investigations and a defamation lawsuit — Lincoln Park High School has a new principal.
In a letter to the school community, Local School Council chair Gary Rovner announced that after “a long and, at times, difficult process,” the council offered a four-year contract to Eric Aron Steinmiller, who, “pending completion of some paperwork and other onboarding matters,” will take over as principal Monday.
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Steinmiller was assistant principal at Roosevelt High School in Albany Park.
“We are confident that Dr. Steinmiller will bring to bear his considerable experience as a teacher, coach and administrator, a love of education, a heartfelt sense of fairness and a deep wellspring of enthusiasm to the job,” Rovner wrote. “We can’t wait to get back to doing the regular work of LPHS with him.”
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 Eli Grant, an LSC community member at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, talks to reporters regarding the changes in the administration at the school on Feb. 7, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools across Illinois, Lincoln Park High was engulfed in widespread controversy that saw several administrators and coaches removed from their posts and multiple internal investigations looking into alleged misconduct by staff and students and the handling of those allegations.
On Jan. 31, interim Principal John Thuet and Assistant Principal Michelle Brumfield were abruptly fired, and they have since jointly sued the district, claiming deprivation of due process, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
It was just last August that the LSC voted unanimously to offer Thuet the one-year interim principal position, replacing the outgoing principal who was promoted to chief of another school network.
Thuet hired Brumfield, and both “were enthusiastically received” by the school community, according to the lawsuit: “In just five short months, they made great strides in building a sense of school community and culture.” Thuet was interviewing with the LSC for the permanent principal position.
A parent on the council, Dave Marren, said Thuet was one of three candidates interviewed days before his firing.
“The Friday when he was dismissed, it threw us all for a loop,” Marren said. “The chaos that ensued ... we had interim principals who were tasked with basically trying to calm the school down.”
After early efforts to reinstate Thuet and Brumfield that showcased a power struggle between the LSC and Chicago Public Schools officials, the council reluctantly relaunched its principal search.
“We sadly realized that we needed to proceed with a principal search because we no longer trust CPS to do the right thing," Marren said. “We were not going to get any quick resolution."
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Noting new candidates, including Steinmiller, emerged during the second round of the search, Marren added: “One of the ironic outcomes of this is that apparently a lot of good candidates were not considering (applying) because they knew John was doing a good job."
Steinmiller was not immediately available for comment.
During interviews, candidates were asked about taking on a school that’s gone through such recent turmoil and how they’d address what had transpired.
“Dr. Steinmiller said that it was trauma and that it needed to be directly addressed,” Marren said. “His answer was the most eloquent and simple and empathetic answer that we heard."
Steinmiller also struck Marren as the most like Thuet.
“He put us at ease in terms of that of all of the candidates, he most resembled John in the way he approached it,” Marren said. “The level of care he takes in trying to do his job ... he’s just a good human."
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The LSC took input from faculty and staff, students and others in making the decision to hire Steinmiller, Rovner wrote: “Please know that your input greatly assisted the LSC to reach a broad consensus choice for principal. This is an extraordinary institution and an extraordinary community. We are confident it is in good hands going forward.”
hleone@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--Branded masks turn coronavirus protection into ad space: ‘It’s a face billboard.’

The company has been inundated with commercial orders , employing a staff of about 18 in split shifts to produce @ @ @ @ @ per day .
The masks sell for $ 15 each , in lots generally ranging @ @ @ @ @ per design .
Clients include a Dow Chemical plant in Midland , Michigan , local @ @ @ @ @ from Southwest Airlines .

The requirement that Illinois residents wear facial coverings in public to prevent the spread of coronavirus has given rise to a new advertising vehicle — branded face masks promoting everything from fast food restaurants to sports teams.
All major sports leagues have begun producing officially licensed team logo masks. Universal Music Group is making masks featuring artists from Willie Nelson to Justin Bieber. Warners Bros. has licensed a mask with the cast from the 1990s TV show, “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
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Many of the proceeds of branded mask sales, at least initially, are helping to fund COVID-19 relief efforts. But turning personal protective equipment into an ad for a real estate agent may raise eyebrows, even in the new normal of a worldwide health crisis.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wears a mask as she prepares to speak about the coronavirus economic recovery plan on April 23, 2020 at the Historic Water Tower. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
New York-based branding strategist Peter Shankman said branded face masks, if "done the right way,” will generally be perceived in a positive light.
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“Wearable brands have become a part of our culture,” Shankman said.
Fanatics, which operates an officially licensed e-commerce merchandise business for major sports leagues, sells team masks for the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS and WNBA, at prices ranging from $15 to $25 each.
The Blackhawks are the second best-selling NHL team and the Bulls rank fifth among NBA teams for mask sales, Fanatics spokesman Brandon Williams said Thursday.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot may be the top salesperson for branded masks after donning one featuring the city logo and her COVID-19 prevention mantra, #StayHome.
The mask was made by Pride Masks, which converted its small Chicago factory from a marching band uniform supplier and flag maker to a branded face mask company last month.
“Once the mayor started wearing the mask, it’s blown up," said Alan Spaeth, 55, co-founder of the company formerly known as R&S Marching Arts.
The company has been inundated with commercial orders, employing a staff of about 18 in split shifts to produce about 700 to 800 masks per day. The masks sell for $15 each, in lots generally ranging from 20 to 500 masks per design. Clients include a Dow Chemical plant in Midland, Michigan, local Sonic restaurants and flight crews from Southwest Airlines.
Spaeth turned down an order for a half million face masks from a pharmaceutical company because it would have overwhelmed production and squeezed out smaller business customers.
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Companies are buying the branded masks to meet state health requirements and provide "corporate wear,” Spaeth said.
One client in particular said it was concerned about potentially inappropriate personal messaging on masks worn by employees.
“It’s a way to keep everything uniform, and if you’re representing a company, keep it on message,” Spaeth said. “It’s a face billboard.”
rchannick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--Gary mistakenly approved permit for historic water tower’s demolition, Indiana Landmarks official sa

Gary mistakenly approved permit for historic water tower’s demolition, Indiana Landmarks official says

“ Falling debris and crumbling foundations directly threaten the safety of Indiana American personnel operating the plant , as well @ @ @ @ @ which is critical to the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to the residents @ @ @ @ @ ’ s entire Northwest Indiana operations , ” said Indiana Water spokesman Joseph Loughmiller .

Demolition is beginning at Gary's historic water tower at 650 Madison Street. The 133-foot tower, completed in 1910, is one of the tallest structures in the city. (Carole Carlson / Post-Tribune)
The city of Gary erred in granting a permit for the demolition of the city’s iconic water tower, said the director of Indiana Landmarks Northwest field office.
Brad Miller, of Indiana Landmarks, said the city supported the preservation of the 133-foot structure owned by the Indiana American Water Co.
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“News of the demolition came as a surprise after Gary officials initially indicated support for preserving the landmark. Later, city officials admitted that the demolition permit had been granted in error,” Miller wrote in a letter sent to newspapers on Thursday.
City spokesman Michael Gonzalez said the permit was granted on Feb. 27. He didn’t offer more information on the process.
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On Wednesday, just a few rows of concrete had been removed from the top of the white octagonal tower. It’s expected to be completed by the end of May.
Designed by a Chicago engineer, the water tower was erected in 1910, just four years after Gary’s founding.
“I think there was a miscommunication between the permits,” said Miller. “Obviously, the mayor and mayor’s office does not vet every demolition permit. That’s the shortcoming of departments not talking to each other.”
Miller said the incident could spur better communication.
“I hope it encourages the city to better orient ways to put in measures to at least consider historic buildings. It doesn’t mean every one has to be saved,” he said.
Indiana American Water Co. officials announced their intentions to tear down the tower last year because of significant safety and operational deficiencies.
“Falling debris and crumbling foundations directly threaten the safety of Indiana American personnel operating the plant, as well as the plant itself, which is critical to the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to the residents and business of Indiana American’s entire Northwest Indiana operations,” said Indiana Water spokesman Joseph Loughmiller.
Miller said when the Gary, Heat, Light & Water Co. built the tower it was “part engineering innovation and part architectural wonder.”
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He said the octagonal white concrete shell with a cornice and parapet wall around the exposed steel transformed the utilitarian tower into a landmark and “point of pride and a symbol of civic identity. Its destruction is a dramatic loss for the city’s skyline.”
Miller said the Gary Common Council established the Gary Historic Preservation Commission in 2007, but seats on the commission remained vacant for a decade.
Since 2017, he said the commission has only designated one property as a local landmark, the Gary Land Company building.
Miller said increased cooperation could lead to solutions for some of the city’s other endangered landmarks such as Theodore Roosevelt High School, Miller Town Hall, the Gary Post office, Palace Theater and Gary, Heat, Light & Water Co.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--New Illinois rules about wearing a face mask in public start May 1. Here’s everything to know.

The N95 is the most effective mask and the ones that medical workers wear to protect themselves from the virus @ @ @ @ @ short supply , so the general public should avoid them and look for disposable masks @ @ @ @ @ which are less effective but good enough to capture vital particles from coming in or @ @ @ @ @ nose .
Here are the types of masks available .

Air travelers with and without face masks use a moving walkway toward their gates at Midway International Airport in Chicago on April 19, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
As of May 1, all Illinois residents over age 2 must wear a face mask when they can’t maintain a 6-foot social distance in public. Studies show that the coronavirus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, including people who are not showing symptoms.
With COVID-19 cases increasing, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Aug. 7 attempted to put more muscle behind the mandate by issuing a rule to penalize businesses and schools that don’t enforce mask-wearing with fines of up to $2,500. Individuals are not covered by the rule and are not subject to penalties.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says nonmedical cloth facial coverings, for the public, help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and help people who may have the virus and are asymptomatic from transmitting it to others. N95 masks, which are in short supply, are best reserved for health care workers, who come into direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
Major retail chains like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, CVS and Walgreens say they have already mandated that all store employees wear masks or facial coverings. Customers now must wear them in stores, but enforcing the rule can be more challenging.
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According to the CDC, masks should:
Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
Be secured with ties or ear loops
Include multiple layers of fabric
Allow for breathing without restriction
Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
The Tribune has compiled resources below on what fabrics are best for homemade masks, how to make your own face mask, and who is making and donating them in the Chicago area.
[ We’ve lowered the paywall on this essential coronavirus coverage ]
What kind of face mask should you wear?
The N95 is the most effective mask and the ones that medical workers wear to protect themselves from the virus. These have been in short supply, so the general public should avoid them and look for disposable masks or washable cloth masks, which are less effective but good enough to capture vital particles from coming in or out of your mouth and nose. Here are the types of masks available.
How to make your own face mask
Don’t want to try to find one in stores or online? You can make your own at home. Here are all the tools and material you will need and a handy illustrated tutorial to get you started. And here’s how you can make one with common household items.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Best fabrics for homemade masks
A study by University of Chicago professor Supratik Guha and colleagues at Argonne National Laboratory tested more than 15 common household fabrics to see which were best for protecting against the coronavirus. The study investigated the fabric’s filtration efficiencies against the tiny droplets that are how COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses are spread. Wearing a mask or a cloth facial covering reduces the transmission of these respiratory droplets from an infected person, Guha says.
They found the most effective fabrics to be cotton, natural silk and chiffon; synthetic silk and satin did not provide as much protection. Hybrid combinations, such as high thread cotton, along with silk, chiffon or flannel also supplied broad filtration coverage. Read more here.
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
How to properly wash your face masks
Cloth masks are washable and reusable. If you’re looking to maximize hygienic handling of your cloth mask, take a look at this guide from Best Reviews on how to clean and sanitize your masks.
Where you can find face masks — even for free
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Chicagoans are sewing face masks. Inspired by requests from local doctors and nurses, as well as calls for masks from providers such as the Indiana-based Deaconess Health System, volunteers have taken to social media with hashtags such as #1millionmasks. They are dusting off their sewing machines, sharing material and elastic, and arranging drop-offs and pickups from front stoops and porches. Read more here.
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Also, check out neighborhood Facebook pages or email groups to find homemade masks in your area. Here are some other options:
What if I’m running?
Like many new questions related to a new virus, there are few definitive answers about whether runners are more or less likely to possibly spread the virus — despite what might be floating around online. Runners can consider using a circular accessory known as a “buff,” which has light, moisture-wicking fabric, or other household items like bandannas or neck warmers that might be more suitable to exercising and the outdoor elements.
The Chicago Area Runners Association has released a guide on what it considers best practices during the pandemic. If running on sidewalks or in more crowded places, they advise wearing a mask. Read more on running, coronavirus and masks here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--How much is the state spending on COVID-19 and what is it for? Search our database

The list below shows items the state purchased as well as a list of restaurants , bars and hotels that @ @ @ @ @ Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity .
Grant amounts to individual businesses were not @ @ @ @ @ site said restaurants and bars received an average grant of $ 14,000 and hotels an @ @ @ @ @

Whether it’s for gloves, masks, ventilators, testing supplies or materials to help set up field hospitals at McCormick Place and across the state, the money the state is spending to fight the coronavirus pandemic is being tracked by the comptroller’s office.
Data from late March and early April showed most spending on PPE, personal protective equipment like gloves and masks, while spending in late April was more focused on materials for coronavirus tests. This data does not include spending on salaries and overtime related to the pandemic.
The list below shows items the state purchased as well as a list of restaurants, bars and hotels that received emergency grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Grant amounts to individual businesses were not released, however the DCEO site said restaurants and bars received an average grant of $14,000 and hotels an average of $30,000.
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--2-year-old boy dies after mom rushes him to Chicago fire station

The boy , identified as Marshawn Williams , was transported from the fire station to West Suburban Medical Center in @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m. , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ @ @ @

A 2-year-old boy died after his mother found him unresponsive in a West Side apartment and took him to a fire station, according to Chicago police.
The woman told police she found her son just after 7 p.m. Thursday in an apartment in the 600 block of North Cicero Avenue in the South Austin neighborhood.
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The boy, identified as Marshawn Williams, was transported from the fire station to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where he was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Police said they were conducting a death investigation.


chicagotribune--2020-05-01--The latest from editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis

The Art Institute Lions and Daley Center Picasso get specially fabricated masks as part of the city 's awareness campaign @ @ @ @ @ .

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chicagotribune--2020-04-30--3 killed in head-on crash in Union Township

An initial investigation and witness statements showed that a semi-truck was eastbound on Ind .
130 when a yellow Ford @ @ @ @ @ on Ind .
130 .
For unknown reasons , the passenger car went left of @ @ @ @ @ of travel and collided with the truck .

Three young people from Valparaiso died as the result of collision between a car and a semitractor-trailer Thursday afternoon in Union Township, police said.
Mathew Shupe, 17, the driver of the passenger car, and front seat passenger Morgan Rodd, 20, died at the scene, according to a release from Cpl. Ben McFalls, public information officer with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
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Olivia Ogiego, 20, a passenger in the back seat, was transported via the University of Chicago Medicine Aeromedical Network helicopter to the university’s medical center for treatment and later died.
Deputies with the sheriff’s department were called around 1:35 p.m. Thursday to Indiana 130 west of County Road 625 West in Union Township for the collision.
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An initial investigation and witness statements showed that a semi-truck was eastbound on Ind. 130 when a yellow Ford passenger car was traveling west on Ind. 130. For unknown reasons, the passenger car went left of center into the eastbound lane of travel and collided with the truck.
The driver of the truck was not injured and was cooperative, according to the release. The driver submitted to a breath test and had no alcohol present, police said.
The Porter County Reconstruction Team handled the investigation and was assisted by Indiana State Police, who were conducting a commercial motor vehicle inspection of the truck.
The Porter County Coroner’s Office also is investigating.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-04-30--Bleak outlook for air travel could force O’Hare’s massive $8.5 billion expansion project to scale ba

Bleak outlook for air travel could force O’Hare’s massive $8.5 billion expansion project to scale back

“ O ’ Hare 21 is a long-term project to meet the airport ’ s long-term needs , as well @ @ @ @ @ in the future economic growth of the City , ” said Chicago Department of Aviation @ @ @ @ @ an emailed statement .
“ The Terminal Area Plan , the centerpiece of the capital @ @ @ @ @ the planning and design phase and is continuing .
”

Mary Wisniewski, Lauren Zumbach, Blair Kamin

A United Airlines plane taxis as United Express planes sit at their gates at Terminal 2 of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on April 30, 2020. Plans to expand the airport could be jeopardized by the coronavirus pandemic's effect on air travel. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago’s Aviation Department insists the coronavirus pandemic won’t curtail its $8.5 billion expansion plan for O’Hare International Airport, but there are growing signs the city will have no choice but to reconsider the project’s scope and timing.
The city is counting on the airlines to help fund the expansion. But with flights canceled, jets grounded and passenger traffic plummeting because of the coronavirus, the airlines face their most severe economic crisis since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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Travel restrictions and passenger concerns have brought flying to a near halt, resulting in billions of dollars in losses for airlines. The Transportation Security Administration screened 119,629 people at U.S. airports Wednesday, down nearly 95% from the same day last year.
A person takes a stroll April 30, 2020, outside the Terminal 2 building at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
On Thursday, both American Airlines and United Airlines reported substantial first-quarter losses, of $2.2 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Industry group Airlines for America said U.S. airlines’ passenger numbers remained strong through late February, which means the second quarter, which ends in June, could be more dire.
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Airlines have reacted by slashing flights, offering voluntary leave and early retirement, instituting hiring freezes of nonessential employees, reducing capital expenditures and retiring aircraft early.
“There is no way to overstate the gravity of the situation for the airline industry, and difficult decisions lie ahead for all of us,” American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker told financial analysts while discussing the airline’s results.
Airports in other cites already have said they were considering postponing multibillion-dollar expansion plans because of the pandemic, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and San Diego International Airport.
In Chicago, there are signs the architectural firm picked to design the $2.2 billion Global Terminal — the project’s centerpiece — has encountered turbulence on the project.
“If the airlines can’t afford this and don’t need terminals as large as they were, the city has a fiduciary duty to the airlines and to the community not to spend money they don’t have," said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst and president of the Atmosphere Research Group.
The planned O’Hare expansion, the biggest and most expensive in the airport’s 75-year history, is supposed to be finished by the end of 2028. The plans include the addition of a new Global Terminal and three new concourses, and is mostly funded by passenger fees, landing fees and other income.
The city declined to make Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee available for an interview but issued a statement saying the project is moving ahead.
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“O’Hare 21 is a long-term project to meet the airport’s long-term needs, as well as to address needed investments in the future economic growth of the City,” said Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Matthew McGrath, in an emailed statement. “The Terminal Area Plan, the centerpiece of the capital program, is still in the planning and design phase and is continuing.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Jeanne Gang's Studio ORD design for the O'Hare International Airport Global Terminal expansion has a multilevel design that makes escalators a central feature. Gang proposes to have departing travelers ride up escalators to a raised check-in and security floor, then take escalators down to gate level. (Studio ORD rendering)
But Harteveldt said if Chicago thinks it can forge ahead with the expansion without taking into account the new fiscal reality for airlines, it’s “living in an alternate universe.”
The International Air Transport Association estimated the COVID-19 pandemic could cost global airlines $314 billion in lost revenue this year, with airline passenger revenues falling 55% compared with 2019.
Still, American Airlines said it remains committed to Chicago and the O’Hare 21 modernization project.
“We are continuing to work closely with our partners at the City of Chicago on all airport matters, including long-term modernization,” spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said in a statement.
United issued a statement Thursday saying it is continuing to work “extremely closely” with the city on short- and long-term planning for O’Hare.
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“For now we are jointly focused on maintaining cost efficient operations at the airport during the COVID-19 crisis," the statement said. "We appreciate the City’s partnership and look forward to continuing our joint long term planning work in the near future.”
But one sign the O’Hare expansion is facing stiff headwinds occurred at Studio Gang, the Chicago architectural firm leading the team that city officials, under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, picked last year to design the expansion.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Studio Gang in March laid off five employees — four architects and one support staff member — who were scheduled to work on the expansion.
The firm “internally announced a hold on the O’Hare project,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, wrote in an email to the Tribune. “This hold came from stakeholders on the airport project.”
A spokeswoman for Studio Gang, Elizabeth Krasner, declined to respond to that version of events and said Studio Gang continues to work on the O’Hare expansion.
Studio Gang is headed by namesake Jeanne Gang, designer of the curvy Aqua hotel and residential tower and the under-construction Vista Tower, a hotel and condominium high-rise that will be Chicago’s third-tallest building when it opens later this year.
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In addition to Studio Gang, the Studio ORD team consists of Chicago architects Solomon Cordwell Buenz; Dallas-based Corgan aviation architects; Milhouse Engineering & Construction of Chicago and STLarchitects of Chicago.
The expansion will consist of a new Global Terminal and satellite concourses. The satellite concourses are being designed under the supervision of Studio Gang by Chicago architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
The $8.5 billion expansion began with the selection of design and engineering firms and the signing of major contracts.
The airport already has started on a $1.2 billion expansion of Terminal 5, which by 2021 will have 10 new gates and 75% more space for passenger amenities. Airport officials say the expansion is needed before major construction on the larger project can begin. The city also is working on the Runway 9R extension and finishing a new 11,245-foot east-west runway.
Harteveldt said the economic crisis facing the airline industry does not mean a new terminal at O’Hare won’t be needed, but the timeline is going to be have to be explored, and possibly subdivided into new phases.
Even if the project moves ahead at its current scale, the city should consider pausing to see whether plans need to be adjusted in response to changes in the way we travel, said Seth Kaplan, an airline analyst.
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“Airports haven’t been designed for social distancing,” Kaplan said.
“There’s no question that airports have to picture what the world is going to look like many years in the future,” he said.
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com
bkamin@chicagotribune.com
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-02--Polyamorous Chicagoans share what it’s been like to balance life and love during the quarantine

“ It takes a huge amount of trust to be able to try and practice nonmonogamy in a functional way @ @ @ @ @ , “ and I think with everyone feeling a little more self-protected , there can @ @ @ @ @ extended to new partners .
If someone doesn ’ t have a long-standing relationship with @ @ @ @ @ s partners , I think that risk-aversion piece can be heightened .
”

For two years, Yo Yarborough, who lives in West Humboldt Park and prefers the gender pronouns they and them, has been dating two women, and started dating a third woman earlier this year, Yarborough said.
Yarborough has identified as polyamorous for the last six years, but this is the first time they are actively in multiple relationships.
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“One’s just with me, and the other two, we are dating each other, but we’ve only hung out once all together,” Yarborough said.
Yo Yarborough with Brody at home in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood on May 1, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Managing all three relationships during the stay-at-home order has brought challenges since Yarborough doesn’t live with any of their partners.
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“I try to talk to all of them a few times a week if I can,” Yarborough said. “We (video chat) and have Zoom dates and FaceTime dates. It’s just been me and one other person.”
But even with the calls, Yarborough can still feel the loneliness that the quarantine can bring since they live alone. “I’m actually with my dog and have no human contact other than a few people that I work with," Yarborough said.
Folks who are solo polyamory, meaning they don’t have a primary partner, can feel lonelier or more separate than usual, especially if they live alone or are partnered with other people who are cohabiting together, explained Sharon Glassburn, a poly-affirming licensed marriage and family therapist.
"They can just feel that separation more,” said Glassburn, who owns Curiosity Counseling in Chicago.
Because of the increased worries about health and safety right now, trust is key to making polyamorous relationships work well during this time, Glassburn said.
“It takes a huge amount of trust to be able to try and practice nonmonogamy in a functional way already,” Glassburn said, “and I think with everyone feeling a little more self-protected, there can be less of that trust extended to new partners. If someone doesn’t have a long-standing relationship with one of their partner’s partners, I think that risk-aversion piece can be heightened.”
Yo Yarborough identifies as polyamorous and is currently managing three relationships. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Tiffany, who asked that her first name only be used for personal safety reasons, lives on the West Side with her female partner, who has a male partner that lives in his own home. The male partner is “a part of our house,” Tiffany said, and he is at her and her partner’s home almost every day.
“He spends the night with us and we all have our time together, and they have their own time together privately.” The male partner typically leaves in the morning to maintain his work schedule and to take care of family, Tiffany said.
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There haven’t been many issues between Tiffany and her female partner regarding the male partner coming over, she said, in fact the biggest concern has been making sure they all are able to get time together, especially since the male partner doesn’t live in the home.
“We have gone through extremes to make sure that this virus does not come in our house, and he’s gone through extremes to make sure it doesn’t come into his house,” she said. “We trust him and he’s demonstrated to us that he has been taking every precaution he can.”
While Tiffany is not in a relationship with the male partner, the two of them have become “amazingly closer” friends since the shelter-in-place.
“Him and I have learned a lot more about each other; we’ve found even more interests that we have in common," she said. “We’ve learned more about how each other’s minds work. Overall our friendship between him and I has gotten even better.”
chrjohnson@chicagotribune.com