chicagotribune--2020-06-30--Beaches and pools are beginning to reopen throughout the suburbs. But in Chicago, at least officiall

Beaches and pools are beginning to reopen throughout the suburbs. But in Chicago, at least officially, the wait continues.

Centennial is licensed as a beach and , as such , was not able to open during phase three of @ @ @ @ @ s reopening plan , which allowed only lap swimming , diving and select other uses @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
They had still sought permission from DuPage County and the state to @ @ @ @ @ of the beach , which includes chlorination of the water but were denied , the @ @ @

Patrick M.  O'Connell, Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, Robert McCoppin, Sarah Freishtat, Javonte Anderson

The Fulton Market area of Chicago is no longer the ghost town it was during the depths of the COVID-19 virus pandemic shutdown. As restrictions on restaurants are eased, a worker takes a woman's temperature before she can enter Federales restaurant on Morgan Street on July 1, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Teens in flip-flops and brightly colored bathing suits sauntered past the temporary gatehouse at the entrance to Sunrise Beach in north suburban Lake Bluff on Monday, their hair wet from the Lake Michigan surf. Two Lake Bluff Park District employees, masks on, kept a tally and checked in visitors. On the beach below, a young girl wearing pink goggles bobbed in the waves as widely spaced families and friends enjoyed a cool lake breeze.
With Illinois in phase four of coronavirus regulations, the park in Lake Bluff is among the many Illinois beaches and pools now open, with capacity and social distancing restrictions, after being shuttered because of the pandemic. When Illinois entered phase four on Friday, the Illinois Department of Health issued guidelines for swimming pools, water parks, splash pads and beaches, essentially allowing locations to open to a maximum 50% capacity with safety protocols in place.
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In Lake Bluff, the beach reopened for swimming Saturday, a welcome outlet for many, said Jim Lakeman, the superintendent of recreation, facility and safety services for the Lake Bluff Park District.
“People have been wanting to get down there to the beach and they have been wanting to swim,” Lakeman said. “Everyone is having a good time.”
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Sunrise Beach, free to residents and open to others for a fee, can safely fit three “pods” of 50 people over the stretch of sand, Lakeman said, with plenty of room for visitors to remain socially distant. The Park District blocked one entrance, installed a hand-washing station and a gatehouse by the locked gate at the top of the bluff road to keep track of numbers and prevent overcrowding.
While suburban beaches have opened, Chicago’s iconic beaches remain officially closed. But “closed” has often been more of an idea than an ironclad rule recently, especially with the sultry summer weather during the final days of June.
Scores of beachgoers flocked to Montrose Beach on Monday. Couples, friends, and families lay on blankets and beach towels in the sand. Dozens played in the water, despite the conspicuously empty lifeguard chairs. A man wearing a straw hat pulled an ice cream cart across the sand.
Farther south at Oak Street Beach, two women stood knee-deep in the water while others played in the sand.
An official reopening date for the city’s beaches has not yet been set.
A social distancing ambassador walks along Lane Beach in Edgewater on Monday, June 29, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
A sign indicates bathrooms aren't open because the beach is closed at Kathy Osterman Beach in Edgewater on Monday, June 29, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Park District reiterated Monday that Chicago beaches remain closed under executive order of the city’s health department. Red flags are displayed and lifeguards are not assigned. Over the weekend, the Park District said park security and Chicago police officers removed people from beaches who violated the order.
“For their own safety and the safety of others, it is imperative that the public respects the executive order,” Park District spokeswoman Michele Lemons said in an emailed response to questions. “... The Chicago Park District continues to work closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health to determine when beaches can open safely.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no evidence the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds or recreational waters like Lake Michigan. But epidemiologists caution that it can still spread between close-together people, especially those waiting in lines or sitting near each other at the pool or beach.
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With the city restrictions still in place, a patchwork of suburban lakefront locations and pools began to welcome swimmers, with others slated to open in the coming days. In addition to Lake Bluff, where the pool will open July 1, other North Shore municipalities opened their beaches along Lake Michigan. Evanston planned to open its swimming beaches for pass holders July 1.
The pent-up demand for swimming left many municipalities and park districts scrambling to safely accommodate water-craving guests. Managers rushed to staff splash pads — open by appointment only — and water parks prepared for the increased need to disinfect communal areas, workers said.
At the Glenview Park District, online registration started Saturday for open public swim, and by Monday morning, all the slots for the first week were sold out through July 3, spokeswoman Jena Johnson said. Lap swimming began over the weekend, while special restrictions substantially reduce capacity to 100 people for each three-hour open swim.
Officials had planned to open this week, but had just hours to finalize plans because the Illinois Department of Public Health issued specific guidelines Friday, Johnson said.
“It was quite a scramble,” she said. “The demand has been very high. Everyone is eager to get back into the pool.”
Lounge chairs and life vests were only available by rental. Locker rooms were available for changing, but lockers and showers were closed, and the facility was open only to residents and season pass holders.
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“We’re trying to open capacity slowly, to make sure everyone stays safe,” Johnson said.
Heidi Stolt, the recreation aquatics supervisor for the Crystal Lake Park District, has been anticipating the move to phase four, putting her far ahead of the game, she said. The Park District in the far northwest suburb manages two beaches, Main and West.
Main Beach will open on July 6 and will be capped at a maximum 365 people, which represents half the maximum capacity for swimmers.
The date isn’t an accident, she said. With fireworks and Crystal Lake’s annual Lakeside Festival canceled, Stolt’s team thought better of opening the beach on a holiday weekend and instead chose July 6.
They also are holding off opening West Beach until they’ve had a chance to evaluate how things are working at Main Beach. She expects that may take a few weeks.
“We’re going to get a week or two under our belts and see if there’s a need. We don’t know exactly what the community wants,” she said.
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In Yorkville at Raging Waves, which bills itself as the state’s largest water park, reopening plans are still in the works, according to Brad Donati, marketing manager.
“Along with our current safety measures at the park, we are working to finalize our reopening plan with IDPH to make sure we provide a safe experience for our guests and employees,” Donati said in an email.
In addition to safety considerations, suburbs must take into account financial realities of opening facilities under the new guidelines.
Pools are expensive to operate even in pre-pandemic times but can generate much-needed revenue. Arlington Heights sold $250,000 in annual swim passes earlier this year. Much of that was for a new indoor pool that remains temporarily closed due to the pandemic.
Pioneer Pool in Arlington Heights, which has five outdoor neighborhood pools, opened Friday to high demand for lap swimming, said Steve Neill, superintendent of recreation.
“People were thrilled and excited to get back in the water and swim,” he said.
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Arlington Heights’ Recreation Pool was scheduled to open July 6 to residents only while officials figure out whether they can open other pools under the new state guidelines.
In addition, more than 600 children were scheduled to start competitive swim classes Monday, though afternoon storms postponed those sessions.
Public pools were directed to follow state guidelines limiting capacity to 50%, with no wave generators, and requirements that visitors wear masks whenever they are not swimming. Staff members must sanitize shared equipment between each use.
But for some, the curveball of the coronavirus has led officials to decide to keep facilities closed for the summer. In Northbrook, for instance, the Village Board considered a plan for reopening with special precautions, but members voted to close the pool for the season.
Swimmers fill the reopened pool at North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook on Monday, June 26, 2020. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Naperville’s Centennial Beach also will stay closed for the summer.
The beach, a former quarry, would not be able to open until the middle to end of July, after it is drained, cleaned and refilled with clean water, Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said. The season typically ends around Labor Day, he said.
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For those weeks of operation, McGury estimated the cost to clean and refill the beach would run more than $40,000.
“While we are willing to take a loss to bring that enjoyment to our community, I have to be rational about this,” he said.
Centennial is licensed as a beach and, as such, was not able to open during phase three of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan, which allowed only lap swimming, diving and select other uses, beach officials said in a statement. They had still sought permission from DuPage County and the state to open because of the nature of the beach, which includes chlorination of the water but were denied, the officials said.
McGury said he was frustrated because he thought Centennial Beach was well equipped to handle COVID-19 precautions. It’s a large, open space where people can maintain distance, and beach staff could enforce distancing rules, he said.
“It’s unfortunate, but I understand the IDPH wanted to make sure they had their requirements in order.”
This summer is believed to be the first in the beach’s history that it will remain closed for an entire season, park district officials said.
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In Aurora, the outdoor Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center and Splash Country Waterpark operated by the Fox Valley Park District and the city of Aurora are other attractions that will remain closed. But an indoor lap pool run by the Park District has already opened with new social distancing precautions, and two other indoor pools — one therapeutic, one recreational with a waterslide — are slated to reopen. Three outdoor splash pads began opening Monday, and social distancing ambassadors will be on hand to promote safety, Park District Executive Director Jim Pilmer said.
The outdoor aquatic centers carry hefty costs associated with lifeguards, which are provided by an outside agency, Pilmer said. Officials had to decide before May 1 whether to honor their contract with the agency in the hope pools might be able to open or break the contract and keep pools closed for the season, he said.
Indoor pools are staffed in-house, buying the Park District more time to make a decision.
Capacity at the indoor pools is limited and reservations are required. Staff members are required to wear masks and have undergone training on social distancing guidelines, Pilmer said.
So far reservations for the lap pool have not filled, he said.
Pilmer said his agency has an obligation to promote public health and will take necessary precautions. At the same time, he wants to meet the needs of the community.
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“With the guidelines coming out in phase three, ‘Here’s how you can open your aquatic facilities for therapeutic and lap swimming and competitive swimming,’ that is an obligation being a public agency, is to make it work,” he said.
As other agencies worried about losing money while pools were closed, Pilmer said the park district and the city don’t make money off their outdoor aquatic centers. Phillips Park and Splash Country were projected to lose $800,000 this year before the pandemic took hold.
Rather, Pilmer is disappointed Aurora youths might miss out on summer jobs at the centers.
The department of health requires all pools to have a plan for how to enforce social distancing. For water parks, a plan must be submitted for how they’ll space lines for “areas where people line up to use a waterslide, lazy river, or other water features.”
Stolt said the Crystal Lake Park District has hired a half-dozen extra employees this summer to help with cleaning duties so the facilities can begin to open safely.
“We have been anticipating this and I was so happy when I heard,” Stolt said. “The whole Park District, we want to do what we can. For some people, swimming makes the summer.”
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chicagotribune--2020-06-30--Blackbird, one of Chicago’s greatest restaurants, closing for good because of the coronavirus

“ That is really sad news , ” said Cree , partner in Pretty Cool Ice Cream and Cree , @ @ @ @ @ the JBF ’ s Outstanding Pastry Chef award for her work at Blackbird .
“ @ @ @ @ @ forever .
It certainly hasn ’ t lost any relevance , or creative output , @ @ @ @ @ community .
It was a platform that , in many ways , allowed me to @ @ @ @ @ I consider it to be where I did my best work as a pastry chef @ @ @ @ @ so much , for so many , for so many years .
”

Blackbird restaurant, a pioneer on Randolph Street in Chicago, is seen on Monday June 29, 2020. The flagship of One Off Hospitality will close after 22 years. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The coronavirus claimed its highest-profile Chicago restaurant victim to date, with word that Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St., was closing for good after more than 22 years as one of the area’s finest restaurants.
“We’ve labored long and hard over this decision,” said partner Paul Kahan. “But in an incredibly small, tight dining room — operating at only 25% capacity for who knows how long — and removing the opportunity to do private dining, it becomes incredibly difficult to manage.”
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“Think of what 6 feet of social distancing means to Blackbird, and then how do you operate a 14-by-9 kitchen?” added partner Donnie Madia. “We have other responsibilities and other staff members to take care of, and it’s our job to make sure we do that.”
Blackbird opened on Dec. 1, 1997. Madia and Kahan, along with partners Eduard Seitan and the late Ricky Diarmit, quickly established Blackbird as a restaurant to reckon with. The contemporary-American cuisine was breathtaking, the wine program and service were first rate, and the stylish decor — a white-on-white look that bordered on minimalism — was sleek and sophisticated.
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[ Chicago patios and rooftops: Our critics’ picks for where to eat outside now ]
The tables were too small, and too close. The noise level was almost raucous, compared with fine-dining contemporaries at the time. It didn’t matter. Customers flocked in.
When other top-tier restaurants adopted a set-menu format, Blackbird continued to make a la carte options available. Not only did Blackbird serve lunch — again, a rarity at this echelon — it also offered a three-course prix fixe option that was one of the city’s best bargains ($22-$25 for most of the restaurant’s career).
In time, the restaurant earned a four-star rating from the Chicago Tribune, and acquired a Michelin star, which it has held for eight years. Kahan won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef in 2013; two years later, Madia received the foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur award.
Blackbird became the foundation on which Kahan, Madia, Seitan and Diarmit built One Off Hospitality, a restaurant group that includes Avec, Big Star, Dove’s Luncheonette, the Publican, Publican Quality Meats and the Violet Hour, the cocktail lounge that won the JBF Outstanding Bar Program in 2015. All those restaurants remain in business, Madia and Kahan said, but Cafe Cancale, the group’s most recent restaurant (which opened in May 2019), is also closing permanently.
[ Alinea in Residence to offer guests an al fresco version of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurant ]
“At this point, you have to be nimble, because nobody knows what will happen in September, or even tomorrow,” Kahan said. “But this is the healthiest decision for the company moving forward. The good news, moving forward, all our other properties have done great pivots. We’re doing everything in our power to keep the staff safe, implementing new things every day.”
One Off Hospitality owns the building that houses Blackbird, so it’s possible there may be a restaurant future for the space.
“Right now, Blackbird is aiding Avec (next door),” Madia said. “We’re using Blackbird’s restrooms for social distancing, and we’re using the outdoor cafe so we can seat more Avec guests.”
“But who knows what’s going to happen?” Madia said. “We thought we’d hit 25 (years) and then 30. Reflecting on it, we’re human and we collect things. Stars, Michelin stars and Beard awards — we love those things, you know? But sometimes you can’t keep collecting; sometimes you have to let go.”
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“Honestly, I’m truly humbled by our long-standing success,” Kahan said. “I’m grateful for our departed partner Ricky, and all the people we’ve loved and worked with. I think we added a lot to the Chicago restaurant community.” (Diarmit died two years ago.)
One could assemble a formidable chefs army with the people who worked at Blackbird, among them Christine Cikowski, Dana Cree, Patrick Fahy, Brian Huston, Sam Kass, Dale Levitski, Elissa Narow, David Posey, Mike Sheerin, Jared Van Camp and Paul Virant.
“That’s a terrible loss for the industry, for sure,” said Virant, chef-owner of Vie and Vistro in the western suburbs and Gaijin in Chicago. “Paul’s an iconic chef who has inspired a lot of people, including myself. I had the opportunity to work there prior to opening Vie, and Paul was one of the few chefs that really had great relationships with small farmers. He’s a big inspiration for me.”
“Blackbird is an incredibly important restaurant for the history of Chicago,” said Jason Hammel, chef-owner of Lula Cafe and Marisol. “It’s a very creative place, very cutting-edge, and yet grounded and soul-satifsying.
“In the early years, I went to Blackbird to learn and to be astonished,” Hammel said. “In March of 2000, I had a leek charlotte stuffed with Israeli couscous and a sauce inspired by yellow curry but infused with apple. It was delicate and surprising and inventive, but still very grounded in tradition, with complex flavors that made it delicious. I was completely blown away by this dish; the thing was gorgeous.”
“One night in Lula, it was very busy and I was running food out to tables, and one table I passed by was talking about how to cut golden beets.” Hamel said. “It was Paul Kahan and his (then) sous chef, Brian Wolf. I got into conversation with them, and Brian became a friend and Paul a great friend. Ever since then, he’s been a mentor.”
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“It’s sad of course, but I think Blackbird will have a place in Chicago history that won’t be forgotten by any means.”
[ What you need to know about dining out as pandemic continues ]
“It’s a tough one,” said Posey, chef and owner (with his wife, Anna Posey) of Elske restaurant and former chef de cuisine at Blackbird. “Blackbird brought me up, gave me a name; I stayed longer than I thought I would. It’s one place I never expected to close.”
“That is really sad news,” said Cree, partner in Pretty Cool Ice Cream and Cree, who was twice nominated for the JBF’s Outstanding Pastry Chef award for her work at Blackbird. “I thought it would last forever. It certainly hasn’t lost any relevance, or creative output, or its standing in the community. It was a platform that, in many ways, allowed me to become who I am. I consider it to be where I did my best work as a pastry chef. It’s been so much, for so many, for so many years.”
“One Off (Hospitality) always has led with an incredible amount of bravery in the industry,” Cree said. “I think sometimes we think of changing in the industry by what we add to it, but I think they’re changing the face of the industry by what they choose to remove at this time.
“Honestly, I think this is the first of many reports we’re going to hear,” Cree said. “This is a time for realism, and safety, and protecting our community as a whole, rather than the individual places where we gather. People are going to continue to make very hard decisions, and I applaud their willingness to be the first.”
“Are we even Chicago without Blackbird?” asked Scott Worsham, proprietor (with his wife, Sari Zernich Worsham) of mfk and Bar Biscay restaurants. “People forget that when Blackbird opened, nobody went west of the river to dine out. During the day, Randolph Street and Fulton Market literally had blood running in the gutters from the meatpackers. At night, there were prostitutes all along Randolph Street. I remember the first time someone took me to a bar on Randolph Street back in the ’80s: I felt like I was in Scorsese’s ‘Mean Streets.’ Now look at it. None of that would be there without Blackbird.”
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“The great gutting of Chicago has begun,” Worsham said. “This city will be considerably poorer for its absence.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-30--Daywatch: Video shows night ex-top cop found asleep in his car, Tammy Duckworth being vetted by Joe

Daywatch: Video shows night ex-top cop found asleep in his car, Tammy Duckworth being vetted by Joe Biden and assessing your COVID-19 risk before going out

With Illinois in phase four of coronavirus regulations , Sunrise Beach in north suburban Lake Bluff is among the many @ @ @ @ @ open , with capacity and social distancing restrictions , after being shuttered because of the @ @ @ @ @ have opened , Chicago ’ s iconic beaches remain officially closed .
But “ closed @ @ @ @ @ of an idea than an ironclad rule recently , especially with the sultry summer weather @ @ @ @ @ June .

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Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Illinois health officials Monday reported 738 new known cases of the coronavirus and 14 more fatalities, bringing state totals to 142,461 known cases and 6,902 deaths
The state’s Northeast region — which includes Chicago and its suburbs — has a 4.6% positivity rate. Here’s where each region stands on key metrics for reopening.
Illinois is now in phase 4 of its coronavirus reopening plan. Here’s a guide to what’s allowed.
Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson gets emotional while answering questions as Mayor Lori Lightfoot looks on during Johnson's retirement announcement at a news conference at police headquarters on Nov, 7, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
The city of Chicago on Monday released records and body camera footage related to an October incident in which then-police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was found asleep at the wheel, which led Mayor Lori Lightfoot to angrily fire him.
But Lightfoot’s administration is declining to release Inspector General Joe Ferguson’s report on the matter, despite having pushed the City Council to approve a law allowing certain IG reports of high public interest to be released.
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U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth talks with marchers before a Juneteenth march on on Columbus Drive in Grant Park on June 19, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth quietly has been writing an autobiography, her personal story of going from selling flowers on a Hawaiian roadside amid poverty and losing both legs in a combat helicopter crash in Iraq to an improbable rise in national politics.
Her life’s latest turn could become the book’s climax — a shot at becoming Joe Biden’s running mate. Duckworth is one of at least 13 women being vetted by the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s team, and it’s the power of her biography that has helped land her in such select company.
Supporters of the "fair workweek" stand outside City Council chambers a hearing is conducted on the ordinance at City Hall on July 23, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Starting Wednesday, many Chicago employers will be required to give employees advance notice of their schedules and pay a premium for last-minute changes. The city’s “fair workweek” law is a victory for worker advocates who say unpredictable schedules, and uneven paychecks, make it hard to plan for child care, hold down a second job or pay bills.
The Tribune created a flowchart where you can follow a path of questions assess your COVID-19 risk.
With a host of new public activities now available, how do you figure out how much risk is safe for you to take?
“We’ve been getting a lot of questions about individual activities and peoples’ individual risk for COVID-19,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Public Health, in a video on the city’s portal for resources on COVID-19. “I want to introduce you to a matrix that will help you think twice as you’re thinking about your COVID-19 risk.”
People swim at Kathy Osterman Beach on June 29, 2020 in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
With Illinois in phase four of coronavirus regulations, Sunrise Beach in north suburban Lake Bluff is among the many Illinois beaches and pools now open, with capacity and social distancing restrictions, after being shuttered because of the pandemic. While suburban beaches have opened, Chicago’s iconic beaches remain officially closed. But “closed” has often been more of an idea than an ironclad rule recently, especially with the sultry summer weather during the final days of June.


chicagotribune--2020-06-30--A young father who recently moved out of Chicago becomes last homicide of a deadly weekend. ‘I wante

A young father who recently moved out of Chicago becomes last homicide of a deadly weekend. ‘I wanted better for him'

Samantha Olivares , his fiancee , said they were planning to fix up the basement in the family ’ s @ @ @ @ @ their son , Osiris .
The two met three years ago in the neighborhood , @ @ @ @ @ attracted to his light brown eyes , and they clicked right away after seeing the @ @ @ @ @ Me ” about Tupac for their first date .

As the sun rose Monday, people came out to jog or walk around the Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy field. On the northwest corner, they found crime tape strung from the school’s fence and police officers standing guard.
Near the school’s playground, the mother and sister of Oscar Suarez sat on a bench not far from where the 21-year-old Suarez lay dead on the sidewalk. He was the last recorded homicide of a violent weekend in Chicago that saw 51 people shot, at least 18 of them fatally, including a 20-month-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.
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Suarez had recently moved to Indiana with the mother of his 1-year-old son, but he returned to the Brighton Park neighborhood to pick up a cellphone he had lent a friend. About 2 a.m. Monday, he was walking in the 4400 block of South Whipple Street when someone approached and shot him in the face and leg.
No arrests have been made. Police said a handgun was found at the scene.
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“He was a loving person,” his sister Mari Suarez said. “He was the type where he always made sure, no matter what, he would say I love you.”
“His hugs were the tightest hugs ever,” added his friend Vanessa “KoKo Moon,” who asked that her last name not be used. “He was a good father to his son. He made sure everyone was straight.”
Alfredo Jimenez, 44, said he was awakened by gunshots outside of his home. He first called his son because Jimenez knew he had gone out the night before. After learning he was OK, Jimenez came outside and saw Suarez on the ground.
Oscar Suarez (Family photo)
An ambulance arrived and Jimenez said he watched as paramedics got out but couldn’t do anything for Suarez. It left not long afterward.
Jimenez estimated he heard at least 12 shots. His wife looked out their second-story window and saw a man get on a bike and ride north on Whipple.
Another neighbor, Anthony Rodriguez, 50, said he also heard 12 or 13 shots. It sounded like 10 or 11 came from one gun and another two from another gun.
Rodriguez, Jimenez and police at the scene said the area is controlled by a Two-Six gang faction. Rodriguez said the neighborhood used to be safer when he moved there 11 years ago, but since around 2013, shootings became more common.
“I don’t want to bring my daughter over here too much,” he said, adding he may consider moving to Pilsen. “This part of town is getting more and more violent. It’s going to propel people to move out and sell.”
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Suarez was arrested for attempted murder and aggravated battery in September 2017, according to court records. In a bench trial he was found not guilty in August 2018.
He was found guilty of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver while out on bail, according to the records. A judge sentenced him to a minimum of two years of probation in September 2018 in addition to some jail time.
“I wanted better for him. I wanted him to change,” Mari Suarez said. “We always wanted him to have a better life. We saw more in him. ... It’s a sickness.”
Suarez was trying to make a better life and care for his son, his family said. The family moved to Hammond and he had just gotten a job at a meat-packaging plant. The family celebrated his birthday June 10.
Samantha Olivares, his fiancee, said they were planning to fix up the basement in the family’s new home for them and their son, Osiris. The two met three years ago in the neighborhood, she said. She was attracted to his light brown eyes, and they clicked right away after seeing the movie “All Eyez on Me” about Tupac for their first date.
“There was no tearing us apart. That is my best friend,” she said. “He’s still my best friend.
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“I don’t think (the shooting) was gang affiliated, Olivares said. “He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Whoever he was with was not his real friends. Real friends don’t leave their friends there to die.”
About a year earlier, someone shot at Suarez while he was in his car, Olivares said. He wasn’t injured but Olivares said she wonders if it was the same people.
Vanessa, his friend, said Suarez “had people who loved him. They took someone’s dad. They took someone’s friend. Someone’s son. We’re never going to get that back.”
pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-06-30--The latest from editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis

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 @

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chicagotribune--2020-06-30--Chicagoans mourn victims of gun violence after multiple shootings last weekend

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 Johana Stead hugs her 10-year-old niece Mya DeJesus on June 29, 2020, during a vigil for 10-year-old Lena Nunez, who was killed Saturday by a stray bullet in her home in Logan Square. Mya was a classmate of Lena's. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
People gathered outside a Logan Square home Monday night to remember 10-year-old Lena Marie Nunez, who was hit by a stray bullet Saturday in the front room of her house. Nunez’s death came on a violent Saturday, in which eight people, including three children, were killed in separate shootings. By Sunday morning, more fatal shootings added to the growing toll.


chicagotribune--2020-06-30--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

Illinois health officials Monday reported 738 new known cases of COVID-19 and 14 additional fatalities , bringing the total number of known cases to 142,461 and the confirmed death toll to 6,902 .
The world passed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday with 500,000 confirmed deaths and 10 million confirmed cases .
Meanwhile , governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come , the Associated Press reported .
8:44 p.m. : How to assess your COVID-19 risk when going out in public : Use this chart With a host of new public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure out how much risk is safe for you to take ?
“ We ’ ve been getting a lot of questions about individual activities and peoples ’ individual risk for COVID-19 , ” said Dr. Allison Arwady , commissioner of Chicago ’ s Department of Public Health , in a video on the city ’ s portal for resources on COVID-19 .
“ I want to introduce you to a matrix that will help you think twice as you ’ re thinking about your COVID-19 risk.
” The matrix centers around two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether you and the people around you are at a higher risk for a serious outcome if they contracted coronavirus .
COVID-19 is more dangerous for people older than 60 and those in poor health or with preexisting medical conditions .
Read more here .
—Jemal R. Brinson and Jonathon Berlin The FBI has issued a warning about scammers who advertise fraudulent COVID-19 antibody tests as way to obtain personal information that can be used for identity theft or medical insurance fraud .
The warning , issued Friday , is the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government about fraudulent exploitation of the coronavirus pandemic .
Read more here .
— The New York Times Starting Wednesday , many Chicago employers will be required to give employees advance notice of their schedules and pay a premium for last-minute changes .
The city ’ s “ fair workweek ” law is a victory for worker advocates who say unpredictable schedules , and uneven paychecks , make it hard to plan for child care , hold down a second job or pay bills .
It take effect as businesses grapple with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including uncertain consumer demand .
Trade groups pushed unsuccessfully for the city to delay implementation of the law to give employers more time to prepare .
Read more here .
— Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz 4:10 p.m. : Glenview , Northbrook religious leaders assess reopening options : ‘ We need to make sure our congregants are safe ’ From the panned-out camera angle , it looked for a moment as if parishioners had simply shown up early to the June 17 service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Glenview and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cantor began singing , it became clear the low-attendance service was in fact the new reality for the church as it reopened to the public for the first time since March .
“ All are welcome in this place , ” the cantor sang as the Rev .
Jerry Boland approached the altar .
“ As wonderful as Opening Day is at Wrigley , it pales in comparison to opening day here at OLPH , ” Boland said to the small crowd .
“ It ’ s such a blessing to finally have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a blessing to have you home again.
” The parishioners wore masks and spaced themselves throughout the pews .
They looked around , nodding and waving to each other during the now socially distant “ sign of peace ” portion of the service .
Read more here .
— Kaitlyn Edquist While experts caution against reading too much into fluctuations in the daily toll of the virus , the number of daily deaths has been on the decline .
The average new coronavirus deaths per day in April was 76 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling to 53 in June .
The same trend holds when looking at the average for individual weeks .
The average number of new daily deaths on the week starting June 22 was 36 , compared with an average of 99 the week of May 18 , and 92 for the week of April 20 .
3:46 p.m. : Skydeck Chicago to reopen Friday with timed tickets and a new floor to explore One of Chicago ’ s biggest tourism attractions , Skydeck Chicago , will reopen Friday with new measures aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system designed to limit how many people can take in Chicago ’ s views at one time .
The observation deck , which has had about 1.4 million visitors annually in each of the last several years , closed its doors March 14 , a week before Gov .
J.B. Pritzker put the state under a coronavirus-related stay-at-home order .
Read more here .
— Kim Quillen 3:31 p.m. : Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces $ 11 million in grants to community groups on South and West sides Two community groups on the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in grant funding as part of a broader neighborhood rebuilding effort , Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday .
“ Both great institutions , both community-focused and community-led , both Chicago Prize finalists , and both will serve the health care deserts in those and surrounding communities , ” Lightfoot said .
Lightfoot touted the grants as part of her Invest South/West program , a plan that city officials said will distribute $ 750 million in existing city funds over the next three years with a priority on 10 areas on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , North Lawndale , Austin , Englewood , Humboldt Park , Quad Communities , New City , Roseland , South Chicago and South Shore .
Read more here .
— Gregory Pratt 3:19 p.m. : Paycheck Protection Program will leave billions unspent .
‘ It seemed to be structured by people who might not know how small businesses are run.
’ Billions of dollars offered by Congress as a lifeline to small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic are about to be left on the table when a key government program stops accepting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy groups complain that the money in the Paycheck Protection Program was not fully put to work because the program created obstacles that stopped countless small businesses from applying .
For those that did seek loans , the ever-changing application process proved to be an exercise in futility .
Read more here .
— Associated Press 2:45 p.m. : Amid coronavirus pandemic , those with pre-existing mental health conditions find it difficult to cope : ‘ You can ’ t just turn it off ’ “ All these things that I would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need anymore , ” Guerrero said .
Guerrero , a graduate student studying public administration at Adler University , said that going to work at St. James food pantry in Bronzeville has helped her manage her anxiety symptoms because it gives her a feeling of agency .
But seeing the impact of COVID-19 on the people who come to the food kitchen — mostly seniors and people experiencing homelessness — has also added to her sense of despair , she said .
In Chicago and across the country , the pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mental illness for some .
Read more here .
— Nicole Stock Illinois health officials Monday reported 738 new known cases of COVID-19 and 14 additional fatalities , bringing the total number of known cases to 142,461 and the confirmed death toll to 6,902 .
2:11 p.m. : Two friends were tested for COVID-19 .
One paid in cash and was billed $ 199 – the other paid with insurance and was billed $ 6,408 .
Before a camping and kayaking trip along the Texas coast , Pam LeBlanc and Jimmy Harvey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted a bit more peace of mind before spending 13 days in close quarters along with three friends .
The two got drive-thru tests at Austin Emergency Center in Austin .
The center advertises a “ minimally invasive ” testing experience in a state now battling one of the country ’ s worst coronavirus outbreaks .
Texas recorded 5,799 new cases Sunday and recently reversed some if its reopening policies .
They both recalled how uncomfortable it was to have the long nasal swab pushed up their noses .
LeBlanc ’ s eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if the swab “ was in my brain.
” Their tests came back with the same result — negative , allowing the trip to go ahead — but the accompanying bills were quite different .
11:56 a.m. : Coronavirus drug price ‘ an outrage ’ : $ 2,340 for remdesivir , or even more for those with private insurance The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $ 2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries .
Gilead Sciences announced the price Monday for remdesivir , and said the price would be $ 3,120 for patients with private insurance .
The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance , income and other factors .
“ We believe that we had to really deviate from the normal circumstances ” and price the drug to ensure wide access rather than based solely on value to patients , he said .
However , the price was swiftly criticized ; a consumer group called it “ an outrage ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug ’ s development .
10:35 a.m. : Broadway shutdown due to virus extended again until January The shutdown on Broadway has been extended again — until at least early January .
Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined , Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Jan. 3.
” The Broadway experience can be deeply personal but it is also , crucially , communal , ” said Thomas Schumacher , chairman of the board of The Broadway League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alchemy of 1,000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses , ” he added .
“ The safety of our cast , crew , orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it ’ s safe to do so.
” 10:24 a.m. : Live from Chicago : Jazz back in action at the Green Mill and Andy ’ s But he sure knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any time reopening it this time around .
So over the weekend , the Green Mill – which emerged as Pop Morse ’ s Roadhouse in 1907 and became the Green Mill Gardens in 1910 – presented live music for the first time since March 16 .
( It shut down after Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ordered clubs and restaurants closed due to the coronavirus pandemic . )
The state ’ s recent move to phase four of its reopening plan allowed Jemilo and other jazz club owners to operate at 25 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s five major jazz rooms , only the Green Mill , 4802 N. Broadway , and Andy ’ s Jazz Club , 11 E. Hubbard St. , leaped into action the first weekend .
The Jazz Showcase lists July 30 on its website as its comeback date ; Constellation lists July 31 ; and Winter ’ s Jazz Club is “ closed until further notice , ” according to its website .
” Hey everybody , welcome to the Green Mill , ” said a mask-wearing Jemilo , as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Joel Paterson Trio ( the Pete Benson Organ Trio played Friday and Saturday evenings ) .
9:46 a.m. : Chicago Heights creates protective equipment as schools seek alternatives to keep students safe A longtime Chicago Heights manufacturing company that had been making fixtures and furniture for the retail and hospitality industries found a new niche producing personal protection equipment when the coronavirus pandemic hit .
“ That was about a month-and-half ago , ” said Morgan Li CEO Andy Rosenband .
“ We had started a graphic printing division in December and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to start producing the floor decals needed for social distancing.
” That quickly expanded into producing sneeze guards and other acrylic barriers to protect employees and customers from the virus .
“ We quickly saw a need for personal protection equipment for our clients , ” he said .
“ The initial push came from grocery stores , but soon other clients , such as Old Navy , came calling.
” Chicago , in partnership with the charity Community Organized Relief Effort Response , was set to offer mobile coronavirus testing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods Monday , according to the mayor ’ s office .
Mobile testing was scheduled to be available at Martin Temple AME Zion Church , 6930 S. Cottage Grove Ave. , in the Park Manor neighborhood , just south of Woodlawn , from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. , and at Health Hood Chicago , 2242 S. Damen Ave. , from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. , in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood west of Pilsen .
Food giveaways also will be available at both sites , according to a release from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free from any residents and “ No questions will be asked about citizenship status , and no documentation related to citizenship will be requested , ” according to the release .
6 a.m. : Some Illinois parents opt for home schooling instead of sending kids back to school in the fall For some parents , teaching their children at home after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered schools this spring was challenging , to say the least .
For others , it revealed another option .
With new cases of COVID-19 continuing and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what a return to school might look like .
Will young children be able to concentrate with face masks required ?
Will schools close over and over again if outbreaks occur , disrupting kids ’ ability to learn ?
What if kids contract the disease and spread it to vulnerable family members ?
Some parents are considering home-schooling their children .
Home schooling support groups are receiving more calls and questions from parents .
Winifred Haun , part of The Northside Unschoolers , said people learned a bit about home schooling this spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remotely teach their children .
“ People do seem more interested in home-schooling their kids , especially when they learned that they don ’ t have to do everything just like the schools do it , ” she said .
6 a.m. : Will County Fair among latest canceled summer events The Will County Fair has become the latest such event to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The event scheduled for late August has been in existence for over a century .
Fair officials said they 'd discuss options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , including a fall demolition derby , according to The ( Kankakee ) Daily Journal .
`` It has been a challenging time across the world , as so many events try to find ways to continue traditions that have lasted generations , going back well over a century , while keeping social distancing and health at the forefront of every step we take , '' according to a post on the fair 's website .
Dozens of Illinois counties have canceled their fairs .
Earlier this month , officials scrapped this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The event was last canceled in the 1940s during World War II when the grounds were used as a military supply center .
Here is some of what happened over the weekend related to coronavirus in Illinois : The number of coronavirus deaths in Illinois is approaching 7,000 , even as the state is among the few still seeing declining numbers of cases .
Universities and colleges are trying to figure out how to handle sports in the age of coronavirus .
Illinois entered Phase Four of the state ’ s coronavirus reopening @ @

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
The Fulton Market area of Chicago is no longer the ghost town it was during the depths of the COVID-19 virus pandemic shutdown. As restrictions on restaurants are eased, a worker takes a woman's temperature before she can enter Federales restaurant on Morgan Street on July 1, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois health officials Monday reported 738 new known cases of COVID-19 and 14 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 142,461 and the confirmed death toll to 6,902.
The world passed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday with 500,000 confirmed deaths and 10 million confirmed cases. Meanwhile, governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come, the Associated Press reported.
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[ How to assess your COVID-19 risk when going out in public: Use this chart ]
[ Phase four of Illinois’s COVID-19 reopening: Settle in, folks, we may be here a while ]
[ Illinois enters phase 4 of reopening plan. Here’s a guide to what’s allowed. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Here’s what’s happening Monday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
8:44 p.m.: How to assess your COVID-19 risk when going out in public: Use this chart
With a host of new public activities now available, how do you figure out how much risk is safe for you to take?
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“We’ve been getting a lot of questions about individual activities and peoples’ individual risk for COVID-19,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Public Health, in a video on the city’s portal for resources on COVID-19. “I want to introduce you to a matrix that will help you think twice as you’re thinking about your COVID-19 risk.”
The matrix centers around two groups of questions: The first centers on whether you and the people around you are at a higher risk for a serious outcome if they contracted coronavirus. COVID-19 is more dangerous for people older than 60 and those in poor health or with preexisting medical conditions. Read more here. —Jemal R. Brinson and Jonathon Berlin
8:31 p.m.: FBI warns of fraudulent coronavirus antibody tests
The FBI has issued a warning about scammers who advertise fraudulent COVID-19 antibody tests as way to obtain personal information that can be used for identity theft or medical insurance fraud.
The warning, issued Friday, is the latest in a series of alerts from the federal government about fraudulent exploitation of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here. — The New York Times
4:37 p.m.: Chicago’s fair workweek law takes effect Wednesday as businesses grapple with pandemic uncertainty
Starting Wednesday, many Chicago employers will be required to give employees advance notice of their schedules and pay a premium for last-minute changes.
The city’s “fair workweek” law is a victory for worker advocates who say unpredictable schedules, and uneven paychecks, make it hard to plan for child care, hold down a second job or pay bills.
It take effect as businesses grapple with numerous pressures wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, including uncertain consumer demand. Trade groups pushed unsuccessfully for the city to delay implementation of the law to give employers more time to prepare. Read more here. — Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
4:10 p.m.: Glenview, Northbrook religious leaders assess reopening options: ‘We need to make sure our congregants are safe’
From the panned-out camera angle, it looked for a moment as if parishioners had simply shown up early to the June 17 service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Glenview and more would soon file in.
Advertisement
As the cantor began singing, it became clear the low-attendance service was in fact the new reality for the church as it reopened to the public for the first time since March.
“All are welcome in this place,” the cantor sang as the Rev. Jerry Boland approached the altar.
“As wonderful as Opening Day is at Wrigley, it pales in comparison to opening day here at OLPH,” Boland said to the small crowd. “It’s such a blessing to finally have people in the pew. … It’s a blessing to have you home again.”
The parishioners wore masks and spaced themselves throughout the pews. They looked around, nodding and waving to each other during the now socially distant “sign of peace” portion of the service. Read more here. — Kaitlyn Edquist
3:52 p.m.: Illinois announces 14 new deaths, lowest daily total since March 30
Illinois announced 14 new deaths from COVID-19 Monday, the lowest daily total since March 30.
While experts caution against reading too much into fluctuations in the daily toll of the virus, the number of daily deaths has been on the decline.
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The average new coronavirus deaths per day in April was 76, increasing to 99 in May and then falling to 53 in June. The same trend holds when looking at the average for individual weeks. The average number of new daily deaths on the week starting June 22 was 36, compared with an average of 99 the week of May 18, and 92 for the week of April 20.
The state also announced 738 new cases and the results of 26,918 tests Monday. — Chicago Tribune Staff
3:46 p.m.: Skydeck Chicago to reopen Friday with timed tickets and a new floor to explore
One of Chicago’s biggest tourism attractions, Skydeck Chicago, will reopen Friday with new measures aimed at facilitating social distancing and a timed ticketing system designed to limit how many people can take in Chicago’s views at one time.
The observation deck, which has had about 1.4 million visitors annually in each of the last several years, closed its doors March 14, a week before Gov. J.B. Pritzker put the state under a coronavirus-related stay-at-home order. Read more here. — Kim Quillen
3:31 p.m.: Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces $11 million in grants to community groups on South and West sides
Two community groups on the South and West sides will receive $11 million in grant funding as part of a broader neighborhood rebuilding effort, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday.
The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub will receive $4 million, while Mount Sinai Hospital’s North Lawndale Surgical and Ambulatory Care Center will get $7 million, Lightfoot said.
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“Both great institutions, both community-focused and community-led, both Chicago Prize finalists, and both will serve the health care deserts in those and surrounding communities,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot touted the grants as part of her Invest South/West program, a plan that city officials said will distribute $750 million in existing city funds over the next three years with a priority on 10 areas on the South and West sides: Auburn Gresham, North Lawndale, Austin, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Quad Communities, New City, Roseland, South Chicago and South Shore. Read more here. — Gregory Pratt
3:19 p.m.: Paycheck Protection Program will leave billions unspent. ‘It seemed to be structured by people who might not know how small businesses are run.’
Billions of dollars offered by Congress as a lifeline to small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic are about to be left on the table when a key government program stops accepting applications for loans.
Business owners and advocacy groups complain that the money in the Paycheck Protection Program was not fully put to work because the program created obstacles that stopped countless small businesses from applying. For those that did seek loans, the ever-changing application process proved to be an exercise in futility. Read more here. — Associated Press
2:45 p.m.: Amid coronavirus pandemic, those with pre-existing mental health conditions find it difficult to cope: ‘You can’t just turn it off’
The coronavirus pandemic has only made things worse for Bridgeport resident Lina Guerrero, who struggles with anxiety and depression.
“All these things that I would do for self-care before coronavirus is not what I need anymore,” Guerrero said.
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Guerrero, a graduate student studying public administration at Adler University, said that going to work at St. James food pantry in Bronzeville has helped her manage her anxiety symptoms because it gives her a feeling of agency. But seeing the impact of COVID-19 on the people who come to the food kitchen — mostly seniors and people experiencing homelessness — has also added to her sense of despair, she said.
In Chicago and across the country, the pandemic and the accompanying social isolation have spiked symptoms of mental illness for some. Read more here. — Nicole Stock
2:30 p.m.: 738 new known COVID-19 cases, 14 additional fatalities
Illinois health officials Monday reported 738 new known cases of COVID-19 and 14 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 142,461 and the confirmed death toll to 6,902.
—Chicago Tribune staff
2:11 p.m.: Two friends were tested for COVID-19. One paid in cash and was billed $199 – the other paid with insurance and was billed $6,408.
Before a camping and kayaking trip along the Texas coast, Pam LeBlanc and Jimmy Harvey decided to get coronavirus tests. They wanted a bit more peace of mind before spending 13 days in close quarters along with three friends.
The two got drive-thru tests at Austin Emergency Center in Austin. The center advertises a “minimally invasive” testing experience in a state now battling one of the country’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. Texas recorded 5,799 new cases Sunday and recently reversed some if its reopening policies.
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They both recalled how uncomfortable it was to have the long nasal swab pushed up their noses. LeBlanc’s eyes started to tear up; Harvey felt as if the swab “was in my brain.”
Their tests came back with the same result — negative, allowing the trip to go ahead — but the accompanying bills were quite different.
The emergency room charged Harvey $199 in cash. LeBlanc, who paid with insurance, was charged $6,408.
Read more here. —The New York Times
11:56 a.m.: Coronavirus drug price ‘an outrage’: $2,340 for remdesivir, or even more for those with private insurance
The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries.
Gilead Sciences announced the price Monday for remdesivir, and said the price would be $3,120 for patients with private insurance. The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance, income and other factors.
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“We’re in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic,” Gilead’s chief executive, Dan O’Day, told The Associated Press.
“We believe that we had to really deviate from the normal circumstances” and price the drug to ensure wide access rather than based solely on value to patients, he said.
However, the price was swiftly criticized; a consumer group called it “an outrage” because of the amount taxpayers invested toward the drug’s development.
Read more here. —Associated Press
10:35 a.m.: Broadway shutdown due to virus extended again until January
The shutdown on Broadway has been extended again — until at least early January.
Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Jan. 3.”
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The Broadway experience can be deeply personal but it is also, crucially, communal,” said Thomas Schumacher, chairman of the board of The Broadway League, which represents producers.
”The alchemy of 1,000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses,” he added. “The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it’s safe to do so.”
Read more here. —Associated Press
10:24 a.m.: Live from Chicago: Jazz back in action at the Green Mill and Andy’s
Green Mill owner Dave Jemilo doesn’t know how long his historic club was shuttered during the influenza pandemic of 1918-19.
But he sure knew he wasn’t going to waste any time reopening it this time around.
So over the weekend, the Green Mill – which emerged as Pop Morse’s Roadhouse in 1907 and became the Green Mill Gardens in 1910 – presented live music for the first time since March 16. (It shut down after Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered clubs and restaurants closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.)
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The state’s recent move to phase four of its reopening plan allowed Jemilo and other jazz club owners to operate at 25 percent occupancy starting June 26. But of the city’s five major jazz rooms, only the Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway, and Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St., leaped into action the first weekend. The Jazz Showcase lists July 30 on its website as its comeback date; Constellation lists July 31; and Winter’s Jazz Club is “closed until further notice,” according to its website.
”Hey everybody, welcome to the Green Mill,” said a mask-wearing Jemilo, as he introduced Sunday night’s sets by the Joel Paterson Trio (the Pete Benson Organ Trio played Friday and Saturday evenings).
Read more here. —Howard Reich
9:46 a.m.: Chicago Heights creates protective equipment as schools seek alternatives to keep students safe
A longtime Chicago Heights manufacturing company that had been making fixtures and furniture for the retail and hospitality industries found a new niche producing personal protection equipment when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
“That was about a month-and-half ago,” said Morgan Li CEO Andy Rosenband. “We had started a graphic printing division in December and when the pandemic hit, we were able to start producing the floor decals needed for social distancing.”
That quickly expanded into producing sneeze guards and other acrylic barriers to protect employees and customers from the virus.
Advertisement
“We quickly saw a need for personal protection equipment for our clients,” he said. “The initial push came from grocery stores, but soon other clients, such as Old Navy, came calling.”
Read more here. —Bob Bong
6:53 a.m.: Chicago offers mobile coronavirus testing in Park Manor, Heart of Chicago neighborhoods Monday
Chicago, in partnership with the charity Community Organized Relief Effort Response, was set to offer mobile coronavirus testing in the Park Manor and Heart of Chicago neighborhoods Monday, according to the mayor’s office.
Mobile testing was scheduled to be available at Martin Temple AME Zion Church, 6930 S. Cottage Grove Ave., in the Park Manor neighborhood, just south of Woodlawn, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at Health Hood Chicago, 2242 S. Damen Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood west of Pilsen.
Food giveaways also will be available at both sites, according to a release from the mayor’s office.
The tests are free from any residents and “No questions will be asked about citizenship status, and no documentation related to citizenship will be requested,” according to the release.
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CORE Response is a community relief agency founded by actor Sean Penn and Ann Lee that’s working with city officials to expand coronavirus testing, mostly in minority communities hard-hit by the virus.
—Chicago Tribune staff
6:45 a.m.: Lincoln Park Zoo public reopening is Monday, but signups are required
Lincoln Park Zoo reopens to the public Monday, although anyone hoping to visit the penguins, tigers or gorillas has to sign up in advance.
The zoo, which doesn’t charge an admission fee, which reopened to its members Friday, is requiring visitors to sign up in advance for two-hour slots to limit the number of people on the groups and requiring visitors wear face coverings. Indoor animal exhibits aren’t yet open.
Anyone wishing to visit the zoo, which is subsidized by Chicago Park District tax funds but gets about 3/4 of its budget from donations and other sources, can sign up via EventBrite or by by calling the zoo at 312-742-2000.
—Chicago Tribune staff
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6 a.m.: Some Illinois parents opt for home schooling instead of sending kids back to school in the fall
For some parents, teaching their children at home after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered schools this spring was challenging, to say the least. For others, it revealed another option.
With new cases of COVID-19 continuing and no vaccine, many parents have questions about what a return to school might look like. Will young children be able to concentrate with face masks required? Will schools close over and over again if outbreaks occur, disrupting kids’ ability to learn? What if kids contract the disease and spread it to vulnerable family members?
Some parents are considering home-schooling their children.
Home schooling support groups are receiving more calls and questions from parents. Winifred Haun, part of The Northside Unschoolers, said people learned a bit about home schooling this spring as schools were closed and families improvised to remotely teach their children.
“People do seem more interested in home-schooling their kids, especially when they learned that they don’t have to do everything just like the schools do it,” she said.
Read more here. —Alison Bowen
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6 a.m.: Will County Fair among latest canceled summer events
The Will County Fair has become the latest such event to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The event scheduled for late August has been in existence for over a century. Fair officials said they'd discuss options for other events at a meeting next month, including a fall demolition derby, according to The (Kankakee) Daily Journal.
"It has been a challenging time across the world, as so many events try to find ways to continue traditions that have lasted generations, going back well over a century, while keeping social distancing and health at the forefront of every step we take," according to a post on the fair's website.
Dozens of Illinois counties have canceled their fairs.
Earlier this month, officials scrapped this year’s Illinois State Fair. The event was last canceled in the 1940s during World War II when the grounds were used as a military supply center.
—Associated Press
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Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.
Here is some of what happened over the weekend related to coronavirus in Illinois:
The number of coronavirus deaths in Illinois is approaching 7,000, even as the state is among the few still seeing declining numbers of cases.
Universities and colleges are trying to figure out how to handle sports in the age of coronavirus.
Illinois entered Phase Four of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan.


chicagotribune--2020-06-30--How to assess your COVID-19 risk when going out in public: Use this chart

“ You can use this matrix every time you are thinking about a public activity , ” Arwady said in @ @ @ @ @ we continue to move forward , the risk is going to hopefully continue to drop @ @ @ @ @ keep making these same decisions day in and day out with each new activity .
@

With a host of new public activities now available, how do you figure out how much risk is safe for you to take?
“We’ve been getting a lot of questions about individual activities and peoples’ individual risk for COVID-19,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Public Health, in a video on the city’s portal for resources on COVID-19. “I want to introduce you to a matrix that will help you think twice as you’re thinking about your COVID-19 risk.”
The matrix centers around two groups of questions: The first centers on whether you and the people around you are at a higher risk for a serious outcome if they contracted coronavirus. COVID-19 is more dangerous for people older than 60 and those in poor health or with preexisting medical conditions.
The second group of questions centers around the activity you’d like to do and whether you are able to take adequate precautions that can limit the possibility for COVID-19 to spread.
You can read more about the matrix here. The Tribune took the city’s matrix and stretched it into a flowchart where you can answer the questions, follow the path and assess your risk.
“You can use this matrix every time you are thinking about a public activity,” Arwady said in the video. “As we continue to move forward, the risk is going to hopefully continue to drop but you are going to keep making these same decisions day in and day out with each new activity.”


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--Bodycam video released from night former police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was found asleep in car

The city of Chicago released bodycam footage related to an October incident where former police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was found @ @ @ @ @


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--Florida man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing Aurora teen

DiMaio drove from his home in Marathon , Florida , to the victim ’ s home in Aurora in November @ @ @ @ @ teen , prosecutors said .
The teen ’ s parents saw DiMaio on surveillance video @ @ @ @ @ the police .

A Florida man was sentenced Friday to four and a half years in prison for sexually abusing an Aurora teenager, officials said.
Tony F. DiMaio, 34, pleaded guilty on May 15 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and indecent solicitation of a child, Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office officials said in a news release.
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Tony F. DiMaio (Kane County States Attorney / HANDOUT)
DiMaio met the victim on Facebook and claimed he was 17 years old, prosecutors said. The victim was between 13 and 16 years old.
DiMaio drove from his home in Marathon, Florida, to the victim’s home in Aurora in November 2017 and sexually abused the teen, prosecutors said. The teen’s parents saw DiMaio on surveillance video the next day and contacted the police.
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In addition to his sentence, DiMaio must register for life as a sex offender. He receives credit for 841 days served in the Kane County jail.
“Mr. DiMaio preyed on this child, convincing the child that he was a teenager when in truth he was a 31-year-old, married child predator,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement.


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--Almost 25 years after a Waukegan man was killed in a Lake Forest crash, a man charged with reckless

Almost 25 years after a Waukegan man was killed in a Lake Forest crash, a man charged with reckless homicide has been extradited from Poland

Josko , now 66 , was released on bond at the time but charges were later upgraded to reckless homicide @ @ @ @ @ fatal crash .
Yet before he could be taken into custody again , police said @ @ @ @ @ could not be brought back to United States due to the extradition laws of that @ @ @ @ @

Marek Josko, pictured in 1995 and 2020, was charged with reckless homicide in Lake Forest in 1995. He was extradited to Lake County in 2020. (Lake Forest Police Department)
In 1995, Lake Forest police Officer Mark Senger had been on the force for about two years when a man driving home to his family was killed in a crash police said was caused by an intoxicated driver traveling in the wrong direction.
Many years later, after Senger rose through the ranks of the department, he was assigned to the case that involved working through a web of international laws. Now, almost 25 years later, a man is in custody charged with the crime after he was extradited from Poland.
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Senger said it’s the fulfillment of a long ago promise he made to the victim’s widow.
“I’m very happy about it and I’m relieved I was able to keep my word,” Senger said.
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On Dec. 9, 1995, police say witnesses saw Marek Josko heading southbound in the northbound lanes on Route 41, immediately north of Deerpath in Lake Forest.
Police believe Josko hit one vehicle, leading to a second crash with another vehicle driven by Dennis Bourassa of Waukegan.
Bourassa died of his injuries.
Josko was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he registered a .19 blood alcohol concentration level, nearly double the legal limit at the time, according to police.
Josko, now 66, was released on bond at the time but charges were later upgraded to reckless homicide following an investigation of the fatal crash. Yet before he could be taken into custody again, police said Josko flew to Warsaw and could not be brought back to United States due to the extradition laws of that era, Senger said.
That meant the case sat quietly until 2014 when Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim said he was contacted by a federal agency with information regarding Josko.
“I was asked if we would be interested in bringing him back here to face justice in Lake County, and we immediately began working with Lake Forest police and our federal partners to do so,” Nerheim wrote in a statement.
When the case was assigned to Senger in 2014, he and officials from the state’s attorney’s office began working with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in a quest to get information on Josko’s whereabouts.
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“It was challenging to say the least, frustrating at times but as things got a little closer, I started to believe it was going to happen,” Senger said.
During those years, Senger said he remained in contact with Bourassa’s widow and he told her he would all he could to see that Josko would face the charges.
Law enforcement officials began to make progress on the case. Senger pointed to changes in extradition laws plus an upgraded bond amount from Lake County, which he believed would lessen the threat that Josko would again be released on bail, plus it would heighten attention from Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization.
In 2018, Josko was arrested in Poland, but was released upon a promise that he would appear in court, which he did, Senger said.
Senger added another key development came while working with his Lake Forest partner, Adam Milczarek, who speaks Polish. They were able to translate comments from Bourassa’s family to address the court of the family’s perspective, he said.
Josko was taken into custody in Przemysl, Poland, this past February and remained in custody pending extradition to the United States over these last four months. Proceedings were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to police.
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On June 25, U.S. Marshals left Poland with Josko and landed at Midway Airport. Josko was taken to Lake County Jail June 27 where he is currently being held with bond set at $1 million, police said.
His next court appearance is set for July 21, according to police.
Senger has now been on the Lake Forest police force for 26 years and he believes the story of this case sends a larger message.
“I try to teach the next generation of officers that work here that it doesn’t really matter if it an impossibility and seems like it won’t get finished,” Senger said. “As long as you have some chance of doing it, you just keep working at it.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.


Corrections and clarifications

· A story in Saturday ’ s Business section incorrectly said that 168 of the more than 7,400 video gaming @ @ @ @ @ resume operations in Illinois July 1 .
A spokesman for the gaming board said the @ @ @ @ @ , and they will be allowed to resume operation .

· A story in Saturday’s Business section incorrectly said that 168 of the more than 7,400 video gaming terminals would be allowed to resume operations in Illinois July 1. A spokesman for the gaming board said the state now has 7,409 terminals, and they will be allowed to resume operation.
The Tribune regrets the error.
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Publishing information quickly and accurately is a central part of the Chicago Tribune’s news responsibility and a value shared in all our publications. Our editorial code of principles governs professional behavior and journalism standards. Everyone in our newsroom must agree to live up to this code of conduct. Download the file.
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chicagotribune--2020-06-29--The Spin: Mayor Lightfoot blasts Trump, lays out ‘terms of engagement’ for feds to help Chicago | To

The Spin: Mayor Lightfoot blasts Trump, lays out ‘terms of engagement’ for feds to help Chicago | Top cop blames ‘evil murdering bastards’  for children’s deaths in Chicago | Gas tax, minimum wage hikes hit July 1

Poll : Majority say race shouldn ’ t be a factor in Biden choosing a running mate — Activists , @ @ @ @ @ must pick an African American woman to be his vice president , given renewed calls @ @ @ @ @ corners of society .
But a new New York Times-Siena College poll shows that the @ @ @ @ @ race as a priority : “ Four in five registered voters said that race shouldn @ @ @ @ @ in Mr. Biden ’ s selection of a running mate .
That group included three-quarters @ @ @ @ @ , and more than 8 in 10 white and Hispanic voters.
” Read more in @ @ @ @ @ poll .
which shows none of the handful of women being vetted have emerged as @ @ @ @ @ ’ s eye .
It also states Duckworth ’ s name recognition nationally isn ’ @ @ @ @

Mayor Lori Lightfoot talks about reopening the lakefront and announces a new donation that will go toward repairing damage on the lakefront caused by rising water levels and erosion near 51st Street and Lake Shore Drive on June 18, 2020. Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin, who gave $12 million in 2016 to create separate paths for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the busy Lakefront Trail, is giving another almost $5 million to help repair storm and water damage along the route. coronavirus, COVID-19 (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot this afternoon responded to calls for her to work closely with President Donald Trump on gun violence, labeling a Tribune editorial on the subject “naive” and laying out her terms for working with the Republican White House, the Tribune’s Gregory Pratt reports.
In a letter Friday — the eve of another violent weekend in Chicago — Trump suggested that Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, both Democrats, weren’t doing enough to address the violence. The Republican president, in the throes of a reelection campaign, then switched gears and attacked the state and city for high taxes and burdensome regulations, contending Pritzker and Lightfoot’s “insatiable appetite” for taxes has led people to flee Illinois.
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“Evil murdering bastards” — that’s what Chicago’s newly minted top cop David Brown called the killers of 18 people amid dozens of shootings this weekend.
Pushing back against an apparent narrative that he’s an outsider and so new that the level of crime may come as a shock, Brown said he’ll never accept the level of violence here that largely seems to be triggered by street-corner drug sales.
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Welcome to The Spin.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot at Evergreen Academy Middle School in Chicago on Thursday, June 25, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
During a news conference today, Mayor Lightfoot responded to Friday’s letter from President Trump, which closed with “My administration would also welcome the opportunity to engage with you and your colleagues as you develop bipartisan policy recommendations to improve policing and make our great cities safer for all.”
The mayor laid out the “terms of engagement,” calling on Trump to “stop trying to kill the Affordable Care Act,” push for Medicaid expansion, use federal money to build affordable housing and “stop doing injury and harm to our immigrant and refugee communities.”
Chicago’s first openly gay mayor also said Trump needs to stop taking aim at the LGBTQ community, pointing to policies that have hurt transgender people including restrictions on military service and, just this month, overturning Obama-era health care protections.
“Mr. President, if you want the privilege of a respectful engagement with the residents of this great city of Chicago, on behalf of whom I have the honor of being mayor, these and other things are the terms of our engagement,” Lightfoot said. “Nothing less.”
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Chicago police Superintendent David Brown at a news conference to announce the launch of the 2020 Summer Mobile Patrol Unit at McCormick Place on May 28, 2020. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago’s new top cop has made it clear he doesn’t want to get involved in politics - even though as a mayoral appointee his role is deeply intertwined in the city’s politics.
In keeping with that line, he dodged a question about President Trump criticizing the city amid a seeming spike in violent crime.
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“I wish I had time for political banter, I just don’t have the luxury,” he said, nodding to a weekend of violence that has deep roots, he says, in street-corner open air drug markets.
It’s a storyline that goes back decades really: Illicit drug sales on street corners that yields, by Brown’s account, roughly $10,000 daily – and triggers violent turf wars.
He says that the criminal justice system as a whole needs to take a hard look at those who are arrested in the open air drug markets – particularly young kids whose first arrest may be a gun charge - and realize that they are part of the “pipeline” of violence. He suggests holding them in jail for longer periods or improvements in electronic monitoring, which allows suspects to go home under house arrest, save for going to work or school.
He realizes these were common refrains from police superintendents before him - Eddie Johnson and Garry McCarthy – but Brown said he hopes to move the needle.
Immediately, he said, he needs the public to speak up if they know something about the crimes and for the other parts of the criminal justice system to pivot a bit. He’s also adding 1,200 offers per day to the streets over the long Fourth of July weekend in anticipation of violent crime rising with the mercury.
Long-term, he said, the solution is addressing poverty – which drives young people to drug sales.
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Gunman who killed 20-month-old boy was targeting father, police say: The Tribune’s Sophie Sherry has the details here.
Other city news: Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces $11 million in grants to community groups on South and West sides: The Tribune’s Gregory Pratt has the story here.
Rosalie Clark, for years City Hall’s host for Chicago, dies at 95: The Tribune’s Rick Kogan writes that her “responsibilities involved such tasks as buying a winter coat for Polish statesman Lech Walesa; arranging for former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to visit the Hard Rock Cafe, where he posed for photos with waitresses and had a beer or two; traveling with the Chicago Bears when they played in London and New Orleans; squiring around town such dignitaries as the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu (”so warm and outgoing,” she would recall); helping orchestrate some of the post-championship celebrations for the Chicago Bulls and … it is a long, almost endless list.” Read the full remembrance here.
A crowd marches up Randolph Street to the rally site in front of the American Hospital Association in 2017. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s Jamie Munks and Dan Petrella write: “For the second time this year, low-wage workers across Illinois will see a boost to their pay.”
On January 1, the minimum wage went up by a $1 to $8.25 and it will go up another dollar to $9.25 starting Wednesday, under a law approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year that phases in a series of hike that means workers will earn $15 per hour by 2025.
In Chicago, the minimum wage will go up by $1, to $14 per hour, and will increase to $15 per hour on July 1, 2021, though employers with fewer than 20 workers will have until 2023 to reach $15, Munks and Petrella note.
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“Pritzker dismissed calls by some business groups and Republican lawmakers to slow the minimum wage increase to help businesses hurt by shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic,” Munks and Petrella note.
Gas tax goes up: “After doubling last year to 38 cents per gallon to help pay for road improvements statewide, Illinois’ gas tax will increase by a fraction of a cent this year.” Munks and Petrella write. Read more details about that and other new laws here.
Law and courts: The Supreme Court has stopped anti-abortion momentum — for now: The New York Times offers an analysis of the nation’s highest court striking down a Louisiana law regulation abortions, the first major abortion decision in the Trump era.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth speaks at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association's annual brunch Aug. 14, 2019 in Springfield. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
VoteVets, the Political Action Committee that supports Democratic veterans running for public office, is campaigning for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to pick Army combat veteran and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth as his running mate. National news outlets have repeatedly mentioned her as a finalist for the job.
A just-released video from VoteVets features a picture of fatigues-wearing Duckworth in the cockpit of a helicopter with a narrator saying “She has what it takes to help Joe Biden take on Trump and Pence.”
The Hoffman Estates Democrat is a former Army pilot whose Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in 2004 near Baghdad. She lost both legs.
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Watch the VoteVets video here. H/T Bill Ruthhart.
Duckworth has been successful at deflecting questions about whether she’s a finalist for the gig: Asked during an interview on MSNBC whether she’s ready to serve her country if Biden asks, Illinois’ junior senator said, “I am currently serving my country – I’m always ready to serve my country ... we need to get Vice President Biden into the White house, we need a new administration one that won’t put the interest of Russia and Putin above America and America’s troops.”
NEW Video: Imagine how @TammyForIL would take on Trump and Pence as @JoeBiden's VP pick and win. Imagine how a #BidenDuckworth admin would inspire and restore the soul of the nation. pic.twitter.com/vULdOYJtD8 — VoteVets (@votevets) June 29, 2020
Opinion: Why Duckworth should be Biden’s running mate — The New York Times’ Frank Bruni, who leans left, says Duckworth’s life story — An Asian-American woman from a working-class family who lost both legs during an Army combat mission — would represent an inclusive America. She also knows how to sting President Donald Trump: “Duckworth on the Democratic ticket is like some psy-ops masterstroke, all the more so because it was she who nicknamed Trump ‘Cadet Bone Spurs.‘” Read the column here.
Poll: Majority say race shouldn’t be a factor in Biden choosing a running mate — Activists, pundits and others say Biden must pick an African American woman to be his vice president, given renewed calls for racial equality in all corners of society. But a new New York Times-Siena College poll shows that the larger public may not see race as a priority: “Four in five registered voters said that race shouldn’t be a factor in Mr. Biden’s selection of a running mate. That group included three-quarters of the Black voters polled, and more than 8 in 10 white and Hispanic voters.” Read more in the Times here about the poll. which shows none of the handful of women being vetted have emerged as a favorite in the public’s eye. It also states Duckworth’s name recognition nationally isn’t particularly high.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger during a gun violence hearing at Kennedy King College in October 2019. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
The Trump administration was planning to brief some members of Congress today on the explosive story The New York Times broke over the weekend that U.S. intelligence officers determined Russia had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing American troops in Afghanistan.
Background: “The intelligence assessments came amid Trump’s push to withdraw the U.S. from Afghanistan and suggested Russia was making overtures to militants as the U.S. and the Taliban held talks to end the long-running war,” The Associated Press notes in a story today.
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For Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Channahon Republican — also a military veteran — the news hit close to home.
In a statement, Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said she wants to convene a hearing “as soon as possible to examine the stunning revelations that…President Trump failed to authorize any action in response to the (Russian military intelligence service) covertly providing bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. service members in Afghanistan.”
Trump denies being briefed on the matter earlier.
During an interview on MSNBC this morning, Duckworth questioned that, saying: “The president’s excuse of ‘I didn’t know’ is basically a confession of incompetence on his part.”
“Either they briefed him and he doesn’t remember, which shows that he’s incompetent, or his own intelligence sources had this information and didn’t brief him, in which case, he better be firing some people including the Secretary of Defense, if they knew about this and did not tell him,” she told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell. Watch the interview here.
Kinzinger, now a member of the Air National Guard and an Air Force veteran who served in Iraq, took to Twitter where he called on Trump to “immediately expose and handle this, and stop Russia’s shadow war.”
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Russia is not a partner, and not to be negotiated with. @realdonaldtrump needs to immediately expose and handle this, and stop Russia’s shadow war cc: @jimsciutto
Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says https://t.co/k6oZNKP2lG — Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 26, 2020
Thanks for reading The Spin, the Tribune’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Have a tip? Email host Lisa Donovan at ldonovan@chicagotribune.com.
Twitter @byldonovan


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--45-year-old man shot to death on Harvey street

Tony Gilford , of Richton Park , was shot multiple times at about 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Des @ @ @ @ @ according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .

A 45-year-old man was fatally shot Friday morning in Harvey, police said.
Tony Gilford, of Richton Park, was shot multiple times at about 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of Des Plaines and 146th streets, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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He was pronounced dead a short time later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Harvey police Chief Robert Collins said the motive for Gilford’s slaying is unknown and that police do not have any suspects.
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zkoeske@tribpub.com
Twitter @ZakKoeske


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--‘Total chaos’: Police say fight between 2 girls responsible for Portage skating rink melee

He learned a short time later the female returned and was again looking for his sister .
He and his @ @ @ @ @ swapped their skates for shoes and went to where his sister was and when they @ @ @ @ @ other girl and a large group of others were already in a physical altercation so @ @ @ @ @ to save his sister from being hurt .
He said this resulted in a large @ @ @ @ @ business .
”

Portage police said SK8 World, 3600 Scottsdale St., Portage, was the site of a fracas late Saturday night that involved 200 to 300 people. (Amy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)
What Portage police described as “total chaos” as multiple fights broke out late Saturday at a roller rink where 200 to 300 people, mostly teens and young adults, were present had its genesis in one juvenile girl threatening to fight another, according to incident reports released Monday.
The owner of SK8 World, 3600 Scottsdale St., believes the fighting was a planned event but police don’t have any evidence of that yet, Portage Police Chief Mike Candiano said.
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“Our initial info indicates the fight started amongst two girls and escalated from there,” he said.
Police were called to the roller rink, around 10:20 p.m. for an emergency distress call, requesting immediate assistance from a Portage reserve officer for multiple fights at the scene.
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Police said in a release that despite “numerous reports on social media,” officers have not received any information to substantiate claims that weapons were involved.
“Additionally, no officer injuries were reported and no civilian injuries were reported as a result of police interaction,” the statement from police said.
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy at the scene on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and disorderly conduct and transported him to the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center. The teen, according to police, was a missing person from Gary.
The investigation is ongoing and the majority of the subjects involved left before giving statements to officers, police said.
Previously, the skating rink has generated some noise complaints from the residential area directly to the south, Candiano said, but not much more.
Police are looking into the rink’s occupancy Saturday night and whether that violated Gov. Eric Holcomb’s order regarding capacity as the state’s businesses come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
“We’re waiting for an additional report from our reserve officer, who made the initial call for assistance. After we have that we plan to speak with the prosecutor’s office,” Candiano said.
Officers who arrived at the scene encountered numerous active physical fights and attempted to intervene, according to the release from police, and at one point, an officer fell on his back attempting to separate combatants.
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“Other officers had to force their way into the crowd in an attempt to assist him,” police said. “Officers then reported approximately 100 subjects advanced on them, continually screaming and pushing. Officers were pinned against the wall of the business and had to force their way out of the crowd.”
An 18-year-old man from Gary told police he and six others had been skating for about 25 minutes when he was told that his sister, a juvenile, was being approached by another female and that they might begin to fight, according to a report. He went to separate his sister from the other female, also a juvenile, who left, and he and his friends returned to skating.
He learned a short time later the female returned and was again looking for his sister. He and his friends, police said, swapped their skates for shoes and went to where his sister was and when they found her, “the other girl and a large group of others were already in a physical altercation so he and his friends attempted to save his sister from being hurt. He said this resulted in a large physical altercation just inside the business.”
He and his friends reportedly got in his car and he went back to get his sister “when a large group started following them and he felt they were going to attack them again. He said they both jumped in the vehicle and began to pull away when the group started attacking his car.”
As he drove, he told police, the group continued to try and stop him and attack the car and an unknown officer yelled to him to just leave so he sped off.
Police caught up with him and the others in the car a short time later. His sister told police “the other girl was very angry and threatened to fight her. She said the girl then attempted to attack her but her brother and an officer stopped the altercation.”
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“The whole incident began to get out of control,” she said, when the other female returned with a group of friends.
The owners of SK8 World, cousins Ilija “Eli” Pecoski and Pavel “Paul” Terzioski, both of Crown Point, according to documents filed with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, first incorporated as SK8 World in October 2017. The facility, under previous owners, was called R-Way.
Though neither could be reached, a comment posted on the SK8 World Facebook page thanked the Portage Police Department and neighboring departments “for their heroic efforts while bringing order and safety to our facility and patrons.”
The post, seeking to clear up misinformation about the incident spread on social media, also noted that the facility provides off-duty police for security for the safety of patrons at the family-owned business, and “in no way is anyone ever in danger in our facility.”
“The very few that instigated this event are not an example of our amazing patrons that we have had the pleasure of serving since our opening. The individuals involved were not regular patrons and along with that there was a lot of unfamiliar faces,” the statement said.
In a statement on the city’s Facebook page, Portage Mayor Sue Lynch thanked police for their work Saturday night.
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“I applaud our police department and all those who assisted, this could have been very nasty but due to the great work by our men and women in blue it didn’t happen,” she said. “We are thankful that none of the officers or any of those involved were injured.”
Assisting agencies included Porter County Sheriff’s Department; Burns Harbor Police; Ogden Dunes Police; Chesterton Police; Hobart Police; Lake Station Police; and Indiana State Police.
Officers remained on the scene for more than an hour before the crowd was satisfactorily controlled and disbursed, police said.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.


chicagotribune--2020-06-29--Man dies following Orland Park roll-over crash

Police said the driver of the second vehicle was treated at the scene , and no citations were issued .
@ @ @ @ @ nor alcohol were factors in the crash .

A 69-year-old Orland Park man died Saturday from injuries suffered following a two-vehicle crash, according to police.
John Seiwert, of the 8800 block of Golfview Drive, died of blunt-force injuries and his death was ruled an accident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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The accident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of 88th Avenue and Maple Avenue, with Seiwert thrown from the vehicle after it rolled over, police said.
Police said the driver of the second vehicle was treated at the scene, and no citations were issued. Police said that neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the crash.
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mnolan@tribpub.com