chicagotribune--2020-03-17--Tracking QBs in NFL free agency: Tom Brady is headed to the Bucs; Panthers have a deal with Teddy Br

Tracking QBs in NFL free agency: Tom Brady is headed to the Bucs; Panthers have a deal with Teddy Bridgewater to replace Cam Newton

What it means : Brady took to social media Tuesday morning to bid farewell to the Patriots , the franchise that drafted him in the sixth round in 2000 and turned him loose to become the most decorated quarterback in league history .
With his six Super Bowl rings and fond memories in New England , Brady will now spend his age 43 season in Tampa , Fla. , joining forces with Bruce Arians and an impressive cast of pass-catching weapons , including Chris Godwin and Mike Evans .
It ’ s an intriguing union , as hard as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His new deal is reportedly worth $ 30 million per season .
It also means Jameis Winston ’ s run in Tampa is over with the former No .
1 pick now searching for a new home .
Winston ’ s talent can , at times , prove enticing .
He threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns last season , totals that easily surpass the Bears single-season records .
But Winston also threw 30 interceptions last season and has averaged 22 turnovers per season in his career .
The Bears aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winston as a possible insurance policy behind Mitch Trubisky .
As a footnote , Brady now has a tour date at Soldier Field scheduled for this fall with the Bears on tap to host the Buccaneers .
A date and time should be announced this spring .

The NFL’s free-agency negotiating period opened Monday, and the quarterback carousel ride has proved to be a wild one this year as expected. The activity continued Wednesday with the Bears trading a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars in exchange for Nick Foles.
Nearly half of the teams in the league entered this week with some level of uncertainty at quarterback. And many quarterbacks were eager to figure out where they would be playing next season. That of course included Tom Brady, who announced his departure from the Patriots on Tuesday and is destined for Tampa to join forces with Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers.
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Now the Bears finally made their move to get a quarterback to challenge Mitch Trubisky.
We are tracking all of the quarterback news here as developments unfold.
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March 24
The Panthers are releasing Cam Newton after failing to find a trade partner, according to multiple reports.
What it means: The Panthers announced last week they were seeking a trade for Newton after they brought in Teddy Bridgewater to be their new quarterback. NFL Network reported the Panthers tried to work out deals with the Bears and Chargers for the former No. 1 overall pick and three-time Pro Bowler, but neither accepted.
The #Panthers tried to send Cam Newton to the #Bears and #Chargers. They found no takers and at this point, no starting jobs available. Release was the only option. Carolina has just $2M in dead money with this release, but Cam is now free. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2020
The Bears traded for Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles, and the Chargers’ quarterback situation remains up in the air. One issue for teams looking to bring in Newton is team physicals currently are not allowed because of coronavirus concerns. Newton has dealt with shoulder and foot injuries over the last two seasons.
March 19
The Broncos informed Joe Flacco he is being waived with a failed physical designation, ESPN reported.
What it means: Flacco, 35, is moving on after just eight starts in Denver. The former Super Bowl MVP went 2-6 in those eight games and then was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. Rookie Drew Lock filled in by going 4-1 in December. And when the Broncos signed backup quarterback Jeff Driskel this week, it spelled the end for Flacco. Now he must not only get healthy, but also find a new team for what would be his 13th season in the league. After 11 seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens traded Flacco to the Broncos for a fourth-round pick last year.
March 18
The Bears have sent a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars in exchange for Nick Foles, a deal ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported.
What it means: Finally, Bears fans know who the second quarterback will be at Halas Hall when the Bears are allowed to begin offseason activities at some point. And we use the phrase “second quarterback” loosely. Because the early buzz in league circles is that the Bears expect Foles not only to compete with Mitch Trubisky for the starting job, but also to win it heading into the regular season.
QB play is about talent, yeah. But it is also about fit. Relationships. Chemistry. Comfort. Nick Foles is all of that for Matt Nagy. I love the move. Now they have a real chance to make some noise! — Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 18, 2020
Foles, 31, will be entering his ninth season. He has great familiarity with the system the Bears run and with many of the coaches who will oversee it. Foles and Bears coach Matt Nagy were together in 2012 with the Eagles and again in 2016 with the Chiefs. Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was Foles’ quarterbacks coach with the Eagles in 2013, when Foles threw 27 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. Bears quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo was in the same role with the Eagles in 2016 and 2017, alongside Foles for his storybook run in lifting the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship at the end of the 2017 season. DeFilippo was also the Jaguars offensive coordinator last season.
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Simply put, familiarity and comfort will be pluses for Foles and the Bears as they begin their union. Now it remains to be seen how Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace will frame the quarterback competition and what will be next for Trubisky.
March 17
The Tom Brady domino has fallen. The six-time Super Bowl champion will be a Buccaneer in 2020.
What it means: Brady took to social media Tuesday morning to bid farewell to the Patriots, the franchise that drafted him in the sixth round in 2000 and turned him loose to become the most decorated quarterback in league history.
LOVE YOU PATS NATION pic.twitter.com/lxSQZmnjPL — Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 17, 2020
With his six Super Bowl rings and fond memories in New England, Brady will now spend his age 43 season in Tampa, Fla., joining forces with Bruce Arians and an impressive cast of pass-catching weapons, including Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. It’s an intriguing union, as hard as it is to envision Brady in Buccaneers colors. His new deal is reportedly worth $30 million per season.
It also means Jameis Winston’s run in Tampa is over with the former No. 1 pick now searching for a new home. Winston’s talent can, at times, prove enticing. He threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, totals that easily surpass the Bears single-season records. But Winston also threw 30 interceptions last season and has averaged 22 turnovers per season in his career. The Bears aren’t expected to express interest in Winston as a possible insurance policy behind Mitch Trubisky. As a footnote, Brady now has a tour date at Soldier Field scheduled for this fall with the Bears on tap to host the Buccaneers. A date and time should be announced this spring.
Philip Rivers is headed to join the Colts, agreeing to a one-year deal that reportedly is worth $25 million.
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What it means: The Bears were never a suitor for Rivers, whose 16-year run with the Chargers has come to an end. The 38-year-old veteran will now take his 59,271 career passing yards and 397 touchdown passes to Indianapolis, reuniting with Frank Reich. Reich was Rivers’ quarterbacks coach with the Chargers in 2013 and his offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. Thus familiarity was obviously a large factor in the connection. The signing also checks another quarterback off the “Available” list and another team off the “In Need” list.
The Panthers have an agreement with Teddy Bridgewater to replace Cam Newton as their quarterback.
What it means: Newton, the No. 1 pick in 2011, is on his way out after nine seasons with the Panthers. Bridgewater was courted by multiple teams before agreeing Tuesday night to a three-year, $63 million contract with the Panthers, the Associated Press reported.
In an interesting move, the Panthers announced on social media that they “give Cam Newton permission to seek a trade.” Newton took exception with the wording of the posts and replied on Instagram.
“Stop with the word play,” Newton wrote. “I never asked for it. There is no dodging this one. I love the @panthers to death and will always love you guys. Please do not try and play me or manipulate the narrative and act like I wanted this. You forced me into this.”
Newton, who will turn 31 in May, led the Panthers to four playoff berths, including a 24-10 loss to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50. But he played in only two games in 2019 after he suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot and needed surgery.
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Bridgewater, 27, threw for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns and went 5-0 with the Saints in 2019 while Drew Brees was injured. He was a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2014 and started 28 games for them before he suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2016. He has started six games since the knee injury.
Drew Brees is signing a two-year deal with the Saints, NFL Network reported .
What it means: Brees, who turned 41 in January, returns for his 15th season with the Saints, all of which have been played under coach Sean Payton. It will be the 20th NFL season overall for Brees, who was a Chargers second-round pick in 2001. Brees missed five games in 2019 with a thumb injury, the first time he missed more than one game in a season since 2003. His return to the Saints, which was a foregone conclusion, comes with a $50 million price tag.
Chase Daniel is headed to the Lions on a three-year deal, ESPN reported .
What it means: It was known the Bears likely weren’t going to bring Daniel back for a third season as Mitch Trubisky’s backup, so he moves on to be Matthew Stafford’s backup. The Lions will be his fifth team in 11 seasons, a remarkable career for someone who has made only five starts. For the Bears, Daniel was a veteran presence to help guide Trubisky through coach Matt Nagy’s offense, and he also served as a team leader and the Bears’ representative to the NFLPA. He also started three games, throwing six touchdown passes and four interceptions. He aided a win over the Lions on Thanksgiving in 2019 and came in early in the first quarter to replace an injured Trubisky in Week 4 last season and contributed to a victory. Daniel’s presence is valued enough that the Lions gave him a $13.05 million deal, which contains a voidable clause.
Tom Brady announced he will not return to the Patriots.
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What it means: Brady’s historic run in New England is over after 20 remarkable seasons.
FOREVER A PATRIOT pic.twitter.com/QSBOJBs4uy — Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 17, 2020
It doesn’t mean Brady will be taking up residence in Lake Forest. It does mean that the six-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Super Bowl MVP could choose his next employer soon.
It’s believed that the Buccaneers and Chargers are the leading (maybe only) teams pushing for Brady right now and after his business is settled, we could see the marketplace heat up with action for quarterbacks. One source said Monday that Teddy Bridgewater would likely wind up with the team (Bucs or Chargers) that does not land Brady. It’s Tom’s move right now.
March 16
The Raiders reportedly are nearing a deal with Marcus Mariota.
What it means: Mariota, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, was benched by the Titans last season and supplanted by Ryan Tannehill, who helped rescue their season, led them to two playoff victories and then cashed in big last weekend in free agency. Now Mariota will get a fresh start in Las Vegas, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, with a chance to revive his career in Tannehill fashion.
"He will come in and make a QB room better."@RapSheet on a possible deal for Marcus Mariota in Las Vegas 👇 pic.twitter.com/RUf6KX21Vg — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 17, 2020
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock rated Mariota as his No. 1 quarterback in the 2015 draft — ahead of Jameis Winston — and now will help oversee Mariota’s next step. The initial expectation is Mariota will compete behind Derek Carr with the Raiders. The possibility of Mariota joining the Bears was never high. He shares the same agents at Rep 1 Sports as current Bears starter Mitch Trubisky, and there was little desire to pit those two against one another.
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The Browns agreed to terms with Case Keenum on a three-year deal.
What it means: Keenum will be paid $18 million, with $10 million guaranteed, to back up Baker Mayfield, ESPN reported. Keenum joins the sixth team in his nine-year NFL career. He spent last season with the Redskins, going 1-7 in eight starts before they turned to rookie Dwayne Haskins. Keenum completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,707 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2019.
#Browns agree to a 3-year, $18 million deal with QB Case Keenum as a backup to Baker Mayfield https://t.co/ktsTrnrLri — Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 16, 2020
The Cowboys placed the exclusive franchise tag on Dak Prescott.
What it means: The Cowboys used the tag to prevent Prescott from hitting the free-agent market. They now have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with him, or they will pay him a salary expected to be about $31.6 million for the 2020 season, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Prescott, a Cowboys 2016 fourth-round draft pick, has started all 64 games over four seasons and has twice taken the Cowboys to the playoffs. He completed 65.1% of his passes for a career-high 4,902 yards in 2019, but the 8-8 Cowboys missed out on a postseason berth.
The Vikings agreed to a two-year contract extension with Kirk Cousins.
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What it means: Cousins is now on board with the Vikings through 2022 after they worked out a deal that will reduce his salary cap hit by $10 million in 2020, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. The deal is reportedly worth $66 million in new money and $96 million over three years.
For the #Vikings and QB Kirk Cousins, it’s a 2-year deal worth $66M, source said. In all, it’s 3 years, $96M. $61M guaranteed at signing. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Cousins, 31, completed 69.1% of his passes for 3,603 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2019, his second year with the Vikings and eighth in the league.
March 15
The Titans agreed to a four-year, $118 million contract extension with Ryan Tannehill.
What it means: Tannehill was named the league’s comeback player of the year in 2019 after he came off the bench to replace Marcus Mariota. Over 10 regular-season starts, he led the Titans to a playoff berth, and they then advanced to the AFC Championship game. He completed 70.3% of his passes for 2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Now he’s receiving big money to try to replicate those results. The deal includes $62 million in fully guaranteed money and $91 million in total guarantees, according to NFL Network.
The announcement ends talk of a potential Titans union with Tom Brady, and it all but officially ends the Titans’ five-year run with Mariota, their No. 2 overall draft pick in 2015. Mariota will become a free agent Wednesday.


chicagotribune--2020-03-17--Buffalo Grove mayor declares a local state of emergency after village employee may have been exposed

Buffalo Grove mayor declares a local state of emergency after village employee may have been exposed to COVID-19

“ All door-to-door solicitation is prohibited .
All in-person public meetings of the Village of Buffalo Grove have been canceled @ @ @ @ @ Executive Order was created to protect the health and welfare of the community , and @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Preventing the spread of this disease will not only help those who are @ @ @ @ @ complications should they contract the disease , but also prevents it spread to public safety @ @ @ @ @ the community , ” the order read .

The mayor of Buffalo Grove issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the village Tuesday, after a village employee is suspected of being exposed to the new coronavirus.
“Effective at midnight tonight, all places of public assemblage are ordered closed. This includes public lobbies in all public facilities, except for the Buffalo Grove Police Department. The closures also apply to health and fitness centers, movie theaters, bowling alleys and recreational/entertainment facilities where the public gathers,” read the order from Village President Beverly Sussman.
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“All door-to-door solicitation is prohibited. All in-person public meetings of the Village of Buffalo Grove have been canceled until further notice. The Executive Order was created to protect the health and welfare of the community, and to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Preventing the spread of this disease will not only help those who are at increased risk of experiencing complications should they contract the disease, but also prevents it spread to public safety officials providing critical services to the community,” the order read.
After being open the day before, Village Hall, which was also scheduled to be a polling place, was closed on Election Day.
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In a village news release issued Tuesday evening, officials said the exposure occurred immediately before the Village Board meeting Monday, which was held at Village Hall. March 16
Village manager Dane Bragg was made aware of the employee’s potential exposure to COVID-19 – the disease caused by the new coronavirus – as a result of contact with an onsite vendor, according to the release.
The vendor does not have contact with the public, the release states. As a result of the employee’s encounter, Village Hall is closed “until further notice,” a sign on the entry door reads, and village employees who worked in the same area as the impacted worker are now working remotely.
The vendor is also working remotely and currently has no symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the release.
“The initial COVID-19 exposure that led to this situation occurred between the vendor and a friend’s parent who had recently returned from Europe. The parent had displayed flu-like symptoms and was subsequently tested for COVID-19,” according to the release.
The test results are not yet available but are expected to be returned within the next 24 to 48 hours, officials said in the release.
No additional information was available about the individual.
Police Chief Steven Casstevens, who distributed the news release, and Deputy Village Manager Jennifer Maltas were not immediately available for further comment.
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No village employees are allowed in the area of the building where the potential exposure occurred, the release stated. Village Hall has been inspected by a cleaning firm that will commercially sanitize the area where the potential exposure occurred, as well as the entire building, according to the release.
Village Manager Dane Bragg urged the community to be proactive in avoiding social interaction.
“By minimizing our daily interactions, staying home and using sensible health measures, we can reduce the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our most vulnerable citizens,” Bragg stated in the release.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.


chicagotribune--2020-03-17--Calumet Township woman among two Lake County COVID-19 victims; state says Johnson County man is seco

Calumet Township woman among two Lake County COVID-19 victims; state says Johnson County man is second death

“ The patient was screened and assessed upon entry and was found to have a slight fever and respiratory symptoms.
@ @ @ @ @ Community said .
“ They were immediately placed in isolation and appropriate protocols have been @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) investigate.or where they @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Nurse Tambi Kieta, on left, helps trauma program manager Jennifer Homan sanitize her hands as they perform drive through COVID-19 tests at Franciscan Health Crown Point on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
As his wife became one of Lake County’s first two confirmed COVID-19 cases, Pastor Jeff Spencer said he’s leaning on his faith.
“I’m trusting God in all of this, I really am,” he said, a pastor for 18 years at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Hobart.
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Now, Darlene Spencer is sedated on a ventilator and he’s quarantined at home for two weeks.
“I have concerns about my wife laying in a hospital bed alone and I can’t be sitting with her,” he said Tuesday from their Calumet Township home. “Those things weigh heavy in your mind.”
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A second person has died in Indiana from a coronavirus-related death and the first two Lake County cases were announced Tuesday, according to state health officials.
The person who died, from Johnson County, was older than 60 and had been hospitalized, according to the state Department of Health. Johnson County, is just south of Indianapolis.
Jeff and Darlene Spencer (Provided by Jeff Spencer)
That announcement came after Indiana recorded its first COVID-19 death on Monday, when an Indianapolis resident died.
Community Hospital, in a release, explained how Spencer was treated.
“The patient was screened and assessed upon entry and was found to have a slight fever and respiratory symptoms.,” a release from Community said. “They were immediately placed in isolation and appropriate protocols have been implemented as the Indiana State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigate.or where they are being treated was announced.”
According to a release, Methodist Hospital Southlake in Merrillville is treating the second Lake County person.
"Methodist Hospitals today confirmed that its Southlake Campus is treating its first patient who tested positive for the virus COVID-19, the release said. “The patient presented at the Emergency Department. All precautions were in place, the patient was assessed and placed in isolation and is now in stable condition.”
The Lake County cases were among six additional confirmed COVID-19 illnesses, giving the state 30 cases across 15 counties. The new cases involve two people each from Franklin, Lake and Marion counties. Nearly 160 people have been tested so far, officials said.
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A LaPorte County man was being treated for the virus Friday at Porter Regional Hospital in Portage, but no Porter County residents have tested positive so far.
Woman ‘just wasn’t feeling good,’ husband says
The Spencers both work in the School City of Hammond bus department, Jeff Spencer said, and public records confirmed. He is a bus driver, while Darlene Spencer is a monitor. Hammond Superintendent Scott Miller sent a letter to parents Tuesday, without naming the couple, warning children were on their routes last week.
They are not sure how she could have gotten sick, Spencer, 65, said.
Darlene Spencer first got sick March 10-11 with a backache, slight fever, “just wasn’t feeling good,” he said.
They took her early last week to urgent care in Schererville, where she was “swabbed” for the flu, which turned out negative, given antibiotics for a kidney infection and sent home to rest, Spencer said.
By Saturday, he took her to the emergency room at Community Hospital after she had a higher fever and struggled to breathe, he said.
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“As soon as we went in, they took us to a separate room,” Spencer said. “In a very short period of time, (they) decided she was being admitted.”
Trauma program manager Jennifer Homan assists a patient during a drive-through test for COVID-19 at Franciscan Health Crown Point on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
She was “immediately” put in isolation in the intensive care unit, he said. By Sunday morning, she was on a ventilator. As her condition worsened Sunday, she was tested for COVID-19, Spencer said. By Monday night, doctors called and said she tested positive, telling him to quarantine for two weeks.
“Right now, I’m doing OK,” he said.
Around 30 people they’d recently been around, including their two daughters, granddaughter, were notified. Churchgoers were also told, he said. His wife is also the church’s music director. Last weekend they skipped church. It will be closed for a few weeks and scrubbed down, he said.
“It is a critical situation that my wife’s in,” he said. “That just doesn’t mean she won’t recover.”
For the past few days, he’s chronicled her condition on Facebook. Since then, around 100 people have called asking if he needs groceries. A friend set up an online fundraising site. A neighbor left lunch on his front porch, Spencer said.
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“It‘s something we shouldn’t go into a panic,” he said, of buying out toliet paper and basics. “That’s just going to make it worse.”
[ Indiana college student self-quarantines in family’s lake house after leaving belongings behind in Italy ]
New rules at hospitals
Local hospitals have set up additional visitor restrictions.
This week, Franciscan Health Michigan City will start drive-through testing for COVID-19 on the hospital’s far east side, spokesman Robert Blaszkiewicz said. A doctor’s order and registration by calling 219-877-1474 is required.
Testing would be offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, he said. Results would be given within three to four days.
Franciscan Health Crown Point is now offering drive-through testing with a doctor’s order near its Emergency Department entrance, he said.
State officials acknowledge that likely thousands of people are infected by the virus and that testing is largely being done on those with serious symptoms or known exposure to others infected.
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Most schools around Indiana are closed to students and Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday called for the closing of all restaurants, nightclubs and bars as of Tuesday to help stem the spread of the virus.
[ Bar, restaurant owners in Northwest Indiana caught by surprise by governor’s order shutting down all but carryout and delivery service ]
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay, D-3rd, said the spread of the virus is "weighing on us." County officials realize that it's a fair question "if we need the public" at the Government Center, located in Crown Point, but it's difficult to restrict access because the center offers needed public services, Repay said.
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On Tuesday, the building was unusually quiet, with no lines in the recorder’s or auditor’s offices. At 9:30 a.m., there wasn’t a security line, when at least a handful of people are usually in line around that time.
Before the building can be closed, Repay said "there's still a lot of continuity and decisions that need to be explored and answered."
“It’s still very much a moving target and decision,” Repay said. “I’m going to have more conversations today ... trying to find what all we can do and maintain safety.”
Alexandra Kulkulka and The Associated Press contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-03-17--Young death in North Side police district where there’s been no murders in over a year: ‘What happen

Young death in North Side police district where there’s been no murders in over a year: ‘What happened?’ ‘A boy was shot.’

The last fatal shooting in the Lincoln police district was on Nov. 22 , 2018 about a mile and a @ @ @ @ @ Terrace neighborhood when two teens pulled a gun and tried to rob an off-duty Chicago @ @ @ @ @ grabbed his own gun and killed one of the teens .

A 15-year-old was shot and killed March 16, 2020, in the 2000 block of West Farragut Avenue in the Bowmanville neighborhood on the North Side, according to Chicago police. (Paige Fry / Chicago Tribune)
A dozen people formed a circle in the middle of the alley. They bowed their heads, held hands and said a prayer in Spanish for a 15-year-old boy who had just died there.
Someone shot Esteban Luvianos in the head, according to Chicago police, citing preliminary information. It happened about 9:30 p.m. Monday in the 2000 block of West Farragut Avenue in the Bowmanville neighborhood on the North Side. The motive was not clear, according to a law enforcement source. No one was in custody.
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David Ehl heard “one pop” while he was inside his apartment nearby. That was a shot, he thought to himself. He went outside and saw an unmarked police SUV pull into an alley. An officer jumped out and ran.
Ehl, 62, wondered if someone was hurt. His neighborhood is relatively safe. He moved to the block about a decade ago after he saw that young women felt comfortable walking their dogs at night. He couldn’t recall a recent fatal shooting but remembered many from when he lived in Albany Park.
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Ehl saw another neighbor across the street looking down the alley. He walked up and she pointed to show him where the boy’s legs rested.
“I’m not going to get that image out of my mind,” he said.
He walked closer and overheard a woman speaking to officers about the boy. Ehl said he believes the woman ran to the boy and checked his pulse after she heard the gunshot. He also heard her say he had braces.
Another woman who had been sitting on the steps of a home residence came over and asked Ehl if he knew who was hurt. He told her he thought it was a teenager with braces and the woman began to cry.
Ehl lingered near the scene and talked to anyone curious enough to ask.
“What happened? A shooting?” some said.
“A boy was shot," Ehl said. “Murdered.”
Their reactions were similar. "In this neighborhood?”
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The last fatal shooting in the Lincoln police district was on Nov. 22, 2018 about a mile and a half away in the Arcadia Terrace neighborhood when two teens pulled a gun and tried to rob an off-duty Chicago police officer. The officer grabbed his own gun and killed one of the teens.
The latest fatal shooting that didn’t involve an officer was in April 2017 when a 44-year-old man was killed in the Ravenswood neighborhood.
The police district didn’t have a single homicide last year, although a woman was found dead in a burning car in Andersonville in November. Her cause of death is still pending, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Monday night, police strung yellow tape across the alley entrance and parked a squad car to block the view of the boy’s body.
Family members and friends of the boy began to arrive. Some had a child wrapped in a blanket slung across their shoulder. Others wore pajamas or slide sandals with socks.
Eventually, more than 20 people paced the block, hugging one another and crying. They spoke in low voices as they comforted each other.
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Two officers asked for the woman Ehl had spoken to earlier and a man who said he was the boy’s father. The woman told the officers the boy wasn’t a bad kid.
An officer in a leather jacket and slicked-back hair told her they weren’t there to judge. They just wanted the facts to solve the case and anything the woman can tell them would help.
After the officers left, a girl gave a brown teddy bear to the woman. She hugged it and seemed to allow herself a small smile at the gesture.
A young man got belly down on the pavement to try to peer under the squad car when a body removal service van arrived on the other side of the alley. Some of the other young people ran up to the tape, standing on their toes to catch a glimpse. One woman held a small wooden cross tight to her chest.
Half of the group, including the woman who talked to the officers, walked away once the van left after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters finished hosing off the scene and officers took down the tape.
The other half paused and then everyone walked toward the middle of the alley to pray.
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pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-03-16--Parents at Glenview elementary, high school districts test positive for coronavirus, officials say

SD225 , which includes more than Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools , also reported Monday that a student @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus , but that parent has not been in either of the school buildings @ @ @ @ @ .
That time period “ is beyond the incubation period of the virus , ” @ @ @ @ @ release .

A parent of students at both Glenview School District 34 and Glenbrook High School District 225 tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials from each school district reported.
Glenview SD34 is a feeder elementary school district to SD225, but it was not clear if the diagnosis was for one parent with children in both districts or if the positive test involved two different people.
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Either way, neither parent has been to any school buildings for two weeks, officials for each of the affected school districts said in separate news releases.
The Illinois Department of Public Health “did not recommend testing or self-isolation for students outside of the patient’s family at this time,” SD34 spokeswoman Cathy Kedjidjian said in an email Monday.
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All SD34 school buildings are closed for deep cleaning and the administration building will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Kedjidjian said.
Glenview School District 34 enrolls over 4,700 students in eight schools.
The children whose parent tested positive are students at Glen Grove Eelementary and Attea Mmiddle schools, officials said.
On Tuesday, which is Election Day, polling places at D34 buildings will be open, but those will be isolated and deep cleaned as well, Kedjidjian said.
SD225, which includes more than Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools, also reported Monday that a student’s parent tested positive for coronavirus, but that parent has not been in either of the school buildings for more than two weeks. That time period “is beyond the incubation period of the virus,” district officials said in a release.
School officials did not disclose which high school the parent’s student attends.
“We know that this announcement may cause alarm and we continue to encourage our district families to follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines for prevention and symptom awareness,” school officials said in a message on the SD225 website.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is also not recommending that staff and students self-isolate in this case either, according to the district.
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“With the number of cases in Illinois growing daily and our schools already being closed, we do not plan to communicate about each confirmation,” school officials said in the release . “We will, however, plan to communicate should the situation affect our ongoing services such as meal pick-up.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all of the state’s public and private school districts to cancel classes at school buildings through March 30. He announced, however, that families would be able to pick up meals at the schools during the closure.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Niles adopts emergency declaration granting mayor, village manager powers during coronavirus pandemi

Niles adopts emergency declaration granting mayor, village manager powers during coronavirus pandemic

The emergency declaration also allows for village government meetings to be held by audio or video conference — with public @ @ @ @ @ village manager to extend deadlines for payment of money owed to the village .
A @ @ @ @ @ be found in the language of the declaration on the village ’ s website .

The Niles Village Board has passed a set of rules granting certain emergency powers to the mayor and village manager during the coronavirus pandemic.
The “ordinance declaring an emergency affecting the public health, safety and welfare due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the state of Illinois” was adopted by the board during a special meeting held March 17 at Village Hall. Trustees Dean Strzelecki and Danette O’Donovan Matyas were not in attendance.
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The declaration allows the mayor to order a curfew, temporarily close streets, declare orders for quarantine and isolation, and restrict or regulate the “use, sale, production or distribution of food, water, fuel, clothing and/or other commodities, materials, goods, services and resources,” among other powers, as long as the emergency declaration is in effect.
These emergency powers are given to the mayor “after consultation with the village manager,” according to the ordinance.
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The emergency declaration also allows for village government meetings to be held by audio or video conference — with public notification — and allows the village manager to extend deadlines for payment of money owed to the village. A full list of authorities can be found in the language of the declaration on the village’s website.
The emergency declaration will be in effect until April 17, but can be extended in increments of seven days by the mayor, with consultation of the village manager, the document states.
Trustee George Alpogianis asked if the declaration means “any law or ordinance can be changed at any time” during the duration of the emergency.
“That is correct, but only to address the emergency situation,” said Village Attorney Danielle Crcic.
Mayor Andrew Przybylo said he anticipates “widespread impacts” on the health of Niles residents due to the coronavirus spread.
“You must know this village, its administration and elected officials are doing everything possible to curtail the spread within the confines of our village,” he said.
The village has not reported any known cases of coronavirus in Niles, and this was confirmed by Fire Chief Marty Feld on Tuesday.
“Our crews have transported people with symptoms similar to COVID-19, but all came back negative to date,” Feld said.
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Dispatchers at the 911 call center are asking callers for the symptoms of the person who needs an ambulance, and if fever, cough and fatigue are named, paramedics will wear face masks and gowns and send only two responders into the home at a time, Feld said.
City building inspectors are conducting limited inspections at this time, added Deputy Village Manager Hadley Skeffington-Vos.
All village facilities have been closed and public meetings cancelled. Limited village staff are on hand to answer phone calls, and the Niles Family Services Department is still maintaining its 24-hour crisis team, which can be reached at 847-588-8460 in an emergency, the village said. Limited emergency food supplies are also available by calling the same number.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Trustee Craig Niedermaier urged residents not to hoard food and necessities and to avoid public gatherings, regardless of age.
“Just because you’re a kid or a young parent doesn’t mean you should run out and act like nothing is going on,” he said. “The issue is not if you can get it; it’s if you can spread it. And that’s why these extreme measures have happened.”
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Two Evanston senior living residents tested positive for COVID-19. Facility’s director says, ‘we’re

Two Evanston senior living residents tested positive for COVID-19. Facility’s director says, ‘we’re getting no help whatsoever.’

Three Crowns Park resident Steve Warner , 78 , re-enters the assisted living facility after talking with news media about @ @ @ @ @ have contracted COVID-19 , or coronavirus , on March 18 , 2020 , in Evanston @ @ @ @ @ transported to an area hospital on Monday and have not returned to their residences because @ @ @ @ @ have the personal protective equipment and supplies to safely bring them back into their spaces @ @ @ @ @ Phil Hemmer , not pictured .
`` We 're 48 hours in , and we @ @ @ @ @ test ( administered ) , '' Hemmer said .
`` We 're getting no help @ @ @ @ @ J. Kim/Chicago Tribune )

Three Crowns Park resident Steve Warner, 78, re-enters the assisted living facility after talking with news media about having learned that two residents have contracted COVID-19, or coronavirus, on March 18, 2020, in Evanston. The two residents were transported to an area hospital on Monday and have not returned to their residences because Three Crowns Park does not have the personal protective equipment and supplies to safely bring them back into their spaces, according to executive director Phil Hemmer, not pictured. "We're 48 hours in, and we have not had a single test (administered)," Hemmer said. "We're getting no help whatsoever." (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
At least two people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Evanston’s Three Crowns Park senior living complex, city officials and the facility’s executive director have confirmed.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Phil Hemmer, executive director of Three Crowns Park, wrote that the second resident was taken for testing and remains hospitalized. Hemmer also shared his frustration that more tests have not been offered to residents, especially after 42 people tested positive for COVID-19 at a care facility in Willowbrook.
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“We recognize that testing is a vital part of this process but when I inquired about testing residents and staff, Evanston replied that they do not advise testing for anyone who is asymptomatic,” Hemmer wrote.
Both cases involve residents of McDaniel House, a wing of the facility.
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In his letter, Hemmer wrote that after Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a press conference that the Willowbrook community received testing, he immediately called the Evanston Health Department.
“I expressed my frustration that the advice they had been giving us was different from what was happening in Willowbrook," he wrote.
Hemmer said he then called the Illinois Department of Public Health for further direction.
“Please be assured that we diligently continue to take temperatures and monitor residents’ symptoms. Currently, there are no other residents displaying symptoms of COVID-19," Hemmer wrote. “Additionally, all staff are screened and monitored every shift.”
The Three Crowns Park assisted living facility in Evanston. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
On Wednesday, Hemmer said the facility was still waiting for testing help from public health officials.
“We’re 48 hours in, and we have not had a single test (administered)," Hemmer said. "We’re getting no help whatsoever.”
Hemmer described the mood at the facility as “a lot of concern, there is a lot of fear.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health declined to comment directly on Three Crowns Park, citing a policy of not identifying care facilities where an outbreak may have occurred by name to protect medical privacy.
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In a written statement, a department spokeswoman said health officials are working with hospitals and long-term care facilities to determine the amount of protective care equipement they have on hand.
“Availability of supplies is changing quickly, but IDPH is working with facilities, local health departments and vendors to obtain additional (personal protective equipment),” the statement reads.
Officials at the Evanston Health and Human Services Department could not be reached for comment.
Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty said he’s working with various health departments to secure masks and tests for residents of Three Crowns Park in an effort to both protect them and help determine how far the virus has spread.
The city is also working to draw up an isolation plan for residents to keep the virus from spreading.
“Three Crowns Park is a priority for the city of Evanston and we are pressing the county and the state to help with testing and personal protective equipment,” Hagerty said.
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Late last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued new guidelines that allow testing for people who live in nursing homes or other “congregate living” facilities, patients deemed to be “public health concerns” after being evaluated by medical professionals, hospitalized patients with unexplained respiratory problems, and people at higher risk of complications for whom a rapid diagnosis would benefit their treatment.
Staff for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, said she also is advocating on behalf of the senior living facility.
“We are working to help Three Crowns get both the guidance and the protective gear they need for both residents and staff," including tests and protective masks.
Meanwhile, family members of the complex’s residents have expressed concern that more needs to be done to protect seniors, who are especially vulnerable to the virus.
“Who knows how long this thing was festering,” said Evanston resident Mark Caro, a former Tribune reporter, whose father lives in a different wing of Three Crowns Park. “That’s what’s so terrifying.”
Steve Warner, 78, lives in the independent living potion of Three Crowns Park facility with his wife.
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“We are isolated, no more communal dining,” Warner said. “We’re all concerned, I think everyone is concerned.”
John J. Kim contributed.
gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Former longtime Hinsdale Hospital ER doctor has never seen anything like the coronavirus; ‘I have se

Former longtime Hinsdale Hospital ER doctor has never seen anything like the coronavirus; ‘I have seen a lot, but not this’

“ I have seen a lot , but not this , ” Moy said .
“ We haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ as wide-spread as this .
It ’ s a very smart virus , the way @ @ @ @ @ 95 % of the people who get it will survive and do fine .
But @ @ @ @ @ that people who have no symptoms or very mild symptoms pass it on to others @ @ @ @ @ at risk .
”

While working for 40 years as an emergency room doctor, including 33 at Hinsdale Hospital and a much shorter stint at La Grange Hospital, Mark Moy got a first-hand look at many illnesses.
But for the former Oak Brook Village Board member, who also worked for a couple of years as a cruise ship doctor after he retired, seeing how the coronavirus is impacting people around the world is a brand new experience.
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“I have seen a lot, but not this,” Moy said. “We haven’t seen anything in our lifetimes as wide-spread as this. It’s a very smart virus, the way it has adapted, and 95% of the people who get it will survive and do fine. But part of the problem is that people who have no symptoms or very mild symptoms pass it on to others, who are much more at risk.”
Moy, 71, suggested that people stay home as much as is possible at this time, a thought shared by many in the medical field.
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“It’s about trying to avoid the high spike in the number of cases,” he said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but slowing down the spread of it will give hospitals a chance to catch up so that they are able to treat people who become seriously ill with this virus.”
Moy said he definitely believes that it’s much better to error on the side of caution where the coronavirus is concerned.
“It’s better to overreact in this type of situation,” he said. “It would be fine if we’re able to look back on this later and say that we overacted. That’s much better than looking back and saying that we didn’t do enough.”
Moy said being proactive in the fight against the coronavirus is the best strategy.
“It’s like we all have been hearing, wash your hands often and keep your distance from other people,” he said.
Moy said his experience 5-6 years ago as a cruise ship doctor for Holland American Cruise Ships, long before the current coronavirus appeared, included policies that were very proactive in fighting both respiratory illness and gastroenteritis.
“That was the approach of the company I worked for, which was very good,” Moy said. “I was an officer, so by policy I was prohibited from shaking hands with anyone. They also had a machine when you walked into the dining room, where everyone had to wash their hands. And there was someone stationed there to make sure people used it."
Currently, Moy and his wife are in St. Louis with his son, daughter-in-law and their baby. Both his son and daughter-in-law work as emergency room physicians at a hospital in St. Louis.
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“They’re on the front lines and very likely will contract the virus at some point,” Moy said. “We’re taking the baby to our daughter-in-law’s parents house and will stay there, so we can keep the baby away from them for now.”
While he didn’t point a finger at anyone in particular, Moy said he is very disappointed by how the response to the coronavirus has been handled in the United States.
“The response was bumbled and delayed for treatment of this crisis,” he said.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Tracking the Bears’ moves in free agency: Ryan Pace trades for Nick Foles, while Leonard Floyd finds

Tracking the Bears’ moves in free agency: Ryan Pace trades for Nick Foles, while Leonard Floyd finds a new home in LA

What it means : No one is more invested in learning what this move means than Mitch Trubisky , the incumbent starting quarterback who has received multiple votes of public confidence from general manager Ryan Pace since last season ended .
Trubisky ’ s inconsistency and the unraveling of the Bears offense in 2019 was well-documented and created a new sense of urgency behind closed doors at Halas Hall .
So while Pace has publicly said he expects Trubisky to be the starter when next season begins , the Bears ’ desire to create real competition opens the door for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly easily and soon .
Foles ’ chemistry with the offensive coaching staff — he spent time in previous stops with coach Matt Nagy , offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo — is a major plus .
And his understanding of Nagy ’ s offensive system gives him a chance to hit the ground running when the the Bears get the all-clear to begin practicing this spring or summer .
In giving up a fourth-round pick for Foles , the Bears have only two selections in the top 150 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the Bears will inherit , runs through 2022 and has a base salary of more than $ 15 million for this season .
Before long , Pace and Nagy will have to communicate their vision for their quarterback situation .
It will be interesting to see when the team schedules those first public comments .

The Chicago Bears have been quite active as they build their 2020 roster.
On March 18, general manager Ryan Pace made his biggest move of the offseason, trading a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars to acquire veteran quarterback and former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.
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The Tribune’s team is tracking all of the Bears’ moves — with players arriving and exiting — and providing insight into what each move means.
[ Bears draft tracker: 7-player class is complete, from a local tight end to a pair of cornerbacks and a speedy receiver ]
May 13
Former Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara is signing with the Raiders, according to NFL Network .
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What it means: Amukamara will begin his 10th NFL season in Las Vegas after the Bears released him earlier this offseason. The deal reportedly is for one year. Amukamara was a Giants first-round pick in 2011 and played five seasons with the Giants, one with the Jaguars and three with the Bears. He had three interceptions, including a pick-six, and 29 passes defended in his Bears career. The Bears cut Amukamara to clear $9 million in salary-cap space and drafted his expected replacement last month when they took Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson with the 50th pick.
May 5
Edge rusher Aaron Lynch signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars, the team announced .
What it means: Lynch played two seasons in a reserve role for the Bears, totaling five sacks, 22 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 17 quarterback hits. A 49ers fifth-round pick in 2014, Lynch will join the Jaguars for his seventh NFL season. He has 20 career sacks. The Bears already had secured reserve outside linebackers to play behind starters Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. They signed former Browns first-round pick Barkevious Mingo to a one-year deal and traded a future draft pick to grab Tulsa’s Trevis Gipson in the fifth round of the draft last month.
April 30
The Bears are adding veteran safety Tashaun Gipson on a one-year deal, according to Pro Football Talk.
What it means: The Bears appear to have a starting safety to play alongside Eddie Jackson. Gipson has started 104 games over eight NFL seasons, including 62 over the last four years with the Jaguars and Texans. He has 23 career interceptions, three of which came in 2019 in his lone season in Houston, and 47 career passes defended, including eight last year. He also had a pick-six in 2019.
Gipson, who will be 30 in August, signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2012. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014, when he returned six interceptions for 158 yards and one touchdown.
The Texans signed Gipson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract last year, but he finished the season on injured reserve with a back injury. They cut him this week.
The Bears are signing veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to a one-year deal, an NFL source confirmed.
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What it means: Ginn, who turned 35 this month, will join the Bears for his 14th NFL season after three with the Saints. He had 30 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games last season. The 2007 Dolphins first-round pick also spent time with the 49ers, Cardinals and Panthers.
Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara knocks a ball down in the end zone as Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn is unable to make a catch in the second quarter at Soldier Field on Oct. 20, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
He had three straight seasons of at least 700 receiving yards from 2015-2017, including a career-high 10 touchdown catches in 2015 with the Panthers. He has played in 15 playoff games in his career. And he also was a punt and kick returner earlier in his career, with seven career return touchdowns.
Ginn provides the Bears with a speedy, experienced competitor to join a fairly young receivers room beyond veteran Allen Robinson.
April 29
The Bears signed wide receiver and returner Trevor Davis to a one-year deal, the team announced .
What it means: A fifth-round draft pick by the Packers in 2016, Davis joins the Bears for his fifth NFL season. Davis, 26, played in 31 games with the Packers, totaling nine catches for 122 yards. He bounced between the Packers, Dolphins and Raiders in 2019 and had seven catches for 83 yards in nine games (four starts) with the Raiders.
He also is an experienced return man. He had a career-high 24 punt returns for 289 yards (12.0 average) and 31 kickoff returns for 707 yards (22.8) in 2017. And among his three teams in 2019, he had 22 punt returns for 145 yards (6.6) and 23 kickoff returns for 506 yards (22.0).
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April 28
The Bears signed defensive tackle John Jenkins to a one-year deal, the team announced .
What it means: The Bears are bringing back the seven-year NFL veteran to serve as depth on the defensive line after Nick Williams left for a two-year contract with the Lions. Jenkins has played for five teams since he was drafted in the third round in 2013, including eight games for the Bears in 2017. He played in all 16 games for the Dolphins last year, making five starts, with 34 tackles, including two for a loss, and a sack.
April 22
Tight end Trey Burton signed a one-year contract with the Colts, the team announced .
What it means: It took Burton five days after the Bears cut him to latch on with a new team. He reunites with coach Frank Reich, who was the offensive coordinator with the Eagles for two seasons when Burton was there. Burton’s contract is for the veteran minimum, NFL Network reported, which will deduct from the $4 million the Bears owe him for this season.
The Bears cut Burton after an injury-plagued 2019 season in which he caught just 14 passes for 84 yards over eight games.
We have signed TE Trey Burton. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 23, 2020
April 17
The Bears are releasing tight end Trey Burton, the team announced.
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What it means: Burton’s tenure in Chicago comes to an end two years before his four-year, $32 million contract is up.
The Bears are cutting him after he totaled 14 catches for 84 yards and no touchdowns during an injury-plagued 2019 season. It’s the latest development for Burton in a dramatic 16-month span that started when he was a late scratch for the 2018 playoff loss to the Eagles because of a groin injury. He had sports hernia surgery last offseason, battled a groin injury over eight games in 2019 and then had hip surgery in December.
The Bears signed veteran tight end Jimmy Graham this offseason, and Burton’s departure could mean they’re eyeing another in next week’s draft.
The Bears are signing former Packers offensive lineman Jason Spriggs to a one-year deal, ESPN reported.
Packers' Jason Spriggs runs a drill at training camp on July 25, 2019. (Morry Gash/AP)
What it means: The 6-foot-6, 301-pound Spriggs adds depth to the Bears at tackle after free agent tackle Cornelius Lucas left for the Redskins. Spriggs, a 2016 second-round pick, has started just nine games for the Packers in his career. He’s dealt with back and elbow injuries leading up to the 2019 season and spent the year on injured reserve. An Elkhart, Ind., native, Spriggs, who will turn 26 next month, was an All-American at Indiana in his senior season in 2015.
The Bears signed free-agent kicker Ramiz Ahmed and exclusive-rights free agents J.P. Holtz and Rashaad Coward, the team announced.
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What it means: Ahmed joins the Bears on a one-year deal as apparent competition for kicker Eddy Pineiro. He last kicked in 2018 at Nevada, where he made 15 of 20 field-goal attempts and 40 of 44 extra-point attempts. He made Nevada’s team in 2017 in a walk-on tryout and did kickoffs that season. The Bears settled on Pineiro after a wild kicking competition last year, and he was 23-for-28 on field goals and 27-for-29 on extra points in his rookie year.
Holtz and Coward return as expected. Coward is expected to compete for the starting spot at right guard with newcomer Germain Ifedi after Coward started 10 games in 2019. Holtz, one of nine tight ends on the roster, played in 14 games for the Bears in 2019 and had seven catches for 91 yards.
April 16
Defensive back Sherrick McManis is expected to re-sign with a one-year contract.
What it means: Veteran defensive back Sherrick McManis is expected to re-sign with the Bears on a one-year contract. The longtime special teams standout will be entering his ninth season with the organization after arriving via a trade during the 2012 preseason. McManis missed the final four games last season with a groin injury that didn’t require surgery. He had 11 tackles in defense last season and a forced fumble in the Week 5 loss to the Raiders in London.
McManis, a Peoria native and Northwestern product, had eight stops on special teams last season. The 32-year-old has 88 special teams tackles in the last eight seasons. He’s the third free agent in the secondary to re-sign with the Bears following safeties Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson. All three are on one-year contracts.
April 15
Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris signed his restricted free-agent tender.
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What it means: The move ensures Robertson-Harris will be back in the fold in 2020. The Bears tendered the former undrafted free agent at the second-round level, meaning he will earn $3.259 million this season. That higher tender ensured no other teams would attempt to lure him away with an offer sheet.
Had the Bears tendered Robertson-Harris at the original-round level, they would have had only right of first refusal on an offer sheet because he was undrafted coming out of UTEP. The 26-year-old had 30 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 2½ sacks in 15 games last season. Provided he remains healthy, he figures to do well for himself in free agency next March.
By signing the tender, Robertson-Harris will be eligible to participate in the team’s virtual voluntary offseason workout program.
March 25
The Bears are bringing back third-string quarterback Tyler Bray, ESPN reported.
What it means: Bray returns for a third season as the Bears’ third-string quarterback. He spent the last two years on the practice squad behind Mitch Trubisky and Chase Daniel. Bray, 28, has a long history with coach Matt Nagy, dating back to their mutual arrival in Kansas City in 2013. Bray also spent the 2016 Chiefs season with new Bears quarterback Nick Foles.
He has one career pass attempt in one career regular-season appearance, in 2017 with the Chiefs. Even with the signing, the Bears could still draft a quarterback to add to their mix.
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The Bears agreed to a one-year deal with former Seahawks offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, NFL Network reported.
What it means: The Bears are in need of competition at right guard with Rashaad Coward and depth at tackle behind Charles Leno and Bobbie Massie. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Ifedi played both guard and tackle during his four seasons with the Seahawks.
Seahawks offensive guard Germain Ifedi tries to stop Bears linebacker Khalil Mack during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 17, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Ifedi, who will turn 26 in June, was a 2016 first-round draft pick and started 60 games in Seattle, including 100% of their offensive snaps in 2019. He has been called for 12 holding and 29 false start penalties in his career, according to Pro Football Reference.
March 23
The Bears are re-signing safety DeAndre Houston-Carson to a one-year contract, a source told the Tribune.
What it means: Houston-Carson, a sixth-round pick in 2016, is back in the mix as a core special teams player. Houston-Carson has been one of the team’s most dependable players in that area for the last two seasons. With the addition of fellow safety Jordan Lucas, the Bears have been making sure they add depth for special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
The Bears are bringing back veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban, news that his wife, Kate, announced on Twitter.
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What it means: Urban, 28, appeared in nine games in a reserve role last season after injuries forced some depth moves on the line beginning in October. Urban made 16 tackles and added two pass breakups. A one-year deal for Urban isn’t surprising as the Bears are going to need to add depth to the line, especially after Nick Williams departed for the NFC North rival Lions on a two-year contract. Urban will be in position to compete for a roster spot.
@AdamSchefter DE Brent Urban is re-signing with the Chicago Bears on one year deal. Per source. I’m the source. — Kate Salerno Urban (@Kate_KanSkate) March 23, 2020
The Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal with outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, NFL Network reported .
What it means: Mingo, 29, looks like a replacement for Aaron Lynch. He’s a veteran that can play a backup role on defense and a core special teams player.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano had Mingo in Indianapolis and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was in Cleveland when the Browns used the No. 6 pick in 2013 on him. While he has never panned out as a pass rusher — five of his 10 career sacks came during his rookie season — he’s a reliable player that has missed only two games and he has developed as a versatile guy on special teams. The contract is worth $1.187 million. The Bears become Mingo’s sixth team in the last six years.
March 22
The Bears signed safety Jordan Lucas to a one-year deal, NFL Network reported .
What it means: Lucas, 26, joins the Bears after playing two seasons each with the Dolphins and Chiefs. He has played in 49 career games but started just four, in 2018 in Kansas City, when he totaled 32 tackles, a sack, his lone career interception and two passes defended.
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Chiefs safety Jordan Lucas gestures during the first half of a game against the Chargers on Dec. 29, 2019. (Ed Zurga/AP)
Lucas, a former Dolphins sixth-round pick, was a key special teams player for the Chiefs last season, playing 63% of those plays. He provides more depth for a group of safeties that includes Deon Bush, who re-signed with the Bears on Friday and might compete for the starting spot alongside Eddie Jackson. Lucas’ contract is for $1 million.
March 21
Cornerback Artie Burns is joining the Bears on a one-year contract.
What it means: Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Saturday’s move, a one-year “prove it” deal that puts Burns in position to compete for a starting cornerback job opposite Kyle Fuller.
Steelers cornerback Artie Burns tackles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams during a game on Oct. 13, 2019. (Kyusung Gong/AP)
Burns was a first-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2016, selected No. 25 overall by the Steelers. But he never became the impact playmaker the Steelers hoped. The organization did not pick up his fifth-year option last year and Burns fell deeper into a reserve role. Over four seasons in Pittsburgh, Burns started 32 of the 58 games he played in. He recorded three interceptions as a rookie but only one more over the following three seasons.
Burns has intriguing length and speed and offers a skillset that could allow him to replace Prince Amukamara as a reliable man-to-man cover corner. But he will certainly have to earn that role whenever the Bears are cleared to get back on the practice field. Kevin Tolliver is also in the mix for that job. And the Bears signed CFL star Tre Roberson earlier this winter to compete as well.
March 20
The Bears are signing safety Deon Bush to a one-year contract, ESPN reported.
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What it means: The $1.4 million deal means Bush will return for a fifth season in Chicago. The Bears are in need of a new starter at safety alongside Eddie Jackson after Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed with the Cowboys. It remains to be seen whether Bush will get a chance to compete for the starting spot or if the Bears have someone else in mind to fill that role, either through free agency or the draft. Bush, a 2016 fourth-round pick, has started eight games over four seasons. He played in 15 games in 2019, playing 5% of the Bears’ snaps on defense and 63% on special teams. He had eight tackles and two passes defended.
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is headed to Dallas to play for Cowboys.
What it means: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Clinton-Dix’s one-year deal in Dallas is worth $4 million with $2.5 million guaranteed, a similar “prove it” deal to what he signed with the Bears last March. It’s no surprise the Bears allowed Clinton-Dix’s contract to expire or that the 27-year-old safety is moving on, now joining his fourth team since 2018.
Dix was signed to play free safety, per source. That would mean that Xavier Woods would move to strong safety https://t.co/2zyAabm4Oh — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 20, 2020
He will reunite in Dallas with his former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Clinton-Dix had two interceptions last season for the Bears, including a 59-yard touchdown return against the Redskins in Week 3. He was solid on the back end of the defense. But the Bears also awarded Eddie Jackson a record-setting extension in January, dishing out $33 million guaranteed and keeping Jackson under contract through the end of the 2024 season. There was little chance the Bears were going to spend big to fill that second safety spot.
While the Bears were happy with Clinton-Dix’s play last season, they would ideally like to find a second starting safety who has a more complementary skill set to Jackson, a defensive back who will allow the Bears to use Jackson’s biggest strengths as a free-ranging ball-hawk more easily. General manager Ryan Pace has had success identifying safeties in the draft. He chose Jackson with a fourth-round pick in 2017 and scooped up Adrian Amos in Round 5 two years earlier. The Bears may still browse the bargain bins of free agency for help and depth at the position. But keep a close eye on next month’s draft as well.
March 19
The Bears are bringing back long snapper Patrick Scales on a one-year deal.
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What it means: Scales, 32, will return for his sixth year in Chicago. One of those years, 2017, was spent on injured reserve, but he played in all 16 games each of the last two seasons. He’ll be back with a special teams unit that also includes returning punter Pat O’Donnell and kicker Eddy Pineiro.
The Redskins are signing former Bears offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas to a two-year deal .
What it means: The Bears will be in search of a new swing tackle after Lucas leaves for the $5.3 million deal. Lucas started a game in September and then the final five of the year filling in for injured Bobby Massie. The Redskins will be his fifth team in seven NFL seasons.
March 18
The Bears have acquired Nick Foles from the Jaguars in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next month’s draft.
What it means: No one is more invested in learning what this move means than Mitch Trubisky, the incumbent starting quarterback who has received multiple votes of public confidence from general manager Ryan Pace since last season ended.
Trubisky’s inconsistency and the unraveling of the Bears offense in 2019 was well-documented and created a new sense of urgency behind closed doors at Halas Hall. So while Pace has publicly said he expects Trubisky to be the starter when next season begins, the Bears’ desire to create real competition opens the door for Foles to slide into the starting role fairly easily and soon.
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Per @NFLNetwork reports, we have traded for QB @NickFoles.
(NFL policy currently prohibits teams from making any official announcements.)@SNICKERS | #DaBears — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 18, 2020
Foles’ chemistry with the offensive coaching staff — he spent time in previous stops with coach Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo — is a major plus. And his understanding of Nagy’s offensive system gives him a chance to hit the ground running when the the Bears get the all-clear to begin practicing this spring or summer. In giving up a fourth-round pick for Foles, the Bears have only two selections in the top 150. Foles’ contract with the Jaguars, which the Bears will inherit, runs through 2022 and has a base salary of more than $15 million for this season. Before long, Pace and Nagy will have to communicate their vision for their quarterback situation. It will be interesting to see when the team schedules those first public comments.
Leonard Floyd has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rams worth $10 million.
What it means: A day after the Bears released him, Floyd found a new home in Los Angeles, reuniting with first-year Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who was Floyd’s position coach with the Bears in 2017 and 2018. The Bears exercised the fifth-year option on Floyd’s rookie deal last year but wiggled out of it Tuesday, freeing themselves from a $13.2 million commitment. Now Floyd gets a one-season “prove-it deal” in Hollywood. The Bears, for what it’s worth, are scheduled to play the Rams in Los Angeles next season.
March 17
The Redskins are signing inside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis to a one-year deal, NFL Network reported.
What it means: Pierre-Louis leaves the Bears after one season. He did a nice job filling in for most of four games after Roquan Smith was injured. He had 37 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, three passes defended and an interception and also played on special teams. His play earned him a deal worth up to $3.45 million as he joins his fifth team for his seventh year in the league.
The Bears are signing edge rusher Robert Quinn to a five-year deal and releasing Leonard Floyd, NFL Network reported .
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What it means: The Bears get an upgrade at edge rusher with the swap. Quinn, who will turn 30 in May, joins the Bears and All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack for his 10th NFL season. He had 11 ½ sacks with the Cowboys in 2019, the second-most in his career behind the 19 he had in 2013 as an All-Pro. He also had 22 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and three passes defended. Quinn was a Rams first-round pick in 2011, and he spent his first seven seasons with the team before spending a year each with the Dolphins and Cowboys. He has 80 ½ sacks in his career. The deal, for $70 million with $30 million guaranteed, makes the Bears defensive front, with Mack and Akiem Hicks, even more formidable.
Floyd’s departure isn’t entirely surprising given he was owed $13.2 million in 2020. Floyd had a career-low three sacks in 2019. The Bears’ No. 9 overall draft pick in 2016 never quite lived up to the expectations for him. Bears general manager Ryan Pace has said multiple times he likes what Floyd provided in coverage and on run defense, but the Bears also noted his pass rushing production was not where they would like it to be. Floyd becomes Pace’s second first-round pick to leave, behind Kevin White.
Chase Daniel is headed to the Lions on a three-year deal, ESPN reported .
What it means: It was known the Bears likely weren’t going to bring Chase Daniel back for a third season as Mitch Trubisky’s backup, so he moves on to be the backup to Matthew Stafford.
Bears quarterback Chase Daniel sits on the bench before the first half against the Lions at Soldier Field on Nov. 10, 2019. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The Lions will be his fifth team in 11 seasons, a remarkable career for someone who has made only five starts. For the Bears, Daniel was a veteran presence to help guide Trubisky through coach Matt Nagy’s offense, and he also served as a team leader and the Bears’ representative to the NFLPA. He also started three games, throwing six touchdown passes and four interceptions. His presence is valued enough that the Lions gave him a $13.05 million deal, which contains a voidable clause.
The Lions agreed to terms with defensive lineman Nick Williams on a two-year deal.
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Bears defensive tackle Nick Williams celebrates after sacking Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins at Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2019. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: Nick Williams, 30, received his first significant pay day in the NFL after totaling six sacks last season when his playing time expanded because of injuries on the defensive line. Williams appeared in all 16 games with five starts and totaled 42 tackles. He’d made just 19 tackles with no sacks in 28 previous career games.
The Bears will hope to replace a chunk of Williams’ playing time (he was on the field for 49 percent of the snaps) with greater health. Akiem Hicks’ injury led to a lot of his playing time.
Can say thank you enough to the McCaskey family and the @ChicagoBears organization for giving me the opportunity. Thanks to my teammates and to the fans! Big Bear 97 Out ✌🏾 #OnePride 🦁 What’s good 😤 pic.twitter.com/9kVcmREelU — Nicholas Williams (@NickWilliams_98) March 17, 2020
The Lions are re-tooling their defensive front with coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn under pressure to break out of losing ways in Detroit and Williams is expected to be just one new piece along the defensive line, a familiar face the Bears will see twice a year. He reportedly will earn $10 million over the next two seasons. That’s not a bad deal for a guy that was on a minimum-salary benefit contract last year.
March 16
The Bears agreed to terms with veteran tight end Jimmy Graham on a two-year deal.
What it means: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bears will guarantee Jimmy Graham $9 million on a two-year deal that could be worth up to $16 million.
It’s a hefty price to pay for a 33-year-old veteran in the twilight of his career. But it also speaks to the Bears’ desperate need for production at tight end. Last season, six Bears tight ends combined for 46 catches, 416 yards and two touchdowns, woeful production for an offense that relies heavily on the tight end. Graham, in a 2019 season that could be characterized as ordinary at best, provided the Packers with 38 catches, 447 yards and three touchdowns.
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Bears GM Ryan Pace, of course, has familiarity with Graham from their days together with the Saints. From 2010 to 2014, Graham averaged 77 catches, 950 yards and 10 touchdowns and was selected to three Pro Bowls. That was a long time ago. And while it’s difficult to forecast how much Graham has left in his tank, he will be given every opportunity to be a major difference-maker in the Bears offense. His arrival also raises legitimate questions as to whether the Bears are ready to pull the plug on Trey Burton for 2020, even with $4 million of guaranteed money still owed.
The Raiders agreed to terms with former Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski on a three-year deal.
What it means: The Bears say goodbye to their 2016 fourth-round pick, a player who served them well when they needed him during the 2019 season.
Kwiatkoski earned himself a solid new deal when he filled in for eight starts last year while veteran Danny Trevathan was injured, totaling 76 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, four passes defended, a forced fumble and an interception. The Bears had to decide between trying to keep Kwiatkoski or Trevathan, and they went with the latter. Kwiatkoski’s deal is for $21 million with $13.5 million in guarantees, NFL Network reported.
March 13
The Bears tendered restricted free agent defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris .
Roy Robertson-Harris (95) goes after Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for a sack in the second quarter t Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2019. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The tender is believed to be at the second-round level, making it unlikely another team will try to sign him. The Bears have the right of first refusal and would receive a second-round draft pick if they didn’t match another team’s contract offer. Robertson-Harris, who joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, had 30 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 2 ½ sacks in his third season on the field.
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March 12
The Bears signed inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a three-year contract extension, NFL Network reported.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles the ball as Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan flips over in the third quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 5, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The Bears bring back a key piece of their defense on and off the field. The eight-year NFL veteran, who turns 30 later this month, had 70 tackles, two for a loss, four quarterback hits, a sack and a forced fumble over nine games in his fourth season with the Bears. He sat out the remainder of the year with an elbow injury. He will team up with Roquan Smith for a third season. His return, on a deal that could be worth $24 million, could signal the departure of inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to another team in free agency.
Feb. 21
The Bears released cornerback Prince Amukamara and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel.
Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel signs autographs on Nov. 24, 2019 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
What it means: The Bears cleared $13.5 million in salary cap space when they cut the veterans. But they now must find a starting cornerback to pair with Kyle Fuller and a speedy, deep-threat wide receiver to replace Taylor Gabriel.
Prince Amukamara, 30, started 44 games over three seasons with the Bears. He had three interceptions and a touchdown, all in 2018, along with 29 passes defended over three years. Gabriel, 29, had 96 catches for 1,041 yards over two seasons with the Bears. He was limited to nine games in 2019 as he dealt with two concussions. The Bears very likely will add to both rooms in the offseason. But cornerbacks Kevin Toliver and Tre Roberson and wide receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley are among the current players who could compete for playing time after the roster moves.
Feb. 20
The Bears signed veteran tight end Demetrius Harris to a one-year contract.
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Browns tight end Demetrius Harris tries for a catch in front of Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the second half on Dec. 1, 2019. (Don Wright/AP)
What it means: Demetrius Harris, 28, joins the Bears to potentially fill a role as their “Y” blocking tight end. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Chiefs in Kansas City when Bears coach Matt Nagy was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator there. He had 57 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns with the Chiefs. The Browns released him in February after one season in which he had 15 catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of Harris is likely the first of several moves to rebuild the Bears tight ends room this offseason.
Jan. 29
The Bears signed CFL cornerback Tre Roberson to a two-year contract.
Calgary's Tre Roberson celebrates an interception against Ottawa during the second half of the Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 25, 2018. (Codie McLachlan / Getty Images)
What it means: Tre Roberson, 27, picked the Bears from nine NFL contract offers after he had an All-Star season with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2019. The former Indiana and Illinois State quarterback, who spent time with the Vikings on their practice squad in 2016 and in training camp in 2017, had seven interceptions and two touchdowns in his second season in the CFL. The 6-foot, 190-pound Roberson provides needed depth at cornerback in a room that includes Kyle Fuller, Buster Skrine and Kevin Toliver.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Tracking QBs in NFL free agency: Nick Foles should be comfortable with his new coaches after Bears t

Tracking QBs in NFL free agency: Nick Foles should be comfortable with his new coaches after Bears trade for former Super Bowl MVP

What it means : Finally , Bears fans know who the second quarterback will be at Halas Hall when the Bears are allowed to begin offseason activities at some point .
And we use the phrase “ second quarterback ” loosely .
Because the early buzz in league circles is that the Bears expect Foles not only to compete with Mitch Trubisky for the starting job , but also to win it heading into the regular season .
Foles , 31 , will be entering his ninth season .
He has great familiarity with the system the Bears run and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversee it .
Foles and Bears coach Matt Nagy were together in 2012 with the Eagles and again in 2016 with the Chiefs .
Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was Foles ’ quarterbacks coach with the Eagles in 2013 , when Foles threw 27 touchdown passes and only two interceptions .
Bears quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo was in the same role with the Eagles in 2016 and 2017 , alongside Foles for his storybook run in lifting the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship at the end of the 2017 season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season .
Simply put , familiarity and comfort will be pluses for Foles and the Bears as they begin their union .
Now it remains to be seen how Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace will frame the quarterback competition and what will be next for Trubisky .


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--NFL Game Pass is giving free access to stream its library, including series such as ‘Hard Knocks,’ w

NFL Game Pass is giving free access to stream its library, including series such as ‘Hard Knocks,’ while NBA is offering complimentary streams of 2019-20 games

With events canceled & so much closed , I asked @ PBS to stream BASEBALL for free so we can @ @ @ @ @ together .
Watch at the link below or on any streaming device .
And please @ @ @ @ @ greater needs .
Play ball .
@ MLB https : //t.co/WaQLSpeYkF pic.twitter.com/QYp1XE0SLC

Just as NFL free agency is giving sports fans something to talk about, the league seems intent on giving us something to watch too.
The NFL has opened its library, giving complimentary U.S. access to its NFL Game Pass streams through May 31.
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Complimentary access to #NFLGamePass now available to fans both in the U.S. and Internationally, providing access to past full regular and postseason game broadcasts, NFL Originals and more: https://t.co/3oCxfxli0A pic.twitter.com/uprADlRV9N — NFL Media (@NFLMedia) March 18, 2020
This is a free opportunity to enjoy highlights and whole games from the last 11 seasons, as well as NFL Films series such as “Hard Knocks” and “A Football Life,” plus “NFL Game Pass Film Sessions.”
The NBA on Wednesday offered free access to NBA Game Pass streaming content from the 2019-20 season through April 22. Fans are invited to sign up and sign in via NBA.com or the NBA app on supported devices.
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During the NBA Hiatus, Watch a Free Preview of NBA League Pass
>> https://t.co/Pqxh2ExSNm pic.twitter.com/0VLbibniN1 — NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2020
This is a blessing for the housebound sports fan, eager for a connection to sports content during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a smaller but similar action, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns prevailed upon PBS to make streams of his 1994 series “Baseball” available for free.
With events canceled & so much closed, I asked @PBS to stream BASEBALL for free so we can participate in the national pastime together. Watch at the link below or on any streaming device. And please look out for those with greater needs. Play ball. @MLB https://t.co/WaQLSpeYkF pic.twitter.com/QYp1XE0SLC — Ken Burns (@KenBurns) March 15, 2020
NFL Game Pass access is available to anyone who creates an account online at NFL.com/GamePass or via the NFL app across mobile and connected TV devices.
Also starting Wednesday, NFL digital platforms began showcasing a different team’s signature victory each day beginning at 11 a.m. Central time via NFL.com, the NFL app and the NFL’s official YouTube channel.
First up was Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs coming from behind to defeat the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV last month.
NFL Game Pass offerings include full regular-season, postseason and Super Bowl games in HD and commercial-free from 2009 to 2019. Preseason games since 2010 are available too.
There are condensed 45-minute replays of games, as well as “Access ‘All-22′ ” and high-angle end-zone perspectives.
“NFL Game Pass Film Sessions” feature players and coaches breaking down plays with Brian Baldinger and Ron Jaworski.
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Whole seasons of NFL series such as “Hard Knocks,” “Mic’d Up” and “A Football Life” also are offered.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--1 person dead after single-vehicle crash in Skokie

Skokie Boulevard from Niles Center Road to Grove Street was closed for the investigation Wednesday morning .
Skokie police are @ @ @ @ @ the crash to contact them .

One person is dead following a single-vehicle accident on Skokie Boulevard in Skokie early Wednesday morning.
Skokie police and fire crews responded to the 8900 block of Skokie Boulevard about 3:50 a.m. for a report of a single-vehicle accident, according to police.
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A passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The individual’s name has not yet been released.
The driver of the vehicle and another passenger remained on the scene after the accident, police said.
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Skokie Boulevard from Niles Center Road to Grove Street was closed for the investigation Wednesday morning. Skokie police are asking anyone with knowledge of the crash to contact them.
The crash and what led to it are still being investigated, said Officer Eric Swaback.
The Major Crash Assistance Team, a multi-jurisdictional team consisting of experienced and trained crash investigators from several local law enforcement agencies was activated. The team is investigating the accident with Skokie Police Department and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Ammo in demand amid COVID-19

Ammo in demand amid COVID-19

If you find yourself stuck at home because of the coronavirus , use the time to take care of yourself @ @ @ @ @ your to-do list once and for all .

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Paul Becvar examines a Rock River AR-15-style rifle he is purchasing March 18, 2020, at Bat Arms in Plano, as store owner Barry Torphy looks on. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Toilet paper and hand sanitizer aren't the only items consumers worried about the new coronavirus have been hunting for. Ammo is also flying off the shelves at local gun stores.


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Drive-up COVID-19 testing, with doctor’s OK, now available at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in

Drive-up COVID-19 testing, with doctor’s OK, now available at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge

The test will involve a nose swab collected by a healthcare worker , and the sample will be processed and @ @ @ @ @ Citronberg said .
After they are tested , patients will be told to self-quarantine at @ @ @ @ @ the tests are communicated to them by a doctor , Advocate said on its website @

Drive-up testing for COVID-19 coronavirus is now available at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, but not just anyone can show up for a test, hospital officials warn.
“The key point is that these are not a drive-up window like at a fast-food restaurant,” Dr. Robert Citronberg, director of infectious diseases at Lutheran General, said during a Wednesday afternoon conference call with reporters. “They are not open to the general public. The people who can get tested need authorization from their physician.”
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This pre-approved authorization can come from an Advocate doctor whom the patient contacts by phone or through the Advocate Aurora Health LiveWell app, said Advocate spokesman Mike Riopell.
If the physician believes testing is appropriate based on symptoms, the patient will be instructed to head over to the drive-up testing center, Citronberg said.
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The test will involve a nose swab collected by a healthcare worker, and the sample will be processed and sent to a lab, Citronberg said. After they are tested, patients will be told to self-quarantine at home until the results of the tests are communicated to them by a doctor, Advocate said on its website.
“We want people to be tested who are sick, where knowing the results of their test will impact the curve of this epidemic,” Citronberg said.
Drive-thru COVID-19 testing is offered at Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge on March 18. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Hospital staff gather at a COVID-19 testing site on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge on March 18, 2020. (Pam DeFiglio / Pioneer Press)
As of Wednesday, testing was being done by a state lab, but the hospital’s ACL Laboratory, which serves Advocate Aurora Health Care, “is in the final stages of creating their own testing platform,” Citronberg said. When up and running, up to 400 tests can be processed per day, he said.
“That will really reduce the backlog and allow us to do more testing too,” he said.
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is the second Advocate medical center to add drive-up COVID-19 testing. A pilot testing center was set up last week at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, according to the heath care system.
On Wednesday, digital signs reading “pre-approved hospital COVID-19 testing” were stationed along Dempster Street near the hospital, and an eastbound lane on Dempster, leading to the hospital, was blocked off by traffic barricades.
A sign on Dempster Street alerts drivers to coronavirus testing at nearby Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge on March 18, 2020. (Pam DeFiglio / Pioneer Press)
The hospital set up a tent staffed with medical personnel in a controlled-access parking lot on the west side of Luther Lane. Traffic-control staff speak to drivers who pull up, asking if they have a doctor’s approval, before letting them proceed into the line for testing.
Citronberg encouraged people to take social distancing seriously by maintaining at least a 6-foot distance from others, picking up groceries during off-peak hours and avoiding sending children to play dates, sleepovers and group outings.
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“Just because they are not in school does not mean they should be together in other places,” he said.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-03-18--Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim is turning 90. Let’s celebrate what he taught us about love

But , as we understand life better , we figure out that no one can really love someone “ just @ @ @ @ @ but not too often , nor play but not too rough .
( I ’ @ @ @ @ @ tender distance ” line right now . )
That ’ s because we can never @ @ @ @ @ us , or how we will change , or how life will change us .
@ @ @ @ @ understands the crucial role of humility and vulnerability in love , maybe better than any @ @ @ @

Stephen Sondheim is 90 on Sunday. What a time to have a birthday!
I could write, I suppose, about Sondheim and the coronavirus. As with Shakespeare, who knew from the plague, you can apply Sondheim to every moment, even this unimaginable one, for Sondheim might not be God but he most certainly is life. But who needs such a column right now?
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Let’s just celebrate all that he has taught us about love — so far. And I’ll make it personal. I’ll talk about my own wedding.
In July, 1999. In an old museum in Huron City, Michigan. To Gillian Darlow. All our parents were still alive and well. We planned an all-Sondheim program, performed by friends.
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First up was “Marry Me a Little,” a controversial song given the circumstances. It’s from “Company” (1970), one of Sondheim’s best and a show about a confirmed bachelor named Robert, stuck on the edge of change and self-knowledge. (If the world were not unmoored, I would have been reviewing the latest Broadway revival within hours of writing this column, but we’re just not going there).
Why is “Marry Me a Little” such a masterpiece? It’s a song about commitment, really, and about how, when we are young, we think that we can make some kind of bargain that allows for love and independence in some predetermined package with clear boundaries. “Marry me a little,” Robert sings, “love me just enough. Cry, but not too often. Play, but not too tough. Keep a tender distance, So we’ll both be free. That’s the way it ought to be.”
But, as we understand life better, we figure out that no one can really love someone “just enough,” nor cry but not too often, nor play but not too rough. (I’m not touching the “tender distance” line right now.) That’s because we can never predict what lies ahead for us, or how we will change, or how life will change us. This is a song that understands the crucial role of humility and vulnerability in love, maybe better than any song ever written.
In his book, “Finishing the Hat,” Sondheim says that “Marry Me a Little” is “an internal monologue of despair and self-deceptive determination.” I could make political parallels with one of our current leaders, who does not seem to understand that to live is to love. But we’re not going there.
“Loving You,” our next choice, is a song from “Passion” (1994). It’s sung by an obsessive character named Fosca, who insists that our feelings are not controlled by our intellect. “Loving you is not a choice, it’s who I am,” she sings, telling us that love is “not much reason to rejoice,” a reference to how our feelings aren’t controlled by our intellect.
If we lose someone we love, we can’t just rationalize that they’re gone, and we can’t do anything about it, so therefore there is no point in feeling the pain we feel. On the contrary, we cannot help ourselves. Loving is not in our control.
But Fosca also sings that love is what gives our life purpose and reason and direction. I could make a parallel with some of the sacrifices that we’re all making right now so some of us can continue to love those we love, and how staying home is not so much the right thing to be doing as the only thing to be doing. But we’re not going there.
“Not a Day Goes By,” which came next that beautiful summer Saturday, comes from “Merrily We Roll Along" (1981) and can be sung either mournfully or rapturously. That’s because it is a perfect musical capsulation of the very same truth expressed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who wrote in 1849, “'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all.” (It just rarely feels that way).
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A young woman named Beth has figured out that she cannot stay married to a man who has been unfaithful, but she’s also smart enough to know that she never can erase this relationship from her life.
“Not a Day Goes By,” she sings, “Not a blessed day, but you’re still somehow part of my life, and you won’t go away. So there’s hell to pay. Until I die.”
That hell, though, is not necessarily as bad as Beth maybe thinks in that moment. This is very much a song about loss. It can be about a busted relationship or about bereavement. It doesn’t matter. After all, every loving relationship has to end, or, at least change form. But where we can, it is better to keep these bonds alive. But we’re not going there.
Our last marital selection? “Being Alive,” also from “Company,” as also sung by Adam Driver’s messed-up character in the Oscar-nominated movie “Marriage Story.” This is Sondheim’s ultimate love song.
It states better than any other song in the history of the universe that to love to is to live. If we don’t love, we can’t live. We all flail around trying to define what love means, of course, in whatever are the terms of the ever-changing moment. But Sondheim simply distills all of that nonsense to its essence.
“Someone to hold me too close. Someone to hurt me too deep. Someone to sit in my chair, And ruin my sleep, And make me aware, Of being alive. Being alive.”
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So if we were going there, I would say that if there is someone in your home right now sitting in your chair, or ruining your sleep or forcing you to care more than you think you have time for, maybe someone as frightened as you right now, then that is a good thing. A really good thing.
You are rich.
I guess Sondheim led us there.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com