chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Chicago patios and rooftops: Our critics’ picks for where to eat outside now

This Evanston steakhouse from Amy Morton always had a unique location — you have to walk down an alley to @ @ @ @ @ dining room that was dark , moody and sophisticated .
But that hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ a bright and open patio that is almost the opposite .
We have a feeling @ @ @ @ @ the same .
Just know that the staff will take your temperature before entering .
@ @ @ @ @ Church St. Rear , Evanston , 847-868-8041 ; thebarnsteakhouse.com

Our annual roundup of outdoor-dining options is a bit late this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic. But here it is, with 19 critics’ picks added to a long list of city and suburban options. Because of the limited seating available, reservations are essential in most cases, and many restaurants impose time limits on parties to enable staffers to thoroughly sanitize tables between seatings.
Once you’ve read our recommendations, if you need more ideas about where to dine outdoors, visit our full listing of Chicago-area patios and rooftops.
The Loyalist
Diners talk on June 25 with a server while sitting in the new outdoor area at The Loyalist. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
New for this summer is The Loyalist’s sidewalk cafe, a 26-seat space with a French focus. You wouldn’t call it classic French; the menu includes a banh mi eclair with foie-gras mousse and hazelnut butter (I’ve had this dish; it’s mind-blowing). Also consider beet tartare with preserved egg yolk and tonnato, a steak Diane burger and softshell-crab meuniere. 177 N. Ada St., 276-698-1654; smythandtheloyalist.com
— Phil Vettel
Frontier
Sample ambitious dishes from chef Brian Jupiter on Frontier's outdoor patio. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Frontier is probably best known as the place to go if you want to order a whole smoked goat (or pig or alligator or lamb). But the restaurant also sports an impressive patio and beer garden where you can sample ambitious dishes from chef Brian Jupiter. That includes char-grilled oysters and wild-boar sliders. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322; thefrontierchicago.com
— Nick Kindelsperger
Aboyer
In 2019, Aboyer's brasserie menu featured a roast chicken. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Michael Lachowicz’s outdoor space, dubbed Le Patio Aboyer, holds six tables and a maximum of 24 seats. The patio sits to the side of Lachowicz’s three-in-one dining complex (George Trois and Silencieux are under the same roof). It’s a calm, green-lined setting for Aboyer’s French brasserie menu, available for dinner only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-441-3100; aboyerrestaurant.com — P.V.
The Barn Steakhouse
Amy Morton's The Barn Steakhouse — featuring such specialties as this dry-aged, bone-in rib-eye photographed in 2018 — now seats diners on an open patio. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
This Evanston steakhouse from Amy Morton always had a unique location — you have to walk down an alley to enter — along with a dining room that was dark, moody and sophisticated. But that hasn’t stopped the restaurant from creating a bright and open patio that is almost the opposite. We have a feeling the top-quality steaks will taste the same. Just know that the staff will take your temperature before entering. Call for reservations. 1016 Church St. Rear, Evanston, 847-868-8041; thebarnsteakhouse.com — N.K.
Beatnik On the River
If there’s a prettier riverfront cafe in the city, I haven’t seen it. The 100-foot patio, just south of the Chicago River’s fork is laid out with lush landscaping, pillow-topped day beds, Persian rugs and hanging lanterns. In keeping with the name and decor, Marcos Campos’ menu is offbeat and globally inspired. 180 N. Wacker Drive, 312-526-3345; beatnikontheriver.com — P.V.
Bien Trucha
The Pescadilla tacos and the Pepino (cucumber) drink were featured at Bien Trucha in Geneva on April 3, 2013. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune)
Anyone who has been to this acclaimed Mexican restaurant in Geneva, one of the best in the whole region, knows about the patio. The retreat is surrounded by manicured plants and shaded by large umbrellas so each seat is pleasant even when the sun is beating down. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, guests will have their temperature checked before entering the restaurant. 410 W. State St., Geneva, 630-232-2665; bientrucha.com — N.K.
Clark Street alley
The Guava, Rum cocktail, photographed last year at Bar Sotano, has subtle overtones of bourbon and creme de banana. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The alley that runs east of Clark Street between Illinois and Kinzie streets is home to outdoor patios by three restaurants and bars: Bar Sotano, which combines creative Mexican street food with Lanie Bayless’ mezcal-focused cocktails; Bub City, Lettuce Entertain You’s country-themed barbecue destination; and Three Dots and a Dash, Lettuce’s Tiki-themed cocktail lounge. leye.com; rickbayless.com — P.V.
Daisies
Daisies restaurant in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood focuses on pasta dishes, which are all the more interesting at this time of year for their locally farmed vegetables. (Neil Burger / HANDOUT)
Daisies’ pasta-focused menu is worth trying any time of the year, but it’s especially intriguing during the summer, when they incorporate loads of vegetables from local farms. Plus, you can now enjoy those dishes on the restaurant’s light-filled back patio in Logan Square. 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-661-1671; daisieschicago.com — N.K.
River Roast
River Roast restaurant's outdoor patio, shown here in 2014, has a great view of the city's architecture. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
River Roast on June 10 reopened its outdoor patio, where a long line of tables overlooks the Chicago River and urban architecture across the way. Chef Cedric Harden’s menu focuses on hand-carved roasts (chicken, pork tenderloin, roast beef), charcuterie and burgers. 315 N. LaSalle St., 312-822-0100; riverroastchicago.com — P.V.
The Duck Inn
Fried cheese curds were on the menu at The Duck Inn in 2015. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
As chef Kevin Hickey recently told me, thanks to its expansive back patio, The Duck Inn is uniquely prepared for this summer. The plant-lined space feels like you’ve entered the stylish backyard of a green-thumbed friend who also happens to be an acclaimed local chef and loves to serve duck in various forms. That includes a house-made duck-fat-and-beef sausage that forms the base of an iconic Chicago-style hot dog. 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811; theduckinnchicago.com — N.K.
Funkenhausen
Funkenhausen, the German-Southern restaurant, debuted its sidewalk cafe on Tuesday. (Chicago Tribune photo by Brian Cassella)
Mark Steuer’s German-Southern restaurant debuted its sidewalk cafe on Tuesday with a counter-service format: Place your order at the window, find a seat (seven tables, as many as 28 seats) and pick up your food when it’s ready. The menu includes such favorites as Das Burger, lamb T-bones and smoked spare ribs, and beverages (also available to go) include cocktails, sweet tea (the high-octane kind) and Friesling (the German equivalent of frosé). 1709 W. Chicago Ave., 312-929-4727; funkenhausen.com — P.V.
La Palapa
La Palapa, in McKinley Park, is BYOB and specializes in seafood, specifically ceviche and cocteles. Shrimp fill this quesadilla. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
La Palapa in McKinley Park serves the kind of freshly prepared seafood you’d want while lounging on a breezy Mexican beach. While you’ll never confuse Chicago for a sleepy beach town, the enormous patio, dotted with hulking thatched umbrellas (palapas in Spanish), helps you suspend belief for at least an hour or two. Here you’ll find multiple versions of ceviche and cocteles (the Mexican version of shrimp cocktail), along with larger platters of seafood to share. As always, the restaurant is BYOB, so make sure to bring your favorite refreshment. No reservation necessary. 2000 W. 34th St., 773-376-9620; lapalapamariscos.com — N.K.
Pizzeria Portofino
Patrons enjoy lunch in 2019 on one of the city's most picturesque patios: Pizzeria Portofino. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
When this Lettuce Entertain You restaurant debuted last summer, it was one of the toughest reservations in town. This year, with limited capacity, dining here might be even tougher. (Make an online reservation, or don’t bother.) It’s not hard to understand why: The sun-drenched riverfront patio invites comparisons to the Italian Riviera, and the pizza-pasta-salads menu, augmented by a selection of coastal-Italian wines and refreshing spritzers, is perfect summer fare. Portofino’s windows open completely in good weather, so even roof-covered tables feel like they’re outdoors. 317 Clark St., 312-900-9018; pizzeriaportofino.com — P.V.
Le Sud
Le Sud's fare is inspired by the southern coast of France. In 2018, tender pieces of octopus were matched to silky pommes puree and an assertive bordelaise sauce. (Jose M. Osorio)
Le Sud’s menu draws inspiration from the sunny southern coast of France, so it makes sense that its patio would, too. Located on the leafy streets of Roscoe Village, the large patio is filled with brightly colored chairs and flowers. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday, with happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m. That’s when you can score $6 glasses of wine, $3 beers and $5-$6 small plates. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985; lesudchicago.com — N.K.
Mantra by Indian Garden
Lamb peshawri and methi aloo are both on the menu at Mantra by Indian Garden. (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)
This excellent Indian restaurant in Schiller Park created a patio in its parking lot. But expect more than just some tables set up on bare asphalt. The plush patio offers the same comforting atmosphere as the main dining room. 9438 W. Irving Park Road, Schiller Park, 847-260-5777; mantrachicago.com — N.K.
Piccolo Sogno's patio has high fences to make the restaurant feel far from the busy intersection where it sits. (Eugene Huge Galdones)
Piccolo Sogno
One of my favorite outdoor patios in the city is the spacious, landscaped space attached to Tony Priolo’s terrific Italian restaurant. High fencing makes diners feel like they’re miles away from one of the city’s busiest intersections (where Halsted Street and Grand and Milwaukee avenues converge). The outdoor space is so attractive that, in previous summers, customers would eat indoors only grudgingly, sometimes passing up available indoor seats to wait for an outdoor table. It’s one of the reasons Priolo keeps the space open throughout the day. 436 N. Halsted St., 312-421-0077; piccolosognorestaurant.com — P.V.
Prairie Grass Cafe
Prairie Grass Cafe has opened a small patio in its parking lot. (Sarah Stegner photo/Sarah Stegner photo)
Prairie Grass Cafe has been doing strong carryout and delivery of a la carte items and meal kits, and now it has opened a tented outdoor area. It may not hold many people (six tables under the tent; four umbrella-topped tables), but, hey, its outdoors! Plus there’s Sarah Stegner’s and George Bumbaris’ American menu (roast chicken, whitefish, pasta) and terrific desserts. 601 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, 847-205-4433; prairiegrasscafe.com — P.V.
Tzuco
Carlos Gaytan's acclaimed Mexican restaurant Tzuco offers outdoor seating as well as a menu that's adding new options regularly. (HANDOUT)
Carlos Gaytan’s acclaimed Mexican restaurant boasts a 40-seat covered patio, ringed with copper-colored planters and lit with hanging bulbs. The menu is a little shorter than Tzuco’s regular menu (anybody remember regular menus?), but Gaytan is adding new dishes regularly. Indoor seats will be available beginning July 1. 720 N. State St., 312-374-8995; tzuco.com — P.V.
Virtue
Marlena Wadley, left, hands a carryout dinner order to Lawrence Benito at Virtue in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. Since this photo was taken in March, the restaurant has opened a 38-seat patio, and still offers takeout. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Erick Williams’ restaurant opened in late 2018 and has been accumulating one accolade after another ever since. (He’s a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Great Lakes award, to be announced in September.) Virtue’s outdoor space encompasses 38 seats at tables spaced along Harper Court. The menu includes Southern American staples such as blackened catfish and collard greens with smoked turkey, but also pork chop with Egyptian grains and cauliflower with cashews and dukkah. Seats tend to be snapped up quickly, but there’s always carryout. 1462 E. 53rd St., 773-947-8831; virtuerestaurant.com — P.V.
Need more suggestions? Visit our full listing of Chicago-area patios and rooftops.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--24 people indicted in probe of West Side gangs

The investigation by Chicago police and other agencies led to the seizure of 34 guns and about 25 kilograms altogether @ @ @ @ @ the powerful painkiller fentanyl , authorities said .
During the probe , about 50 grams @ @ @ @ @ confiscated , along with 200 pounds of marijuana and more than $ 1.3 million in @ @ @ @ @ was allegedly purchased with drug money , authorities said .

Two dozen people face federal drug, weapons and money laundering charges in an investigation into two Chicago street gangs whose alleged misdeeds occurred largely on the West Side, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Friday.
The investigation by Chicago police and other agencies led to the seizure of 34 guns and about 25 kilograms altogether of heroin, cocaine and the powerful painkiller fentanyl, authorities said. During the probe, about 50 grams of crack cocaine was also confiscated, along with 200 pounds of marijuana and more than $1.3 million in cash and jewelry, which was allegedly purchased with drug money, authorities said.
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In addition to Chicago police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS, among other agencies, were involved in the investigation.
The investigation was dubbed “Operation Wicked Stones,” and was part of a probe called “Operation Full Circle,” focusing on high-ranking members of the Wicked Town faction of the Traveling Vice Lords and the Black P Stones, according to authorities.
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The investigation also led to previously filed federal charges against three people on allegations that they participated in a murder-for-hire conspiracy.
While the charges against the 24 suspects don’t reflect it, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown told reporters on Friday it’s believed that gang factions that were part of the investigation were responsible for about 30 homicides in the last nine years.
“That’s families that have lost their loved ones. That’s 30 funerals. That’s hearts broken. That’s many cries. And many tears,” said Brown. “And these acts of violence go beyond impacting a single family. They impact friends and neighborhoods. No one feels safe after someone they know is taken from them with a bullet.”
jgorner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Aurora man charged with throwing explosive at police vehicle during George Floyd protest in Napervil

Aurora man charged with throwing explosive at police vehicle during George Floyd protest in Naperville

Rea was among a group of protesters just after 9:30 p.m. June 1 when he threw the explosive device at @ @ @ @ @ at Washington Street and Chicago Avenue in the west suburb , according to the complaint @ @ @ @ @ near the vehicle when the device detonated .

An Aurora man is facing federal charges alleging he threw an explosive at a police vehicle during George Floyd-related unrest in Naperville earlier this month.
Christian Rea, 19, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of civil unrest. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
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Rea was among a group of protesters just after 9:30 p.m. June 1 when he threw the explosive device at a Naperville police vehicle parked at Washington Street and Chicago Avenue in the west suburb, according to the complaint. Several officers were standing near the vehicle when the device detonated.
“As a result of the explosion, the officers were temporarily stunned, with several officers suffering momentary blindness and hearing loss for several minutes,” the 14-page complaint stated. “Panic ensued in the crowd of protesters as well, with people running in all directions.”
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Investigators were able to identify Rea through photographs posted on various Facebook pages that showed a man with dark hair wearing dark pants and a blue Tommy Hilfiger shirt, according to the charges.
After his arrest Thursday, Rea admitted he threw the device, which he called a “firework,” according to the complaint.
Rea appeared by telephone for a detention hearing Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz, who released him to the custody of his mother.
“Federal law enforcement will use all tools available to hold accountable individuals who interfere with law enforcement officers performing their duties during a civil disorder,” U.S. Attorney John Lausch said in a statement.
Rea was the first person to face federal charges stemming from the unrest that struck Naperville, where more than two dozen buildings were vandalized and several stores were looted.
A similar scene played out in Aurora, where violence began after a largely peaceful protest of the police-involved killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. Some in the crowd hurled large chunks of concrete at police, while others lit fireworks within feet of officers. Authorities responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets repeatedly into the crowds.
The Tribune and the Aurora-Beacon News have reported that investigators are combing through hours of video from surveillance cameras, drones and dashboard cameras, and are also using facial recognition software to identify suspects.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Corrupt Chicago police sergeant sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison for falsifying sear

Corrupt Chicago police sergeant sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison for falsifying search warrants, stealing drugs

Prosecutors had asked for 10 years in prison for Elizondo , noting that the damage his corruption caused continues to @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s attorney ’ s office has dismissed dozens of criminal cases that were @ @ @ @ @ and Saglado ’ s involvement , and at least 10 civil rights lawsuits against the @ @ @ @ @ pending in federal court , prosecutors said .

Chicago police Sgt. Xavier Elizondo arrives for his trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct. 8, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Convicted Chicago police Sgt. Xavier Elizondo may not have gotten rich off his scheme to use bogus search warrants to steal drugs and cash, but his corruption still has cost plenty, a federal judge said Friday.
In sentencing Elizondo to more than seven years in prison, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said corrupt officers like him are a big reason why “people don’t trust the system and don’t trust law enforcement.”
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“People see that police officers can lie and get away with it for an extended period of time,” Kennelly said before handing down the 87-month term for Elizondo, who remained expressionless at the defense table. “That’s the price that has been paid.”
Elizondo and his former partner, Officer David Salgado, were each found guilty by a jury last year of conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges. Elizondo was also convicted on one count of attempting to destroy evidence, while Salgado was also found guilty of one count of lying to the FBI.
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Their two-week trial in October laid bare the shady world of anonymous Chicago police informants who were paid by Elizondo and Salgado to lie on search warrant affidavits presented before Cook County judges.
The verdict marked the latest in a long line of embarrassing cases for the Chicago Police Department in which officers have been caught allegedly profiting from the drug trade they were supposed to be investigating.
Before he was sentenced Friday, Elizondo stood at the lectern in Kennelly’s courtroom and asked for leniency, calling it the lowest point in his life.
“There is much life left for me to live,” said Elizondo, who has three school-age children.
Prosecutors had asked for 10 years in prison for Elizondo, noting that the damage his corruption caused continues to unfold. The Cook County state’s attorney’s office has dismissed dozens of criminal cases that were tainted by Elizondo’s and Saglado’s involvement, and at least 10 civil rights lawsuits against the officers and the city are pending in federal court, prosecutors said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Franzblau said Friday that Elizondo also perjured himself multiple times when he testified in his own defense at trial.
“It was deeply troubling to see a sworn police officer exhibit such contempt for the law and this court,” Franzblau said.
Elizondo’s attorney, Michael Clancy, asked for a sentence of less than five years behind bars, noting that Elizondo for years was a decorated and trusted officer and federal task force member who helped take guns and violent gang members off the street.
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Clancy also said Elizondo has suffered much already due to the public attention to the charges.
“The day his name was on an indictment, his punishment started,” Clancy said.
Elizondo, 47, who’s been with the department for 23 years, and Salgado, 39, an officer since 2003, were placed on paid desk duty in January 2018 after they were targeted in a pair of elaborate FBI sting operations designed to catch them in the act.
At trial, several informants testified that after a successful raid, Elizondo and Salgado would pay them in cash, drugs or cigarettes that had been seized, sometimes meeting them in alleys or grocery store parking lots.
The jury also heard rare testimony from a sitting Cook County judge, Mauricio Araujo, who signed a search warrant outside the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in December 2017 based on information provided by an informant who was secretly cooperating with the FBI.
In a risky move, Elizondo took the witness stand in his own defense, claiming he always “had a knack” for recruiting informants to tip him off about guns, cash and drugs on the city’s West Side.
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To win over cooperators, he often pretended to be a dirty cop who was willing to cut them in on a share of whatever was found in a raid, he told jurors.
So it wasn’t surprising, Elizondo testified, that he was caught in an FBI sting in 2017 telling an informant that “whatever falls out of the bag” would be his.
“It’s a lie that I tell,” he testified. “It could be drugs, it could be jewelry, it could be whatever you want it to be.”
Elizondo was allowed to remain free on bond and report to prison.
Salgado is scheduled to be sentenced by Kennelly on July 15.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Cook County court system eyes July reopening, mostly via video

The vast majority of court operations were put on pause in mid-March in an effort to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ the Leighton Criminal Court Building , one of the nation ’ s busiest felony courthouses @ @ @ @ @ court were heard on an emergency basis .
Proceedings have been conducted by the videoconferencing @ @ @ @ @ are livestreamed to YouTube to ensure public access .

Almost all Cook County court functions can resume, mostly via videoconference, on July 6, according to an order signed Friday by Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
The reopening comes after more than three months of widespread shutdown across the court system due to concerns about COVID-19.
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While jury trials will not go forward, bench trials — in which a judge, not a jury, makes the decision on guilt — can resume. Those may be conducted via videoconference if all parties agree, according to Friday’s order.
No date has been set to resume jury trials.
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In addition, the Cook County sheriff will not enforce eviction orders until after July 31, the order states.
But many of the nuts and bolts of criminal cases can resume: plea hearings, legal arguments, bail violation hearings, arraignments and more.
Temperature checks will be conducted at courthouses, and people will be barred entry if their temperature measures at 100.4 degrees or higher, according to a news release from Evans’ office. Courtrooms will feature plexiglass barriers on the bench, and everyone will be required to wear face coverings inside courthouses.
The vast majority of court operations were put on pause in mid-March in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. At the Leighton Criminal Court Building, one of the nation’s busiest felony courthouses, cases outside of bond court were heard on an emergency basis. Proceedings have been conducted by the videoconferencing app Zoom, and many are livestreamed to YouTube to ensure public access.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Judge dismisses lawsuit brought against University of Illinois counselors by family of slain Chinese

Judge dismisses lawsuit brought against University of Illinois counselors by family of slain Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang

Zhang ’ s family has argued Miebach and Maupin should have done more when Brendt Christensen told them months before @ @ @ @ @ with serial killers and he had purchased items to move and dispose of a body

Urbana, Ill. — A central Illinois judge has dismissed for a second time a lawsuit filed by the estate of a slain visiting Chinese scholar against two social workers at a University of Illinois counseling center.
This 2016 selfie photo provided by her family shows Yingying Zhang in a cap and gown for her graduate degree in environmental engineering from Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. (Yingying Zhang)
Champaign County Circuit Judge Jason Bohm wrote Wednesday what happened to Yingying Zhang was unconscionable. However, counselors Thomas Miebach and Jennifer Maupin didn't cause or contribute to her death.
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Zhang’s family has argued Miebach and Maupin should have done more when Brendt Christensen told them months before her disappearance of his fascination with serial killers and he had purchased items to move and dispose of a body
“To be sure, Christensen made disturbingly ugly comments to Miebach and Maupin,” Bohm wrote. However, “the law cannot impose upon mental health professionals a duty to break their patient’s confidence simply because what the patient reveals is revolting.”
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After a similar federal lawsuit was dismissed in December, it was refiled in January in state court and the university again moved to have it dismissed.
Christensen was found guilty of abducting Zhang from a bus stop in June 2017, then raping, choking and stabbing her before beating her to death with a bat and decapitating her. He is serving a life sentence.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Man dies after coming into contact with power lines in Rockford

The 59-year-old Loves Park man was found in a bucket lift Thursday afternoon when staff members from the Winnebago County @ @ @ @ @ at the location in Rockford .
He was pronounced dead at the scene , WREX-TV @ @

Rockford, Ill. — A northern Illinois man was electrocuted when he came into contact with power lines in Rockford, authorities said.
The 59-year-old Loves Park man was found in a bucket lift Thursday afternoon when staff members from the Winnebago County coroner’s office arrived at the location in Rockford. He was pronounced dead at the scene, WREX-TV reported.
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A coroner’s report states that the man was electrocuted when he made contract with electrical power lines.
The victim’s name was being withheld, pending notification of his family.
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An autopsy is pending and results from toxicology exams should be available in the coming weeks, officials said.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--'Chicago's an example. It's, like, worse than Afghanistan.' When Trump talks about Chicago, we track

'Chicago's an example. It's, like, worse than Afghanistan.' When Trump talks about Chicago, we track it.

`` The city of Chicago .
What the hell is going on in Chicago ?
There are those who say @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , okay ?
What is going on ?
You know what 's wrong with @ @ @ @ @ politicians .
Democrats that do n't want to force restrictions and do n't , and @ @ @ @ @ , -- for those of you that are gon na say , 'Guns , guns @ @ @ @ @ toughest gun laws in the United States , okay ?
Just in case you were @ @ @ @ @ know they immediately say , 'Oh , you 're gon na take away . '
@ @ @ @ @ toughest gun laws in the United States .
So we 're asking Democrats in Congress @ @ @ @ @ do the right thing -- end sanctuary cities . ''

Chicago and its violence have been a frequent subject of President Donald Trump’s attention. It was a common campaign thread Trump used to hammer Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and now Joe Biden.
Since becoming president Trump has returned the theme frequently bashing the city in Tweets and interviews. It’s not all vinegar, though. In a 2016 interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity Trump said: “I love Chicago. I have big investments in Chicago, and I think it’s a great city.”
Here are Trump’s mentions of Chicago — and the state of Illinois — with annotations where appropriate.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--At least 6 injured when CTA bus crashes into building on Northwest Side

The No .
74/Fullerton bus was heading east at the time of the crash .
A tow truck driver lost @ @ @ @ @ the bus operator swerved to avoid it , hitting the building .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ truck hit the CTA bus .
It also wasn ’ t clear whether anyone in @ @ @ @ @ the building was injured , or the extent of the bus operator and passengers ’ @ @

At least six people were injured when a CTA bus crashed into a building Friday morning on the Northwest Side.
The crash happened about 7:55 a.m. at Fullerton and Laramie avenues, according to CTA spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski.
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Six people, including the bus operator, were taken to area hospitals in good condition, according to a Fire Department spokesman. The Chicago Fire Department requested an Emergency Medical Services Plan 1 for extra ambulances.
At least three of those injured were on the bus, Hosinski said.
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The No. 74/Fullerton bus was heading east at the time of the crash. A tow truck driver lost control of the vehicle and the bus operator swerved to avoid it, hitting the building. It’s not clear whether the tow truck hit the CTA bus. It also wasn’t clear whether anyone in the other vehicle or in the building was injured, or the extent of the bus operator and passengers’ injuries.
Check back for more information.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Woman charged with vandalizing Art Institute lion’s base

A 19-year-old woman from Whiting , Indiana , was charged with two misdemeanors after officers spotted her tagging the base @ @ @ @ @ statues outside the Art Institute of Chicago overnight .

Graffiti is visible on the base of one of the two lions at the Art Institute in Chicago on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A 19-year-old woman from Whiting, Indiana, was charged with two misdemeanors after officers spotted her tagging the base of one of two lion statues outside the Art Institute of Chicago overnight.
Elizabeth Macias, of the 1200 block of West Fred Street in Whiting, was charged with criminal damage to property less than $500 and damage to public property.
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Officers spotted Macias just after 3 a.m. outside the Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave., according to police. A security officer there signed a complaint, and police recovered three cans of paint.
The base of the lion at the north end of the museum’s Michigan Avenue steps was spray-painted with the words “Inside mania,” with a squiggle underneath the lettering.
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Macias is due in court in August.
A spokeswoman for the Art Institute said the graffiti was being cleaned up by the museum’s ground crew.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Daywatch: Illinois moves into next phase of reopening, Lightfoot’s free internet plan and a Chicago

Daywatch: Illinois moves into next phase of reopening, Lightfoot’s free internet plan and a Chicago farmers markets guide

Chicago-area farmers markets are one of the highlights of the summer season .
As with everything else this year , @ @ @ @ @ bit of delayed gratification , but market season has finally arrived .
In our annual @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve tried to give you all the details you need to enjoy your favorite @ @ @ @ @ as more details become available throughout the season .

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Good morning, Chicago. Here’s the coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Runners, walkers, scooter uses and bicyclists use the reopened 606 Bloomingdale trail on June 22, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
On the eve of Illinois’ move into the next phase of reopening its economy, Gov. J.B. Pritzker struck a victorious tone but also warned that Illinois would reinstitute more stringent restrictions if there’s an eventual backslide in data that illustrates a coronavirus resurgence in the state.
What’s open in Chicago during phase 4 of Illinois’ COVID-19 reopening plan? Here’s a running list.
Chef Michael Lachowicz, shown here last year in his restaurant Aboyer, said the phase four indoor reopening on Friday offers his restaurant a way to give patio diners a Plan B in inclement weather. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago restaurateurs can open their doors to indoor dining on Friday, but not everyone plans to participate. Relaxed rules in phase four of the coronavirus reopening plan will permit restaurants to operate indoors at 25% capacity, up to a maximum of 50 guests. That’s a bonus, albeit a minor one, for a lot of places, but not nearly enough for others.
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Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson listens to the mayor make an announcement to provide free high-speed internet to more than 100,000 Chicago students and their families, during a press event at Evergreen Academy Middle School on June 25, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced an ambitious plan on Thursday to provide free high-speed internet to more than 100,000 Chicago students and their families. District officials cited census data showing that’s close to the number of students who lack high-speed internet access. Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin and the Obamas are among the initiative’s financial backers.
The condominium tower at 111 West Maple Street is shown June 24, 2020 in Chicago. Fifield Cos. wants to construct a 406-unit building alongside the Gold Coast Galleria tower, according to the condo association. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
One of Chicago’s busiest luxury residential developers wants to build a 43-story apartment high-rise using air rights from a Near North Side church, but nearby condo owners are going on the offensive to stop it. Fifield Cos. wants to construct the 406-unit building on a parking lot at Maple Street and LaSalle Drive, along the west side of the Gold Coast Galleria condominium tower at 111 W. Maple St., according to the condo association.
Shoppers wearing masks walk past Lyon's Fruit Farm and Greenhouse on the first day of a farmers market held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on June 23, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago-area farmers markets are one of the highlights of the summer season. As with everything else this year, there’s been a bit of delayed gratification, but market season has finally arrived. In our annual Farmers Market Guide, we’ve tried to give you all the details you need to enjoy your favorite market. Please check back as more details become available throughout the season.


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Column: America responds to protests & coronavirus by stocking up on guns - I must protect my Elvis

Column: America responds to protests & coronavirus by stocking up on guns - I must protect my Elvis statue!

And truth be told , even the latte liberals are out buying up guns .
A Brookings Institution report found @ @ @ @ @ , applications for “ gun permits have increased the most during the COVID-19 pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ more liberal , both in terms of citizen ideology and political party of state governor @ @ @ @ @ 10 states with the largest gun permit increases are in the New England area including @ @ @ @ @ , Vermont , and Maine .
”

Faced with a raging coronavirus pandemic and widespread protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, Americans are doing what they do best: stocking up on guns.
Unlike people in other developed nations, we Americans hold dear the belief that there’s no tragedy, no societal shift and no moment of conspiracy-driven paranoia that we can’t shoot our way out of using one of the many firearms we keep in our kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, waistbands, socks, cars and in fanny packs strapped to our cats.
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According to FBI data, nearly 3 million firearm background checks were conducted in May, a 32% jump over the same month last year. And according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (I’m a member, but mainly for the cool T-shirts), the first half of this year brought in more than 2.5 million first-time gun owners.
YEEE-HAHHHH! PEW-PEW-PEW!!
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Here in Illinois, according to a Tribune report, the Illinois State Police said “more than 40,000 Illinoisans applied for a gun permit in a little more than two weeks this month, more than 500% over this time last year.”
This is obviously great news. You don’t have to be an expert on social stability to know the best way to calm a nervous, angry nation is to add a few million additional lethal firearms into the mix.
And besides, it’s our constitutional right to shoot at anything that comes on our property, whether it’s a coronavirus, a scary person yelling things we disagree with or a horde of Marxists trying to tear down the 16-foot Elvis statue in my front yard.
Sure, you could take the latte-liberal approach and direct your fears into action, finding proactive ways to improve communities and better understand either the pandemic or the root causes of the ongoing protests, but that sounds like something a French person would do.
And truth be told, even the latte liberals are out buying up guns. A Brookings Institution report found that from February to April, applications for “gun permits have increased the most during the COVID-19 pandemic in states that tend to be more liberal, both in terms of citizen ideology and political party of state governor. Four of the top 10 states with the largest gun permit increases are in the New England area including Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.”
The Tribune story quoted a concealed carry gun instructor saying: “I have seen the emergence of a new class of students seeking training: anti-Second Amendment liberals.”
WELCOME TO THE REAL AMERICA, LIBS!
If history is any guide, gun buying is the right response to virtually anything in this country. Civil unrest? Buy guns. Democratic president elected? Buy guns. Pandemic? Guns! Lollapalooza coming up? Get some guns (and earplugs). Relatives coming over for a barbecue? Guns, guns, guns!
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We need a chicken in every pot, two cars in every garage and a gun in at least one of the pots next to the chicken in case someone tries to steal our chickens or our cars.
Sure, a bad thing or two could come from stressed-out civilians owning guns during a time when violent conspiracy theories roam the internet unchecked. But hey, what’s a few accidental shootings (sorry, neighbor!) and toes blasted off between patriots?
On his Fox News show earlier this week, Tucker Carlson talked about the Black Lives Matters movement like this: “It is insidious. It will grow. Its goal is to end liberal democracy and challenge Western civilization itself.”
Yikers! None of that is true, but you better go buy a gun, just to be on the safe side.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, said this about Democrats and the media: “They want to tear this country apart. They want to enrage Black people, and they want to make white people feel guilty and not like America.”
So (utterly not) true! Better get some guns to defend yourself against guilty white people who don’t like America. (Or guilty coronaviruses that don’t like America.)
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At the very least, don’t worry about this recent surge in gun sales. It’s all part of a perfectly normal, well-functioning society that has learned to accept mass shootings in schools, theaters, churches, shopping malls, parking lots and restaurants as routine occurrences, the price we pay for the honor of buying guns every time we get scared.
Now if anybody needs me, I’ll be in the nothing-to-be-concerned-about sniper nest that overlooks my Elvis statue.
rhuppke@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-06-26--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened June 25 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

Illinois added 39 new deaths from COVID-19 and 857 new confirmed cases Friday , the day the state moved into phase four of its reopening plan .
Additionally , for the second consecutive day , the state topped 30,000 new test results with 30,425 .
Starting today , all four regions of the state in Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan moved into the fourth of five phases .
Gatherings of up to 50 people as well as restricted indoor dining at restaurants are allowed under the plan .
Other phase four changes , after months of few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of movie theaters and performing arts centers , zoos and museums .
Long the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois , long-term care facilities have begun showing significant drops in the number of residents and workers dying of the novel coronavirus .
State data released Friday ties 123 additional deaths to the virus .
That ’ s about half the number of deaths in the previous week , and far lower than a weekly death toll that approached 500 in early May .
Still , advocates cautioned that promising figures shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the practices that helped improve the picture , particularly as the state moves to the next phase of reopening and nursing homes begin to allow limited visits .
After the afternoon rain subsided , Mark Liberson , owner of Replay in Andersonville , measured the distance in between tables on Balmoral Avenue with a yellow measuring tape .
( The street is currently shut down on both sides of Clark Street . )
People like to redecorate when they sit on the converted patio area , he said with a chuckle , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still appropriately spaced apart .
The large windows on both walls of the corner restaurant were open Friday evening , and most of the high-tops were occupied with people munching on fries and sandwiches , some with a glass of wine .
Josh Shuster and Nathan Rook were visiting from Indianapolis and staying at an Airbnb nearby with their dog .
They wanted to get away from the chaos of the world , so they planned a weekend trip to Chicago .
“ We ’ ve already gone through this in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re actually visiting Chicago and they ’ re going through it now , we ’ re used to it , ” Shuster said .
“ It is the new normal , and there ’ s no going back to what we were .
It ’ s honestly not feasible.
” Rook said while he ’ s not scared , there are still concerns .
However , he is going to do his part to stay safe and continue to live his life .
Sarai Coutin , of Ravenswood , and Elizabeth Vargas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time in months .
They both work in health care and wanted to commiserate over what had happened over the last few months .
Originally , they planned on sitting outside , but they decided to keep their plans by sitting indoors next to the open windows .
Neither of them would dine in an indoor space if it were enclosed .
People crave human interaction , Coutin said , but safety still needs to be a priority .
Chicago is not ready for Phase 4 , she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ patience is the right word , because everyone is impatient and they want this to be over , but it ’ s also about priorities , ” Vargas said .
“ I don ’ t want to get sick ; I don ’ t want to possibly get other people sick or my family sick .
So in order to keep myself and the people around me healthy , am I going to stay home for another three months ?
Sure , I ’ ll do that.
” After more than three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside at The Loyalist , the modern American basement bar and restaurant in the West Loop , were not loyal returning diners .
Instead the couple were first timers , who did know , though , to order a Dirty Burg , the cheeseburger so famous it has its own Instagram account .
Seated at a high-top for two in the middle of the room , they would be the first of 25 people maximum at a time in a room normally jammed shoulder-to-shoulder with four times as many revelers on an early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot like when we first opened , ” said chef and owner John Shields .
“ It ’ s not quite as nerve-racking , but maybe more nerve-racking in other ways .
It ’ s less wondering if they ’ ll love us or if we ’ ll go out of business , but I guess that ’ s in the back of my mind too with everything that ’ s going on.
” That hasn ’ t stopped the award-winning chef and his team from still taking creative risks .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French-inspired dishes , including a stunning banh mi eclair garnished with a garden of edible flowers .
It ’ s all necessary in the highly competitive neighborhood , despite rain-soaked patios and echoing dining rooms , all nearly empty , for now .
Chef/owner Paul Virant resumed indoor dining at Vie restaurant in Western Springs , debuting a dining room more spacious than usual , owing to the subtraction of several tables .
The 15-seat bar area accommodates only 8 guests ; a raised alcove space that held 10 now can seat 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands ready in case his new , 12-seat outdoor patio ( in happier times , the pergola-topped space will hold double that ) is hit by sudden rain , as seems likely this night .
“ We haven ’ t been in a restaurant since mid-March , ” Becky Nowak , 39 , said .
“ It ’ s been a big adjustment , because we have three young children .
We took all this very seriously for a long time .
Staying at home , just us , two weeks between grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel that all this hard work is paying off.
” “ We ’ ve been doing carryout for weeks , ” he said , “ but now that restaurants can open , I don ’ t think many people want to do carryout .
I had to have the extra seating.
” “ We go over it every pre-shift , ” he says .
“ I tell them , we can ’ t be careless , not at all .
“ Obviously we follow all the CDC guidelines , but nobody knows what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems to me , you just follow the science.
” Officials at a private school in Yorkville say they won ’ t follow the state ’ s precautions against the coronavirus when classes resume , their lawyer said Friday .
Parkview Christian Academy officials are deciding what steps to take , but are “ reasonably certain ” that they won ’ t require any type of face covering be worn at all times , according to attorney Thomas DeVore .
State guidelines issued this week call for school workers and students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and undergo screening for fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 , when schools reopen this fall .
The guidelines also limit the number of people gathering in one place to under 50 and request increased cleaning and disinfection .
State officials could not be reached immediately for comment about Parkview , but previously said it will be up to each school or district to decide the details of reopening plans , without state review .
In a letter to the State Board of Education and health departments , DeVore wrote that the 63-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority and are of “ questionable efficacy , ” since children appear to be less at risk of contracting serious illness than older people .
DeVore has represented state Rep. Darren Bailey in his lawsuit to overturn Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s restrictions on businesses and people in his stay-at-home order , meant to minimize deaths from the virus .
Following on the heels of most of Chicago ’ s major cultural institutions during the global pandemic , the Art Institute of Chicago this week laid off staff in what it called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and still uncertain future .
“ The Art Institute of Chicago has informed staff of a reduction in force affecting 51 individuals , or just over 8 % of our team , ” Executive Director of Public Affairs Kati Murphy said in a statement .
“ This difficult decision was made in response to a reduction in museum visitors and changes to our internal structure that reflect the evolving needs of our institution and our community moving forward.
” The museum has been closed since mid-March and has spoken of the tentative possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , depending on how Chicago does at keeping the spread of COVID-19 to a minimum as it enters the fourth phase of its five-stage reopening plan .
But whenever the Art Institute opens back up , city rules will limit attendance to 25 % of capacity , and the encyclopedic Michigan Avenue museum is bracing for major revenue shortfalls .
At Portillo ’ s in River North , Craig and Imelda Schultz had practically the whole upstairs dining room to themselves as they had a late lunch of beef and chicken sandwiches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dined on chicken tenders .
They were eager to dine out on the first day they could have food served fresh rather than delivered .
Many of the restaurants in their Wrigleyville neighborhood have crowded entryways that make them nervous .
They felt good about the safety precautions at Portillo ’ s , where multiple signs on the floor designated 6-foot distances and tables were spread out .
An employee in the restaurant ’ s entryway was counting customers who entered on a clicker .
The space normally has capacity for 400 but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time under the government rules , and if it got close he would have to close the door .
At 2 pm , his clicker read 55 .
Earnest Rogers , a manager , said business was going as expected for the first day of indoor dining .
It relieved some pressure on the delivery operation , because people in neighboring high rises were coming in for a bite rather than ordering to go .
But the drive-thru , which has been “ through the roof ” during the pandemic , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cars stacked up down the block late into the afternoon .
Rogers listed several of the changes Portillo ’ s has made to accommodate the pandemic : a limited menu to allow for more social distancing in the kitchen , disposable printed menus , heightened cleaning performed by an employee whose only task for the whole shift is sanitizing surfaces .
The safety details were noticed by Cecilia Vallejo and her daughter , Maria Pimentel , who also spent the first day of phase 4 lunching at Portillo ’ s .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Vallejo , 51 , pointing to the ample signage and ubiquity of masks .
They also brought their own hand sanitizer .
At 2 p.m. , business was booming at Pierce Tavern in Downers Grove , as the rain had stopped and the outdoor seating was again available .
“ We have 65 seats outdoors , and 40 seats — at 25 % capacity —inside , ” said Sam Vlahos , who , with his sister , Patricia Vlahos-Segretto , owns this restaurant and Fuller House in Hinsdale .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great , allowing us to expand outside .
So we ’ re doing good numbers.
” Forced to remove the restaurant ’ s barstools , Vlahos placed several high-top tables close to the bar .
“ I ’ m hoping it adds a little bit of normalcy , ” he said .
The move met with approval from JoAnn and Mike Monahan , who were dining at one of those high-tops .
“ We ’ ve eaten at home more in the last two months than probably the last two years , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works in the financial industry .
“ It ’ s so nice to be able to socialize and go out , in a safe way .
Some places I ’ ve gone into and I ’ ve walked right back out , because I didn ’ t feel safe.
” At Lou Malnati ’ s in the Gold Coast , a foursome from New Orleans occupied one of the few booths designated for humans .
The friends , who take an annual summer trip to Chicago together , have become accustomed to sparse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been open awhile .
Adam Avin , 37 , remembers their first time dining out after restrictions lifted at home , “ and we just couldn ’ t wait for someone to ask us what we wanted for drinks and an appetizer.
” A masked server stopped at their table with a deep-dish pizza .
While usually she would serve each plate , the new protocol is to ask diners if they would prefer to do it themselves .
Lou Malnatis has taken numerous precautions to minimize the risk of spreading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it now gives paper menus that are disposed of after use .
It has removed oregano shakers and other condiment containers and now provides individually wrapped seasoning upon request .
Servers wear gloves and change them after touching anything at a customer ’ s table , said Isaiah Michl , a server .
The precautions taken by the restaurant have made him feel comfortable serving people , even when they ’ re not wearing masks .
” It ’ s exciting to come back , ” said Michl , whose first day back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being furloughed since March .
Michl hadn ’ t wanted to return sooner because he was living in Forest Park and felt uncomfortable commuting on public transportation , but this week he moved to Old Town and was eager to return to his job .
” I missed my friends , ” Michl said .
“ It is nice to be able to see them and have that human interaction.
” The restaurant had hoped to be busier Friday , but the rain was not helping .
Store manager Eric Cassidy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at dinner .
Though carry out and delivery have been going strong , the restaurant has lost huge revenue streams .
The bar , where people used to stand three-deep , has been stripped of its stools .
Tourist traffic has plunged .
The next party room reservation is for June 2021 .
It is taking twice as long to generate enough revenue to cover the monthly costs as usual , Casady said .
With dozens of dining tables removed , the business is “ definitely going to be tough to sustain.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enforce its mask policy , which allows customers to remove their masks while they are at their table but asks them to wear them otherwise .
Edward Davis won ’ t give them any problems .
In from New York to visit friends , he continued to wear a mask while sitting at a table .
Davis , 32 , said it was jarring when he landed at the airport in Chicago and saw people sitting at bars , and it felt strange to be at a restaurant ; New York hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he felt comfortable at Lou Malnati ’ s because the tables were spread out .
3:01 p.m. : Dim sum favorite is one of few dining rooms to reopen in Chinatown Only a few customers could be found scattered throughout the spacious dining rooms .
That doesn ’ t mean the house is not busy .
Masked staff swiftly ran takeout bags to hurried delivery drivers .
Most restaurants in the neighborhood on the South Side of the city have not reopened their dining rooms yet .
A cluster of kids outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , waiting for their Thai rolled ice cream at a walk up window .
At MingHin the first seated customers this morning did indeed order dim sum , including har gow and shumai ( traditional shrimp and pork dumplings , respectively ) , said Thomas Leong , manager .
Illinois health officials Friday reported 857 new known cases of COVID-19 and 39 additional fatalities , bringing the total number of known cases to 140,291 and the confirmed death toll to 6,847 .
The rain played cat-and-mouse with Lincoln Park Zoo visitors all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , early visitors said umbrellas and rubber boots were a small price for the opportunity to be seeing old animal friends and walking the zoo ’ s lushly landscaped grounds again .
Among the first in line at the zoo ’ s East Gate for the members-only opening were Ryan and Tiffany Braun and their three kids ages 2 to 6 .
Reader , it did .
In her habitat on the north side of the north side zoo , the female Talini frolicked for a good half hour in the pool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall separates carnivore and moisture from visitors .
” Piccolo , el esta nadando , ” Brian Calhoun called to his 6-year-old son , Nate .
LIttle one , he is swimming .
Nate — whose parents are trying to raise him bilingual — came bouncing back from the zebra area to see for himself .
And then he jumped up a couple of times , rising above the waterline to see better .
” We are members and we happen to have a child who loves animals , ” said Calhoun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And we know that animals have been active since humans haven ’ t been around so it seemed like a good idea.
” Closed since mid-March , the zoo reopened Friday to members , with the general public to follow Monday .
Still free , the zoo is now requiring advance ticket reservations ( for hourly entry slots via EventBrite or by telephone at 312-742-2000 ) to control the number of non-resident primates who come through .
Aiming to meet the city ’ s limit of 25 percent of normal attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s general-public opening slots , spokeswoman Sabrina Cynova said , and other days were filling quickly .
Lincoln Park opened only the East and West Gates , and pathways , now one-way , were marked with arrows .
Food stands were open and a caricature artist was on the grounds , but the gift shop and some bathrooms were the only buildings that were open .
“ I ’ m excited , ” said Megan Ross , the zoo director , from under both a mask and an umbrella .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have everyone here .
I hated the idea we didn ’ t have this safe respite.
” Reopening is costly , she added , “ but it ’ s so important for us to be available to the city of Chicago.
” Among the animal news since people were last in : A zebra is visibly pregnant , expecting in the coming weeks , a new cinereous vulture has arrived , and the Japanese macaques had two babies .
Scott Opels and wife Janet , both gym teachers by trade , spent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the zoom lens of her camera .
The Schaumburg couple are zoo superfans , holding membership also at Brookfield and participating in both institutions ’ adopt-an-animal program .
” It ’ s just so exciting to be back , ” Janet said .
“ I feel like a little kid again .
I feel like a little kid all the time when I ’ m here.
” At the macaque habitat , the one of the new mothers helpfully held her newborn to her chest right by a viewing window while another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Up on a ledge , the other mother groomed her infant while three humans with long lenses documented the scene .
“ I can see living animals , not Zoom !
” said macaque observer Marilyn Ezri , referring to the efforts the zoo made to keep itself before the public during quarantine .
Chicago ’ s annual summer jobs program will hire 20,000 young people this year , including 2,000 as part of a new youth service corps dedicated to service that will include helping with the city ’ s COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The yearly summer hiring program is meant to put some money in kids ’ pockets and keep them out of trouble , while teaming them up with mentors who can give them guidance about school and careers .
With the coronavirus pandemic requiring social distancing , many of the jobs in the six-week program will be taking place online this year .
But with nowhere to get away to during the COVID-19 pandemic , PTO has gone largely unused — and some companies are bracing for an explosion of vacation requests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unused leave present a PTO crunch at one end of the spectrum , said Philippe Weiss , president at Seyfarth at Work , which consults companies on workplace issues .
At the other end are “ PTO-poor ” employees who have exhausted their time off due to the pandemic and will be out of luck if an emergency arises before year ’ s end , he said .
Companies are trying to mitigate the impact by capping the amount of leave employees can take during certain periods , offering to cash out PTO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over into next year .
Some are setting up programs where employees with excess leave can donate it to those without enough .
Mostly , employers are encouraging workers to take breaks now , not only to fend off a deluge of requests at holiday time but also avoid burnout during a very stressful year .
1:44 p.m. : Longtime regulars celebrate Gene & Georgetti ’ s reopening – its first since an October fire – over lunch Today was a big first for Gene & Georgetti , whose dining rooms had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October .
The original mahogany bar has been restored ( though , in keeping with distancing guidelines , without barstools ) .
There is new carpeting and , at long last , customers .
Two of the first to be seated were Charles Herrick and R. Justin Dedeaux , part of a group of Gene & Georgetti regulars known as the Mahogany Club .
” I haven ’ t been in this restaurant for a long time , ” said Dedeaux , who said he was in his 70s and spends half the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real treat ; it ’ s my favorite place in Chicago.
” But the morning was busier .
Classes , which are capped at 12 students , had filled quickly and run up a waitlist , said co-owners Tom Kousgaard and Alex Carlson .
Friday was the first time those classes had been held indoors in months .
Logsdon , of Northbrook , said he felt no hesitation returning to in-person classes , and virtual workouts were no substitute .
Rally Point Endeavors , which also has locations in Deerfield and Niles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the gym , each with a bike , tower , pullup bar , barbell with weights and cleaning supplies .
That means members won ’ t share equipment with others in their class , and keeping members in their stations means they ’ re less likely to cross paths with other gym-goers .
Employees clean with industrial-grade disinfectant after every three classes , but participants also get materials to clean equipment before and after using it .
When Rally Point Endeavors started holding outdoor workouts in June , about 30 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Since then , about 75 % have come back for an outdoor class .
They also received roughly twice the normal number of new sign-ups in June .
Some said they had gotten motivated to get in shape while staying home during the pandemic , Carlson said .
Others were looking to switch to a type of gym that felt less crowded , he said .
“ We wanted to remove every possible barrier to why they might want to come in , ” Kousgaard said .
1:30 p.m. : Curtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I ’ ve been waiting for this day ’ Ricky Nogal drove 20 miles Friday to watch a two-year-old movie he ’ s already seen , but when you ’ re a movie buff who has been locked out of theaters for the past three months , any chance to sit before the silver screen once more is precious .
” It ’ s really important , ” said Nogal , 28 , an idled trampoline park manager from Palos Park who traveled to Elmhurst to catch the noon showing of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first available in the Chicago area .
Illinois allowed movie theaters to reopen Friday for the first time since Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ordered nonessential business closed in March .
Big national chains like AMC and Marcus kept their theaters shuttered , but Classic Cinemas , a 15-theater chain based in the suburbs , was ready to go .
CEO Chris Johnson helped to rechristen Elmhurst ’ s York Theater with a red carpet ribbon cutting just before a slate of classics like “ Space Jam ” and “ Raiders of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big new releases won ’ t arrive until next month — and said the theater , which is allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity , is taking numerous safety precautions .
It will leave two empty seats between parties to maintain social distance .
It will require masks in the lobby and common areas .
And theater attendants will fill sodas and popcorn buckets instead of allowing patrons to serve themselves .
” Other than that , it ’ s just cleaning and being attentive to everything that ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Johnson said .
“ Once you get into the movie , hopefully it will be like it was back in February.
” After more than three dormant months , Fox Bowl in Wheaton came alive Friday with balls thundering down its lanes once again .
A half-dozen bowlers lined up outside the alley before its doors opened at 9 a.m. , eager to start throwing strikes and socializing with their teammates .
The business reached its 50-person capacity limit with 30 minutes .
” It feels great to be back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who bowled three games with wife Kathy .
“ We didn ’ t do too badly either .
All the YouTube videos on improving your game that I watched over the past three months must have paid off.
” In anticipation of the crowds and the requisite sanitation efforts , Fox Bowl owner Barbara Bernard scheduled twice the number of workers for a typical weekday morning .
“ And even with more than double our normal staff , we still feel like we ’ re constantly playing catch up , ” Bernard said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hook.
” The Phase Four guidelines limit the 30-lane alley to 50 bowlers , one-tenth of its capacity .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s administration established the hard limit regardless of the entertainment venue ’ s size , meaning many of Bernard ’ s lanes can not be used even though the team tables are spaced more than 6-feet apart .
Bernard , who embraces all the additional sanitation and cleaning requirements without complaint , said she hopes the state will drop its one-size-fits-all approach to setting capacity and establish limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage .
Fall bowling leagues begin in mid-August , and Bernard said she can not host the teams if her capacity level isn ’ t raised to at least 150 people .
“ Honestly , the hyper-vigilant cleaning and sanitizing is not the problem , ” she said .
“ The problem is going to be if they don ’ t let us increase by capacity , none of us are going to be able to host our fall leagues .
Without those leagues , we won ’ t survive.
” 1:03 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 might be great for sellers , but not for buyers : ‘ There ’ s a feeding frenzy.
’ Instead , the stay-at-home order restricted real estate activity like open houses and sent unemployment rates skyrocketing as it shut down major industries like entertainment , travel and hospitality .
That left fewer homeowners financially able to sell or willing to expose their homes to potential coronavirus carriers — exacerbating a lack of housing inventory that has been on the decline for years .
That ’ s bad news for homebuyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices have not dropped during the pandemic , and homes are getting snapped up just as quickly as before the pandemic , according to a new report from Illinois Realtors released this week .
12:54 p.m. : Job seekers get more options — and competition — as working from home becomes permanent .
‘ If we decide we need people to come in , we can fly them in.
’ With three young children , Eric Sauerhoff was not looking to move across the Midwest during the pandemic .
The Bexley , Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move might be necessary .
But when offices shut down due to COVID-19 , he began to wonder if he could avoid the move altogether and work remotely from Ohio .
“ If a company had said , ‘ We need you to move to Chicago or Seattle or anywhere just to work from home here , ’ that would have been a tough sale , ” said Sauerhoff , 33 , who earlier this month joined Chicago car insurance startup Clearcover as a vice president and works from his Ohio home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their employees work , most notably by solidifying work-from-home arrangements , and those shifts are expected to endure long past the development of a vaccine .
It also has changed recruiting in a way that will mean more opportunities for job hunters but also more competition .
When the first customer in line at MacArthur ’ s restaurant pulled his mask down to mug for a camera , he was immediately scolded .
“ Put your mask back on please !
” said Vanessa Cobbins , manager at the beloved Black-owned Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mac Alexander , in South Austin .
He did , then ordered smothered pork chops with sides .
Although the restaurant reopened its indoor dining room today , by noon a steady stream of customers all took their takeout boxes to go .
Gone are the dine-in trays with real plates and silverware — for now .
Manager Maurice Gaiter worked the room , keeping watch over guests .
Tables were spaced farther apart than usual , and some booths were blocked off by plastic chains .
” We ’ re so grateful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re so proud of the job that Gov .
( J.B. ) Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have done here in our city and state .
What we ’ re doing now is your very best to comply with the social distancing to keep everyone safe.
” Almost all Cook County court functions can resume , mostly via videoconference , on July 6 , according to an order signed Friday by Chief Judge Timothy Evans .
The reopening comes after more than three months of widespread shutdown across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While jury trials will not go forward , bench trials — in which a judge , not a jury , makes the decision on guilt — can resume .
Those may be conducted via videoconference if all parties agree , according to Friday ’ s order .
“ This is probably going to be the new norm so we just have to accept it , adapt and move on , that ’ s my philosophy , ” he said , noting that the restrictions and mask-wearing policies will help reduce transmission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ okay .
We just have to kind of embrace the new norm and understand the big picture of why we ’ re doing this.
” “ I ’ m thrilled we ’ re in Phase 4 , because the weather is so mercurial in Chicago , ” she said .
Outside , between bursts of rain , staff wiped down patio furniture , in case the precipitation dissipated enough to let a party finish its meal .
“ We are ready .
We have prepared the space beautifully.
” In addition to spacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire has had barriers installed on the bar to enclose bartenders and drink accoutrements .
And after returning an inadequate filtration system , she has had a new one installed to help with airflow .
Like guests , staff temperatures are checked as well .
Fire is working on a way to collect guests ’ phone numbers , to alert them in case someone tests positive for COVID-19 .
“ We are evolving on a day-to-day basis , ” Fire said .
“ The big question is : Will people feel comfortable eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shielded and still , at the same time , apprehensive .
It ’ s not like we feel we ’ re invulnerable , so I think everyone is trying to operate out of the highest sense of caution.
” And she wonders if opening at 25 % capacity will be enough to pay the bills .
When she compared her books from last year around this time to this year , she was floored by the drop in business , especially since Tweet and its adjacent bar , Big Chicks , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Week .
“ There ’ s a lot of big questions out there and no answers yet , ” Fire said .
11:32 a.m. : YMCA reopens for indoor workouts as Illinois moves to Phase 4 .
‘ It ’ s not buzzing like it should , but it will be.
’ Friday ’ s rainy weather meant Phase 4 arrived at a good time for fitness centers that had been holding outdoor classes while waiting to reopen their doors .
The North Suburban YMCA , in Northbrook , moved a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonessential businesses were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
The fitness center also reopened to people working out without personal trainers Friday .
The facility was quiet Friday morning , with two people in a room with treadmills and cardio equipment and three more in a weight room .
About a half dozen more were doing core exercises in a group class on a basketball court .
In the pool , five swimmers stroked steadily , filling all but one lane .
After logging a couple miles on the treadmill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was happy to be back to her workout routine and felt reassured by precautions around social distancing and cleaning .
“ When I called and they said there were only four ( treadmills ) available , I felt really good , ” she said .
Some of the treadmills have been marked off limits to ensure people can spread out .
To keep as much equipment available as possible , the YMCA moved other machines into a group workout room , and there are three weight lifting machines in a hallway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to half their maximum capacity , so the YMCA requires members reserve 45-minute appointments in the area they want to use .
That allows time for cleaning before people arrive for the next session .
“ This way , people are well aware of when they can come and no one is waiting in line , ” CEO Kathy Fielding said .
It also means there will be a record of who was in which portions of the facility if an employee or member is diagnosed with COVID-19 , and the YMCA needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been exposed , she said .
The pool has been popular , since it ’ s something members can ’ t easily substitute with a home workout , she said .
Susan Harrison , who planned to swim laps after finishing a session on the StairMaster , said she feels more comfortable swimming than doing other types of indoor workouts .
Even though there was only one other member working out in the fitness center and a couple employees cleaning equipment , she felt like she had more space with a personal lane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also no equipment to touch , she said .
Harrison , who said she was a daily YMCA user before the pandemic , plans to keep swimming but isn ’ t sure whether she will keep working out in other parts of the facility .
“ As the numbers go up , I ’ m concerned I ’ m exposing myself more than I have since mid-March , ” she said .
The YMCA is hoping to resume swim team practices and lessons later this summer after finalizing plans for teaching while maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially during spring , the busiest period , has been a challenge , she said .
The sauna , basketball and racquetball courts are still off limits , as is a lounge area near the entrance , where a couch and chairs had been pushed against the wall to keep people from congregating .
Each person ’ s comfort level with returning is different , so the YMCA plans to keep offering indoor , outdoor and virtual workouts .
Fielding said she thinks members will return gradually , as they get more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken and get used to the reservation system .
Spikes in COVID-19 cases in other states may have made some people more cautious , she said .
Others might just be having a hard time finding someone to watch the kids .
Camps at the YMCA don ’ t start until next week .
“ It ’ s not buzzing like it should be , but it will , ” Fielding said .
“ It just takes time.
” 8 a.m. : City Colleges of Chicago have suspended athletics for the 2020-21 academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic The colleges will offer most classes remotely , online or through distance learning this fall , but a statement sent to the Tribune noted team sports will be canceled “ out of an abundance of caution and concern for student safety.
” Swimming , which is offered as a continuing-education course , won ’ t be offered either .
Tuition waivers still will be honored this year for returning student-athletes in good standing and for new student-athletes who signed a letter of intent in order to “ to support these students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
City Colleges offer eight sports : men ’ s and women ’ s soccer , men ’ s and women ’ s cross-country , men ’ s and women ’ s basketball , women ’ s volleyball and men ’ s baseball .
The teams compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association .
6:54 a.m. : Illinois starts reopening under Phase Four of coronavirus plan Businesses throughout all of Illinois , including Chicago , started reopening Friday , many of them for the first time since the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois residents can once again go to the gym , drink in bars and see a movie , although some businesses are taking reopening slowly .
But restrictions on many businesses and social gatherings in place for Phase Four are expected to remain until the state moves to Phase Five .
But Phase Five won ’ t happen until testing , tracing and treatment are widely available throughout the state , and either a vaccine or treatment options are readily available that ensures health care capacity is no longer a concern , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained period .
5 a.m. : Man who lost two sisters , including Illinois ’ first COVID-19 victim , hopes to spare others from similar tragedy Three months ago , Anthony Frieson lost two of his older sisters to COVID-19 , and found himself quarantined at home after he also tested positive for the highly contagious virus .
It was March , in the early days of a pandemic that eventually would bring Chicago and the rest of the country to a virtual halt .
But Frieson and his tight-knit South Side family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they suffered back-to-back losses in isolation and have remained unable even to hold memorial services due to social distancing concerns .
And they were forced to mourn under the glare of a national spotlight .
One of Frieson ’ s sisters , Patricia , a 61-year-old retired nurse , was the first person in Illinois to die of complications related to the coronavirus , and the family was identified as one of the first in the U.S. to lose multiple members .
Hoping to spare others such pain , Frieson handed out free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s longtime home in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood , encouraging passersby to “ wear a mask , save a life.
” For him , and for his family , it is not just a slogan .
5 a.m. : Cook County Board President Preckwinkle warns ‘ Everything is on the table ’ as 2021 budget gap forecast to be largest in a decade Cook County could see a $ 410 million budget gap next fiscal year — the largest hole since 2011 and a sign how much the coronavirus pandemic has capsized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fortune from the anticipated record-low budget gap this year before COVID-19 , the grim forecast means the county is mulling over hiking taxes , slashing existing funds , laying off employees and more to balance the budget , Cook County board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday .
“ Everything is on the table , ” Preckwinkle said in a call with reporters when asked about potential new taxes and layoffs , though she did not elaborate .
While noting a vaccine is possibly a year away , she added , “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our control … so the challenges we face are not of the moment .
They ’ re of the next several years.
” Here are five things that happened Thursday related to coronavirus in Illinois :

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The Fulton Market area of Chicago is no longer the ghost town it was during the depths of the COVID-19 virus pandemic shutdown. As restrictions on restaurants are eased, a worker takes a woman's temperature before she can enter Federales restaurant on Morgan Street on July 1, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Illinois health officials Thursday reported 894 new known cases of COVID-19 and 41 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 139,434 and the death toll to 6,810. The state also announced a record number of test results with 31,686, the first time Illinois has recorded more than 30,000 results in a single day.
Meanwhile, Chicagoans are slowly returning to restaurants, offices and camps, even as much remains unknown about how, exactly, the coronavirus spreads. It’s a question researchers across the globe have been trying to answer for months — and now a team at the University of Chicago is joining efforts to find out.
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[ Illinois will enter phase 4 of reopening plan Friday. Here’s a guide to what’s allowed. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Here’s what’s happening Thursday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
7:45 p.m.: Illinois looks to further reemerge from coronavirus restrictions on Friday
On the eve of Illinois’ move into the next phase of reopening its economy, Gov. J.B. Pritzker struck a victorious tone but also warned that Illinois would reinstitute more stringent restrictions if there’s an eventual backslide in data that illustrates a coronavirus resurgence in the state.
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Starting Friday, all four regions of the state as designated in Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan will move into the fourth of five phases, when gatherings of up to 50 people as well as restricted indoor dining at restaurants are allowed. Other phase four perks, after months of few entertainment options, include a limited reopening of movie theaters and performing arts centers, zoos and museums.
Wearing facial coverings and social distancing in public will still be required in the next phase. Public health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike had strong words for people who refuse to wear a face covering in public and said not doing so was tantamount to “a game of Russian roulette.”
State officials also will be on guard monitoring health statistics that could give advance warning of a possible reemergence of the silent coronavirus threat.
“Of course when I look at states that are moving backward and at such a rapid pace, I always think, are we doing this right, are we handling this right, are we measured in our reopening? And I think we are measured in this reopening, we’re being careful,” Pritzker said. “You can’t turn on the television and see what’s happening in Arizona, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, etc., and not ask questions — are we getting it right?”
Read more here. —Jamie Munks
5:24 p.m.: Illinois casinos and video gaming locations set to reopen July 1
Chicago-area gamblers will soon have some places to place their bets.
The Illinois Gaming Board announced Thursday casinos and video gaming operators across the state can reopen at 9 a.m. July 1, with capacity limits, social distancing and other required measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Customers can expect some elbow room, face masks and the scent of sanitizers wafting through their favorite gambling establishments.
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The gaming board developed a “gaming resumption process that protects the public health of patrons and employees, while restarting gaming activities in a meaningful way,” administrator Marcus Fruchter said in a news release.
Casino and video gaming operations were suspended March 16 as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a statewide stay-at-home order for everything but essential businesses. Illinois is set to enter Phase 4 of its reopening plan Friday, with museums, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses able to reopen their doors — with capacity limits.
Under the gaming board restrictions, Illinois casinos will be limited to 50% capacity, with six-foot social distancing required at all table games, slot machines, sportsbooks, restaurants and other common areas.
Read more here. —Robert Channick
4:00 p.m.: Illinois announces record number of coronavirus test results
Thursday, the state announced a record number of coronavirus test results with 31,686, the first time Illinois has announced more than 30,000 results in a single day.
In early April, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a goal for 10,000 results a day. The state first met that mark on April 24 and hasn’t fallen below that benchmark since.
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In the 62 days since April 24, the state has released more than 20,000 tests a day 36 times and more than 25,000 tests a day 13 times. As of Thursday, the state posted 1.46 million test results.
Read more here. — Chicago Tribune Staff
3:43 p.m.: As Chicago reopens, questions remain about how COVID-19 spreads. Hospital researchers are looking for answers.
Chicagoans are slowly returning to restaurants, offices and camps this month, even as much remains unknown about how, exactly, the novel coronavirus spreads.
It’s a question researchers across the globe have been trying to answer for months — and now a team at the University of Chicago is joining efforts to find out, by attempting to measure where and how the virus spreads in the rooms of COVID-19 patients at the university’s hospital.
Read more here. — Lisa Schencker
3 p.m.: Lightfoot says Chicago’s ‘not there yet’ on fans in stands at ballparks
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday threw up the stop sign on the idea of fans in the stands at Chicago’s ballparks this season, saying neither the Cubs nor the White Sox have provided any specifics on how they would keep attendees safe from the coronavirus.
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With Major League Baseball set to start training camp on July 1 in advance of a 60-game sprint to the playoffs, Cubs vice President of Business Operations Crane Kenney went on the team’s broadcast radio station, 670 The Score, on Thursday and said he’s optimistic there will be fans in seats at Wrigley Field at some point this year.
Not so fast, Lightfoot said at a news conference later in the day. “First of all, that’s a discussion that we have not had with any of the major sports teams in that level of specificity,” she said.
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week released a plan for phase four of the state’s re-opening that includes attendance at outdoor sports venues at 20% of stadiums’ capacity, Lightfoot has so far been noncommittal about allowing that.
Kenney during his radio appearance talked about the governor’s capacity restrictions and how to comply with them at the historic North Side ballpark.
“And just to make it perfectly clear, we would not do this, even if the governor allowed it, if we thought it would be unsafe. And so, there will be social distancing when people come into the ballpark,” Kenney said. “He mentioned 20% capacity. We’re looking at manifests to find out how can we responsibly socially distance up to 20%, or in our case about 8,000 fans inside Wrigley Field. As you know, we are one of the smaller ball fields, in terms of just square footage.”
Read more here. —John Byrne
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2:45 p.m.: Lightfoot announces plan to provide free internet to 100,000 Chicago children after coronavirus reveals ‘unacceptable disparities across the city’
Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin and the Obamas are among the financial backers of an ambitious plan announced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot Thursday to provide free high-speed internet to more than 100,000 Chicago students and their families.
The effort is expected to take four years and cost $50 million, with the largest chunk of startup money, $7.5 million, coming from Griffin, and millions more provided by other local philanthropists and federal CARES stimulus money.
“This first-of-its-kind program will be one of the largest and longest-term efforts in the nation to provide free, high-speed internet over the course of four years to dramatically increase internet accessibility for students and help build a permanent public support system for families in Chicago,” according to a city statement.
The abrupt shift to remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic this spring laid bare a gaping digital equity issue in Chicago Public Schools, where roughly a third of students were found to lack reliable access to digital schoolwork. Since then the district has provided tens of thousands of laptops and tablets for families in need.
Read more here. —Hannah Leone
2:35 p.m.: 894 new known COVID-19 cases, 41 more fatalities
Illinois health officials Thursday announced 894 new known cases of COVID-19 and 41 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known cases to 139,434 and the death toll to 6,810 statewide.
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—Chicago Tribune staff
1:34 p.m.: US health officials believe 20 million Americans have had coronavirus, nearly 10 times as many infections as confirmed cases
U.S. officials believe as many as 20 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus, suggesting millions had the virus and never knew it.
That’s nearly 10 times as many infections as the 2.3 million cases that have been confirmed and comes as the Trump administration works to tamp down nationwide concern about the COVID-19 pandemic as about a dozen states are seeing worrisome increases in cases.
Read more here. —Associated Press
10:28 a.m.: Chicago restaurants can reopen at 25% capacity Friday, but will they? Here’s what we found when we asked.
Chicago restaurateurs can open their doors to indoor dining on Friday, but not everyone plans to participate.
Relaxed rules in phase four of the coronavirus reopening plan will permit restaurants to operate indoors at 25% capacity, up to a maximum of 50 guests. That’s a bonus, albeit a minor one, for a lot of places, but not nearly enough for others.
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Read more here. —Phil Vettel
7:40 a.m.: US jobless claims drop for 12th straight week, but Illinois sees increase
The number of laid-off workers who applied for unemployment benefits declined slightly to 1.48 million last week, the 12th straight drop and a sign that layoffs are slowing but are still at a painfully high level.
The steady decline in claims suggests that the job market has begun to slowly heal from the pandemic, which shuttered businesses and sent the unemployment rate up to 14.7% in April, its highest level since the Great Depression.
Illinois saw an increase in the number of people filing first-time claims. In the week ended June 20, 46,005 people in the state sought unemployment insurance benefits, compared with 44,694 Illinois residents a week earlier.
The latest national figure also coincides with a sudden resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States, especially in the South and West, that’s threatening to derail a nascent economic rebound.
Read more here. —Associated Press
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6 a.m.: ‘Guns are flying off the shelf.’ Permit applications up more than 500% amid coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd fallout.
Take your pick. The pandemic, the police killing of George Floyd, the presidential election. Protests, looting, calls to “defund the police.”
Any one of such similar events historically has been enough to push some people off the fence, prompting them to finally buy a gun or add to their collection.
But with a wave of crises crashing across the country, more than 40,000 Illinoisans applied for a gun permit in a little more than two weeks this month, more than 500% over this time last year, according to Illinois State Police.
From June 1 to June 17, there were more than 42,000 applications for FOID cards, compared with about 7,000 during the same time last year, a 501% increase.
The 42,089 applications over those 17 days come close to the 48,194 applications submitted in the months of December, January and February combined. Applications reached nearly 5,000 on a single day in June.
Read more here. —Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas
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6 a.m.: Former Simeon star Jabari Parker reveals he tested positive for coronavirus
Sacramento Kings forward Jabari Parker, a former standout at Chicago’s Simeon High School, revealed Wednesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
He made the announcement in a statement released by the Kings. Parker expects he will be with his team when the NBA season resumes at the Disney complex near Orlando, Florida, next month.
“Several days ago I tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolated in Chicago which is where I remain,” Parker said in his statement. “I am progressing in my recovery and feeling well. I look forward to joining my teammates in Orlando as we return to the court for the resumption of the NBA season.”
All 22 NBA teams that will be part of the resumed season began mandated testing Tuesday. League officials have expected that positive tests would be inevitable, and believed that starting a testing regimen now — roughly five weeks before games begin at Disney — will give players with positive results time to recover and get back with their teams before those contests start July 30.
Read more here. —Associated Press
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Here’s are five things that happened Wednesday in Illinois related to COVID-19: