chicagotribune--2020-10-12--COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital da

COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital data in your area

Among the metrics ( see below ) tracked under guidelines set by Gov .
J.B. Pritzker are the percentage of @ @ @ @ @ , the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19-like illnesses , and the capacity of hospitals @ @ @ @ @ state will decide how much or how little to restrict activities based on these metrics @

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
To assess how different parts of Illinois are handling the COVID-19 pandemic, officials look at the state through the 11 regions of Emergency Medical Services. The city of Chicago is one region, for example, and the rest of Cook County is another.
Among the metrics (see below) tracked under guidelines set by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are the percentage of coronavirus tests that return positive, the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19-like illnesses, and the capacity of hospitals to take in new patients.The state will decide how much or how little to restrict activities based on these metrics. (Cases, deaths and tests data is as of Dec. 31).
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus.
• Other Chicago, suburbs and Illinois COVID-19 metrics.
• See how the governor’s plan to manage the regions works.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
Created by the Chicago Tribune dataviz team. On Twitter @chitribgraphics


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Chicago man arrested in road-rage killing of Waukegan motorist, police say

Police say they were called to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire and found the victim in the street @ @ @ @ @ Paramedics transported the man to a hospital where he later died , police said .

A Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder in what police describe as a road-rage incident late Friday in Waukegan.
Sheldon Brown, 33, was ordered held in lieu of $3 million bail at the Lake County jail after allegedly shooting a man to death at about 11:50 p.m. Friday near the intersection of 8th and Jackson streets.
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The victim has not been formally identified, pending an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday, police said. He is a Waukegan resident in his 30s, according to authorities.
According to police, the victim, who was driving a white SUV, accidentally ran into the rear of Brown’s maroon-colored sedan. Brown exited his vehicle and then shot the victim, police said.
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Police say they were called to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire and found the victim in the street with apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported the man to a hospital where he later died, police said.
Brown was identified as the alleged shooter through witnesses and what police called an active community response. He was taken into custody Saturday in Waukegan without incident, police said. Authorities said they recovered a .40-caliber pistol.
Brown is due back in court Wednesday.


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Italian Americans recognize Columbus Day

The 2020 Chicago Marathon has gone virtual because of COVID-19 .
What better way to inspire a 26.2-mile run than @ @ @ @ @ have faired at the distance .
What follows is a selection of actors , musicians @ @ @ @ @ artists and the times they achieved .
Images from AP and Getty Images .
Marathon @ @ @ @ @ , Marathon Guide , Runner 's World and Men 's Journal .

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chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Wilmette firefighters rescue kite surfer from Lake Michigan

Firefighters headed to Gillson Park beach , where they used a six-wheel ATV to launch an inflatable boat from the @ @ @ @ @ about half a mile into the lake , where they rescued a man who had @ @ @ @ @ when he became separated from his board and sail , Wozney said .

A kite surfer who found himself in distress while out on choppy Lake Michigan waters Monday morning was rescued by Wilmette firefighters, authorities said.
The fire department received a 911 call around 11:30 a.m. from a resident living in a lakeside condominium building, who was looking out the window and spotted “someone’s head bobbing up and down in the water,” Wilmette Fire Chief Ben Wozney said.
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Firefighters headed to Gillson Park beach, where they used a six-wheel ATV to launch an inflatable boat from the shoreline. They then headed about half a mile into the lake, where they rescued a man who had been kitesurfing with a companion when he became separated from his board and sail, Wozney said.
Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, is allowed on the lake, and those who enjoy the sport often take advantage of windy weather, Wozney said.
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In this case, Wozney said the wind shifted suddenly, causing the man to lose contact with the board and sail, and prompting him to try to swim back to the shoreline through two- to three-foot waves.
“Anyone planning to go out on the lake should pay attention to the weather reports before they head out, and they should never do it alone,” Wozney said.
The man, who authorities did not identify, was wearing a full wet suit and was not injured during the incident, Wozney said, adding: “He was in good spirits."
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Man shot in Aurora Sunday morning

Man shot in Aurora Sunday morning

Police responded to reports of the shooting around 4 a.m. Sunday .
One man took himself to a local hospital @ @ @ @ @ in connection with the shooting , police said .

Aurora police are investigating the shooting of a man early Sunday morning in the 500 block of North Park Avenue, officials said.
Police responded to reports of the shooting around 4 a.m. Sunday. One man took himself to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in connection with the shooting, police said.
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Police are asking anyone with information to call 630-256-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.
mejones@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--CDC: Teen gave COVID-19 to 11 relatives across 4 states, including Illinois, during a family vacatio

CDC: Teen gave COVID-19 to 11 relatives across 4 states, including Illinois, during a family vacation. Case is a cautionary tale as holidays approach, experts say.

The report said the initial patient , a 13-year-old girl , was exposed to COVID-19 during a large outbreak in @ @ @ @ @ test four days after her exposure came back negative , before her symptoms began .
@ @ @ @ @ some nasal congestion , her only symptom .
That day she traveled with her parents @ @ @ @ @ a large family gathering , which began the following day , according to the CDC @ @

CTU workers direct vehicles lined up for COVID-19 testing outside of the Chicago Teachers Union on Dec. 30, 2021, in Chicago. CPS starts back to school on Monday following their holiday break. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
A COVID-19 outbreak that infected 11 people across four states ― including Illinois ― began with a 13-year-old girl who transmitted the virus during a three-week family vacation over the summer, according to a Centers for Disease Control report.
Several family members involved in the case were from suburban Cook County, local public health officials confirmed, but would not give any more information about the individuals due to privacy concerns. A Cook County Department of Public Health spokeswoman added that the community is not currently at risk from this particular outbreak, which occurred months ago.
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But the case highlights that kids and teens can contract and spread the virus, public health experts say. It also serves as a cautionary tale before the holiday season, a traditional time for many large family get-togethers.
“(The) outbreak highlights several important issues that are good to review before the holidays,” a Cook County Department of Public Health spokeswoman said in an email.
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The CDC noted that the case underscores the risk of exposure during gatherings, as well as the benefits of social distancing.
“SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) can spread efficiently during gathering, especially with prolonged, close contact,” the CDC report said. “Physical distancing, face mask use and hand hygiene reduce transmission; gatherings should be avoided when physical distancing and face mask use are not possible.”
[ Illinois’ seven-day average of new coronavirus cases sets new high, topping numbers from early May; positivity rate is also rising ]
The three-week family gathering involved five households from four states, according to the CDC report, which was released earlier this month. The report in a footnote mentioned public health departments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Georgia, as well as the Cook County Department of Public Health; it did not give any other information about where the family gathering took place or the states where various relatives lived.
The report said the initial patient, a 13-year-old girl, was exposed to COVID-19 during a large outbreak in June. A rapid antigen test four days after her exposure came back negative, before her symptoms began. Two days later she had some nasal congestion, her only symptom. That day she traveled with her parents and two brothers to attend a large family gathering, which began the following day, according to the CDC report.
She was one of 14 relatives ranging in age from 9 to 72 who shared a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home for eight to 25 days, the report said. The relatives did not wear face masks or practice physical distancing, according to the report.
[ COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital data in your area ]
Eleven other family members contracted the virus; one was hospitalized and another went to the emergency room for treatment of respiratory symptoms, but both recovered, according to the report.
“This outbreak highlights several important issues,” the report said. “First, children and adolescents can serve as the source for COVID-19 outbreaks within families, even when their symptoms are mild. Better understanding of transmission by children and adolescents in different settings is needed to refine public health guidance.”
Six additional family members did not stay at the home but did visit on different occasions, maintaining physical distance from relatives from other households. None of those individuals developed symptoms and four tested negative for the virus, the CDC found.
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“None of the six family members who maintained outdoor physical distance without face masks during two visits to the family gathering developed symptoms; the four who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 had negative test results,” according to the report.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
Local public health experts added that the report shows the importance of isolating after possible exposure to the virus, even if a COVID-19 test comes back negative. Rapid antigen tests in particular tend to have a lower sensitivity compared to nasal swab and saliva tests, and negative tests should be confirmed with other forms of testing when there’s a high probability of infection, such as known exposure, the CDC report noted.
“Regardless of negative test results, persons should self-quarantine for 14 days after a known exposure or after travel when mandated by state, territorial, tribal or local authorities,” the Cook County Public Health Department said.
eleventis@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Illinois’ seven-day average of new coronavirus cases sets new high, topping numbers from early May;

Illinois’ seven-day average of new coronavirus cases sets new high, topping numbers from early May; positivity rate is also rising

The seven-day average for new known cases reached 2,643 on Monday , up nearly 35 % from a week earlier @ @ @ @ @ 2,565 , set on May 4 and tied on May 7 .
At that time @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 was significantly lower than it is now .

CTU workers direct vehicles lined up for COVID-19 testing outside of the Chicago Teachers Union on Dec. 30, 2021, in Chicago. CPS starts back to school on Monday following their holiday break. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
The seven-day average of newly confirmed coronavirus cases in Illinois set a new high on Monday, topping a number recorded as the virus was surging in late April and early May.
The seven-day average for new known cases reached 2,643 on Monday, up nearly 35% from a week earlier. The previous high was 2,565, set on May 4 and tied on May 7. At that time, however, statewide testing for COVID-19 was significantly lower than it is now.
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State health officials announced 2,742 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the sixth day in a row with more than 2,600 cases. There have now been 321,892 known cases statewide since the pandemic began.
Officials also announced 13 more fatalities, bringing the statewide death toll to 8,997.
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[ CDC: Teen gave COVID-19 to 11 relatives across 4 states, including Illinois, during a family vacation. Case is a cautionary tale as holidays approach, experts say. ]
The percentage of coronavirus tests returning positive results has been increasing in recent days. The average statewide positivity rate was 4.3% for the week ending Sunday, up from 3.4% a week earlier.
Health officials look at the seven-day averages of new cases and positivity rates to smooth out daily fluctuations in the data.
The number of new cases reported over the past week has increased sharply, even as testing has remained relatively stable.
A week ago, the state’s seven-day average for new cases was 1,965. Monday’s number is up 35% from that, while the average number of daily tests increased only about 7% during the same period.
[ COVID-19 in Illinois by the numbers: Here’s a daily update on cases, positivity rate and hospital data in your area ]
Despite the recent increases in new cases and the statewide positivity rate, the seven-day average for daily deaths is considerably lower now than it was in early May, when the state was averaging around 100 COVID-19-related deaths per day.
The seven-day average for daily fatalities was 28 on Monday, up from 27 a week earlier. But the average had been below 20 deaths per day from mid-July through mid-August and has since been on the rise.
While the state’s positivity rate has been increasing, it remains below the 5% threshold recommended by the World Health Organization. The WHO has recommended that governments consider reopening only when the positivity rate remains below 5% for 14 days.
Illinois has used a more lenient standard in its reopening plan. For example, the Metro East region near St. Louis was allowed to return to phase four of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan on Friday after keeping its rolling positivity rate below 6.5% for three straight days.
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[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
On Sunday, Gov. Pritzker came out of self-isolation, his staff said. It had been 14 days since Pritzker last had contact with a staff member who later tested positive for COVID-19, according to the governor’s office.
Pritzker’s office announced Sept. 29 that the governor and his close contacts were entering a period of self-isolation after a staff member tested positive after developing symptoms consistent with coronavirus. That unidentified staff member traveled with Pritzker to two Downstate events in the days before testing positive, the latest of which was a trip to Marseilles on Sept. 27, according to the governor’s office.
Pritzker previously self-isolated in his Chicago home for several days in May, after a senior staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
jmunks@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

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

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


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 13 new deaths, 2,742 new confirmed cases and 47,579 new test resu

Daily Illinois coronavirus graphs: 13 new deaths, 2,742 new confirmed cases and 47,579 new test results

Illinois announced 2,742 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday for a total of 321,892 .
The state also announced 13 @ @ @ @ @ of 8,997 and 47,579 new test results for a total of 6.36 million .

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


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--SWAT called to home in Chatham where man was holding four children

The standoff was resolved by about 11:30 a.m. and the man was taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ were no injuries reported .

SWAT officers were called Monday morning to a home in Chatham where a man was holding four children, according to preliminary information from the police.
Officers were sent to the scene about 7 a.m. after a report of a violation of order of protection in the 7900 block of South Evans Avenue, authorities said.
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Officers were able to get the man to release the children from the residence and only the man remained barricaded inside, according to police.
The standoff was resolved by about 11:30 a.m. and the man was taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, police said. There were no injuries reported.
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Check back for updates.
kelsmith@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @KelliSmithNews


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Wisconsin judge upholds Gov. Tony Evers' order requiring masks to be worn in enclosed spaces

Evers first declared a public health emergency in March and renewed it in July after the Legislature declined to extend @ @ @ @ @ mandated the wearing of masks starting in August for anyone aged 5 and up in @ @ @ @ @ home .
He issued another order in September that extended the mask mandate until Nov. @ @ @ @ @ subject to a $ 200 fine .

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge on Monday allowed the state’s mask mandate to stand, rejecting an attempt by the Republican-controlled Legislature and a conservative law firm to overturn it, even as cases are spiking.
The judge noted in his ruling that the Legislature could vote to overturn the order from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers if they wanted to, but they haven’t so far.
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The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which brought the case, will appeal, said the group’s president Rick Esenberg. He did not say if they would attempt to skip the state appeals court by asking the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case. Esenberg called the issue a “critical constitutional matter.”
Republican legislative leaders did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The Legislature filed a brief in support of the lawsuit.
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The lawsuit argued that Evers overstepped his authority by issuing multiple emergency orders to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Evers defended the mask order, saying it was within his power to impose the requirement and that he followed the recommendations of public health experts.
St. Croix County Circuit Judge R. Michael Waterman said in his ruling that nothing prevents a governor, as Evers did in this case, from issuing multiple emergency declarations “when the emergency conditions continue to exist.”
“And, if the Legislature is unconvinced that a state of emergency does exist, the Legislature has the ultimate power to terminate it,” the judge said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. (AP)
The judge also noted that overturning the mask mandate, in place since August, would “affect every person in Wisconsin by a judicial act that usurps the governor’s power to declare a state of emergency and the Legislature’s power to end one.”
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, praised the ruling and encouraged Republicans to “stop supporting this attack on the mask requirement and instead to work with Governor Evers to adopt statewide policies that will allow us to more effectively to fight the virus and keep Wisconsinites safe.”
Evers' spokeswoman Britt Cudaback did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Evers first declared a public health emergency in March and renewed it in July after the Legislature declined to extend it. The July order mandated the wearing of masks starting in August for anyone aged 5 and up in all enclosed spaces except at home. He issued another order in September that extended the mask mandate until Nov. 21. Violators could be subject to a $200 fine.
The lawsuit argues that Evers can issue only one emergency declaration per crisis. Attorney Anthony LoCoco said during a hearing last week t hat the multiple declarations amount to a power grab and that the mask mandate is an “invasion” of personal liberty.
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The lawsuit also argued that masks are ineffective since Wisconsin’s infection numbers have continued to rise since Evers' mandate was imposed.
Assistant Attorney General Colin Hector argued for the state that the three orders were designed to address the growing pandemic.
Wisconsin is among the worst COVID-19 hot spots in the country, topping more than 150,000 positive cases on Sunday. Medical experts have attributed Wisconsin’s spike to colleges and K-12 schools reopening and general fatigue with precautions such as wearing masks and socially distancing.
The rising tide has some hospitals nearing capacity, especially in northeast and central Wisconsin, and the governor’s office has announced the activation of a field hospital at the state fairgrounds to accommodate the increase in patients.
Republican legislators in May succeeded in getting the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court to strike down Evers' virus-related stay-at-home order. The high court ruled that the Evers administration had overstepped its authority when it extended the order without consulting lawmakers.
Republican legislators in other states have skirmished repeatedly with Democratic governors over their powers during the pandemic. In neighboring Michigan, the conservative-majority state Supreme Court ruled that the law underpinning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s response to the pandemic was unconstitutional.


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--St. Charles man charged in connection with hit-and-run crash that killed 88-year-old woman in wheelc

St. Charles man charged in connection with hit-and-run crash that killed 88-year-old woman in wheelchair

According to police , witnesses said Radnoti , who was in a wheelchair , was crossing North Third Street with @ @ @ @ @ pickup truck waiting at the light began making a right turn onto westbound Main Street @ @ @ @ @ Radnoti while she was in the crosswalk , and drove away , police said .

A St. Charles man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a woman in a wheelchair in downtown St. Charles Friday afternoon, officials said.
Andrew Jensen, 23, of the 100 block of South 13th Street, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury or death, failure to report an accident and failure to yield at a crosswalk, St. Charles police said in a news release.
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Andrew Jensen. (St. Charles Police Department / HANDOUT)
Police released pictures and a description of the vehicle involved in the crash Friday, asking residents to send in tips. Jensen turned himself in to police before midnight Friday, according to police.
Police and fire crews responded at 4:04 p.m. Friday for the crash at Third and West Main streets, officials said. When they got there, first responders found Helen Radnoti, 88, of Chicago, unconscious in the road.
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According to police, witnesses said Radnoti, who was in a wheelchair, was crossing North Third Street with her adult son when a pickup truck waiting at the light began making a right turn onto westbound Main Street. The vehicle then hit Radnoti while she was in the crosswalk, and drove away, police said. The son sustained minor injuries.
Radnoti was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, where she was pronounced dead.
Jensen remains in custody and his bail was set Monday at $500,000. If he posts bond, he is prohibited from driving a car. His next court date is Oct. 20.
mejones@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Lake County Democrats appoint park district, chamber of commerce leader Adriane Johnson to state Sen

Lake County Democrats appoint park district, chamber of commerce leader Adriane Johnson to state Senate seat formerly held by Terry Link

“ Given the unusual circumstances that created this vacancy , and that petitions to run for this seat in the @ @ @ @ @ less than a year from now , many preferred appointing someone not planning to run @ @ @ @ @ allowing the voters to decide in a primary who should be the Democratic candidate going @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .

Lake County Democratic Party leaders on Sunday appointed Adriane Johnson to the Illinois Senate seat formerly held by Terry Link, who resigned last month shortly before pleading guilty to federal income tax evasion.
Johnson, of Buffalo Grove, is a local park district leader and chamber of commerce president. She was sworn in Sunday.
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In a statement, Johnson said racial equality, protecting the environment, ethics reform and supporting small businesses are among her top priorities.
Adriane Johnson has been appointed as Illinois state senator for 30th District. (Lake County Democratic Party)
“I was so honored this summer to speak at the Black Lives Matter peaceful protest on Juneteenth, and I believe it is critically important that we work toward eradicating systemic racism and restoring the soul of our nation,” Johnson said.
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Nearly 50 people submitted applications to succeed Link, who resigned Sept. 12, according to Lake County Democratic Chair Lauren Beth Gash. Johnson will serve out the remainder of Link’s term, which runs through the 2022 election.
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“Given the unusual circumstances that created this vacancy, and that petitions to run for this seat in the next election will be available less than a year from now, many preferred appointing someone not planning to run for the seat, then allowing the voters to decide in a primary who should be the Democratic candidate going forward,” Gash said in a statement.
“With Adriane in office, I am confident we found the right person and that the residents of the 30th District will have exceptional representation for the rest of the term," Gash said.
Johnson is the chair of the Illinois Association of Park District Board of Trustees, and president of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce.
Link held the Senate seat for more than two decades. He pleaded guilty last month to a federal count of filing a false tax return as part of plea agreement with prosecutors that showed Link said his income in 2016 was $264,450, when it was at least $358,000.
The Chicago Tribune reported last year that Link agreed to wear a wire for the FBI in its bribery investigation of then state Rep. Luis Arroyo, in an effort to gain some relief in sentencing.
jmunks@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--During Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin says ‘Obamacare’ helped Tinley Park

During Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin says ‘Obamacare’ helped Tinley Park family facing expensive medical care

Before his birth , Kenny was diagnosed with multiple congenital heart defects , and he underwent the first of what @ @ @ @ @ surgeries in January 2014 , when he was 6 weeks old , his mother said @ @ @ @ @ second surgery in February 2014 and a third in January 2015 .

Sue Murray holds her infant son, Kenny, who required two open-heart surgeries within the first two months of his birth. (Sue Murray)
During the first day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Monday, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin referenced a Tinley Park family that he says would have been driven into bankruptcy were it not for the Affordable Care Act’s provision that lifted lifetime caps on benefits.
Sue and Ken Murray’s son, Kenny, was born in November 2013 and needed three open heart surgeries during his first 14 months, Durbin said while addressing Barrett and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Health care costs for the boy’s first four months cost about $1 million, Durbin said.
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Meet Kenny. Kenny is one of millions of Americans born with a pre-existing condition. If Republicans succeed in... Posted by Senator Dick Durbin on Monday, October 12, 2020
Before his birth, Kenny was diagnosed with multiple congenital heart defects, and he underwent the first of what would ultimately be three open-heart surgeries in January 2014, when he was 6 weeks old, his mother said Monday. He had a second surgery in February 2014 and a third in January 2015.
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Doctors told the family there was a good chance he would survive the initial surgery, “but there was also a chance he would not,” Sue Murray said.
The family’s insurance coverage carried a lifetime maximum cap of $1 million, and the Affordable Care Act took effect six days before his surgery. Kenny went into the hospital the day after Christmas in 2013 and wasn’t discharged until the following April. Within a few months of being in the hospital, Kenny’s medical bills had surpassed $1 million.
Kenny will require another heart surgery within a few years, Murray said.
“If they can put a lifetime maximum back on him that would be a very catastrophic situation for Kenny,” his mother said. “That is why we feel it is important to share his story because we want to advocate for the millions of people who need it.”
Kenny and his family met Durbin in June 2019 as part of the Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day in Washington, organized by the Children’s Hospital Association. Mike Farrell, president of Advocate Children’s Hospital and the hospital’s chief medical officer, accompanied the family.
Durbin’s office contacted the family recently and asked permission to share their story, Murray said. But she didn’t know it would be part of the Barrett hearings and make national news.
“I’ve been getting flooded with messages from friends and family and people just thanking us for speaking out,” she said “It was a honor to be able to share his story to help other people keep these protections in place.”
Before Barrett was a federal judge, she questioned the reasoning behind Chief Justice John Roberts' majority opinion upholding the 2010 health care law. The law is being challenged again, with oral arguments set for Nov. 10, a week after the presidential election.
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Democrats argued Monday at Barrett’s confirmation hearing that the Affordable Care Act is at serious risk if Barrett is confirmed to the high court.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Susan Walsh / AP)
In remarks during Monday’s Senate proceedings, Durbin said Republicans in Congress have been obsessed with repealing the act for years, but didn’t have the vote.
“They couldn’t get it done in the House. They couldn’t get it done in the Senate, thanks to three brave Republicans including John McCain. And now they’ve got to rely on the court to do their work,” Durbin said.
“Judge Barrett you’re on the record, you wrote an article in which you criticize the NFIB versus Sebelius case where Chief Justice (John) Roberts was the deciding vote of holding the ACA. Now your nomination is moving forward at unprecedented speed. So what’s at stake?”
Durbin then showed photos of the Murray family and shared their story, ending with a photo of Kenny behind him.
“Here he is. Wouldn’t you want him on your team? I sure would,” Durbin said.
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Sue Murray said when her son came home from the hospital he required 22 daily medications along with oxygen as well as occupational, physical therapy and speech therapy five days a week.
His big sister, Maddie, now 10, “was a big part of his coming along,” helping out mom and dad with her brother’s care, Murray said.
Now 6, Kenny is a first grader at Christa McAuliffe Elementary in Tinley Park. Maddie is in the fifth grade.
Six-year-old Kenny Murray, who required three open-heart surgeries within the first 14 months of his life, with his sister, Maddie. (Sue Murray)
He continues to regularly see a cardiologist and pulmonologist, but can take part in most activities except things that are too taxing on the heart such as football or soccer, Murray said.
“He won’t be running any marathons,” she said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family has enjoyed activities such as bike rides and picnics and the kids playing outside — but maintaining safe distance — with neighborhood friends, Murray said.
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She said that due to Kenny’s cardiac issues as well as having asthma, they had already “been very cautious about cleanliness” and keeping their son in a bubble, to a degree.
“We have been trying to give him and Maddie some social interactions, although carefully,” Murray said. “It’s a tough balance.”
Chicago Tribune staff contributed to this article.
mnolan@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Chicago man, 27, killed in car crash on I-57 in Posen as he attempted to change lanes

The crash happened about 3:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-57 near 147th Street and involved a car and @ @ @ @ @ a news release from state police .
The driver was the only occupant in each @ @ @ @ @

A 27-year-old man from Chicago died following a car crash early Monday on Interstate 57 in Posen, according to Illinois State Police.
The crash happened about 3:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-57 near 147th Street and involved a car and a semitractor-trailer, according to a news release from state police. The driver was the only occupant in each vehicle, officials said.
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Both vehicles were traveling north in the middle lane of I-57 when the passenger car, a 2017 gray Chevrolet Malibu, began to switch lanes but clipped the rear of the semi, the news release said. The Malibu then hit the left wall barrier.
State police said the 27-year-old driver of the Malibu was pronounced dead at the crash site. His name had not been released Monday morning.
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The driver of the semi was a 46-year-old man from Georgia who was not injured, state police said.
All lanes near the crash were closed for about four hours, reopening about 8 a.m.
The investigation remained ongoing, authorities said.
Check back for updates.
kelsmith@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @KelliSmithNews


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Man stabbed outside Naperville apartment building during confrontation with two men, police say

The suspects are both black men .
One was 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-5 in height , about 28 to 30 years @ @ @ @ @ build and wearing a black zippered hoodie and black jeans .
The other was about @ @ @ @ @ his early 20s , with a heavy build and wearing a long-sleeved burgundy/maroon shirt and @ @ @

A man was stabbed outside of a Naperville apartment building Satuday night during a confrontation with two men, Naperville police said.
The incident occurred about 7:55 p.m. in the 1300 block of Modaff Road. A man in his 40s told police he had brief conflict with the two suspects in an area near the apartment building’s vehicle garage and he was stabbed, a news release said.
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The man was found bleeding in one of the building’s foyers and he was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the release said.
Police provided no information on what might have provoked the confrontation, if the victim lived at the building where he was stabbed, where on his body he was stabbed or how many times.
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The suspects are both black men. One was 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-5 in height, about 28 to 30 years old, with a slim build and wearing a black zippered hoodie and black jeans. The other was about 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7, in his early 20s, with a heavy build and wearing a long-sleeved burgundy/maroon shirt and black pants.
Anyone information on the incident is asked to call 630-420-6666 and ask for the Investigations Division.


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--‘Illinois has no place to go. Sad, isn’t it?’ When Trump talks about Chicago — and the state of Illi

‘Illinois has no place to go. Sad, isn’t it?’ When Trump talks about Chicago — and the state of Illinois — we track it.

Since becoming president Trump has returned the theme frequently bashing the city in Tweets and interviews .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
In a 2016 interview with Fox ’ s Sean Hannity Trump said : “ @ @ @ @ @ have big investments in Chicago , and I think it ’ s a great city @ @

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--2020-10-12--Storms roll into northern Illinois with possibility of hail, cold front with up to 45 mph winds to f

Storms roll into northern Illinois with possibility of hail, cold front with up to 45 mph winds to follow

“ It ’ ll be basically a three-hour period or so where there will be some rain showers and probably @ @ @ @ @ the area .
Not everyone will see lightning or hear thunder but there ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ the combination of the showers , some storms around and the already gusty winds — @ @ @ @ @ few of the storms have even some gustier winds , maybe even over 45 mph @ @ @ @ @ everyone ’ s going to feel windy conditions and can expect some rain here .
@

A cold front that could bring with it heavy downpours, hail, the possibility of scattered thunderstorms and wind gusts as strong as 45 mph was expected to roll through most of northern Illinois around noon Monday, forecasters said.
A hazardous weather outlook was issued by the National Weather Service for most northern Illinois and northwest Indiana counties, which includes a limited thunderstorm risk and a wind risk. It is expected to be just one component of a wacky weather week that could bring warm sunny days that will include a heightened fire risk as well as increasingly colder weather culminating in the possibility of the first freeze of the season in the city, said Matt Friedlein, a meteorologist.
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Bryce Allard, 21, and Lily Thao, 20, from Green Bay, share an umbrella in the rain as they celebrate Allard's birthday in Millennium Park, Oct. 12, 2020. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
“We have a pretty strong cold front that’ll move through today bringing some pretty gusty winds along with some showers and probably some embedded thunderstorms too. This will move into the Chicago area basically around lunchtime, around noon, and this will turn the winds to the west or northwest, basically, and it’ll make it pretty gusty,” he said. “Behind this front, the winds will gust to 40 mph, maybe even 45 mph this afternoon.”
At 8 a.m. winds were picking up throughout the region, Friedlein said. At O’Hare International Airport, gusts of 25 mph were recorded Monday morning.
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When the storm system comes through, it won’t necessarily affect the entire area, but the potential remains for rain, hail and lightning and thunder.
A brief period (less than 3-4 hours in any one location) of showers & storms is expected today. Severe weather is not expected, but stronger storms could produce small hail and strong wind gusts. Winds will then gust to 40 mph (locally to 45 mph) this PM behind a cold front. pic.twitter.com/CTFlrqNTiW — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) October 12, 2020
“It’ll be basically a three-hour period or so where there will be some rain showers and probably some embedded scattered thunderstorms in the area. Not everyone will see lightning or hear thunder but there’ll be some around. So the combination of the showers, some storms around and the already gusty winds — it’s possible a few of the storms have even some gustier winds, maybe even over 45 mph — but no matter what everyone’s going to feel windy conditions and can expect some rain here.”
The temperature should top off about 68 degrees before the system reaches the Chicago area and as it arrives the temperature is expected to drop by 10 degrees in an hour, he said. Once the rain tapers off around 3 p.m. the remainder of the day should hold steady in the 50s.
“It’s not going to be significantly colder — yet. That’s coming later in the week," Friedlein said. "It will remain windy, though, through sunset.”
Tuesday will still be windy, but it also should provide clear, sunny skies and the area will warm into the 70s, leading to a beautiful day that will belie its danger. Despite the rain Monday, Friedlein said the soil remains so dry that there’s an increased fire risk Tuesday.
“We’ll have to watch tomorrow with the windy, dry conditions and full sunshine warming up, some of the conditions for what we call fire weather may get a little critical — really dry, really windy, the ground’s really dry,” he said. “So we’ll have to watch out for that. Anyone planning any burns tomorrow, it may not be a good day for that.”
Dry conditions are in store through midweek, with afternoon breeziness expected Tuesday and Wednesday. Much cooler conditions return Thursday with a strong front, and freezing temperatures appear possible in spots on Thursday Night. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/HshMQP04Qa — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) October 12, 2020
Wednesday also should bring temperatures in the 70s, but Thursday a cool down will begin. The temperature should be only in the 50s and by Friday the high temperature will be only around 50 degrees, Friedlein said.
“It’ll cool down significantly and we’re probably headed for our first freeze,” he said, adding that some outlying areas have had either frost or a freeze already this season but Chicago hasn’t yet experienced its first freeze.
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“I think even portions of the city will dip to freezing either Thursday night and/or Friday night, so a bit of an autumn chill there,” Friedlein said. “It’s a little too early to say for sure ... It’s always later to happen in the city but this looks like it’ll be the first one there in the heart of the city.”
For more weather information visit the Tribune’s weather page.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Abortion pill now easier for women to get during pandemic, but other states' restrictions have women

Abortion pill now easier for women to get during pandemic, but other states' restrictions have women traveling to Illinois

“ If you have a small child , and you don ’ t want to sit in a health center @ @ @ @ @ you may not know , concerned about a pandemic , concerned about the amount of @ @ @ @ @ to be away from home , it might suddenly become more attractive to do a @ @ @ @ @ and then drive back to pick up your medicine and be done , ” said @ @ @ @ @ officer of Carafem , which operates four clinics in three states and D.C. , including @ @ @ @ @ .

A patient holds a mifepristone pill, also known as RU-486, which is the first part of medication taken for a medical abortion. The patient recieved the pill at Whole Woman's Health of Peoria on Dec. 28, 2017. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
A recent court ruling temporarily easing restrictions on medication abortions during the pandemic has some Missouri women traveling to Illinois, where they can take advantage of the state’s laws that allow telemedicine for abortion care.
Right now, that means a Missouri woman can, if she wants, cross the state border, find a place to park and have a virtual visit with an Illinois doctor via her smartphone. If approved, she can pick up the package of abortion pills a couple of days later at a designated address in Illinois _ perhaps at a friend’s or acquaintance’s home or a post office box she has rented.
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While the number of women crossing state lines to access the option is believed to be small, one abortion provider with a telehealth program outside of Chicago says more women are learning about the court ruling and differing state laws on the use of telemedicine for abortion.
“If you have a small child, and you don’t want to sit in a health center, with a physician that you may not know, concerned about a pandemic, concerned about the amount of time you’re going to be away from home, it might suddenly become more attractive to do a 15-minute consult in your car and then drive back to pick up your medicine and be done,” said Melissa Grant, chief operating officer of Carafem, which operates four clinics in three states and D.C., including one in Skokie, Illinois.
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A better scenario during a pandemic, say abortion advocates, would be for patients to consult with a health care provider through a virtual visit from their home and receive the medications at their own home _ a process some call “teleabortion.”
A federal judge in Maryland in July ordered a temporary halt to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirement that abortion medications be given in person, allowing state-licensed providers to mail the drugs within their state. An appellate court upheld the ruling in August; on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a Trump administration request to immediately reinstate the FDA requirement.
But while the FDA rule remains suspended, restrictions imposed by some states on using telemedicine for abortion care are not. Eighteen states _ including Missouri _ require in-person consultation, meaning women still have to travel to see a provider.
Over the past two years in Missouri, medication abortions have become nearly nonexistent. Women must travel to the state’s only abortion clinic in St. Louis, have a consultation, wait three days and then return to get the medication. And when they return, they must undergo a pelvic exam.
Missouri’s Republican lawmakers argue the requirements are designed to ensure patient safety, yet professional guidelines for obstetrics say waiting periods and pelvic exams are unnecessary.
The requirements, along with recent state legislative attempts to ban abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy, have most patients traveling out-of-state for medication abortions.
Last year, of the 2,120 medication abortions by Missouri residents, only 15 were provided within the state, Missouri health department data shows. The number of medication abortions sought out-of-state is likely even higher, said department spokeswoman Lisa Cox, as not all states share their data.
It’s still a choice many Missouri women prefer — 46% of all reported abortions by residents last year were medication abortions.
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The pandemic, however, has made traveling more difficult, as patients are concerned about contact with others or have lost jobs, transportation or access to day care. Some data suggests the need for abortion has also increased as women have lost access to contraception, fear increased health risks of pregnancy and are struggling financially.
In a written statement, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, applauded the court ruling allowing abortion medications to be mailed within a state, but she lamented the unequal access to medication abortion.
“Unfortunately for far too many, access to safe, dignified care when they need it and where they want it is not a reality largely due to an overly burdensome and medically unnecessary web of state regulations,” McNicholas said. “We continue to strive to make all safe legal options for ending a pregnancy available to patients, and that includes medication abortion by telemedicine in Illinois.”
Planned Parenthood in October 2019 opened a clinic just across the border in Fairview Heights, so it could expand abortion services.
The pill mifepristone, taken along with the drug misoprostol, causes bleeding and cramping to empty the uterus, much like a miscarriage. It can be used up to 10 weeks into pregnancy.
Research shows the regimen terminates a pregnancy in about 95% of patients, while 5% may need to also have a surgical abortion.
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About 3.7 million patients in the U.S. have used the abortion pill with a safe track record. Serious complications such as blood transfusions and severe infections are rare. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mild fever.
Over the past decade, the number of medication abortions has increased 73%, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In 2017, medication abortion accounted for 39% of all abortions in the United States and 60% of all abortions before 10 weeks' gestation.
The FDA, however, has a unique rule for dispensing the pill: Patients must pick it up in person at the prescribing hospital, clinic or medical office.
When the pandemic hit in the United States, a coalition of medical experts and reproductive advocates asked the FDA to suspend the rule as it seemed burdensome and risky, especially for those having to travel far distances.
Grant said in states that allowed telehealth visits for abortion care, clinics were providing curbside drop-offs of the pills in order to reduce contact while still meeting the FDA requirement.
“What value is there of seeing the provider in person if all they’re doing is coming out to your car and handing you medicine like going through the drive-thru at your pharmacy?” Grant said.
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With no response from the FDA, the coalition filed a federal lawsuit. The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York State Academy of Family Physicians, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective and an individual family medicine physician.
In July, a federal district court in Maryland found the requirement presents “a serious burden” by forcing patients “to decide between forgoing or substantially delaying abortion care, or risking exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their children, and family members.”
The ruling prohibited the FDA from enforcing the in-person delivery requirement until at least 30 days after the end of the federal government’s declared public health emergency.
A federal appellate court in August upheld the injunction, but the FDA last month took the case to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to reverse the order and arguing that the rule isn’t a substantial obstacle to abortion access. Thursday’s decision by the high court to hold the Trump administration’s appeal in abeyance means the issue likely won’t be resolved until after the Nov. 3 election.
A group of 20 Republican senators also sent a letter last month to the FDA, calling the court decisions “rogue judicial activism” and asking the agency to ban use of the abortion pill entirely.
“Indeed, by demedicalizing and deregulating the abortion pill, women will be left to engage in a form of ‘DIY’ chemical abortion, as the abortion industry collects payments, and as prescribers evade all legal risk and FDA oversight,” the letter stated. “This is unconscionable.”
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The letter also questioned prescribers' abilities to diagnose ectopic pregnancies and determine the gestation of pregnancies that would make medication abortion dangerous.
Grant said all medication abortions are approved by a physician. During virtual consultations, health care providers take patients' medical history and provide consent forms. If a patient is at risk of an ectopic pregnancy or unsure if less than 10 weeks pregnant, the provider arranges blood work or an ultrasound with the patient’s primary care doctor or nearby imagining center.
Carafem has been providing teleabortions in Illinois since April, before the court ruling, through a study launched in 2016 by Gynuity Health Projects. In an agreement with the FDA, the study allows patients to make virtual doctor visits and receive the pills in the mail.
The study has grown to include providers in 13 states, including Carafem clinics in Illinois and Maryland, which were added during the pandemic.
Carafem has provided teleabortions at its Georgia clinic for nearly two years as part of the study, Grant said.
After hearing of struggles the pandemic was placing on their clients in other states, she said, “We looked again at the telemedicine model and thought, certainly if there were any time to make this available to more clients who were having a trouble traveling, it was then.”
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Grant said so far their patients report little difference between virtual and in-person doctor visits. And the safety and outcomes of receiving the pills in the mail mirror that of picking them up.
“We believe collecting that data is really, really important so that we can show that there’s not a medical reason that this isn’t an option,” she said, “and hopefully that helps to balance some of the political reasons for why people might restrict this medicine.”
Erin Matson, the co-director of Reproaction, an organization that advocates for removing restrictions on abortion pills, said Missouri residents should not have to cross state lines or risk exposure to COVID-19 through repeat visits mandated by the state to get a medication abortion.
The organization also informs women about self-managed abortion, where women obtain abortion pills through websites such as Aid Access.
Whatever a state’s regulations or potential threat to Roe v. Wade posed by a Supreme Court seat vacancy, Matson said, women will find a way to get the pills.
“No matter what happens to these laws, there’s no way they can put abortion pills back in the bottle,” she said.
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___
Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Column: African Americans can teach white liberals how to cope with their hatred for Donald Trump

The former slaves did not did not stage a rebellion and go after their former slave masters with a vengeance @ @ @ @ @ they did the best they could to work within the system that had been assigned @ @ @ @ @ a period during Reconstruction , they thrived through hard work and determination .

President Donald Trump arrives to speak from the South Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
My heart goes out to my liberal white friends who are struggling to deal with their hatred.
I understand why the intense emotions you feel for Donald Trump seem foreign to you. America was established by your people and for your people, so you have never experienced being victimized by your own government.
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But I have. Every African American has.
Trump is not the first contemptible politician to sit at the helm of government. He is, however, the first to make white people feel personally targeted.
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He is the first to threaten your comfortable way of life. He is the first to jeopardize the civil liberties you have been allowed to take for granted.
Never have you been so disappointed in the nation’s leadership or felt so vulnerable. This is the first time you have ever been this eager to cast your ballot, not necessarily for someone — but against someone.
Never has your blood boiled at the mere mention of a president’s name. Never have you wished him ill health or worse. Never have you been so repulsed by his entire cabinet, the political party that enables him or the supporters who blindly follow him and treat him as though he is a god.
Trump is the first president who has made America seem unrecognizable to you. But if you are wise and empathetic, the past four years have caused you to question whether you ever really knew America at all.
Throughout our 400 years here, Black people have suffered at the hands of hateful politicians. We are still struggling to overcome the egregious acts put upon us.
Though we are angry, most African Americans have chosen not to hate. You can learn coping skills from us.
Trump has not only divided our nation over political ideology, he has done more than any president in nearly a century to escalate racial tensions rather than attempt to calm them.
Still, he pales in comparison with Andrew Johnson, the nation’s 17th president. Imagine how the former slaves must have hated Johnson after he snatched away their 40 acres and a mule.
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Johnson was the most lowdown president America has ever had. To this day, Black people are still trying to get back the reparations he stole from them.
After the Civil War, Union officials decided that resettlement assistance was necessary to help the newly freed Americans become self-sufficient.
So in 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Gen. William T. Sherman issued Special Field Orders, No. 15. It said “each family shall have a plot of not more than 40 acres of tillable ground.” Though the order did not specify it, some also received mules left over from the war.
But as soon as Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson rose from his vice presidency role to become president and rescinded the order. The Confederate property, which had rightfully been seized from Southern landowners, was promptly returned to them.
Though Black people had spent generations sowing the land for free, they were left with nothing.
The former slaves did not stage a rebellion and go after their former slave masters with a vengeance. For a century, they did the best they could to work within the system that had been assigned to them. And for a period during Reconstruction, they thrived through hard work and determination.
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Black people always have known that the power to change a nation could only be obtained at the voting booth. So when the 15th Amendment finally gave Black men the right to vote, they eagerly sought to take advantage of it.
But Johnson again got in the way.
He saw to it that states were granted the right to establish their own governments, which meant Southern lawmakers would have dominance over how most former slaves were treated by the government.
It was no surprise that most state legislatures tried to limit the rights of African Americans. The “Black Codes” they enacted were designed to stifle the advancement of Blacks and keep them in a perpetual state of economic and social despair.
They took our vote away from us and never have entirely given it back. Now Trump is trying to take away yours.
You can understand the hatred African Americans must have felt for the white poll workers, who forced them to submit to complicated and frivolous literacy tests that those administering it could not pass themselves.
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Imagine how Blacks must have hated Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who in his 1963 inaugural speech, proclaimed, “segregation today ... segregation tomorrow … segregation forever.”
Imagine how they abhorred Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox, who once owned a small diner and vowed to close it rather than serve Black people.
But they did not succumb to it. African Americans marched in Birmingham and Montgomery, and they traveled to the deep corners of Mississippi to register people to vote. Many were beaten or killed.
How they must have hated their assailants. But hatred, neither theirs nor their attackers', couldn’t sway them.
Consider Native Americans as well.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, was responsible for the heinous Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced tens of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the Southeast to make room for newly arriving Black slaves.
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In periods of turmoil, there is no time to hate. Hatred is a diversion that forces you to take your eyes off the mission. It sidelines you with such debilitating pain that you cannot think clearly, much less do the work needed to bring about change.
During the civil rights movement, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was able to force a reluctant government to pass sweeping civil rights legislation designed to secure voting rights and end desegregation.
He could not have accomplished that by harboring hatred. Instead, he advocated anti-hate in the form of nonviolent protests.
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King said, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
Trump’s outlandish dictatorial behavior, compulsive lying and overall deceitfulness have tested the tolerance of Americans of all races. Liberal whites, however, seem more conflicted over their reactions to it.
As the majority in America, white people have the power to change things, with assistance from the rest of us. It’s up to you whether to use it, not just for your own benefit, for everyone’s.
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If you are blinded by hatred, you cannot see the truth. You cannot see the path forward, though it is right in front of you.
If hatred wins, Trump wins.
dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--4 displaced after extra-alarm fire destroys Humboldt Park home, firefighter suffers minor injury

The fire was put out before 12:30 a.m. , Velez said .
A firefighter was taken to a hospital for @ @ @ @ @ were no other injuries .

Four people were displaced after a fire destroyed a Humboldt Park home at 820 N. Lawndale Ave. on Oct. 12, 2020. (Chicago Fire Department)
Four people were displaced after an extra-alarm fire destroyed a Humboldt Park home Sunday night, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived after 11:30 p.m. to the fire at 820 N. Lawndale Ave. on the Northwest Side, department spokesman Chief Frank Velez said. The two-and-a-half story building collapsed because of the fire.
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Update for the Still and Box at 820 N Lawndale- has been upgraded to a 2-11 Alarm. pic.twitter.com/XK6UC3VnON — Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) October 12, 2020
The fire was put out before 12:30 a.m., Velez said. A firefighter was taken to a hospital for a minor injury. There were no other injuries.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Velez said. It’s unclear where the fire began.
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pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Tracking Chicago homicide victims

Tracking Chicago homicide victims

Though there are homicides recorded throughout the city they are most concentrated in the South and West sides .

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chicagotribune--2020-10-12--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened Oct. 10-11 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area

But sensitive lab tests — like the PCR test cited in the doctor ’ s statements — detect virus in @ @ @ @ @ nose and throat .
Some medical experts had been skeptical that Trump could be declared @ @ @ @ @ transmitting the virus so early in the course of his illness .
Just 10 days @ @ @ @ @ infection , there was no way to know for certain that someone was no longer @ @ @ @ @

We have lifted the paywall on this story. To support essential reporting, please consider becoming a subscriber .
Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 2,727 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus, as well as 9 more confirmed fatalities.
The total number of known infections now stands at 319,150 and the death toll at 8,984 statewide since the pandemic began. Officials also reported 64,047 new tests in the last 24 hours.
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Meanwhile, after more than a month under tighter restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the Metro East region has been allowed to return to phase four rules that allow indoor dining and bar service and gatherings of up to 50 people, state officials said Friday.
The region outside St. Louis was the first in Illinois to see a scaled back reopening in August after it passed a state-set threshold of an 8% positivity rate for three consecutive days.
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Additionally, Lake County has been added to the list of counties under warning for a potential resurgence of the coronavirus, state health officials said Friday. The weekly list from the IDPH includes 26 counties, down from 28 a week earlier.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
Sunday
‘I feel like I have dementia’: Brain fog plagues COVID-19 survivors
After contracting the coronavirus in March, Michael Reagan lost all memory of his 12-day vacation in Paris, even though the trip was just a few weeks earlier.
Several weeks after Erica Taylor recovered from her COVID-19 symptoms of nausea and cough, she became confused and forgetful, failing to even recognize her own car, the only Toyota Prius in her apartment complex’s parking lot.
Lisa Mizelle, a veteran nurse practitioner at an urgent care clinic who fell ill with the virus in July, finds herself forgetting routine treatments and lab tests and has to ask colleagues about terminology she used to know automatically.
“I leave the room, and I can’t remember what the patient just said,” she said, adding that if she hadn’t exhausted her medical leave she’d take more time off.
“It scares me to think I’m working,” Mizelle, 53, said. “I feel like I have dementia.”
It’s becoming known as COVID brain fog: troubling cognitive symptoms that can include memory loss, confusion, difficulty focusing, dizziness and grasping for everyday words. Increasingly, COVID survivors say brain fog is impairing their ability to work and function normally.
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Read more here. —The New York Times
‘Running is not canceled.’ But the Chicago Marathon is smaller, quieter and virtual because of the pandemic
After concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic canceled a series of marathons around the world, Chicago runners reimagined the traditional 26.2 mile route this weekend with groups across the city embarking on “virtual” and socially distanced runs.
Greg Hipp, executive director of the Chicago Area Runners Association, said that virtual marathons emerged after it became clear that mass gatherings would be canceled because of the pandemic.
“Virtual marathons let people run from anywhere,” he said. “It allows you to run and still reach your goals even though the marathons have been canceled.”
Virtual marathons track runners through phone apps and allow them to complete the race within 24 hours, he added. Runners may choose their paths individually or in small groups. In Chicago, many chose to run the lakefront path, and some began the race on Saturday.
Read more here. —Jessica Villagomez
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Trump says he’s now ‘immune’ from the coronavirus – a claim that’s impossible to prove – and ready to return to the campaign trail
President Donald Trump on Sunday declared he was healthy enough to return to the campaign trail, a day after the White House doctor said he was no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus but did not say explicitly whether Trump had tested negative for it.
Trump, who was poised Monday to host his first rally after his COVID-19 diagnosis, declared he was now “immune” from the virus, a claim that was impossible to prove and comes amid a series of outstanding questions about the president’s health.
“I’m immune,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News. “The president is in very good shape to fight the battles.”
In a memo released Saturday night by the White House, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley said Trump met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation and that by “currently recognized standards” he was no longer considered a transmission risk. The memo did not declare Trump had tested negative for the virus.
But sensitive lab tests — like the PCR test cited in the doctor’s statements — detect virus in swab samples taken from the nose and throat. Some medical experts had been skeptical that Trump could be declared free of the risk of transmitting the virus so early in the course of his illness. Just 10 days since an initial diagnosis of infection, there was no way to know for certain that someone was no longer contagious, they said.
Read more here. —Associated Press
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Saturday
2,905 new known COVID-19 cases and 31 additional deaths reported
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 2,905 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus, as well as 31 more confirmed fatalities.
The total number of known infections now stands at 316,423 and the death toll to 8,975 statewide since the pandemic began. Officials also reported 66,256 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 4%.
—Chicago Tribune staff
Nancy Pelosi dismisses latest White House COVID-19 relief offer
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday dismissed the latest White House offer in COVID-19 aid talks as “one step forward, two steps back,” but said she is still hopeful that progress can be made toward a deal.
The White House had boosted its offer before Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Pelosi spoke on Friday afternoon. President Donald Trump is eager for an agreement before Election Day, even as his most powerful GOP ally in the Senate said Congress is unlikely to deliver relief by then.
“Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along. Go Big!” Trump said Friday on Twitter, just a few days after unceremoniously breaking off talks in a tweet thread, citing the high cost.
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Read more here. —Associated Press
White House blocked CDC from requiring masks on public transportation, sources say
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drafted a sweeping order last month requiring all passengers and employees to wear masks on all forms of public and commercial transportation in the United States, but it was blocked by the White House, according to two federal health officials.
The order would have been the toughest federal mandate to date aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, which continues to infect more than 40,000 Americans a day. The officials said that it was drafted under the agency’s “quarantine powers” and that it had the support of the secretary of health and human services, Alex Azar, but the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, declined to even discuss it.
The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said the order would have required face coverings on airplanes, trains, buses and subways, and in transit hubs such as airports, train stations and bus depots.
Read more here. —The New York Times


chicagotribune--2020-10-13--5 Michigan men accused in plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to face hearings Tuesday

Whitmer , who was considered as Joe Biden ’ s running mate and is nearly halfway through a four-year term @ @ @ @ @ for her response to the virus outbreak but also sharply criticized by Republican lawmakers and @ @ @ @ @ the state .
The Capitol has been the site of many rallies , including ones @ @ @ @ @ her ouster .

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Members of anti-government paramilitary groups implicated in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor ahead of the November election because of her measures to slow the coronavirus also discussed abducting Virginia’s governor, an FBI agent testified Tuesday.
The disclosure came during a federal court hearing in Grand Rapids, where agent Richard Trask revealed new details about investigators' use of confidential informants, undercover agents and encrypted communication to thwart the purported scheme to abduct Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
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A judge ordered three of six men charged in the case held without bond until trial, delaying rulings on two defendants. Another was ordered returned to Michigan from Delaware.
“They discussed possible targets, taking a sitting governor, specifically issues with the governor of Michigan and Virginia based on the lockdown orders” they had issued to deal with the pandemic, Trask said, referring to a June 6 meeting in Dublin, Ohio, attended by roughly 15 members of anti-government groups from “four or five states.” A criminal complaint said at least two of the defendants were among them.
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It wasn’t immediately clear if talk of targeting Virginia’s Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, continued beyond the meeting. Nothing from the complaint or Trask’s testimony indicated that anyone had been charged with plotting against Northam.
But the mention of another governor who, like Whitmer, has drawn attacks from President Donald Trump — and the alleged intent to carry out the kidnapping shortly before the bitterly divisive U.S. election — escalated political tension surrounding the case. Trump urged supporters to “LIBERATE” Michigan, Virginia and Minnesota in a series of tweets in April, encouraging protesters who turned up at state Capitols to oppose restrictions aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus.
Trump falsely claimed in a recent interview on Fox News that Northam, a supporter of abortion rights, had “executed a baby.”
The president “regularly encourages violence against those who disagree with him,” Northam’s spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, said in a statement Tuesday. “The rhetoric coming out of this White House has serious and potentially deadly consequences. It must stop.”
Whitmer and others have similarly accused Trump of emboldening extremists.
Following the arrests last week, the White House said the president has condemned hate, and Trump tweeted: “I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence.”
A combo image provided by the Kent County Sheriff shows mugshots of, from left, Brandon Caserta, Adam Fox, Kaleb Franks, Ty Garbin and Daniel Harris, the five men from Michigan who were charged by federal authorities with plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The sixth man charged by the federal authorities, Barry Croft, lives in Delaware. (Kent County Sheriff)
Northam said during a news conference he and his family felt safe with security Virginia’s state police provide, and that he had been threatened before. His protection was tightened this year after he signed gun control legislation.
“I’m continuing my work for the commonwealth as I would any other day,” he said.
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Yarmosky said the FBI had alerted key members of Northam’s security team during the investigation. But in keeping with security protocols for highly classified information, neither the governor nor members of his staff were informed.
During the hearing in Grand Rapids, Magistrate Judge Sally Berens ordered Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta held without bond. She said she would rule later on Adam Fox and Ty Garbin. All five are from Michigan.
The sixth defendant, Delaware resident Barry Croft, was ordered transferred to Michigan during a separate proceeding.
Trask, the FBI agent, testified that authorities learned of the June meeting in Ohio while investigating various anti-government groups. Authorities have said the men wanted to retaliate against Whitmer because of what they considered her “uncontrolled power” during the coronavirus outbreak.
Trask said Fox, whom investigators describe as a ringleader and was the only defendant without a mask at the hearing, had said during a post-arrest interview he’d considered taking Whitmer from her vacation home out onto Lake Michigan and stranding her there on a disabled boat.
According to the complaint, Fox also spoke of taking her to “a secure location in Wisconsin for ‘trial.’”
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Some defendants conducted surveillance of her northern Michigan house in August and September, according to the complaint. Authorities said four of the men had planned to meet last week to pay for explosives and exchange tactical gear.
Several defense attorneys suggested during cross-examination that their clients were “big talkers” who didn’t intend to follow through with action.
When investigating paramilitary-type groups, “you find a lot of people who talk about things, but they’re never a threat to do anything. It’s fairly common in these groups?” Scott Graham, attorney for Franks, asked Trask. “Big talk between crackpots — you’ve seen that, haven’t you? People who talk a lot, brashly, boldly, but are never going to do anything about that talk.”
Graham described Franks as a “follower, not a leader” and argued he shouldn’t be detained before trial. He said Franks was a drug addict but had turned his life around and posed no flight risk.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler countered that Franks should not be released. “There’s a serious public safety risk,” he said, although not disputing that Franks was more of a follower in the matter.
The judge also acknowledged some of the defendants did not have leadership roles, but said their participation in repeated discussions about kidnapping Whitmer and in surveillance of the governor’s home indicated they should remain locked up until trial.
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“It is the plot along the way that is clearly very dangerous,” Berens said. “This is a very, very serious crime.”
The men could get up to life in prison if convicted.
“Anyone who is facing a charge like this would be very concerned,” Gary Springstead, an attorney for Garbin, told reporters outside the courthouse. “Literally your life and liberty are on the line.”
During the brief hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, Croft waived his right to a detention hearing there but reserved his right to one in Michigan.
Whitmer, who was considered as Joe Biden’s running mate and is nearly halfway through a four-year term, has been widely praised for her response to the virus outbreak but also criticized by Republican lawmakers and people in conservative areas of Michigan. The state Capitol has been the site of many rallies, some with gun-toting protesters demanding her ouster.
Michigan, and particularly the Detroit area, were hit hard early during the pandemic, leading Whitmer to tightly restrict personal movement and the economy. Many of the limits have been lifted since spring.
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Seven other men linked to a paramilitary group called the Wolverine Watchmen were charged in state court with allegedly seeking to storm the Michigan Capitol and providing material support for terrorist acts by seeking a “civil war.”
The investigation is ongoing.
Foody reported from Chicago, and John Flesher reported from Traverse City. Associated Press writer Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, also contributed to this report.


chicagotribune--2020-10-13--Chicago police squad car goes off Kennedy overpass; condition of officer not yet known, police say

The officer ’ s vehicle went off the overpass about at 4:40 a.m. and landed on a grassy area off @ @ @ @ @ lanes in the 5200 block of North Foster Avenue , police said .
The condition @ @ @ @ @ yet known .

A Chicago police squad vehicle is towed from the scene after it crashed from the Foster Avenue overpass onto the Kennedy Expressway on Oct. 13, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A Chicago police officer rushing to help an officer needing backup was helped in return by two good Samaritans after her squad car plunged some 25 feet from an overpass onto the Kennedy Expressway below Tuesday morning, according to authorities.
Fire officials who responded said the 50-year-old female officer was in fair condition, having suffered head trauma and a sprained wrist, according to an accident report.
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The officer’s vehicle went off the overpass in the 5200 block of West Foster Avenue about 4:40 a.m. and landed on a grassy area off the expressway near the outbound lanes, police said. The squad car caused some power lines to also fall onto the expressway, according to the report.
Fire Department crews responded after the squad car fell about 25 feet from the overpass, said spokesman Larry Langford.
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The injured officer already was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived, according to the crash report. That’s because two unknown citizens helped the injured officer out of her vehicle. They left the scene before responding officers arrived, and officials do not know their identities, the report said.
The officer was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge in fair condition, Langford said.
The officer was on her way to provide backup for another police officer who needed assistance, police said. She had intended to turn right onto the Kennedy but missed her turn, “causing her to go through the guard rail, down the grassy embankment, and onto the side of the Kennedy,” according to a statement from police.
Morning traffic is routed off the Kennedy Expressway after a Chicago police squad car crashed from the Foster Avenue overpass onto the Kennedy Expressway on Oct. 13, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
In addition to Illinois State Police and Fire Department crews, the major accidents investigation unit of Chicago police also was at the scene.
The Kennedy Expressway was shut down near Foster. About 7:10 a.m., a tow truck took the damaged squad car away. It appeared to have significant front-end damage, and the air bags were deployed.
Hours after the crash, the Foster overpass was blocked off as Illinois Department of Transportation workers began to repair the damage to the railing.
The metal fence and a gate on the northeast side of the bridge were torn off and fell with the squad car at the side of the expressway.
Traffic was slow-moving as it was diverted off the expressway at Foster. Morning commuters had to make maneuvers around the blocked overpass.
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kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-10-13--Daywatch: Teen infects 11 relatives with COVID-19, Southwest to fly out of O’Hare and the hunt for C

Daywatch: Teen infects 11 relatives with COVID-19, Southwest to fly out of O’Hare and the hunt for Chicago’s best pizza

When Food & Dining reporters Nick Kindelsperger and Louisa Chu and created their new list of Chicago ’ s 25 @ @ @ @ @ they would eat a lot more than that .
So in an attempt to honor @ @ @ @ @ but didn ’ t make the list this time , they ’ re relaunching the @ @ @ @ @ look at Chicago ’ s dining scene organized by category .
This month ’ s @ @ @ @ @ it — pizza .
Check this list every weekday for the best slices in and @ @ @

Want Daywatch delivered to your inbox? Sign up here. | Get the top Tribune stories of the day on your smart speaker | Here’s how to get the most out of your Tribune subscription | Got something to say? Join the conversation on our Facebook page
Good morning, Chicago. On Monday, Illinois set a new high for its 7-day statewide positivity rate. Officials announced a seven-day average for new known cases of 2,643, up nearly 35% from a week earlier. This news came as officials announced 2,742 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday — the sixth day in a row with more than 2,600 cases — and 13 more deaths.
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Meanwhile, have you been thinking about selling your home during COVID-19? With so much of the process happening online due to the pandemic, first impressions are everything. Here are 5 things you should know.
Also, today marks the beginning of Prime Day — Amazon’s biggest annual sale. Our partners at BestReviews are keeping track of all the best deals here.
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Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
A worker packages a COVID-19 test swab from a client at Prism Heath Lab, 2322 W. Peterson Ave., in Chicago, on Aug. 6, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
A COVID-19 outbreak that infected 11 people across four states ― including Illinois ― began with a 13-year-old girl who transmitted the virus during a three-week family vacation over the summer, according to a Centers for Disease Control report.
Several family members involved in the case were from suburban Cook County, local public health officials confirmed, but would not give any more information about the individuals due to privacy concerns. A Cook County Department of Public Health spokeswoman added that the community is not currently at risk from this particular outbreak, which occurred months ago.
As Juliet Barrett, 10, and Jesse Barrett watch, Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 12, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
The coronavirus won’t surrender the national stage to anyone — not to President Donald Trump, Judge Amy Coney Barrett or majority Republicans holding the power to confirm nominees to the Supreme Court. The virus dominated the Senate hearings that opened Monday in Washington. From the start, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee were on the defensive about rushing Barrett’s confirmation before the Nov. 3 election. Yet they appeared to have enough votes to elevate Barrett to the high court.
During Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin says ‘Obamacare’ helped Tinley Park family facing expensive medical care
Southwest Airlines jets are seen July 15, 2020, at Midway Airport in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Southwest Airlines will add service out of O’Hare International Airport next year, an expansion made possible by the same coronavirus pandemic that has kept many travelers grounded. The pandemic reduced flights out of O’Hare, which give Southwest an opening, said Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief commercial officer.
People visit the DuPage River dam at the Hammel Woods Forest Preserve in Shorewood on Oct. 8, 2020. Forest preserve commissioners approved contracts to remove the dam where a young couple drowned last year. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Dozens of boaters, anglers, children and would-be rescuers have drowned in recent decades at “low head” dams or weirs, which let water spill over the top and create a dangerous trap. Now, after years of such tragedies, authorities are acting to remove the hazards and promising benefits for the environment and fishing as well.
Peaches en regalia seasonal special pizza with 'nduja at Grateful Bites Pizza Shoppe in Winnetka. (Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune)
When Food & Dining reporters Nick Kindelsperger and Louisa Chu and created their new list of Chicago’s 25 best pizzas, they knew they would eat a lot more than that. So in an attempt to honor the pizzas that were great but didn’t make the list this time, they’re relaunching the Cravings series, a monthly look at Chicago’s dining scene organized by category. This month’s category is — you guessed it — pizza. Check this list every weekday for the best slices in and around Chicago.